KSC-06pd0578

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap has been installed on Endeavour. The nose cap has been insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-06pd0580

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap has been installed on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The nose cap has been insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-06pd0579

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker checks the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap after installation on Endeavour. The nose cap has been insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

Adenylyl cyclase-associated protein-1/CAP1 as a biological target substrate of gelatinase B/MMP-9

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

Cauwe, Benedicte; Martens, Erik; Van den Steen, Philippe E.

2008-09-10

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are classically associated with the turnover of secreted structural and functional proteins. Although MMPs have been shown to process also a kaleidoscope of membrane-associated substrates, little is known about the processing of intracellular proteins by MMPs. Physiological and pathological cell apoptosis, necrosis and tumor lysis by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunological cytotoxicity, are examples of conditions in which an overload of intracellular proteins becomes accessible to the action of MMPs. We used a model system of dying human myelomonocytic cells to study the processing of intracellular protein substrates by gelatinase B/MMP-9 in vitro. Adenylyl cyclase-associated protein-1 or CAP1more » was identified as a novel and most efficient substrate of gelatinase B/MMP-9. The presence of CAP1 in the extracellular milieu in vivo was documented by analysis of urine of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Whereas no active MMP-9 could be detected in urines of healthy controls, all urine samples of patients with clinical parameters of renal failure contained activated MMP-9 and/or MMP-2. In addition, in some of these patients indications of CAP1 cleavage are observed, implying CAP1 degradation in vivo. The high turnover rate of CAP1 by MMP-9, comparable to that of gelatin as the natural extracellular substrate of this enzyme, may be critical to prevent pathological conditions associated with considerable cytolysis.« less

KSC-04PD-1682

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers check the fit of the nose cap (right) after installation on the orbiter Atlantis. The nose cap was removed from the vehicle in May and sent back to the vendor for thorough Non- Destructive Engineering evaluation and recoating. Thermography was also performed to check for internal flaws. This procedure uses high intensity light to heat areas that are immediately scanned with an infrared camera. White Thermal Protection System blankets were reinstalled on the nose cap before installation. Processing continues on Atlantis for its future mission to the International Space Station.

cap alpha. -Methylglucoside satisfies only Na/sup +/-dependent transport system of intestinal epithelium

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

Kimmich, G.A.; Randles, J.

1981-01-01

The unidirectional influx of ..cap alpha..-methylglucoside (..cap alpha..-MG) by isolated chicken intestinal epithelial cells is 98% inhibited by phlorizin. The remaining 2% of the total influx occurs in the absence of Na/sup +/, is not sensitive to phloretin, and is equal to the diffusional entry rate for 2-deoxyglucose. The glucoside is much more strongly accumulated (75-fold) than 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) (10-fold). Inhibitors of the serosal sugar carrier (phloretin, cytochalasin B, theophylline, and flavanoids) do not enhance ..cap alpha..-MG accumulation. It is concluded that the glycoside is not a substrate for the intestinal serosal transport system. Steady-state gradients of the sugar canmore » be represented accurately by a concentrative, phlorizin-sensitive system that is opposed by a diffusional efflux process.« less

Nuclear reactor fuel rod attachment system

DOEpatents

Christiansen, David W.

1982-01-01

A reusable system for removably attaching a nuclear reactor fuel rod (12) to a support member (14). A locking cap (22) is secured to the fuel rod (12) and a locking strip (24) is fastened to the support member (14). The locking cap (22) has two opposing fingers (24a and 24b) shaped to form a socket having a body portion (26). The locking strip has an extension (36) shaped to rigidly attach to the socket's body portion (26). The locking cap's fingers are resiliently deflectable. For attachment, the locking cap (22) is longitudinally pushed onto the locking strip (24) causing the extension (36) to temporarily deflect open the fingers (24a and 24b) to engage the socket's body portion (26). For removal, the process is reversed.

KSC-06pd0575

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers are nearby as a crane lifts the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap to be installed onto Endeavour. The nose cap is insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-06pd0577

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker examines the underside of the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap that will be installed on Endeavour. The nose cap is insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

KSC-06pd0574

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-04-05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers are preparing to move and install the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap (on the stand) onto Endeavour. The nose cap is insulated with thermal protection system blankets made of a woven ceramic fabric. The special blankets help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-04pd0965

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-04-28

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility remove Ground Support Equipment used to install Discovery’s nose cap on Friday. The nose cap had been removed from the vehicle in the summer of 2003 and returned to the vendor, where it underwent numerous forms of Non-Destructive Evaluation. These tests included X-ray, ultrasound and eddy current to ensure its structural integrity prior to installation on the vehicle. The nose cap was also recoated. Once returned to KSC, new Thermal Protection System blankets were assembled inside of the nose cap and thermography was performed prior to installation on the orbiter.

KSC-04pd0964

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-04-28

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to remove Ground Support Equipment used to install Discovery’s nose cap on Friday. The nose cap had been removed from the vehicle in the summer of 2003 and returned to the vendor, where it underwent numerous forms of Non-Destructive Evaluation. These tests included X-ray, ultrasound and eddy current to ensure its structural integrity prior to installation on the vehicle. The nose cap was also recoated. Once returned to KSC, new Thermal Protection System blankets were assembled inside of the nose cap and thermography was performed prior to installation on the orbiter.

Pulpo-dentin complex response after direct capping with self-etch adhesive systems.

PubMed

Nowicka, Alicja; Parafiniuk, Miroslaw; Lipski, Mariusz; Lichota, Damian; Buczkowska-Radlinska, Jadwiga

2012-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate morphologically the response of feline teeth pulp to direct pulp capping with two different self-etch adhesive systems. Twenty-four cavities in feline teeth were mechanically exposed and assigned to one of two experimental groups: AdheSE + Tetric Ceram (the ASE group), or Adper Prompt L-Pop + Filtek Supreme (the APLP group). There was also a control group Dycal Ca(OH)(2) liner + Amalgam (the CH group eight teeth), and six teeth were used as an intact control group. The animals were sacrificed after 40 days. The teeth were removed and processed for standard histological evaluation, using a scoring system for inflammatory cell response, pulp tissue disorganisation, reparative tissue formation, and the presence of bacteria. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the ASE and APLP self-etching resin systems during the observation period. The majority of the specimens presented inflammatory pulp response with tissue disorganisation and a lack of dentinal bridge formation. CH capping resulted in a significantly smaller inflammatory pulp response and a considerably higher incidence of reparative dentin formation. ASE and APLP were comparably effective as direct pulp capping materials, but their application resulted in significantly greater pulp tissue damage than CH capping. Further in vivo human studies are necessary to determine which adhesive resin systems should be clinically used for direct pulp capping without incurring severe damage to the pulpal tissue.

42 CFR 414.917 - Dispute resolution and process for suspension or termination of approved CAP contract and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... quality of a CAP drug supplied by the approved CAP vendor to be unsatisfactory, then the physician may address the issue first through the approved CAP vendor's grievance process, and second through an... approved CAP vendor's service or the quality of a CAP drug supplied by the approved CAP vendor, then the...

Experimental study of PAM-4, CAP-16, and DMT for 100 Gb/s short reach optical transmission systems.

PubMed

Zhong, Kangping; Zhou, Xian; Gui, Tao; Tao, Li; Gao, Yuliang; Chen, Wei; Man, Jiangwei; Zeng, Li; Lau, Alan Pak Tao; Lu, Chao

2015-01-26

Advanced modulation formats combined with digital signal processing and direct detection is a promising way to realize high capacity, low cost and power efficient short reach optical transmission system. In this paper, we present a detailed investigation on the performance of three advanced modulation formats for 100 Gb/s short reach transmission system. They are PAM-4, CAP-16 and DMT. The detailed digital signal processing required for each modulation format is presented. Comprehensive simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of each modulation format in terms of received optical power, transmitter bandwidth, relative intensity noise and thermal noise. The performance of each modulation format is also experimentally studied. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first demonstration of a 112 Gb/s transmission over 10km of SSMF employing single band CAP-16 with EML. Finally, a comparison of computational complexity of DSP for the three formats is presented.

Military personnel recognition system using texture, colour, and SURF features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irhebhude, Martins E.; Edirisinghe, Eran A.

2014-06-01

This paper presents an automatic, machine vision based, military personnel identification and classification system. Classification is done using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) on sets of Army, Air Force and Navy camouflage uniform personnel datasets. In the proposed system, the arm of service of personnel is recognised by the camouflage of a persons uniform, type of cap and the type of badge/logo. The detailed analysis done include; camouflage cap and plain cap differentiation using gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture feature; classification on Army, Air Force and Navy camouflaged uniforms using GLCM texture and colour histogram bin features; plain cap badge classification into Army, Air Force and Navy using Speed Up Robust Feature (SURF). The proposed method recognised camouflage personnel arm of service on sets of data retrieved from google images and selected military websites. Correlation-based Feature Selection (CFS) was used to improve recognition and reduce dimensionality, thereby speeding the classification process. With this method success rates recorded during the analysis include 93.8% for camouflage appearance category, 100%, 90% and 100% rates of plain cap and camouflage cap categories for Army, Air Force and Navy categories, respectively. Accurate recognition was recorded using SURF for the plain cap badge category. Substantial analysis has been carried out and results prove that the proposed method can correctly classify military personnel into various arms of service. We show that the proposed method can be integrated into a face recognition system, which will recognise personnel in addition to determining the arm of service which the personnel belong. Such a system can be used to enhance the security of a military base or facility.

Selection criteria for wastewater treatment technologies to protect drinking water.

PubMed

von Sperling, M

2000-01-01

The protection of water bodies used as sources for drinking water is intimately linked to the adoption of adequate technologies for the treatment of the wastewater generated in the catchment area. The paper presents a general overview of the main technologies used for the treatment of domestic sewage, with a special emphasis on developing countries, and focussing on the main parameters of interest, such as BOD, coliforms and nutrients. A series of tables, figures and charts that can be used for the preliminary selection of treatment technologies is presented. The systems analysed are: stabilisation ponds, activated sludge, trickling filters, anaerobic systems and land disposal. Within each system, the main process variants are covered. Two summary tables are presented, one for quantitative analysis, including easily usable information based on per capita values (US$/cap, Watts/cap, m2 area/cap, m3 sludge/cap), and another for a qualitative comparison among the technologies, based on a one-to-five-star scoring system. The recent trend in tropical countries in the use of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactors is also discussed.

Pathological Narcissism and Interpersonal Behavior in Daily Life

PubMed Central

Roche, Michael J.; Pincus, Aaron L.; Conroy, David E.; Hyde, Amanda L.; Ram, Nilam

2014-01-01

The Cognitive-Affective Processing System (CAPS) has been proposed as a useful meta-framework for integrating contextual differences in situations with individual differences in personality pathology. In this article, we evaluated the potential of combining the CAPS meta-framework and contemporary interpersonal theory to investigate how individual differences in pathological narcissism influenced interpersonal functioning in daily life. University students (N = 184) completed event-contingent reports about interpersonal interactions across a 7-day diary study. Using multilevel regression models, we found that combinations of narcissistic expression (grandiosity, vulnerability) were associated with different interpersonal behavior patterns reflective of interpersonal dysfunction. These results are among the first to empirically demonstrate the usefulness of the CAPS model to conceptualize personality pathology through the patterning of if-then interpersonal processes. PMID:23205698

Investigating the Influence of Remedial Capping on the Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbial Processes that Control Subsurface Contaminant Migration at WAG 5 on the Oak Ridge Reservation: Implications toward Long-Term Stewardship

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jardine, P. M.; Mehlhorn, T. L.

2006-05-01

The following research investigated the effectiveness of an aggressive, large scale remedial action that is occurring to subsurface waste trenches containing radioactive and organic waste at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The site is being remediated as one of the top cleanup prioritization for the Oak Ridge Accelerated Remediation endeavor. Site landlords, Bechtel Jacobs Co., LLC (BJC) are installing a minimal RCRA cap with the primary objective of controlling the infiltration of storm water into the hundreds of unconfined waste trenches containing radioactive and organic waste. The site now offers a unique scientific opportunity to track the kinetic evolution of post-cap processes influencing contaminant migration and immobilization, because we have many years of pre-cap coupled processes information and knowledge. Since the cap is certain to disrupt the near steady-state contaminant discharge profiles that have existed for many years from the site, we have been quantifying the influence of post-cap hydrological, geochemical, and microbial processes on contaminant discharge as a function of scale and time in an effort to assess local-scale cap influences versus regional scale groundwater flow influences on contaminant discharge. We have been allowed to maintain numerous groundwater monitoring wells at a field site and these have a rich historical data set with regard to hydrology, geochemistry, microbiology, and contaminant flux. Our objectives are to investigate cap induced changes in (1) groundwater and surface hydrology and contaminant flux, (2) geochemistry and contaminant speciation, and (3) microbial community structure and organic contaminant degradation and inorganic contaminant immobilization. Our approach monitors coupled processes during base-flow and during storm events in both the groundwater and surface water discharge from the site and the surrounding watershed. Pre- and post-cap data will than be modeled with a multiprocess, multicomponent, transport model which is linked to pre- and post-cap surface water hydrograph analysis from the site and the surrounding watershed. Our goal is to provide an improved fundamental understanding of the long-term fate and transport of contaminants and an improved ability to predict system response to remedial actions. The experimental and numerical results from this investigation will provide knowledge and information in previously unexplored areas of cap performance with regard to coupled hydrology, geochemistry, microbiology, and contaminant flux in humid regimes. The products will support DOE's mission of long-term stewardship of contaminated environments and be transferable to other site where similar remediation exists or is planned.

Model for capping of membrane receptors based on boundary surface effects

PubMed Central

Gershon, N. D.

1978-01-01

Crosslinking of membrane surface receptors may lead to their segregation into patches and then into a single large aggregate at one pole of the cell. This process is called capping. Here, a novel explanation of such a process is presented in which the membrane is viewed as a supersaturated solution of receptors in the lipid bilayer and the adjacent two aqueous layers. Without a crosslinking agent, a patch of receptors that is less than a certain size cannot stay in equilibrium with the solution and thus should dissolve. Patches greater than a certain size are stable and can, in principle, grow by the precipitation of the remaining dissolved receptors from the supersaturated solution. The task of the crosslinking molecules is to form such stable patches. These considerations are based on a qualitative thermodynamic calculation that takes into account the existence of a boundary tension in a patch (in analogy to the surface tension of a droplet). Thermodynamically, these systems should cap spontaneously after the patches have reached a certain size. But, in practice, such a process can be very slow. A suspension of patches may stay practically stable. The ways in which a cell may abolish this metastable equilibrium and thus achieve capping are considered and possible effects of capping inhibitors are discussed. PMID:274724

Melanoma-Targeted Chemothermotherapy and In Situ Peptide Immunotherapy through HSP Production by Using Melanogenesis Substrate, NPrCAP, and Magnetite Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Jimbow, Kowichi; Ishii-Osai, Yasue; Ito, Shosuke; Tamura, Yasuaki; Ito, Akira; Yoneta, Akihiro; Kamiya, Takafumi; Yamashita, Toshiharu; Honda, Hiroyuki; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Murase, Katsutoshi; Nohara, Satoshi; Nakayama, Eiichi; Hasegawa, Takeo; Yamamoto, Itsuo; Kobayashi, Takeshi

2013-01-01

Exploitation of biological properties unique to cancer cells may provide a novel approach to overcome difficult challenges to the treatment of advanced melanoma. In order to develop melanoma-targeted chemothermoimmunotherapy, a melanogenesis substrate, N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP), sulfur-amine analogue of tyrosine, was conjugated with magnetite nanoparticles. NPrCAP was exploited from melanogenesis substrates, which are expected to be selectively incorporated into melanoma cells and produce highly reactive free radicals through reacting with tyrosinase, resulting in chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic effects by oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death. Magnetite nanoparticles were conjugated with NPrCAP to introduce thermotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic effects through nonapoptotic cell death and generation of heat shock protein (HSP) upon exposure to alternating magnetic field (AMF). During these therapeutic processes, NPrCAP was also expected to provide melanoma-targeted drug delivery system. PMID:23533767

Hardware Design and Testing of SUPERball, A Modular Tensegrity Robot

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sabelhaus, Andrew P.; Bruce, Jonathan; Caluwaerts, Ken; Chen, Yangxin; Lu, Dizhou; Liu, Yuejia; Agogino, Adrian K.; SunSpiral, Vytas; Agogino, Alice M.

2014-01-01

We are developing a system of modular, autonomous "tensegrity end-caps" to enable the rapid exploration of untethered tensegrity robot morphologies and functions. By adopting a self-contained modular approach, different end-caps with various capabilities (such as peak torques, or motor speeds), can be easily combined into new tensegrity robots composed of rods, cables, and actuators of different scale (such as in length, mass, peak loads, etc). As a first step in developing this concept, we are in the process of designing and testing the end-caps for SUPERball (Spherical Underactuated Planetary Exploration Robot), a project at the Dynamic Tensegrity Robotics Lab (DTRL) within NASA Ames's Intelligent Robotics Group. This work discusses the evolving design concepts and test results that have gone into the structural, mechanical, and sensing aspects of SUPERball. This representative tensegrity end-cap design supports robust and repeatable untethered mobility tests of the SUPERball, while providing high force, high displacement actuation, with a low-friction, compliant cabling system.

Electrochemical Induced Calcium Phosphate Precipitation: Importance of Local pH

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for living organisms and cannot be replaced or substituted. In this paper, we present a simple yet efficient membrane free electrochemical system for P removal and recovery as calcium phosphate (CaP). This method relies on in situ formation of hydroxide ions by electro mediated water reduction at a titanium cathode surface. The in situ raised pH at the cathode provides a local environment where CaP will become highly supersaturated. Therefore, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of CaP occurs near and at the cathode surface. Because of the local high pH, the P removal behavior is not sensitive to bulk solution pH and therefore, efficient P removal was observed in three studied bulk solutions with pH of 4.0 (56.1%), 8.2 (57.4%), and 10.0 (48.4%) after 24 h of reaction time. While P removal efficiencies are not generally affected by bulk solution pH, the chemical-physical properties of CaP solids collected on the cathode are still related to bulk solution pH, as confirmed by structure characterizations. High initial solution pH promotes the formation of more crystalline products with relatively high Ca/P molar ratio. The Ca/P molar ratio increases from 1.30 (pH 4.0) to 1.38 (pH 8.2) and further increases to 1.55 (pH 10.0). The formation of CaP precipitates was a typical crystallization process, with an amorphous phase formed at the initial stage which then transforms to the most stable crystal phase, hydroxyapatite, which is inferred from the increased Ca/P molar ratio from 1.38 (day 1) to the theoretical 1.76 (day 11) and by the formation of needle-like crystals. Finally, we demonstrated the efficiency of this system for real wastewater. This, together with the fact that the electrochemical method can work at low bulk pH, without dosing chemicals and a need for a separation process, highlights the potential application of the electrochemical method for P removal and recovery. PMID:28872838

KSC-06pd0257

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-02-09

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The thermal protection system blanket insulation (foreground) has been hand-sewn onto a frame before being installed inside Endeavour's Reinforced Carbon-Carbon nose cap, seen in the background, in the NASA Kennedy Space Center Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2. Made of a woven ceramic fabric, the special blankets are used to help insulate the vehicle's nose cap and protect it from the extreme temperatures it will face during a mission. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

Electronic firing systems and methods for firing a device

DOEpatents

Frickey, Steven J [Boise, ID; Svoboda, John M [Idaho Falls, ID

2012-04-24

An electronic firing system comprising a control system, a charging system, an electrical energy storage device, a shock tube firing circuit, a shock tube connector, a blasting cap firing circuit, and a blasting cap connector. The control system controls the charging system, which charges the electrical energy storage device. The control system also controls the shock tube firing circuit and the blasting cap firing circuit. When desired, the control system signals the shock tube firing circuit or blasting cap firing circuit to electrically connect the electrical energy storage device to the shock tube connector or the blasting cap connector respectively.

A front-end wafer-level microsystem packaging technique with micro-cap array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Yuh-Min

2002-09-01

The back-end packaging process is the remaining challenge for the micromachining industry to commercialize microsystem technology (MST) devices at low cost. This dissertation presents a novel wafer level protection technique as a final step of the front-end fabrication process for MSTs. It facilitates improved manufacturing throughput and automation in package assembly, wafer level testing of devices, and enhanced device performance. The method involves the use of a wafer-sized micro-cap array, which consists of an assortment of small caps micro-molded onto a material with adjustable shapes and sizes to serve as protective structures against the hostile environments during packaging. The micro-cap array is first constructed by a micromachining process with micro-molding technique, then sealed to the device wafer at wafer level. Epoxy-based wafer-level micro cap array has been successfully fabricated and showed good compatibility with conventional back-end packaging processes. An adhesive transfer technique was demonstrated to seal the micro cap array with a MEMS device wafer. No damage or gross leak was observed while wafer dicing or later during a gross leak test. Applications of the micro cap array are demonstrated on MEMS, microactuators fabricated using CRONOS MUMPS process. Depending on the application needs, the micro-molded cap can be designed and modified to facilitate additional component functions, such as optical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical functions, which are not easily achieved in the device by traditional means. Successful fabrication of a micro cap array comprised with microlenses can provide active functions as well as passive protection. An optical tweezer array could be one possibility for applications of a micro cap with microlenses. The micro cap itself could serve as micro well for DNA or bacteria amplification as well.

Mountaineer Commercial Scale Carbon Capture and Storage Project Topical Report: Preliminary Public Design Report

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

Guy Cerimele

2011-09-30

This Preliminary Public Design Report consolidates for public use nonproprietary design information on the Mountaineer Commercial Scale Carbon Capture & Storage project. The report is based on the preliminary design information developed during the Phase I - Project Definition Phase, spanning the time period of February 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. The report includes descriptions and/or discussions for: (1) DOE's Clean Coal Power Initiative, overall project & Phase I objectives, and the historical evolution of DOE and American Electric Power (AEP) sponsored projects leading to the current project; (2) Alstom's Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) carbon capture retrofit technology andmore » the carbon storage and monitoring system; (3) AEP's retrofit approach in terms of plant operational and integration philosophy; (4) The process island equipment and balance of plant systems for the CAP technology; (5) The carbon storage system, addressing injection wells, monitoring wells, system monitoring and controls logic philosophy; (6) Overall project estimate that includes the overnight cost estimate, cost escalation for future year expenditures, and major project risks that factored into the development of the risk based contingency; and (7) AEP's decision to suspend further work on the project at the end of Phase I, notwithstanding its assessment that the Alstom CAP technology is ready for commercial demonstration at the intended scale.« less

Approaches to New Endcaps for Improved Oxidation Resistance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Mary Ann B.; Frimer, Aryeh A.

1999-01-01

Norbornenyl-end capped PMR polyimide resins are widely used as polymer matrix composite materials for aircraft engine applications, since they combine ease of processing with good oxidative stability up to 300 C. PMR resins are prepared by a two-step approach involving the initial formation of oligomeric pre-polymers capped at both ends by a latent reactive end cap. The end cap undergoes cross-linking during higher temperature processing, producing the desired low density, high specific strength materials, for PMR- 15. The end cap facilitates processing by controlling the molecular weight of the oligomer and allowing flow before it cross-links. However, after cross-linking, this very end cap accounts for much of the weight loss in the polymer on aging in air at elevated temperatures. Understanding this degradation provides clues for designing new end caps to slow down degradation, and prolong the lifetime of the material.

High-resolution chirp seismic reflection data acquired from the Cap de Creus shelf and canyon area, Gulf of Lions, Spain in 2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grossman, Eric E.; Hart, Patrick E.; Field, Michael E.; Triezenberg, Peter

2006-01-01

Seismic reflection data were collected from the Cap de Creus shelf and canyon in the southwest portion of the Gulf of Lions in October 2004. The data were acquired using the U.S. Geological Survey`s (USGS) high-resolution Edgetech CHIRP 512i seismic reflection system aboard the R/V Oceanus. Data from the shipboard 3.5 kHz echosounder were also collected but are not presented here. The seismic reflection data were collected as part of EuroSTRATAFORM funded by the Office of Naval Research. In October 2004, more than 200 km of high resolution seismic reflection data were collected in water depths ranging 30 m - 600 m. All data were recorded with a Delph Seismic PC-based digital recording system and processed with Delph Seismic software. Processed sections were georeferenced into tiff images for digital archive, processing and display. Penetration ranged 20-80 m. The data feature high quality vertical cross-section imagery of numerous sequences of Quaternary seismic stratigraphy. The report includes trackline maps showing the location of the data, as well as both digital data files (SEG-Y) and images of all of the profiles. The data are of high quality and provide new information on the location and thickness of sediment deposits overlying a major erosion surface on the Cap de Creus shelf; they also provide new insight into sediment processes on the walls and in the channel of Cap de Creus Canyon. These data are under study by researchers at the US Geological Survey, the University of Barcelona, and Texas A and M University. Copies of the data are available to all researchers.

75 FR 70654 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; System Cap Trading Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-18

... Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; System Cap Trading Program AGENCY: Environmental..., 2001, and August 16, 2007, that create and amend the System Cap Trading (SCT) Program at Title 30 of.... What action is EPA proposing? II. What did Texas submit? III. What is the System Cap Trading Program...

Enabling Technologies for Advanced Soft Tissue Modeling

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

to date, we developed the system shown in Figure 5 to examine the feasibility of this technique. As shown in Figure 6, the first balloon expansion ...viscous response. For m>1 this relationship can be used to account for the effect of thermally activated processes. The rate of change of the viscous...locking stretch λLCap, initial (µ0Cap) and limiting shear moduli (µLimCap), and area expansion modulus (KCap) is also required as a material

Battlefield Object Control via Internet Architecture

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

superiority is the best way to reach the goal of competition superiority. Using information technology (IT) in data processing, including computer hardware... technologies : Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Battlefield Information Transmission System (BITS), and Intelligent...operational environment. Keywords: C4ISR Systems, Information Superiority, Battlefield Objects, Computer - Aided Prototyping System (CAPS), IP-based

47 CFR 11.56 - Obligation to process CAP-formatted EAS messages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...), and Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1...) “Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1.0” (Oct...

47 CFR 11.56 - Obligation to process CAP-formatted EAS messages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...), and Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1...) “Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1.0” (Oct...

47 CFR 11.56 - Obligation to process CAP-formatted EAS messages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...), and Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1...) “Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.2 USA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Profile Version 1.0” (Oct...

A decision tool for selecting trench cap designs

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

Paige, G.B.; Stone, J.J.; Lane, L.J.

1995-12-31

A computer based prototype decision support system (PDSS) is being developed to assist the risk manager in selecting an appropriate trench cap design for waste disposal sites. The selection of the {open_quote}best{close_quote} design among feasible alternatives requires consideration of multiple and often conflicting objectives. The methodology used in the selection process consists of: selecting and parameterizing decision variables using data, simulation models, or expert opinion; selecting feasible trench cap design alternatives; ordering the decision variables and ranking the design alternatives. The decision model is based on multi-objective decision theory and uses a unique approach to order the decision variables andmore » rank the design alternatives. Trench cap designs are evaluated based on federal regulations, hydrologic performance, cover stability and cost. Four trench cap designs, which were monitored for a four year period at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, are used to demonstrate the application of the PDSS and evaluate the results of the decision model. The results of the PDSS, using both data and simulations, illustrate the relative advantages of each of the cap designs and which cap is the {open_quotes}best{close_quotes} alternative for a given set of criteria and a particular importance order of those decision criteria.« less

Influence of solution conditions on deposition of calcium phosphate on titanium by NaOH-treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Q. L.; Cui, F. Z.; Wang, H.; Kim, T. N.; Kim, J. O.

2000-03-01

The present paper demonstrated a biomimetic method to coat calcium phosphate (Ca-P) on the surface of titanium induced by NaOH-treatment from a simple supersaturated hydroxyapatite solution (SHS). The influence of pH value and calcium ions concentration on the precipitation process was investigated. It is necessary for the solution to be supersaturated than the critical concentration of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) to get Ca-P coatings on titanium surface. In the precipitating process, it seems that amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) precipitated first, then OCP, and finally hydroxyapatite (HA). The system was in continuous evolution and the phase transitions occurred in sequence.

Calcium phosphate-titanium composites for articulating surfaces of load-bearing implants.

PubMed

Bandyopadhyay, Amit; Dittrick, Stanley; Gualtieri, Thomas; Wu, Jeffrey; Bose, Susmita

2016-04-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP)-titanium (Ti) composites were processed using a commercial laser engineered net shaping (LENS™) machine to increase wear resistance of articulating surfaces of load-bearing implants. Such composites could be used to cover the surface of titanium implants and potentially increase the lifetime of a joint replacement. It was hypothesized that adding calcium phosphate to commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti6Al4V alloy via laser processing would decrease the material loss when subjected to wear. This added protection would be due to the in situ formation of a CaP tribofilm. Different amounts of CaP were mixed by weight with pure Ti and Ti6Al4V powders. The mixed powders were then made into cylindrical samples using a commercial LENS™-750 system. Microstructures were observed and it was found the CaP had integrated into the titanium metal matrix. Compression test revealed that CaP significantly increased the 0.2% offset yield strength as well as the ultimate compressive strength of CP-Ti. It was found that the addition of CaP to pure titanium reduced the material loss and increased wear resistance. This was due to the formation of CaP tribofilm on the articulating surface. The in situ formed tribofilm also lowered the coefficient of friction and acted as a solid lubricant between the two interacting metal surfaces. Overall, CaP addition to Ti and its alloy Ti6Al4V show an effective way to minimize wear induced damage due to the formation of in situ tribofilm at the articulating surface, a strategy that can be utilized in various biomedical devices. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Better End-Cap Processing for Oxidation-Resistant Polyimides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Mary Ann B.; Frimer, Aryeh A.

2004-01-01

A class of end-cap compounds that increase the thermo-oxidative stab ility of polyimides of the polymerization of monomeric reactants (PM R) type has been extended. In addition, an improved processing proto col for this class of end-cap compounds has been invented.

A novel type of light-harvesting antenna protein of red algal origin in algae with secondary plastids.

PubMed

Sturm, Sabine; Engelken, Johannes; Gruber, Ansgar; Vugrinec, Sascha; Kroth, Peter G; Adamska, Iwona; Lavaud, Johann

2013-07-30

Light, the driving force of photosynthesis, can be harmful when present in excess; therefore, any light harvesting system requires photoprotection. Members of the extended light-harvesting complex (LHC) protein superfamily are involved in light harvesting as well as in photoprotection and are found in the red and green plant lineages, with a complex distribution pattern of subfamilies in the different algal lineages. Here, we demonstrate that the recently discovered "red lineage chlorophyll a/b-binding-like proteins" (RedCAPs) form a monophyletic family within this protein superfamily. The occurrence of RedCAPs was found to be restricted to the red algal lineage, including red algae (with primary plastids) as well as cryptophytes, haptophytes and heterokontophytes (with secondary plastids of red algal origin). Expression of a full-length RedCAP:GFP fusion construct in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum confirmed the predicted plastid localisation of RedCAPs. Furthermore, we observed that similarly to the fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding light-harvesting antenna proteins also RedCAP transcripts in diatoms were regulated in a diurnal way at standard light conditions and strongly repressed at high light intensities. The absence of RedCAPs from the green lineage implies that RedCAPs evolved in the red lineage after separation from the the green lineage. During the evolution of secondary plastids, RedCAP genes therefore must have been transferred from the nucleus of the endocytobiotic alga to the nucleus of the host cell, a process that involved complementation with pre-sequences allowing import of the gene product into the secondary plastid bound by four membranes. Based on light-dependent transcription and on localisation data, we propose that RedCAPs might participate in the light (intensity and quality)-dependent structural or functional reorganisation of the light-harvesting antennae of the photosystems upon dark to light shifts as regularly experienced by diatoms in nature. Remarkably, in plastids of the red lineage as well as in green lineage plastids, the phycobilisome based cyanobacterial light harvesting system has been replaced by light harvesting systems that are based on members of the extended LHC protein superfamily, either for one of the photosystems (PS I of red algae) or for both (diatoms). In their proposed function, the RedCAP protein family may thus have played a role in the evolutionary structural remodelling of light-harvesting antennae in the red lineage.

Comparative study of two precision overdenture attachment designs.

PubMed

Cohen, B I; Pagnillo, M; Condos, S; Deutsch, A S

1996-08-01

In this study two precision overdenture attachment designs were tested for retention--a nylon overdenture cap system and a new cap and keeper system. The new cap and keeper system was designed to reduce the time involved in replacing a cap worn by the conditions of the oral environment. Six groups were tested at two different angles and retentive failure was examined at two different angles (26 and 0 degrees). Failure was measured in pounds with a force gauge over a 2000 pull cycle. The amount of force required to remove caps for two overdenture caps and a replaced cap for the metal keeper system was determined. Two dependent variables were absolute force and relative force. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) was used to compare the between-subjects effects of cap and angle, and the within-subjects effect of pull. The results indicated a significant difference between cap types (p < 0.0001) with respect to the relative force required to remove the cap. There was no effect of angle. For absolute force, RMANOVA revealed a highly significant interaction between pull and cap (p < 0.0001). Thus, the way that force changed over pulls depended on which cap was used (no effect of angle). For relative force, RMANOVA revealed no interaction between pull and cap, but there was a main effect of cap type (p < 0.0001) (no effect of angle). The nylon cap design required less force for removal but showed more consistency in the force required over the course of the 2000 pulls when compared with the keeper with cap insert. The results obtained in this study were consistent with similar studies in literature.

Image-guided cold atmosphere plasma (CAP) therapy for cutaneous wound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zelin; Ren, Wenqi; Gan, Qi; Li, Jiahong; Li, XiangXiang; Zhang, Shiwu; Jin, Fan; Cheng, Cheng; Ting, Yue; Xu, Ronald X.

2016-03-01

Bacterial infection is one of the major factors contributing to the compromised healing in chronic wounds. Sometimes bacteria biofilms formed on the wound are more resistant than adherent bacteria. Cold atmosphere plasma (CAP) has already shown its potential in contact-free disinfection, blood coagulation, and wound healing. In this study, we integrated a multimodal imaging system with a portable CAP device for image-guided treatment of infected wound in vivo and evaluated the antimicrobial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa sample in vitro.15 ICR mice were divided into three groups for therapeutic experiments:(1) control group with no infection nor treatment (2) infection group without treatment (3) infection group with treatment. For each mouse, a three millimeters punch biopsy was created on the dorsal skin. Infection was induced by Staphylococcus aureus inoculation one day post-wounding. The treated group was subjected to CAP for 2 min daily till day 13. For each group, five fixed wounds' oxygenation and blood perfusion were evaluated daily till day 13 by a multimodal imaging system that integrates a multispectral imaging module and a laser speckle imaging module. In the research of relationship between therapeutic depth and sterilization effect on P.aeruginosa in agarose, we found that the CAP-generated reactive species reached the depth of 26.7μm at 30s and 41.6μm at 60s for anti-bacterial effects. Image-guided CAP therapy can be potentially used to control infection and facilitate the healing process of infected wounds.

Multivariate and multiorgan analysis of cardiorespiratory variability signals: the CAP sleep case.

PubMed

Bianchi, Anna M; Ferini-Strambi, Luigi; Castronovo, Vincenza; Cerutti, Sergio

2006-10-01

Signals from different systems are analyzed during sleep on a beat-to-beat basis to provide a quantitative measure of synchronization with the heart rate variability (HRV) signal, oscillations of which reflect the action of the autonomic nervous system. Beat-to-beat variability signals synchronized to QRS occurrence on ECG signals were extracted from respiration, electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) traces. The analysis was restricted to sleep stage 2. Cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) periods were detected from EEG signals and the following conditions were identified: stage 2 non-CAP (2 NCAP), stage 2 CAP (2 CAP) and stage 2 CAP with myoclonus (2 CAP MC). The coupling relationships between pairs of variability signals were studied in both the time and frequency domains. Passing from 2 NCAP to 2 CAP, sympathetic activation is indicated by tachycardia and reduced respiratory arrhythmia in the heart rate signal. At the same time, we observed a marked link between EEG and HRV at the CAP frequency. During 2 CAP MC, the increased synchronization involved myoclonus and respiration. The underlying mechanism seems to be related to a global control system at the central level that involves the different systems.

A remote camera operation system using a marker attached cap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawai, Hironori; Hama, Hiromitsu

2005-12-01

In this paper, we propose a convenient system to control a remote camera according to the eye-gazing direction of the operator, which is approximately obtained through calculating the face direction by means of image processing. The operator put a marker attached cap on his head, and the system takes an image of the operator from above with only one video camera. Three markers are set up on the cap, and 'three' is the minimum number to calculate the tilt angle of the head. The more markers are used, the robuster system may be made to occlusion, and the wider moving range of the head is tolerated. It is supposed that the markers must not exist on any three dimensional straight line. To compensate the marker's color change due to illumination conditions, the threshold for the marker extraction is adaptively decided using a k-means clustering method. The system was implemented with MATLAB on a personal computer, and the real-time operation was realized. Through the experimental results, robustness of the system was confirmed and tilt and pan angles of the head could be calculated with enough accuracy to use.

Realize multiple hermetic chamber pressures for system-on-chip process by using the capping wafer with diverse cavity depths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shyh-Wei; Weng, Jui-Chun; Liang, Kai-Chih; Sun, Yi-Chiang; Fang, Weileun

2018-04-01

Many mechanical and thermal characteristics, for example the air damping, of suspended micromachined structures are sensitive to the ambient pressure. Thus, micromachined devices such as the gyroscope and accelerometer have different ambient pressure requirements. Commercially available process platforms could be used to fabricate and integrate devices of various functions to reduce the chip size. However, it remains a challenge to offer different ambient pressures for micromachined devices after sealing them by wafer level capping (WLC). This study exploits the outgassing characteristics of the CMOS chip to fabricate chambers of various pressures after the WLC of the Si-above-CMOS (TSMC 0.18 µm 1P5M CMOS process) MEMS process platform. The pressure of the sealed chamber can be modulated by the chamber volume after the outgassing. In other words, the pressure of hermetic sealed chambers can be easily and properly defined by the etching depth of the cavity on an Si capping wafer. In applications, devices sealed with different cavity depths are implemented using the Si-above-CMOS (TSMC 0.18 µm 1P5M CMOS process) MEMS process platform to demonstrate the present approach. Measurements show the feasibility of this simple chamber pressure modulation approach on eight-inch wafers.

Composite propellant combustion with low aluminum agglomeration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mullen, Jessica Christine

Aluminum behavior---accumulation, agglomeration and ignition---is studied in a unique, wide-distribution, ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (AP/HTPB) propellant formulation that results in low Al agglomeration, even at low pressures (1--30 atm). Variations in formulation---such as fine-AP/binder ratio, Al particle size, Al loading, coarse-AP size---are also examined. A fuel-rich, oxygenated binder matrix highly loaded with fine (2-mum) AP (FAP) at 75/25:FAP/binder (by mass) is found to have premixed flame conditions that produce minimal agglomeration (without ignition) of 15-mum Al. Coarse AP (CAP) is added to the system in the form of either particles (200 or 400 mum) or pressed-AP laminates (simulated CAP). In the 2-D laminate system the CAP/oxyfuel-matrix flame structure is seen to be similar to that previously described for non-aluminized laminates with split (diffusion) and merged (partially-premixed) flame regimes, depending on pressure and fuel-matrix thickness. Both laminate and particulate systems show that with CAP present, Al can agglomerate more extensively on CAP via lateral surface migration from fuel matrix to the CAP region. The particulate CAP system also shows that Al can accumulate/agglomerate via settling on CAP from above (in the direction of burning). Both systems, but more clearly the 2-D laminates, show that with CAP present, Al is ignited by the outer CAP/fuel-matrix canopy flames. Thus, a propellant formulation is proposed for reducing overall Al agglomeration through intrinsically reduced agglomeration in the fuel-matrix and a reduced number of CAP-particle agglomerates via higher FAP/CAP ratio.

Co-crystallization of cholesterol and calcium phosphate as related to atherosclerosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, Danielle; Azoury, Reuven; Sarig, Sara

1990-09-01

Calcification of atherosclerotic plaques occurs very frequently and aggravates the disease. In biological systems, epitaxial relationships between crystal structures may be important in nucleating the deposit of a solid phase. The biologically preferred calcium phosphate species, apatite, and cholesterol crystal have structurally compatible crystallographic faces which allow epitaxial growth of one crystal upon another. The present study describes a new approach to explore, in vitro, the crystallization processes of calcium phosphate (CaP) with cholesterol (CS) and cholestanol (CN) which are related to atherosclerosis. Aqueous solutions containing calcium and phosphate ions or CaP crystals as hydroxyapatite were added into saturated ethanolic solutions of CS or CS and 10% CN. After precipitation, crystals were collected and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infra-red (IR), X-ray, scanning electron microscope (SEM-LINK), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and atomic absorption. The principal result is the well-formed crystals precipitation when an aqueous solution and CaP seed crystals were added to saturated solutions of CS and 10% CN. Cholesterol-cholestanol dihydrate (CC2W) crystals precipitated in the presence of CaP seeds were compared to the CC2W crystals obtained without the mineral compound. The results of this comparison indicate a special link between crystals of CaP and CC2W, and support the epitaxial relationship between the two kinds of crystals. The potential of CC2W crystals to be precipitated by CaP seed crystals prove likewise the possible significant role of the cholestanol metabolite in the process of cholesterol crystallization and calcification in the arteries.

Microstructures of Randall's plaques and their interfaces with calcium oxalate monohydrate kidney stones reflect underlying mineral precipitation mechanisms.

PubMed

Sethmann, Ingo; Wendt-Nordahl, Gunnar; Knoll, Thomas; Enzmann, Frieder; Simon, Ludwig; Kleebe, Hans-Joachim

2017-06-01

Randall's plaques (RP) are preferred sites for the formation of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) kidney stones. However, although processes of interstitial calcium phosphate (CaP) plaque formation are not well understood, the potential of plaque microstructures as indicators of CaP precipitation conditions received only limited attention. We investigated RP-associated COM stones for structural details of the calcified tissues and microstructural features of plaque-stone interfaces as indicators of the initial processes of stone formation. Significantly increased CaP supersaturation can be expected for interstitial fluid, if reabsorbed ions from the tubular system continuously diffuse into the collagenous connective tissue. Densely packed, fine-grained CaP particles were found in dense textures of basement membranes while larger, laminated particles were scattered in coarse-meshed interstitial tissue, which we propose to be due to differential spatial confinements and restrictions of ion diffusion. Particle morphologies suggest an initial precipitation as metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Morphologies and arrangements of first COM crystals at the RP-stone interface ranged from stacked euhedral platelets to skeletal morphologies and even porous, dendritic structures, indicating, in this order, increasing levels of COM supersaturation. Furthermore, these first COM crystals were often coated with CaP. On this basis, we propose that ions from CaP-supersaturated interstitial fluid may diffuse through porous RP into the urine, where a resulting local increase in COM supersaturation could trigger crystal nucleation and, hence, initiate stone formation. Ion-depleted fluid in persistent pores of initial COM layers may get replenished from interstitial fluid, leading to CaP precipitation in porous COM.

Detection of nitrogen dioxide by CW cavity-enhanced spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Han, Ye-Xing; Yu, Zhi-Wei; Tang, Huai-Wu

2016-11-01

In the paper, an accurate and sensitive system was used to monitor the ambient atmospheric NO2 concentrations. This system utilizes cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy(CAPS), a technology related to cavity ring down spectroscopy(CRDS). Advantages of the CAPS system include such as: (1) cheap and easy to control the light source, (2) high accuracy, and (3) low detection limit. The performance of the CAPS system was evaluated by measuring of the stability and response of the system. The minima ( 0.08 ppb NO2) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time( 100s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. Over a 20-day-long period of the ambient atmospheric NO2 concentrations monitoring, a comparison of the CAPS system with an extremely accurate and precise chemiluminescence-based NOx analyzer showed that the CAPS system was able to reliably and quantitatively measure both large and small fluctuations in the ambient nitrogen dioxide concentration. The experimental results show that the measuring instrument results correlation is 0.95.

Quantifying Third-Party Impacts and Environmental Externalities from a Cap-And-Trade System for Groundwater Management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, H. F.; Yang, Y. C. E.; Brown, C.

2016-12-01

Economic decision models, such as the cap-and-trade system, have been shown to be useful in the context of groundwater management. A uniformly applied cap-and-trade system can however result in significant spatially and temporally varying hydrogeologic impacts that reduce public welfare. Hydrological challenges associated with the cap-and-trade system for groundwater management include establishing appropriate system boundaries, setting system-wide sustainable yield and limiting third party impacts from extractions. Given these challenges, these economic models need to be supplemented with physically based hydrogeologic models that are able to represent the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in conditions across a region. This investigation assesses third-party impacts and environmental externalities resulting from a cap-and-trade system in a sub-basin of the Republican River Basin, overlying the Ogallala aquifer in the High Plains of the United States. The economic model is coupled with a calibrated physically based groundwater model. The cap-and-trade system is developed using a multi-agent system model where individual benefits of each self-interested agent are maximized subject to bounds on irrigation requirements and water use permits. We then compare the performance of the cap-and-trade system with a smart groundwater market which, in addition to a cap on total groundwater extraction, also incorporates streamflow constraints. The results quantify third-party impacts and environmental externalities resulting from uncontrolled trading. This analysis demonstrates the value added by a well-designed cap-and-trade system able to account for basin-wide heterogeneity in hydrogeologic and ecological conditions by establishing trading limits, managing inter-area transfers and setting exchange rates for permit trading.

Synthesizing parallel imaging applications using the CAP (computer-aided parallelization) tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gennart, Benoit A.; Mazzariol, Marc; Messerli, Vincent; Hersch, Roger D.

1997-12-01

Imaging applications such as filtering, image transforms and compression/decompression require vast amounts of computing power when applied to large data sets. These applications would potentially benefit from the use of parallel processing. However, dedicated parallel computers are expensive and their processing power per node lags behind that of the most recent commodity components. Furthermore, developing parallel applications remains a difficult task: writing and debugging the application is difficult (deadlocks), programs may not be portable from one parallel architecture to the other, and performance often comes short of expectations. In order to facilitate the development of parallel applications, we propose the CAP computer-aided parallelization tool which enables application programmers to specify at a high-level of abstraction the flow of data between pipelined-parallel operations. In addition, the CAP tool supports the programmer in developing parallel imaging and storage operations. CAP enables combining efficiently parallel storage access routines and image processing sequential operations. This paper shows how processing and I/O intensive imaging applications must be implemented to take advantage of parallelism and pipelining between data access and processing. This paper's contribution is (1) to show how such implementations can be compactly specified in CAP, and (2) to demonstrate that CAP specified applications achieve the performance of custom parallel code. The paper analyzes theoretically the performance of CAP specified applications and demonstrates the accuracy of the theoretical analysis through experimental measurements.

CapDEM - Toward a Capability Engineering Process: A Discussion Paper

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-01

Mokhtari DRDC Valcartier S. Lam DRDC Ottawa Defence R&D Canada – Valcartier Technical Report DRDC Valcartier TR 2004-230 September 2005 CapDEM...Toward a capability engineering process A discussion paper F. Bernier M. Couture G. Dussault C. Lalancette F. Lemieux M. Lizotte M. Mokhtari DRDC...Lizotte, M., Mokhtari , M. 2005. CapDEM – Toward capability engineering process definition: A discussion paper: A discussion paper. DRDC Valcartier

Protein and carotenoid synthesis and turnover in gravistimulated root caps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feldman, L. J.

1984-01-01

In certain cultivars of corn gravitropic bending occurs only after the root cap, the site of gravity perception, is exposed to light. Light appears to trigger or to remove some block in the gravity translation process. Using light sensitive cultivars of corn, it was shown that light affects various processes in the cap. The roles of these light-induced processes in gravitropic bending in roots were studied.

KSC-98pc975

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-08-21

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the SPACEHAB training module, STS-95 Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, M.D. (right), attaches sensors to the mesh cap worn by Payload Specialist John Glenn (back to camera). In the background is Ann Elliott, University of California, San Diego. Glenn will wear the cap on the mission to monitor and record brain waves during sleep. Parazynski and Glenn are participating in SPACEHAB familiarization at the SPACEHAB Payload Processing Facility, Cape Canaveral. The mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 29, includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process

Intranet-based quality improvement documentation at the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System.

PubMed

Borkowski, A; Lee, D H; Sydnor, D L; Johnson, R J; Rabinovitch, A; Moore, G W

2001-01-01

The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service of the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System is inspected biannually by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). As of the year 2000, all documentation in the Anatomic Pathology Section is available to all staff through the VA Intranet. Signed, supporting paper documents are on file in the office of the department chair. For the year 2000 CAP inspection, inspectors conducted their document review by use of these Web-based documents, in which each CAP question had a hyperlink to the corresponding section of the procedure manual. Thus inspectors were able to locate the documents relevant to each question quickly and efficiently. The procedure manuals consist of 87 procedures for surgical pathology, 52 procedures for cytopathology, and 25 procedures for autopsy pathology. Each CAP question requiring documentation had from one to three hyperlinks to the corresponding section of the procedure manual. Intranet documentation allows for easier sharing among decentralized institutions and for centralized updates of the laboratory documentation. These documents can be upgraded to allow for multimedia presentations, including text search for key words, hyperlinks to other documents, and images, audio, and video. Use of Web-based documents can improve the efficiency of the inspection process.

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

Abboud, Alexander; Guillen, Donna Post; Pokorny, Richard

At the Hanford site in the state of Washington, more than 56 million gallons of radioactive waste is stored in underground tanks. The cleanup plan for this waste is vitrification at the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP), currently under construction. At the WTP, the waste will be blended with glass-forming materials and heated to 1423K, then poured into stainless steel canisters to cool and solidify. A fundamental understanding of the glass batch melting process is needed to optimize the process to reduce cost and decrease the life cycle of the cleanup effort. The cold cap layer that floats on the surfacemore » of the glass melt is the primary reaction zone for the feed-to-glass conversion. The conversion reactions include water release, melting of salts, evolution of batch gases, dissolution of quartz and the formation of molten glass. Obtaining efficient heat transfer to this region is crucial to achieving high rates of glass conversion. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is being used to understand the heat transfer dynamics of the system and provide insight to optimize the process. A CFD model was developed to simulate the DM1200, a pilot-scale melter that has been extensively tested by the Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL). Electrodes are built into the melter to provide Joule heating to the molten glass. To promote heat transfer from the molten glass into the reactive cold cap layer, bubbling of the molten glass is used to stimulate forced convection within the melt pool. A three-phase volume of fluid approach is utilized to model the system, wherein the molten glass and cold cap regions are modeled as separate liquid phases, and the bubbling gas and plenum regions are modeled as one lumped gas phase. The modeling of the entire system with a volume of fluid model allows for the prescription of physical properties on a per-phase basis. The molten glass phase and the gas phase physical properties are obtained from previous experimental work. Finding representative properties for the cold cap region is more difficult, as this region is not a true liquid, but rather a multilayer region consisting of a porous and a foamy layer. Physical properties affecting heat transfer, namely the thermal conductivity and heat capacity, have been fit to closely match data and observations from laboratory experiments. Data from xray tomography and quenching of laboratory-scale cold caps provide insight into the topology of bubble distribution within the cold cap at various temperatures. Heat transfer within the melter was validated by comparison with VSL data for the pilot-scale melter.« less

Community‐Academic Partnerships: A Systematic Review of the State of the Literature and Recommendations for Future Research

PubMed Central

MEZA, ROSEMARY D.; BRIKHO, BRIGITTE; NAAF, MEGHAN; ESTABILLO, JASPER A.; GOMEZ, EMILY D.; VEJNOSKA, SARAH F.; DUFEK, SARAH; STAHMER, AUBYN C.; AARONS, GREGORY A.

2016-01-01

Policy Points: Communities, funding agencies, and institutions are increasingly involving community stakeholders as partners in research, to provide firsthand knowledge and insight.Based on our systematic review of major literature databases, we recommend using a single term, community‐academic partnership (CAP), and a conceptual definition to unite multiple research disciplines and strengthen the field.Interpersonal and operational factors that facilitate or hinder the collaborative process have been consistently identified, including “trust among partners” and “respect among partners” (facilitating interpersonal factors) and “excessive time commitment” (hindering operational factor).Once CAP processes and characteristics are better understood, the effectiveness of collaborative partner involvement can be tested. Context Communities, funding agencies, and institutions are increasingly involving community stakeholders as partners in research. Community stakeholders can provide firsthand knowledge and insight, thereby increasing research relevance and feasibility. Despite the greater emphasis and use of community‐academic partnerships (CAP) across multiple disciplines, definitions of partnerships and methodologies vary greatly, and no systematic reviews consolidating this literature have been published. The purpose of this article, then, is to facilitate the continued growth of this field by examining the characteristics of CAPs and the current state of the science, identifying the facilitating and hindering influences on the collaborative process, and developing a common term and conceptual definition for use across disciplines. Methods Our systematic search of 6 major literature databases generated 1,332 unique articles, 50 of which met our criteria for inclusion and provided data on 54 unique CAPs. We then analyzed studies to describe CAP characteristics and to identify the terms and methods used, as well as the common influences on the CAP process and distal outcomes. Findings CAP research spans disciplines, involves a variety of community stakeholders, and focuses on a large range of study topics. CAP research articles, however, rarely report characteristics such as membership numbers or duration. Most studies involved case studies using qualitative methods to collect data on the collaborative process. Although various terms were used to describe collaborative partnerships, few studies provided conceptual definitions. Twenty‐three facilitating and hindering factors influencing the CAP collaboration process emerged from the literature. Outcomes from the CAPs most often included developing or refining tangible products. Conclusions Based on our systematic review, we recommend using a single term, community‐academic partnership, as well as a conceptual definition to unite multiple research disciplines. In addition, CAP characteristics and methods should be reported more systematically to advance the field (eg, to develop CAP evaluation tools). We have identified the most common influences that facilitate and hinder CAPs, which in turn should guide their development and sustainment. PMID:26994713

Improving clinical laboratory efficiency: a time-motion evaluation of the Abbott m2000 RealTime and Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan PCR systems for the simultaneous quantitation of HIV-1 RNA and HCV RNA.

PubMed

Amendola, Alessandra; Coen, Sabrina; Belladonna, Stefano; Pulvirenti, F Renato; Clemens, John M; Capobianchi, M Rosaria

2011-08-01

Diagnostic laboratories need automation that facilitates efficient processing and workflow management to meet today's challenges for expanding services and reducing cost, yet maintaining the highest levels of quality. Processing efficiency of two commercially available automated systems for quantifying HIV-1 and HCV RNA, Abbott m2000 system and Roche COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan 96 (docked) systems (CAP/CTM), was evaluated in a mid/high throughput workflow laboratory using a representative daily workload of 24 HCV and 72 HIV samples. Three test scenarios were evaluated: A) one run with four batches on the CAP/CTM system, B) two runs on the Abbott m2000 and C) one run using the Abbott m2000 maxCycle feature (maxCycle) for co-processing these assays. Cycle times for processing, throughput and hands-on time were evaluated. Overall processing cycle time was 10.3, 9.1 and 7.6 h for Scenarios A), B) and C), respectively. Total hands-on time for each scenario was, in order, 100.0 (A), 90.3 (B) and 61.4 min (C). The interface of an automated analyzer to the laboratory workflow, notably system set up for samples and reagents and clean up functions, are as important as the automation capability of the analyzer for the overall impact to processing efficiency and operator hands-on time.

Evaluation of capping systems for high-strength concrete cylinders.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-03-01

This study focused on the effects of capping systems on the compressive strength of high-strength concrete. The compressive strength levels ranged from 6,000 psi to 14,000 psi. The three systems investigated were ground ends, bonded caps, and unbonde...

Liquid Crystalline Thermosets from Ester, Ester-Imide, and Ester-Amide Oligomers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dingemans, Theodornus J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor); SaintClair, Terry L. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal esters, ester-imides, and ester-amides were prepared from AA, BB, and AB type monomeric materials and were end-capped with phenylacetylene, phenylmaleimide, or nadimide reactive end-groups. The resulting reactive end-capped liquid crystal oligomers exhibit a variety of improved and preferred physical properties. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are thermotropic and have, preferably, molecular weights in the range of approximately 1000-15,OOO grams per mole. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers have broad liquid crystalline melting ranges and exhibit high melt stability and very low melt viscosities at accessible temperatures. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are stable for up to an hour in the melt phase. These properties make the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers highly processable by a variety of melt process shape forming and blending techniques including film extrusion, fiber spinning, reactive injection molding (RIM), resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film injection (RFI), powder molding, pultrusion, injection molding, blow molding, plasma spraying and thermo-forming. Once processed and shaped, the end- capped liquid crystal oligomers were heated to further polymerize and form liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT). The fully cured products are rubbers above their glass transition temperatures. The resulting thermosets display many properties that are superior to their non-end-capped high molecular weight analogs.

Liquid crystalline thermosets from ester, ester-imide, and ester-amide oligomers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dingemans, Theodorous J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor); St. Clair, Terry L. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal esters, ester-imides, and ester-amides were prepared from AA, BB, and AB type monomeric materials and were end-capped with phenylacetylene, phenylmaleimide, or nadimide reactive end-groups. The resulting reactive end-capped liquid crystal oligomers exhibit a variety of improved and preferred physical properties. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are thermotropic and have, preferably, molecular weights in the range of approximately 1000-15,000 grams per mole. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers have broad liquid crystalline melting ranges and exhibit high melt stability and very low melt viscosities at accessible temperatures. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are stable for up to an hour in the melt phase. These properties make the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers highly processable by a variety of melt process shape forming and blending techniques including film extrusion, fiber spinning, reactive injection molding (RIM), resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film injection (RFI), powder molding, pultrusion, injection molding, blow molding, plasma spraying and thermo-forming. Once processed and shaped, the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers were heated to further polymerize and form liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT). The fully cured products are rubbers above their glass transition temperatures. The resulting thermosets display many properties that are superior to their non-end-capped high molecular weight analogs.

Origin of sulfur for elemental sulfur concentration in salt dome cap rocks, Gulf Coast Basin, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, J. M.; Kyle, R.; Loyd, S. J.

2017-12-01

Calcite cap rocks of the Boling and Main Pass salt domes contain large elemental sulfur accumulations. Isotopic and petrographic data indicate complex histories of cap rock paragenesis for both domes. Whereas paragenetic complexity is in part due to the open nature of these hydrodynamic systems, a comprehensive understanding of elemental sulfur sources and concentration mechanisms is lacking. Large ranges in traditional sulfur isotope compositions (δ34S) among oxidized and reduced sulfur-bearing phases has led some to infer that microbial sulfate reduction and/or influx of sulfide-rich formation waters occurred during calcite cap rock formation. Ultimately, traditional sulfur isotope analyses alone cannot distinguish among local microbial or exogenous sulfur sources. Recently, multiple sulfur isotope (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S) studies reveal small, but measurable differences in mass-dependent behavior of microbial and abiogenic processes. To distinguish between the proposed sulfur sources, multiple-sulfur-isotope analyses have been performed on native sulfur from the Boling and Main Pass cap rocks. Similarities or deviations from equilibrium relationships indicate which pathways were responsible for native sulfur precipitation. Pathway determination provides insight into Gulf Coast cap rock development and potentially highlights the conditions that led to anomalous sulfur enrichment in Boling and Main Pass Domes.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote hard-tissue repair after direct pulp capping.

PubMed

Obeid, Maram; Saber, Shehab El Din Mohamed; Ismael, Alaa El Din; Hassanien, Ehab

2013-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of autologous mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to promote hard-tissue formation after direct pulp capping procedures. Bone marrow was aspirated from the iliac crest of healthy dogs of nonspecific race. Mononuclear cells were obtained using the Histopaque (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO) protocol and cultured for 21 days. Direct pulp capping procedures were performed in posterior teeth, and then mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate, or BMSCs were used as direct pulp capping agents. After 3 months, animals were sacrificed, and jaw segments were processed for radiographic examination using cone-beam computed tomography scanning and histologic examination to assess the formation of a hard-tissue barrier according to a scoring system. The longitudinal and cross-sectional radiophotographs and histologic sections confirmed the formation of an evident calcific barrier after direct pulp capping with MTA and BMSCs. Statistical analysis of the scores given for radiographic and histologic calcific bridge formation showed that both MTA and BMSCs had a comparable tendency to produce a hard-tissue barrier that was significantly higher than hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (P < .05). Autologous mesenchymal BMSCs were able to promote hard-tissue formation after direct pulp capping procedures. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayachandran, P. T.; Langley, R. B.; MacDougall, J. W.; Mushini, S. C.; Pokhotelov, D.; Chadwick, R.; Kelly, T.

2009-05-01

Polar cap ionospheric measurements are important for the complete understanding of the various processes in the solar wind - magnetosphere - ionosphere (SW-M-I) system as well as for space weather applications. Currently the polar cap region is lacking high temporal and spatial resolution ionospheric measurements because of the orbit limitations of space-based measurements and the sparse network providing ground- based measurements. Canada has a unique advantage in remedying this shortcoming because it has the most accessible landmass in the high Arctic regions and the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) is designed to take advantage of Canadian geographic vantage points for a better understanding of the Sun-Earth system. CHAIN is a distributed array of ground-based radio instruments in the Canadian high Arctic. The instruments components of CHAIN are ten high data-rate Global Positioning System ionospheric scintillation and total electron content monitors and six Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosondes. Most of these instruments have been sited within the polar cap region except for two GPS reference stations at lower latitudes. This paper briefly overviews the scientific capabilities, instrument components, and deployment status of CHAIN.

Perfusion electrodeposition of calcium phosphate on additive manufactured titanium scaffolds for bone engineering.

PubMed

Chai, Yoke Chin; Truscello, Silvia; Bael, Simon Van; Luyten, Frank P; Vleugels, Jozef; Schrooten, Jan

2011-05-01

A perfusion electrodeposition (P-ELD) system was reported to functionalize additive manufactured Ti6Al4V scaffolds with a calcium phosphate (CaP) coating in a controlled and reproducible manner. The effects and interactions of four main process parameters - current density (I), deposition time (t), flow rate (f) and process temperature (T) - on the properties of the CaP coating were investigated. The results showed a direct relation between the parameters and the deposited CaP mass, with a significant effect for t (P=0.001) and t-f interaction (P=0.019). Computational fluid dynamic analysis showed a relatively low electrolyte velocity within the struts and a high velocity in the open areas within the P-ELD chamber, which were not influenced by a change in f. This is beneficial for promoting a controlled CaP deposition and hydrogen gas removal. Optimization studies showed that a minimum t of 6 h was needed to obtain complete coating of the scaffold regardless of I, and the thickness was increased by increasing I and t. Energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the deposition of highly crystalline synthetic carbonated hydroxyapatite under all conditions (Ca/P ratio=1.41). High cell viability and cell-material interactions were demonstrated by in vitro culture of human periosteum derived cells on coated scaffolds. This study showed that P-ELD provides a technological tool to functionalize complex scaffold structures with a biocompatible CaP layer that has controlled and reproducible physicochemical properties suitable for bone engineering. Copyright © 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical audit project in undergraduate medical education curriculum: an assessment validation study

PubMed Central

Steketee, Carole; Mak, Donna

2016-01-01

Objectives To evaluate the merit of the Clinical Audit Project (CAP) in an assessment program for undergraduate medical education using a systematic assessment validation framework. Methods A cross-sectional assessment validation study at one medical school in Western Australia, with retrospective qualitative analysis of the design, development, implementation and outcomes of the CAP, and quantitative analysis of assessment data from four cohorts of medical students (2011- 2014). Results The CAP is fit for purpose with clear external and internal alignment to expected medical graduate outcomes.  Substantive validity in students’ and examiners’ response processes is ensured through relevant methodological and cognitive processes. Multiple validity features are built-in to the design, planning and implementation process of the CAP.  There is evidence of high internal consistency reliability of CAP scores (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.8) and inter-examiner consistency reliability (intra-class correlation>0.7). Aggregation of CAP scores is psychometrically sound, with high internal consistency indicating one common underlying construct.  Significant but moderate correlations between CAP scores and scores from other assessment modalities indicate validity of extrapolation and alignment between the CAP and the overall target outcomes of medical graduates.  Standard setting, score equating and fair decision rules justify consequential validity of CAP scores interpretation and use. Conclusions This study provides evidence demonstrating that the CAP is a meaningful and valid component in the assessment program. This systematic framework of validation can be adopted for all levels of assessment in medical education, from individual assessment modality, to the validation of an assessment program as a whole.  PMID:27716612

Clinical audit project in undergraduate medical education curriculum: an assessment validation study.

PubMed

Tor, Elina; Steketee, Carole; Mak, Donna

2016-09-24

To evaluate the merit of the Clinical Audit Project (CAP) in an assessment program for undergraduate medical education using a systematic assessment validation framework. A cross-sectional assessment validation study at one medical school in Western Australia, with retrospective qualitative analysis of the design, development, implementation and outcomes of the CAP, and quantitative analysis of assessment data from four cohorts of medical students (2011- 2014). The CAP is fit for purpose with clear external and internal alignment to expected medical graduate outcomes.  Substantive validity in students' and examiners' response processes is ensured through relevant methodological and cognitive processes. Multiple validity features are built-in to the design, planning and implementation process of the CAP.  There is evidence of high internal consistency reliability of CAP scores (Cronbach's alpha > 0.8) and inter-examiner consistency reliability (intra-class correlation>0.7). Aggregation of CAP scores is psychometrically sound, with high internal consistency indicating one common underlying construct.  Significant but moderate correlations between CAP scores and scores from other assessment modalities indicate validity of extrapolation and alignment between the CAP and the overall target outcomes of medical graduates.  Standard setting, score equating and fair decision rules justify consequential validity of CAP scores interpretation and use. This study provides evidence demonstrating that the CAP is a meaningful and valid component in the assessment program. This systematic framework of validation can be adopted for all levels of assessment in medical education, from individual assessment modality, to the validation of an assessment program as a whole.

Toward the mechanism of eIF4F-mediated ribosomal attachment to mammalian capped mRNAs.

