Staphylococcus intermedius produces a functional agr autoinducing peptide containing a cyclic lactone.

PubMed

Ji, Guangyong; Pei, Wuhong; Zhang, Linsheng; Qiu, Rongde; Lin, Jianqun; Benito, Yvonne; Lina, Gerard; Novick, Richard P

2005-05-01

The agr system is a global regulator of accessory functions in staphylococci, including genes encoding exoproteins involved in virulence. The agr locus contains a two-component signal transduction module that is activated by an autoinducing peptide (AIP) encoded within the agr locus and is conserved throughout the genus. The AIP has an unusual partially cyclic structure that is essential for function and that, in all but one case, involves an internal thiolactone bond between a conserved cysteine and the C-terminal carboxyl group. The exceptional case is a strain of Staphylococcus intermedius that has a serine in place of the conserved cysteine. We demonstrate here that the S. intermedius AIP is processed by the S. intermedius AgrB protein to generate a cyclic lactone, that it is an autoinducer as well as a cross-inhibitor, and that all of five other S. intermedius strains examined also produce serine-containing AIPs.

Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS)-based fault tolerant avionics architecture for launch vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lala, Jaynarayan H.; Harper, Richard E.; Jaskowiak, Kenneth R.; Rosch, Gene; Alger, Linda S.; Schor, Andrei L.

1990-01-01

An avionics architecture for the advanced launch system (ALS) that uses validated hardware and software building blocks developed under the advanced information processing system program is presented. The AIPS for ALS architecture defined is preliminary, and reliability requirements can be met by the AIPS hardware and software building blocks that are built using the state-of-the-art technology available in the 1992-93 time frame. The level of detail in the architecture definition reflects the level of detail available in the ALS requirements. As the avionics requirements are refined, the architecture can also be refined and defined in greater detail with the help of analysis and simulation tools. A useful methodology is demonstrated for investigating the impact of the avionics suite to the recurring cost of the ALS. It is shown that allowing the vehicle to launch with selected detected failures can potentially reduce the recurring launch costs. A comparative analysis shows that validated fault-tolerant avionics built out of Class B parts can result in lower life-cycle-cost in comparison to simplex avionics built out of Class S parts or other redundant architectures.

A highly reliable, autonomous data communication subsystem for an advanced information processing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nagle, Gail; Masotto, Thomas; Alger, Linda

1990-01-01

The need to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements of advanced avionics systems has frequently led to implementations which are tailored to a specific application and are therefore difficult to modify or extend. Furthermore, many integrated flight critical systems are input/output intensive. By using a design methodology which customizes the input/output mechanism for each new application, the cost of implementing new systems becomes prohibitively expensive. One solution to this dilemma is to design computer systems and input/output subsystems which are general purpose, but which can be easily configured to support the needs of a specific application. The Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS), currently under development has these characteristics. The design and implementation of the prototype I/O communication system for AIPS is described. AIPS addresses reliability issues related to data communications by the use of reconfigurable I/O networks. When a fault or damage event occurs, communication is restored to functioning parts of the network and the failed or damage components are isolated. Performance issues are addressed by using a parallelized computer architecture which decouples Input/Output (I/O) redundancy management and I/O processing from the computational stream of an application. The autonomous nature of the system derives from the highly automated and independent manner in which I/O transactions are conducted for the application as well as from the fact that the hardware redundancy management is entirely transparent to the application.

Clinical features and relapse rates after surgery in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis differ from type 2: a study of 114 surgically treated European patients.

PubMed

Detlefsen, Sönke; Zamboni, Giuseppe; Frulloni, Luca; Feyerabend, Bernd; Braun, Felix; Gerke, Oke; Schlitter, Anna Melissa; Esposito, Irene; Klöppel, Günter

2012-01-01

At the recent consensus conference on autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in Honolulu, we presented preliminary data from our study of surgically treated AIP patients. Our data strongly supported the separation of AIP into type 1 and type 2. Our study is based on a total of 114 surgically treated European AIP patients. Our aims were to elucidate serum IgG4 elevation, other organ involvement, relapse of disease, steroid treatment and diabetes after surgery in 114 surgically treated European AIP patients. 88 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 22 left-sided resections and 4 total pancreatectomies were examined. All cases were graded for granulocytic epithelial lesions, IgG4-positive cells, storiform fibrosis, phlebitis and eosinophilic granulocytes. Follow-up data were obtained from 102/114 patients, mean follow-up was 5.3 years. Histologically, 63 (55.3%) of the 114 patients fulfilled the criteria of type 1 AIP, while 51 (44.7%) patients fulfilled the criteria of type 2 AIP. Type 1 AIP patients were older and more often males than type 2 AIP patients. Elevation of serum IgG4, involvement of extrapancreatic organs, disease relapse, systemic steroid treatment and diabetes after surgery were noted more often in type 1 AIP, while inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was observed mainly in type 2 AIP. Histological typing of AIP is clinically important because type 1 AIP is part of the IgG4-related disease and type 2 AIP is associated with IBD. Our data also show that relapse of disease and steroid treatment after surgery occur more frequently in type 1 than in type 2 AIP. Copyright © 2012 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design of Conventional Submarines with Advanced Air Independent Propulsion Systems and Determination of Corresponding Theater-Level Impacts

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

rescue vehicle e: Error term ft: Feet HDW: Howaldtswerke- Deutsche Werft GmbH PEMFC : Proton exchange membrane fuel cells IR: Indiscretion rate/ratio...engines &Rankine cycle power plants &Closed cycle engines A PEMFC AIP system is fitted in the 212 class of submarines that German shipbuilders How...bines a conventional system consisting of a diesel engine and a lead acid battery, with the PEMFC AIP system used for slow, silent cruising. The AIP

AIP1 expression in tumor niche suppresses tumor progression and metastasis

PubMed Central

Ji, Weidong; Li, Yonghao; He, Yun; Yin, Mingzhu; Zhou, Huanjiao Jenny; Boggon, Titus J.; Zhang, Haifeng; Min, Wang

2015-01-01

Studies from tumor cells suggest that tumor suppressor AIP1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the role of AIP1 in the tumor microenvironment has not been examined. We show that a global or vascular endothelial cell (EC)-specific deletion of the AIP1 gene in mice augments tumor growth and metastasis in melanoma and breast cancer models. AIP1-deficient vascular environment not only enhances tumor neovascularization and increases pre-metastatic niche formation, but also secrets tumor EMT-promoting factors. These effects from AIP1 loss are associated with increased VEGFR2 signaling in the vascular EC and could be abrogated by systemic administration of VEGFR2 kinase inhibitors. Mechanistically, AIP1 blocks VEGFR2-dependent signaling by directly binding to the phosphotyrosine residues within the activation loop of VEGFR2. Our data reveal that AIP1, by inhibiting VEGFR2-dependent signaling in tumor niche, suppresses tumor EMT switch, tumor angiogenesis and tumor pre-metastatic niche formation to limit tumor growth and metastasis. PMID:26139244

IAPSA 2 small-scale system specification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Gerald C.; Torkelson, Thomas C.

1990-01-01

The details of a hardware implementation of a representative small scale flight critical system is described using Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS) building block components and simulated sensor/actuator interfaces. The system was used to study application performance and reliability issues during both normal and faulted operation.

Actin Interacting Protein1 and Actin Depolymerizing Factor Drive Rapid Actin Dynamics in Physcomitrella patens[W

PubMed Central

Augustine, Robert C.; Pattavina, Kelli A.; Tüzel, Erkan; Vidali, Luis; Bezanilla, Magdalena

2011-01-01

The remodeling of actin networks is required for a variety of cellular processes in eukaryotes. In plants, several actin binding proteins have been implicated in remodeling cortical actin filaments (F-actin). However, the extent to which these proteins support F-actin dynamics in planta has not been tested. Using reverse genetics, complementation analyses, and cell biological approaches, we assessed the in vivo function of two actin turnover proteins: actin interacting protein1 (AIP1) and actin depolymerizing factor (ADF). We report that AIP1 is a single-copy gene in the moss Physcomitrella patens. AIP1 knockout plants are viable but have reduced expansion of tip-growing cells. AIP1 is diffusely cytosolic and functions in a common genetic pathway with ADF to promote tip growth. Specifically, ADF can partially compensate for loss of AIP1, and AIP1 requires ADF for function. Consistent with a role in actin remodeling, AIP1 knockout lines accumulate F-actin bundles, have fewer dynamic ends, and have reduced severing frequency. Importantly, we demonstrate that AIP1 promotes and ADF is essential for cortical F-actin dynamics. PMID:22003077

Current Concepts and Diagnosis of IgG4-Related Pancreatitis (Type 1 AIP).

PubMed

Kawa, Shigeyuki

2016-08-01

Although now considered to be a member of the systemic entity of immunoglobulin G4- (IgG4-) related disease, IgG4-related pancreatitis is generally referred to as type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Type 1 AIP was established based on a pathological background of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis, high serum IgG4 concentration, and abundant IgG4-bearing plasma cell infiltration. The characteristic clinical features of type 1 AIP, such as elderly male preponderance, obstructive jaundice, and mass-forming lesions in the pancreas, often mimic those of pancreatic cancer. However, because AIP responds favorably to corticosteroid treatment, careful differentiation from pancreatic cancer is required. An AIP diagnosis is currently based on the 2011 International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for AIP, which are based on high sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy. Over the long term, AIP can progress to a chronic condition, with pancreatic stone formation and atrophy resembling that of chronic pancreatitis. Although AIP has been linked to the complication of malignancies, it remains controversial whether an association exists between the disease and tumor formation. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Association study of GABA system genes polymorphisms with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder in a Han Chinese population.

PubMed

Zhang, Kai; Zhao, Yan; Wang, Qingzhong; Jiang, Haifeng; Du, Jiang; Yu, Shunying; Zhao, Min

2016-05-27

GABA system genes have been implicated in neurotrophy and neurogenesis, which play pivotal roles in an individual's variation in vulnerability to amphetamine addiction or amphetamine-induced psychosis (AIP). We hypothesized that common genetic variants in the GABA system genes may be associated with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. In our study, thirty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the GABA system genes were genotyped in 400 amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder patients and 400 amphetamine use disorders patients (AUP) (not including those categorized as psychosis) in the Han Chinese population. In this study, 51.88% of the Han Chinese amphetamine-type substance use disorder patients met the criteria of amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder, and 79.5% amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder patients had auditory hallucinations, while 46.5% had delusions of reference. The allele frequency of rs1129647 showed nominal association with AIP in the Han Chinese population (P=0.03). Compared with AUP group patients, T allele frequency of AIP group patients was significantly increased. The adjustment for age and gender factors in the AIP and AUP patients was executed using unconditional logistic regression under five inheritance models. The genotype frequency of rs1129647 showed nominal association with AIP in the log-additive model (P=0.04). The genotype frequency of rs2290733 showed nominal association with AIP in the recessive model (P=0.04). Compared with female AIP patients, male patients were more likely to have the CC genotype of rs17545383 (P=0.04). Moreover, we determined that more male patients carried the T allele of rs2290733 in the AIP group (P=0.004). Unfortunately, the significant differences did not survive Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction (adjusted P>0.05). No association between the SNPs of the GABA system genes and amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder risk was identified. No haplotype of the GABA system genes affected amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder risk. This report describes the first association study between the GABA system genes and amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder in the Han Chinese population. Our data may provide a reference for future research. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Serum apolipoprotein A2 isoforms in autoimmune pancreatitis.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Takashi; Sato, Yu; Nishiumi, Shin; Yagi, Yosuke; Sakai, Arata; Shiomi, Hideyuki; Masuda, Atsuhiro; Okaya, Shinobu; Kutsumi, Hiromu; Yoshida, Masaru; Honda, Kazufumi

2018-03-11

Recently, apolipoprotein A2 (apoA2) isoforms have been reported as candidate serum/plasma biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. However, the distribution of apoA2 isoforms in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has not been investigated yet. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of serum apoA2 isoforms; i.e., homodimer apoA2-ATQ/ATQ, heterodimer apoA2-ATQ/AT, and homodimer apoA2-AT/AT, in AIP patients and healthy volunteers (HV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the clinical characteristics and serum levels of each apoA2 isoform in 32 AIP patients and 38 HV were investigated. The calculated apoA2-ATQ/AT levels of the AIP patients were significantly lower than those of the HV, which agreed with results obtained for patients with pancreatic cancer. Interestingly, most of the AIP patients exhibited high levels of apoA2-ATQ along with low levels of apoA2-AT, indicating that the processing of the C-terminal regions of apoA2 dimer was inhibited in the AIP patients. This specific distribution of serum apoA2 isoforms might provide important information about the disease states of AIP patients and aid the differential diagnosis of AIP versus pancreatic cancer. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Real World Data and Service Integration: Demonstrations and Lessons Learnt from the GEOSS Architecture Implementation Pilot Phase Four

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simonis, I.; Alameh, N.; Percivall, G.

2012-04-01

The GEOSS Architecture Implementation Pilots (AIP) develop and pilot new process and infrastructure components for the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) and the broader GEOSS architecture through an evolutionary development process consisting of a set of phases. Each phase addresses a set of Societal Benefit Areas (SBA) and geoinformatic topics. The first three phases consisted of architecture refinements based on interactions with users; component interoperability testing; and SBA-driven demonstrations. The fourth phase (AIP-4) documented here focused on fostering interoperability arrangements and common practices for GEOSS by facilitating access to priority earth observation data sources and by developing and testing specific clients and mediation components to enable such access. Additionally, AIP-4 supported the development of a thesaurus for earth observation parameters and tutorials to guide data providers to make their data available through GEOSS. The results of AIP-4 are documented in two engineering reports and captured in a series of videos posted online. Led by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), AIP-4 built on contributions from over 60 organizations. This wide portfolio helped testing interoperability arrangements in a highly heterogeneous environment. AIP-4 participants cooperated closely to test available data sets, access services, and client applications in multiple workflows and set ups. Eventually, AIP-4 improved the accessibility of GEOSS datasets identified as supporting Critical Earth Observation Priorities by the GEO User Interface Committee (UIC), and increased the use of the data through promoting availability of new data services, clients, and applications. During AIP-4, A number of key earth observation data sources have been made available online at standard service interfaces, discovered using brokered search approaches, and processed and visualized in generalized client applications. AIP-4 demonstrated the level of interoperability that can be achieved using currently available standards and corresponding products and implementations. The AIP-4 integration testing process proved that the integration of heterogeneous data resources available via interoperability arrangements such as WMS, WFS, WCS and WPS indeed works. However, the integration often required various levels of customizations on the client side to accommodate for variations in the service implementations. Those variations seem to be based on both malfunctioning service implementations as well as varying interpretations of or inconsistencies in existing standards. Other interoperability issues identified revolve around missing metadata or using unrecognized identifiers in the description of GEOSS resources. Once such issues are resolved, continuous compliance testing is necessary to ensure minimizing variability of implementations. Once data providers can choose from a set of enhanced implementations for offering their data using consistent interoperability arrangements, the barrier to client and decision support implementation developers will be lowered, leading to true leveraging of earth observation data through GEOSS. AIP-4 results, lessons learnt from previous AIPs 1-3 and close coordination with the Infrastructure Implementation Board (IIB), the successor of the Architecture and Data Committee (ADC), form the basis in the current preparation phase for the next Architecture Implementation Pilot, AIP-5. The Call For Participation will be launched in February and the pilot will be conducted from May to November 2012. The current planning foresees a scenario- oriented approach, with possible scenarios coming from the domains of disaster management, health (including air quality and waterborne diseases), water resource observations, energy, biodiversity and climate change, and agriculture.

Intracellular Trafficking of AIP56, an NF-κB-Cleaving Toxin from Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida

PubMed Central

Pereira, Liliana M. G.; Pinto, Rute D.; Silva, Daniela S.; Moreira, Ana R.; Beitzinger, Christoph; Oliveira, Pedro; Sampaio, Paula; Benz, Roland; Azevedo, Jorge E.; dos Santos, Nuno M. S.

2014-01-01

AIP56 (apoptosis-inducing protein of 56 kDa) is a metalloprotease AB toxin secreted by Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida that acts by cleaving NF-κB. During infection, AIP56 spreads systemically and depletes phagocytes by postapoptotic secondary necrosis, impairing the host phagocytic defense and contributing to the genesis of infection-associated necrotic lesions. Here we show that mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (mBMDM) intoxicated by AIP56 undergo NF-κB p65 depletion and apoptosis. Similarly to what was reported for sea bass phagocytes, intoxication of mBMDM involves interaction of AIP56 C-terminal region with cell surface components, suggesting the existence of a conserved receptor. Biochemical approaches and confocal microscopy revealed that AIP56 undergoes clathrin-dependent endocytosis, reaches early endosomes, and follows the recycling pathway. Translocation of AIP56 into the cytosol requires endosome acidification, and an acidic pulse triggers translocation of cell surface-bound AIP56 into the cytosol. Accordingly, at acidic pH, AIP56 becomes more hydrophobic, interacting with artificial lipid bilayer membranes. Altogether, these data indicate that AIP56 is a short-trip toxin that reaches the cytosol using an acidic-pH-dependent mechanism, probably from early endosomes. Usually, for short-trip AB toxins, a minor pool reaches the cytosol by translocating from endosomes, whereas the rest is routed to lysosomes for degradation. Here we demonstrate that part of endocytosed AIP56 is recycled back and released extracellularly through a mechanism requiring phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity but independent of endosome acidification. So far, we have been unable to detect biological activity of recycled AIP56, thereby bringing into question its biological relevance as well as the importance of the recycling pathway. PMID:25287919

Truncated Autoinducing Peptide Conjugates Selectively Recognize and Kill Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Tsuchikama, Kyoji; Shimamoto, Yasuhiro; Anami, Yasuaki

2017-06-09

The accessory gene regulator (agr) of Staphylococcus aureus coordinates various pathogenic events and is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for virulence control. S. aureus utilizes autoinducing peptides (AIPs), cyclic-peptide signaling molecules, to mediate the agr system. Despite the high potency of synthetic AIP analogues in agr inhibition, the potential of AIP molecules as a delivery vehicle for antibacterial agents remains unexplored. Herein, we report that truncated AIP scaffolds can be fused with fluorophore and cytotoxic photosensitizer molecules without compromising their high agr inhibitory activity, binding affinity to the receptor AgrC, or cell specificity. Strikingly, a photosensitizer-AIP conjugate exhibited 16-fold greater efficacy in a S. aureus cell-killing assay than a nontargeting analogue. These findings highlight the potential of truncated AIP conjugates as useful chemical tools for in-depth biological studies and as effective anti-S. aureus agents.

Actin-interacting Protein 1 Promotes Disassembly of Actin-depolymerizing Factor/Cofilin-bound Actin Filaments in a pH-dependent Manner.

PubMed

Nomura, Kazumi; Hayakawa, Kimihide; Tatsumi, Hitoshi; Ono, Shoichiro

2016-03-04

Actin-interacting protein 1 (AIP1) is a conserved WD repeat protein that promotes disassembly of actin filaments when actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin is present. Although AIP1 is known to be essential for a number of cellular events involving dynamic rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, the regulatory mechanism of the function of AIP1 is unknown. In this study, we report that two AIP1 isoforms from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, known as UNC-78 and AIPL-1, are pH-sensitive in enhancement of actin filament disassembly. Both AIP1 isoforms only weakly enhance disassembly of ADF/cofilin-bound actin filaments at an acidic pH but show stronger disassembly activity at neutral and basic pH values. However, a severing-defective mutant of UNC-78 shows pH-insensitive binding to ADF/cofilin-decorated actin filaments, suggesting that the process of filament severing or disassembly, but not filament binding, is pH-dependent. His-60 of AIP1 is located near the predicted binding surface for the ADF/cofilin-actin complex, and an H60K mutation of AIP1 partially impairs its pH sensitivity, suggesting that His-60 is involved in the pH sensor for AIP1. These biochemical results suggest that pH-dependent changes in AIP1 activity might be a novel regulatory mechanism of actin filament dynamics. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

A conifer ABI3-interacting protein plays important roles during key transitions of the plant life cycle.

PubMed

Zeng, Ying; Zhao, Tiehan; Kermode, Allison R

2013-01-01

ABI3 (for ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3), a transcription factor of the abscisic acid signal transduction pathway, plays a major role during seed development, dormancy inception, and dormancy maintenance. This protein appears to also function in meristematic and vegetative plant tissues and under certain stress conditions. We have isolated the ABI3 gene ortholog (CnABI3) from yellow cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) and found that it was functionally similar to other ABI3 genes of angiosperms. Here, we report that using a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid approach, we have identified another protein of yellow cedar (CnAIP2; for CnABI3 INTERACTING PROTEIN2) that physically interacts with CnABI3. Functional analyses revealed that CnAIP2 plays important roles during key transitions in the plant life cycle: (1) CnAIP2 impaired seed development and reduced seed dormancy; (2) CnAIP2 promoted root development, particularly the initiation of lateral roots, and the CnAIP2 gene promoter was exquisitely auxin sensitive; and (3) CnAIP2 promoted the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive initiation (i.e. flowering). The nature of the effects of CnAIP2 on these processes and other evidence place CnAIP2 in the category of a "global" regulator, whose actions are antagonistic to those of ABI3.

Evaluation of reliability modeling tools for advanced fault tolerant systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, Robert; Scheper, Charlotte

1986-01-01

The Computer Aided Reliability Estimation (CARE III) and Automated Reliability Interactice Estimation System (ARIES 82) reliability tools for application to advanced fault tolerance aerospace systems were evaluated. To determine reliability modeling requirements, the evaluation focused on the Draper Laboratories' Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS) architecture as an example architecture for fault tolerance aerospace systems. Advantages and limitations were identified for each reliability evaluation tool. The CARE III program was designed primarily for analyzing ultrareliable flight control systems. The ARIES 82 program's primary use was to support university research and teaching. Both CARE III and ARIES 82 were not suited for determining the reliability of complex nodal networks of the type used to interconnect processing sites in the AIPS architecture. It was concluded that ARIES was not suitable for modeling advanced fault tolerant systems. It was further concluded that subject to some limitations (the difficulty in modeling systems with unpowered spare modules, systems where equipment maintenance must be considered, systems where failure depends on the sequence in which faults occurred, and systems where multiple faults greater than a double near coincident faults must be considered), CARE III is best suited for evaluating the reliability of advanced tolerant systems for air transport.

cAMP-specific PDE4 Phosphodiesterases and AIP in the Pathogenesis of Pituitary Tumors

PubMed Central

Bolger, Graeme B.; Bizzi, Mariana Ferreira; Brant Pinheiro, Sergio Veloso; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Smoot, Lisa; Accavitti, Mary-Ann; Korbonits, Márta; Ribeiro-Oliveira, Antonio

2016-01-01

PDE4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases regulate cAMP abundance in cells and thereby regulate numerous processes, including cell growth and differentiation. The rat PDE4A5 isoform (human homologue PDE4A4) interacts with the AIP protein (also called XAP2 or ARA-9). Germline mutations in AIP occur in approximately 20% of patients with Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenoma (FIPA) and 20% of childhood-onset simplex somatotroph adenomas. We therefore examined the protein expression of PDE4A4 and the closely-related isoform PDE4A8 in normal human pituitary tissue and in pituitary adenomas. PDE4A4 had low expression in normal pituitary, but was significantly over-expressed in somatotroph, lactotroph, corticotroph and clinically non-functioning gonadotroph adenomas (P<0.0001 for all subtypes). Likewise, PDE4A8 was expressed in normal pituitary and was also significantly over-expressed in the adenoma subtypes (P<0.0001 for all). Among the different adenoma subtypes, corticotroph and lactotroph adenomas were the highest and lowest expressed for PDE4A4, respectively, whereas the opposite was observed for PDE4A8. Naturally occurring oncogenic variants in AIP were shown by a two-hybrid assay to disrupt the ability of AIP to interact with PDE4A5. A reverse-two-hybrid screen identified numerous additional variants in the TPR region of AIP that also disrupted its ability to interact with PDE4A5. The expression of PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 in normal pituitary, their increased expression in adenomatous pituitary cells where AIP is meant to participate, and the disruption of the PDE4A4-AIP interaction by AIP mutants may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis. PMID:27267386

Parallel Architectures for Planetary Exploration Requirements (PAPER)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cezzar, Ruknet; Sen, Ranjan K.

1989-01-01

The Parallel Architectures for Planetary Exploration Requirements (PAPER) project is essentially research oriented towards technology insertion issues for NASA's unmanned planetary probes. It was initiated to complement and augment the long-term efforts for space exploration with particular reference to NASA/LaRC's (NASA Langley Research Center) research needs for planetary exploration missions of the mid and late 1990s. The requirements for space missions as given in the somewhat dated Advanced Information Processing Systems (AIPS) requirements document are contrasted with the new requirements from JPL/Caltech involving sensor data capture and scene analysis. It is shown that more stringent requirements have arisen as a result of technological advancements. Two possible architectures, the AIPS Proof of Concept (POC) configuration and the MAX Fault-tolerant dataflow multiprocessor, were evaluated. The main observation was that the AIPS design is biased towards fault tolerance and may not be an ideal architecture for planetary and deep space probes due to high cost and complexity. The MAX concepts appears to be a promising candidate, except that more detailed information is required. The feasibility for adding neural computation capability to this architecture needs to be studied. Key impact issues for architectural design of computing systems meant for planetary missions were also identified.

Quantifying care coordination using natural language processing and domain-specific ontology

PubMed Central

Popejoy, Lori L; Khalilia, Mohammed A; Popescu, Mihail; Galambos, Colleen; Lyons, Vanessa; Rantz, Marilyn; Hicks, Lanis; Stetzer, Frank

2015-01-01

Objective This research identifies specific care coordination activities used by Aging in Place (AIP) nurse care coordinators and home healthcare (HHC) nurses when coordinating care for older community-dwelling adults and suggests a method to quantify care coordination. Methods A care coordination ontology was built based on activities extracted from 11 038 notes labeled with the Omaha Case management category. From the parsed narrative notes of every patient, we mapped the extracted activities to the ontology, from which we computed problem profiles and quantified care coordination for all patients. Results We compared two groups of patients: AIP who received enhanced care coordination (n=217) and HHC who received traditional care (n=691) using 128 135 narratives notes. Patients were tracked from the time they were admitted to AIP or HHC until they were discharged. We found that patients in AIP received a higher dose of care coordination than HHC in most Omaha problems, with larger doses being given in AIP than in HHC in all four Omaha categories. Conclusions ‘Communicate’ and ‘manage’ activities are widely used in care coordination. This confirmed the expert hypothesis that nurse care coordinators spent most of their time communicating about their patients and managing problems. Overall, nurses performed care coordination in both AIP and HHC, but the aggregated dose across Omaha problems and categories is larger in AIP. PMID:25324557

Acetolactate synthase regulatory subunits play divergent and overlapping roles in branched-chain amino acid synthesis and Arabidopsis development.

PubMed

Dezfulian, Mohammad H; Foreman, Curtis; Jalili, Espanta; Pal, Mrinal; Dhaliwal, Rajdeep K; Roberto, Don Karl A; Imre, Kathleen M; Kohalmi, Susanne E; Crosby, William L

2017-04-07

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are synthesized by plants, fungi, bacteria, and archaea with plants being the major source of these amino acids in animal diets. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the first enzyme in the BCAA synthesis pathway. Although the functional contribution of ALS to BCAA biosynthesis has been extensively characterized, a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of this pathway at the molecular level is still lacking. To characterize the regulatory processes governing ALS activity we utilized several complementary approaches. Using the ALS catalytic protein subunit as bait we performed a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen which resulted in the identification of a set of interacting proteins, two of which (denoted as ALS-INTERACTING PROTEIN1 and 3 [AIP1 and AIP3, respectively]) were found to be evolutionarily conserved orthologues of bacterial feedback-regulatory proteins and therefore implicated in the regulation of ALS activity. To investigate the molecular role AIPs might play in BCAA synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, we examined the functional contribution of aip1 and aip3 knockout alleles to plant patterning and development and BCAA synthesis under various growth conditions. Loss-of-function genetic backgrounds involving these two genes exhibited differential aberrant growth responses in valine-, isoleucine-, and sodium chloride-supplemented media. While BCAA synthesis is believed to be localized to the chloroplast, both AIP1 and AIP3 were found to localize to the peroxisome in addition to the chloroplast. Analysis of free amino acid pools in the mutant backgrounds revealed that they differ in the absolute amount of individual BCAAs accumulated and exhibit elevated levels of BCAAs in leaf tissues. Despite the phenotypic differences observed in aip1 and aip3 backgrounds, functional redundancy between these loci was suggested by the finding that aip1/aip3 double knockout mutants are severely developmentally compromised. Taken together the data suggests that the two regulatory proteins, in conjunction with ALS, have overlapping but distinct functions in BCAA synthesis, and also play a role in pathways unrelated to BCAA synthesis such as sodium-ion homeostasis, extending to broader aspects of patterning and development.

Methods in Astronomical Image Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jörsäter, S.

A Brief Introductory Note History of Astronomical Imaging Astronomical Image Data Images in Various Formats Digitized Image Data Digital Image Data Philosophy of Astronomical Image Processing Properties of Digital Astronomical Images Human Image Processing Astronomical vs. Computer Science Image Processing Basic Tools of Astronomical Image Processing Display Applications Calibration of Intensity Scales Calibration of Length Scales Image Re-shaping Feature Enhancement Noise Suppression Noise and Error Analysis Image Processing Packages: Design of AIPS and MIDAS AIPS MIDAS Reduction of CCD Data Bias Subtraction Clipping Preflash Subtraction Dark Subtraction Flat Fielding Sky Subtraction Extinction Correction Deconvolution Methods Rebinning/Combining Summary and Prospects for the Future

Distinct pathophysiological cytokine profiles for discrimination between autoimmune pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Ghassem-Zadeh, Sahar; Gaida, Matthias M; Szanyi, Szilard; Acha-Orbea, Hans; Frossard, Jean-Louis; Hinz, Ulf; Hackert, Thilo; Strobel, Oliver; Felix, Klaus

2017-06-02

Discriminating between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can be challenging. In this retrospective study, levels of serum and tissue cytokines were analyzed as part of the clinical strategy for the preoperative differentiation between AIP and PDAC. The identification of differential cytokine profiles may help to prevent unnecessary surgical resection and allow optimal treatment of these pathologies. To compare the cytokine profiles of AIP, CP, and PDAC patients, serum and pancreatic tissue homogenates were subjected to multiplex analysis of 17 inflammatory mediators. In total, serum from 73 patients, composed of 29 AIP (14 AIP-1 and 15 AIP-2), 17 CP, and 27 PDAC, and pancreatic tissue from 36 patients, including 12 AIP (six AIP-1 and six AIP-2), 12 CP, and 12 PDAC, were analyzed. Comparing AIP and PDAC patients' serum, significantly higher concentrations were found in AIP for interleukins IL-1β, IL-7, IL-13, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF also allowed discrimination of AIP from CP. Furthermore, once AIP was divided into subtypes, significantly higher serum levels for IL-7 and G-CSF were measured in both subtypes of AIP and in AIP-2 for IL-1β when compared to PDAC. G-CSF and TNF-α were also significantly differentially expressed in tissue homogenates between AIP-2 and PDAC. The cytokines IL-1β, IL-7, and G-CSF can be routinely measured in patients' serum, providing an elegant and non-invasive approach for differential diagnosis. G-CSF is a good candidate to supplement the currently known serum markers in predictive tests for AIP and represents a basis for a combined blood test to differentiate AIP and particularly AIP-2 from PDAC, enhancing the possibility of appropriate treatment.

A Bold Move: Reframing Composition through Assessment Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Condran, Jeffrey

2010-01-01

This article discusses the decision of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (AiP) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to implement a rigorous writing program assessment in order to obtain the Middle States accreditation, and it describes the process of determining which assessment model would be the most appropriate for AiP's needs. The use of a quantitative…

EuroGEOSS/GENESIS ``e-Habitat'' AIP-3 Use Scenario

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzetti, P.; Dubois, G.; Santoro, M.; Peedell, S.; de Longueville, B.; Nativi, S.; Craglia, M.

2010-12-01

Natural ecosystems are in rapid decline. Major habitats are disappearing at a speed never observed before. The current rate of species extinction is several orders of magnitude higher than the background rate from the fossil record. Protected Areas (PAs) and Protected Area Systems are designed to conserve natural and cultural resources, to maintain biodiversity (ecosystems, species, genes) and ecosystem services. The scientific challenge of understanding how environmental and climatological factors impact on ecosystems and habitats requires the use of information from different scientific domains. Thus, multidisciplinary interoperability is a crucial requirement for a framework aiming to support scientists. The Group on Earth Observations (or GEO) is coordinating international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). This emerging public infrastructure is interconnecting a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment. This “system of systems” supports multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary scientific researches. The presented GEOSS-based interoperability framework facilitates the discovery and exploitation of datasets and models from heterogeneous scientific domains and Information Technology services (data sources). The GEO Architecture and Data Committee (ADC) launched the Architecture Implementation Pilot (AIP) Initiative to develop and deploy new processes and infrastructure components for the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) and the broader GEOSS architecture. The current AIP Phase 3 (AIP-3) aims to increase GEOSS capacity to support several strategic Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) including: Disaster Management, Health/Air Quality, Biodiversity, Energy, Health/Disease and Water. As to Biodiversity, the EC-funded EuroGEOSS (http://www.eurogeoss.eu) and GENESIS (http://www.genesis-fp7.eu) projects have developed a use scenario called “e-Habitat”. This scenario demonstrates how a GEOSS-based interoperability infrastructure can aid decision makers to assess and possibly forecast the irreplaceability of a given protected area, an essential indicator for assessing the criticality of threats this protected area is exposed to. Based on the previous AIP-Phase2 experience, the EuroGEOSS and GENESIS projects enhanced the successfully experimented interoperability infrastructure with: a) a discovery broker service which underpins semantics enabled queries: the EuroGEOSS/GENESIS Discovery Augmentation Component (DAC); b) environmental modeling components (i.e. OGC WPS instances) implementing algorithms to predict evolution of PAs ecosystems; c) a workflow engine to: i) browse semantic repositories; ii) retrieve concepts of interest; iii) search for resources (i.e. datasets and models) related to such concepts; iv) execute WPS instances. This presentation introduces the enhanced infrastructure developed by the EuroGEOSS/GENESIS AIP-3 Pilot to implement the “e-Habitat” use scenario. The presented infrastructure is accessible through the GEO Portal and is going to be used for demonstrating the “e-Habitat” model at the GEO Ministerial Meeting - Beijing, November 2010.

Quantifying care coordination using natural language processing and domain-specific ontology.

PubMed

Popejoy, Lori L; Khalilia, Mohammed A; Popescu, Mihail; Galambos, Colleen; Lyons, Vanessa; Rantz, Marilyn; Hicks, Lanis; Stetzer, Frank

2015-04-01

This research identifies specific care coordination activities used by Aging in Place (AIP) nurse care coordinators and home healthcare (HHC) nurses when coordinating care for older community-dwelling adults and suggests a method to quantify care coordination. A care coordination ontology was built based on activities extracted from 11,038 notes labeled with the Omaha Case management category. From the parsed narrative notes of every patient, we mapped the extracted activities to the ontology, from which we computed problem profiles and quantified care coordination for all patients. We compared two groups of patients: AIP who received enhanced care coordination (n=217) and HHC who received traditional care (n=691) using 128,135 narratives notes. Patients were tracked from the time they were admitted to AIP or HHC until they were discharged. We found that patients in AIP received a higher dose of care coordination than HHC in most Omaha problems, with larger doses being given in AIP than in HHC in all four Omaha categories. 'Communicate' and 'manage' activities are widely used in care coordination. This confirmed the expert hypothesis that nurse care coordinators spent most of their time communicating about their patients and managing problems. Overall, nurses performed care coordination in both AIP and HHC, but the aggregated dose across Omaha problems and categories is larger in AIP. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Hybrid kappa\\lambda antibody is a new serological marker to diagnose autoimmune pancreatitis and differentiate it from pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Hao, Mingju; Li, Wenli; Yi, Lang; Yu, Songlin; Fan, Gaowei; Lu, Tian; Yang, Xin; Wang, Guojing; Zhang, Dong; Ding, Jiansheng; Zhang, Kuo; Zhang, Rui; Lin, Guigao; Han, Yanxi; Wang, Lunan; Li, Jinming

2016-06-08

The only generally accepted serological marker currently used for the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is IgG4. Our aim was mainly to determine whether hybrid κ\\λ antibody can help to diagnose AIP and to differentiate it from pancreatic cancer. We established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system to measure the levels of hybrid κ\\λ antibodies in human sera. Sera were obtained from 338 patients, including 61 with AIP, 74 with pancreatic cancer, 50 with acute pancreatitis, 40 with ordinary chronic pancreatitis, 15 with miscellaneous pancreatic diseases, and 98 with normal pancreas. Our study showed levels of hybrid κ\\λ antibodies in the AIP group were significantly higher than in the non-AIP group (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the diagnosis of AIP were 80.3%, 91%, 66.2% and 95.5% respectively. Furthermore, the combined measurement of serum hybrid κ\\λ antibody and IgG4 tended to increase the sensitivity although the difference was not statistically significant (90.2% vs. 78.7%, P = 0.08), compared to measurement of IgG4 alone. Our findings suggest that hybrid κ\\λ antibody could be a new serological marker to diagnose AIP and differentiate it from pancreatic cancer.

The AIP Model of EMDR Therapy and Pathogenic Memories

PubMed Central

Hase, Michael; Balmaceda, Ute M.; Ostacoli, Luca; Liebermann, Peter; Hofmann, Arne

2017-01-01

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been widely recognized as an efficacious treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the last years more insight has been gained regarding the efficacy of EMDR therapy in a broad field of mental disorders beyond PTSD. The cornerstone of EMDR therapy is its unique model of pathogenesis and change: the adaptive information processing (AIP) model. The AIP model developed by F. Shapiro has found support and differentiation in recent studies on the importance of memories in the pathogenesis of a range of mental disorders beside PTSD. However, theoretical publications or research on the application of the AIP model are still rare. The increasing acceptance of ideas that relate the origin of many mental disorders to the formation and consolidation of implicit dysfunctional memory lead to formation of the theory of pathogenic memories. Within the theory of pathogenic memories these implicit dysfunctional memories are considered to form basis of a variety of mental disorders. The theory of pathogenic memories seems compatible to the AIP model of EMDR therapy, which offers strategies to effectively access and transmute these memories leading to amelioration or resolution of symptoms. Merging the AIP model with the theory of pathogenic memories may initiate research. In consequence, patients suffering from such memory-based disorders may be earlier diagnosed and treated more effectively. PMID:28983265

AIP mutations impair AhR signaling in pituitary adenoma patients fibroblasts and in GH3 cells.

PubMed

Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Viengchareun, Say; Hage, Mirella; Bouligand, Jérôme; Young, Jacques; Boutron, Audrey; Zizzari, Philippe; Lombès, Marc; Chanson, Philippe; Kamenický, Peter

2016-05-01

Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene predispose humans to pituitary adenomas through unknown molecular mechanisms. The best-known interacting partner of AIP is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor that mediates the effects of xenobiotics implicated in carcinogenesis. As 75% of AIP mutations disrupt the physical and/or functional interaction with AhR, we postulated that the tumorigenic potential of AIP mutations might result from altered AhR signaling. We evaluated the impact of AIP mutations on the AhR signaling pathway, first in fibroblasts from AIP-mutated patients with pituitary adenomas, by comparison with fibroblasts from healthy subjects, then in transfected pituitary GH3 cells. The AIP protein level in mutated fibroblasts was about half of that in cells from healthy subjects, but AhR expression was unaffected. Gene expression analyses showed significant modifications in the expression of the AhR target genes CYP1B1 and AHRR in AIP-mutated fibroblasts, both before and after stimulation with the endogenous AhR ligand kynurenine. Kynurenine increased Cyp1b1 expression to a greater extent in GH3 cells overexpressing wild type compared with cells expressing mutant AIP Knockdown of endogenous Aip in these cells attenuated Cyp1b1 induction by the AhR ligand. Both mutant AIP expression and knockdown of endogenous Aip affected the kynurenine-dependent GH secretion of GH3 cells. This study of human fibroblasts bearing endogenous heterozygous AIP mutations and transfected pituitary GH3 cells shows that AIP mutations affect the AIP protein level and alter AhR transcriptional activity in a gene- and tissue-dependent manner. © 2016 Society for Endocrinology.

Some Comments on Marketing AIP Information Products and Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Donald W.; Brown, A. M.

This study was addressed to marketing considerations for the American Institute of Physics (AIP) information products and services. The general system and its operation in a marketing environment, including promotion, channels of distribution and pricing are covered. Particular emphasis is placed on the cost/demand/price relationship for four…

Structure of the TPR Domain of AIP: Lack of Client Protein Interaction with the C-Terminal α-7 Helix of the TPR Domain of AIP Is Sufficient for Pituitary Adenoma Predisposition

PubMed Central

Morgan, Rhodri M. L.; Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C.; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Zhou, Lihong; Roe, S. Mark; Korbonits, Márta; Prodromou, Chrisostomos

2012-01-01

Mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) have been associated with familial isolated pituitary adenomas predisposing to young-onset acromegaly and gigantism. The precise tumorigenic mechanism is not well understood as AIP interacts with a large number of independent proteins as well as three chaperone systems, HSP90, HSP70 and TOMM20. We have determined the structure of the TPR domain of AIP at high resolution, which has allowed a detailed analysis of how disease-associated mutations impact on the structural integrity of the TPR domain. A subset of C-terminal α-7 helix (Cα-7h) mutations, R304* (nonsense mutation), R304Q, Q307* and R325Q, a known site for AhR and PDE4A5 client-protein interaction, occur beyond those that interact with the conserved MEEVD and EDDVE sequences of HSP90 and TOMM20. These C-terminal AIP mutations appear to only disrupt client-protein binding to the Cα-7h, while chaperone binding remains unaffected, suggesting that failure of client-protein interaction with the Cα-7h is sufficient to predispose to pituitary adenoma. We have also identified a molecular switch in the AIP TPR-domain that allows recognition of both the conserved HSP90 motif, MEEVD, and the equivalent sequence (EDDVE) of TOMM20. PMID:23300914

Does autoimmune pancreatitis increase the risk of pancreatic carcinoma?: a retrospective analysis of pancreatic resections.

PubMed

Gupta, Rajib; Khosroshahi, Arezou; Shinagare, Shweta; Fernandez, Carlos; Ferrone, Cristina; Lauwers, Gregory Y; Stone, John H; Deshpande, Vikram

2013-04-01

To estimate the risk of malignancy in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). We examined resected pancreata to compare the prevalence of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) in 28 cases of AIP and 30 cases of chronic pancreatitis not otherwise specified (CP-NOS). We also reviewed a cohort of 84 AIP cases. The mean age of the AIP cohort (57 years) was significantly higher than that of the cohort of CP-NOS (47 years) (P = 0.01). Twenty-three cases (82%) of AIP showed PanIN, and 7 cases (25%) showed grade 2 PanIN. Grade 3 PanIN was identified in one case of AIP. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of cases with high-grade PanIN lesions between the cases of type 1 as opposed to type 2 AIP. In comparison to CP-NOS, a comparable percentage of patients with AIP had PanIN (82% of AIP cases vs 63% of CP-NOS cases) (P = NS) and PanIN 2 (25% AIP vs 20% CP-NOS) (P = NS). Of the 84 AIP cases at our institution (mean follow-up, 49 months), 2 cases of pancreatic carcinoma were identified 6 and 10 years after the diagnoses of AIP. These findings raise concern that AIP is associated with an elevated risk of malignancy and should prompt additional studies.

Autoimmune Pancreatitis Can Transform Into Chronic Features Similar to Advanced Chronic Pancreatitis With Functional Insufficiency Following Severe Calcification.

PubMed

Kanai, Keita; Maruyama, Masahiro; Kameko, Fumiko; Kawasaki, Kenji; Asano, Junpei; Oguchi, Takaya; Watanabe, Takayuki; Ito, Tetsuya; Muraki, Takashi; Hamano, Hideaki; Matsumoto, Akihiro; Arakura, Norikazu; Kawa, Shigeyuki

2016-09-01

Because several studies for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have revealed pancreatic calcification resembling that in chronic pancreatitis (CP), we sought to clarify whether AIP could transform into chronic features similar to advanced CP with severe pancreatic dysfunction. Pancreatic functions of 92 AIP patients, 47 definite CP patients, and 30 healthy controls were assessed by fecal elastase-1 concentration (FEC), fasting immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)-R. The 92 AIP patients included 17 (18%) with severe calcification (SC) and 75 without. The FEC levels in AIP and CP patients were significantly lower than that in controls. Exocrine insufficiency defined as FEC less than 200 μg/g was 39% in AIP without SC, 56% in AIP with SC, and 74% in CP. Fasting IRI and C-peptide reactivity values in CP were significantly lower than those in AIP, with no significant differences between AIP subgroups. The prevalence of endocrine insufficiency according to fasting IRI less than 5.0 μU/mL was 26% in AIP without SC, 31% in AIP with SC, and 59% in CP, respectively. HOMA-R values were significantly higher in all AIP groups than in CP. Autoimmune pancreatitis can transform into a state of pancreatic insufficiency after calcification that is less severe than that in definite CP.

Kinesthetic working memory and action control within the dorsal stream.

PubMed

Fiehler, Katja; Burke, Michael; Engel, Annerose; Bien, Siegfried; Rösler, Frank

2008-02-01

There is wide agreement that the "dorsal (action) stream" processes visual information for movement control. However, movements depend not only on vision but also on tactile and kinesthetic information (=haptics). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the present study investigates to what extent networks within the dorsal stream are also utilized for kinesthetic action control and whether they are also involved in kinesthetic working memory. Fourteen blindfolded participants performed a delayed-recognition task in which right-handed movements had to be encoded, maintained, and later recognized without any visual feedback. Encoding of hand movements activated somatosensory areas, superior parietal lobe (dorsodorsal stream), anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) and adjoining areas (ventrodorsal stream), premotor cortex, and occipitotemporal cortex (ventral stream). Short-term maintenance of kinesthetic information elicited load-dependent activity in the aIPS and adjacent anterior portion of the superior parietal lobe (ventrodorsal stream) of the left hemisphere. We propose that the action representation system of the dorsodorsal and ventrodorsal stream is utilized not only for visual but also for kinesthetic action control. Moreover, the present findings demonstrate that networks within the ventrodorsal stream, in particular the left aIPS and closely adjacent areas, are also engaged in working memory maintenance of kinesthetic information.

AIP1 mediates VEGFR-3-dependent angiogenic and lymphangiogenic responses

PubMed Central

Zhou, Huanjiao Jenny; Chen, Xiaodong; Liu, Renjing; Zhang, Haifeng; Wang, Yingdi; Jin, Yu; Liang, Xiaoling; Lu, Lin; Xu, Zhe; Min, Wang

2014-01-01

Objective To investigate the novel function of AIP1 in VEGFR-3 signaling, and VEGFR-3-dependent angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Approach/Results AIP1, a signaling scaffold protein, is highly expressed in the vascular endothelium. We have previously reported that AIP1 functions as an endogenous inhibitor in pathological angiogenesis by blocking VEGFR-2 activity. Surprisingly, here we observe that mice with a global deletion of AIP1 (AIP1-KO) exhibit reduced retinal angiogenesis with less sprouting and fewer branches. Vascular endothelial cell (but not neuronal)-specific deletion of AIP1 causes similar defects in retinal angiogenesis. The reduced retinal angiogenesis correlates with reduced expression in VEGFR-3 despite increased VEGFR-2 levels in AIP1-KO retinas. Consistent with the reduced expression of VEGFR-3, AIP1-KO mice show delayed developmental lymphangiogenesis in neonatal skin and mesentery, and mount weaker VEGF-C-induced cornea lymphangiogenesis. In vitro, human lymphatic EC with AIP1 siRNA knockdown, retinal EC and lymphatic EC isolated from AIP1-KO all show attenuated VEGF-C-induced VEGFR-3 signaling. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that AIP1 via vegfr-3-specific miR-1236 increases VEGFR-3 protein expression, and by directly binding to VEGFR-3 enhances VEGFR-3 endocytosis and stability. Conclusion Our in vivo and in vitro results provide the first insight into the mechanism by which AIP1 mediates VEGFR-3-dependent angiogenic and lymphangiogenic signaling. PMID:24407031

GEOSS AIP-2 Climate Change and Biodiversity Use Scenarios: Interoperability Infrastructures (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nativi, S.; Santoro, M.

2009-12-01

Currently, one of the major challenges for scientific community is the study of climate change effects on life on Earth. To achieve this, it is crucial to understand how climate change will impact on biodiversity and, in this context, several application scenarios require modeling the impact of climate change on distribution of individual species. In the context of GEOSS AIP-2 (Global Earth Observation System of Systems, Architecture Implementation Pilot- Phase 2), the Climate Change & Biodiversity thematic Working Group developed three significant user scenarios. A couple of them make use of a GEOSS-based framework to study the impact of climate change factors on regional species distribution. The presentation introduces and discusses this framework which provides an interoperability infrastructures to loosely couple standard services and components to discover and access climate and biodiversity data, and run forecast and processing models. The framework is comprised of the following main components and services: a)GEO Portal: through this component end user is able to search, find and access the needed services for the scenario execution; b)Graphical User Interface (GUI): this component provides user interaction functionalities. It controls the workflow manager to perform the required operations for the scenario implementation; c)Use Scenario controller: this component acts as a workflow controller implementing the scenario business process -i.e. a typical climate change & biodiversity projection scenario; d)Service Broker implementing Mediation Services: this component realizes a distributed catalogue which federates several discovery and access components (exposing them through a unique CSW standard interface). Federated components publish climate, environmental and biodiversity datasets; e)Ecological Niche Model Server: this component is able to run one or more Ecological Niche Models (ENM) on selected biodiversity and climate datasets; f)Data Access Transaction server: this component publishes the model outputs. The framework was successfully tested in two use scenarios of the GEOSS AIP-2 Climate Change and Biodiversity WG aiming to predict species distribution changes due to Climate Change factors, with the scientific patronage of the University of Colorado and the University of Alaska. The first scenario dealt with the Pikas specie regional distribution in the Great Basin area (North America). While, the second one concerned the modeling of the Arctic Food Chain species in the North Pole area -the relationships between different environmental parameters and Polar Bears distribution was analyzed. Results are published in the GEOSS AIP-2 web site: http://www.ogcnetwork.net/AIP2develop .

Interaction of AIP with protein kinase A (cAMP-dependent protein kinase).

PubMed

Schernthaner-Reiter, Marie Helene; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Stratakis, Constantine A

2018-05-02

Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene cause mostly somatotropinomas and/or prolactinomas in a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPA). AIP has been shown to interact with phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and G proteins, suggesting a link to the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathway. Upregulation of PKA is seen in sporadic somatotropinomas that carry GNAS1 mutations, and those in Carney complex that are due to PRKAR1A mutations. To elucidate the mechanism of AIP-dependent pituitary tumorigenesis, we studied potential functional and physical interactions of AIP with PKA's main subunits PRKAR1A (R1α) and PRKACA (Cα). We found that AIP physically interacts with both R1α and Cα; this interaction is enhanced when all three components are present, but maintained during Cα-R1α dissociation by PKA pathway activation, indicating that AIP binds Cα/R1α both in complex and separately. The interaction between AIP and R1α/Cα is reduced when the frequent AIP pathogenic mutation p.R304* is present. AIP protein levels are regulated both by translation and the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway and Cα stabilizes both AIP and R1α protein levels. AIP reduction by siRNA leads to an increase of PKA pathway activity, which is disproportionately enhanced during PDE4-inhibition. We show that AIP interacts with the PKA pathway on multiple levels, including a physical interaction with both the main regulatory (R1α) and catalytic (Cα) PKA subunits and a functional interaction with PDE4-dependent PKA activation. These findings provide novel insights on the mechanisms of AIP-dependent pituitary tumorigenesis.

Mice with Inactivation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Interacting Protein (Aip) Display Complete Penetrance of Pituitary Adenomas with Aberrant ARNT Expression

PubMed Central

Raitila, Anniina; Lehtonen, Heli J.; Arola, Johanna; Heliövaara, Elina; Ahlsten, Manuel; Georgitsi, Marianthi; Jalanko, Anu; Paetau, Anders; Aaltonen, Lauri A.; Karhu, Auli

2010-01-01

Mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene have been shown to predispose to pituitary adenoma predisposition, a condition characterized by growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors. To study AIP-mediated tumorigenesis, we generated an Aip mouse model. Heterozygous mice developed normally but were prone to pituitary adenomas, in particular to those secreting GH. A complete loss of AIP was detected in these lesions, and full penetrance was reached at the age of 15 months. No excess of any other tumor type was found. Ki-67 analysis indicated that Aip-deficient tumors have higher proliferation rates compared with Aip-proficient tumors, suggesting a more aggressive disease. Similar to human AIP-deficient pituitary adenomas, immunohistochemical studies showed that expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 1 or 2 (ARNT or ARNT2) protein was lost in the mouse tumors, suggesting that mechanisms of AIP-related tumorigenesis involve aberrant ARNT function. The Aip+/− mouse appears to be an excellent model for the respective human disease phenotype. This model constitutes a tool to further study AIP-associated pituitary tumorigenesis and may be potentially valuable in efforts to develop therapeutic strategies to treat pituitary adenomas. PMID:20709796

Feline hypersomatotropism and acromegaly tumorigenesis: a potential role for the AIP gene.

PubMed

Scudder, C J; Niessen, S J; Catchpole, B; Fowkes, R C; Church, D B; Forcada, Y

2017-04-01

Acromegaly in humans is usually sporadic, however up to 20% of familial isolated pituitary adenomas are caused by germline sequence variants of the aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene. Feline acromegaly has similarities to human acromegalic families with AIP mutations. The aim of this study was to sequence the feline AIP gene, identify sequence variants and compare the AIP gene sequence between feline acromegalic and control cats, and in acromegalic siblings. The feline AIP gene was amplified through PCR using whole blood genomic DNA from 10 acromegalic and 10 control cats, and 3 sibling pairs affected by acromegaly. PCR products were sequenced and compared with the published predicted feline AIP gene. A single nonsynonymous SNP was identified in exon 1 (AIP:c.9T > G) of two acromegalic cats and none of the control cats, as well as both members of one sibling pair. The region of this SNP is considered essential for the interaction of the AIP protein with its receptor. This sequence variant has not previously been reported in humans. Two additional synonymous sequence variants were identified (AIP:c.481C > T and AIP:c.826C > T). This is the first molecular study to investigate a potential genetic cause of feline acromegaly and identified a nonsynonymous AIP single nucleotide polymorphism in 20% of the acromegalic cat population evaluated, as well as in one of the sibling pairs evaluated. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dresselhaus to Chair AIP Governing Board

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mildred S. Dresselhaus has been chosen as the first woman to chair the governing board of the American Institute of Physics (AIP).AGU is one of AIP's largest member organizations and is represented proportionately on AIP's various governing bodies. Robert E. Dickinson, AGU's current president, is a member of AIP's governing board, as is AGU's executive director, Fred Spilhaus, its director of publications, Judy Holoviak, and members James L. Burch (Southwest Research Institute), Louis Lanzerotti (Bell Labs), and Jeffrey J. Park (Yale University). In addition, Lanzerotti serves on AIP's 13-member executive committee.

Applied Nonlinear Dynamics and Stochastic Systems Near The Millenium. Proceedings

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

Kadtke, J.B.; Bulsara, A.

These proceedings represent papers presented at the Applied Nonlinear Dynamics and Stochastic Systems conference held in San Diego, California in July 1997. The conference emphasized the applications of nonlinear dynamical systems theory in fields as diverse as neuroscience and biomedical engineering, fluid dynamics, chaos control, nonlinear signal/image processing, stochastic resonance, devices and nonlinear dynamics in socio{minus}economic systems. There were 56 papers presented at the conference and 5 have been abstracted for the Energy Science and Technology database.(AIP)

Composite fatty acid ether amides suppress growth of liver cancer cells in vitro and in an in vivo allograft mouse model.

PubMed

Cao, Mengde; Prima, Victor; Nelson, David; Svetlov, Stanislav

2013-06-01

The heterogeneity of liver cancer, in particular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), portrays the requirement of multiple targets for both its treatment and prevention. Multifaceted agents, minimally or non-toxic for normal hepatocytes, are required to address the molecular diversity of HCC, including the resistance of putative liver cancer stem cells to chemotherapy. We designed and synthesized two fatty acid ethers of isopropylamino propanol, C16:0-AIP-1 and C18:1-AIP-2 (jointly named AIPs), and evaluated their anti-proliferative effects on the human HCC cell line Huh7 and the murine hepatoma cell line BNL 1MEA.7R.1, both in vitro and in an in vivo allograft mouse model. We found that AIP-1 and AIP-2 inhibited proliferation and caused cell death in both Huh7 and BNL 1MEA.7R.1 cells. Importantly, AIP-1 and AIP-2 were found to block the activation of putative liver cancer stem cells as manifested by suppression of clonal 'carcinosphere' development in growth factor-free and anchorage-free medium. The AIPs exhibited a relatively low toxicity against normal human or rat hepatocytes in primary cultures. In addition, we found that the AIPs utilized multifaceted pathways that mediate both autophagy and apoptosis in HCC, including the inhibition of AKTs and CAMK-1. In immune-competent mice, the AIPs significantly reduced BNL 1MEA.7R.1 cell-driven tumor allograft development, with a higher efficiency than sorafenib. A combination of AIP-1 + AIP-2 was most effective in reducing the tumor allograft incidence. AIPs represent a novel class of simple fatty acid derivatives that are effective against liver tumors via diverse pathways. They show a low toxicity towards normal hepatocytes. The addition of AIPs may represent a new avenue towards the management of chronic liver injury and, ultimately, the prevention and treatment of HCC.

Mild pituitary phenotype in 3- and 12-month-old Aip-deficient male mice.

PubMed

Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Zizzari, Philippe; Hage, Mirella; Decourtye, Lyvianne; Adam, Clovis; Viengchareun, Say; Veldhuis, Johannes D; Geoffroy, Valérie; Lombès, Marc; Tolle, Virginie; Guillou, Anne; Karhu, Auli; Kappeler, Laurent; Chanson, Philippe; Kamenický, Peter

2016-10-01

Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene predispose humans to pituitary adenomas, particularly of the somatotroph lineage. Mice with global heterozygous inactivation of Aip (Aip(+/-)) also develop pituitary adenomas but differ from AIP-mutated patients by the high penetrance of pituitary disease. The endocrine phenotype of these mice is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the endocrine phenotype of Aip(+/-) mice by assessing the somatic growth, ultradian pattern of GH secretion and IGF1 concentrations of longitudinally followed male mice at 3 and 12 months of age. As the early stages of pituitary tumorigenesis are controversial, we also studied the pituitary histology and somatotroph cell proliferation in these mice. Aip(+/-) mice did not develop gigantism but exhibited a leaner phenotype than wild-type mice. Analysis of GH pulsatility by deconvolution in 12-month-old Aip(+/-) mice showed a mild increase in total GH secretion, a conserved GH pulsatility pattern, but a normal IGF1 concentration. No pituitary adenomas were detected up to 12 months of age. An increased ex vivo response to GHRH of pituitary explants from 3-month-old Aip(+/-) mice, together with areas of enlarged acini identified on reticulin staining in the pituitary of some Aip(+/-) mice, was suggestive of somatotroph hyperplasia. Global heterozygous Aip deficiency in mice is accompanied by subtle increase in GH secretion, which does not result in gigantism. The absence of pituitary adenomas in 12-month-old Aip(+/-) mice in our experimental conditions demonstrates the important phenotypic variability of this congenic mouse model. © 2016 Society for Endocrinology.

Atherogenic impact of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and its relation to cholesterol esterification rate in HDL (FER(HDL)) and AIP [log(TG/HDL-C)] biomarkers: the butterfly effect?

PubMed

Dobiášová, M

2017-05-04

The atherogenic impact and functional capacity of LCAT was studied and discussed over a half century. This review aims to clarify the key points that may affect the final decision on whether LCAT is an anti-atherogenic or atherogenic factor. There are three main processes involving the efflux of free cholesterol from peripheral cells, LCAT action in intravascular pool where cholesterol esterification rate is under the control of HDL, LDL and VLDL subpopulations, and finally the destination of newly produced cholesteryl esters either to the catabolism in liver or to a futile cycle with apoB lipoproteins. The functionality of LCAT substantially depends on its mass together with the composition of the phospholipid bilayer as well as the saturation and the length of fatty acyls and other effectors about which we know yet nothing. Over the years, LCAT puzzle has been significantly supplemented but yet not so satisfactory as to enable how to manipulate LCAT in order to prevent cardiometabolic events. It reminds the butterfly effect when only a moderate change in the process of transformation free cholesterol to cholesteryl esters may cause a crucial turn in the intended target. On the other hand, two biomarkers - FER(HDL) (fractional esterification rate in HDL) and AIP [log(TG/HDL-C)] can offer a benefit to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). They both reflect the rate of cholesterol esterification by LCAT and the composition of lipoprotein subpopulations that controls this rate. In clinical practice, AIP can be calculated from the routine lipid profile with help of AIP calculator www.biomed.cas.cz/fgu/aip/calculator.php.

Role of Phosphodiesterases on the Function of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Interacting Protein (AIP) in the Pituitary Gland and on the Evaluation of AIP Gene Variants.

PubMed

Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Stratakis, Constantine A

2017-04-01

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is caused in about 20% of cases by loss-of-function germline mutations in the AIP gene. Patients harboring AIP mutations usually present with somatotropinomas resulting either in gigantism or young-onset acromegaly. AIP encodes for a co-chaperone protein endowed with tumor suppressor properties in somatotroph cells. Among other mechanisms proposed to explain this function, a regulatory effect over the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway seems to play a prominent role. In this setting, the well-known interaction between AIP and 2 different isoforms of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), PDE2A3 and PDE4A5, is of particular interest. While the interaction with over-expressed AIP does not seem to affect PDE2A3 function, the reported effect on PDE4A5 is, in contrast, reduced enzymatic activity. In this review, we explore the possible implications of these molecular interactions for the function of somatotroph cells. In particular, we discuss how both PDEs and AIP could act as negative regulators of the cAMP pathway in the pituitary, probably both by shared and independent mechanisms. Moreover, we describe how the evaluation of the AIP-PDE4A5 interaction has proven to be a useful tool for testing AIP mutations, complementing other in silico, in vitro, and in vivo analyses. Improved assessment of the pathogenicity of AIP mutations is indeed paramount to provide adequate guidance for genetic counseling and clinical screening in AIP mutation carriers, which can lead to prospective diagnosis of pituitary adenomas. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Comparison and validation of International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer in a Taiwanese cohort.

PubMed

Chang, Ming-Chu; Liang, Po-Chin; Jan, I-Shiow; Yang, Ching-Yao; Tien, Yu-Wen; Wei, Shu-Chen; Wong, Jau-Min; Chang, Yu-Ting

2014-08-18

The International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) designed to diagnosis autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been proposed recently. The diagnostic performance of ICDC has not been previously evaluated in diffuse-type and focal-type AIP, respectively, in comparison with the revised HISORt and Asian criteria in Taiwan. Prospective, consecutive patient cohort. Largest tertiary referred centre hospital managing pancreatic disease in Taiwan. 188 patients with AIP and 130 with tissue proofed pancreatic adenocarcinoma were consecutively recruited. The ICDC, as well as revised HISORt and Asian criteria, was applied for each participant. Each diagnostic criterion of ICDC was validated with special reference to levels 1 and 2 in diffuse-type and focal-type AIP. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Each diagnostic criterion of ICDC was validated with special reference to levels 1 and 2 in AIP and focal-type AIP. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ICDC for all AIP were the best: 89.4%, 100% and 93.7%, respectively, in these three criteria. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ICDC for focal-type AIP (84.9%, 100% and 93.8%) were also the best among these three criteria. The area under the curve of receiver-operator characteristic of ICDC was 0.95 (95% CI 0.92 to 0.97) in all AIP and 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.97) in focal-type AIP. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ICDC are higher than the revised HISORt and Asian criteria. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each criterion are higher in diffuse-type AIP compared with focal-type AIP. Under the same specificity, the sensitivity and accuracy of ICDC are higher than other diagnostic criteria in focal-type AIP. ICDC has better diagnostic performance compared with previously proposed diagnostic criteria in diffuse-type and focal-type AIP. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Autoimmune pancreatitis can develop into chronic pancreatitis.

