Use of Electronic Hand-held Devices for Collection of Savannah River Site Environmental Data - 13329

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

Marberry, Hugh; Moore, Winston

2013-07-01

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has begun using Xplore Tablet PC's to collect data in the field for soil samples, groundwater samples, air samples and round sheets at the Savannah River Site (SRS). EPA guidelines for groundwater sampling are incorporated into the application to ensure the sample technician follows the proper protocol. The sample technician is guided through the process for sampling and round sheet data collection by a series of menus and input boxes. Field measurements and well stabilization information are entered into the tablet for uploading into Environmental Restoration Data Management System (ERDMS). The process helps to eliminate inputmore » errors and provides data integrity. A soil sample technician has the ability to collect information about location of sample, field parameter, describe the soil sample, print bottle labels, and print chain of custody for the sample that they have collected. An air sample technician has the ability to provide flow, pressure, hours of operation, print bottle labels and chain of custody for samples they collect. Round sheets are collected using the information provided in the various procedures. The data are collected and uploaded into ERDMS. The equipment used is weather proof and hardened for the field use. Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities are integrated into the applications to provide the location where samples were collected and to help sample technicians locate wells that are not visited often. (authors)« less

Fitting distributions to microbial contamination data collected with an unequal probability sampling design.

PubMed

Williams, M S; Ebel, E D; Cao, Y

2013-01-01

The fitting of statistical distributions to microbial sampling data is a common application in quantitative microbiology and risk assessment applications. An underlying assumption of most fitting techniques is that data are collected with simple random sampling, which is often times not the case. This study develops a weighted maximum likelihood estimation framework that is appropriate for microbiological samples that are collected with unequal probabilities of selection. A weighted maximum likelihood estimation framework is proposed for microbiological samples that are collected with unequal probabilities of selection. Two examples, based on the collection of food samples during processing, are provided to demonstrate the method and highlight the magnitude of biases in the maximum likelihood estimator when data are inappropriately treated as a simple random sample. Failure to properly weight samples to account for how data are collected can introduce substantial biases into inferences drawn from the data. The proposed methodology will reduce or eliminate an important source of bias in inferences drawn from the analysis of microbial data. This will also make comparisons between studies and the combination of results from different studies more reliable, which is important for risk assessment applications. © 2012 No claim to US Government works.

Rainfall, Streamflow, and Water-Quality Data During Stormwater Monitoring, Halawa Stream Drainage Basin, Oahu, Hawaii, July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

Young, Stacie T.M.; Ball, Marcael T.J.

2003-01-01

Storm runoff water-quality samples were collected as part of the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Stormwater Monitoring Program. This program is designed to assess the effects of highway runoff and urban runoff on Halawa Stream. For this program, rainfall data was collected at two sites, continuous streamflow data at three sites, and water-quality data at five sites, which include the three streamflow sites. This report summarizes rainfall, streamflow, and water-quality data collected between July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. A total of 28 samples were collected over five storms during July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. For two of the five storms, five grab samples and three flow-weighted timecomposite samples were collected. Grab samples were collected nearly simultaneously at all five sites, and flow-weighted timecomposite samples were collected at the three sites equipped with automatic samplers. The other three storms were partially sampled, where only flow-weighted time-composite samples were collected and/or not all stations were sampled. Samples were analyzed for total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand, and selected trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc). Grab samples were additionally analyzed for oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons, fecal coliform, and biological oxygen demand. Quality-assurance/qualitycontrol samples, collected during storms and during routine maintenance, were also collected to verify analytical procedures and insure proper cleaning of equipment.

Acid-etching technique of non-decalcified bone samples for visualizing osteocyte-lacuno-canalicular network using scanning electron microscope.