PubMed

Kumar, Parimal; Hellen, Christopher U T; Pestova, Tatyana V

2016-07-01

Ribosomal attachment to mammalian capped mRNAs is achieved through the cap-eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-eIF4G-eIF3-40S chain of interactions, but the mechanism by which mRNA enters the mRNA-binding channel of the 40S subunit remains unknown. To investigate this process, we recapitulated initiation on capped mRNAs in vitro using a reconstituted translation system. Formation of initiation complexes at 5'-terminal AUGs was stimulated by the eIF4E-cap interaction and followed "the first AUG" rule, indicating that it did not occur by backward scanning. Initiation complexes formed even at the very 5' end of mRNA, implying that Met-tRNAi (Met) inspects mRNA from the first nucleotide and that initiation does not have a "blind spot." In assembled initiation complexes, the cap was no longer associated with eIF4E. Omission of eIF4A or disruption of eIF4E-eIF4G-eIF3 interactions converted eIF4E into a specific inhibitor of initiation on capped mRNAs. Taken together, these results are consistent with the model in which eIF4E-eIF4G-eIF3-40S interactions place eIF4E at the leading edge of the 40S subunit, and mRNA is threaded into the mRNA-binding channel such that Met-tRNAi (Met) can inspect it from the first nucleotide. Before entering, eIF4E likely dissociates from the cap to overcome steric hindrance. We also found that the m(7)G cap specifically interacts with eIF3l. © 2016 Kumar et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Evaluating Adult's Competency: Application of the Competency Assessment Process

PubMed Central

Tétreault, Sylvie; Landry, Marie-Pier

2015-01-01

Competency assessment of adults with cognitive impairment or mental illness is a complex process that can have significant consequences for their rights. Some models put forth in the scientific literature have been proposed to guide health and social service professionals with this assessment process, but none of these appear to be complete. A new model, the Competency Assessment Process (CAP), was presented and validated in other studies. This paper adds to this corpus by presenting both the CAP model and the results of a survey given to health and social service professionals on its practical application in their clinical practice. The survey was administered to 35 participants trained in assessing competency following the CAP model. The results show that 40% of participants use the CAP to guide their assessment and the majority of those who do not yet use it plan to do so in the future. A large majority of participants consider this to be a relevant model and believe that all interdisciplinary teams should use it. These results support the relevance of the CAP model. Further research is planned to continue the study of the application of CAP in healthcare facilities. PMID:26257978

OMC Compressor Case

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Humphrey, W. Donald

1997-01-01

This report summarizes efforts expended in the development of an all-composite compressor case. Two pre-production units have been built, one utilizing V-CAP and one utilizing AFR-700B resin systems. Both units have been rig tested at elevated temperatures well above design limit loads. This report discusses the manufacturing processes, test results, and Finite Element Analysis performed. The V-CAP unit was funded by NASA-Lewis Research Center in 1994 under contract number NAS3- 27442 for Development of an All-Composite OMC Compressor Case. This contract was followed by an Air Force study in 1996 to build and identical unit using the AFR-700B resin system in place of the V-CAP system. The second compressor case was funded under U.S. Air Force contract F33615-93-D-5326, Advanced Materials for Aerospace Structures Special Studies (AMAS3), Delivery Order 0021 entitled "Advanced Polymeric Composite Materials and Structures Technology for Advanced High Temperature Gas Turbine Engines.' Initial studies using the V-CAP resin system were undertaken in 1993 under a NASA Lewis contract (NAS3-26829). A first prototype unit was developed in a joint program between Textron-Lycoming (now Allied Signal) and Brunswick (now Lincoln Composites). This unit included composite end closures using low density, high temperature molded end closures. The units was similar in size and shape to a titanium case currently used on the PT-21 0 engine and was funded as part of the integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (EHPTET) initiative of DOD and NASA.

Movement imagery classification in EMOTIV cap based system by Naïve Bayes.

PubMed

Stock, Vinicius N; Balbinot, Alexandre

2016-08-01

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) provide means of communications and control, in assistive technology, which do not require motor activity from the user. The goal of this study is to promote classification of two types of imaginary movements, left and right hands, in an EMOTIV cap based system, using the Naïve Bayes classifier. A preliminary analysis with respect to results obtained by other experiments in this field is also conducted. Processing of the electroencephalography (EEG) signals is done applying Common Spatial Pattern filters. The EPOC electrodes cap is used for EEG acquisition, in two test subjects, for two distinct trial formats. The channels picked are FC5, FC6, P7 and P8 of the 10-20 system, and a discussion about the differences of using C3, C4, P3 and P4 positions is proposed. Dataset 3 of the BCI Competition II is also analyzed using the implemented algorithms. The maximum classification results for the proposed experiment and for the BCI Competition dataset were, respectively, 79% and 85% The conclusion of this study is that the picked positions for electrodes may be applied for BCI systems with satisfactory classification rates.

Back to basics: the untreated rabbit reticulocyte lysate as a competitive system to recapitulate cap/poly(A) synergy and the selective advantage of IRES-driven translation.

PubMed

Soto Rifo, Ricardo; Ricci, Emiliano P; Décimo, Didier; Moncorgé, Olivier; Ohlmann, Théophile

2007-01-01

Translation of most eukaryotic mRNAs involves the synergistic action between the 5' cap structure and the 3' poly(A) tail at the initiation step. The poly(A) tail has also been shown to stimulate translation of picornavirus internal ribosome entry sites (IRES)-directed translation. These effects have been attributed principally to interactions between eIF4G and poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) but also to the participation of PABP in other steps during translation initiation. As the rabbit reticulocyte lysate (RRL) does not recapitulate this cap/poly(A) synergy, several systems based on cellular cell-free extracts have been developed to study the effects of poly(A) tail in vitro but they generally exhibit low translational efficiency. Here, we describe that the non-nuclease-treated RRL (untreated RRL) is able to recapitulate the effects of poly(A) tail on translation in vitro. In this system, translation of a capped/polyadenylated RNA was specifically inhibited by either Paip2 or poly(rA), whereas translation directed by HCV IRES remained unaffected. Moreover, cleavage of eIF4G by FMDV L protease strongly stimulated translation directed by the EMCV IRES, thus recapitulating the competitive advantage that the proteolytic processing of eIF4G confers to IRES-driven RNAs.

Measuring atmospheric visibility cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Ye, Shan-Shan; Yang, Xiao; Han, Ye-Xing; Tang, Huai-Wu; Yu, Zhi-Wei

2016-10-01

In the paper, an accurate and sensitive cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy (CAPS) system was used to monitor the atmospheric visibility coefficient in urban areas. The CAPS system, which detects the atmospheric visibility within a 10 nm bandpass centered at 532 nm, comprises a green LED with center wavelength in 532nm, a resonant optical cavity (36 cm length), a Photo Multiplier Tube detector and a lock in amplifier. The performance of the CAPS system was evaluated by measuring of the stability and response of the system. The minima ( 0.06 Mm-1) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time( 80s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. The 2L/min flow rate, the CAPS system rise and fall response time is about 15 s, so as to realize the fast measurement of visibility. By comparing the forward scatter visibility meter measurement results, the CAPS system measurement results are verified reliably, and have high precision measurement. These figures indicate that this method has the potential to become one of the most sensitive on-line analytical techniques for atmospheric visibility detection.

Experimental demonstration of 24-Gb/s CAP-64QAM radio-over-fiber system over 40-GHz mm-wave fiber-wireless transmission.

PubMed

Zhang, Junwen; Yu, Jianjun; Chi, Nan; Li, Fan; Li, Xinying

2013-11-04

We propose and demonstrate a novel CAP-ROF system based on multi-level carrier-less amplitude and phase modulation (CAP) 64QAM with high spectrum efficiency for mm-wave fiber-wireless transmission. The performance of novel CAP modulation with high order QAM, for the first time, is investigated in the mm-wave fiber-wireless transmission system. One I/Q modulator is used for mm-wave generation and base-band signal modulation based on optical carrier suppression (OCS) and intensity modulation. Finally, we demonstrated a 24-Gb/s CAP-64QAM radio-over-fiber (ROF) system over 40-km stand single-mode-fiber (SMMF) and 1.5-m 38-GHz wireless transmission. The system operation factors are also experimentally investigated.

Identification of the Pro orientation of CAP2b peptides for antidiuretic activity in the stink bug Acrosternum hilare

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The CAP2b neuropeptide family plays an important role in the regulation of the processes of diuresis and/or antidiuresis in a variety of insects. While Manse-CAP2b (pELYAFPRVamide) and native CAP2bs elicit diuretic activity in a number of species of flies, native CAP2b sequences have been shown to ...

Polar Cap Formation on Ganymede

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pilcher, C. B.; Shaya, E. J.

1985-01-01

Since thermal migration is not an effective mechanism for water transport in the polar regions at the Galilean satellites, some other process must be responsible for the formation of Ganymede's polar caps. It is proposed that Ganymede's polar caps are the optical manifestation of a process that began with the distribution of an ice sheet over the surface of Ganymede. The combined processes of impact gardening and thermal migration led, in regions at latitudes less than 40 to 45 deg., to the burial of some fraction of this ice, the migration of some to the polar caps margins, and a depletion of free ice in the optical surface. At higher latitudes, no process was effective in removing ice from the optical surface, so the remanants of the sheet are visible today.

Liquid Crystalline Thermosets from Ester, Ester-imide, and Ester-amide Oligomers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dingemans, Theodorus J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor); St. Clair, Terry L. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal esters, ester-imides, and ester-amides were prepared from AA, BB, and AB type monomeric materials and end-capped with phenylacetylene, phenylmaleimide, or nadimide reactive end-groups. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are thermotropic and have, preferably, molecular weights in the range of approximately 1000-15,000 grams per mole. The end-capped liquid crystaloligomers have broad liquid crystalline melting ranges and exhibit high melt stability and very low melt viscosities at accessible temperatures. The end-capped liquid crystal oli-gomers are stable forup to an hour in the melt phase. They are highly processable by a variety of melt process shape forming and blending techniques. Once processed and shaped, the end-capped liquid crystal oigomers were heated to further polymerize and form liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT). The fully cured products are rubbers above their glass transition temperatures.

STS-95 crew members participate in a SPACEHAB familiarization exercise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

Inside the SPACEHAB training module, STS-95 Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, M.D. (right), attaches sensors to the mesh cap worn by Payload Specialist John Glenn (back to camera). In the background is Ann Elliott, University of California, San Diego. Glenn will wear the cap on the mission to monitor and record brain waves during sleep. Parazynski and Glenn are participating in SPACEHAB familiarization at the SPACEHAB Payload Processing Facility, Cape Canaveral. The mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 29, includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar- observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process.

76 FR 19739 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; System Cap Trading Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-08

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA-R06-OAR-2005-TX-0013; FRL-9290-1] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; System Cap Trading Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency... the System Cap Trading (SCT) Program at Title 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101--General Air...

WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINING FOR THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Central Arizona Project (CAP) is designed to bring about 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties in Arizona. CAP carries water from Lake Havasu down to Tucson. The CAP canal system is a 336-mile long system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping pla...

Sulfate-dependent Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane as a Generation Mechanism for Calcite Cap Rock in Gulf Coast Salt Domes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caesar, K. H.; Kyle, R.; Lyons, T. W.; Loyd, S. J.

2015-12-01

Gulf Coast salt domes, specifically their calcite cap rocks, have been widely recognized for their association with significant reserves of crude oil and natural gas. However, the specific microbial reactions that facilitate the precipitation of these cap rocks are still largely unknown. Insight into the mineralization mechanism(s) can be obtained from the specific geochemical signatures recorded in these structures. Gulf Coast cap rocks contain carbonate and sulfur minerals that exhibit variable carbon (d13C) and sulfur isotope (δ34S) signatures. Calcite d13C values are isotopically depleted and show a large range of values from -1 to -52‰, reflecting a mixture of various carbon sources including a substantial methane component. These depleted carbon isotope compositions combined with the presence of abundant sulfide minerals in cap rocks have led to interpretations that invoke microbial sulfate reduction as an important carbonate mineral-yielding process in salt dome environments. Sulfur isotope data from carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS: trace sulfate incorporated within the carbonate mineral crystal lattice) provide a more direct proxy for aqueous sulfate in salt dome systems and may provide a means to directly fingerprint ancient sulfate reduction. We find CAS sulfur isotope compositions (δ34SCAS) significantly greater than those of the precursor Jurassic sulfate-salt deposits (which exhibit δ34S values of ~ +15‰). This implies that cap rock carbonate generation occurred via microbial sulfate reduction under closed-system conditions. The co-occurrence of depleted carbonate d13C values (< ~30‰) and the enriched δ34SCAS values are evidence for sulfate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). AOM, which has been shown to yield extensive seafloor carbonate authigenesis, is also potentially partly responsible for the carbonate minerals of the Gulf Coast calcite cap rocks through concomitant production of alkalinity. Collectively, these data shed new light on a potential hotspot of microbial activity in the deep biosphere.

Size and shape tunability of self-assembled InAs/GaAs nanostructures through the capping rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utrilla, Antonio D.; Grossi, Davide F.; Reyes, Daniel F.; Gonzalo, Alicia; Braza, Verónica; Ben, Teresa; González, David; Guzman, Alvaro; Hierro, Adrian; Koenraad, Paul M.; Ulloa, Jose M.

2018-06-01

The practical realization of epitaxial quantum dot (QD) nanocrystals led before long to impressive experimental advances in optoelectronic devices, as well as to the emergence of new technological fields. However, the necessary capping process is well-known to hinder a precise control of the QD morphology and therefore of the possible electronic structure required for certain applications. A straightforward approach is shown to tune the structural and optical properties of InAs/GaAs QDs without the need for any capping material different from GaAs or annealing process. The mere adjust of the capping rate allows controlling kinetically the QD dissolution process induced by the surface In-Ga intermixing taking place during overgrowth, determining the final metastable structure. While low capping rates make QDs evolve into more thermodynamically favorable quantum ring structures, increasing capping rates help preserve the QD height and shape, simultaneously improving the luminescence properties. Indeed, a linear relationship between capping rate and QD height is found, resulting in a complete preservation of the original QD geometry for rates above ∼2.0 ML s-1. In addition, the inhibition of In diffusion from the QDs top to the areas in between them yields thinner WLs, what could improve the performance of several QD-based optoelectronic devices.

Divergence of IL-1, IL-18, and cell death in NLRP3 inflammasomopathies

PubMed Central

Brydges, Susannah D.; Broderick, Lori; McGeough, Matthew D.; Pena, Carla A.; Mueller, James L.; Hoffman, Hal M.

2013-01-01

The inflammasome is a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex that promotes proinflammatory cytokine maturation in response to host- and pathogen-derived signals. Missense mutations in cryopyrin (NLRP3) result in a hyperactive inflammasome that drives overproduction of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, leading to the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) disease spectrum. Mouse lines harboring CAPS-associated mutations in Nlrp3 have elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and closely mimic human disease. To examine the role of inflammasome-driven IL-18 in murine CAPS, we bred Nlrp3 mutations onto an Il18r-null background. Deletion of Il18r resulted in partial phenotypic rescue that abolished skin and visceral disease in young mice and normalized serum cytokines to a greater extent than breeding to Il1r-null mice. Significant systemic inflammation developed in aging Nlrp3 mutant Il18r-null mice, indicating that IL-1 and IL-18 drive pathology at different stages of the disease process. Ongoing inflammation in double-cytokine knockout CAPS mice implicated a role for caspase-1–mediated pyroptosis and confirmed that CAPS is inflammasome dependent. Our results have important implications for patients with CAPS and residual disease, emphasizing the need to explore other NLRP3-mediated pathways and the potential for inflammasome-targeted therapy. PMID:24084736

JTF CapMed Warrior Transition Division

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-25

The Quadruple Aim: Working Together, Achieving Success 2011 Military Health System Conference JTF CapMed Warrior Transition Division 25 January 2011...Colonel Julia Adams 1 Military Health System Conference Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical (JTF CapMed ) Report Documentation Page Form...DATES COVERED 00-00-2011 to 00-00-2011 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE JTF CapMed Warrior Transition Division 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c

Mo/Si multilayers with enhanced TiO II- and RuO II-capping layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yulin, Sergiy; Benoit, Nicolas; Feigl, Torsten; Kaiser, Norbert; Fang, Ming; Chandhok, Manish

2008-03-01

The lifetime of Mo/Si multilayer-coated projection optics is one of the outstanding issues on the road of commercialization of extreme-ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). The application of Mo/Si multilayer optics in EUVL requires both sufficient radiation stability and also the highest possible normal-incidence reflectivity. A serious problem of conventional high-reflective Mo/Si multilayers capped by silicon is the considerable degradation of reflective properties due to carbonization and oxidation of the silicon surface layer under exposure by EUV radiation. In this study, we focus on titanium dioxide (TiO II) and ruthenium dioxide (RuO II) as promising capping layer materials for EUVL multilayer coatings. The multilayer designs as well as the deposition parameters of the Mo/Si systems with different capping layers were optimized in terms of maximum peak reflectivity at the wavelength of 13.5 nm and longterm stability under high-intensive irradiation. Optimized TiO II-capped Mo/Si multilayer mirrors with an initial reflectivity of 67.0% presented a reflectivity drop of 0.6% after an irradiation dose of 760 J/mm2. The reflectivity drop was explained by the partial oxidation of the silicon sub-layer. No reflectivity loss after similar irradiation dose was found for RuO II-capped Mo/Si multilayer mirrors having initial peak reflectivity of 66%. In this paper we present data on improved reflectivity of interface-engineered TiO II- and RuO II-capped Mo/Si multilayer mirrors due to the minimization of both interdiffusion processes inside the multilayer stack and absorption loss in the oxide layer. Reflectivities of 68.5% at the wavelength of 13.4 nm were achieved for both TiO II- and RuO II-capped Mo/Si multilayer mirrors.

Run-Time Support for Rapid Prototyping

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-12-01

prototyping. One such system is the Computer-Aided Proto- typing System (CAPS). It combines rapid prototypng with automatic program generation. Some of the...a design database, and a design management system [Ref. 3:p. 66. By using both rapid prototyping and automatic program genera- tion. CAPS will be...Most proto- typing systems perform these functions. CAPS is different in that it combines rapid prototyping with a variant of automatic program

The transmission link of CAPS navigation and communication system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Junxia; Shi, Huli; Chen, Jibin; Pei, Jun

2009-03-01

The Chinese Area Positioning System (CAPS) is based on communication satellites with integrated capability, which is different from the Global Positioning System (GPS), the International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) and so on. CAPS works at C-band, and its navigation information is not directly generated from the satellite, but from the master control station on the ground and transmitted to users via the satellite. The slightly inclined geostationary-satellite orbit (SIGSO) satellites are adopted in CAPS. All of these increase the difficulty in the design of the system and terminals. In this paper, the authors study the CAPS configuration parameters of the navigation master control station, information transmission capability, and the selection of the antenna aperture of the communication center station, as well as the impact of satellite parameters on the whole communication system from the perspective of the transmission link budget. The conclusion of availability of the CAPS navigation system is achieved. The results show that the CAPS inbound communication system forms a new low-data-rate satellite communication system, which can accommodate mass communication terminals with the transmission rate of no more than 1 kbps for every terminal. The communication center station should be configured with a large-aperture antenna (about 10-15 m); spread spectrum communication technology should be used with the spreading gain as high as about 40 dB; reduction of the satellite transponder gain attenuation is beneficial to improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the system, with the attenuation value of 0 or 2 dB as the best choice. The fact that the CAPS navigation system has been checked and accepted by the experts and the operation is stable till now clarifies the rationality of the analysis results. The fact that a variety of experiments and applications of the satellite communication system designed according to the findings in this paper have been successfully carried out confirms the correctness of the study results.

Megaripples, multiple cap carbonates, and apparently conformable sections: observations that normalize some interpretations of Snowball Earth stratigraphy while complicating others

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raub, T.; Lamb, M. P.; Fischer, W. W.; Myrow, P.; Perron, T.; Kunzmann, M.; Liu, C.; Prave, A. R.

2012-12-01

Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth is intellectually alluring in part because its remarkable sedimentary and geochemical record challenges uniformitarian description and demands multiple working hypotheses. Apparently exceptional features in that record may represent the end-products of truly nonuniformitarian processes acting on a fundamentally different Earth than the modern world: an Earth which is oxygen-poor, lacking terrestrial macrobiota, and of uncertain (or arguably bizarre) geomagnetic and geodynamic character. But many features in this remarkable rock record might be explained by perfectly ordinary processes acting on anomalous materials, or in systems bounded by conditions that are rare, but not mysterious, on modern Earth. I will present emerging examples of both interpretive modes. Exceptional bedforms known as cap carbonate megaripples can be explained under normal wave climates by aggradation of unusually large carbonate grains anomalously widespread in a shallow shelfal setting. Bedform topography may be inherited or else migrate laterally through discrete, episodic depositional events if cementation is fast. Trace metal isotopes excurse most prominently at the very base of conformable cap carbonate sections, and in the terminal stages of deglaciation, at times when the seawater saturation state is most dynamic. In the end, basic field geology without genetic presumption, and the interpretive context it lends specific geochemical analyses, remains most likely to successfully evaluate the likelihoods of both existing and new Snowball Earth scenarios. The most fundamental unanswered question remains one of stratigraphic architecture: what is the climatic phase, the timing, and the duration for both diamictite and cap carbonate deposition? End-member solutions remain viable: diamictite and cap carbonate may both be of prolonged duration and globally diachronous, with diamictite representing syn-glacial and interstadial cycles and cap carbonate spanning both deglacial and postglacial phases. Or diamictite may be a deglacial prelude to cap carbonate deposition, and both lithofacies must be mostly globally synchronous and relatively quick in order to respect uniformitarian icesheet dynamic considerations. This "deglacial diamictite and quick cap carbonate" scenario would require fully nonuniformitarian geophysical and likely unprecedented geochemical regimes. The most important sections to be further described or else newly discovered, with power to test between these end-members and intermediate solutions, are likely to be sections where basal diamictite appears to postdate preglacial strata by only a short hiatus; sections with multiple cap carbonate lithofacies and excursions, or else conformable contacts between siliciclastic and cap carbonate glaciogenic facies; and outcrop belts with potential shelf-to-slope transects. New descriptions are emerging of late Neoproterozoic outcrops with each of these four characters.

NMR Guided Design of Endcaps With Improved Oxidation Resistance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Mary Ann B.; Frimer, Aryeh A.

2002-01-01

A polyimide is a polymer composed of alternating units of diamine and dianhydride, linked to each other via an imide bond. PMR polyimides, commonly used in the aerospace industry, are generally capped at each end by a norbornene endcap which serves a double function: (1) It limits the number of repeating units and, hence, the average molecular weight of the various polymer chains (oligomers), thereby improving processibility; (2) Upon further treatment (curing), the endcap crosslinks the various oligomer strands into a tough heat-resistant piece. Norbornenyl-end capped PMR polyimide resins' are widely used as polymer matrix composite materials for aircraft engine applications,2 since they combine ease of processing with good oxidative stability up to 300 C. PMR resins are prepared by a twestep approach involving the initial formation of oligomeric pre-polymers capped at both ends by a latent reactive end cap. The end cap undergoes cross-linking during higher temperature processing, producing the desired low density, high specific strength materials, as shown for PMR-15.

Carbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide oxidation process for azo dye decolorization: Process, kinetics, and mechanisms.

PubMed

Li, Yang; Li, Lei; Chen, Zi-Xi; Zhang, Jie; Gong, Li; Wang, Yi-Xuan; Zhao, Han-Qing; Mu, Yang

2018-02-01

Advanced oxidation processes offer effective solutions in treating wastewater from various industries. This study is the first time to investigate the potential of carbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide (CAP) oxidation process for the removal of organic pollutant from highly alkaline wastewaters. Azo dye acid orange 7 (AO7) was selected as a model pollutant. The influences of various parameters on AO7 decolorization by the CAP oxidation were evaluated. Furthermore, the active species involved in AO7 degradation were explored using scavenger experiments and electron spin resonance analysis. Additionally, AO7 degradation products by the CAP oxidation were identified to elucidate possible transformation pathways. Results showed that the CAP oxidation had better AO7 decolorization performance compared to bicarbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide method. The AO7 decolorization efficiency augmented from 3.70 ± 0.76% to 54.27 ± 2.65% when carbonate concentration was increased from 0 to 50 mM at pH 13.0, and then changed slightly with further increasing carbonate concentration to 70 mM. It increased almost linearly from 5.95 ± 0.32% to 94.03 ± 0.39% as H 2 O 2 concentration was increased from 5 to 50 mM. Moreover, trace amount of Co(II) could facilitate AO7 decolorization by the CAP reaction. Superoxide and carbonate radicals might be the main reactive oxygen species involved in the CAP process. Finally, a possible degradation pathway of AO7 by the CAP oxidation was proposed based on the identified products. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KSC-98pc977

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-08-21

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the SPACEHAB training module, STS-95 Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, M.D., helps adjust connections for the mesh cap and the Respiratory Inductance Plethysmograph (RIP) suit worn by Payload Specialist John Glenn, who is a senator from Ohio. The cap and suit, which Glenn will wear on the mission, are part of the equipment that will be used to seek to improve the quality of sleep for future astronauts. The STS-95 crew are participating in SPACEHAB familiarization at the SPACEHAB Payload Processing Facility, Cape Canaveral. The mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 29, includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process

Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Storage of Frozen Drug Products: Impact of Capping Force and Transportation.

PubMed

Nieto, Alejandra; Roehl, Holger; Adler, Michael; Mohl, Silke

2018-05-31

Frozen-state storage and cold-chain transport are key operations in the development and commercialization of biopharmaceuticals. Nowadays, a few marketed drug products are stored (and/or) shipped under frozen conditions to ensure sufficient stability, particularly for live viral vaccines. When these products are stored in glass vials with stoppers, the elastomer of the stopper needs to be flexible enough to seal the vial at the target's lowest temperature to ensure container closure integrity and hence both sterility and safety of the drug product. The container closure integrity assessment in the frozen state (e.g., -20°C, -80°C) should include: Container Closure Integrity (CCI) of the Container Closure System (CCS) itself, impact of processing, e.g. capping process on CCI and impact of shipment and movement on CCI in the frozen state. The objective of this work was an evaluation of the impact of processing and shipment on CCI of a CCS in the frozen state. The impact on other quality attributes was not investigated. In this light, the ThermCCI method was applied to evaluate the impact of shipping stress and variable capping force on CCI of frozen vials and to evaluate the temperature limits of rubber stoppers. In conclusion, retaining CCI during cold storage is mostly a function of vial-stopper combination and temperatures below -40°C may pose a risk to the CCI of a frozen drug product. Variable capping force may have an influence on the CCI of a frozen drug product if not appropriately assessed. Regarding the impact of shipment on the CCI of glass vials, no indication was given either at room temperature, -20°C or -75°C when compared to static storage at such temperatures. Copyright © 2018, Parenteral Drug Association.

Process improvement of pap smear tracking in a women's medicine center clinic in residency training.

PubMed

Calhoun, Byron C; Goode, Jeff; Simmons, Kathy

2011-11-01

Application of Six-Sigma methodology and Change Acceleration Process (CAP)/Work Out (WO) tools to track pap smear results in an outpatient clinic in a hospital-based residency-training program. Observational study of impact of changes obtained through application of Six-Sigma principles in clinic process with particular attention to prevention of sentinel events. Using cohort analysis and applying Six-Sigma principles to an interactive electronic medical record Soarian workflow engine, we designed a system of timely accession and reporting of pap smear and pathology results. We compared manual processes from January 1, 2007 to February 28, 2008 to automated processes from March 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009. Using the Six-Sigma principles, CAP/WO tools, including "voice of the customer" and team focused approach, no outlier events went untracked. Applying the Soarian workflow engine to track prescribed 7 day turnaround time for completion, we identified 148 pap results in 3,936, 3 non-gynecological results in 15, and 41 surgical results in 246. We applied Six-Sigma principles to an outpatient clinic facilitating an interdisciplinary team approach to improve the clinic's reporting system. Through focused problem assessment, verification of process, and validation of outcomes, we improved patient care for pap smears and critical pathology. © 2011 National Association for Healthcare Quality.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers remove the overhead crane from the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-29

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers remove the overhead crane from the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is secured on a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-29

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is secured on a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, packing material is placed over the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-29

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, packing material is placed over the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is lowered toward a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-29

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is lowered toward a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

Performance Enhancement of the RatCAP Awake Rate Brain PET System

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

Vaska, P.; Vaska, P.; Woody, C.

The first full prototype of the RatCAP PET system, designed to image the brain of a rat while conscious, has been completed. Initial results demonstrated excellent spatial resolution, 1.8 mm FWHM with filtered backprojection and <1.5 mm FWHM with a Monte Carlo based MLEM method. However, noise equivalent countrate studies indicated the need for better timing to mitigate the effect of randoms. Thus, the front-end ASIC has been redesigned to minimize time walk, an accurate coincidence time alignment method has been implemented, and a variance reduction technique for the randoms is being developed. To maximize the quantitative capabilities required formore » neuroscience, corrections are being implemented and validated for positron range and photon noncollinearity, scatter (including outside the field of view), attenuation, randoms, and detector efficiency (deadtime is negligible). In addition, a more robust and compact PCI-based optical data acquisition system has been built to replace the original VME-based system while retaining the linux-based data processing and image reconstruction codes. Finally, a number of new animal imaging experiments have been carried out to demonstrate the performance of the RatCAP in real imaging situations, including an F-18 fluoride bone scan, a C-11 raclopride scan, and a dynamic C-11 methamphetamine scan.« less

Martian Radiative Transfer Modeling Using the Optimal Spectral Sampling Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eluszkiewicz, J.; Cady-Pereira, K.; Uymin, G.; Moncet, J.-L.

2005-01-01

The large volume of existing and planned infrared observations of Mars have prompted the development of a new martian radiative transfer model that could be used in the retrievals of atmospheric and surface properties. The model is based on the Optimal Spectral Sampling (OSS) method [1]. The method is a fast and accurate monochromatic technique applicable to a wide range of remote sensing platforms (from microwave to UV) and was originally developed for the real-time processing of infrared and microwave data acquired by instruments aboard the satellites forming part of the next-generation global weather satellite system NPOESS (National Polarorbiting Operational Satellite System) [2]. As part of our on-going research related to the radiative properties of the martian polar caps, we have begun the development of a martian OSS model with the goal of using it to perform self-consistent atmospheric corrections necessary to retrieve caps emissivity from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) spectra. While the caps will provide the initial focus area for applying the new model, it is hoped that the model will be of interest to the wider Mars remote sensing community.

The role of Candida albicans AP-1 protein against host derived ROS in in vivo models of infection.

PubMed

Jain, Charu; Pastor, Kelly; Gonzalez, Arely Y; Lorenz, Michael C; Rao, Reeta P

2013-01-01

Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans, causing mucosal infections that are difficult to eliminate and systemic infections that are often lethal primarily due to defects in the host's innate status. Here we demonstrate the utility of Caenorhabditis elegans, a model host to study innate immunity, by exploring the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a critical innate response against C. albicans infections. Much like a human host, the nematode's innate immune response is activated to produce ROS in response to fungal infection. We use the C. albicans cap1 mutant, which is susceptible to ROS, as a tool to dissect this physiological innate immune response and show that cap1 mutants fail to cause disease and death, except in bli-3 mutant worms that are unable to produce ROS because of a defective NADPH oxidase. We further validate the ROS-mediated host defense mechanism in mammalian phagocytes by demonstrating that chemical inhibition of the NADPH oxidase in cultured macrophages enables the otherwise susceptible cap1 mutant to resists ROS-mediated phagolysis. Loss of CAP1 confers minimal attenuation of virulence in a disseminated mouse model, suggesting that CAP1-independent mechanisms contribute to pathogen survival in vivo. Our findings underscore a central theme in the process of infection-the intricate balance between the virulence strategies employed by C. albicans and the host's innate immune system and validates C. elegans as a simple model host to dissect this balance at the molecular level.

Physicochemical fabrication of antibacterial calcium phosphate submicrospheres with dispersed silver nanoparticles via coprecipitation and photoreduction under laser irradiation.

PubMed

Nakamura, Maki; Oyane, Ayako; Shimizu, Yoshiki; Miyata, Saori; Saeki, Ayumi; Miyaji, Hirofumi

2016-12-01

We achieved rapid, surfactant-free, and one-pot fabrication of antibacterial calcium phosphate (CaP) submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles by combining physical laser and chemical coprecipitation processes. In this physicochemical process, weak pulsed laser irradiation (20min) was performed on a labile CaP reaction mixture supplemented with silver ions as a light-absorbing agent. The silver content in the submicrospheres was controlled for a wide range (Ag/P elemental ratio varied from 0.60 to 62.0) by tuning the initial concentration of silver ions (from 5 to 20mM) in the CaP reaction mixture. At the silver concentration of 5mM, we obtained unique nanocomposite particles: CaP submicrospheres (average diameter of approximately 500nm) containing metallic silver nanoparticles dispersed throughout, as a result of CaP and silver coprecipitation with simultaneous photoreduction of silver ions and spheroidization of the coprecipitates. These CaP submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles (ca. 0.3mg silver per 1mg submicrospheres) exhibited antibacterial activity against major pathogenic oral bacteria, i.e., Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Moreover, the CaP submicrospheres dissolved and neutralized the acidic environment generated by Streptococcus mutans, demonstrating their potential as acid-neutralizing and remineralizing agents. The present process and resulting antibacterial CaP-based submicrospheres are expected to be useful in dental healthcare and infection control. Nano- and microsized spheres of calcium phosphate (CaP) containing silver nanoparticles have great potential in dental applications. Conventional fabrication processes were time-consuming or weak regarding the size/shape control of the spheres. In this study, we achieved a simple (one-pot), rapid (20-min irradiation), and surfactant-free fabrication of CaP submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles by pulsed laser irradiation to a mixture of calcium, phosphate, and silver ion solutions. The resulting CaP submicrospheres contained metallic silver nanoparticles dispersed throughout in a sequence of reactions: CaP and silver coprecipitation, laser-induced melting and spheroidization of the coprecipitates, and photoreduction of silver ions. These submicrospheres showed antibacterial activity against oral bacteria and acid-neutralizing property in the bacterial suspension, and hence are worth considering for dental applications. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Facile and one-pot solution synthesis of several kinds of 3D hierarchical flower-like α-Bi2O3 microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yajun; Li, Zexue; Yu, Haiyang; Feng, Changgen

2016-09-01

Several kinds of three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical constructed flower-like α-Bi2O3 microspheres were prepared successfully via a simple solution precipitation synthesis at 95∘C and ambient atmospheric pressure in 1h. The synthesis process was operated in ethanol-water system as solvent with the assistance of glycerin and oleic acid as capping agents. These flower-like α-Bi2O3 architectures with diameter of several micrometers were 3D self-assembled from nanorods or nanocubes step by step. By adjusting the concentration of the capping agents, various flower-like α-Bi2O3 microspheres were obtained. The formation of the flower-like superstructures was attributed to the modification of nucleation and growth kinetics, and the guidance of self-assembly approach by capping agents. The formation mechanism of these microstructures was discussed briefly.

System and method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor

DOEpatents

Uhm, Jong Ho; Johnson, Thomas Edward; Zuo, Baifang; York, William David

2013-08-20

A system for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface, and tube bundles extend through the end cap. A diluent supply in fluid communication with the end cap provides diluent flow to the end cap. Diluent distributors circumferentially arranged inside at least one tube bundle extend downstream from the downstream surface and provide fluid communication for the diluent flow through the end cap. A method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes flowing fuel through tube bundles that extend axially through an end cap, flowing a diluent through diluent distributors into a combustion chamber, wherein the diluent distributors are circumferentially arranged inside at least one tube bundle and each diluent distributor extends downstream from the end cap, and forming a diluent barrier in the combustion chamber between at least one pair of adjacent tube bundles.

Dust Tolerant Connectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, Robert P. (Inventor); Lewis, Mark E. (Inventor); Bastin, Gary L. (Inventor); Branch, Matthew C. (Inventor); Carlson, Jeffrey W. (Inventor); Dokos, Adam G. (Inventor); Murtland, Kevin A. (Inventor); Nugent, Matthew W. (Inventor); Tamasy, Gabor J. (Inventor); Townsend, III, Ivan I. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Methods and systems may provide for debris exclusion and removal apparatuses for connectors which have inverting end caps with a multi-axis lever configuration, inverting end caps with enlarged handle and/or side rail configurations, rotating end cap configurations, poppet valve configurations, O-ring configurations, filament barrier configurations, retractable cover configurations, clamshell end cap configurations, or any combination thereof. Apparatuses may also provide for an intelligent electrical connector system capable of detecting damage to or faults within a plurality of conductors and then rerouting the energy through a non-damaged spare conductor.

Cleft audit protocol for speech (CAPS-A): a comprehensive training package for speech analysis.

PubMed

Sell, D; John, A; Harding-Bell, A; Sweeney, T; Hegarty, F; Freeman, J

2009-01-01

The previous literature has largely focused on speech analysis systems and ignored process issues, such as the nature of adequate speech samples, data acquisition, recording and playback. Although there has been recognition of the need for training on tools used in speech analysis associated with cleft palate, little attention has been paid to this issue. To design, execute, and evaluate a training programme for speech and language therapists on the systematic and reliable use of the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented (CAPS-A), addressing issues of standardized speech samples, data acquisition, recording, playback, and listening guidelines. Thirty-six specialist speech and language therapists undertook the training programme over four days. This consisted of two days' training on the CAPS-A tool followed by a third day, making independent ratings and transcriptions on ten new cases which had been previously recorded during routine audit data collection. This task was repeated on day 4, a minimum of one month later. Ratings were made using the CAPS-A record form with the CAPS-A definition table. An analysis was made of the speech and language therapists' CAPS-A ratings at occasion 1 and occasion 2 and the intra- and inter-rater reliability calculated. Trained therapists showed consistency in individual judgements on specific sections of the tool. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for each section with good agreement on eight of 13 sections. There were only fair levels of agreement on anterior oral cleft speech characteristics, non-cleft errors/immaturities and voice. This was explained, at least in part, by their low prevalence which affects the calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient statistic. Speech and language therapists benefited from training on the CAPS-A, focusing on specific aspects of speech using definitions of parameters and scalar points, in order to apply the tool systematically and reliably. Ratings are enhanced by ensuring a high degree of attention to the nature of the data, standardizing the speech sample, data acquisition, the listening process together with the use of high-quality recording and playback equipment. In addition, a method is proposed for maintaining listening skills following training as part of an individual's continuing education.

47 CFR 11.56 - EAS Participants receive CAP-formatted alerts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false EAS Participants receive CAP-formatted alerts... SYSTEM (EAS) Emergency Operations § 11.56 EAS Participants receive CAP-formatted alerts. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all EAS Participants must be able to receive CAP-formatted EAS alerts no...

Pathways to college and STEM careers: enhancing the high school experience.

PubMed

Schneider, Barbara; Broda, Michael; Judy, Justina; Burkander, Kri

2013-01-01

With a rising demand for a college degree and an increasingly complicated college search, application, and selection process, there are a number of interventions designed to ease the college-going process for adolescents and their families. One such intervention, the College Ambition Program (CAP), is specifically designed to be a whole-school intervention that comprehensively connects several important aspects of the college-going process and specifically is focused on increasing interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With many adolescents having interest in STEM careers but lacking knowledge of how to transform these interests into plans, CAP supports students in developing and pursuing their educational and occupational goals. CAP offers students tutoring and mentoring, course-counseling and advising, assistance through the financial aid process, and college experiences through visits to college campuses. In addition to these four core components, CAP is also pursuing how to integrate mobile technology and texting to further provide students with tailored resources and information about the college-going process. This chapter describes the complexities of the college-going process, the components of the CAP intervention, and presents findings that demonstrate that these strategies can increase college-going rates and interest in STEM. The authors highlight the importance of developing a college-going culture within high schools that support the alignment of postsecondary and career goals. © WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.

Notification: Audit of Region 10’s Biweekly Pay Cap Waiver Process

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Project #OA-FY17-0125, Jan 24, 2017. The EPA OIG plans to begin preliminary research on an audit of EPA Region 10’s biweekly pay cap waiver process. For more information, please click on the link above.

South Polar Cap Erosion and Aprons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

This scene is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left.

While Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images have shown that the north and south polar cap surfaces are very different from each other, one thing that the two have in common is that they both seem to have been eroded. Erosion in the north appears mostly to come in the form of pits from which ice probably sublimed to vapor and was transported away from the polar cap by wind. Erosion in the south takes on a wider range of possible processes that include collapse, slumping and mass-movement on slopes, and probably sublimation. Among the landforms created by these process on the south polar cap are the 'aprons' that surround mesas and buttes of remnant layers such as the two almost triangular features in the lower quarter of this image. The upper slopes of the two triangular features show a stair-stepped pattern that suggest these hills are layered.

This image shows part of the south polar residual cap near 86.9oS, 78.5oW, and covers an area approximately 1.2 by 1.0 kilometers (0.7 x 0.6 miles) in size. The image has a resolution of 2.2 meters per pixel. The picture was taken on September 11, 1999.

Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.

Clinical Application Projects (CAPs) for Health Science Students in Introductory Microbiology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halyard, Rebecca A.

Clinical Application Projects (CAPs) have been developed that allow dental hygiene and nursing students to apply introductory microbiology principles and skills learned in lecture and laboratory to a problem in an appropriate clinical situation. CAPs therefore substitute for the traditional study of "unknowns". Principles and processes emphasized…

MoCAP proteins regulated by MoArk1-mediated phosphorylation coordinate endocytosis and actin dynamics to govern development and virulence of Magnaporthe oryzae

PubMed Central

Yang, Jun; Chen, Deng; Liu, Muxing; Zhang, Haifeng; Zheng, Xiaobo; Wang, Ping; Peng, Youliang; Zhang, Zhengguang

2017-01-01

Actin organization is a conserved cellular process that regulates the growth and development of eukaryotic cells. It also governs the virulence process of pathogenic fungi, such as the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, with mechanisms not yet fully understood. In a previous study, we found that actin-regulating kinase MoArk1 displays conserved functions important in endocytosis and actin organization, and MoArk1 is required for maintaining the growth and full virulence of M. oryzae. To understand how MoArk1 might function, we identified capping protein homologs from M. oryzae (MoCAP) that interact with MoArk1 in vivo. MoCAP is heterodimer consisting of α and β subunits MoCapA and MoCapB. Single and double deletions of MoCAP subunits resulted in abnormal mycelial growth and conidia formation. The ΔMocap mutants also exhibited reduced appressorium penetration and invasive hyphal growth within host cells. Furthermore, the ΔMocap mutants exhibited delayed endocytosis and abnormal cytoskeleton assembly. Consistent with above findings, MoCAP proteins interacted with MoAct1, co-localized with actin during mycelial development, and participated in appressorial actin ring formation. Further analysis revealed that the S85 residue of MoCapA and the S285 residue of MoCapB were subject to phosphorylation by MoArk1 that negatively regulates MoCAP functions. Finally, the addition of exogenous phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) failed to modulate actin ring formation in ΔMocap mutants, in contrast to the wild-type strain, suggesting that MoCAP may also mediate phospholipid signaling in the regulation of the actin organization. These results together demonstrate that MoCAP proteins whose functions are regulated by MoArk1 and PIP2 are important for endocytosis and actin dynamics that are directly linked to growth, conidiation and pathogenicity of M. oryzae. PMID:28542408

Activity and subcellular compartmentalization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha are altered by the centrosome-associated protein CAP350.

PubMed

Patel, Hansa; Truant, Ray; Rachubinski, Richard A; Capone, John P

2005-01-01

Peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear hormone receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors that play pivotal roles in governing metabolic homeostasis and cell growth. PPARs are primarily in the nucleus but, under certain circumstances, can be found in the cytoplasm. We show here that PPAR(alpha) interacts with the centrosome-associated protein CAP350. CAP350 also interacts with PPAR(delta), PPAR(gamma) and liver-X-receptor alpha, but not with the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor, RXR(alpha). Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that PPAR(alpha) is diffusely distributed in the nucleus and excluded from the cytoplasm. However, in the presence of coexpressed CAP350, PPAR(alpha) colocalizes with CAP350 to discrete nuclear foci and to the centrosome, perinuclear region and intermediate filaments. In contrast, the subcellular distribution of RXR(alpha) or of thyroid hormone receptor alpha was not altered by coexpression of CAP350. An amino-terminal fragment of CAP350 was localized exclusively to nuclear foci and was sufficient to recruit PPAR(alpha) to these sites. Mutation of the single putative nuclear hormone receptor interacting signature motif LXXLL present in this fragment had no effect on its subnuclear localization but abrogated recruitment of PPAR(alpha) to nuclear foci. Surprisingly, mutation of the LXXLL motif in this CAP350 subfragment did not prevent its binding to PPAR(alpha) in vitro, suggesting that this motif serves some function other than PPAR(alpha) binding in recruiting PPAR(alpha) to nuclear spots. CAP350 inhibited PPAR(alpha)-mediated transactivation in an LXXLL-dependent manner, suggesting that CAP350 represses PPAR(alpha) function. Our findings implicate CAP350 in a dynamic process that recruits PPAR(alpha) to discrete nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and suggest that altered intracellular compartmentalization represents a regulatory process that modulates PPAR function.

Centrifugal Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors for Trace Radiation Sources: Experimental Verification and Military Employment

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

used in both CTMFD and Beckman LS 6500 Scintillation System. Actinide   Mass  of  Nalgene  (g)  Mass  of  Cap (g)  Mass  of  Nalgene,  Cap, 50 mL...both CTMFD and Beckman LS 6500 Scintillation System. Actinide   Mass  of  Nalgene  and Cap  (g)  Mass  of  Nalgene, Cap,  50 mL Acetone  (g)  Mass  of...testing comparing the CTMFD’s capabilities of actinide spectroscopy and neutron detection against other detection systems with similar capabilities. The

Conservation Action Planning: Lessons learned from the St. Marys River watershed biodiversity conservation planning process

USGS Publications Warehouse

Patterson, Tamatha A.; Grundel, Ralph

2014-01-01

Conservation Action Planning (CAP) is an adaptive management planning process refined by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and embraced worldwide as the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. The CAP process facilitates open, multi-institutional collaboration on a common conservation agenda through organized actions and quantified results. While specifically designed for conservation efforts, the framework is adaptable and flexible to multiple scales and can be used for any collaborative planning effort. The CAP framework addresses inception; design and development of goals, measures, and strategies; and plan implementation and evaluation. The specific components of the CAP include defining the project scope and conservation targets; assessing the ecological viability; ascertaining threats and surrounding situation; identifying opportunities and designing strategies for action; and implementing actions and monitoring results. In 2007, TNC and a multidisciplinary graduate student team from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment initiated a CAP for the St. Marys River, the connecting channel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and its local watershed. The students not only gained experience in conservation planning, but also learned lessons that notably benefited the CAP process and were valuable for any successful collaborative effort—a dedicated core team improved product quality, accelerated the timeline, and provided necessary support for ongoing efforts; an academic approach in preparation for engagement in the planning process brought applicable scientific research to the forefront, enhanced workshop facilitation, and improved stakeholder participation; and early and continuous interactions with regional stakeholders improved cooperation and built a supportive network for collaboration.

Regulation of Seed Germination in the Close Arabidopsis Relative Lepidium sativum: A Global Tissue-Specific Transcript Analysis1[C][W][OA

PubMed Central

Morris, Karl; Linkies, Ada; Müller, Kerstin; Oracz, Krystyna; Wang, Xiaofeng; Lynn, James R.; Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard; Finch-Savage, William E.

2011-01-01

The completion of germination in Lepidium sativum and other endospermic seeds (e.g. Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana]) is regulated by two opposing forces, the growth potential of the radicle (RAD) and the resistance to this growth from the micropylar endosperm cap (CAP) surrounding it. We show by puncture force measurement that the CAP progressively weakens during germination, and we have conducted a time-course transcript analysis of RAD and CAP tissues throughout this process. We have also used specific inhibitors to investigate the importance of transcription, translation, and posttranslation levels of regulation of endosperm weakening in isolated CAPs. Although the impact of inhibiting translation is greater, both transcription and translation are required for the completion of endosperm weakening in the whole seed population. The majority of genes expressed during this process occur in both tissues, but where they are uniquely expressed, or significantly differentially expressed between tissues, this relates to the functions of the RAD as growing tissue and the CAP as a regulator of germination through weakening. More detailed analysis showed that putative orthologs of cell wall-remodeling genes are expressed in a complex manner during CAP weakening, suggesting distinct roles in the RAD and CAP. Expression patterns are also consistent with the CAP being a receptor for environmental signals influencing germination. Inhibitors of the aspartic, serine, and cysteine proteases reduced the number of isolated CAPs in which weakening developed, and inhibition of the 26S proteasome resulted in its complete cessation. This indicates that targeted protein degradation is a major control point for endosperm weakening. PMID:21321254

Condensin II Regulates Interphase Chromatin Organization Through the Mrg-Binding Motif of Cap-H2

PubMed Central

Wallace, Heather A.; Klebba, Joseph E.; Kusch, Thomas; Rogers, Gregory C.; Bosco, Giovanni

2015-01-01

The spatial organization of the genome within the eukaryotic nucleus is a dynamic process that plays a central role in cellular processes such as gene expression, DNA replication, and chromosome segregation. Condensins are conserved multi-subunit protein complexes that contribute to chromosome organization by regulating chromosome compaction and homolog pairing. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that the Cap-H2 subunit of condensin II physically and genetically interacts with the Drosophila homolog of human MORF4-related gene on chromosome 15 (MRG15). Like Cap-H2, Mrg15 is required for interphase chromosome compaction and homolog pairing. However, the mechanism by which Mrg15 and Cap-H2 cooperate to maintain interphase chromatin organization remains unclear. Here, we show that Cap-H2 localizes to interband regions on polytene chromosomes and co-localizes with Mrg15 at regions of active transcription across the genome. We show that co-localization of Cap-H2 on polytene chromosomes is partially dependent on Mrg15. We have identified a binding motif within Cap-H2 that is essential for its interaction with Mrg15, and have found that mutation of this motif results in loss of localization of Cap-H2 on polytene chromosomes and results in partial suppression of Cap-H2-mediated compaction and homolog unpairing. Our data are consistent with a model in which Mrg15 acts as a loading factor to facilitate Cap-H2 binding to chromatin and mediate changes in chromatin organization. PMID:25758823

KSC-98pc976

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-08-21

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the SPACEHAB training module, STS-95 Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, M.D., helps with connections on the mesh cap worn by Payload Specialist John Glenn, who is a senator from Ohio. Glenn is also wearing the Respiratory Inductance Plethysmograph (RIP) suit he will wear on the mission to monitor respiration. The cap and suit are part of the equipment that will be used to seek to improve the quality of sleep for future astronauts. The STS-95 crew are participating in SPACEHAB familiarization at the SPACEHAB Payload Processing Facility, Cape Canaveral. The mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 29, includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process

cap alpha. -D-Mannopyranosylmethyl-P-nitrophenyltriazene effects on the degradation and biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharide chains on. cap alpha. /sub 1/-acid glycoprotein by liver cells

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

Docherty, P.A.; Aronson, N.N. Jr.

1986-05-01

The effects of ..cap alpha..-D-mannopyranosylmethyl-p-nitrophenyltriazene (..cap alpha..-ManMNT) on the degradation and processing of oligosaccharide chains on ..cap alpha../sub 1/-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were studied. Addition of the triazene to a perfused liver blocked the complete degradation of endocytosed N-acetyl (/sup 14/C)glucosamine-labeled asialo-AGP and caused the accumulation of Man/sub 2/GlcNAc/sub 1/ fragments in the lysosome-enriched fraction of the liver homogenate. This compound also reduced the reincorporation of lysosomally-derived (/sup 14/C)GlcNAc into newly secreted glycoproteins. Cultured hepatocytes treated with the inhibitor synthesized and secreted fully-glycosylated AGP. However, the N-linked oligosaccharide chains on AGP secreted by the ..cap alpha..-ManMNT-treated hepatocytes remained sensitive to digestionmore » with endoglycosidase H, were resistant to neuraminidase, and consisted of Man/sub 9-7/GlcNAc/sub 2/ structures as analyzed by high resolution Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography. As measured by their resistance to cleavage by endoglycosidase H, the normal processing of all six carbohydrate chains on AGP to the complex form did not completely resume until nearly 24 h after triazene treatment. Since ManMNT is likely to irreversibly inactivate ..cap alpha..-D-mannosidases, the return of AGP to secretory forms with complex chains after 24 h probably resulted from synthesis of new processing enzymes.« less

20 CFR 632.22 - Modification of a Comprehensive Annual Plan (CAP) and/or Master Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... (CAP) and/or Master Plan. 632.22 Section 632.22 Employees' Benefits EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING... Master Plan. (a) The requirements for modifying a Master Plan and/or CAP will be included in administrative instructions issued by the Grant Officer upon final implementation of the Master Plan/CAP system...

20 CFR 632.22 - Modification of a Comprehensive Annual Plan (CAP) and/or Master Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... (CAP) and/or Master Plan. 632.22 Section 632.22 Employees' Benefits EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING... Master Plan. (a) The requirements for modifying a Master Plan and/or CAP will be included in administrative instructions issued by the Grant Officer upon final implementation of the Master Plan/CAP system...

In-situ Subaqueous Capping of Mercury-Contaminated Sediments in a Fresh-Water Aquatic System, Part II-Evaluation of Sorption Materials

EPA Science Inventory

The function and longevity of traditional, passive, isolation caps can be augmented through the use of more chemically active capping materials which have higher sorptive capacities, ideally rendering metals non-bioavailable. In the case of Hg, active caps also mitigate the rate...

Characterization, performance modeling, and design of an active capping remediation project in a heavily polluted urban channel.

PubMed

Yin, Ke; Viana, Priscilla; Zhao, Xiuhong; Rockne, Karl

2010-07-15

Collateral Channel is a heavily polluted former navigation slip to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (Illinois, USA). Characterization of sediment cores taken in the channel show high levels of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants in deposited sediment dating back to the 1800's. Of these, PAHs were the contaminants of greatest concern based upon exceedance of sediment contamination criteria (Sigma(16) PAHs up to 1500mg/kg). Benthic animal counts revealed a lack of biodiversity, with relatively low levels of small tubificid oligochaetes (generally <3000/m(2)) in surficial sediments. Comparison of surficial sediment contaminant levels between 1995 and 2005 showed few decreases in contaminant levels, indicating a lack of "natural recovery" processes occurring in the channel. These results led to an analysis of sediment amendments for an active capping demonstration project in the channel using transport models developed in our previous work (Viana et al., 2008). Based on the sediment characterization and modeling results, the active capping design will be focused on organic contaminant sequestration through the use of organoclay. A site-specific difficulty is the substantial rates of gas ebullition from anaerobic organic matter biodegradation in the sediments, particularly in the summer months. These gases can open advective channels that may result in substantial pollution release and compromise cap effectiveness, and thus the capping scenario must control for such releases. The active capping layer will underlay a sloped sand layer and a high permeability gas venting system to allow biogenically-produced gas migration to shoreline collectors through an innovative support grid. The cap will include an overlaying wetland to remove nutrients from the adjoining Chicago River and provide a public recreational space. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Department of Defense’s Waiver of Competitive Prototyping Requirement for Enhanced Polar System Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-23

objectives. Finally, the CAPS acquisition strategy anticipates the use of a cost- reimbursement contract for designing and building the system...The CAPS acquisition strategy anticipates the use of a cost- reimbursement contract for designing and building the system; however, it may be... reimbursement contract was chosen for the basic CAPS contract because of the nature of the design work, which includes software design and development

Enhanced modeling and simulation of EO/IR sensor systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hixson, Jonathan G.; Miller, Brian; May, Christopher

2015-05-01

The testing and evaluation process developed by the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) Modeling and Simulation Division (MSD) provides end to end systems evaluation, testing, and training of EO/IR sensors. By combining NV-LabCap, the Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NV-IPM), One Semi-Automated Forces (OneSAF) input sensor file generation, and the Night Vision Image Generator (NVIG) capabilities, NVESD provides confidence to the M&S community that EO/IR sensor developmental and operational testing and evaluation are accurately represented throughout the lifecycle of an EO/IR system. This new process allows for both theoretical and actual sensor testing. A sensor can be theoretically designed in NV-IPM, modeled in NV-IPM, and then seamlessly input into the wargames for operational analysis. After theoretical design, prototype sensors can be measured by using NV-LabCap, then modeled in NV-IPM and input into wargames for further evaluation. The measurement process to high fidelity modeling and simulation can then be repeated again and again throughout the entire life cycle of an EO/IR sensor as needed, to include LRIP, full rate production, and even after Depot Level Maintenance. This is a prototypical example of how an engineering level model and higher level simulations can share models to mutual benefit.

Community–Academic Partnership Participation

PubMed Central

Drahota, Amy; Spurgeon, Emily

2015-01-01

Community–academic partnerships (CAPs) improve the research process, outcomes, and yield benefits for the community and researchers. This exploratory study examined factors important in community stakeholders’ decision to participate in CAPs. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community stakeholders, previously contacted to participate in a CAP (n = 18), completed the 15-item Decision to Participate Questionnaire (DPQ). The DPQ assessed reasons for participating or declining participation in the ASD CAP. CAP participants rated networking with other providers, fit of collaboration with agency philosophy, and opportunity for future training/consultations as factors more important in their decision to participate in the ASD CAP than nonparticipants. Nonparticipants reported the number of requests to participate in research as more important in their decision to decline participation than participants. Findings reveal important factors in community stakeholders’ decision to participate in CAPs that may provide guidance on increasing community engagement in CAPs and help close the science-to-service gap. PMID:25976376

Thermographic Analysis of Composite Cobonds on the X-33

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, S. S.; Walker, J. L.; Lansing, M. D.

2001-01-01

During the manufacture of the X-33 liquid hydrogen (LH2) Tank 2, a total of 36 reinforcing caps were inspected thermographically. The cured reinforcing sheets of graphite/epoxy were bonded to the tank using a wet cobond process with vacuum bagging and low temperature curing. A foam filler material wedge separated the reinforcing caps from the outer skin of the tank. Manufacturing difficulties caused by a combination of the size of the reinforcing caps and their complex geometry lead to a potential for trapping air in the bond line. An inspection process was desired to ensure that the bond line was free of voids before it had cured so that measures could be taken to rub out the entrapped air or remove the cap and perform additional surface matching. Infrared thermography was used to perform the procure 'wet bond' inspection as well a to document the final 'cured' condition of the caps. The thermal map of the bond line was acquired by heating the cap with either a flash lamp or a set of high intensity quartz lamps and then viewing it during cool down. The inspections were performed through the vacuum bag and voids were characterized by localized hot spots. In order to ensure that the cap had bonded to the tank properly, a post cure 'flash heating' thermographic investigation was performed with the vacuum bag removed. Any regions that had opened up after the preliminary inspection or that were hidden during the bagging operation were marked and filled by drilling small holes in the cap and injecting resin. This process was repeated until all critical sized voids were filled.

Thermographic Analysis of Composite Cobonds on the X-33

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Samuel S.; Walker, James L.; Lansing, Matthew D.; Whitaker, Ann F. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

During the manufacture of the X-33 liquid hydrogen (LH2) Tank 2, a total of thirty-six reinforcing caps were inspected thermographically. The cured reinforcing sheets of graphite/epoxy were bonded to the tank using a wet cobond process with vacuum bagging and low temperature curing. A foam filler material wedge separated the reinforcing caps from the outer skin of the tank. Manufacturing difficulties caused by a combination of the size of the reinforcing caps and their complex geometry lead to a potential for trapping air in the bond line. An inspection process was desired to ensure that the bond line was free of voids before it had cured so that measures could be taken to rub out the entrapped air or remove the cap and perform additional surface matching. Infrared thermography was used to perform the precure "wet bond" inspection as well as to document the final "cured" condition of the caps. The thermal map of the bond line was acquired by heating the cap with either a flash lamp or a set of high intensity quartz lamps and then viewing it during cool down. The inspections were performed through the vacuum bag and voids were characterized by localized hot spots. In order to ensure that the cap had bonded to the tank properly, a post cure "flash heating" thermographic investigation was performed with the vacuum bag removed. Any regions that had opened up after the preliminary inspection or that were hidden during the bagging operation were marked and filled by drilling small holes in the cap and injecting resin. This process was repeated until all critical sized voids were filled.

Cirrus Airframe Parachute System and Odds of a Fatal Accident in Cirrus Aircraft Crashes.

PubMed

Alaziz, Mustafa; Stolfi, Adrienne; Olson, Dean M

2017-06-01

General aviation (GA) accidents have continued to demonstrate high fatality rates. Recently, ballistic parachute recovery systems (BPRS) have been introduced as a safety feature in some GA aircraft. This study evaluates the effectiveness and associated factors of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) at reducing the odds of a fatal accident in Cirrus aircraft crashes. Publicly available Cirrus aircraft crash reports were obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database for the period of January 1, 2001-December 31, 2016. Accident metrics were evaluated through univariate and multivariate analyses regarding odds of a fatal accident and use of the parachute system. Included in the study were 268 accidents. For CAPS nondeployed accidents, 82 of 211 (38.9%) were fatal as compared to 8 of 57 (14.0%) for CAPS deployed accidents. After controlling for all other factors, the adjusted odds ratio for a fatal accident when CAPS was not deployed was 13.1. The substantial increased odds of a fatal accident when CAPS was not deployed demonstrated the effectiveness of CAPS at providing protection of occupants during an accident. Injuries were shifted from fatal to serious or minor with the use of CAPS and postcrash fires were significantly reduced. These results suggest that BPRS could play a significant role in the next major advance in improving GA accident survival.Alaziz M, Stolfi A, Olson DM. Cirrus Airframe Parachute System and odds of a fatal accident in Cirrus aircraft crashes. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(6):556-564.

CAPS Simulation Environment Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Douglas G.; Hoffman, James A.

2005-01-01

The final design for an effective Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) will likely come after a number of competing designs have been simulated and evaluated. Because of the large number of design parameters involved in a system capable of detecting an object, accurately determining its orbit, and diverting the impact threat, a comprehensive simulation environment will be an extremely valuable tool for the CAPS designers. A successful simulation/design tool will aid the user in identifying the critical parameters in the system and eventually allow for automatic optimization of the design once the relationships of the key parameters are understood. A CAPS configuration will consist of space-based detectors whose purpose is to scan the celestial sphere in search of objects likely to make a close approach to Earth and to determine with the greatest possible accuracy the orbits of those objects. Other components of a CAPS configuration may include systems for modifying the orbits of approaching objects, either for the purpose of preventing a collision or for positioning the object into an orbit where it can be studied or used as a mineral resource. The Synergistic Engineering Environment (SEE) is a space-systems design, evaluation, and visualization software tool being leveraged to simulate these aspects of the CAPS study. The long-term goal of the SEE is to provide capabilities to allow the user to build and compare various CAPS designs by running end-to-end simulations that encompass the scanning phase, the orbit determination phase, and the orbit modification phase of a given scenario. Herein, a brief description of the expected simulation phases is provided, the current status and available features of the SEE software system is reported, and examples are shown of how the system is used to build and evaluate a CAPS detection design. Conclusions and the roadmap for future development of the SEE are also presented.

Thermal infrared and visual observations of a water ice lag in the Mars southern summer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Titus, T.N.

2005-01-01

We present thermal infrared and visual evidence for the existence of water ice lags in the early southern summer. The observed H2O-ice lags lay in and near a chasma and appears to survive between 6-8 sols past the sublimation of the CO2. Possible sources of the H2O that compose the lag are (1) atmospheric H2O that is incorporated into the seasonal cap during condensation, (2) cold trapping of atmospheric water vapor onto the surface of the cap in the spring, or (3) a combination of the 2 processes where water is released from the sublimating cap only to be transported back over the cap edge and cold trapped. We refer to this later process as the "Houben" effect which may enrich the amount of water contained in the seasonal cap at 85??S by as much as a factor of 15. This phenomenon, which has already been identified for the northern retreating cap, may present an important water transport mechanism in the Southern Hemisphere.

Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayachandran, P. T.; Langley, R. B.; MacDougall, J. W.; Mushini, S. C.; Pokhotelov, D.; Hamza, A. M.; Mann, I. R.; Milling, D. K.; Kale, Z. C.; Chadwick, R.; Kelly, T.; Danskin, D. W.; Carrano, C. S.

2009-02-01

Polar cap ionospheric measurements are important for the complete understanding of the various processes in the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system as well as for space weather applications. Currently, the polar cap region is lacking high temporal and spatial resolution ionospheric measurements because of the orbit limitations of space-based measurements and the sparse network providing ground-based measurements. Canada has a unique advantage in remedying this shortcoming because it has the most accessible landmass in the high Arctic regions, and the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) is designed to take advantage of Canadian geographic vantage points for a better understanding of the Sun-Earth system. CHAIN is a distributed array of ground-based radio instruments in the Canadian high Arctic. The instrument components of CHAIN are 10 high data rate Global Positioning System ionospheric scintillation and total electron content monitors and six Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosondes. Most of these instruments have been sited within the polar cap region except for two GPS reference stations at lower latitudes. This paper briefly overviews the scientific capabilities, instrument components, and deployment status of CHAIN. This paper also reports a GPS signal scintillation episode associated with a magnetospheric impulse event. More details of the CHAIN project and data can be found at http://chain.physics.unb.ca/chain.

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) adaption in National Early Warning Alerting Systems of China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chao

2017-04-01

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) [1] is an XML-based data format for exchanging public warnings and emergencies between alerting technologies. In China, from local communities to entire nations, there was a patchwork of specialized hazard public alerting systems. And each system was often designed just for certain emergency situations and for certain communications media. Application took place in the NEWAS (National Early Warning Alerting Systems) [2]project where CAP serves as central message to integrate all kind of hazard situations, including the natural calamity, accident disaster, public health emergency , social safety etc. Officially operated on May 2015, NEWAS now has completed docking work with 14 departments including civil administration, safety supervision, forestry, land, water conservancy, earthquake, traffic, meteorology, agriculture, tourism, food and drug supervision, public security and oceanic administration. Thus, several items in CAP has been modified, redefined and extended according to the various grading standards and publishing strategies, as well as the characteristics of Chinese Geocoding. NEWAS successfully delivers information to end users through 4 levels (i.e. State, province, prefecture and county) structure and by various means. [1] CAP, http://www.oasis-emergency.org/cap [2] http://www.12379.cn/

Design and Performance of the Astro-E/XRS Signal Processing System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyce, Kevin R.; Audley, M. D.; Baker, R. G.; Dumonthier, J. J.; Fujimoto, R.; Gendreau, K. C.; Ishisaki, Y.; Kelley, R. L.; Stahle, C. K.; Szymkowiak, A. E.