PubMed

Maruyama, Masahiro; Watanabe, Takayuki; Kanai, Keita; Oguchi, Takaya; Asano, Jumpei; Ito, Tetsuya; Ozaki, Yayoi; Muraki, Takashi; Hamano, Hideaki; Arakura, Norikazu; Kawa, Shigeyuki

2014-05-21

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been recognized as a distinct type of pancreatitis that is possibly caused by autoimmune mechanisms. AIP is characterized by high serum IgG4 and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in affected pancreatic tissue. Acute phase AIP responds favorably to corticosteroid therapy and results in the amelioration of clinical findings. However, the long-term prognosis and outcome of AIP remain unclear. We have proposed a working hypothesis that AIP can develop into ordinary chronic pancreatitis resembling alcoholic pancreatitis over a long-term course based on several clinical findings, most notably frequent pancreatic stone formation. In this review article, we describe a series of study results to confirm our hypothesis and clarify that: 1) pancreatic calcification in AIP is closely associated with disease recurrence; 2) advanced stage AIP might have earlier been included in ordinary chronic pancreatitis; 3) approximately 40% of AIP patients experience pancreatic stone formation over a long-term course, for which a primary risk factor is narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts; and 4) nearly 20% of AIP patients progress to confirmed chronic pancreatitis according to the revised Japanese Clinical Diagnostic Criteria, with independent risk factors being pancreatic head swelling and non-narrowing of the pancreatic body duct.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Refractory Severe Respiratory Failure in Acute Interstitial Pneumonia.

PubMed

Gonçalves-Venade, Gabriela; Lacerda-Príncipe, Nuno; Roncon-Albuquerque, Roberto; Paiva, José Artur

2018-05-01

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is a rare idiopathic interstitial lung disease with rapid progressive respiratory failure and high mortality. In the present report, three cases of AIP complicated by refractory respiratory failure supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are presented. One male and two female patients (ages 27-59) were included. Venovenous ECMO support was provided using miniaturized systems, with two-site femoro-jugular circuit configuration. Despite lung protective ventilation, prone position and neuromuscular blockade, refractory respiratory failure of unknown etiology supervened (ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen 46-130) and ECMO was initiated after 3-7 days of mechanical ventilation. AIP diagnosis was established after exclusion of infectious and noninfectious acute respiratory distress syndrome on the basis of clinical and analytical data, bronchoalveolar lavage analysis and lung imaging, with a confirmatory surgical lung biopsy revealing diffuse alveolar damage of unknown etiology. Immunosuppressive treatment consisted in high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide in one case. Two patients survived to hospital discharge. ECMO allowed AIP diagnosis and treatment in the presence of refractory respiratory failure, therefore reducing ventilator-induced lung injury and bridging lung recovery in two patients. ECMO referral should be considered in refractory respiratory failure if AIP is suspected. © 2018 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characterization of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacting Protein (AIP) Mutations in Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenoma Families

PubMed Central

Igreja, Susana; Chahal, Harvinder S; King, Peter; Bolger, Graeme B; Srirangalingam, Umasuthan; Guasti, Leonardo; Chapple, J Paul; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Gueorguiev, Maria; Guegan, Katie; Stals, Karen; Khoo, Bernard; Kumar, Ajith V; Ellard, Sian; Grossman, Ashley B; Korbonits, Márta

2010-01-01

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is an autosomal dominant condition with variable genetic background and incomplete penetrance. Germline mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene have been reported in 15–40% of FIPA patients. Limited data are available on the functional consequences of the mutations or regarding the regulation of the AIP gene. We describe a large cohort of FIPA families and characterize missense and silent mutations using minigene constructs, luciferase and β-galactosidase assays, as well as in silico predictions. Patients with AIP mutations had a lower mean age at diagnosis (23.6±11.2 years) than AIP mutation-negative patients (40.4±14.5 years). A promoter mutation showed reduced in vitro activity corresponding to lower mRNA expression in patient samples. Stimulation of the protein kinase A-pathway positively regulates the AIP promoter. Silent mutations led to abnormal splicing resulting in truncated protein or reduced AIP expression. A two-hybrid assay of protein–protein interaction of all missense variants showed variable disruption of AIP-phosphodiesterase-4A5 binding. In summary, exonic, promoter, splice-site, and large deletion mutations in AIP are implicated in 31% of families in our FIPA cohort. Functional characterization of AIP changes is important to identify the functional impact of gene sequence variants. Hum Mutat 31:1–11, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID:20506337

Mirror Observation of Finger Action Enhances Activity in Anterior Intraparietal Sulcus: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

PubMed Central

Murayama, Takashi; Takasugi, Jun; Monma, Masahiko; Oga, Masaru

2013-01-01

Mirror therapy can be used to promote recovery from paralysis in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, There are a lot of reports that mirror-image observation of the unilateral moving hand enhanced the excitability of the primary motor area (M1) ipsilateral to the moving hand in healthy subjects. but the neural mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects are currently unclear. To investigate this issue, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure activity in brain regions related to visual information processing during mirror image movement observation. Thirteen healthy subjects performed a finger-thumb opposition task with the left and right hands separately, with or without access to mirror observation. In the mirror condition, one hand was reflected in a mirror placed above the abdomen in the MRI scanner. In the masked mirror condition, subjects performed the same task but with the mirror obscured. In both conditions, the other hand was held at rest behind the mirror. A between-task comparison (mirror versus masked mirror) revealed significant activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere in the anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIP) while performing all tasks, regardless of which hand was used. The right aIP was significantly activated while moving the right hand. In contrast, in the left aIP, a small number of voxels showed a tendency toward activation during both left and right hand movement. The enhancement of ipsilateral aIP activity by the mirror image observation of finger action suggests that bimodal aIP neurons can be activated by visual information. We propose that activation in the M1 ipsilateral to the moving hand can be induced by information passing through the ventral premotor area from the aIP. PMID:25792898

AIP Member Societies Entering the 1980's. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Beverly Fearn

Information is presented on the composition of the 1979 membership of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Questionnaires were administered to members of the nine independent societies of the AIP to determine demographic and employment information. Background characteristics of the membership include the following: more than half identify…

GEOSS AIP-2 Climate Change and Biodiversity Use Scenarios: Interoperability Infrastructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nativi, Stefano; Santoro, Mattia

2010-05-01

In the last years, scientific community is producing great efforts in order to study the effects of climate change on life on Earth. In this general framework, a key role is played by the impact of climate change on biodiversity. To assess this, several use scenarios require the modeling of climatological change impact on the regional distribution of biodiversity species. Designing and developing interoperability infrastructures which enable scientists to search, discover, access and use multi-disciplinary resources (i.e. datasets, services, models, etc.) is currently one of the main research fields for the Earth and Space Science Informatics. This presentation introduces and discusses an interoperability infrastructure which implements the discovery, access, and chaining of loosely-coupled resources in the climatology and biodiversity domains. This allows to set up and run forecast and processing models. The presented framework was successfully developed and experimented in the context of GEOSS AIP-2 (Global Earth Observation System of Systems, Architecture Implementation Pilot- Phase 2) Climate Change & Biodiversity thematic Working Group. This interoperability infrastructure is comprised of the following main components and services: a)GEO Portal: through this component end user is able to search, find and access the needed services for the scenario execution; b)Graphical User Interface (GUI): this component provides user interaction functionalities. It controls the workflow manager to perform the required operations for the scenario implementation; c)Use Scenario controller: this component acts as a workflow controller implementing the scenario business process -i.e. a typical climate change & biodiversity projection scenario; d)Service Broker implementing Mediation Services: this component realizes a distributed catalogue which federates several discovery and access components (exposing them through a unique CSW standard interface). Federated components publish climate, environmental and biodiversity datasets; e)Ecological Niche Model Server: this component is able to run one or more Ecological Niche Models (ENM) on selected biodiversity and climate datasets; f)Data Access Transaction server: this component publishes the model outputs. This framework was assessed in two use scenarios of GEOSS AIP-2 Climate Change and Biodiversity WG. Both scenarios concern the prediction of species distributions driven by climatological change forecasts. The first scenario dealt with the Pikas specie regional distribution in the Great Basin area (North America). While, the second one concerned the modeling of the Arctic Food Chain species in the North Pole area -the relationships between different environmental parameters and Polar Bears distribution was analyzed. The scientific patronage was provided by the University of Colorado and the University of Alaska, respectively. Results are published in the GEOSS AIP-2 web site: http://www.ogcnetwork.net/AIP2develop.

SU-G-JeP4-05: Effects of Irregular Respiratory Motion On the Positioning Accuracy of Moving Target with Free Breathing Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography

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

Li, X; Xiong, W; Gewanter, R

Purpose: Average or maximum intensity projection (AIP or MIP) images derived from 4DCT images are often used as a reference image for target alignment when free breathing Cone-beam CT (FBCBCT) is used for positioning a moving target at treatment. This method can be highly accurate if the patient has stable respiratory motion. However, a patient’s breathing pattern often varies irregularly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of irregular respiration on the positioning accuracy of a moving target with FBCBCT. Methods: Eight patients’ respiratory motion curves were selected to drive a Quasar phantom with embedded cubic andmore » spherical targets. A 4DCT of the moving phantom was acquired on a CT scanner (Philips Brilliance 16) equipped with a Varian RPM system. The phase binned 4DCT images and the corresponding MIP and AIP images were transferred into Eclipse for analysis. CBCTs of the phantom driven by the same breathing curves were acquired on a Varian TrueBeam and fused such that the zero positions of moving targets are the same on both CBCT and AIP images. The sphere and cube volumes and centrioid differences (alignment error) determined by MIP, AIP and FBCBCT images were compared. Results: Compared to the volume determined by FBCBCT, the volumes of cube and sphere in MIP images were 22.4%±8.8% and 34.2%±6.2% larger while the volumes in AIP images were 7.1%±6.2% and 2.7%±15.3% larger, respectively. The alignment errors for the cube and sphere with center-center matches between MIP and FBCBCT were 3.5±3.1mm and 3.2±2.3mm, and the alignment errors between AIP and FBCBCT were 2.1±2.6mm and 2.1±1.7mm, respectively. Conclusion: AIP images appear to be superior reference images than MIP images. However, irregular respiratory motions could compromise the positioning accuracy of a moving target if the target center-center match is used to align FBCBCT and AIP images.« less

AIP mutations and gigantism.

PubMed

Rostomyan, Liliya; Potorac, Iulia; Beckers, Pablo; Daly, Adrian F; Beckers, Albert

2017-06-01

AIP mutations are rare in sporadic acromegaly but they are seen at a higher frequency among certain specific populations of pituitary adenoma patients (pituitary gigantism cases, familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) kindreds, and patients with macroadenomas who are diagnosed ≤30 years). AIP mutations are most prevalent in patients with pituitary gigantism (29% of this group were found to have mutations in AIP gene). These data support targeted genetic screening for AIP mutations/deletions in these groups of pituitary adenoma patients. Earlier diagnosis of AIP-related acromegaly-gigantism cases enables timely clinical evaluation and treatment, thereby improving outcomes in terms of excessive linear growth and acromegaly comorbidities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Autoimmune pancreatitis can develop into chronic pancreatitis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been recognized as a distinct type of pancreatitis that is possibly caused by autoimmune mechanisms. AIP is characterized by high serum IgG4 and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in affected pancreatic tissue. Acute phase AIP responds favorably to corticosteroid therapy and results in the amelioration of clinical findings. However, the long-term prognosis and outcome of AIP remain unclear. We have proposed a working hypothesis that AIP can develop into ordinary chronic pancreatitis resembling alcoholic pancreatitis over a long-term course based on several clinical findings, most notably frequent pancreatic stone formation. In this review article, we describe a series of study results to confirm our hypothesis and clarify that: 1) pancreatic calcification in AIP is closely associated with disease recurrence; 2) advanced stage AIP might have earlier been included in ordinary chronic pancreatitis; 3) approximately 40% of AIP patients experience pancreatic stone formation over a long-term course, for which a primary risk factor is narrowing of both Wirsung’s and Santorini’s ducts; and 4) nearly 20% of AIP patients progress to confirmed chronic pancreatitis according to the revised Japanese Clinical Diagnostic Criteria, with independent risk factors being pancreatic head swelling and non-narrowing of the pancreatic body duct. PMID:24884922

A novel germline mutation in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene in an Italian family with gigantism.

PubMed

Urbani, C; Russo, D; Raggi, F; Lombardi, M; Sardella, C; Scattina, I; Lupi, I; Manetti, L; Tomisti, L; Marcocci, C; Martino, E; Bogazzi, F

2014-10-01

Acromegaly usually occurs as a sporadic disease, but it may be a part of familial pituitary tumor syndromes in rare cases. Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene have been associated with a predisposition to familial isolated pituitary adenoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the AIP gene in a patient with gigantism and in her relatives. Direct sequencing of AIP gene was performed in fourteen members of the family, spanning among three generations. The index case was an 18-year-old woman with gigantism due to an invasive GH-secreting pituitary adenoma and a concomitant tall-cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. A novel germline mutation in the AIP gene (c.685C>T, p.Q229X) was identified in the proband and in two members of her family, who did not present clinical features of acromegaly or other pituitary disorders. Eleven subjects had no mutation in the AIP gene. Two members of the family with clinical features of acromegaly refused either the genetic or the biochemical evaluation. The Q229X mutation was predicted to generate a truncated AIP protein, lacking the last two tetratricopeptide repeat domains and the final C-terminal α-7 helix. We identified a new AIP germline mutation predicted to produce a truncated AIP protein, lacking its biological properties due to the disruption of the C-terminus binding sites for both the chaperones and the client proteins of AIP.

The antihyperlipidemic activities of enzymatic and acidic intracellular polysaccharides by Termitomyces albuminosus.

PubMed

Zhao, Huajie; Li, Shangshang; Zhang, Jianjun; Che, Gen; Zhou, Meng; Liu, Min; Zhang, Chen; Xu, Nuo; Lin, Lin; Liu, Yu; Jia, Le

2016-10-20

Two polysaccharides, EIPS and AIPS were obtained by the hydrolysis of IPS from Termitomyces albuminosus, and their pharmacological effects on blood lipid profiles metabolism and oxidative stress were investigated. The results demonstrated that EIPS was superior to IPS and AIPS on reducing hepatic lipid levels and preventing oxidative stress by improving serum enzyme activities (ALT, AST, and ALP), serum lipid levels (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C), hepatic lipid levels (TC and TG), and antioxidant status (SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, T-AOC, MDA, and LPO). These conclusions indicated that EIPS, AIPS and IPS might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs on preventing the high-fat emulsion-induced hyperlipidemia. In addition, the monosaccharide compositions of IPS and its hydrolyzate were also processed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Image Segmentation, Registration, Compression, and Matching

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yadegar, Jacob; Wei, Hai; Yadegar, Joseph; Ray, Nilanjan; Zabuawala, Sakina

2011-01-01

A novel computational framework was developed of a 2D affine invariant matching exploiting a parameter space. Named as affine invariant parameter space (AIPS), the technique can be applied to many image-processing and computer-vision problems, including image registration, template matching, and object tracking from image sequence. The AIPS is formed by the parameters in an affine combination of a set of feature points in the image plane. In cases where the entire image can be assumed to have undergone a single affine transformation, the new AIPS match metric and matching framework becomes very effective (compared with the state-of-the-art methods at the time of this reporting). No knowledge about scaling or any other transformation parameters need to be known a priori to apply the AIPS framework. An automated suite of software tools has been created to provide accurate image segmentation (for data cleaning) and high-quality 2D image and 3D surface registration (for fusing multi-resolution terrain, image, and map data). These tools are capable of supporting existing GIS toolkits already in the marketplace, and will also be usable in a stand-alone fashion. The toolkit applies novel algorithmic approaches for image segmentation, feature extraction, and registration of 2D imagery and 3D surface data, which supports first-pass, batched, fully automatic feature extraction (for segmentation), and registration. A hierarchical and adaptive approach is taken for achieving automatic feature extraction, segmentation, and registration. Surface registration is the process of aligning two (or more) data sets to a common coordinate system, during which the transformation between their different coordinate systems is determined. Also developed here are a novel, volumetric surface modeling and compression technique that provide both quality-guaranteed mesh surface approximations and compaction of the model sizes by efficiently coding the geometry and connectivity/topology components of the generated models. The highly efficient triangular mesh compression compacts the connectivity information at the rate of 1.5-4 bits per vertex (on average for triangle meshes), while reducing the 3D geometry by 40-50 percent. Finally, taking into consideration the characteristics of 3D terrain data, and using the innovative, regularized binary decomposition mesh modeling, a multistage, pattern-drive modeling, and compression technique has been developed to provide an effective framework for compressing digital elevation model (DEM) surfaces, high-resolution aerial imagery, and other types of NASA data.

AIP1 recruits phosphatase PP2A to ASK1 in tumor necrosis factor-induced ASK1-JNK activation.

PubMed

Min, Wang; Lin, Yan; Tang, Shibo; Yu, Luyang; Zhang, Haifeng; Wan, Ting; Luhn, Tricia; Fu, Haian; Chen, Hong

2008-04-11

Previously we have shown that AIP1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase [ASK]1-interacting protein 1), a novel member of the Ras-GAP protein family, facilitates dephosphorylation of ASK1 at pSer967 and subsequently 14-3-3 release from ASK1, leading to enhanced ASK1-JNK signaling. However, the phosphatase(s) responsible for ASK1 dephosphorylation at pSer967 has not been identified. In the present study, we identified protein phosphatase (PP)2A as a potential phosphatase in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced dephosphorylation of ASK1 pSer967 in ECs was blocked by PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid. Overexpression of PP2A catalytic subunit induced dephosphorylation of ASK1 pSer967 and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In contrast, a catalytic inactive form of PP2A or PP2A small interfering RNA blunted TNF-induced dephosphorylation of ASK1 pSer967 and activation of JNK without effects on NF-kappaB activation. Whereas AIP1, via its C2 domain, binds to ASK1, PP2A binds to the GAP domain of AIP1. Endogenous AIP1-PP2A complex can be detected in the resting state, and TNF induces a complex formation of AIP1-PP2A with ASK1. Furthermore, TNF-induced association of PP2A with ASK1 was diminished in AIP1-knockdown ECs, suggesting a critical role of AIP1 in recruiting PP2A to ASK1. TNF-signaling molecules TRAF2 and RIP1, known to be in complex with AIP1 and activate AIP1 by phosphorylating AIP1 at Ser604, are critical for TNF-induced ASK1 dephosphorylation. Finally, PP2A and AIP1 cooperatively induce activation of ASK1-JNK signaling and EC apoptosis, as demonstrated by both overexpression and small interfering RNA knockdown approaches. Taken together, our data support a critical role of PP2A-AIP1 complex in TNF-induced activation of ASK1-JNK apoptotic signaling.

Distinct Spatiotemporal Activation Patterns of the Perirhinal-Entorhinal Network in Response to Cortical and Amygdala Input

PubMed Central

Willems, Janske G. P.; Wadman, Wytse J.; Cappaert, Natalie L. M.

2016-01-01

The perirhinal (PER) and entorhinal cortex (EC) receive input from the agranular insular cortex (AiP) and the subcortical lateral amygdala (LA) and the main output area is the hippocampus. Information transfer through the PER/EC network however, is not always guaranteed. It is hypothesized that this network actively regulates the (sub)cortical activity transfer to the hippocampal network and that the inhibitory system is involved in this function. This study determined the recruitment by the AiP and LA afferents in PER/EC network with the use of voltage sensitive dye (VSD) imaging in horizontal mouse brain slices. Electrical stimulation (500 μA) of the AiP induced activity that gradually propagated predominantly in the rostro-caudal direction: from the PER to the lateral EC (LEC). In the presence of 1 μM of the competitive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor antagonist bicuculline, AiP stimulation recruited the medial EC (MEC) as well. In contrast, LA stimulation (500 μA) only induced activity in the deep layers of the PER. In the presence of bicuculline, the initial population activity in the PER propagated further towards the superficial layers and the EC after a delay. The latency of evoked responses decreased with increasing stimulus intensities (50–500 μA) for both the AiP and LA stimuli. The stimulation threshold for evoking responses in the PER/EC network was higher for the LA than for the AiP. This study showed that the extent of the PER/EC network activation depends on release of inhibition. When GABAA dependent inhibition is reduced, both the AiP and the LA activate spatially overlapping regions, although in a distinct spatiotemporal fashion. It is therefore hypothesized that the inhibitory network regulates excitatory activity from both cortical and subcortical areas that has to be transmitted through the PER/EC network. PMID:27378860

Realtime, Object-oriented Reduction of Parkes Multibeam Data using AIPS++

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnes, D. G.

An overview of the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) Parkes Multibeam Software is presented. The new thirteen-beam Parkes {21 cm} Multibeam Receiver is being used for the neutral hydrogen (Hi) Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS). This survey will search the entire southern sky for Hi in the redshift range {$-1200$ km s$^{-1}$} to {$+12600$ km s$^{-1}$}; with a limiting column density of {$N_Hi \\simeq 5 \\times 1017$ cm$^{-2}$}. Observations for the survey began in late February, 1997, and will continue through to the year 2000. A complete reduction package for the HIPASS survey has been developed, based on the AIPS++ library. The major software component is realtime, and uses advanced inter-process communication coupled to a graphical user interface, provided by AIPS++, to apply bandpass removal, flux calibration, velocity frame conversion and spectral smoothing to 26 spectra of 1024 channels each, every five seconds. AIPS++ connections have been added to ATNF-developed visualization software to provide on-line visual monitoring of the data quality. The non-realtime component of the software is responsible for gridding the spectra into position-velocity cubes; typically 200000 spectra are gridded into an $8^\\circ \\times 8^\\circ$ cube.

Multi-chaperone function modulation and association with cytoskeletal proteins are key features of the function of AIP in the pituitary gland

PubMed Central

Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C.; Morgan, Rhodri M.L.; Barry, Sayka; D’Acquisto, Fulvio; Prodromou, Chrisostomos; Korbonits, Márta

2018-01-01

Despite the well-recognized role of loss-of-function mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein gene (AIP) predisposing to pituitary adenomas, the pituitary-specific function of this tumor suppressor remains an enigma. To determine the repertoire of interacting partners for the AIP protein in somatotroph cells, wild-type and variant AIP proteins were used for pull-down/quantitative mass spectrometry experiments against lysates of rat somatotropinoma-derived cells; relevant findings were validated by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization. Global gene expression was studied in AIP mutation positive and negative pituitary adenomas via RNA microarrays. Direct interaction with AIP was confirmed for three known and six novel partner proteins. Novel interactions with HSPA5 and HSPA9, together with known interactions with HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1 and HSPA8, indicate that the function/stability of multiple chaperone client proteins could be perturbed by a deficient AIP co-chaperone function. Interactions with TUBB, TUBB2A, NME1 and SOD1 were also identified. The AIP variants p.R304* and p.R304Q showed impaired interactions with HSPA8, HSP90AB1, NME1 and SOD1; p.R304* also displayed reduced binding to TUBB and TUBB2A, and AIP-mutated tumors showed reduced TUBB2A expression. Our findings suggest that cytoskeletal organization, cell motility/adhesion, as well as oxidative stress responses, are functions that are likely to be involved in the tumor suppressor activity of AIP. PMID:29507682

78 FR 16540 - AIP Series Trust and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-15

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 30420; File No. 812-14092] AIP Series Trust and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP; Notice of Application March 11, 2013. AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''). ACTION: Notice of an application for an order under section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Investment Company Act o...

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP): relationship to Hamman-Rich syndrome, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

PubMed

Mukhopadhyay, Sanjay; Parambil, Joseph G

2012-10-01

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is a term used for an idiopathic form of acute lung injury characterized clinically by acute respiratory failure with bilateral lung infiltrates and histologically by diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), a combination of findings previously known as the Hamman-Rich syndrome. This review aims to clarify the diagnostic criteria of AIP, its relationship with DAD and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), key etiologies that need to be excluded before making the diagnosis, and the salient clinical features. Cases that meet clinical and pathologic criteria for AIP overlap substantially with those that fulfill clinical criteria for ARDS. The main differences between AIP and ARDS are that AIP requires a histologic diagnosis of DAD and exclusion of known etiologies. AIP should also be distinguished from "acute exacerbation of IPF," a condition in which acute lung injury (usually DAD) supervenes on underlying usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Impact of calcium and TOC on biological acidification assessment in Norwegian rivers.

PubMed

Schneider, Susanne C

2011-02-15

Acidification continues to be a major impact in freshwaters of northern Europe, and the biotic response to chemical recovery from acidification is often not a straightforward process. The focus on biological recovery is relevant within the context of the EU Water Framework Directive, where a biological monitoring system is needed that detects differences in fauna and flora compared to undisturbed reference conditions. In order to verify true reference sites for biological analyses, expected river pH is modeled based on Ca and TOC, and 94% of variability in pH at reference sites is explained by Ca alone, while 98% is explained by a combination of Ca and TOC. Based on 59 samples from 28 reference sites, compared to 547 samples from 285 non-reference sites, the impact of calcium and total organic carbon (TOC) on benthic algae species composition, expressed as acidification index periphyton (AIP), is analyzed. Rivers with a high Ca concentration have a naturally higher AIP, and TOC affects reference AIP only at low Ca concentrations. Four biological river types are needed for assessment of river acidification in Norway based on benthic algae: very calcium-poor, humic rivers (Ca<1 mg/l and TOC>2 mg/l); very calcium-poor, clear rivers (Ca<1 mg/l and TOC<2 mg/l); calcium-poor rivers (Ca between 1 and 4 mg/l); moderately calcium rich rivers (Ca>4 mg/l). A biological assessment system for river acidification in Norway based on benthic algae is presented, following the demands of the Water Framework Directive. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IL-8 Expression in Granulocytic Epithelial Lesions of Idiopathic Duct-centric Pancreatitis (Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis).

PubMed

Ku, Yuna; Hong, Seung-Mo; Fujikura, Kohei; Kim, Sung Joo; Akita, Masayuki; Abe-Suzuki, Shiho; Shiomi, Hideyuki; Masuda, Atsuhiro; Itoh, Tomoo; Azuma, Takeshi; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Zen, Yoh

2017-08-01

Type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (type 2 AIP) develops in isolation or sometimes in association with ulcerative colitis. Its diagnosis requires the histologic confirmation of granulocytic epithelial lesions (GELs) with no diagnostic biomarker currently available. This study aimed to elucidate the tissue expression of cytokines and their diagnostic value in this condition. In quantitative polymerase chain reaction for multiple cytokines using tissue-derived mRNA, the expression level of interleukin (IL)-8 was markedly higher in type 2 AIP than in type 1 AIP (P<0.001). In immunostaining, IL-8 expression was detected in the ductal/ductular epithelium (11/13; 85%) and infiltrating neutrophils or lymphocytes (12/12; 100%) in type 2 AIP, but was almost entirely negative in type 1 AIP (n=13; both, P<0.001). Although obstructive pancreatitis adjacent to pancreatic cancers (peritumoral pancreatitis) exhibited IL-8 expression in the epithelium (3/12; 25%) and inflammatory cells (10/12; 83%), expression levels were significantly lower than those in type 2 AIP (P<0.001 and 0.020, respectively). The presence of either GELs or IL-8-positive epithelium discriminated type 2 AIP from type 1 AIP or obstructive pancreatitis with 92% sensitivity and 92% to 100% specificity. Furthermore, CD3/IL-8-coexpressing lymphocytes were almost restricted to type 2 AIP. Interestingly, a similar pattern of IL-8 expression was also observed in colonic biopsies of ulcerative colitis. In conclusion, the overexpression of IL-8 may underlie the development of GELs in type 2 AIP, and IL-8 immunostaining or IL-8/CD3 double staining may become an ancillary method for its diagnosis. The similar expression pattern of IL-8 in ulcerative colitis also suggests a pathogenetic link between the 2 conditions.

Effect of aerobic exercise on the atherogenic index of plasma in middle-aged Chinese men with various body weights.

PubMed

Shen, Shiwei; Lu, Yun; Dang, Yingjie; Qi, Huajin; Shen, Zhenhai; Wu, Liuxin; Li, Feng; Yang, Chengjian; Qiang, Dongchang; Yang, Yan; Shui, Kedong; Bao, Yanying

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between aerobic exercise and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in middle-aged Chinese men stratified by body weight. A cross-sectional study, which recruited 26,701 middle-aged Chinese men undergoing health examinations in our hospital from 1st January 2014 to 30th June 2015 was performed, and the associations between body weight and AIP, and aerobic exercise and AIP were evaluated. The mean AIP levels were -0.016±0.305, 0.138±0.3171 and 0.211±0.3243 in normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, respectively, and appeared to rise with body weight. Significantly higher AIP levels were observed in subjects with a weekly aerobic exercise period ≥90min than in those with a weekly aerobic exercise period <90min, and the mean AIP levels were -0.038±0.3015, 0.117±0.3182 and 0.192±0.3209, and were 0.003±0.3067, 0.156±0.3149 and 0.225±0.3263 in normal weight, overweight and obese men with a weekly aerobic exercise period ≥90min and <90min, respectively. In addition, aerobic exercise significantly reduced AIP after adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose and uric acid. Lowering body weight and/or increasing aerobic exercise time may reduce AIP, and lowering body weight results in a greater reduction in AIP than aerobic exercise. Weight control combined with increased aerobic exercise time may cause a synergistic effect on the reduction of AIP. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural Basis for Ligand Recognition and Discrimination of a Quorum-quenching Antibody*

PubMed Central

Kirchdoerfer, Robert N.; Garner, Amanda L.; Flack, Caralyn E.; Mee, Jenny M.; Horswill, Alexander R.; Janda, Kim D.; Kaufmann, Gunnar F.; Wilson, Ian A.

2011-01-01

In the postantibiotic era, available treatment options for severe bacterial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have become limited. Therefore, new and innovative approaches are needed to combat such life-threatening infections. Virulence factor expression in S. aureus is regulated in a cell density-dependent manner using “quorum sensing,” which involves generation and secretion of autoinducing peptides (AIPs) into the surrounding environment to activate a bacterial sensor kinase at a particular threshold concentration. Mouse monoclonal antibody AP4-24H11 was shown previously to blunt quorum sensing-mediated changes in gene expression in vitro and protect mice from a lethal dose of S. aureus by sequestering the AIP signal. We have elucidated the crystal structure of the AP4-24H11 Fab in complex with AIP-4 at 2.5 Å resolution to determine its mechanism of ligand recognition. A key GluH95 provides much of the binding specificity through formation of hydrogen bonds with each of the four amide nitrogens in the AIP-4 macrocyclic ring. Importantly, these structural data give clues as to the interactions between the cognate staphylococcal AIP receptors AgrC and the AIPs, as AP4-24H11·AIP-4 binding recapitulates features that have been proposed for AgrC-AIP recognition. Additionally, these structural insights may enable the engineering of AIP cross-reactive antibodies or quorum quenching vaccines for use in active or passive immunotherapy for prevention or treatment of S. aureus infections. PMID:21454495

Factors Contributing to Massive Blood Loss on Peripartum Hysterectomy for Abnormally Invasive Placenta: Who Bleeds More?

PubMed Central

Usui, Rie; Suzuki, Hirotada; Baba, Yosuke

2016-01-01

Introduction. To identify factors that determine blood loss during peripartum hysterectomy for abnormally invasive placenta (AIP-hysterectomy). Methods. We reviewed all of the medical charts of 11,919 deliveries in a single tertiary perinatal center. We examined characteristics of AIP-hysterectomy patients, with a single experienced obstetrician attending all AIP-hysterectomies and using the same technique. Results. AIP-hysterectomy was performed in 18 patients (0.15%: 18/11,919). Of the 18, 14 (78%) had a prior cesarean section (CS) history and the other 4 (22%) were primiparous women. Planned AIP-hysterectomy was performed in 12/18 (67%), with the remaining 6 (33%) undergoing emergent AIP-hysterectomy. Of the 6, 4 (4/6: 67%) patients were primiparous women. An intra-arterial balloon was inserted in 9/18 (50%). Women with the following three factors significantly bled less in AIP-hysterectomy than its counterpart: the employment of an intra-arterial balloon (4,448 ± 1,948 versus 8,861 ± 3,988 mL), planned hysterectomy (5,003 ± 2,057 versus 9,957 ± 4,485 mL), and prior CS (5,706 ± 2,727 versus 9,975 ± 5,532 mL). Patients with prior CS (−) bled more: this may be because these patients tended to undergo emergent surgery or attempted placental separation. Conclusion. Patients with intra-arterial balloon catheter insertion bled less on AIP-hysterectomy. Massive bleeding occurred in emergent AIP-hysterectomy without prior CS. PMID:27630716

Structural Basis for Ligand Recognition and Discrimination of a Quorum-quenching Antibody

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

Kirchdoerfer, Robert N.; Garner, Amanda L.; Flack, Caralyn E.

2011-09-16

In the postantibiotic era, available treatment options for severe bacterial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have become limited. Therefore, new and innovative approaches are needed to combat such life-threatening infections. Virulence factor expression in S. aureus is regulated in a cell density-dependent manner using 'quorum sensing,' which involves generation and secretion of autoinducing peptides (AIPs) into the surrounding environment to activate a bacterial sensor kinase at a particular threshold concentration. Mouse monoclonal antibody AP4-24H11 was shown previously to blunt quorum sensing-mediated changes in gene expression in vitro and protect mice from a lethal dose of S. aureus by sequesteringmore » the AIP signal. We have elucidated the crystal structure of the AP4-24H11 Fab in complex with AIP-4 at 2.5 {angstrom} resolution to determine its mechanism of ligand recognition. A key GluH95 provides much of the binding specificity through formation of hydrogen bonds with each of the four amide nitrogens in the AIP-4 macrocyclic ring. Importantly, these structural data give clues as to the interactions between the cognate staphylococcal AIP receptors AgrC and the AIPs, as AP4-24H11 {center_dot} AIP-4 binding recapitulates features that have been proposed for AgrC-AIP recognition. Additionally, these structural insights may enable the engineering of AIP cross-reactive antibodies or quorum quenching vaccines for use in active or passive immunotherapy for prevention or treatment of S. aureus infections.« less

Amphiphilic invertible polymers: Self-assembly into functional materials driven by environment polarity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hevus, Ivan

Stimuli-responsive polymers adapt to environmental changes by adjusting their chain conformation in a fast and reversible way. Responsive polymeric materials have already found use in electronics, coatings industry, personal care, and bio-related areas. The current work aims at the development of novel responsive functional polymeric materials by manipulating environment-dependent self-assembly of a new class of responsive macromolecules strategically designed in this study,—amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs). Environment-dependent micellization and self-assembly of three different synthesized AIP types based on poly(ethylene glycol) as a hydrophilic fragment and varying hydrophobic constituents was demonstrated in polar and nonpolar solvents, as well as on the surfaces and interfaces. With increasing concentration, AIP micelles self-assemble into invertible micellar assemblies composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. Polarity-responsive properties of AIPs make invertible micellar assemblies functional in polar and nonpolar media including at interfaces. Thus, invertible micellar assemblies solubilize poorly soluble substances in their interior in polar and nonpolar solvents. In a polar aqueous medium, a novel stimuli-responsive mechanism of drug release based on response of AIP-based drug delivery system to polarity change upon contact with the target cell has been established using invertible micellar assemblies loaded with curcumin, a phytochemical drug. In a nonpolar medium, invertible micellar assemblies were applied simultaneously as nanoreactors and stabilizers for size-controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles stable in both polar and nonpolar media. The developed amphiphilic nanosilver was subsequently used as seeds to promote anisotropic growth of CdSe semiconductor nanoparticles that have potential in different applications ranging from physics to medicine. Amphiphilic invertible polymers were shown to adsorb on the surface of silica nanoparticles strongly differing in polarity. AIP modified silica nanoparticles are able to adsolubilize molecules of poorly water-soluble 2-naphthol into the adsorbed polymer layer. The adsolubilization ability of adsorbed invertible macromolecules makes AIP-modified silica nanoparticles potentially useful in wastewater treatment or biomedical applications. Finally, the invertible micellar assemblies were used as functional additives to improve the appearance of electrospun silicon wires based on cyclohexasilane, a liquid silicon precursor. AIP-assisted fabrication of silicon wires from the liquid cyclohexasilane precursor has potential as a scalable method for developing electronic functional materials.

The Role of Binocular Disparity in Stereoscopic Images of Objects in the Macaque Anterior Intraparietal Area

PubMed Central

Romero, Maria C.; Van Dromme, Ilse C. L.; Janssen, Peter

2013-01-01

Neurons in the macaque Anterior Intraparietal area (AIP) encode depth structure in random-dot stimuli defined by gradients of binocular disparity, but the importance of binocular disparity in real-world objects for AIP neurons is unknown. We investigated the effect of binocular disparity on the responses of AIP neurons to images of real-world objects during passive fixation. We presented stereoscopic images of natural and man-made objects in which the disparity information was congruent or incongruent with disparity gradients present in the real-world objects, and images of the same objects where such gradients were absent. Although more than half of the AIP neurons were significantly affected by binocular disparity, the great majority of AIP neurons remained image selective even in the absence of binocular disparity. AIP neurons tended to prefer stimuli in which the depth information derived from binocular disparity was congruent with the depth information signaled by monocular depth cues, indicating that these monocular depth cues have an influence upon AIP neurons. Finally, in contrast to neurons in the inferior temporal cortex, AIP neurons do not represent images of objects in terms of categories such as animate-inanimate, but utilize representations based upon simple shape features including aspect ratio. PMID:23408970

Pavlovian conditioning in the rabbit during inactivation of the interpositus nucleus.

PubMed Central

Welsh, J P; Harvey, J A

1991-01-01

1. We have examined the role of the anterior interpositus nucleus (AIP) of the cerebellum in Pavlovian conditioning of the nictitating membrane response (NMR) of the rabbit with the use of reversible brain lesions produced by the local anaesthetic lidocaine. Previous experiments have demonstrated that destructive lesions of the AIP prevent the performance of conditioned NMRs (CRs). Microinjections of lidocaine into the AIP were used in the present experiment to determine whether the deficit in the performance of CRs resulted from a deficit in learning or memory. 2. A 3-phase procedure was employed to determine whether associative learning required the function of the AIP. In phase 1, rabbits were trained to make CRs to a flashing-light conditioned stimulus (CS) that was paired with an air-puff unconditioned stimulus (UCS) directed at the cornea. In phase 2, the AIP was anaesthetized during a session of conditioning in which a tone CS was paired with the UCS. Presentations of the light CS were interpolated throughout the tone conditioning in order to monitor the degree to which CRs were impaired by lidocaine. Phase 3 occurred after the effects of the lidocaine had dissipated and consisted of a test of retention to determine whether learning occurred during phase 2 but could not be expressed because of a performance deficit resulting from the inactivation of the AIP. 3. Infusion of lidocaine into the AIP abolished CRs to the light CS and prevented the performance of CRs to the tone CS in phase 2. The effect of the infusion was specifically due to a conduction block of neurons and/or fibres in the lateral aspect of the AIP. The infusion of lidocaine into regions surrounding the AIP did not affect CRs elicited by the light CS or prevent acquisition of CRs to the tone. Infusions of saline directly into the AIP did not impair the performance of CRs to either the tone or light CS. Quantitative analysis of diffusion revealed that the abolition of CRs was accompanied by anaesthetization of the AIP. 4. The retention test in phase 3 indicated that learning occurred normally during phase 2 when the AIP was inactivated and performance was abolished. When the function of the AIP was restored and performance had recovered, the subjects demonstrated a frequency of CRs to the tone CS that was indistinguishable from control subjects whose performance had never been impaired. 5. The CRs observed during the retention test provided an unequivocal measure of associative learning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Images Fig. 8 Fig. 9 PMID:1822558

A role for calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the consolidation of visual object recognition memory.

PubMed

Tinsley, C J; Narduzzo, K E; Ho, J W; Barker, G R; Brown, M W; Warburton, E C

2009-09-01

The aim was to investigate the role of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CAMK)II in object recognition memory. The performance of rats in a preferential object recognition test was examined after local infusion of the CAMKII inhibitors KN-62 or autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) into the perirhinal cortex. KN-62 or AIP infused after acquisition impaired memory tested at 24 h, indicating an involvement of CAMKII in the consolidation of recognition memory. Memory was impaired when KN-62 was infused at 20 min after acquisition or when AIP was infused at 20, 40, 60 or 100 min after acquisition. The time-course of CAMKII activation in rats was further examined by immunohistochemical staining for phospho-CAMKII(Thre286)alpha at 10, 40, 70 and 100 min following the viewing of novel and familiar images. At 70 min, processing novel images resulted in more phospho-CAMKII(Thre286)alpha-stained neurons in the perirhinal cortex than did the processing of familiar images, consistent with the viewing of novel images increasing the activity of CAMKII at this time. This difference was eliminated by prior infusion of AIP. These findings establish that CAMKII is active within the perirhinal region between approximately 20 and 100 min following learning and then returns to baseline. Thus, increased CAMKII activity is essential for the consolidation of long-term object recognition memory but continuation of that increased activity throughout the 24 h memory delay is not necessary for maintenance of the memory.

Mutations in the cofilin partner Aip1/Wdr1 cause autoinflammatory disease and macrothrombocytopenia

PubMed Central

Panopoulos, Athanasia D.; Stirzaker, Roslynn A.; Hacking, Douglas F.; Tahtamouni, Lubna H.; Willson, Tracy A.; Mielke, Lisa A.; Henley, Katya J.; Zhang, Jian-Guo; Wicks, Ian P.; Stevenson, William S.; Nurden, Paquita; Watowich, Stephanie S.; Justice, Monica J.

2007-01-01

A pivotal mediator of actin dynamics is the protein cofilin, which promotes filament severing and depolymerization, facilitating the breakdown of existing filaments, and the enhancement of filament growth from newly created barbed ends. It does so in concert with actin interacting protein 1 (Aip1), which serves to accelerate cofilin's activity. While progress has been made in understanding its biochemical functions, the physiologic processes the cofilin/Aip1 complex regulates, particularly in higher organisms, are yet to be determined. We have generated an allelic series for WD40 repeat protein 1 (Wdr1), the mammalian homolog of Aip1, and report that reductions in Wdr1 function produce a dramatic phenotype gradient. While severe loss of function at the Wdr1 locus causes embryonic lethality, macrothrombocytopenia and autoinflammatory disease develop in mice carrying hypomorphic alleles. Macrothrombocytopenia is the result of megakaryocyte maturation defects, which lead to a failure of normal platelet shedding. Autoinflammatory disease, which is bone marrow–derived yet nonlymphoid in origin, is characterized by a massive infiltration of neutrophils into inflammatory lesions. Cytoskeletal responses are impaired in Wdr1 mutant neutrophils. These studies establish an essential requirement for Wdr1 in megakaryocytes and neutrophils, indicating that cofilin-mediated actin dynamics are critically important to the development and function of both cell types. PMID:17515402

Effect of dietary melengestrol acetate on the incidence of acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot heifers

PubMed Central

McAllister, Tim A.; Ayroud, Mejid; Bray, Tammy M.; Yost, Garold S.

2006-01-01

Abstract Over a 3-y period, 906 000 cattle were monitored in 23 feedlots in southern Alberta for symptoms of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP). Plasma, urine, and lung tissue were collected at slaughter from 299 animals clinically diagnosed with AIP and from 156 healthy penmates and analyzed for 3-methylindole (3MI) derivatives and reduced glutathione concentration. From each animal, the left lung was subsampled for histologic examination. Concentrations of glutathione in lung tissue were reduced (P < 0.001) in animals showing clinical symptoms of AIP as compared with their asymptomatic penmates. Animals histologically confirmed as having AIP had higher levels of 3MI protein adducts in blood and lung tissue (P < 0.05) than did emergency-slaughtered animals without AIP. Within feedlots, where pens of heifers were fed either a standard dosage of melengestrol acetate (MGA) or none, the rate of death attributable to AIP was similar between treatment groups, but emergency slaughter after clinical diagnosis of AIP was done 3.2 times more often (P < 0.001) in the MGA-fed heifers than in the group not fed MGA. Use of MGA did not influence glutathione concentration. As growth performance of heifers given steroidal implants may not be improved by feeding MGA, the most cost-effective method of reducing the incidence of AIP-related emergency slaughter in feedlot heifers may be to eliminate MGA from the diet. PMID:16850945

Interprofessional anatomy education in the United Kingdom and Ireland: Perspectives from students and teachers.

PubMed

Smith, Claire F; Hall, Samuel; Border, Scott; Adds, Philip J; Finn, Gabrielle M

2015-01-01

There is increasing recognition of multiprofessional learning in anatomy and its role in medical and healthcare professions. This study utilized two components to investigate anatomy interprofessional education (AIPE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland. First, a survey involving qualitative and quantitative components asked Heads of Anatomy to report on their institutions' uptake of AIPE. Second, a series of case studies explored the experiences of students by using evaluation forms and an in-depth analysis of thematic concepts to understand the learners' perspectives on designing and delivering AIPE. Out of the 13 institutions that took part in the survey, eight did not offer an AIPE program. Between the remaining five institutions that deliver AIPE programs, 10 different modules are offered with the majority involving healthcare professions. The AIPE component is rated highly by students. The themes from the case studies highlight how valuable AIPE is from the student perspective both in terms of engaging them in anatomy as well as in the broader skills of teamwork and communication. The case studies also revealed how AIPE can be engaging for groups of students who might not have previously had access to cadaveric anatomy, for example, engineers and archeologists. The results of this study have implications for curriculum design in medicine and healthcare but also for further engagement of professional groups from non-healthcare backgrounds. © 2015 American Association of Anatomists.

Serum Immunoglobulin G4 in Discriminating Autoimmune Pancreatitis From Pancreatic Cancer: A Diagnostic Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Dai, Cong; Cao, Qin; Jiang, Min; Sun, Ming-Jun

2018-03-01

Differentiation between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and pancreatic cancer (PC) is a clinical challenge. Emerging published data on the accuracy of serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) for the differential diagnosis between AIP and PC are inconsistent. The objective of our study was to perform a meta-analysis evaluating the clinical utility of serum IgG4 in the differential diagnosis between AIP and PC. We performed a systematic literature search of multiple electronic databases. The methodological quality of each study was assessed according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies checklist. Random-effects model was used to summarize the diagnostic odds ratio and other measures of accuracy. Eleven studies comprising 523 AIP patients and 771 PC patients were included in the meta-analysis. The summary estimates for serum IgG4 in distinguishing AIP from PC were as follows: diagnostic odds ratio, 57.30 (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.17-141.67); sensitivity, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.68-0.76); specificity, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91-0.94). The area under the curve of serum IgG4 in distinguishing AIP from PC was 0.9200. Our meta-analysis found that serum IgG4 has high specificity and relatively low sensitivity in the differential diagnosis between AIP and PC. Therefore, serum IgG4 is useful in distinguishing AIP from PC.

Comparison of Plasma Levels of Renin, Vasopressin and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Hypertensive Amlodipine Induced Pedal Oedema, Non-Oedema and Cilnidipine Treated Patients

PubMed Central

Shetty, Kiran; Rao, Pragna; Ballal, Mamatha; Kiran, Amruth; Reddy, Sravan; Pai, Umesh; Samanth, Jyothi

2017-01-01

Introduction Amlodipine is a third generation dihydropyridine group of calcium channel blocker and having an excellent antihypertensive profile. Pedal Oedema (PE) is the major drawback of amlodipine therapy and the incidence of Amlodipine Induced Pedal Oedema (AIPE) has been found significantly high. Several neurohumoral factors influence the incidence of oedema. Aim We aimed to compare the plasma levels of renin, vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide in hypertensive AIPE, non-oedema and cilnidipine treated patients. Materials and Methods The present prospective, interventional study was conducted on 104 mild to moderate hypertensive patients (52 patients in each group), after due consideration of eligibility criteria. Plasma Renin (PR), Vasopressin (VAS), and the Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) was estimated by ELISA test and compared between the AIPE, Amlodipine Treated Non-Oedema (ATNE) in Phase I, and AIPE and Cilnidipine Treated (CT) Groups in Phase II. Results The clinical and demographic parameters were matched. PR was significantly high in AIPE group than the ATNE, and it was significantly reduced after one month follow up with the substitution of cilnidipine. The median (IQR) value of PR was 4.87 (3.58, 6.63), 3.50 (1.44, 5.47) and 2.66 (1.02, 5.66) ng/ml in AIPE, ATNE, CT group respectively. VAS was significantly high in AIPE group than ATNE, and it significantly reduced after one month follow up with CT group. The median (IQR) value of vasopressin was 6.78 (2.55, 9.16), 2.58 (1.61, 5.73) and 2.50 (1.23, 5.00) ng/ml in AIPE, ATNE and CT groups respectively. There was no significant difference seen in plasma ANP levels between the groups. The p-value was <0.05 which is statistically significant. Conclusion The AIPE may not be volume overload or fluid retention; it may be due to persistent raise in adrenergic activity followed chronic amlodipine therapy. Cilnidipine relatively suppresses the sympathetic activity, and completely resolves the AIPE by significantly reducing PR and VAS levels. ANP did not show a difference between groups. Cilnidipine is the suitable alternative antihypertensive drug for AIPE patients. PMID:28764190

Rapid Proteasomal Degradation of Mutant Proteins Is the Primary Mechanism Leading to Tumorigenesis in Patients With Missense AIP Mutations

PubMed Central

Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C.; Martucci, Federico; Morgan, Rhodri M. L.; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Tilley, Daniel; Ramos-Guajardo, Nancy; Iacovazzo, Donato; D'Acquisto, Fulvio; Prodromou, Chrisostomos

2016-01-01

Context: The pathogenic effect of mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene (AIPmuts) in pituitary adenomas is incompletely understood. We have identified the primary mechanism of loss of function for missense AIPmuts. Objective: This study sought to analyze the mechanism/speed of protein turnover of wild-type and missense AIP variants, correlating protein half-life with clinical parameters. Design and Setting: Half-life and protein–protein interaction experiments and cross-sectional analysis of AIPmut positive patients' data were performed in a clinical academic research institution. Patients: Data were obtained from our cohort of pituitary adenoma patients and literature-reported cases. Interventions: Protein turnover of endogenous AIP in two cell lines and fifteen AIP variants overexpressed in HEK293 cells was analyzed via cycloheximide chase and proteasome inhibition. Glutathione-S-transferase pull-down and quantitative mass spectrometry identified proteins involved in AIP degradation; results were confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and gene knockdown. Relevant clinical data was collected. Main Outcome Measures: Half-life of wild-type and mutant AIP proteins and its correlation with clinical parameters. Results: Endogenous AIP half-life was similar in HEK293 and lymphoblastoid cells (43.5 and 32.7 h). AIP variants were divided into stable proteins (median, 77.7 h; interquartile range [IQR], 60.7–92.9 h), and those with short (median, 27 h; IQR, 21.6–28.7 h) or very short (median, 7.7 h; IQR, 5.6–10.5 h) half-life; proteasomal inhibition rescued the rapid degradation of mutant proteins. The experimental half-life significantly correlated with age at diagnosis of acromegaly/gigantism (r = 0.411; P = .002). The FBXO3-containing SKP1–CUL1–F-box protein complex was identified as the E3 ubiquitin-ligase recognizing AIP. Conclusions: AIP is a stable protein, driven to ubiquitination by the SKP1–CUL1–F-box protein complex. Enhanced proteasomal degradation is a novel pathogenic mechanism for AIPmuts, with direct implications for the phenotype. PMID:27253664

Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenomas (FIPA) and the Pituitary Adenoma Predisposition due to Mutations in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacting Protein (AIP) Gene

PubMed Central

Aaltonen, Lauri A.; Daly, Adrian F.

2013-01-01

Pituitary adenomas are one of the most frequent intracranial tumors and occur with a prevalence of approximately 1:1000 in the developed world. Pituitary adenomas have a serious disease burden, and their management involves neurosurgery, biological therapies, and radiotherapy. Early diagnosis of pituitary tumors while they are smaller may help increase cure rates. Few genetic predictors of pituitary adenoma development exist. Recent years have seen two separate, complimentary advances in inherited pituitary tumor research. The clinical condition of familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPA) has been described, which encompasses the familial occurrence of isolated pituitary adenomas outside of the setting of syndromic conditions like multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Carney complex. FIPA families comprise approximately 2% of pituitary adenomas and represent a clinical entity with homogeneous or heterogeneous pituitary adenoma types occurring within the same kindred. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene has been identified as causing a pituitary adenoma predisposition of variable penetrance that accounts for 20% of FIPA families. Germline AIP mutations have been shown to associate with the occurrence of large pituitary adenomas that occur at a young age, predominantly in children/adolescents and young adults. AIP mutations are usually associated with somatotropinomas, but prolactinomas, nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, Cushing disease, and other infrequent clinical adenoma types can also occur. Gigantism is a particular feature of AIP mutations and occurs in more than one third of affected somatotropinoma patients. Study of pituitary adenoma patients with AIP mutations has demonstrated that these cases raise clinical challenges to successful treatment. Extensive research on the biology of AIP and new advances in mouse Aip knockout models demonstrate multiple pathways by which AIP may contribute to tumorigenesis. This review assesses the current clinical and therapeutic characteristics of more than 200 FIPA families and addresses research findings among AIP mutation-bearing patients in different populations with pituitary adenomas. PMID:23371967

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profiling of steroids in urine of patients with acute intermittent porphyria.

PubMed

Casals, Gregori; Marcos, Josep; Pozo, Óscar J; Aguilera, Paula; Herrero, Carmen; To-Figueras, Jordi

2013-06-01

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disease that results from a deficiency of hydroxymethylbilane synthase, the third enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. AIP carriers may present acute neurovisceral attacks with hepatic overproduction of heme-precursors. In some patients, remission of the acute symptoms leads to long-term hepatic metabolic abnormalities. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to investigate urinary steroid metabolome of AIP patients. Steroid profiling in urine was performed in a group of AIP patients with biochemically active disease (n=22) and healthy controls (n = 20). Five asymptomatic AIP family carriers were also studied. Commonly used ratios for the evaluation of disturbances in the steroid metabolism were calculated. We found that etiocholanolone/androsterone and tetrahydrocortisol/5α-tetrahydrocortisol (THF/5α-THF) metabolic ratios were significantly increased in the urine of AIP patients compared to controls (2.3 ± 0.3 vs 0.8 ± 0.1; p < 0.001 and 2.9 ± 0.7 vs 0.9 ± 0.1; p < 0.01). The (THF+5α-THF)/tetrahydrocortisone ratio was reduced among the AIP patients (p < 0.01). Quantification of the steroid absolute concentrations showed that these variations were due to a decrease of the 5α metabolites. Other ratios, like cortisol/cortisone and 6β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol in the free steroid fraction did not show differences between patients and controls. All ratios were normal among the family carriers. A significant number of AIP patients present a basal decrease of steroid 5α-reductase activity in the liver. The deficiency may be related to malnutrition and hepatic energy misbalance associated with active AIP. Urinary steroid profiling by GC/MS may be a valuable tool to assess hepatic metabolome in AIP. Copyright © 2013 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hypermethylation of MST1 in IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis and rheumatoid arthritis

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

Fukuhara, Takataro; Tomiyama, Takashi; Yasuda, Kaneki

The serine/threonine kinase Mst1 plays important roles in the control of immune cell trafficking, proliferation, and differentiation. Previously, we reported that Mst1 was required for thymocyte selection and regulatory T-cell functions, thereby the prevention of autoimmunity in mice. In humans, MST1 null mutations cause T-cell immunodeficiency and hypergammaglobulinemia with autoantibody production. RASSF5C(RAPL) is an activator of MST1 and it is frequently methylated in some tumors. Herein, we investigated methylation of the promoter regions of MST1 and RASSF5C(RAPL) in leukocytes from patients with IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Increased number of CpG methylation in the 5′ region ofmore » MST1 was detected in AIP patients with extrapancreatic lesions, whereas AIP patients without extrapancreatic lesions were similar to controls. In RA patients, we detected a slight increased CpG methylation in MST1, although the overall number of methylation sites was lower than that of AIP patients with extrapancreatic lesions. There were no significant changes of the methylation levels of the CpG islands in the 5′ region of RASSF5C(RAPL) in leukocytes from AIP and RA patients. Consistently, we found a significantly down-regulated expression of MST1 in regulatory T cells of AIP patients. Our results suggest that the decreased expression of MST1 in regulatory T cells due to hypermethylation of the promoter contributes to the pathogenesis of IgG4-related AIP. - Highlights: • Mst1 controls immune cells trafficking, cell proliferation and differentiation. • Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is an idiopathic pancreatitis affecting multiple organs. • Decreased MST1 expression and increased CpG methylation of promoter of MST1 in AIP. • Slight increased CpG methylation of MST1 in rheumatoid arthritis patients. • MST1 contributes pathogenesis of IgG4-related AIP.« less

Autonomous Power System intelligent diagnosis and control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ringer, Mark J.; Quinn, Todd M.; Merolla, Anthony

1991-01-01

The Autonomous Power System (APS) project at NASA Lewis Research Center is designed to demonstrate the abilities of integrated intelligent diagnosis, control, and scheduling techniques to space power distribution hardware. Knowledge-based software provides a robust method of control for highly complex space-based power systems that conventional methods do not allow. The project consists of three elements: the Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) for fault diagnosis and control, the Autonomous Intelligent Power Scheduler (AIPS) to determine system configuration, and power hardware (Brassboard) to simulate a space based power system. The operation of the Autonomous Power System as a whole is described and the responsibilities of the three elements - APEX, AIPS, and Brassboard - are characterized. A discussion of the methodologies used in each element is provided. Future plans are discussed for the growth of the Autonomous Power System.

Autonomous power system intelligent diagnosis and control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ringer, Mark J.; Quinn, Todd M.; Merolla, Anthony

1991-01-01

The Autonomous Power System (APS) project at NASA Lewis Research Center is designed to demonstrate the abilities of integrated intelligent diagnosis, control, and scheduling techniques to space power distribution hardware. Knowledge-based software provides a robust method of control for highly complex space-based power systems that conventional methods do not allow. The project consists of three elements: the Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) for fault diagnosis and control, the Autonomous Intelligent Power Scheduler (AIPS) to determine system configuration, and power hardware (Brassboard) to simulate a space based power system. The operation of the Autonomous Power System as a whole is described and the responsibilities of the three elements - APEX, AIPS, and Brassboard - are characterized. A discussion of the methodologies used in each element is provided. Future plans are discussed for the growth of the Autonomous Power System.

Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

PubMed

Majumder, Shounak; Takahashi, Naoki; Chari, Suresh T

2017-07-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a chronic fibroinflammatory disease of the pancreas that belongs to the spectrum of immunoglobulin G-subclass4-related diseases (IgG4-RD) and typically presents with obstructive jaundice. Idiopathic duct-centric pancreatitis (IDCP) is a closely related but distinct disease that mimics AIP radiologically but manifests clinically most commonly as recurrent acute pancreatitis in young individuals with concurrent inflammatory bowel disease. IgG4 levels are often elevated in AIP and normal in IDCP. Histologically, lymphoplasmacytic acinar inflammation and storiform fibrosis are seen in both. In addition, the histologic hallmark of IDCP is the granulocyte epithelial lesion: intraluminal and intraepithelial neutrophils in medium-sized and small ducts with or without granulocytic acinar inflammation often associated with destruction of ductal architecture. Initial treatment of both AIP and IDCP is with oral corticosteroids for duration of 4 weeks followed by a gradual taper. Relapses are common in AIP and relatively uncommon in IDCP, a relatively rare disease for which the natural history is not well understood. For patients with relapsing AIP, treatment with immunomodulators and more recently rituximab has been recommended. Although rare instances of pancreaticobiliary malignancy has been reported in patients with AIP, overall the lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer does not appear to be elevated.

Basophils activated via TLR signaling may contribute to pathophysiology of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis.

PubMed

Yanagawa, Masato; Uchida, Kazushige; Ando, Yugo; Tomiyama, Takashi; Yamaguchi, Takashi; Ikeura, Tsukasa; Fukui, Toshiro; Nishio, Akiyoshi; Uemura, Yoshiko; Miyara, Takayuki; Okamoto, Hiroyuki; Satoi, Souhei; Okazaki, Kazuichi

2018-03-01

Pathophysiology of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is still unclear. We previously reported that M2 macrophages might play an important role in type 1 AIP. Recently, it has been reported that basophils regulate differentiation to M2 macrophages. In this study, we investigated basophils from the pancreatic tissue and peripheral blood of individuals with type 1 AIP. By using immunohistochemistry, we investigated basophils in pancreatic tissue from 13 patients with type 1 AIP and examined expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) by these cells. Additionally, we obtained peripheral blood samples from 27 healthy subjects, 40 patients with type 1 AIP, 8 patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 10 patients with bronchial asthma, and 10 patients with atopic dermatitis, and analyzed activation of basophils by stimulating them with ligands of TLR1-9. We also compared TLR expression in basophils from the tissue and blood samples. Basophils were detected in pancreatic tissues from 10 of 13 patients with type 1 AIP. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the ratios of basophils activated by TLR4 stimulation in type 1 AIP (9.875 ± 1.148%) and atopic dermatitis (11.768 ± 1.899%) were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (5.051 ± 0.730%; P < 0.05). Levels of basophils activated by TLR2 stimulation were higher in seven type 1 AIP cases. Furthermore, stimulation of TLR2 and/or TLR4, which were expressed by basophils in pancreas, activated basophils in peripheral blood. Basophils activated via TLR signaling may play an important role in the pathophysiology of type 1 AIP.

Atherogenic index of plasma and risk of cardiovascular disease among Cameroonian postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Nansseu, Jobert Richie N; Moor, Vicky Jocelyne Ama; Nouaga, Murielle Elsa D; Zing-Awona, Bertrand; Tchanana, Gladys; Ketcha, Arthur

2016-03-09

The paucity of data regarding the relationship between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women living in sub-Saharan Africa prompted us to conduct this study which aimed at assessing the interplay between AIP and risk of CVD among Cameroonian postmenopausal women. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 108 postmenopausal women in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Risk of CVD was calculated using the Framingham risk score, (FRS), and the AIP was derived as log (triglycerides/high-density lipoproteins cholesterol). Mean age of participants equaled 56.4 ± 6.9 years. AIP values ranged from -0.40 to 0.85 with a mean of 0.21 ± 0.27. There was a positive and significant correlation between AIP and body mass index (r = 0.234; p = 0.015), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.350; p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.365; p < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.314; p = 0.001), uric acid (r = 0.374; p < 0.001), and total cholesterol (r = 0.374; p < 0.001), but not with age (r = -0.104; p = 0.284). The FRS varied between 1.2 % and >30 % with a mean of 13.4 ± 8.7 %. In univariable model, AIP significantly influenced the risk of CVD (β = 11.94; p < 0.001; R(2) = 0.136). But in the multivariable model, after adjusting for confounders, AIP did not impact the risk of CVD anymore (adjusted β = 1.98; p = 0.487; R(2) = 0.486). AIP may not be an independent factor impacting the risk of CVD among Cameroonian postmenopausal women. More studies are needed to better elucidate the interaction between AIP and risk of CVD in our setting.

AIP1-mediated stress signaling in atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jiqin; Zhou, Huanjiao Jenny; Ji, Weidong; Min, Wang

2016-01-01

AIP1 (encoded by the DAB2IP gene), a signaling scaffolding protein, is abundantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells (EC). While it was initially discovered as an ASK1-interacting protein, AIP1 broadly suppresses inflammatory responses triggered by cytokines and stresses such as TNF, LPS, VEGF and ER stress in EC (therefore AIP1 is an Anti-Inflammatory Protein). Human genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified DAB2IP gene variants conferring susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. Consistently, a global or vascular EC-specific deletion of DAB2IP in mice strongly enhances inflammatory responses and exacerbates atherosclerosis and graft arteriosclerosis progression in mouse models. Mechanisms for AIP1 function and regulation associated with human cardiovascular diseases need further investigations. PMID:25732743

Low-Cost, User-Friendly, Rapid Analysis of Dynamic Data System Established

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arend, David J.

2004-01-01

An issue of primary importance to the development of new jet and certain other airbreathing combined-cycle powered aircraft is the advancement of airframe-integrated propulsion technologies. Namely, engine inlets and their systems and subsystems are required to capture, convert, and deliver the atmospheric airflow demanded by such engines across their operating envelope in a form that can be used to provide efficient, stable thrust. This must be done while also minimizing aircraft drag and weight. Revolutionary inlet designs aided by new technologies are needed to enable new missions. An unwanted byproduct of pursuing these inlet technologies is increased time-variant airflow distortion. Such distortions reduce propulsion system stability, performance, operability, and life. To countermand these limitations and fully evaluate the resulting configurations, best practices dictate that this distortion be experimentally measured at large scale and analyzed. The required measurements consist of those made by an array of high-response pressure transducers located in the flow field at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP) between the inlet and engine. Although the acquisition of the necessary pitot-pressure time histories is relatively straight-forward, until recent years, the analysis has proved to be very time-consuming, tedious, and expensive. To transform the analysis of these data into a tractable and timely proposition, researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center created and established the Rapid Analysis of Dynamic Data (RADD) system. The system provides complete, near real-time analysis of time-varying inlet airflow distortion datasets with report quality output. This fully digital approach employs Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) binary data file format standardization to establish data-acquisition-system-independent processing on low cost personal computers. Features include invalid instrumentation code-out, logging, and multiple replacement schemes as needed for each channel of instrumentation. The AIP pressure distribution can be interpolated to simulate measurements by alternate AIP probe arrays, if desired. In addition, the RADD system provides for the application of filters that can be used to focus the analysis on the frequency range of interest.

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) United States of America (14th ed : 1997)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-30

The AIP is prepared in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices : (SARPS) of Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the : Aeronautical Information Services Manual (ICAO Doc 8126). The AIP is made up : of three P...