PubMed

Lampi, Tiina; Dekker, Hannah; Ten Bruggenkate, Chris M; Schulten, Engelbert A J M; Mikkonen, Jopi J W; Koistinen, Arto; Kullaa, Arja M

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to define the acid-etching technique for bone samples embedded in polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA) in order to visualize the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network (LCN) for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Human jaw bone tissue samples (N = 18) were collected from the study population consisting of patients having received dental implant surgery. After collection, the bone samples were fixed in 70% ethanol and non-decalcified samples embedded routinely into polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA). The PMMA embedded specimens were acid-etched in either 9 or 37% phosphoric acid (PA) and prepared for SEM for further analysis. PMMA embedded bone specimens acid-etched by 9% PA concentration accomplishes the most informative and favorable visualization of the LCN to be observed by SEM. Etching of PMMA embedded specimens is recommendable to start with 30 s or 40 s etching duration in order to find the proper etching duration for the samples examined. Visualizing osteocytes and LCN provides a tool to study bone structure that reflects changes in bone metabolism and diseases related to bone tissue. By proper etching protocol of non-decalcified and using scanning electron microscope it is possible to visualize the morphology of osteocytes and the network supporting vitality of bone tissue.

Inorganic chemical analysis of environmental materials—A lecture series

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crock, J.G.; Lamothe, P.J.

2011-01-01

At the request of the faculty of the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, the authors prepared and presented a lecture series to the students of a graduate level advanced instrumental analysis class. The slides and text presented in this report are a compilation and condensation of this series of lectures. The purpose of this report is to present the slides and notes and to emphasize the thought processes that should be used by a scientist submitting samples for analyses in order to procure analytical data to answer a research question. First and foremost, the analytical data generated can be no better than the samples submitted. The questions to be answered must first be well defined and the appropriate samples collected from the population that will answer the question. The proper methods of analysis, including proper sample preparation and digestion techniques, must then be applied. Care must be taken to achieve the required limits of detection of the critical analytes to yield detectable analyte concentration (above "action" levels) for the majority of the study's samples and to address what portion of those analytes answer the research question-total or partial concentrations. To guarantee a robust analytical result that answers the research question(s), a well-defined quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) plan must be employed. This QA/QC plan must include the collection and analysis of field and laboratory blanks, sample duplicates, and matrix-matched standard reference materials (SRMs). The proper SRMs may include in-house materials and/or a selection of widely available commercial materials. A discussion of the preparation and applicability of in-house reference materials is also presented. Only when all these analytical issues are sufficiently addressed can the research questions be answered with known certainty.

[Establishment and Management of Multiple Myeloma Specimen Bank Applied for Molecular Biological Researches].

PubMed

Li, Han-Qing; Mei, Jian-Gang; Cao, Hong-Qin; Shao, Liang-Jing; Zhai, Yong-Ping

2017-12-01

To establish a multiple myeloma specimen bank applied for molecular biological researches and to explore the methods of specimen collection, transportation, storage, quality control and the management of specimen bank. Bone marrow and blood samples were collected from multiple myeloma patients, plasma cell sorting were operated after the separation of mononuclear cells from bone marrow specimens. The plasma cells were divided into 2 parts, one was added with proper amount of TRIzol and then kept in -80 °C refrigerator for subsequent RNA extraction, the other was added with proper amount of calf serum cell frozen liquid and then kept in -80 °C refrigerator for subsequent cryopreservation of DNA extraction after numbered respectively. Serum and plasma were separated from peripheral blood, specimens of serum and plasma were then stored at -80 °C refrigerator after registration. Meantime, the myeloma specimen information management system was established, managed and maintained by specially-assigned persons and continuous modification and improvement in the process of use as to facilitate the rapid collection, management, query of the effective samples and clinical data. A total of 244 portions plasma cells, 564 portions of serum, and 1005 portions of plasma were collected, clinical characters were documented. A multiple myeloma specimen bank have been established initially, which can provide quality samples and related clinical information for molecular biological research on multiple myeloma.

Demonstration of the Attributes of Multi-increment Sampling and Proper Sample Processing Protocols for the Characterization of Metals on DoD Facilities

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

lenses of unconsolidated sand and rounded river gravel overlain by as much as 5 m of silt. Gravel consists mostly of quartz and metamorphic rock with...iii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Example of multi-increment sampling using a systematic-random sampling design for collecting two separate...The small arms firing Range 16 Record berms at Fort Wainwright. .................... 25 Figure 9. Location of berms sampled using ISM and grab

Identification of commonly encountered Pratylenchus in Oregon

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Pratylenchus species are commonly encountered in soil samples collected from a diversity of economically important crops in Oregon, including potato and small fruits. Proper identification is critical to the selection of an appropriate management strategy since, in many cases, populations are an as...