1999-01-01

We describe the signal processing system of the Astro-E XRS instrument. The Calorimeter Analog Processor (CAP) provides bias and power for the detectors and amplifies the detector signals by a factor of 20,000. The Calorimeter Digital Processor (CDP) performs the digital processing of the calorimeter signals, detecting X-ray pulses and analyzing them by optimal filtering. We describe the operation of pulse detection, Pulse height analysis. and risetime determination. We also discuss performance, including the three event grades (hi-res mid-res, and low-res). anticoincidence detection, counting rate dependence, and noise rejection.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a novel physicochemical source, induces neural differentiation through cross-talk between the specific RONS cascade and Trk/Ras/ERK signaling pathway.

PubMed

Jang, Ja-Young; Hong, Young June; Lim, Junsup; Choi, Jin Sung; Choi, Eun Ha; Kang, Seongman; Rhim, Hyangshuk

2018-02-01

Plasma, formed by ionization of gas molecules or atoms, is the most abundant form of matter and consists of highly reactive physicochemical species. In the physics and chemistry fields, plasma has been extensively studied; however, the exact action mechanisms of plasma on biological systems, including cells and humans, are not well known. Recent evidence suggests that cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), which refers to plasma used in the biomedical field, may regulate diverse cellular processes, including neural differentiation. However, the mechanism by which these physicochemical signals, elicited by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), are transmitted to biological system remains elusive. In this study, we elucidated the physicochemical and biological (PCB) connection between the CAP cascade and Trk/Ras/ERK signaling pathway, which resulted in neural differentiation. Excited atomic oxygen in the plasma phase led to the formation of RONS in the PCB network, which then interacted with reactive atoms in the extracellular liquid phase to form nitric oxide (NO). Production of large amounts of superoxide radical (O 2 - ) in the mitochondria of cells exposed to CAP demonstrated that extracellular NO induced the reversible inhibition of mitochondrial complex IV. We also demonstrated that cytosolic hydrogen peroxide, formed by O 2 - dismutation, act as an intracellular messenger to specifically activate the Trk/Ras/ERK signaling pathway. This study is the first to elucidate the mechanism linking physicochemical signals from the CAP cascade to the intracellular neural differentiation signaling pathway, providing physical, chemical and biological insights into the development of therapeutic techniques to treat neurological diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CAPS--pathogenesis, presentation and treatment of an autoinflammatory disease.

PubMed

Kuemmerle-Deschner, Jasmin B

2015-07-01

The cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a severity spectrum of rare diseases. CAPS comprises the three conditions previously described as familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disorder (NOMID), also known as chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, and articular (CINCA) syndrome. The clinical phenotype of CAPS is characterized by systemic inflammation. General symptoms are fatigue and fever. Local manifestations affect multiple tissues such as skin, joints, muscles, eyes, and the central nervous system. Distinct clinical features are characteristic for each subphenotype. In FCAS, these are cold-induced urticaria and fever, in MWS systemic amyloidosis and hearing loss and in NOMID/CINCA central nervous system inflammation and bone deformities. CAPS is caused by single heterozygous germline or somatic gain of function mutations in the NLRP3 gene encoding the protein cryopyrin. Cryopyrin nucleates an NLRP3 inflammasome, which regulates the activation and cleavage of caspase-1 that cleaves the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. IL-1β plays the key role in the induction of inflammation in CAPS. This has been confirmed by the application of IL-1 blocking agents, which lead not only to a rapid and sustained reversal of daily symptoms but also to some extent of long-term disease sequelae. To prevent CAPS-induced organ damage, early diagnosis and swift initiation of effective treatment are mandatory.

Hands-Free Image Capture, Data Tagging and Transfer Using Google Glass: A Pilot Study for Improved Wound Care Management

PubMed Central

Aldaz, Gabriel; Shluzas, Lauren Aquino; Pickham, David; Eris, Ozgur; Sadler, Joel; Joshi, Shantanu; Leifer, Larry

2015-01-01

Chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, compromise the health of 6.5 million Americans and pose an annual estimated burden of $25 billion to the U.S. health care system. When treating chronic wounds, clinicians must use meticulous documentation to determine wound severity and to monitor healing progress over time. Yet, current wound documentation practices using digital photography are often cumbersome and labor intensive. The process of transferring photos into Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) requires many steps and can take several days. Newer smartphone and tablet-based solutions, such as Epic Haiku, have reduced EMR upload time. However, issues still exist involving patient positioning, image-capture technique, and patient identification. In this paper, we present the development and assessment of the SnapCap System for chronic wound photography. Through leveraging the sensor capabilities of Google Glass, SnapCap enables hands-free digital image capture, and the tagging and transfer of images to a patient’s EMR. In a pilot study with wound care nurses at Stanford Hospital (n=16), we (i) examined feature preferences for hands-free digital image capture and documentation, and (ii) compared SnapCap to the state of the art in digital wound care photography, the Epic Haiku application. We used the Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test to evaluate differences in mean ranks between preference options. Preferred hands-free navigation features include barcode scanning for patient identification, Z(15) = -3.873, p < 0.001, r = 0.71, and double-blinking to take photographs, Z(13) = -3.606, p < 0.001, r = 0.71. In the comparison between SnapCap and Epic Haiku, the SnapCap System was preferred for sterile image-capture technique, Z(16) = -3.873, p < 0.001, r = 0.68. Responses were divided with respect to image quality and overall ease of use. The study’s results have contributed to the future implementation of new features aimed at enhancing mobile hands-free digital photography for chronic wound care. PMID:25902061

Automated method for determining Instron Residual Seal Force of glass vial/rubber closure systems. Part II. 13 mm vials.

PubMed

Ludwig, J D; Davis, C W

1995-01-01

Instron Residual Seal Force (IRSF) of 13 mm glass vial/rubber closure systems was determined using an Instron 4501 Materials Testing System and computerized data analysis. A series of three cap anvils varying in shape and dimensions were machined to optimize cap anvil performance. Cap anvils with spherical top surfaces and narrow internal dimensions produced uniform stress-deformation curves from which precise IRSF values were derived.

California air transportation study: A transportation system for the California Corridor of the year 2010

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

To define and solve the problems of transportation in the California Corrider in the year 2010, the 1989 California Polytechnic State University Aeronautical Engineering Senior Design class determined future corridor transportation needs and developed a system to meet the requirements. A market study, which included interpreting travel demand and gauging the future of regional and national air travel in and out of the corridor, allowed the goals of the project to be accurately refined. Comprehensive trade-off studies of several proposed transporation systems were conducted to determine which components would form the final proposed system. Preliminary design and further analysis were performed for each resulting component. The proposed system consists of three vehicles and a special hub or mode mixer, the Corridor Access Port (CAP). The vehicles are: (1) an electric powered aircraft to serve secondary airports and the CAP; (2) a high speed magnetic levitation train running through the CAP and the high population density areas of the corridor; and (3) a vertical takeoff and landing tilt rotor aircraft to serve both intercity and intrametropolitan travelers from the CAP and city vertiports. The CAP is a combination and an extension of the hub, mode mixer, and Wayport concepts. The CAP is an integrated part of the system which meets the travel demands in the corridor, and interfaces with interstate and international travel.

Biomarkers in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a comparison with biomarkers in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes.

PubMed

Nirmala, Nanguneri; Grom, Alexei; Gram, Hermann

2014-09-01

This review summarizes biomarkers in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). Broadly, the markers are classified under protein, cellular, gene expression and genetic markers. We also compare the biomarkers in sJIA to biomarkers in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). Recent publications showing the similarity of clinical response of sJIA and CAPS to anti-interleukin 1 therapies prompted a comparison at the biomarker level. sJIA traditionally is classified under the umbrella of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. At the clinical phenotypic level, sJIA has several features that are more similar to those seen in CAPS. In this review, we summarize biomarkers in sJIA and CAPS and draw upon the various similarities and differences between the two families of diseases. The main differences between sJIA and CAPS biomarkers are genetic markers, with CAPS being a family of monogenic diseases with mutations in NLRP3. There have been a small number of publications describing cellular biomarkers in sJIA with no such studies described for CAPS. Many of the protein marker's characteristics of sJIA are also seen to characterize CAPS. The gene expression data in both sJIA and CAPS show a strong upregulation of innate immunity pathways. In addition, we describe a strong similarity between sJIA and CAPS at the gene expression level in which several genes that form a part of the erythropoiesis signature are upregulated in both sJIA and CAPS.

Biomarkers in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A comparison with biomarkers in Cryopyrin Associated Periodic Syndromes

PubMed Central

Nirmala, Nanguneri; Grom, Alexei; Gram, Hermann

2015-01-01

Purpose of review This review summarizes biomarkers in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA). Broadly, the markers are classified under protein, cellular, gene expression and genetic markers. We also compare the biomarkers in sJIA to biomarkers in cryopyrin associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Recent findings Recent publications showing the similarity of clinical response of sJIA and CAPS to anti IL1 therapies prompted a comparison at the biomarker level. Summary sJIA traditionally is classified under the umbrella of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. At the clinical phenotypic level, sJIA has several features that are more similar to those seen in Cryopyrin Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS). In this review, we summarize biomarkers in sJIA and CAPS and draw upon the various similarities and differences between the two families of diseases. The main difference between sJIA and CAPS biomarkers are genetic markers with CAPS being a family of monogenic diseases with mutations in NLRP3. There have been a small number of publications describing cellular biomarkers in sJIA with no such studies described for CAPS. Many of the protein markers characteristic of sJIA are also seen to characterize CAPS. The gene expression data in both sJIA and CAPS show a strong upregulation of innate immunity pathways. In addition, we describe a strong similarity between sJIA and CAPS at the gene expression level where several genes that form a part of the erythropoiesis signature are upregulated in both sJIA and CAPS. PMID:25050926

Report: Inconsistencies With EPA Policy Identified in Region 10's Biweekly Pay Cap Waiver Process

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #18-P-0068, January 12, 2018. We identified issues with documentation and review of biweekly pay cap waivers at Region 10, resulting from a lack of an internal policy or process. Region 10 recently issued a new procedure that addresses our concerns.

DFT Studies of Graphene-Functionalised Derivatives of Capecitabine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aramideh, Mehdi; Mirzaei, Mahmoud; Khodarahmi, Ghadamali; Gülseren, Oğuz

2017-11-01

Cancer is one of the major problems for so many people around the world; therefore, dedicating efforts to explore efficient therapeutic methodologies is very important for researchers of life sciences. In this case, nanostructures are expected to be carriers of medicinal compounds for targeted drug design and delivery purposes. Within this work, the graphene (Gr)-functionalised derivatives of capecitabine (CAP), as a representative anticancer, have been studied based on density functional theory calculations. Two different sizes of Gr molecular models have been used for the functionalisation of CAP counterparts, CAP-Gr3 and CAP-Gr5, to explore the effects of Gr-functionalisation on the original properties of CAP. All singular and functionalised molecular models have been optimised and the molecular and atomic scale properties have been evaluated for the optimised structures. Higher formation favourability has been obtained for CAP-Gr5 in comparison with CAP-Gr3 and better structural stability has been obtained in the water-solvated system than the isolated gas-phase system for all models. The CAP-Gr5 model could play a better role of electron transferring in comparison with the CAP-Gr3 model. As a concluding remark, the molecular properties of CAP changed from singular to functionalised models whereas the atomic properties remained almost unchanged, which is expected for a carrier not to use significant perturbations to the original properties of the carried counterpart.

Chip-LC-MS for label-free profiling of human serum.

PubMed

Horvatovich, Peter; Govorukhina, Natalia I; Reijmers, Theo H; van der Zee, Ate G J; Suits, Frank; Bischoff, Rainer

2007-12-01

The discovery of biomarkers in easily accessible body fluids such as serum is one of the most challenging topics in proteomics requiring highly efficient separation and detection methodologies. Here, we present the application of a microfluidics-based LC-MS system (chip-LC-MS) to the label-free profiling of immunodepleted, trypsin-digested serum in comparison to conventional capillary LC-MS (cap-LC-MS). Both systems proved to have a repeatability of approximately 20% RSD for peak area, all sample preparation steps included, while repeatability of the LC-MS part by itself was less than 10% RSD for the chip-LC-MS system. Importantly, the chip-LC-MS system had a two times higher resolution in the LC dimension and resulted in a lower average charge state of the tryptic peptide ions generated in the ESI interface when compared to cap-LC-MS while requiring approximately 30 times less (~5 pmol) sample. In order to characterize both systems for their capability to find discriminating peptides in trypsin-digested serum samples, five out of ten individually prepared, identical sera were spiked with horse heart cytochrome c. A comprehensive data processing methodology was applied including 2-D smoothing, resolution reduction, peak picking, time alignment, and matching of the individual peak lists to create an aligned peak matrix amenable for statistical analysis. Statistical analysis by supervised classification and variable selection showed that both LC-MS systems could discriminate the two sample groups. However, the chip-LC-MS system allowed to assign 55% of the overall signal to selected peaks against 32% for the cap-LC-MS system.

Fluorescence microscopic analysis of antifungal effects of cold atmospheric pressure plasma in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Itooka, Koki; Takahashi, Kazuo; Izawa, Shingo

2016-11-01

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has potential to be utilized as an alternative method for sterilization in food industries without thermal damage or toxic residues. In contrast to the bactericidal effects of CAP, information regarding the efficacy of CAP against eukaryotic microorganisms is very limited. Therefore, herein we investigated the effects of CAP on the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a focus on the cellular response to CAP. The CAP treatment caused oxidative stress responses including the nuclear accumulation of the oxidative stress responsive transcription factor Yap1, mitochondrial fragmentation, and enhanced intracellular oxidation. Yeast cells also induced the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes and formation of Hsp104 aggregates when treated with CAP, suggesting that CAP denatures proteins. As phenomena unique to eukaryotic cells, the formation of cytoplasmic mRNP granules such as processing bodies and stress granules and changes in the intracellular localization of Ire1 were caused by the treatment with CAP, indicating that translational repression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were induced by the CAP treatment. These results suggest that the fungicidal effects of CAP are attributed to the multiple severe stresses.

Ribonucleoprotein organization of eukaryotic RNA. XXXII. U2 small nuclear RNA precursors and their accurate 3' processing in vitro as ribonucleoprotein particles.

PubMed

Wieben, E D; Nenninger, J M; Pederson, T

1985-05-05

Biosynthetic precursors of U2 small nuclear RNA have been identified in cultured human cells by hybrid-selection of pulse-labeled RNA with cloned U2 DNA. These precursor molecules are one to approximately 16 nucleotides longer than mature U2 RNA and contain 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine "caps". The U2 RNA precursors are associated with proteins that react with a monoclonal antibody for antigens characteristic of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles. Like previously described precursors of U1 and U4 small nuclear RNAs, the pre-U2 RNAs are recovered in cytoplasmic fractions, although it is not known if this is their location in vivo. The precursors are processed to mature-size U2 RNA when cytoplasmic extracts are incubated in vitro at 37 degrees C. Mg2+ is required but ATP is not. The ribonucleoprotein structure of the pre-U2 RNA is maintained during the processing reaction in vitro, as are the 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine caps. The ribonucleoprotein organization is of major importance, as exogenous, protein-free U2 RNA precursors are degraded rapidly in the in vitro system. Two lines of evidence indicate that the conversion of U2 precursors to mature-size U2 RNA involves a 3' processing reaction. First, the reaction is unaffected by a large excess of mature U2 small nuclear RNP, whose 5' trimethylguanosine caps would be expected to compete for a 5' processing activity. Second, when pre-U2 RNA precursors are first stoichiometrically decorated with an antibody specific for 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine, the extent of subsequent processing in vitro is unaffected. These results provide the first demonstration of a eukaryotic RNA processing reaction in vitro occurring within a ribonucleoprotein particle.

Probable systemic lupus erythematosus with cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPS).

PubMed

Lamichhane, D; Weinstein, A

2016-08-01

Complement activation is a key feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Detection of cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPS) occurs more frequently than serum hypocomplementemia in definite lupus. We describe a patient with normocomplementemic probable SLE who did not fulfill ACR classification criteria for lupus, but the diagnosis was supported by the presence of CB-CAPS. © The Author(s) 2016.

Experimental landfill caps for semi-arid and arid climates.

PubMed

Blight, Geoffrey E; Fourie, Andries B

2005-04-01

The United States EPA Subtitle D municipal solid waste landfill requirements specify that the permeability of a cap to a landfill be no greater than the permeability of the underliner. In recent years the concept of the evapotranspirative (ET) cap has been developed in which the cap is designed to store all rain infiltration and re-evapotranspire it during dry weather. Concern at the long period required for landfilled municipal solid waste to decompose and stabilize in arid and semi-arid climates has led to an extension of the concept of the ET cap. With the infiltrate-stabilize-evapotranspire (ISE) cap, rain infiltration during wet weather is permitted to enter the underlying waste, thus accelerating the decomposition and stabilization process. Excess infiltration is then removed from both waste and cap by evaporation during dry weather. The paper describes the construction and operation of two sets of experimental ISE caps, one in a winter rainfall semi-arid climate, and the other in a summer rainfall semi-arid climate. Observation of the rainfall, soil evaporation and amount of water stored in the caps has allowed water balances to be constructed for caps of various thicknesses. These observations show that the ISE concept is viable. In the limit, when there is insufficient rainfall to infiltrate the waste, an ISE cap operates as an ET cap.

Development of a two-stage in vitro model system to investigate the mineralization mechanisms involved in idiopathic stone formation: stage 1-biomimetic Randall's plaque using decellularized porcine kidneys.

PubMed

Lovett, Archana C; Khan, Saeed R; Gower, Laurie B

2018-05-18

Idiopathic calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone formers form stones that are commonly attached to calcium phosphate (CaP) deposits in the renal tissue, known as Randall's plaques (RP). Plaques are suggested to originate in the renal tubular basement membrane, where they exhibit a morphology of concentrically laminated apatitic spherules, while in the interstitial regions, the collagen fibrils and vesicles become mineralized. We hypothesize that these minerals might form by non-classical crystallization mechanisms, such as via amorphous precursors, some of which might originate from a polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) process. Thus, our goal is to identify mineralogical 'signatures' of various stone formation mechanisms. To do this for idiopathic CaOx stones, we are developing a two-stage model system of CaP-CaOx composite stones, consisting of stage (1) CaP mineralized plaque, followed by stage (2) CaOx overgrowth into a stone. For the studies presented here, decellularized porcine kidneys were mineralized with CaP using polyaspartic acid or the protein osteopontin (OPN) to induce the PILP process and create biomimetic RP. Analysis of the PILP-mineralized tissues shows features that resemble the native plaques, including mineral spherules and collagen with intrafibrillar mineral. In contrast, the classical crystallization produced large apatitic spherulites, which is a very different morphology, but one which is also found in some stones. An alternative hypothesis regarding Randall's plaque, and if or when it becomes pathological, is discussed.

Nature and Stability of the Martian Seasonal Water Cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richardson, M. I.; Wilson, R. J.

2001-12-01

Which components control the contemporary water cycle and what is the nature of the control mechanisms? These questions are at the heart of understanding how the Martian exchangeable water budget adjusts to perturbations and changes in the climate system. Analysis of a water cycle model embedded in the GFDL Mars GCM provides a paradigm for the water cycle as a feedback system, providing information on the important control points and response times. Much information on this system derives from monitoring the evolution towards steady state--one that resembles the observed water vapour and ice cloud distributions. The most important exchange balance in the system is that between the northern polar atmosphere and the rest of the planet. As the major net source for water, the northern residual water ice cap is active during summer, in the window of time between the sublimation and recondensation of the seasonal CO2 cap. At this time, water is exported from the northern polar atmosphere at a rate determined by the mixing capacity of the atmosphere and the amount of water held in the polar atmosphere. The latter is determined by the cap surface temperature. During the remainder of the year, water is returned to the pole. This return flux is determined by the atmospheric mixing capacity and the amount of water vapour held in the tropical and winter extratropical atmosphere. Steady-state is achieved when these fluxes balance. For a given climate state (and a roughly repeatable annual cycle of mixing), the outflux and influx of polar water are controlled by separate variables. Holding the cap temperature constant, the outflux will remain constant. Any perturbation to the global water budget will result in a change in the return flux that tends to oppose the sense of the perturbation--the perturbation will be damped. In the same way, a change in cap temperature (e.g. associated with a change in albedo) will result in changed water outflow. Again, this will tend to change the non-polar water vapour budget and hence the polar water influx so as to develop a new steady-state. It is important to note that only in this case is the steady-state global humidity changed: a given cap temperature and seasonal cycle of mixing capacity specifies a bulk steady-state atmospheric humidity. In all cases, the regolith acts as a damper on the system and adjusts to the global water distribution dictated ultimately by the northern cap. The model also suggests fast adjustment times, on order decades. A number of factors can affect atmospheric mixing capacity. As climate forcing factors change (associated with obliquity or greenhouse gas loading) the mixing capacity will change--an area for future study. The current mixing capacity of the atmosphere is also different from one that would obtain without atmospheric water condensation and sedimentation. Model clouds play important roles in returning water to the residual ice cap in northern summer, and significantly altering interhemispheric transport from that which would occur without clouds. As with previous studies, the southern polar cap acts as a permanent sink for water. The model and resulting paradigm for the water cycle can be used in very preliminary studies of past climate states. Forcing the model with an obliquity of 45 deg., the seasonal water ice caps become significantly more extended, reaching into the summer hemisphere. In fact, the seasonal caps "overlap" in the northern tropics, generating a year-round surface ice belt. Much work remains to be done in understanding water ice transport and exchange processes before models of paleoclimate can be of widespread utility--of which analysis of data from MGS and future missions will be key.

Chemiluminescence studies between aqueous phase synthesized mercaptosuccinic acid capped cadmium telluride quantum dots and luminol-H2O2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaviyarasan, Kulandaivelu; Anandan, Sambandam; Mangalaraja, Ramalinga Viswanathan; Asiri, Abdullah M.; Wu, Jerry J.

2016-08-01

Mercaptosuccinic acid capped Cadmium telluride quantum dots have been successfully synthesized via aqueous phase method. The products were well characterized by a number of analytical techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, HRTEM, and a corrected particle size analysis by the statistical treatment of several AFM measurements. Chemiluminescence experiments were performed to explore the resonance energy transfer between chemiluminescence donor (luminol-H2O2 system) and acceptor CdTe QDs. The combination of such donor and acceptor dramatically reduce the fluorescence while compared to pristine CdTe QDs without any exciting light source, which is due to the occurrence of chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) processes.

The First Result of Relative Positioning and Velocity Estimation Based on CAPS

PubMed Central

Zhao, Jiaojiao; Ge, Jian; Wang, Liang; Wang, Ningbo; Zhou, Kai; Yuan, Hong

2018-01-01

The Chinese Area Positioning System (CAPS) is a new positioning system developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences based on the communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The CAPS has been regarded as a pilot system to test the new technology for the design, construction and update of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). The system structure of CAPS, including the space, ground control station and user segments, is almost like the traditional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs), but with the clock on the ground, the navigation signal in C waveband, and different principles of operation. The major difference is that the CAPS navigation signal is first generated at the ground control station, before being transmitted to the satellite in orbit and finally forwarded by the communication satellite transponder to the user. This design moves the clock from the satellite in orbit to the ground. The clock error can therefore be easily controlled and mitigated to improve the positioning accuracy. This paper will present the performance of CAPS-based relative positioning and velocity estimation as assessed in Beijing, China. The numerical results show that, (1) the accuracies of relative positioning, using only code measurements, are 1.25 and 1.8 m in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively; (2) meanwhile, they are about 2.83 and 3.15 cm in static mode and 6.31 and 10.78 cm in kinematic mode, respectively, when using the carrier-phase measurements with ambiguities fixed; and (3) the accuracy of the velocity estimation is about 0.04 and 0.11 m/s in static and kinematic modes, respectively. These results indicate the potential application of CAPS for high-precision positioning and velocity estimation and the availability of a new navigation mode based on communication satellites. PMID:29757204

Approximating tasseled cap values to evaluate brightness, greenness, and wetness for the Advanced Land Imager (ALI)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yamamoto, Kristina H.; Finn, Michael P.

2012-01-01

The Tasseled Cap transformation is a method of image band conversion to enhance spectral information. It primarily is used to detect vegetation using the derived brightness, greenness, and wetness bands. An approximation of Tasseled Cap values for the Advanced Land Imager was investigated and compared to the Landsat Thematic Mapper Tasseled Cap values. Despite sharing similar spectral, temporal, and spatial resolution, the two systems are not interchangeable with regard to Tasseled Cap matrices.

Capped antigenomic RNA transcript facilitates rescue of a plant rhabdovirus.

PubMed

Qian, Shasha; Chen, Xiaolan; Sun, Kai; Zhang, Yang; Li, Zhenghe

2017-06-13

Recovery of recombinant negative-stranded RNA viruses from cloned cDNAs is an inefficient process as multiple viral components need to be delivered into cells for reconstitution of infectious entities. Previously studies have shown that authentic viral RNA termini are essential for efficient virus rescue. However, little is known about the activity of viral RNAs processed by different strategies in supporting recovery of plant negative-stranded RNA virus. In this study, we used several versions of hammerhead ribozymes and a truncated cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter to generate precise 5' termini of sonchus yellow net rhabdovirus (SYNV) antigenomic RNA (agRNA) derivatives. These agRNAs were co-expressed with the SYNV core proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves to evaluate their efficiency in supporting fluorescent reporter gene expression from an SYNV minireplicon (MR) and rescue of full-length virus. Optimization of hammerhead ribozyme cleavage activities led to improved SYNV MR reporter gene expression. Although the MR agRNA processed by the most active hammerhead variants is comparable to the capped, precisely transcribed agRNA in supporting MR activity, efficient recovery of recombinant SYNV was only achieved with capped agRNA. Further studies showed that the capped SYNV agRNA permitted transient expression of the nucleocapsid (N) protein, and an agRNA derivatives unable to express the N protein in cis exhibited dramatically reduced rescue efficiency. Our study reveals superior activity of precisely transcribed, capped SYNV agRNAs to uncapped, hammerhead ribozyme-processed agRNAs, and suggests a cis-acting function for the N protein expressed from the capped agRNA during recovery of SYNV from plasmids.

Magnetospheric space plasma investigations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comfort, Richard H.; Horwitz, James L.

1994-01-01

A time dependent semi-kinetic model that includes self collisions and ion-neutral collisions and chemistry was developed. Light ion outflow in the polar cap transition region was modeled and compared with data results. A model study of wave heating of O+ ions in the topside transition region was carried out using a code which does local calculations that include ion-neutral and Coulomb self collisions as well as production and loss of O+. Another project is a statistical study of hydrogen spin curve characteristics in the polar cap. A statistical study of the latitudinal distribution of core plasmas along the L=4.6 field line using DE-1/RIMS data was completed. A short paper on dual spacecraft estimates of ion temperature profiles and heat flows in the plasmasphere ionosphere system was prepared. An automated processing code was used to process RIMS data from 1981 to 1984.

Process for making surfactant capped nanocrystals

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A Paul; Rockenberger, Joerg

2002-01-01

Disclosed is a process for making surfactant capped nanocrystals of transition metal oxides. The process comprises reacting a metal cupferron complex of the formula M Cup, wherein M is a transition metal, and Cup is a cupferron, with a coordinating surfactant, the reaction being conducted at a temperature ranging from about 250 to about 300 C., for a period of time sufficient to complete the reaction.

Preventing Thin Film Dewetting via Graphene Capping.

PubMed

Cao, Peigen; Bai, Peter; Omrani, Arash A; Xiao, Yihan; Meaker, Kacey L; Tsai, Hsin-Zon; Yan, Aiming; Jung, Han Sae; Khajeh, Ramin; Rodgers, Griffin F; Kim, Youngkyou; Aikawa, Andrew S; Kolaczkowski, Mattew A; Liu, Yi; Zettl, Alex; Xu, Ke; Crommie, Michael F; Xu, Ting

2017-09-01

A monolayer 2D capping layer with high Young's modulus is shown to be able to effectively suppress the dewetting of underlying thin films of small organic semiconductor molecule, polymer, and polycrystalline metal, respectively. To verify the universality of this capping layer approach, the dewetting experiments are performed for single-layer graphene transferred onto polystyrene (PS), semiconducting thienoazacoronene (EH-TAC), gold, and also MoS 2 on PS. Thermodynamic modeling indicates that the exceptionally high Young's modulus and surface conformity of 2D capping layers such as graphene and MoS 2 substantially suppress surface fluctuations and thus dewetting. As long as the uncovered area is smaller than the fluctuation wavelength of the thin film in a dewetting process via spinodal decomposition, the dewetting should be suppressed. The 2D monolayer-capping approach opens up exciting new possibilities to enhance the thermal stability and expands the processing parameters for thin film materials without significantly altering their physical properties. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Lightweight Thermal Protection System for Atmospheric Entry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stewart, David; Leiser, Daniel

2007-01-01

TUFROC (Toughened Uni-piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-resistant Composite) has been developed as a new thermal protection system (TPS) material for wing leading edge and nose cap applications. The composite withstands temperatures up to 1,970 K, and consists of a toughened, high-temperature surface cap and a low-thermal-conductivity base, and is applicable to both sharp and blunt leading edge vehicles. This extends the possible application of fibrous insulation to the wing leading edge and/or nose cap on a hypersonic vehicle. The lightweight system comprises a treated carbonaceous cap composed of ROCCI (Refractory Oxidation-resistant Ceramic Carbon Insulation), which provides dimensional stability to the outer mold line, while the fibrous base material provides maximum thermal insulation for the vehicle structure.

System and method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor

DOEpatents

Uhm, Jong Ho; Ziminsky, Willy Steve; Johnson, Thomas Edward; Srinivasan, Shiva; York, William David

2016-11-29

A system for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across the combustor and includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A combustion chamber is downstream of the end cap, and tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. Each tube provides fluid communication through the end cap to the combustion chamber. The system further includes means for reducing combustion dynamics in the combustor. A method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes that extend axially through an end cap that extends radially across the combustor and obstructing at least a portion of the working fluid flowing through a first set of the tubes.

Phase II Trial of β-All-trans-Retinoic Acid for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Delivered via a Collagen Sponge and Cervical Cap

PubMed Central

Graham, Vivian; Surwit, Earl S.; Weiner, Sheldon; Meyskens, Frank L.

1986-01-01

Retinoids are effective suppressors of the phenotypic development of cancer in many animal systems, whether the process is initiated by chemical, physical or viral carcinogens. Cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia are excellent for studying the effectiveness of retinoids as chemopreventive agents because the process can be closely followed by serial colposcopic and pathologic (cytology or biopsy) means and changes in the condition safely monitored. We have previously conducted a phase I study of trans-retinoic acid (Tretinoin) given topically by a collagen sponge and cervical cap. A dose of 0.372% was selected for phase II trial. We have treated 20 patients with topical retinoic acid, and a complete response with total regression of disease was obtained in 50%. Systemic and cervical side effects were mild and vaginal side effects moderate but tolerable. These results provide a clinical basis for a randomized, double-blind phase III study to definitely answer the question of whether retinoic acid is an effective chemopreventive agent for cervical cancer. ImagesFigure. 1. PMID:3765597

DWPF Melter Off-Gas Flammability Assessment for Sludge Batch 9

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

Choi, A. S.

2016-07-11

The slurry feed to the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) melter contains several organic carbon species that decompose in the cold cap and produce flammable gases that could accumulate in the off-gas system and create potential flammability hazard. To mitigate such a hazard, DWPF has implemented a strategy to impose the Technical Safety Requirement (TSR) limits on all key operating variables affecting off-gas flammability and operate the melter within those limits using both hardwired/software interlocks and administrative controls. The operating variables that are currently being controlled include; (1) total organic carbon (TOC), (2) air purges for combustion and dilution, (3)more » melter vapor space temperature, and (4) feed rate. The safety basis limits for these operating variables are determined using two computer models, 4-stage cold cap and Melter Off-Gas (MOG) dynamics models, under the baseline upset scenario - a surge in off-gas flow due to the inherent cold cap instabilities in the slurry-fed melter.« less

High temperature superconductor step-edge Josephson junctions using Ti-Ca-Ba-Cu-O

DOEpatents

Ginley, David S.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Hohenwarter, Gert K. G.; Martens, Jon S.; Plut, Thomas A.; Tigges, Chris P.; Vawter, Gregory A.; Zipperian, Thomas E.

1994-10-25

A process for formulating non-hysteretic and hysteretic Josephson junctions using HTS materials which results in junctions having the ability to operate at high temperatures while maintaining high uniformity and quality. The non-hysteretic Josephson junction is formed by step-etching a LaAlO.sub.3 crystal substrate and then depositing a thin film of TlCaBaCuO on the substrate, covering the step, and forming a grain boundary at the step and a subsequent Josephson junction. Once the non-hysteretic junction is formed the next step to form the hysteretic Josephson junction is to add capacitance to the system. In the current embodiment, this is accomplished by adding a thin dielectric layer, LaA1O.sub.3, followed by a cap layer of a normal metal where the cap layer is formed by first depositing a thin layer of titanium (Ti) followed by a layer of gold (Au). The dielectric layer and the normal metal cap are patterned to the desired geometry.

42 CFR 414.902 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims for drugs and biologicals under the CAP... participating CAP physician, in his or her clinical judgment, to require prompt action or attention for purposes... requirements of § 414.906(e) are met. Local carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims...

42 CFR 414.902 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims for drugs and biologicals under the CAP... participating CAP physician, in his or her clinical judgment, to require prompt action or attention for purposes... requirements of § 414.906(e) are met. Local carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims...

42 CFR 414.902 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims for drugs and biologicals under the CAP... participating CAP physician, in his or her clinical judgment, to require prompt action or attention for purposes... requirements of § 414.906(e) are met. Local carrier means an entity assigned by CMS to process and pay claims...

Kinetics of Cold-Cap Reactions for Vitrification of Nuclear Waste Glass Based on Simultaneous Differential Scanning Calorimetry - Thermogravimetry (DSC-TGA) and Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA)

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

Rodriguez, Carmen P.; Pierce, David A.; Schweiger, Michael J.

2013-12-03

For vitrifying nuclear waste glass, the feed, a mixture of waste with glass-forming and modifying additives, is charged onto the cold cap that covers 90-100% of the melt surface. The cold cap consists of a layer of reacting molten glass floating on the surface of the melt in an all-electric, continuous glass melter. As the feed moves through the cold cap, it undergoes chemical reactions and phase transitions through which it is converted to molten glass that moves from the cold cap into the melt pool. The process involves a series of reactions that generate multiple gases and subsequent massmore » loss and foaming significantly influence the mass and heat transfers. The rate of glass melting, which is greatly influenced by mass and heat transfers, affects the vitrification process and the efficiency of the immobilization of nuclear waste. We studied the cold-cap reactions of a representative waste glass feed using both the simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry thermogravimetry (DSC-TGA) and the thermogravimetry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (TGA-GC-MS) as complementary tools to perform evolved gas analysis (EGA). Analyses from DSC-TGA and EGA on the cold-cap reactions provide a key element for the development of an advanced cold-cap model. It also helps to formulate melter feeds for higher production rate.« less

Cyclic Alternating Pattern Is Associated with Cerebral Hemodynamic Variation: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study of Sleep in Healthy Humans

PubMed Central

Toppila, Jussi; Salmi, Tapani; Ilmoniemi, Risto J.

2012-01-01

The cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), that is, cyclic variation of brain activity within non-REM sleep stages, is related to sleep instability and preservation, as well as consolidation of learning. Unlike the well-known electrical activity of CAP, its cerebral hemodynamic counterpart has not been assessed in healthy subjects so far. We recorded scalp and cortical hemodynamics with near-infrared spectroscopy on the forehead and systemic hemodynamics (heart rate and amplitude of the photoplethysmograph) with a finger pulse oximeter during 23 nights in 11 subjects. Electrical CAP activity was recorded with a polysomnogram. CAP was related to changes in scalp, cortical, and systemic hemodynamic signals that resembled the ones seen in arousal. Due to their repetitive nature, CAP sequences manifested as low- and very-low-frequency oscillations in the hemodynamic signals. The subtype A3+B showed the strongest hemodynamic changes. A transient hypoxia occurred during CAP cycles, suggesting that an increased CAP rate, especially with the subtype A3+B, which may result from diseases or fragmented sleep, might have an adverse effect on the cerebral vasculature. PMID:23071658

Cyclic alternating pattern is associated with cerebral hemodynamic variation: a near-infrared spectroscopy study of sleep in healthy humans.

PubMed

Näsi, Tiina; Virtanen, Jaakko; Toppila, Jussi; Salmi, Tapani; Ilmoniemi, Risto J

2012-01-01

The cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), that is, cyclic variation of brain activity within non-REM sleep stages, is related to sleep instability and preservation, as well as consolidation of learning. Unlike the well-known electrical activity of CAP, its cerebral hemodynamic counterpart has not been assessed in healthy subjects so far. We recorded scalp and cortical hemodynamics with near-infrared spectroscopy on the forehead and systemic hemodynamics (heart rate and amplitude of the photoplethysmograph) with a finger pulse oximeter during 23 nights in 11 subjects. Electrical CAP activity was recorded with a polysomnogram. CAP was related to changes in scalp, cortical, and systemic hemodynamic signals that resembled the ones seen in arousal. Due to their repetitive nature, CAP sequences manifested as low- and very-low-frequency oscillations in the hemodynamic signals. The subtype A3+B showed the strongest hemodynamic changes. A transient hypoxia occurred during CAP cycles, suggesting that an increased CAP rate, especially with the subtype A3+B, which may result from diseases or fragmented sleep, might have an adverse effect on the cerebral vasculature.

Ionospheric convection driven by NBZ currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rasmussen, C. E.; Schunk, R. W.

1987-01-01

Computer simulations of Birkeland currents and electric fields in the polar ionosphere during periods of northward IMF were conducted. When the IMF z component is northward, an additional current system, called the NBZ current system, is present in the polar cap. These simulations show the effect of the addition of NBZ currents on ionospheric convection, particularly in the polar cap. When the total current in the NBZ system is roughly 25 to 50 percent of the net region 1 and 2 currents, convection in the central portion of the polar cap reverses direction and turns sunward. This creates a pattern of four-cell convection with two small cells located in the polar cap, rotating in an opposite direction from the larger cells. When the Birkeland currents are fixed (constant current source), the electric field is reduced in regions of relatively high conductivity, which affects the pattern of ionospheric convection. Day-night asymmetries in conductivity change convection in such a way that the two polar-cap cells are located within the large dusk cell. When ionospheric convection is fixed (constant voltage source), Birkeland currents are increased in regions of relatively high conductivity. Ionospheric currents, which flow horizontally to close the Birkeland currents, are changed appreciably by the NBZ current system. The principal effect is an increase in ionospheric current in the polar cap.

Microarray-based gene expression profiling in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes defines a disease-related signature and IL-1-responsive transcripts.

PubMed

Balow, James E; Ryan, John G; Chae, Jae Jin; Booty, Matthew G; Bulua, Ariel; Stone, Deborah; Sun, Hong-Wei; Greene, James; Barham, Beverly; Goldbach-Mansky, Raphaela; Kastner, Daniel L; Aksentijevich, Ivona

2013-06-01

To analyse gene expression patterns and to define a specific gene expression signature in patients with the severe end of the spectrum of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). The molecular consequences of interleukin 1 inhibition were examined by comparing gene expression patterns in 16 CAPS patients before and after treatment with anakinra. We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 22 CAPS patients with active disease and from 14 healthy children. Transcripts that passed stringent filtering criteria (p values≤false discovery rate 1%) were considered as differentially expressed genes (DEG). A set of DEG was validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and functional studies with primary cells from CAPS patients and healthy controls. We used 17 CAPS and 66 non-CAPS patient samples to create a set of gene expression models that differentiates CAPS patients from controls and from patients with other autoinflammatory conditions. Many DEG include transcripts related to the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, oxidative stress, cell death, cell adhesion and motility. A set of gene expression-based models comprising the CAPS-specific gene expression signature correctly classified all 17 samples from an independent dataset. This classifier also correctly identified 15 of 16 post-anakinra CAPS samples despite the fact that these CAPS patients were in clinical remission. We identified a gene expression signature that clearly distinguished CAPS patients from controls. A number of DEG were in common with other systemic inflammatory diseases such as systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The CAPS-specific gene expression classifiers also suggest incomplete suppression of inflammation at low doses of anakinra.

Microarray-based gene expression profiling in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes defines a disease-related signature and IL-1-responsive transcripts

PubMed Central

Balow, James E; Ryan, John G; Chae, Jae Jin; Booty, Matthew G; Bulua, Ariel; Stone, Deborah; Sun, Hong-Wei; Greene, James; Barham, Beverly; Goldbach-Mansky, Raphaela; Kastner, Daniel L; Aksentijevich, Ivona

2014-01-01

Objective To analyse gene expression patterns and to define a specific gene expression signature in patients with the severe end of the spectrum of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). The molecular consequences of interleukin 1 inhibition were examined by comparing gene expression patterns in 16 CAPS patients before and after treatment with anakinra. Methods We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 22 CAPS patients with active disease and from 14 healthy children. Transcripts that passed stringent filtering criteria (p values ≤ false discovery rate 1%) were considered as differentially expressed genes (DEG). A set of DEG was validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and functional studies with primary cells from CAPS patients and healthy controls. We used 17 CAPS and 66 non-CAPS patient samples to create a set of gene expression models that differentiates CAPS patients from controls and from patients with other autoinflammatory conditions. Results Many DEG include transcripts related to the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, oxidative stress, cell death, cell adhesion and motility. A set of gene expression-based models comprising the CAPS-specific gene expression signature correctly classified all 17 samples from an independent dataset. This classifier also correctly identified 15 of 16 postanakinra CAPS samples despite the fact that these CAPS patients were in clinical remission. Conclusions We identified a gene expression signature that clearly distinguished CAPS patients from controls. A number of DEG were in common with other systemic inflammatory diseases such as systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The CAPS-specific gene expression classifiers also suggest incomplete suppression of inflammation at low doses of anakinra. PMID:23223423

Composite laminate free-edge reinforcement with U-shaped caps. I - Stress analysis. II - Theoretical-experimental correlation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, W. E.; Gossard, Terry, Jr.; Jones, Robert M.

1989-01-01

The present generalized plane-strain FEM analysis for the prediction of interlaminar normal stress reduction when a U-shaped cap is bonded to the edge of a composite laminate gives attention to the highly variable transverse stresses near the free edge, cap length and thickness, and a gap under the cap due to the manufacturing process. The load-transfer mechanism between cap and laminate is found to be strain-compatibility, rather than shear lag. In the second part of this work, the three-dimensional composite material failure criteria are used in a progressive laminate failure analysis to predict failure loads of laminates with different edge-cap designs; symmetric 11-layer graphite-epoxy laminates with a one-layer cap of kevlar-epoxy are shown to carry 130-140 percent greater loading than uncapped laminates, under static tensile and tension-tension fatigue loading.

76 FR 6536 - Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-215-1A10 (CL-215), CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-07

... analysis of the systems and structure in the potential line of trajectory of a failed screw cap/end cap for... of aileron control [and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane]. * * * * * We are issuing... in the potential line of trajectory of a failed screw cap/end cap for each accumulator has been...

Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: A Review of Their History, Structure, Properties, Coating Technologies and Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Eliaz, Noam; Metoki, Noah

2017-03-24

Calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are widely used in the field of bone regeneration, both in orthopedics and in dentistry, due to their good biocompatibility, osseointegration and osteoconduction. The aim of this article is to review the history, structure, properties and clinical applications of these materials, whether they are in the form of bone cements, paste, scaffolds, or coatings. Major analytical techniques for characterization of CaPs, in vitro and in vivo tests, and the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international standards from CaP coatings on orthopedic and dental endosseous implants, are also summarized, along with the possible effect of sterilization on these materials. CaP coating technologies are summarized, with a focus on electrochemical processes. Theories on the formation of transient precursor phases in biomineralization, the dissolution and reprecipitation as bone of CaPs are discussed. A wide variety of CaPs are presented, from the individual phases to nano-CaP, biphasic and triphasic CaP formulations, composite CaP coatings and cements, functionally graded materials (FGMs), and antibacterial CaPs. We conclude by foreseeing the future of CaPs.

Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: A Review of Their History, Structure, Properties, Coating Technologies and Biomedical Applications

PubMed Central

Eliaz, Noam; Metoki, Noah

2017-01-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are widely used in the field of bone regeneration, both in orthopedics and in dentistry, due to their good biocompatibility, osseointegration and osteoconduction. The aim of this article is to review the history, structure, properties and clinical applications of these materials, whether they are in the form of bone cements, paste, scaffolds, or coatings. Major analytical techniques for characterization of CaPs, in vitro and in vivo tests, and the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international standards from CaP coatings on orthopedic and dental endosseous implants, are also summarized, along with the possible effect of sterilization on these materials. CaP coating technologies are summarized, with a focus on electrochemical processes. Theories on the formation of transient precursor phases in biomineralization, the dissolution and reprecipitation as bone of CaPs are discussed. A wide variety of CaPs are presented, from the individual phases to nano-CaP, biphasic and triphasic CaP formulations, composite CaP coatings and cements, functionally graded materials (FGMs), and antibacterial CaPs. We conclude by foreseeing the future of CaPs. PMID:28772697

7 CFR 58.129 - Cleanliness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... outer garments and caps (paper caps, hard hats, or hair nets acceptable) shall be worn to adequately protect the hair and beards when grown by all persons engaged in receiving, testing, processing milk...

7 CFR 58.129 - Cleanliness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... outer garments and caps (paper caps, hard hats, or hair nets acceptable) shall be worn to adequately protect the hair and beards when grown by all persons engaged in receiving, testing, processing milk...

7 CFR 58.129 - Cleanliness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... outer garments and caps (paper caps, hard hats, or hair nets acceptable) shall be worn to adequately protect the hair and beards when grown by all persons engaged in receiving, testing, processing milk...

7 CFR 58.129 - Cleanliness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... outer garments and caps (paper caps, hard hats, or hair nets acceptable) shall be worn to adequately protect the hair and beards when grown by all persons engaged in receiving, testing, processing milk...

7 CFR 58.129 - Cleanliness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... outer garments and caps (paper caps, hard hats, or hair nets acceptable) shall be worn to adequately protect the hair and beards when grown by all persons engaged in receiving, testing, processing milk...

Subsurface Growth of CoSi2 by Deposition of Co on Si-Capped CoSi2 Seed Regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fathauer, R. W.; George, T.; Pike, W. T.

1991-01-01

At a growth temperature of 800 C, Co deposited on Si(111) diffuses through a Si cap and exhibits oriented growth on buried CoSi2 grains, a process referred to as endotaxy. This occurs preferentially to surface nucleation of CoSi2 provided the thickness of the Si cap is less than a critical value between 100 and 200 nm for a deposition rate of 0.01 nm/s. Steady-state endotaxy is modeled under the assumption that the process is controlled by Co diffusion.

Early 21st-Century Mass loss of the North-Atlantic Glaciers and Ice Caps (Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists Lecture)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wouters, Bert; Ligtenberg, Stefan; Moholdt, Geir; Gardner, Alex S.; Noel, Brice; Kuipers Munneke, Peter; van den Broeke, Michiel; Bamber, Jonathan L.

2016-04-01

Historically, ice loss from mountain glaciers and ice caps has been one of the largest contributors to sea level rise over the last century. Of particular interest are the glaciers and ice caps in the North-Atlantic region of the Arctic. Despite the cold climate in this area, considerable melting and runoff occurs in summer. A small increase in temperature will have an immediate effect on these processes, so that a large change in the Arctic ice volume can be expected in response to the anticipated climate change in the coming century. Unfortunately, direct observations of glaciers are sparse and are biased toward glaciers systems in accessible, mostly maritime, climate conditions. Remote sensing is therefore essential to monitor the state of the the North-Atlantic glaciers and ice caps. In this presentation, we will discuss the progress that has been made in estimating the ice mass balance of these regions, with a particular focus on measurements made by ESA's Cryosat-2 radar altimeter mission (2010-present). Compared to earlier altimeter mission, Cryosat-2 provides unprecedented coverage of the cryosphere, with a resolution down to 1 km or better and sampling at monthly intervals. Combining the Cryosat-2 measurements with the laser altimetry data from ICESat (2003-2009) gives us a 12 yr time series of glacial mass loss in the North Atlantic. We find excellent agreement between the altimetry measurements and independent observations by the GRACE mission, which directly 'weighs' the ice caps, albeit at a much lower resolution. Mass loss in the region has increased from 120 Gigatonnes per year in 2003-2009 to roughly 140 Gt/yr in 2010-2014, with an important contribution from Greenland's peripheral glaciers and ice caps. Importantly, the mass loss is not stationary, but shows large regional interannual variability, with mass loss shifting between eastern and western regions from year to year. Comparison with regional climate models shows that these shifts can be explained by changes in surface mass balance processes, highlighting the sensitivity of the glaciers and ice caps to changes in the atmospheric circulation and underscoring the need for long-term observations of the region.

Fluorosurfactant-capped gold nanoparticles-enhanced chemiluminescence from hydrogen peroxide-hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide-bicarbonate in presence of cobalt(II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jinge; Li, Qianqian; Lu, Chao; Zhao, Lixia; Lin, Jin-Ming

2011-02-01

Nonionic fluorosurfactant (FSN)-capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) remain excellently stable at a wider pH range and high ionic strength, which is useful to investigate some CL systems involved in high salt and a strict pH range. In this study, we utilized FSN-capped GNPs of different sizes to distinguish the emitting species from H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaOH and H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaHCO 3 systems. When the pH of FSN-capped gold colloidal solution was adjusted to 10.2 by dropwise addition of 0.05 M NaOH, the CL intensity of H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaHCO 3 system was enhanced 6-fold or 60-fold respectively in the presence of FSN-capped 14 nm or 69 nm GNPs with comparison to H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaOH. The variation of CL spectra and UV-vis spectra, as well as the quenching effect of reactive oxygen species scavengers were studied in detail to understand the CL enhancement mechanisms of FSN-capped GNPs on the two systems. For H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaOH system, the gold(I) complexes intermediate and singlet oxygen dimol species were proposed as the emitting species. The excited states of the carbon dioxide dimers and singlet oxygen dimol species were considered responsible for the light emission of H 2O 2-Co 2+-NaHCO 3 system. To our knowledge, this work is the first time to study the two CL systems simultaneously using nanoparticles.

VEGETATIVE COVERS FOR WASTE CONTAINMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Disposal of municipal ahd hazardous waste in the United States is primarily accomplished by containment in lined and capped landfills. Evapotranspiration cover systems offer an alternative to conventional landfill cap systems. These covers work on completely different principles ...

Bronchoalveolar carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) mimicking recurrent bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

PubMed

Cunha, Burke A; Syed, Uzma; Mikail, Nardeen

2012-01-01

Depending on the community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) pathogen, host factors, and immune status, CAPs resolve on chest x-rays at different rates. CAPs that resolve more slowly than expected, or not at all, are termed "slowly or non-resolving CAPs." In contrast, recurrent CAPs may be due to host defense defects (eg, multiple myelomas) or post-obstructive bronchogenic carcinomas. There are a variety of noninfectious disorders that may mimic CAPs on chest x-ray: alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary drug reactions, radiation pneumonitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, bronchogenic carcinomas, and lymphomas. Noninfectious mimics of recurrent CAPs include congestive heart failure, pulmonary emboli, infarctions, sarcoidosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus pneumonitis. We present the case of a middle-aged man who presented with recurrent right middle lobe and right lower lobe CAPs. Diagnostic bronchoscopy showed no bronchial obstruction, but open lung biopsy showed bronchoalveolar carcinoma (well-differentiated adenocarcinoma). Bronchoalveolar carcinomas presenting as post-obstructive or recurrent CAPs are rare because the spread is along tissue planes and not endobronchially. The case described demonstrates a rare cause of bronchogenic carcinoma mimicking recurrent CAP. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Caps Seal Boltholes On Vacuum-System Flanges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roman, Robert F.

1993-01-01

Sealing caps devised for boltholes on vacuum-system flanges. Used in place of leak-prone gaskets, and provide solid metal-to-metal interfaces. Each sealing cap contains square-cut circular groove in which O-ring placed. Mounted on studs protruding into access ports, providing positive seal around each bolthole. Each cap mates directly with surface of flange, in solid metal-to-metal fit, with O-ring completely captured in groove. Assembly immune to misalignment, leakage caused by vibration, and creeping distortion caused by weight of port. O-ring material chosen for resistance to high temperature; with appropriate choice of material, temperature raised to as much as 315 degrees C.

Short-term variations of Icelandic ice cap mass inferred from cGPS coordinate time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compton, Kathleen; Bennett, Richard A.; Hreinsdóttir, Sigrún; van Dam, Tonie; Bordoni, Andrea; Barletta, Valentina; Spada, Giorgio

2017-06-01

As the global climate changes, understanding short-term variations in water storage is increasingly important. Continuously operating Global Positioning System (cGPS) stations in Iceland record annual periodic motion—the elastic response to winter accumulation and spring melt seasons—with peak-to-peak vertical amplitudes over 20 mm for those sites in the Central Highlands. Here for the first time for Iceland, we demonstrate the utility of these cGPS-measured displacements for estimating seasonal and shorter-term ice cap mass changes. We calculate unit responses to each of the five largest ice caps in central Iceland at each of the 62 cGPS locations using an elastic half-space model and estimate ice mass variations from the cGPS time series using a simple least squares inversion scheme. We utilize all three components of motion, taking advantage of the seasonal motion recorded in the horizontal. We remove secular velocities and accelerations and explore the impact that seasonal motions due to atmospheric, hydrologic, and nontidal ocean loading have on our inversion results. Our results match available summer and winter mass balance measurements well, and we reproduce the seasonal stake-based observations of loading and melting within the 1σ confidence bounds of the inversion. We identify nonperiodic ice mass changes associated with interannual variability in precipitation and other processes such as increased melting due to reduced ice surface albedo or decreased melting due to ice cap insulation in response to tephra deposition following volcanic eruptions, processes that are not resolved with once or twice-yearly stake measurements.

Improved recombinant Api m 1- and Ves v 5-based IgE testing to dissect bee and yellow jacket allergy and their correlation with the severity of the sting reaction.

PubMed

Šelb, J; Kogovšek, R; Šilar, M; Košnik, M; Korošec, P

2016-04-01

No study has assessed the diagnostic sensitivity of rApi m 1 and rVes v 5 on Immulite testing system. To compare the diagnostic sensitivity of commercially available venom recombinant allergens between the currently available immunoassays [ImmunoCAP (CAP) and Immulite (LITE)] and establish their correlation with the severity of the sting reaction. This study evaluated 95 bee venom and 110 yellow jacket venom-allergic subjects. We measured the levels of sIgE to rApi m 1, rVes v 5 (LITE and CAP), rApi m 2 (LITE), rVes v 1 (CAP) and total IgE (CAP). Forty-nine healthy subjects served as controls. The diagnostic sensitivity of rApi m 1 and rVes v 5 was significantly higher with the LITE than with the CAP system (71% vs. 88% and 82% vs. 93%). The specificity of both assays for both allergens was between 94% and 98%. Twenty-nine patients that tested negative for rApi m 1 or rVes v 5 with CAP were positive with LITE, but none of the patients that tested negative with LITE were positive with CAP. The positive values of rApi m 1 and rVes v 5 were on average 2.7 and 2.3 times higher, with the LITE than with the CAP system. The combination of rApi m 1 and rApi m 2 (LITE) and the combination of rVes v 5 (LITE) and rVes v 1 (CAP) almost matched the sensitivity of native venoms (95% and 97%, respectively), whereas the diagnostic sensitivity of the combination of rVes v 5 and rVes v 1 (CAP) did not reach the sensitivity of rVes v 5 (LITE) alone (90% vs. 93%). IgE levels to venom recombinants and total IgE did not correlate with the severity of sting reaction. The use of rApi m 1 and rVes v 5 with the LITE system significantly enhanced diagnostic utility of venom recombinants and should improve the dissection of bee and yellow jacket venom allergy. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS): A Space-Based System Concept for Revolutionizing Earth Protection and Utilization of Near-Earth Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazanek, Daniel D.; Roithmayr, Carlos M.; Antol, Jeffrey; Kay-Bunnell, Linda; Werner, Martin R.; Park, Sang-Young; Kumar, Renjith R.

2002-01-01

There exists an infrequent, but significant hazard to life and property due to impacting asteroids and comets. There is currently no specific search for long-period comets, smaller near-Earth asteroids, or smaller short-period comets. These objects represent a threat with potentially little or no warning time using conventional ground-based telescopes. These planetary bodies also represent a significant resource for commercial exploitation, long-term sustained space exploration, and scientific research. The Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) would expand the current detection effort to include long-period comets, as well as small asteroids and short-period comets capable of regional destruction. A space-based detection system, despite being more costly and complex than Earth-based initiatives, is the most promising way of expanding the range of detectable objects, and surveying the entire celestial sky on a regular basis. CAPS is a future spacebased system concept that provides permanent, continuous asteroid and comet monitoring, and rapid, controlled modification of the orbital trajectories of selected bodies. CAPS would provide an orbit modification system capable of diverting kilometer class objects, and modifying the orbits of smaller asteroids for impact defense and resource utilization. This paper provides a summary of CAPS and discusses several key areas and technologies that are being investigated.

A nonlinear contextually aware prompting system (N-CAPS) to assist workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities to perform factory assembly tasks: system overview and pilot testing.

PubMed

Mihailidis, A; Melonis, M; Keyfitz, R; Lanning, M; Van Vuuren, S; Bodine, C

2016-10-01

This paper presents a new cognitive assistive technology, nonlinear contextually aware prompting system (N-CAPS) that uses advanced sensing and artificial intelligence to monitor and provide assistance to workers with cognitive disabilities during a factory assembly task. The N-CAPS system was designed through the application of various computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms that allows the system to track a user during a specific assembly task, and then provide verbal and visual prompts to the worker as needed. A pilot study was completed with the N-CAPS solution in order to investigate whether it was an appropriate intervention. Four participants completed the required assembly task five different times, using the N-CAPS system. The participants completed all of the trials that they attempted with 85.7% of the steps completed without assistance from the job coach. Of the 85.7% of steps completed independently, 32.5% of these were completed in response to prompts given by N-CAPS. Overall system accuracy was 83.3%, the overall sensitivity was 86.2% and the overall specificity was 82.4%. The results from the study were positive in that they showed that this type of technology does have merit with this population. Implications for Rehabilitation It provides a concise summary of the importance of work in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and how technology can support this life goal. It describes the first artificially intelligent system designed to support workers with intellectually disabilities. It provides evidence that individuals with intellectual disabilities can perform a work task in response to technology.

Phenylbutyrate counteracts Shigella mediated downregulation of cathelicidin in rabbit lung and intestinal epithelia: a potential therapeutic strategy.

PubMed

Sarker, Protim; Ahmed, Sultan; Tiash, Snigdha; Rekha, Rokeya Sultana; Stromberg, Roger; Andersson, Jan; Bergman, Peter; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H; Agerberth, Birgitta; Raqib, Rubhana

2011-01-01

Cathelicidins and defensins are endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are downregulated in the mucosal epithelia of the large intestine in shigellosis. Oral treatment of Shigella infected rabbits with sodium butyrate (NaB) reduces clinical severity and counteracts the downregulation of cathelicidin (CAP-18) in the large intestinal epithelia. To develop novel regimen for treating infectious diseases by inducing innate immunity, we selected sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PB), a registered drug for a metabolic disorder as a potential therapeutic candidate in a rabbit model of shigellosis. Since acute respiratory infections often cause secondary complications during shigellosis, the systemic effect of PB and NaB on CAP-18 expression in respiratory epithelia was also evaluated. The readouts were clinical outcomes, CAP-18 expression in mucosa of colon, rectum, lung and trachea (immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR) and release of the CAP-18 peptide/protein in stool (Western blot). Significant downregulation of CAP-18 expression in the epithelia of rectum and colon, the site of Shigella infection was confirmed. Interestingly, reduced expression of CAP-18 was also noticed in the epithelia of lung and trachea, indicating a systemic effect of the infection. This suggests a causative link to acute respiratory infections during shigellosis. Oral treatment with PB resulted in reduced clinical illness and upregulation of CAP-18 in the epithelium of rectum. Both PB and NaB counteracted the downregulation of CAP-18 in lung epithelium. The drug effect is suggested to be systemic as intravenous administration of NaB could also upregulate CAP-18 in the epithelia of lung, rectum and colon. Our results suggest that PB has treatment potential in human shigellosis. Enhancement of CAP-18 in the mucosal epithelia of the respiratory tract by PB or NaB is a novel discovery. This could mediate protection from secondary respiratory infections that frequently are the lethal causes in dysentery.

Phenylbutyrate Counteracts Shigella Mediated Downregulation of Cathelicidin in Rabbit Lung and Intestinal Epithelia: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy

PubMed Central

Sarker, Protim; Ahmed, Sultan; Tiash, Snigdha; Rekha, Rokeya Sultana; Stromberg, Roger; Andersson, Jan; Bergman, Peter; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H.

2011-01-01

Background Cathelicidins and defensins are endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are downregulated in the mucosal epithelia of the large intestine in shigellosis. Oral treatment of Shigella infected rabbits with sodium butyrate (NaB) reduces clinical severity and counteracts the downregulation of cathelicidin (CAP-18) in the large intestinal epithelia. Aims To develop novel regimen for treating infectious diseases by inducing innate immunity, we selected sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PB), a registered drug for a metabolic disorder as a potential therapeutic candidate in a rabbit model of shigellosis. Since acute respiratory infections often cause secondary complications during shigellosis, the systemic effect of PB and NaB on CAP-18 expression in respiratory epithelia was also evaluated. Methods The readouts were clinical outcomes, CAP-18 expression in mucosa of colon, rectum, lung and trachea (immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR) and release of the CAP-18 peptide/protein in stool (Western blot). Principal findings Significant downregulation of CAP-18 expression in the epithelia of rectum and colon, the site of Shigella infection was confirmed. Interestingly, reduced expression of CAP-18 was also noticed in the epithelia of lung and trachea, indicating a systemic effect of the infection. This suggests a causative link to acute respiratory infections during shigellosis. Oral treatment with PB resulted in reduced clinical illness and upregulation of CAP-18 in the epithelium of rectum. Both PB and NaB counteracted the downregulation of CAP-18 in lung epithelium. The drug effect is suggested to be systemic as intravenous administration of NaB could also upregulate CAP-18 in the epithelia of lung, rectum and colon. Conclusion Our results suggest that PB has treatment potential in human shigellosis. Enhancement of CAP-18 in the mucosal epithelia of the respiratory tract by PB or NaB is a novel discovery. This could mediate protection from secondary respiratory infections that frequently are the lethal causes in dysentery. PMID:21673991

Development of Mission Enabling Infrastructure — Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheetham, B. W.

2017-10-01

Advanced Space, LLC is developing the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS) which would provide a scalable and evolvable architecture for navigation to reduce ground congestion and improve operations for missions throughout cislunar space.

78 FR 33206 - Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-04

... by reports of failure of a screw cap or end cap of the hydraulic system accumulator while on the ground, which resulted in loss of use of that hydraulic system and high-energy impact damage to adjacent..., resulting in loss of the associated hydraulic system and high-energy impact damage to adjacent systems and...

NIR-Emitting Alloyed CdTeSe QDs and Organic Dye Assemblies: A Nontoxic, Stable, and Efficient FRET System.

PubMed

Ramírez-Herrera, Doris E; Rodríguez-Velázquez, Eustolia; Alatorre-Meda, Manuel; Paraguay-Delgado, Francisco; Tirado-Guízar, Antonio; Taboada, Pablo; Pina-Luis, Georgina

2018-04-11

In the present work, we synthesize Near Infrared (NIR)-emitting alloyed mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs) in a single-step one-hour process, without the use of an inert atmosphere or any pyrophoric ligands. The quantum dots are water soluble, non-toxic, and highly photostable and have high quantum yields (QYs) up to 84%. The alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs exhibit a red-shifted emission, whose color can be tuned between visible and NIR regions (608-750 nm) by controlling the Te:Se molar ratio in the precursor mixtures and/or changing the time reaction. The MPA-capped QDs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and zeta potential measurements. Photostability studies were performed by irradiating the QDs with a high-power xenon lamp. The ternary MPA-CdTeSe QDs showed greater photostability than the corresponding binary MPA-CdTe QDs. We report the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs as energy donors and Cyanine5 NHS-ester (Cy5) dye as an energy acceptor with efficiency ( E ) up to 95%. The distance between the QDs and dye ( r ), the Förster distance ( R ₀), and the binding constant ( K ) are reported. Additionally, cytocompatibility and cell internalization experiments conducted on human cancer cells (HeLa) cells revealed that alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs are more cytocompatible than MPA-capped CdTe QDs and are capable of ordering homogeneously all over the cytoplasm, which allows their use as potential safe, green donors for biological FRET applications.

E2C mechanism of elimination reactions. IX. Secondary deuterium isotope effects on rates of bimolecular reactions in alicyclic systems

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

Cook, D.