Autoimmune pancreatitis type-1 associated with intraduct papillary mucinous neoplasm: report of two cases.

PubMed

Vaquero, Eva C; Salcedo, Maria T; Cuatrecasas, Míriam; De León, Hannah; Merino, Xavier; Navarro, Salvador; Ginès, Angels; Abu-Suboh, Monder; Balsells, Joaquim; Fernández-Cruz, Laureano; Molero, Xavier

2014-01-01

Chronic pancreatitis lesions usually embrace both intraduct papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients at genetically-determined high risk of PDAC often harbor IPMN and/or chronic pancreatitis, suggesting IPMN, chronic pancreatitis and PDAC may share pathogenetic mechanisms. Chronic autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) may also herald PDAC. Concurrent IPMN and AIP have been reported in few patients. Here we describe two patients with IPMN who developed type-1 AIP fulfilling the Honolulu and Boston diagnostic criteria. AIP diffusively affected the whole pancreas, as well as peripancreatic lymph nodes and the gallbladder. Previous pancreatic resection of focal IPMN did not show features of AIP. One of the patients carried a CFTR class-I mutation. Of notice, serum IgG4 levels gradually decreased to normal values after IPMN excision. Common risk factors to IPMN and AIP may facilitate its coincidental generation. Copyright © 2014 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Effects of carbon components of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on atherogenic index of plasma].

PubMed

Fan, Jiao; Qin, Xiaolei; Xue, Xiaodan; Han, Bin; Bai, Zhipeng; Tang, Naijun; Zhang, Liwen

2014-01-01

To evaluate associations between carbon constituents of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). We collected subjects from two communities by a system sampling, and 112 people aged over 60 years old without cardiovascular disease were recruited. The levels of cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of objects, and personal exposure to PM2.5 were measured on December, 2011. Total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) of PM2.5 were detected and AIP was calculated according to its definition. The value of AIP among the 112 subjects was 0.05 ± 0.26. Personal exposure concentration of PM2.5 and its carbon components (TC,OC and EC) were (164.75 ± 110.67), (53.86 ± 29.65), (44.93 ± 26.37) and (9.49 ± 5.75) µg/m(3), respectively. The Pearson analysis showed the linear relationship between TC,OC,EC and AIP, all significant positive correlations. The correlation coefficients were TC (r = 0.307, P < 0.05),OC (r = 0.287, P < 0.05) and EC (r = 0.252, P < 0.05), respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that when the AIP risk categories were selected as dependent variable and low risk group as reference group, the regression coefficient of TC,OC and EC was separately 1.03 (95%CI:1.01-1.05), 1.03 (95%CI:1.01-1.05), 1.12 (95%CI:1.02-1.22) in the high risk group; while there was no statistical significance of the regression coefficient and OR in the middle risk group. There was stable associations between the carbon constituents (TC,OC and EC) of fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and AIP. The findings suggested that carbon components of PM2.5 should be considered as risk factors of atherogenic.

Cross-Talk between Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococcal Species via the agr Quorum Sensing System

PubMed Central

Canovas, Jaime; Baldry, Mara; Bojer, Martin S.; Andersen, Paal S.; Gless, Bengt H.; Grzeskowiak, Piotr K.; Stegger, Marc; Damborg, Peter; Olsen, Christian A.; Ingmer, Hanne

2016-01-01

Staphylococci are associated with both humans and animals. While most are non-pathogenic colonizers, Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing severe infections. S. aureus virulence is controlled by the agr quorum sensing system responding to secreted auto-inducing peptides (AIPs) sensed by AgrC, a two component histidine kinase. agr loci are found also in other staphylococcal species and for Staphylococcus epidermidis, the encoded AIP represses expression of agr regulated virulence genes in S. aureus. In this study we aimed to better understand the interaction between staphylococci and S. aureus, and show that this interaction may eventually lead to the identification of new anti-virulence candidates to target S. aureus infections. Here we show that culture supernatants of 37 out of 52 staphylococcal isolates representing 17 different species inhibit S. aureus agr. The dog pathogen, Staphylococcus schleiferi, expressed the most potent inhibitory activity and was active against all four agr classes found in S. aureus. By employing a S. aureus strain encoding a constitutively active AIP receptor we show that the activity is mediated via agr. Subsequent cloning and heterologous expression of the S. schleiferi AIP in S. aureus demonstrated that this molecule was likely responsible for the inhibitory activity, and further proof was provided when pure synthetic S. schleiferi AIP was able to completely abolish agr induction of an S. aureus reporter strain. To assess impact on S. aureus virulence, we co-inoculated S. aureus and S. schleiferi in vivo in the Galleria mellonella wax moth larva, and found that expression of key S. aureus virulence factors was abrogated. Our data show that the S. aureus agr locus is highly responsive to other staphylococcal species suggesting that agr is an inter-species communication system. Based on these results we speculate that interactions between S. aureus and other colonizing staphylococci will significantly influence the ability of S. aureus to cause infection, and we propose that other staphylococci are potential sources of compounds that can be applied as anti-virulence therapy for combating S. aureus infections. PMID:27877157

Quantitative perfusion analysis in pancreatic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US): a promising tool for the differentiation between autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Vitali, F; Pfeifer, L; Janson, C; Goertz, R S; Neurath, M F; Strobel, D; Wildner, D

2015-10-01

In the work-up of focal pancreatic lesions autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare differential diagnosis to pancreatic cancer (PC) with similar clinical constellations. The aim of our study was to compare differences between proven AIP and PC using transabdominal dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US). Therefore we recorded 3-minute-clips of CEUS examinations and analyzed perfusion parameters with VueBox®-quantification software. To obtain DCE-US Parameters, Regions-of-Interest were selected within the lesions and the surrounding pancreas parenchyma, serving as reference tissue. We compared 3 patients with AIP (mean age: 58 years; lesion mean size: 40 mm) to 17 patients with PC (mean age: 68 years; lesion mean size: 35.9 mm). Significant differences between PC and parenchyma could be found in the following parameters: Peak-Enhancement (PE), Wash-in-and-Wash-out-AUC, Wash-in Perfusion-Index. PE of AIP was comparable to normal parenchyma. The relation of PE between parenchyma and lesion (ΔPE) AIP and PC was significantly different [AIP: 0.21 (±0.06); PC: 0.81 (±0.1); p<0.01]. PE of neoplastic lesions was significantly lower as AIP and normal parenchyma (p<0.01). Therefore perfusion analysis in DCE-US can help to differentiate hypovascular PC from AIP presenting nearly isovascular time intensity curves. Diagnostic accuracy of DCE-US in this setting has to be validated in future prospective studies in comparison to CT and MRI. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Structure-Function Analysis of Peptide Signaling in the Clostridium perfringens Agr-Like Quorum Sensing System

PubMed Central

Ma, Menglin; Li, Jihong

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT The accessory growth regulator (Agr)-like quorum sensing (QS) system of Clostridium perfringens controls the production of many toxins, including beta toxin (CPB). We previously showed (J. E. Vidal, M. Ma, J. Saputo, J. Garcia, F. A. Uzal, and B. A. McClane, Mol Microbiol 83:179–194, 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07925.x) that an 8-amino-acid, AgrD-derived peptide named 8-R upregulates CPB production by this QS system. The current study synthesized a series of small signaling peptides corresponding to sequences within the C. perfringens AgrD polypeptide to investigate the C. perfringens autoinducing peptide (AIP) structure-function relationship. When both linear and cyclic ring forms of these peptides were added to agrB null mutants of type B strain CN1795 or type C strain CN3685, the 5-amino-acid peptides, whether in a linear or ring (thiolactone or lactone) form, induced better signaling (more CPB production) than peptide 8-R for both C. perfringens strains. The 5-mer thiolactone ring peptide induced faster signaling than the 5-mer linear peptide. Strain-related variations in sensing these peptides were detected, with CN3685 sensing the synthetic peptides more strongly than CN1795. Consistent with those synthetic peptide results, Transwell coculture experiments showed that CN3685 exquisitely senses native AIP signals from other isolates (types A, B, C, and D), while CN1795 barely senses even its own AIP. Finally, a C. perfringens AgrD sequence-based peptide with a 6-amino-acid thiolactone ring interfered with CPB production by several C. perfringens strains, suggesting potential therapeutic applications. These results indicate that AIP signaling sensitivity and responsiveness vary among C. perfringens strains and suggest C. perfringens prefers a 5-mer AIP to initiate Agr signaling. IMPORTANCE Clostridium perfringens possesses an Agr-like quorum sensing (QS) system that regulates virulence, sporulation, and toxin production. The current study used synthetic peptides to identify the structure-function relationship for the signaling peptide that activates this QS system. We found that a 5-mer peptide induces optimal signaling. Unlike other Agr systems, a linear version of this peptide (in addition to thiolactone and lactone versions) could induce signaling. Two C. perfringens strains were found to vary in sensitivity to these peptides. We also found that a 6-mer peptide can inhibit toxin production by some strains, suggesting therapeutic applications. PMID:25777675

Chronic Fibro-Inflammatory Responses in Autoimmune Pancreatitis Depend on IFN-α and IL-33 Produced by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells.

PubMed

Watanabe, Tomohiro; Yamashita, Kouhei; Arai, Yasuyuki; Minaga, Kosuke; Kamata, Ken; Nagai, Tomoyuki; Komeda, Yoriaki; Takenaka, Mamoru; Hagiwara, Satoru; Ida, Hiroshi; Sakurai, Toshiharu; Nishida, Naoshi; Strober, Warren; Kudo, Masatoshi

2017-05-15

In previous studies, we found that human IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and murine AIP are driven by activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) producing IFN-α. In the present studies we examined additional roles of pDC-related mechanisms in AIP pathogenesis, particularly those responsible for induction of fibrosis. We found that in murine AIP (MRL/Mp mice treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid) not only the pancreatic infiltration of immune cells but also the development of fibrosis were markedly reduced by the depletion of pDCs or blockade of type I IFN signaling; moreover, such treatment was accompanied by a marked reduction of pancreatic expression of IL-33. Conversely, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced inflamed pancreatic tissue in murine AIP exhibited increased expression of type I IFNs and IL-33 (and downstream IL-33 cytokines such as IL-13 and TGF-β1). pDCs stimulated by type I IFN were the source of the IL-33 because purified populations of these cells isolated from the inflamed pancreas produced a large amount of IL-33 upon activation by TLR9 ligands, and such production was abrogated by the neutralization of type I IFN. The role of IL-33 in murine AIP pathogenesis was surprisingly important because blockade of IL-33 signaling by anti-ST2 Ab attenuated both pancreatic inflammation and accompanying fibrosis. Finally, whereas patients with both conventional pancreatitis and IgG4-related AIP exhibited increased numbers of acinar cells expressing IL-33, only the latter also exhibited pDCs producing this cytokine. These data thus suggest that pDCs producing IFN-α and IL-33 play a pivotal role in the chronic fibro-inflammatory responses underlying murine AIP and human IgG4-related AIP. Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 8 links the PTEN-Akt-AIP4 pathway to the control of FLIPS stability and TRAIL sensitivity in glioblastoma multiforme.

PubMed

Panner, Amith; Crane, Courtney A; Weng, Changjiang; Feletti, Alberto; Fang, Shanna; Parsa, Andrew T; Pieper, Russell O

2010-06-15

The antiapoptotic protein FLIP(S) is a key suppressor of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. We previously reported that a novel phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN)-Akt-atrophin-interacting protein 4 (AIP4) pathway regulates FLIP(S) ubiquitination and stability, although the means by which PTEN and Akt were linked to AIP4 activity were unclear. Here, we report that a second regulator of ubiquitin metabolism, the ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8), is a downstream target of Akt, and that USP8 links Akt to AIP4 and the regulation of FLIP(S) stability and TRAIL resistance. In human GBM xenografts, levels of USP8 correlated inversely with pAkt levels, and genetic or pharmacologic manipulation of Akt regulated USP8 levels in an inverse manner. Overexpression of wild-type USP8, but not catalytically inactive USP8, increased FLIP(S) ubiquitination, decreased FLIP(S) half-life, decreased FLIP(S) steady-state levels, and decreased TRAIL resistance, whereas short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated suppression of USP8 levels had the opposite effect. Because high levels of the USP8 deubiquitinase correlated with high levels of FLIP(S) ubiquitination, USP8 seemed to control FLIP(S) ubiquitination through an intermediate target. Consistent with this idea, overexpression of wild-type USP8 decreased the ubiquitination of the FLIP(S) E3 ubiquitin ligase AIP4, an event previously shown to increase AIP4-FLIP(S) interaction, whereas siRNA-mediated suppression of USP8 increased AIP4 ubiquitination. Furthermore, the suppression of FLIP(S) levels by USP8 overexpression was reversed by the introduction of siRNA targeting AIP4. These results show that USP8, a downstream target of Akt, regulates the ability of AIP4 to control FLIP(S) stability and TRAIL sensitivity.

Atherogenic Index of Plasma Predicts Hyperuricemia in Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeast China.

PubMed

Chang, Ye; Li, Yuan; Guo, Xiaofan; Guo, Liang; Sun, Yingxian

2016-09-02

We aimed to determine the association of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) with hyperuricemia (HUA) in the rural population of northeast China. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of northeast China from January 2012 to August 2013, and the final analysis included data obtained form 5253 men and 6092 women. 1104 participants (9.7%) suffered from HUA. Spearman rank test showed that AIP was positively correlated with uric acid in both sexes (r = 0.310 for men and r = 0.347 for women, both p < 0.001). AIP was classified into three groups: the low (<0.11), the intermediate (0.11-0.21) and the increased (>0.21) risk. The prevalence of HUA increased with AIP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to the low AIP group, participants in increased AIP group had a 2.536-fold risk for HUA (2.164-fold in male and 2.960-fold in female) after adjustment for covariates. Results of receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the area under the curve (95% confidence intervals) was 0.686 (0.665-0.707) for male and 0.730 (0.706-0.755) for female. We indicated that increased AIP was associated with higher serum uric acid levels and could be identified as an independent risk factor of HUA in the rural population of northeast China.

Advice from Rural Elders: What It Takes to Age in Place

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dye, Cheryl J.; Willoughby, Deborah F.; Battisto, Dina G.

2011-01-01

Older adults prefer to age in place (AIP), and there are psychological, physiological, and economic benefits in doing so. However, it is especially challenging to AIP in rural communities. AIP models have been tested in urban settings and age-segregated communities, but they are not appropriate for rural communities. This paper presents rural AIP…

Transcriptome Analysis of Liangshan Pig Muscle Development at the Growth Curve Inflection Point and Asymptotic Stages Using Digital Gene Expression Profiling

PubMed Central

Du, Jingjing; Liu, Chendong; Wu, Xiaoqian; Pu, Qiang; Fu, Yuhua; Tang, Qianzi; Liu, Yuanrui; Li, Qiang; Yang, Runlin; Li, Xuewei; Tang, Guoqing; Jiang, Yanzhi; Li, Mingzhou; Zhang, Shunhua; Zhu, Li

2015-01-01

Animal growth curves can provide essential information for animal breeders to optimize feeding and management strategies. However, the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic differentiation between the inflection point and asymptotic stages of the growth curve is not well characterized. Here, we employed Liangshan pigs in stages of growth at the inflection point (under inflection point: UIP) and the two asymptotic stages (before the inflection point: BIP, after the inflection point: AIP) as models to survey global gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle using digital gene expression (DGE) tag profiling. We found Liangshan pigs reached maximum growth rate (UIP) at 163.6 days of age and a weight of 134.6 kg. The DGE libraries generated 117 million reads of 5.89 gigabases in length. 21,331, 20,996 and 20,139 expressed transcripts were identified BIP, UIP and AIP, respectively. Among them, we identified 757 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BIP and UIP, and 271 DEGs between AIP and UIP. An enrichment analysis of DEGs proved the immune system was strengthened in the AIP stage. Energy metabolism rate, global transcriptional activity and bone development intensity were highest UIP. Meat from Liangshan pigs had the highest intramuscular fat content and most favorable fatty acid composition in the AIP. Three hundred eighty (27.70%) specific expression genes were highly enriched in QTL regions for growth and meat quality traits. This study completed a comprehensive analysis of diverse genetic mechanisms underlying the inflection point and asymptotic stages of growth. Our findings will serve as an important resource in the understanding of animal growth and development in indigenous pig breeds. PMID:26292092

Transcriptome Analysis of Liangshan Pig Muscle Development at the Growth Curve Inflection Point and Asymptotic Stages Using Digital Gene Expression Profiling.

PubMed

Shen, Linyuan; Luo, Jia; Du, Jingjing; Liu, Chendong; Wu, Xiaoqian; Pu, Qiang; Fu, Yuhua; Tang, Qianzi; Liu, Yuanrui; Li, Qiang; Yang, Runlin; Li, Xuewei; Tang, Guoqing; Jiang, Yanzhi; Li, Mingzhou; Zhang, Shunhua; Zhu, Li

2015-01-01

Animal growth curves can provide essential information for animal breeders to optimize feeding and management strategies. However, the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic differentiation between the inflection point and asymptotic stages of the growth curve is not well characterized. Here, we employed Liangshan pigs in stages of growth at the inflection point (under inflection point: UIP) and the two asymptotic stages (before the inflection point: BIP, after the inflection point: AIP) as models to survey global gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle using digital gene expression (DGE) tag profiling. We found Liangshan pigs reached maximum growth rate (UIP) at 163.6 days of age and a weight of 134.6 kg. The DGE libraries generated 117 million reads of 5.89 gigabases in length. 21,331, 20,996 and 20,139 expressed transcripts were identified BIP, UIP and AIP, respectively. Among them, we identified 757 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BIP and UIP, and 271 DEGs between AIP and UIP. An enrichment analysis of DEGs proved the immune system was strengthened in the AIP stage. Energy metabolism rate, global transcriptional activity and bone development intensity were highest UIP. Meat from Liangshan pigs had the highest intramuscular fat content and most favorable fatty acid composition in the AIP. Three hundred eighty (27.70%) specific expression genes were highly enriched in QTL regions for growth and meat quality traits. This study completed a comprehensive analysis of diverse genetic mechanisms underlying the inflection point and asymptotic stages of growth. Our findings will serve as an important resource in the understanding of animal growth and development in indigenous pig breeds.

Analysis of GPR101 and AIP genes mutations in acromegaly: a multicentric study.

PubMed

Ferraù, Francesco; Romeo, P D; Puglisi, S; Ragonese, M; Torre, M L; Scaroni, C; Occhi, G; De Menis, E; Arnaldi, G; Trimarchi, F; Cannavò, S

2016-12-01

This multicentric study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the G protein-coupled receptor 101 (GPR101) p.E308D variant and aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene mutations in a representative cohort of Italian patients with acromegaly. 215 patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, referred to 4 Italian referral centres for pituitary diseases, have been included. Three cases of gigantism were present. Five cases were classified as FIPA. All the patients have been screened for germline AIP gene mutations and GPR101 gene p.E308D variant. Heterozygous AIP gene variants have been found in 7 patients (3.2 %). Five patients carried an AIP mutation (2.3 %; 4 females): 3 patients harboured the p.R3O4Q mutation, one had the p.R304* mutation and the last one the IVS3+1G>A mutation. The prevalence of AIP mutations was 3.3 % and 2.8 % when considering only the patients diagnosed when they were <30 or <40-year old, respectively. Furthermore, 2.0 % of the patients with a pituitary macroadenoma and 4.2 % of patients resistant to somatostatin analogues treatment were found to harbour an AIP gene mutation. None of the patients was found to carry the GPR101 p.E308D variant. The prevalence of AIP gene mutations among our sporadic and familial acromegaly cases was similar to that one reported in previous studies, but lower when considering only the cases diagnosed before 40 years of age. The GPR101 p.E308D change is unlikely to have a role in somatotroph adenomas tumorigenesis, since none of our sporadic or familial patients tested positive for this variant.

Exploring Asian Indian and Pakistani views about cancer and participation in cancer genetics research: toward the development of a community genetics intervention.

PubMed

Leader, Amy E; Mohanty, Salini; Selvan, Preethi; Lum, Ray; Giri, Veda N

2018-01-01

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality among the three million Asian Indian/Pakistanis (AIPs) in the USA. AIPs have traditionally been underrepresented in cancer-related research, although reasons remain largely unexplored. We sought to understand AIP's awareness and perceptions of cancer to improve their participation in risk assessment and cancer genetics research. Four focus groups, stratified by gender and birthplace (US-born vs. foreign-born), were held at an AIP cultural center. Discussions focused on knowledge and awareness of cancer risk; how AIP culture influences cancer perceptions; access to health care services for cancer screening, diagnosis, or treatment; and willingness to or experiences with participating in cancer genetics research. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and content analyzed using NVivo ® 11 for dominant themes. Thirty-two AIP adults participated in a focus group. Information on family cancer history is challenging to obtain due to the desire for privacy, cancer stigma, and loss of medical records. Interest in genetic testing for cancer risk was mixed: some were in favor of knowing their personal risk, yet many noted that future generations in their family would benefit more by knowing their risk. Participants felt that the AIP community has largely been overlooked in recruitment efforts for research studies. Recommendations for improving recruitment efforts included partnering with community events and festivities, posting culturally and linguistically relevant recruitment materials, and focusing on population-wide health improvement. Understanding the culture and perceptions of AIPs, separate from Asian Americans at large, will allow for more tailored approaches for including this population in cancer genetics research.

Morphological and immunohistochemical comparison of intrapancreatic nerves between chronic pancreatitis and type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis.

PubMed

Kato, Kota; Ikeura, Tsukasa; Yanagawa, Masato; Tomiyama, Takashi; Fukui, Toshiro; Uchida, Kazushige; Takaoka, Makoto; Nishio, Akiyoshi; Uemura, Yoshiko; Satoi, Sohei; Yamada, Hisao; Okazaki, Kazuichi

The abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP) may be related to the increased number and size of intrapancreatic nerves. On the other hand, patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) rarely suffer from the pain syndrome, and there are no previous studies concerning the histopathological findings of intrapancreatic nerves in patients with type 1 AIP. The current study is aimed at investigating the differences in the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of intrapancreatic nerves in patients with CP and type 1 AIP. Neuroanatomical differences between CP and type 1 AIP were assessed by immunostaining with a pan-neuronal marker, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5). The number (neural density) and area (neural hypertrophy) of PGP9.5-immunopositive nerves were quantitatively analyzed. Furthermore, the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), and a high affinity receptor for NGF, tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA), was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Both neural density and hypertrophy were significantly greater in pancreatic tissue samples from patients with CP than those with normal pancreas or type 1 AIP. NGF expression was stronger in type 1 AIP than in CP, whereas TrkA expression in type 1 AIP was poorer than in CP. Although CP and type 1 AIP are both characterized by the presence of sustained pancreatic inflammation, they are different in terms of the density and hypertrophy of intrapancreatic nerve fibers. It is possible that this may be related to the difference in the activity of the NGF/TrkA-pathway between the two types of pancreatitis. Copyright © 2017 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advanced information processing system: Local system services

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burkhardt, Laura; Alger, Linda; Whittredge, Roy; Stasiowski, Peter

1989-01-01

The Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS) is a multi-computer architecture composed of hardware and software building blocks that can be configured to meet a broad range of application requirements. The hardware building blocks are fault-tolerant, general-purpose computers, fault-and damage-tolerant networks (both computer and input/output), and interfaces between the networks and the computers. The software building blocks are the major software functions: local system services, input/output, system services, inter-computer system services, and the system manager. The foundation of the local system services is an operating system with the functions required for a traditional real-time multi-tasking computer, such as task scheduling, inter-task communication, memory management, interrupt handling, and time maintenance. Resting on this foundation are the redundancy management functions necessary in a redundant computer and the status reporting functions required for an operator interface. The functional requirements, functional design and detailed specifications for all the local system services are documented.

Inhibition of Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.: A Novel Approach to Reduce Oxidative Browning in Plant Tissue Culture

PubMed Central

Jones, Andrew Maxwell Phineas; Saxena, Praveen Kumar

2013-01-01

Oxidative browning is a common and often severe problem in plant tissue culture systems caused by the accumulation and oxidation of phenolic compounds. The current study was conducted to investigate a novel preventative approach to address this problem by inhibiting the activity of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme (PAL), thereby reducing the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. This was accomplished by incorporating 2-aminoindane-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), a competitive PAL inhibitor, into culture media of Artemisia annua as a model system. Addition of AIP into culture media resulted in significant reductions in visual tissue browning, a reduction in total phenol content, as well as absorbance and autoflourescence of tissue extracts. Reduced tissue browning was accompanied with a significant increase in growth on cytokinin based medium. Microscopic observations demonstrated that phenolic compounds accumulated in discrete cells and that these cells were more prevalent in brown tissue. These cells were highly plasmolyzed and often ruptured during examination, demonstrating a mechanism in which phenolics are released into media in this system. These data indicate that inhibiting phenylpropanoid biosynthesis with AIP is an effective approach to reduce tissue browning in A. annua. Additional experiments with Ulmus americana and Acer saccharum indicate this approach is effective in many species and it could have a wide application in systems where oxidative browning restricts the development of biotechnologies. PMID:24116165

Web Services for Astronomical Databases: Connecting AIPS++ to the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douthit, M. C.

2002-12-01

In the year 2010, the NRAO will be operating four of the world's most powerful radio telescopes: GBT, EVLA, VLBA, and ALMA (with international partnership). Multi-Terabyte data sets will quickly accumulate with a rate of twenty-five to fifty Megabytes of data per second generated by ALMA and EVLA each. It will be imperative for scientists to possess software capable of automated data reduction, image synthesis, and archiving. With the evolution of AIPS++ and the recently developed concepts of the image pipeline, the participation of the NRAO in the virtual observatories of the future is now on the horizon giving birth to the need for fast archive access and web service development in AIPS++. When the software package began over 10 years ago, it was not designed for data transfer via the web. In response to the demands of the NVO, we have designed and implemented an application layer that will allow our system to communicate with others. Sponsored by the NRAO and California State University, San Marcos.

AIP appoints New CEO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer, Kenneth W. Ford, who is to succeed H. William Koch when Koch retires on March 28, 1987. Koch has held the position since 1966.AIP is a not-for-profit scientific organization made up of 10 member societies, including AGU, that represent more than 90,000 scientists. Its main activities include scientific publishing and marketing of 76 primary physics journals, including translations of foreign journals, books, conference proceedings, and the magazine Physics Today. AIP also is involved with electronic abstracting and other scientific communications and has active programs in education, public information, manpower statistics, and the history of physics.

An ABI3-interactor of conifers responds to multiple hormones.

PubMed

Zeng, Ying; Zhao, Tiehan; Kermode, Allison

2013-11-01

CnAIP2 (Callitropsis nootkatensis ABI3-Interacting Protein 2) was previously identified as a protein that interacts with the yellow-cedar ABI3 protein. CnAIP2 plays important roles during several key transitions of the plant lifecycle and acts as a global regulator with functions opposite to those of ABI3 proteins. Here we report that the CnAIP2 gene promoter is strongly upregulated by all of the major plant hormones. Young Arabidopsis seedlings expressing a chimeric CnAIP2pro-GUS construct were subjected to exogenously applied hormones; the maximum fold-enhancement of GUS activity was as high as 47-fold, and each hormone showed a distinctive cell/tissue-specific pattern of GUS induction. By far the greatest response was elicited by the synthetic auxin 2,4-D (47-fold induction); the other hormones tested stimulated GUS activities by 8- to 21-fold. The CnAIP2 promoter also responded to glucose and salt (NaCl), albeit to a lesser extent (2- to 3-fold induction). As well as acting in an antagonistic way to the global regulator ABI3, CnAIP2 appears to participate in multiple hormonal crosstalk pathways to carry out its functions.

Mutation analysis of aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene in colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers

PubMed Central

Georgitsi, M; Karhu, A; Winqvist, R; Visakorpi, T; Waltering, K; Vahteristo, P; Launonen, V; Aaltonen, L A

2007-01-01

Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene were recently identified in individuals with pituitary adenoma predisposition (PAP). These patients have prolactin (PRL) or growth hormone (GH) oversecreting pituitary adenomas, the latter exhibiting acromegaly or gigantism. Loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) analysis revealed that AIP is lost in PAP tumours, suggesting that it acts as a tumour-suppressor gene. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein is involved in several pathways, but it is best characterised as a cytoplasmic partner of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). To examine the possible role of AIP in the genesis of common cancers, we performed somatic mutation screening in a series of 373 colorectal cancers (CRCs), 82 breast cancers, and 44 prostate tumour samples. A missense R16H (47G>A) change was identified in two CRC samples, as well as in the respective normal tissues, but was absent in 209 healthy controls. The remaining findings were silent, previously unreported, changes of the coding, non-coding, or untranslated regions of AIP. These results suggest that somatic AIP mutations are not common in CRC, breast, and prostate cancers. PMID:17242703

Building IoT Services for Aging in Place Using Standard-Based IoT Platforms and Heterogeneous IoT Products.

PubMed

Fattah, Sheik Mohammad Mostakim; Sung, Nak-Myoung; Ahn, Il-Yeup; Ryu, Minwoo; Yun, Jaeseok

2017-10-11

An aging population and human longevity is a global trend. Many developed countries are struggling with the yearly increasing healthcare cost that dominantly affects their economy. At the same time, people living with old adults suffering from a progressive brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease are enduring even more stress and depression than those patients while caring for them. Accordingly, seniors' ability to live independently and comfortably in their current home for as long as possible has been crucial to reduce the societal cost for caregiving and thus give family members peace of mind, called 'aging in place' (AIP). In this paper we present a way of building AIP services using standard-based IoT platforms and heterogeneous IoT products. An AIP service platform is designed and created by combining previous standard-based IoT platforms in a collaborative way. A service composition tool is also created that allows people to create AIP services in an efficient way. To show practical usability of our proposed system, we choose a service scenario for medication compliance and implement a prototype service which could give old adults medication reminder appropriately at the right time (i.e., when it is time to need to take pills) through light and speaker at home but also wrist band and smartphone even outside the home.

Building IoT Services for Aging in Place Using Standard-Based IoT Platforms and Heterogeneous IoT Products

PubMed Central

Fattah, Sheik Mohammad Mostakim; Sung, Nak-Myoung; Ahn, Il-Yeup; Ryu, Minwoo; Yun, Jaeseok

2017-01-01

An aging population and human longevity is a global trend. Many developed countries are struggling with the yearly increasing healthcare cost that dominantly affects their economy. At the same time, people living with old adults suffering from a progressive brain disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease are enduring even more stress and depression than those patients while caring for them. Accordingly, seniors’ ability to live independently and comfortably in their current home for as long as possible has been crucial to reduce the societal cost for caregiving and thus give family members peace of mind, called ‘aging in place’ (AIP). In this paper we present a way of building AIP services using standard-based IoT platforms and heterogeneous IoT products. An AIP service platform is designed and created by combining previous standard-based IoT platforms in a collaborative way. A service composition tool is also created that allows people to create AIP services in an efficient way. To show practical usability of our proposed system, we choose a service scenario for medication compliance and implement a prototype service which could give old adults medication reminder appropriately at the right time (i.e., when it is time to need to take pills) through light and speaker at home but also wrist band and smartphone even outside the home. PMID:29019964

Multistage Pulse Tube Refrigeration Characterization of the Northrop Grumman High Capacity Cooler - An Update

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

Additional information on AIP Conf. Proc. Journal Homepage: http://proceedings.aip.org/ Journal Information: http://proceedings.aip.org/about...coolers would make comparing temperature and load data virtually meaningless. One solution as presented by Razani [4] is to compare exergy vs...P Q ,=η (2) Where exercoolingQ , is the total exergy delivered to all refrigerated reservoirs and

Atherogenic index of plasma: a useful marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis : AIP associate with cIMT in AS.

PubMed

Cure, Erkan; Icli, Abdullah; Uslu, Ali Ugur; Sakiz, Davut; Cure, Medine Cumhur; Baykara, Rabia Aydogan; Yavuz, Fatma; Arslan, Sevket; Kucuk, Adem

2018-05-01

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD). The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which is the logarithmic transformation of the plasma triglyceride (TG) level to the high-density lipoprotein level (HDL) ratio, has been suggested to be a novel marker in the identification of atherosclerosis risk. Therefore, this study aims to determine if the AIP can act as an accurate marker for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis. Fifty-two male patients with AS and 52 age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. For each patient, AIP and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL values were calculated and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. The mean (SD) cIMT and median (range) AIP values for AS patients were higher than that of the healthy control subjects (0.60 ± 0.18 vs. 0.51 ± 0.10, p = 0.003 and 0.23 [- 0.32 to 0.85] vs. 0.09 [- 0.53 to 0.49], p = 0.007, respectively). A positive correlation was found between the patients' cIMT and AIP values (r = 0.307, p = 0.002) and TC/HDL values (r = 0.241, p = 0.014). Regression analysis revealed an independent association between the subclinical atherosclerosis and AIP (beta [β] = 0.309, p = 0.002). There were no independent correlations between subclinical atherosclerosis and TC (β = 0.245, p = 0.065), TG (β = 0.185, p = 0.515), HDL (β = 0.198, p = 0.231), TC/HDL (β = 0.032, p = 0.862), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (β = 0.151, p = 0.246). A strong and independent correlation exists between AIP and cIMT values. Therefore, the AIP could serve as a better marker than the TC/HDL ratio for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in AS patients.

Solvent exchange in a metal–organic framework single crystal monitored by dynamic in situ X-ray diffraction

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

Cox, Jordan M.; Walton, Ian M.; Bateman, Gage

2017-07-25

Understanding the processes by which porous solid-state materials adsorb and release guest molecules would represent a significant step towards developing rational design principles for functional porous materials. To elucidate the process of liquid exchange in these materials, dynamicin situX-ray diffraction techniques have been developed which utilize liquid-phase chemical stimuli. Using these time-resolved diffraction techniques, the ethanol solvation process in a flexible metal–organic framework [Co(AIP)(bpy) 0.5(H 2O)]·2H 2O was examined. The measurements provide important insight into the nature of the chemical transformation in this system including the presence of a previously unreported neat ethanol solvate structure.

Glucose metabolism during fasting is altered in experimental porphobilinogen deaminase deficiency.

PubMed

Collantes, María; Serrano-Mendioroz, Irantzu; Benito, Marina; Molinet-Dronda, Francisco; Delgado, Mercedes; Vinaixa, María; Sampedro, Ana; Enríquez de Salamanca, Rafael; Prieto, Elena; Pozo, Miguel A; Peñuelas, Iván; Corrales, Fernando J; Barajas, Miguel; Fontanellas, Antonio

2016-04-01

Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) haploinsufficiency (acute intermittent porphyria, AIP) is characterized by neurovisceral attacks when hepatic heme synthesis is activated by endogenous or environmental factors including fasting. While the molecular mechanisms underlying the nutritional regulation of hepatic heme synthesis have been described, glucose homeostasis during fasting is poorly understood in porphyria. Our study aimed to analyse glucose homeostasis and hepatic carbohydrate metabolism during fasting in PBGD-deficient mice. To determine the contribution of hepatic PBGD deficiency to carbohydrate metabolism, AIP mice injected with a PBGD-liver gene delivery vector were included. After a 14 h fasting period, serum and liver metabolomics analyses showed that wild-type mice stimulated hepatic glycogen degradation to maintain glucose homeostasis while AIP livers activated gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis due to their inability to use stored glycogen. The serum of fasted AIP mice showed increased concentrations of insulin and reduced glucagon levels. Specific over-expression of the PBGD protein in the liver tended to normalize circulating insulin and glucagon levels, stimulated hepatic glycogen catabolism and blocked ketone body production. Reduced glucose uptake was observed in the primary somatosensorial brain cortex of fasted AIP mice, which could be reversed by PBGD-liver gene delivery. In conclusion, AIP mice showed a different response to fasting as measured by altered carbohydrate metabolism in the liver and modified glucose consumption in the brain cortex. Glucose homeostasis in fasted AIP mice was efficiently normalized after restoration of PBGD gene expression in the liver. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Impact of a Physician-Led Social Media Sharing Program on a Medical Journal's Web Traffic.

PubMed

Trueger, N Seth; Bokarius, Andrew V; Carroll, Stephen; April, Michael D; Thoma, Brent

2018-01-01

The use of social media by health professionals and medical journals is increasing. The aim of this study was to compare online views of articles in press (AIPs) released by Annals of Emergency Medicine before and after a nine-person social media team started actively posting links to AIPs using their personal Twitter accounts. An observational before-and-after study was conducted. Web traffic data for Annals were obtained from the publisher (Elsevier), detailing the number of page views to annemergmed.com by referring websites during the study period. The preintervention time period was defined as January 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, and the postintervention period as July 1, 2014, to July 31, 2015. The primary outcome was page views from Twitter per AIP released each month to account for the number of articles published each month. Secondary outcomes included page views from Facebook (on which there was no article-sharing intervention) and total article views per month. The median page views from Twitter per individual AIP released each month increased from 33 in the preintervention period to 130, for an effect size of 97 (95% confidence interval, 56-111; P < .001). There was a smaller increase in median page views from Facebook per individual AIP of 21 (95% confidence interval, 10-32). There was no significant increase in these median values for total page views per AIP. Twitter sharing of AIPs increased the number of page views that came from Twitter but did not increase the overall number of page views. Copyright © 2017 American College of Radiology. All rights reserved.

Distinct Representations of Magnitude and Spatial Position within Parietal Cortex during Number-Space Mapping.

PubMed

Kanayet, Frank J; Mattarella-Micke, Andrew; Kohler, Peter J; Norcia, Anthony M; McCandliss, Bruce D; McClelland, James L

2018-02-01

Mapping numbers onto space is foundational to mathematical cognition. These cognitive operations are often conceptualized in the context of a "mental number line" and involve multiple brain regions in or near the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) that have been implicated both in numeral and spatial cognition. Here we examine possible differentiation of function within these brain areas in relating numbers to spatial positions. By isolating the planning phase of a number line task and introducing spatiotopic mapping tools from fMRI into mental number line task research, we are able to focus our analysis on the neural activity of areas in anterior IPS (aIPS) previously associated with number processing and on spatiotopically organized areas in and around posterior IPS (pIPS), while participants prepare to place a number on a number line. Our results support the view that the nonpositional magnitude of a numerical symbol is coded in aIPS, whereas the position of a number in space is coded in posterior areas of IPS. By focusing on the planning phase, we are able to isolate activation related to the cognitive, rather than the sensory-motor, aspects of the task. Also, to allow the separation of spatial position from magnitude, we tested both a standard positive number line (0 to 100) and a zero-centered mixed number line (-100 to 100). We found evidence of a functional dissociation between aIPS and pIPS: Activity in aIPS was associated with a landmark distance effect not modulated by spatial position, whereas activity in pIPS revealed a contralateral preference effect.

Atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient are increased in major depression and bipolar disorder, especially when comorbid with tobacco use disorder.

PubMed

Nunes, Sandra Odebrecht Vargas; Piccoli de Melo, Luiz Gustavo; Pizzo de Castro, Márcia Regina; Barbosa, Décio Sabbatini; Vargas, Heber Odebrecht; Berk, Michael; Maes, Michael

2015-02-01

There is a robust comorbidity between mood disorders and cardiovascular disorder (CVD). The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and the atherogenic coefficient (AC) are important atherogenic indexes. The aims of this study were to delineate whether AIP and AC are increased in mood disorders especially when comorbid with tobacco use disorder (TUD). In this case-control study we included 134 patients with mood disorders, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression (cases), and 197 individuals without mood disorder (controls) divided into those with and without TUD (defined as never-smokers). Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) were measured. AIP and AC were computed as log (TG/HDLc) and non-HDLc/HDLc, respectively. The AIP and AC indexes were significantly increased in patients with mood disorders versus controls, both in depression and bipolar disorder. Patients with mood disorder without TUD and patients with TUD without mood disorder showed higher AIP and AC values than never-smokers while those with comorbid mood disorders and TUD showed significantly higher AIP and AC levels than all other individuals. A large part of the variance in the AIC (26.4%) and AC (20.4%) was explained by mood disorders, TUD, male gender and body mass index. The findings suggest that lipid abnormalities leading to an increased atherogenic potential are involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and especially comorbid mood disorder and TUD. The comorbidity between mood disorders and CVD may be partly explained increased through AIP and AC indexes, impacting increments in atherogenic potential. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical course of ulcerative colitis patients who develop acute pancreatitis

PubMed Central

Kim, Jong Wook; Hwang, Sung Wook; Park, Sang Hyoung; Song, Tae Jun; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Lee, Ho-Su; Ye, Byong Duk; Yang, Dong-Hoon; Kim, Kyung-Jo; Byeon, Jeong-Sik; Myung, Seung-Jae; Yang, Suk-Kyun

2017-01-01

AIM To investigate the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who develop acute pancreatitis. METHODS We analyzed 3307 UC patients from the inflammatory bowel disease registry at Asan Medical Center from June 1989 to May 2015. The clinical course of UC patients who developed acute pancreatitis was compared with that of non-pancreatitis UC patients. RESULTS Among 51 patients who developed acute pancreatitis, 13 (0.40%) had autoimmune, 10 (0.30%) had aminosalicylate-induced, and 13 (1.73%) had thiopurine-induced pancreatitis. All 13 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) had type 2 AIP. Two (15.4%) patients had pre-existing AIP, and three (23.1%) patients developed AIP and UC simultaneously. Compared to non-pancreatitis patients, AIP patients had UC diagnosed at a significantly younger age (median, 22.9 years vs 36.4 years; P = 0.001). AIP and aminosalicylate-induced pancreatitis patients had more extensive UC compared to non-pancreatitis patients. All patients with pancreatitis recovered uneventfully, and there were no recurrences. Biologics were used more frequently in aminosalicylate- and thiopurine-induced pancreatitis patients compared to non-pancreatitis patients [adjusted OR (95%CI), 5.16 (1.42-18.67) and 6.90 (1.83-25.98), respectively]. Biologic utilization rate was similar among AIP and non-pancreatitis patients [OR (95%CI), 0.84 (0.11-6.66)]. Colectomy rates for autoimmune, aminosalicylate-induced, and thiopurine-induced pancreatitis, and for non-pancreatitis patients were 15.4% (2/13), 20% (2/10), 15.4% (2/13), and 7.3% (239/3256), respectively; the rates were not significantly different after adjusting for baseline disease extent. CONCLUSION Pancreatitis patients show a non-significant increase in colectomy, after adjusting for baseline disease extent. PMID:28596686

Artifacts in slab average-intensity-projection images reformatted from JPEG 2000 compressed thin-section abdominal CT data sets.

PubMed

Kim, Bohyoung; Lee, Kyoung Ho; Kim, Kil Joong; Mantiuk, Rafal; Kim, Hye-ri; Kim, Young Hoon

2008-06-01

The objective of our study was to assess the effects of compressing source thin-section abdominal CT images on final transverse average-intensity-projection (AIP) images. At reversible, 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, and 15:1 Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) 2000 compressions, we compared the artifacts in 20 matching compressed thin sections (0.67 mm), compressed thick sections (5 mm), and AIP images (5 mm) reformatted from the compressed thin sections. The artifacts were quantitatively measured with peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and a perceptual quality metric (High Dynamic Range Visual Difference Predictor [HDR-VDP]). By comparing the compressed and original images, three radiologists independently graded the artifacts as 0 (none, indistinguishable), 1 (barely perceptible), 2 (subtle), or 3 (significant). Friedman tests and exact tests for paired proportions were used. At irreversible compressions, the artifacts tended to increase in the order of AIP, thick-section, and thin-section images in terms of PSNR (p < 0.0001), HDR-VDP (p < 0.0001), and the readers' grading (p < 0.01 at 6:1 or higher compressions). At 6:1 and 8:1, distinguishable pairs (grades 1-3) tended to increase in the order of AIP, thick-section, and thin-section images. Visually lossless threshold for the compression varied between images but decreased in the order of AIP, thick-section, and thin-section images (p < 0.0001). Compression artifacts in thin sections are significantly attenuated in AIP images. On the premise that thin sections are typically reviewed using an AIP technique, it is justifiable to compress them to a compression level currently accepted for thick sections.

Clinical course of ulcerative colitis patients who develop acute pancreatitis.

PubMed

Kim, Jong Wook; Hwang, Sung Wook; Park, Sang Hyoung; Song, Tae Jun; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Lee, Ho-Su; Ye, Byong Duk; Yang, Dong-Hoon; Kim, Kyung-Jo; Byeon, Jeong-Sik; Myung, Seung-Jae; Yang, Suk-Kyun

2017-05-21

To investigate the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who develop acute pancreatitis. We analyzed 3307 UC patients from the inflammatory bowel disease registry at Asan Medical Center from June 1989 to May 2015. The clinical course of UC patients who developed acute pancreatitis was compared with that of non-pancreatitis UC patients. Among 51 patients who developed acute pancreatitis, 13 (0.40%) had autoimmune, 10 (0.30%) had aminosalicylate-induced, and 13 (1.73%) had thiopurine-induced pancreatitis. All 13 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) had type 2 AIP. Two (15.4%) patients had pre-existing AIP, and three (23.1%) patients developed AIP and UC simultaneously. Compared to non-pancreatitis patients, AIP patients had UC diagnosed at a significantly younger age (median, 22.9 years vs 36.4 years; P = 0.001). AIP and aminosalicylate-induced pancreatitis patients had more extensive UC compared to non-pancreatitis patients. All patients with pancreatitis recovered uneventfully, and there were no recurrences. Biologics were used more frequently in aminosalicylate- and thiopurine-induced pancreatitis patients compared to non-pancreatitis patients [adjusted OR (95%CI), 5.16 (1.42-18.67) and 6.90 (1.83-25.98), respectively]. Biologic utilization rate was similar among AIP and non-pancreatitis patients [OR (95%CI), 0.84 (0.11-6.66)]. Colectomy rates for autoimmune, aminosalicylate-induced, and thiopurine-induced pancreatitis, and for non-pancreatitis patients were 15.4% (2/13), 20% (2/10), 15.4% (2/13), and 7.3% (239/3256), respectively; the rates were not significantly different after adjusting for baseline disease extent. Pancreatitis patients show a non-significant increase in colectomy, after adjusting for baseline disease extent.

Assessment of the correlation between the atherogenic index of plasma and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: might it be superior to the TG/HDL-C ratio?

PubMed

Nogay, Nalan Hakime

2017-08-28

Most of the studies investigating the correlation between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiometabolic risk factors have been conducted with adults, while only a limited number of related studies that involved children and adolescents has been conducted. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between the AIP and other cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. This study was conducted with 310 girls and 90 boys who were between the ages of 6 and 18 years. After a 10-h fasting period, the biochemical values of the participants were measured in the morning. The anthropometric measurements of the participants were also taken. The AIP was calculated as Log10 (triglycerides/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG/HDL-C). In adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18, the mean AIP of the group with TG ≥130 mg/dL was significantly higher than that of the groups with TG of 90-129 mg/dL and <90 mg/dL. There was a strong correlation between TG and AIP for both boys and girls among the children and adolescents, while there was a strong correlation between the TG/HDL-C ratio and TG only in the boys who were within the 6-11-year-old age group. An increase in AIP is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents other than those seen in adults. Based on the TG/HDL-C ratio, the AIP may be superior as a complementary index in the assessment of cardiometabolic risks in children and adolescents.

Thermodynamic Analysis and Optimization Based on Exergy Flow for a Two-Staged Pulse Tube Refrigerator

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

X.C. Xuan, Cryogenics, 43, pp. 117-124 (2003). 11. J. Chen, X. Chen, and C. Wu, Exergy , an International Journal , 1, pp. 100-106 (2001). 12. C.S...THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION BASED ON EXERGY FLOW FOR A TWOSTAGED PULSE TUBE REFRIGERATOR A. Razani, T. Fraser, C. Dodson, and T. Roberts...2012) Additional information on AIP Conf. Proc. Journal Homepage: http://proceedings.aip.org/ Journal Information: http://proceedings.aip.org

Changes in ultrasonography indicators of abnormally invasive placenta during pregnancy.

PubMed

Calì, Giuseppe; Timor-Trisch, Ilan E; Palacios-Jaraquemada, Josè; Monteaugudo, Ana; Forlani, Francesco; Minneci, Gabriella; Foti, Francesca; Buca, Danilo; Familiari, Alessandra; Scambia, Giovanni; Liberati, Marco; D'Antonio, Francesco

2018-03-01

To ascertain whether the prevalence of ultrasonography signs of abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) changes during pregnancy. The present retrospective analysis included women with a prenatal diagnosis of AIP that was confirmed at delivery between January 1, 2007, and April 30, 2017, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Arnas Civico Hospital, Palermo, Italy. Ultrasonography signs of AIP were recorded at four different intervals during pregnancy: early first (6-9 weeks), first (11-14 weeks), second (15-24 weeks), and third trimester (25-36 weeks). There were 105 pregnancies included. Low implantation of the gestational sac was present on all ultrasonography images from the early first trimester compared with on 23 of 83 (27.7%) images from 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. The identification of loss of the clear space, placental lacunae, bladder wall interruption, and uterovesical hypervascularity all increased (all P<0.001) from the early first trimester onwards; these could all be identified in a majority of patients at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. The prevalence of ultrasonography signs suggestive of AIP varied throughout pregnancy. During the early first trimester, indicators of AIP were similar to those of a cesarean scar pregnancy; classical ultrasonography signs of AIP were already present at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy for most patients. © 2017 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Clinicopathological Features of Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis in Japan: Results of a Multicenter Survey.

PubMed

Notohara, Kenji; Nishimori, Isao; Mizuno, Nobumasa; Okazaki, Kazuichi; Ito, Tetsuhide; Kawa, Shigeyuki; Egawa, Shinichi; Kihara, Yasuyuki; Kanno, Atsushi; Masamune, Atsushi; Shimosegawa, Tooru

2015-10-01

The aim of the study was to clarify clinicopathological features of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in Japan; a multicenter survey was carried out. The first screening collected patients with pancreatitis whose pancreatic tissue samples were available and who fulfilled at least 1 of the following 3 criteria as possible type 2 AIP: (1) histological presence of granulocytic epithelial lesion, (2) age of 50 years or younger, and (3) association of ulcerative colitis, Sjogren syndrome, and/or primary biliary cirrhosis. Patients with histologically confirmed type 1 AIP were also collected as a control. Clinical information was gathered by questionnaire. A histological re-evaluation identified 8 patients with type 2 AIP and 20 with type 1 AIP. Three of the latter had intralobular neutrophilic infiltration. Factors more frequent in type 2 included age younger than 40 years, abdominal pain, and elevation of serum amylase and lipase, whereas patients with type 1 more frequently showed jaundice, elevated serum IgG and IgG4, presence of autoantibodies, association of IgG4-related disease, sclerosing cholangitis and diabetes mellitus, and imaging findings of intrapancreatic biliary stenosis and extrapancreatic biliary dilatation. The clinical features of type 2 AIP in Japan were similar to those of western countries. Intralobular neutrophilic infiltration in type 1 is a potential pitfall, especially in the biopsy-based diagnosis.

A novel truncating AIP mutation, p.W279*, in a familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) kindred.

PubMed

Cansu, Güven Barış; Taşkıran, Bengür; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Faucz, Fabio R; Stratakis, Constantine A

2016-07-01

Familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPA) constitute 2-3% of pituitary tumours. AIP is the most commonly mutated gene in FIPA. We herein report a novel germline mutation of the AIP gene in a family with FIPA. We present two patients, a father and his 12-year-old daughter, diagnosed clinically and using laboratory measures with acromegaly-gigantism. Both underwent transsphenoidal hypophyseal surgery for macroadenomas. We initially detected a novel heterozygous germline AIP mutation, c.836G>A (p.W279*), in the father's DNA. We then found the same mutation in his affected daughter. Pituitary adenomas associated with AIP mutations mostly present as FIPA (68%) at an early age (78% occur at <30 years old). They are often growth hormone (GH) - or prolactin - secreting macroadenomas (88%) that have already extended beyond the sella at the time of diagnosis. Acromegalic cases are resistant to somatostatin analogues and multimodal management is frequently essential to control the disease. Our patients had normalized GH/IGF-1 values soon after surgery, although enough time may not have elapsed to reach final cure. While penetrance of the disease can be as low as 10% in FIPA, especially children and young patients with somatotropinoma and prolactinoma should be surveyed for inactivating mutations or deletions in AIP. Determining the causative mutations may be of assistance in early diagnosis, treatment success, and genetic counseling.

Following the Viterbi Path to Deduce Flagellar Actin-Interacting Proteins of Leishmania spp.: Report on Cofilins and Twinfilins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pacheco, Ana Carolina L.; Araújo, Fabiana F.; Kamimura, Michel T.; Medeiros, Sarah R.; Viana, Daniel A.; Oliveira, Fátima de Cássia E.; Filho, Raimundo Araújo; Costa, Marcília P.; Oliveira, Diana M.

2007-11-01

For performing vital cellular processes, such as motility, eukaryotic cells rely on the actin cytoskeleton, whose structure and dynamics are tightly controlled by a large number of actin-interacting (AIP) or actin-related/regulating (ARP) proteins. Trypanosomatid protozoa, such as Leishmania, rely on their flagellum for motility and sensory reception, which are believed to allow parasite migration, adhesion, invasion and even persistence on mammalian host tissues to cause disease. Actin can determine cell stiffness and transmit force during mechanotransduction, cytokinesis, cell motility and other cellular shape changes, while the identification and analyses of AIPs can help to improve understanding of their mechanical properties on physiological architectures, such as the present case regarding Leishmania flagellar apparatus. This work conveniently apply bioinformatics tools in some refined pattern recognition techniques (such as hidden Markov models (HMMs) through the Viterbi algorithm/path) in order to improve the recognition of actin-binding/interacting activity through identification of AIPs in genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes of Leishmania species. We here report cofilin and twinfilin as putative components of the flagellar apparatus, a direct bioinformatics contribution in the secondary annotation of Leishmania and trypanosomatid genomes.

ALIX/AIP1 is required for NP incorporation into Mopeia virus Z-induced virus-like particles.

PubMed

Shtanko, Olena; Watanabe, Shinji; Jasenosky, Luke D; Watanabe, Tokiko; Kawaoka, Yoshihiro

2011-04-01

During virus particle assembly, the arenavirus nucleoprotein (NP) associates with the viral genome to form nucleocapsids, which ultimately become incorporated into new virions at the cell membrane. Virion release is facilitated by the viral matrix Z protein through its interaction with the cellular endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery. However, the mechanism of nucleocapsid incorporation into virions is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that ALIX/AIP1, an ESCRT-associated host protein, is required for the incorporation of the NP of Mopeia virus, a close relative of Lassa virus, into Z-induced virus-like particles (VLPs). Furthermore, we show that the Bro1 domain of ALIX/AIP1 interacts with the NP and Z proteins simultaneously, facilitating their interaction, and we identify residues 342 to 399 of NP as being necessary for its interaction with ALIX/AIP1. Our observations suggest a potential role for ALIX/AIP1 in linking Mopeia virus NP to Z and the budding apparatus, thereby promoting NP incorporation into virions.

Anisotropic pressure and hyperons in neutron stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulaksono, A.

2015-01-01

We study the effects of anisotropic pressure (AI-P) on properties of the neutron stars (NSs) with hyperons inside its core within the framework of extended relativistic mean field. It is found that the main effects of AI-P on NS matter is to increase the stiffness of the equation of state EOS, which compensates for the softening of the EOS due to the hyperons. The maximum mass and redshift predictions of anisotropic neutron star with hyperonic core are quite compatible with the result of recent observational constraints if we use the parameter of AI-P model h ≤ 0.8 [L. Herrera and W. Barreto, Phys. Rev. D 88 (2013) 084022.] and Λ ≤ -1.15 [D. D. Doneva and S. S. Yazadjiev, Phys. Rev. D 85 (2012) 124023.]. The radius of the corresponding NS at M = 1.4 M⊙ is more than 13 km, while the effect of AI-P on the minimum mass of NS is insignificant. Furthermore, due to the AI-P in the NS, the maximum mass limit of higher than 2.1 M⊙ cannot rule out the presence of hyperons in the NS core.

Acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot cattle: effects of feeding feather meal or vitamin E

PubMed Central

Stanford, Kim; McAllister, Tim A.; Ayroud, Mejid; Bray, Tammy M.; Yost, Garold S.

2007-01-01

We evaluated the effects of feeding 1.5% cysteine-rich feather meal or 550 IU of vitamin E for 40 d before slaughter on the rates of death and emergency slaughter due to acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) in commercial feedlots. Blood and lung tissue were collected at slaughter from 83 animals clinically diagnosed with AIP, 40 asymptomatic penmates, and 40 heifers receiving either feather meal (20) or vitamin E (20); the left lung was subsampled for histologic examination. Blood and lung tissue were analyzed for thiol adducts of 3-methyleneindolenine (3ME) and reduced glutathione. Supplementation with feather meal or vitamin E had no effect on the rates of death and emergency slaughter attributable to AIP and did not influence the levels of 3ME or reduced glutathione in blood or lung tissue. Although supplementation with greater amounts of feather meal or vitamin E may have been necessary to significantly affect factors related to feedlot AIP, increased supplementation would be uneconomical for commercial feedlots, given the relatively low incidence of AIP. PMID:17479779

Unusual AIP mutation and phenocopy in the family of a young patient with acromegalic gigantism.

PubMed

Imran, Syed Ali; Aldahmani, Khaled A; Penney, Lynette; Croul, Sidney E; Clarke, David B; Collier, David M; Iacovazzo, Donato; Korbonits, Márta

2018-01-01

Early-onset acromegaly causing gigantism is often associated with aryl-hydrocarbon-interacting receptor protein ( AIP ) mutation, especially if there is a positive family history. A15y male presented with tiredness and visual problems. He was 201 cm tall with a span of 217 cm. He had typical facial features of acromegaly, elevated IGF-1, secondary hypogonadism and a large macroadenoma. His paternal aunt had a history of acromegaly presenting at the age of 35 years. Following transsphenoidal surgery, his IGF-1 normalized and clinical symptoms improved. He was found to have a novel AIP mutation destroying the stop codon c.991T>C; p.*331R. Unexpectedly, his father and paternal aunt were negative for this mutation while his mother and older sister were unaffected carriers, suggesting that his aunt represents a phenocopy. Typical presentation for a patient with AIP mutation with excess growth and eunuchoid proportions.Unusual, previously not described AIP variant with loss of the stop codon.Phenocopy may occur in families with a disease-causing germline mutation.

Representation of continuous hand and arm movements in macaque areas M1, F5, and AIP: a comparative decoding study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menz, Veera Katharina; Schaffelhofer, Stefan; Scherberger, Hansjörg

2015-10-01

Objective. In the last decade, multiple brain areas have been investigated with respect to their decoding capability of continuous arm or hand movements. So far, these studies have mainly focused on motor or premotor areas like M1 and F5. However, there is accumulating evidence that anterior intraparietal area (AIP) in the parietal cortex also contains information about continuous movement. Approach. In this study, we decoded 27 degrees of freedom representing complete hand and arm kinematics during a delayed grasping task from simultaneously recorded activity in areas M1, F5, and AIP of two macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Main results. We found that all three areas provided decoding performances that lay significantly above chance. In particular, M1 yielded highest decoding accuracy followed by F5 and AIP. Furthermore, we provide support for the notion that AIP does not only code categorical visual features of objects to be grasped, but also contains a substantial amount of temporal kinematic information. Significance. This fact could be utilized in future developments of neural interfaces restoring hand and arm movements.

Unusual AIP mutation and phenocopy in the family of a young patient with acromegalic gigantism

PubMed Central

Aldahmani, Khaled A; Penney, Lynette; Croul, Sidney E; Clarke, David B; Collier, David M; Iacovazzo, Donato; Korbonits, Márta

2018-01-01

Summary Early-onset acromegaly causing gigantism is often associated with aryl-hydrocarbon-interacting receptor protein (AIP) mutation, especially if there is a positive family history. A15y male presented with tiredness and visual problems. He was 201 cm tall with a span of 217 cm. He had typical facial features of acromegaly, elevated IGF-1, secondary hypogonadism and a large macroadenoma. His paternal aunt had a history of acromegaly presenting at the age of 35 years. Following transsphenoidal surgery, his IGF-1 normalized and clinical symptoms improved. He was found to have a novel AIP mutation destroying the stop codon c.991T>C; p.*331R. Unexpectedly, his father and paternal aunt were negative for this mutation while his mother and older sister were unaffected carriers, suggesting that his aunt represents a phenocopy. Learning points: Typical presentation for a patient with AIP mutation with excess growth and eunuchoid proportions. Unusual, previously not described AIP variant with loss of the stop codon. Phenocopy may occur in families with a disease-causing germline mutation. PMID:29472986

Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP)

MedlinePlus

... the Healthcare Professionals area of our site. PBS Documentary AIP Diagnosis Stories **Diagnostic Testing for the Acute ... be administered only by physicians experienced in the management of porphyrias in a hospital setting. Panhematin is ...

Utility of serum IgG, IgG4 and carbonic anhydrase II antibodies in distinguishing autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

PubMed

Talar-Wojnarowska, Renata; Gąsiorowska, Anita; Olakowski, Marek; Dranka-Bojarowska, Daria; Lampe, Paweł; Śmigielski, Jacek; Kujawiak, Magdalena; Grzegorczyk, Janina; Małecka-Panas, Ewa

2014-09-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can mimic pancreatic cancer in its clinical presentation, imaging features and laboratory parameters. The aim of our study was to compare IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAb serum levels in patients with AIP, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to assess their clinical significance and utility in differential diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. The study included 124 patients: 45 with PA, 24 with AIP and 55 with CP. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from all analyzed patients at the time of hospital admission and total IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAB serum levels were measured using ELISA tests. Serum levels of IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAb were significantly higher in patients with AIP compared to PA and CP patients (p<0.001). In AIP patients the median IgG levels were 19.7 g/l, IgG4 levels - 301.9 mg/dl and anti-CAIIAb - 81.82 ng/ml, compared to 10.61 g/l, 123.2mg/dl and 28.6 ng/ml, respectively, in PA patients. IgG4 for the cut-off 210 mg/dl showed the best sensitivity and specificity (83.8% and 89.5%) in AIP diagnosis compared to IgG (69.3% and 87.3%, respectively) and anti-CAIIAb (45.3% and 74.3%). However, 16 (35.5%) patients with PA and 14 (25.4%) patients with CP had IgG4 levels greater than 140 mg/dl. Moreover, in 3 (6.67%) patients with pancreatic cancer those values were greater than 280 mg/dl. No patients with CP had IgG4 more than 280 mg/dl. IgG4 at cut-off 210 mg/dl showed the best sensitivity and specificity in AIP diagnosis compared to IgG and anti-CAIIAb, however elevations of serum IgG4 may be seen in subjects without AIP, including pancreatic cancer. Copyright © 2014 Medical University of Bialystok. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

SU-F-R-52: A Comparison of the Performance of Radiomic Features From Free Breathing and 4DCT Scans in Predicting Disease Recurrence in Lung Cancer SBRT Patients

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

Huynh, E; Coroller, T; Narayan, V

Purpose: There is a clinical need to identify patients who are at highest risk of recurrence after being treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Radiomics offers a non-invasive approach by extracting quantitative features from medical images based on tumor phenotype that is predictive of an outcome. Lung cancer patients treated with SBRT routinely undergo free breathing (FB image) and 4DCT (average intensity projection (AIP) image) scans for treatment planning to account for organ motion. The aim of the current study is to evaluate and compare the prognostic performance of radiomic features extracted from FB and AIP images in lungmore » cancer patients treated with SBRT to identify which image type would generate an optimal predictive model for recurrence. Methods: FB and AIP images of 113 Stage I-II NSCLC patients treated with SBRT were analysed. The prognostic performance of radiomic features for distant metastasis (DM) was evaluated by their concordance index (CI). Radiomic features were compared with conventional imaging metrics (e.g. diameter). All p-values were corrected for multiple testing using the false discovery rate. Results: All patients received SBRT and 20.4% of patients developed DM. From each image type (FB or AIP), nineteen radiomic features were selected based on stability and variance. Both image types had five common and fourteen different radiomic features. One FB (CI=0.70) and five AIP (CI range=0.65–0.68) radiomic features were significantly prognostic for DM (p<0.05). None of the conventional features derived from FB images (range CI=0.60–0.61) were significant but all AIP conventional features were (range CI=0.64–0.66). Conclusion: Features extracted from different types of CT scans have varying prognostic performances. AIP images contain more prognostic radiomic features for DM than FB images. These methods can provide personalized medicine approaches at low cost, as FB and AIP data are readily available within a large number of radiation oncology departments. R.M. had consulting interest with Amgen (ended in 2015).« less

Actin-interacting protein 1 controls assembly and permeability of intestinal epithelial apical junctions

PubMed Central

Baranwal, Somesh

2015-01-01

Adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs) are crucial regulators of the integrity and restitution of the intestinal epithelial barrier. The structure and function of epithelial junctions depend on their association with the cortical actin cytoskeleton that, in polarized epithelial cells, is represented by a prominent perijunctional actomyosin belt. The assembly and stability of the perijunctional cytoskeleton is controlled by constant turnover (disassembly and reassembly) of actin filaments. Actin-interacting protein (Aip) 1 is an emerging regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, playing a critical role in filament disassembly. In this study, we examined the roles of Aip1 in regulating the structure and remodeling of AJs and TJs in human intestinal epithelium. Aip1 was enriched at apical junctions in polarized human intestinal epithelial cells and normal mouse colonic mucosa. Knockdown of Aip1 by RNA interference increased the paracellular permeability of epithelial cell monolayers, decreased recruitment of AJ/TJ proteins to steady-state intercellular contacts, and attenuated junctional reassembly in a calcium-switch model. The observed defects of AJ/TJ structure and functions were accompanied by abnormal organization and dynamics of the perijunctional F-actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, loss of Aip1 impaired the apico-basal polarity of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers and inhibited formation of polarized epithelial cysts in 3-D Matrigel. Our findings demonstrate a previously unanticipated role of Aip1 in regulating the structure and remodeling of intestinal epithelial junctions and early steps of epithelial morphogenesis. PMID:25792565

Actin-interacting protein 1 controls assembly and permeability of intestinal epithelial apical junctions.