78 FR 79009 - Proposed Information Collection; Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records (Pertains to Underground...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-27

...The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). This program helps to assure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection for updating Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records.

Transition to collective oscillations in finite Kuramoto ensembles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peter, Franziska; Pikovsky, Arkady

2018-03-01

We present an alternative approach to finite-size effects around the synchronization transition in the standard Kuramoto model. Our main focus lies on the conditions under which a collective oscillatory mode is well defined. For this purpose, the minimal value of the amplitude of the complex Kuramoto order parameter appears as a proper indicator. The dependence of this minimum on coupling strength varies due to sampling variations and correlates with the sample kurtosis of the natural frequency distribution. The skewness of the frequency sample determines the frequency of the resulting collective mode. The effects of kurtosis and skewness hold in the thermodynamic limit of infinite ensembles. We prove this by integrating a self-consistency equation for the complex Kuramoto order parameter for two families of distributions with controlled kurtosis and skewness, respectively.

Pods: a Powder Delivery System for Mars In-situ Organic, Mineralogic and Isotopic Analysis Instruments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saha, C. P.; Bryson, C. E.; Sarrazin, P.; Blake, D. F.

2005-01-01

Many Mars in situ instruments require fine-grained high-fidelity samples of rocks or soil. Included are instruments for the determination of mineralogy as well as organic and isotopic chemistry. Powder can be obtained as a primary objective of a sample collection system (e.g., by collecting powder as a surface is abraded by a rotary abrasion tool (RAT)), or as a secondary objective (e.g, by collecting drill powder as a core is drilled). In the latter case, a properly designed system could be used to monitor drilling in real time as well as to deliver powder to analytical instruments which would perform complementary analyses to those later performed on the intact core. In addition, once a core or other sample is collected, a system that could transfer intelligently collected subsamples of power from the intact core to a suite of analytical instruments would be highly desirable. We have conceptualized, developed and tested a breadboard Powder Delivery System (PoDS) intended to satisfy the collection, processing and distribution requirements of powder samples for Mars in-situ mineralogic, organic and isotopic measurement instruments.

Concentration of gold in natural waters

USGS Publications Warehouse

McHugh, J.B.

1988-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the amount of gold present in natural waters. One hundred and thirty-two natural water samples were collected from various sources and analyzed for gold by the latest techniques. Background values for gold in natural waters range from <0.001 to 0.005 ppb, and anomalous values range from 0.010 to 2.8 ppb. Waters collected from mineralized areas have a mean gold value of 0.101 ppb, whereas waters collected from unmineralized areas have a mean of 0.002 ppb. Some of the high gold values reported in the earlier literature were probably due to interferences by high salt content in the sample and/or lack of proper filter procedures. ?? 1988.

Quality-Assurance/Quality-Control Manual for Collection and Analysis of Water-Quality Data in the Ohio District, US Geological Survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Francy, D.S.; Jones, A.L.; Myers, Donna N.; Rowe, G.L.; Eberle, Michael; Sarver, K.M.