1976-06-11

Secondary ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effects on the rates of NBu/sub 4/OAc and NBu/sub 4/Cl promoted bimolecular reactions (E2 and SN2) of cyclohexyl tosylate and cyclohexyl bromide have been studied. The E2 reactions, previously categorized as E2C-like, show ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effects in the range 1.14--1.22, while the related SN2 reactions give values in the range 1.05--1.08. The discrepancy in the magnitude of the ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effect for the E2 and SN2 processes is consistent with the view that E2C-like reactions use ''looser'' transition states than those used in the concurrent SN2 reactions. While the reported ..cap alpha..-d isotope effectsmore » do not provide positive evidence to support the idea that the base interacts with C/sub ..cap alpha../ in the E2 transition states of the reactions studied, neither do they substantiate claims for dismissal of the concept. A comparison of the secondary ..gamma..-deuterium and ..beta..'-deuterium isotope effects arising in the reaction of cyclohexyl tosylate with NBu/sub 4/OAc in acetone indicates the two isotope effects to be of equivalent magnitude (k/sub ..beta..'-d/k/sub ..gamma..-d/ = 0.98). This observation can only be rationalized for this reaction in terms of a transition state structure in which there is extensive double bond development. It provides compelling evidence against the involvement of any transition state structure which accommodates extensive positive charge development at C/sub ..cap alpha../.« less

NIR-Emitting Alloyed CdTeSe QDs and Organic Dye Assemblies: A Nontoxic, Stable, and Efficient FRET System

PubMed Central

Ramírez-Herrera, Doris E.; Rodríguez-Velázquez, Eustolia; Alatorre-Meda, Manuel; Paraguay-Delgado, Francisco; Tirado-Guízar, Antonio; Taboada, Pablo; Pina-Luis, Georgina

2018-01-01

In the present work, we synthesize Near Infrared (NIR)-emitting alloyed mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs) in a single-step one-hour process, without the use of an inert atmosphere or any pyrophoric ligands. The quantum dots are water soluble, non-toxic, and highly photostable and have high quantum yields (QYs) up to 84%. The alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs exhibit a red-shifted emission, whose color can be tuned between visible and NIR regions (608–750 nm) by controlling the Te:Se molar ratio in the precursor mixtures and/or changing the time reaction. The MPA-capped QDs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and zeta potential measurements. Photostability studies were performed by irradiating the QDs with a high-power xenon lamp. The ternary MPA-CdTeSe QDs showed greater photostability than the corresponding binary MPA-CdTe QDs. We report the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs as energy donors and Cyanine5 NHS-ester (Cy5) dye as an energy acceptor with efficiency (E) up to 95%. The distance between the QDs and dye (r), the Förster distance (R0), and the binding constant (K) are reported. Additionally, cytocompatibility and cell internalization experiments conducted on human cancer cells (HeLa) cells revealed that alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs are more cytocompatible than MPA-capped CdTe QDs and are capable of ordering homogeneously all over the cytoplasm, which allows their use as potential safe, green donors for biological FRET applications. PMID:29641435

Inflammatory response in mixed viral-bacterial community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Bello, Salvador; Mincholé, Elisa; Fandos, Sergio; Lasierra, Ana B; Ruiz, María A; Simon, Ana L; Panadero, Carolina; Lapresta, Carlos; Menendez, Rosario; Torres, Antoni

2014-07-29

The role of mixed pneumonia (virus+bacteria) in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been described in recent years. However, it is not known whether the systemic inflammatory profile is different compared to monomicrobial CAP. We wanted to investigate this profile of mixed viral-bacterial infection and to compare it to monomicrobial bacterial or viral CAP. We measured baseline serum procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) count in 171 patients with CAP with definite etiology admitted to a tertiary hospital: 59 (34.5%) bacterial, 66 (39.%) viral and 46 (27%) mixed (viral-bacterial). Serum PCT levels were higher in mixed and bacterial CAP compared to viral CAP. CRP levels were higher in mixed CAP compared to the other groups. CRP was independently associated with mixed CAP. CRP levels below 26 mg/dL were indicative of an etiology other than mixed in 83% of cases, but the positive predictive value was 45%. PCT levels over 2.10 ng/mL had a positive predictive value for bacterial-involved CAP versus viral CAP of 78%, but the negative predictive value was 48%. Mixed CAP has a different inflammatory pattern compared to bacterial or viral CAP. High CRP levels may be useful for clinicians to suspect mixed CAP.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in endosperm cap weakening and embryo elongation growth during lettuce seed germination

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yu; Chen, Bingxian; Xu, Zhenjiang; Shi, Zhaowan; Chen, Shanli; Huang, Xi; Chen, Jianxun; Wang, Xiaofeng

2014-01-01

Endosperm cap (CAP) weakening and embryo elongation growth are prerequisites for the completion of lettuce seed germination. Although it has been proposed that the cell wall loosening underlying these processes results from an enzymatic mechanism, it is still unclear which enzymes are involved. Here it is shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are non-enzymatic factors, may be involved in the two processes. In Guasihong lettuce seeds imbibed in water, O2·– and H2O2 accumulated and peroxidase activity increased in the CAP, whereas its puncture force decreased. In addition, in the radicle, the increase in embryo growth potential was accompanied by accumulation of O2·– and an increase in peroxidase activity. Imbibing seeds in 0.3% sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) reduced endosperm viability and the levels of O2·–, H2O2, and peroxidase activity in the CAP, whereas the decrease in its puncture force was inhibited. However, in the embryo, SDIC did not affect the accumulation of O2·–, peroxidase activity, and the embryo growth potential. As a result, SDIC caused atypical germination, in which the endosperm ruptured at the boundary between the CAP and lateral endosperm. ROS scavengers and ROS generation inhibitors inhibited the CAP weakening and also decreased the embryo growth potential, thus decreasing the percentage of seed germination. Exogenous ROS and ROS generation inducers increased the percentage of CAP rupture to some extent, and the addition of H2O2 to 0.3% SDIC enabled some seeds to undergo typical germination. PMID:24744430

Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech (CAPS-A): A Comprehensive Training Package for Speech Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sell, D.; John, A.; Harding-Bell, A.; Sweeney, T.; Hegarty, F.; Freeman, J.

2009-01-01

Background: The previous literature has largely focused on speech analysis systems and ignored process issues, such as the nature of adequate speech samples, data acquisition, recording and playback. Although there has been recognition of the need for training on tools used in speech analysis associated with cleft palate, little attention has been…

Colorimetric assay of heparin in plasma based on the inhibition of oxidase-like activity of citrate-capped platinum nanoparticles.

PubMed

You, Jyun-Guo; Liu, Yao-Wen; Lu, Chi-Yu; Tseng, Wei-Lung; Yu, Cheng-Ju

2017-06-15

We report citrate-capped platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) as oxidase mimetics for effectively catalyzing the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), dopamine, and methylene blue in the presence of O 2 . To confirm oxidase-like activity of citrate-capped Pt NPs, their activity toward oxygen reduction reaction was studied using cyclic voltammetry and rotating ring-disk electrode method. The results obtained showed that Pt NP NPs can catalyze the oxidation of organic substrates to the colored product and the reduction of oxygen to water through a four-electron exchange process. Because the aggregation of Pt NPs can inhibit their oxidase-like activity and protamine can recognize heparin, we prepared the protamine-modified Pt NPs through direct adsorption on the surface of citrate-capped Pt NPs. The electrostatic attraction between heparin and protamine-stabilized Pt NPs induced nanoparticle aggregation, inhibiting their catalytic activity. Therefore, the lowest detectable heparin concentrations through UV-vis absorption and by the naked eye were estimated to be 0.3 and 60nM, respectively. Moreover, the proposed system enabled the determination of the therapeutic heparin concentration in a single drop of blood. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bench-Scale Development of a Hot Carbonate Absorption Process with Crystallization-Enabled High-Pressure Stripping for Post-Combustion CO{sub 2} Capture

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

Lu, Yongqi; DeVries, Nicholas; Ruhter, David

A novel Hot Carbonate Absorption Process with Crystallization-Enabled High-Pressure Stripping (Hot-CAP) has been developed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Carbon Capture Scientific, LLC in this three-year, bench-scale project. The Hot-CAP features a concentrated carbonate solution (e.g., K{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) for CO{sub 2} absorption and a bicarbonate slurry (e.g., KHCO{sub 3}) for high-pressure CO{sub 2} stripping to overcome the energy use and other disadvantages associated with the benchmark monoethanolamine (MEA) process. The project was aimed at performing laboratory- and bench-scale experiments to prove its technical feasibility and generate process engineering and scale-up data, and conducting a techno-economic analysismore » (TEA) to demonstrate its energy use and cost competitiveness over MEA. To meet project goals and objectives, a combination of experimental, modeling, process simulation, and economic analysis studies were applied. Carefully designed and intensive experiments were conducted to measure thermodynamic and reaction engineering data relevant to four major unit operations in the Hot-CAP (i.e., CO{sub 2} absorption, CO{sub 2} stripping, bicarbonate crystallization, and sulfate reclamation). The rate promoters that could accelerate the CO{sub 2} absorption rate into the potassium carbonate/bicarbonate (PCB) solution to a level greater than that into the 5 M MEA solution were identified, and the superior performance of CO{sub 2} absorption into PCB was demonstrated in a bench-scale packed-bed column. Kinetic data on bicarbonate crystallization were developed and applied for crystallizer design and sizing. Parametric testing of high-pressure CO{sub 2} stripping with concentrated bicarbonate-dominant slurries at high temperatures ({>=}140{degrees}C) in a bench-scale stripping column demonstrated lower heat use than with MEA. The feasibility of a modified process for combining SO{sub 2} removal with CO{sub 2} capture was preliminarily demonstrated. In addition to the experimental studies, the technical challenges pertinent to fouling of slurry-handling equipment and the design of the crystallizer and stripper were addressed through consultation with vendors and engineering analyses. A process flow diagram of the Hot-CAP was then developed and a TEA was performed to compare the energy use and cost performance of a nominal 550-MWe subcritical pulverized coal (PC)-fired power plant without CO{sub 2} capture (DOE/NETL Case 9) with the benchmark MEA-based post-combustion CO{sub 2} capture (PCC; DOE/NETL Case 10) and the Hot-CAP-based PCC. The results revealed that the net power produced in the PC + Hot-CAP is 609 MWe, greater than the PC + MEA (550 MWe). The 20-year levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for the PC + Hot-CAP, including CO{sub 2} transportation and storage, is 120.3 mills/kWh, a 60% increase over the base PC plant without CO{sub 2} capture. The LCOE increase for the Hot-CAP is 29% lower than that for MEA. TEA results demonstrated that the Hot-CAP is energy-efficient and cost-effective compared with the benchmark MEA process.« less

EVA 4 activity on Flight Day 7 to service the Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Image and Video Library

1997-02-17

S82-E-5652 (17 Feb. 1997) --- Astronaut Gregory J. Harbaugh (solid stripe on EMU) uses Remote Manipulator System (RMS) as a cherry-picker device to service Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In cooperation with astronaut Joseph R. Tanner, nearby, the mission specialist was in the process of replacing the HST's Magnetic Sensing System (MSS) protective caps with new, permanent covers. This view was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC).

Calcium phosphate ceramic systems in growth factor and drug delivery for bone tissue engineering: A review

PubMed Central

Bose, Susmita; Tarafder, Solaiman

2012-01-01

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) are the most widely used bone substitutes in bone tissue engineering due to their compositional similarities to bone mineral and excellent biocompatibility. In recent years, CaPs, especially hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate, have attracted significant interest in simultaneous use as bone substitute and drug delivery vehicle, adding a new dimension to their application. CaPs are more biocompatible than many other ceramic and inorganic nanoparticles. Their biocompatibility and variable stoichiometry, thus surface charge density, functionality, and dissolution properties, make them suitable for both drug and growth factor delivery. CaP matrices and scaffolds have been reported to act as delivery vehicles for growth factors and drugs in bone tissue engineering. Local drug delivery in musculoskeletal disorder treatments can address some of the critical issues more effectively and efficiently than the systemic delivery. CaPs are used as coatings on metallic implants, CaP cements, and custom designed scaffolds to treat musculoskeletal disorders. This review highlights some of the current drug and growth factor delivery approaches and critical issues using CaP particles, coatings, cements, and scaffolds towards orthopedic and dental applications. PMID:22127225

A hazard-independent approach for the standardised multi-channel dissemination of warning messages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esbri Palomares, M. A.; Hammitzsch, M.; Lendholt, M.

2012-04-01

The tsunami disaster affecting the Indian Ocean region on Christmas 2004 demonstrated very clearly the shortcomings in tsunami detection, public warning processes as well as intergovernmental warning message exchange in the Indian Ocean region. In that regard, early warning systems require that the dissemination of early warning messages has to be executed in way that ensures that the message delivery is timely; the message content is understandable, usable and accurate. To that end, diverse and multiple dissemination channels must be used to increase the chance of the messages reaching all affected persons in a hazard scenario. In addition to this, usage of internationally accepted standards for the warning dissemination such as the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) Distribution Element specified by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) increase the interoperability among different warning systems enabling thus the concept of system-of-systems proposed by GEOSS. The project Distant Early Warning System (DEWS), co-funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme, aims at strengthening the early warning capacities by building an innovative generation of interoperable tsunami early warning systems based on the above mentioned concepts following a Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) approach. The project focuses on the downstream part of the hazard information processing where customized, user-tailored warning messages and alerts flow from the warning centre to the responsible authorities and/or the public with their different needs and responsibilities. The information logistics services within DEWS generate tailored EDXL-DE/CAP warning messages for each user that must receive the message according to their preferences, e.g., settings for language, interested areas, dissemination channels, etc.. However, the significant difference in the implementation and capabilities of different dissemination channels such as SMS, email and television, have bearing on the information processing required for delivery and consumption of a DEWS EDXL-DE/CAP message over each dissemination channel. These messages may include additional information in the form of maps, graphs, documents, sensor observations, etc. Therefore, the generated messages are pre-processed by channel adaptors in the information dissemination services converting it into a format that is suitable for end-to-end delivery over the dissemination channels without any semantic distortion. The approach followed by DEWS for disseminating warnings not only relies on traditional communication ways used by the already established early warnings such as the delivery of faxes and phone calls but takes into consideration the use of other broadly used communication channels such as SMS, email, narrowcast and broadcast television, instant messaging, Voice over IP, and radio. It also takes advantage of social media channels like RSS feeds, Facebook, Twitter, etc., enabling a multiplier effect, like in the case of radio and television, and thus allowing to create mash-ups by aggregating other sources of information to the original message. Finally, status information is also important in order to assess and understand whether the process of disseminating the warning to the message consumers has been successfully completed or the process failed at some point of the dissemination chain. To that end, CAP-based messages generated within the information dissemination services provide the semantics for those fields that are of interest within the context of reporting the warning dissemination status in DEWS.

Tropomodulin Capping of Actin Filaments in Striated Muscle Development and Physiology

PubMed Central

Gokhin, David S.; Fowler, Velia M.

2011-01-01

Efficient striated muscle contraction requires precise assembly and regulation of diverse actin filament systems, most notably the sarcomeric thin filaments of the contractile apparatus. By capping the pointed ends of actin filaments, tropomodulins (Tmods) regulate actin filament assembly, lengths, and stability. Here, we explore the current understanding of the expression patterns, localizations, and functions of Tmods in both cardiac and skeletal muscle. We first describe the mechanisms by which Tmods regulate myofibril assembly and thin filament lengths, as well as the roles of closely related Tmod family variants, the leiomodins (Lmods), in these processes. We also discuss emerging functions for Tmods in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This paper provides abundant evidence that Tmods are key structural regulators of striated muscle cytoarchitecture and physiology. PMID:22013379

Development of a precast bent cap system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

Improved speed of construction and economy can be achieved through the use of precast bridge substructures. As a step in the advancement of precast bridge substructures, a precast bent cap system is developed for nonseismic regions, including a desig...

The effect of crystal structure of TiO2 nanotubes on the formation of calcium phosphate coatings during biomimetic deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yi; Kim, Sun; McLeod, John A.; Li, Jun; Guo, Xiaoxuan; Sham, Tsun-Kong; Liu, Lijia

2017-02-01

The crystallization process of bioactive calcium phosphate (CaP) species via biomimetic deposition onto anodic TiO2 nanotubes is investigated. The porous surface of nanostructured TiO2 provides an ideal substrate for CaP crystallization. The compositions of CaP coatings are studied using X-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) at the Ca K-edge. Using detection modes with different probing depths, both the surface of the CaP coating and the CaP-TiO2 interface are simultaneously analyzed. Calcium phosphate (CaP) species, such as hydroxyapatite (HAp), octacalcium phosphate (Ca8(HPO4)2(PO4)4·5H2O, OCP), brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O, DCPD), and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), are found in the CaP coatings. TiO2 nanotubes of amorphous and anatase phases are comparatively studied to determine their effect on the efficiency of CaP formation and the phase transformation among CaP species in prolonged deposition time. It is found the composition of CaP coating has a strong dependency on the crystal structure of TiO2 substrate and the kinetics (deposition time).

Hanford Site Beryllium Program: Past, Present, and Future - 12428

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

Fisher, Mark; Garcia, Pete; Goeckner, Julie

2012-07-01

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a long history of beryllium use because of the element's broad application to many nuclear operations and processes. At the Hanford Site beryllium alloy was used to fabricate parts for reactors, including fuel rods for the N-Reactor during plutonium production. Because of continued confirmed cases of chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and data suggesting CBD occurs at exposures to low-level concentrations, the DOE decided to issue a rule to further protect federal and contractor workers from hazards associated with exposure to beryllium. When the beryllium rule was issued in 1999, each of the Hanfordmore » Site contractors developed a Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (CBDPP) and initial site wide beryllium inventories. A new site-wide CBDPP, applicable to all Hanford contractors, was issued in May, 2009. In the spring of 2010 the DOE Headquarters Office of Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) conducted an independent inspection to evaluate the status of implementation of the Hanford Site Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (CBDPP). The report identified four Findings and 12 cross-cutting Opportunities for Improvement (OFIs). A corrective action plan (CAP) was developed to address the Findings and crosscutting OFIs. The DOE directed affected site contractors to identify dedicated resources to participate in development of the CAP, along with involving stakeholders. The CAP included general and contractor-specific recommendations. Following initiation of actions to implement the approved CAP, it became apparent that additional definition of product deliverables was necessary to assure that expectations were adequately addressed and CAP actions could be closed. Consequently, a supplement to the original CAP was prepared and transmitted to DOE-HQ for approval. Development of the supplemental CAP was an eight month effort. From the onset a core group of CAP development members were identified to develop a mechanism for assuring that consensus was achieved on products developed as part of the CAP and the closure process. The original CAP was developed based on a large number of actions developed from the HSS report. This was essentially a 'bottoms up' approach. The revised CAP development team concluded that a more holistic, process-based approach was appropriate to assure that the resulting deliverable resulted in a best-in-class product. Consequently, issues and recommendations contained in the HSS report were grouped into 11 program areas, specific product deliverables were identified within each of the program areas, and a work breakdown structure (WBS) was logically applied to number the groupings. While the revised approach to product development utilizes a more holistic, 'top down' approach, the intent was still to incorporate specific recommendations and address specific issues contained in the HSS report. Through implementation of this new approach, a collaborative team has been established that works together using a consensus process for ensuring product completion. Benefits of the new approach include building a level of trust amongst all parties, quality of the products have improved, and acceptance by all parties of what action will truly meet the intent of the deficiency and make the beryllium program stronger. Open dialogue occurs amongst the core Be CAP team members, Hanford contractors, and DOE. It has been a learning process and will continue to be one, but everyone shares the common goal of reducing worker exposure to beryllium. (authors)« less

Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS): Preliminary Space-Based Concept and Study Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazanek, Daniel D.; Roithmayr, Carlos M.; Antol, Jeffrey; Park, Sang-Young; Koons, Robert H.; Bremer, James C.; Murphy, Douglas G.; Hoffman, James A.; Kumar, Renjith R.; Seywald, Hans

2005-01-01

There exists an infrequent, but significant hazard to life and property due to impacting asteroids and comets. There is currently no specific search for long-period comets, smaller near-Earth asteroids, or smaller short-period comets. These objects represent a threat with potentially little or no warning time using conventional ground-based telescopes. These planetary bodies also represent a significant resource for commercial exploitation, long-term sustained space exploration, and scientific research. The Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) is a future space-based system concept that provides permanent, continuous asteroid and comet monitoring, and rapid, controlled modification of the orbital trajectories of selected bodies. CAPS would expand the current detection effort to include long-period comets, as well as small asteroids and short-period comets capable of regional destruction. A space-based detection system, despite being more costly and complex than Earth-based initiatives, is the most promising way of expanding the range of detectable objects, and surveying the entire celestial sky on a regular basis. CAPS would provide an orbit modification system capable of diverting kilometer class objects, and modifying the orbits of smaller asteroids for impact defense and resource utilization. This Technical Memorandum provides a compilation of key related topics and analyses performed during the CAPS study, which was performed under the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) program, and discusses technologies that could enable the implementation of this future system.

North-south geological differences between the residual polar caps on Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thomas, P.C.; Malin, M.C.; Edgett, K.S.; Carr, M.H.; Hartmann, W.K.; Ingersoll, A.P.; James, P.B.; Soderblom, L.A.; Veverka, J.; Sullivan, R.

2000-01-01

Polar processes can be sensitive indicators of global climate, and the geological features associated with polar ice caps can therefore indicate evolution of climate with time. The polar regions on Mars have distinctive morphologic and climatologic features: thick layered deposits, seasonal CO2 frost caps extending to mid latitudes, and near-polar residual frost deposits that survive the summer. The relationship of the seasonal and residual frost caps to the layered deposits has been poorly constrained, mainly by the limited spatial resolution of the available data. In particular, it has not been known if the residual caps represent simple thin frost cover or substantial geologic features. Here we show that the residual cap on the south pole is a distinct geologic unit with striking collapse and erosional topography; this is very different from the residual cap on the north pole, which grades into the underlying layered materials. These findings indicate that the differences between the caps are substantial (rather than reflecting short-lived differences in frost cover), and so support the idea of long-term asymmetry in the polar climates of Mars.

Fluorosurfactant-capped gold nanoparticles-enhanced chemiluminescence from hydrogen peroxide-hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide-bicarbonate in presence of cobalt(II).

PubMed

Li, Jinge; Li, Qianqian; Lu, Chao; Zhao, Lixia; Lin, Jin-Ming

2011-02-01

Nonionic fluorosurfactant (FSN)-capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) remain excellently stable at a wider pH range and high ionic strength, which is useful to investigate some CL systems involved in high salt and a strict pH range. In this study, we utilized FSN-capped GNPs of different sizes to distinguish the emitting species from H2O2-Co2+-NaOH and H2O2-Co2+-NaHCO3 systems. When the pH of FSN-capped gold colloidal solution was adjusted to 10.2 by dropwise addition of 0.05 M NaOH, the CL intensity of H2O2-Co2+-NaHCO3 system was enhanced 6-fold or 60-fold respectively in the presence of FSN-capped 14 nm or 69 nm GNPs with comparison to H2O2-Co2+-NaOH. The variation of CL spectra and UV-vis spectra, as well as the quenching effect of reactive oxygen species scavengers were studied in detail to understand the CL enhancement mechanisms of FSN-capped GNPs on the two systems. For H2O2-Co2+-NaOH system, the gold(I) complexes intermediate and singlet oxygen dimol species were proposed as the emitting species. The excited states of the carbon dioxide dimers and singlet oxygen dimol species were considered responsible for the light emission of H2O2-Co2+-NaHCO3 system. To our knowledge, this work is the first time to study the two CL systems simultaneously using nanoparticles. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Validation of Attitude and Heading Reference System and Microsoft Kinect for Continuous Measurement of Cervical Range of Motion Compared to the Optical Motion Capture System.

PubMed

Song, Young Seop; Yang, Kyung Yong; Youn, Kibum; Yoon, Chiyul; Yeom, Jiwoon; Hwang, Hyeoncheol; Lee, Jehee; Kim, Keewon

2016-08-01

To compare optical motion capture system (MoCap), attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) sensor, and Microsoft Kinect for the continuous measurement of cervical range of motion (ROM). Fifteen healthy adult subjects were asked to sit in front of the Kinect camera with optical markers and AHRS sensors attached to the body in a room equipped with optical motion capture camera. Subjects were instructed to independently perform axial rotation followed by flexion/extension and lateral bending. Each movement was repeated 5 times while being measured simultaneously with 3 devices. Using the MoCap system as the gold standard, the validity of AHRS and Kinect for measurement of cervical ROM was assessed by calculating correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot with 95% limits of agreement (LoA). MoCap and ARHS showed fair agreement (95% LoA<10°), while MoCap and Kinect showed less favorable agreement (95% LoA>10°) for measuring ROM in all directions. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values between MoCap and AHRS in -40° to 40° range were excellent for flexion/extension and lateral bending (ICC>0.9). ICC values were also fair for axial rotation (ICC>0.8). ICC values between MoCap and Kinect system in -40° to 40° range were fair for all motions. Our study showed feasibility of using AHRS to measure cervical ROM during continuous motion with an acceptable range of error. AHRS and Kinect system can also be used for continuous monitoring of flexion/extension and lateral bending in ordinary range.

Processable Polyimides Containing APB and Reactive End Caps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Brian J.

2003-01-01

Imide copolymers that contain 1,3- bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (APB) and other diamines and dianhydrides and that are terminated with appropriate amounts of reactive end caps have been invented. The reactive end caps investigated thus far include 4-phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride (PEPA), 3- aminophenoxy-4-phenylethynylbenzop henone (3-APEB), maleic anhydride (MA), and 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride [also known as nadic anhydride (NA)]. The advantage of these copolyimides terminated with reactive groups, relative to other polyimides terminated with reactive groups, is a combination of (1) higher values of desired mechanical-property parameters and (2) greater ease of processing into useful parts.

Assessing the Biological Contribution to Mineralized Cap Formation in the Little Hot Creek Hot Spring System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Floyd, J. G.; Beeler, S. R.; Mors, R. A.; Kraus, E. A.; 2016, G.; Piazza, O.; Frantz, C. M.; Loyd, S. J.; Berelson, W.; Stevenson, B. S.; Marenco, P. J.; Spear, J. R.; Corsetti, F. A.

2016-12-01

Hot spring environments exhibit unique redox/physical gradients that may create favorable conditions for the presence of life and commonly contain mineral precipitates that could provide a geologic archive of such ecosystems on Earth and potentially other planets. However, it is critical to discern biologic from abiotic formation mechanisms if hot spring-associated minerals are to be used as biosignatures. The study of modern hot spring environments where mineral formation can be directly observed is necessary to better interpret the biogenicity of ancient/extraterrestrial examples. Little Hot Creek (LHC), a hot spring located in the Long Valley Caldera, California, contains mineral precipitates composed of a carbonate base covered with amorphous silica and minor carbonate in close association with microbial mats/biofilms. Geological, geochemical, and microbiological techniques were integrated to investigate the role of biology in mineral formation at LHC. Geochemical measurements indicate that the waters of the spring are near equilibrium with respect to carbonate and undersaturated with respect to silica, implying additional processes are necessary to initiate cap formation. Geochemical modeling, integrating elemental and isotopic data from hot spring water and mineral precipitates, indicate that the abiotic processes of degassing and evaporation drive mineral formation at LHC, without microbial involvement. However, petrographic analysis of LHC caps revealed microbial microfabrics within silica mineral phases, despite the fact that microbial metabolism was not required for mineral precipitation. Our results show that microorganisms in hot spring environments can shape mineral precipitates even in the absence of a control on authigenesis, highlighting the need for structural as well as geochemical investigation in similar systems.

Clinical feasibility test on a minimally invasive laser therapy system in microsurgery of nerves.

PubMed

Mack, K F; Leinung, M; Stieve, M; Lenarz, T; Schwab, B

2008-01-01

The clinical feasibility test described here evaluates the basis for a laser therapy system that enables tumour tissue to be separated from nerves in a minimally invasive manner. It was first investigated whether, using an Er:YAG laser, laser-induced nerve (specifically, facial nerve) responses in the rabbit in vivo can be reliably detected with the hitherto standard monitoring techniques. Peripherally recordable neuromuscular signals (i.e. compound action potentials, CAPs) were used to monitor nerve function and to establish a feedback loop. The first occurrence of laser-evoked CAPs was taken as the criterion for deciding when to switch off the laser. When drawing up criteria governing the control and termination of the laser application, the priority was the maintenance of nerve function. Five needle-electrode arrays specially developed for this purpose, each with a miniature preamplifier, were then placed into the facial musculature instead of single-needle electrodes. The system was tested in vivo under realistic surgical conditions (i.e. facial-nerve surgery in the rabbit). This modified multi-channel electromyography (EMG) system enabled laser-evoked CAPs to be detected that have amplitudes 10 times smaller than those picked up by commercially available systems. This optimization, and the connection of the neuromuscular unit with the Er:YAG laser via the electrode array to create a feedback loop, were designed to make it possible to maintain online control of the laser ablation process in the vicinity of neuronal tissue, thus ensuring that tissue excision is both reliable and does not affect function. Our results open up new possibilities in minimally invasive surgery near neural structures.

Evaluation of insect CAP2b analogs with either an (E)-alkene, cis- or a trans-Pro isostere identifies the Pro orientation of antidiuretic activity

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The CAP2b neuropeptide family plays an important role in the regulation of the processes of diuresis and/or antidiuresis in a vareity of insects. In particulare, CAP2b (pELYAFPRVamide) has been shown to elicit antidiuretic activity in the green stink bug Acrostemum hilare, an important pest of cott...

Survey of Enabling Technologies for CAPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antol, Jeffrey; Mazanek, Daniel D.; Koons, Robert H.

2005-01-01

The enabling technologies required for the development of a viable Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) can be divided into two principal areas: detection and deflection/orbit modification. With the proper funding levels, many of the technologies needed to support a CAPS architecture could be achievable within the next 15 to 20 years. In fact, many advanced detection technologies are currently in development for future in-space telescope systems such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), formerly known as the Next Generation Space Telescope. It is anticipated that many of the JWST technologies would be available for application for CAPS detection concepts. Deflection/orbit modification technologies are also currently being studied as part of advanced power and propulsion research. However, many of these technologies, such as extremely high-output power systems, advanced propulsion, heat rejection, and directed energy systems, would likely be farther term in availability than many of the detection technologies. Discussed subsequently is a preliminary examination of the main technologies that have been identified as being essential to providing the element functionality defined during the CAPS conceptual study. The detailed requirements for many of the technology areas are still unknown, and many additional technologies will be identified as future in-depth studies are conducted in this area.

Heat pipe with improved wick structures

DOEpatents

Benson, David A.; Robino, Charles V.; Palmer, David W.; Kravitz, Stanley H.

2000-01-01

An improved planar heat pipe wick structure having projections formed by micromachining processes. The projections form arrays of interlocking, semi-closed structures with multiple flow paths on the substrate. The projections also include overhanging caps at their tops to increase the capillary pumping action of the wick structure. The capped projections can be formed in stacked layers. Another layer of smaller, more closely spaced projections without caps can also be formed on the substrate in between the capped projections. Inexpensive materials such as Kovar can be used as substrates, and the projections can be formed by electrodepositing nickel through photoresist masks.

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

Fried, Jack

The TSPM receives and processes ASIC signals and transmits processed data over to the PC using an Ethernet cable. The data is given a location and a time stamp. This is the heart of the device as it gathers and stamps the timing and location of events on each of the ASICs. The five files for the TSPM are needed to manufacture Pet scanners that are based on the RatCAP (Rat Conscious Animal PET). They include a TSPM schematic, a raw data file to build the RatCAP TSPM, an output file that along with the assay file is used bymore » an assembly house to build the RatCAP TSPM, an assay file that provides the part list and XY location for the components that go on the RatCAP TSPM, firmware that includes the source code to program the FPGA, and a realized program on the TSPM based on the firmware.« less

Multiple internal seal right micro-electro-mechanical system vacuum package

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shcheglov, Kirill V. (Inventor); Wiberg, Dean V. (Inventor); Hayworth, Ken J. (Inventor); Yee, Karl Y. (Inventor); Bae, Youngsam (Inventor); Challoner, A. Dorian (Inventor); Peay, Chris S. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

A Multiple Internal Seal Ring (MISR) Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vacuum package that hermetically seals MEMS devices using MISR. The method bonds a capping plate having metal seal rings to a base plate having metal seal rings by wafer bonding the capping plate wafer to the base plate wafer. Bulk electrodes may be used to provide conductive paths between the seal rings on the base plate and the capping plate. All seals are made using only metal-to-metal seal rings deposited on the polished surfaces of the base plate and capping plate wafers. However, multiple electrical feed-through metal traces are provided by fabricating via holes through the capping plate for electrical connection from the outside of the package through the via-holes to the inside of the package. Each metal seal ring serves the dual purposes of hermetic sealing and providing the electrical feed-through metal trace.

Transient aero-thermal mapping of passive Thermal Protection system for nose-cap of Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahulikar, Shripad P.; Khurana, Shashank; Dungarwal, Ritesh; Shevakari, Sushil G.; Subramanian, Jayakumar; Gujarathi, Amit V.

2008-12-01

The temperature field history of passive Thermal Protection System (TPS) material at the nose-cap (forward stagnation region) of a Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle (RHV) is generated. The 3-D unsteady heat transfer model couples conduction in the solid with external convection and radiation that are modeled as time-varying boundary conditions on the surface. Results are presented for the following two cases: (1) nose-cap comprised of ablative TPS material only (SIRCA/PICA), and (2) nose-cap comprised of a combination of ablative TPS material with moderate thermal conductivity and insulative TPS material. Comparison of the temperature fields of SIRCA and PICA [Case (1)] indicates lowering of the peak stagnation region temperatures for PICA, due to its higher thermal conductivity. Also, the use of PICA and insulative TPS [Case (2)] for the nose-cap has higher potential for weight reduction than the use of ablative TPS alone.

Multiple internal seal ring micro-electro-mechanical system vacuum packaging method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayworth, Ken J. (Inventor); Yee, Karl Y. (Inventor); Shcheglov, Kirill V. (Inventor); Bae, Youngsam (Inventor); Wiberg, Dean V. (Inventor); Challoner, A. Dorian (Inventor); Peay, Chris S. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A Multiple Internal Seal Ring (MISR) Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vacuum packaging method that hermetically seals MEMS devices using MISR. The method bonds a capping plate having metal seal rings to a base plate having metal seal rings by wafer bonding the capping plate wafer to the base plate wafer. Bulk electrodes may be used to provide conductive paths between the seal rings on the base plate and the capping plate. All seals are made using only metal-to-metal seal rings deposited on the polished surfaces of the base plate and capping plate wafers. However, multiple electrical feed-through metal traces are provided by fabricating via holes through the capping plate for electrical connection from the outside of the package through the via-holes to the inside of the package. Each metal seal ring serves the dual purposes of hermetic sealing and providing the electrical feed-through metal trace.

Notochord alters the permissiveness of myotome for pathfinding by an identified motoneuron in embryonic zebrafish.

PubMed

Beattie, C E; Eisen, J S

1997-02-01

During zebrafish development, identified motoneurons innervate cell-specific regions of each trunk myotome. One motoneuron, CaP, extends an axon along the medial surface of the ventral myotome. To learn how this pathway is established during development, the CaP axon was used as an assay to ask whether other regions of the myotome were permissive for normal CaP pathfinding. Native myotomes were replaced with donor myotomes in normal or reversed dorsoventral orientations and CaP pathfinding was assayed. Ventral myotomes were permissive for CaP axons, even when they were taken from older embryos, suggesting that the CaP pathway remained present on ventral myotome throughout development. Dorsal myotomes from young embryos were also permissive for CaP axons, however, older dorsal myotomes were non-permissive, showing that permissiveness of dorsal myotome for normal CaP pathfinding diminished over time. This process appears to depend on signals from the embryo, since dorsal myotomes matured in vitro remained permissive for CaP axons. Genetic mosaics between wild-type and floating head mutant embryos revealed notochord involvement in dorsal myotome change of permissiveness. Dorsal and ventral myotomes from both younger and older floating head mutant embryos were permissive for CaP axons. These data suggest that initially both dorsal and ventral myotomes are permissive for CaP axons but as development proceeds, there is a notochord-dependent decrease in permissiveness of dorsal myotome for CaP axonal outgrowth. This change participates in restricting the CaP pathway to the ventral myotome and thus to neuromuscular specificity.

A simple teaching tool for training the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system.

PubMed

Geiss, Ingrid M; Riss, Paul A; Hanzal, Engelbert; Dungl, Andrea

2007-09-01

The pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system is currently the most common and specific system describing different prolapse stages. Nevertheless, its use is not yet accepted worldwide in routine care. Our aim was to develop a simple teaching tool for the POPQ system capable of simulating different stages of uterovaginal prolapse for use in medical education with hands on training. We constructed a moveable and flexible tool with an inverted Santa Claus' cap, which simulated the vaginal cuff and the tassel at the end representing the cervix. A wooden embroidery frame fixed the cap and served as the hymen, the reference point for all measurements. Inside the cap, we sewed buttons to define the anatomic landmark points Aa and Ap located 3 cm distal from the frame. After explaining the device to the students, we used the three-by-three grid for recording the quantitative description of the pelvic organ support. First, each student had to demonstrate a specific prolapse with his cap device. Then, a prolapse was simulated on the cap, and the student had to take the relevant measurements and record them in the POPQ grid. The main training effect to understand the POPQ system seems to be the possibility for each trainee to simulate a three-dimensional prolapse with this flexible vagina model.

Site-specific multipoint fluorescence measurement system with end-capped optical fibers.

PubMed

Song, Woosub; Moon, Sucbei; Lee, Byoung-Cheol; Park, Chul-Seung; Kim, Dug Young; Kwon, Hyuk Sang

2011-07-10

We present the development and implementation of a spatially and spectrally resolved multipoint fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) system utilizing multiple end-capped optical fibers and an inexpensive laser source. Specially prepared end-capped optical fibers placed in an image plane were used to both collect fluorescence signals from the sample and to deliver signals to the detectors. The placement of independently selected optical fibers on the image plane was done by monitoring the end-capped fiber tips at the focus using a CCD, and fluorescence from specific positions of a sample were collected by an end-capped fiber, which could accurately represent light intensities or spectral data without incurring any disturbance. A fast multipoint spectroscopy system with a time resolution of ∼1.5 ms was then implemented using a prism and an electron multiplying charge coupled device with a pixel binning for the region of interest. The accuracy of our proposed system was subsequently confirmed by experimental results, based on an FCS analysis of microspheres in distilled water. We expect that the proposed multipoint site-specific fluorescence measurement system can be used as an inexpensive fluorescence measurement tool to study many intracellular and molecular dynamics in cell biology. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Energy Market and Economic Impacts Proposal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Intensity with a Cap and Trade System

EIA Publications

2007-01-01

This report was prepared by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), in response to a September 27, 2006, request from Senators Bingaman, Landrieu, Murkowski, Specter, Salazar, and Lugar. The Senators requested that EIA assess the impacts of a proposal that would regulate emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) through an allowance cap-and-trade system. The program would set the cap to achieve a reduction in emissions relative to economic output, or greenhouse gas intensity.

Capping agents in nanoparticle synthesis: Surfactant and solvent system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulati, Shivani; Sachdeva, M.; Bhasin, K. K.

2018-05-01

The preparation of nanomaterials by organometallic precursors require a capping agent, which primarily acts as stabilizing agent and provide colloidal stability along with preventing agglomeration and stopping uncontrolled growth. Final morphology of nanocrystal largely depends on the type of capping agent which is adsorbed on the surface of nanocrystal. Thus capping agents are the keys to obtain the small-sized nanoparticles and are very frequently used in colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles to avoid its overgrowth.

Tetracycline-inducible protein expression in pancreatic cancer cells: Effects of CapG overexpression

PubMed Central

Tonack, Sarah; Patel, Sabina; Jalali, Mehdi; Nedjadi, Taoufik; Jenkins, Rosalind E; Goldring, Christopher; Neoptolemos, John; Costello, Eithne

2011-01-01

AIM: To establish stable tetracycline-inducible pancreatic cancer cell lines. METHODS: Suit-2, MiaPaca-2, and Panc-1 cells were transfected with a second generation reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator protein (rtTA2S-M2), under the control of either a cytomegalovirus (CMV) or a chicken β-actin promoter, and the resulting clones were characterised. RESULTS: Use of the chicken (β-actin) promoter proved superior for both the production and maintenance of doxycycline-inducible cell lines. The system proved versatile, enabling transient inducible expression of a variety of genes, including GST-P, CYP2E1, S100A6, and the actin capping protein, CapG. To determine the physiological utility of this system in pancreatic cancer cells, stable inducible CapG expressors were established. Overexpressed CapG was localised to the cytoplasm and the nuclear membrane, but was not observed in the nucleus. High CapG levels were associated with enhanced motility, but not with changes to the cell cycle, or cellular proliferation. In CapG-overexpressing cells, the levels and phosphorylation status of other actin-moduating proteins (Cofilin and Ezrin/Radixin) were not altered. However, preliminary analyses suggest that the levels of other cellular proteins, such as ornithine aminotransferase and enolase, are altered upon CapG induction. CONCLUSION: We have generated pancreatic-cancer derived cell lines in which gene expression is fully controllable. PMID:21528072

Silicide formation process of Er films with Ta and TaN capping layers.

PubMed

Choi, Juyun; Choi, Seongheum; Kim, Jungwoo; Na, Sekwon; Lee, Hoo-Jeong; Lee, Seok-Hee; Kim, Hyoungsub

2013-12-11

The phase development and defect formation during the silicidation reaction of sputter-deposited Er films on Si with ∼20-nm-thick Ta and TaN capping layers were examined. TaN capping effectively prevented the oxygen incorporation from the annealing atmosphere, which resulted in complete conversion to the ErSi2-x phase. However, significant oxygen penetration through the Ta capping layer inhibited the ErSi2-x formation, and incurred the growth of several Er-Si-O phases, even consuming the ErSi2-x layer formed earlier. Both samples produced a number of small recessed defects at an early silicidation stage. However, large rectangular or square-shaped surface defects, which were either pitlike or pyramidal depending on the capping layer identity, were developed as the annealing temperature increased. The origin of different defect generation mechanisms was suggested based on the capping layer-dependent silicidation kinetics.

Cultural Adaptation of a Neurobiologically Informed Intervention in Local and International Contexts.

PubMed

Pakulak, Eric; Hampton Wray, Amanda; Longoria, Zayra; Garcia Isaza, Alejandra; Stevens, Courtney; Bell, Theodore; Burlingame, Sarah; Klein, Scott; Berlinski, Samuel; Attanasio, Orazio; Neville, Helen

2017-12-01

The relationship between early adversity and numerous negative outcomes across the lifespan is evident in a wide range of societies and cultures (e.g., Pakulak, Stevens, & Neville, 2018). Among the most affected neural systems are those supporting attention, self-regulation, and stress regulation. As such, these systems represent targets for neurobiologically informed interventions addressing early adversity. In prior work with monolingual native English-speaking families, we showed that a two-generation intervention targeting these systems in families improves outcomes across multiple domains including child brain function for selective attention (for detail, see Neville et al., 2013). Here, we discuss the translation and cultural adaptation (CA) of this intervention in local and international contexts, which required systematic consideration of cultural differences that could affect program acceptability. First, we conducted a translation and CA of our program to serve Latino families in the United States using the Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP), a model that works closely with stakeholders in a systematic, iterative process. Second, to implement the adapted program in Medellín, Colombia, we conducted a subsequent adaptation for Colombian culture using the same CAP. Our experience underscores the importance of consideration of cultural differences and a systematic approach to adaptation before assessing the efficacy of neurobiologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Conversion of Nuclear Waste into Nuclear Waste Glass: Experimental Investigation and Mathematical Modeling

DOE PAGES

Hrma, Pavel

2014-12-18

The melter feed, slurry, or calcine charged on the top of a pool of molten glass forms a floating layer of reacting material called the cold cap. Between the cold-cap top, which is covered with boiling slurry, and its bottom, where bubbles separate it from molten glass, the temperature changes by up to 1000 K. The processes that occur over this temperature interval within the cold cap include liberation of gases, conduction and consumption of heat, dissolution of quartz particles, formation and dissolution of intermediate crystalline phases, and generation of foam and gas cavities. These processes have been investigated usingmore » thermal analyses, optical and electronic microscopies, x-ray diffraction, as well as other techniques. Properties of the reacting feed, such as heat conductivity and density, were measured as functions of temperature. Investigating the structure of quenched cold caps produced in a laboratory-scale melter complemented the crucible studies. The cold cap consists of two main layers. The top layer contains solid particles dissolving in the glass-forming melt and open pores through which gases are escaping. The bottom layer contains bubbly melt or foam where bubbles coalesce into larger cavities that move sideways and release the gas to the atmosphere. The feed-to-glass conversion became sufficiently understood for representing the cold-cap processes via mathematical models. These models, which comprise heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics models, have been developed with the final goal to relate feed parameters to the rate of glass melting.« less

Pyrolysis process for producing condensed stabilized hydrocarbons utilizing a beneficially reactive gas

DOEpatents

Durai-Swamy, Kandaswamy

1982-01-01

In a process for recovery of values contained in solid carbonaceous material, the solid carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to pyrolysis, in the presence of a carbon containing solid particulate source of heat and a beneficially reactive transport gas in a transport flash pyrolysis reactor, to form a pyrolysis product stream. The pyrolysis product stream contains a gaseous mixture and particulate solids. The solids are separated from the gaseous mixture to form a substantially solids-free gaseous stream which comprises volatilized hydrocarbon free radicals newly formed by pyrolysis. Preferably the solid particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing part of the separated particulate solids. The beneficially reactive transport gas inhibits the reactivity of the char product and the carbon-containing solid particulate source of heat. Condensed stabilized hydrocarbons are obtained by quenching the gaseous mixture stream with a quench fluid which contains a capping agent for stabilizing and terminating newly formed volatilized hydrocarbon free radicals. The capping agent is partially depleted of hydrogen by the stabilization and termination reaction. Hydrocarbons of four or more carbon atoms in the gaseous mixture stream are condensed. A liquid stream containing the stabilized liquid product is then treated or separated into various fractions. A liquid containing the hydrogen depleted capping agent is hydrogenated to form a regenerated capping agent. At least a portion of the regenerated capping agent is recycled to the quench zone as the quench fluid. In another embodiment capping agent is produced by the process, separated from the liquid product mixture, and recycled.

The p2 domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag regulates sequential proteolytic processing and is required to produce fully infectious virions.

PubMed

Pettit, S C; Moody, M D; Wehbie, R S; Kaplan, A H; Nantermet, P V; Klein, C A; Swanstrom, R

1994-12-01

The proteolytic processing sites of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag precursor are cleaved in a sequential manner by the viral protease. We investigated the factors that regulate sequential processing. When full-length Gag protein was digested with recombinant HIV-1 protease in vitro, four of the five major processing sites in Gag were cleaved at rates that differ by as much as 400-fold. Three of these four processing sites were cleaved independently of the others. The CA/p2 site, however, was cleaved approximately 20-fold faster when the adjacent downstream p2/NC site was blocked from cleavage or when the p2 domain of Gag was deleted. These results suggest that the presence of a C-terminal p2 tail on processing intermediates slows cleavage at the upstream CA/p2 site. We also found that lower pH selectively accelerated cleavage of the CA/p2 processing site in the full-length precursor and as a peptide primarily by a sequence-based mechanism rather than by a change in protein conformation. Deletion of the p2 domain of Gag results in released virions that are less infectious despite the presence of the processed final products of Gag. These findings suggest that the p2 domain of HIV-1 Gag regulates the rate of cleavage at the CA/p2 processing site during sequential processing in vitro and in infected cells and that p2 may function in the proper assembly of virions.

Forcing of the Coupled Ionosphere-Thermosphere (IT) System During Magnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, Cheryl; Huang, Yanshi; Su, Yi-Jiun; Sutton, Eric; Hairston, Marc; Coley, W. Robin; Doornbos, Eelco; Zhang, Yongliang

2014-01-01

Poynting flux shows peaks around auroral zone AND inside polar cap. Energy enters IT system at all local times in polar cap. Track-integrated flux at DMSP often peaks at polar latitudes- probably due to increased area of polar cap during storm main phases. center dot lon temperatures at DMSP show large increases in polar region at all local times; cusp and auroral zones do not show distinctively high Ti. center dot I on temperatures in the polar cap are higher than in the auroral zones during quiet times. center dot Neutral densities at GRACE and GOCE show maxima at polar latitudes without clear auroral signatures. Response is fast, minutes from onset to density peaks. center dot GUVI observations of O/N2 ratio during storms show similar response as direct measurements of ion and neutral densities, i.e. high temperatures in polar cap during prestorm quiet period, heating proceeding from polar cap to lower latitudes during storm main phase. center dot Discrepancy between maps of Poynting flux and of ion temperatures/neutral densities suggests that connection between Poynting flux and Joule heating is not simple.

National Trends in Hospitalizations for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Associated Complications

PubMed Central

Lee, Grace E.; Lorch, Scott A.; Sheffler-Collins, Seth; Kronman, Matthew P.; Shah, Samir S.

2010-01-01

Objective To determine current rates of and trends in hospitalizations for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and CAP - associated complications in children. Methods We performed a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study using the 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 Kids’ Inpatient Database. National estimates for CAP and CAP - associated local and systemic complications were calculated for children ≤ 18 years of age using complex survey statistics. Patients with comorbid conditions or in-hospital birth status were excluded. Percent change was calculated using 1997 (pre-PCV7) and 2006 (post-PCV7) data. Results There were a combined 619,102 discharges for 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Overall rates of CAP discharges did not change substantially between 1997 and 2006, but stratification by age revealed a 22% decrease for children < 1 year, minimal change for children 1–5 years, and an increase in rates for children 6–12 years (22%) and ≥ 13 years (41%). Rates of systemic complications were highest among children < 1 year but decreased by 36%. In all other age groups, systemic complication rates remained stable. Rates of local complications increased 78% overall, from 5.4 to 9.6 per 100,000. Children ages 1–5 years had the highest rate of local complications (16.5 per 100,000). Conclusions Since the introduction of PCV7 in 2000, rates of CAP-associated systemic complications decreased only in children < 1 year of age. Rates of pediatric CAP-associated local complications are increasing in all age groups. More research is needed to determine the factors underlying these trends. PMID:20643717

African Swine Fever Virus NP868R Capping Enzyme Promotes Reovirus Rescue during Reverse Genetics by Promoting Reovirus Protein Expression, Virion Assembly, and RNA Incorporation into Infectious Virions

PubMed Central

Eaton, Heather E.; Kobayashi, Takeshi; Dermody, Terence S.; Johnston, Randal N.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Reoviruses, like many eukaryotic viruses, contain an inverted 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap linked to the 5′ nucleotide of mRNA. The traditional functions of capping are to promote mRNA stability, protein translation, and concealment from cellular proteins that recognize foreign RNA. To address the role of mRNA capping during reovirus replication, we assessed the benefits of adding the African swine fever virus NP868R capping enzyme during reovirus rescue. C3P3, a fusion protein containing T7 RNA polymerase and NP868R, was found to increase protein expression 5- to 10-fold compared to T7 RNA polymerase alone while enhancing reovirus rescue from the current reverse genetics system by 100-fold. Surprisingly, RNA stability was not increased by C3P3, suggesting a direct effect on protein translation. A time course analysis revealed that C3P3 increased protein synthesis within the first 2 days of a reverse genetics transfection. This analysis also revealed that C3P3 enhanced processing of outer capsid μ1 protein to μ1C, a previously described hallmark of reovirus assembly. Finally, to determine the rate of infectious-RNA incorporation into new virions, we developed a new recombinant reovirus S1 gene that expressed the fluorescent protein UnaG. Following transfection of cells with UnaG and infection with wild-type virus, passage of UnaG through progeny was significantly enhanced by C3P3. These data suggest that capping provides nontraditional functions to reovirus, such as promoting assembly and infectious-RNA incorporation. IMPORTANCE Our findings expand our understanding of how viruses utilize capping, suggesting that capping provides nontraditional functions to reovirus, such as promoting assembly and infectious-RNA incorporation, in addition to enhancing protein translation. Beyond providing mechanistic insight into reovirus replication, our findings also show that reovirus reverse genetics rescue is enhanced 100-fold by the NP868R capping enzyme. Since reovirus shows promise as a cancer therapy, efficient reovirus reverse genetics rescue will accelerate production of recombinant reoviruses as candidates to enhance therapeutic potency. NP868R-assisted reovirus rescue will also expedite production of recombinant reovirus for mechanistic insights into reovirus protein function and structure. PMID:28298603

South Polar Cap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

8 December 2005 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows landforms created by sublimation processes on the south polar residual cap of Mars. The bulk of the ice in the south polar residual cap is frozen carbon dioxide.

Location near: 86.6oS, 342.2oW Image width: width: 3 km (1.9 mi) Illumination from: upper left Season: Southern Summer

Near net shape processing of continuous lengths of superconducting wire

DOEpatents

Danyluk, Steven; McNallan, Michael; Troendly, Robert; Poeppel, Roger; Goretta, Kenneth; Lanagan, Michael

1997-01-01

A system and method for mechanically forming a ceramic superconductor product. A system for making the ceramic superconductor includes a metallic channel portion having a cross section for receiving a ceramic superconductor powder, a roll to mechanically reduce the channel cross section and included superconductor powder and a cap portion welded to the channel portion using a localized high energy source. The assembled bar is then mechanically reduced to form a tape or wire end product.

Validation of Aquarius sea surface salinity with in situ measurements from Argo floats and moored buoys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Wenqing; Yueh, Simon H.; Fore, Alexander G.; Hayashi, Akiko

2014-09-01

We validate sea surface salinity (SSS) retrieved from Aquarius instrument on SAC-D satellite with in situ measurements by Argo floats and moored buoy arrays. We assess the error structure of three Aquarius SSS products: the standard product processed by Aquarius Data Processing System (ADPS) and two data sets produced at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): the Combined Active-Passive algorithm with and without rain correction, CAP and CAP_RC, respectively. We examine the effect of various filters to prevent unreliable point retrievals from entering Level 3 averaging, such as land or ice contamination, radio frequency interference (RFI), and cold water. Our analyses show that Aquarius SSS agrees well with Argo in a monthly average sense between 40°S and 40°N except in the Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool and Amazon River outflow. Buoy data within these regions show excellent agreement with Aquarius but have discrepancies with the Argo gridded products. Possible reasons include strong near-surface stratification and sampling problems in Argo in regions with significant western boundary currents. We observe large root-mean-square (RMS) difference and systematic negative bias between ADPS and Argo in the tropical Indian Ocean and along the Southern Pacific Convergence Zone. Excluding these regions removes the suspicious seasonal peak in the monthly RMS difference between the Aquarius SSS products and Argo. Between 40°S and 40°N, the RMS difference for CAP is less than 0.22 PSU for all 28 months, CAP_RC has essentially met the monthly 0.2 PSU accuracy requirement, while that for ADPS fluctuates between 0.22 and 0.3 PSU.

Facilitation of macroalgae by the sedimentary tube forming polychaete Diopatra cuprea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomsen, M. S.; McGlathery, K.

2005-01-01

Marine foundation organisms such as seagrasses, corals, and kelps facilitate the distribution of numerous organisms by creating refuges from environmental stressors and by providing food and substrate for settlement and growth. Barren soft-sediment systems often have faunal organisms that facilitate other species by habitat modification. We investigated how an abundant (21 m -2) tube cap forming polychaete, Diopatra cuprea, facilitates macroalgal distribution in Hog Island Bay, a turbid shallow tidal lagoon in Virginia (USA). Seventy percent of the number of mudflat macroalgae were found incorporated into protruding D. cuprea tube caps and field experiments showed that D. cuprea facilitates algal persistence by providing a stable substrate retaining algae against hydrodynamic forces such as tidal flushing and storm surge. If tube caps were removed, simulating storm-induced erosion, they were rebuilt within days and new drift algae incorporated. Also, D. cuprea facilitated the algal assemblage by fragmenting thalli in the attachment process, thereby ensuring a constant fragment supply for vegetative re-growth if storm-induced pruning occurs. On a species-specific level, Gracilaria verrucosa and Ulva curvata benefited more from tube cap construction compared to Fucus vesiculosus, Agardhiella subulata and the alien Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides. This was partly because G. verrucosa and U. curvata were incorporated and fragmented more readily, and partly because they probably have physiological, morphological and biomechanical traits that enable them to better co-exist with D. cuprea. These results suggest that macroalgal distribution throughout Hog Island Bay to a large extent is linked to the distribution of D. cuprea. The processes of algal attachment, retainment, recovery, re-growth and fragmentation, can have important ecosystem implications because of the sheer abundance of the Diopatra- Gracilaria/Ulva association.

Co-activation patterns in resting-state fMRI signals.

PubMed

Liu, Xiao; Zhang, Nanyin; Chang, Catie; Duyn, Jeff H

2018-02-08

The brain is a complex system that integrates and processes information across multiple time scales by dynamically coordinating activities over brain regions and circuits. Correlations in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) signals have been widely used to infer functional connectivity of the brain, providing a metric of functional associations that reflects a temporal average over an entire scan (typically several minutes or longer). Not until recently was the study of dynamic brain interactions at much shorter time scales (seconds to minutes) considered for inference of functional connectivity. One method proposed for this objective seeks to identify and extract recurring co-activation patterns (CAPs) that represent instantaneous brain configurations at single time points. Here, we review the development and recent advancement of CAP methodology and other closely related approaches, as well as their applications and associated findings. We also discuss the potential neural origins and behavioral relevance of CAPs, along with methodological issues and future research directions in the analysis of fMRI co-activation patterns. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High temperature superconductor step-edge Josephson junctions using Ti-Ca-Ba-Cu-O

DOEpatents

Ginley, D.S.; Hietala, V.M.; Hohenwarter, G.K.G.; Martens, J.S.; Plut, T.A.; Tigges, C.P.; Vawter, G.A.; Zipperian, T.E.

1994-10-25

A process is disclosed for formulating non-hysteretic and hysteretic Josephson junctions using HTS materials which results in junctions having the ability to operate at high temperatures while maintaining high uniformity and quality. The non-hysteretic Josephson junction is formed by step-etching a LaAlO[sub 3] crystal substrate and then depositing a thin film of TlCaBaCuO on the substrate, covering the step, and forming a grain boundary at the step and a subsequent Josephson junction. Once the non-hysteretic junction is formed the next step to form the hysteretic Josephson junction is to add capacitance to the system. In the current embodiment, this is accomplished by adding a thin dielectric layer, LaA1O[sub 3], followed by a cap layer of a normal metal where the cap layer is formed by first depositing a thin layer of titanium (Ti) followed by a layer of gold (Au). The dielectric layer and the normal metal cap are patterned to the desired geometry. 8 figs.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: a clinical review.

PubMed

Nayer, Ali; Ortega, Luis M

2014-01-01

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by disseminated intravascular thrombosis resulting in multiorgan failure. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, PubMed (NLM), LISTA (EBSCO) and Web of Science have been searched. CAPS is due to antiphospholipid antibodies directed against a heterogeneous group of proteins that are associated with phospholipids. These autoantibodies activate endothelial cells, platelets, and immune cells, thereby promoting a proinflammatory and prothrombotic phenotype. Furthermore, antiphospholipid antibodies inhibit anticoagulants, impair fibrinolysis, and activate complements. Although CAPS can affect a variety of organs and tissues, the kidneys, lungs, central nervous system, heart, skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract are most commonly affected. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome, likely to extensive tissue damage, accompanies CAPS. The most frequent renal manifestations are hypertension, proteinuria, hematuria, and acute renal failure.In the majority of patients with CAPS, a precipitating factor such as infection, surgery, or medication can be identified. Antiphospholipid antibodies such as lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against cardiolipin, β2-glycoprotein I, and prothrombin are serological hallmark of CAPS. Laboratory tests often reveal antinuclear antibodies, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Despite widespread intravascular coagulation, blood films reveal only a small number of schistocytes. In addition, severe thrombocytopenia is uncommon. Histologically, CAPS is characterized by acute thrombotic microangiopathy. CAPS must be distinguished from other forms of thrombotic microangiopathies such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and heparin-induced thrombocyt openia. CAPS is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, an aggressive multidisciplinary treatment strategy is indicated. Anticoagulation, immunosuppression, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulins, and anti-platelet agents, used in various combinations, have resulted in improved patient outcome.

Distribution and chloramphenicol in the bovine genital tract and pharmacokinetic studies of florfenicol in cattle

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

Bretzlaff, K.N.

1986-01-01

The objectives were to investigate selected aspects of the distribution of chloramphenicol (CAP) in the bovine genital tract and to conduct preliminary pharmacologic studies with florfenicol (FLO), a fluorinated analogue of thiamphenicol, in cattle. After 8 hours' continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of CAP to 7 postpartum cows, steady state plasma-to-genital tissue ratios of CAP were approximately 3. After intrauterine infusion of 20 mg CAP/kg to 3 postpartum cows, approximately 40% of the dose was absorbed into the bloodstream. Tissue concentrations were high at 8 hour postdosing in tissues lining the uterine lumen but were below desired therapeutic concentrations in themore » myometrium of 2 of the cows. Eighty cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) were assigned to receive on the following treatments: (1) removal of membranes only; (2) removal plus CAP; (3) nonremoval; (4) nonremoval plus CAP. CAP treatment consisted of 5 g administered IU twice daily for 3 days. The majority of cows in all groups acquired endometritis, although CAP reduced the prevalence and severity of the disease. A quantitative assay for FLO in plasma was developed and validated on a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system. The pharmacokinetics of FLO determined after IV administration of 50 mg FLO/kg to 5 cows were best described by a three-compartment model. FLO was approximately 18% bound to plasma proteins as determined by equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration. In an in vitro system, 5, 125, or 1000 ug/ml of CAP had no effect on neutrophils from 6 cows.« less

Effects of rooting and tree growth of selected woodland species on cap integrity in a mineral capped landfill site.

PubMed

Hutchings, T R; Moffat, A J; Kemp, R A

2001-06-01

The above and below ground growth of three tree species (Alnus glutinosa, Pinus nigra var. maritima and Acer pseudoplatanus) was studied on a containment landfill site at Waterford, Hertfordshire, UK. Tree root architecture was studied using soil inspection pits excavated next to 12 trees of each species and mapped in detail. Tree height was related to soil thickness over the compacted mineral cap. No roots entered the cap where soil thickness was 1.3 m, but a few roots, especially of alder, were observed within it when the soil cover was 1.0 m or less. Micromorphological analysis of undisturbed samples of the mineral cap suggested that roots exploited weaknesses in the cap rather than actively causing penetration into it. Alder roots were more tolerant of anaerobic conditions within the cap than the other species examined. The results confirm that mineral caps should be covered by 1.5 m of soil or soil-forming material if tree establishment is intended over a restored landfill site, unless protected by other parts of a composite capping system.

Quantitative assessment of serum-specific IgE in the diagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis.

PubMed

Marinova, I; Nikolov, G; Michova, A; Kurdova, R; Petrunov, B

2011-07-01

Anti-Echinococcus serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E was assessed by the ImmunoCAP system and compared with anti-Echinococcus serum IgG assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. The ImmunoCAP system revealed very high specificity (one false positive of 110 healthy individuals), low cross-reactivity (one false positive of 58 patients with other diseases) and decreased sensitivity (73.55%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis displayed a beneficial diagnostic value with high accuracy. Comparison of the ImmunoCAP system with ELISA and Western blot showed significantly higher specificity and significantly lower cross-reactivity compared with the ELISA. Examination of sera from 155 patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE) showed varying levels of anti-Echinococcus IgE (range, 0.01-118.33 kUA/L). However, most samples had moderately elevated IgE levels. Analysis of serum-specific IgE revealed significantly higher sensitivity of the ImmunoCAP system and significantly higher antibody levels in hepatic CE compared with pulmonary CE. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Systems and methods for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a barrier cap and wireless sensor systems and methods

DOEpatents

Kunerth, Dennis C.; Svoboda, John M.; Johnson, James T.

2007-03-06

A method of measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, includes burying a sensor apparatus in the landfill prior to closing the landfill with the cap; providing a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via radio frequency (RF); placing an antenna above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus; coupling the antenna to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier; providing power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field using the reader; accumulating and storing power in the sensor apparatus; sensing a parameter of the landfill using the sensor apparatus while using power; and transmitting the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill is also provided.

The Mars water cycle at other epochs: Recent history of the polar caps and layered terrain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jakosky, Bruce M.; Henderson, Bradley G.; Mellon, Michael T.

1992-01-01

The Martian polar caps and layered terrain presumably evolves by the deposition and removal of small amounts of water and dust each year, the current cap attributes therefore represent the incremental transport during a single year as integrated over long periods of time. The role was studied of condensation and sublimation of water ice in this process by examining the seasonal water cycle during the last 10(exp 7) yr. In the model, axial obliquity, eccentricity, and L sub s of perihelion vary according to dynamical models. At each epoch, the seasonal variations in temperature are calculated at the two poles, keeping track of the seasonal CO2 cap and the summertime sublimation of water vapor into the atmosphere; net exchange of water between the two caps is calculated based on the difference in the summertime sublimation between the two caps (or on the sublimation from one cap if the other is covered with CO2 frost all year). Results from the model can help to explain (1) the apparent inconsistency between the timescales inferred for layer formation and the much older crater retention age of the cap and (2) the difference in sizes of the two residual caps, with the south being smaller than the north.

Temperature Distribution within a Cold Cap during Nuclear Waste Vitrification

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

Dixon, Derek R.; Schweiger, Michael J.; Riley, Brian J.

2015-07-21

The kinetics of the feed-to-glass conversion affects the waste vitrification rate in an electric melter. The primary area of interest in this conversion process is the cold cap, a layer of reacting feed on top of molten glass. Knowing the temperature profile within a cold cap will help determine its characteristics and relate them to the rate of glass production. The work presented here provides an experimental determination of the temperature distribution within the cold cap. Since a direct measurement of the temperature field within the cold cap is impracticable, an indirect method was developed where the textural features inmore » a laboratory-made cold cap with a high-level waste feed were mapped as a function of position using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. To correlate the temperature distribution to microstructures within the cold cap, microstructures were identified of individual feed samples that were heat treated to set temperatures between 400°C and 1200°C and quenched. The temperature distribution within the cold cap was then established by correlating cold-cap regions with the feed samples of nearly identical structures and was compared with the temperature profile from a mathematical model.« less

Design and implementation of the protective cap/biobarrier experiment at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

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

Limbach, W.E.; Ratzlaff, T.D.; Anderson, J.E.

1994-12-31

The Protective Cap/Biobarrier Experiment (PCBE), initiated in 1993 at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), is a strip-split plot experiment with three replications designed to rigorously test a 2.0-m loessal soil cap against a cap recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency and two caps with biological intrusion barriers. Past research at INEL indicates that it should be possible to exclude water from buried wastes using natural materials and natural processes in arid environments rather than expensive materials (geotextiles) and highly engineered caps. The PCBE will also test the effects of two vegetal covers and three irrigation levels on capmore » performance. Drainage pans, located at the bottom of each plot, will monitor cap failure. Soil water profiles will be monitored biweekly by neutron probe and continuously by time domain reflectometry. The performance of each cap design will be monitored under a variety of conditions through 1998. From 1994 to 1996, the authors will assess plant establishment, rooting depths, patterns of moisture extraction and their interactions among caps, vegetal covers, and irrigation levels. In 1996, they will introduce ants and burrowing mammals to test the structural integrity of each cap design. In 1998, the authors will apply sufficient water to determine the failure limit for each cap design. The PCBE should provide reliable knowledge of the performances of the four cap designs under a variety of conditions and aid in making hazardous-waste management decisions at INEL and at disposal sites in similar environments.« less

Analysis and Results from a Flush Airdata Sensing (FADS) System in Close Proximity to Firing Rocket Nozzles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ali, Aliyah N.; Borrer, Jerry L.