PubMed

Lechuga, Susana; Baranwal, Somesh; Ivanov, Andrei I

2015-05-01

Adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs) are crucial regulators of the integrity and restitution of the intestinal epithelial barrier. The structure and function of epithelial junctions depend on their association with the cortical actin cytoskeleton that, in polarized epithelial cells, is represented by a prominent perijunctional actomyosin belt. The assembly and stability of the perijunctional cytoskeleton is controlled by constant turnover (disassembly and reassembly) of actin filaments. Actin-interacting protein (Aip) 1 is an emerging regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, playing a critical role in filament disassembly. In this study, we examined the roles of Aip1 in regulating the structure and remodeling of AJs and TJs in human intestinal epithelium. Aip1 was enriched at apical junctions in polarized human intestinal epithelial cells and normal mouse colonic mucosa. Knockdown of Aip1 by RNA interference increased the paracellular permeability of epithelial cell monolayers, decreased recruitment of AJ/TJ proteins to steady-state intercellular contacts, and attenuated junctional reassembly in a calcium-switch model. The observed defects of AJ/TJ structure and functions were accompanied by abnormal organization and dynamics of the perijunctional F-actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, loss of Aip1 impaired the apico-basal polarity of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers and inhibited formation of polarized epithelial cysts in 3-D Matrigel. Our findings demonstrate a previously unanticipated role of Aip1 in regulating the structure and remodeling of intestinal epithelial junctions and early steps of epithelial morphogenesis. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

A design approach for ultrareliable real-time systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lala, Jaynarayan H.; Harper, Richard E.; Alger, Linda S.

1991-01-01

A design approach developed over the past few years to formalize redundancy management and validation is described. Redundant elements are partitioned into individual fault-containment regions (FCRs). An FCR is a collection of components that operates correctly regardless of any arbitrary logical or electrical fault outside the region. Conversely, a fault in an FCR cannot cause hardware outside the region to fail. The outputs of all channels are required to agree bit-for-bit under no-fault conditions (exact bitwise consensus). Synchronization, input agreement, and input validity conditions are discussed. The Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS), which is a fault-tolerant distributed architecture based on this approach, is described. A brief overview of recent applications of these systems and current research is presented.

The Road to BCS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schrieffer, J. Robert

This article is based on an interview with Bob Schrieffer. The questions are by Joan N. Warnow. The audio version is available on the AIP website at: http://www.aip.org/history/mod/superconductivity/02.html.

Autoimmune pancreatitis: CT patterns and their changes after steroid treatment.

PubMed

Manfredi, Riccardo; Graziani, Rossella; Cicero, Calogero; Frulloni, Luca; Carbognin, Giovanni; Mantovani, William; Mucelli, Roberto Pozzi

2008-05-01

To retrospectively evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) patterns of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and their changes after steroid therapy. Investigational review board approval was obtained, and the informed consent requirement was waived. The medical and imaging data of 21 patients (13 men, eight women; mean age, 47.5 years; age range, 25-79 years) with histopathologically proved AIP who underwent contrast material-enhanced CT at diagnosis and after steroid treatment were included in this study. Image analysis included assessment of the (a) presence or absence and type (focal or diffuse) of pancreatic parenchyma enlargement, (b) contrast enhancement of pancreatic parenchyma, (c) size of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) within the lesion and upstream, and (d) pancreatic parenchyma thickness in the head, body, and tail of the pancreas. The same criteria were applied to follow-up CT examinations, the follow-up data were compared with pretreatment data, and a paired sample t test was applied. Pancreatic parenchyma showed focal enlargement in 14 (67%) patients and diffuse enlargement in seven (33%). Pancreatic parenchyma affected by AIP appeared hypoattenuating in 19 (90%) patients and isoattenuating in two (10%). During the portal venous phase, pancreatic parenchyma showed contrast material retention in 18 (86%) patients and contrast material washout in three (14%). The MPD was never visible within the lesion. After treatment, there was a reduction in the size of pancreatic parenchyma segments affected by AIP (P < .05). Fifteen (71%) of the 21 patients had a normal enhancement pattern in the pancreatic parenchyma, whereas the enhancement pattern remained hypovascular in six (29%). The MPD returned to its normal size within the lesion in all patients at follow-up CT. In one of the eight patients with focal forms of AIP, the upstream MPD remained dilated. AIP appeared as pancreatic parenchyma enlargement, with MPD stenosis within the lesion and upstream dilatation in focal forms of AIP. After steroid treatment, there was normalization of these findings. (c) RSNA, 2008.

Biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in obese/overweight children: effect of lifestyle intervention.

PubMed

Vrablík, M; Dobiášová, M; Zlatohlávek, L; Urbanová, Z; Češka, R

2014-01-01

Obesity is a strong cardiometabolic (CM) risk factor in children. We tested potential CM risk in obese/overweight children and the effect of an intensive lifestyle intervention using newer CM markers: atherogenic index of plasma AIP [Log(TG/HDL-C)], apoB/apoAI ratio and a marker of insulin resistance HOMA-IR. The participants (194 girls, 115 boys, average age 13) were enrolled in an intensive, one-month, inpatient weight reduction program. The program consisted of individualised dietary changes and the exercise program comprised aerobic and resistance training. Anthropometrical and biochemical parameters in plasma and CM risk biomarkers - (AIP, apoB/apoAI ratio and HOMA-IR) were examined before and after the intervention. AIP and HOMA-IR significantly correlated with BMI while apoB/apoAI ratio did not. Only AIP and HOMA-IR showed systematic increases according to the level of obesity by BMI quartiles. Lifestyle intervention significantly improved anthropometrical and biochemical values and the biomarkers too. The response of lipid parameters to the intervention was considerably higher in boys than in girls. The children were stratified into three risk categories according to AIP, where 13.8 % of boys and 5.3 % of girls fell into high risk category. The monitored biomarkers may complement each other in the prognosis of CM risk. AIP was strongly related to obesity and to lipid and glycid metabolism, while the relationship of the apoB/apoAI ratio to obesity and glycid metabolism was not significant. The obese children benefited from the intensive lifestyle intervention which improved the anthropometrical and biochemical parameters and CM risk biomarkers.

Response to "Comment on `Water-processed carbon nanotube/graphene hybrids with enhanced field emission properties'" [AIP Advances 8, 039101 (2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Meng; Xu, Peng; Song, Yenan; Wang, Xu; Li, Zhenhua; Shang, Xuefu; Wu, Huizhen; Zhao, Pei; Wang, Miao

2018-03-01

In this response, we explain the points mentioned by R. Rani and R. Bhatia in their Comment for our previous paper [AIP Advances 5, 097130 (2015)], that the high value of β obtained in Song et al. [AIP Advances 5, 097130 (2015)] is misleading because it does not corroborate with the obtained Jmax, and the obtained value of Jmax is "low" in the mentioned study as compared to the reported values [J. Appl. Phys. 111, 044307 (2012) & Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 033102 (2013)]. For the high value of β, the obtained current Jmax is corroborated but such high value is mainly due to the multistage effect when CNTs are deposited on the rough surface of reduced graphene. For the "low" Jmax, although this is true when compared with Sameera et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 111, 044307 (2012) and Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 033102 (2013)], but we believe that our value is a generally common value when compared with other reports [Diam. Relat. Mater. 47, 1 (2014); J. Alloys Compd. 610, 659 (2014); J. Nanomater. 2013, 5239 (2013)] using the similar method as described in our paper. Therefore, the conclusions from the experimental results on field emission performance of CNT/graphene composite materials in our paper are reliable.

Geodesy/Astrometry with the VLBA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordon, David

2000-05-01

The RDV experiments are a joint effort between VLBI scientists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the U.S. Naval Observatory, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (an NSF facility operated by Associated Universities, Inc.). Six RDV geodesy/astrometry experiments are conducted yearly, using the 10 VLBA antennas and up to 10 Mark 4 antennas. Correlation is done on the VLBA correlator, a station-based, geocenter referenced correlator, similar to the new Mark 4 correlators. VLBA correlator output is in the form of cross-spectra phase and amplitude visibility data, which must be further processed using the NRAO AIPS software package to obtain geodetic observables. Most of the geodetic processing has been done at GSFC, using steps developed by NRAO and GSFC staff. These steps are given in a geodesy processing guide, available on-line in AIPS by typing "EXPLAIN ASTROMET". The first 17 RDV experiments, spanning 2.6 years, have been processed and, except for one problem (known as the southern source problem), the results are fairly good. The baseline repeatabilities are generally as good as, or better than, an equivalent span of Mark3/4 data, and many of the experiments can be phase connected between most of the VLBA antennas.

Land Acquisition and Relocation Assistance for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Assisted Projects

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-10

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance to sponsors of airport projects developed under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to meet the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Pl 9...

May 2006 update in porphobilinogen deaminase gene polymorphisms and mutations causing acute intermittent porphyria: comparison with the situation in Slavic population.

PubMed

Hrdinka, M; Puy, H; Martasek, P

2006-01-01

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disorder of heme biosynthesis caused by molecular defects in the porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) gene. This paper reviews published mutations, their types, and polymorphisms within the PBGD gene. To date, 301 different mutations and 21 polymorphisms have been identified in the PBGD gene in AIP patients and individuals from various countries and ethnic groups. During the search for mutations identified among Slavic AIP patients we found 65 such mutations and concluded that there is not a distinct predominance of certain mutations in Slavs.

Acute intermittent porphyria in Argentina: an update.

PubMed

Cerbino, Gabriela Nora; Gerez, Esther Noemí; Varela, Laura Sabina; Melito, Viviana Alicia; Parera, Victoria Estela; Batlle, Alcira; Rossetti, María Victoria

2015-01-01

Porphyrias are a group of metabolic diseases that arise from deficiencies in the heme biosynthetic pathway. A partial deficiency in hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) produces a hepatic disorder named Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP); the acute porphyria is more frequent in Argentina. In this paper we review the results obtained for 101 Argentinean AIP families and 6 AIP families from foreign neighbour countries studied at molecular level at Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP). Thirty-five different mutations were found, of which 14 were described for the first time in our population. The most prevalent type of mutations was the missense mutations (43%) followed by splice defects (26%) and small deletions (20%). An odd case of a double heterozygous presentation of AIP in a foreign family from Paraguay is discussed. Moreover, it can be noted that 38 new families were found carrying the most frequent mutation in Argentina (p.G111R), increasing to 55.66% the prevalence of this genetic change in our population and adding further support to our previous hypothesis of a founder effect for this mutation in Argentina. Identification of patients with an overt AIP is important because treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis, but more critical is the identification of asymptomatic relatives to avoid acute attacks which may progress to death.

Arabidopsis AIP1-2 restricted by WER-mediated patterning modulates planar polarity

PubMed Central

Kiefer, Christian S.; Claes, Andrea R.; Nzayisenga, Jean-Claude; Pietra, Stefano; Stanislas, Thomas; Hüser, Anke; Ikeda, Yoshihisa; Grebe, Markus

2015-01-01

The coordination of cell polarity within the plane of the tissue layer (planar polarity) is crucial for the development of diverse multicellular organisms. Small Rac/Rho-family GTPases and the actin cytoskeleton contribute to planar polarity formation at sites of polarity establishment in animals and plants. Yet, upstream pathways coordinating planar polarity differ strikingly between kingdoms. In the root of Arabidopsis thaliana, a concentration gradient of the phytohormone auxin coordinates polar recruitment of Rho-of-plant (ROP) to sites of polar epidermal hair initiation. However, little is known about cytoskeletal components and interactions that contribute to this planar polarity or about their relation to the patterning machinery. Here, we show that ACTIN7 (ACT7) represents a main actin isoform required for planar polarity of root hair positioning, interacting with the negative modulator ACTIN-INTERACTING PROTEIN1-2 (AIP1-2). ACT7, AIP1-2 and their genetic interaction are required for coordinated planar polarity of ROP downstream of ethylene signalling. Strikingly, AIP1-2 displays hair cell file-enriched expression, restricted by WEREWOLF (WER)-dependent patterning and modified by ethylene and auxin action. Hence, our findings reveal AIP1-2, expressed under control of the WER-dependent patterning machinery and the ethylene signalling pathway, as a modulator of actin-mediated planar polarity. PMID:25428588

Predominant Improvement of Alpha Cell Function after Steroid Therapy in a Patient with Autoimmune Pancreatitis: Case Report.

PubMed

Takeshima, Ken; Ariyasu, Hiroyuki; Iwakura, Hiroshi; Kawai, Shintaro; Uraki, Shinsuke; Inaba, Hidefumi; Furuta, Machi; Warigaya, Kenji; Murata, Shin-Ichi; Akamizu, Takashi

2018-06-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a subset of inflammatory pancreatic disease, responsive to corticosteroid therapy. It is prone to being affected by diabetes mellitus, but the effectiveness of steroid therapy on pancreatic endocrine function is still controversial. We present a case of AIP, focusing on pancreatic endocrine function after steroid therapy. The patient was referred to our hospital with exacerbation of diabetic control and pancreatic swelling. By admission, the insulin secretory capacity was severely impaired. The patient was diagnosed with AIP and treated with prednisolone, resulting in marked improvement of the pancreatic swelling. Glycemic control worsened transiently after initiation of steroid therapy, but insulin requirements decreased along with tapering prednisolone dosage. Pancreatic cytology showed that the acinar structure had been destroyed, and the islets had disappeared. Insulin and glucagon immunostaining revealed slightly scattered alpha and beta cells within the fibrotic stroma. The patient notably showed improved pancreatic alpha cell function predominantly after steroid therapy, despite partial improvement of beta cell function. An imbalance between alpha and beta cell function may contribute to insufficient diabetic control in some patients with AIP. The pancreatic endocrine function test in combination with pancreatic cytology could be helpful when considering the treatment strategy for diabetic control in patients with AIP.

Advanced Integrated Power Systems (AIPS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-08

to the vast amount of DC devices (Especially electronics such as computers, etc.). The system would have AC inverters in ...allowed the generator to cycle on and off, a system with added energy storage plus significant amounts of solar energy, and a system with the same solar...fuel (Shaffer March 2009). This equates to roughly half of the fuel in theater being used to deliver

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in autoimmune pancreatitis.

PubMed

Taniguchi, Takao; Kobayashi, Hisato; Nishikawa, Koji; Iida, Etsushi; Michigami, Yoshihiro; Morimoto, Emiko; Yamashita, Rikiya; Miyagi, Ken; Okamoto, Motozumi

2009-04-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI MRI) for the diagnosis and evaluation of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). A total of 4 consecutive patients with AIP, 5 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (CP), and 13 patients without pancreatic disease (controls) were studied. DWI was performed in the axial plane with spin-echo echo-planar imaging single-shot sequence. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured in circular regions of interest in the pancreas. In AIP patients, abdominal MRI was performed before, and 2-4 weeks after steroid treatment. Follow-up study was performed chronologically for up to 11 months in two patients. The correlation between ADCs of the pancreas and the immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) index (serum IgG4 value/serum IgG4 value before steroid treatment) was evaluated. In the AIP patients, DWI of the pancreas showed high signal intensity, and the ADCs of the pancreas (mean +/- SD: 0.97 +/- 0.18 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) were significantly lower than those in patients with CP (1.45 +/- 0.10 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) or the controls (1.45 +/- 0.16 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.05). In one AIP patient with focal swelling of the pancreas head that appeared to be a mass, DWI showed high signal intensity throughout the pancreas, indicating diffuse involvement. The ADCs of the pancreas and IgG4 index were significantly inversely correlated (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, r (s) = -0.80, P < 0.05). Autoimmune pancreatitis showed high signal intensity on DWI, which improved after steroid treatment. ADCs reflected disease activity. Thus, diffusion-weighted MRI might be useful for diagnosing AIP, determining the affected area, and evaluating the effect of treatment.

Prophylactic use of intravascular balloon catheters in women with placenta accreta, increta and percreta.

PubMed

Cali, Giuseppe; Forlani, Francesco; Giambanco, Laura; Amico, Maria Luisa; Vallone, Mario; Puccio, Giuseppe; Alio, Luigi

2014-08-01

To evaluate outcomes of women undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for abnormal invasive placenta (AIP) with and without preoperative balloon catheter placement in internal iliac arteries. A prospective observational study of women with ultrasound diagnosis of AIP and a planned delivery at our institution. From January 2004 to June 2009, all AIP cases were treated with planned multidisciplinary cesarean hysterectomy alone (CHa group). From July 2009 to September 2013 a pre-operative balloon catheter protocol was introduced (BC group). Statistical analysis considered the entire sample (placenta accreta/increta and percreta) and the individual subgroups (accreta/increta vs percreta). Twenty-three cases of AIP (10 accreta/increta and 13 percreta) were treated with cesarean hysterectomy alone, and 30 cases of AIP (12 accreta/increta and 18 percreta) were treated with cesarean hysterectomy and pre-operative balloon catheters. For the entire sample, a significant difference in estimated blood loss and transfused blood products units was observed between CHa group and BC group. When women with placenta accreta/increta and women with placenta percreta were analysed separately, no difference in estimated blood loss and transfused blood products units was found between the BC and the CHa groups in women with placenta accreta/increta. However, in women with placenta percreta, mean estimated blood loss and transfused blood products units were higher in the CHa group compared with BC group (1507ml vs 933.33ml; 3.31 units vs 0.67 units). Postoperative recovery differed between the two groups, but no differences were observed in any other outcomes. Pre-operative placement of intravascular balloon catheters is a feasible treatment for AIP, and is particularly useful in cases of placenta percreta. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In-frame seven amino-acid duplication in AIP arose over the last 3000 years, disrupts protein interaction and stability and is associated with gigantism

PubMed Central

Salvatori, Roberto; Radian, Serban; Diekmann, Yoan; Iacovazzo, Donato; David, Alessia; Gabrovska, Plamena; Grassi, Giorgia; Bussell, Anna-Marie; Stals, Karen; Weber, Astrid; Quinton, Richard; Crowne, Elizabeth C; Corazzini, Valentina; Metherell, Lou; Kearney, Tara; Du Plessis, Daniel; Sinha, Ajay Kumar; Baborie, Atik; Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Chanson, Philippe; Ansorge, Olaf; Ellard, Sian; Trainer, Peter J; Balding, David; Thomas, Mark G

2017-01-01

Objective Mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are associated with pituitary adenoma, acromegaly and gigantism. Identical alleles in unrelated pedigrees could be inherited from a common ancestor or result from recurrent mutation events. Design and methods Observational, inferential and experimental study, including: AIP mutation testing; reconstruction of 14 AIP-region (8.3 Mbp) haplotypes; coalescent-based approximate Bayesian estimation of the time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of the derived allele; forward population simulations to estimate current number of allele carriers; proposal of mutation mechanism; protein structure predictions; co-immunoprecipitation and cycloheximide chase experiments. Results Nine European-origin, unrelated c.805_825dup-positive pedigrees (four familial, five sporadic from the UK, USA and France) included 16 affected (nine gigantism/four acromegaly/two non-functioning pituitary adenoma patients and one prospectively diagnosed acromegaly patient) and nine unaffected carriers. All pedigrees shared a 2.79 Mbp haploblock around AIP with additional haploblocks privately shared between subsets of the pedigrees, indicating the existence of an evolutionarily recent common ancestor, the ‘English founder’, with an estimated median tMRCA of 47 generations (corresponding to 1175 years) with a confidence interval (9–113 generations, equivalent to 225–2825 years). The mutation occurred in a small tandem repeat region predisposed to slipped strand mispairing. The resulting seven amino-acid duplication disrupts interaction with HSP90 and leads to a marked reduction in protein stability. Conclusions The c.805_825dup allele, originating from a common ancestor, associates with a severe clinical phenotype and a high frequency of gigantism. The mutation is likely to be the result of slipped strand mispairing and affects protein–protein interactions and AIP protein stability. PMID:28634279

In-frame seven amino-acid duplication in AIP arose over the last 3000 years, disrupts protein interaction and stability and is associated with gigantism.

PubMed

Salvatori, Roberto; Radian, Serban; Diekmann, Yoan; Iacovazzo, Donato; David, Alessia; Gabrovska, Plamena; Grassi, Giorgia; Bussell, Anna-Marie; Stals, Karen; Weber, Astrid; Quinton, Richard; Crowne, Elizabeth C; Corazzini, Valentina; Metherell, Lou; Kearney, Tara; Du Plessis, Daniel; Sinha, Ajay Kumar; Baborie, Atik; Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Chanson, Philippe; Ansorge, Olaf; Ellard, Sian; Trainer, Peter J; Balding, David; Thomas, Mark G; Korbonits, Márta

2017-09-01

Mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein ( AIP ) gene are associated with pituitary adenoma, acromegaly and gigantism. Identical alleles in unrelated pedigrees could be inherited from a common ancestor or result from recurrent mutation events. Observational, inferential and experimental study, including: AIP mutation testing; reconstruction of 14 AIP -region (8.3 Mbp) haplotypes; coalescent-based approximate Bayesian estimation of the time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of the derived allele; forward population simulations to estimate current number of allele carriers; proposal of mutation mechanism; protein structure predictions; co-immunoprecipitation and cycloheximide chase experiments. Nine European-origin, unrelated c.805_825dup-positive pedigrees (four familial, five sporadic from the UK, USA and France) included 16 affected (nine gigantism/four acromegaly/two non-functioning pituitary adenoma patients and one prospectively diagnosed acromegaly patient) and nine unaffected carriers. All pedigrees shared a 2.79 Mbp haploblock around AIP with additional haploblocks privately shared between subsets of the pedigrees, indicating the existence of an evolutionarily recent common ancestor, the 'English founder', with an estimated median tMRCA of 47 generations (corresponding to 1175 years) with a confidence interval (9-113 generations, equivalent to 225-2825 years). The mutation occurred in a small tandem repeat region predisposed to slipped strand mispairing. The resulting seven amino-acid duplication disrupts interaction with HSP90 and leads to a marked reduction in protein stability. The c.805_825dup allele, originating from a common ancestor, associates with a severe clinical phenotype and a high frequency of gigantism. The mutation is likely to be the result of slipped strand mispairing and affects protein-protein interactions and AIP protein stability. © 2017 The authors.

Specific Contributions of CSF-1 and GM-CSF to the Dynamics of the Mononuclear Phagocyte System.

PubMed

Louis, Cynthia; Cook, Andrew D; Lacey, Derek; Fleetwood, Andrew J; Vlahos, Ross; Anderson, Gary P; Hamilton, John A

2015-07-01

M-CSF (or CSF-1) and GM-CSF can regulate the development and function of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). To address some of the outstanding and sometimes conflicting issues surrounding this biology, we undertook a comparative analysis of the effects of neutralizing mAbs to these CSFs on murine MPS populations in the steady-state and during acute inflammatory reactions. CSF-1 neutralization, but not of GM-CSF, in normal mice rapidly reduced the numbers of more mature Ly6C(-) monocytes in blood and bone marrow, without any effect on proliferating precursors, and also the numbers of the resident peritoneal macrophages, observations consistent with CSF-1 signaling being essential only at a relatively late state in steady-state MPS development; in contrast, GM-CSF neutralization had no effect on the numbers of these particular populations. In Ag-induced peritonitis (AIP), thioglycolate-induced peritonitis, and LPS-induced lung inflammation, CSF-1 neutralization lowered inflammatory macrophage number; in the AIP model, this reduced number was not due to suppressed proliferation. More detailed studies with the convenient AIP model indicated that CSF-1 neutralization led to a relatively uniform reduction in all inflammatory cell populations; GM-CSF neutralization, in contrast, was more selective, resulting in the preferential loss among the MPS populations of a cycling, monocyte-derived inflammatory dendritic cell population. Some mechanistic options for the specific CSF-dependent biologies enumerated are discussed. Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Antiamyloidogenic Activity of Aβ42-Binding Peptoid in Modulating Amyloid Oligomerization.

PubMed

Zhao, Zijian; Zhu, Ling; Li, Haiyun; Cheng, Peng; Peng, Jiaxi; Yin, Yudan; Yang, Yang; Wang, Chen; Hu, Zhiyuan; Yang, Yanlian

2017-01-01

The oligomerization and aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) play central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Molecular binding agents for modulating the formation of Aβ oligomers and fibrils have promising application potential in AD therapies. By screening a peptoid library using surface plasmon resonance imaging, amyloid inhibitory peptoid 1 (AIP1) that has high affinity to Aβ42 is identified. AIP1 is demonstrated to inhibit Aβ42 oligomerization and fibrillation and to rescue Aβ42-induced cytotoxicity through decreasing the content of Aβ42 oligomers that is related to cell membrane permeability. Molecular docking suggests that the binding sites of AIP1 may be at the N-terminus of Aβ42. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of AIP1 using an in vitro BBB model is also revealed. This work provides a strategy for the design and development of peptoid-based antiamyloidogenic agents. The obtained amyloid inhibitory peptoid shows prospects in the therapeutic application in AD. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Pneumocystis jirovecii infection in patients with acute interstitial pneumonia.

PubMed

Martínez-Rísquez, M T; Friaza, V; de la Horra, C; Martín-Juan, J; Calderón, E J; Medrano, F J

2018-06-08

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is a severe disease of unknown etiology. Pneumocystis jirovecii is an atypical opportunistic fungus able to colonize patients with chronic pulmonary disease and inducing alveolar macrophage activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between Pneumocystis jirovecii and AIP. The presence of P. jirovecii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the four confirmed cases of AIP identified in a tertiary-care hospital over a period of nine years was studied using a 2-step nested-PCR protocol assay. P. jirovecii was identified in the four cases. None of them had HIV infection. Two of the patients were treated empirically with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the only survivor was being one of them. Our data suggest that Pneumocystis could trigger or favor the development of AIP. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of the pathogen in the physiopathology of this disease. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.

AIP mutations in young patients with acromegaly and the Tampico Giant: the Mexican experience.

PubMed

Ramírez-Rentería, Claudia; Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C; Portocarrero-Ortiz, Lesly; Vargas, Guadalupe; Melgar, Virgilio; Espinosa, Etual; Espinosa-de-Los-Monteros, Ana Laura; Sosa, Ernesto; González, Baldomero; Zúñiga, Sergio; Unterländer, Martina; Burger, Joachim; Stals, Karen; Bussell, Anne-Marie; Ellard, Sian; Dang, Mary; Iacovazzo, Donato; Kapur, Sonal; Gabrovska, Plamena; Radian, Serban; Roncaroli, Federico; Korbonits, Márta; Mercado, Moisés

2016-08-01

Although aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) mutations are rare in sporadic acromegaly, their prevalence among young patients is nonnegligible. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of AIP mutations in a cohort of Mexican patients with acromegaly with disease onset before the age of 30 and to search for molecular abnormalities in the AIP gene in teeth obtained from the "Tampico Giant". Peripheral blood DNA from 71 patients with acromegaly (51 females) with disease onset <30 years was analysed (median age of disease onset of 23 years) and correlated with clinical, biochemical and imaging characteristics. Sequencing was also carried out in DNA extracted from teeth of the Tampico Giant. Five patients (7 %) harboured heterozygous, germline mutations of the AIP gene. In two of them (a 9-year-old girl with gigantism and a young man with symptoms of GH excess since age 14) the c.910C>T (p.Arg304Ter), well-known truncating mutation was identified; in one of these two cases and her identical twin sister, the mutation proved to be a de novo event, since neither of their parents were found to be carriers. In the remaining three patients, new mutations were identified: a frameshift mutation (c.976_977insC, p.Gly326AfsTer), an in-frame deletion (c.872_877del, p.Val291_Leu292del) and a nonsense mutation (c.868A > T, p.Lys290Ter), which are predicted to be pathogenic based on in silico analysis. Patients with AIP mutations tended to have an earlier onset of acromegaly and harboured larger and more invasive tumours. A previously described genetic variant of unknown significance (c.869C > T, p.Ala299Val) was identified in DNA from the Tampico Giant. The prevalence of AIP mutations in young Mexican patients with acromegaly is similar to that of European cohorts. Our results support the need for genetic evaluation of patients with early onset acromegaly.

The AIP Career Pathways Project: Learning the Effective Practices of Physics Departments Preparing Graduates with the Bachelor's Degree for STEM Careers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Thomas; Redmond, Kendra; Czujko, Roman

2012-10-01

Forty percent of students graduating with the bachelor's degree in physics seek employment immediately upon graduation. The AIP Career Pathways Project, funded by NSF, seeks to learn by site visits the effective practices of departments in preparing these students to successfully secure positions in STEM and to make these practices known by presentations, publications, and workshops. This talk will review AIP Statistical Resources data on the careers of physicists with the bachelor's degree, provide preliminary insights from the site visits, provide some advice for graduates seeking employment, and describe the upcoming workshops.

Experimental Investigation of Inlet Distortion in a Multistage Axial Compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rusu, Razvan

The primary objective of this research is to present results and methodologies used to study total pressure inlet distortion in a multi-stage axial compressor environment. The study was performed at the Purdue 3-Stage Axial Compressor Facility (P3S) which models the final three stages of a production turbofan engine's high-pressure compressor (HPC). The goal of this study was twofold; first, to design, implement, and validate a circumferentially traversable total pressure inlet distortion generation system, and second, to demonstrate data acquisition methods to characterize the inter-stage total pressure flow fields to study the propagation and attenuation of a one-per-rev total pressure distortion. The datasets acquired for this study are intended to support the development and validation of novel computational tools and flow physics models for turbomachinery flow analysis. Total pressure inlet distortion was generated using a series of low-porosity wire gauze screens placed upstream of the compressor in the inlet duct. The screens are mounted to a rotatable duct section that can be precisely controlled. The P3S compressor features fixed instrumentation stations located at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP) and downstream and upstream of each vane row. Furthermore, the compressor features individually indexable stator vanes which can be traverse by up to two vane passages. Using a series of coordinated distortion and vane traverses, the total pressure flow field at the AIP and subsequent inter-stage stations was characterized with a high circumferential resolution. The uniformity of the honeycomb carrier was demonstrated by characterizing the flow field at the AIP while no distortion screens where installed. Next, the distortion screen used for this study was selected following three iterations of porosity reduction. The selected screen consisted of a series of layered screens with a 100% radial extent and a 120° circumferential extent. A detailed total pressure flow field characterization of the AIP was performed using the selected screen at nominal, low, and high compressor loading. Thermal anemometry was used to characterize the spatial variation in turbulence intensity at the AIP in an effort to further define inlet boundary conditions for future computational investigations. Two data acquisition methods for the study of distortion propagation and attenuation were utilized in this study. The first method approximated the bulk flow through each vane passage using a single rake measurement positioned near the center of the passage. All vane passages were measured virtually by rotating the distortion upstream by an increment equal to one vane passage. This method proved successful in tracking the distortion propagation and attenuation from the AIP up until the compressor exit. A second, more detailed, inter-stage flow field characterization method was used that generated a total pressure field with a circumferential resolution of 880 increments, or one every 0.41°. The resulting fields demonstrated the importance of secondary flows in the propagation of a total pressure distortion at the different loading conditions investigated. A second objective of this research was to document proposals and design efforts to outfit the existing P3S research compressor with a strain gage telemetry system. The purpose of this system is to validate and supplement existing blade tip timing data on the embedded rotor stage to support the development and validation of novel aeromechanical analysis tools. Integration strategies and telemetry considerations are discussed based on proposals and consultation provided by suppliers.

77 FR 30350 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Use of Mineral Revenue at Certain Airports

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-22

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. FAA-2012-0547] Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Use of Mineral Revenue at Certain Airports AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to declare certain revenue derived from or generated...

77 FR 2729 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-19

... Project Barriers to Occupational Injury Reporting by Workers: A NEISS-Work Telephone Interview Survey--New..., respectively) to identify telephone interview survey participants. NEISS-Work and NEISS-AIP, collected by the...-AIP). Interview respondents will come from two subgroups-- individuals treated for a work-related...

Hypothyroidism in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.

PubMed

Shimizuguchi, Ryoko; Kamisawa, Terumi; Endo, Yuka; Kikuyama, Masataka; Kuruma, Sawako; Chiba, Kazuro; Tabata, Taku; Koizumi, Satomi

2018-05-06

To examine thyroid function and clinical features of hypothyroidism in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) patients. We examined thyroid function in 77 patients with type 1 AIP (50 males, 27 females; median age 68 years, range 33-85) diagnosed according to the Japanese diagnostic criteria for AIP 2011. We compared clinical and serological findings between patients with and without various categories of hypothyroidism. The change in hypothyroidism after steroid therapy was also examined. Eight patients (10%) had hypothyroidism of 6 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism with a normal serum free thyroxine (FT4) and high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, and 2 patients had central hypothyroidism with low serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), FT4 and TSH levels. A significant goiter of the thyroid was not observed in any patient. There were no significant differences in age; male to female ratio; serum concentrations of IgG and IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD); presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibody, antinuclear antigen or rheumatoid factor; or presence of extrapancreatic lesions between the 6 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and patients with euthyroidism. After steroid therapy, both subclinical and central hypothyroidism improved with improvement of the AIP. Hypothyroidism was observed in 8 (10%) of 77 AIP patients and was subclinical in 6 patients and central in 2 patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether this subclinical hypothyroidism is another manifestation of IgG4-RD.

Arabidopsis AIP1-2 restricted by WER-mediated patterning modulates planar polarity.

PubMed

Kiefer, Christian S; Claes, Andrea R; Nzayisenga, Jean-Claude; Pietra, Stefano; Stanislas, Thomas; Hüser, Anke; Ikeda, Yoshihisa; Grebe, Markus

2015-01-01

The coordination of cell polarity within the plane of the tissue layer (planar polarity) is crucial for the development of diverse multicellular organisms. Small Rac/Rho-family GTPases and the actin cytoskeleton contribute to planar polarity formation at sites of polarity establishment in animals and plants. Yet, upstream pathways coordinating planar polarity differ strikingly between kingdoms. In the root of Arabidopsis thaliana, a concentration gradient of the phytohormone auxin coordinates polar recruitment of Rho-of-plant (ROP) to sites of polar epidermal hair initiation. However, little is known about cytoskeletal components and interactions that contribute to this planar polarity or about their relation to the patterning machinery. Here, we show that ACTIN7 (ACT7) represents a main actin isoform required for planar polarity of root hair positioning, interacting with the negative modulator ACTIN-INTERACTING PROTEIN1-2 (AIP1-2). ACT7, AIP1-2 and their genetic interaction are required for coordinated planar polarity of ROP downstream of ethylene signalling. Strikingly, AIP1-2 displays hair cell file-enriched expression, restricted by WEREWOLF (WER)-dependent patterning and modified by ethylene and auxin action. Hence, our findings reveal AIP1-2, expressed under control of the WER-dependent patterning machinery and the ethylene signalling pathway, as a modulator of actin-mediated planar polarity. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Comment on "Water-processed carbon nanotube/graphene hybrids with enhanced field emission properties" [AIP Advances 5, 097130 (2015)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rani, Reena; Bhatia, Ravi

2018-03-01

In their research paper, M. Song et al. [AIP ADVANCES 5, 097130 (2015)] have claimed to have achieved enhanced field emission (FE) characteristics of carbon nanotubes (CNT)/graphene hybrids experimentally, exhibiting improved FE parameters e.g. turn-on electric field of 0.79 V/μm, threshold electric field of 1.05 V/μm, maximum emission current density (Jmax) of 5.76 mA/cm2, and field enhancement factor (β) of ˜1.3 × 104. The authors have emphasized on the surprisingly high value of β to be the basis of their claim of achieving superior FE performance which is further attributed to the optimized mass ratio CNT/ graphene, which is 5:1 in the present case. However, the claim based upon high value of β is misleading because it does not corroborate with the obtained Jmax parameter. Also, the obtained value of J is quite low in the mentioned study as compared to the reported values. For an instance, Sameera et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 111, 044307 (2012) & Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 033102 (2013)] have reported FE properties of CNT composites and reduced graphene oxide with Jmax and β values of the order of ˜102 mA/cm2 and 6 × 103, respectively. Therefore, the conclusions drawn by M. Song et al. [AIP ADVANCES 5, 097130 (2015)] in their paper do no hold.

75 FR 61536 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-05

... pools, managed futures, and real estate investment trusts.\\4\\ The AIP Service provides for settlement of... Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To clarify Its Rules & Procedures Regarding Its Alternative Investment... NSCC's rules to clarify that an Alternative Investment Product (``AIP'') Service prospective member is...

75 FR 57829 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-22

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. FAA-2010-0831] Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property AGENCY: Federal... inadvertent omission in the Privacy paragraph in the Notice of Proposed Policy Regarding Access to Airports...

Clarifying the Associations between Language and Social Development in Autism: A Study of Non-Native Phoneme Recognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Constantino, John N.; Yang, Dan; Gray, Teddi L.; Gross, Maggie M.; Abbacchi, Anna M.; Smith, Sarah C.; Kohn, Catherine E.; Kuhl, Patricia K.

2007-01-01

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by correlated deficiencies in social and language development. This study explored a fundamental aspect of auditory information processing (AIP) that is dependent on social experience and critical to early language development: the ability to compartmentalize close-sounding speech sounds into…

Infrared studies of autoionization of thin films of dinitrogen tetroxidea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, L. H.; Swanson, B. I.; Agnew, S. F.

1985-05-01

The autoionization of dinitrogen tetroxide to form nitrosonium nitrate in thin films at 150-200 K has been studied using infrared absorption spectroscopy. It is found that at these temperatures and low pressure the process is intramolecular, involving only one of two isomers of the nitrite form (ONONO2). (AIP)

Thinking Outside the Lab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colter, Tabitha

2017-01-01

As an undergraduate physics major who spent 2015 deep in a quantum optics lab at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, I knew my 2016 experience with the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee would be a completely new challenge. I have long had a passion for the bridge of communication between the technical and non-technical worlds but it was only through my AIP Mather internship this summer that I was able to see that passion come to life in the realm of science policy. Suddenly, I went from squeezing political philosophy classes into my packed schedule to witnessing the political process first-hand. I was thrilled to find that the skills of critical thinking and communicating complex issues I have developed throughout my training as a physicist were directly applicable to my work in Congress. Overall, my experience this summer has given me insight into the inner workings of the federal policy process, deepened my appreciation for the work of government employees to keep Congressional members informed on the pressing current issues, and exposed me to a whole range of alternative careers within science. AIP and SPS

Final Report 10th Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics

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

Marshak, Marvin L.

2013-11-03

The 10th Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics was held in LaJolla, California on May 26 to May 31, 2009. The Conference Proceedings are published by the American Institute of Physics in Volume 1182 of the AIP Conference Proceedings (ISBN: 978-0-7354-0723-7). The Proceedings include papers from each of the Conference Presenters and a detailed schedule of talks at the Conference. The Table of Contents of the Conference Proceedings is available at http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/proceeding/aipcp/1182. Support by the U.S. Department of Energy and by DOE Laboratories was essential to the success of the Conference.

Sleep and wake phase of heart beat dynamics by artificial insymmetrised patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudkowska, A.; Makowiec, D.

2004-05-01

In order to determine differences between healthy patients and patients with congestive heart failure we apply the artificial insymmetrised pattern (AIP) method. The AIP method by exploring a human eye ability to extract regularities and read symmetries in a dot pattern, serves a tool for qualitative discrimination of heart rate states.

75 FR 3954 - Deadline for Notification of Intent To Use the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Primary, Cargo...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-25

... Law No. 111-117 to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP)-eligible projects that the sponsor... spending authority from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund beyond March 31, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION... is operating under the requirements of Public Law No. 111-116, the ``Federal Aviation Administration...

77 FR 51948 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-28

...-0754] Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property... Airports From Residential Property that was published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2012. The FAA is... policy, based on Federal law, concerning through-the- fence access to a federally obligated airport from...

Aβ42-oligomer Interacting Peptide (AIP) neutralizes toxic amyloid-β42 species and protects synaptic structure and function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barucker, Christian; Bittner, Heiko J.; Chang, Philip K.-Y.; Cameron, Scott; Hancock, Mark A.; Liebsch, Filip; Hossain, Shireen; Harmeier, Anja; Shaw, Hunter; Charron, François M.; Gensler, Manuel; Dembny, Paul; Zhuang, Wei; Schmitz, Dietmar; Rabe, Jürgen P.; Rao, Yong; Lurz, Rudi; Hildebrand, Peter W.; McKinney, R. Anne; Multhaup, Gerhard

2015-10-01

The amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) peptide is believed to be the main culprit in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD), impairing synaptic function and initiating neuronal degeneration. Soluble Aβ42 oligomers are highly toxic and contribute to progressive neuronal dysfunction, loss of synaptic spine density, and affect long-term potentiation (LTP). We have characterized a short, L-amino acid Aβ-oligomer Interacting Peptide (AIP) that targets a relatively well-defined population of low-n Aβ42 oligomers, rather than simply inhibiting the aggregation of Aβ monomers into oligomers. Our data show that AIP diminishes the loss of Aβ42-induced synaptic spine density and rescues LTP in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Notably, the AIP enantiomer (comprised of D-amino acids) attenuated the rough-eye phenotype in a transgenic Aβ42 fly model and significantly improved the function of photoreceptors of these flies in electroretinography tests. Overall, our results indicate that specifically “trapping” low-n oligomers provides a novel strategy for toxic Aβ42-oligomer recognition and removal.

Risk factors for pancreatic stone formation in autoimmune pancreatitis over a long-term course.

PubMed

Maruyama, Masahiro; Arakura, Norikazu; Ozaki, Yayoi; Watanabe, Takayuki; Ito, Tetsuya; Yoneda, Suguru; Maruyama, Masafumi; Muraki, Takashi; Hamano, Hideaki; Matsumoto, Akihiro; Kawa, Shigeyuki

2012-05-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has the potential to progress to a chronic state that forms pancreatic stones. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors underlying pancreatic stone formation in AIP. Sixty-nine patients with AIP who had been followed for at least 3 years were enrolled for evaluation of clinical and laboratory factors as well as computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings. During the course of this study, increased or de novo stone formation was seen in 28 patients, who were defined as the stone-forming group. No stones were observed in 32 patients, who were defined as the non-stone-forming group. Nine patients who had stones at diagnosis but showed no change during the course of this study were excluded from our cohort. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in clinical or laboratory factors associated with AIP-specific inflammation between the two groups. However, pancreatic head swelling (P = 0.006) and narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts in the pancreatic head region (P = 0.010) were significantly more frequent in the stone-forming group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified Wirsung and Santorini duct narrowing at diagnosis as a significant independent risk factor for pancreatic stone formation (OR 4.4, P = 0.019). A primary risk factor for pancreatic stone formation in AIP was narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts, which most presumably led to pancreatic juice stasis and stone development.

Aggressive pituitary adenomas occurring in young patients in a large Polynesian kindred with a germline R271W mutation in the AIP gene.

PubMed

Jennings, Juliet E; Georgitsi, Marianthi; Holdaway, Ian; Daly, Adrian F; Tichomirowa, Maria; Beckers, Albert; Aaltonen, Lauri A; Karhu, Auli; Cameron, Fergus J

2009-11-01

Mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) were recently shown to confer a pituitary adenoma predisposition in patients with familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPA). We report a large Samoan FIPA kindred from Australia/New Zealand with an R271W mutation that was associated with aggressive pituitary tumors. Case series with germline screening of AIP and haplotype analyses among R271W families. This previously unreported kindred consisted of three affected individuals that either presented with or had first symptoms of a pituitary macroadenoma in late childhood or adolescence. The index case, a 15-year-old male with incipient gigantism and his maternal aunt, had somatotropinomas, and the maternal uncle of the index case had a prolactinoma. All tumors were large (15, 40, and 60 mm maximum diameter) and two required transcranial surgery and radiotherapy. All three affected subjects and ten other unaffected relatives were found to be positive for a germline R271W AIP mutation. Comparison of the single nucleotide polymorphism patterns among this family and two previously reported European FIPA families with the same R271W mutation demonstrated no common ancestry. This kindred exemplifies the aggressive features of pituitary adenomas associated with AIP mutations, while genetic analyses among three R271W FIPA families indicate that R271W represents a mutational hotspot that should be studied further in functional studies.

Comprehensive analysis of the tryptophan metabolome in urine of patients with acute intermittent porphyria.

PubMed

Gomez-Gomez, Alex; Marcos, Josep; Aguilera, Paula; To-Figueras, Jordi; Pozo, Oscar J

2017-08-15

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare metabolic disorder due to a deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase, the third enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. This low enzymatic activity may predispose to the appearance of acute neurological attacks. Seminal studies suggested that AIP was associated with changes in tryptophan homeostasis with inconclusive results. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the urinary metabolome of AIP patients focusing on tryptophan metabolism using state-of-the-art technology. This was a case-control study including a group of 25 AIP patients with active biochemical disease and increased excretion of heme-precursors and 25 healthy controls. Tryptophan and related compounds and metabolites including: large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), serotonin, kynurenine, kynurenic acid and anthranilic acid were quantified in urine by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Twenty-nine biological markers (including metabolic ratios and absolute concentrations) were compared between patients and controls. Significant differences were found in the tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic pathway. Compared to controls, AIP patients showed: (a) increased urinary excretion of kynurenine and anthranilic acid (P<0.005); (b): elevation of the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (P<0.001) and (c): decrease of the kynurenic acid/kynurenine ratio (P=0.001). In contrast, no differences were found in the serotonin metabolic pathway independently of the markers and ratios used. The results of the study demonstrate that there is an imbalance in the kynurenine metabolic pathway in AIP patients, with an increase of the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio in urine and a reduction of the kynurenic acid/kynurenine ratio. The modified ratios suggest induction of indoleamine 2,3-deoxygenase and decreased activity of kynurenine aminotransferase in the liver. The results confirm that LC-MS/MS is useful for the characterization of the urinary metabolome of hepatic porphyrias. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Molecular Characterization and Differential Expression of Olfactory Genes in the Antennae of the Black Cutworm Moth Agrotis ipsilon

PubMed Central

Gu, Shao-Hua; Sun, Liang; Yang, Ruo-Nan; Wu, Kong-Ming; Guo, Yu-Yuan; Li, Xian-Chun; Zhou, Jing-Jiang; Zhang, Yong-Jun

2014-01-01

Insects use their sensitive and selective olfactory system to detect outside chemical odorants, such as female sex pheromones and host plant volatiles. Several groups of olfactory proteins participate in the odorant detection process, including odorant binding proteins (OBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). The identification and functional characterization of these olfactory proteins will enhance our knowledge of the molecular basis of insect chemoreception. In this study, we report the identification and differential expression profiles of these olfactory genes in the black cutworm moth Agrotis ipsilon. In total, 33 OBPs, 12 CSPs, 42 ORs, 24 IRs, 2 SNMPs and 1 gustatory receptor (GR) were annotated from the A. ipsilon antennal transcriptomes, and further RT-PCR and RT-qPCR revealed that 22 OBPs, 3 CSPs, 35 ORs, 14 IRs and the 2 SNMPs are uniquely or primarily expressed in the male and female antennae. Furthermore, one OBP (AipsOBP6) and one CSP (AipsCSP2) were exclusively expressed in the female sex pheromone gland. These antennae-enriched OBPs, CSPs, ORs, IRs and SNMPs were suggested to be responsible for pheromone and general odorant detection and thus could be meaningful target genes for us to study their biological functions in vivo and in vitro. PMID:25083706

NASA EEE Parts and Advanced Interconnect Program (AIP)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gindorf, T.; Garrison, A.

1996-01-01

none given From Program Objectives: I. Accelerate the readiness of new technologies through development of validation, assessment and test method/tools II. Provide NASA Projects infusion paths for emerging technologies III. Provide NASA Projects technology selection, application and validation guidelines for harware and processes IV. Disseminate quality assurance, reliability, validation, tools and availability information to the NASA community.

Ten Years in the Academic Integrity Trenches: Experiences and Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Doug; Nau, S. Zaung; Symons, Christine

2016-01-01

In 2016, our university launched its Academic Integrity Program (AIP) in order to promote and protect academic integrity. All commencing students must complete this online AIP within 14 days of starting their course. Satisfactory completion of this module with a test score of 80% is required before students can access their course materials.…

Society Membership Survey: 1986 Salaries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skelton, W. Keith; And Others

The fourth in a series of reports produced by the Education and Employment Statistics division of the American Insititute of Physics (AIP) is presented. Data are based on a stratified random sample survey of one-sixth of the U.S. and Canadian membership of the AIP member societies. In the spring of 1986, every individual in the sample received a…

76 FR 6178 - Deadline for Notification of Intent to Use the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Primary, Cargo...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-03

... Law 111-322 to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP)-eligible projects that the sponsor... spending authority from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund beyond March 31, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION... is operating under the requirements of Public Law 111-329, the ``Airport and Airway Extension Act of...

Astrophysical Institute, Potsdam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

Built upon a tradition of almost 300 years, the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam (AIP) is in an historical sense the successor of one of the oldest astronomical observatories in Germany. It is the first institute in the world which incorporated the term `astrophysical' in its name, and is connected with distinguished scientists such as Karl Schwarzschild and Albert Einstein. The AIP constitutes on...

Court rejects challenge to publication of pricing surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

For the second time, the U.S. District Court in New York has upheld the right to publish surveys analyzing the prices of scientific journals. The decision is a significant confirmation of the legal protection given to a form of speech important to the scholarly community.In 1986 and 1988, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and The American Physical Society (APS) published the results of surveys that analyzed the comparative prices of physics journals. Journals published by AIP and APS scored near the top of the rankings, and several of Gordon & Breach's (G & B) journals scored at or near the bottom. G&B sued AIP and APS in New York and in Europe, claiming that the publication of the survey results constituted false or misleading advertising.

Economics of Primary Journals in Physics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koch, H. William

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) publishes 87% of the primary research journals in the discipline of physics in the United States. These journals have provided an indispensable communication mechanism for research results and education in physics and astronomy. A redesign of the present journal system is required because of expansions in…

76 FR 6780 - Agency Information Collection Activities OMB Responses

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-08

... Action Plan/Activity Integration Plan (CAP/AIP) Reporting System; was approved on 01/06/2011; OMB Number... without change. EPA ICR Number 1445.09; Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) under CERCLA; 40... change. EPA ICR Number 1445.10; Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) under CERCLA; 40 CFR 302...

Digital Clock Drawing: differentiating "thinking" versus "doing" in younger and older adults with depression.

PubMed

Cohen, Jamie; Penney, Dana L; Davis, Randall; Libon, David J; Swenson, Rodney A; Ajilore, Olusola; Kumar, Anand; Lamar, Melissa

2014-10-01

Psychomotor slowing has been documented in depression. The digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) provides: (i) a novel technique to assess both cognitive and motor aspects of psychomotor speed within the same task and (ii) the potential to uncover subtleties of behavior not previously detected with non-digitized modes of data collection. Using digitized pen technology in 106 participants grouped by Age (younger/older) and Affect (euthymic/unmedicated depressed), we recorded cognitive and motor output by capturing how the clock is drawn rather than focusing on the final product. We divided time to completion (TTC) for Command and Copy conditions of the dCDT into metrics of percent of drawing (%Ink) versus non-drawing (%Think) time. We also obtained composite Z-scores of cognition, including attention/information processing (AIP), to explore associations of %Ink and %Think times to cognitive and motor performance. Despite equivalent TTC, %Ink and %Think Command times (Copy n.s.) were significant (AgeXAffect interaction: p=.03)-younger depressed spent a smaller proportion of time drawing relative to thinking compared to the older depressed group. Command %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the older depressed group (r=-.46; p=.02). Copy %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the younger depressed (r=-.47; p=.03) and older euthymic groups (r=-.51; p=.01). The dCDT differentiated aspects of psychomotor slowing in depression regardless of age, while dCDT/cognitive associates for younger adults with depression mimicked patterns of older euthymics.

Ultralow Energy Electron Attachment at Sub-Millielectron Volt Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chutjian, Ara

1999-10-01

The technique of rare-gas photoionization(J. M. Ajello and A. Chutjian, J. Chem. Phys. 65), 5524 (1976). has been extended(A. Kortyna, M. Darrach and A. Chutjian, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 43), 1336 (1998). by use of direct laser ionization to electron energies ɛ in the range 0-100 meV, with a resolution Δɛ of 0.4-0.5 meV (FWHM). Tunable UV light at λ276 nm is produced using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nonlinear mixing techniques. The beam is frequency tripled in a pulsed jet of xenon. The VUV radiation, tunable at λ92 nm, is then used to photoionize Xe at its ^2P_1/2 threshold (single-photon ionization). The photoelectrons produced interact with admixed target gas to generate negative ions through the s-wave capture process. Recent results in electron attachment to SF6 will be reported which show resonance structure at the opening of the ground-state vibrational channels.^3,(H. Hotop et al., AIP Conf. Proc. Ser. 360 (AIP, New York, 1995), and private communication.) This structure corresponds to the process of vibrational excitation + attachment, which is superimposed on the underlying s-wave (direct) capture process. It should be a general phenomenon, present in a wide variety of zero-energy electron attaching molecules.

Regulation of voltage-gated Ca(2+) currents by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in resting sensory neurons.

PubMed

Kostic, Sandra; Pan, Bin; Guo, Yuan; Yu, Hongwei; Sapunar, Damir; Kwok, Wai-Meng; Hudmon, Andy; Wu, Hsiang-En; Hogan, Quinn H

2014-09-01

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is recognized as a key element in encoding depolarization activity of excitable cells into facilitated voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (VGCC) function. Less is known about the participation of CaMKII in regulating VGCCs in resting cells. We examined constitutive CaMKII control of Ca(2+) currents in peripheral sensory neurons acutely isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of adult rats. The small molecule CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 (1.0μM) reduced depolarization-induced ICa by 16-30% in excess of the effects produced by the inactive homolog KN-92. The specificity of CaMKII inhibition on VGCC function was shown by the efficacy of the selective CaMKII blocking peptide autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide in a membrane-permeable myristoylated form, which also reduced VGCC current in resting neurons. Loss of VGCC currents is primarily due to reduced N-type current, as application of mAIP selectively reduced N-type current by approximately 30%, and prior N-type current inhibition eliminated the effect of mAIP on VGCCs, while prior block of L-type channels did not reduce the effect of mAIP on total ICa. T-type currents were not affected by mAIP in resting DRG neurons. Transduction of sensory neurons in vivo by DRG injection of an adeno-associated virus expressing AIP also resulted in a loss of N-type currents. Together, these findings reveal a novel molecular adaptation whereby sensory neurons retain CaMKII support of VGCCs despite remaining quiescent. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Mass spectrometric characterisation of a condensation product between porphobilinogen and indolyl-3-acryloylglycine in urine of patients with acute intermittent porphyria.

PubMed

Marcos, Josep; Ibañez, Maria; Ventura, Rosa; Segura, Jordi; To-Figueras, Jordi; Pozo, Oscar J

2015-07-01

We document the presence of a previously unknown species in the urine of patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). The compound was fully characterised by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Interpretation of both full spectrum acquisition and product ion spectra acquired in positive and negative ionisation modes by quadrupole time of flight MS allowed for the identification of a condensation product arising from porphobilinogen (PBG, increased in the urine of AIP patients) and indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG, derived from indolylacrylic acid and present in human urine). The structure was unequivocally confirmed through comparison between the selected reaction monitoring chromatograms obtained from the urinary species and the condensation product qualitatively synthesised in the laboratory. Owing to the large amounts of both PBG and IAG in urine of AIP patients, the possible ex vivo formation of PBG-IAG in urine samples was evaluated. The product was spontaneously formed at room temperature, at 4 °C and even during storage at -20 °C when spiking a control sample with PBG. A positive correlation was found between PBG and PBG-IAG in samples collected from AIP patients. However, no correlation was found between PBG-IAG and IAG. Purified PBG-IAG did not form the characteristic chromogen after application of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in HCl, thus suggesting that the current techniques used to measure PBG in urine of AIP patients based on Ehlrich's reaction do not detect this newly characterised PBG-IAG fraction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enhancement of anesthesiology in-training exam performance with institution of an academic improvement policy.

PubMed

Joseph, Julie A; Terry, Chris M; Waller, Eva J; Bortsov, Andrey V; Zvara, David A; Mayer, David C; Martinelli, Susan M

2014-01-01

Anesthesiology resident physicians across the United States complete an annual in-training examination (ITE). The ITE evaluates resident knowledge and provides personalized feedback to guide future study in low scoring sections(1). Performance on the ITE correlates with outcomes on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) written board examination(2). Over the last several years, declining ITE scores were observed at the University of North Carolina (UNC). In response to this decline, our department reprioritized the ITE by instituting an academic improvement policy (AIP). The AIP employed both reward for satisfactory achievement and consequence for under-performance to elevate the ITE as a "high stakes" examination. Our hypothesis was that implementation of this AIP would improve ITE scores. ITE scores were compiled from 150 residents in the Department of Anesthesiology at UNC for graduating classes from 2004-2015. Data is presented as the number of residents scoring below the 20th percentile when compared to the national distribution before and after the AIP. In addition, average USMLE Step 1 three-digit scores for each graduating class were compared to average ITE percentile scores of the corresponding graduating class (USMLE does not provide percentile scores). Between 2009 and 2013, the number of residents who scored below the 20th percentile on the ITE increased steadily to a peak of 10 in 2011. After implementation of the AIP in July 2011, there was an 80% decrease in those scoring below the 20th percentile, from 10 to 2 residents (p<0.05). Anesthesiology resident ITE scores improved after implementation of an academic improvement policy.

Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function in 21 patients suffering from autoimmune pancreatitis before and after steroid treatment.

PubMed

Frulloni, Luca; Scattolini, Chiara; Katsotourchi, Anna Maria; Amodio, Antonio; Gabbrielli, Armando; Zamboni, Giuseppe; Benini, Luigi; Vantini, Italo

2010-01-01

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) responds rapidly and dramatically to steroid therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function in patients suffering from AIP both before and after steroid therapy. Fecal elastase 1 and diabetes were evaluated before steroid therapy and within 1 month of its suspension in 21 patients (13 males and 8 females, mean age 43 +/- 16.5 years) diagnosed as having AIP between 2006 and 2008. At clinical onset, fecal elastase 1 was 107 +/- 126 microg/g stool. Thirteen patients (62%) showed severe pancreatic insufficiency (<100 microg/g stool), 4 (19%) had mild insufficiency (100-200 microg/g stool), while 4 (19%) had normal pancreatic function (>200 microg/g stool). Before steroids, diabetes was diagnosed in 5 patients (24%), all of whom had very low levels of fecal elastase 1 (<19 microg/g stool). Following steroids, fecal elastase 1 increased in all patients (237 +/- 193 microg/g stool) and observed levels were significantly higher than those seen before steroids (p = 0.001). Patients suffering from AIP display exocrine and/or endocrine pancreatic insufficiency at clinical onset. These insufficiencies improve after steroid therapy. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Vacuum system for room temperature X-ray lithography source (XLS)

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

Schuchman, J.C.

1988-09-30

A prototype room-temperature X-Ray Lithography Source (XLS)was proposed to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory as part of a technology-transfer- to-American-industry program. The overall machine comprises a full energy linac, a 170 meter long transport line, and a 39 meter circumference storage ring. The scope of this paper will be limited to describing the storage ring vacuum system. (AIP)

Vacuum system for room temperature X-ray lithography source (XLS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuchman, J. C.

1988-09-01

A prototype room-temperature X-Ray Lithography Source (XLS)was proposed to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory as part of a technology-transfer- to-American-industry program. The overall machine comprises a full energy linac, a 170 meter long transport line, and a 39 meter circumference storage ring. The scope of this paper will be limited to describing the storage ring vacuum system. (AIP)

Enhancing the Portability of GBT Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowan, A. W.; Radziwill, N.; Fleming, D.; Sessoms, E.

2003-12-01

The Green Bank Telescope currently produces its raw data as a suite of FITS files, which are then consolidated and pre-processed before being packaged into a Measurement Set (the data structure understood by AIPS++). The separation of data adds to the complexity of data analysis, and we would like to reduce the artificial complexity involved in reading the data. Also, in order to support a broader cross-section of observers' backgrounds and interests, we would like to begin supporting data reduction packages in addition to AIPS++. Therefore, GBT data must be readily accessible to IDL, CLASS, and other data reduction packages, as well as any software that observers write themselves. In pursuit of this goal, we are currently developing a unified FITS data product that contains the entirety of the data and can be readily assimilated into multiple software packages. During the summer of 2003, prototyping exercises were initiated based on the SDFITS convention, which have led to an alpha-test period now in progress. This poster discusses the process of generating the unified FITS data product and details the current status of the project. Thanks to the National Science Foundation REU program for their financial support.

The difference in correlation between insulin resistance index and chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes with and without metabolic syndrome.

PubMed

Pourfarzam, Morteza; Zadhoush, Fouzieh; Sadeghi, Masoumeh

2016-01-01

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is unclear whether diabetic patients with MetS confer elevated CVD risk and outcomes beyond the impact of individual's components of MetS. The aim of this study is to highlight the central role of IR, inflammation, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in T2DM with MetS. This cross-sectional study comprised 130 men distributed into three groups, namely Controls: 40 nondiabetic healthy volunteers; Group I: 40 T2DM patients without MetS, and Group II: 50 T2DM patients with MetS. Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of blood lipid profile, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). TG/HDL-C ratio, AIP, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Significant positive association was observed between HOMA-IR and hs-CRP only in Group II and between HOMA-IR and TG/HDL-C ratio in all subjects. Significant differences were seen in waist and hip circumferences, waist/hip ratio, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, TGs, HDL-C, insulin, hs-CRP, HOMA-IR, TG/HDL ratio, and AIP between Controls and Group I with Group II. In T2DM with MetS, coexistence of elevated atherogenic indices, systemic inflammation, and association between HOMA-IR and TG/HDL-C ratio were seen. These factors are considered having important role in elevated CVD risk beyond MetS components in these patients.

Information Retrieval in Physics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herschman, Arthur

Discussed in this paper are the information problems in physics and the current program of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) being conducted in an attempt to develop an information retrieval system. The seriousness of the need is described by means of graphs indicating the exponential rise in the number of physics publications in the last…

AIP Report, 1989 Salaries: Society Membership Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kellman, Dawn; Scholz, Catherine

This report examines the variations in salaries by degree level, employment sector, geographic location, and work activity among members of the scientific labor force and educational system. The data are based on a stratified random sample of one-sixth of the U.S. membership of the American Institute of Physics Member Societies; approximately…

76 FR 15028 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Interim Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

... resolution. The goal of the interim policy is to strike a careful balance by accommodating residential... will allow the agency to complete a separate, ongoing general aviation airport study that is analyzing the federally assisted general aviation airport system. The interim policy adopts the changes proposed...

Clinical experience in the screening and management of a large kindred with familial isolated pituitary adenoma due to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) mutation.

PubMed

Williams, Fred; Hunter, Steven; Bradley, Lisa; Chahal, Harvinder S; Storr, Helen L; Akker, Scott A; Kumar, Ajith V; Orme, Stephen M; Evanson, Jane; Abid, Noina; Morrison, Patrick J; Korbonits, Márta; Atkinson, A Brew

2014-04-01

Germline AIP mutations usually cause young-onset acromegaly with low penetrance in a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma families. We describe our experience with a large family with R304* AIP mutation and discuss some of the diagnostic dilemmas and management issues. The aim of the study was to identify and screen mutation carriers in the family. Forty-three family members participated in the study. The study was performed in university hospitals. We conducted genetic and endocrine screening of family members. We identified 18 carriers of the R304* mutation, three family members with an AIP-variant A299V, and two family members who harbored both changes. One of the two index cases presented with gigantism and pituitary apoplexy, the other presented with young-onset acromegaly, and both had surgery and radiotherapy. After genetic and clinical screening of the family, two R304* carriers were diagnosed with acromegaly. They underwent transsphenoidal surgery after a short period of somatostatin analog treatment. One of these two patients is in remission; the other achieved successful pregnancy despite suboptimal control of acromegaly. One of the A299V carrier family members was previously diagnosed with a microprolactinoma; we consider this case to be a phenocopy. Height of the unaffected R304* carrier family members is not different compared to noncarrier relatives. Families with AIP mutations present particular problems such as the occurrence of large invasive tumors, poor response to medical treatment, difficulties with fertility and management of pregnancy, and the finding of AIP sequence variants of unknown significance. Because disease mostly develops at a younger age and penetrance is low, the timing and duration of the follow-up of carriers without overt disease requires further study. The psychological and financial impact of prolonged clinical screening must be considered. Excellent relationships between the family, endocrinologists, and geneticists are essential, and ideally these families should be managed in centers with specialist expertise.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) Q192R genotypes and their interaction with smoking strongly increase atherogenicity and the Framingham risk score.