1998-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resources Division (WRD), requires that quality-assurance/quality-control (QA/QC) activities be included in any sampling and analysis program. Operational QA/QC procedures address local needs while incorporating national policies. Therefore, specific technical policies were established for all activities associated with water-quality project being done by the Ohio District. The policies described in this report provide Ohio District personnel, cooperating agencies, and others with a reference manual on QA/QC procedures that are followed in collecitng and analyzing water-quality samples and reporting water-quality information in the Ohio District. The project chief, project support staff, District Water-Quality Specialist, and District Laboratory Coordinator are all involved in planning and implementing QA/QC activities at the district level. The District Chief and other district-level managers provide oversight, and the Regional Water-Quality Specialist, Office of Water Quality (USGS headquarters), and the Branch of Quality Systems within the Office of Water Quality create national QA/QC polices and provide assistance to District personnel. In the literature, the quality of all measurement data is expressed in terms of precision, variability, bias, accuracy, completeness, representativeness, and comparability. In the Ohio District, bias and variability will be used to describe quality-control data generated from samples in the field and laboratory. Each project chief must plan for implementation and financing of QA/QC activities necessary to achieve data-quality objectives. At least 15 percent of the total project effort must be directed toward QA/QC activities. Of this total, 5-10 percent will be used for collection and analysis of quality-control samples. This is an absolute minimum, and more may be required based on project objectives. Proper techniques must be followed in the collection and processing of surface-water, ground-water, biological, precipitation, bed-sediment, bedload, suspended-sediment, and solid-phase samples. These techniques are briefly described in this report and are extensively documented. The reference documents listed in this report will be kept by the District librarian and District Water-Quality Specialist and updated regularly so that they are available to all District staff. Proper handling and documentation before, during, and after field activities are essential to ensure the integrity of the sample and to correct erroneous reporting of data results. Field sites are to be properly identified and entered into the data base before field data-collection activities begin. During field activities, field notes are to be completed and sample bottles appropriately labeled a nd stored. After field activities, all paperwork is to be completed promptly and samples transferred to the laboratory within allowable holding times. All equipment used by District personnel for the collection and processing of water-quality samples is to be properly operated, maintained, and calibrated by project personnel. This includes equipment for onsite measurement of water-quality characteristics (temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, acidity, and turbidity) and equipment and instruments used for biological sampling. The District Water-Quality Specialist and District Laboratory Coordinator are responsible for preventive maintenance and calibration of equipment in the Ohio District laboratory. The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in Arvada, Colo., is the primary source of analytical services for most project work done by the Ohio District. Analyses done at the Ohio District laboratory are usually those that must be completed within a few hours of sample collection. Contract laboratories or other USGS laboratories are sometimes used instead of the NWQL or the Ohio District laboratory. When a contract laboratory is used, the projec

Utilizing DNA analysis to combat the world wide plague of present day slavery – trafficking in persons

PubMed Central

Palmbach, Timothy; Blom, Jeffrey; Hoynes, Emily; Primorac, Dragan; Gaboury, Mario

2014-01-01

A study was conducted to determine if modern forensic DNA typing methods can be properly employed throughout the world with a final goal of increasing arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of perpetrators of modern day trafficking in persons while concurrently reducing the burden of victim testimony in legal proceedings. Without interruption of investigations, collection of samples containing DNA was conducted in a variety of settings. Evidentiary samples were analyzed on the ANDE Rapid DNA system. Many of the collected swabs yielded informative short tandem repeat profiles with Rapid DNA technology. PMID:24577820

Utilizing DNA analysis to combat the world wide plague of present day slavery--trafficking in persons.

PubMed

Palmbach, Timothy M; Blom, Jeffrey; Hoynes, Emily; Primorac, Dragan; Gaboury, Mario

2014-02-01

A study was conducted to determine if modern forensic DNA typing methods can be properly employed throughout the world with a final goal of increasing arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of perpetrators of modern day trafficking in persons while concurrently reducing the burden of victim testimony in legal proceedings. Without interruption of investigations, collection of samples containing DNA was conducted in a variety of settings. Evidentiary samples were analyzed on the ANDE Rapid DNA system. Many of the collected swabs yielded informative short tandem repeat profiles with Rapid DNA technology.

75 FR 79033 - Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-17

...The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection for Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records, 30 CFR 57.5037 and 57.5040.

75 FR 80072 - Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-21

...The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection for Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records, 30 CFR 57.5037 and 57.5040.

Metabolic profiling of body fluids and multivariate data analysis.

PubMed

Trezzi, Jean-Pierre; Jäger, Christian; Galozzi, Sara; Barkovits, Katalin; Marcus, Katrin; Mollenhauer, Brit; Hiller, Karsten

2017-01-01

Metabolome analyses of body fluids are challenging due pre-analytical variations, such as pre-processing delay and temperature, and constant dynamical changes of biochemical processes within the samples. Therefore, proper sample handling starting from the time of collection up to the analysis is crucial to obtain high quality samples and reproducible results. A metabolomics analysis is divided into 4 main steps: 1) Sample collection, 2) Metabolite extraction, 3) Data acquisition and 4) Data analysis. Here, we describe a protocol for gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolic analysis for biological matrices, especially body fluids. This protocol can be applied on blood serum/plasma, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of humans and other vertebrates. It covers sample collection, sample pre-processing, metabolite extraction, GC-MS measurement and guidelines for the subsequent data analysis. Advantages of this protocol include: •Robust and reproducible metabolomics results, taking into account pre-analytical variations that may occur during the sampling process•Small sample volume required•Rapid and cost-effective processing of biological samples•Logistic regression based determination of biomarker signatures for in-depth data analysis.