2013-01-01

This presentation presents information regarding the nose-cap flush airdata sensing (FADS) system on Orion's Pad Abort 1 (PA-1) vehicle. The purpose of the nose-cap FADS system was to test whether or not useful data could be obtained from a FADS system if it was placed in close proximity to firing rockets nozzles like the attitude control motor (ACM) nozzles on the PA-1 launch abort system (LAS). The nose-cap FADS systems use pressure measurements from a series of pressure ports which are arranged in a cruciform pattern and flush with the surface of the vehicle to estimate values of angle of attack, angle of side-slip, Mach number, impact pressure and free-stream static pressure.

The Characterization of Feces and Urine: A Review of the Literature to Inform Advanced Treatment Technology

PubMed Central

Rose, C.; Parker, A.; Jefferson, B.; Cartmell, E.

2015-01-01

The safe disposal of human excreta is of paramount importance for the health and welfare of populations living in low income countries as well as the prevention of pollution to the surrounding environment. On-site sanitation (OSS) systems are the most numerous means of treating excreta in low income countries, these facilities aim at treating human waste at source and can provide a hygienic and affordable method of waste disposal. However, current OSS systems need improvement and require further research and development. Development of OSS facilities that treat excreta at, or close to, its source require knowledge of the waste stream entering the system. Data regarding the generation rate and the chemical and physical composition of fresh feces and urine was collected from the medical literature as well as the treatability sector. The data were summarized and statistical analysis was used to quantify the major factors that were a significant cause of variability. The impact of this data on biological processes, thermal processes, physical separators, and chemical processes was then assessed. Results showed that the median fecal wet mass production was 128 g/cap/day, with a median dry mass of 29 g/cap/day. Fecal output in healthy individuals was 1.20 defecations per 24 hr period and the main factor affecting fecal mass was the fiber intake of the population. Fecal wet mass values were increased by a factor of 2 in low income countries (high fiber intakes) in comparison to values found in high income countries (low fiber intakes). Feces had a median pH of 6.64 and were composed of 74.6% water. Bacterial biomass is the major component (25–54% of dry solids) of the organic fraction of the feces. Undigested carbohydrate, fiber, protein, and fat comprise the remainder and the amounts depend on diet and diarrhea prevalence in the population. The inorganic component of the feces is primarily undigested dietary elements that also depend on dietary supply. Median urine generation rates were 1.42 L/cap/day with a dry solids content of 59 g/cap/day. Variation in the volume and composition of urine is caused by differences in physical exertion, environmental conditions, as well as water, salt, and high protein intakes. Urine has a pH 6.2 and contains the largest fractions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium released from the body. The urinary excretion of nitrogen was significant (10.98 g/cap/day) with urea the most predominant constituent making up over 50% of total organic solids. The dietary intake of food and fluid is the major cause of variation in both the fecal and urine composition and these variables should always be considered if the generation rate, physical, and chemical composition of feces and urine is to be accurately predicted. PMID:26246784

A novel role for the condensin II complex in cellular senescence.

PubMed

Yokoyama, Yuhki; Zhu, Hengrui; Zhang, Rugang; Noma, Ken-ichi

2015-01-01

Although cellular senescence is accompanied by global alterations in genome architecture, how the genome is restructured during the senescent processes is not well understood. Here, we show that the hCAP-H2 subunit of the condensin II complex exists as either a full-length protein or an N-terminus truncated variant (ΔN). While the full-length hCAP-H2 associates with mitotic chromosomes, the ΔN variant exists as an insoluble nuclear structure. When overexpressed, both hCAP-H2 isoforms assemble this nuclear architecture and induce senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF). The hCAP-H2ΔN protein accumulates as cells approach senescence, and hCAP-H2 knockdown inhibits oncogene-induced senescence. This study identifies a novel mechanism whereby condensin drives senescence via nuclear/genomic reorganization.

A smart cap for olive oil rancidity detection using optochemical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mignani, A. G.; Ciaccheri, L.; Mencaglia, A. A.; Paolesse, R.; Mastroianni, M.; Monti, D.; Buonocore, G.; Del Nobile, A.; Mentana, A.; Grimaldi, M. F.

2007-09-01

The design and experimental setup of a smart cap are presented. It is capable of sniffing the vapors of extra virgin olive oil, thus alerting the consumer or the retailer of any rancid flavor. The cap is made of an array of metalloporphyrin-based optochemical sensors, the colors of which are modulated by the concentration of aldehydes, the main responsible for rancid off-flavors. A micro-optic device, implemented to simulate a cap prototype, is presented. The spectral response of the chromophore-array is processed by means of multivariate data analysis so as to achieve an artificial olfactory perception of oil aroma and, consequently, an indication of oil ageing and rancidity. In practice, the cap prototype proved to be a device for non-destructive testing of bottled oil quality.

Traditional Japanese medicines inhibit compound action potentials in the frog sciatic nerve.

PubMed

Matsushita, Akitomo; Fujita, Tsugumi; Ohtsubo, Sena; Kumamoto, Eiichi

2016-02-03

Traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicines have a variety of clinical effects including pain alleviation, but evidence for a mechanism for their pain relief has not yet been elucidated fully. Considering that Kampo medicine contains many plant-derived chemicals having an ability to inhibit nerve action potential conduction, it is possible that this medicine inhibits nerve conduction. The purpose of the present study was to know how various Kampo medicines affect nerve conduction. We examined the effects of Kampo and crude medicines on compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded from the frog sciatic nerve by using the air-gap method. Daikenchuto, rikkosan, kikyoto, rikkunshito, shakuyakukanzoto and kakkonto concentration-dependently reduced the peak amplitude of the CAP. Among the Kampo medicines, daikenchuto was the most effective in inhibiting CAPs. Daikenchuto is composed of three kinds of crude medicine, Japanese pepper, processed ginger and ginseng radix. When the crude medicines were tested, Japanese pepper and processed ginger reduced CAP peak amplitudes, while ginseng radix hardly affected CAPs. Moreover, there was an interaction between the Japanese pepper and processed ginger activities in such that one medicine at low but not high concentrations increased the extent of the inhibition by the other one that was co-applied. Kampo medicines have an ability to inhibit nerve conduction. This action of daikenchuto is due to Japanese pepper and processed ginger but not ginseng radix, probably through an interaction between Japanese pepper and processed ginger in a manner dependent on their concentrations. Nerve conduction inhibition could contribute to at least a part of Kampo medicine's clinical effects such as pain alleviation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Process for making surfactant capped metal oxide nanocrystals, and products produced by the process

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Rockenberger, Joerg

2006-01-10

Disclosed is a process for making surfactant capped nanocrystals of metal oxides which are dispersable in organic solvents. The process comprises decomposing a metal cupferron complex of the formula M^XCup_X, wherein M is a metal, and Cup is a N-substituted N-Nitroso hydroxylamine, in the presence of a coordinating surfactant, the reaction being conducted at a temperature ranging from about 150 to about 400.degree. C., for a period of time sufficient to complete the reaction. Also disclosed are compounds made by the process.

Hybrid calcium phosphate coatings for implants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malchikhina, Alena I.; Shesterikov, Evgeny V.; Bolbasov, Evgeny N.; Ignatov, Viktor P.; Tverdokhlebov, Sergei I.

2016-08-01

Monophasic biomaterials cannot provide all the necessary functions of bones or other calcined tissues. It is necessary to create for cancer patients the multiphase materials with the structure and composition simulating the natural bone. Such materials are classified as hybrid, obtained by a combination of chemically different components. The paper presents the physical, chemical and biological studies of coatings produced by hybrid technologies (HT), which combine primer layer and calcium phosphate (CaP) coating. The first HT type combines the method of vacuum arc titanium primer layer deposition on a stainless steel substrate with the following micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in phosphoric acid solution with addition of calcium compounds to achieve high supersaturated state. MAO CaP coatings feature high porosity (2-8%, pore size 5-7 µm) and surface morphology with the thickness greater than 5 µm. The thickness of Ti primer layer is 5-40 µm. Amorphous MAO CaP coating micro-hardness was measured at maximum normal load Fmax = 300 mN. It was 3.1 ± 0.8 GPa, surface layer elasticity modulus E = 110 ± 20 GPa, roughness Ra = 0.9 ± 0.1 µm, Rz = 7.5 ± 0.2 µm, which is less than the titanium primer layer roughness. Hybrid MAO CaP coating is biocompatible, able to form calcium phosphates from supersaturated body fluid (SBF) solution and also stimulates osteoinduction processes. The second HT type includes the oxide layer formation by thermal oxidation and then CaP target radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS). Oxide-RFMS CaP coating is a thin dense coating with good adhesion to the substrate material, which can be used for metal implants. The RFMS CaP coating has thickness 1.6 ± 0.1 µm and consists of main target elements calcium and phosphorus and Ca/P ratio 2.4. The second HT type can form calcium phosphates from SBF solution. In vivo study shows that hybrid RFMS CaP coating is biocompatible and produces fibrointegration processes.

A case-study of the evolution of polar-cap currents and auroral electrojets during polar geomagnetic disturbances with IMS magnetometer data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iijima, T.; Kim, J. S.; Sugiura, M.

1984-01-01

The development of the polar cap current and the relationship of that development to the evolution of auroral electrojets during individual polar geomagnetic disturbances is studied using 1 min average data from US-Canada IMS network stations and standard magnetograms from sites on the polar cap and in the auroral zone. It is found that even when the auroral electrojet activity is weak, polar cap currents producing fields of magnitude approximately 100-200 nT almost always exist. A normal convection current system exists quasi-persistently in the polar cap during extended quiet or weakly disturbed periods of auroral electrojet activity. After one such period, some drastic changes occur in the polar cap currents, which are followed by phases of growth, expansion, and recovery. Polar cap currents cannot all be completely ascribed to a single source mechanism.

Genetic ablation of root cap cells in Arabidopsis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsugeki, R.; Fedoroff, N. V.

1999-01-01

The root cap is increasingly appreciated as a complex and dynamic plant organ. Root caps sense and transmit environmental signals, synthesize and secrete small molecules and macromolecules, and in some species shed metabolically active cells. However, it is not known whether root caps are essential for normal shoot and root development. We report the identification of a root cap-specific promoter and describe its use to genetically ablate root caps by directing root cap-specific expression of a diphtheria toxin A-chain gene. Transgenic toxin-expressing plants are viable and have normal aerial parts but agravitropic roots, implying loss of root cap function. Several cell layers are missing from the transgenic root caps, and the remaining cells are abnormal. Although the radial organization of the roots is normal in toxin-expressing plants, the root tips have fewer cytoplasmically dense cells than do wild-type root tips, suggesting that root meristematic activity is lower in transgenic than in wild-type plants. The roots of transgenic plants have more lateral roots and these are, in turn, more highly branched than those of wild-type plants. Thus, root cap ablation alters root architecture both by inhibiting root meristematic activity and by stimulating lateral root initiation. These observations imply that the root caps contain essential components of the signaling system that determines root architecture.

Evaluation of the VetCap® treatment method for horn fly control in cattle

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the VetCap® treatment method, (SmartVet Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) to control horn flies infesting cattle. The VetCap® delivery system consists of a pressure (liquid CO2) driven launcher and an encapsulated insecticide (CyLence®) formulation...

Use of nose cap and fuselage pressure orifices for determination of air data for space shuttle orbiter below supersonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, T. J.; Siemers, P. M., III

1980-01-01

Wind tunnel pressure measurements were acquired from orifices on a 0.1 scale forebody model of the space shuttle orbiter that were arranged in a preliminary configuration of the shuttle entry air data system (SEADS). Pressures from those and auxiliary orifices were evaluated for their ability to provide air data at subsonic and transonic speeds. The orifices were on the vehicle's nose cap and on the sides of the forebody forward of the cabin. The investigation covered a Mach number range of 0.25 to 1.40 and an angle of attack range from 4 deg. to 18 deg. An air data system consisting of nose cap and forebody fuselage orifices constitutes a complete and accurate air data system at subsonic and transonic speeds. For Mach numbers less than 0.80 orifices confined to the nose cap can be used as a complete and accurate air data system. Air data systems that use only flush pressure orifices can be used to determine basic air data on other aircraft at subsonic and transonic speeds.

In situ capping for size control of monochalcogenides (ZnS, CdS, and SnS) nanocrystals produced by anaerobic metal-reducing bacteria

DOE PAGES

Jang, Gyoung Gug; Jacobs, Christopher B.; Ivanov, Ilia N.; ...

2015-07-24

Metal monochalcogenide quantum dot nanocrystals of ZnS, CdS and SnS were prepared by anaerobic, metal-reducing bacteria using in situ capping by oleic acid or oleylamine. Furthermore, the capping agent preferentially adsorbs on the surface of the nanocrystal, suppressing the growth process in the early stages, thus leading to production of nanocrystals with a diameter of less than 5 nm.

Development of a novel multi-functional active membrane capping barrier for the remediation of nitrobenzene-contaminated sediment.

PubMed

Wang, Qing; Li, Yi; Wang, Chao; Wu, Yue; Wang, Peifang

2014-07-15

A novel bio-reactive capping barrier composed of polysulfone/granular activated carbon (PS/GAC) hybrid membranes immobilized with microorganism was developed for the remediation of nitrobenzene in sediments. The SEM observation demonstrated that all the membranes had a dense top layer and a porous sublayer, this structure can block the transfer of nitrobenzene from sediment to the water and enhance nitrobenzene degradation. Adsorption behaviors of nitrobenzene on membranes showed that the membrane impregnated with GAC had better performance than the pure PS membrane. The values of Kads increased from 4.64 (without GAC) to 6.19 (1:2 GAC). 20mg/L nitrobenzene can be completely degraded by Pseudomonas putida immobilized on membranes. The biodegradation rate of activated carbon-filled membrane system was little higher than that of pure PS membrane system. For remediation experiments, only about 21.7, 28.3 and 43.9% of nitrobenzene in the sediment was removed by the end of the experiments for PS/GAC membrane, sand-alone and sand amended with activated carbon capping systems, respectively. While for PS/GAC+microorganisms capping system, more than 70% of nitrobenzene loss was observed. This demonstrated that nitrobenzene can be effectively removed from contaminated sediments by microbial degradation in the bio-reactive capping system. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Tordo 1 polar cusp barium plasma injection experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wescott, E. M.; Stenbaek-Nielsen, H. C.; Davis, T. N.; Jeffries, R. A.; Roach, W. H.

1978-01-01

In January 1975, two barium plasma injection experiments were carried out with rockets launched into the upper atmosphere where field lines from the dayside cusp region intersect the ionosphere. The Tordo 1 experiment took place near the beginning of a worldwide magnetic storm. It became a polar cap experiment almost immediately as convection perpendicular to the magnetic field moved the fluorescent plasma jet away from the cusp across the polar cap in an antisunward direction. Convection across the polar cap with an average velocity of more than 1 km/s was observed for nearly 40 min until the barium flux tubes encountered large electron fields associated with a poleward bulge of the auroral oval near Greenland. Prior to the encounter with the aurora near Greenland there is evidence of upward acceleration of the barium ions while they were in the polar cap. The three-dimensional observations of the plasma orientation and motion give an insight into convection from the cusp region across the polar cap, the orientation of the polar cap magnetic field lines out to several earth radii, the causes of polar cap magnetic perturbations, and parallel acceleration processes.

Determination of fracture toughness of calcium phosphate coatings deposited onto Ti6Al4V substrate by using indentation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aydin, Ibrahim; Cetinel, Hakan; Pasinli, Ahmet

2012-09-01

In this study, fracture toughness values of calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings deposited onto Ti6Al4V substrate were determined by using Vickers indentation method. In this new patent holding method, the activation processes were performed with NaOH and NaOH+H2O2 on the Ti6Al4V material surface. Thicknesses of CaP coatings were measured from cross-sections of the samples by using optical microscopy. Vickers indentation tests were performed by using microhardness tester. Young's modulus values of the coatings were determined by using ultra microhardness tester. As a result, fracture toughness (K1C) values of the CaP coatings produced by using two different activation processes, were calculated by using experimental study results. These were found to be 0.43 MPa m1/2 and 0.39 MPa m1/2, respectively. It was determined that the CaP coating on Ti6Al4V activated by NaOH+H2O2 had higher fracture toughness than the CaP coating on Ti6Al4V activated by NaOH.

Integration of the Nurse Practitioner Into Your Child Abuse Team.

PubMed

Herold, Beth; St Claire, Karen; Snider, Scott; Narayan, Aditee

Child maltreatment is a leading cause of childhood morbidity in the United States, often leading to lifelong adverse health consequences. Currently, there is a nationwide shortage of child abuse pediatricians (CAPs), resulting in many unfilled child abuse positions throughout the United States. In addition, the number of future CAPs currently in fellowship training will meet neither the current need for CAPs nor provide replacements for the senior CAPs who will be retiring in the next 5 to 10 years. Although it is recognized that pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) play an important role in the care of maltreated children, there are few available data on the impact of the PNP as an integral member of the child abuse team. Using the outcomes logic model, we present a systematic process through which the PNP can be effectively integrated into a medical child abuse team. The outcomes from this process show that the addition of PNPs to the child abuse team not only provides immediate relief to the nationwide CAP shortage but also significantly augments the diverse clinical skills and expertise available to the child abuse team. Copyright © 2018 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Failure Analysis of Cracked FS-85 Tubing and ASTAR-811C End Caps

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

ME Petrichek

2006-02-09

Failure analyses were performed on cracked FS-85 tubing and ASTAR-811C and caps which had been fabricated as components of biaxial creep specimens meant to support materials testing for the NR Space program. During the failure analyses of cracked FS-85 tubing, it was determined that the failure potentially could be due to two effects: possible copper contamination from the EDM (electro-discharge machined) recast layer and/or an insufficient solution anneal. to prevent similar failures in the future, a more formal analysis should be done after each processing step to ensure the quality of the material before further processing. During machining of themore » ASTAR-811FC rod to form end caps for biaxial creep specimens, linear defects were observed along the center portion of the end caps. These defects were only found in material that was processed from the top portion of the ingot. The linear defects were attributed to a probable residual ingot pipe that was not removed from the ingot. During the subsequent processing of the ingot to rod, the processing temperatures were not high enough to allow self healing of the ingot's residual pipe defect. To prevent this from occurring in the future, it is necessary to ensure that complete removal of the as-melted ingot pipe is verified by suitable non-destructive evaluation (NDE).« less

The Chinese Clan Associations in Padang: A package of the ethnic tradition and the social-culture change in the era of globalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makmur, M.

2018-03-01

A fascinating activity related to the Chinese New Year in Padang is the “Kio” (the god statue procession) which is conducted a few days before the closing of the Chinese Lunar New Year (the “Cap Go Meh”). This research describes how the Chinese clan associations in Padang together cooperate in conducting the “Kio” statue procession during the “Cap Go Meh.” The Chinese in Padang is unique because almost 99% of them cannot speak Chinese. But uniquely, they still celebrate the Chinese traditions and in this research, the “Kio” statue procession. This writing will analyze the Chinese clan associations activity that is closely related to the Chinese culture routinely conducted at the “Cap Go Meh.” At that day, many shows will be organized, such as the Lion and Dragon dance, and the “Kio” statue procession. On “Cap Go Meh” 2016, a few of the Chinese clan associations conducted the “Kio” parade on the same day. The goal of this research is to describe the social-culture change and the role of the Chinese clan associations in packaging the traditions in the era of globalization.

Initial management of pneumonia and sepsis: factors associated with improved outcome.

PubMed

Menéndez, R; Torres, A; Reyes, S; Zalacain, R; Capelastegui, A; Aspa, J; Borderías, L; Martín-Villasclaras, J J; Bello, S; Alfageme, I; de Castro, F R; Rello, J; Molinos, L; Ruiz-Manzano, J

2012-01-01

Processes of care and adherence to guidelines have been associated with improved survival in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In sepsis, bundles of processes of care have also increased survival. We aimed to audit compliance with guideline-recommended processes of care and its impact on outcome in hospitalised CAP patients with sepsis. We prospectively studied 4,137 patients hospitalised with CAP in 13 hospitals. The processes of care evaluated were adherence to antibiotic prescription guidelines, first dose within 6 h and oxygen assessment. Outcome measures were mortality and length of stay (LOS). Oxygen assessment was measured in 3,745 (90.5%) patients; 3,024 (73.1%) patients received antibiotics according to guidelines and 3,053 (73.8%) received antibiotics within 6 h. In CAP patients with sepsis, the strongest independent factor for survival was antibiotic adherence (OR 0.4). In severe sepsis, only compliance to antibiotic adherence plus first dose within 6 h was associated with lower mortality (OR 0.60), adjusted for fine prognostic scale and hospital. Antibiotic adherence was related to shorter hospital stay. In sepsis, antibiotic adherence is the strongest protective factor of care associated with survival and LOS. In severe sepsis, combined antibiotic adherence and first dose within 6 h may reduce mortality.

Adjunct Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy in Children With Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Outpatient Setting.

PubMed

Ambroggio, Lilliam; Test, Matthew; Metlay, Joshua P; Graf, Thomas R; Blosky, Mary Ann; Macaluso, Maurizio; Shah, Samir S

2015-03-01

The role of adjunct systemic corticosteroid therapy in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not known. The objective was to determine the association between adjunct systemic corticosteroid therapy and treatment failure in children who received antibiotics for treatment of CAP in the outpatient setting. The study included a retrospective cohort study of children, aged 1-18 years, with a diagnosis of CAP who were managed at an outpatient practice affiliated with Geisinger Health System from January 1, 2008 to January 31, 2010. The primary exposure was the receipt of adjunct corticosteroid therapy. The primary outcome was treatment failure defined as a respiratory-associated follow-up within 14 days of diagnosis in which the participant received a change in antibiotic therapy. The probability of receiving adjunct systemic corticosteroid therapy was calculated using a matched propensity score. A multivariable conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between adjunct corticosteroids and treatment failure. Of 2244 children with CAP, 293 (13%) received adjunct corticosteroids, 517 (23%) had underlying asthma, and 624 (28%) presented with wheezing. Most patients received macrolide monotherapy for their CAP diagnosis (n = 1329; 59%). Overall, treatment failure was not associated with adjunct corticosteroid treatment (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 and 3.19), but the association was statistically significant among patients with no history of asthma (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.03 and 5.52), with no statistical association among patients with a history of asthma. Adjunct corticosteroid therapy was associated with treatment failure among children diagnosed with CAP who did not have underlying asthma. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Space fabrication demonstration system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

The lower right aluminum beam cap roll forming mill was delivered and installed in the beam builder. The beam was brought to full operational status and beams of one to six bay lengths were produced to demonstrate full system capability. Although the cap flange waviness problem persists, work is progressing within cost and schedule.

Centrifuge modeling of cyclic lateral response of pile-cap systems and seat-type abutments in dry sands

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-10-02

This report presents the results of slow, cyclic, lateral-loading centrifuge tests performed on models of pile-cap foundation systems and seat-type bridge abutements in dry Neveda sand of 75% relative density to study the lateral response of these sy...

Near net shape processing of continuous lengths of superconducting wire

DOEpatents

Danyluk, S.; McNallan, M.; Troendly, R.; Poeppel, R.; Goretta, K.; Lanagan, M.

1997-08-26

A system and method for mechanically forming a ceramic superconductor product are disclosed. A system for making the ceramic superconductor includes a metallic channel portion having a cross section for receiving a ceramic superconductor powder, a roll to mechanically reduce the channel cross section and included superconductor powder and a cap portion welded to the channel portion using a localized high energy source. The assembled bar is then mechanically reduced to form a tape or wire end product. 9 figs.

Diagnostic criteria for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS).

PubMed

Kuemmerle-Deschner, Jasmin B; Ozen, Seza; Tyrrell, Pascal N; Kone-Paut, Isabelle; Goldbach-Mansky, Raphaela; Lachmann, Helen; Blank, Norbert; Hoffman, Hal M; Weissbarth-Riedel, Elisabeth; Hugle, Boris; Kallinich, Tilmann; Gattorno, Marco; Gul, Ahmet; Ter Haar, Nienke; Oswald, Marlen; Dedeoglu, Fatma; Cantarini, Luca; Benseler, Susanne M

2017-06-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a rare, heterogeneous disease entity associated with NLRP3 gene mutations and increased interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion. Early diagnosis and rapid initiation of IL-1 inhibition prevent organ damage. The aim of the study was to develop and validate diagnostic criteria for CAPS. An innovative process was followed including interdisciplinary team building, item generation: review of CAPS registries, systematic literature review, expert surveys, consensus conferences for item refinement, item reduction and weighting using 1000Minds decision software. Resulting CAPS criteria were tested in large cohorts of CAPS cases and controls using correspondence analysis. Diagnostic models were explored using sensitivity analyses. The international team included 16 experts. Systematic literature and registry review identified 33 CAPS-typical items; the consensus conferences reduced these to 14. 1000Minds exercises ranked variables based on importance for the diagnosis. Correspondence analysis determined variables consistently associated with the diagnosis of CAPS using 284 cases and 837 controls. Seven variables were significantly associated with CAPS (p<0.001). The best diagnosis model included: Raised inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein/serum amyloid A) plus ≥two of six CAPS-typical symptoms: urticaria-like rash, cold-triggered episodes, sensorineural hearing loss, musculoskeletal symptoms, chronic aseptic meningitis and skeletal abnormalities. Sensitivity was 81%, specificity 94%. It performed well for all CAPS subtypes and regardless of NLRP3 mutation. The novel approach integrated traditional methods of evidence synthesis with expert consensus, web-based decision tools and innovative statistical methods and may serve as model for other rare diseases. These criteria will enable a rapid diagnosis for children and adults with CAPS. 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/.

Questionnaire based assessment of patients' acceptability of leukocytapheresis for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Nagase, Kazuko; Fukuanga, Ken; Yokoyama, Yoko; Kamikozuru, Koji; Miwa, Hiroto; Nakamura, Shiro

2013-10-01

The aim of the present study was to assess patients' acceptance of therapeutic leukocytapheresis known as cytapheresis (CAP) for the treatment of an active flare of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A questionnaire was sent to 155 IBD patients who had been treated with CAP for an active flare of IBD at the IBD center of Hyogo College of Medicine between January 2009 and July 2012. In the questionnaire, patients were asked to evaluate CAP including efficacy, safety, unfavorable features and their willingness to be retreated with CAP for a subsequent IBD flare-up. Seventy-eight percent (112 of 155 patients) including 86 with ulcerative colitis and 26 with Crohn's disease completed the questionnaire. The need for coming to hospital for CAP, needle pain during blood access, sparing time for CAP process were scored by 57%, 58%, and 58.9% of the patients, respectively as unfavorable. Patients highly favored the safety of CAP, the sum of very and relatively favorable was 89%, higher than for efficacy (68%). Seventy-two percent of patients favored retreatment with CAP. In binary logistic regression analysis, the levels of satisfaction for efficacy (P < 0.001), and inconvenience for CAP treatment time (P < 0.001) were highly significant factors for patients' willingness to be retreated. Bearing in mind that CAP is a non-pharmacologic treatment intervention, our analyses indicated that IBD patients favored high efficacy, as well as comfort of CAP or maintaining their normal social activity even during an active phase of the disease. Patient's acceptability for CAP appeared to be determined by the balance of these factors. © 2013 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis © 2013 International Society for Apheresis.

Feasibility of 3D printed air slab diode caps for small field dosimetry.

PubMed

Perrett, Benjamin; Charles, Paul; Markwell, Tim; Kairn, Tanya; Crowe, Scott

2017-09-01

Commercial diode detectors used for small field dosimetry introduce a field-size-dependent over-response relative to an ideal, water-equivalent dosimeter due to high density components in the body of the detector. An air gap above the detector introduces a field-size-dependent under-response, and can be used to offset the field-size-dependent detector over-response. Other groups have reported experimental validation of caps containing air gaps for use with several types of diodes in small fields. This paper examines two designs for 3D printed diode air caps for the stereotactic field diode (SFD)-a cap containing a sealed air cavity, and a cap with an air cavity at the face of the SFD. Monte Carlo simulations of both designs were performed to determine dimensions for an air cavity to introduce the desired dosimetric correction. Various parameter changes were also simulated to estimate the dosimetric uncertainties introduced by 3D printing. Cap layer dimensions, cap density changes due to 3D printing, and unwanted air gaps were considered. For the sealed design the optimal air gap size for water-equivalent cap material was 0.6 mm, which increased to 1.0 mm when acrylonitrile butadiene styrene in the cap was simulated. The unsealed design had less variation, a 0.4 mm air gap is optimal in both situations. Unwanted air pockets in the bore of the cap and density changes introduced by the 3D printing process can potentially introduce significant dosimetric effects. These effects may be limited by using fine print resolutions and minimising the volume of cap material.

Rapid wastage of the Hazen Plateau ice caps, northeastern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serreze, Mark C.; Raup, Bruce; Braun, Carsten; Hardy, Douglas R.; Bradley, Raymond S.

2017-01-01

Two pairs of small stagnant ice bodies on the Hazen Plateau of northeastern Ellesmere Island, the St. Patrick Bay ice caps and the Murray and Simmons ice caps, are rapidly shrinking, and the remnants of the St. Patrick Bay ice caps are likely to disappear entirely within the next 5 years. Vertical aerial photographs of these Little Ice Age relics taken during August of 1959 show that the larger of the St. Patrick Bay ice caps had an area of 7.48 km2 and the smaller one 2.93 km2; the Murray and Simmons ice caps covered 4.37 and 7.45 km2 respectively. Outlines determined from ASTER satellite data for July 2016 show that, compared to 1959, the larger and the smaller of the St. Patrick Bay ice caps had both been reduced to only 5 % of their former area, with the Murray and Simmons ice caps faring better at 39 and 25 %, likely reflecting their higher elevation. Consistent with findings from other glaciological studies in the Queen Elizabeth Islands, ASTER imagery in conjunction with past GPS surveys documents a strikingly rapid wastage of the St. Patrick Bay ice caps over the last 15 years. These two ice caps shrank noticeably even between 2014 and 2015, apparently in direct response to the especially warm summer of 2015 over northeastern Ellesmere Island. The well-documented recession patterns of the Hazen Plateau ice caps over the last 55+ years offer an opportunity to examine the processes of plant recolonization of polar landscapes.

The effect of different thickness alumina capping layers on the final morphology of dewet thin Ni films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Benjamin C.; Behbahanian, Amir; Stoker, T. McKay; Fowlkes, Jason D.; Hartnett, Chris; Rack, Phillip D.; Roberts, Nicholas A.

2018-03-01

Nanoparticles on a substrate have numerous applications in nanotechnology, from enhancements to solar cell efficiency to improvements in carbon nanotube growth. Producing nanoparticles in a cost effective fashion with control over size and spacing is desired, but difficult to do. This work presents a scalable method for altering the radius and pitch distributions of nickel nanoparticles. The introduction of alumina capping layers to thin nickel films during a pulsed laser-induced dewetting process has yielded reductions in the mean and standard deviation of radii and pitch for dewet nanoparticles with no noticeable difference in final morphology with increased capping layer thickness. The differences in carbon nanotube mats grown, on the uncapped sample and one of the capped samples, is also presented here, with a more dense mat being present for the capped case.

The Effects of School-Based Condom Availability Programs (CAPs) on Condom Acquisition, Use and Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Wang, Timothy; Lurie, Mark; Govindasamy, Darshini; Mathews, Catherine

2018-01-01

We conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of school-based condom availability programs (CAPs) on condom acquisition, use and sexual behavior. We searched PubMed to identify English-language studies evaluating school-based CAPs that reported process (i.e. number of condoms distributed or used) and sexual behavior measures. We identified nine studies that met our inclusion criteria, with the majority conducted in the United States of America. We judged most studies to have medium risk of bias. Most studies showed that school-based CAPs increased the odds of students obtaining condoms (odds ratios (ORs) for individual studies ranged between 1.81 and 20.28), and reporting condom use (OR 1.36-3.2). Three studies showed that school-based CAPs positively influenced sexual behavior, while no studies reported increase in sexual activity. Findings suggest that school-based CAPs may be an effective strategy for improving condom coverage and promoting positive sexual behaviors.

Hypermethylated-capped selenoprotein mRNAs in mammals

PubMed Central

Wurth, Laurence; Gribling-Burrer, Anne-Sophie; Verheggen, Céline; Leichter, Michael; Takeuchi, Akiko; Baudrey, Stéphanie; Martin, Franck; Krol, Alain; Bertrand, Edouard; Allmang, Christine

2014-01-01

Mammalian mRNAs are generated by complex and coordinated biogenesis pathways and acquire 5′-end m7G caps that play fundamental roles in processing and translation. Here we show that several selenoprotein mRNAs are not recognized efficiently by translation initiation factor eIF4E because they bear a hypermethylated cap. This cap modification is acquired via a 5′-end maturation pathway similar to that of the small nucle(ol)ar RNAs (sn- and snoRNAs). Our findings also establish that the trimethylguanosine synthase 1 (Tgs1) interacts with selenoprotein mRNAs for cap hypermethylation and that assembly chaperones and core proteins devoted to sn- and snoRNP maturation contribute to recruiting Tgs1 to selenoprotein mRNPs. We further demonstrate that the hypermethylated-capped selenoprotein mRNAs localize to the cytoplasm, are associated with polysomes and thus translated. Moreover, we found that the activity of Tgs1, but not of eIF4E, is required for the synthesis of the GPx1 selenoprotein in vivo. PMID:25013170

Modifying the 5'-Cap for Click Reactions of Eukaryotic mRNA and To Tune Translation Efficiency in Living Cells.

PubMed

Holstein, Josephin M; Anhäuser, Lea; Rentmeister, Andrea

2016-08-26

The 5'-cap is a hallmark of eukaryotic mRNAs and plays fundamental roles in RNA metabolism, ranging from quality control to export and translation. Modifying the 5'-cap may thus enable modulation of the underlying processes and investigation or tuning of several biological functions. A straightforward approach is presented for the efficient production of a range of N7-modified caps based on the highly promiscuous methyltransferase Ecm1. We show that these, as well as N(2) -modified 5'-caps, can be used to tune translation of the respective mRNAs both in vitro and in cells. Appropriate modifications allow subsequent bioorthogonal chemistry, as demonstrated by intracellular live-cell labeling of a target mRNA. The efficient and versatile N7 manipulation of the mRNA cap makes mRNAs amenable to both modulation of their biological function and intracellular labeling, and represents a valuable addition to the chemical biology toolbox. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Deactivation of photocatalytically active ZnO nanoparticle and enhancement of its compatibility with organic compounds by surface-capping with organically modified silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Zhi; Zhang, Zhijun

2011-02-01

Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and dimethyldiethoxysilane (DEDMS) were used as co-precursors to prepare organically modified silica (ormosil) via sol-gel process. The resultant ormosil was adopted for surface-capping of ZnO nanoparticle, where methyl (organic functional group) and silica (inorganic component) were simultaneously introduced onto the surface of the nanoparticles for realizing dual surface-modification. The ormosil-capped ZnO nanoparticle showed strong hydrophobicity and good compatibility with organic phases, as well as effectively decreased photocatalytic activity and almost unchanged ultraviolet (UV)-shielding ability. More importantly, the comprehensive properties of ormosil-capped ZnO nanoparticle could be manipulated by adjusting the molar ratio of TEOS to DEDMS during sol-gel process. This should help to open a wider window to better utilizing the unique and highly attractive properties such as high UV-shielding ability and high-visible light transparency of ZnO nanoparticle in sunscreen cosmetics.

[Public health and mental health: methodological tools to evaluate the Brazilian Network of Referral Centers for Psycho-Social Care (CAPS) in the Brazilian Unified Health System].

PubMed

Onocko-Campos, Rosana Teresa; Furtado, Juarez Pereira

2006-05-01

This article presents a preliminary discussion of potential methodological tools for qualitative research on the Network of Referral Centers for Psycho-Social Care (CAPS) in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). The relevance of mental health within the field of public health is examined. The study focuses on the high prevalence of mental disorders and the disproportionate lack of studies on the interface between mental health and public health. The establishment of an interdisciplinary field between public health and mental health is proposed to meet common needs by achieving similar perspectives in knowledge and practice. A particular group of tools is proposed, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming and guaranteeing the roles of various social actors to shape the assessment process, the need for collecting and standardizing academic studies on the topic, and the importance of promoting a new research field focusing on public health policies to support policymakers, managers, and health teams in reshaping their practices.

CryoSat swath altimetry to measure ice cap and glacier surface elevation change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tepes, P.; Gourmelen, N.; Escorihuela, M. J.; Wuite, J.; Nagler, T.; Foresta, L.; Brockley, D.; Baker, S.; Roca, M.; Shepherd, A.; Plummer, S.

2016-12-01

Satellite altimetry has been used extensively in the past few decades to observe changes affecting large and remote regions covered by land ice such as the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Glaciers and ice caps have been studied less extensively due to limitation of altimetry over complex topography. However their role in current sea-level budgets is significant and is expected to continue over the next century and beyond (Gardner et al., 2011), particularly in the Arctic where mean annual surface temperatures have recently been increasing twice as fast as the global average (Screen and Simmonds, 2010). Radar altimetry is well suited to monitor elevation changes over land ice due to its all-weather year-round capability of observing ice surfaces. Since 2010, the Synthetic Interferometric Radar Altimeter (SIRAL) on board the European Space Agency (ESA) radar altimetry CryoSat (CS) mission has been collecting ice elevation measurements over glaciers and ice caps. Its Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometric (SARIn) processing feature reduces the size of the footprint along-track and locates the across-track origin of a surface reflector in the presence of a slope. This offers new perspectives for the measurement of regions marked by complex topography. More recently, data from the CS-SARIn mode have been used to infer elevation beyond the point of closest approach (POCA) with a novel approach known as "swath processing" (Hawley et al., 2009; Gray et al., 2013; Christie et al., 2016; Smith et al., 2016). Together with a denser ground track interspacing of the CS mission, the swath processing technique provides unprecedented spatial coverage and resolution for space borne altimetry, enabling the study of key processes that underlie current changes of ice caps and glaciers. In this study, we use CS swath observations to generate maps of ice elevation change for selected ice caps and glaciers. We present a validation exercise and discuss the benefit of swath processing for assessing glaciers and ice caps changes and their contribution to changes in sea level.

Histological evaluation of direct pulp capping of rat pulp with experimentally developed low-viscosity adhesives containing reparative dentin-promoting agents.

PubMed

Suzuki, Masaya; Taira, Yoshihisa; Kato, Chikage; Shinkai, Koichi; Katoh, Yoshiroh

2016-01-01

This study examines the wound healing process in exposed rat pulp when capped with experimental adhesive resin systems. Experimental adhesive resin system for direct pulp capping was composed of primer-I (PI), -II (PII), and -III (PIII) and an experimental bonding agent (EBA). PI was Clearfil(®) SE Bond(®)/Primer (CSP) containing 5.0 wt% CaCl2, PII was PI containing 10 wt% nanofiller (Aerosil(®) 380), and PIII was CSP containing 5.0 wt% of compounds of equal moles of synthetic peptides (pA and pB) derived from dentin matrix protein 1. EBA was Clearfil(®) SE Bond(®)/Bond (CSB) containing 10 wt% hydroxyapatite powders. Three experimental groups were designed. PI was assigned to experimental Groups 1 and 3. PII was assigned to experimental Groups 2 and 3. PIII and EBA were assigned to all experimental adhesive groups. Control teeth were capped with calcium hydroxide preparation (Dycal(®)), and CSP and CSB were applied to the cavity. The rats were sacrificed after each observation period (14, 28, 56, and 112 days). The following parameters were evaluated: pulp tissue disorganization, inflammatory cell infiltration, reparative dentin formation (RDF), and bacterial penetration. There were no significant differences among all the groups for all parameters and all observation periods (p>0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). All groups showed initial RDF at 14 days postoperatively and extensive RDF until 112 days postoperatively. Groups 2 and 3 demonstrated higher quantity of mineralized dentin bridge formation compared with Group 1. Addition of nanofillers to the primer was effective in promoting high-density RDF. Experimentally developed adhesive resin systems induce the exposed pulp to produce almost the same quantity of reparative dentin as calcium hydroxide. However, we need further studies to elucidate whether the same results could be obtained in humans. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen peroxide yields mechanistic insights into human mRNA capping enzyme function

PubMed Central

Mullen, Nicholas J.

2017-01-01

Capping of nascent RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcripts is required for gene expression and the first two steps are catalyzed by separate 5′ triphosphatase and guanylyltransferase activities of the human capping enzyme (HCE). The cap is added co-transcriptionally, but how the two activities are coordinated is unclear. Our previous in vitro work has suggested that an unidentified factor modulates the minimum length at which nascent transcripts can be capped. Using the same well-established in vitro system with hydrogen peroxide as a capping inhibitor, we show that this unidentified factor targets the guanylyltransferase activity of HCE. We also uncover the mechanism of HCE inhibition by hydrogen peroxide, and by using mass spectrometry demonstrate that the active site cysteine residue of the HCE triphosphatase domain becomes oxidized. Using recombinant proteins for the two separated HCE domains, we provide evidence that the triphosphatase normally acts on transcripts shorter than can be acted upon by the guanylyltransferase. Our further characterization of the capping reaction dependence on transcript length and its interaction with the unidentified modulator of capping raises the interesting possibility that the capping reaction could be regulated. PMID:29028835

In vitro chloramphenicol detection in a Haemophilus influenza model using an aptamer-polymer based electrochemical biosensor.

PubMed

Yadav, Saurabh K; Agrawal, Bharati; Chandra, Pranjal; Goyal, Rajendra N

2014-05-15

A sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor is developed for the determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) exploring its direct electron transfer processes in in-vitro model and pharmaceutical samples. This biosensor exploits a selective binding of CAP with aptamer, immobilized onto the poly-(4-amino-3-hydroxynapthalene sulfonic acid) (p-AHNSA) modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite. The electrochemical reduction of CAP was observed in a well-defined peak. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) study is performed to confirm the interaction between the polymer film and the aptamer. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were used to detect CAP. The in-vitro CAP detection is performed using the bacterial strain of Haemophilus influenza. A significant accumulation of CAP by the drug sensitive H. influenza strain is observed for the first time in this study using a biosensor. Various parameters affecting the CAP detection in standard solution and in in vitro detection are optimized. The detection of CAP is linear in the range of 0.1-2500 nM with the detection limit and sensitivity of 0.02 nM and 0.102 µA/nM, respectively. CAP is also detected in the presence of other common antibiotics and proteins present in the real sample matrix, and negligible interference is observed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of current Australian health service accreditation processes (ACCREDIT-CAP): protocol for a mixed-method research project.

PubMed

Hinchcliff, Reece; Greenfield, David; Moldovan, Max; Pawsey, Marjorie; Mumford, Virginia; Westbrook, Johanna Irene; Braithwaite, Jeffrey

2012-01-01

Accreditation programmes aim to improve the quality and safety of health services, and have been widely implemented. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the outcomes of existing programmes. The Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork-Current Accreditation Processes (ACCREDIT-CAP) project is designed to address key gaps in the literature by evaluating the current processes of three accreditation programmes used across Australian acute, primary and aged care services. The project comprises three mixed-method studies involving documentary analyses, surveys, focus groups and individual interviews. Study samples will comprise stakeholders from across the Australian healthcare system: accreditation agencies; federal and state government departments; consumer advocates; professional colleges and associations; and staff of acute, primary and aged care services. Sample sizes have been determined to ensure results allow robust conclusions. Qualitative information will be thematically analysed, supported by the use of textual grouping software. Quantitative data will be subjected to a variety of analytical procedures, including descriptive and comparative statistics. The results are designed to inform health system policy and planning decisions in Australia and internationally. The project has been approved by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number HREC 10274). Results will be reported to partner organisations, healthcare consumers and other stakeholders via peer-reviewed publications, conference and seminar presentations, and a publicly accessible website.

Assessing the burden of pneumonia using administrative data from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

PubMed

Azmi, Soraya; Aljunid, Syed Mohamed; Maimaiti, Namaitijiang; Ali, Al-Abed; Muhammad Nur, Amrizal; De Rosas-Valera, Madeleine; Encluna, Joyce; Mohamed, Rosminah; Wibowo, Bambang; Komaryani, Kalsum; Roberts, Craig

2016-08-01

To describe the incidence, mortality, cost, and length of stay (LOS) of hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in three Southeast Asian countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Using Casemix system data from contributing hospitals, patients with International Classification of Diseases 10(th) revision (ICD-10) codes identifying pneumonia were categorized into CAP or HAP using a logical algorithm. The incidence among hospitalized patients, case fatality rates (CFR), mean LOS, and cost of admission were calculated. The population incidence was calculated based on Malaysian data. For every 100000 discharges, CAP and HAP incidences were 14245 and 5615 cases, respectively, in the Philippines, 4205 and 2187, respectively, in Malaysia, and 988 and 538, respectively, in Indonesia. The impact was greatest in the young and the elderly. The CFR varied from 1.4% to 4.2% for CAP and from 9.1% and 25.5% for HAP. The mean LOS was 6.1-8.6 days for CAP and 6.9-10.2 days for HAP. The cost of hospitalization was between USD 254 and USD 1208 for CAP and between USD 275 and USD 1482 for HAP. The burden of CAP and HAP is high. Results varied between the three countries, likely due to differences in socio-economic conditions, health system differences, and ICD-coding practices. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of versatile cladding light strippers and fiber end-caps with CO2 laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinke, M.; Theeg, T.; Wysmolek, M.; Ottenhues, C.; Pulzer, T.; Neumann, J.; Kracht, D.

2018-02-01

We report on novel fabrication schemes of versatile cladding light strippers and end-caps via CO2 laser radiation. We integrated cladding light strippers in SMA-like connectors for reliable and stable fiber-coupling of high-power laser diodes. Moreover, the application of cladding light strippers in typical fiber geometries for high-power fiber lasers was evaluated. In addition, we also developed processes to fuse end-caps to fiber end faces via CO2 laser radiation and inscribe the fibers with cladding light strippers near the end-cap. Corresponding results indicate the great potential of such devices as a monolithic and low-cost alternative to SMA connectors.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Technology for Decontamination of Space Equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Hubertus; Rettberg, Petra; Shimizu, Tetsuji; Thoma, Markus; Morfill, Gregor; Zimmermann, Julia; Müller, Meike; Semenov, Igor

2016-07-01

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology is very fast and effective in inactivation of all kinds of pathogens. It is used in hygiene and especially in medicine, since the plasma treatment can be applied to sensitive surfaces, like skin, too. In a first study to use CAP for the decontamination of space equipment we could show its potential as a quite promising alternative to the standard "dry heat" and H2O2 methods [Shimizu et al. Planetary and Space Science, 90, 60-71. (2014)]. In a follow-on study we continue the investigations to reach high application level of the technology. First, we redesign the actual setup to a plasma-gas circulation system, increasing the effectivity of inactivation and the sustainability. Additionally, we want to learn more about the plasma chemistry processes involved in the inactivation. Therefore, we perform detailed plasma and gas measurements and compare them to numerical simulations. The latter will finally be used to scale the decontamination system to sizes useful also for larger space equipment. Typical materials relevant for space equipment will be tested and investigated on surface material changes due to the plasma treatment. Additionally, it is planned to use electronic boards and compare their functionality before and after the CAP expose. We will give an overview on the status of the plasma decontamination project funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics.

Real-life effectiveness of canakinumab in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.

PubMed

Kuemmerle-Deschner, Jasmin B; Hofer, Ferdinand; Endres, Theresa; Kortus-Goetze, Birgit; Blank, Norbert; Weißbarth-Riedel, Elisabeth; Schuetz, Catharina; Kallinich, Tilmann; Krause, Karoline; Rietschel, Christoph; Horneff, Gerd; Benseler, Susanne M

2016-04-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by excessive IL-1β release resulting in severe systemic and organ inflammation. Canakinumab targets IL-1β and is approved at standard dose for children and adults with all CAPS phenotypes. Limited data are available for the real-life effectiveness of canakinumab in patients living with CAPS. Therefore the aim of the study was to evaluate the real-life dosing and effectiveness of canakinumab in CAPS. A multi-centre study of consecutive children and adults with CAPS treated with canakinumab was performed. Demographics, CAPS phenotype and disease activity, inflammatory markers and canakinumab treatment strategy were recorded. Treatment response was assessed using CAPS disease activity scores, CRP and/or serum amyloid A levels. Comparisons between age groups, CAPS phenotypes and centres were conducted. A total of 68 CAPS patients at nine centres were included. All CAPS phenotypes were represented. Thirty-seven (54%) patients were females, the median age was 25 years and 27 (40%) were children, and the median follow-up was 28 months. Overall, complete response (CR) was seen in 72% of CAPS patients, significantly less often in severe (14%) than in mild CAPS phenotypes (79%). Only 53% attained CR on standard dose canakinumab. Dose increase was more commonly required in children (56%) than in adults (22%). Centres with a treat-to-target approach had significantly higher CR rates (94 vs 50%). Real-life effectiveness of canakinumab in CAPS was significantly lower than in controlled trials. Treat-to-target strategies may improve the outcome of children and adults living with CAPS. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Graphoepitaxy by encapsulation

DOEpatents

Geis, Michael W.; Smith, Henry I.; Antoniadis, Dimitri A.; Flanders, Dale C.

1986-01-01

Improvements on the graphoepitaxial process for obtaining epitaxial or preferred orientation films are described wherein a cap of material is formed over the film to be oriented, artificial surface-relief structure may be present in the substrate, the cap, or both, and the film may be heated by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation.

The Nematode Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E/G Complex Works with a trans-Spliced Leader Stem-Loop To Enable Efficient Translation of Trimethylguanosine-Capped RNAs ▿ †

PubMed Central

Wallace, Adam; Filbin, Megan E.; Veo, Bethany; McFarland, Craig; Stepinski, Janusz; Jankowska-Anyszka, Marzena; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Davis, Richard E.

2010-01-01

Eukaryotic mRNA translation begins with recruitment of the 40S ribosome complex to the mRNA 5′ end through the eIF4F initiation complex binding to the 5′ m7G-mRNA cap. Spliced leader (SL) RNA trans splicing adds a trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap and a sequence, the SL, to the 5′ end of mRNAs. Efficient translation of TMG-capped mRNAs in nematodes requires the SL sequence. Here we define a core set of nucleotides and a stem-loop within the 22-nucleotide nematode SL that stimulate translation of mRNAs with a TMG cap. The structure and core nucleotides are conserved in other nematode SLs and correspond to regions of SL1 required for early Caenorhabditis elegans development. These SL elements do not facilitate translation of m7G-capped RNAs in nematodes or TMG-capped mRNAs in mammalian or plant translation systems. Similar stem-loop structures in phylogenetically diverse SLs are predicted. We show that the nematode eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E/G (eIF4E/G) complex enables efficient translation of the TMG-SL RNAs in diverse in vitro translation systems. TMG-capped mRNA translation is determined by eIF4E/G interaction with the cap and the SL RNA, although the SL does not increase the affinity of eIF4E/G for capped RNA. These results suggest that the mRNA 5′ untranslated region (UTR) can play a positive and novel role in translation initiation through interaction with the eIF4E/G complex in nematodes and raise the issue of whether eIF4E/G-RNA interactions play a role in the translation of other eukaryotic mRNAs. PMID:20154140

The nematode eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E/G complex works with a trans-spliced leader stem-loop to enable efficient translation of trimethylguanosine-capped RNAs.

PubMed

Wallace, Adam; Filbin, Megan E; Veo, Bethany; McFarland, Craig; Stepinski, Janusz; Jankowska-Anyszka, Marzena; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Davis, Richard E

2010-04-01

Eukaryotic mRNA translation begins with recruitment of the 40S ribosome complex to the mRNA 5' end through the eIF4F initiation complex binding to the 5' m(7)G-mRNA cap. Spliced leader (SL) RNA trans splicing adds a trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap and a sequence, the SL, to the 5' end of mRNAs. Efficient translation of TMG-capped mRNAs in nematodes requires the SL sequence. Here we define a core set of nucleotides and a stem-loop within the 22-nucleotide nematode SL that stimulate translation of mRNAs with a TMG cap. The structure and core nucleotides are conserved in other nematode SLs and correspond to regions of SL1 required for early Caenorhabditis elegans development. These SL elements do not facilitate translation of m(7)G-capped RNAs in nematodes or TMG-capped mRNAs in mammalian or plant translation systems. Similar stem-loop structures in phylogenetically diverse SLs are predicted. We show that the nematode eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E/G (eIF4E/G) complex enables efficient translation of the TMG-SL RNAs in diverse in vitro translation systems. TMG-capped mRNA translation is determined by eIF4E/G interaction with the cap and the SL RNA, although the SL does not increase the affinity of eIF4E/G for capped RNA. These results suggest that the mRNA 5' untranslated region (UTR) can play a positive and novel role in translation initiation through interaction with the eIF4E/G complex in nematodes and raise the issue of whether eIF4E/G-RNA interactions play a role in the translation of other eukaryotic mRNAs.

24 CFR 3280.610 - Drainage systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... individually vented. (iii) A 3-inch minimum diameter piping shall be required for water closets. (f) Wet-vented... water seal trap (§ 3280.606(a)). (2) The drainage system shall be designed to provide an adequate... equipped with a water-tight cap or plug matching the drain outlet. The cap or plug shall be permanently...

24 CFR 3280.610 - Drainage systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... individually vented. (iii) A 3-inch minimum diameter piping shall be required for water closets. (f) Wet-vented... water seal trap (§ 3280.606(a)). (2) The drainage system shall be designed to provide an adequate... equipped with a water-tight cap or plug matching the drain outlet. The cap or plug shall be permanently...

46 CFR 118.410 - Fixed gas fire extinguishing systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... piping must be capped within the space protected at the first joint between the nozzles and the storage... and the first nozzle in the system must be capped and pneumatically tested for a period of 10 minutes... protect the piping from overpressurization. (3) Nozzles must be approved by the Commandant. (4) When...

46 CFR 118.410 - Fixed gas fire extinguishing systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... piping must be capped within the space protected at the first joint between the nozzles and the storage... and the first nozzle in the system must be capped and pneumatically tested for a period of 10 minutes... protect the piping from overpressurization. (3) Nozzles must be approved by the Commandant. (4) When...

46 CFR 118.410 - Fixed gas fire extinguishing systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... piping must be capped within the space protected at the first joint between the nozzles and the storage... and the first nozzle in the system must be capped and pneumatically tested for a period of 10 minutes... protect the piping from overpressurization. (3) Nozzles must be approved by the Commandant. (4) When...

Development of Organogel-Derived Capsaicin Nanoemulsion with Improved Bioaccessibility and Reduced Gastric Mucosa Irritation.

PubMed

Lu, Muwen; Cao, Yong; Ho, Chi-Tang; Huang, Qingrong

2016-06-15

Capsaicin (CAP) is the major active component in chili peppers with health-promoting benefits. However, the low bioavailability and irritating quality of CAP greatly limit its applications in functional foods. The objective of this study was to develop a food-grade nanoemulsion to increase the dissolution and bioaccessibility of CAP and to alleviate its irritating effects. To achieve this goal, CAP was first dissolved in medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT), followed by the addition of sucrose stearate S-370 as organogelator to develop CAP-loaded organogel. The oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion was formed using organogel as the oil phase and Tween 80 as the emulsifier. After ultrasonication treatment, droplet sizes of emulsion were decreased to 168 nm with enhanced dissolution rate and bioaccessibility. In vivo study further confirmed the reduced rat gastric mucosa irritation caused by CAP. The organogel-derived nanoemulsion was proved to be an effective delivery system for CAP-based functional food products.

Impacts of PM concentrations on visibility impairment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Wang, Mei-mei; Han, Ye-Xing; Yu, Zhi-Wei; Tang, Huai-Wu

2016-11-01

In the paper, an accurate and sensitive cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy (CAPS) sensor was used to monitor the atmospheric visibility. The CAPS system mainly includes a LED light source, a band-pass filter, an optical resonant cavity (composed of two high mirror, reflectivity is greater than 99.99%), a photoelectric detector and a lock-in amplifier. The 2L/min flow rate, the optical sensor rise and fall response time is about 15 s, so as to realize the fast measurement of visibility. An Allan variance analysis was carried out evaluating the optical system stability (and hence the maximum averaging time for the minimum detection limit) of the CAPS system. The minima ( 0.1 Mm-1) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time ( 100s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. During this period, the extinction coefficient was correlated with PM2.5 mass (0.88), the extinction coefficient was correlated with PM10 mass (0.85). The atmospheric visibility was correlated with PM2.5 mass (0.74). The atmospheric visibility was correlated with PM10 mass (0.66).

An online real time ultrasonic NDT system for the quality control of spot welding in the automotive industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Athi, N.; Wylie, S. R.; Cullen, J. D.; Al-Jader, M.; Al-Shamma'a, A. I.; Shaw, A.

2009-07-01

Resistance spot welding is the main joining technique used for the fabrication of body-in-white structures in the automotive industry. The quality of the welds depends on the profile of the spot welding electrode cap. The increased use of zinc coated steel in the industry increases wear rate of the caps, making quality control more difficult. This paper presents a novel online real time ultrasonic NDE system for resistance spot welding which evaluates every weld as it is formed. SEM results are presented to show the alloying of the electrode caps.

The atypical pneumonias: clinical diagnosis and importance.

PubMed

Cunha, B A

2006-05-01

The most common atypical pneumonias are caused by three zoonotic pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), and Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), and three nonzoonotic pathogens, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella. These atypical agents, unlike the typical pathogens, often cause extrapulmonary manifestations. Atypical CAPs are systemic infectious diseases with a pulmonary component and may be differentiated clinically from typical CAPs by the pattern of extrapulmonary organ involvement which is characteristic for each atypical CAP. Zoonotic pneumonias may be eliminated from diagnostic consideration with a negative contact history. The commonest clinical problem is to differentiate legionnaire's disease from typical CAP as well as from C. pneumoniae or M. pneumonia infection. Legionella is the most important atypical pathogen in terms of severity. It may be clinically differentiated from typical CAP and other atypical pathogens by the use of a weighted point system of syndromic diagnosis based on the characteristic pattern of extrapulmonary features. Because legionnaire's disease often presents as severe CAP, a presumptive diagnosis of Legionella should prompt specific testing and empirical anti-Legionella therapy such as the Winthrop-University Hospital Infectious Disease Division's weighted point score system. Most atypical pathogens are difficult or dangerous to isolate and a definitive laboratory diagnosis is usually based on indirect, i.e., direct flourescent antibody (DFA), indirect flourescent antibody (IFA). Atypical CAP is virtually always monomicrobial; increased IFA IgG tests indicate past exposure and not concurrent infection. Anti-Legionella antibiotics include macrolides, doxycycline, rifampin, quinolones, and telithromycin. The drugs with the highest level of anti-Legionella activity are quinolones and telithromycin. Therapy is usually continued for 2 weeks if potent anti-Legionella drugs are used. In adults, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae may exacerbate or cause asthma. The importance of the atypical pneumonias is not related to their frequency (approximately 15% of CAPs), but to difficulties in their diagnosis, and their nonresponsiveness to beta-lactam therapy. Because of the potential role of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), and the role of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in causing or exacerbating asthma, atypical CAPs also have public health importance.

Integration of the Execution Support System for the Computer-Aided Prototyping System (CAPS)

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-01

SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE COMPUTER -AIDED PROTOTYPING SYSTEM (CAPS) by Frank V. Palazzo September 1990 Thesis Advisor: Luq± Approved for public release...ZATON REPOR ,,.VBE (, 6a NAME OF PERPORMING ORGAN ZAT7ON 6b OFF:CE SYVBOL 7a NAME OF MONITORINC O0-CA’Za- ON Computer Science Department (if applicable...Include Security Classification) Integration of the Execution Support System for the Computer -Aided Prototyping System (C S) 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) Frank V

Comparison of Detector Technologies for CAPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stockum, Jana L.

2005-01-01

In this paper, several different detectors are examined for use in a Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS), a conceptual study for a possible future space-based system. Each detector will be examined for its future (25 years or more in the future) ability to find and track near-Earth Objects (NEOs) from a space-based detection platform. Within the CAPS study are several teams of people who each focus on different aspects of the system concept. This study s focus is on detection devices. In particular, evaluations on the following devices have been made: charge-coupled devices (CCDs), charge-injected devices (CIDs), superconducting tunneling junctions (STJs), and transition edge sensors (TESs). These devices can be separated into two main categories; the first category includes detectors that are currently being widely utilized, such as CCDs and CIDs. The second category includes experimental detectors, such as STJs and TESs. After the discussion of the detectors themselves, there will be a section devoted to the explicit use of these detectors with CAPS.

Headgear Accessories Classification Using an Overhead Depth Sensor

PubMed Central

Luna, Carlos A.; Marron-Romera, Marta; Mazo, Manuel; Luengo-Sanchez, Sara; Macho-Pedroso, Roberto

2017-01-01

In this paper, we address the generation of semantic labels describing the headgear accessories carried out by people in a scene under surveillance, only using depth information obtained from a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera placed in an overhead position. We propose a new method for headgear accessories classification based on the design of a robust processing strategy that includes the estimation of a meaningful feature vector that provides the relevant information about the people’s head and shoulder areas. This paper includes a detailed description of the proposed algorithmic approach, and the results obtained in tests with persons with and without headgear accessories, and with different types of hats and caps. In order to evaluate the proposal, a wide experimental validation has been carried out on a fully labeled database (that has been made available to the scientific community), including a broad variety of people and headgear accessories. For the validation, three different levels of detail have been defined, considering a different number of classes: the first level only includes two classes (hat/cap, and no hat/cap), the second one considers three classes (hat, cap and no hat/cap), and the last one includes the full class set with the five classes (no hat/cap, cap, small size hat, medium size hat, and large size hat). The achieved performance is satisfactory in every case: the average classification rates for the first level reaches 95.25%, for the second one is 92.34%, and for the full class set equals 84.60%. In addition, the online stage processing time is 5.75 ms per frame in a standard PC, thus allowing for real-time operation. PMID:28796177

Synthesis, properties, and biological activity of boranophosphate analogs of the mRNA cap: versatile tools for manipulation of therapeutically relevant cap-dependent processes

PubMed Central

Kowalska, Joanna; Wypijewska del Nogal, Anna; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew M.; Buck, Janina; Nicola, Corina; Kuhn, Andreas N.; Lukaszewicz, Maciej; Zuberek, Joanna; Strenkowska, Malwina; Ziemniak, Marcin; Maciejczyk, Maciej; Bojarska, Elzbieta; Rhoads, Robert E.; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Sahin, Ugur; Jemielity, Jacek

2014-01-01

Modified mRNA cap analogs aid in the study of mRNA-related processes and may enable creation of novel therapeutic interventions. We report the synthesis and properties of 11 dinucleotide cap analogs bearing a single boranophosphate modification at either the α-, β- or γ-position of the 5′,5′-triphosphate chain. The compounds can potentially serve either as inhibitors of translation in cancer cells or reagents for increasing expression of therapeutic proteins in vivo from exogenous mRNAs. The BH3-analogs were tested as substrates and binding partners for two major cytoplasmic cap-binding proteins, DcpS, a decapping pyrophosphatase, and eIF4E, a translation initiation factor. The susceptibility to DcpS was different between BH3-analogs and the corresponding analogs containing S instead of BH3 (S-analogs). Depending on its placement, the boranophosphate group weakened the interaction with DcpS but stabilized the interaction with eIF4E. The first of the properties makes the BH3-analogs more stable and the second, more potent as inhibitors of protein biosynthesis. Protein expression in dendritic cells was 2.2- and 1.7-fold higher for mRNAs capped with m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D1 and m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D2, respectively, than for in vitro transcribed mRNA capped with m27,3′-OGpppG. Higher expression of cancer antigens would make mRNAs containing m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D1 and m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D2 favorable for anticancer immunization. PMID:25150148

Application of the revised WHO causality assessment protocol for adverse events following immunization in India.

PubMed

Singh, Awnish Kumar; Wagner, Abram L; Joshi, Jyoti; Carlson, Bradley F; Aneja, Satinder; Boulton, Matthew L

2017-07-24

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) and CIOMS introduced a revised Causality Assessment Protocol (CAP) for Adverse Events following Immunization (AEFI). India is one of the first countries to adopt the revised CAP. This study describes the application of the revised CAP in India. We describe use of CAP by India's AEFI surveillance program to assess reported AEFIs. Using publicly available results of causality assessment for reported AEFIs, we describe the results by demographic characteristics and review the trends for the results of the causality assessment. A total of 771 reports of AEFI between January 2012 and January 2015, completed causality review by August 2016. The cases were reported as belonging to a cluster (54%; n=302), hospitalized or requiring hospitalization (41%; n=270), death (25%; n=195), or resulting in disability (0.4%; n=3). The most common combinations of vaccines leading to report of an AEFI were DTwP, Hepatitis B, and OPV (14%; n=106), followed by Pentavalent and OPV (13%; n=103), and JE vaccine (13%; n=101). Using the WHO Algorithm, most AEFI reports (89%, n=683) were classifiable. Classifiable AEFI reports included those with a consistent causal association (53%; n=407), an inconsistent causal association (29%; n=226) or were indeterminate causal association with implicated vaccine(s) or vaccination process (6.5%; n=50) (Fig. 1); 88 reports remained unclassifiable. The revised CAP was informative and useful in classifying most of the reviewed AEFIs in India. Unclassifiable reports could be minimized with more complete information from health records. Improvements in causality assessment, and standardization in reporting between countries, can improve public confidence in vaccine system performance and identify important vaccine safety signals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Retrieving improved multi-temporal CryoSat elevations over ice caps and glaciers - a case study of Barnes ice cap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nilsson, Johan; Burgess, David

2014-05-01

The CryoSat mission was launched in 2010 to observe the Earth's cryosphere. In contrast to previous satellite radar altimeters, this mission is expected to monitor the elevation of small ice caps and glaciers, which according to the IPCC will be the largest contributor to 21st century sea level rise. To date the ESA CryoSat SARiN level-2 (L2) elevation product is not yet fully optimized for use over these types of glaciated regions, as its processed with a more universal algorithm. Thus the aim of this study is to demonstrate that with the use of improved processing CryoSat SARiN data can be used for more accurate topography mapping and elevation change detection for ice caps and glaciers. To demonstrate this, elevations and elevation changes over Barnes ice cap, located on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic, have been estimated from available data from the years 2010-2013. ESA's CryoSat level-1b (L1b) SARiN baseline "B" data product was used and processed in-house to estimate surface elevations. The resulting product is referred to as DTU-L2. The processing focused on improving the retracker, reducing phase noise and correcting phase ambiguities. The accuracy of the DTU-L2 and the ESA-L2 product was determined by comparing the measured elevations against NASA's IceBridge Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) elevations from May 2011. The resulting difference in accuracy was determined by comparing their associated errors. From the multi-temporal measurements spanning the period 2010-2013, elevation changes where estimated and compared to ICESat derived changes from 2003-2009. The result of the study shows good agreement between the NASA measured ATM elevations and the DTU-L2 data. It also shows that the pattern of elevation change is similar to that derived from ICESat data. The accuracy of the DTU-L2 estimated elevations is on average several factors higher compared to the ESA-L2 elevation product. These preliminary results demonstrates that CryoSat elevation data, using improved processing, can be used for accurate topographic mapping and elevation change detection on ice caps and glaciers. Future work would entail extending this processing to other regions of this type to support these results.