PubMed

Souza-Nogueira, Andre de; Camargo, Alissana Ester; Remondi, Felipe Assan; Paoliello, Monica Maria Bastos; Richter, Rebecca J; Furlong, Clement E; Barbosa, Decio Sabbatini; Maes, Michael; Moreira, Estefania Gastaldello

2016-10-01

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms are associated with an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. PON1 Q192R polymorphism (rs662) partially determine PON1 hydrolytic activity and protect against oxidation of LDL and HDL. This study aimed to delineate the association of PON1 status (functional 192 genotype and plasma activity levels) and atherogenicity in urbans residents aged 40 years or more. Anthropometric data, lipid profiles, the atherogenic index of the plasma (AIP) and Framingham score risk were measured. Three kinetic assays were conducted to assay PON1 status using phenylacetate and 4-(chloromethyl)phenyl acetate as substrates. Smoking per se did not significantly impact the AIP but the interaction PON1 genotype by smoking significantly increased the AIP. In subjects with the RR genotype smoking increased the AIP index from (estimated mean ± SEM) -0.038 ± 0.039 to 0.224 ± 0.094. The QR genotype increased the Framingham risk index by around 1.3 points. Smoking by RR genotype carriers significantly increased the Framingham risk score (17.23 ± 2.04) as compared to smoking (13.00 ± 1.06) and non-smoking (7.79 ± 0.70) by QQ+QR genotype carriers. The interaction RR genotype by smoking was a more important predictor (odds ratio = 7.90) of an increased Framingham risk score (> 20) than smoking per se (odds ratio = 2.73). The interaction smoking by RR genotype carriers significantly increased triglycerides and lowered HDL cholesterol. Smoking per se has no (AIP) or a mild (Framingham risk score) effect on atherogenicity, while the interaction smoking by PON1 RR genotype has a clinically highly significant impact on atherogenicity.

IgG4-negative autoimmune pancreatitis with sclerosing cholangitis and colitis: possible association with primary sclerosing cholangitis?

PubMed

Saeki, Keita; Hozawa, Shigenari; Miyata, Naoteru; Nishizawa, Toshihiro; Soma, Hiromitsu; Iwao, Yasushi; Kameyama, Kaori; Hibi, Toshifumi

2008-01-01

We report a case of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) with cholangiography and histopathology showing features characteristic of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and colitis. A 55-year-old previously-healthy man was diagnosed with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)-positive AIP according to the finding of serum biochemistry, abdominal US (ultrasonography), CT (computed tomography) and ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). However, bead-like strictures of intrahepatic bile ducts were also found and liver tissue showed onion skin-like periductal fibrosis but no anti-IgG4-positive cells. In addition, colon fiberscopy showed a pancolitis similar to ulcerative colitis indicating that, in this case, there may be an association with PSC. Here, we report a rare case of IgG4-negative AIP with sclerosing cholangitis and colitis with many clinical features that support an association with PSC.

Do They Enter the Workforce? Career Choices after an Undergrad Research Experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greco, S.; Wissel, S.; Zwicker, A.; Ortiz, D.; Dominguez, A.

2015-11-01

Students in undergrad research internships go on to grad school at rates of 50-75% (Lopatto, 2007;Russell, 2005). NSF studied its undergrad program and found that 74% of physics interns (67% for engineering) go to grad school. PPPL undergrad interns were tracked for 10 years. Only 3% of physics PhD candidates are studying plasma physics, but 23% of our alumni that entered grad school did so in plasma. AIP reports that 60% of physics majors go to grad school (AIP, 2012), but 95% of PPPL interns have gone on to grad schools. Several programs track enrollment in grad school. AIP compiles statistics of undergrads who enter grad school and PhD students who work in the field. There has been no study of interns that follows the path from undergrad to grad school and then on to employment. Our tracking shows that most not only complete their advanced degrees but also stay in STEM fields following their academic careers. 88% of them become part of the STEM workforce, higher than the 82% of all physics PhDs employed in physics after obtaining their degree (AIP, 2014). PPPL puts more students in grad school in physics, and specifically plasma physics, and a higher percentage of those grad students stay in the STEM workforce.

SERPent: Automated reduction and RFI-mitigation software for e-MERLIN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peck, Luke W.; Fenech, Danielle M.

2013-08-01

The Scripted E-merlin Rfi-mitigation PipelinE for iNTerferometry (SERPent) is an automated reduction and RFI-mitigation procedure utilising the SumThreshold methodology (Offringa et al., 2010a), originally developed for the LOFAR pipeline. SERPent is written in the Parseltongue language enabling interaction with the Astronomical Image Processing Software (AIPS) program. Moreover, SERPent is a simple 'out of the box' Python script, which is easy to set up and is free of compilers. In addition to the flagging of RFI affected visibilities, the script also flags antenna zero-amplitude dropouts and Lovell telescope phase calibrator stationary scans inherent to the e-MERLIN system. Both the flagging and computational performances of SERPent are presented here, for e-MERLIN commissioning datasets for both L-band (1.3-1.8 GHz) and C-band (4-8 GHz) observations. RFI typically amounts to <20%-25% for the more problematic L-band observations and <5% for the generally RFI quieter C-band. The level of RFI detection and flagging is more accurate and delicate than visual manual flagging, with the output immediately ready for AIPS calibration. SERPent is fully parallelised and has been tested on a range of computing systems. The current flagging rate is at 110 GB day-1 on a 'high-end' computer (16 CPUs, 100 GB memory) which amounts to ˜6.9 GB CPU-1 day-1, with an expected increase in performance when e-MERLIN has completed its commissioning. The refining of automated reduction and calibration procedures is essential for the e-MERLIN legacy projects and future interferometers such as the SKA and the associated pathfinders (MeerKAT and ASKAP), where the vast data sizes (>TB) make traditional astronomer interactions unfeasible.

Sustaining inquiry-based teaching methods in the middle school science classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, Amy Fowler

This dissertation used a combination of case study and phenomenological research methods to investigate how individual teachers of middle school science in the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) program sustain their use of inquiry-based methods of teaching and learning. While the overall context for the cases was the AMSTI program, each of the four teacher participants in this study had a unique, individual context as well. The researcher collected data through a series of interviews, multiple-day observations, and curricular materials. The interview data was analyzed to develop a textural, structural, and composite description of the phenomenon. The Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) was used along with the Assesing Inquiry Potential (AIP) questionnaire to determine the level of inquiry-based instruction occuring in the participants classrooms. Analysis of the RTOP data and AIP data indicated all of the participants utilized inquiry-based methods in their classrooms during their observed lessons. The AIP data also indicated the level of inquiry in the AMSTI curricular materials utilized by the participants during the observations was structured inquiry. The findings from the interview data suggested the ability of the participants to sustain their use of structured inquiry was influenced by their experiences with, beliefs about, and understandings of inquiry. This study contributed to the literature by supporting existing studies regarding the influence of teachers' experiences, beliefs, and understandings of inquiry on their classroom practices. The inquiry approach stressed in current reforms in science education targets content knowledge, skills, and processes needed in a future scientifically literate citizenry.

Digital clock drawing: Differentiating ‘thinking’ versus ‘doing’ in younger and older adults with depression

PubMed Central

Cohen, Jamie; Penney, Dana L.; Davis, Randall; Libon, David J.; Swenson, Rodney A.; Ajilore, Olusola; Kumar, Anand; Lamar, Melissa

2015-01-01

Objective Psychomotor slowing has been documented in depression. The digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) provides: i) a novel technique to assess both cognitive and motor aspects of psychomotor speed within the same task and ii) the potential to uncover subtleties of behavior not previously detected with non-digitized modes of data collection. Method Using digitized pen technology in 106 participants grouped by Age (younger/older) and Affect (euthymic/unmedicated depressed), we recorded cognitive and motor output by capturing how the clock is drawn rather than focusing on the final product. We divided time to completion (TTC) for Command and Copy conditions of the dCDT into metrics of percent of drawing (%Ink) versus non-drawing (%Think) time. We also obtained composite z-scores of cognition, including attention/ information processing (AIP), to explore associations of %Ink and %Think times to cognitive and motor performance. Results Despite equivalent TTC, %Ink and %Think Command times (Copy n.s.) were significant (AgeXAffect interaction:p=.03)—younger depressed spent a smaller proportion of time drawing relative to thinking compared to the older depressed group. Command %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the older depressed group (r=−.46;p=.02). Copy %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the younger depressed (r=−.47;p=.03) and older euthymic groups (r=−.51;p=.01). Conclusion The dCDT differentiated aspects of psychomotor slowing in depression regardless of age, while dCDT/cognitive associates for younger adults with depression mimicked patterns of older euthymics. PMID:25222513

Microbial Biosensor for the Detection of Protease-Virulent Factors from Pathogens

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-28

cleavage in the extracellular space. The cleavage of TCS receptor protein would abolish the kinase activity responsible for the phosphorylation of the...cytoplasmic response regulator, AgrA, which functions as a transcriptional activator . As the cell-based protease biosensor response requires over...to AIP; AgrC is a AIP receptor that phosphorylates AgrA, an activator for P2 and P3. Protein-based protease biosensor construction To facilitate

AIP Career Pathways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palchak, Amanda

2012-02-01

American Institute of Physics (AIP) Career Pathways is a new project funded by the National Science Foundation. One of the goals of AIP Career Pathways is to prepare students to compete for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers with a bachelor's degree in physics. In order to do so, I reviewed and compiled useful resources on finding a STEM career with a bachelor's degree in physics. These resources not only supply the job seeker with job postings in STEM careers but also provide them with information on resumes, interviewing skills, and networking. Recently at the 2011 Industrial Physics Forum, I interviewed companies in the private sector to obtain a unique perspective on what types of skills potential employers expect an applicant to posses with a bachelor's degree in physics. Ultimately, these components will be used as supplements at student career workshops held at annual Society of Physics Students Zone Meetings.

Acyclic Immucillin Phosphonates. Second-Generation Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Hypoxanthine- Guanine-Xanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase

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

Hazelton, Keith Z.; Ho, Meng-Chaio; Cassera, Maria B.

We found that Plasmodium falciparum is the primary cause of deaths from malaria. It is a purine auxotroph and relies on hypoxanthine salvage from the host purine pool. Purine starvation as an antimalarial target has been validated by inhibition of purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Hypoxanthine depletion kills Plasmodium falciparum in cell culture and in Aotus monkey infections. Hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGXPRT) from P. falciparum is required for hypoxanthine salvage by forming inosine 5'-monophosphate, a branchpoint for all purine nucleotide synthesis in the parasite. We present a class of HGXPRT inhibitors, the acyclic immucillin phosphonates (AIPs), and cell permeable AIP prodrugs. The AIPsmore » are simple, potent, selective, and biologically stable inhibitors. The AIP prodrugs block proliferation of cultured parasites by inhibiting the incorporation of hypoxanthine into the parasite nucleotide pool and validates HGXPRT as a target in malaria.« less

Relationship between the enzymatic browning and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity of cut lettuce, and the prevention of browning by inhibitors of polyphenol biosynthesis.

PubMed

Hisaminato, H; Murata, M; Homma, S

2001-05-01

Cut lettuce stored at 4 degrees C gradually turned brown on the cut section after several days of storage. Three factors for enzymatic browning, the polyphenol content, polyphenol oxidase activity, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, were examined during the cold storage of cut lettuce. A relationship between the browning and PAL activity was apparent. We tried to prevent this browning by using the two enzyme inhibitors, 2-aminoindane-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), an inhibitor of the phenylpropanoid pathway, and glyphosate, an inhibitor of the shikimate pathway. AIP and glyphosate significantly inhibited the browning of cut lettuce. The polyphenol content and PAL activity were both reduced by the treatment with AIP. These results show that regulating the biosynthesis of polyphenols is essential to prevent the browning of cut lettuce.

An investigation into the effects of different existing states of aluminum isopropoxide on copper-based catalysts for direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Kai; Wang, Peng; Bian, Zhongkai; Huang, Wei

2018-01-01

Aluminum isopropoxide (AIP) is a vital raw material to produce high surface area alumina catalyst, which is used for catalytic applications, such as hydrocracking, Fischer-Tropsch and STD (syngas to dimethyl ether) reactions. However, the different existing states have an effect on hydrolysis and condensation in the process of precursor preparation. The Cu/Zn/Al slurry catalysts were prepared by aluminum isopropoxide, which were liquid state, crystalline state and solid state, utilizing a complete liquid phase preparation technology. In the dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis reaction, the aluminum resource of crystalline state was prepared for slurry catalyst, which presented high CO conversion and DME selectivity of 54.32% and 69.74%, respectively. Characterization results indicated that different forms of AIP have the variant coordination numbers of Al-O and polymerization degrees, and the catalyst prepared by crystalline state consists amount of tetra-coordinated Al and few hexa-coordinated Al, which can exert different hydrolysis and condensation process compared with other aluminum sources, and finally it contributes to the strong interaction between active site copper species and Zn/Al species, confirming more Cu+ is responsible for the synthesis of DME in the slurry reactor.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization: An Overview of Legislative Action in the 111th Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-22

airports would be encouraged to assess their energy requirements, including heating and cooling , base load, back- up power, and power for on-road...available under the AIP or PFC programs. The trial program is to encourage compatible land uses with the airport and generate economic benefits to both...prevents the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority from applying for AIP or PFC grants after October 1, 2008. . FAA Reauthorization: An Overview of

Revised associative inference paradigm confirms relational memory impairment in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Armstrong, Kristan; Williams, Lisa E.; Heckers, Stephan

2013-01-01

Objective Patients with schizophrenia have widespread cognitive impairments, with selective deficits in relational memory. We previously reported a differential relational memory deficit in schizophrenia using the Associative Inference Paradigm (AIP), a task suggested by the Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS) initiative to examine relational memory. However, the AIP had limited feasibility for testing in schizophrenia due to high attrition of schizophrenia patients during training. Here we developed and tested a revised version of the AIP to improve feasibility. Method 30 healthy control and 37 schizophrenia subjects received 3 study-test sessions on 3 sets of paired associates: H-F1 (house paired with face), H-F2 (same house paired with new face), and F3-F4 (two novel faces). After training, subjects were tested on the trained, non-inferential Face-Face pairs (F3-F4) and novel, inferential Face-Face pairs (F1-F2), constructed from the faces of the trained House-Face pairs. Results Schizophrenia patients were significantly more impaired on the inferential F1-F2 pairs than the non-inferential F3-F4 pairs, providing evidence for a differential relational memory deficit. Only 8 percent of schizophrenia patients were excluded from testing due to poor training performance. Conclusions The revised AIP confirmed the previous finding of a relational memory deficit in a larger and more representative sample of schizophrenia patients. PMID:22612578

Revised associative inference paradigm confirms relational memory impairment in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Armstrong, Kristan; Williams, Lisa E; Heckers, Stephan

2012-07-01

Patients with schizophrenia have widespread cognitive impairments, with selective deficits in relational memory. We previously reported a differential relational memory deficit in schizophrenia using the Associative Inference Paradigm (AIP), a task suggested by the Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS) initiative to examine relational memory. However, the AIP had limited feasibility for testing in schizophrenia because of high attrition of schizophrenia patients during training. Here we developed and tested a revised version of the AIP to improve feasibility. 30 healthy control and 37 schizophrenia subjects received 3 study-test sessions on 3 sets of paired associates: H-F1 (house paired with face), H-F2 (same house paired with new face), and F3-F4 (two novel faces). After training, subjects were tested on the trained, noninferential Face-Face pairs (F3-F4) and novel, inferential Face-Face pairs (F1-F2), constructed from the faces of the trained House-Face pairs. Schizophrenia patients were significantly more impaired on the inferential F1-F2 pairs than the noninferential F3-F4 pairs, providing evidence for a differential relational memory deficit. Only 8% of schizophrenia patients were excluded from testing because of poor training performance. The revised AIP confirmed the previous finding of a relational memory deficit in a larger and more representative sample of schizophrenia patients.

Information Management for an Automated Battlefield Command and Control System

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

DD) I u FJ i EDITION OF" I NOV 65, IS OSSOLIETIES"-- iUnclassified1SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data Entered) t// II. Unclassified...DIRELIOk oý INSTIhJTIONAL RSCH I USA AIP DEFENSE SCHOUL ATTN: AISA -CU)-MS I iJSAADS-LIBRARY-OUCUMLNTS) I USA AIW DEFENSE ZL~N HDAU IN: fILLS

Untapped Talent: The African American Presence in Physics and the Geosciences. AIP Report. Number R-444

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czujko, Roman; Ivie, Rachel; Stith, James H.

2008-01-01

This paper presents data covering the representation of African Americans among physics and geoscience degree recipients at each stage of the educational system. The data were collected by several statistical agencies and are here provided in far more detail than has ever been available before. By placing all the data in one place, this paper…

Experimental Investigation of Actuators for Flow Control in Inlet Ducts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaccaro, John; Elimelech, Yossef; Amitay, Michael

2010-11-01

Attractive to aircraft designers are compact inlets, which implement curved flow paths to the compressor face. These curved flow paths could be employed for multiple reasons. One of which is to connect the air intake to the engine embedded in the aircraft body. A compromise must be made between the compactness of the inlet and its aerodynamic performance. The aerodynamic purpose of inlets is to decelerate the oncoming flow before reaching the engine while minimizing total pressure loss, unsteadiness and distortion. Low length-to-diameter ratio inlets have a high degree of curvature, which inevitably causes flow separation and secondary flows. Currently, the length of the propulsion system is constraining the overall size of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), thus, smaller more efficient aircrafts could be realized if the propulsion system could be shortened. Therefore, active flow control is studied in a compact (L/D=1.5) inlet to improve performance metrics. Actuation from a spanwise varying coanda type ejector actuator and a hybrid coanda type ejector / vortex generator jet actuator is investigated. Special attention will be given to the pressure recovery at the AIP along with unsteady pressure signatures along the inlet surface and at the AIP.

Alternative majority-voting methods for real-time computing systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shin, Kang G.; Dolter, James W.

1989-01-01

Two techniques that provide a compromise between the high time overhead in maintaining synchronous voting and the difficulty of combining results in asynchronous voting are proposed. These techniques are specifically suited for real-time applications with a single-source/single-sink structure that need instantaneous error masking. They provide a compromise between a tightly synchronized system in which the synchronization overhead can be quite high, and an asynchronous system which lacks suitable algorithms for combining the output data. Both quorum-majority voting (QMV) and compare-majority voting (CMV) are most applicable to distributed real-time systems with single-source/single-sink tasks. All real-time systems eventually have to resolve their outputs into a single action at some stage. The development of the advanced information processing system (AIPS) and other similar systems serve to emphasize the importance of these techniques. Time bounds suggest that it is possible to reduce the overhead for quorum-majority voting to below that for synchronous voting. All the bounds assume that the computation phase is nonpreemptive and that there is no multitasking.

Inhibitions of late INa and CaMKII act synergistically to prevent ATX-II-induced atrial fibrillation in isolated rat right atria.

PubMed

Liang, Faquan; Fan, Peidong; Jia, Jessie; Yang, Suya; Jiang, Zhan; Karpinski, Serge; Kornyeyev, Dmytro; Pagratis, Nikos; Belardinelli, Luiz; Yao, Lina

2016-05-01

Increases in late Na(+) current (late INa) and activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) are associated with atrial arrhythmias. CaMKII also phosphorylates Nav1.5, further increasing late INa. The combination of a CaMKII inhibitor with a late INa inhibitor may be superior to each compound alone to suppress atrial arrhythmias. Therefore, we investigated the effect of a CaMKII inhibitor in combination with a late INa inhibitor on anemone toxin II (ATX-II, a late INa enhancer)-induced atrial arrhythmias. Rat right atrial tissue was isolated and preincubated with either the CaMKII inhibitor autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP), the late INa inhibitor GS458967, or both, and then exposed to ATX-II. ATX-II increased diastolic tension and caused fibrillation of isolated right atrial tissue. AIP (0.3μmol/L) and 0.1μmol/L GS458967 alone inhibited ATX-II-induced arrhythmias by 20±3% (mean±SEM, n=14) and 34±5% (n=13), respectively, whereas the two compounds in combination inhibited arrhythmias by 81±4% (n=10, p<0.05, vs either AIP or GS458967 alone or the calculated sum of individual effects of both compounds). AIP and GS458967 also attenuated the ATX-induced increase of diastolic tension. Consistent with the mechanical and electrical data, 0.3μmol/L AIP and 0.1μmol/L GS458967 each inhibited ATX-II-induced CaMKII phosphorylation by 23±3% and 32±4%, whereas the combination of both compounds inhibited CaMKII phosphorylation completely. The effects of an enhanced late INa to induce arrhythmic activity and activation of CaMKII in atria are attenuated synergistically by inhibitors of late INa and CaMKII. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Test Methods for Telemetry Systems and Subsystems. Volume 1. Test Methods for Vehicle Telemetry Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

IEC Web Site - http://www.iec.org/ National Instruments Web Site - http://www.ni.com/ ASA ( Acoustical Society of America) - http://asa.aip.org/ Flow...1994 (R2004), Acoustical Terminology. ANSI S1.10-1966 (R2001), USA Standard Method for Calibration of Microphones. ANSI S1.15-1997, USA Standard...R2001), American National Standard Specification for Acoustical Calibrators. ANSI S1.9-1996 (R2001), American National Standard Instruments for

Trends in Sports- and Recreation-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) 2001-2012.

PubMed

Coronado, Victor G; Haileyesus, Tadesse; Cheng, Tabitha A; Bell, Jeneita M; Haarbauer-Krupa, Juliet; Lionbarger, Michael R; Flores-Herrera, Javier; McGuire, Lisa C; Gilchrist, Julie

2015-01-01

Sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (SRR-TBIs) are a growing public health problem affecting persons of all ages in the United States. To describe the trends of SRR-TBIs treated in US emergency departments (EDs) from 2001 to 2012 and to identify which sports and recreational activities and demographic groups are at higher risk for these injuries. Data on initial ED visits for an SRR-TBI from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) for 2001-2012 were analyzed. NEISS-AIP data are drawn from a nationally representative sample of hospital-based EDs. Cases of TBI were identified from approximately 500,000 annual initial visits for all causes and types of injuries treated in EDs captured by NEISS-AIP. Numbers and rates by age group, sex, and year were estimated. Aggregated numbers and percentages by discharge disposition were produced. Approximately 3.42 million ED visits for an SRR-TBI occurred during 2001-2012. During this period, the rates of SRR-TBIs treated in US EDs significantly increased in both males and females regardless of age (all Ps < .001). For males, significant increases ranged from a low of 45.8% (ages 5-9) to a high of 139.8% (ages 10-14), and for females, from 25.1% (ages 0-4) to 211.5% (ages 15-19) (all Ps < .001). Every year males had about twice the rates of SRR-TBIs than females. Approximately 70% of all SRR-TBIs were reported among persons aged 0 to 19 years. The largest number of SRR-TBIs among males occurred during bicycling, football, and basketball. Among females, the largest number of SRR-TBIs occurred during bicycling, playground activities, and horseback riding. Approximately 89% of males and 91% of females with an SRR-TBI were treated and released from EDs. The rates of ED-treated SRR-TBIs increased during 2001-2012, affecting mainly persons aged 0 to 19 years and males in all age groups. Increases began to appear in 2004 for females and 2006 for males. Activities associated with the largest number of TBIs varied by sex and age. Reasons for the reported increases in ED visits are unknown but may be associated with increased awareness of TBI through increased media exposure and from campaigns, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Heads Up. Prevention efforts should be targeted by sports and recreational activity, age, and sex.

The difference in correlation between insulin resistance index and chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes with and without metabolic syndrome

PubMed Central

Pourfarzam, Morteza; Zadhoush, Fouzieh; Sadeghi, Masoumeh

2016-01-01

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is unclear whether diabetic patients with MetS confer elevated CVD risk and outcomes beyond the impact of individual's components of MetS. The aim of this study is to highlight the central role of IR, inflammation, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in T2DM with MetS. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 130 men distributed into three groups, namely Controls: 40 nondiabetic healthy volunteers; Group I: 40 T2DM patients without MetS, and Group II: 50 T2DM patients with MetS. Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of blood lipid profile, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). TG/HDL-C ratio, AIP, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Results: Significant positive association was observed between HOMA-IR and hs-CRP only in Group II and between HOMA-IR and TG/HDL-C ratio in all subjects. Significant differences were seen in waist and hip circumferences, waist/hip ratio, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, TGs, HDL-C, insulin, hs-CRP, HOMA-IR, TG/HDL ratio, and AIP between Controls and Group I with Group II. Conclusions: In T2DM with MetS, coexistence of elevated atherogenic indices, systemic inflammation, and association between HOMA-IR and TG/HDL-C ratio were seen. These factors are considered having important role in elevated CVD risk beyond MetS components in these patients. PMID:27713874

Solvothermal synthesis and structure of coordination polymers of Nd(III) and Dy(III) with rigid isophthalic acid derivatives and flexible adipic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kariem, Mukaddus; Kumar, Manesh; Yawer, Mohd; Sheikh, Haq Nawaz

2017-12-01

Two new coordination polymers (CPs) with the formula [Nd(hip)(adip) 0.5(H2O)2]n.nH2O (1) and [Dy(aip)(adip)0.5(H2O)2]n.nH2O (2) were synthesized by self-assembly of lanthanide salts with rigid [5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (H2hip)], [5-aminoisophthalic acid (H2aip)] and flexible [adipic acid (H2adip)] linkers under solvothermal conditions. The CPs 1 &2 crystallize in monoclinic C2/c space group. Both the CPs have 1D linear ladder shaped extension with the linkages having the backbone of hip2-, aip2- and adip2- ligands. The 1D linear ladder chains generate three dimensional (3D) supramolecular frameworks via significant π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions. The CP 2 (Dy) emit strong ligand sensitized characteristic f-f luminescence emission. The CP 2 also exhibit weak ferromagnetic interactions at low temperatures.

Composition dependence of solid-phase epitaxy in silicon-germanium alloys: Experiment and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haynes, T. E.; Antonell, M. J.; Lee, C. Archie; Jones, K. S.

1995-03-01

The rates of solid-phase epitaxy (SPE) in unstrained Si1-xGex alloys have been measured by time-resolved reflectivity for eight different alloy compositions, including both Si-rich and Ge-rich layers. Amorphous layers 300-400 nm thick were first formed in 8-μm-thick, relaxed, epitaxial Si1-xGex layers (0.02<=x<=0.87) by ion implantation of Si+. For each composition, the measured SPE rates spanned approximately two orders of magnitude. The alloy SPE rates are shown to be related to the regrowth rates of the two pure elements by a simple equation expressed in terms of the composition parameter x and having no adjustable parameters. The form of this equation implies that crystallization occurs by a serial attachment process at the amorphous-crystal interface and that the rate of attachment of each individual atom is determined by the identities of its four nearest neighbors. Such a process is consistent with the dangling-bond model proposed by Spaepen and Turnbull [in Laser-Solid Interactions and Laser Processing, edited by S. D. Ferris, H. J. Leamy, and J. M. Poate, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 50 (AIP, New York, 1979)] if the SPE rate is limited by the migration rate of dangling bonds rather than by their formation rate. Based on this analysis, an interpretation is proposed for the anomalously large activation energies that have been measured for SPE in some Si-rich compositions.

Technology Evaluation for an Advanced Individual Protection System (AIPS)

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

this analysis are: time of operation, duration of thermal management, power consumed during operation, cooling/heating benefit , time between recharge...BRDEC) TOPICS: o individual power * batteries/engines/fuel cel!s POC: Wes Goodwin (NRDEC) TOPICS: * microclimate cooling e vapor compression cycles e...individual power 2.3 LITERATURE SEARCHES The literature searches began by reviewing Battelle in-house sources for useful reports. This included a

Pancreatic Duct in Autoimmune Pancreatitis: Intraindividual Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Pancreatography at 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

PubMed

Kim, Jin Hee; Byun, Jae Ho; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Lee, Sung Koo; Kim, Song Cheol; Kim, Hyoung Jung; Lee, Seung Soo; Kim, So Yeon; Lee, Moon-Gyu

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to intraindividually compare magnetic resonance pancreatography (MRP) image quality at 1.5 T and 3.0 T when demonstrating main pancreatic duct (MPD) abnormalities in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Thirty prospectively enrolled patients with AIP underwent MRP at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T followed by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography before treatment. Two readers independently analyzed the MRP images and graded the visualization of MPD strictures and full-length MPD, using endoscopic retrograde pancreatography as the reference standard, as well as overall image artifacts on a 4-point scale. The contrast between the MPD and periductal area was calculated using a region-of-interest measurement. Visualization scores of MPD strictures and full-length MPD, and summed scores of each qualitative analysis, were significantly greater at 3.0-T MRP than at 1.5-T MRP for both readers (P ≤ 0.02). There were less image artifacts at 3.0 T compared with 1.5 T (P ≤ 0.052). The contrast between the MPD and periductal area was significantly greater at 3.0-T MRP than at 1.5-T MRP (P < 0.001). The MRP at 3.0 T was superior to 1.5-T MRP for demonstrating MPD abnormalities in AIP, with better image contrast and fewer image artifacts. Consequently, 3.0-T MRP may be useful for the diagnosis and management of patients with AIP.

Oscillatory Increases in Alkalinity Anticipate Growth and May Regulate Actin Dynamics in Pollen Tubes of Lily[W][OA

PubMed Central

Lovy-Wheeler, Alenka; Kunkel, Joseph G.; Allwood, Ellen G.; Hussey, Patrick J.; Hepler, Peter K.

2006-01-01

Lily (Lilium formosanum or Lilium longiflorum) pollen tubes, microinjected with a low concentration of the pH-sensitive dye bis-carboxyethyl carboxyfluorescein dextran, show oscillating pH changes in their apical domain relative to growth. An increase in pH in the apex precedes the fastest growth velocities, whereas a decline follows growth, suggesting a possible relationship between alkalinity and cell extension. A target for pH may be the actin cytoskeleton, because the apical cortical actin fringe resides in the same region as the alkaline band in lily pollen tubes and elongation requires actin polymerization. A pH-sensitive actin binding protein, actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF), together with actin-interacting protein (AIP) localize to the cortical actin fringe region. Modifying intracellular pH leads to reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, especially in the apical domain. Acidification causes actin filament destabilization and inhibits growth by 80%. Upon complete growth inhibition, the actin fringe is the first actin cytoskeleton component to disappear. We propose that during normal growth, the pH increase in the alkaline band stimulates the fragmenting activity of ADF/AIP, which in turn generates more sites for actin polymerization. Increased actin polymerization supports faster growth rates and a proton influx, which inactivates ADF/AIP, decreases actin polymerization, and retards growth. As pH stabilizes and increases, the activity of ADF/AIP again increases, repeating the cycle of events. PMID:16920777

Grasp movement decoding from premotor and parietal cortex.

PubMed

Townsend, Benjamin R; Subasi, Erk; Scherberger, Hansjörg

2011-10-05

Despite recent advances in harnessing cortical motor-related activity to control computer cursors and robotic devices, the ability to decode and execute different grasping patterns remains a major obstacle. Here we demonstrate a simple Bayesian decoder for real-time classification of grip type and wrist orientation in macaque monkeys that uses higher-order planning signals from anterior intraparietal cortex (AIP) and ventral premotor cortex (area F5). Real-time decoding was based on multiunit signals, which had similar tuning properties to cells in previous single-unit recording studies. Maximum decoding accuracy for two grasp types (power and precision grip) and five wrist orientations was 63% (chance level, 10%). Analysis of decoder performance showed that grip type decoding was highly accurate (90.6%), with most errors occurring during orientation classification. In a subsequent off-line analysis, we found small but significant performance improvements (mean, 6.25 percentage points) when using an optimized spike-sorting method (superparamagnetic clustering). Furthermore, we observed significant differences in the contributions of F5 and AIP for grasp decoding, with F5 being better suited for classification of the grip type and AIP contributing more toward decoding of object orientation. However, optimum decoding performance was maximal when using neural activity simultaneously from both areas. Overall, these results highlight quantitative differences in the functional representation of grasp movements in AIP and F5 and represent a first step toward using these signals for developing functional neural interfaces for hand grasping.

The Associations of Serum Lipids with Vitamin D Status.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Si, Shaoyan; Liu, Junli; Wang, Zongye; Jia, Haiying; Feng, Kai; Sun, Lili; Song, Shu Jun

2016-01-01

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with some disorders including cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, data about the relationships between vitamin D and lipids are inconsistent. The relationship of vitamin D and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), as an excellent predictor of level of small and dense LDL, has not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D status on serum lipids in Chinese adults. The study was carried out using 1475 participants from the Center for Physical Examination, 306 Hospital of PLA in Beijing, China. Fasting blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. AIP was calculated based on the formula: log [TG/HDL-C]. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between serum 25(OH)D and lipids. The association between the occurrences of dyslipidemias and vitamin D levels was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Confounding factors, age and BMI, were used for the adjustment. The median of serum 25(OH)D concentration was 47 (27-92.25) nmol/L in all subjects. The overall percentage of 25(OH)D ≦ 50 nmol/L was 58.5% (males 54.4%, females 63.7%). The serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with TG (β coefficient = -0.24, p < 0.001) and LDL-C (β coefficient = -0.34, p < 0.001) and positively associated with TC (β coefficient = 0.35, p < 0.002) in men. The associations between serum 25(OH)D and LDL-C (β coefficient = -0.25, p = 0.01) and TC (β coefficient = 0.39, p = 0.001) also existed in women. The serum 25(OH)D concentrations were negatively associated with AIP in men (r = -0.111, p < 0.01) but not in women. In addition, vitamin D deficient men had higher AIP values than vitamin D sufficient men. Furthermore, the occurrences of dyslipidemias (reduced HDL-C, elevated TG and elevated AIP) correlated with lower 25(OH)D levels in men, whereas the higher TC and LDL-C associated with higher 25(OH)D levels in women. It seems that the serum 25(OH)D levels are closely associated with the serum lipids and AIP. Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with the increased risk of dyslipidemias, especially in men. The association between vitamin D status and serum lipids may differ by genders.

Sociocultural, Environmental, and Health Challenges Facing Women and Children Living Near the Borders Between Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan (AIP Region)

PubMed Central

Poureslami, Iraj M; MacLean, David R; Spiegel, Jerry; Yassi, Annalee

2004-01-01

Background For hundred of years, people in the region encompassed by the Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan borders (AIP region) have been challenged by conflict and political and civil instability, mass displacement, human rights abuses, drought, and famine. It not surprising that health and quality of life of vulnerable groups in this region are among the worst in the world. In general, women and children, in particular girls, in the AIP region have had especially limited access to healthcare. Women and children have dramatically high rates of communicable and non-communicable disease, morbidity, and mortality and a general low life expectancy that is rapidly declining. In spite of national and international efforts to improve health status of vulnerable populations in this region, the key underlying sociocultural determinants of health and disparities (ie, gender, language, ethnicity, residential status, and socioeconomic status) have not been systematically studied, nor have their relationships to environmental challenges been examined. Objectives We set out to summarize existing information regarding the sociocultural, environmental, and traditional determinants of health disparities among different population groups in the AIP region; identify gaps in research regarding the communities' needs in the region; and highlight factors that must be considered in the design and implementation of future health intervention studies in the region. Methods We reviewed current health literature, official documents, and other information (eg, reports of UN agencies) related to the social, cultural, and environmental factors that may influence the health outcomes of subpopulations living in the AIP region. We also interviewed individuals who had recently worked in this region. Results Overall, the health problems faced by this underdeveloped region can be categorized into those resulting from lack of essential supplies and services and those stemming from the existing cultural practices in the area. The low health status of the people, particularly women and children, in the AIP region is associated with not only poor hygiene and lack of water but also limited knowledge and lack of access to healthcare services. In addition, cultural, political, and socioenvironmental factors play a role, including gender inequality and differences between languages spoken locally in the region and those most often used in written health education materials. Conclusion Future intervention programs designed for this region must use culturally sensitive strategies not only to provide health information and health services but also to address the underlying nonmedical determinants of health related to gender inequalities PMID:15520675

Value of serum IgG4 in the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease and in differentiation from rheumatic diseases and other diseases.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Motohisa; Tabeya, Tetsuya; Naishiro, Yasuyoshi; Yajima, Hidetaka; Ishigami, Keisuke; Shimizu, Yui; Obara, Mikiko; Suzuki, Chisako; Yamashita, Kentaro; Yamamoto, Hiroyuki; Hayashi, Toshiaki; Sasaki, Shigeru; Sugaya, Toshiaki; Ishida, Tadao; Takano, Ken-Ichi; Himi, Tetsuo; Suzuki, Yasuo; Nishimoto, Norihiro; Honda, Saho; Takahashi, Hiroki; Imai, Kohzoh; Shinomura, Yasuhisa

2012-06-01

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a novel disease entity that includes Mikulicz's disease, autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), and many other conditions. It is characterized by elevated serum IgG4 levels and abundant IgG4-bearing plasmacyte infiltration of involved organs. We postulated that high levels of serum IgG4 would comprise a useful diagnostic tool, but little information is available about IgG4 in conditions other than IgG4-RD, including rheumatic diseases. Several reports have described cutoff values for serum IgG4 when diagnosing IgG4-RD, but these studies mostly used 135 mg/dL in AIP to differentiate from pancreatic cancer instead of rheumatic and other common diseases. There is no evidence for a cutoff serum IgG4 level of 135 mg/dL for rheumatic diseases and common diseases that are often complicated with rheumatic diseases. The aim of this work was to re-evaluate the usual cutoff serum IgG4 value in AIP (135 mg/dL) that is used to diagnose whole IgG4-RD in the setting of a rheumatic clinic by measuring serum IgG4 levels in IgG4-RD and various disorders. We therefore constructed ROC curves of serum IgG4 levels in 418 patients who attended Sapporo Medical University Hospital due to IgG4-RD and various rheumatic and common disorders. The optimal cut-off value of serum IgG4 for a diagnosis of IgG4-RD was 144 mg/dL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.10 and 90.76%, respectively. Levels of serum IgG4 were elevated in IgG4-RD, Churg-Strauss syndrome, multicentric Castleman's disease, eosinophilic disorders, and in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. The usual cut-off value of 135 mg/dL in AIP is useful for diagnosing whole IgG4-RD, but high levels of serum IgG4 are sometimes observed in not only IgG4-RD but also other rheumatic and common diseases.

Effect of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation on cardiovascular markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Golzari, Mohammad Hassan; Javanbakht, Mohammad Hassan; Ghaedi, Ehsan; Mohammadi, Hamed; Djalali, Mahmoud

2018-05-01

Cardiovascular complications are one of main cause of increased mortality and morbidity among Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients. Altered metabolism of sulphur amino acids in diabetes reflected as increases in concentration of methionine and cysteine/cystine in the blood which known as a markers of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). The aim of present study was to determine the effect of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation on sulfhydryl amino acids and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 36 control and patients with DM. The subjects were randomly assigned to obtain 2 g/d EPA (n = 18) or placebo (n = 18) for 8 weeks. Fasting serum level of Cystein and Methionine were measured using HPLC method and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) as a proxy measure of atherosclerosis was computed. Eight weeks supplementation with EPA led to significant reductions in Met (p < 0.002) and Cys (p < 0.001) compared with the placebo (p < 0.06). In addition, compared to placebo a significant reduction in AIP were seen after taking EPA (p < 0.04). EPA supplementation in patients with T2DM for eight weeks had beneficial effects on Met, Cys and AIP, which may attribute to the prevention of vascular complications in the T2DM patients. Copyright © 2018 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phenotype-specific CpG island methylation events in a murine model of prostate cancer.

PubMed

Camoriano, Marta; Kinney, Shannon R Morey; Moser, Michael T; Foster, Barbara A; Mohler, James L; Trump, Donald L; Karpf, Adam R; Smiraglia, Dominic J

2008-06-01

Aberrant DNA methylation plays a significant role in nearly all human cancers and may contribute to disease progression to advanced phenotypes. Study of advanced prostate cancer phenotypes in the human disease is hampered by limited availability of tissues. We therefore took advantage of the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model to study whether three different phenotypes of TRAMP tumors (PRIM, late-stage primary tumors; AIP, androgen-independent primary tumors; and MET, metastases) displayed specific patterns of CpG island hypermethylation using Restriction Landmark Genomic Scanning. Each tumor phenotype displayed numerous hypermethylation events, with the most homogeneous methylation pattern in AIP and the most heterogeneous pattern in MET. Several loci displayed a phenotype-specific methylation pattern; the most striking pattern being loci methylated at high frequency in PRIM and AIP but rarely in MET. Examination of the mRNA expression of three genes, BC058385, Goosecoid, and Neurexin 2, which exhibited nonpromoter methylation, revealed increased expression associated with downstream methylation. Only methylated samples showed mRNA expression, in which tumor phenotype was a key factor determining the level of expression. The CpG island in the human orthologue of BC058385 was methylated in human AIP but not in primary androgen-stimulated prostate cancer or benign prostate. The clinical data show a proof-of-principle that the TRAMP model can be used to identify targets of aberrant CpG island methylation relevant to human disease. In conclusion, phenotype-specific hypermethylation events were associated with the overexpression of different genes and may provide new markers of prostate tumorigenesis.

The role of prophylactic internal iliac artery ligation in abnormally invasive placenta undergoing caesarean hysterectomy: a randomized control trial.

PubMed

Hussein, Ahmed M; Dakhly, Dina Mohamed Refaat; Raslan, Ayman N; Kamel, Ahmed; Abdel Hafeez, Ali; Moussa, Manal; Hosny, Ahmed Samir; Momtaz, Mohamed

2018-04-25

To identify the role of bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) ligation on reducing blood loss in abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) undergoing caesarean hysterectomy. In this parallel-randomized control trial, 57 pregnant females with ultrasound features suggestive of AIP were enrolled. They were randomized into two groups; IIA group (n = 29 cases) performed bilateral IIA ligation followed by caesarean hysterectomies, while Control group (n = 28 cases) underwent caesarean hysterectomy only. The main outcome was the difference in the estimated intraoperative blood loss between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the intraoperative estimated blood loss (1632 ± 804 versus 1698 ± 1251, p value .83). The operative procedure duration (minutes) (223 ± 66 versus 171 ± 41.4, p value .001) varied significantly between the two groups. Bilateral internal iliac artery ligation, in cases of AIP undergoing caesarean hysterectomy, is not recommended for routine practice to minimize blood loss intraoperatively.

CaMKII and CaMKIV mediate distinct prosurvival signaling pathways in response to depolarization in neurons

PubMed Central

Bok, Jinwoong; Wang, Qiong; Huang, Jie; Green, Steven H.

2007-01-01

By fusing the CaMKII inhibitory peptide AIP to GFP, we constructed a specific and effective CaMKII inhibitor, GFP-AIP. Expression of GFP-AIP and/or dominant-inhibitory CaMKIV in cultured neonatal rat spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) shows that CaMKII and CaMKIV act additively and in parallel, to mediate the prosurvival effect of depolarization. Depolarization or expression of constitutively-active CaMKII functionally inactivates Bad, indicating that this is one means by which CaMKII promotes neuronal survival. CaMKIV, but not CaMKII, requires CREB to promote SGN survival, consistent with the exclusively nuclear localization of CaMKIV and indicating that the principal prosurvival function of CaMKIV is activation of CREB. Consistent with this, a constitutively-active CREB construct that provides a high level of CREB activity promotes SGN survival, although low levels of CREB activity did not do so. Also, in apoptotic SGNs, activation of CREB by depolarization is disabled, presumably as part of a cellular commitment to apoptosis. PMID:17651987

NextGEOSS project: A user-driven approach to build a Earth Observations Data Hub

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Percivall, G.; Voidrot, M. F.; Bye, B. L.; De Lathouwer, B.; Catarino, N.; Concalves, P.; Kraft, C.; Grosso, N.; Meyer-Arnek, J.; Mueller, A.; Goor, E.

2017-12-01

Several initiatives and projects contribute to support Group on Earth Observation's (GEO) global priorities including support to the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction . Running until 2020, the NextGEOSS project evolves the European vision of a user driven GEOSS data exploitation for innovation and business, relying on the three main pillars: engaging communities of practice delivering technological advancements advocating the use of GEOSS These 3 pillars support the creation and deployment of Earth observation based innovative research activities and commercial services. In this presentation we will emphasise how the NextGEOSS project uses a pilot-driven approach to ramp up and consolidate the system in a pragmatique way, integrating the complexity of the existing global ecosystem, leveraging previous investments, adding new cloud technologies and resources and engaging the diverse communities to address all types of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A set of 10 initial pilots have been defined by the project partners to address the main challenges and include as soon as possible contributions to SDGs associated with Food Sustainability, Bio Diversity, Space and Security, Cold Regions, Air Pollutions, Disaster Risk Reduction, Territorial Planning, Energy. In 2018 and 2019 the project team will work on two new series of Architecture Implementation Pilots (AIP-10 and AIP-11), opened world-wide, to increase discoverability, accessibility and usability of data with a strong User Centric approach for innovative GEOSS powered applications for multiple societal areas. All initiatives with an interest in and need of Earth observations (data, processes, models, ...) are welcome to participate to these pilots initiatives. NextGEOSS is a H2020 Research and Development Project from the European Community under grant agreement 730329.

75 FR 78798 - Airport Improvement Program: Proposed Changes to Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Threshold

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-16

...The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this Notice to advise that FAA has developed draft guidance modifying its policy requiring benefit cost analyses (BCA) for capacity projects when applying for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for capacity projects at the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation. This modification proposes to raise the threshold at which BCAs are required, from $5 million to $10 million in AIP Discretionary funds. FAA invites airport sponsors and other interested parties to comment on the draft guidance. FAA will consider these comments in promulgating final BCA guidance for airport sponsors.

Review of the Applications of Formosat-2 on Rapidly Responding to Global Disasters and Monitoring Earth Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, C.

2009-12-01

Formosat-2 is the first satellite with high-spatial-resolution sensor deployed in a daily-revisit orbit in the world. Together with its agility of pointing ±45 degree both across and along track, we are able to observe each accessible scene from the same angle under the similar illumination conditions. These characteristics make Formosat-2 an ideal satellite for site surveillance. We developed a Formosat-2 automatic image processing system (F-2 AIPS) that can accurately and rapidly process a large amount of Formosat-2 images to produce the higher levels of products, including rigorous band-to-band coregistration, automatic orthorectification, multi-temporal image coregistration and radiance normalization, and pan-sharpening. This system has been successfully employed to rapidly respond to many international disaster events in the past five years, including flood caused by Typhoon Mindulle (2004), landslide caused by Typhoon Aere (2004), South Asia earthquake and tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), California wildfire (2007), Sichuan Earthquake (2008), Typhoon Kalmaegi (2008), Typhoon Sinlaku (2008), Mountain Ali wildfire (2009), Victoria bushfire in Australia (2009), Honduras earthquake (2009), Typhoon Morakot (2009). This paper reviews the applications of Formosat-2 on rapidly responding to global disasters and monitoring earth environment.

AIP mutations in Brazilian patients with sporadic pituitary adenomas: a single-center evaluation

PubMed Central

Kasuki, Leandro; de Azeredo Lima, Carlos Henrique; Ogino, Liana; Camacho, Aline H S; Chimelli, Leila; Korbonits, Márta

2017-01-01

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene mutations (AIPmut) are the most frequent germline mutations found in apparently sporadic pituitary adenomas (SPA). Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of AIPmut among young Brazilian patients with SPA. We performed an observational cohort study between 2013 and 2016 in a single referral center. AIPmut screening was carried out in 132 SPA patients with macroadenomas diagnosed up to 40 years or in adenomas of any size diagnosed until 18 years of age. Twelve tumor samples were also analyzed. Leukocyte DNA and tumor tissue DNA were sequenced for the entire AIP-coding region for evaluation of mutations. Eleven (8.3%) of the 132 patients had AIPmut, comprising 9/74 (12%) somatotropinomas, 1/38 (2.6%) prolactinoma, 1/10 (10%) corticotropinoma and no non-functioning adenomas. In pediatric patients (≤18 years), AIPmut frequency was 13.3% (2/15). Out of the 5 patients with gigantism, two had AIPmut, both truncating mutations. The Y268* mutation was described in Brazilian patients and the K273Rfs*30 mutation is a novel mutation in our patient. No somatic AIP mutations were found in the 12 tumor samples. A tumor sample from an acromegaly patient harboring the A299V AIPmut showed loss of heterozygosity. In conclusion, AIPmut frequency in SPA Brazilian patients is similar to other populations. Our study identified two mutations exclusively found in Brazilians and also shows, for the first time, loss of heterozygosity in tumor DNA from an acromegaly patient harboring the A299V AIPmut. Our findings corroborate previous observations that AIPmut screening should be performed in young patients with SPA. PMID:29074612

An update of clinical management of acute intermittent porphyria

PubMed Central

Pischik, Elena; Kauppinen, Raili

2015-01-01

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is due to a deficiency of the third enzyme, the hydroxymethylbilane synthase, in heme biosynthesis. It manifests with occasional neuropsychiatric crises associated with overproduction of porphyrin precursors, aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen. The clinical criteria of an acute attack include the paroxysmal nature and various combinations of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, autonomic dysfunction, hyponatremia, muscle weakness, or mental symptoms, in the absence of other obvious causes. Intensive abdominal pain without peritoneal signs, acute peripheral neuropathy, and encephalopathy usually with seizures or psychosis are the key symptoms indicating possible acute porphyria. More than fivefold elevation of urinary porphobilinogen excretion together with typical symptoms of an acute attack is sufficient to start a treatment. Currently, the prognosis of the patients with AIP is good, but physicians should be aware of a potentially fatal outcome of the disease. Mutation screening and identification of type of acute porphyria can be done at the quiescent phase of the disease. The management of patients with AIP include following strategies: A, during an acute attack: 1) treatment with heme preparations, if an acute attack is severe or moderate; 2) symptomatic treatment of autonomic dysfunctions, polyneuropathy and encephalopathy; 3) exclusion of precipitating factors; and 4) adequate nutrition and fluid therapy. B, during remission: 1) exclusion of precipitating factors (education of patients and family doctors), 2) information about on-line drug lists, and 3) mutation screening for family members and education about precipitating factors in mutation-positive family members. C, management of patients with recurrent attacks: 1) evaluation of the lifestyle, 2) evaluation of hormonal therapy in women, 3) prophylactic heme therapy, and 4) liver transplantation in patients with severe recurrent attacks. D, follow-up of the AIP patients for long-term complications: chronic hypertension, chronic kidney insufficiency, chronic pain syndrome, and hepatocellular carcinoma. PMID:26366103

The effects of treatment on lipoprotein subfractions evaluated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Minarikova, Zuzana; Gaspar, Ludovit; Kruzliak, Peter; Celecová, Zuzana; Oravec, Stanislav

2014-10-10

Atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia is one of the most important risk factor for atherosclerotic changes development. Hypothyroidism is one of the most common causes of secondary dyslipidemias which results from reduced LDL clearance and therefore raised levels of LDL and apoB. Association between small dense LDL (sdLDL) presentation and thyroid status has been examinated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for lipoprotein subfractions evaluation. 40 patients with diagnosed autoimmune hypothyroidism and 30 patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism were treated with thyroxine replacement or thyreo-suppressive treatment. In both groups lipid profiles, LDL subractions, apolipoproteins (apoA1, apoB), apoA1/apoB ratio and atherogenic index of plazma (AIP) were examined before treatment and in state of euthyreosis. Thyroxine replacement therapy significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL, triglycerides (TG) and also decreased levels of sdLDL (8,55±11,671 vs 0,83±1,693mg/dl; p<0,001), apoB and AIP. For estimation of atherogenic lipoprotein profile existence an AIP evaluation seems to be better than apoB measurement because of the more evident relationship with sdLDL (r=0,538; p<0,01). Thyreo-suppressive therapy significantly increased levels of TC, LDL, TG and apoB. The sdLDL was not found in hyperthyroid patients. Atherogenic lipoprotein profile was present in 52.5% of hypothyroid subjects, which is higher prevalence than in normal, age-related population. Substitution treatment leads to an improvement of the lipid levels, TG, apoB, AIP and LDL subclasses. It significantly changed the presentation of sdLDL - we noticed shift to large, less atherogenic LDL particles. Significantly positive correlation between sdLDL and TAG; sdLDL and VLDL alerts to hypertriglyceridemia as a major cardiovascular risk factor.

Landscape of Familial Isolated and Young-Onset Pituitary Adenomas: Prospective Diagnosis in AIP Mutation Carriers

PubMed Central

Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C.; Gabrovska, Plamena; Dénes, Judit; Stals, Karen; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Tilley, Daniel; Ferraù, Francesco; Evanson, Jane; Ellard, Sian; Grossman, Ashley B.; Roncaroli, Federico; Gadelha, Mônica R.

2015-01-01

Context: Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) due to aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene mutations is an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete penetrance. Clinical screening of apparently unaffected AIP mutation (AIPmut) carriers could identify previously unrecognized disease. Objective: To determine the AIP mutational status of FIPA and young pituitary adenoma patients, analyzing their clinical characteristics, and to perform clinical screening of apparently unaffected AIPmut carrier family members. Design: This was an observational, longitudinal study conducted over 7 years. Setting: International collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases. Participants: FIPA families (n = 216) and sporadic young-onset (≤30 y) pituitary adenoma patients (n = 404) participated in the study. Interventions: We performed genetic screening of patients for AIPmuts, clinical assessment of their family members, and genetic screening for somatic GNAS1 mutations and the germline FGFR4 p.G388R variant. Main Outcome Measure(s): We assessed clinical disease in mutation carriers, comparison of characteristics of AIPmut positive and negative patients, results of GNAS1, and FGFR4 analysis. Results: Thirty-seven FIPA families and 34 sporadic patients had AIPmuts. Patients with truncating AIPmuts had a younger age at disease onset and diagnosis, compared with patients with nontruncating AIPmuts. Somatic GNAS1 mutations were absent in tumors from AIPmut-positive patients, and the studied FGFR4 variant did not modify the disease behavior or penetrance in AIPmut-positive individuals. A total of 164 AIPmut-positive unaffected family members were identified; pituitary disease was detected in 18 of those who underwent clinical screening. Conclusions: A quarter of the AIPmut carriers screened were diagnosed with pituitary disease, justifying this screening and suggesting a variable clinical course for AIPmut-positive pituitary adenomas. PMID:26186299

Contribution of classical and emerging risk factors to coronary artery disease in Asian Indians.

PubMed

Shanker, Jayashree; Kakkar, Vijay V

2016-07-01

The merits and demerits of classical risk factors in coronary artery disease (CAD) are widely debated. We analyzed the role of conventional (age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking) and non-conventional risk factors (anthropometrics, fasting blood sugar, atherogenic index of plasma - AIP, family history) in Asian Indians with CAD. Out of 11,164 subjects (4855 affected, 6309 unaffected) enrolled in the Indian Atherosclerosis Research Study (IARS), 269 unaffected individuals with abnormal electrocardiogram and seven underage were excluded. Around 10,888 subjects along with two subsets, including 9888 individuals having family history information and 1616 individuals with intermediate Framingham risk score (FRS), were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 and R software. A combination of classical risk factors showed good discrimination between affected and unaffected individuals (C>0.85). Hypertension (OR 3.79) or male gender (OR 5.31) showed significant association with CAD when lipids were included or excluded from the predictive model, followed by age, diabetes and smoking. Hypertension and diabetes frequencies were higher in older patients (>55years) while smoking was more prevalent in younger patients (<55years). Family history and AIP provided a modest increase in C index over the classical factors (0.864 to 0.873), with 7.1% net reclassification in the intermediate FRS group. In CAD patients, 4% were classified as high risk by FRS, 52% were classified as having metabolic syndrome with revised criteria and over 90% had a high AIP score. Addition of AIP and family history to conventional risk factors improved risk discrimination in Asian Indians with CAD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Intrauterine Devices in Mares: A Histomorphological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Endometrium.

PubMed

Klein, V; Müller, K; Schoon, H A; Reilas, T; Rivera del Alamo, M M; Katila, T

2016-02-01

Oestrous suppression by intrauterine devices (IUDs) is caused by prolongation of luteal function, but the biological mechanism is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate mechanisms which could explain the action of IUDs. Thirty mares were age-matched and either inseminated (AI, n = 15) or fitted with an IUD (IUD, n = 15) and subsequently divided into four groups: AI-P, pregnant (n = 8); AI-N, non-pregnant (n = 7); IUD-P, prolonged luteal phase (n = 7); and IUD-N, normal luteal phase (n = 8). The median ages were 5.5 and 7 years in AI-P and IUD-P groups and 14 and 11 years in AI-N and IUD-N groups, respectively. On Day 15 after ovulation, an endometrial biopsy was obtained to study histomorphological and immunohistochemical expression patterns of uterine proteins (uteroferrin, UF; uterocalin, UC; uteroglobin, UG), oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR), proliferation marker Ki-67 and content of inflammatory cells. Expression of UF was higher in IUD mares; the difference between pregnant and IUD-P mares was significant. Mares exhibiting a prolonged luteal phase (AI-P, IUD-P) showed only mild angiosclerosis and lower expression of both ER and PR than mares with a normal luteal phase (AI-N, IUD-N). No significant differences were detected in the numbers of inflammatory cells, with the exception of macrophages, which were more numerous in AI-P than AI-N mares. Although inflammatory cells were not detected in IUD mares, increased UF levels may indicate chronic inflammation. Young age and normality of the endometrial blood vessels may improve the efficacy of IUDs. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Clinical and genetic characterization of pituitary gigantism: an international collaborative study in 208 patients.

PubMed

Rostomyan, Liliya; Daly, Adrian F; Petrossians, Patrick; Nachev, Emil; Lila, Anurag R; Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Lecumberri, Beatriz; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Salvatori, Roberto; Moraitis, Andreas G; Holdaway, Ian; Kranenburg-van Klaveren, Dianne J; Chiara Zatelli, Maria; Palacios, Nuria; Nozieres, Cecile; Zacharin, Margaret; Ebeling, Tapani; Ojaniemi, Marja; Rozhinskaya, Liudmila; Verrua, Elisa; Jaffrain-Rea, Marie-Lise; Filipponi, Silvia; Gusakova, Daria; Pronin, Vyacheslav; Bertherat, Jerome; Belaya, Zhanna; Ilovayskaya, Irena; Sahnoun-Fathallah, Mona; Sievers, Caroline; Stalla, Gunter K; Castermans, Emilie; Caberg, Jean-Hubert; Sorkina, Ekaterina; Auriemma, Renata Simona; Mittal, Sachin; Kareva, Maria; Lysy, Philippe A; Emy, Philippe; De Menis, Ernesto; Choong, Catherine S; Mantovani, Giovanna; Bours, Vincent; De Herder, Wouter; Brue, Thierry; Barlier, Anne; Neggers, Sebastian J C M M; Zacharieva, Sabina; Chanson, Philippe; Shah, Nalini Samir; Stratakis, Constantine A; Naves, Luciana A; Beckers, Albert

2015-10-01

Despite being a classical growth disorder, pituitary gigantism has not been studied previously in a standardized way. We performed a retrospective, multicenter, international study to characterize a large series of pituitary gigantism patients. We included 208 patients (163 males; 78.4%) with growth hormone excess and a current/previous abnormal growth velocity for age or final height >2 s.d. above country normal means. The median onset of rapid growth was 13 years and occurred significantly earlier in females than in males; pituitary adenomas were diagnosed earlier in females than males (15.8 vs 21.5 years respectively). Adenomas were ≥10 mm (i.e., macroadenomas) in 84%, of which extrasellar extension occurred in 77% and invasion in 54%. GH/IGF1 control was achieved in 39% during long-term follow-up. Final height was greater in younger onset patients, with larger tumors and higher GH levels. Later disease control was associated with a greater difference from mid-parental height (r=0.23, P=0.02). AIP mutations occurred in 29%; microduplication at Xq26.3 - X-linked acrogigantism (X-LAG) - occurred in two familial isolated pituitary adenoma kindreds and in ten sporadic patients. Tumor size was not different in X-LAG, AIP mutated and genetically negative patient groups. AIP-mutated and X-LAG patients were significantly younger at onset and diagnosis, but disease control was worse in genetically negative cases. Pituitary gigantism patients are characterized by male predominance and large tumors that are difficult to control. Treatment delay increases final height and symptom burden. AIP mutations and X-LAG explain many cases, but no genetic etiology is seen in >50% of cases. © 2015 Society for Endocrinology.

A cardiomyocyte-specific Wdr1 knockout demonstrates essential functional roles for actin disassembly during myocardial growth and maintenance in mice.

PubMed

Yuan, Baiyin; Wan, Ping; Chu, Dandan; Nie, Junwei; Cao, Yunshan; Luo, Wen; Lu, Shuangshuang; Chen, Jiong; Yang, Zhongzhou

2014-07-01

Actin dynamics are critical for muscle development and function, and mutations leading to deregulation of actin dynamics cause various forms of heritable muscle diseases. AIP1 is a major cofactor of the actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin in eukaryotes, promoting actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin-mediated actin disassembly. Its function in vertebrate muscle has been unknown. To investigate functional roles of AIP1 in myocardium, we generated conditional knockout (cKO) mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Wdr1, the mammalian homolog of yeast AIP1. Wdr1 cKO mice began to die at postnatal day 13 (P13), and none survived past P24. At P12, cKO mice exhibited cardiac hypertrophy and impaired contraction of the left ventricle. Electrocardiography revealed reduced heart rate, abnormal P wave, and abnormal T wave at P10 and prolonged QT interval at P12. Actin filament (F-actin) accumulations began at P10 and became prominent at P12 in the myocardium of cKO mice. Within regions of F-actin accumulation in myofibrils, the sarcomeric components α-actinin and tropomodulin-1 exhibited disrupted patterns, indicating that F-actin accumulations caused by Wdr1 deletion result in disruption of sarcomeric structure. Ectopic cofilin colocalized with F-actin aggregates. In adult mice, Wdr1 deletion resulted in similar but much milder phenotypes of heart hypertrophy, F-actin accumulations within myofibrils, and lethality. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AIP1-regulated actin dynamics play essential roles in heart function in mice. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ca2+ Binding to EF Hands 1 and 3 Is Essential for the Interaction of Apoptosis-Linked Gene-2 with Alix/AIP1 in Ocular Melanoma†

PubMed Central

Subramanian, Lalita; Polans, Arthur S.; Walker, Teresa M.; van Ginkel, Paul R.; Bhattacharya, Saswati; Dellaria, Julia M.; Crabb, John W.; Cox, Jos; Durussel, Isabelle; Palczewski, Krzysztof

2005-01-01

Apoptosis-linked gene-2 (ALG-2) encodes a 22 kDa Ca2+-binding protein of the penta EF-hand family that is required for programmed cell death in response to various apoptotic agents. Here, we demonstrate that ALG-2 mRNA and protein are down-regulated in human uveal melanoma cells compared to their progenitor cells, normal melanocytes. The down regulation of ALG-2 may provide melanoma cells with a selective advantage. ALG-2 and its putative target molecule, Alix/AIP1, are localized primarily in the cytoplasm of melanocytes and melanoma cells independent of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration or the activation of apoptosis. Cross-linking and analytical centrifugation studies support a single-species dimer conformation of ALG-2, also independent of Ca2+ concentration. However, binding of Ca2+ to both EF-1 and EF-3 is necessary for ALG-2 interaction with Alix/AIP1 as demonstrated using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Mutations in EF-5 result in reduced target interaction without alteration in Ca2+ affinity. The addition of N-terminal ALG-2 peptides, residues 1–22 or residues 7–17, does not alter the interaction of ALG-2 or an N-terminal deletion mutant of ALG-2 with Alix/AIP1, as might be expected from a model derived from the crystal structure of ALG-2. Fluorescence studies of ALG-2 demonstrate that an increase in surface hydrophobicity is primarily due to Ca2+ binding to EF-3, while Ca2+ binding to EF-1 has little effect on surface exposure of hydrophobic residues. Together, these data indicate that gross surface hydrophobicity changes are insufficient for target recognition. PMID:15366927

True Upward Adatom Diffusion and Faceting in fcc metal (110) homoepitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buatier de Mongeot, Francesco

2004-03-01

Recent studies of Ge heteroepitaxial growth on Si(100) have led to the discovery of an intriguing bimodal growth mode, characterised by the coexistence of smaller hut islands and much larger domes. Efforts aimed to understand the microscopic mechanisms involved have so far been focused predominantly on the role of the thermodynamic driving force associated with stress. Here we report on the observation of bimodal growth in an entirely unexpected system, homoepitaxial growth of Al on Al(110), characterised by the coexistence of smaller mound islands and tenfold taller nanocrystals with well-defined facets (the huts). Whereas the formation of the mounds results from kinetic roughening due to slow downward adatom diffusion at step edges, the formation of the huts demands atom extraction from the mounds and true upward diffusion of such atoms through the (110) terraces onto the facets serving as kinetic traps. A critical role in the faceting instability, is found to be played by the surprisingly low activation barriers for adatom ascent at step edges and island corners(F.Buatier de Mongeot, W.Zhu, A.Molle, R.Buzio, C.Boragno, U. Valbusa, E.G.Wang, Z.Zhang, Physical Review Letters 91, 016102 (2003)),(Physics News Update, AIP, Number 643,2003 Mountain climbing atoms (http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2003/split/643-2.html)). Extensions of the results to other related systems will be presented, in particular for the fcc(110) class of substrates Cu, Pb, Ag as well as for heteroepitaxyal systems like Co/Cu(110).