Modeling and Simulation of a Tethered Harpoon for Comet Sampling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quadrelli, Marco B.

2014-01-01

This paper describes the development of a dynamic model and simulation results of a tethered harpoon for comet sampling. This model and simulation was done in order to carry out an initial sensitivity analysis for key design parameters of the tethered system. The harpoon would contain a canister which would collect a sample of soil from a cometary surface. Both a spring ejected canister and a tethered canister are considered. To arrive in close proximity of the spacecraft at the end of its trajectory so it could be captured, the free-flying canister would need to be ejected at the right time and with the proper impulse, while the tethered canister must be recovered by properly retrieving the tether at a rate that would avoid an excessive amplitude of oscillatory behavior during the retrieval. The paper describes the model of the tether dynamics and harpoon penetration physics. The simulations indicate that, without the tether, the canister would still reach the spacecraft for collection, that the tether retrieval of the canister would be achievable with reasonable fuel consumption, and that the canister amplitude upon retrieval would be insensitive to variations in vertical velocity dispersion.

Maternal–Child Microbiome: Specimen Collection, Storage and Implications for Research and Practice

PubMed Central

Jordan, Sheila; Baker, Brenda; Dunn, Alexis; Edwards, Sara; Ferranti, Erin; Mutic, Abby D.; Yang, Irene; Rodriguez, Jeannie

2017-01-01

Background The maternal microbiome is a key contributor to the development and outcomes of pregnancy and the health status of both mother and infant. Significant advances are occurring in the science of the maternal and child microbiome and hold promise in improving outcomes related to pregnancy complications, child development, and chronic health conditions of mother and child. Objectives The purpose of the paper is to review site-specific considerations in the collection and storage of maternal and child microbiome samples and its implications for nursing research and practice. Approach Microbiome sampling protocols were reviewed and synthesized. Precautions across sampling protocols were also noted. Results Oral, vaginal, gut, placental, and breastmilk are viable sources for sampling the maternal and/or child microbiome. Prior to sampling special considerations need to be addressed related to various factors including current medications, health status, and hygiene practices. Proper storage of samples will avoid degradation of cellular and DNA structures vital for analysis. Discussion Changes in the microbiome throughout the perinatal, postpartum and childhood periods are dramatic and significant to outcomes of the pregnancy and the long-term health of mother and child. Proper sampling techniques are required to produce reliable results from which evidence-based practice recommendations will be built. Ethical and practical issues surrounding study design and protocol development must also be considered when researching vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and infants. Nurses hold the responsibility to both perform the research and to translate findings from microbiome investigations for clinical use. PMID:28252577

User guide for luminescence sampling in archaeological and geological contexts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, Michelle S.; Gray, Harrison J.; Johnson, Jack A.; Rittenour, Tammy M.; Feathers, James K.; Mahan, Shannon

2015-01-01

Luminescence dating provides a direct age estimate of the time of last exposure of quartz or feldspar minerals to light or heat and has been successfully applied to deposits, rock surfaces, and fired materials in a number of archaeological and geological settings. Sampling strategies are diverse and can be customized depending on local circumstances, although all sediment samples need to include a light-safe sample and material for dose-rate determination. The accuracy and precision of luminescence dating results are directly related to the type and quality of the material sampled and sample collection methods in the field. Selection of target material for dating should include considerations of adequacy of resetting of the luminescence signal (optical and thermal bleaching), the ability to characterize the radioactive environment surrounding the sample (dose rate), and the lack of evidence for post-depositional mixing (bioturbation in soils and sediment). Sample strategies for collection of samples from sedimentary settings and fired materials are discussed. This paper should be used as a guide for luminescence sampling and is meant to provide essential background information on how to properly collect samples and on the types of materials suitable for luminescence dating.