Tordo 1 polar cusp barium plasma injection experiment

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

Wescott, E.M.; Stenbaek-Nielsen, H.C.; Davis, T.N.

1978-04-01

In January 1975, two barium plasma injection experiments were carried out with rockets launched from Cape Parry, Northwest Territories, Canada, into the upper atmosphere where field lines from the dayside cusp region intersect the ionosphere. One experiment, Tordo 1, took place near the beginning of a worldwide magnetic storm. It became a polar cap experiment almost immediately as convection perpendicular to B moved the fluorescent plasma jet away from the cusp across the polar cap in an antisunward direction. Convection across the polar cap with an average velocity of more than 1 km/s was observed for nearly 40 min untilmore » the barium flux tubes encountered large E fields associated with a poleward bulge of the auroral oval near Greenland. Prior to the encounter with the aurora near Greenland there is evidence of upward acceleration of the barium ions while they were in the polar cap. The three-dimensional observations of the plasma orientation and motion give an insight into convection from the cusp region across the polar cap, the orientation of the polar cap magnetic field lines out to several earth radii, the causes of polar cap magnetic perturbations, and parallel acceleration processes.« less

Dry etching, surface passivation and capping processes for antimonide based photodetectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Partha; Langer, Jeffery; Bhagwat, Vinay; Juneja, Jasbir

2005-05-01

III-V antimonide based devices suffer from leakage currents. Surface passivation and subsequent capping of the surfaces are absolutely essential for any practical applicability of antimonide based devices. The quest for a suitable surface passivation technology is still on. In this paper, we will present some of the promising recent developments in this area based on dry etching of GaSb based homojunction photodiodes structures followed by various passivation and capping schemes. We have developed a damage-free, universal dry etching recipe based on unique ratios of Cl2/BCl3/CH4/Ar/H2 in ECR plasma. This novel dry plasma process etches all III-V compounds at different rates with minimal damage to the side walls. In GaSb based photodiodes, an order of magnitude lower leakage current, improved ideality factor and higher responsivity has been demonstrated using this recipe compared to widely used Cl2/Ar and wet chemical etch recipes. The dynamic zero bias resistance-area product of the Cl2/BCl3/CH4/Ar/H2 etched diodes (830 Ω cm2) is higher than the Cl2/Ar (300 Ω cm2) and wet etched (330 Ω cm2) diodes. Ammonium sulfide has been known to passivate surfaces of III-V compounds. In GaSb photodiodes, the leakage current density reduces by a factor of 3 upon sulfur passivation using ammonium sulfide. However, device performance degrades over a period of time in the absence of any capping or protective layer. Silicon Nitride has been used as a cap layer by various researchers. We have found that by using silicon nitride caps, the devices exhibit higher leakage than unpassivated devices probably due to plasma damage during SiNx deposition. We have experimented with various polymers for capping material. It has been observed that ammonium sulfide passivation when combined with parylene capping layer (150 Å), devices retain their improved performance for over 4 months.

Graphoepitaxy by encapsulation

DOEpatents

Geis, M.W.; Smith, H.I.; Antoniadis, D.A.; Flanders, D.C.

1986-01-21

Improvements on the graphoepitaxial process for obtaining epitaxial or preferred orientation films are described wherein a cap of material is formed over the film to be oriented, artificial surface-relief structure may be present in the substrate, the cap, or both, and the film may be heated by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation. 13 figs.

KSC-03PD-2862

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap of the orbiter Atlantis rests on a stand after its removal from the orbiter for routine inspection. The nose cap is made of reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC), which has an operating range of minus 250 degrees F to about 3,000 degrees F.

Molded composite pyrogen igniter for rocket motors. [solid propellant ignition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heier, W. C.; Lucy, M. H. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A lightweight pyrogen igniter assembly including an elongated molded plastic tube adapted to contain a pyrogen charge was designed for insertion into a rocket motor casing for ignition of the rocket motor charge. A molded plastic closure cap provided for the elongated tube includes an ignition charge for igniting the pyrogen charge and an electrically actuated ignition squib for igniting the ignition charge. The ignition charge is contained within a portion of the closure cap, and it is retained therein by a noncorrosive ignition pellet retainer or screen which is adapted to rest on a shoulder of the elongated tube when the closure cap and tube are assembled together. A circumferentially disposed metal ring is provided along the external circumference of the closure cap and is molded or captured within the plastic cap in the molding process to provide, along with O-ring seals, a leakproof rotary joint.

Volatile-rich Crater Interior Deposits in the Polar Regions of Mars: Evidence for Ice Cap Advance and Retreat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Patrick S.; Head, James W.; Hecht, Michael H.

2003-01-01

Many craters on Mars are partially filled by distinctive material emplaced by post-impact processes. This crater fill material is an interior mound which is generally separated from the walls of the crater by a trough that may be continuous along the crater circumference (i.e. a ring-shaped trough), or which may only partially contact the crater walls (i.e. a crescent-shaped trough). The fill deposit is frequently offset from the crater center and may be asymmetric in plan view. Populations of such craters include those in the circum-south polar cap region, in Arabia Terra, associated with the Medusae Fossae Formation, and in the northern lowlands proximal to the north polar cap. We focus on those craters in circumpolar regions and assess their relationship to polar cap advance and retreat, especially the possibility that fill material represents remnants of a formerly larger contiguous cap. Volatile-rich deposits have the property of being modifiable by the local stability of the solid volatile, which is governed by local energy balance. Here we test the hypothesis that asymmetries in volatile fill shape, profile, and center-location within a crater result from asymmetries in local energy balance within the crater, due mainly to variation of solar insolation and radiative effects of the crater walls over the crater interior. Model profiles of crater fill are compared with MOLA topographic profiles to assess this hypothesis. If asymmetry in morphology and location of crater fill are consistent with radiative-dominated asymmetries in energy budget within the crater, then 1) the volatile-rich composition of the fill is supported (this process should not be effective at shaping volcanic or sedimentary deposits), and 2) the dominant factor determining the observed shape of volatile-rich crater fill is the local radiative energy budget (and erosive processes such as eolian deflation are secondary or unnecessary). We also use a geographic and energy model approach to specifically test the idea that material in partially filled craters around the south pole may once have been contiguous to the cap and may have been sustained and modified by radiative processes specific to the crater environment (as opposed to the surrounding plains) as the cap retreated.

Anakinra for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.

PubMed

Koné-Paut, Isabelle; Galeotti, Caroline

2014-01-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a very rare auto-inflammatory syndrome, which has recently served as a pure model of IL-1β-driven diseases. CAPS is caused by mutations into the NLRP3 gene that encodes crypoyrin, which serves as a receptor of the innate immunity that senses danger signals and pathogens. Constitutive activation of cryopyrin in CAPS leads to an excessive secretion of IL-1β. CAPS patients experience symptoms of systemic inflammation, intense fatigue and have poor quality of life. In the most severe forms, they may develop serious organ damage such as visual and hearing impairment, neurological deterioration and renal insufficiency. Anti-IL-1 drugs are effective in treating symptoms of almost all CAPS patients and have radically transformed their lives. We describe the history of the 'revival' of CAPS patients through anti-IL-1 treatments with a special focus on anakinra, the first drug used in cohorts with variable disease severity and number of patients.

Mechanochemical Modeling of Dynamic Microtubule Growth Involving Sheet-to-Tube Transition

PubMed Central

Ji, Xiang-Ying; Feng, Xi-Qiao

2011-01-01

Microtubule dynamics is largely influenced by nucleotide hydrolysis and the resultant tubulin configuration changes. The GTP cap model has been proposed to interpret the stabilizing mechanisms of microtubule growth from the view of hydrolysis effects. Besides, the growth of a microtubule involves the closure of a curved sheet at its growing end. The curvature conversion from the longitudinal direction to the circumferential direction also helps to stabilize the successive growth, and the curved sheet is referred to as the conformational cap. However, there still lacks theoretical investigation on the mechanical–chemical coupling growth process of microtubules. In this paper, we study the growth mechanisms of microtubules by using a coarse-grained molecular method. First, the closure process involving a sheet-to-tube transition is simulated. The results verify the stabilizing effect of the sheet structure and predict that the minimum conformational cap length that can stabilize the growth is two dimers. Then, we show that the conformational cap and the GTP cap can function independently and harmoniously, signifying the pivotal role of mechanical factors. Furthermore, based on our theoretical results, we describe a Tetris-like growth style of microtubules: the stochastic tubulin assembly is regulated by energy and harmonized with the seam zipping such that the sheet keeps a practically constant length during growth. PMID:22205994

Identification of a GTP-binding protein. cap alpha. subunit that lacks an apparent ADP-ribosylation site for pertussis toxin

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

Fong, H.K.W.; Yoshimoto, K.K.; Eversole-Cire, P.

1988-05-01

Recent molecular cloning of cDNA for the ..cap alpha.. subunit of bovine transducin (a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, or G protein) has revealed the presence of two retinal-specific transducins, called T/sub r/ and T/sub c/, which are expressed in rod or cone photoreceptor cells. In a further study of G-protein diversity and signal transduction in the retina, the authors have identified a G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunit, which they refer to as G/sub z/..cap alpha.., by isolating a human retinal cDNA clone that cross-hybridizes at reduced stringency with bovine T/sub r/ ..cap alpha..-subunit cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence of G/submore » z/..cap alpha.. is 41-67% identical with those of other known G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunits. However, the 355-residue G/sub z/..cap alpha.. lacks a consensus site for ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin, and its amino acid sequence varies within a number of regions that are strongly conserved among all of the other G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunits. They suggest that G/sub z/..cap alpha.., which appears to be highly expressed in neural tissues, represents a member of a subfamily of G proteins that mediate signal transduction in pertussis toxin-insensitive systems.« less

Increased Neutrophil Secretion Induced by NLRP3 Mutation Links the Inflammasome to Azurophilic Granule Exocytosis

PubMed Central

Johnson, Jennifer L.; Ramadass, Mahalakshmi; Haimovich, Ariela; McGeough, Matthew D.; Zhang, Jinzhong; Hoffman, Hal M.; Catz, Sergio D.

2017-01-01

Heterozygous mutations in the NLRP3 gene in patients with cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) lead to hyper-responsive inflammasome function. CAPS is a systemic auto-inflammatory syndrome characterized by the activation of the innate immune system induced by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, but the involvement of selective innate immune cells in this process is not fully understood. Neutrophil secretion and the toxic components of their granules are mediators of inflammation associated with several human diseases and inflammatory conditions. Here, using the Nlrp3A350V inducible mouse model (MWS CreT) that recapitulates human patients with the A352V mutation in NLRP3 observed in the Muckle-Wells sub-phenotype of CAPS, we studied the relationship between hyper-activation of the inflammasome and neutrophil exocytosis. Using a flow cytometry approach, we show that Nlrp3A350V (MWS) neutrophils express normal basal levels of CD11b at the plasma membrane and that the upregulation of CD11b from secretory vesicles in response to several plasma membrane or endocytic agonist including the bacterial-derived mimetic peptide formyl-Leu-Met-Phe (fMLF) and the unmethylated oligonucleotide CpG is normal in MWS neutrophils. Significant but modest CD11b upregulation in MWS neutrophils compared to wild type was only observed in response to GM-CSF and CpG. The same pattern was observed for the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from gelatinase granules in that MMP-9 secretion in MWS neutrophils was not different from that observed in wild-type neutrophils except when stimulated with GM-CSF and CpG. In contrast, azurophilic granule secretion, whose cargoes constitute the most toxic secretory and pro-inflammatory factors of the neutrophil, was markedly dysregulated in MWS neutrophils under both basal and stimulated conditions. This could not be attributed to paracrine effects of secretory cytokines because IL-1β secretion by neutrophils was undetectable under these experimental conditions. The increased azurophilic granule exocytosis in MWS neutrophils was attenuated by treatment with the neutrophil exocytosis inhibitor Nexinhib20. In agreement with a possible neutrophil contribution to systemic inflammation in CAPS, the levels of neutrophil secretory proteins were significantly elevated in the plasma from Nlrp3A350V mice. Altogether, our data indicates an azurophilic granule-selective dysregulation of neutrophil exocytosis in CAPS. PMID:29322034

Computational and fMRI Studies of Visualization

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-31

spatial thinking in high level cognition, such as in problem-solving and reasoning. In conjunction with the experimental work, the project developed a...computational modeling system (4CAPS) as well as the development of 4CAPS models for particular tasks. The cognitive level of 4CAPS accounts for...neuroarchitecture to interpret and predict the brain activation in a network of cortical areas that underpin the performance of a visual thinking task. The

S-nitrosocaptopril nanoparticles as nitric oxide-liberating and transnitrosylating anti-infective technology.

PubMed

Mordorski, Breanne; Pelgrift, Robert; Adler, Brandon; Krausz, Aimee; da Costa Neto, Alexandre Batista; Liang, Hongying; Gunther, Leslie; Clendaniel, Alicea; Harper, Stacey; Friedman, Joel M; Nosanchuk, Joshua D; Nacharaju, Parimala; Friedman, Adam J

2015-02-01

Nitric oxide (NO), an essential agent of the innate immune system, exhibits multi-mechanistic antimicrobial activity. Previously, NO-releasing nanoparticles (NO-np) demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity when combined with glutathione (GSH) due to formation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a transnitrosylating agent. To capitalize on this finding, we incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, with NO-np to form SNO-CAP-np, nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril. In the presence of GSH, SNO-CAP-np demonstrated increased transnitrosylation activity compared to NO-np, as exhibited by increased GSNO formation. Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were highly susceptible to SNO-CAP-np in a dose-dependent fashion, with E. coli being most susceptible, and SNO-CAP-np were nontoxic in zebrafish embryos at translatable concentrations. Given SNO-CAP-np's increased transnitrosylation activity and increased E. coli susceptibility compared to NO-np, transnitrosylation rather than free NO is likely responsible for overcoming E. coli's resistance mechanisms and ultimately killing the pathogen. This team of authors incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, into a nitric oxide releasing nanoparticle system, generating nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril, with pronounced toxic effects on MRSA and E. coli in the presented model system. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nuclear localization signal regulates porcine circovirus type 2 capsid protein nuclear export through phosphorylation.

PubMed

Hou, Qiang; Hou, Shaohua; Chen, Qing; Jia, Hong; Xin, Ting; Jiang, Yitong; Guo, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Hongfei

2018-02-15

The open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) encodes the major Capsid (Cap) protein, which self-assembles into virus-like particle (VLP) of similar morphology to the PCV2 virion and accumulates in the nucleus through the N-terminal arginine-rich nuclear localization signal (NLS). In this study, PCV2 Cap protein and its derivates were expressed via the baculovirus expression system, and the cellular localization of the recombinant proteins were investigated using anti-Cap mAb by imaging flow cytometry. Analysis of subcellular localization of Cap protein and its variants demonstrated that NLS mediated Cap protein nuclear export as well as nuclear import, and a phosphorylation site (S17) was identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the NLS domain to regulate Cap protein nuclear export. Phosphorylation of NLS regulating the PCV2 Cap protein nuclear export was also demonstrated in PK15 cells by fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, the influence of Rep and Rep' protein on Cap protein subcellular localization was investigated in PK15 cells. Phosphorylation of NLS regulating Cap protein nuclear export provides more detailed knowledge of the PCV2 viral life cycle. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The mechanism of RNA 5' capping with NAD +, NADH and desphospho-CoA

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

Bird, Jeremy G.; Zhang, Yu; Tian, Yuan

The chemical nature of the 5' end of RNA is a key determinant of RNA stability, processing, localization and translation efficiency and has been proposed to provide a layer of ‘epitranscriptomic’ gene regulation. Recently it has been shown that some bacterial RNA species carry a 5'-end structure reminiscent of the 5' 7-methylguanylate ‘cap’ in eukaryotic RNA. In particular, RNA species containing a 5'-end nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) or 3'-desphospho-coenzyme A (dpCoA) have been identified in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. It has been proposed that NAD+, reduced NAD+ (NADH) and dpCoA caps are added to RNA after transcription initiation, inmore » a manner analogous to the addition of 7-methylguanylate caps. Here we show instead that NAD+, NADH and dpCoA are incorporated into RNA during transcription initiation, by serving as non-canonical initiating nucleotides (NCINs) for de novo transcription initiation by cellular RNA polymerase (RNAP). We further show that both bacterial RNAP and eukaryotic RNAP II incorporate NCIN caps, that promoter DNA sequences at and upstream of the transcription start site determine the efficiency of NCIN capping, that NCIN capping occurs in vivo, and that NCIN capping has functional consequences. We report crystal structures of transcription initiation complexes containing NCIN-capped RNA products. Our results define the mechanism and structural basis of NCIN capping, and suggest that NCIN-mediated ‘ab initio capping’ may occur in all organisms.« less

Cold-Cap Temperature Profile Comparison between the Laboratory and Mathematical Model

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

Dixon, Derek R.; Schweiger, Michael J.; Riley, Brian J.

2015-06-01

The rate of waste vitrification in an electric melter is connected to the feed-to-glass conversion process, which occurs in the cold cap, a layer of reacting feed on top of molten glass. The cold cap consists of two layers: a low temperature (~100°C – ~800°C) region of unconnected feed and a high temperature (~800°C – ~1100°C) region of foam with gas bubbles and cavities mixed in the connected glass melt. A recently developed mathematical model describes the effect of the cold cap on glass production. For verification of the mathematical model, a laboratory-scale melter was used to produce a coldmore » cap that could be cross-sectioned and polished in order to determine the temperature profile related to position in the cold cap. The cold cap from the laboratory-scale melter exhibited an accumulation of feed ~400°C due to radiant heat from the molten glass creating dry feed conditions in the melter, which was not the case in the mathematical model where wet feed conditions were calculated. Through the temperature range from ~500°C – ~1100°C, there was good agreement between the model and the laboratory cold cap. Differences were observed between the two temperature profiles due to the temperature of the glass melts and the lack of secondary foam, large cavities, and shrinkage of the primary foam bubbles upon the cooling of the laboratory-scale cold cap.« less

76 FR 57696 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New York; Motor Vehicle Enhanced Inspection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-16

..., oxygen sensor, heated oxygen sensor, and exhaust gas recirculation or EGR system) while the remaining...: Emissions Test Type: light-duty vehicles ( 18,000 lbs. ECD Checks for or gas cap checks). GVWR), 25 MYs old..., CAT, EVAP system disablement. Gas Cap: NYTEST Pressure Test. Note: The reader is referred to the...

Test results of Thermal Ice Cap prototype and final comments. Final report

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

Burley, W.

1982-01-01

The design and testing of an insulating cover, Ice Cap, for an ice rink are described. The radio-controlled reel system which houses, deploys, and harvests the 17,000 square feet of insulating material is essential to the success of the cover. Photographs showing the use of the system are included. (MHR)

Rocket measurements within a polar cap arc - Plasma, particle, and electric circuit parameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weber, E. J.; Ballenthin, J. O.; Basu, S.; Carlson, H. C.; Hardy, D. A.; Maynard, N. C.; Kelley, M. C.; Fleischman, J. R.; Pfaff, R. F.

1989-01-01

Results are presented from the Polar Ionospheric Irregularities Experiment (PIIE), conducted from Sondrestrom, Greenland, on March 15, 1985, designed for an investigation of processes which lead to the generation of small-scale (less than 1 km) ionospheric irregularities within polar-cap F-layer auroras. An instrumented rocket was launched into a polar cap F layer aurora to measure energetic electron flux, plasma, and electric circuit parameters of a sun-aligned arc, coordinated with simultaneous measurements from the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar and the AFGL Airborne Ionospheric Observatory. Results indicated the existence of two different generation mechanisms on the dawnside and duskside of the arc. On the duskside, parameters are suggestive of an interchange process, while on the dawnside, fluctuation parameters are consistent with a velocity shear instability.

An X-Ray Survey for Polar CAP Qpos in AM Herculis Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Kent

Five AM Herculis binary systems show an optical QPO that is known to be associated with magentically channeled polar cap accretion. Hard X-ray QPOs are predicted by the time-depndent hydrodynamic models. We propose to search selected AM Her systems for polar cap X-ray QPOs using the XTE PCA. Because of its large collecting area, the PCA is the only instrument that can do this job. No other accreting objects provide comparable high-quality observational diagnostics on the accretion flow. The detailed understanding of flow geometry, shock heating, ion-electron energy exchange, accretion column structure, and emission and radiative transfer mechanisms that go to make up the picture of AM Her accretion needs to be tested against X-ray timing information.

Relation between electron- and photon-caused oxidation in EUVL optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinowski, Michael E.; Steinhaus, Charles A.; Meeker, Donald E.; Clift, W. Miles; Klebanoff, Leonard E.; Bajt, Sasa

2003-06-01

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV)-induced oxidation of silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayer mirrors in the presence of background levels of water vapor is recognized as one of the most serious threats to multilayer lifetime since oxidation of the top silicon layer is an irreversible process. The current work directly compares the oxidation on a silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayers caused by EUV photons with the oxidation caused by 1 keV electrons in the presence of the same water vapor environment (2 x 10-6 Torr). Similar, 4 nm, silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayer mirror samples were exposed to photons (95.3 eV) + water vapor at the ALS, LBNL, and also to a 1 keV electron beam + water vapor in separate experimental systems. The results of this work showed that the oxidation produced by ~1 µA of e-beam current was found to be equivalent to that produced by ~1 mW of EUV exposure. These results will help allow the use of 1 keV electrons beams, instead of EUV photons, to perform environmental testing of multilayers in a low-pressure water environment and to more accurately determine projected mirror lifetimes based on the electron beam exposures.

Relation between electron- and photon-caused oxidation in EUVL optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinowski, Michael E.; Steinhaus, Charles A.; Meeker, Donald E.; Clift, W. Miles; Klebanoff, Leonard E.; Bajt, Sasa

2003-06-01

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV)-induced oxidation of silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayer mirrors in the presence of background levels of water vapor is recognized as one of the most serious threats to multilayer lifetime since oxidation of the top silicon layer is an irreversible process. The current work directly compares the oxidation on a silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayers caused by EUV photons with the oxidation caused by 1 keV electrons in the presence of the same water vapor environment (2 x 10-6 Torr). Similar, 4 nm, silicon-capped, [Mo/Si] multilayer mirror samples were exposed to photons (95.3 eV) + water vapor at the ALS, LBNL, and also to a 1 keV electron beam + water vapor in separate experimental systems. The results of this work showed that the oxidation produced by ~1 ´A of e-beam current was found to be equivalent to that produced by ~1 mW of EUV exposure. These results will help allow the use of 1 keV electrons beams, instead of EUV photons, to perform environmental testing of multilayers in a low-pressure water environment and to more accurately determine projected mirror lifetimes based on the electron beam exposures.

Neuromonitoring of cochlea and auditory nerve with multiple extracted parameters during induced hypoxia and nerve manipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bohórquez, Jorge; Özdamar, Özcan; Morawski, Krzysztof; Telischi, Fred F.; Delgado, Rafael E.; Yavuz, Erdem

2005-06-01

A system capable of comprehensive and detailed monitoring of the cochlea and the auditory nerve during intraoperative surgery was developed. The cochlear blood flow (CBF) and the electrocochleogram (ECochGm) were recorded at the round window (RW) niche using a specially designed otic probe. The ECochGm was further processed to obtain cochlear microphonics (CM) and compound action potentials (CAP).The amplitude and phase of the CM were used to quantify the activity of outer hair cells (OHC); CAP amplitude and latency were used to describe the auditory nerve and the synaptic activity of the inner hair cells (IHC). In addition, concurrent monitoring with a second electrophysiological channel was achieved by recording compound nerve action potential (CNAP) obtained directly from the auditory nerve. Stimulation paradigms, instrumentation and signal processing methods were developed to extract and differentiate the activity of the OHC and the IHC in response to three different frequencies. Narrow band acoustical stimuli elicited CM signals indicating mainly nonlinear operation of the mechano-electrical transduction of the OHCs. Special envelope detectors were developed and applied to the ECochGm to extract the CM fundamental component and its harmonics in real time. The system was extensively validated in experimental animal surgeries by performing nerve compressions and manipulations.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel potato starch derivative with cationic acetylcholine groups.

PubMed

Zhang, Bing; Ni, Boli; Lü, Shaoyu; Cui, Dapeng; Liu, Mingzhu; Gong, Honghong; Han, Fei

2012-04-01

A novel substance, cationic acetylcholine potato starch (CAPS), was developed for the first time. The synthesis process had three steps: first, carboxymethyl potato starch (CMPS) was synthesized under sodium hydroxide alkaline condition and in isopropyl alcohol organic media; second, bromocholine chloride (BCC) was synthesized with sulphuric acid as a catalytic agent; finally, CAPS was synthesized by the reaction of CMPS with BCC in N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF). The degree of substitution (DS) of CAPS was determined by ammonia gas-sensing electrode and elemental analysis. CAPS was characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and near infrared (FTNIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Child and adolescent psychiatry in the Far East.

PubMed

Hirota, Tomoya; Guerrero, Anthony; Sartorius, Norman; Fung, Daniel; Leventhal, Bennett; Ong, Say How; Kaneko, Hitoshi; Kim, Bungnyun; Cho, Soo-Churl; Skokauskas, Norbert

2015-03-01

Despite the general consensus on the importance of youth mental health, the scarcity of child and adolescent mental health services is prominent all over the world. Child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) postgraduate training can play a pivotal role in increasing access to youth mental health services. In comparison to Europe and North America, however, little is reported regarding CAP training in the Far East, one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing world regions with a very young population. This paper presents an original study on the current status of academic child and adolescent psychiatry training across the Far East. We collected data from 17 countries in the Far East using an internally distributed questionnaire to the Consortium members invited for this study, consisting of leading academic child and adolescent psychiatrists in each country. Based on informants' input, we found an overall underdevelopment of CAP postgraduate training systems despite CAP's recognition as a subspecialty in 12 of 17 of the nations or functionally self-governing areas in the Far East. Paucity of official guidelines for CAP training was also evident. All informants reported a need for additional child and adolescent mental health professionals. There seems to be several obstacles to the development of CAP postgraduate training in the Far East, including stigma towards mental health issues and lack of funding. International collaboration is desired to develop evidence-based and culture-tailored CAP training systems. © 2014 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2014 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

One-dimensional cold cap model for melters with bubblers

DOE PAGES

Pokorny, Richard; Hilliard, Zachary J.; Dixon, Derek R.; ...

2015-07-28

The rate of glass production during vitrification in an all-electrical melter greatly impacts the cost and schedule of nuclear waste treatment and immobilization. The feed is charged to the melter on the top of the molten glass, where it forms a layer of reacting and melting material, called the cold cap. During the final stages of the batch-to-glass conversion process, gases evolved from reactions produce primary foam, the growth and collapse of which controls the glass production rate. The mathematical model of the cold cap was revised to include functional representation of primary foam behavior and to account for themore » dry cold cap surface. The melting rate is computed as a response to the dependence of the primary foam collapse temperature on the heating rate and melter operating conditions, including the effect of bubbling on the cold cap bottom and top surface temperatures. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data from laboratory-scale and pilot-scale melter studies. Lastly, the cold cap model will become part of the full three-dimensional mathematical model of the waste glass melter.« less

New candidate markers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakurina, G. V.; Kolegova, E. S.; Cheremisina, O. V.; Kulbakin, D. E.; Choinzonov, E. L.

2017-09-01

The tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the main causes of high mortality of the patients with HNSCC. The tumor progression, particularly the metastasis, is characterized by the changes in the composition, functions and structure of different proteins. We have previously shown that serum of HNSCC patients contains the proteins which regulate various cellular processes—adenylyl cyclase associated protein 1 (CAP1), protein phosphatase 1 B (PPM1B), etc. The levels of CAP1 and PPM1B were determined using the enzyme immunoassay. The results of this study show that CAP1 and PPM1B take a part in the progression of HNSCC. The levels of CAP1 and PPM1B in the tumor and in morphologically normal tissue depended on the prevalence of the tumor process. The CAP1 and PPM1B levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue of the patients with regional metastasis. Our data allow assuming the potential possibility for predicting the outcome of the HNSCC measuring the level of tissue CAP1.

Comparative effects of inhaled diesel exhaust and ambient fine particles on inflammation, atherosclerosis, and vascular dysfunction

PubMed Central

Quan, Chunli; Sun, Qinghua; Lippmann, Morton; Chen, Lung-Chi

2011-01-01

Ambient air PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the underlying mechanisms affecting CVDs are unknown. The authors investigated whether subchronic inhalation of concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAPs), whole diesel exhaust (WDE), or diesel exhaust gases (DEGs) led to exacerbation of atherosclerosis, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, and vascular dysfunction; and whether DEG interactions with CAPs alter cardiovascular effects. ApoE−/− mice were simultaneously exposed via inhalation for 5 hours/day, 4 days/week, for up to 5 months to one of five different exposure atmospheres: (1) filtered air (FA); (2) CAPs (105 μg/m3); (3) WDE (DEP = 436 μg/m3); (4) DEG (equivalent to gas levels in WDE group); and (5) CAPs+DEG (PM2.5: 113 μg/m3; with DEG equivalent to WDE group). After 3 and 5 months, lung lavage fluid and blood sera were analyzed, and atherosclerotic plaques were quantified by ultrasound imaging, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E stain), and en face Sudan IV stain. Vascular functions were assessed after 5 months of exposure. The authors showed that (1) subchronic CAPs, WDE, and DEG inhalations increased serum vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 levels and enhanced phenylephrine (PE)-induced vasoconstriction; (2) for plaque exacerbation, CAPs > WDE > DEG = FA, thus PM components (not present in WDE) were responsible for plaque development; (3) atherosclerosis can exacerbated through mechanistic pathways other than inflammation and vascular dysfunction; and (4) although there were no significant interactions between CAPs and DEG on plaque exacerbation, it is less clear whether the effects of CAPs on vasomotor dysfunction and pulmonary/systemic inflammation were enhanced by the DEG coexposure. PMID:20462391

Medical liability and health care reform.

PubMed

Nelson, Leonard J; Morrisey, Michael A; Becker, David J

2011-01-01

We examine the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on medical liability and the controversy over whether federal medical reform including a damages cap could make a useful contribution to health care reform. By providing guaranteed access to health care insurance at community rates, the ACA could reduce the problem of under-compensation resulting from damages caps. However, it may also exacerbate the problem of under-claiming in the malpractice system, thereby reducing incentives to invest in loss prevention activities. Shifting losses from liability insurers to health insurers could further undermine the already weak deterrent effect of the medical liability system. Republicans in Congress and physician groups both pushed for the adoption of a federal damages cap as part of health care reform. Physician support for damages caps could be explained by concerns about the insurance cycle and the consequent instability of the market. Our own study presented here suggests that there is greater insurance market stability in states with caps on non-economic damages. Republicans in Congress argued that the enactment of damages caps would reduce aggregate health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office included savings from reduced health care utilization in its estimates of cost savings that would result from the enactment of a federal damages cap. But notwithstanding recent opinions offered by the CBO, it is not clear that caps will significantly reduce health care costs or that any savings will be passed on to consumers. The ACA included funding for state level demonstration projects for promising reforms such as offer and disclosure and health courts, but at this time the benefits of these reforms are also uncertain. There is a need for further studies on these issues.

Alpha-catenin-dependent recruitment of the centrosomal protein CAP350 to adherens junctions allows epithelial cells to acquire a columnar shape.

PubMed

Gavilan, Maria P; Arjona, Marina; Zurbano, Angel; Formstecher, Etienne; Martinez-Morales, Juan R; Bornens, Michel; Rios, Rosa M

2015-03-01

Epithelial morphogenesis involves a dramatic reorganisation of the microtubule cytoskeleton. How this complex process is controlled at the molecular level is still largely unknown. Here, we report that the centrosomal microtubule (MT)-binding protein CAP350 localises at adherens junctions in epithelial cells. By two-hybrid screening, we identified a direct interaction of CAP350 with the adhesion protein α-catenin that was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Block of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)-mediated cell-cell adhesion or α-catenin depletion prevented CAP350 localisation at cell-cell junctions. Knocking down junction-located CAP350 inhibited the establishment of an apico-basal array of microtubules and impaired the acquisition of columnar shape in Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells grown as polarised epithelia. Furthermore, MDCKII cystogenesis was also defective in junctional CAP350-depleted cells. CAP350-depleted MDCKII cysts were smaller and contained either multiple lumens or no lumen. Membrane polarity was not affected, but cortical microtubule bundles did not properly form. Our results indicate that CAP350 may act as an adaptor between adherens junctions and microtubules, thus regulating epithelial differentiation and contributing to the definition of cell architecture. We also uncover a central role of α-catenin in global cytoskeleton remodelling, in which it acts not only on actin but also on MT reorganisation during epithelial morphogenesis.

Alpha-catenin-Dependent Recruitment of the Centrosomal Protein CAP350 to Adherens Junctions Allows Epithelial Cells to Acquire a Columnar Shape

PubMed Central

Zurbano, Angel; Formstecher, Etienne; Martinez-Morales, Juan R.; Bornens, Michel; Rios, Rosa M.

2015-01-01

Epithelial morphogenesis involves a dramatic reorganisation of the microtubule cytoskeleton. How this complex process is controlled at the molecular level is still largely unknown. Here, we report that the centrosomal microtubule (MT)-binding protein CAP350 localises at adherens junctions in epithelial cells. By two-hybrid screening, we identified a direct interaction of CAP350 with the adhesion protein α-catenin that was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Block of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)-mediated cell-cell adhesion or α-catenin depletion prevented CAP350 localisation at cell-cell junctions. Knocking down junction-located CAP350 inhibited the establishment of an apico-basal array of microtubules and impaired the acquisition of columnar shape in Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells grown as polarised epithelia. Furthermore, MDCKII cystogenesis was also defective in junctional CAP350-depleted cells. CAP350-depleted MDCKII cysts were smaller and contained either multiple lumens or no lumen. Membrane polarity was not affected, but cortical microtubule bundles did not properly form. Our results indicate that CAP350 may act as an adaptor between adherens junctions and microtubules, thus regulating epithelial differentiation and contributing to the definition of cell architecture. We also uncover a central role of α-catenin in global cytoskeleton remodelling, in which it acts not only on actin but also on MT reorganisation during epithelial morphogenesis. PMID:25764135

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Equipment Options for E85 Fueling Systems

Science.gov Websites

equipment includes an overfill protection device, a leak detection device, shear valves, fill and vapor caps protection, leak detection, shear valves, fill and vapor caps, adaptors, containment sumps, and all

Initial deposition of calcium phosphate ceramic on polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene by rf magnetron sputtering deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feddes, B.; Wolke, J. G. C.; Jansen, J. A.; Vredenberg, A. M.

2003-03-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings can be applied to improve the biological performance of polymeric medical implants. A strong interfacial bond between ceramic and polymer is required for clinical applications. Because the chemical structure of an interface plays an important role in the adhesion of a coating, we studied the formation of the interface between CaP and polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The coating was deposited in a radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering deposition system. Prior to the deposition, some samples received an oxygen plasma pretreatment. We found that the two substrates show a strongly different reactivity towards CaP. On PS a phosphorus and oxygen enrichment is present at the interface. This is understood from POx complexes that are able to bind to the PS. The effects of the plasma pretreatment are overruled by the deposition process itself. On PTFE, a calcium enrichment and an absence of phosphorus is found at the interface. The former is the result of CaF2-like material being formed at the interface. The latter may be the result of phosphorus reacting with escaping fluorine to a PF3 molecule, which than escapes from the material as a gas molecule. We found that the final structure of the interface is mostly controlled by the bombardment of energetic particles escaping either from the plasma or from the sputtering target. The work described here can be used to understand and improve the adhesion of CaP coatings deposited on medical substrates.

MoXy fiber with active cooling cap for bovine prostate vaporization with high power 200W 532 nm laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Steven Y.; Kang, Hyun Wook; Pirzadeh, Homa; Stinson, Douglas

2011-03-01

A novel MoXyTM fiber delivery device with Active Cooling Cap (ACCTM) is designed to transmit up to 180W of 532 nm laser light to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Under such high power tissue ablation, effective cooling is key to maintaining fiber power transmission and ensuring the reliability of the fiber delivery device To handle high power and reduce fiber degradation, the MoXy fiber features a larger core size (750 micrometer) and an internal fluid channel to ensure better cooling of the fiber tip to prevent the cap from burning, detaching, or shattering during the BPH treatment. The internal cooling channel was created with a metal cap and tubing that surrounds the optical fiber. In this study MoXy fibers were used to investigate the effect of power levels of 120 and 200 W on in-vitro bovine prostate ablation using a 532 nm XPSTM laser system. For procedures requiring more than 100 kJ, the MoXy fiber at 200W removed tissue at twice the rate of the current HPS fiber at 120W. The fiber maintained a constant tissue vaporization rate during the entire tissue ablation process. The coagulation at 200W was about 20% thicker than at 120W. In conclusion, the new fibers at 200W doubled the tissue removal rate, maintained vaporization efficiency throughout delivery of 400kJ energy, and induced similar coagulation to the existing HPS fiber at 120W.

The dependency of different stress-level SiN capping films and the optimization of D-SMT process for the device performance booster in Ge n-FinFETs

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

Liao, M.-H., E-mail: mhliaoa@ntu.edu.tw; Chen, P.-G.

The capping stressed SiN film is one of the most important process steps for the dislocation stress memorization technique (D-SMT), which has been used widely in the current industry, for the electron mobility booster in the n-type transistor beyond the 32/28 nm technology node. In this work, we found that the different stress-level SiN capping films influence the crystal re-growth velocities along different directions including [100] and [110] directions in Ge a lot. It can be further used to optimize the dislocation angle in the transistor during the D-SMT process and then results in the largest channel stress distribution to boostmore » the device performance in the Ge n-FinFETs. Based on the theoretical calculation and experimental demonstration, it shows that the Ge three dimensional (3D) n-FinFETs device performance is improved ∼55% with the usage of +3 GPa tensile stressed SiN capping film. The channel stress and dislocation angle is ∼2.5 GPa and 30°, measured by the atomic force microscope-Raman technique and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.« less

Calcium phosphate ceramics in drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bose, Susmita; Tarafder, Solaiman; Edgington, Joe; Bandyopadhyay, Amit

2011-04-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) particulates, cements and scaffolds have attracted significant interest as drug delivery vehicles. CaP systems, including both hydroxyapaptite and tricalcium phosphates, possess variable stoichiometry, functionality and dissolution properties which make them suitable for cellular delivery. Their chemical similarity to bone and thus biocompatibility, as well as variable surface charge density contribute to their controlled release properties. Among specific research areas, nanoparticle size, morphology, surface area due to porosity, and chemistry controlled release kinetics are the most active. This article discusses CaP systems in their particulate, cements, and scaffold forms for drug, protein, and growth factor delivery toward orthopedic and dental applications.

KSC-03PD-2981

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, packing material is placed over the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non- destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KSC-03PD-2980

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers remove the overhead crane from the nose cap that was removed from Atlantis. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KSC-03PD-2978

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is lowered toward a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

KSC-03PD-2979

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the nose cap from Atlantis is secured on a shipping pallet. The reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) nose cap is being sent to the original manufacturing company, Vought in Ft. Worth, Texas, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to undergo non-destructive testing such as CAT scan and thermography.

Investigation of the rates of surface and bulk ROS-generating reactions using indigo dye as an indicator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Carly; Clark, Douglas; Graves, David

2014-10-01

We present evidence for the existence of two distinct processes that contribute to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in liquids exposed to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in air. At the plasma-liquid interface, there exists a fast surface reaction zone where RONS from the gas phase interact with species in the liquid. RONS can also be produced by ``slow'' chemical reactions in the bulk liquid, even long after plasma exposure. To separate the effects of these processes, we used indigo dye as an indicator of ROS production; specifically generation of hydroxyl radical. The rate of indigo decolorization while in direct contact with CAP is compared with the expected rate of hydroxyl radical generation at the liquid surface. When added to aqueous solutions after CAP exposure, indigo dye reacts on a time scale consistent with the production of peroxynitrous acid, ONOOH, which is known to decompose to hydroxyl radical below a pH of 6.8. In this study, the CAP used was a air corona discharge plasma run in a positive streamer mode.

Neural activity based biofeedback therapy for Autism spectrum disorder through wearable wireless textile EEG monitoring system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahi, Ahna; Rai, Pratyush; Oh, Sechang; Ramasamy, Mouli; Harbaugh, Robert E.; Varadan, Vijay K.

2014-04-01

Mu waves, also known as mu rhythms, comb or wicket rhythms are synchronized patterns of electrical activity involving large numbers of neurons, in the part of the brain that controls voluntary functions. Controlling, manipulating, or gaining greater awareness of these functions can be done through the process of Biofeedback. Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change voluntary movements for purposes of improving health and performance through the means of instruments such as EEG which rapidly and accurately 'feedback' information to the user. Biofeedback is used for therapeutic purpose for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by focusing on Mu waves for detecting anomalies in brain wave patterns of mirror neurons. Conventional EEG measurement systems use gel based gold cup electrodes, attached to the scalp with adhesive. It is obtrusive and wires sticking out of the electrodes to signal acquisition system make them impractical for use in sensitive subjects like infants and children with ASD. To remedy this, sensors can be incorporated with skull cap and baseball cap that are commonly used for infants and children. Feasibility of Textile based Sensor system has been investigated here. Textile based multi-electrode EEG, EOG and EMG monitoring system with embedded electronics for data acquisition and wireless transmission has been seamlessly integrated into fabric of these items for continuous detection of Mu waves. Textile electrodes were placed on positions C3, CZ, C4 according to 10-20 international system and their capability to detect Mu waves was tested. The system is ergonomic and can potentially be used for early diagnosis in infants and planning therapy for ASD patients.

A Reversible Light-Operated Nanovalve on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Tarn, Derrick; Ferris, Daniel P.; Barnes, Jonathan C.; Ambrogio, Michael W.; Stoddart, J. Fraser

2014-01-01

Two azobenzene α-cyclodextrin based nanovalves are designed, synthesized and assembled on mesoporous silica nanoparticles. When in aqueous conditions, the cyclodextrin cap is tightly bound to the azobenzene moiety and capable of holding back loaded cargo molecules. Upon irradiation with a near-UV light laser, trans to cis- photoisomerization of azobenzene initiates a dethreading process, which causes the cyclodextrin cap to unbind followed by the release of cargo. The addition of a bulky stopper group to the end of the stalk allows this design to be reversible; complete dethreading of cyclodextrin as a result of unbinding with azobenzene is prevented as a consequence of steric interference. As a result, thermal relaxation of cis- to trans-azobenzene allows for the rebinding of cyclodextrin and resealing of the nanopores, a process which entraps the remaining cargo. Two stalks were designed with different lengths and tested with alizarin red S and propidium iodide. No cargo release was observed prior to light irradiation, and the system was capable of multiuse. On / off control was also demonstrated by monitoring the release of cargo when the light stimulus was applied and removed, respectively. PMID:24519642

Improved process conditions for increasing expression of MHC class II protein from a stable Drosophila S2 cell line.

PubMed

Shen, Xiao; Dojcinovic, Danijel; Baldi, Lucia; Hacker, David L; Luescher, Immanuel F; Wurm, Florian M

2018-01-01

To investigate the effects of operational process conditions on expression of MHC class II protein from a stable Drosophila S2 cell line. When the Drosophila S2 cells were grown in vented orbitally shaken TubeSpin bioreactor 600 containers, cell growth was improved three-fold and the yield of recombinant major histocompatibility (MHC) class II protein (HLA-DR1 2xHis ) increased four-fold over the levels observed for the same cells cultivated in roller bottles (RB) without vented caps. Culturing in RB with vented caps while increasing the rotation speed from 6 rpm to 18 rpm also improved cell growth five-fold and protein productivity three-fold which is comparable to the levels observed in the orbitally shaken containers. Protein activity was found to be almost identical between the two vessel systems tested. Optimized cell culture conditions and a more efficient vessel type can enhance gas transfer and mixing and lead to substantial improvement of recombinant product yields from S2 cells.

Towards Onboard Orbital Tracking of Seasonal Polar Volatiles on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagstaff, Kiri L.; Castano, Rebecca; Chien, Steve; Ivanov, anton B.; Titus, Timothy N.

2005-01-01

Current conditions on Mars support both a residual polar cap, composed mainly of water ice, and a seasonal cap, composed of CO2, which appears and disappears each winter. Kieffer and Titus characterized the recession of the seasonal south polar cap using an arctangent curve fit based on data from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer on Mars Global Surveyor [1]. They also found significant interannual deviations, at the regional scale, in the recession rate [2]. Further observations will enable the refinement of our models of polar cap evolution in both hemispheres. We have developed the Bimodal Image Temperature (BIT) Histogram Analysis method for the automated detection and tracking of the seasonal polar ice caps on Mars. It is specifically tailored for possible use onboard a spacecraft. We have evaluated BIT on uncalibrated data collected by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) instrument [3] on the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. In this paper, we focus on the northern seasonal cap, but our approach is directly applicable to the future analysis of the southern seasonal ice cap as well.

Two subunits of the 55 K porcine zona pellucida glycoprotein family are immunologically distinct

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

Subramanian, M.G.; Yurewicz, E.C.; Sacco, A.G.

1986-03-01

The 55K glycoprotein family (ZP3) of the porcine zona pellucida is comprised of two subunits of 46 K and 45 K which can be resolved by endo-..beta..-galactosidase digestion of ZP3 followed by reversed phase HPLC on Vydac C4 resin. Gel electrophoresis revealed that the 46 K component (EBDG..cap alpha..) is approx. 95% pure and the 45 K component (EBGD..beta..) is 100% pure. In the present study, these two subunits were evaluated immunologically by RIA. Under similar reaction protocols (chloramine-T iodination procedure) comparable specific activities were obtained for EBGD..cap alpha.. (33.06 +/- 7.5 ..mu..ci/..mu..gm), EBGD..beta.. (30.45 +/- 1.6) and ZP3 (26.3more » +/- 1.3). Antibody (Ab) titration studies revealed that EBGD..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. are potent immunogens and /sup 125/I-EBGD..cap alpha.. showed minimal cross reactivity to EBGD..beta..-Ab (8% bound at 1:500 dilution), whereas, /sup 125/I-EBGD..beta.. showed a greater degree of cross reactivity to EBGD..cap alpha..-Ab (23% bound at 1:500 dilution). Maximum binding for the two labeled antigens against homologous Abs (1:500) was > 60%. Dose response studies revealed that in the /sup 125/I-EBGD..cap alpha.. vs EBGD..cap alpha.. -Ab system, the 50% intercept was 3.25 +/- 0.32 ng for EBGD..cap alpha.. and 472.43 +/- 30.26 ng for EBGD..beta.. (p < 0.01), whereas, in the /sup 125/I-EBGD..beta.. vs EBGD..beta..-Ab system the 50% intercept was 3.51 +/- 0.58 for EBGD..beta.. and 166.77 +/- 49.20 for EBGD..cap alpha.. (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the slopes of the dose response curves. It is concluded that the two subunits of ZP3 possess distinct immunologic characteristics as evaluated by RIA.« less

Assessing the transport potential of polymeric nanocapsules developed for crop protection.

PubMed

Petosa, Adamo Riccardo; Rajput, Faraz; Selvam, Olivia; Öhl, Carolin; Tufenkji, Nathalie

2017-03-15

Nanotechnology is increasingly important in the agricultural sector, with novel products being developed to heighten crop yields and increase pesticide efficacy. Herein, the transport potential of different polymeric nanocapsules (nCAPs) developed as pesticide delivery vehicles was assessed in model soil systems. The nCAPs examined are (i) poly(acrylic acid)-based (nCAP1), (ii) poly(methacrylic acid)-ran-poly(ethyl acrylate) copolymer-based (nCAP2), (iii) poly(methacrylic acid-ran-styrene) copolymer-based (nCAP3), and (iv) poly(methacrylic acid-ran-butylmethacrylate)-based (nCAP4). nCAP mobility was examined in columns packed with agricultural loamy sand saturated with artificial porewater containing Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ cations (10 mM ionic strength, pH 6 and 8). Furthermore, the impact of (i) cation species, (ii) sand type, and (iii) ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer on the transport potential of a nanoformulation combining nCAP4 capsules and the pyrethroid bifenthrin (nCAP4-BIF) was examined and compared to a commercial bifenthrin formulation (Capture ® LFR). Although nCAP4-BIF and Capture ® LFR formulations were highly mobile in quartz sand saturated with 10 mM NaNO 3 (≥95% elution), they were virtually immobile in the presence of 10% ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer. The presence of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ did not hinder nCAP4-BIF elution in quartz sand saturated with 10 mM standard CIPAC D synthetic porewater; however, limited Capture ® LFR transport (<10% elution) was observed under the same conditions. Capture ® LFR also exhibited limited mobility in the presence or absence of fertilizer in loamy sand saturated with divalent salt solutions, whereas nCAP4-BIF exhibited increased elution with time and enhanced transport upon the addition of fertilizer. Overall, nCAP4 is a promising delivery vehicle in pyrethroid nanoformulations such as nCAP4-BIF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oxidative stress in immunocompetent patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. A pilot study.

PubMed

Trefler, S; Rodríguez, A; Martín-Loeches, I; Sanchez, V; Marín, J; Llauradó, M; Romeu, M; Díaz, E; Nogués, R; Giralt, M

2014-03-01

A comparison was made of the oxidative stress (OS) levels of patients with either viral or bacterial severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) and of patients without infection (healthy volunteers (HV) and patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)). A prospective observational study was made. Critically ill patients with sCAP. The TBARS level was measured as an index of oxidative injury. SOD, CAT and redox glutathione system (GSH, GSSG, GR, GPx) activities were measured as reflecting antioxidant capacity. Severity of illness was assessed by the APACHE II, SOFA and SIRS scores. Thirty-seven subjects were included: 15 patients with CAP (12 of bacterial origin [BCAP] and 3 due to 2009 A/H1N1 virus [VCAP]), 10 HV and 12 AMI patients. Intensive care CAP mortality was 26.7% (n=4). Plasmatic TBARS levels were higher in CAP patients than in HV, but similar to those recorded in AMI patients. In contrast, VCAP was associated with lower TBARS levels, and some components of the glutathione redox system were higher in BCAP patients and HV. The OS levels did not differ between survivors and non-survivors. Our results suggest the occurrence of higher OS in sCAP patients compared with HV. In contrast, lower TBARS levels were observed in VCAP patients, suggesting an increase of antioxidant activity related to the redox glutathione system. However, further research involving a larger cohort is needed in order to confirm these findings. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.

Measurement of aerosol optical properties by cw cavity enhanced spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Ye, Shan-Shan; Yang, Xiao; Han, Ye-Xing; Tang, Huai-Wu; Yu, Zhi-Wei

2016-10-01

The CAPS (Cavity Attenuated Phase shift Spectroscopy) system, which detects the extinction coefficients within a 10 nm bandpass centered at 532 nm, comprises a green LED with center wavelength in 532nm, a resonant optical cavity (36 cm length), a Photo Multiplier Tube detector, and a lock in amplifier. The square wave modulated light from the LED passes through the optical cavity and is detected as a distorted waveform which is characterized by a phase shift with respect to the initial modulation. Extinction coefficients are determined from changes in the phase shift of the distorted waveform of the square wave modulated LED light that is transmitted through the optical cavity. The performance of the CAPS system was evaluated by using measurements of the stability and response of the system. The minima ( 0.1 Mm-1) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time ( 100s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. In the paper, it illustrates that extinction coefficient was correlated with PM2.5 mass (0.91). These figures indicate that this method has the potential to become one of the most sensitive on-line analytical techniques for extinction coefficient detection. This work aims to provide an initial validation of the CAPS extinction monitor in laboratory and field environments. Our initial results presented in this paper show that the CAPS extinction monitor is capable of providing state-of-the-art performance while dramatically reducing the complexity of optical instrumentation for directly measuring the extinction coefficients.

Tracking the Martian CO2 Polar Ice Caps in Infrared Images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagstaff, Kiri L.; Castano, Rebecca; Chien, Steve

2006-01-01

Researchers at NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed a method for automatically tracking the polar caps on Mars as they advance and recede each year (see figure). The seasonal Mars polar caps are composed mainly of CO2 ice and are therefore cold enough to stand out clearly in infrared data collected by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The Bimodal Image Temperature (BIT) histogram analysis algorithm analyzes raw, uncalibrated data to identify images that contain both "cold" ("polar cap") and "warm" ("not polar cap") pixels. The algorithm dynamically identifies the temperature that separates these two regions. This flexibility is critical, because in the absence of any calibration, the threshold temperature can vary significantly from image to image. Using the identified threshold, the algorithm classifies each pixel in the image as "polar cap" or "not polar cap," then identifies the image row that contains the spatial transition from "polar cap" to "not polar cap." While this method is useful for analyzing data that has already been returned by THEMIS, it has even more significance with respect to data that has not yet been collected. Instead of seeking the polar cap only in specific, targeted images, the simplicity and efficiency of this method makes it feasible for direct, onboard use. That is, THEMIS could continuously monitor its observations for any detections of the polar-cap edge, producing detections over a wide range of spatial and temporal conditions. This effort can greatly contribute to our understanding of long-term climatic change on Mars.

Gold nanocatalyst-based immunosensing strategy accompanying catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol for sensitive monitoring of chloramphenicol residue.

PubMed

Que, Xiaohua; Tang, Dianyong; Xia, Biyun; Lu, Minghua; Tang, Dianping

2014-06-09

A new competitive-type immunosensing system based on gold nanoparticles toward catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was developed for sensitive monitoring of antibiotic residue (chloramphenicol, CAP, used in this case) by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometry. Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) with 16 nm in diameter was initially synthesized and functionalized with CAP-bovine serum albumin (CAP-BSA) conjugate, which were used as the competitor on monoclonal anti-CAP antibody-coated polystyrene microtiter plate (MTP). In the presence of target CAP, the labeled CAP-BSA on the AuNP competed with target CAP for the immobilized antibody on the MTP. The conjugated amount of CAP-BSA-AuNP on the MTP decreased with the increase of target CAP in the sample. Upon addition of 4-NP and NaBH4 into the MTP, the carried AuNP could catalytically reduce 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), and the as-produced 4-AP could be monitored by using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Experimental results indicated that the absorbance at 403 nm increased with the increment of target CAP concentration in the sample, and exhibited a dynamic range from 0.1 to 100 ng mL(-1) with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.03 ng mL(-1) at the 3s(blank) level. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were lower than 5.5% and 8.0%, respectively. In addition, the methodology was evaluated for CAP spiked honey and milk samples, respectively. The recovery was 92-112%. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Expression Mediates Capsaicin-Induced Cell Death.

PubMed

Ramírez-Barrantes, Ricardo; Córdova, Claudio; Gatica, Sebastian; Rodriguez, Belén; Lozano, Carlo; Marchant, Ivanny; Echeverria, Cesar; Simon, Felipe; Olivero, Pablo

2018-01-01

The transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family consists of a broad variety of non-selective cation channels that integrate environmental physicochemical signals for dynamic homeostatic control. Involved in a variety of cellular physiological processes, TRP channels are fundamental to the control of the cell life cycle. TRP channels from the vanilloid (TRPV) family have been directly implicated in cell death. TRPV1 is activated by pain-inducing stimuli, including inflammatory endovanilloids and pungent exovanilloids, such as capsaicin (CAP). TRPV1 activation by high doses of CAP (>10 μM) leads to necrosis, but also exhibits apoptotic characteristics. However, CAP dose-response studies are lacking in order to determine whether CAP-induced cell death occurs preferentially via necrosis or apoptosis. In addition, it is not known whether cytosolic Ca 2+ and mitochondrial dysfunction participates in CAP-induced TRPV1-mediated cell death. By using TRPV1-transfected HeLa cells, we investigated the underlying mechanisms involved in CAP-induced TRPV1-mediated cell death, the dependence of CAP dose, and the participation of mitochondrial dysfunction and cytosolic Ca 2+ increase. Together, our results contribute to elucidate the pathophysiological steps that follow after TRPV1 stimulation with CAP. Low concentrations of CAP (1 μM) induce cell death by a mechanism involving a TRPV1-mediated rapid and transient intracellular Ca 2+ increase that stimulates plasma membrane depolarization, thereby compromising plasma membrane integrity and ultimately leading to cell death. Meanwhile, higher doses of CAP induce cell death via a TRPV1-independent mechanism, involving a slow and persistent intracellular Ca 2+ increase that induces mitochondrial dysfunction, plasma membrane depolarization, plasma membrane loss of integrity, and ultimately, cell death.

A novel route for preparing 5′ cap mimics and capped RNAs: phosphate-modified cap analogues obtained via click chemistry† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Tables S1–S6 and Fig. S1–S10, experimental procedures, HPLC profiles, NMR and HRMS spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c6sc02437h Click here for additional data file. Click here for additional data file.

PubMed Central

Walczak, Sylwia; Nowicka, Anna; Kubacka, Dorota; Fac, Kaja; Wanat, Przemyslaw; Mroczek, Seweryn; Kowalska, Joanna

2017-01-01

The significant biological role of the mRNA 5′ cap in translation initiation makes it an interesting subject for chemical modifications aimed at producing useful tools for the selective modulation of intercellular processes and development of novel therapeutic interventions. However, traditional approaches to the chemical synthesis of cap analogues are time-consuming and labour-intensive, which impedes the development of novel compounds and their applications. Here, we explore a different approach for synthesizing 5′ cap mimics, making use of click chemistry (CuAAC) to combine two mononucleotide units and yield a novel class of dinucleotide cap analogues containing a triazole ring within the oligophosphate chain. As a result, we synthesized a library of 36 mRNA cap analogues differing in the location of the triazole ring, the polyphosphate chain length, and the type of linkers joining the phosphate and the triazole moieties. After biochemical evaluation, we identified two analogues that, when incorporated into mRNA, produced transcripts translated with efficiency similar to compounds unmodified in the oligophosphate bridge obtained by traditional synthesis. Moreover, we demonstrated that the triazole-modified cap structures can be generated at the RNA 5′ end using two alternative capping strategies: either the typical co-transcriptional approach, or a new post-transcriptional approach based on CuAAC. Our findings open new possibilities for developing chemically modified mRNAs for research and therapeutic applications, including RNA-based vaccinations. PMID:28451173

Comparison of immunoglobulin E measurements on IMMULITE and ImmunoCAP in samples consisting of allergen-specific mouse-human chimeric monoclonal antibodies towards allergen extracts and four recombinant allergens.

PubMed

Szecsi, Pal B; Stender, Steen

2013-01-01

Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody in vitro tests are performed on enzyme immunoassay systems. Poor agreement among systems has been reported and comparisons have been made exclusively with allergen extracts - not with recombinant allergens. Here we compare the ImmunoCAP and the IMMULITE systems. Ten patient samples with positive IgE toward egg white, birch pollen or cat or dog dander were compared using allergen extracts or the recombinant allergens Gal d 1, Bet v 1, Fel d 1 and Can f 1 with the two assay systems. Comparisons were also performed using four monoclonal mouse-human chimeric IgE antibodies specific for the same allergenic components. IMMULITE estimated a higher allergen-specific IgE concentration in sera than ImmunoCAP when testing with allergen extracts as well as recombinant allergens. The chimeric antibodies gave an equivalent response in the total IgE and specific IgE (sIgE) with an average ratio of 1.08 (range 0.9-1.3) on ImmunoCAP. In contrast, IMMULITE exhibited sIgE signals that were substantially higher than the summed level of IgE for all four chimeric antibodies (average ratio 2.96 and range 1.7-4.3). Comparison using chimeric antibodies allowed the evaluation of the true performance of the systems. ImmunoCAP measured total IgE and sIgE equally, whereas IMMULITE displayed higher sIgE signals when compared to the summed level of total IgE for all four chimeric antibodies. Results obtained with the two assay systems are not interchangeable by means of mathematical conversion. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

75 FR 19559 - Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Informal Comment Regarding Revisions to the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-15

..., cell phones and electronic highway signs. CAP will also allow an alert initiator to send alerts... CAP-formatted alerts delivered via any new delivery systems, whether wireline, internet, satellite, or...

Medical Malpractice Damage Caps and Provider Reimbursement.

PubMed

Friedson, Andrew I

2017-01-01

A common state legislative maneuver to combat rising healthcare costs is to reform the tort system by implementing caps on noneconomic damages awardable in medical malpractice cases. Using the implementation of caps in several states and large database of private insurance claims, I estimate the effect of damage caps on the amount providers charge to insurance companies as well as the amount that insurance companies reimburse providers for medical services. The amount providers charge insurers is unresponsive to tort reform, but the amount that insurers reimburse providers decreases for some procedures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

System for reducing combustion dynamics and NO.sub.x in a combustor

DOEpatents

Uhm, Jong Ho; Ziminsky, Willy Steve; Johnson, Thomas Edward; Hughes, Michael John; York, William David

2016-05-31

A combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The end cap includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface of the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap. Each tube in a first set of the plurality of tubes has an inlet proximate to the upstream surface and an outlet downstream from the downstream surface. Each outlet has a first portion that extends a different axial distance from the inlet than a second portion.

Integrated Modeling and Decision-Support System for Water Management in the Puget Sound Basin: Snow Caps to White Caps

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

Copping, Andrea E.; Yang, Zhaoqing; Voisin, Nathalie

2013-12-01

Final Report for the EPA-sponsored project Snow Caps to White Caps that provides data products and insight for water resource managers to support their predictions and management actions to address future changes in water resources (fresh and marine) in the Puget Sound basin. This report details the efforts of a team of scientists and engineers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the University of Washington (UW) to examine the movement of water in the Snohomish Basin, within the watershed and the estuary, under present and future conditions, using a set of linked numerical models.

New insights into respirable protein powder preparation using a nano spray dryer.

PubMed

Bürki, K; Jeon, I; Arpagaus, C; Betz, G

2011-04-15

In this study the Nano Spray Dryer B-90 (BÜCHI Labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) was evaluated with regard to the drying of proteins and the preparation of respirable powders in the size range of 1-5 μm. β-galactosidase was chosen as a model protein and trehalose was added as a stabilizer. The influence of inlet temperature, hole size of the spray cap membrane and ethanol concentration in the spray solution was studied using a 3³ full factorial design. The investigated responses were enzyme activity, particle size, span, yield and shelf life. Furthermore, the particle morphology was examined. The inlet temperature as well as the interaction of inlet temperature and spray cap size significantly influenced the enzyme activity. Full activity was retained with the optimized process. The particle size was affected by the hole size of the spray cap membrane and the ethanol content. The smallest cap led to a monodisperse particle size distribution and the greatest yield of particles of respirable size. Higher product recovery was achieved with lower inlet temperatures, higher ethanol contents and smaller cap sizes. Particle morphology differed depending on the cap size. The protein exhibited higher storage stability when spray dried without ethanol and when a larger spray cap size was used. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Contribution of the Antibiotic Chloramphenicol and Its Analogues as Precursors of Dichloroacetamide and Other Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water.

PubMed

Chu, Wenhai; Krasner, Stuart W; Gao, Naiyun; Templeton, Michael R; Yin, Daqiang

2016-01-05

Dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a disinfection byproduct, has been detected in drinking water. Previous research showed that amino acids may be DCAcAm precursors. However, other precursors may be present. This study explored the contribution of the antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP) and two of its analogues (thiamphenicol, TAP; florfenicol, FF) (referred to collectively as CAPs), which occur in wastewater-impacted source waters, to the formation of DCAcAm. Their formation yields were compared to free and combined amino acids, and they were investigated in filtered waters from drinking-water-treatment plants, heavily wastewater-impacted natural waters, and secondary effluents from wastewater treatment plants. CAPs had greater DCAcAm formation potential than two representative amino acid precursors. However, in drinking waters with ng/L levels of CAPs, they will not contribute as much to DCAcAm formation as the μg/L levels of amino acids. Also, the effect of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) on DCAcAm formation from CAPs in real water samples during subsequent chlorination was evaluated. Preoxidation of CAPs with AOPs reduced the formation of DCAcAm during postchlorination. The results of this study suggest that CAPs should be considered as possible precursors of DCAcAm, especially in heavily wastewater-impacted waters.

The Rabies Virus L Protein Catalyzes mRNA Capping with GDP Polyribonucleotidyltransferase Activity.

PubMed

Ogino, Minako; Ito, Naoto; Sugiyama, Makoto; Ogino, Tomoaki

2016-05-21

The large (L) protein of rabies virus (RABV) plays multiple enzymatic roles in viral RNA synthesis and processing. However, none of its putative enzymatic activities have been directly demonstrated in vitro. In this study, we expressed and purified a recombinant form of the RABV L protein and verified its guanosine 5'-triphosphatase and GDP polyribonucleotidyltransferase (PRNTase) activities, which are essential for viral mRNA cap formation by the unconventional mechanism. The RABV L protein capped 5'-triphosphorylated but not 5'-diphosphorylated RABV mRNA-start sequences, 5'-AACA(C/U), with GDP to generate the 5'-terminal cap structure G(5')ppp(5')A. The 5'-AAC sequence in the substrate RNAs was found to be strictly essential for RNA capping with the RABV L protein. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis showed that some conserved amino acid residues (G1112, T1170, W1201, H1241, R1242, F1285, and Q1286) in the PRNTase motifs A to E of the RABV L protein are required for cap formation. These findings suggest that the putative PRNTase domain in the RABV L protein catalyzes the rhabdovirus-specific capping reaction involving covalent catalysis of the pRNA transfer to GDP, thus offering this domain as a target for developing anti-viral agents.

High-Performance Polymers Having Low Melt Viscosities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Brian J.