The Role of the Chinese Military in National Security of Policymaking.

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-01-01

California Press, 1992, pp. 95-124; Wei Li , The Chinese Staff System: A Mechanism for Bureaucratic Control and Integration, Berkeley: Institute of East...representatives, etc. They reportedly continue to perform these roles today. For details, see Wei Li and Lucian W. Pye, "The Ubiquitous Role of the Mishu in...strategic objectives. These included Ye Jianying , Xu Xiangqian, Nie Rongzhen, Yang Shangkun, Zhang Aiping, Yang Dezhi, Yu Qiuli, and Hong Xuezhi. Ye, Xu

Compression of Ultrafast Laser Beams

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

Copyright 2003, AIP Publishing LLC. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1611998.) When designing the pulse shaper, the laser beam must completely fill the...for the design of future versions of this device. The easiest way to align the pulse shaper is to use the laser beam that will be shaped, without...Afterward, an ultrafast thin beam splitter is placed into the system after the diameter of the laser beam is reduced; this is done to monitor the beam

Chilean geo client application for disasters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suárez, Rodrigo F.; Lovison, Lucia; Potters, Martinus

2018-05-01

The global network of the Group on Earth Observation, GEO, connects all kinds of professionals from public and private institutions with data providers, sharing information to face the challenges of global changes and human development and they are creating a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to connect existing data infrastructures. A GEOSS Architecture Implementation Pilot Project for Disasters in Chile (AIP-8) was created as part of a capacity building initiative and representatives of different national agencies in Chile, along with international experts, formed a GEOSS Capacity Building Working Group (Lovison et al, 2016). Consistent with the objectives of GEOSS AIP-8 Chile, we developed and implemented a prototype service based on web services, mobile applications and other communication channels, which allows connecting different sources of information, aiming to reduce population vulnerability to natural disasters such as: earthquakes, flooding, wild fires and tsunamis, which is presented here. The GEO Chile client application is a JavaScript application using GEODAB brokering services, GIS technology and disaster information provided by national and international disaster services, including public and private organizations, where cartography becomes fundamental as a tool to provide realism and ubiquity to the information. Seven hotpots are targeted: Calbuco, Copahue and Villarrica volcanoes areas, Valparaíso city, which is frequently a victim of wildfires in the zone where population meets forest and Iquique, Illapel and Talcahuano, areas frequently struck by earthquakes and tsunamis.

PREFACE: First International Congress of the International Association of Inverse Problems (IPIA): Applied Inverse Problems 2007: Theoretical and Computational Aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlmann, Gunther

2008-07-01

This volume represents the proceedings of the fourth Applied Inverse Problems (AIP) international conference and the first congress of the Inverse Problems International Association (IPIA) which was held in Vancouver, Canada, June 25 29, 2007. The organizing committee was formed by Uri Ascher, University of British Columbia, Richard Froese, University of British Columbia, Gary Margrave, University of Calgary, and Gunther Uhlmann, University of Washington, chair. The conference was part of the activities of the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) Collaborative Research Group on inverse problems (http://www.pims.math.ca/scientific/collaborative-research-groups/past-crgs). This event was also supported by grants from NSF and MITACS. Inverse Problems (IP) are problems where causes for a desired or an observed effect are to be determined. They lie at the heart of scientific inquiry and technological development. The enormous increase in computing power and the development of powerful algorithms have made it possible to apply the techniques of IP to real-world problems of growing complexity. Applications include a number of medical as well as other imaging techniques, location of oil and mineral deposits in the earth's substructure, creation of astrophysical images from telescope data, finding cracks and interfaces within materials, shape optimization, model identification in growth processes and, more recently, modelling in the life sciences. The series of Applied Inverse Problems (AIP) Conferences aims to provide a primary international forum for academic and industrial researchers working on all aspects of inverse problems, such as mathematical modelling, functional analytic methods, computational approaches, numerical algorithms etc. The steering committee of the AIP conferences consists of Heinz Engl (Johannes Kepler Universität, Austria), Joyce McLaughlin (RPI, USA), William Rundell (Texas A&M, USA), Erkki Somersalo (Helsinki University of Technology, Finland), Masahiro Yamamoto (University of Tokyo, Japan), Gunther Uhlmann (University of Washington) and Jun Zou (Chinese University of Hong Kong). IPIA is a recently formed organization that intends to promote the field of inverse problem at all levels. See http://www.inverse-problems.net/. IPIA awarded the first Calderón prize at the opening of the conference to Matti Lassas (see first article in the Proceedings). There was also a general meeting of IPIA during the workshop. This was probably the largest conference ever on IP with 350 registered participants. The program consisted of 18 invited speakers and the Calderón Prize Lecture given by Matti Lassas. Another integral part of the program was the more than 60 mini-symposia that covered a broad spectrum of the theory and applications of inverse problems, focusing on recent developments in medical imaging, seismic exploration, remote sensing, industrial applications, numerical and regularization methods in inverse problems. Another important related topic was image processing in particular the advances which have allowed for significant enhancement of widely used imaging techniques. For more details on the program see the web page: http://www.pims.math.ca/science/2007/07aip. These proceedings reflect the broad spectrum of topics covered in AIP 2007. The conference and these proceedings would not have happened without the contributions of many people. I thank all my fellow organizers, the invited speakers, the speakers and organizers of mini-symposia for making this an exciting and vibrant event. I also thank PIMS, NSF and MITACS for their generous financial support. I take this opportunity to thank the PIMS staff, particularly Ken Leung, for making the local arrangements. Also thanks are due to Stephen McDowall for his help in preparing the schedule of the conference and Xiaosheng Li for the help in preparing these proceedings. I also would like to thank the contributors of this volume and the referees. Finally, many thanks are due to Graham Douglas and Elaine Longden-Chapman for suggesting publication in Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

Why is cytoskeletal contraction required for cardiac fusion before but not after looping begins?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yunfei; Varner, Victor D.; Taber, Larry A.

2015-02-01

Cytoskeletal contraction is crucial to numerous morphogenetic processes, but its role in early heart development is poorly understood. Studies in chick embryos have shown that inhibiting myosin-II-based contraction prior to Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stage 10 (33 h incubation) impedes fusion of the mesodermal heart fields that create the primitive heart tube (HT), as well as the ensuing process of cardiac looping. If contraction is inhibited at or after looping begins at HH10, however, fusion and looping proceed relatively normally. To explore the mechanisms behind this seemingly fundamental change in behavior, we measured spatiotemporal distributions of tissue stiffness, stress, and strain around the anterior intestinal portal (AIP), the opening to the foregut where contraction and cardiac fusion occur. The results indicate that stiffness and tangential tension decreased bilaterally along the AIP with distance from the embryonic midline. The gradients in stiffness and tension, as well as strain rate, increased to peaks at HH9 (30 h) and decreased afterward. Exposure to the myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin reduced these effects, suggesting that they are mainly generated by active cytoskeletal contraction, and finite-element modeling indicates that the measured mechanical gradients are consistent with a relatively uniform contraction of the endodermal layer in conjunction with constraints imposed by the attached mesoderm. Taken together, our results suggest that, before HH10, endodermal contraction pulls the bilateral heart fields toward the midline where they fuse to create the HT. By HH10, however, the fusion process is far enough along to enable apposing cardiac progenitor cells to keep ‘zipping’ together during looping without the need for continued high contractile forces. These findings should shed new light on a perplexing question in early heart development.

Myrtle Beach AFB South Carolina. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations. Parts A-F

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-03

DATA PROCESSING BRNCm2 TAC/USAF SURFACE WINDS AIP wATHER SERVIC/?AL PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY OF WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED (FROM HOURLY OBSERVATIONS...TRANS MONI, ALL WATHER 1200-1400 CLAM MUES (L.$,t.) ( CONDITION SPEED MEAN (KNTS) i’ 4-6 7. 10 11. 16 17.21 22 .27 28 . 33 34.40 41 .47 48 • !5 ;t56...PRUCESSING BRANCH 2ETAC/USAF SURFACE WINDSAIR wATHER SERVICE/MAC PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY OF WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED (FROM HOURLY OBSERVATIONS) 13717

Numerical Simulations of Laser-Driven Microflyer Plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colvin, Jeffrey D.; Frank, Alan M.; Lee, Ronald S.; Remington, Bruce A.

2000-10-01

Experiments conducted in the US and France have accelerated few-micron-thick foils of aluminum to velocities of 3 - 5 km/s using 25 - 50 J/cm^2 of 1-μm laser light (1,2). These microflyer plates are not too dissimilar in size and velocity from interplanetary dust particles (3). We are performing numerical simulations of these experiments with the 2-D radiation-hydrodynamics code LASNEX (4), incorporating a model for low-fluence electromagnetic wave reflection and absorption in metals, with the objective of determining the physical processes important to optimizing the flyer design. We will discuss our preliminary findings, including the efficacy of a thermal insulation layer and the role played by the substrate on which the flyer is mounted. (1) W.M. Trott, R.E. Setchell, and A.V. Farnsworth, Jr., in Shock Compression of Condensed Matter-1999, ed. M.D. Furnish, L.C. Chhabildas, and R.S. Hixson, AIP, 2000, pp. 1203-06. (2) J. L. Labaste, M. Doucet, and P. Joubert, in Shock Compression of Condensed Matter-1995, ed. S.C. Schmidt and W.C. Tao, AIP, 1996, pp. 1221-24. (3) W.W. Anderson and T.J. Ahrens, J. Geophys. Res. 99, 2063 (1994). (4) G. B. Zimmerman and W. L. Kruer, Comments Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 2, 51 (1975).

Association of the atherogenic index of plasma and oxidative stress status with weight gain during non-complicated pregnancy.

PubMed

Stefanović, Aleksandra; Kotur-Stevuljević, Jelena; Vujović, Ana; Spasić, Slavica; Spasojević-Kalimanovska, Vesna; Jelic-Ivanović, Zorana; Martinović, Jelena; Ardalić, Daniela; Mandić-Marković, Vesna; Miković, Zeljko; Cerović, Nikola

2012-11-01

Pregnancy is a stressful condition linked with altered lipid profile, increased oxidative stress and increased inflammation processes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the associations between those alterations with increased weight gain during pregnancy. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and oxidative stress status parameters were determinated in 50 healthy and 172 pregnant women with non-complicated pregnancy. Pregnant women were divided in four groups according to body mass index (BMI) values (BMI quartiles). Oxidative stress parameters were significantly lower in the control group compared with all the pregnant women quartiles. Unexpectedly, differences in oxidative stress parameters between BMI quartiles groups were not significant. The antioxidant defence parameters remained quite similar in the different BMI quartiles. Weight gain and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activities were independently associated with increased AIP while weight gain and triglyceride concentration were found to be significant predictors of PON1 activities. The results of our current study indicate the association of maternal weight gain during pregnancy and altered lipid profile, elevated oxidative stress and changed antioxidative capacity of PON1. Taken together all these facts indicate possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in later life if the weight gain during pregnancy is excessive.

76 FR 77585 - Notice to Manufacturers of Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid Equipment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-13

...Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) must meet the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 50101, Buy American Preferences. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering issuing waivers to foreign manufacturers of certain airport lighting and navigation aid equipment that is lit with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting. This notice requests information from manufacturers of systems meeting the technical requirements to determine whether a waiver to the Buy American Preferences should be issued.

Plotting the Future of the WDS

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

see http://proceedings.aip.org/about/rights_permissions FIGURE 3. Aladin image of a small portion of the Orion Nebula , highlighting the limitations of...center of the field encloses a 1′×1′ portion of the nebula . The current WDS designation is only able to accomodate a single system within each such...pairs happen to fall too close to one another. However, this doesn’t help much in situations such as the one in the field of the Orion Nebula , as shown

Solar Energy Enhancement Using Down-converting Particles: A Rigorous Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-06

Solar energy enhancement using down-converting particles: A rigorous approach Ze’ev R. Abrams,1,2 Avi Niv ,2 and Xiang Zhang2,3,a) 1Applied Science...System 1. 114905-2 Abrams, Niv , and Zhang J. Appl. Phys. 109, 114905 (2011) [This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP...This increase per band-gap is displayed in 114905-3 Abrams, Niv , and Zhang J. Appl. Phys. 109, 114905 (2011) [This article is copyrighted as indicated

And the Survey Says …

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Susan C.

2016-11-01

We are continuing our examination of very different physics availability numbers reported by AIP Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The essential difference appears to be the number of schools included in the denominator. The U.S. Department of Education classifies schools into one of five types based upon the curriculum offered: regular, special education, vocational, alternative, and a fifth classification for schools that do not fit into any of the first four. In AIP Statistics' Quadrennial Survey of High School Physics Teachers, data are collected from a nationally representative sample of all public and private regular and vocational schools that have at least three seniors (students enrolled in 12th grade).

An Update on the Journal Astronomy Education Review and Why Your Work Isn't Done Until You Have Published

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolff, S.; Fraknoi, A.; Hockey, T.; Biemesderfer, C.; Johnson, J.

2010-08-01

Astronomy Education Review (AER) is an online journal and magazine, covering astronomy and space science education and outreach. Founded in 2001 by Andrew Fraknoi and Sidney Wolff, and published until recently by National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO), the journal is now a proud part of the journals operation of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) found online at http://aer.aip.org. If you are presenting at this conference, or reading the conference proceedings, you may be an ideal candidate to publish in AER. Later in this paper, we present some encouraging hints and guidelines for publishing in the journal.

A filter paper dry blood spot procedure for acute intermittent porphyria population screening by use of whole blood uroporphyrinogen-I-synthase assay.

PubMed

Johansson, L; Thunell, S; Wetterberg, L

1984-03-13

A filter paper dry blood spot procedure for the determination of whole blood uroporphyrinogen-I-synthase (UIS) activity is presented. The method is based on the concept of enzyme specific activity, the enzyme activity being related to the haemoglobin concentration of the assay sample. The diagnostic capacity with regard to the acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) gene carrier state is shown to be equivalent to that of a washed red cell reference method. On grounds of easy capillary blood sampling, uncomplicated and safe mail specimen transport and simple laboratory reception routines, the method is stated to be well adapted for use in AIP preadolescent population screening.

Urinary metabolic profiling of asymptomatic acute intermittent porphyria using a rule-mining-based algorithm.

PubMed

Luck, Margaux; Schmitt, Caroline; Talbi, Neila; Gouya, Laurent; Caradeuc, Cédric; Puy, Hervé; Bertho, Gildas; Pallet, Nicolas

2018-01-01

Metabolomic profiling combines Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy with supervised statistical analysis that might allow to better understanding the mechanisms of a disease. In this study, the urinary metabolic profiling of individuals with porphyrias was performed to predict different types of disease, and to propose new pathophysiological hypotheses. Urine 1 H-NMR spectra of 73 patients with asymptomatic acute intermittent porphyria (aAIP) and familial or sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda (f/sPCT) were compared using a supervised rule-mining algorithm. NMR spectrum buckets bins, corresponding to rules, were extracted and a logistic regression was trained. Our rule-mining algorithm generated results were consistent with those obtained using partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and the predictive performance of the model was significant. Buckets that were identified by the algorithm corresponded to metabolites involved in glycolysis and energy-conversion pathways, notably acetate, citrate, and pyruvate, which were found in higher concentrations in the urines of aAIP compared with PCT patients. Metabolic profiling did not discriminate sPCT from fPCT patients. These results suggest that metabolic reprogramming occurs in aAIP individuals, even in the absence of overt symptoms, and supports the relationship that occur between heme synthesis and mitochondrial energetic metabolism.

Evolution of computational chemistry, the "launch pad" to scientific computational models: The early days from a personal account, the present status from the TACC-2012 congress, and eventual future applications from the global simulation approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clementi, Enrico

2012-06-01

This is the introductory chapter to the AIP Proceedings volume "Theory and Applications of Computational Chemistry: The First Decade of the Second Millennium" where we discuss the evolution of "computational chemistry". Very early variational computational chemistry developments are reported in Sections 1 to 7, and 11, 12 by recalling some of the computational chemistry contributions by the author and his collaborators (from late 1950 to mid 1990); perturbation techniques are not considered in this already extended work. Present day's computational chemistry is partly considered in Sections 8 to 10 where more recent studies by the author and his collaborators are discussed, including the Hartree-Fock-Heitler-London method; a more general discussion on present day computational chemistry is presented in Section 14. The following chapters of this AIP volume provide a view of modern computational chemistry. Future computational chemistry developments can be extrapolated from the chapters of this AIP volume; further, in Sections 13 and 15 present an overall analysis on computational chemistry, obtained from the Global Simulation approach, by considering the evolution of scientific knowledge confronted with the opportunities offered by modern computers.

Inhibition of CaMKII activity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior in rats.

PubMed

Liu, Zhuo; Zhang, Jian-Jun; Liu, Xiao-Dong; Yu, Long-Chuan

2012-06-19

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) may be a core component in the common molecular pathways for drug addiction. Moreover, studies using animal models of drug addiction have demonstrated that changing CaMKII activity or expression influences animals' responses to the drugs of abuse. Here, we explored the roles of CaMKII in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell in the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior. Rats were trained to obtain intravenous morphine infusions through poking hole on a fixed-ratio one schedule. Selective CaMKII inhibitor myristoylated autocamtide-2-inhibitory peptide (myr-AIP) was injected into the NAc shell of rats after the acquisition of morphine self-administration (SA) or before the reinstatement test. The results demonstrated that injection of myr-AIP after acquisition of morphine SA did not influence morphine-seeking in the following extinction days and the number of days spent for reaching extinction criterion. However, pretreatment with myr-AIP before the reinstatement test blocked the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior induced by morphine-priming. Our results strongly indicate that CaMKII activity in the NAc shell is essential to the relapse to morphine-seeking. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The plasma parameter log (TG/HDL-C) as an atherogenic index: correlation with lipoprotein particle size and esterification rate in apoB-lipoprotein-depleted plasma (FER(HDL)).

PubMed

Dobiásová, M; Frohlich, J

2001-10-01

To evaluate if logarithm of the ratio of plasma concentration of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol (Log[TG/HDL-C]) correlates with cholesterol esterification rates in apoB-lipoprotein-depleted plasma (FER(HDL)) and lipoprotein particle size. We analyzed previous data dealing with the parameters related to the FER(HDL) (an indirect measure of lipoprotein particle size). In a total of 1433 subjects from 35 cohorts with various risk of atherosclerosis (cord plasma, children, healthy men and women, pre- and postmenopausal women, patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and patients with positive or negative angiography findings) were studied. The analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.803) between FER(HDL) and Log(TG/HDL-C). This parameter, which we propose to call "atherogenic index of plasma" (AIP) directly related to the risk of atherosclerosis in the above cohorts. We also confirmed in a cohort of 35 normal subjects a significant inverse correlation of LDL size with FER(HDL) (r = -0.818) and AIP (r = -0.776). Values of AIP correspond closely to those of FER(HDL) and to lipoprotein particle size and thus could be used as a marker of plasma atherogenicity.

Clinical profiles and outcomes in idiopathic duct-centric chronic pancreatitis (type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis): the Mayo Clinic experience.

PubMed

Hart, Phil A; Levy, Michael J; Smyrk, Thomas C; Takahashi, Naoki; Abu Dayyeh, Barham K; Clain, Jonathan E; Gleeson, Ferga C; Pearson, Randall K; Petersen, Bret T; Topazian, Mark D; Vege, Santhi S; Zhang, Lizhi; Chari, Suresh T

2016-10-01

Idiopathic duct-centric chronic pancreatitis (IDCP), also known as type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), is an uncommon subtype of AIP. International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for IDCP propose that the diagnosis requires pancreatic histology and/or concurrent IBD. We examined our experience with IDCP (type 2 AIP) to assess the appropriateness of these criteria, and identify unique characteristics in patients presenting with acute pancreatitis. We reviewed the Mayo Clinic AIP database through May 2014 to identify subjects with either definitive (n=31) or probable (n=12) IDCP. We compared demographic and clinical factors based on strength of diagnostic confidence (definitive versus probable), presence of IBD, and acute pancreatitis as the presenting manifestation. Relapse-free survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The clinical profiles were similar irrespective of the diagnostic criteria fulfilled. Common clinical presentations included acute pancreatitis (n=25, 58.1%, 12 of whom (27.9%) had recurrent pancreatitis) and pancreatic mass/obstructive jaundice (n=15, 34.9%). The cumulative relapse rate was 10.6% at 3 years (median follow-up 2.9 years). Relapse-free survival was similar for the different diagnostic categories, but was decreased in those initially presenting with acute pancreatitis (p=0.047) or treated with steroids (vs surgery, p=0.049). The current diagnostic classification of probable IDCP and the inclusion of IBD as a supportive criterion appear valid, because patients have similar clinical profiles and disease-related outcomes to those with definitive IDCP. Concurrent IBD, especially in young patients, may suggest when IDCP is the underlying cause of recurrent acute pancreatitis, but additional studies are needed for validation. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

A comprehensive comparison of IMRT and VMAT plan quality for prostate cancer treatment

PubMed Central

QUAN, ENZHUO M.; LI, XIAOQIANG; LI, YUPENG; WANG, XIAOCHUN; KUDCHADKER, RAJAT J.; JOHNSON, JENNIFER L.; KUBAN, DEBORAH A.; LEE, ANDREW K.; ZHANG, XIAODONG

2013-01-01

Purpose We performed a comprehensive comparative study of the plan quality between volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of prostate cancer. Methods and Materials Eleven patients with prostate cancer treated at our institution were randomly selected for this study. For each patient, a VMAT plan and a series of IMRT plans using an increasing number of beams (8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 beams) were examined. All plans were generated using our in-house-developed automatic inverse planning (AIP) algorithm. An existing 8-beam clinical IMRT plan, which was used to treat the patient, was used as the reference plan. For each patient, all AIP-generated plans were optimized to achieve the same level of planning target volume (PTV) coverage as the reference plan. Plan quality was evaluated by measuring mean dose to and dose-volume statistics of the organs-at-risk, especially the rectum, from each type of plan. Results For the same PTV coverage, the AIP-generated VMAT plans had significantly better plan quality in terms of rectum sparing than the 8-beam clinical and AIP-generated IMRT plans (p < 0.0001). However, the differences between the IMRT and VMAT plans in all the dosimetric indices decreased as the number of beams used in IMRT increased. IMRT plan quality was similar or superior to that of VMAT when the number of beams in IMRT was increased to a certain number, which ranged from 12 to 24 for the set of patients studied. The superior VMAT plan quality resulted in approximately 30% more monitor units than the 8-beam IMRT plans, but the delivery time was still less than 3 minutes. Conclusions Considering the superior plan quality as well as the delivery efficiency of VMAT compared with that of IMRT, VMAT may be the preferred modality for treating prostate cancer. PMID:22704703

Chromium picolinate and biotin combination reduces atherogenic index of plasma in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Geohas, Jeff; Daly, Anne; Juturu, Vijaya; Finch, Manley; Komorowski, James R

2007-03-01

The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), defined as logarithm [log] of the ratio of plasma concentration of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, has recently been proposed as a predictive marker for plasma atherogenicity and is positively correlated with cardiovascular disease risk. The nutrient combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (CPB) has been previously shown to reduce insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Thirty-six moderately obese subjects with T2DM and with impaired glycemic control were randomized to receive CPB or placebo in addition to their oral hyperglycemic agents for 4 weeks. Measurements of blood lipids (including ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol), fructosamine, glucose, and insulin were taken at baseline and after 4 weeks. At the final visit, the active group had a significantly lower AIP compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05). A significant difference in triglyceride level (P < 0.02) and the ratio of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05) was also observed between the groups at the final visit. In the active group, the changes in urinary chromium levels were inversely correlated with the change in AIP (P < 0.05). Urinary chromium levels were significantly increased in the CPB group. In the CPB group, glucose levels decreased at 1 hour and 2 hours and glucose area under the curve and fructosamine level were significantly decreased. Ratios of total to HDL cholesterol, LDL to HDL cholesterol, and non-HDL to HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased between the treatments at final visit. No significant adverse events were observed in the CPB or placebo groups. These results suggest that the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin may be a valuable nutritional adjuvant therapy to reduce AIP and correlated CVD risk factors in people with T2DM.

Hand shape selection in pantomimed grasping: Interaction between the dorsal and the ventral visual streams and convergence on the ventral premotor area

PubMed Central

Makuuchi, Michiru; Someya, Yoshiaki; Ogawa, Seiji; Takayama, Yoshihiro

2011-01-01

In visually guided grasping, possible hand shapes are computed from the geometrical features of the object, while prior knowledge about the object and the goal of the action influence both the computation and the selection of the hand shape. We investigated the system dynamics of the human brain for the pantomiming of grasping with two aspects accentuated. One is object recognition, with the use of objects for daily use. The subjects mimed grasping movements appropriate for an object presented in a photograph either by precision or power grip. The other is the selection of grip hand shape. We manipulated the selection demands for the grip hand shape by having the subjects use the same or different grip type in the second presentation of the identical object. Effective connectivity analysis revealed that the increased selection demands enhance the interaction between the anterior intraparietal sulcus (AIP) and posterior inferior temporal gyrus (pITG), and drive the converging causal influences from the AIP, pITG, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to the ventral premotor area (PMv). These results suggest that the dorsal and ventral visual areas interact in the pantomiming of grasping, while the PMv integrates the neural information of different regions to select the hand posture. The present study proposes system dynamics in visually guided movement toward meaningful objects, but further research is needed to examine if the same dynamics is found also in real grasping. PMID:21739528

The Agr quorum-sensing system regulates fibronectin binding but not hemolysis in the absence of a functional electron transport chain.

PubMed

Pader, Vera; James, Ellen H; Painter, Kimberley L; Wigneshweraraj, Sivaramesh; Edwards, Andrew M

2014-10-01

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for numerous chronic and recurrent infections, which are frequently associated with the emergence of small-colony variants (SCVs) that lack a functional electron transport chain. SCVs exhibit enhanced expression of fibronectin-binding protein (FnBP) and greatly reduced hemolysin production, although the basis for this is unclear. One hypothesis is that these phenotypes are a consequence of the reduced Agr activity of SCVs, while an alternative is that the lack of a functional electron transport chain and the resulting reduction in ATP production are responsible. Disruption of the electron transport chain of S. aureus genetically (hemB and menD) or chemically, using 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HQNO), inhibited both growth and Agr activity and conferred an SCV phenotype. Supplementation of the culture medium with synthetic autoinducing peptide (sAIP) significantly increased Agr expression in both hemB mutant strains and S. aureus grown with HQNO and significantly reduced staphylococcal adhesion to fibronectin. However, sAIP did not promote hemolysin expression in hemB mutant strains or S. aureus grown with HQNO. Therefore, while Agr regulates fibronectin binding in SCVs, it cannot promote hemolysin production in the absence of a functional electron transport chain. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Agr Quorum-Sensing System Regulates Fibronectin Binding but Not Hemolysis in the Absence of a Functional Electron Transport Chain

PubMed Central

Pader, Vera; James, Ellen H.; Painter, Kimberley L.; Wigneshweraraj, Sivaramesh

2014-01-01

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for numerous chronic and recurrent infections, which are frequently associated with the emergence of small-colony variants (SCVs) that lack a functional electron transport chain. SCVs exhibit enhanced expression of fibronectin-binding protein (FnBP) and greatly reduced hemolysin production, although the basis for this is unclear. One hypothesis is that these phenotypes are a consequence of the reduced Agr activity of SCVs, while an alternative is that the lack of a functional electron transport chain and the resulting reduction in ATP production are responsible. Disruption of the electron transport chain of S. aureus genetically (hemB and menD) or chemically, using 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HQNO), inhibited both growth and Agr activity and conferred an SCV phenotype. Supplementation of the culture medium with synthetic autoinducing peptide (sAIP) significantly increased Agr expression in both hemB mutant strains and S. aureus grown with HQNO and significantly reduced staphylococcal adhesion to fibronectin. However, sAIP did not promote hemolysin expression in hemB mutant strains or S. aureus grown with HQNO. Therefore, while Agr regulates fibronectin binding in SCVs, it cannot promote hemolysin production in the absence of a functional electron transport chain. PMID:25092909

Seniors attending public high schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Susan C.

2016-12-01

We have been looking at two different numbers that have been used to describe the availability of physics in U.S. high schools: 60% and 95%. Last month we noted that the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) includes over 7000 more public schools in the denominator than AIP Statistics does. Almost 4000 of the additional schools are special education, alternative, or other schools that do have seniors enrolled. An additional ˜3350 are schools that have a grade 9, 10, 11, or 12, but no seniors enrolled. The 95% number reported by AIP Statistics is the proportion of seniors attending a school where physics is offered regularly. The italicized words explain the bulk of the difference between the 60% and 95%.

Intentional placental removal on suspicious placenta accreta spectrum: still prohibited?

PubMed

Matsubara, Shigeki; Takahashi, Hironori

2018-01-01

Intentional placental removal for abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) is fundamentally abandoned at planned surgery for it. Whether this holds true even after recent introduction of various hemostatic procedures is unclear. We discussed on this issue based on our own experiences and also on the recent reports on various hemostatic procedures. Studies directly answering this question have been lacking. We must weigh the balance between the massive bleeding and possibility of uterus-preservation when intentional placental removal strategy is employed. An almost forgotten strategy, the "intentional placental removal" for planned AIP surgery may regain its position when appropriate hemostatic procedures are concomitantly used depending on the situation. Even employing this strategy, quick decision to perform hysterectomy under multidisciplinary team may be important.

Collision group and renormalization of the Boltzmann collision integral.

PubMed

Saveliev, V L; Nanbu, K

2002-05-01

On the basis of a recently discovered collision group [V. L. Saveliev, in Rarefied Gas Dynamics: 22nd International Symposium, edited by T. J. Bartel and M. Gallis, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 585 (AIP, Melville, NY, 2001), p. 101], the Boltzmann collision integral is exactly rewritten in two parts. The first part describes the scattering of particles with small angles. In this part the infinity due to the infinite cross sections is extracted from the Boltzmann collision integral. Moreover, the Boltzmann collision integral is represented as a divergence of the flow in velocity space. Owing to this, the role of collisions in the kinetic equation can be interpreted in terms of the nonlocal friction force that depends on the distribution function.

Collision group and renormalization of the Boltzmann collision integral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saveliev, V. L.; Nanbu, K.

2002-05-01

On the basis of a recently discovered collision group [V. L. Saveliev, in Rarefied Gas Dynamics: 22nd International Symposium, edited by T. J. Bartel and M. Gallis, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 585 (AIP, Melville, NY, 2001), p. 101], the Boltzmann collision integral is exactly rewritten in two parts. The first part describes the scattering of particles with small angles. In this part the infinity due to the infinite cross sections is extracted from the Boltzmann collision integral. Moreover, the Boltzmann collision integral is represented as a divergence of the flow in velocity space. Owing to this, the role of collisions in the kinetic equation can be interpreted in terms of the nonlocal friction force that depends on the distribution function.

Hematin and propranolol in acute intermittent porphyria. Full recovery from quadriplegic coma and respiratory failure.

PubMed

Brezis, M; Ghanem, J; Weiler-Ravell, D; Epstein, O; Morris, D

1979-01-01

The authors present a case of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) in an almost fatal relapse with quadriplegia, bulbar paralysis and coma. Intravenous hematin produced an immediate arousal from coma and allowed a gradual resumption of bulbar and autonomic functions. Persistent tachycardia and hypertension necessitated huge doses of intravenous propranolol. Both hematin and propranolol administrations were followed by a remarkable decrease in urinary amino-levulinic acid and porphobilinogen excretion. Nevertheless, after the acute stage, the patient was left with a severe generalized muscle wasting. After 7 months of intensive physical therapy, complete recovery of all neuromuscular functions was achieved. The modern aspects of the management of AIP are presented; the efficacy and the limits of hematin and propranolol therapy are discussed.

Effect of rye bread enriched with tomato pomace on fat absorption and lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet.

PubMed

Bajerska, Joanna; Chmurzynska, Agata; Mildner-Szkudlarz, Sylwia; Drzymała-Czyż, Sławomira

2015-07-01

Tomato pomace (TP), obtained as a residue of tomato processing, was used to enrich rye bread (RB). The sensory profile of this functional bread (RB+TP) was characterised, and its fat absorption and lipid metabolism properties in high-fat-fed rats were studied. Intake of the HF diet containing RB, RB+TP, or TP alone increased faecal energy and fat excretion, but did not affect animal growth or visceral fat weight. Both RB and RB+TP diminished the negative impact of the HF diet, lowering the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and the total liver lipid contents by 31.6% and 24%, respectively. The experimental diets had no effect on liver S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentrations or on the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to SAH ratio, though the lowest SAM levels were observed in the HF+TP group. No significant differences were detected in blood homocysteine, triglycerides, glucose or insulin levels. Although RB+TP incorporated into a HF diet may lead to a decrease in AIP and total liver lipid content, this effect does not depend on the components of TP, but rather on the RB ingredients. However, pure TP, in the doses used in this study, may potentially play a role in the energy balance via faecal loss of lipids. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Experimental gaze at nonlinear phenomena

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

Libchaber, A.

1988-09-20

Experimental observations of nonlinear problems in physics are presented, including liquid crystal phase transformations, convection of mercury, and the transition to turbulence in helium gas thermal convection./aip/.

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

Devaney, J.J.

The air pollution problems associated with coal burning are discussed. The movement of the pollutants and their natural removal from the atmosphere are reviewed as are the general inefficiencies at emission control attempts. (AIP)

Chaos and The Changing Nature of Science and Medicine. Proceedings

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

Herbert, D.E.; Croft, P.; Silver, D.S.

1996-09-01

These proceedings represent the lectures given at the workshop on chaos and the changing nature of science and medicine. The workshop was sponsored by the University of South Alabama and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. The topics discussed covered nonlinear dynamical systems, complexity theory, fractals, chaos in biology and medicine and in fluid dynamics. Applications of chaotic dynamics in climatology were also discussed. There were 8 lectures at the workshop and all 8 have been abstracted for the Energy Science and Technology database.(AIP)

Fertility in Gyr Cows (Bos indicus) with Fixed Time Artificial Insemination and Visual Estrus Detection Using a Classification Table

PubMed Central

Ramírez-Iglesia, Lilido Nelson; Roman Bravo, Rafael María; Díaz de Ramirez, Adelina; Torres, Leandro J.

2014-01-01

The aim of this research was to compare two artificial insemination protocols (AIP): hormonal synchronization with fixed time artificial insemination (SC-FTAI) and the use of a table based on visual observation of estrus signs (VO) in order to identify cows in natural or spontaneous estrus being assigned to AI (NSE-IA). Two groups were formed: in the first group 109 cows were assigned to SC-FTAI, in which a commercial protocol is used; the second one included 108 randomly chosen cows, which were assigned to NSE-AI and in this group a modified table was used. Response variable was first service fertility rate (FSF), which was coded 1 for pregnant and 0 for empty. Predictor variables were AIP, postpartum anestrus, daily milk yield, body condition score at AI and calving number. Statistical analyses included association chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results showed an overall 41.94% FSF and a significant association was detected (P < 0.05) between FSF and daily milk yield; pregnancy rates were 42.20% and 41.67% for the SC-FTAI and NSE-IA groups, respectively (P > 0.05). The odds ratio for the effect of AIP was only 1.050, suggesting no differences in FSF between groups. The NSE-AI protocol can enhance both the technique of VO and reproductive efficiency. Further validation of the table is required. PMID:26464929

Parvalbumin interneuron mediated feedforward inhibition controls signal output in the deep layers of the perirhinal‐entorhinal cortex

PubMed Central

Willems, Janske G. P.; Wadman, Wytse J.

2018-01-01

Abstract The perirhinal (PER) and lateral entorhinal (LEC) cortex form an anatomical link between the neocortex and the hippocampus. However, neocortical activity is transmitted through the PER and LEC to the hippocampus with a low probability, suggesting the involvement of the inhibitory network. This study explored the role of interneuron mediated inhibition, activated by electrical stimulation in the agranular insular cortex (AiP), in the deep layers of the PER and LEC. Activated synaptic input by AiP stimulation rarely evoked action potentials in the PER‐LEC deep layer excitatory principal neurons, most probably because the evoked synaptic response consisted of a small excitatory and large inhibitory conductance. Furthermore, parvalbumin positive (PV) interneurons—a subset of interneurons projecting onto the axo‐somatic region of principal neurons—received synaptic input earlier than principal neurons, suggesting recruitment of feedforward inhibition. This synaptic input in PV interneurons evoked varying trains of action potentials, explaining the fast rising, long lasting synaptic inhibition received by deep layer principal neurons. Altogether, the excitatory input from the AiP onto deep layer principal neurons is overruled by strong feedforward inhibition. PV interneurons, with their fast, extensive stimulus‐evoked firing, are able to deliver this fast evoked inhibition in principal neurons. This indicates an essential role for PV interneurons in the gating mechanism of the PER‐LEC network. PMID:29341361

Bridging the gap between data, publications, and images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritchey, N. A.; Collins, D.; Sprain, M.

2017-12-01

NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) manages the most comprehensive, accessible, and trusted source of environmental data and information in the US. It archives data from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun and from million-year-old sediment records to near real-time satellite observations. NCEI has a wealth of knowledge and experience in long-term data preservation with the goal of supporting today's scientists as well as future generations. In order to reduce fragmentation of data, publications, images, and documentation, and to improve preservation, curation, and stewardship of data, NCEI continues to partner with the NOAA Central Library (NCL). NCEI and NCL have long-established linkages between data metadata, published reports, and data or archival information packages (AIP). We also have analog AIPs that are stored and maintained in the NCL collection and discoverable in both NCEI and NCL collections via the AIP identifier. We are currently working with NCL to establish a workflow for submitting reports to their Institutional Repository and linking the data and report via digital object identifiers. We hope to establish linkages between images of physical samples and the NCL Photo Collection management infrastructure in the future. This presentation will detail how NCEI engages with the NCL in order to fully integrate documentation, images, publications, and data in preservation practices and improve the discovery and usability of NOAA's billion dollar investment in environmental data and information.

Top-down modulation from inferior frontal junction to FEFs and intraparietal sulcus during short-term memory for visual features.

PubMed

Sneve, Markus H; Magnussen, Svein; Alnæs, Dag; Endestad, Tor; D'Esposito, Mark

2013-11-01

Visual STM of simple features is achieved through interactions between retinotopic visual cortex and a set of frontal and parietal regions. In the present fMRI study, we investigated effective connectivity between central nodes in this network during the different task epochs of a modified delayed orientation discrimination task. Our univariate analyses demonstrate that the inferior frontal junction (IFJ) is preferentially involved in memory encoding, whereas activity in the putative FEFs and anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) remains elevated throughout periods of memory maintenance. We have earlier reported, using the same task, that areas in visual cortex sustain information about task-relevant stimulus properties during delay intervals [Sneve, M. H., Alnæs, D., Endestad, T., Greenlee, M. W., & Magnussen, S. Visual short-term memory: Activity supporting encoding and maintenance in retinotopic visual cortex. Neuroimage, 63, 166-178, 2012]. To elucidate the temporal dynamics of the IFJ-FEF-aIPS-visual cortex network during memory operations, we estimated Granger causality effects between these regions with fMRI data representing memory encoding/maintenance as well as during memory retrieval. We also investigated a set of control conditions involving active processing of stimuli not associated with a memory task and passive viewing. In line with the developing understanding of IFJ as a region critical for control processes with a possible initiating role in visual STM operations, we observed influence from IFJ to FEF and aIPS during memory encoding. Furthermore, FEF predicted activity in a set of higher-order visual areas during memory retrieval, a finding consistent with its suggested role in top-down biasing of sensory cortex.

Ferrari et al. reply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrari, M. J.; Johnson, M.; Wellstood, F. C.; Clarke, J.; Mitzi, D.; Rosenthal, P. A.; Eom, C. B.; Geballe, T. H.; Kapitulnik, A.; Beasley, M. R.

1990-07-01

A reply to the comment on flux pinning energies in high-Tc superconductors is given. The extraction of flux-pinning energies from different types of measurements remains a highly contorversial issues. (AIP)

Unusual Circularly Polarized and Aggregation-Induced Near-Infrared Phosphorescence of Helical Platinum(II) Complexes with Tetradentate Salen Ligands.

PubMed

Song, Jintong; Wang, Man; Zhou, Xiangge; Xiang, Haifeng

2018-05-17

A series of chiral and helical Pt II -Salen complexes with 1,1'-binaphthyl linkers were synthesized and characterized. Owing to the restriction of intramolecular motions of central 1,1'-binaphthyls, the complexes exhibit unusual near-infrared aggregation-induced phosphorescence (AIP). The (R)/(S) enantiopure complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism spectra, time-dependent density functional theory calculations, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). The present work explores the use of tetradentate ligands that can be easily prepared from commercially available enantiopure compounds, and the subsequent preparation of stable CPL-active square planar Pt II complexes with AIP effect that may have interest in many applications. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis, structure and sensing behavior of a Cd-coordination polymer based on 1,10-phenanthroline and 2-aminoterephthalic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Xing; Wang, Hai-Feng; Chen, He; Zhou, Zi-Yan; Wang, Hai-Ning

The reaction of 2-aminoterephthalic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline with Cd(NO3)2ṡ4H2O under solvothermal conditions leads to the formation of [Cd(2-aip)(phen)]ṡ0.5C2H5OH ( 1). In the compound, dimetallic cluster [Cd2(COO)4] exists and is linked by 2-aip ligands to stretch into a 2D flat layer. These layers are lined parallel to each other via N-HṡṡṡOCO hydrogen bond interactions, generating a 3D supramolecular architecture. The sensing property has been investigated. The experimental results show that the compound can be used as a luminescent probe to detect Co2+ and organic small molecules acetone.

76 FR 65769 - Airport Improvement Program: Modifications to Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Threshold

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-24

...This document announces the publication of the final policy changes to the Federal Aviation Administration's policy requiring a benefit cost analysis (BCA) for capacity projects funded by Airport Improvement Program (AIP) discretionary funds. On December 16, 2010, the FAA issued a Notice of Availability of Draft Guidance and Request for Comments with regard to the modification of its policy requiring benefit cost analyses (BCA) for capacity projects, which was published in the Federal Register. (78 FR 78798-02, December 16, 2010). The FAA now is (1) Issuing the final policy modifying the threshold at which BCAs are required from $5 million to $10 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Discretionary funds, and (2) responding to comments requested in the Notice on December 16, 2010.

Responsive polymer-based colloids for drug delivery and bioconversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudina, Olena

Responsive polymer-based colloids (RPBC) are the colloidal structures containing responsive polymeric component which is able to adapt its physico-chemical properties to the environment by undergoing chemical and/or conformational changes. The goal of the dissertation is to develop and characterize several groups of RPBC with different morphological complexity and explore their potential in drug delivery and bioconversion. The role of RPBC morphology for these specific applications is discussed in details. Three groups of RPBC were fabricated: i. polymeric micelles; ii. mixed polymeric micelles; iii. hybrid polymer-inorganic particles. All fabricated RPBCs contain polymeric component in their structure. The dissertation investigates how the changes of the responsive polymeric component properties are reflected in morphologies of RPBC. The first group of RPBC, polymeric micelles, was formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) synthesized in our group. AIPs self-assemble into invertible micellar assemblies (IMAs) in solvents of different polarity. In this work, IMAs ability to invert the structure as a response to the change in solvent polarity was demonstrated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and SANS. It was shown that the IMAs incorporate hydrophobic cargo either in the core or in the shell, depending on the chemical structure of cargo molecules. Following in vitro study demonstrates that loaded with drug (curcumin) IMAs are cytotoxic to osteosarcoma cells. Mixed polymeric micelles represent another, more complex, RPBC morphologies studied in the dissertation. Mixed micelles were fabricated from AIPs and amphiphilic oligomers synthesized from pyromellitic dianhydride, polyethylene glycol methyl ethers, and alkanols/cholesterol. The combination of selected AIP and oligomers based on cholesterol results in mixed micelles with an increased drug-loading capacity (from 10% w/w loaded curcumin in single component IMAs to 26%w/w in mixed micelles). Even more complex colloids are hybrid polymer-inorganic particles, the third RPBC group studied in dissertation. Material was designed as core--shell particles with superparamagnetic core engulfed by grafted polymer brushes. These particles were loaded with enzymes (cellulases), thus, are turned into enzymogels for cellulose bioconversion. The study demonstrates that such RPBCs can be used multiple times during hydrolysis and provide an about four-fold increase in glucose production in comparison to free enzymes.

The Anterior Intrapelvic Approach for Acetabular Fractures Using Approach-Specific Instruments and an Anatomical-Preshaped 3-Dimensional Suprapectineal Plate.

PubMed

Gras, Florian; Marintschev, Ivan; Grossterlinden, Lars; Rossmann, Markus; Graul, Isabel; Hofmann, Gunther O; Rueger, Johannes M; Lehmann, Wolfgang

2017-07-01

Anatomical acetabular plates the anterior intrapelvic approach (AIP) were recently introduced to fix acetabular fractures through the intrapelvic approach. Therefore, we asked the following: (1) Does the preshaped 3-dimensional suprapectineal plate interfere with or even impair the fracture reduction quality? (2) How often does the AIP approach need to be extended by the first (lateral) window of the ilioinguinal approach? Observational case series. Two Level 1 trauma centers. Patients with unstable acetabular fractures in 2014. Fracture fixation with anatomical-preshaped, 3-dimensional suprapectineal plates through the AIP approach ± the first window of the ilioinguinal approach. Fracture reduction results were measured in computed tomography scans and graded according to the Matta quality of reduction. Intraoperative parameters and perioperative complications were recorded. Radiological results (according to Matta) and functional outcome (modified Merle d'Aubigné score) were evaluated at 1-year follow-up. Thirty patients (9 women + 21 men; mean age ± SE: 64 ± 8 years) were included. The intrapelvic approach was solely used in 19 cases, and in 11 cases, an additional extension with the first window of the ilioinguinal approach (preferential for 2-column fractures) was performed. The mean operating time was 202 ± 59 minutes; the fluoroscopic time was 66 ± 48 seconds. Fracture gaps and steps in preoperative versus postoperative computed tomography scans were 12.4 ± 9.8 versus 2.0 ± 1.5 and 6.0 ± 5.5 versus 1.3 ± 1.7 mm, respectively. At 13.4 ± 2.9 months follow-up, the Matta grading was excellent in 50%, good in 25%, fair in 11%, and poor in 14% of cases. The modified Merle d'Aubigné score was excellent in 17%, good in 37%, fair in 33%, and poor in 13% of cases. The AIP approach using approach-specific instruments and an anatomical-preshaped, 3-dimensional suprapectineal plate became the standard procedure in our departments. Radiological and functional early results justify joint preserving surgery in most cases. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Dosimetric impact of different CT datasets for stereotactic treatment planning using 3D conformal radiotherapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy.

PubMed

Oechsner, Markus; Odersky, Leonhard; Berndt, Johannes; Combs, Stephanie Elisabeth; Wilkens, Jan Jakob; Duma, Marciana Nona

2015-12-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on dose to the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR) by using four differently generated CT datasets for dose calculation in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of lung and liver tumors. Additionally, dose differences between 3D conformal radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans calculated on these CT datasets were determined. Twenty SBRT patients, ten lung cases and ten liver cases, were retrospectively selected for this study. Treatment plans were optimized on average intensity projection (AIP) CTs using 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Afterwards, the plans were copied to the planning CTs (PCT), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and mid-ventilation (MidV) CT datasets and dose was recalculated keeping all beam parameters and monitor units unchanged. Ipsilateral lung and liver volumes and dosimetric parameters for PTV (Dmean, D2, D98, D95), ipsilateral lung and liver (Dmean, V30, V20, V10) were determined and statistically analysed using Wilcoxon test. Significant but small mean differences were found for PTV dose between the CTs (lung SBRT: ≤2.5 %; liver SBRT: ≤1.6 %). MIPs achieved the smallest lung and the largest liver volumes. OAR mean doses in MIP plans were distinctly smaller than in the other CT datasets. Furthermore, overlapping of tumors with the diaphragm results in underestimated ipsilateral lung dose in MIP plans. Best agreement was found between AIP and MidV (lung SBRT). Overall, differences in liver SBRT were smaller than in lung SBRT and VMAT plans achieved slightly smaller differences than 3D-CRT plans. Only small differences were found for PTV parameters between the four CT datasets. Larger differences occurred for the doses to organs at risk (ipsilateral lung, liver) especially for MIP plans. No relevant differences were observed between 3D-CRT or VMAT plans. MIP CTs are not appropriate for OAR dose assessment. PCT, AIP and MidV resulted in similar doses. If a 4DCT is acquired PCT can be omitted using AIP or MidV for treatment planning.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Final GMRT-TAU catalogue (Ainsworth+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ainsworth, R. E.; Coughlan, C. P.; Green, D. A.; Scaife, A. M. M.; Ray, T. P.

2018-02-01

The details of the observations and data reduction using the Astronomical Image Processing Software (aips) were presented in Ainsworth et al. (2016MNRAS.459.1248A). Observations centred on the young stars L1551 IRS 5, T Tau and DG Tau were made with the GMRT (see e.g. Ananthakrishnan, 2005, Int. Cosm. Ray Conf. 10 125) in 325 and 610 MHz observing modes between 2012 December 6 and 14 (average epoch 2012.95). Observations of 3C48, 3C147 or 3C286 were made at the beginning and end of each observing run to calibrate the flux-density scale. (1 data file).

The functional organization of the intraparietal sulcus in humans and monkeys

PubMed Central

Grefkes, Christian; Fink, Gereon R

2005-01-01

In macaque monkeys, the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is concerned with the integration of multimodal information for constructing a spatial representation of the external world (in relation to the macaque's body or parts thereof), and planning and executing object-centred movements. The areas within the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), in particular, serve as interfaces between the perceptive and motor systems for controlling arm and eye movements in space. We review here the latest evidence for the existence of the IPS areas AIP (anterior intraparietal area), VIP (ventral intraparietal area), MIP (medial intraparietal area), LIP (lateral intraparietal area) and CIP (caudal intraparietal area) in macaques, and discuss putative human equivalents as assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The data suggest that anterior parts of the IPS comprising areas AIP and VIP are relatively well preserved across species. By contrast, posterior areas such as area LIP and CIP have been found more medially in humans, possibly reflecting differences in the evolution of the dorsal visual stream and the inferior parietal lobule. Despite interspecies differences in the precise functional anatomy of the IPS areas, the functional relevance of this sulcus for visuomotor tasks comprising target selections for arm and eye movements, object manipulation and visuospatial attention is similar in humans and macaques, as is also suggested by studies of neurological deficits (apraxia, neglect, Bálint's syndrome) resulting from lesions to this region. PMID:16011542

High-Speed Photography

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

Paisley, D.L.; Schelev, M.Y.

1998-08-01

The applications of high-speed photography to a diverse set of subjects including inertial confinement fusion, laser surgical procedures, communications, automotive airbags, lightning etc. are briefly discussed. (AIP) {copyright} {ital 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.}

77 FR 25487 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-30

... (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific... Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Cancer Therapeutics AREA Grant Applications. Date: May 24, 2012...

A strategy to discover new organizers identifies a putative heart organizer

PubMed Central

Anderson, Claire; Khan, Mohsin A. F.; Wong, Frances; Solovieva, Tatiana; Oliveira, Nidia M. M.; Baldock, Richard A.; Tickle, Cheryll; Burt, Dave W.; Stern, Claudio D.

2016-01-01

Organizers are regions of the embryo that can both induce new fates and impart pattern on other regions. So far, surprisingly few organizers have been discovered, considering the number of patterned tissue types generated during development. This may be because their discovery has relied on transplantation and ablation experiments. Here we describe a new approach, using chick embryos, to discover organizers based on a common gene expression signature, and use it to uncover the anterior intestinal portal (AIP) endoderm as a putative heart organizer. We show that the AIP can induce cardiac identity from non-cardiac mesoderm and that it can pattern this by specifying ventricular and suppressing atrial regional identity. We also uncover some of the signals responsible. The method holds promise as a tool to discover other novel organizers acting during development. PMID:27557800

[Diagnostic utility of endoscopic ultrasonography elastography and contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography in a patient with type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis].

PubMed

Yokode, Masataka; Shiomi, Hideyuki; Itai, Ryosuke; Mikami, Sakae; Yamashita, Yukimasa; Nakano, Ryota; Ezaki, Takeshi; Masuda, Atsuhiro; Zen, Yoh

2018-01-01

A referring hospital diagnosed a 57-year-old man with a pancreatic head mass. The initial endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was inconclusive because of the small sample size. Endoscopic ultrasonography elastography (EUS-EG) and contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CE-EUS), conducted at our institute, raised the possibility of mass-forming pancreatitis or autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). A repeat EUS-FNA revealed inflammatory changes, including a neutrophilic duct injury suggestive of type 2 AIP. The pancreatic lesion responded well to the steroid therapy. The present case suggests that EUS-EG and CE-EUS may be useful for diagnostic exclusion of pancreatic cancers, and the combined use of EUS-EG and CE-EUS, with EUS-FNA, may help characterize inflammatory pancreatic lesions.

The Lunar dusty plasmas -levitation and transport.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atamaniuk, Barbara; Rothkaehl, Hanna

Lunar dust can exhibit unusual behavior -due to electron photoemission via solar-UV radiation the lunar surface represents a complex plasma -"dusty plasma". The dust grains and lunar surface are electrostatically charged by the Moon's interaction with the local plasma environ-ment and the photoemission of electrons due to solar UV and X-rays. This effect causes the like-charged surface and dust particles to repel each other, and creates a near-surface electric field. Lunar dust must be treated as a dusty plasma. Using analytic (kinetic (Vlasov) and magnetohydrodynamic theory ) and numerical modeling we show physical processes related to levitation and transport dusty plasma on the Moon. These dust grains could affect the lunar environment for radio wave and plasma diagnostics and interfere with exploration activities. References: 1. Wilson T.L. (1992), in Analysis of Interplanetary Dust, M. Zolensky et al. AIP Conf.Proc. 310, 33-44 (AIP, NY), 2.Wilson T.L."LUNAR DUST AND DUSTY PLASMA PHYSICS".40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2009), 3. Grün E., et al.(1993),Nature 363, 144. 4. Morfill G. and Grün E.(1979), Planet. Space Sci.. 27, 1269, 1283, 5. Manka R. and Michel F. (1971), Proc. 2nd Lun. Sci. Conf. 2, 1717 (MIT Press, Cambridge). 6. Manka R. et al.(1973), Lun. Sci.-III, 504. 7. Barbara Atamaniuk "Kinetic Description of Localized Plasma Structure in Dusty Plasmas". Czechoslovak Journal of Physics Vol.54 C 2004

Changes in particle transport as a result of resonant magnetic perturbations in DIII-D (vol 19, 056503, 2012)

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

Mordijck, S.; Doyle, E. J.; McKee, G. R.

2012-01-01

Publisher s Note: Changes in particle transport as a result of resonant magnetic perturbations in DIII-D [Phys. Plasmas 19, 056503 (2012)]a) In the Invited Papers from the 53rd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics of the May 2012 issue of the journal, this article was originally published online and in print in the incorrect section; it was published within Ionospheric, Solar-System and Astrophysical Plasmas (Sec. 65) instead of Magnetically Confined Plasmas, Heating, Confinement (Sec. 61). AIP apologizes for this error. a)

Sustainable Management of Seagrass Meadows: the GEOSS AIP-6 Pilot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santoro, Mattia; Pastres, Roberto; Zucchetta, Matteo; Venier, Chiara; Roncella, Roberto; Bigagli, Lorenzo; Mangin, Antoine; Amine Taji, Mohamed; Gonzalo Malvarez, Gonzalo; Nativi, Stefano

2014-05-01

Seagrass meadows (marine angiosperm plants) occupy less than 0.2% of the global ocean surface, annually store about 10-18% of the so-called "Blue Carbon", i.e. the Carbon stored in coastal vegetated areas. Recent literature estimates that the flux to the long-term carbon sink in seagrasses represents 10-20% of seagrasses global average production. Such figures can be translated into economic benefits, taking into account that a ton of carbon dioxide in Europe is paid at around 15 € in the carbon market. This means that the organic carbon retained in seagrass sediments in the Mediterranean is worth 138 - 1128 billion €, which represents 6-23 € per square meter. This is 9-35 times more than one square meter of tropical forest soil (0.66 € per square meter), or 5-17 times when considering both the above and the belowground compartments in tropical forests. According the most conservative estimations, about 10% of the Mediterranean meadows have been lost during the last century. To estimate seagrass meadows distribution, a Species Distribution Model (SDM) can be used. SDM is a tool that is used to evaluate the potential distribution of a given species (e.g. Posidonia oceanica for seagrass) on the basis of the features (bio-chemical-physical parameters) of the studied environment. In the framework of the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) initiative, the FP7 project MEDINA developed a showcase as part of the GEOSS Architecture Interoperability Pilot - phase 6 (AIP-6). The showcase aims at providing a tool for the sustainable management of seagrass meadows along the Mediterranean coastline by integrating the SDM with available GEOSS resources. This way, the required input data can be searched, accessed and ingested into the model leveraging the brokering framework of the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI). This framework is comprised of a set of middle-ware components (Brokers) that are in charge of implementing the needed interoperability arrangements to interconnect the heterogeneous and distributed capacities contributing to GEOSS. The presentation discusses such a framework explaining how the input data is discovered, accessed and processed to ingest the model. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n. 282977.

Reply to the comments by Roger B. Lazarus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishkin, Eli A.

1980-04-01

It is claimed that because the pressure, density and velocity, behind the shock front, must be well behaved analytical functions the pressure must have an extremum. The claim by Lazarus of circular reasoning is refuted. (AIP)

Physicists warn of ‘chilling effect’ over US transparency bill

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwynne, Peter

2012-04-01

More than 80 scientific organizations, including the American Institute of Physics (AIP), have written to the US Congress opposing proposed legislation that is designed to increase the transparency of how government grants are awarded.

Controlling astigmatism and polarization in a stripe heterojunction laser

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

Boroshnev, A.V.; Gorshkova, O.A.; Kobyakova, M.S.

1985-02-01

It is shown that it is possible to change the waveguide properties of a heterojunction laser and to control its optical characteristics in a single heterostructure fabricated on a substrate with a terraced profile. (AIP)

Airport Improvement Program (AIP) : reauthorization issues for Congress

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

This report discusses the Airport Improvement Program and its complement, the PFC, within the broader context of airport capital development finance.5 After a brief history of federal support for airport construction and improvement, the report descr...

Masatoshi Koshiba and Cosmic Neutrinos

Science.gov Websites

Koshiba, American Institute of Physics (AIP) 2002 W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics Institute Top Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from

Survey questions evidence of US female hiring bias

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwynne, Peter

2013-09-01

An analysis by the American Institute of Physics (AIP) suggests that the complete absence of female faculty in more than a third of US university physics departments does not necessarily constitute evidence that they discriminate against women.

77 FR 13134 - Center for Scientific Review ; Notice of Closed Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-05

..., (Virtual Meeting) Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific... Assistance Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93...

77 FR 51032 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-23

... Washington DC Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road NW., Washington, DC 20008. Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D... Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333...

Electron Gun and Collector Design for 94 GHz Gyro-amplifiers.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, K.; Danly, B.; Levush, B.; Blank, M.; True, D.; Felch, K.; Borchard, P.

1997-05-01

The electrical design of the magnetron injection gun and collector for high average power TE_01 gyro-amplifiers has recently been completed using the EGUN(W.B. Herrmannsfeldt, AIP Conf. Proc. 177, pp. 45-58, 1988.) and DEMEOS(R. True, AIP Conf. Proc. 297, pp. 493-499, 1993.) codes. The gun employs an optimized double-anode geometry and a radical cathode cone angle of 500 to achieve superior beam optics that are relatively insensitive to electrode misalignments and field errors. Perpendicular velocity spread of 1.6% at an perpendicular to axial velocity ratio of 1.52 is obtained for a 6 A, 65 kV beam. The 1.28" diameter collector, which also serves as the output waveguide, has an average power density of < 350 W/cm^2 for a 59 kW average power beam. Details will be presented at the conference.

The Changing Landscape of Undergraduate Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howes, Ruth

2006-11-01

The National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics was convened by APS, AAPT and AIP to study the steep decline in the number of physics majors that occurred during the 1990s. The Task Force conducted project SPIN-UP (Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics) to investigate why some departments were thriving while others are losing majors. With support from the ExxonMobil Foundation, we conducted site visits to 21 ``thriving'' departments and have worked with the AIP statistics program to survey the 562 departments that grant undergraduate degrees in physics. The results of the study identified key ingredients in thriving departments and essential elements needed to make changes that respond to the changing environments in which physics departments find themselves. Today, enrollments in undergraduate physics are climbing again. We need to ensure that this positive trend continues and ensure that we attract women and members of underrepresented groups to the study of physics.

Improved health-relevant functionality in dark germinated Mucuna pruriens sprouts by elicitation with peptide and phytochemical elicitors.

PubMed

Randhir, Reena; Kwon, Young-In; Shetty, Kalidas

2009-10-01

The health-relevant functionality of Mucuna pruriens was improved by priming the seeds with elicitors of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) such as fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs), lactoferrin (LF) and oregano extract (OE) followed by dark germination. FPH elicited the highest phenolic content of 19 mg/g FW on day 1, which was 38% higher than control sprouts. OE enhanced Parkinson's disease-relevant L-DOPA content by 33% on day 1 compared to control sprouts. Anti-diabetes-relevant alpha-amylase inhibition percent (AIP) and alpha-glucosidase inhibition percent (GIP) were high in the cotyledons and decreased following elicitation and sprouting. For potential anti-diabetic applications, low AIP and high GIP with moderate L-DOPA content on day 4 of dark germination could be optimal. Improved L-DOPA concentrations in a soluble phenolic and antioxidant-rich M. pruriens background on day 1 sprouts have potential for Parkinson's disease management.

Irrational Delay Revisited: Examining Five Procrastination Scales in a Global Sample

PubMed Central

Svartdal, Frode; Steel, Piers

2017-01-01

Scales attempting to measure procrastination focus on different facets of the phenomenon, yet they share a common understanding of procrastination as an unnecessary, unwanted, and disadvantageous delay. The present paper examines in a global sample (N = 4,169) five different procrastination scales – Decisional Procrastination Scale (DPS), Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS), Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS), Adult Inventory of Procrastination Scale (AIP), and General Procrastination Scale (GPS), focusing on factor structures and item functioning using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory. The results indicated that The PPS (12 items selected from DPS, AIP, and GPS) measures different facets of procrastination even better than the three scales it is based on. An even shorter version of the PPS (5 items focusing on irrational delay), corresponds well to the nine-item IPS. Both scales demonstrate good psychometric properties and appear to be superior measures of core procrastination attributes than alternative procrastination scales. PMID:29163302

Irrational Delay Revisited: Examining Five Procrastination Scales in a Global Sample.

PubMed

Svartdal, Frode; Steel, Piers

2017-01-01

Scales attempting to measure procrastination focus on different facets of the phenomenon, yet they share a common understanding of procrastination as an unnecessary, unwanted, and disadvantageous delay. The present paper examines in a global sample ( N = 4,169) five different procrastination scales - Decisional Procrastination Scale (DPS), Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS), Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS), Adult Inventory of Procrastination Scale (AIP), and General Procrastination Scale (GPS), focusing on factor structures and item functioning using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory. The results indicated that The PPS (12 items selected from DPS, AIP, and GPS) measures different facets of procrastination even better than the three scales it is based on. An even shorter version of the PPS (5 items focusing on irrational delay), corresponds well to the nine-item IPS. Both scales demonstrate good psychometric properties and appear to be superior measures of core procrastination attributes than alternative procrastination scales.

Hosting and pulishing astronomical data in SQL databases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galkin, Anastasia; Klar, Jochen; Riebe, Kristin; Matokevic, Gal; Enke, Harry

2017-04-01

In astronomy, terabytes and petabytes of data are produced by ground instruments, satellite missions and simulations. At Leibniz-Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) we host and publish terabytes of cosmological simulation and observational data. The public archive at AIP has now reached a size of 60TB and growing and helps to produce numerous scientific papers. The web framework Daiquiri offers a dedicated web interface for each of the hosted scientific databases. Scientists all around the world run SQL queries which include specific astrophysical functions and get their desired data in reasonable time. Daiquiri supports the scientific projects by offering a number of administration tools such as database and user management, contact messages to the staff and support for organization of meetings and workshops. The webpages can be customized and the Wordpress integration supports the participating scientists in maintaining the documentation and the projects' news sections.