Serum zinc concentrations: contamination from laboratory equipment.

PubMed

Ralstin, J O; Schneider, P J; Blackstone, L; Ruberg, R L

1979-01-01

The following experiment was designed because of high serum zinc reported in patients who were reciving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) concentrations. Blood samples were collected, divided into 3 containers: a clean glass control test tube, a vacuum collecting tube with a rubber stopper, and paraffin clot activator. It was found that compared to glass control tubes, vacuum collection with rubber stoppers contributed an average of 76 +/- 14 microgram/dl of zinc as contaminants. Moreover, tubes with a rubber stopper and clot activator contributed 198 +/- 42 microgram/dl of zinc as contaminants. It is concluded that care must be used to avoid trace element contaminants when plasma zinc concentrations are analyzed. Without proper methodology, including selection of the container in which the sample is taken, erroneous results will be reported.

Investigation of differences between field and laboratory pH measurements of national atmospheric deposition program/national trends network precipitation samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Latysh, N.; Gordon, J.

2004-01-01

A study was undertaken to investigate differences between laboratory and field pH measurements for precipitation samples collected from 135 weekly precipitation-monitoring sites in the National Trends Network from 12/30/1986 to 12/28/1999. Differences in pH between field and laboratory measurements occurred for 96% of samples collected during this time period. Differences between the two measurements were evaluated for precipitation samples collected before and after January 1994, when modifications to sample-handling protocol and elimination of the contaminating bucket o-ring used in sample shipment occurred. Median hydrogen-ion and pH differences between field and laboratory measurements declined from 3.9 ??eq L-1 or 0.10 pH units before the 1994 protocol change to 1.4 ??eq L-1 or 0.04 pH units after the 1994 protocol change. Hydrogen-ion differences between field and laboratory measurements had a high correlation with the sample pH determined in the field. The largest pH differences between the two measurements occurred for high-pH samples (>5.6), typical of precipitation collected in Western United States; however low- pH samples (<5.0) displayed the highest variability in hydrogen-ion differences between field and laboratory analyses. Properly screened field pH measurements are a useful alternative to laboratory pH values for trend analysis, particularly before 1994 when laboratory pH values were influenced by sample-collection equipment.

76 FR 36518 - Notice of Intent To Request Approval To Revise and Extend an Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-22

..., sampling design, and/or questionnaire length. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 22... performing this task as a part of their job functions.) Respondents: Farmers, USDA inspectors, and custom... is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the...

Interpretation of Blood Microbiology Results - Function of the Clinical Microbiologist.

PubMed

Kristóf, Katalin; Pongrácz, Júlia

2016-04-01

The proper use and interpretation of blood microbiology results may be one of the most challenging and one of the most important functions of clinical microbiology laboratories. Effective implementation of this function requires careful consideration of specimen collection and processing, pathogen detection techniques, and prompt and precise reporting of identification and susceptibility results. The responsibility of the treating physician is proper formulation of the analytical request and to provide the laboratory with complete and precise patient information, which are inevitable prerequisites of a proper testing and interpretation. The clinical microbiologist can offer advice concerning the differential diagnosis, sampling techniques and detection methods to facilitate diagnosis. Rapid detection methods are essential, since the sooner a pathogen is detected, the better chance the patient has of getting cured. Besides the gold-standard blood culture technique, microbiologic methods that decrease the time in obtaining a relevant result are more and more utilized today. In the case of certain pathogens, the pathogen can be identified directly from the blood culture bottle after propagation with serological or automated/semi-automated systems or molecular methods or with MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry). Molecular biology methods are also suitable for the rapid detection and identification of pathogens from aseptically collected blood samples. Another important duty of the microbiology laboratory is to notify the treating physician immediately about all relevant information if a positive sample is detected. The clinical microbiologist may provide important guidance regarding the clinical significance of blood isolates, since one-third to one-half of blood culture isolates are contaminants or isolates of unknown clinical significance. To fully exploit the benefits of blood culture and other (non- culture based) diagnoses, the microbiologist and the clinician should interact directly.