2005-01-01

High-performance polymers that have improved processing characteristics, and a method of making them, have been invented. One of the improved characteristics is low (relative to corresponding prior polymers) melt viscosities at given temperatures. This characteristic makes it possible to utilize such processes as resin-transfer molding and resin-film infusion and to perform autoclave processing at lower temperatures and/or pressures. Another improved characteristic is larger processing windows that is, longer times at low viscosities. Other improved characteristics include increased solubility of uncured polymer precursors that contain reactive groups, greater densities of cross-links in cured polymers, improved mechanical properties of the cured polymers, and greater resistance of the cured polymers to chemical attack. The invention is particularly applicable to poly(arylene ether)s [PAEs] and polyimides [PIs] that are useful as adhesives, matrices of composite materials, moldings, films, and coatings. PAEs and PIs synthesized according to the invention comprise mixtures of branched, linear, and star-shaped molecules. The monomers of these polymers can be capped with either reactive end groups to obtain thermosets or nonreactive end groups to obtain thermoplastics. The synthesis of a polymeric mixture according to the invention involves the use of a small amount of a trifunctional monomer. In the case of a PAE, the trifunctional monomer is a trihydroxy- containing compound for example, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (THB). In the case of a PI, the trifunctional monomer is a triamine for example, triamino pyrimidine or melamine. In addition to the aforementioned trifunctional monomer, one uses the difunctional monomers of the conventional formulation of the polymer in question (see figure). In cases of nonreactive end caps, the polymeric mixtures of the invention have melt viscosities and melting temperatures lower than those of the corresponding linear polymers of equal molecular weights. The lower melting temperatures and melt viscosities provide larger processing windows. In cases of reactive end caps, the polymeric mixtures of the invention have lower melt viscosities before curing and the higher cross-link densities after curing (where branching in the uncured systems would become cross-links in the cured systems), relative to the corresponding linear polymers of equal molecular weights. The greater cross-link densities afford increased resistance to chemical attack and improved mechanical properties.

Investigating power capping toward energy-efficient scientific applications: Investigating Power Capping toward Energy-Efficient Scientific Applications

DOE PAGES

Haidar, Azzam; Jagode, Heike; Vaccaro, Phil; ...

2018-03-22

The emergence of power efficiency as a primary constraint in processor and system design poses new challenges concerning power and energy awareness for numerical libraries and scientific applications. Power consumption also plays a major role in the design of data centers, which may house petascale or exascale-level computing systems. At these extreme scales, understanding and improving the energy efficiency of numerical libraries and their related applications becomes a crucial part of the successful implementation and operation of the computing system. In this paper, we study and investigate the practice of controlling a compute system's power usage, and we explore howmore » different power caps affect the performance of numerical algorithms with different computational intensities. Further, we determine the impact, in terms of performance and energy usage, that these caps have on a system running scientific applications. This analysis will enable us to characterize the types of algorithms that benefit most from these power management schemes. Our experiments are performed using a set of representative kernels and several popular scientific benchmarks. Lastly, we quantify a number of power and performance measurements and draw observations and conclusions that can be viewed as a roadmap to achieving energy efficiency in the design and execution of scientific algorithms.« less

Investigating power capping toward energy-efficient scientific applications: Investigating Power Capping toward Energy-Efficient Scientific Applications

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

Haidar, Azzam; Jagode, Heike; Vaccaro, Phil

The emergence of power efficiency as a primary constraint in processor and system design poses new challenges concerning power and energy awareness for numerical libraries and scientific applications. Power consumption also plays a major role in the design of data centers, which may house petascale or exascale-level computing systems. At these extreme scales, understanding and improving the energy efficiency of numerical libraries and their related applications becomes a crucial part of the successful implementation and operation of the computing system. In this paper, we study and investigate the practice of controlling a compute system's power usage, and we explore howmore » different power caps affect the performance of numerical algorithms with different computational intensities. Further, we determine the impact, in terms of performance and energy usage, that these caps have on a system running scientific applications. This analysis will enable us to characterize the types of algorithms that benefit most from these power management schemes. Our experiments are performed using a set of representative kernels and several popular scientific benchmarks. Lastly, we quantify a number of power and performance measurements and draw observations and conclusions that can be viewed as a roadmap to achieving energy efficiency in the design and execution of scientific algorithms.« less

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 98: Frenchman Flat, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 1

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

Irene Farnham and Sam Marutzky

2011-07-01

This CADD/CAP follows the Corrective Action Investigation (CAI) stage, which results in development of a set of contaminant boundary forecasts produced from groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling of the Frenchman Flat CAU. The Frenchman Flat CAU is located in the southeastern portion of the NNSS and comprises 10 underground nuclear tests. The tests were conducted between 1965 and 1971 and resulted in the release of radionuclides in the subsurface in the vicinity of the test cavities. Two important aspects of the corrective action process are presented within this CADD/CAP. The CADD portion describes the results of the Frenchman Flatmore » CAU data-collection and modeling activities completed during the CAI stage. The corrective action objectives and the actions recommended to meet the objectives are also described. The CAP portion describes the corrective action implementation plan. The CAP begins with the presentation of CAU regulatory boundary objectives and initial use restriction boundaries that are identified and negotiated by NNSA/NSO and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). The CAP also presents the model evaluation process designed to build confidence that the flow and contaminant transport modeling results can be used for the regulatory decisions required for CAU closure. The first two stages of the strategy have been completed for the Frenchman Flat CAU. A value of information analysis and a CAIP were developed during the CAIP stage. During the CAI stage, a CAIP addendum was developed, and the activities proposed in the CAIP and addendum were completed. These activities included hydrogeologic investigation of the underground testing areas, aquifer testing, isotopic and geochemistry-based investigations, and integrated geophysical investigations. After these investigations, a groundwater flow and contaminant transport model was developed to forecast contaminant boundaries that enclose areas potentially exceeding the Safe Drinking Water Act radiological standards at any time within 1,000 years. An external peer review of the groundwater flow and contaminant transport model was completed, and the model was accepted by NDEP to allow advancement to the CADD/CAP stage. The CADD/CAP stage focuses on model evaluation to ensure that existing models provide adequate guidance for the regulatory decisions regarding monitoring and institutional controls. Data-collection activities are identified and implemented to address key uncertainties in the flow and contaminant transport models. During the CR stage, final use restriction boundaries and CAU regulatory boundaries are negotiated and established; a long-term closure monitoring program is developed and implemented; and the approaches and policies for institutional controls are initiated. The model evaluation process described in this plan consists of an iterative series of five steps designed to build confidence in the site conceptual model and model forecasts. These steps are designed to identify data-collection activities (Step 1), document the data-collection activities in the 0CADD/CAP (Step 2), and perform the activities (Step 3). The new data are then assessed; the model is refined, if necessary; the modeling results are evaluated; and a model evaluation report is prepared (Step 4). The assessments are made by the modeling team and presented to the pre-emptive review committee. The decision is made by the modeling team with the assistance of the pre-emptive review committee and concurrence of NNSA/NSO to continue data and model assessment/refinement, recommend additional data collection, or recommend advancing to the CR stage. A recommendation to advance to the CR stage is based on whether the model is considered to be sufficiently reliable for designing a monitoring system and developing effective institutional controls. The decision to advance to the CR stage or to return to step 1 of the process is then made by NDEP (Step 5).« less

Bioresorbable Ca-phosphate-polymer/metal and Fe-Ag nanocomposites for macro-porous scaffolds with tunable degradation and drug release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gotman, I.; Swain, S. K.; Sharipova, A.; Gutmanas, E. Y.

2016-11-01

Bioresorbable implants are increasingly gaining popularity as an attractive alternative to traditional permanent bone healing devices. The advantage of bioresorbable implantable devices is that they slowly degrade over time and disappear once their "mission" is accomplished. Thus, no foreign material is left behind that can cause adverse effects on the host, such as long term local or systemic immune response and stress-shielding related bone atrophy. Resorbable materials considered for surgical implant applications include degradable polymers, Ca phosphate ceramics (CaP) and corrodible metals. Degradable polymers, such as polycaprolactone and lactic acid are weak, lack osteoconductivity and degrade to acidic products that can cause late inflammation. Resorbable CaP ceramics (e.g., β-TCP) are attractive materials for bone regeneration bear close resemblance to the bone mineral, however they are intrinsically brittle and thus unsuitable for use in load-bearing sites. Moreover, introducing high porosity required to encourage better cellular ingrowth into bone regeneration scaffolds is detrimental to the mechanical strength of the material. In present work we review and discuss our results on development of strong bioresorbable Ca-phosphate-polymer/metal nanonocomposites and highly porous scaffolds from them. By introduction of nanoscale ductile polymer or metal phase into CaP ceramic an attempt was made to mimic structure of natural bone, where nanocrystallites of CaP ceramic are bonded by thin collagen layers. Recent results on development of high strength scaffolds from Fe-Ag nanocomposites are also reported. High energy milling of powders followed by cold sintering—high pressure consolidation at ambient temperature in combination with modified porogen leaching method was employed for processing. The developed nanocomposites and scaffolds exhibited high mechanical strength coupled with measurable ductility, gradual lost weight and strength during immersion in physiological media and high permeability falling in the range of trabecular bone. The proposed low-temperature processing approach allows for incorporation of drugs into the residual nanopores without damaging the biomolecule activity.

In-situ subaqueous capping of mercury-contaminated sediments in a fresh-water aquatic system, Part II-evaluation of sorption materials.

PubMed

Randall, Paul M; Yates, Brian J; Lal, Vivek; Darlington, Ramona; Fimmen, Ryan

2013-08-01

The function and longevity of traditional, passive, isolation caps can be augmented through the use of more chemically active capping materials which have higher sorptive capacities, ideally rendering metals non-bioavailable. In the case of Hg, active caps also mitigate the rate and extent of methylation. This research examined low cost, readily available, capping materials for their ability to sequester Hg and MeHg. Furthermore, selected capping materials were evaluated to inhibit the methylation of Hg in an incubation study as well as the capacity of a selected capping material to inhibit translocation of Hg and MeHg with respect to ebullition-facilitated contaminant transport in a column study. Results indicated that bauxite had a better capacity for mercury sorption than the other test materials. However, bauxite as well as soil capping materials did not decrease methylation to a significant extent. Materials with larger surface areas, higher organic matter and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) content displayed a larger partitioning coefficient. In the incubation experiments, the presence of a carbon source (lactate), electron acceptor (sulfate) and the appropriate strains of SRB provided the necessary conditions for Hg methylation to occur. The column study showed effectiveness in sequestering Hg and MeHg and retarding transport to the overlying water column; however, disturbances to the soil capping material resulting from gas ebullition negated its effectiveness. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Operating a pilot-scale nitrification/distillation plant for complete nutrient recovery from urine.

PubMed

Fumasoli, Alexandra; Etter, Bastian; Sterkele, Bettina; Morgenroth, Eberhard; Udert, Kai M

2016-01-01

Source-separated urine contains most of the excreted nutrients, which can be recovered by using nitrification to stabilize the urine before concentrating the nutrient solution with distillation. The aim of this study was to test this process combination at pilot scale. The nitrification process was efficient in a moving bed biofilm reactor with maximal rates of 930 mg N L(-1) d(-1). Rates decreased to 120 mg N L(-1) d(-1) after switching to more concentrated urine. At high nitrification rates (640 mg N L(-1) d(-1)) and low total ammonia concentrations (1,790 mg NH4-N L(-1) in influent) distillation caused the main primary energy demand of 71 W cap(-1) (nitrification: 13 W cap(-1)) assuming a nitrogen production of 8.8 g N cap(-1) d(-1). Possible process failures include the accumulation of the nitrification intermediate nitrite and the selection of acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Especially during reactor start-up, the process must therefore be carefully supervised. The concentrate produced by the nitrification/distillation process is low in heavy metals, but high in nutrients, suggesting a good suitability as an integral fertilizer.

Re-engineering Nascom's network management architecture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, Brian C.; Messent, David

1994-01-01

The development of Nascom systems for ground communications began in 1958 with Project Vanguard. The low-speed systems (rates less than 9.6 Kbs) were developed following existing standards; but, there were no comparable standards for high-speed systems. As a result, these systems were developed using custom protocols and custom hardware. Technology has made enormous strides since the ground support systems were implemented. Standards for computer equipment, software, and high-speed communications exist and the performance of current workstations exceeds that of the mainframes used in the development of the ground systems. Nascom is in the process of upgrading its ground support systems and providing additional services. The Message Switching System (MSS), Communications Address Processor (CAP), and Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM) Automated Control System (MACS) are all examples of Nascom systems developed using standards such as, X-windows, Motif, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Also, the Earth Observing System (EOS) Communications (Ecom) project is stressing standards as an integral part of its network. The move towards standards has produced a reduction in development, maintenance, and interoperability costs, while providing operational quality improvement. The Facility and Resource Manager (FARM) project has been established to integrate the Nascom networks and systems into a common network management architecture. The maximization of standards and implementation of computer automation in the architecture will lead to continued cost reductions and increased operational efficiency. The first step has been to derive overall Nascom requirements and identify the functionality common to all the current management systems. The identification of these common functions will enable the reuse of processes in the management architecture and promote increased use of automation throughout the Nascom network. The MSS, CAP, MACS, and Ecom projects have indicated the potential value of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and standards through reduced cost and high quality. The FARM will allow the application of the lessons learned from these projects to all future Nascom systems.

Muscarinic cholinergic and alpha/sub 1/ adrenergic receptors in murine atria: phosphatidylinositol breakdown and receptor interaction

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

Scherer, R.W.

Upon stimulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors, there is a decrease in the force of contraction rate of firing in heart, while stimulation of ..cap alpha.. adrenergic receptors causes an increase in the force of contraction with no change in the heart rate. Yet both receptors stimulate the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol (PI). Therefore, the breakdown of PI was examined to determine how the process differed between the two receptor systems. Murine atria, prelabelled with (/sup 3/H)inositol, were stimulated with the muscarinic cholinergic agonists, carbamylcholine (CARB), and oxotremorine (OXO); and with the ..cap alpha.. adrenergic agonists, norepinephrine (NE) and phenylephrine (PE); eithermore » singly or in combination. Breakdown of PI was assessed by measurement of individual inositol phosphates by anion exchange chromatography. Binding of CARB to atrial muscarinic receptors was measured by competition with (/sup 3/H)quinuclidinyl benzilate.« less

[Psychodynamics in organisation and cooperation of child and adolescents institutions].

PubMed

Fliedl, Rainer; Sevecke, Kathrin

2017-09-01

According to underlying law (Krankenanstaltengesetz) the internal structure of Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) represents a matrix structure, defining formal roles and tasks of the personel. In contrast, external cooperation is defined in several different laws. Furthermore, patients and their systems are exhibiting a high tensional potential. These different influences can cause more or less severe enmeshments. Thus, during the treatment of this patients it is necessary to take into account the possibility of these enmeshments. It should be answered by special forms of care of the relationship between professionals and families. These special forms of relational care can be delivered by clear organizational structures and must undergo reflective processes on a regular basis. The planning and delivery of those structures is clearly seen as a central responsibility of the management of a CAP-Department.

Economic growth and biodiversity loss in an age of tradable permits.

PubMed

Rosales, Jon

2006-08-01

Tradable permits are increasingly becoming part of environmental policy and conservation programs. The efficacy of tradable permit schemes in addressing the root cause of environmental decline-economic growth--will not be achieved unless the schemes cap economic activity based on ecological thresholds. Lessons can be learned from the largest tradable permit scheme to date, emissions trading now being implemented with the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol caps neither greenhouse gas emissions at a level that will achieve climate stability nor economic growth. If patterned after the Kyoto Protocol, cap-and-trade schemes for conservation will not ameliorate biodiversity loss either because they will not address economic growth. In response to these failures to cap economic growth, professional organizations concerned about biodiversity conservation should release position statements on economic growth and ecological thresholds. The statements can then be used by policy makers to infuse these positions into the local, national, and international environmental science-policy process when these schemes are being developed. Infusing language into the science-policy process that calls for capping economic activity based on ecological thresholds represents sound conservation science. Most importantly, position statements have a greater potential to ameliorate biodiversity loss if they are created and released than if this information remains within professional organizations because there is the potential for these ideas to be enacted into law and policy.

Delayed transition to new cell fates during cellular reprogramming

PubMed Central

Cheng, Xianrui; Lyons, Deirdre C.; Socolar, Joshua E. S.; McClay, David R.

2014-01-01

In many embryos specification toward one cell fate can be diverted to a different cell fate through a reprogramming process. Understanding how that process works will reveal insights into the developmental regulatory logic that emerged from evolution. In the sea urchin embryo, cells at gastrulation were found to reprogram and replace missing cell types after surgical dissections of the embryo. Non-skeletogenic mesoderm (NSM) cells reprogrammed to replace missing skeletogenic mesoderm cells and animal caps reprogrammed to replace all endomesoderm. In both cases evidence of reprogramming onset was first observed at the early gastrula stage, even if the cells to be replaced were removed earlier in development. Once started however, the reprogramming occurred with compressed gene expression dynamics. The NSM did not require early contact with the skeletogenic cells to reprogram, but the animal cap cells gained the ability to reprogram early in gastrulation only after extended contact with the vegetal halves prior to that time. If the entire vegetal half was removed at early gastrula, the animal caps reprogrammed and replaced the vegetal half endomesoderm. If the animal caps carried morpholinos to either hox11/13b or foxA (endomesoderm specification genes), the isolated animal caps failed to reprogram. Together these data reveal that the emergence of a reprogramming capability occurs at early gastrulation in the sea urchin embryo and requires activation of early specification components of the target tissues. PMID:24780626

Use of Iqqm For Management of A Regulated River System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hameed, T.; Podger, G.; Harrold, T. I.

The Integrated Quantity-Quality Model (IQQM) is a modelling tool for the planning and management of water-sharing issues within regulated and unregulated river sys- tems. IQQM represents the major river system processes, including inflows, rainfall and evaporation, infiltration, and flow routing down river channels and floodplains. It is a water balance model that operates on a daily timestep and can represent reser- voirs, wetlands, surface water/groundwater interaction, and soil moisture deficit for irrigation areas, along with many other features of both natural and regulated systems. IQQM can be customised for any river valley, and has proven to be a useful tool for the development, evaluation, and selection of operational rules for complex river systems. The Lachlan catchment lies within Australia's largest river system, the Murray- Darling Basin. Extensive development in the Murray-Darling Basin within the last 100 years has resulted in land degradation, increased salinity, poor water quality, damage to wetlands, and decline in native fish species. In response to these issues, in 1995 the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) imposed restrictions on growth in diver- sions (the "MDBC Cap"), and the New South Wales government has more recently applied its own restrictions (the "River Flow Objectives"). To implement the MDBC Cap and the River Flow Objectives, new operational rules were required. This presen- tation describes how IQQM was used to develop and evaluate these rules for the Lach- lan system. In particular, rules for release of environmental flows were developed and evaluated. The model helped identify the flow window that would be most beneficial to the riverine environment, the critical time of year when environmental releases should be made, and resource constraint conditions when environmental releases should not be made. This process also involved intensive consultations with stakeholders. The role of IQQM within this process was to help the stakeholders understand the inter- action of various users within the valley, and the impacts of the operational rules on them.

Translations on Environmental Quality, Number 148

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-10-03

Article 9. Designs for gas filtering installations must include the proper control and automation facilities as per articles 16 and 17. Article 10...mandatorily equipped with: 1. Locking armature at the gas entrance and exit with manual or remote control flanges for the installation of end-caps in...instruments shall be mounted on the control panel of the gas filtering system or the control panel for the technological process. Article 17. (1) The gas

Aptamer-mediated colorimetric method for rapid and sensitive detection of chloramphenicol in food.

PubMed

Yan, Chao; Zhang, Jing; Yao, Li; Xue, Feng; Lu, Jianfeng; Li, Baoguang; Chen, Wei

2018-09-15

We report an aptamer-mediated colorimetric method for sensitive detection of chloramphenicol (CAP). The aptamer of CAP is immobilized by the hybridization with pre-immobilized capture probe in the microtiter plate. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is covalently attached to the aptamer by the biotin-streptavidin system for signal production. CAP will preferably bind with aptamer due to the high binding affinity, which attributes to the release of aptamer and HRP and thus, affects the optical signal intensity. Quantitative determination of CAP is successfully achieved in the wide range from 0.001 to 1000 ng/mL with detection limit of 0.0031 ng/mL, which is more sensitive than traditional immunoassays. This method is further validated by measuring the recovery of CAP spiked in two different food matrices (honey and fish). The aptamer-mediated colorimetric method can be a useful protocol for rapid and sensitive screening of CAP, and may be used as an alternative means for traditional immunoassays. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The US Medical Liability System: Evidence for Legislative Reform

PubMed Central

Guirguis-Blake, Janelle; Fryer, George E.; Phillips, Robert L.; Szabat, Ronald; Green, Larry A.

2006-01-01

BACKGROUND Despite state and federal efforts to implement medical malpractice reform, there is limited evidence on which to base policy decisions. The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) offers an opportunity to evaluate the effects of previous malpractice tort reforms on malpractice payments and premiums. METHODS For every state and the District of Columbia, we calculated the number of malpractice payments, total amount paid, and average payment from NPDB data reported from 1999 through 2001. We analyzed 44,913 claims using logistic regression to study associations between payments, physician premiums, and 10 state statutory tort reforms. RESULTS Wide variations exist in malpractice payments among states. The reforms most associated with lower payments and premiums were total and noneconomic damage caps. Mean payments were 26% lower in states with total damage caps ($196,495.34 vs $265,554.50, P = .001). Mean payments were 22% less in states with noneconomic damage caps ($219,225.98 vs $279,849.86, P = .010). Total damage caps were associated with lower mean annual premiums, especially for obstetricians ($22,371.57 vs $42,728.68, P <.001). Hard noneconomic damage caps were associated with premium reductions for obstetricians (30,283.75 vs 45,740.88; P = .039). CONCLUSIONS Significant reductions in malpractice payments could be realized if total or noneconomic damage caps were operating nationally. Hard noneconomic damage and total damage caps could yield lower premiums. If tied to a comprehensive plan for reform, the money saved could be diverted to implement alternative approaches to patient compensation or be used to achieve other systems reform benefiting patients, employers, physicians, and hospitals. PMID:16735526

The US Medical Liability System: evidence for legislative reform.

PubMed

Guirguis-Blake, Janelle; Fryer, George E; Phillips, Robert L; Szabat, Ronald; Green, Larry A

2006-01-01

Despite state and federal efforts to implement medical malpractice reform, there is limited evidence on which to base policy decisions. The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) offers an opportunity to evaluate the effects of previous malpractice tort reforms on malpractice payments and premiums. For every state and the District of Columbia, we calculated the number of malpractice payments, total amount paid, and average payment from NPDB data reported from 1999 through 2001. We analyzed 44,913 claims using logistic regression to study associations between payments, physician premiums, and 10 state statutory tort reforms. Wide variations exist in malpractice payments among states. The reforms most associated with lower payments and premiums were total and noneconomic damage caps. Mean payments were 26% lower in states with total damage caps (196,495.34 dollars vs 265,554.50 dollars, P = .001). Mean payments were 22% less in states with noneconomic damage caps (219,225.98 dollars vs 279,849.86 dollars, P = .010). Total damage caps were associated with lower mean annual premiums, especially for obstetricians (22,371.57 dollars vs 42,728.68 dollars, P <.001). Hard noneconomic damage caps were associated with premium reductions for obstetricians (30,283.75 vs 45,740.88; P = .039). Significant reductions in malpractice payments could be realized if total or noneconomic damage caps were operating nationally. Hard noneconomic damage and total damage caps could yield lower premiums. If tied to a comprehensive plan for reform, the money saved could be diverted to implement alternative approaches to patient compensation or be used to achieve other systems reform benefiting patients, employers, physicians, and hospitals.

Severe sepsis in community-acquired pneumonia--early recognition and treatment.

PubMed

Pereira, Jose Manuel; Paiva, Jose Artur; Rello, Jordi

2012-07-01

Despite remarkable advances in its management, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality leading to significant consumption of health, social and economic resources. The assessment of CAP severity is a cornerstone in its management, facilitating selection of the most appropriate site of care and empirical antibiotic therapy. Several clinical scoring systems based on 30-day mortality have been developed to identify those patients with the highest risk of death. Although well validated in appropriate patient groups, each system has its own limitations and each exhibits different sensitivity and specificity values. These problems have increased interest in the use of biomarkers to predict CAP severity. Although so far no ideal solution has been identified, recent advances in bacterial genomic load quantification have made this tool very attractive. Early antibiotic therapy is essential to the reduction of CAP mortality and the selection of antibiotic treatment according to clinical guidelines is also associated with an improved outcome. In addition, the addition of a macrolide to standard empirical therapy seems to improve outcome in severe CAP although the mechanism of this is unclear. Finally, the role of adjuvant therapy has not yet been satisfactorily established. In this review we will present our opinion on current best practice in the assessment of severity and treatment of severe CAP. Copyright © 2012 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Physical, chemical and mineralogical evolution of the Tolhuaca geothermal system, southern Andes, Chile: Insights into the interplay between hydrothermal alteration and brittle deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez-Alfaro, Pablo; Reich, Martin; Arancibia, Gloria; Pérez-Flores, Pamela; Cembrano, José; Driesner, Thomas; Lizama, Martin; Rowland, Julie; Morata, Diego; Heinrich, Christoph A.; Tardani, Daniele; Campos, Eduardo

2016-09-01

In this study, we unravel the physical, chemical and mineralogical evolution of the active Tolhuaca geothermal system in the Andes of southern Chile. We used temperature measurements in the deep wells and geochemical analyses of borehole fluid samples to constrain present-day fluid conditions. In addition, we reconstructed the paleo-fluid temperatures and chemistry from microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS analysis of fluid inclusions taken from well-constrained parageneses in vein samples retrieved from a 1000 m borehole core. Based on core logging, mineralogical observations and fluid inclusions data we identify four stages (S1-S4) of progressive hydrothermal alteration. An early heating event (S1) was followed by the formation of a clay-rich cap in the upper zone (< 670 m) and the development of a propylitic alteration assemblage at greater depth (S2). Boiling, flashing and brecciation occurred later (S3), followed by a final phase of fluid mixing and boiling (S4). The evolution of hydrothermal alteration at Tolhuaca has produced a mineralogical, hydrological and structural vertical segmentation of the system through the development of a low-permeability, low-cohesion clay-rich cap at shallow depth. The quantitative chemical analyses of fluid inclusions and borehole fluids reveal a significant change in chemical conditions during the evolution of Tolhuaca. Whereas borehole (present-day) fluids are rich in Au, B and As, but Cu-poor (B/Na 100.5, As/Na 10- 1.1, Cu/Na 10- 4.2), the paleofluids trapped in fluid inclusions are Cu-rich but poor in B and As (B/Na 10- 1, As/Na 10- 2.5, Cu/Na 10- 2.5 in average). We interpret the fluctuations in fluid chemistry at Tolhuaca as the result of transient supply of metal-rich, magmatically derived fluids where As, Au and Cu are geochemically decoupled. Since these fluctuating physical and chemical conditions at the reservoir produced a mineralogical vertical segmentation of the system that affects the mechanical and hydrological properties of host rock, we explored the effect of the development of a low-cohesion low-permeability clay cap on the conditions of fault rupture and on the long-term thermal structure of the system. These analyses were performed by using rock failure condition calculations and numerical simulations of heat and fluid flows. Calculations of the critical fluid pressures required to produce brittle rupture indicate that within the clay-rich cap, the creation or reactivation of highly permeable extensional fractures is inhibited. In contrast, in the deep upflow zone the less pervasive formation of clay mineral assemblages has allowed retention of rock strength and dilatant behavior during slip, sustaining high permeability conditions. Numerical simulations of heat and fluid flows support our observations and suggest that the presence of a low permeability clay cap has helped increase the duration of high-enthalpy conditions by a factor of three in the deep upflow zone at Tolhuaca geothermal system, when compared with an evolutionary scenario where a clay cap was not developed. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that the dynamic interplay between fluid flow, crack-seal processes and hydrothermal alteration are key factors in the evolution of the hydrothermal system, leading to the development of a high enthalpy reservoir at the flank of the dormant Tolhuaca volcano.

Conductive atomic force microscopy studies on the transformation of GeSi quantum dots to quantum rings.

PubMed

Zhang, S L; Xue, F; Wu, R; Cui, J; Jiang, Z M; Yang, X J

2009-04-01

Conductive atomic force microscopy has been employed to study the topography and conductance distribution of individual GeSi quantum dots (QDs) and quantum rings (QRs) during the transformation from QDs to QRs by depositing an Si capping layer on QDs. The current distribution changes significantly with the topographic transformation during the Si capping process. Without the capping layer, the QDs are dome-shaped and the conductance is higher at the ring region between the center and boundary than that at the center. After capping with 0.32 nm Si, the shape of the QDs changes to pyramidal and the current is higher at both the center and the arris. When the Si capping layer increases to 2 nm, QRs are formed and the current of individual QRs is higher at the rim than that at the central hole. By comparing the composition distributions obtained by scanning Auger microscopy and atomic force microscopy combined with selective chemical etching, the origin of the current distribution change is discussed.

Crystal structure of Bacillus anthracis transpeptidase enzyme CapD.

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

Wu, R.; Richter, S.; Zhang, R.

2009-09-04

Bacillus anthracis elaborates a poly-{gamma}-d-glutamic acid capsule that protects bacilli from phagocytic killing during infection. The enzyme CapD generates amide bonds with peptidoglycan cross-bridges to anchor capsular material within the cell wall envelope of B. anthracis. The capsular biosynthetic pathway is essential for virulence during anthrax infections and can be targeted for anti-infective inhibition with small molecules. Here, we present the crystal structures of the {gamma}-glutamyltranspeptidase CapD with and without {alpha}-l-Glu-l-Glu dipeptide, a non-hydrolyzable analog of poly-{gamma}-d-glutamic acid, in the active site. Purified CapD displays transpeptidation activity in vitro, and its structure reveals an active site broadly accessible for poly-{gamma}-glutamatemore » binding and processing. Using structural and biochemical information, we derive a mechanistic model for CapD catalysis whereby Pro{sup 427}, Gly{sup 428}, and Gly{sup 429} activate the catalytic residue of the enzyme, Thr{sup 352}, and stabilize an oxyanion hole via main chain amide hydrogen bonds.« less

Mechanical and thermal properties of promising polymer composites for food packaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdellah Ali, S. F.

2016-07-01

Blending starches with biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was used as a route to make processable thermoplastics. When developing biodegradable polymer composites it is important to use high concentrations of starch for legislative and cost reasons. The addition of starch has a significant effect on all physical properties including toughness, elongation at break and the rheological behaviour of the melt. To enhance the physical properties, we used cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) as a cellulose derivative with high amylase starch and PCL blends. It is suggested that the PCL/starch/CAP blends are partially miscible. It was found that the yield tensile strengths of most PCL/Starch/CAP blends were higher than that of pure PCL itself. There was a big difference between glass transition temperature values of PCL/Starch/CAP blends and the pure PCL glass transition temperature which indicates that no phase separation occurs. Addition of CAP to starch and PCL blends improved the mechanical and thermal properties even at high content of starch.

A modelling framework for the transport, transformation and biouptake of manufactured nanoparticles in the aquatic environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lofts, Stephen; Keller, Virginie; Dumont, Egon; Williams, Richard; Praetorius, Antonia; von der Kammer, Frank

2016-04-01

The development of innovative new chemical products is a key aspect of the modern economy, yet society demands that such development is environmentally sustainable. Developing knowledge of how new classes of chemicals behave following release to the environment is key to understanding the hazards that will potentially result. Nanoparticles are a key example of a class of chemicals that have undergone a significant expansion in production and use in recent years and so there is a need to develop tools to predict their potential hazard following their deliberate or incidental release to the environment. Generalising the understanding of the environmental behaviour of manufactured nanoparticles in general is challenging, as they are chemically and physically diverse (e.g. metals, metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, cellulose, quantum dots). Furthermore, nanoparticles may be manufactured with capping agents to modify their desired behaviour in industrial applications; such agents may also influence their environmental behaviour. Also, nanoparticles may become significantly modified from their as-manufactured forms both prior to and after the point of environmental release. Tools for predicting nanoparticle behaviour and hazard need to be able to consider a wide range of release scenarios and aspects of nanoparticle behaviour in the environment (e.g. dissolution, transformation of capping agents, agglomeration and aggregation behaviour), where such behaviours are not shared by all types of nanoparticle. This implies the need for flexible, futureproofed tools capable of being updated to take new understanding of behavioural processes into account as such knowledge emerges. This presentation will introduce the NanoFASE model system, a multimedia modelling framework for the transport, transformation and biouptake of manufactured nanoparticles. The complete system will comprise atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic compartments to allow holistic simulation of nanoparticles; this presentation will focus on the aquatic compartment but will demonstrate the linkages with the other compartments. The system is intended for application at scales up to a large European river catchment at a resolution suitable for assessing spatially-resolved fate and biouptake. The model will be built around a transport framework which will deal with the bulk movement of water, sediments and nanoparticles through the system. Transformation processes such as dissolution, capping agent transformation, sorption of environmental molecules to particle surfaces, heteroaggregation with sediments, will be dealt with within 'reactors' with each grid cell. The reactor concept is intended to provide a separation between transport and transformation process, to allow alternative formulations of transformation processes for different classes of nanoparticles, and to allow new and updated formulations to be readily incorporated. Using this structure we aim to develop a flexible system capable of simulating the environmental transformation and fate of diverse nanoparticle classes under varying release scenarios. We will show conceptual model structures for release scenarios most relevant to the aquatic environment.

Biologic Potential of Calcium Phosphate Biopowders Produced via Decomposition Combustion Synthesis

PubMed Central

Vollmer, N.; King, K.B.; Ayers, R.

2015-01-01

The aim of this research was to evaluate the biologic potential of calcium phosphate (CaP) biopowders produced with a novel reaction synthesis system. Decomposition combustion synthesis (DCS) is a modified combustion synthesis method capable of producing CaP powders for use in bone tissue engineering applications. During DCS, the stoichiometric ratio of reactant salt to fuel was adjusted to alter product chemistry and morphology. In vitro testing methods were utilized to determine the effects of controlling product composition on cytotoxicity, proliferation, biocompatibility and biomineralization. In vitro, human fetal osteoblasts (ATCC, CRL-11372) cultured with CaP powder displayed a flattened morphology, and uniformly encompassed the CaP particulates. Matrix vesicles containing calcium and phosphorous budded from the osteoblast cells. CaP powders produced via DCS are a source of biologically active, synthetic, bone graft substitute materials PMID:26034341

KSC-2013-3161

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-01

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, talks to media following the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. CCtCap will be the next phase of certification efforts for CCP mission to the International Space Station. The purpose of the conference was to involve aerospace industry representatives in the CCtCap draft Request for Proposal, or RFP, process and provide a greater understanding for both parties before the official RFP is released in the fall of 2013. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2013-3155

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-01

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana welcomes aerospace industry representatives to the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference. CCtCap will be the next phase of certification efforts for the agency's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, missions to the International Space Station. The purpose of the conference was to involve industry in the CCtCap draft Request for Proposal, or RFP, process and provide a greater understanding for both parties before the official RFP is released in the fall of 2013. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2013-3159

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-01

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Panelists of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida are, from left, Maria Collura, Brian Hinerth, Trip Healy and Lee Pagel. CCtCap will be the next phase of certification efforts for CCP mission to the International Space Station. The purpose of the conference was to involve aerospace industry representatives in the CCtCap draft Request for Proposal, or RFP, process and provide a greater understanding for both parties before the official RFP is released in the fall of 2013. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2013-3158

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-01

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, makes opening remarks at the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. CCtCap will be the next phase of certification efforts for CCP mission to the International Space Station. The purpose of the conference was to involve aerospace industry representatives in the CCtCap draft Request for Proposal, or RFP, process and provide a greater understanding for both parties before the official RFP is released in the fall of 2013. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2013-3157

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-01

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, makes opening remarks at the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. CCtCap will be the next phase of certification efforts for CCP mission to the International Space Station. The purpose of the conference was to involve aerospace industry representatives in the CCtCap draft Request for Proposal, or RFP, process and provide a greater understanding for both parties before the official RFP is released in the fall of 2013. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

Graphite composite truss welding and cap section forming subsystems. Volume 1: Executive summary. [large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A rolltrusion process was developed for forming of a hybrid, single-ply woven graphite and glass fiber cloth, impregnated with a polysulfone resin and coated with TI02 pigmented P-1700 resin into strips for the on-orbit fabrication of triangular truss segments. Ultrasonic welding in vacuum showed no identifiable effects on weld strength or resin flow characteristics. An existing bench model cap roll forming machine was modified and used to roll form caps for the prototype test truss and for column test specimens in order to test local buckling and torsional instability characteristics.

EEG electrode caps can reduce SAR induced in the head by GSM900 mobile phones.

PubMed

Hamblin, Denise L; Anderson, Vitas; McIntosh, Robert L; McKenzie, Ray J; Wood, Andrew W; Iskra, Steve; Croft, Rodney J

2007-05-01

This paper investigates the influence of EEG electrode caps on specific absorption rate (SAR) in the head from a GSM900 mobile phone (217-Hz modulation, peak power output 2 W). SAR measurements were recorded in an anthropomorphic phantom using a precision robotic system. Peak 10 g average SAR in the whole head and in just the temporal region was compared for three phantom arrangements; no cap, 64-electrode "Electro-Cap," and 64-electrode "Quick-Cap". Relative to the "no cap" arrangement, the Electro-Cap and Quick-Cap caused a peak SAR (10 g) reduction of 14% and 18% respectively in both the whole head and in the temporal region. Additional computational modeling confirmed that SAR (10 g) is reduced by the presence of electrode leads and that the extent of the effect varies according to the orientation of the leads with respect to the radiofrequency (RF) source. The modeling also indicated that the nonconductive shell between the electrodes and simulated head material does not significantly alter the electrode lead shielding effect. The observed SAR reductions are not likely to be sufficiently large to have accounted for null EEG findings in the past but should nonetheless be noted in studies aiming to measure and report human brain activity under similar exposure conditions.

Enhanced protective immune response to PCV2 subunit vaccine by co-administration of recombinant porcine IFN-γ in mice.

PubMed

Wang, Yi-Ping; Liu, Dan; Guo, Long-Jun; Tang, Qing-Hai; Wei, Yan-Wu; Wu, Hong-Li; Liu, Jian-Bo; Li, Sheng-Bin; Huang, Li-Ping; Liu, Chang-Ming

2013-01-21

The capsid (Cap) protein of PCV2 is the major immunogenic protein that is crucial to induce PCV2-specific neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity; thus, it is a suitable target antigen for the research and development of genetically engineered vaccines against PCV2 infection. IFN-γ has exhibited potential efficacy as an immune adjuvant that enhances the immunogenicity of certain vaccines in experimental animal models. In this study, three recombinant proteins: PCV2-Cap protein, porcine IFN-γ (PoIFN-γ), and the fusion protein (Cap-PoIFN-γ) of PCV2-Cap protein and PoIFN-γ were respectively expressed in the baculovirus system, and analyzed by Western blot and indirect ELISA. Additionally, we evaluated the enhancement of the protective immune response to the Cap protein-based PCV2 subunit vaccine elicited by co-administration of PoIFN-γ in mice. Vaccination of mice with the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ vaccine elicited significantly higher levels of PCV2-specific IPMA antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and lymphocyte proliferative responses compared to the Cap-PoIFN-γ vaccine, the PCV2-Cap vaccine, and LG-strain. Following virulent PCV2 challenge, no viraemia was detected in all immunized groups, and the viral loads in lungs of the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ group were significantly lower compared to the Cap-PoIFN-γ group, the LG-strain group, and the mock group, but slightly lower compared to the PCV2-Cap group. These findings suggested that PoIFN-γ substantially enhanced the protective immune response to the Cap protein-based PCV2 subunit vaccine, and that the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ subunit vaccine potentially serves as an attractive candidate vaccine for the prevention and control of PCV2-associated diseases. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure across the northeastern margin of Flemish Cap, offshore Newfoundland from Erable multichannel seismic reflection profiles: evidence for a transtensional rifting environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welford, J. Kim; Hall, Jeremy; Sibuet, Jean-Claude; Srivastava, Shiri P.

2010-11-01

We present the results from processing and interpreting nine multichannel seismic reflection lines collected during the 1992 Erable experiment over the northeastern margin of Flemish Cap offshore Newfoundland. These lines, combined into five cross-sections, provide increased seismic coverage over this lightly probed section of the margin and reveal tectonically significant along-strike variations in the degree and compartmentalization of crustal thinning. Similar to the southeastern margins of Flemish Cap and the Grand Banks, a transitional zone of exhumed serpentinized mantle is interpreted between thinned continental and oceanic crust. The 25 km wide transitional zone bears similarities to the 120 km wide transitional zone interpreted as exhumed serpentinized mantle on the conjugate Irish Atlantic margin but the significant width difference is suggestive of an asymmetric conjugate pair. A 40-50 km wide zone of inferred strike-slip shearing is interpreted and observed to extend along most of the northeastern margin of Flemish Cap. Individual shear zones (SZs) may represent extensions of SZs and normal faults within the Orphan Basin providing further evidence for the rotation and displacement of Flemish Cap out of Orphan Basin. The asymmetry between the Flemish Cap and Irish conjugate pairs is likely due in large part to the rotation and displacement of Flemish Cap which resulted in the Flemish Cap margin displaying features of both a strike-slip margin and an extensional margin.

Acoustic Monitoring of the Arctic Ice Cap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porter, D. L.; Goemmer, S. A.; Chayes, D. N.

2012-12-01

Introduction The monitoring of the Arctic Ice Cap is important economically, tactically, and strategically. In the scenario of ice cap retreat, new paths of commerce open, e.g. waterways from Northern Europe to the Far East. Where ship-going commerce is conducted, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have always stood guard and been prepared to assist from acts of nature and of man. It is imperative that in addition to measuring the ice from satellites, e.g. Icesat, that we have an ability to measure the ice extent, its thickness, and roughness. These parameters play an important part in the modeling of the ice and the processes that control its growth or shrinking and its thickness. The proposed system consists of three subsystems. The first subsystem is an acoustic source, the second is an array of geophones and the third is a system to supply energy and transmit the results back to the analysis laboratory. The subsystems are described below. We conclude with a plan on how to tackle this project and the payoff to the ice cap modeler and hence the users, i.e. commerce and defense. System Two historically tested methods to generate a large amplitude multi-frequency sound source include explosives and air guns. A new method developed and tested by the University of Texas, ARL is a combustive Sound Source [Wilson, et al., 1995]. The combustive sound source is a submerged combustion chamber that is filled with the byproducts of the electrolysis of sea water, i.e. Hydrogen and Oxygen, an explosive mixture which is ignited via a spark. Thus, no additional compressors, gases, or explosives need to be transported to the Arctic to generate an acoustic pulse capable of the sediment and the ice. The second subsystem would be geophones capable of listening in the O(10 Hz) range and transmitting that data back to the laboratory. Thus two single arrays of geophones arranged orthogonal to each other with a range of 1000's of kilometers and a combustive sound source where the two arrays intersect would comprise an ice cap monitoring system. The third subsystem is the energy and telemetry required to run the systems. The geophones are low energy compared to the combustive sound source and might be supplied by batteries and a solar panel (at least for half the year). The combustive sound source needs a large continuously energy supply. Two energy harvesting ideas, which need further investigation, are a wind turbine, and a Stirling engine that runs off the temperature difference between the ocean and the atmosphere. Analysis It is expected that the recording of the acoustics energy, as it travels through the ice and is detected by the geophones, will provide estimates of ice anisotropy and coherence. These give estimates of the ice roughness and thickness, respectively, and are key parameters for modeling the changes in the ice cap cover in the Artic. Reference: P. S. Wilson, T. G. Muir, J. A. Behrens, and J. L. Elizey, "Applications of the combustive sound source," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 97, 3298(A) (1995).

Modeling of subsurface structures in Telomoyo Volcano geothermal area, Magelang using 1-D magnetotelluric method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarjan, Achmad Fajar Narotama; Niasari, Sintia Windhi

2017-07-01

There are some of geothermal prospects around Java Island. One of them are located in Telomoyo Volcano area, Magelang, Central Java. The existence of hot spring manifestations in Telomoyo Volcano area shows the presence of geothermal system. The upflow zone of this geothermal system was formed in the caldera of Telomoyo Volcano area, while the outflow zone was formed around Candi Umbul. In addition, from the geological map shows a geological structure assumed as a normal fault with southwest-northeast orientation that was caused by the volcanic activity. The aim of this research is to give a brief introduction about subsurface resistivity beneath Telomoyo Volcano area using 1-D magnetotelluric forward model. Thus, we can determine the possibility of data that will obtained during the acquisition process based on the geological model that was made. The apparent resistivity, phase, and period values were obtained from the forward modeling process. The result from this study is a 1-D resistivity section with synthetics curves of each geothermal model. In each model the presence of clay cap characterized by a low resistivity layer. A layer below the clay cap with a medium resistivity value interpreted as the reservoir of this geothermal system. The heat source of this geothermal area is characterized by a low resistivity that is located at depth 4000-5500m. This study is still in progress to acquire the exact values of resistivity from each layer from the field data acquisition in Telomoyo Volcano area, Magelang.

Controlling the size and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles by capping with SiO{sub 2}

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

Babu, K. Sowri, E-mail: sowribabuk@gmail.com; Reddy, A. Ramachandra; Reddy, K. Venugopal

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Small and uniform sized ZnO nanoparticles were obtained with SiO{sub 2} coating. • ZnO and ZnO–SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite exhibited excitation wavelength dependent PL. • Maximum UV emission intensity was obtained with 353 nm excitation wavelength. • Excitation processes in SiO{sub 2} were also contributed to the UV intensity. • It was found that oxygen vacancies and interstitials enhanced with SiO{sub 2} coating. - Abstract: The size and shape of the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized through sol–gel method were controlled by capping with SiO{sub 2}. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Highmore » Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM) results demonstrated that the particle growth of the ZnO nanoparticles has been restricted to 5 nm with SiO{sub 2} capping. As a result, the absorption spectra of ZnO nanoparticles capped with SiO{sub 2} got blue shifted (toward lower wavelength side) due to strong quantum confinement effects. BET (Brunauer–Emmet–Teller) surface area pore size analyzer results showed that surface area of samples increased monotonously with increase of SiO{sub 2} concentration. It was observed that the absorption spectra of ZnO capped with SiO{sub 2} broadened with increase of SiO{sub 2} concentration. Absorption and photoluminescence excitation results (PLE) confirmed that this broadening is due to the absorption of non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHC) of SiO{sub 2}. These results also indicated that ZnO nanoparticles capped with SiO{sub 2} are insensitive to Raman scattering. Maximum UV emission intensity was achieved with 353 nm excitation wavelength compared to 320 nm in ZnO as well as in SiO{sub 2} capped ZnO nanoparticles. Furthermore, there is an enhancement in the intensities of emission peaks related to oxygen vacancies and interstitials with SiO{sub 2} capping. The enhancement in the UV intensity is attributed to the surface passivation of ZnO nanoparticles and excitation processes in SiO{sub 2}.« less

Ybp1 and Gpx3 signaling in Candida albicans govern hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation of the Cap1 transcription factor and macrophage escape.

PubMed

Patterson, Miranda J; McKenzie, Christopher G; Smith, Deborah A; da Silva Dantas, Alessandra; Sherston, Sam; Veal, Elizabeth A; Morgan, Brian A; MacCallum, Donna M; Erwig, Lars-Peter; Quinn, Janet

2013-12-20

As Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen of humans, there is an urgent need to understand how this pathogen evades toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the host immune system. A key regulator of antioxidant gene expression, and thus ROS resistance, in C. albicans is the AP-1-like transcription factor Cap1. Despite this, little is known regarding the intracellular signaling mechanisms that underlie the oxidation and activation of Cap1. Therefore, the aims of this study were; (i) to identify the regulatory proteins that govern Cap1 oxidation, and (ii) to investigate the importance of Cap1 oxidation in C. albicans pathogenesis. In response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but not glutathione-depleting/modifying oxidants, Cap1 oxidation, nuclear accumulation, phosphorylation, and Cap1-dependent gene expression, is mediated by a glutathione peroxidase-like enzyme, which we name Gpx3, and an orthologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yap1 binding protein, Ybp1. In addition, Ybp1 also functions to stabilise Cap1 and this novel function is conserved in S. cerevisiae. C. albicans cells lacking Cap1, Ybp1, or Gpx3, are unable to filament and thus, escape from murine macrophages after phagocytosis, and also display defective virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Ybp1 is required to promote the stability of fungal AP-1-like transcription factors, and Ybp1 and Gpx3 mediated Cap1-dependent oxidative stress responses are essential for the effective killing of macrophages by C. albicans. Activation of Cap1, specifically by H2O2, is a prerequisite for the subsequent filamentation and escape of this fungal pathogen from the macrophage.

Comparing XPS on bare and capped ZrN films grown by plasma enhanced ALD: Effect of ambient oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muneshwar, Triratna; Cadien, Ken

2018-03-01

In this article we compare x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements on bare- and capped- zirconium nitride (ZrN) films to investigate the effect of ambient sample oxidation on the detected bound O in the form of oxide ZrO2 and/or oxynitride ZrOxNy. ZrN films in both bare- and Al2O3/AlN capped- XPS samples were grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) technique using tetrakis dimethylamino zirconium (TDMAZr) precursor, forming gas (5% H2, rest N2) inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and as received research grade process gases under identical process conditions. Capped samples were prepared by depositing 1 nm thick PEALD AlN on ZrN, followed by additional deposition of 1 nm thick ALD Al2O3, without venting of ALD reactor. On bare ZrN sample at room temperature, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements with increasing ambient exposure times (texp) showed a self-limiting surface oxidation with the oxide thickness (dox) approaching 3.7 ± 0.02 nm for texp > 120 min. In XPS data measured prior to sample sputtering (tsput = 0), ZrO2 and ZrOxNy were detected in bare- samples, whereas only ZrN and Al2O3/AlN from capping layer were detected in capped- samples. For bare-ZrN samples, appearance of ZrO2 and ZrOxNy up to sputter depth (dsput) of 15 nm in depth-profile XPS data is in contradiction with measured dox = 3.7 nm, but explained from sputtering induced atomic inter-diffusion within analyzed sample. Appearance of artifacts in the XPS spectra from moderately sputtered (dsput = 0.2 nm and 0.4 nm) capped-ZrN sample, provides an evidence to ion-bombardment induced modifications within analyzed sample.

Space Shuttle Orbiter Digital Outer Mold Line Scanning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Charles H.; Wilson, Brad; Pavek, Mike; Berger, Karen

2012-01-01

The Space Shuttle Orbiters Discovery and Endeavor have been digitally scanned to produce post-flight configuration outer mold line surfaces. Very detailed scans of the windward side of these vehicles provide resolution of the detailed tile step and gap geometry, as well as the reinforced carbon carbon nose cap and leading edges. Lower resolution scans of the upper surface provide definition of the crew cabin windows, wing upper surfaces, payload bay doors, orbital maneuvering system pods and the vertical tail. The process for acquisition of these digital scans as well as post-processing of the very large data set will be described.

Current treatment recommendations and considerations for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.

PubMed

Koné-Paut, Isabelle; Galeotti, Caroline

2015-01-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) encompasses a spectrum of three phenotypes of increasing severity. The syndrome is due to dominant mutations in NLRP3, which encodes a key component of the innate immunity that regulates the secretion of IL-1β. CAPS manifests as systemic inflammation, which compromises quality of life and leads to serious complications and handicap. Anti-IL-1 drugs have shown remarkable efficacy in treating CAPS symptoms and have significantly changed patients' lives. They have acceptable safety profiles but do have some differences. We review three drugs that are currently marketed for CAPS, give additional information for the practical use of these drugs, and provide some recommendations for management.

Injectors for Multipoint Injection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prociw, Lev Alexander (Inventor); Ryon, Jason (Inventor)

2015-01-01

An injector for a multipoint combustor system includes an inner air swirler which defines an interior flow passage and a plurality of swirler inlet ports in an upstream portion thereof. The inlet ports are configured and adapted to impart swirl on flow in the interior flow passage. An outer air cap is mounted outboard of the inner swirler. A fuel passage is defined between the inner air swirler and the outer air cap, and includes a discharge outlet between downstream portions of the inner air swirler and the outer air cap for issuing fuel for combustion. The outer air cap defines an outer air circuit configured for substantially unswirled injection of compressor discharge air outboard of the interior flow passage.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-114 Pilot James Kelly (center) and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, who was recently added to the mission crew, look at the nose cap recently removed from Atlantis. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in equipment familiarization.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-114 Pilot James Kelly (center) and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, who was recently added to the mission crew, look at the nose cap recently removed from Atlantis. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in equipment familiarization.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-114 Mission Specialists Charles Camarda and Andy Thomas, who were recently added to the crew, look at the nose cap recently removed from Atlantis. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in crew equipment and orbiter familiarization.

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-10-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-114 Mission Specialists Charles Camarda and Andy Thomas, who were recently added to the crew, look at the nose cap recently removed from Atlantis. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in crew equipment and orbiter familiarization.

Risk for Intimate Partner Violence and Child Physical Abuse: Psychosocial Characteristics of Multirisk Male and Female Navy Recruits

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-01

Abuse Scale of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) In- ventory. The CAP is a 160-item, forced-choice (i.e., agree or disagree), self-report questionnaire... child abuse (Milner, Gold, Ayoub, & Jacewitz, 1984). Even when CAP scores are obtained before a child is born, they predict later negative child out...integrating domes- tic violence and child abuse prevention services may be exacerbated by the fact that these systems tend to converge around cases in

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, N.A.

1987-04-22

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell. 6 figs.

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, Nicholas A [Kennewick, WA

1989-01-01

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell.

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, Nicholas A.

1989-04-04

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell.

Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical: Where The Nation Heals Its Heroes

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-25

Military Health System Conference JTF CapMed Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of...Casualty Care is JTF CapMed’s number one priority 2011 MHS Conference JTF CapMed Relationships 3 JTF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE...11 March‐11 Complete Modular Furniture Initial Eq Outfitting  Critical  Areas 15 Jun 2011 Construction Furniture & Initial Outfitting LANAvailable Blds

Bioactive Surface Modification of Hydroxyapatite

PubMed Central

Okazaki, Yohei; Hiasa, Kyou; Yasuda, Keisuke; Nogami, Keisuke; Mizumachi, Wataru; Hirata, Isao

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to establish an acid-etching procedure for altering the Ca/P ratio of the nanostructured surface of hydroxyapatite (HAP) by using surface chemical and morphological analyses (XPS, XRD, SEM, surface roughness, and wettability) and to evaluate the in vitro response of osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1 cells) to the modified surfaces. This study utilized HAP and HAP treated with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60% phosphoric acid solution for 10 minutes at 25°C, followed by rinsing 3 times with ultrapure water. The 30% phosphoric acid etching process that provided a Ca/P ratio of 1.50, without destruction of the grain boundary of HAP, was selected as a surface-modification procedure. Additionally, HAP treated by the 30% phosphoric acid etching process was stored under dry conditions at 25°C for 12 hours, and the Ca/P ratio approximated to 1.00 accidentally. The initial adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and relative mRNA level for ALP) of MC3T3-E1 cells on the modified surfaces were significantly promoted (P < 0.05 and 0.01). These findings show that the 30% phosphoric acid etching process for the nanostructured HAP surface can alter the Ca/P ratio effectively and may accelerate the initial adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. PMID:23862150

Altered redox state of monocytes from cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes causes accelerated IL-1β secretion

PubMed Central

Tassi, Sara; Carta, Sonia; Delfino, Laura; Caorsi, Roberta; Martini, Alberto; Gattorno, Marco; Rubartelli, Anna

2010-01-01

In healthy monocytes, Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by an antioxidant response involved in IL-1β processing and secretion. Markers of the antioxidant response include intracellular thioredoxin and extracellular release of reduced cysteine. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are autoinflammatory diseases in which Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain–containing 3 (NLRP3) gene mutations lead to increased IL-1β secretion. We show in a large cohort of patients that IL-1β secretion by CAPS monocytes is much faster than that by healthy monocytes. This accelerated kinetics is caused by alterations in the basal redox state, as well as in the redox response to TLR triggering displayed by CAPS monocytes. Indeed, unstimulated CAPS monocytes are under a mild oxidative stress, with elevated levels of both ROS and antioxidants. The redox response to LPS is quickened, with early generation of the reducing conditions favoring IL-1β processing and secretion, and then rapidly exhausted. Therefore, secretion of IL-1β is accelerated, but reaches a plateau much earlier than in healthy controls. Pharmacologic inhibition of the redox response hinders IL-1β release, confirming the functional link between redox impairment and altered kinetics of secretion. Monocytes from patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis display normal kinetics of redox response and IL-1β secretion, excluding a role of chronic inflammation in the alterations observed in CAPS. We conclude that preexisting redox alterations distinct from CAPS monocytes anticipate the pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecule–induced generation of the reducing environment favorable to inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion. PMID:20445104

Altered redox state of monocytes from cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes causes accelerated IL-1beta secretion.

PubMed

Tassi, Sara; Carta, Sonia; Delfino, Laura; Caorsi, Roberta; Martini, Alberto; Gattorno, Marco; Rubartelli, Anna

2010-05-25

In healthy monocytes, Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by an antioxidant response involved in IL-1beta processing and secretion. Markers of the antioxidant response include intracellular thioredoxin and extracellular release of reduced cysteine. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are autoinflammatory diseases in which Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) gene mutations lead to increased IL-1beta secretion. We show in a large cohort of patients that IL-1beta secretion by CAPS monocytes is much faster than that by healthy monocytes. This accelerated kinetics is caused by alterations in the basal redox state, as well as in the redox response to TLR triggering displayed by CAPS monocytes. Indeed, unstimulated CAPS monocytes are under a mild oxidative stress, with elevated levels of both ROS and antioxidants. The redox response to LPS is quickened, with early generation of the reducing conditions favoring IL-1beta processing and secretion, and then rapidly exhausted. Therefore, secretion of IL-1beta is accelerated, but reaches a plateau much earlier than in healthy controls. Pharmacologic inhibition of the redox response hinders IL-1beta release, confirming the functional link between redox impairment and altered kinetics of secretion. Monocytes from patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis display normal kinetics of redox response and IL-1beta secretion, excluding a role of chronic inflammation in the alterations observed in CAPS. We conclude that preexisting redox alterations distinct from CAPS monocytes anticipate the pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecule-induced generation of the reducing environment favorable to inflammasome activation and IL-1beta secretion.

Social Intuition and Social Information in Physical Child Abuse Evaluation and Diagnosis.

PubMed

Keenan, Heather T; Cook, Lawrence J; Olson, Lenora M; Bardsley, Tyler; Campbell, Kristine A

2017-11-01

Poor and minority children with injuries concerning for abuse are evaluated and diagnosed for abuse differentially. We hypothesized that 2 steps in the decision-making process would influence evaluation and diagnosis: social intuition from meeting the family and objective social information associated with child abuse risk. Between 2009 and 2013, 32 child abuse pediatricians (CAPs) submitted 730 child abuse consultations including original medical evaluations and diagnoses. CAPs evaluated and diagnosed each other's cases. Comparisons of evaluations and diagnoses were made by levels of social understanding available to the CAP: meeting the family (social intuition and information), reading the case (social information), and reading the case without social information. Evaluations were compared with a consensus gold standard by using logistic regression modeling adjusting for child and CAP characteristics. Diagnostic categories were compared by level of social understanding and diagnostic certainty by using contingency tables. CAPs without access to social intuition were approximately twice as likely to perform gold standard evaluations for neurotrauma and long bone fracture compared with CAPs who met families. Diagnostic agreement fell from 73.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 70.1%-76.5%) when social information was present to 66.5% (95% CI: 63.1%-70.0%) when social information was restricted. In cases with less certainty, agreement dropped to 51.3% (95% CI: 46.0%-56.7%). Social intuition and information play a role in the physical child abuse decision-making process, which may contribute to differential diagnosis. Simple interventions including decision tools, check lists, and peer review may structure evaluations to ensure children's equal treatment. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Adherence with national guidelines in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: results from the CAPO study in Venezuela.

PubMed

Levy, Gur; Perez, Mario; Rodríguez, Benito; Hernández Voth, Ana; Perez, Jorge; Gnoni, Martin; Kelley, Robert; Wiemken, Timothy; Ramirez, Julio

2015-04-01

The Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization (CAPO) is an international observational study in 130 hospitals, with a total of 31 countries, to assess the current management of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). 2 Using the centralized database of CAPO was decided to conduct this study with the aim of evaluate the level of adherence with national guidelines in Venezuela, to define in which areas an intervention may be necessary to improve the quality of care of hospitalized patients with CAP. In this observational retrospective study quality indicators were used to evaluate the management of hospitalized patients with CAP in 8 Venezuelan's centers. The care of the patients was evaluated in the areas of: hospitalization, oxygen therapy, empiric antibiotic therapy, switch therapy, etiological studies, blood cultures indication, and prevention. The compliance was rated as good (>90%), intermediate (60% to 90%), or low (<60%). A total of 454 patients with CAP were enrolled. The empiric treatment administered within 8 hours of the patient arrival to the hospital was good (96%), but the rest of the indicators showed a low level of adherence (<60%). We can say that there are many areas in the management of CAP in Venezuela that are not performed according to the national guidelines of SOVETHORAX.1 In any quality improvement process the first step is to evaluate the difference between what is recommended and what is done in clinical practice. While this study meets this first step, the challenge for the future is to implement the processes necessary to improve the management of CAP in Venezuela. Copyright © 2013 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Secure optical generalized filter bank multi-carrier system based on cubic constellation masked method.

PubMed

Zhang, Lijia; Liu, Bo; Xin, Xiangjun

2015-06-15

A secure optical generalized filter bank multi-carrier (GFBMC) system with carrier-less amplitude-phase (CAP) modulation is proposed in this Letter. The security is realized through cubic constellation-masked method. Large key space and more flexibility masking can be obtained by cubic constellation masking aligning with the filter bank. An experiment of 18 Gb/s encrypted GFBMC/CAP system with 25-km single-mode fiber transmission is performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.

Cadmium plated steel caps seal anodized aluminum fittings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padden, J.

1971-01-01

Cadmium prevents fracturing of hard anodic coating under torquing to system specification requirements, prevents galvanic coupling, and eliminates need for crush washers, which, though commonly used in industry, do not correct leakage problem experienced when anodized aluminum fittings and anodized aluminum cap assemblies are joined.

Reconciling different observations of the CO2 ice mass loading of the Martian north polar cap

USGS Publications Warehouse

Haberle, R.M.; Mattingly, B.; Titus, T.N.

2004-01-01

The GRS measurements of the peak mass loading of the north polar CO2 ice cap on Mars are about 60% lower than those calculated from MGS TES radiation data and those inferred from the MOLA cap thicknesses. However, the GRS data provide the most accurate measurement of the mass loading. We show that the TES and MOLA data can be reconciled with the GRS data if (1) subsurface heat conduction and atmospheric heat transport are included in the TES mass budget calculations, and (2) the density of the polar deposits is ???600 kg m-3. The latter is much less than that expected for slab ice (???1600 kg m-3) and suggests that processes unique to the north polar region are responsible for the low cap density. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.

Captopril and 6-mercaptopurine: whose SH possesses higher antioxidant ability?

PubMed

Li, Guo-Xiang; Liu, Zai-Qun

2009-12-01

Antioxidant capacities of captopril (CAP), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-6-mercaptopurine (6-MPR) were investigated by interacting them with 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), galvinoxyl radical, and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cation radical (ABTS(+)(*)), and by protecting DNA and erythrocyte against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) induced oxidation. It was found that CAP possessed the highest ability to donate the hydrogen atom in -SH to DPPH and galvinoxyl, while 6-MPR had the strongest ability to reduce ABTS(+)(*). In the process of protecting DNA and erythrocytes against AAPH-induced oxidation, CAP can trap 0.5 and 1.3 radicals, 6-MP can trap 0.6 and 2.2, and 6-MPR can trap 1.0 and 3.0 radicals, respectively. CAP can also protect erythrocytes against hemin-induced hemolysis.

Calcium phosphate coatings modified with zinc- or copper- incorporation on Ti-40Nb alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komarova, E. G.; Sedelnikova, M. B.; Sharkeev, Yu P.; Kazakbaeva, A. A.; Glukhov, I. A.; Khimich, M. A.

2017-05-01

The influence of the microarc oxidation parameters and electrolyte composition on the structure, properties and composition of CaP coatings modified with Zn- or Cu- incorporation on the Ti-40mas.%Nb (Ti-40Nb) alloy was investigated. The linear growth of thickness, roughness, and size of structural elements with process voltage increasing has been revealed. It was shown that the CaP coatings have the low contact angles with liquids and, consequently, high free surface energy. This indicates a high hydrophilicity of the coatings. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the coatings have X-ray amorphous structure. The increase of the process voltage leads to the formation of such crystalline phases as CaHPO4 and β-Ca2P2O7 in the coatings. The maximum Ca/P atomic ratio was equal to 0.4, and Zn or Cu contents was equal to 0.3 or 0.2 at.%, respectively.

A role for the root cap in root branching revealed by the non-auxin probe naxillin.

PubMed

De Rybel, Bert; Audenaert, Dominique; Xuan, Wei; Overvoorde, Paul; Strader, Lucia C; Kepinski, Stefan; Hoye, Rebecca; Brisbois, Ronald; Parizot, Boris; Vanneste, Steffen; Liu, Xing; Gilday, Alison; Graham, Ian A; Nguyen, Long; Jansen, Leentje; Njo, Maria Fransiska; Inzé, Dirk; Bartel, Bonnie; Beeckman, Tom

2012-09-01

The acquisition of water and nutrients by plant roots is a fundamental aspect of agriculture and strongly depends on root architecture. Root branching and expansion of the root system is achieved through the development of lateral roots and is to a large extent controlled by the plant hormone auxin. However, the pleiotropic effects of auxin or auxin-like molecules on root systems complicate the study of lateral root development. Here we describe a small-molecule screen in Arabidopsis thaliana that identified naxillin as what is to our knowledge the first non-auxin-like molecule that promotes root branching. By using naxillin as a chemical tool, we identified a new function for root cap-specific conversion of the auxin precursor indole-3-butyric acid into the active auxin indole-3-acetic acid and uncovered the involvement of the root cap in root branching. Delivery of an auxin precursor in peripheral tissues such as the root cap might represent an important mechanism shaping root architecture.