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

Mao, R; Tian, L; Ge, H

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetry of microscopic disease (MD) region of lung cancer in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Methods: For simplicity, we assume organ moves along one dimension. The probability distribution function of tumor position was calculated according to the breathing cycle. The dose to the MD region was obtained through accumulating the treatment planning system calculated doses at different positions in a breathing cycle. A phantom experiment was then conducted to validate the calculated results using a motion phantom (The CIRS ‘Dynamic’ Thorax Phantom). The simulated breathing pattern used a cos4(x) curve with an amplitude of 10mm. Amore » 3-D conformal 7-field plan with 6X energy was created and the dose was calculated in the average intensity projection (AIP) simulation CT images. Both films (EBT2) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) detectors were inserted in the target of the phantom to measure the dose during radiation delivery (Varian Truebeam) and results were compared to planning dose parameters. Results: The Gamma analysis (3%/3mm) between measured dose using EBT2 film and calculated dose using AIP was 80.5%, indicating substantial dosimetric differences. While the Gamma analysis (3%/3mm) between measured dose using EBT2 and accumulated dose using 4D-CT was 98.9%, indicating the necessity of dose accumulation using 4D-CT. The measured doses using OSL and theoretically calculated doses using probability distribution function at the corresponding position were comparable. Conclusion: Use of static dose calculation in the treatment planning system could substantially underestimate the actually delivered dose in the MD region for a moving target. Funding Supported by NSFC, No.81372436.« less

Proof-of-principle demonstration of a virtual flow meter-based transducer for gaseous helium monitoring in particle accelerator cryogenics

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

Arpaia, P.; Technology Department, European Organization for Nuclear Research; Blanco, E.

2015-07-15

A transducer based on a virtual flow meter is proposed for monitoring helium distribution and consumption in cryogenic systems for particle accelerators. The virtual flow meter allows technical and economical constraints, preventing installation of physical instruments in all the needed measurement points, to be overcome. Virtual flow meter performance for the alternative models of Samson [ http://www.samson.de (2015)] and Sereg-Schlumberger [ http://www.slb.com/ (2015)] is compared with the standard IEC 60534-2-1 [Industrial-process control valves—Part 2-1: Flow capacity—sizing equations for fluid flow under installed conditions (2011), https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/2461], for a large temperature range, for both gaseous and liquid helium phases, and for differentmore » pressure drops. Then, the calibration function of the transducer is derived. Finally, the experimental validation for the helium gaseous state on the test station for superconducting magnets in the laboratory SM18 [Pirotte et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1573, 187 (2014)] at CERN is reported.« less

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

Calva-Tellez, E.; Zepeda, A.

We discuss how weak neutral currents of popular gauge models manifest themselves in the process e/sup +/e/sup -/ ..-->.. ..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/..pi../sup 0/ for an unpolarized initial state. We define three asymmetry parameters, A/sub c1/, A/sub c2/, and A/sub p/, which provide information about the presence of the neutral current. The former two give account of charge asymmetries in the ..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ final state, while A/sub p/ is nonzero when parity-violating effects occur. Using a phenomenological model for the hadronic vertices, we obtain that the maximum value of these parameters is approx. 3 to 4%, and that this valuemore » is reached at a beam energy approx. = 20 GeV. (AIP)« less

Spectral Line Shapes. Proceedings

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

Zoppi, M.; Ulivi, L.

1997-02-01

These proceedings represent papers presented at the 13th International Conference on Spectral Line Shapes which was held in Firenze,Italy from June 16-21, 1996. The topics covered a wide range of subjects emphasizing the physical processes associated with the formation of line profiles: high and low density plasma; atoms and molecules in strong laser fields, Dopple{minus}free and ultra{minus}fine spectroscopy; the line shapes generated by the interaction of neutrals, atoms and molecules, where the relavant quantities are single particle properties, and the interaction{minus}induced spectroscopy. There were 131 papers presented at the conference, out of these, 6 have been abstracted for the Energymore » Science and Technology database.(AIP)« less

Promoter methylation profile in gallbladder cancer.

PubMed

Roa, Juan Carlos; Anabalón, Leonardo; Roa, Iván; Melo, Angélica; Araya, Juan Carlos; Tapia, Oscar; de Aretxabala, Xavier; Muñoz, Sergio; Schneider, Barbara

2006-03-01

Methylation in the promoter region of genes is an important mechanism of inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Our objective was to analyze the methylation pattern of some of the genes involved in carcinogenesis of the gallbladder, examining the immunohistochemical expression of proteins, clinical features, and patient survival time. Twenty cases of gallbladder cancer were selected from the frozen tumor bank. The DNA extracted was analyzed by means of a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction test for the CDKN2A (p16), MLH1, APC, FHIT, and CDH1 (E-cadherin) genes. Morphological and clinical data and follow-up information were obtained. All cases were in an advanced stage: histologically moderate or poorly differentiated tumors (95%). Methylation of the promoter area of genes was observed in 5%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 65% of cases, and an altered immunohistochemical pattern (AIP) in 5%, 35%, 21%, 25%, and 66% for the MLH1, CDKN2A, FHIT, APC, and CDH1 genes, respectively. The Kappa concordance index between methylation of the promoter area and AIP for the MLH1 and CDH1 genes was very high (K > 0.75) and substantial for APC (K > 0.45). No correlation was found between survival time and the methylation of the genes studied. The high frequency of gene methylation (with the exception of MLH1) and the high agreement between AIP and methylation of the gene promoter area for the MLH1, APC, and CDH1 genes suggest that the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and of the genes related to the control of cellular proliferation through this mechanism is involved in gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Increased Population Risk of AIP-Related Acromegaly and Gigantism in Ireland.

PubMed

Radian, Serban; Diekmann, Yoan; Gabrovska, Plamena; Holland, Brendan; Bradley, Lisa; Wallace, Helen; Stals, Karen; Bussell, Anna-Marie; McGurren, Karen; Cuesta, Martin; Ryan, Anthony W; Herincs, Maria; Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C; Holland, Aidan; Samuels, Jade; Aflorei, Elena Daniela; Barry, Sayka; Dénes, Judit; Pernicova, Ida; Stiles, Craig E; Trivellin, Giampaolo; McCloskey, Ronan; Ajzensztejn, Michal; Abid, Noina; Akker, Scott A; Mercado, Moises; Cohen, Mark; Thakker, Rajesh V; Baldeweg, Stephanie; Barkan, Ariel; Musat, Madalina; Levy, Miles; Orme, Stephen M; Unterländer, Martina; Burger, Joachim; Kumar, Ajith V; Ellard, Sian; McPartlin, Joseph; McManus, Ross; Linden, Gerard J; Atkinson, Brew; Balding, David J; Agha, Amar; Thompson, Chris J; Hunter, Steven J; Thomas, Mark G; Morrison, Patrick J; Korbonits, Márta

2017-01-01

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) founder mutation R304 * (or p.R304 * ; NM_003977.3:c.910C>T, p.Arg304Ter) identified in Northern Ireland (NI) predisposes to acromegaly/gigantism; its population health impact remains unexplored. We measured R304 * carrier frequency in 936 Mid Ulster, 1,000 Greater Belfast (both in NI) and 2,094 Republic of Ireland (ROI) volunteers and in 116 NI or ROI acromegaly/gigantism patients. Carrier frequencies were 0.0064 in Mid Ulster (95%CI = 0.0027-0.013; P = 0.0005 vs. ROI), 0.001 in Greater Belfast (0.00011-0.0047) and zero in ROI (0-0.0014). R304 * prevalence was elevated in acromegaly/gigantism patients in NI (11/87, 12.6%, P < 0.05), but not in ROI (2/29, 6.8%) versus non-Irish patients (0-2.41%). Haploblock conservation supported a common ancestor for all the 18 identified Irish pedigrees (81 carriers, 30 affected). Time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) was 2550 (1,275-5,000) years. tMRCA-based simulations predicted 432 (90-5,175) current carriers, including 86 affected (18-1,035) for 20% penetrance. In conclusion, R304 * is frequent in Mid Ulster, resulting in numerous acromegaly/gigantism cases. tMRCA is consistent with historical/folklore accounts of Irish giants. Forward simulations predict many undetected carriers; geographically targeted population screening improves asymptomatic carrier identification, complementing clinical testing of patients/relatives. We generated disease awareness locally, necessary for early diagnosis and improved outcomes of AIP-related disease. © 2016 The Authors. **Human Mutation published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Women in Physics and Astronomy in the U.S.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivie, Rachel

2005-10-01

I presented results from the AIP report, Women in Physics and Astronomy, 2005 (R. Ivie and K. Nies Ray, AIP Publication Number R-430.02, www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/women05.pdf), which was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Compared with other scientific fields, women are very underrepresented in physics, although their representation has increased in the last 30 years. By 2003, women earned 18% of the physics degrees in the United States, which is a record high. In 2003, women earned 26% of the PhDs in astronomy. However, minority women (African-American and Hispanic) receive very few physics and astronomy degrees in the U.S. Also troubling is the salary gap between men's and women's salaries in physics and related fields. Even within the same employment sector and controlling for years since degree, women earn 5% less than men. The percentage of newly hired part-time faculty who are women is higher than the percentages hired into tenured and tenure-track positions. Many women take physics in high school, but a smaller percentage take the Advanced Placement physics exams, and an even smaller percentage earn physics bachelor's degrees. However, once women have earned a bachelor's degree in physics, they are able to persist in academic careers. In fact, our data show that women are represented on physics and astronomy faculties at about the rates we would expect given degree production in the past. Finally, women's representation in physics varies across countries, documenting the influence of social and cultural factors on the representation of women in science.

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

Berezinskii, V.S.; Zatsepin, G.T.

A review is given of the experiments that can be performed using cosmic neutrinos in the TeV range. The physics of weak interactions is discussed with emphasis on the search for the W boson. Details are given of the Dumand, Athene, and unicorn experiments.(AIP)

Nuclear rotations

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

Bertsch, G.F.; Janssens, R.V.

1997-07-01

An analysis of the gamma-ray spectra produced using the quantum mechanical rotational energy formula is presented for nuclei with large angular momentum. This analysis is suitable for quantum mechanics, modern physics, or nuclear physics courses. (AIP) {copyright}{ital 1997 American Institute of Physics}

78 FR 69430 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

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..., Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer... Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research; 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393-93.396...

Registration uncertainties between 3D cone beam computed tomography and different reference CT datasets in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy.

PubMed

Oechsner, Markus; Chizzali, Barbara; Devecka, Michal; Combs, Stephanie Elisabeth; Wilkens, Jan Jakob; Duma, Marciana Nona

2016-10-26

The aim of this study was to analyze differences in couch shifts (setup errors) resulting from image registration of different CT datasets with free breathing cone beam CTs (FB-CBCT). As well automatic as manual image registrations were performed and registration results were correlated to tumor characteristics. FB-CBCT image registration was performed for 49 patients with lung lesions using slow planning CT (PCT), average intensity projection (AIP), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and mid-ventilation CTs (MidV) as reference images. Both, automatic and manual image registrations were applied. Shift differences were evaluated between the registered CT datasets for automatic and manual registration, respectively. Furthermore, differences between automatic and manual registration were analyzed for the same CT datasets. The registration results were statistically analyzed and correlated to tumor characteristics (3D tumor motion, tumor volume, superior-inferior (SI) distance, tumor environment). Median 3D shift differences over all patients were between 0.5 mm (AIPvsMIP) and 1.9 mm (MIPvsPCT and MidVvsPCT) for the automatic registration and between 1.8 mm (AIPvsPCT) and 2.8 mm (MIPvsPCT and MidVvsPCT) for the manual registration. For some patients, large shift differences (>5.0 mm) were found (maximum 10.5 mm, automatic registration). Comparing automatic vs manual registrations for the same reference CTs, ∆AIP achieved the smallest (1.1 mm) and ∆MIP the largest (1.9 mm) median 3D shift differences. The standard deviation (variability) for the 3D shift differences was also the smallest for ∆AIP (1.1 mm). Significant correlations (p < 0.01) between 3D shift difference and 3D tumor motion (AIPvsMIP, MIPvsMidV) and SI distance (AIPvsMIP) (automatic) and also for 3D tumor motion (∆PCT, ∆MidV; automatic vs manual) were found. Using different CT datasets for image registration with FB-CBCTs can result in different 3D couch shifts. Manual registrations achieved partly different 3D shifts than automatic registrations. AIP CTs yielded the smallest shift differences and might be the most appropriate CT dataset for registration with 3D FB-CBCTs.

Germline or somatic GPR101 duplication leads to X-linked acrogigantism: a clinico-pathological and genetic study.

PubMed

Iacovazzo, Donato; Caswell, Richard; Bunce, Benjamin; Jose, Sian; Yuan, Bo; Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C; Kapur, Sonal; Caimari, Francisca; Evanson, Jane; Ferraù, Francesco; Dang, Mary N; Gabrovska, Plamena; Larkin, Sarah J; Ansorge, Olaf; Rodd, Celia; Vance, Mary L; Ramírez-Renteria, Claudia; Mercado, Moisés; Goldstone, Anthony P; Buchfelder, Michael; Burren, Christine P; Gurlek, Alper; Dutta, Pinaki; Choong, Catherine S; Cheetham, Timothy; Trivellin, Giampaolo; Stratakis, Constantine A; Lopes, Maria-Beatriz; Grossman, Ashley B; Trouillas, Jacqueline; Lupski, James R; Ellard, Sian; Sampson, Julian R; Roncaroli, Federico; Korbonits, Márta

2016-06-01

Non-syndromic pituitary gigantism can result from AIP mutations or the recently identified Xq26.3 microduplication causing X-linked acrogigantism (XLAG). Within Xq26.3, GPR101 is believed to be the causative gene, and the c.924G > C (p.E308D) variant in this orphan G protein-coupled receptor has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of acromegaly.We studied 153 patients (58 females and 95 males) with pituitary gigantism. AIP mutation-negative cases were screened for GPR101 duplication through copy number variation droplet digital PCR and high-density aCGH. The genetic, clinical and histopathological features of XLAG patients were studied in detail. 395 peripheral blood and 193 pituitary tumor DNA samples from acromegaly patients were tested for GPR101 variants.We identified 12 patients (10 females and 2 males; 7.8 %) with XLAG. In one subject, the duplicated region only contained GPR101, but not the other three genes in found to be duplicated in the previously reported patients, defining a new smallest region of overlap of duplications. While females presented with germline mutations, the two male patients harbored the mutation in a mosaic state. Nine patients had pituitary adenomas, while three had hyperplasia. The comparison of the features of XLAG, AIP-positive and GPR101&AIP-negative patients revealed significant differences in sex distribution, age at onset, height, prolactin co-secretion and histological features. The pathological features of XLAG-related adenomas were remarkably similar. These tumors had a sinusoidal and lobular architecture. Sparsely and densely granulated somatotrophs were admixed with lactotrophs; follicle-like structures and calcifications were commonly observed. Patients with sporadic of familial acromegaly did not have an increased prevalence of the c.924G > C (p.E308D) GPR101 variant compared to public databases.In conclusion, XLAG can result from germline or somatic duplication of GPR101. Duplication of GPR101 alone is sufficient for the development of XLAG, implicating it as the causative gene within the Xq26.3 region. The pathological features of XLAG-associated pituitary adenomas are typical and, together with the clinical phenotype, should prompt genetic testing.

Recreational injuries among older Americans, 2001

PubMed Central

Gerson, L; Stevens, J

2004-01-01

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of non-fatal recreational injuries among older adults treated in United States emergency departments including national estimates of the number of injuries, types of recreational activities, and diagnoses. Methods: Injury data were provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP), a nationally representative subsample of 66 out of 100 NEISS hospitals. Potential cases were identified using the NEISS-AIP definition of a sport and recreation injury. The authors then reviewed the two line narrative to identify injuries related to participation in a sport or recreational activity among men and women more than 64 years old. Results: In 2001, an estimated 62 164 (95% confidence interval 35 570 to 88 758) persons ≥65 years old were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained while participating in sport or recreational activities. The overall injury rate was 177.3/100 000 population with higher rates for men (242.5/100 000) than for women (151.3/100 000). Exercising caused 30% of injuries among women and bicycling caused 17% of injuries among men. Twenty seven percent of all treated injuries were fractures and women (34%) were more likely than men (21%) to suffer fractures. Conclusions: Recreational activities were a frequent cause of injuries among older adults. Fractures were common. Many of these injuries are potentially preventable. As more persons engage in recreational activities, applying known injury prevention strategies will help to reduce the incidence of these injuries. PMID:15178667

SU-F-J-117: Impact of Motion Artifacts On Image Quality and Accuracy of Tumor Motion Reconstruction in 4D CT-On-Rails and MV-CBCT Scans: A Phantom Study

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

Lin, T; Ma, C

Purpose: To compare and quantify respiratory motion artifacts in images from free breathing 4D-CT-on-Rails(CTOR) and those from MV-Cone-beam-CT(MVCB) and facilitate respiratory motion guided radiation therapy. Methods: 4D-CTOR: Siemens Somatom CT-on-Rails system with Anzai belt loaded with pressure sensor load cells. 4D scans were performed in helical mode, pitch 0.1, gantry rotation time 0.5s, 1.5mm slice thickness, 120kVp, 400 mAs. Normal and fast breathing (>12rpm) scanning protocols were investigated. Helical scan, AIP(average intensity projection) and MIP(maximum intensity projection) were generated from 4D-CTOR scans with amplitude sorting into 10 phases.MVCB: Siemens Artiste diamond view(1MV)MVCB was performed with 5MU thorax protocol with 60more » second of full rotation.Phantom: Anzai AZ-733V respiratory phantom. The settings were set to normal and resp. modes with repetition rates at 15 rpm and 10 rpm. Surgical clips, acrylic, wooden, rubber and lung density, total six mock-ups were scanned and compared in this study.Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) and reconstructed motion volume were compared to different respiratory setups for the mock-ups. Results: Reconstructed motion volume was compared to the real object volume for the six test mock-ups. It shows that free breathing helical in all instances underestimates the object excursions largest to −67.4% and least −6.3%. Under normal breathing settings, MIP can predict very precise motion volume with minimum 0.4% and largest −13.9%. MVCB shows underestimate of the motion volume with −1.11% minimum and −18.0% maximum. With fast breathing, AIP provides bad representation of the object motion; however, the MIP can predict the motion volume with −2.0% to −11.4% underestimate. Conclusion: Respiratory motion guided radiation therapy requires good motion recording. This study shows that regular CTOR helical scans provides bad guidance, 4D CTOR AIP cannot represent the fast breathing pattern, MIP can represent the best motion volume, MVCBCT can only be used for normal breathing with acceptable uncertainties.« less

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baddour, Natalie

2018-02-01

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

Branching ratios for TlBr photodissociation with 2660 A radiation

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

White, J.C.; Zdasiuk, G.A.

1978-09-01

Radiation from a Nd:YAG laser was used to study the selective photodissociation of TlBr into the Tl metastable state, 6p/sup 2/P/sub 3/2/, as a potential candidate for stimulated Roman up-converters.(AIP)

B factory plans at Cornell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berkelman, Karl

1989-12-01

Recent upgrade project at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring is discussed. Modification was made to make B mesons factory design possible. The CLEO detector has been rebuilt with a new superconducting magnet and a high resolution electromagnetic calorimeter made of cesium iodide scintillators.(AIP)

26 CFR 1.1275-7 - Inflation-indexed debt instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...: OID((n) = AIP(n) × [r + inf(n) + (r × inf(n))] in which, r = yield of the debt instrument as determined under paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section (adjusted for the length of the accrual period); inf(n...

26 CFR 1.1275-7 - Inflation-indexed debt instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... using the following formula: OID((n) = AIP(n) × [r + inf(n) + (r × inf(n))] in which, r = yield of the... accrual period); inf(n) = percentage change in the value of the reference index for period (n) as...

26 CFR 1.1275-7 - Inflation-indexed debt instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... using the following formula: OID((n) = AIP(n) × [r + inf(n) + (r × inf(n))] in which, r = yield of the... accrual period); inf(n) = percentage change in the value of the reference index for period (n) as...

26 CFR 1.1275-7 - Inflation-indexed debt instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... accrual period (n) is determined by using the following formula: OID((n) = AIP(n) × [r + inf(n) + (r × inf... section (adjusted for the length of the accrual period); inf(n) = percentage change in the value of the...

26 CFR 1.1275-7 - Inflation-indexed debt instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...: OID((n) = AIP(n) × [r + inf(n) + (r × inf(n))] in which, r = yield of the debt instrument as determined under paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section (adjusted for the length of the accrual period); inf(n...

Oxidation and reduction in irradiated binary crystals of resorcinol and progesterone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Box, Harold C.; Budzinski, Edwin E.

1985-12-01

The binary single crystals of resorcinol and progesterone were x-irradiated at 4.2 K. The semiquinone of resorcinol was generated by radiation induced oxidation. The oxidation and reduction products were identified from ESR and ENDOR measurements. (AIP)

Advanced information processing system: Hosting of advanced guidance, navigation and control algorithms on AIPS using ASTER

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brenner, Richard; Lala, Jaynarayan H.; Nagle, Gail A.; Schor, Andrei; Turkovich, John

1994-01-01

This program demonstrated the integration of a number of technologies that can increase the availability and reliability of launch vehicles while lowering costs. Availability is increased with an advanced guidance algorithm that adapts trajectories in real-time. Reliability is increased with fault-tolerant computers and communication protocols. Costs are reduced by automatically generating code and documentation. This program was realized through the cooperative efforts of academia, industry, and government. The NASA-LaRC coordinated the effort, while Draper performed the integration. Georgia Institute of Technology supplied a weak Hamiltonian finite element method for optimal control problems. Martin Marietta used MATLAB to apply this method to a launch vehicle (FENOC). Draper supplied the fault-tolerant computing and software automation technology. The fault-tolerant technology includes sequential and parallel fault-tolerant processors (FTP & FTPP) and authentication protocols (AP) for communication. Fault-tolerant technology was incrementally incorporated. Development culminated with a heterogeneous network of workstations and fault-tolerant computers using AP. Draper's software automation system, ASTER, was used to specify a static guidance system based on FENOC, navigation, flight control (GN&C), models, and the interface to a user interface for mission control. ASTER generated Ada code for GN&C and C code for models. An algebraic transform engine (ATE) was developed to automatically translate MATLAB scripts into ASTER.

Kleiman et al. reply

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

Kleiman, R.N.; Gammel, P.L.; Schneemeyer, L.F.

1989-05-08

A reply to the comment on mechanical measurement or flux-lattice melting in single crystal Hi-C copper oxide superconductors is presented. Dissipation arises from the motion of the flux lines relative to the cry- stal via Stephen-Bardeen mechanism ,as the flux lines depin. (AIP)

Airport Improvement Program : update of allocation of funds and passenger facility charges, 1992-1994

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-07-17

This report updates the General Accounting Office's October 1993 report on the allocation of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds from 1982 through 1994 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Information is provided on FAA's allocation of A...

75 FR 5846 - Deadline for Notification of Intent To Use the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Primary, Cargo...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-04

.... Frank J. San Martin, Manager, Airports Financial Assistance Division, APP-500, on (202) 267-3831..., the date March 3, 2010, is corrected to read, March 17, 2010. Frank J. San Martin, Manager, Airports...

76 FR 62081 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

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2011-10-06

... Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, M.D., PhD, Scientific..., Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393-93.396, 93.837-93.844, 93.846...

76 FR 46308 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting

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2011-08-02

... Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, PHD, Scientific Review Officer,Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes..., Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393-93.396, 93.837-93.844, 93.846-93.878, 93.892, 93.893...

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Evaluation of dyslipidemia, lipid ratios, and atherogenic index as cardiovascular risk factors among semi-urban dwellers in Nigeria

PubMed Central

Olamoyegun, Michael Adeyemi; Oluyombo, Rotimi; Asaolu, Stephen Olabode

2016-01-01

Background and Objectives: The increasing frequency of cardiovascular disease (CVD) rests on the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia. This dyslipidemia is also a target for the prevention and treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. Hence, identification of individuals at risk of CVD is needed for early identification and prevention. The study was carried out to evaluate dyslipidemia using the lipid ratios and indices instead of just the conventional lipid profile. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study with 699 participants recruited from semi-urban communities in Nigeria. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure, and fasting lipid profiles were determined. Abnormalities in lipid indices and lipid ratios with atherogenic index were also determined. SPSS software version 17.0 were used for analysis, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 699 participants with a mean age of 64.45 ± 15.53 years. Elevated total cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, elevated triglyceride, and low high-density lipoprotein were seen in 5.3%, 19.3%, 4.4%, and 76.3% of the participants, respectively. The Castelli's risk index-I (CRI-I) predicted the highest prevalence of predisposition to cardiovascular risk (47.8%) with females being at significantly higher risk (55.2% vs. 29.3%, P < 0.001). Atherogenic coefficient, CRI-II, CHOLIndex, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) predicted a cardiovascular risk prevalence of 22.5%, 15.9%, 11.2%, and 11.0%, respectively, with no significant difference in between the sexes. Conclusions: Serum lipid ratios and AIP may be used in addition to lipid parameters in clinical practice to assess cardiovascular risks even when lipid profiles are apparently normal. AIP was more gender specific amidst the lipid ratios. PMID:27853034

Factors influencing insulin resistance in relation to atherogenicity in mood disorders, the metabolic syndrome and tobacco use disorder.

PubMed

Bortolasci, Chiara Cristina; Vargas, Heber Odebrecht; Vargas Nunes, Sandra Odebrecht; de Melo, Luiz Gustavo Piccoli; de Castro, Márcia Regina Pizzo; Moreira, Estefania Gastaldello; Dodd, Seetal; Barbosa, Décio Sabbatini; Berk, Michael; Maes, Michael

2015-07-01

This study examines the effects of malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid on insulin resistance and atherogenicity in subjects with and without mood disorders, the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and tobacco use disorder (TUD). We included 314 subjects with depression and bipolar depression, with and without the MetS and TUD and computed insulin resistance using the updated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA2IR) and atherogenicity using the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), that is log10 (triglycerides/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. HOMA2IR is correlated with body mass index (BMI) and uric acid levels, but not with mood disorders and TUD, while the AIP is positively associated with BMI, mood disorders, TUD, uric acid, MDA and male sex. Uric acid is positively associated with insulin and triglycerides and negatively with HDL cholesterol. MDA is positively associated with triglyceride levels. Comorbid mood disorders and TUD further increase AIP but not insulin resistance. Glucose is positively associated with increasing age, male gender and BMI. The results show that mood disorders, TUD and BMI together with elevated levels of uric acid and MDA independently contribute to increased atherogenic potential, while BMI and uric acid are risk factors for insulin resistance. The findings show that mood disorders and TUD are closely related to an increased atherogenic potential but not to insulin resistance or the MetS. Increased uric acid is a highly significant risk factor for insulin resistance and increased atherogenic potential. MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation, further contributes to different aspects of the atherogenic potential. Mood disorders and TUD increase triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol and are strongly associated with the atherogenic, but not insulin resistance, component of the MetS. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mutation analysis of inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha (GNAI) loci in young and familial pituitary adenomas.

PubMed

Demir, Hande; Donner, Iikki; Kivipelto, Leena; Kuismin, Outi; Schalin-Jäntti, Camilla; De Menis, Ernesto; Karhu, Auli

2014-01-01

Pituitary adenomas are neoplasms of the anterior pituitary lobe and account for 15-20% of all intracranial tumors. Although most pituitary tumors are benign they can cause severe symptoms related to tumor size as well as hypopituitarism and/or hypersecretion of one or more pituitary hormones. Most pituitary adenomas are sporadic, but it has been estimated that 5% of patients have a familial background. Germline mutations of the tumor suppressor gene aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) predispose to hereditary pituitary neoplasia. Recently, it has been demonstrated that AIP mutations predispose to pituitary tumorigenesis through defective inhibitory GTP binding protein (Gαi) signaling. This finding prompted us to examine whether germline loss-of-function mutations in inhibitory guanine nucleotide (GTP) binding protein alpha (GNAI) loci are involved in genetic predisposition of pituitary tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first time GNAI genes are sequenced in order to examine the occurrence of inactivating germline mutations. Thus far, only somatic gain-of-function hot-spot mutations have been studied in these loci. Here, we have analyzed the coding regions of GNAI1, GNAI2, and GNAI3 in a set of young sporadic somatotropinoma patients (n = 32; mean age of diagnosis 32 years) and familial index cases (n = 14), thus in patients with a disease phenotype similar to that observed in AIP mutation carriers. In addition, expression of Gαi proteins was studied in human growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting and non-functional pituitary tumors. No pathogenic germline mutations affecting the Gαi proteins were detected. The result suggests that loss-of-function mutations of GNAI loci are rare or nonexistent in familial pituitary adenomas.

Decoding a wide range of hand configurations from macaque motor, premotor, and parietal cortices.

PubMed

Schaffelhofer, Stefan; Agudelo-Toro, Andres; Scherberger, Hansjörg

2015-01-21

Despite recent advances in decoding cortical activity for motor control, the development of hand prosthetics remains a major challenge. To reduce the complexity of such applications, higher cortical areas that also represent motor plans rather than just the individual movements might be advantageous. We investigated the decoding of many grip types using spiking activity from the anterior intraparietal (AIP), ventral premotor (F5), and primary motor (M1) cortices. Two rhesus monkeys were trained to grasp 50 objects in a delayed task while hand kinematics and spiking activity from six implanted electrode arrays (total of 192 electrodes) were recorded. Offline, we determined 20 grip types from the kinematic data and decoded these hand configurations and the grasped objects with a simple Bayesian classifier. When decoding from AIP, F5, and M1 combined, the mean accuracy was 50% (using planning activity) and 62% (during motor execution) for predicting the 50 objects (chance level, 2%) and substantially larger when predicting the 20 grip types (planning, 74%; execution, 86%; chance level, 5%). When decoding from individual arrays, objects and grip types could be predicted well during movement planning from AIP (medial array) and F5 (lateral array), whereas M1 predictions were poor. In contrast, predictions during movement execution were best from M1, whereas F5 performed only slightly worse. These results demonstrate for the first time that a large number of grip types can be decoded from higher cortical areas during movement preparation and execution, which could be relevant for future neuroprosthetic devices that decode motor plans. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/351068-14$15.00/0.

Mutation Analysis of Inhibitory Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein Alpha (GNAI) Loci in Young and Familial Pituitary Adenomas

PubMed Central

Demir, Hande; Donner, Iikki; Kivipelto, Leena; Kuismin, Outi; Schalin-Jäntti, Camilla; De Menis, Ernesto; Karhu, Auli

2014-01-01

Pituitary adenomas are neoplasms of the anterior pituitary lobe and account for 15–20% of all intracranial tumors. Although most pituitary tumors are benign they can cause severe symptoms related to tumor size as well as hypopituitarism and/or hypersecretion of one or more pituitary hormones. Most pituitary adenomas are sporadic, but it has been estimated that 5% of patients have a familial background. Germline mutations of the tumor suppressor gene aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) predispose to hereditary pituitary neoplasia. Recently, it has been demonstrated that AIP mutations predispose to pituitary tumorigenesis through defective inhibitory GTP binding protein (Gαi) signaling. This finding prompted us to examine whether germline loss-of-function mutations in inhibitory guanine nucleotide (GTP) binding protein alpha (GNAI) loci are involved in genetic predisposition of pituitary tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first time GNAI genes are sequenced in order to examine the occurrence of inactivating germline mutations. Thus far, only somatic gain-of-function hot-spot mutations have been studied in these loci. Here, we have analyzed the coding regions of GNAI1 , GNAI2, and GNAI3 in a set of young sporadic somatotropinoma patients (n = 32; mean age of diagnosis 32 years) and familial index cases (n = 14), thus in patients with a disease phenotype similar to that observed in AIP mutation carriers. In addition, expression of Gαi proteins was studied in human growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting and non-functional pituitary tumors. No pathogenic germline mutations affecting the Gαi proteins were detected. The result suggests that loss-of-function mutations of GNAI loci are rare or nonexistent in familial pituitary adenomas. PMID:25291362

sTools - a data reduction pipeline for the GREGOR Fabry-Pérot Interferometer and the High-resolution Fast Imager at the GREGOR solar telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuckein, C.; Denker, C.; Verma, M.; Balthasar, H.; González Manrique, S. J.; Louis, R. E.; Diercke, A.

2017-10-01

A huge amount of data has been acquired with the GREGOR Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (GFPI), large-format facility cameras, and since 2016 with the High-resolution Fast Imager (HiFI). These data are processed in standardized procedures with the aim of providing science-ready data for the solar physics community. For this purpose, we have developed a user-friendly data reduction pipeline called ``sTools'' based on the Interactive Data Language (IDL) and licensed under creative commons license. The pipeline delivers reduced and image-reconstructed data with a minimum of user interaction. Furthermore, quick-look data are generated as well as a webpage with an overview of the observations and their statistics. All the processed data are stored online at the GREGOR GFPI and HiFI data archive of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP). The principles of the pipeline are presented together with selected high-resolution spectral scans and images processed with sTools.

76 FR 44978 - Notice of FAA Intent To Carry Over Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Entitlement Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-27

... Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: By 12 p.m. prevailing local time on Friday, August 12, 2011... and local laws. The FAA is hereby notifying all sponsors that by 12 p.m. prevailing local time on...

MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR METHANE PRODUCTION FROM LANDFILL BIOREACTOR - A DISCUSSION PAPER HTTP://OIPS.AIP.ORG/EEO/

EPA Science Inventory

This discussion explains the experimental results of a landfill bioreactor (LFBR) from a microbiological perspective and provides a feasible strategy to evaluate methane production performance, since suitable models are complicated and not sufficiently reliable for anaerobic-syst...

78 FR 10269 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Revisions to the Total Coliform Rule

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-13

... agencies incur the remaining costs. Abbreviations Used in This Document AGI--Acute Gastrointestinal Illness AIDS--Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIP--Agreement in Principle AWWA--American Water Works... Analysis HUS--Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ICR--Information Collection Request IESWTR--Interim Enhanced...

77 FR 14583 - Notice to Manufacturers of Alternative Fuel Vans

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-12

... Alternative Fuel Vans AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. DOT. ACTION: Notice to Manufacturers of Alternative Fuel Vans. SUMMARY: Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) must... (FAA) is considering issuing waivers to foreign manufacturers of alternative fuel vans. This notice...

Physics Trends flyers & high school flyers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Susan C.

2016-03-01

Since 2000, we have published a series of flyers highlighting various data of interest to physics faculty members and students. For example, our Fall 2015 Physics Trends flyers display the employment sectors where physics bachelor's degree recipients work, the knowledge used frequently by mid-career PhD physicists working primarily in private sector jobs, and the proportion of women among physics faculty members. We have recently added a new resource for high school physics teachers: flyers focusing on high school physics. PDFs of both the Physics Trends and high school flyers are available for download at: www.aip.org/statistics/physics-trends and www.aip.org/statistics/highschool. We also have a limited number of printed copies of the Physics Trends flyers which we are happy to send to you upon request. We appreciate the responses from each of you who has helped us collect these data. Next month we will look at Hispanic representation among bachelor's degree recipients in physical sciences and engineering.

The development of spontaneous gender stereotyping in childhood: relations to stereotype knowledge and stereotype flexibility.

PubMed

Banse, Rainer; Gawronski, Bertram; Rebetez, Christine; Gutt, Hélène; Morton, J Bruce

2010-03-01

The development of spontaneous gender stereotyping in children was investigated using the newly developed Action Interference Paradigm (AIP). This task consists of assigning gender-stereotypical toys as quickly as possible to boys and girls in either a stereotype-congruent or a stereotype-incongruent manner. A pilot study with 38 children (mean age 5.1 years) provided evidence for spontaneous gender stereotyping in the AIP, which was reflected in higher latencies for stereotype-incongruent compared with stereotype-congruent toy assignments. The main study, with 66 children (aged 5, 8 and 11 years), compared the development of spontaneous stereotyping with established measures of stereotype flexibility and stereotype knowledge. Stereotype flexibility showed a strong increase from age 5 to 11. In contrast, stereotype knowledge and spontaneous stereotyping remained stable at high levels. The results provide evidence for a dissociation between stereotype flexibility and spontaneous stereotyping, suggesting that spontaneous stereotyping may be more closely related to stereotype knowledge than to stereotype flexibility.

AIP1OGREN: Aerosol Observing Station Intensive Properties Value-Added Product

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

Koontz, Annette; Flynn, Connor

The aip1ogren value-added product (VAP) computes several aerosol intensive properties. It requires as input calibrated, corrected, aerosol extensive properties (scattering and absorption coefficients, primarily) from the Aerosol Observing Station (AOS). Aerosol extensive properties depend on both the nature of the aerosol and the amount of the aerosol. We compute several properties as relationships between the various extensive properties. These intensive properties are independent of aerosol amount and instead relate to intrinsic properties of the aerosol itself. Along with the original extensive properties we report aerosol single-scattering albedo, hemispheric backscatter fraction, asymmetry parameter, and Ångström exponent for scattering and absorption withmore » one-minute averaging. An hourly averaged file is produced from the 1-minute files that includes all extensive and intensive properties as well as submicron scattering and submicron absorption fractions. Finally, in both the minutely and hourly files the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency is provided.« less

Life as a Mather Intern at the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stankus, Katherine

2014-03-01

The AIP Mather Public Policy Internship, sponsored by Nobel Laureate Dr. John Mather and facilitated by the American Institute of Physics Society of Physics Students Summer Internship Program, was designed to help undergraduate physics students explore the interface between science and policy. As a Mather Public Policy Intern in 2013, I worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology where I conducted written research and analyses for staff members, prepared background materials and reports, and assisted at hearings and markups. In addition to my internship duties I also had the opportunity to meet several different representatives, go to various receptions and luncheons held on the Hill, and meet some influential people in society. During this talk I will discuss my experience and how it helped further my interest in doing analytical work and gave me exposure to public policy issues at the national level. AIP Society of Physics Students.

Regulation of the Pollen-Specific Actin-Depolymerizing Factor LlADF1

PubMed Central

Allwood, Ellen G.; Anthony, Richard G.; Smertenko, Andrei P.; Reichelt, Stefanie; Drobak, Bjorn K.; Doonan, John H.; Weeds, Alan G.; Hussey, Patrick J.

2002-01-01

Pollen tube growth is dependent on a dynamic actin cytoskeleton, suggesting that actin-regulating proteins are involved. We have examined the regulation of the lily pollen-specific actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) LlADF1. Its actin binding and depolymerizing activity is pH sensitive, inhibited by certain phosphoinositides, but not controlled by phosphorylation. Compared with its F-actin binding properties, its low activity in depolymerization assays has been used to explain why pollen ADF decorates F-actin in pollen grains. This low activity is incompatible with a role in increasing actin dynamics necessary to promote pollen tube growth. We have identified a plant homolog of actin-interacting protein, AIP1, which enhances the depolymerization of F-actin in the presence of LlADF1 by ∼60%. Both pollen ADF and pollen AIP1 bind F-actin in pollen grains but are mainly cytoplasmic in pollen tubes. Our results suggest that together these proteins remodel actin filaments as pollen grains enter and exit dormancy. PMID:12417710

Aspects of spatial dispersion in the optical properties of a vacuum-dielectric interface

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

Johnson, D.L.; Rimbey, P.R.

1976-09-15

We have examined the relationship between the polarizibility for a two-phase (vacuum-dielectric) system and the use of additional boundary conditions and the like, as regards the response of systems exhibiting spatial dispersion. As a consequence we are able to derive information about induced-charge and current densities and the continuity of the field quantities across the interface. It is shown that it is not possible to resonantly excite longitudinal bulk modes with incident light in the formalism of Rimbey-Mahan. We have derived sum rules in wave-vector space on bulk polaritions in homogeneous isotropic systems. In the case of nonhomogeneous perfect crystalsmore » in which the bulk response is described by the matrix epsilon-bar (Q, Q'), we have solved formally for the surface impedance in terms of an assumed arbitrary epsilon-bar (Q, Q'), by means of an extension of the Fuchs-Kliewer formalism. (AIP)« less

LISK-BROOM: A laser concept for clearing space junk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phipps, Claude

1994-10-01

A mathematical model predicts the economical effectiveness of using powerful laser beams for cleaning space junk. The propelling force comes from the ablation caused by repetitive laser pulses. Lasers will use Earth-based power to de-orbit waste objects in cooperation with observatory telescopes. (AIP)

1980-81 Graduate Student Survey. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Susanne D.

Results of the 1980-81 Graduate Student Survey of physics and astronomy students are presented. Information is presented on the following: employment offers for new physics masters and doctorate recipients, 1976-81; characteristics of the graduate physics student population, 1980-81, including sex, citizenship, professional society membership,…

A new method to solve the Nd breakup scattering problem in configuration space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suslov, Vladimir

2005-11-01

A new computational method for solving the configuration-space Faddeev equations for three nucleon system has been developed. This method is based on the spline-decomposition in the angular variable and a generalization of the Numerov method for the hyperradius. The s-wave calculations of the inelasticity and phase-shift, as well as breakup amplitudes for nd and pd breakup scattering for lab energies 14.1 and 42.0 MeV were performed with the Malfliet -Tjon MT I-III potential. In the case of nd breakup scattering the results are in good agreement with those of the benchmark solution [1],[2]. In the case of pd quartet breakup scattering disagreement for the inelasticities reaches up to 6% as compared with those of the Pisa group [3]. The calculated pd amplitudes fulfill the optical theorem with a good precision. 1. J. L. Friar, B. F. Gibson, G. Berthold, W. Gloeckle, Th. Cornelius, H. Witala, J. Haidenbauer, Y. Koike, G. L. Payne, J. A. Tjon, and W. M. Kloet,: http://link.aip.org/link/?&lcreator=getabs-normal&ldir=FWD&lrel=CITES&fromkey=PRVCAN000069000004044003000001&fromkeyType=CVIPS&fromloc=AIP&toj=PRVCAN&tov=42&top=1838&toloc=APS&tourl=http%3A%2F%2Flink.aps.org%2Fabstract%2FPRC%2Fv42%2FPhys. Rev. C 42, 1838 (1990). 2. Frair J.L, Payne G.L., Gl"ockle W., Hueber D., Witala H.: Phys. Rev. C 51, 2356 (1995) 3. Kievsky A., Viviani M., and Rosati S.: Phys. Rev. C 64, 024002 (2001)

A Call To Action for Physics Departments: Findings and Recommendations of the National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vokos, Stamatis

2010-10-01

The National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics (T-TEP) concluded its two-year investigation of the professional preparation of teachers of physics in the U.S. T-TEP, formed by APS, AAPT, and AIP, was charged with (a) identifying generalizable, yet flexible, strategies that institutions, and in particular physics departments and schools or colleges of education, can employ to increase the number of qualified physics teachers, (b) identifying effective strategies in recruitment, models of professional preparation, and higher education systems of support during the first three years of teaching, and (c) articulating research, policy, and funding implications. In this talk, the major findings and recommendations of the T-TEP report will be discussed and ways to leverage the report to transform the physics teacher education system will be outlined.

77 FR 22376 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant Assurances

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-13

.... Additionally, the FAA is amending paragraph (a) of Sponsor Assurance 29, Airport Layout Plan, to require that... be depicted on the airport layout plan (ALP). This includes all residential and commercial through... the statutory grant assurance relating to airport layout plans to provide that a sponsor does not have...

78 FR 55328 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-10

... Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) or to receive a grant under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). DATES..., Passenger Facility Charges AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request... Number: 2120-0661. Title: Competition Plans, Passenger Facility Charges. Form Numbers: There are no FAA...

Society Membership Profile: Employment Mobility and Career Change. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Beverly Fearn; Kellman, Dawn

Information on the influence of employment mobility and career change on the flexibility of the physics labor force is provided, noting the past several decades have brought a dramatic roller coaster of changes to the physics community. Five sections are as follows: membership composition (demographics, professional self-identification, and…

75 FR 40925 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Revisions to the Total Coliform Rule

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-14

... discussion on docket. Abbreviations Used in This Document ADWR Airline Drinking Water Rule AGI Acute Gastrointestinal Illness AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIP Agreement in Principle AWWA American Water... Cost Analysis HUS Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ICR Information Collection Request IESWTR Interim Enhanced...

Coulomb displacement energies of excited states

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

Sherr, R.; Bertsch, G.

The Bansal--French--Zamick model is quite successful in accounting for the Coulomb displacement energies of excited particle--hole states in a variety of light nuclei. Level shifts are typically reproduced to within 50 keV. However, the model fails for certain excited 0$sup +$ states, and this remains a puzzle. (AIP)

The fall of parity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forman, Paul

1982-05-01

The historical background behind the discovery of the violation of parity by T. D. Lee and [N. Yand is described. The experimental techniques used by Chien-Shiung Wu, Ernst Ambler, and their collaborators at the Cryogenic Physics Laboratory of the NBS to first demonstrate the violation of parity are also described. (AIP)

Report to Congress fourteenth annual report of accomplishments under the Airport Improvement Program : fiscal year 1995

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-12-01

This annual report of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for the fiscal year (FY) ending September 30, 1995, is the 14th report of activity required by Section 47131 of Title 49, United States Code. The current grant program, known as the Airport ...

76 FR 6510 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Airfield...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-04

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Notice of Availability of the Final..., West Palm Beach, FL AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT.... Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended, the proposed AIP is being evaluated...

Graduate Student Survey 1982-83. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Susanne D.

Results of the 1982-1983 Graduate Student Survey of physics and astronomy graduates in the United States are presented. Information is provided on the educational background, current graduate student status, choice of subfield, and employment prospects. Highlights include the following findings: an increase occurred in the proportion of foreign…

The neural basis of human tool use

PubMed Central

Orban, Guy A.; Caruana, Fausto

2014-01-01

In this review, we propose that the neural basis for the spontaneous, diversified human tool use is an area devoted to the execution and observation of tool actions, located in the left anterior supramarginal gyrus (aSMG). The aSMG activation elicited by observing tool use is typical of human subjects, as macaques show no similar activation, even after an extensive training to use tools. The execution of tool actions, as well as their observation, requires the convergence upon aSMG of inputs from different parts of the dorsal and ventral visual streams. Non-semantic features of the target object may be provided by the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) for tool-object interaction, paralleling the well-known PPC input to anterior intraparietal (AIP) for hand-object interaction. Semantic information regarding tool identity, and knowledge of the typical manner of handling the tool, could be provided by inferior and middle regions of the temporal lobe. Somatosensory feedback and technical reasoning, as well as motor and intentional constraints also play roles during the planning of tool actions and consequently their signals likewise converge upon aSMG. We further propose that aSMG may have arisen though duplication of monkey AIP and invasion of the duplicate area by afferents from PPC providing distinct signals depending on the kinematics of the manipulative action. This duplication may have occurred when Homo Habilis or Homo Erectus emerged, generating the Oldowan or Acheulean Industrial complexes respectively. Hence tool use may have emerged during hominid evolution between bipedalism and language. We conclude that humans have two parietal systems involved in tool behavior: a biological circuit for grasping objects, including tools, and an artifactual system devoted specifically to tool use. Only the latter allows humans to understand the causal relationship between tool use and obtaining the goal, and is likely to be the basis of all technological developments. PMID:24782809

Fibre optical spectroscopy and sensing innovation at innoFSPEC Potsdam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haynes, Roger; Reich, Oliver; Rambold, William; Hass, Roland; Janssen, Katja

2010-07-01

In October 2009, an interdisciplinary centre for fibre spectroscopy and sensing, innoFSPEC Potsdam, has been established as joint initiative of the Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam (AIP) and the Physical Chemistry group of Potsdam University (UPPC), Germany. The centre focuses on fundamental research in the two fields of fibre-coupled multi-channel spectroscopy and optical fibre-based sensing. Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach, the complementary methodologies of astrophysics on the one hand, and physical chemistry on the other hand, are expected to spawn synergies that otherwise would not normally become available in more standard research programmes. innoFSPEC Potsdam targets future innovations for next generation astrophysical instrumentation, environmental analysis, manufacturing control and process analysis, medical diagnostics, non-invasive imaging spectroscopy, biopsy, genomics/proteomics, high throughput screening, and related applications.

SU-F-P-32: A Phantom Study of Accuracy of Four-Dimensional Cone-Beam CT (4D-CBCT) Vs. Three-Dimensional Cone Beam CT (3D-CBCT) in Image Guided Radiotherapy

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

He, R; Morris, B; Duggar, N

2016-06-15

Purpose: SymmetryTM 4D IGRT system of Elekta has been installed at our institution, which offers the 4D CBCT registration option. This study is to evaluate the accuracy of 4D CBCT system by using the CIRS 4D motion phantom and to perform a feasibility study on the implementation of 4D-CBCT as image guidance for SBRT treatment. Methods: The 3D and 4D CT image data sets are acquired using the CIRS motion phantom on a Philips large bore CT simulator. The motion was set as 0.5 cm superior and inferior directions with 6 seconds recycle time. The 4D CT data were sortedmore » as 10 phases. One identifiable part of the 4D CT QA insert from CIRS phantom was used as the target. The ITV MIP was drawn based on maximum intensity projection (MIP) and transferred as a planning structure into 4D CBCT system. Then the 3D CBCT and 4D CBCT images were taken and registered with the free breath (3D), MIP (4D) and average intensity projection (AIP)(4D) reference data sets. The couch shifts (X, Y, Z) are recorded and compared. Results: Table 1 listed the twelve couch shifts based on the registration of MIP, AIP and free breath CT data sets with 3D CBCT and 4D CBCT for both whole body and local registration. X, Y and Z represent couch shifts in the direction of the right-left, superior-inferior and anterior-posterior. The biggest differences of 0.73 cm and 0.57 cm are noted in the free breath CT data with 4D CBCT and 3D CBCT data registration. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are the shift analysis in diagram. Fig. 3 shows the registration. Conclusion: Significant differences exist in the shifts corresponding with the direction of target motion. Further investigations are ongoing.« less

77 FR 44515 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

... Committees. Going forward, the FAA expects sponsors of general aviation airports proposing to establish new... defined in the statute. However going forward, the FAA will apply the statutory prohibition on privately... activity onto the airport when feasible and practicable to do so. Going forward, airport sponsors proposing...

Infrared problem in non-Abelian gauge theory

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

Yao, Y.

1976-03-22

I extend the Bloch--Nordsieck idea to show that in the lowest nontrivial order of radiative correction the fermion--fermion and gauge-meson--fermion scattering rates are finite, provided that they are averaged over the initial and summed over the final internal spin states. Questions of the physical gauge coupling and infrared slavery are discussed. (AIP)

Precision operation of the Nova laser for fusion experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caird, J. A.; Ehrlich, R. B.; Hermes, G. L.; Landen, O. L.; Laumann, C. W.; Lerche, R. A.; Miller, J. L.; Murray, J. E.; Nielsen, N. D.; Powell, H. T.; Rushford, M. C.; Saunders, R. L.; Thompson, C. E.; VanArsdall, P. J.; Vann, C. S.; Weiland, T. L.

1994-10-01

The operation of a Neodymium glass laser of a special design for fusion experiments is improved by a better pulse synchronization, the gain stabilization, and the laser diagnostics. We used sensor upgrading and antifriction coating of focusing lenses. The pointing accuracy of the Nova laser meets now our goal for precision operation. (AIP)

Interprofessional Anatomy Education in the United Kingdom and Ireland: Perspectives from Students and Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Claire F.; Hall, Samuel; Border, Scott; Adds, Philip J.; Finn, Gabrielle M.

2015-01-01

There is increasing recognition of multiprofessional learning in anatomy and its role in medical and healthcare professions. This study utilized two components to investigate anatomy interprofessional education (AIPE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland. First, a survey involving qualitative and quantitative components asked Heads of Anatomy to…

Supporting Students through Participation in the Regional High School Summer School Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhao, Huafang; McGaughey, Trisha A.; Wade, Julie

2014-01-01

The Office of Shared Accountability (OSA) in Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools (MCPS) conducted a study of the MCPS Regional High School Summer School Program. Academic intervention programs (AIPs) in MCPS, including the Regional High School Summer School Program, aim to help students gain lost credits and earn credits needed for…

And the Survey Says …

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Susan C.

2016-01-01

We are continuing our examination of very different physics availability numbers reported by AIP Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The essential difference appears to be the number of schools included in the denominator. The U.S. Department of Education classifies schools into one of five types based…

Academic Internship Program: Curriculum Guide. The Great Exchange. Grades 10-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools, Charlotte, NC.

This curriculum guide provides the framework for the Academic Internship Program (AIP) that is available to Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Public Schools' high school students. In each career area, information is provided to describe the purpose of the internship, the qualifications for the intern, the content/scope and competency goals…

75 FR 54946 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-09

... be mitigated with the adoption of certain measures. Mitigation might help assure that the airport..., access rights are perpetual, while at others the rights can be terminated only after expiration of a... sponsors and the property owners with access rights to help mitigate potential adverse effects. Where...

Physics Careers, Employment and Education. AIP Conference Proceedings, No. 39.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perl, Martin L., Ed.

This publication contains the proceedings of a Conference on Changing Career Opportunities for Physicists, held at the Pennsylvania State University, August 1-3, 1977. The purpose of the conference was to study present and future manpower problems in the physics profession. The breadth and depth of the conference is demonstrated by these…

1977-78 Survey of Physics and Astronomy Bachelor's Degree Recipients. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Susanne D.

A 1977-78 survey of bachelor's degree recipients in physics and astronomy investigated graduates' postbaccalaureate plans. Highlights of the findings are: a small shift in postbaccalaureate plans away from graduate study and into employment for both physics and astronomy bachelors; an improved employment outlook for physics graduates with regard…

78 FR 49724 - Notice To Reopen Comment Period for Federal Crop Insurance Program Delivery Cost Survey and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-15

... insurance program. Copies of the AIP interview scripts and survey questions may be obtained by contacting... Comment Period for Federal Crop Insurance Program Delivery Cost Survey and Interviews ACTION: Notice to reopen comment period to request comments on the script for interviews of Approved Insurance Providers...

1983 Salaries. Society Membership Survey. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skelton, W. Keith; And Others

Variation and changes in the salaries of members of the American Institute of Physics are examined. Graphics highlighting some of the patterns are presented, along with detailed tables and brief summary text. The data are based on a sample survey of the United Statess members conducted in spring 1983. The overall response rate was 69%, Tables…

Sparking Women's Interest in Physics through Science Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merali, Aliya; Wissel, S. A.; Ortiz, M.; Morgan, J. T.; Zwicker, A.

2011-10-01

As of 2010, less than 10% of the members of the APS division of plasma physics are female. Data from a 2005 AIP publication indicate that a lack of female presence in physics exists as early as high school and is perpetuated throughout the educational careers of women. Of the undergraduate programs run by PPPL, 16% of participants are female, and only 11% of participants that continue on to graduate school are female. In an effort to increase the exposure of young women to physics, we have expanded existing programs and initiated new programs such as a mentorship program and an energy focused essay contest. The goal of these programs is to bridge the gap between young and established women in science in order to increase young women's interest in the field of physics and thus increase the likelihood that they will continue on to study higher-level physics. Using data collected from participant surveys we have assessed the short-term effectiveness of PPPL programs in influencing young women to pursue careers in science and plasma physics. Ivie and Ray. AIP Publication Number R-430.02 (February 2005)

Genetic and epigenetic mutations of tumor suppressive genes in sporadic pituitary adenoma

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yunli; Zhang, Xun; Klibanski, Anne

2013-01-01

Human pituitary adenomas are the most common intracranial neoplasms. Approximately 5% of them are familial adenomas. Patients with familial tumors carry germline mutations in predisposition genes, including AIP, MEN1 and PRKAR1A. These mutations are extremely rare in sporadic pituitary adenomas, which therefore are caused by different mechanisms. Multiple tumor suppressive genes linked to sporadic tumors have been identified. Their inactivation is caused by epigenetic mechanisms, mainly promoter hypermethylation, and can be placed into two groups based on their functional interaction with tumor suppressors RB or p53. The RB group includes CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CDKN2C, RB1, BMP4, CDH1, CDH13, GADD45B and GADD45G; AIP and MEN1 genes also belong to this group. The p53 group includes MEG3, MGMT, PLAGL1, RASSF1, RASSF3 and SOCS1. We propose that the tumor suppression function of these genes is mainly mediated by the RB and p53 pathways. We also discuss possible tumor suppression mechanisms for individual genes. PMID:24035864

Anomalous Coulomb oscillation in crossed carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baek, Seung Jae; Lee, Dongsu; Park, Seung Joo; Park, Yung Woo; Svensson, Johannes; Jonson, Mats; Campbell, Eleanor E. B.

2008-03-01

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) crossed junctions separated by an insulating layer were fabricated to investigate the double quantum dot modulated by a single gate (DQD-sG). Anomalous Coulomb oscillations were observed on the lower CNT at low temperature, where the behavior was interpreted by the concept of a double quantum dot (DQD) system http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id =APPLAB000089000023233107000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes [1]. To understand it more clearly, we have intentionally fabricated crossed CNTs without oxide layer in between. The observed anomalous Coulomb oscillations indicate that the contact resistance between the two tubes becomes a potential barrier splitting the initial single QD into the DQD, and the back-gate modulates the energy levels of the DQD.

Integrated Tactical Communications System (INTACS) Management Plan, Methodology and Procedures Relationships and Responsibilities Resources.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

414 :>1 r. Aj J- QC ) 7) 4 u ) be 4- i.- . C u ... C). 0 0 - (.- twI m; : cu c w0" ZAWa -- u a C >X cr <) L-- ri U -4A. r-0 L bo a)- -C4.C C/d -4 CP...based upon experience obtained from the current AII’!S supported by contract. The 4 Clerk Typists, GS4, 322 -series are recrmc,nded based upon the...Clerk Typist GS 4 . 322 C 4 2 1 1 TOTAL 42 3 16 13 10 * AERB Validated TABLE E-III SYSTE:.S INTEGfATIO:D & , ..1.AGE>,T P’AGSO:ZXL a. aQ tE.2 AI)P Reu i

Solar Wind Eight: Proceedings of the Eighth International Solar Wind Conference. Proceedings

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

Winterhalter, D.; Gosling, J.T.; Habbal, S.R.

1997-06-01

These proceedings represent papers presented at the eighth international solar wind conference held at the Dana Point Resort, California. The conference was sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), the National Science Foundation(NSF) and the Committee on space Research (COSPAR). The proceedings from this conference reflected the state of the art of solar wind research: its origin at the sun, the transport through the solar system, and its ultimate fate at the heliocentric boundaries. There were one hundred and seventy eight papers presented and nineteen papers for which the research was sponsored by the US Department of Energy havemore » been abstracted for the Energy Science and Technology database.(AIP)« less

Physics gains attraction?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2000-01-01

A recent report from the American Institute of Physics has indicated that high school enrolments in physics in the USA have reached their highest level since World War II. Figures for the last decade show an increase in the proportion of high school students taking physics from 20 to 28% (800Â 000 students now), according to Physics Today (October 1999, p 68). The report, Maintaining Momentum: High School Physics for a New Millennium , was based on a 1997 survey of high school physics teachers, the fourth such since the mid-1980s. One conclusion drawn by the report's authors was that a broader range of physics courses is now offered, with increased popularity of `conceptual' physics courses using little algebra or trigonometry over the last ten years. The proportion of students with the strongest maths abilities now taking advanced placement or second-year physics has doubled since 1987. In addition the physics appeal has been noted among high school girls, where the percentage taking physics has risen from 39 to 47% in the ten years to 1997. These female students do not, however, seem to extend their studies into advanced placements or even into teaching physics (women constitute just a quarter of high school teachers of the subject). Sadly the good news is outweighed by the fact that physics still registers the lowest enrolments of all the high school sciences - about half those in chemistry for example. Indeed only around 1% of high school students have taken two years of physics before they graduate, which represents a much lower proportion than in many European and Asian countries. The full report can be viewed at the AIP's statistics division's homepage: www.aip.org/statistics/trends/hstrends.htm whilst summaries of the document are available free from the AIP, Education and Employment Statistics Division, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA.

Aryl‐hydrocarbon receptor activity modulates prolactin expression in the pituitary

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

Moran, Tyler B.; Brannick, Katherine E.; Raetzman, Lori T., E-mail: raetzman@life.illinois.edu

2012-11-15

Pituitary tumors account for 15% of intracranial neoplasms, however the extent to which environmental toxicants contribute to the proliferation and hormone expression of pituitary cells is unknown. Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) interacting protein (AIP) loss of function mutations cause somatotrope and lactotrope adenomas in humans. AIP sequesters AhR and inhibits its transcriptional function. Because of the link between AIP and pituitary tumors, we hypothesize that exposure to dioxins, potent exogenous ligands for AhR that are persistent in the environment, may predispose to pituitary dysfunction through activation of AhR. In the present study, we examined the effect of AhR activation on proliferationmore » and endogenous pituitary hormone expression in the GH3 rat somatolactotrope tumor cell line and the effect of loss of AhR action in knockout mice. GH3 cells respond to nM doses of the reversible AhR agonist β-naphthoflavone with a robust induction of Cyp1a1. Although mRNA levels of the anti-proliferative signaling cytokine TGFbeta1 are suppressed upon β-naphthoflavone treatment, we did not observe an alteration in cell proliferation. AhR activation with β-naphthoflavone suppresses Ahr expression and impairs expression of prolactin (PRL), but not growth hormone (GH) mRNA in GH3 cells. In mice, loss of Ahr similarly leads to a reduction in Prl mRNA at P3, while Gh is unaffected. Additionally, there is a significant reduction in pituitary hormones Lhb and Fshb in the absence of Ahr. Overall, these results demonstrate that AhR is important for pituitary hormone expression and suggest that environmental dioxins can exert endocrine disrupting effects at the pituitary. -- Highlights: ► AhR signaling suppresses Prl mRNA expression. ► AhR signaling does not influence pituitary proliferation in culture. ► AhR is necessary for Prl, Lhb and Fshb expression at postnatal day 3.« less

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry of laser exploding foil initiated PETN samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fajardo, Mario E.; Molek, Christopher D.; Fossum, Emily C.

2017-01-01

We report the results of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) measurements of the gaseous products of thin-film pentaerythritol tetranitrate [PETN, C(CH2NO3)4] samples reacting in vacuo. The PETN sample spots are produced by masked physical vapor deposition [A.S. Tappan, et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1426, 677 (2012)] onto a first-surface aluminum mirror. A pulsed laser beam imaged through the soda lime glass mirror substrate converts the aluminum layer into a high-temperature high-pressure plasma which initiates chemical reactions in the overlying PETN sample. We had previously proposed [E.C. Fossum, et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1426, 235 (2012)] to exploit differences in gaseous product chemical identities and molecular velocities to provide a chemically-based diagnostic for distinguishing between "detonation-like" and deflagration responses. Briefly: we expect in-vacuum detonations to produce hyperthermal (v˜10 km/s) thermodynamically-stable products such as N2, CO2, and H2O, and for deflagrations to produce mostly reaction intermediates, such as NO and NO2, with much slower molecular velocities - consistent with the expansion-quenched thermal decomposition of PETN. We observe primarily slow reaction intermediates (NO2, CH2NO3) at low laser pulse energies, the appearance of NO at intermediate laser pulse energies, and the appearance of hyperthemal CO/N2 at mass 28 amu at the highest laser pulse energies. However, these results are somewhat ambiguous, as the NO, NO2, and CH2NO3 intermediates persist and all species become hyperthermal at the higher laser pulse energies. Also, the purported CO/N2 signal at 28 amu may be contaminated by silicon ablated from the glass mirror substrate. We plan to mitigate these problems in future experiments by adopting the "Buelow" sample configuration which employs an intermediate foil barrier to shield the energetic material from the laser and the laser driven plasma [S.J. Buelow, et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 706, 1377 (2003)].

Craniocaudal Safety Margin Calculation Based on Interfractional Changes in Tumor Motion in Lung SBRT Assessed With an EPID in Cine Mode

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

Ueda, Yoshihiro, E-mail: ueda-yo@mc.pref.osaka.jp; Miyazaki, Masayoshi; Nishiyama, Kinji

2012-07-01

Purpose: To evaluate setup error and interfractional changes in tumor motion magnitude using an electric portal imaging device in cine mode (EPID cine) during the course of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to calculate margins to compensate for these variations. Materials and Methods: Subjects were 28 patients with Stage I NSCLC who underwent SBRT. Respiratory-correlated four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) at simulation was binned into 10 respiratory phases, which provided average intensity projection CT data sets (AIP). On 4D-CT, peak-to-peak motion of the tumor (M-4DCT) in the craniocaudal direction was assessed and the tumor centermore » (mean tumor position [MTP]) of the AIP (MTP-4DCT) was determined. At treatment, the tumor on cone beam CT was registered to that on AIP for patient setup. During three sessions of irradiation, peak-to-peak motion of the tumor (M-cine) and the mean tumor position (MTP-cine) were obtained using EPID cine and in-house software. Based on changes in tumor motion magnitude ( Increment M) and patient setup error ( Increment MTP), defined as differences between M-4DCT and M-cine and between MTP-4DCT and MTP-cine, a margin to compensate for these variations was calculated with Stroom's formula. Results: The means ({+-}standard deviation: SD) of M-4DCT and M-cine were 3.1 ({+-}3.4) and 4.0 ({+-}3.6) mm, respectively. The means ({+-}SD) of Increment M and Increment MTP were 0.9 ({+-}1.3) and 0.2 ({+-}2.4) mm, respectively. Internal target volume-planning target volume (ITV-PTV) margins to compensate for Increment M, Increment MTP, and both combined were 3.7, 5.2, and 6.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion: EPID cine is a useful modality for assessing interfractional variations of tumor motion. The ITV-PTV margins to compensate for these variations can be calculated.« less

Altered subcellular localization of heat shock protein 90 is associated with impaired expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in dogs.

PubMed

van Steenbeek, Frank G; Spee, Bart; Penning, Louis C; Kummeling, Anne; van Gils, Ingrid H M; Grinwis, Guy C M; Van Leenen, Dik; Holstege, Frank C P; Vos-Loohuis, Manon; Rothuizen, Jan; Leegwater, Peter A J

2013-01-01

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates biological responses to toxic chemicals. An unexpected role for AHR in vascularization was suggested when mice lacking AHR displayed impaired closure of the ductus venosus after birth, as did knockout mice for aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT). The resulting intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IHPSS) are frequently diagnosed in specific dog breeds, such as the Irish wolfhound. We compared the expression of components of the AHR pathway in healthy Irish wolfhounds and dogs with IHPSS. To this end, we analyzed the mRNA expression in the liver of AHR,AIP, ARNT, and other genes involved in this pathway, namely, those for aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2), hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1A), heat shock protein 90AA1 (HSP90AA1), cytochromes P450 (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), nitric oxide synthesase 3 (NOS3), and endothelin (EDN1). The observed low expression of AHR mRNA in the Irish wolfhounds is in associated with a LINE-1 insertion in intron 2, for which these dogs were homozygous. Down regulation in Irish wolfhounds was observed for AIP, ARNT2, CYP1A2, CYP1B1 and HSP90AA1 expression, whereas the expression of HIF1A was increased. Immunohistochemistry revealed lower levels of AHR, HIF1A, and VEGFA protein in the nucleus and lower levels of ARNT and HSP90AA1 protein in the cytoplasm of the liver cells of Irish wolfhounds. The impaired expression of HSP90AA1 could trigger the observed differences in mRNA and protein levels and therefore explain the link between two very different functions of AHR: regulation of the closure of the ductus venosus and the response to toxins.

Efficacy of Ketorolac Buccal Infiltrations and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocks in Patients with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Akhlaghi, Nahid Mohammadzadeh; Hormozi, Behnoush; Abbott, Paul V; Khalilak, Zohreh

2016-05-01

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine whether ketorolac buccal infiltrations (BIs) helped to improve the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) in patients with acute irreversible pulpitis (AIP). Forty adult volunteers with AIP in a mandibular molar were included in this study. Patients were instructed to evaluate their pain by using a Heft-Parker visual analog scale. They were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20). All patients received standard IANB injection and after that a BI of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. After 5 minutes, 20 patients received a BI of 30 mg/mL ketorolac, and the other received a BI of normal saline (control group). Endodontic access cavity preparation (ACP) was initiated 15 minutes after the IANB when the patient reported lip numbness and had 2 electric pulp tests with no responses. The patient's pain during caries and dentin removal, ACP, and canal length measurements (CLM) was recorded by using Heft-Parker visual analog scale. Successful anesthesia was defined as no or mild pain during any of these steps, without the need for additional injection. Data were statistically analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U and χ(2) tests. Successful anesthesia after an IANB plus BI of articaine was obtained in 15% of patients in the control group at the end of CLM. Adding BI of ketorolac significantly increased the success rate to 40% (P < .05). Patient's pain during ACP and CLM was significantly lower in the ketorolac group (P < .05). Ketorolac BI can increase the success rate of anesthesia after IANB and BI with articaine in patients with AIP. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dental caries in rural Alaska Native children--Alaska, 2008.

PubMed

2011-09-23

In April 2008, the Arctic Investigations Program (AIP) of CDC was informed by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) of a large number of Alaska Native (AN) children living in a remote region of Alaska who required full mouth dental rehabilitations (FMDRs), including extractions and/or restorations of multiple carious teeth performed under general anesthesia. In this remote region, approximately 400 FMDRs were performed in AN children aged <6 years in 2007; the region has approximately 600 births per year. Dental caries can cause pain, which can affect children's normal growth and development. AIP and Alaska DHSS conducted an investigation of dental caries and associated risk factors among children in the remote region. A convenience sample of children aged 4-15 years in five villages (two with fluoridated water and three without) was examined to estimate dental caries prevalence and severity. Risk factor information was obtained by interviewing parents. Among children aged 4-5 years and 12-15 years who were evaluated, 87% and 91%, respectively, had dental caries, compared with 35% and 51% of U.S. children in those age groups. Among children from the Alaska villages, those aged 4-5 years had a mean of 7.3 dental caries, and those aged 12-15 years had a mean of 5.0, compared with 1.6 and 1.8 dental caries in same-aged U.S. children. Of the multiple factors assessed, lack of water fluoridation and soda pop consumption were significantly associated with dental caries severity. Collaborations between tribal, state, and federal agencies to provide effective preventive interventions, such as water fluoridation of villages with suitable water systems and provision of fluoride varnishes, should be encouraged.

Action observation network in childhood: a comparative fMRI study with adults.

PubMed

Biagi, Laura; Cioni, Giovanni; Fogassi, Leonardo; Guzzetta, Andrea; Sgandurra, Giuseppina; Tosetti, Michela

2016-11-01

Very little is known about the action observation network and the mirror neuron system (AON/MNS) in children and its age-related properties compared with those observed in adults. In the present fMRI study we explored the activation of areas belonging to the AON/MNS in children and adults during observation of complex hand-grasping actions, as compared to observation of simple grasping acts executed with the left and the right hand, seen from a first person perspective. The results indicate that during the action observation tasks in children there was activation of a cortical network similar to that found in adults, including the premotor cortex, the posterior part of the inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior parietal lobe. However, the activation in children was more widespread and showed a higher inter-subject variability compared with adults. Furthermore, the activated network seems more lateralized to the left hemisphere in adults and more bilateral in children, with a linear growth of lateralization index as a function of age. Finally, in children the activation in the anterior intraparietal cortex (AIP) of each hemisphere was higher during observation of the contralateral hand (hand identity effect) and during the observation of complex actions relative to simple grasping acts, confirming the role of AIP for action-related hand identity previously described in adults. These results support the assumption that structure and size of action representations are sensitive to mechanisms of development and show physiological plasticity. These properties of the AON/MNS could constitute a powerful tool for spontaneous reorganization and recovery of motor deficits after brain injury in children and in adults, as well as for specific rehabilitation programmes. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Non‐fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001–2003

PubMed Central

Thomas, K E; Annest, J L; Gilchrist, J; Bixby‐Hammett, D M

2006-01-01

Objective To characterise and provide nationally representative estimates of persons with non‐fatal horse related injuries treated in American emergency departments. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (NEISS–AIP) is a stratified probability sample comprising 66 hospitals. Data on injuries treated in these emergency departments are collected and reported. NEISS–AIP data on all types (horseback riding and otherwise) of non‐fatal horse related injuries from 2001 to 2003 were analysed. Results An estimated 102 904 persons with non‐fatal horse related injuries (35.7 per 100 000 population) were treated in American emergency departments each year from 2001 to 2003 inclusive. Non‐fatal injury rates were higher for females (41.5 per 100 000) than for males (29.8 per 100 000). Most patients were injured while mounted on a horse (66.1%), commonly from falling or being thrown by the horse; while not mounted, injuries most often resulted from being kicked by the horse. The body parts most often injured were the head/neck region (23.2%), lower extremity (22.2%), and upper extremity (21.5%). The most common principal diagnoses were contusions/abrasions (31.4%) and fractures (25.2%). For each year that was studied, an estimated 11 502 people sustained traumatic brain injuries from horse related incidents. Overall, more than 11% of those injured were admitted to hospital. Conclusions Horse related injuries are a public health concern not just for riders but for anyone in close contact with horses. Prevention programmes should target horseback riders and horse caregivers to promote helmet use and educate participants about horse behaviour, proper handling of horses, and safe riding practices. PMID:16611723

Three-dimensional particle simulation of heavy-ion fusion beams

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

Friedman, A.; Grote, D.P.; Haber, I.

1992-07-01

The beams in a heavy-ion-beam-driven inertial fusion (HIF) accelerator are collisionless, nonneutral plasmas, confined by applied magnetic and electric fields. These space-charge-dominated beams must be focused onto small (few mm) spots at the fusion target, and so preservation of a small emittance is crucial. The nonlinear beam self-fields can lead to emittance growth, and so a self-consistent field description is needed. To this end, a multidimensional particle simulation code, WARP (Friedman {ital et} {ital al}., Part. Accel. {bold 37}-{bold 38}, 131 (1992)), has been developed and is being used to study the transport of HIF beams. The code's three-dimensional (3-D)more » package combines features of an accelerator code and a particle-in-cell plasma simulation. Novel techniques allow it to follow beams through many accelerator elements over long distances and around bends. This paper first outlines the algorithms employed in WARP. A number of applications and corresponding results are then presented. These applications include studies of: beam drift-compression in a misaligned lattice of quadrupole focusing magnets; beam equilibria, and the approach to equilibrium; and the MBE-4 experiment ({ital AIP} {ital Conference} {ital Proceedings} 152 (AIP, New York, 1986), p. 145) recently concluded at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL). Finally, 3-D simulations of bent-beam dynamics relevant to the planned Induction Linac Systems Experiments (ILSE) (Fessenden, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Plasma Res. A {bold 278}, 13 (1989)) at LBL are described. Axially cold beams are observed to exhibit little or no root-mean-square emittance growth at midpulse in transiting a (sharp) bend. Axially hot beams, in contrast, do exhibit some emittance growth.« less

Influence of friction stir welding parameters on titanium-aluminum heterogeneous lap joining configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Picot, Florent; Gueydan, Antoine; Hug, Éric

2017-10-01

Lap joining configuration for Friction Stir Welding process is a methodology mostly dedicated to heterogeneous bonding. This welding technology was applied to join pure titanium with pure aluminum by varying the rotation speed and the movement speed of the tool. Regardless of the process parameters, it was found that the maximum strength of the junction remains almost constant. Microstructural observations by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry analysis enable to describe the interfacial join and reveal asymmetric Cold Lap Defects on the sides of the junction. Chemical analysis shows the presence of one exclusive intermetallic compound through the interface identified as TiAl3. This compound is responsible of the crack spreading of the junction during the mechanical loading. The original version of this article supplied to AIP Publishing contained an accidental inversion of the authors, names. An updated version of this article, with the authors names formatted correctly was published on 20 October 2017.

Tunable High Q Superconducting Microwave Resonator for Hybrid System with ^87Rb atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Zaeill; Voigt, K. D.; Lee, Jongmin; Hoffman, J. E.; Grover, J. A.; Ravets, S.; Zaretskey, V.; Palmer, B. S.; Hafezi, M.; Taylor, J. M.; Anderson, J. R.; Dragt, A. J.; Lobb, C. J.; Orozco, L. A.; Rolston, S. L.; Wellstood, F. C.

2012-02-01

We have developed a frequency tuning system for a ``lumped-element'' thin-film superconducting Al microwave resonator [1] on sapphire intended for coupling to hyperfine ground states of cold trapped ^87Rb atoms, which are separated by about fRb=6.83 GHz. At T=12 mK and on resonance at 6.81 GHz, the loaded quality factor was 120,000. By moving a carefully machined Al pin towards the inductor of the resonator using a piezo stage, we were able to tune the resonance frequency over a range of 35 MHz and within a few kHz of fRb. While measuring the power dependent response of the resonator at each tuned frequency, we observed anomalous decreases in the quality factor at several frequencies. These drops were more pronounced at lower power. We discuss our results, which suggest these resonances are attributable to discrete two-level systems.[4pt] [1] Z. Kim et al., AIP ADVANCES 1, 042107 (2011).

Trends in Physics PhDs. Focus On

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulvey, Patrick J.; Nicholson, Starr

2014-01-01

Each fall, the American Institute of Physics (AIP's) Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey is sent to all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and asks them to provide the number of degrees they conferred in the previous academic year. The academic year…

Plattsburgh, AFB, New York. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO). Parts A-F.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-24

GLOCAL CLIMATOLOGY 3RANCH LSAFETAC SURFACE WINDS 410 wrATHER SERVICE/MAC PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY OF WIND...oeux1I, . .p 4. A i € * GLOcAL CLIMATCLOGY RANCH L’AFETAC CEILING VERSUS VISIBILITY AIP ’-EATHFR SRVlCE/MAC 72(7Z_ PLATTSBURSH AFS NV 74-97 *A

78 FR 42419 - Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Policy Regarding Access to Airports From Residential Property

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-16

... assurances. In addition, Grant Assurance 29, Airport Layout Plan, was amended to require all proposed and... airport layout plan (ALP). A complete list of the current grant assurances can be viewed at: http://www... 29, Airport Layout Plan, should remain permissive; Using safety as a triggering event for a sponsor...

Goodness of Fit Assessment of an Alcohol Intervention Program and the Underlying Theories of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramos, Diana; Perkins, Daniel F.

2006-01-01

The authors conducted an investigation of The Pennsylvania State University's Alcohol Intervention Program Level 2 (AIP2) to determine goodness of fit of the program components and its underpinning theories. They determined that the Health Belief Model, Social Norms Theory, Social Learning Theory, and the Transtheoretical Model Stages of Change…

And the Survey Says …

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Susan C.

2016-01-01

We have been looking at two different numbers that have been used to describe the availability of physics in U.S. high schools: 60% and 95%. Last month we noted that the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) includes over 7,000 more public schools in the denominator than American Institute of Physics (AIP) Statistics does.…

Active Intervention Program Using Dietary Education and Exercise Training for Reducing Obesity in Mexican American Male Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Sukho; Misra, Ranjita; Kaster, Elizabeth

2012-01-01

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 10-week active intervention program (AIP), which incorporates dietary education with exercise training, among 30 healthy Mexican American male children, aged 8-12 years, in Laredo, Texas. Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups: education (EDU), dietary education to participants and parents and…

77 FR 19408 - Deadline for Notification of Intent To Use the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Primary, Cargo...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-30

... fiscal year 2012. After Friday, August 10, 2012, the FAA will carry over all remaining entitlement funds... business Friday, August 10, 2012, to use their fiscal year 2012 entitlement funds available under Title 49... Entitlement Funds for Fiscal Year 2012 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY...

Amotivation in Physical Education: Relationships with Physical Self-Concept and Teacher Ratings of Attainment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson-Kersey, Rachel; Spray, Christopher

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Amotivation Inventory in Physical Education (AI-PE). In addition, the study sought to identify the relationships between students' amotivation, physical self-concept, and teacher ratings of National Curriculum attainment levels in PE. Students ("N" = 510) from a…

77 FR 41878 - Notice of Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement that Evaluated the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-16

... development of the Near-Term AIP pending the receipt of all State of Florida and local government approvals... Service (NMFS), the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Florida Department...

Women Physicists Speak Again. AIP Report, Number R-441

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivie, Rachel; Guo, Stacy

2006-01-01

Across the world, women in physics have much in common. In almost all countries, women are largely under represented in physics. In the majority of countries for which data was obtainable for this report from reliable statistical agencies, women earned no more than one-fifth of the PhDs in physics. Many women physicists across the world also…

Physics and Astronomy Senior Report: Class of 1998. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neuschatz, Michael; Mulvey, Patrick J.; Nicholson, Starr

This report provides data on students earning physics and astronomy bachelor's degrees for the 1997-98 academic year. The report notes that: (1) after many years of steady decline, the number of undergraduates earning physics bachelor's degrees has stabilized, with 3,821 degrees awarded in l997-98; (2) declines in undergraduate degrees persist at…

New muonic-atom test of vacuum polarization

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

Dixit, M.S.; Carter, A.L.; Hincks, E.P.

1975-12-15

In order to check the discrepancy between calculation and experiment in muonic atoms, we have remeasured the 5g-4f transitions in Pb and the 5g-4f and the 4f-3d transitions in Ba. Our new results show no discrepancy and confirm recent theoretical calculations of vacuum polarization to within 0.5%. (AIP)

The Development of Spontaneous Gender Stereotyping in Childhood: Relations to Stereotype Knowledge and Stereotype Flexibility

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Banse, Rainer; Gawronski, Bertram; Rebetez, Christine; Gutt, Helene; Morton, J. Bruce

2010-01-01

The development of spontaneous gender stereotyping in children was investigated using the newly developed Action Interference Paradigm (AIP). This task consists of assigning gender-stereotypical toys as quickly as possible to boys and girls in either a stereotype-congruent or a stereotype-incongruent manner. A pilot study with 38 children (mean…

Graduate Student Report: First-Year Students in 1999 and 2000. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulvey, Patrick J.; Langer, Casey

This report provides information on the size and citizenship of the incoming graduate physics and astronomy class and describes student characteristics such as gender and educational background. Data are from the American Institute of Physics Enrollments and Degrees surveys for the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 academic years. In 1998-1999 there were…

Grasping with the Press of a Button: Grasp-selective Responses in the Human Anterior Intraparietal Sulcus Depend on Nonarbitrary Causal Relationships between Hand Movements and End-effector Actions

PubMed Central

Frey, Scott H.; Hansen, Marc; Marchal, Noah

2016-01-01

Evidence implicates ventral parieto-premotor cortices in representing the goal of grasping independent of the movements or effectors involved [Umilta, M. A., Escola, L., Intskirveli, I., Grammont, F., Rochat, M., Caruana, F., et al. When pliers become fingers in the monkey motor system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., 105, 2209–2213, 2008; Tunik, E., Frey, S. H., & Grafton, S. T. Virtual lesions of the anterior intraparietal area disrupt goal-dependent on-line adjustments of grasp. Nature Neuroscience, 8, 505–511, 2005]. Modern technologies that enable arbitrary causal relationships between hand movements and tool actions provide a strong test of this hypothesis. We capitalized on this unique opportunity by recording activity with fMRI during tasks in which healthy adults performed goal-directed reach and grasp actions manually or by depressing buttons to initiate these same behaviors in a remotely located robotic arm (arbitrary causal relationship). As shown previously [Binkofski, F., Dohle, C., Posse, S., Stephan, K. M., Hefter, H., Seitz, R. J., et al. Human anterior intraparietal area subserves prehension: A combined lesion and functional MRI activation study. Neurology, 50, 1253–1259, 1998], we detected greater activity in the vicinity of the anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) during manual grasp versus reach. In contrast to prior studies involving tools controlled by nonarbitrarily related hand movements [Gallivan, J. P., McLean, D. A., Valyear, K. F., & Culham, J. C. Decoding the neural mechanisms of human tool use. Elife, 2, e00425, 2013; Jacobs, S., Danielmeier, C., & Frey, S. H. Human anterior intraparietal and ventral premotor cortices support representations of grasping with the hand or a novel tool. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 22, 2594–2608, 2010], however, responses within the aIPS and premotor cortex exhibited no evidence of selectivity for grasp when participants employed the robot. Instead, these regions showed comparable increases in activity during both the reach and grasp conditions. Despite equivalent sensorimotor demands, the right cerebellar hemisphere displayed greater activity when participants initiated the robot’s actions versus when they pressed a button known to be nonfunctional and watched the very same actions undertaken autonomously. This supports the hypothesis that the cerebellum predicts the forthcoming sensory consequences of volitional actions [Blakemore, S. J., Frith, C. D., & Wolpert, D. M. The cerebellum is involved in predicting the sensory consequences of action. NeuroReport, 12, 1879–1884, 2001]. We conclude that grasp-selective responses in the human aIPS and premotor cortex depend on the existence of nonarbitrary causal relationships between hand movements and end-effector actions. PMID:25436672

Kramers-Kronig relations for interstellar polarization

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

Martin, P.G.

1975-12-01

The difficulties encountered in using the Kramers-Kronig relations to predict the behavior of interstellar polarization are pointed out, while at the same time their value in an interpretive role is acknowledged. Observations of interstellar circular polarization lead to restrictions on the interstellar grain composition, and additional constraints should be possible through measurement of linear polarization in the infrared and the ultraviolet. (AIP)

Energetically consistent collisional gyrokinetics

DOE PAGES

Burby, J. W.; Brizard, A. J.; Qin, H.

2015-10-30

Here, we present a formulation of collisional gyrokinetic theory with exact conservation laws for energy and canonical toroidal momentum. Collisions are accounted for by a nonlinear gyrokinetic Landau operator. Gyroaveraging and linearization do not destroy the operator's conservation properties. Just as in ordinary kinetic theory, the conservation laws for collisional gyrokinetic theory are selected by the limiting collisionless gyrokinetic theory. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

Possible Mg ii emission in B stars observed from Copernicus

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

Kondo, Y.; Modisette, J.L.; Dufour, R.J.

1976-05-15

Four B stars, ..cap alpha.. Vir, ..beta.. Cen, ..cap alpha.. Gru, and ..beta.. Lib, were observed with the Copernicus Princeton Telescope Spectrometer at a resolution of 0.1 A in order to investigate the presence of chromospheric emission. Emission was observed in ..beta.. Cen and ..cap alpha.. Gru, while the results for ..cap alpha.. Vir and ..beta.. Lib were inconclusive. (AIP)

Survey of 1975-76 Physics and Astronomy Bachelor's Degree Recipients. AIP Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Susanne D.

This report presents data from a survey of 1975-76 physics and astronomy bachelor degree recipients. From a sample of 3,969 physics graduates, 2,616 responded. From a sample of 180 astronomy graduates, 110 responded. Data on the 1975-76 sample are presented in tabular form, and comparisons are made with responses to previous studies for several…

Forschungspolitik USA weisen zunehmend ausländische Physikstudenten ab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bührke, Thomas

2003-11-01

In keinem anderen Land der Erde ist der Anteil ausländischer Studenten im Fach Physik größer als in den USA. Nach den Terroranschlägen vom 11. September werden jedoch zunehmend ausländische Studenten, insbesondere aus China und dem mittleren Osten, abgewiesen - zum Leidwesen der Studenten und der Universitäten.http://www.aip.org/statistics

Initial Employment Report: Physics and Astronomy Degree Recipients of 2003 & 2004. AIP Report. Number R-282.26

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tesfaye, Casey Langer; Mulvey, Patrick J.

2007-01-01

This report describes the initial employment and educational paths pursued by physics and astronomy degree recipients at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels for the classes of 2002-03 and 2003-04. The report includes starting salaries, primary work activities, ratings of professional challenge and other aspects of initial employment. The…

John Turner | NREL

Science.gov Websites

; International Journal of Energy Research 32 (5), 379-407. Ahn, K.S., Shet, S., Deutsch, T., Jiang, C.S., Yan, Y and Sustainable Energy, an AIP journal. Research Interests Dr. Turner has been recognized as a methods, definitions, and reporting protocols." Journal of Materials Research 25 (01), 3-16. Yin, W.J

78 FR 15373 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-11

..., MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center... Special Emphasis Panel; Member Conflict: AIDS and AIDS Related Research. Date: April 1, 2013. Time: 12:00..., Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393-93.396, 93.837-93.844, 93.846-93.878, 93.892, 93.893...

78 FR 15729 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-12

..., MD 20892, (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Ai-Ping Zou, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer... Special Emphasis Panel Member Conflict: AIDS and AIDS Related Research. Date: April 1, 2013. Time: 12:00 p... Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393-93.396, 93.837-93.844, 93.846-93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National...

IgG Avidity Test in Congenital Toxoplasmosis Diagnoses in Newborns

PubMed Central

Cardoso Fonseca, Zulmirene; Xavier Rodrigues, Isolina Maria; Cruz e Melo, Natália; Boaventura Avelar, Juliana; Castro, Ana Maria; Martins Avelino, Mariza

2017-01-01

The goal of this study was to investigate the importance of IgG avidity testing in newborns (NBs) diagnosed with early congenital toxoplasmosis. We collected samples from 88 puerperae infected by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and their NBs (48 acutely-infected puerperae (AIP) and 40 chronically-infected puerperae (CIP)), from two public maternity hospitals in Goiania city, Goias, Brazil, from 2010 to 2015. Specific anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG serum levels and IgG avidity tests were evaluated using chemiluminescence. Congenital toxoplasmosis was observed in 66.66% (n = 32) of NBs with AIP, 94.1% presenting low avidity (LA) and 51.61% presenting high avidity (HA) test results. The IgG and IgM levels of NBs with LA and their puerperae were higher in comparison with HA NBs and puerperae (p = 0.0001). The avidity tests showed 100% specificity and 50% sensitivity (p = 0.0001). NBs with LA had a 15-fold increased risk of developing congenital toxoplasmosis in comparison with HA NBs. The IgG avidity test could be used to assist in early congenital toxoplasmosis diagnoses in NBs and LA, identifying a greater probability of vertical transmission. PMID:28629167

Results from the Longitudinal Study of Astronomy Graduate Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivie, Rachel

2014-01-01

The Longitudinal Study of Astronomy Graduate Students (LSAGS), an ongoing, joint project of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP), first collected survey data from astronomy and astrophysics graduate students in 2007-08. The LSAGS follows the same people, all of whom were in graduate school in 2006-07, over time as they start their careers. Most of the respondents are currently working as postdocs. There have been two rounds of the survey so far, and we have recently received funding for a third round from the National Science Foundation (AST-1347723). Results from the first round showed the importance of mentoring for graduate students. Data collection for the second round has been completed, and AIP has just begun analysis of these data. At this talk, I will present the results of the second survey. Ultimately, the LSAGS will *provide detailed data on trends in employment over 10+ years for a single cohort, *collect data on people who leave the field of astronomy during or after graduate school, *determine whether there are sex differences in attrition from astronomy and reasons for this, and *examine factors that precede decisions to persist in, or leave, the field of astronomy.

A systematic Monte Carlo simulation study of the primitive model planar electrical double layer over an extended range of concentrations, electrode charges, cation diameters and valences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valiskó, Mónika; Kristóf, Tamás; Gillespie, Dirk; Boda, Dezső

2018-02-01

The purpose of this study is to provide data for the primitive model of the planar electrical double layer, where ions are modeled as charged hard spheres, the solvent as an implicit dielectric background (with dielectric constant ɛ = 78.5), and the electrode as a smooth, uniformly charged, hard wall. We use canonical and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations to compute the concentration profiles, from which the electric field and electrostatic potential profiles are obtained by solving Poisson's equation. We report data for an extended range of parameters including 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 electrolytes at concentrations c = 0.0001 - 1 M near electrodes carrying surface charges up to σ = ±0.5 Cm-2. The anions are monovalent with a fixed diameter d- = 3 Å, while the charge and diameter of cations are varied in the range z+ = 1, 2, 3 and d+ = 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 Å (the temperature is 298.15 K). We provide all the raw data in the supplementary material (ftp://ftp.aip.org/epaps/aip_advances/E-AAIDBI-8-084802">supplementary material).

SPIN-UP and Preparing Undergraduate Physics Majors for Careers in Industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howes, Ruth

2011-03-01

Seven years ago, the Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics (SPIN-UP) Report produced by the National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics identified several key characteristics of thriving undergraduate physics departments including steps these departments had taken to prepare students better for careers in industry. Today statistical data from AIP shows that almost 40% of students graduating with a degree in physics seek employment as soon as they graduate. Successful undergraduate physics programs have taken steps to adapt their rigorous physics programs to ensure that graduating seniors have the skills they need to enter the industrial workplace as well as to go on to graduate school in physics. Typical strategies noted during a series of SPIN-UP workshops funded by a grant from NSF to APS, AAPT, and AIP include flexible curricula, early introduction of undergraduates to research techniques, revised laboratory experiences that provide students with skills they need to move directly into jobs, and increased emphasis on ``soft'' skills such as communication and team work. Despite significant success, undergraduate programs face continuing challenges in preparing students to work in industry, most significantly the fact that there is no job called ``physicist'' at the undergraduate level. supported by grant NSF DUE-0741560.

Nonvariational calculation of the relativistic, finite-size, and QED corrections for the 2 1S excited state of the helium atom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haftel, M. I.; Mandelzweig, V. B.

1994-05-01

Relativistic and QED corrections are calculated by using a direct solution of the Schrödinger equation for the 2 1S excited state of the helium atom obtained with the correlation-function hyperspherical-harmonic method. Our extremely accurate nonvariational results for relativistic, QED, and finite-size corrections coincide exactly (up to 0.000 03 cm-1) with the values obtained in precision variational calculations of Drake [Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 5, 2207 (1988)] and Baker, Hill, and Morgan [in Relativistic, Quantum Electrodynamic and Weak Interaction Effects in Atoms, edited by Walter Johnson, Peter Mohr, and Joseph Sucher, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 189 (AIP, New York, 1989), p. 123] for both infinite and finite nuclear masses. This confirms that a discrepancy of 0.0033 cm-1 between theory and experiment is not a result of an inaccuracy of variational wave functions, but is rooted in our inadequate knowledge of the QED operators. A better understanding of the different QED contributions to the operators (such as, for example, a more precise estimate of the Bethe logarithm) is therefore needed to explain the discrepancy.

Proposed Requirements-driven User-scenario Development Protocol for the Belmont Forum E-Infrastructure and Data Management Cooperative Research Agreement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wee, B.; Car, N.; Percivall, G.; Allen, D.; Fitch, P. G.; Baumann, P.; Waldmann, H. C.

2014-12-01

The Belmont Forum E-Infrastructure and Data Management Cooperative Research Agreement (CRA) is designed to foster a global community to collaborate on e-infrastructure challenges. One of the deliverables is an implementation plan to address global data infrastructure interoperability challenges and align existing domestic and international capabilities. Work package three (WP3) of the CRA focuses on the harmonization of global data infrastructure for sharing environmental data. One of the subtasks under WP3 is the development of user scenarios that guide the development of applicable deliverables. This paper describes the proposed protocol for user scenario development. It enables the solicitation of user scenarios from a broad constituency, and exposes the mechanisms by which those solicitations are evaluated against requirements that map to the Belmont Challenge. The underlying principle of traceability forms the basis for a structured, requirements-driven approach resulting in work products amenable to trade-off analyses and objective prioritization. The protocol adopts the ISO Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) as a top level framework. User scenarios are developed within RM-ODP's "Enterprise Viewpoint". To harmonize with existing frameworks, the protocol utilizes the conceptual constructs of "scenarios", "use cases", "use case categories", and use case templates as adopted by recent GEOSS Architecture Implementation Project (AIP) deliverables and CSIRO's eReefs project. These constructs are encapsulated under the larger construct of "user scenarios". Once user scenarios are ranked by goodness-of-fit to the Belmont Challenge, secondary scoring metrics may be generated, like goodness-of-fit to FutureEarth science themes. The protocol also facilitates an assessment of the ease of implementing given user scenario using existing GEOSS AIP deliverables. In summary, the protocol results in a traceability graph that can be extended to coordinate across research programmes. If implemented using appropriate technologies and harmonized with existing ontologies, this approach enables queries, sensitivity analyses, and visualization of complex relationships.

The spectroscopic orbit of Capella revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, M.; Strassmeier, K. G.

2011-07-01

Context. Capella is among the few binary stars with two evolved giant components. The hotter component is a chromospherically active star within the Hertzsprung gap, while the cooler star is possibly helium-core burning. Aims: The known inclination of the orbital plane from astrometry in combination with precise radial velocities will allow very accurate masses to be determined for the individual Capella stars. This will constrain their evolutionary stage and possibly the role of the active star's magnetic field on the dynamical evolution of the binary system. Methods: We obtained a total of 438 high-resolution échelle spectra during the years 2007-2010 and used the measured velocities to recompute the orbital elements. Our double-lined orbital solution yields average residuals of 64 m s-1 for the cool component and 297 m s-1 for the more rapidly rotating hotter component. Results: The semi-amplitude of the cool component is smaller by 0.045 km s-1 than the orbit determination of Torres et al. from data taken during 1996-1999 but more precise by a factor of 5.5, while for the hotter component it is larger by 0.580 km s-1 and more precise by a factor of 3.6. This corresponds to masses of 2.573 ± 0.009 M⊙ and 2.488 ± 0.008 M⊙ for the cool and hot component, respectively. Their relative errors of 0.34% and 0.30% are about half of the values given in Torres et al. for a combined literature-data solution but with absolute values different by 4% and 2% for the two components, respectively. The mass ratio of the system is therefore q = MA/MB = 0.9673 ± 0.0020. Conclusions: Our orbit is the most precise and also likely to be the most accurate ever obtained for Capella. Based on data obtained with the STELLA robotic telescope in Tenerife, an AIP facility jointly operated by AIP and IAC.Full Table 1 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/531/A89

Explicit high-order non-canonical symplectic particle-in-cell algorithms for Vlasov-Maxwell systems

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

Xiao, Jianyuan; Qin, Hong; Liu, Jian

2015-11-01

Explicit high-order non-canonical symplectic particle-in-cell algorithms for classical particle-field systems governed by the Vlasov-Maxwell equations are developed. The algorithms conserve a discrete non-canonical symplectic structure derived from the Lagrangian of the particle-field system, which is naturally discrete in particles. The electromagnetic field is spatially discretized using the method of discrete exterior calculus with high-order interpolating differential forms for a cubic grid. The resulting time-domain Lagrangian assumes a non-canonical symplectic structure. It is also gauge invariant and conserves charge. The system is then solved using a structure-preserving splitting method discovered by He et al. [preprint arXiv: 1505.06076 (2015)], which produces fivemore » exactly soluble sub-systems, and high-order structure-preserving algorithms follow by combinations. The explicit, high-order, and conservative nature of the algorithms is especially suitable for long-term simulations of particle-field systems with extremely large number of degrees of freedom on massively parallel supercomputers. The algorithms have been tested and verified by the two physics problems, i.e., the nonlinear Landau damping and the electron Bernstein wave. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.« less

Woodbridge RAF United Kingdom. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO). Parts A-F.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-03-07

GLOcAL CLIMATOLOY 4PANCH uoAFETAC CEILING VERSUS VISIBILITY AIP WEATHER SERVIC[/PAC 6 !� .0ODB8RI)E RAF UK _"_-_ " ___ .-8’ PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY OF...OSIVATIONWS A USAF ETAC 0. . -14.5(OL A) owvo I wv s op wpwm i -- GLOCAL CLIMATOLOGY RRANCH AT CEILING VERSUS VISIBILITYA’.P WEATHr SERVICE/MAC 7 .951

Comment on {open_quotes}Experimental determination of the thermal conductivity of molten CaMgSi{sub 2}O{sub 6} and the transport of heat through magmas{close_quotes} by Don Snyder, Elizabeth Gier, and Ian Carmichael

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

Carrigan, C.; McBirney, A.

1997-07-01

A comparative evaluation is made of various experiments and techniques for measuring the thermal properties of molten silicates. Sources of errors for measurements of Snyder et al are discussed. (AIP) {copyright} {ital 1997 American Geophysical Union.}

Size of Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Programs: Data from the AIP Enrollments and Degrees and Academic Workforce Surveys. Focus On

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulvey, Patrick; Tyler, John; Nicholson, Starr; Ivie, Rachel

2017-01-01

This report provides data on the size of degree-granting physics and astronomy departments by examining the number of bachelor's degrees awarded and the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty members employed. The benchmarking data in this report is intended to allow physics and astronomy departments to see how they fit in the national…

Using Incentives to Align Individual Choice with Organiztional Objectives

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

International Personality Item Pool – facet level items - Subject pool » University Students – 1st generation college – 18-24 years old, smaller sample 30... Services , Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be...organizational objectives • 4 sets of experiments - Multi-attribute Auction » Precursor to Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) - Cafeteria Style

Kwang Ju AB, Korea, Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO) Parts A, C - F.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

VISIBILITY AIP wATHER SERVICE/MAC � KWANGJU AB KO 68-69,73-80 OCT STATION STATION NA.. V.AN. MONVN PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE ___OCO-C2C (FROM...8217.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , , II I l I l l l l ! uLL05AL CLIMATOLOGY 4RANCH S USAFETAC PSYCHROMETRIC SUMMARY A!O ’ WATHER SERVICE/MAC 43,15b

Actin-filament disassembly: it takes two to shrink them fast.

PubMed

Winterhoff, Moritz; Faix, Jan

2015-06-01

Actin-filament disassembly is indispensable for replenishing the pool of polymerizable actin and allows continuous dynamic remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton. A new study now reveals that ADF/cofilin preferentially dismantles branched networks and provides new insights into the collaborative work of ADF/cofilin and Aip1 on filament disassembly at the molecular level. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Study on Atherogenic Indices of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Patients as Compared to Normal Pregnant Women

PubMed Central

Pathak, Mauchumi Saikia; Paul, Anindita

2015-01-01

Introduction Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) includes Gestational hypertension, Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia and is one of the most common obstetric complication. Worldwide about 76,000 pregnant women die each year from pre-eclampsia and related hypertensive disorders. The aetiology of Pre-eclampsia is unknown but it is thought to be related to abnormal development of placenta. Several studies have shown the presence of reduced endothelial function in pre-eclamptic pregnancy. Endothelial dysfunction is also a feature of atherosclerosis. Aim To assess fasting lipid profile and atherogenic indices in women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia as well as in women with normal pregnancy and to correlate the findings of pre-eclamptic women with that of normal pregnant women, in an attempt to utilize the data for the development of a new clinical approach for early recognition and prevention of risk of future cardiovascular diseases in women with PIH. Materials and Methods This case-control study was conducted on 50 pre-eclampsia patients who were in third trimester of pregnancy (Case group). A control group of 50 age and gestational age matched normal pregnant women was taken. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed. Fasting Lipid profile parameters were assessed and used to calculate the atherogenic indices namely Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Cardiac risk ratio (CRR) and Atherogenic coefficient (AC). Statistical Analysis was done by using student’s t-test. Mann-Whitney U-test was used wherever applicable and correlations between the variables were estimated by Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results There was an extremely significant (p<0.0001) increase in Atherogenic indices (AIP, CRR and AC) in case group as compared to the control group. A positive and significant correlation of systolic blood pressure with AIP (r=0.3583), CRR (r=0.3137), AC (r=0.3193) was found in cases. There was a positive and significant correlation between gestational age and atherogenic indices in the case group. Conclusion Women with pre-eclampsia present abnormalities in lipid profile and these lipids turn out to be a risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Evaluation of the atherogenic indices during pregnancy may help prevent this risk. PMID:26393117

Short-term evolution and coexistence of spots, plages and flare activity on LQ Hydrae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores Soriano, M.; Strassmeier, K. G.

2017-01-01

Aims: We aim to study the short-term evolution of the chromospheric and photospheric activity of the young, single K2 dwarf LQ Hya. Methods: Four months of quasi-simultaneous spectroscopic and photometric observations were used to study the variations of the photometric light curve, the evolution of the chromospheric activity from the Hα and Hβ lines, and the distribution of cool spots from Doppler maps. Results: During our observations one side of the star was more active than the other. The equivalent width of the Hα line from the least active hemisphere increased from ≈0.7 Å at the beginning of the observation to 1.0 Å at the end. The basal emission of the most active hemisphere remained roughly constant at EWHαt1.0 Å. Intense flare activity was observed during the first twenty days, where at least four different events were detected. The line asymmetries of the Hα line suggest that one of the flares could have produced a mass ejection with a maximum projected speed of 70kms-1. The rotational modulation of the V-band photometry showed clear anti-correlation with the chromospheric activity. The difference in brightness between the opposite hemispheres decreased from 0.m16 to 0.m09 in two months. Three spots gradually moving apart from each other are dominating the photospheric Doppler maps. The comparison between the maps and the Hα line as the star rotates reveals the spatial coexistence of chromospheric Hα emission and photospheric spots. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the active regions of LQ Hya can live for at least four months. The detected changes in the photometric light curve and the spectroscopic Doppler images seem to be more a consequence of the spatial redistribution of the active regions rather than due to changes in their strength. Only one of the active regions shows significant changes in its chromospheric emission. Based on data obtained with the STELLA robotic telescope in Tenerife, an AIP facility jointly operated by AIP and IAC, and the Vienna-Potsdam Automatic Photoelectric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory in Arizona, operated by AIP.

[The role of epicardial fat and obesity parameters in the prediction of coronary heart disease].

PubMed

Prídavková, Dana; Kantárová, Daniela; Lišková, Renáta; Červeň, Peter; Kovář, František; Mokáň, Marián

2016-04-01

To assess the relationship of parameters of obesity in relationship to coronary angiography findings with correlation of epicardial fat (EF) thickness in uppermentioned context. There were 80 patients examined (43 males, 37 postmenopausal females) undergoing elective coronary angiography. We examined the regular obesity parameters - BMI, waist circumference (WC), neck circumference (NC), total body fat (TBF), and visceral fat (VF) using bioimpedance. We assessed the echocardiographically measured EF thickness. We added examination of lipidogram, glycaemia, HOMA-IR (insulin resistance index) and AIP (aterogenic index of plasma). The set was divided into group with coronarographically proved stenosis or stenoses (withCS), and a group without finding of quantifiable stenosis or stenoses (withoutCS). The average thickness of EF in withCS group was 6.3 vs 5.6 mm in group withoutCS (p < 0.025). The differences in the thickness of EF in mentioned groups were 6.5 vs 5.2 mm in males (p < 0.025, = 20 %) and 6.1 vs 6.0 mm in females (p < 0.025, = 1.64 %). In males in withCS group, there was a dominant fat increase in epicardial region and TBF, and in females in withCS group, the fat deposits were increased in general. BMI was not a dominant parameter of adiposity in neither group (males in withCS group 31.11 vs withoutCS 30.41 kg/m(2); females in withCS group 31.40 vs withoutCS 31.20 kg/m(2)). EF was correlated the most by WC in males (r = 0.488; p < 0.005), and in females too (r = 0.564, p < 0.005). The patients in withCS group had increased HOMA-IR 4.75 vs 3.56 in withoutCS group, and AIP 0.22 vs 0.17. Thickness of EF in males and VT in females could be considered obesity parameters in assessment of pre-clinical stages of coronary atherosclerosis and prediction of risk of coronary heart disease. In adipose parameters, EF thickness was correlated the most by WC. Risk stratification of coronary artery disease is supplemented by increased HOMA-IR and AIP.

Optimal Flow Control Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allan, Brian; Owens, Lewis

2010-01-01

In support of the Blended-Wing-Body aircraft concept, a new flow control hybrid vane/jet design has been developed for use in a boundary-layer-ingesting (BLI) offset inlet in transonic flows. This inlet flow control is designed to minimize the engine fan-face distortion levels and the first five Fourier harmonic half amplitudes while maximizing the inlet pressure recovery. This concept represents a potentially enabling technology for quieter and more environmentally friendly transport aircraft. An optimum vane design was found by minimizing the engine fan-face distortion, DC60, and the first five Fourier harmonic half amplitudes, while maximizing the total pressure recovery. The optimal vane design was then used in a BLI inlet wind tunnel experiment at NASA Langley's 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. The experimental results demonstrated an 80-percent decrease in DPCPavg, the reduction in the circumferential distortion levels, at an inlet mass flow rate corresponding to the middle of the operational range at the cruise condition. Even though the vanes were designed at a single inlet mass flow rate, they performed very well over the entire inlet mass flow range tested in the wind tunnel experiment with the addition of a small amount of jet flow control. While the circumferential distortion was decreased, the radial distortion on the outer rings at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP) increased. This was a result of the large boundary layer being distributed from the bottom of the AIP in the baseline case to the outer edges of the AIP when using the vortex generator (VG) vane flow control. Experimental results, as already mentioned, showed an 80-percent reduction of DPCPavg, the circumferential distortion level at the engine fan-face. The hybrid approach leverages strengths of vane and jet flow control devices, increasing inlet performance over a broader operational range with significant reduction in mass flow requirements. Minimal distortion level requirements are met using vanes alone, avoiding engine stall and increasing robustness of this hybrid inlet flow control approach. This design applies to aerospace applications needing flush-mounted boundary-layer-ingesting inlets.

Benchmarking statistical averaging of spectra with HULLAC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klapisch, Marcel; Busquet, Michel

2008-11-01

Knowledge of radiative properties of hot plasmas is important for ICF, astrophysics, etc When mid-Z or high-Z elements are present, the spectra are so complex that one commonly uses statistically averaged description of atomic systems [1]. In a recent experiment on Fe[2], performed under controlled conditions, high resolution transmission spectra were obtained. The new version of HULLAC [3] allows the use of the same model with different levels of details/averaging. We will take advantage of this feature to check the effect of averaging with comparison with experiment. [1] A Bar-Shalom, J Oreg, and M Klapisch, J. Quant. Spectros. Rad. Transf. 65, 43 (2000). [2] J. E. Bailey, G. A. Rochau, C. A. Iglesias et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 265002-4 (2007). [3]. M. Klapisch, M. Busquet, and A. Bar-Shalom, AIP Conference Proceedings 926, 206-15 (2007).

Zonostrophic instability driven by discrete particle noise

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

St-Onge, D. A.; Krommes, J. A.

The consequences of discrete particle noise for a system possessing a possibly unstable collective mode are discussed. It is argued that a zonostrophic instability (of homogeneous turbulence to the formation of zonal flows) occurs just below the threshold for linear instability. The scenario provides a new interpretation of the random forcing that is ubiquitously invoked in stochastic models such as the second-order cumulant expansion or stochastic structural instability theory; neither intrinsic turbulence nor coupling to extrinsic turbulence is required. A representative calculation of the zonostrophic neutral curve is made for a simple two-field model of toroidal ion-temperature-gradient-driven modes. To themore » extent that the damping of zonal flows is controlled by the ion-ion collision rate, the point of zonostrophic instability is independent of that rate. Published by AIP Publishing.« less

Zonostrophic instability driven by discrete particle noise

DOE PAGES

St-Onge, D. A.; Krommes, J. A.

2017-04-01

The consequences of discrete particle noise for a system possessing a possibly unstable collective mode are discussed. It is argued that a zonostrophic instability (of homogeneous turbulence to the formation of zonal flows) occurs just below the threshold for linear instability. The scenario provides a new interpretation of the random forcing that is ubiquitously invoked in stochastic models such as the second-order cumulant expansion or stochastic structural instability theory; neither intrinsic turbulence nor coupling to extrinsic turbulence is required. A representative calculation of the zonostrophic neutral curve is made for a simple two-field model of toroidal ion-temperature-gradient-driven modes. To themore » extent that the damping of zonal flows is controlled by the ion-ion collision rate, the point of zonostrophic instability is independent of that rate. Published by AIP Publishing.« less

Atomic Level Cleaning of Poly Methyl Methacrylate Residues from the Graphene Surface Using Radiolized Water at High Temperatures (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-05

AFRL-RX-WP-JA-2017-0321 ATOMIC LEVEL CLEANING OF POLY-METHYL- METHACRYLATE RESIDUES FROM THE GRAPHENE SURFACE USING RADIOLIZED WATER AT...N. Zakharov and Eric A. Stach Brookhaven National Laboratory Jennifer Carpena-Nunez National Research Council 9 March 2017 Interim Report...Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. © 2017 AIP PUBLISHING (STINFO COPY) AIR FORCE RESEARCH

Does It Matter Where I Go to College? Effects of Physics Departments on Student Outcomes. AIP Report, Number R-433.03

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivie, Rachel; Nies, Kim

2004-01-01

The decision about which college to attend can be daunting. College bound high school students may pore over catalogs, make visits to multiple campuses, and negotiate the intricacies of financial aid. There are a variety of choices, and the most basic of choices involves what type of school to attend. Should it be a well-funded research university…

Positron annihilation induced Auger electron spectroscopy

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

Weiss, A.

1991-02-01

A review is given on the results of PAES (positron annihilation induced Auger Electron Spectroscopy) studies to data, with a concentration on those results obtained at the University of Texas at Arlington. Low energy positions, trapped in a surface localized state annihilate with core electrons resulting in the emission of Auger electrons. The advantages of PEAS include: (i) the elimination of the very large secondary electron background, and (ii) increased surface selectivity. (AIP)

Analysis of Vertiport Studies Funded by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-05-01

the general population and travel behavior factors from surveys and other sources. FEASIBILITY The vertiport studies recognize the need to address the ... behavior factors obtained from surveys and other sources. All of the methods were dependent upon various secondary data and/or information sources that...economic responses and of travel behavior . The five types, in order of increasing analytical sophistication, are briefly identified as follows. I

A FORCEnet Framework for Analysis of Existing Naval C4I Architectures

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-06-01

best qualities of humans and computers. f. Information Weapons Information weapons integrate the use of military deception, psychological ...operations, to include electronic warfare, psychological operations, computer network attack, computer network defense, operations security, and military...F/A-18 ( ATARS /SHARP), S-3B (SSU), SH-60 LAMPS (HAWKLINK) and P-3C (AIP, Special Projects). CDL-N consists of two antennas (one meter diameter

Improved yields for MOST’s using ion implantation

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

Brockman, H. E.

1976-04-01

Conventionally diffused source and drain polysilicon gate MOST's commonly exhibit one type of fault, namely, that of polysilicon-to-diffusion short circuits. Investigations into the yields of large-area devices fabricated using ion-implanted sources and drains are compared with those of diffused structures. An improved technology for the chemical shaping of the polysilicon gates, which improves the yields for both types of devices, is also described. (AIP)

Resonance Coupling in Plasmonic Nanomatryoshka Homo- and Heterodimers

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-16

accepted that individual silver nanoparticles show larger scattering spectra for an interacted light in comparison with the gold nanoparticles in the... silver nanoparticles is in the direction of shorter wavelengths (blue-shift), however, this condition must be suppressed by coupling of the interband...heterogenous dimers of gold and silver nanoparticles ,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 197401 (2008). Reuse of AIP Publishing content is subject to the terms at: https

Current approach to the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease - Combination of comprehensive diagnostic and organ-specific criteria.

PubMed

Umehara, Hisanori; Okazaki, Kazuichi; Nakamura, Takuji; Satoh-Nakamura, Tomomi; Nakajima, Akio; Kawano, Mitsuhiro; Mimori, Tsuneyo; Chiba, Tsutomu

2017-05-01

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fascinating clinical entity proposed by Japanese investigators, and includes a wide variety of diseases, formerly diagnosed as Mikulicz's disease (MD), autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), interstitial nephritis, prostatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, etc. Although all clinicians in every field of medicine may encounter this new disease, a unifying diagnostic criterion has not been established. In 2011, the Japanese IgG4 team, organized by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan, published comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. Several problems with these criteria have arisen in clinical practice, however, including the difficulty obtaining biopsy samples from some patients, and the sensitivity and the specificity of techniques used to measure serum IgG4 concentrations. Although serum IgG4 concentration is an important clinical marker for IgG4-RD, its diagnostic utility in differentiating IgG4-RD from other diseases, called IgG4-RD mimickers, remains unclear. This review describes the current optimal approach for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD, based on both comprehensive and organ-specific diagnostic criteria, in patients with diseases such as IgG4-related pancreatitis (AIP), sclerosing cholangitis, and renal, lung and orbital diseases.

Highlights from the First Ever Demographic Study of Solar Physics, Space Physics, and Upper Atmospheric Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moldwin, M.; Morrow, C. A.; White, S. C.; Ivie, R.

2014-12-01

Members of the Education & Workforce Working Group and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) conducted the first ever National Demographic Survey of working professionals for the 2012 National Academy of Sciences Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey to learn about the demographics of this sub-field of space science. The instrument contained questions for participants on: the type of workplace; basic demographic information regarding gender and minority status, educational pathways (discipline of undergrad degree, field of their PhD), how their undergraduate and graduate student researchers are funded, participation in NSF and NASA funded spaceflight missions and suborbital programs, and barriers to career advancement. Using contact data bases from AGU, the American Astronomical Society's Solar Physics Division (AAS-SPD), attendees of NOAA's Space Weather Week and proposal submissions to NSF's Atmospheric, Geospace Science Division, the AIP's Statistical Research Center cross correlated and culled these data bases resulting in 2776 unique email addresses of US based working professionals. The survey received 1305 responses (51%) and generated 125 pages of single space answers to a number of open-ended questions. This talk will summarize the highlights of this first-ever demographic survey including findings extracted from the open-ended responses regarding barriers to career advancement which showed significant gender differences.

Gas-Phase and Solution-Phase Homolytic Bond Dissociation Energies of H-N(+) Bonds in the Conjugate Acids of Nitrogen Bases.

PubMed

Liu, Wei-Zhong; Bordwell, Frederick G.

1996-07-12

The oxidation potentials of 19 nitrogen bases (abbreviated as B: six primary amines, five secondary amines, two tertiary amines, three anilines, pyridine, quinuclidine, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane), i.e., E(ox)(B) values in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and/or acetonitrile (AN), have been measured. Combination of these E(ox)(B) values with the acidity values of the corresponding acids (pK(HB)(+)) in DMSO and/or AN using the equation: BDE(HB)(+) = 1.37pK(HB)(+) + 23.1 E(ox)(B) + C (C equals 59.5 kcal/mol in AN and 73.3 kcal/mol in DMSO) gave estimates of solution phase homolytic bond dissociation energies of H-B(+) bonds. Gas-phase BDE values of H-B(+) bonds were estimated from updated proton affinities (PA) and adiabatic ionization potentials (aIP) using the equation, BDE(HB(+))(g) = PA + aIP - 314 kcal/mol. The BDE(HB)(+) values estimated in AN were found to be 5-11 kcal/mol higher than the corresponding gas phase BDE(HB(+))(g) values. These bond-strengthening effects in solution are interpreted as being due to the greater solvation energy of the HB(+) cation than that of the B(+*) radical cation.

Got Skills? On-the-Job Activities of Physicists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivie, Rachel

2011-03-01

It goes almost without saying that physics doctorates do a lot more than just physics research or teaching at their jobs. But what exactly do they do? First, I will share basic data showing where physics doctorates are employed. Then I will present data from two of AIP's surveys about the employment of physicists. The first set of data comes from our survey of physics PhDs one year after doctorate. We will consider how often physics doctorates do a variety of activities on the job, including management, technical writing, teamwork, design and development, programming, and advanced mathematics. The second set of data comes from AIP's new survey of PhDs in physics 10 to 13 years after graduation. Data for many of the same activities will be shown for physics doctorates who have been in the workplace about a decade. Depending on the type of job, most industrially employed physics doctorates do some type of physics at work, but they are also very likely to report managing projects, writing for technical audiences, working on a team, and collaborating with non-physicists, among many other activities. This examination of the types of activities physics doctorates perform in the workplace will provide insight on the non-scientific training that would benefit graduate students the most.

Regulation of HTLV-1 Gag budding by Vps4A, Vps4B, and AIP1/Alix

PubMed Central

Urata, Shuzo; Yokosawa, Hideyoshi; Yasuda, Jiro

2007-01-01

Background HTLV-1 Gag protein is a matrix protein that contains the PTAP and PPPY sequences as L-domain motifs and which can be released from mammalian cells in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs). The cellular factors Tsg101 and Nedd4.1 interact with PTAP and PPPY, respectively, within the HTLV-1 Gag polyprotein. Tsg101 forms a complex with Vps28 and Vps37 (ESCRT-I complex) and plays an important role in the class E Vps pathway, which mediates protein sorting and invagination of vesicles into multivesicular bodies. Nedd4.1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that binds to the PPPY motif through its WW motif, but its function is still unknown. In the present study, to investigate the mechanism of HTLV-1 budding in detail, we analyzed HTLV-1 budding using dominant negative (DN) forms of the class E proteins. Results Here, we report that DN forms of Vps4A, Vps4B, and AIP1 inhibit HTLV-1 budding. Conclusion These findings suggest that HTLV-1 budding utilizes the MVB pathway and that these class E proteins may be targets for prevention of mother-to-infant vertical transmission of the virus. PMID:17601348

Clinical features of a new disease concept, IgG4-related thyroiditis.

PubMed

Watanabe, T; Maruyama, M; Ito, T; Fujinaga, Y; Ozaki, Y; Maruyama, M; Kodama, R; Muraki, T; Hamano, H; Arakura, N; Kadoya, M; Suzuki, S; Komatsu, M; Shimojo, H; Notohara, K; Uchida, M; Kawa, S

2013-01-01

Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease is a recently proposed systemic disorder that includes autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), Mikulicz's disease, and various other organ lesions. In the present retrospective study, we examined whether thyroid lesions should also be included in IgG4-related disease (Ig4-RD) under the new term IgG4-related thyroiditis. We enrolled 114 patients with Ig4-RD, including 92 patients with AIP, 15 patients with Mikulicz's disease, and seven patients with IgG4-related cholangitis, and analysed clinical findings, function, serum values of activity markers, computed tomography (CT) images, and histology of the thyroid gland. Among the 22 patients (19%) in our cohort who were found to have hypothyroidism [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) > 4 mIU/L], 11 patients had clinical hypothyroidism [free thyroxine (FT4) < 1 ng/dL] and 11 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism (FT4 ≥ 1 ng/dL). Serum concentrations of IgG, IgG4, circulating immune complex (CIC), and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) were significantly higher in the hypothyroidism group compared with the remaining 92 euthyroid patients, and serum C3 concentration was significantly lower. After prednisolone treatment, TSH values had decreased significantly (p = 0.005) in this group and FT4 values had increased significantly (p = 0.047). CT images showed that the thyroid glands of patients with clinical hypothyroidism had a significantly greater volume than those of the euthyroid and other groups. Pathological analysis of one resected thyroid gland disclosed a focused lesion with infiltration of lymphocytes and IgG4-bearing plasma cells and loss of thyroid follicles. Thyroid lesions associated with hypothyroidism can be considered as a new disease termed IgG4-related thyroiditis. Awareness of this condition should lead to appropriate corticosteroid treatment that may prevent progression to a fibrous state.

Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase mediates the intracellular signalling pathways of cardiac apoptosis in mice with impaired glucose tolerance.

PubMed

Federico, Marilen; Portiansky, Enrique L; Sommese, Leandro; Alvarado, Francisco J; Blanco, Paula G; Zanuzzi, Carolina N; Dedman, John; Kaetzel, Marcia; Wehrens, Xander H T; Mattiazzi, Alicia; Palomeque, Julieta

2017-06-15

Spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ release events increased in fructose-rich diet mouse (FRD) myocytes vs. control diet (CD) mice, in the absence of significant changes in SR Ca 2+ load. In HEK293 cells, hyperglycaemia significantly enhanced [ 3 H]ryanodine binding and Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylation of RyR2-S2814 residue vs. normoglycaemia. These increases were prevented by CaMKII inhibition. FRD significantly augmented cardiac apoptosis in WT vs. CD-WT mice, which was prevented by co-treatment with the reactive oxygen species scavenger Tempol. Oxidative stress was also increased in FRD-SR-autocamide inhibitory peptide (AIP) mice, expressing the SR-targeted CaMKII inhibitor AIP, without any significant enhancement of apoptosis vs. CD-SR-AIP mice. FRD produced mitochondrial swelling and membrane depolarization in FRD-WT mice but not in FRD-S2814A mice, in which the CaMKII site on ryanodine receptor 2 was ablated. FRD decreased mitochondrial area, mean Feret diameter and the mean distance between SR and the outer mitochondrial membrane vs. CD hearts. This remodelling was prevented in AC3I mice, with cardiac-targeted CaMKII inhibition. The impact of cardiac apoptosis in pre-diabetic stages of diabetic cardiomyopathy is unknown. We show that myocytes from fructose-rich diet (FRD) animals exhibit arrhythmias produced by exacerbated Ca 2+ /calmodulin-protein kinase (CaMKII) activity, ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) phosphorylation and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ leak. We tested the hypothesis that this mechanism also underlies cardiac apoptosis in pre-diabetes. We generated a pre-diabetic model in FRD mice. FRD mice showed an increase in oxidative stress, hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction. FRD myocytes exhibited enhanced SR Ca 2+ spontaneous events in the absence of SR Ca 2+ load alterations vs. control-diet (CD) myocytes. In HEK293 cells, hyperglycaemia significantly enhanced [ 3 H]ryanodine binding and CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2-S2814 residue vs. normoglycaemia. CaMKII inhibition prevented hyperglycaemia-induced alterations. FRD also evoked cardiac apoptosis in WT mice vs. CD-WT mice. Co-treatment with the reactive oxygen species scavenger Tempol prevented FRD-induced apoptosis in WT mice. In contrast, FRD enhanced oxidative stress but not apoptosis in FRD-SR-AIP mice, in which a CaMKII inhibitor is targeted to the SR. FRD produced mitochondrial membrane depolarization in WT mice but not in S2814A mice, in which the CaMKII phosphorylation site on RyR2 was ablated. Furthermore, FRD decreased mitochondrial area, mean Feret diameter and mean SR-mitochondrial distance vs. CD-WT hearts. This remodelling was prevented in AC3I mice, with cardiac-targeted CaMKII inhibition. CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2, SR Ca 2+ leak and mitochondrial membrane depolarization are critically involved in the apoptotic pathway of the pre-diabetic heart. The FRD-induced decrease in SR-mitochondrial distance is likely to additionally favour Ca 2+ transit between the two organelles. © 2017 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2017 The Physiological Society.

Characteristics of Gamma-Ray Loud Blazars in the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

It has a peak radio flux density of 131 mJy at 8.5 GHz. It has a very short jet extending to the southeast (see Figure 9). The spectrum in Marcha et...et al. 2009b, ApJ, 696, L22 Marcha , M. J. M., Brown, I. W. A., Impey, C. D., & Smith, P. S. 1996, MNRAS, 281, 425 Marscher, A. P. 2006, in AIP Conf

Reaching the Critical Mass: The Twenty Year Surge in High School Physics. Findings from the 2005 Nationwide Survey of High School Physics Teachers. AIP Report. Number R-442

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neuschatz, Michael; McFarling, Mark; White, Susan

2008-01-01

This report traces the growth of high school physics in American school over the past twenty years. Highlights of the report include: (1) Enrollments in high school physics continue to grow; (2) Increase in number and proportion of physics teachers; (3) Number of students taking honors, advance placement or second-year physics course has nearly…

Impact Experiments into Borosilicate Glass at Three Scale Sizes

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

DEDF and soda - lime glass during rod impact. Shock Compression in Condensed Matter–2005 (Furnish MD, Elert M, Russell TP, and White CT, Eds.) AIP Conf...in a float soda - lime silicate glass . Int. J. Appl. Glass Sci., to be submitted (2009). 18. Chocron S, Dannemann KA, Nicholls AE, and Anderson CE Jr...UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Impact Experiments into Borosilicate Glass at Three Scale Sizes Charles E. Anderson, Jr. Carl E. Weiss Sidney Chocron

Serpentine Diffuser Performance with Emphasis on Future Introduction to a Transonic Fan (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

conditioning barrel . The velocity distribution across the flow conditioning barrel was measured at the same axial location of inlet temperature and...rakes at the same axial plane (AIP) of the total pressure probe tips. The probes were constructed from stainless steel tubing with 0.027 inch inside...numbers with 195 axial and circumferential static pressure measurements within the diffuser flow path. Pressure distortion at the diffuser discharge

Soar: An Architecture for General Intelligence

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-29

procedure". Artifcial Intelligence 12 (1979). 201-214. 6. Boggs M. & Carbonell. J. A Tutorial Introduction to DYPAR-1. Computer Science Department...P Tf 1 F COPY SOAR: AN ARCHITECTURE FOR0 GENERAL INTELLIGENCE OTechnical Report AIP-9 0[ John E. Laird, Allen Newell and Paul S. Rosenbloom...University of Michigan . 0 j Carnegie-Mellon University Stanford University The Artificial Intelligence and Psychology r Project DTJC S ELEC TEN;it* EC 2 9 1

Erratum: “Effect of hydrothermal condition on the formation of multi-component oxides of Ni-based metallic glass under high temperature water near the critical point” [AIP Advances 5, 077132 (2015)

DOE PAGES

Kim, J. S.; Kim, S. Y.; Kim, D. H.; ...

2015-12-30

In the original manuscript, M. H. Lee’s affiliation number was incorrectly listed as 1. M. H. Lee’s correct affiliation number is 2 (Rare Metals R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 406-840, South Korea). Furthermore, this change affects no other part of the paper.

Physics Students from Abroad: Monitoring the Continuing Impact of Visa Problems. AIP Report, Number R-440

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neuschatz, Michael; Mulvey, Patrick J.

2005-01-01

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the US government set in motion a broad set of measures whose aim was to screen foreign applicants for entrance into the US, to try to identify those who it was felt might attempt to carry out further attacks. Since the 2001-02 academic year had already begun in most schools, and since it took time for…

The Soviet Union and Iraq Since 1968.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

had outlived its usefulness and had itself become a threat to the regime’s authority. Kassem turned on it and attempted to restrict its political ... Kassem had studiously avoided: They began to eliminate the ICP physically as a political force. By one estimate 3,000 party members were killed.IlJ This...ide It mne@*aip and identir by block uwober) USSR Foreign Aid IRAQ Political Science Arms Control Foreign Policy Military Assistance International