A role for the root cap in root branching revealed by the non-auxin probe naxillin

PubMed Central

De Rybel, Bert; Audenaert, Dominique; Xuan, Wei; Overvoorde, Paul; Strader, Lucia C; Kepinski, Stefan; Hoye, Rebecca; Brisbois, Ronald; Parizot, Boris; Vanneste, Steffen; Liu, Xing; Gilday, Alison; Graham, Ian A; Nguyen, Long; Jansen, Leentje; Njo, Maria Fransiska; Inzé, Dirk; Bartel, Bonnie; Beeckman, Tom

2013-01-01

The acquisition of water and nutrients by plant roots is a fundamental aspect of agriculture and strongly depends on root architecture. Root branching and expansion of the root system is achieved through the development of lateral roots and is to a large extent controlled by the plant hormone auxin. However, the pleiotropic effects of auxin or auxin-like molecules on root systems complicate the study of lateral root development. Here we describe a small-molecule screen in Arabidopsis thaliana that identified naxillin as what is to our knowledge the first non-auxin-like molecule that promotes root branching. By using naxillin as a chemical tool, we identified a new function for root cap-specific conversion of the auxin precursor indole-3-butyric acid into the active auxin indole-3-acetic acid and uncovered the involvement of the root cap in root branching. Delivery of an auxin precursor in peripheral tissues such as the root cap might represent an important mechanism shaping root architecture. PMID:22885787

Drosophila Casein Kinase I Alpha Regulates Homolog Pairing and Genome Organization by Modulating Condensin II Subunit Cap-H2 Levels

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Huy Q.; Nye, Jonathan; Buster, Daniel W.; Klebba, Joseph E.; Rogers, Gregory C.; Bosco, Giovanni

2015-01-01

The spatial organization of chromosomes within interphase nuclei is important for gene expression and epigenetic inheritance. Although the extent of physical interaction between chromosomes and their degree of compaction varies during development and between different cell-types, it is unclear how regulation of chromosome interactions and compaction relate to spatial organization of genomes. Drosophila is an excellent model system for studying chromosomal interactions including homolog pairing. Recent work has shown that condensin II governs both interphase chromosome compaction and homolog pairing and condensin II activity is controlled by the turnover of its regulatory subunit Cap-H2. Specifically, Cap-H2 is a target of the SCFSlimb E3 ubiquitin-ligase which down-regulates Cap-H2 in order to maintain homologous chromosome pairing, chromosome length and proper nuclear organization. Here, we identify Casein Kinase I alpha (CK1α) as an additional negative-regulator of Cap-H2. CK1α-depletion stabilizes Cap-H2 protein and results in an accumulation of Cap-H2 on chromosomes. Similar to Slimb mutation, CK1α depletion in cultured cells, larval salivary gland, and nurse cells results in several condensin II-dependent phenotypes including dispersal of centromeres, interphase chromosome compaction, and chromosome unpairing. Moreover, CK1α loss-of-function mutations dominantly suppress condensin II mutant phenotypes in vivo. Thus, CK1α facilitates Cap-H2 destruction and modulates nuclear organization by attenuating chromatin localized Cap-H2 protein. PMID:25723539

Central Asian Post-Soviet health systems in transition: has different aid engagement produced different outcomes?

PubMed Central

Ulikpan, Anar; Mirzoev, Tolib; Jimenez, Eliana; Malik, Asmat; Hill, Peter S.

2014-01-01

Background The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in a transition from centrally planned socialist systems to largely free-market systems for post-Soviet states. The health systems of Central Asian Post-Soviet (CAPS) countries (Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) have undergone a profound revolution. External development partners have been crucial to this reorientation through financial and technical support, though both relationships and outcomes have varied. This research provides a comparative review of the development assistance provided in the health systems of CAPS countries and proposes future policy options to improve the effectiveness of development. Design Extensive documentary review was conducted using Pubmed, Medline/Ovid, Scopus, and Google scholar search engines, local websites, donor reports, and grey literature. The review was supplemented by key informant interviews and participant observation. Findings The collapse of the Soviet dominance of the region brought many health system challenges. Donors have played an essential role in the reform of health systems. However, as new aid beneficiaries, neither CAPS countries’ governments nor the donors had the experience of development collaboration in this context. The scale of development assistance for health in CAPS countries has been limited compared to other countries with similar income, partly due to their limited history with the donor community, lack of experience in managing donors, and a limited history of transparency in international dealings. Despite commonalities at the start, two distinctive trajectories formed in CAPS countries, due to their differing politics and governance context. Conclusions The influence of donors, both financially and technically, remains crucial to health sector reform, despite their relatively small contribution to overall health budgets. Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan have demonstrated more effective development cooperation and improved health outcomes; arguably, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have made slower progress in their health and socio-economic indices because of their resistance to open and accountable development relationships. PMID:25231098

System for enhanced destruction of hazardous wastes by in situ vitrification of soil

DOEpatents

Timmerman, Craig L.

1991-01-01

The present invention comprises a system for promoting the destruction of volatile and/or hazardous contaminants present in waste materials during in situ vitrification processes. In accordance with the present invention, a cold cap (46) comprising a cohesive layer of resolidified material is formed over the mass of liquefied soil and waste (40) present between and adjacent to the electrodes (10, 12, 14, 16) during the vitrification process. This layer acts as a barrier to the upward migration of any volatile type materials thereby increasing their residence time in proximity to the heated material. The degree of destruction of volatile and/or hazardous contaminants by pyrolysis is thereby improved during the course of the vitrification procedure.

Evolving Technologies for In-Situ Studies of Mars Ice

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carsey, F. D.; Hecht, M. H.

2003-01-01

Icy sites on Mars continue to be of high scientific importance. These sites include the polar caps, the southern mid-latitude subsurface permafrost, and the seasonal frost. These sites have interest due to their roles in climate processes, past climates, surface and near-surface water, astrobiology, geomorphology, and other topics. As is the case for many planetary features, remote sensing, while of great value, cannot answer all questions; in-situ examination is essential, and the motivation for in-situ observations generally leads to the subsurface, which, fortunately, is accessible on Mars. It is clear in fact that a Mars polar cap subsurface mission is both scientifically compelling and practical. Recent data from orbiting platforms has provided a remarkable level of information about the Mars ice caps; we know, for example, the size, shape and annual cycle of the cap topography as well as we know that of Earth, and we have more information on stratification that we have of, for example, the ice of East Antarctica. To understand the roles that the Mars polar caps play, it is necessary to gather information on the ice cap surface, strata, composition and bed. In this talk the status of in-situ operations and observations will be summarized, and, since we have conveniently at hand another planet with polar caps, permafrost and ice, the role of testing and validation of experimental procedures on Earth will be addressed.

Using Ice Predictions to Guide Submarines

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

the Arctic Cap Nowcast/ Forecast System (ACNFS) in September 2013. The ACNFS consists of a coupled ice -ocean model that assimilates available real...of the ice cover. The age of the sea ice serves as an indicator of its physical properties including surface roughness, melt pond coverage, and...the Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System (ACNFS). Ice thickness is in meters for 11 September 2015. Thickness ranges from zero to five meters as shown

Gas centrifuge purge method

DOEpatents

Theurich, Gordon R.

1976-01-01

1. In a method of separating isotopes in a high speed gas centrifuge wherein a vertically oriented cylindrical rotor bowl is adapted to rotate about its axis within an evacuated chamber, and wherein an annular molecular pump having an intake end and a discharge end encircles the uppermost portion of said rotor bowl, said molecular pump being attached along its periphery in a leak-tight manner to said evacuated chamber, and wherein end cap closure means are affixed to the upper end of said rotor bowl, and a process gas withdrawal and insertion system enters said bowl through said end cap closure means, said evacuated chamber, molecular pump and end cap defining an upper zone at the discharge end of said molecular pump, said evacuated chamber, molecular pump and rotor bowl defining a lower annular zone at the intake end of said molecular pump, a method for removing gases from said upper and lower zones during centrifuge operation with a minimum loss of process gas from said rotor bowl, comprising, in combination: continuously measuring the pressure in said upper zone, pumping gas from said lower zone from the time the pressure in said upper zone equals a first preselected value until the pressure in said upper zone is equal to a second preselected value, said first preselected value being greater than said second preselected value, and continuously pumping gas from said upper zone from the time the pressure in said upper zone equals a third preselected value until the pressure in said upper zone is equal to a fourth preselected value, said third preselected value being greater than said first, second and fourth preselected values.

Root gravitropism: an experimental tool to investigate basic cellular and molecular processes underlying mechanosensing and signal transmission in plants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boonsirichai, K.; Guan, C.; Chen, R.; Masson, P. H.

2002-01-01

The ability of plant organs to use gravity as a guide for growth, named gravitropism, has been recognized for over two centuries. This growth response to the environment contributes significantly to the upward growth of shoots and the downward growth of roots commonly observed throughout the plant kingdom. Root gravitropism has received a great deal of attention because there is a physical separation between the primary site for gravity sensing, located in the root cap, and the site of differential growth response, located in the elongation zones (EZs). Hence, this system allows identification and characterization of different phases of gravitropism, including gravity perception, signal transduction, signal transmission, and curvature response. Recent studies support some aspects of an old model for gravity sensing, which postulates that root-cap columellar amyloplasts constitute the susceptors for gravity perception. Such studies have also allowed the identification of several molecules that appear to function as second messengers in gravity signal transduction and of potential signal transducers. Auxin has been implicated as a probable component of the signal that carries the gravitropic information between the gravity-sensing cap and the gravity-responding EZs. This has allowed the identification and characterization of important molecular processes underlying auxin transport and response in plants. New molecular models can be elaborated to explain how the gravity signal transduction pathway might regulate the polarity of auxin transport in roots. Further studies are required to test these models, as well as to study the molecular mechanisms underlying a poorly characterized phase of gravitropism that is independent of an auxin gradient.

The effects of seasonal and diurnal variations in the Earth's magnetic dipole orientation on solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cnossen, Ingrid; Wiltberger, Michael; Ouellette, Jeremy E.

2012-11-01

The angle μ between the geomagnetic dipole axis and the geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) z axis, sometimes called the “dipole tilt,” varies as a function of UT and season. Observations have shown that the cross-polar cap potential tends to maximize near the equinoxes, when on average μ = 0, with smaller values observed near the solstices. This is similar to the well-known semiannual variation in geomagnetic activity. We use numerical model simulations to investigate the role of two possible mechanisms that may be responsible for the influence of μ on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system: variations in the coupling efficiency between the solar wind and the magnetosphere and variations in the ionospheric conductance over the polar caps. Under southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, variations in ionospheric conductance at high magnetic latitudes are responsible for 10-30% of the variations in the cross-polar cap potential associated with μ, but variations in solar wind-magnetosphere coupling are more important and responsible for 70-90%. Variations in viscous processes contribute slightly to this, but variations in the reconnection rate with μ are the dominant cause. The variation in the reconnection rate is primarily the result of a variation in the length of the section of the separator line along which relatively strong reconnection occurs. Changes in solar wind-magnetosphere coupling also affect the field-aligned currents, but these are influenced as well by variations in the conductance associated with variations in μ, more so than the cross-polar cap potential. This may be the case for geomagnetic activity too.

Commercial-Aircraft Protection System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Case, Russell L., Jr.; Wolff, Peter H.

2004-09-01

Recent world events have identified needs for a commercial aircraft defense system against Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), such as SA-7 and Stinger shoulder launched surface-to-air missiles. Technical challenges include target detection, identification and countermeasures. Political and societal challenges include cost, time to deployment, ground and air safety, and reliability. These challenges, as well as many others, have been met and overcome with the development of Thor Systems' Commercial-Aircraft Protection System (C-APS). C-APS makes use of commercial technology such as radar and infrared sensors with a laser-based countermeasure. Unlike adapted military systems, C-APS detects the threat long before the military versions by employing a 360 degree hemispherical scan, identifying the threat with an infrared sensor and employing a directed laser to not only deflect the target but to permanently disable its seeker. Enhanced capabilities include multiple threat elimination and closed-loop technology for kill verification. All of this is accomplished with development costs less than half that required to convert military technology, manufacturing costs significantly less than competitive products, and a maintenance cycle coincident with standard FAA requirements, which are significantly longer than current systems.

Inhaled concentrated ambient particles are associated with hematologic and bronchoalveolar lavage changes in canines.

PubMed Central

Clarke, R W; Coull, B; Reinisch, U; Catalano, P; Killingsworth, C R; Koutrakis, P; Kavouras, I; Murthy, G G; Lawrence, J; Lovett, E; Wolfson, J M; Verrier, R L; Godleski, J J

2000-01-01

Pulmonary inflammatory and hematologic responses of canines were studied after exposure to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) using the Harvard ambient particle concentrator (HAPC). For pulmonary inflammatory studies, normal dogs were exposed in pairs to either CAPs or filtered air (paired studies) for 6 hr/day on 3 consecutive days. For hematologic studies, dogs were exposed for 6 hr/day for 3 consecutive days with one receiving CAPs while the other was simultaneously exposed to filtered air; crossover of exposure took place the following week (crossover studies). Physicochemical characterization of CAPs exposure samples included measurements of particle mass, size distribution, and composition. No statistical differences in biologic responses were found when all CAPs and all sham exposures were compared. However, the variability in biologic response was considerably higher with CAPs exposure. Subsequent exploratory graphical analyses and mixed linear regression analyses suggested associations between CAPs constituents and biologic responses. Factor analysis was applied to the compositional data from paired and crossover experiments to determine elements consistently associated with each other in CAPs samples. In paired experiments, four factors were identified; in crossover studies, a total of six factors were observed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and hematologic data were regressed on the factor scores. Increased BAL neutrophil percentage, total peripheral white blood cell (WBC) counts, circulating neutrophils, and circulating lymphocytes were associated with increases in the aluminum/silicon factor. Increased circulating neutrophils and increased BAL macrophages were associated with the vanadium/nickel factor. Increased BAL neutrophils were associated with the bromine/lead factor when only the compositional data from the third day of CAPs exposure were used. Significant decreases in red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels were correlated with the sulfur factor. BAL or hematologic parameters were not associated with increases in total CAPs mass concentration. These data suggest that CAPs inhalation is associated with subtle alterations in pulmonary and systemic cell profiles, and specific components of CAPs may be responsible for these biologic responses. PMID:11133399

Thiolate-Capped CdSe/ZnS Core-Shell Quantum Dots for the Sensitive Detection of Glucose.

PubMed

Abd Rahman, Samsulida; Ariffin, Nurhayati; Yusof, Nor Azah; Abdullah, Jaafar; Mohammad, Faruq; Ahmad Zubir, Zuhana; Nik Abd Aziz, Nik Mohd Azmi

2017-07-01

A semiconducting water-soluble core-shell quantum dots (QDs) system capped with thiolated ligand was used in this study for the sensitive detection of glucose in aqueous samples. The QDs selected are of CdSe-coated ZnS and were prepared in house based on a hot injection technique. The formation of ZnS shell at the outer surface of CdSe core was made via a specific process namely, SILAR (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction). The distribution, morphology, and optical characteristics of the prepared core-shell QDs were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectrofluorescence, respectively. From the analysis, the results show that the mean particle size of prepared QDs is in the range of 10-12 nm and that the optimum emission condition was displayed at 620 nm. Further, the prepared CdSe/ZnS core shell QDs were modified by means of a room temperature ligand-exchange method that involves six organic ligands, L -cysteine, L -histidine, thio-glycolic acid (TGA or mercapto-acetic acid, MAA), mercapto-propionic acid (MPA), mercapto-succinic acid (MSA), and mercapto-undecanoic acid (MUA). This process was chosen in order to maintain a very dense water solubilizing environment around the QDs surface. From the analysis, the results show that the CdSe/ZnS capped with TGA (CdSe/ZnS-TGA) exhibited the strongest fluorescence emission as compared to others; hence, it was tested further for the glucose detection after their treatment with glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymes. Here in this study, the glucose detection is based on the fluorescence quenching effect of the QDs, which is correlated to the oxidative reactions occurred between the conjugated enzymes and glucose. From the analysis of results, it can be inferred that the resultant GOx:HRP/CdSe/ZnS-TGA QDs system can be a suitable platform for the fluorescence-based determination of glucose in the real samples.

New impact sensitivity test of liquid explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiutiaev, Andrei; Trebunskih, Valeri

The sensitivity of liquid explosive in the presence of gas bubbles increases many times as compared with the liquid without gas bubbles. Local hot spot in this case formed as a result of compression and heating of the gas inside the bubbles. If we consider that in the liquid as a result of convection, wave motion, shock, etc. gas bubbles are easily generated, the need to develop a method for determining sensitivity of liquid explosives to impact and a detailed study of the ignition explosives with bubbles is obvious. On a mathematical model of a single steam bubbles in the fluid theoretically considered the process of initiating explosive liquid systems to impact. For the experimental investigation, the well-known K-44 -II with the metal cap were used. Instead of the metal cap in the standard method in this paper there was polyurethane foam cylindrical container with LHE, which is easily deforms by impact. A large number of tests with different liquid explosives were made. It was found that the test LHE to impact with polyurethane foam to a large extent reflect the real mechanical sensitivity due to the small loss of impact energy on the deformation of the metal cap, as well as the best differentiation LHE sensitivity due to the higher resolution method . Results obtained in the samara state technical university.

Safety of vaccinations in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes: a prospective registry based study.

PubMed

Jaeger, Veronika K; Hoffman, Hal M; van der Poll, Tom; Tilson, Hugh; Seibert, Julia; Speziale, Antonio; Junge, Guido; Franke, Kristina; Vritzali, Eleni; Hawkins, Philip N; Kuemmerle-Deschner, Jasmin; Walker, Ulrich A

2017-09-01

Pneumococcal, tetanus and influenza vaccinations are recommended for patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) when treated with immunosuppressive medication. The aim of this publication is to report the safety of pneumococcal and other vaccinations in CAPS patients. All CAPS patients followed in the β-CONFIDENT (Clinical Outcomes and Safety Registry study of Ilaris patients) registry were analysed if they had received a vaccination. The β-CONFIDENT registry is a global, long-term, prospective, observational registry, capturing and monitoring patients treated with canakinumab. Sixty-eight CAPS patients had received a total of 159 vaccine injections, 107 injections against influenza, 19 pneumococcal vaccinations, 12 against tetanus/diphtheria antigens and 21 other vaccinations. Fourteen per cent of injections had elicited at least one vaccine reaction. All five vaccine-related serious adverse events were associated with pneumococcal vaccination. Vaccine reactions were observed in 70% of pneumococcal vaccinations, compared with 7% in influenza and 17% in tetanus/diphtheria vaccinations. The odds ratios to react to the pneumococcal vaccines compared with influenza and tetanus/diphtheria vaccines were 31.0 (95% CI: 8, 119) and 10.8 (95% CI: 2, 74). Vaccine reactions after pneumococcal vaccinations were more severe and lasted significantly longer (up to 3 weeks) compared with other vaccinations. In two patients, pneumococcal vaccination also elicited symptoms consistent with systemic inflammation due to CAPS reactivation. Pneumococcal vaccines, unlike other vaccines, frequently trigger severe local and systemic inflammation in CAPS patients. Clinicians must balance potential benefits of pneumococcal immunization against safety concerns. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine might be favourable over the polysaccharide vaccine in CAPS patients. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Assessment of Cytokine and Chemokine Signatures as Potential Biomarkers of Childhood Community-acquired Pneumonia Severity: A Nested Cohort Study in India.

PubMed

Saghafian-Hedengren, Shanie; Mathew, Joseph L; Hagel, Eva; Singhi, Sunit; Ray, Pallab; Ygberg, Sofia; Nilsson, Anna

2017-01-01

Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of childhood mortality in developing countries. In resource-poor settings, pneumonia diagnosis is commonly made clinically, based on World Health Organization guidelines, where breathing difficulty or cough and age-adjusted tachypnea suffice to establish diagnosis. Also, the severity of CAP is generally based on clinical features and existing biomarkers do not reliably correlate to either clinical severity or outcome. Here, we asked whether systemic immune and inflammatory mediators could act as biomarkers predicting CAP severity or outcome. Serum from a subset of a CAP cohort (n = 196), enrolled in India, classified according to World Health Organization criteria as having pneumonia or severe pneumonia, was used for simultaneous measurement of 21 systemic cytokines and chemokines. We found significantly higher IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IFN-γ and lower CCL22 concentrations in patients with severe compared with mild CAP (P values: 0.019, 0.036, 0.006, 0.016 and 0.003, respectively). Based on higher MIP-1α, IL-8, IL-17 or lower CCL22 response pattern at the time of enrolment, children with fatal outcome showed markedly different pattern of inflammatory response compared with children classified with the same disease severity, but with nonfatal outcome (P values: 0.043, 0.017, 0.008 and 0.020, respectively). Our results suggest a relation between an elevated mixed cytokine response and CAP severity on one hand, and a bias toward uncontrolled neutrophilic inflammation in subjects with fatal outcome on the other. Collectively our findings contribute to increased knowledge on new biomarkers that can potentially predict severity and outcome of childhood CAP in the future.

Prevalence and predictive factors of moderate/severe liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infected patients evaluated with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP).

PubMed

Cardoso, Ana Carolina; Perez, Renata M; de Figueiredo-Mendes, Claudio; Carvalho Leite, Nathalie; Coelho, Henrique Sergio Moraes; Villela-Nogueira, Cristiane A

2018-05-16

A novel controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) using FibroScan ® has been developed for assessment of liver steatosis. The aim was to evaluate the frequency and associated factors for moderate/severe steatosis evaluated by CAP in CHC patients submitted to transient elastography (TE) by FibroScan ® . CHC patients underwent TE with CAP evaluation. The classification of steatosis was defined as: CAP < 222 dB/m = S0; CAP ≥ 222 dB/m and <233dB /m = S1; ≥233 dB/m <290dB/m = S2 and >= 290 dB/m = S3. The prevalence of moderate/severe steatosis (CAP ≥ S2) and the related independent factors were identified by a logistic regression analysis. A significance level of 5% was adopted. 1104 CHC patients, 85% genotype-1 were included (mean age 55 ± 11 yrs; 46% male, mean BMI 25 ± 4 Kg/m 2 ). Systemic arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus prevalences were 39% and 17% respectively. Liver stiffness measurement ≥ 9.5 kPa was observed in 39% of patients and steatosis was identified in 50% (S1 = 7%, S2 = 28% and S3 = 15%). The variables independently associated with moderate/severe steatosis were: male gender (OR=1.35; p=0.037; 95% CI:1.01 - 1.81); systemic arterial hypertension (OR=1.57; p=0.002; 95% CI:1.17 - 2.10) and BMI (OR=1.17; p <0.01;95% CI: 1.12 - 1.22). In conclusion, when CAP was adopted as a tool to detect steatosis, genotype 1 CHC patients presented a high prevalence of moderate/advanced steatosis. In these patients, liver steatosis was associated mostly to metabolic factors (arterial hypertension and high BMI). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Early postnatal exposure to ultrafine particulate matter air pollution: persistent ventriculomegaly, neurochemical disruption, and glial activation preferentially in male mice.

PubMed

Allen, Joshua L; Liu, Xiufang; Pelkowski, Sean; Palmer, Brian; Conrad, Katherine; Oberdörster, Günter; Weston, Douglas; Mayer-Pröschel, Margot; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A

2014-09-01

Air pollution has been associated with adverse neurological and behavioral health effects in children and adults. Recent studies link air pollutant exposure to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including increased risk for autism, cognitive decline, ischemic stroke, schizophrenia, and depression. We sought to investigate the mechanism(s) by which exposure to ultrafine concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) adversely influences central nervous system (CNS) development. We exposed C57BL6/J mice to ultrafine (< 100 nm) CAPs using the Harvard University Concentrated Ambient Particle System or to filtered air on postnatal days (PNDs) 4-7 and 10-13, and the animals were euthanized either 24 hr or 40 days after cessation of exposure. Another group of males was exposed at PND270, and lateral ventricle area, glial activation, CNS cytokines, and monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters were quantified. We observed ventriculomegaly (i.e., lateral ventricle dilation) preferentially in male mice exposed to CAPs, and it persisted through young adulthood. In addition, CAPs-exposed males generally showed decreases in developmentally important CNS cytokines, whereas in CAPs-exposed females, we observed a neuroinflammatory response as indicated by increases in CNS cytokines. We also saw changes in CNS neurotransmitters and glial activation across multiple brain regions in a sex-dependent manner and increased hippocampal glutamate in CAPs-exposed males. We observed brain region- and sex-dependent alterations in cytokines and neurotransmitters in both male and female CAPs-exposed mice. Lateral ventricle dilation (i.e., ventriculomegaly) was observed only in CAPs-exposed male mice. Ventriculomegaly is a neuropathology that has been associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome, autism, and schizophrenia. Our findings suggest alteration of developmentally important neurochemicals and lateral ventricle dilation may be mechanistically related to observations linking ambient air pollutant exposure and adverse neurological/neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans.

Developmental Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Ultrafine Particulate Matter Air Pollution in Mice Results in Persistent and Sex-Dependent Behavioral Neurotoxicity and Glial Activation

PubMed Central

Allen, Joshua L.; Liu, Xiufang; Weston, Douglas; Prince, Lisa; Oberdörster, Günter; Finkelstein, Jacob N.; Johnston, Carl J.; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A.

2014-01-01

The brain appears to be a target of air pollution. This study aimed to further ascertain behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of our previously observed preference for immediate reward (Allen, J. L., Conrad, K., Oberdorster, G., Johnston, C. J., Sleezer, B., and Cory-Slechta, D. A. (2013). Developmental exposure to concentrated ambient particles and preference for immediate reward in mice. Environ. Health Perspect. 121, 32–38), a phenotype consistent with impulsivity, in mice developmentally exposed to inhaled ultrafine particles. It examined the impact of postnatal and/or adult concentrated ambient ultrafine particles (CAPS) or filtered air on another behavior thought to reflect impulsivity, Fixed interval (FI) schedule-controlled performance, and extended the assessment to learning/memory (novel object recognition (NOR)), and locomotor activity to assist in understanding behavioral mechanisms of action. In addition, levels of brain monoamines and amino acids, and markers of glial presence and activation (GFAP, IBA-1) were assessed in mesocorticolimbic brain regions mediating these cognitive functions. This design produced four treatment groups/sex of postnatal/adult exposure: Air/Air, Air/CAPS, CAPS/Air, and CAPS/CAPS. FI performance was adversely influenced by CAPS/Air in males, but by Air/CAPS in females, effects that appeared to reflect corresponding changes in brain mesocorticolimbic dopamine/glutamate systems that mediate FI performance. Both sexes showed impaired short-term memory on the NOR. Mechanistically, cortical and hippocampal changes in amino acids raised the potential for excitotoxicity, and persistent glial activation was seen in frontal cortex and corpus callosum of both sexes. Collectively, neurodevelopment and/or adulthood CAPS can produce enduring and sex-dependent neurotoxicity. Although mechanisms of these effects remain to be fully elucidated, findings suggest that neurodevelopment and/or adulthood air pollution exposure may represent a significant underexplored risk factor for central nervous system diseases/disorders and thus a significant public health threat even beyond current appreciation. PMID:24690596

US hospital care for patients with HIV infection and pneumonia: the role of public, private, and Veterans Affairs hospitals in the early highly active antiretroviral therapy era.

PubMed

Uphold, Constance R; Deloria-Knoll, Maria; Palella, Frank J; Parada, Jorge P; Chmiel, Joan S; Phan, Laura; Bennett, Charles L

2004-02-01

We evaluated differences in processes and outcomes of HIV-related pneumonia care among patients in Veterans Affairs (VA), public, and for-profit and not-for-profit private hospitals in the United States. We compared the results of our current study (1995 to 1997) with those of our previous study that included a sample of patients receiving care during the years 1987 to 1990 to determine how HIV-related pneumonia care had evolved over the last decade. The sample consisted of 1,231 patients with HIV infection who received care for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and 750 patients with HIV infection who received care for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) during the years 1995 to 1997. We conducted a retrospective medical record review and evaluated patient and hospital characteristics, HIV-related processes of care (timely use of anti-PCP medications, adjunctive corticosteroids), non-HIV-related processes of care (timely use of CAP treatment medications, diagnostic testing, ICU utilization, rates of endotracheal ventilation, placement on respiratory isolation), length of inpatient hospital stay, and inpatient mortality. Rates of timely use of antibiotics and adjunctive corticosteroids for treating PCP were high and improved dramatically from the prior decade. However, compliance with consensus guidelines that recommend < 8 h as the optimal time window for initiation of antibiotics to treat CAP was lower. For both PCP and CAP, variations in processes of care and lengths of in-hospital stays, but not mortality rates, were noted at VA, public, private not-for-profit hospitals, and for-profit hospitals. This study provides the first overview of HIV-related pneumonia care in the early highly active antiretroviral therapy era, and contrasts current findings with those of a similarly conducted study from a decade earlier. Quality of care for patients with PCP improved, but further efforts are needed to facilitate the appropriate management of CAP. In the third decade of the epidemic, it will be important to monitor whether variations in processes of care for various HIV-related clinical diagnoses among different types of hospitals persist.

Degradation of chloramphenicol by UV/chlorine treatment: Kinetics, mechanism and enhanced formation of halonitromethanes.

PubMed

Dong, Huiyu; Qiang, Zhimin; Hu, Jun; Qu, Jiuhui

2017-09-15

Ultraviolet (UV)/chlorine process is considered as an emerging advanced oxidation process for the degradation of micropollutants. This study investigated the degradation of chloramphenicol (CAP) and formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the UV/chlorine treatment. It was found that CAP degradation was enhanced by combined UV/chlorine treatment compared to that of UV and chlorination treatment alone. The pseudo-first-order rate constant of the UV/chlorine process at pH 7.0 reached 0.016 s -1 , which was 10.0 and 2.0 folds that observed from UV and chlorination alone, respectively. The enhancement can be attributed to the formation of diverse radicals (HO and reactive chlorine species (RCSs)), and the contribution of RCSs maintained more stable than that of HO at pH 5.5-8.5. Meanwhile, enhanced DBPs formation during the UV/chlorine treatment was observed. Both the simultaneous formation and 24-h halonitromethanes formation potential (HNMsFP) were positively correlated with the UV/chlorine treatment time. Although the simultaneous trichloronitromethane (TCNM) formation decreased with the prolonged UV irradiation, TCNM dominated the formation of HNMs after 24 h (>97.0%). According to structural analysis of transformation by-products, both the accelerated CAP degradation and enhanced HNMs formation steps were proposed. Overall, the formation of diverse radicals during the UV/chlorine treatment accelerated the degradation of CAP, while also enhanced the formation of DBPs simultaneously, indicating the need for DBPs evaluation before the application of combined UV/chlorine process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High average power scaleable thin-disk laser

DOEpatents

Beach, Raymond J.; Honea, Eric C.; Bibeau, Camille; Payne, Stephen A.; Powell, Howard; Krupke, William F.; Sutton, Steven B.

2002-01-01

Using a thin disk laser gain element with an undoped cap layer enables the scaling of lasers to extremely high average output power values. Ordinarily, the power scaling of such thin disk lasers is limited by the deleterious effects of amplified spontaneous emission. By using an undoped cap layer diffusion bonded to the thin disk, the onset of amplified spontaneous emission does not occur as readily as if no cap layer is used, and much larger transverse thin disks can be effectively used as laser gain elements. This invention can be used as a high average power laser for material processing applications as well as for weapon and air defense applications.

Dependence of electron beam instability growth rates on the beam-plasma system parameters

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

Strangeway, R.J.

1982-02-01

Electron beam instabilites are studied by using a simple model for an electron beam streaming through a cold plasma, the beam being of finite width perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. Through considerations of finite geometry and the coldness of the beam and background plasma, an instability similar to the two stream instability is assumed to be the means for wave growth in the system. Having found the maximum growth rate for one set of beam-plasma system parameters, this maximum growth rate is traced as these parameters are varied. The parameters that describe the system are the beam velocity (v/submore » b/), electron gyrofrequency to ambient electron plasma frequency ratio (..cap omega../sub e//..omega../sub p/e), the beam to background number density ratio (n/sub b//n/sub a/), and the beam width (a). When ..cap omega../sub e//..omega../sub p/e>1, a mode with ..cap omega../sub e/<..omega..<..omega../sub u/hr is found to be unstable, where ..cap omega.. is the wave frequency and ..omega../sub u/hr is the upper hybrid resonance frequency. For low values of n/sub b//n/sub a/ and ..cap omega../sub e/<..omega../sub p/e, this mode is still present with ..omega../sub p/e<..omega..<..omega../sub u/hr. If the beam density is large, n/sub b//n/sub a/approx. =1, the instability occures for frequencies just above the electron gyrofrequency. This mode may well be that observed in laboratory plasma before the system undergoes the beam-plasma discharge. There is another instability present, which occurs for ..omega..approx. =..omega../sub p/e. The growth rates for this mode, which are generally larger than those found for the ..omega..approx. =..omega..uhr mode, are only weakly dependent on ..cap omega../sub d//..omega../sub p/e. That this mode is not always observed in the laboratory implies that some factors not considered in the present theory suppress this mode, specifically, finite beam length.« less

Novel biodegradable calcium phosphate/polymer composite coating with adjustable mechanical properties formed by hydrothermal process for corrosion protection of magnesium substrate.

PubMed

Kaabi Falahieh Asl, Sara; Nemeth, Sandor; Tan, Ming Jen

2016-11-01

Ceramic type coatings on metallic implants, such as calcium phosphate (Ca-P), are generally stiff and brittle, potentially leading to the early failure of the bone-implant interface. To reduce material brittleness, polyacrylic acid and carboxymethyl cellulose were used in this study to deposit two types of novel Ca-P/polymer composite coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy using a one-step hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed that the deposited Ca-P crystal phase and morphology could be controlled by the type and concentration of polymer used. Incorporation of polymer in the Ca-P coatings reduced the coating elastic modulus bringing it close to that of magnesium and that of human bone. Nanoindentation test results revealed significantly decreased cracking tendency with the incorporation of polymer in the Ca-P coating. Apart from mechanical improvements, the protective composite layers had also enhanced the corrosion resistance of the substrate by a factor of 1000 which is sufficient for implant application. Cell proliferation studies indicated that the composite coatings induced better cell attachment compared with the purely inorganic Ca-P coating, confirming that the obtained composite materials could be promising candidates for surface protection of magnesium for implant application with the multiple functions of corrosion protection, interfacial stress reduction, and cell attachment/cell growth promotion. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1643-1657, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis in patients without ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver using the controlled attenuation parameter evaluated with transient elastography.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Yusuf; Ergelen, Rabia; Akin, Hakan; Imeryuz, Nese

2013-11-01

Although ultrasound is a useful technique for detecting hepatic steatosis, it cannot provide a precise determination of hepatic fat content. A novel attenuation parameter named controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed to process the raw ultrasonic signals acquired by Fibroscan. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hepatic steatosis in apparently healthy Turkish individuals using the proposed diagnostic cut-off points for CAP. In addition, we sought to investigate the association of CAP with the traditional risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a screening setting. In the present study, 102 Turkish individuals without evidence of fatty liver on ultrasound and normal aminotransferase levels underwent CAP measurements by means of Fibroscan. The mean (SD), median (minimum-maximum), and 5th and 95th percentile values of CAP values in this cohort of 102 individuals were 206.99 (48.12), 210.5 (100.0-314.0), 113.4 and 280.2 dB/m, respectively. Using the cut-offs of 222, 238, and 283 dB/m for CAP, there were 39 (38.2%), 23 (22.5%), and five (4.9%) individuals out of 102 who had at least 10% steatosis despite normal liver findings on ultrasound. After allowance for potential confounders, CAP was independently associated with BMI (β=0.39, t=3.5, P<0.001) and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria (β=0.24, t=2.1, P<0.05). These results hold promise for early noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis on the basis of CAP assessment.

Importance of the lid and cap domains for the catalytic activity of gastric lipases.

PubMed

Miled, N; Bussetta, C; De caro, A; Rivière, M; Berti, L; Canaan, S

2003-09-01

Human gastric lipase (HGL) is an enzyme secreted by the stomach, which is stable and active despite the highly acidic environment. It has been clearly established that this enzyme is responsible for 30% of the fat digestion processes occurring in human. This globular protein belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family and its catalytic serine is deeply buried under a domain called the extrusion domain, which is composed of a 'cap' domain and a segment consisting of 58 residues, which can be defined as a lid. The exact roles played by the cap and the lid domains during the catalytic step have not yet been elucidated. We have recently solved the crystal structure of the open form of the dog gastric lipase in complex with a covalent inhibitor. The detergent molecule and the inhibitor were mimicking a triglyceride substrate that would interact with residues belonging to both the cap and the lid domains. In this study, we have investigated the role of the cap and the lid domains, using site-directed mutagenesis procedures. We have produced truncated mutants lacking the lid and the cap. After expressing these mutants and purifying them, their activity was found to have decreased drastically in comparison with the wild type HGL. The lid and the cap domains play an important role in the catalytic reaction mechanism. Based on these results and the structural data (open form of DGL), we have pointed out the cap and the lid residues involved in the binding with the lipidic substrate.

Antibiotic stewardship in community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Viasus, Diego; Vecino-Moreno, Milly; De La Hoz, Juan M; Carratalà, Jordi

2017-04-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. As with other infectious diseases, in recent years there has been a marked increase in resistance to the antibiotics commonly used against the pathogens that cause CAP. Antimicrobial stewardship denotes coordinated interventions to improve and measure the appropriate use of antibiotics by encouraging the selection of optimal drug regimens. Areas covered: Several elements can be applied to antibiotic stewardship strategies for CAP in order to maintain or improve patient outcomes. In this regard, antibiotic de-escalation, duration of antibiotic treatment, adherence to CAP guidelines recommendations about empirical treatment, and switching from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy may each be relevant in this context. Antimicrobial stewardship strategies, such as prospective audit with intervention and feedback, clinical pathways, and dedicated multidisciplinary teams, that have included some of these elements have demonstrated improvements in antimicrobial use for CAP without negatively affecting clinical outcomes. Expert commentary: Although there are a limited number of randomized clinical studies addressing antimicrobial stewardship strategies in CAP, there is evidence that antibiotic stewardship initiatives can be securely applied, providing benefits to both healthcare systems and patients.

Recombinant Flagellin-Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Cap Fusion Protein Promotes Protective Immune Responses in Mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chunyan; Zhu, Shanshan; Wei, Li; Yan, Xu; Wang, Jing; Quan, Rong; She, Ruiping; Hu, Fengjiao; Liu, Jue

2015-01-01

The Cap protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) that serves as a major host-protective immunogen was used to develop recombinant vaccines for control of PCV2-associated diseases. Growing research data have demonstrated the high effectiveness of flagellin as an adjuvant for humoral and cellular immune responses. Here, a recombinant protein was designed by fusing a modified version of bacterial flagellin to PCV2 Cap protein and expressed in a baculovirus system. When administered without adjuvant to BALB/c mice, the flagellin-Cap fusion protein elicited stronger PCV2-specific IgG antibody response, higher neutralizing antibody levels, milder histopathological changes and lower viremia, as well as higher secretion of cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ that conferred better protection against virus challenge than those in the recombinant Cap alone-inoculated mice. These results suggest that the recombinant Cap protein when fused to flagellin could elicit better humoral and cellular immune responses against PCV2 infection in a mouse model, thereby acting as an attractive candidate vaccine for control of the PCV2-associated diseases. PMID:26070075

Combined algal processing: A novel integrated biorefinery process to produce algal biofuels and bioproducts

DOE PAGES

Dong, Tao; Knoshaug, Eric P.; Davis, Ryan; ...

2016-01-18

Here, the development of an integrated biorefinery process capable of producing multiple products is crucial for commercialization of microalgal biofuel production. Dilute acid pretreatment has been demonstrated as an efficient approach to utilize algal biomass more fully, by hydrolyzing microalgal carbohydrates into fermentable sugars, while making the lipids more extractable, and a protein fraction available for other products. Previously, we have shown that sugar-rich liquor could be separated from solid residue by solid-liquid separation (SLS) to produce ethanol via fermentation. However, process modeling has revealed that approximately 37% of the soluble sugars were lost in the solid cake after themore » SLS. Herein, a Combined Algal Processing (CAP) approach with a simplified configuration has been developed to improve the total energy yield. In CAP, whole algal slurry after acid pretreatment is directly used for ethanol fermentation. The ethanol and microalgal lipids can be sequentially recovered from the fermentation broth by thermal treatment and solvent extraction. Almost all the monomeric fermentable sugars can be utilized for ethanol production without compromising the lipid recovery. The techno-economic analysis (TEA) indicates that the CAP can reduce microalgal biofuel cost by $0.95 per gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE), which is a 9% reduction compared to the previous biorefinery scenario.« less

25 Years Of Environmental Remediation In The General Separations Area Of The Savannah River Site: Lessons Learned About What Worked And What Did Not Work In Soil And Groundwater Cleanup

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

Blount, Gerald; Thibault, Jeffrey; Millings, Margaret

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is owned and administered by the US Department of Energy (DOE). SRS covers an area of approximately 900 square kilometers. The General Separation Area (GSA) is located roughly in the center of the SRS and includes: radioactive material chemical separations facilities, radioactive waste tank farms, a variety of radioactive seepage basins, and the radioactive waste burial grounds. Radioactive wastes were disposed in the GSA from the mid-1950s through the mid-1990s. Radioactive operations at the F Canyon began in 1954; radioactive operations at H Canyon began in 1955. Waste water disposition to the F and Hmore » Seepage Basins began soon after operations started in the canyons. The Old Radioactive Waste Burial Ground (ORWBG) began operations in 1952 to manage solid waste that could be radioactive from all the site operations, and ceased receiving waste in 1972. The Mixed Waste Management Facility (MWMF) and Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility (LLRWDF) received radioactive solid waste from 1969 until 1995. Environmental legislation enacted in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s led to changes in waste management and environmental cleanup practices at SRS. The US Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, and the Clean Water Act in 1972; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted in 1976; the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was enacted by Congress in 1980; the Federal Facilities Compliance Act (FFCA) was signed into law in 1992. Environmental remediation at the SRS essentially began with a 1987 Settlement Agreement between the SRS and the State of South Carolina (under the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control - SCDHEC), which recognized linkage between many SRS waste management facilities and RCRA. The SRS manages several of the larger groundwater remedial activities under RCRA for facilities recognized early on as environmental problems. All subsequent environmental remediation projects tend to be managed under tri-party agreement (DOE, Environmental Protection Agency, and SCDHEC) through the Federal Facilities Agreement. During 25 years of environmental remediation SRS has stabilized and capped seepage basins, and consolidated and capped waste units and burial grounds in the GSA. Groundwater activities include: pump and treat systems in the groundwater, installation of deep subsurface barrier systems to manage groundwater flow, in situ chemical treatments in the groundwater, and captured contaminated groundwater discharges at the surface for management in a forest irrigation system. Over the last 25 years concentrations of contaminants in the aquifers beneath the GSA and in surface water streams in the GSA have dropped significantly. Closure of 65 waste sites and 4 RCRA facilities has been successfully accomplished. Wastes have been successfully isolated in place beneath a variety of caps and cover systems. Environmental clean-up has progressed to the stage where most of the work involves monitoring, optimization, and maintenance of existing remedial systems. Many lessons have been learned in the process. Geotextile covers outperform low permeability clay caps, especially with respect to the amount of repairs required to upkeep the drainage layers as the caps age. Passive, enhanced natural processes to address groundwater contamination are much more cost effective than pump and treat systems. SRS operated two very large pump and treat systems at the F and H Seepage Basins to attempt to limit the release of tritium to Fourmile Branch, a tributary of the Savannah River. The systems were designed to extract contaminated acidic groundwater, remove all contamination except tritium (not possible to remove the tritium from the water), and inject the tritiated groundwater up-gradient of the source area and the plume. The concept was to increase the travel time of the injected water for radioactive decay of the tritium. The two systems were found to be non-effective and potentially mobilizing more contamination. SRS invested approximately $50 million in construction and approximately $100 million in 6 years of operation. The H Seepage Basin pump and treat system was replaced by a series of subsurface barriers that alters the groundwater velocity; the F Seepage Basin pump and treat system was replaced by subsurface barriers forming a funnel and gate augmented by chemical treatment within the gates. These replacement systems are mostly passive and cost approximately $13 million to construct, and have reduced the tritium flux to Fourmile Branch, in these plumes, by over 70%. SRS manages non-acidic tritiated groundwater releases to Fourmile Branch from the southwest plume of the MWMF with a forest irrigation system. Tritiated water is captured with a sheetpile dam below the springs that caused releases to Fourmile Branch. Water from the irrigation pond is pumped to a filter plant prior to irrigation of approximately 26 hectares of mixed forest and developing pine plantation. SRS has almost achieved a 70% reduction in tritium flux to the Branch from this plume. The system cost approximately $5 million to construct with operation cost of approximately $500K per year. In conclusion, many lessons have been learned in 25 years of relatively aggressive remedial activities in the GSA. Geotextile covers outperform low permeability clay caps, especially with respect to the amount of repairs required to upkeep the drainage layers as the caps age. Passive, enhanced natural processes to address groundwater contamination are much more cost effective than pump and treat systems. In water management situations with non-accumulative contaminants (tritium, VOCs, etc.) irrigation in a forest setting can be very effective.« less

Fair comparison of complexity between a multi-band CAP and DMT for data center interconnects.

PubMed

Wei, J L; Sanchez, C; Giacoumidis, E

2017-10-01

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first known detailed analysis and fair comparison of complexity of a 56 Gb/s multi-band carrierless amplitude and phase (CAP) and discrete multi-tone (DMT) over 80 km dispersion compensation fiber-free single-mode fiber links based on intensity modulation and direct detection for data center interconnects. We show that the matched finite impulse response filters and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT)/FFT take the majority of the complexity of the multi-band CAP and DMT, respectively. The choice of the multi-band CAP sub-band count and the DMT IFFT/FFT size makes significant impact on the system complexity or performance, and trade-off must be considered.

Increased lung neutrophil apoptosis and inflammation resolution in nonresponding pneumonia.

PubMed

Moret, I; Lorenzo, M J; Sarria, B; Cases, E; Morcillo, E; Perpiñá, M; Molina, J M; Menéndez, R

2011-11-01

Neutrophil activation state and its relationship with an inflammatory environment in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remain insufficiently elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the neutrophil apoptosis and cytokine pattern in CAP patients after 72 h of treatment, and their impact on infection resolution. Apoptosis of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils was measured in nonresponding CAP (NCAP), in responding CAP (blood only) and in patients without infection (control). Pro-inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were measured. Main outcomes were clinical stability and days of hospitalisation. Basal neutrophil apoptosis was higher in the BAL and blood of NCAP, whereas spontaneous apoptosis (after 24 h culture) was lower. Cytokines in NCAP were higher than in responding CAP and control: IL-6 was increased in BAL and blood, IL-8 in BAL and IL-10 in blood. An increased basal apoptosis (≥20%) in BAL of NCAP was associated with lower systemic IL-10 (p<0.01), earlier clinical stability (p=0.05) and shorter hospital stay (p=0.02). A significant correlation was found for systemic IL-6 and IL-10 with days to reach stability and length of stay. After 72 h of treatment, an increased basal alveolar neutrophil apoptosis might contribute to downregulation of inflammation and to faster clinical stability.

75 FR 6862 - Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), CL...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-12

... hydraulic accumulator screw cap or end cap failure have been experienced on CL-600-2B19 (CRJ) aircraft... experienced on CL-600-2B19 (CRJ) aircraft, resulting in loss of the associated hydraulic system and high... on CL-600-2B19 (CRJ) aircraft, resulting in loss of the associated hydraulic system and high-energy...

Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier: Congress Should Consider Revising Cost Cap Legislation to Include All Construction Costs

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

thus increasing the likelihood of additional testing delays. For example, testing of the ship’s fire sprinklers was delayed because construction of...not deploy as scheduled or will deploy without fully tested systems . The Navy is implementing steps to achieve the $11.5 billion congressional cost...cap, by postponing installation of some systems until after ship delivery, and deferring an estimated $200 million - $250 million in previously

Vegetative covers for waste containment.

PubMed

Rock, Steven A

2003-01-01

Disposal of municipal and hazardous waste in the United States is primarily accomplished by containment in lined and capped landfills. Evapotranspiration cover systems offer an alternative to conventional landfill cap systems. These covers work on completely different principles than traditional covers do, and that difference may slow understanding and acceptance by site owners, regulators, and stakeholders. This chapter provides an introduction to this alternative technique and explains some of the common concerns regarding its implementation.

Intratumoral and Intertumoral Genomic Heterogeneity of Multifocal Localized Prostate Cancer Impacts Molecular Classifications and Genomic Prognosticators

PubMed Central

Wei, Lei; Wang, Jianmin; Lampert, Erika; Schlanger, Simon; DePriest, Adam D.; Hu, Qiang; Gomez, Eduardo Cortes; Murakam, Mitsuko; Glenn, Sean T.; Conroy, Jeffrey; Morrison, Carl; Azabdaftari, Gissou; Mohler, James L.; Liu, Song; Heemers, Hannelore V.

2018-01-01

Background Next-generation sequencing is revealing genomic heterogeneity in localized prostate cancer (CaP). Incomplete sampling of CaP multiclonality has limited the implications for molecular subtyping, stratification, and systemic treatment. Objective To determine the impact of genomic and transcriptomic diversity within and among intraprostatic CaP foci on CaP molecular taxonomy, predictors of progression, and actionable therapeutic targets. Design, setting, and participants Four consecutive patients with clinically localized National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate- or high-risk CaP who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy underwent radical prostatectomy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in June–July 2014. Presurgical information on CaP content and a customized tissue procurement procedure were used to isolate nonmicroscopic and noncontiguous CaP foci in radical prostatectomy specimens. Three cores were obtained from the index lesion and one core from smaller lesions. RNA and DNA were extracted simultaneously from 26 cores with ≥90% CaP content and analyzed using whole-exome sequencing, single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, and RNA sequencing. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Somatic mutations, copy number alternations, gene expression, gene fusions, and phylogeny were defined. The impact of genomic alterations on CaP molecular classification, gene sets measured in Oncotype DX, Prolaris, and Decipher assays, and androgen receptor activity among CaP cores was determined. Results and limitations There was considerable variability in genomic alterations among CaP cores, and between RNA- and DNA-based platforms. Heterogeneity was found in molecular grouping of individual CaP foci and the activity of gene sets underlying the assays for risk stratification and androgen receptor activity, and was validated in independent genomic data sets. Determination of the implications for clinical decision-making requires follow-up studies. Conclusions Genomic make-up varies widely among CaP foci, so care should be taken when making treatment decisions based on a single biopsy or index lesions. Patient summary We examined the molecular composition of individual cancers in a patient’s prostate. We found a lot of genetic diversity among these cancers, and concluded that information from a single cancer biopsy is not sufficient to guide treatment decisions. PMID:27451135

Computer Assisted Problem Solving in an Introductory Statistics Course. Technical Report No. 56.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Thomas H.; And Others

The computer assisted problem solving system (CAPS) described in this booklet administered "homework" problem sets designed to develop students' computational, estimation, and procedural skills. These skills were related to important concepts in an introductory statistics course. CAPS generated unique data, judged student performance,…

Performance of steel pipe pile-to-concrete bent cap connections subject to seismic or high transverse loading : Phase II

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-02-01

The response of a concrete filled, steel pipe pile-to-concrete pile cap connection subjected to extreme lateral loads : was experimentally and analytically investigated in this project. This connection is part of a bridge support system : used by the...

Applying Water-Level Difference Control to Central Arizona Project

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Central Arizona Project (CAP) has been supplying Colorado River water to Central Arizona for roughly 25 years. The CAP canal is operated remotely with a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System. Gate position changes are made either manually or through the use of automatic control...

Study of current-mode active pixel sensor circuits using amorphous InSnZnO thin-film transistor for 50-μm pixel-pitch indirect X-ray imagers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Mao-Hsun; Zhao, Chumin; Kanicki, Jerzy

2017-05-01

Current-mode active pixel sensor (C-APS) circuits based on amorphous indium-tin-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (a-ITZO TFTs) are proposed for indirect X-ray imagers. The proposed C-APS circuits include a combination of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) p+-i-n+ photodiode (PD) and a-ITZO TFTs. Source-output (SO) and drain-output (DO) C-APS are investigated and compared. Acceptable signal linearity and high gains are realized for SO C-APS. APS circuit characteristics including voltage gain, charge gain, signal linearity, charge-to-current conversion gain, electron-to-voltage conversion gain are evaluated. The impact of the a-ITZO TFT threshold voltage shifts on C-APS is also considered. A layout for a pixel pitch of 50 μm and an associated fabrication process are suggested. Data line loadings for 4k-resolution X-ray imagers are computed and their impact on circuit performances is taken into consideration. Noise analysis is performed, showing a total input-referred noise of 239 e-.

Time scales of erosion and deposition recorded in the residual south polar cap of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, P. C.; Calvin, W. M.; Gierasch, P.; Haberle, R.; James, P. B.; Sholes, S.

2013-08-01

The residual south polar cap (RSPC) of Mars has been subject to competing processes during recent Mars years of high resolution image coverage: continuing erosion of scarps while the maximum extent grows as well as shrinks (Piqueux, S., Christensen, P.R. [2008]. J. Geophys. Res. (Planets) 113, 2006; James, P.B., Thomas, P.C., Malin, M.C. [2010]. Icarus 208, 82-85). Additionally, the cap has a variety of morphologies and erosion (scarp retreat) rates (Thomas, P.C., James, P.B., Calvin, W.M., Haberle, R., Malin, M.C. [2009]. Icarus 203, 352-375). Do these different forms and competing processes indicate an aging and possibly disappearing cap, a growing cap, or a fluctuating cap, and is it possible to infer the timescales of the processes acting on the RSPC? Here we use the latest imaging data from Mars' southern summer in Mars year 30 (Calendar year 2011) to evaluate erosion rates of forms in the RSPC over 6 Mars years, and to map more fully features whose sizes can be used to predict deposit ages. Data through Mars year 30 show that scarp retreat rates in the RSPC have remained approximately the same for at least 6 Mars years and that these rates of erosion also apply approximately over the past 21 Mars years. The thicker units appear to have undergone changes in the locations of new pit formation about 30-50 Mars years ago. The thinner units have some areas that are possibly 80 Mars years old, with some younger materials having accumulated more than a meter in thickness since Mars year 9. Formation of the thicker units probably required over 100 Mars years. The upper surfaces of most areas, especially the thicker units, show little change at the few-cm level over the last 2 Mars years. This observation suggests that current conditions are substantially different from those when the thicker units were deposited. A prime characteristic of the evolution of the RSPC is that some changes are progressive, such as those involving scarp retreat, while others, such as the geography of initiation of new pits or the areal coverage of ice, appear to be more episodic.

L-Cysteine Capped CdSe Quantum Dots Synthesized by Photochemical Route.

PubMed

Singh, Avinash; Kunwar, Amit; Rath, M C

2018-05-01

L-cysteine capped CdSe quantum dots were synthesized via photochemical route in aqueous solution under UV photo-irradiation. The as grown CdSe quantum dots exhibit broad fluorescence at room temperature. The CdSe quantum dots were found to be formed only through the reactions of the precursors, i.e., Cd(NH3)2+4 and SeSO2-3 with the photochemically generated 1-hydroxy-2-propyl radicals, (CH3)2COH radicals, which are formed through the process of H atom abstraction by the photoexcited acetone from 2-propanol. L-Cysteine was found to act as a suitable capping agent for the CdSe quantum dots and increases their biocompatability. Cytotoxicty effects of these quantum dots were evaluated in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) epithelial cells, indicated a significant lower level for the L-cysteine capped CdSe quantum dots as compare to the bare ones.

Citrus sinensis annotation project (CAP): a comprehensive database for sweet orange genome.

PubMed

Wang, Jia; Chen, Dijun; Lei, Yang; Chang, Ji-Wei; Hao, Bao-Hai; Xing, Feng; Li, Sen; Xu, Qiang; Deng, Xiu-Xin; Chen, Ling-Ling

2014-01-01

Citrus is one of the most important and widely grown fruit crop with global production ranking firstly among all the fruit crops in the world. Sweet orange accounts for more than half of the Citrus production both in fresh fruit and processed juice. We have sequenced the draft genome of a double-haploid sweet orange (C. sinensis cv. Valencia), and constructed the Citrus sinensis annotation project (CAP) to store and visualize the sequenced genomic and transcriptome data. CAP provides GBrowse-based organization of sweet orange genomic data, which integrates ab initio gene prediction, EST, RNA-seq and RNA-paired end tag (RNA-PET) evidence-based gene annotation. Furthermore, we provide a user-friendly web interface to show the predicted protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and metabolic pathways in sweet orange. CAP provides comprehensive information beneficial to the researchers of sweet orange and other woody plants, which is freely available at http://citrus.hzau.edu.cn/.

Back to the Basics: Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children.

PubMed

Boyd, Kathleen

2017-07-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common childhood infection and often a reason for inpatient admission, especially when a child is hypoxic or in respiratory distress. Despite advances in technology and diagnostics, it remains difficult to accurately differentiate bacterial CAP from a viral process. Most of the laboratory tests routinely done in inpatient medicine, such as complete blood counts and acute phase reactants, do little to differentiate a viral pneumonia from a bacterial pneumonia. Clinicians must rely heavily on the clinical presentation and decide whether to treat empirically with antibiotics. Guidelines published by the Infectious Disease Society of America in 2011 have helped clinicians standardize the diagnosis and treatment of CAP. The guidelines recommend relatively narrow-spectrum antibiotics, such as ampicillin or penicillin, as empiric coverage for the fully immunized child older than age 3 months who requires hospitalization for CAP. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(7):e257-e261.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

Biodegradable/biocompatible coated metal implants for orthopedic applications.

PubMed

Saleh, Mohamed M; Touny, A H; Al-Omair, Mohammed A; Saleh, M M

2016-05-12

Biocompatible metals have been suggested as revolutionary biomaterials for bone-grafting therapies. Although metals and their alloys are widely and successfully used in producing biomedical implants due to their good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, they have a lack in bioactivity. Therefore coating of the metal surface with calcium phosphates (CaP) is a benign way to achieve well bioactivity and get controlled corrosion properties. The biocompatibility and bioactivity calcium phosphates (CaP) in bone growth were guided them to biomedical treatment of bone defects and fractures. Many techniques have been used for fabrication of CaP coatings on metal substrates such as magnesium and titanium. The present review will focus on the synthesis of CaP and their relative forms using different techniques especially electrochemical techniques. The latter has always been known of its unique way of optimizing the process parameters that led to a control in the structure and characteristics of the produced materials.

Closeup view of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Nose Caps ...

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

Close-up view of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Nose Caps mounted on ground support equipment in the Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility at Kennedy Space Center as they are being prepared for attachment to the SRB Frustum. The Nose Cap contains the Pilot and Drogue Chutes that are deployed prior to the main chutes as the SRBs descend to a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean where they are recovered refurbished and reused. - Space Transportation System, Solid Rocket Boosters, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

Geological and geophysical properties of cap rock in a natural CO2 occurrence, Mihályi-Répcelak area, Western Hungary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Király, Csilla; Szamosfalvi, Ágnes; Sendula, Eszter; Páles, Mariann; Kovács, István; Kónya, Péter; Falus, György; Szabó, Csaba

2015-04-01

The physical and geochemical consistency of the cap rock is primarily important for safe geological storage of CO2.. As a consequence of CO2 injection reactions took place between the minerals of the reservoir, the cap rock and CO2 saturated pore water. These reactions may change the mineral composition and petrophysical properties of the storage reservoir as well as the cap rock that provides the only physical barrier that retains carbon dioxide in the target reservoir formation. Study of the natural CO2 occurrences delivers information to understand which properties of a cap rock provide the sustainable closure and retainment. Knowledge of the long term effect of CO2 on the behavior of the cap rock is an important input in the selection procedure of a potential CO2 injection site. Yet, very few data exist on geochemical properties and reactivity of the cap rocks. During normal commercial operations the reservoir is typically cored, but not the cap rock. This study may enhance our knowledge about possible mineralogical reactions, which can occur in clayey-aleuritic cap rocks. The Mihályi-Répcelak natural CO2 occurrence is believed to be leakage safe. There is no known seepage on the surface. It is suggested that the aleuritic clay rich cap rock occurring at the natural reservoir can stop CO2 migration into other reservoirs or to the surface. The most important characteristics of cap rocks that they have low permeability (<0.1 mD) and porosity (eff.por. = 4%) and high clayeyness (approx. 80%). However, we demonstrate that in addition to these parameters the geochemical properties of cap rock is also important. In order to characterize the natural CO2 occurrence, we applied the following analysis, like XRD, FTIR, SEM. The petrophysical properties are determined from the interpretation of geophysical well-logs and grain size distribution. The most important result of this study that adequate petrophysical properties do not completely define the suitability of a cap rock. The effective porosity (~4 %), permeability (0.026 mD) and clayeyness (~80%) data imply that the studied aleurolites are good cap rocks. The mineral composition of cap rock is similar to that of reservoir rock, however, the ratio of components is different. The mineralogical analysis and petrography yield to the reaction between CO2 and the cap rocks. The most visible effect of CO2 presence is the dawsonite precipitation after albite dissolution within the cap rocks. Therefore, the CO2 may migrate through the cap rocks in geological time scale, however the total system could be leakage safe.

Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS) hardware development. Volume 1: Summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

While, D. M.

1983-01-01

Hardware development of the Shuttle Entry Data System (SEADS) is described. The system consists of an array of fourteen pressure ports, installed in an Orbiter nose cap, which, when coupled with existing fuselage mounted static pressure ports permits computation of entry flight parameters. Elements of the system that are described include the following: (1) penetration assemblies to place pressure port openings at the surface of the nose cap; (2) pressure tubes to transmit the surface pressure to transducers; (3) support posts or manifolds to provide support for, and reduce the length of, the individual pressure tubes; (4) insulation for the manifolds; and (5) a SEADS nose cap. Design, analyses, and tests to develop and certify design for flight are described. Specific tests include plasma arc exposure, radiant thermal, vibration, and structural. Volume one summarizes highlights of the program, particularly as they relate to the final design of SEADS. Volume two summarizes all of the Vought responsible activities in essentially a chronological order.

Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS) hardware development. Volume 2: History

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

While, D. M.

1983-01-01

Hardware development of the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS) is described. The system consists of an array of fourteen pressure ports, installed in an Orbiter nose cap, which, when coupled with existing fuselage mounted static pressure ports permits computation of entry flight parameters. Elements of the system that are described include the following: (1) penetration assemblies to place pressure port openings at the surface of the nose cap; (2) pressure tubes to transmit the surface pressure to transducers; (3) support posts or manifolds to provide support for, and reduce the length of, the individual pressure tubes; (4) insulation for the manifolds; and (5) a SEADS nose cap. Design, analyses, and tests to develop and certify design for flight are described. Specific tests included plasma arc exposure, radiant thermal, vibration, and structural. Volume one summarizes highlights of the program, particularly as they relate to the final design of SEADS. Volume two summarizes all of the Vought responsible activities in essentially a chronological order.

Subunits of the Drosophila Actin-Capping Protein Heterodimer Regulate Each Other at Multiple Levels

PubMed Central

Amândio, Ana Rita; Gaspar, Pedro; Whited, Jessica L.; Janody, Florence

2014-01-01

The actin-Capping Protein heterodimer, composed of the α and β subunits, is a master F-actin regulator. In addition to its role in many cellular processes, Capping Protein acts as a main tumor suppressor module in Drosophila and in humans, in part, by restricting the activity of Yorkie/YAP/TAZ oncogenes. We aimed in this report to understand how both subunits regulate each other in vivo. We show that the levels and capping activities of both subunits must be tightly regulated to control F-actin levels and consequently growth of the Drosophila wing. Overexpressing capping protein α and β decreases both F-actin levels and tissue growth, while expressing forms of Capping Protein that have dominant negative effects on F-actin promote tissue growth. Both subunits regulate each other's protein levels. In addition, overexpressing one of the subunit in tissues knocked-down for the other increases the mRNA and protein levels of the subunit knocked-down and compensates for its loss. We propose that the ability of the α and β subunits to control each other's levels assures that a pool of functional heterodimer is produced in sufficient quantities to restrict the development of tumor but not in excess to sustain normal tissue growth. PMID:24788460

[CAP quality management system in clinical laboratory and its issue].

PubMed

Tazawa, Hiromitsu

2004-03-01

The CAP (College of American Pathologists) was established in 1962 and, at present, CAP-accredited laboratories include about 6000 institutions all over the world, mainly in the U.S. The essential purpose of CAP accreditation is high quality reservation and improvement of clinical laboratory services for patient care, and is based on seven points, listed below. (1) Establishment of a laboratory management program and laboratory techniques to assure accuracy and improve overall quality of laboratory services. (2) Maintenance and improvement of accuracy objectively by centering on a CAP survey. (3) Thoroughness in safety and health administration. (4) Reservation of the performance of laboratory services by personnel and proficiency management. (5) Provision of appropriate information to physicians, and contribution to improved quality of patient care by close communication with physicians (improvement in patient care). (6) Reduction of running costs and personnel costs based on evidence by employing the above-mentioned criteria. (7) Reduction of laboratory error. In the future, accreditation and/or certification by organizations such as CAP, ISO, etc., may become a requirement for providing any clinical laboratory services in Japan. Taking the essence of the CAP and the characteristics of the new international standard, ISO151589, into consideration, it is important to choose the best suited accreditation and/or certification depending of the purpose of clinical laboratory.

Rilonacept in the management of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS)

PubMed Central

Gillespie, Justin; Mathews, Rebeccah; McDermott, Michael F

2010-01-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a subgroup of the hereditary periodic fever syndromes, which are rare autoinflammatory and inherited disorders, characterized by recurrent inflammation and varying degrees of severity. CAPS are thought to be driven by excessive production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), through over-activation of the inflammasome by gain of function mutations in the gene encoding cryopyrin (NLRP3). This conclusion is supported by the remarkable efficacy of IL-1β blockade in these conditions. Rilonacept (ArcalystTM; Regeneron) is the first us Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome and Muckle–Wells syndrome and the first in a new line of drugs designed for longer-acting IL-1 blockade. Rilonacept has been associated with a decrease in disease activity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in the treatment of CAPS. The clinical safety and efficacy of rilonacept in CAPS and non-CAPS populations will be summarized in this review. Rilonacept is also beneficial for patients who tolerate injections poorly, due to an extended half-life over the unapproved CAPS treatment, anakinra, requiring weekly rather than daily self-administration. Other autoinflammatory disorders may also benefit from rilonacept treatment, with clinical trials in progress for systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, gout and familial mediterranean fever. PMID:22096352