The role of the medical laboratory technologist in drinking and driving cases. Part 1: The Criminal Code and blood collection for alcohol analysis.

PubMed

Westenbrink, W

1992-01-01

Police officers can now demand blood samples from suspected impaired drivers in Canada to determine their Blood Alcohol Concentration. The medical laboratory technologist has been given the authority to take blood samples for legal purposes, as well as the authorization to complete certificates used as evidence in court. The proper procedures for the taking of blood samples and the completion of certificates are described in detail. The Criminal Code offences dealing with drinking and driving, the means by which police officers can legally obtain blood samples, the Blood Alcohol Kit, and the provision of providing blood collection evidence in court are discussed to aid the technologists in understanding their role in this process. The Criminal Code definitions of a "qualified medical practitioner", a "qualified technician", and "approved containers" are also described.

Validity of the SAT® for Predicting First-Year Grades: 2011 SAT Validity Sample. Statistical Report 2013-3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patterson, Brian F.; Mattern, Krista D.

2013-01-01

The continued accumulation of validity evidence for the intended uses of educational assessments is critical to ensure that proper inferences will be made for those purposes. To that end, the College Board has continued to collect college outcome data to evaluate the relationship between SAT® scores and college success. This report provides…

Understanding the behavior of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in an urban watershed: Explanation and application of techniques to collect and evaluate monitoring data

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

Crockett, C.S.; Haas, C.N.

1996-11-01

Due to current proposed regulations requiring monitoring for protozoans and demonstration of adequate protozoan removal depending on source water concentrations detected, many utilities are considering or are engaged in protozoan monitoring activities within their watershed so that proper watershed management and treatment modifications can reduce their impact on drinking water safety and quality. However, due to the difficulties associated with the current analytical methods and sample collection many sampling efforts collect data that cannot be interpreted or lack the tools to interpret the information obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to determine how to develop an effective sampling program tailored tomore » a utility`s specific needs to provide interpretable data and develop tools for evaluating such data. The following case study describes the process in which a utility learned how to collect and interpret monitoring data for their specific needs and provides concepts and tools which other utilities can use to aid in their own macro and microwatershed management efforts.« less

Assessment of ovarian cycles in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) by measurement of salivary progesterone metabolites.

PubMed

Illera, Juan-Carlos; Silván, Gema; Cáceres, Sara; Carbonell, Maria-Dolores; Gerique, Cati; Martínez-Fernández, Leticia; Munro, Coralie; Casares, Miguel

2014-01-01

Monitoring ovarian cycles through hormonal analysis is important in order to improve breeding management of captive elephants, and non-invasive collection techniques are particularly interesting for this purpose. However, there are some practical difficulties in collecting proper samples, and easier and more practical methods may be an advantage for some institutions and/or some animals. This study describes the development and validation of an enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for progestins in salivary samples of African elephants, Loxodonta africana. Weekly urinary and salivary samples from five non-pregnant elephant cows aged 7-12 years were obtained for 28 weeks and analyzed using EIA. Both techniques correlated positively (r = 0.799; P < 0.001), and the cycle characteristics obtained were identical. The results clearly show that ovarian cycles can be monitored by measuring progestins from salivary samples in the African elephant. This is a simple and non-invasive method that may be a practical alternative to other sampling methods used in the species. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Internet of Samples in the Earth Sciences: Providing Access to Uncurated Collections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, M. R.; Lehnert, K. A.

2014-12-01

Vast amounts of physical samples have been collected in the Earth Sciences for studies that address a wide range of scientific questions. Only a fraction of these samples are well curated and preserved long-term in sample repositories and museums. Many samples and collections are stored in the offices and labs of investigators, or in basements and sheds of institutions and investigators' homes. These 'uncurated' collections often contain samples that have been well studied, or are unique and irreplaceable. They may also include samples that could reveal new insights if re-analyzed using new techniques, or specimens that could have unanticipated relevance to research being conducted in fields other than the one for which they were collected. Currently, these samples cannot be accessed or discovered online by the broader science community. Investigators and departments often lack the resources to properly catalog and curate the samples and respond to requests for splits. Long-term preservation of and access to these samples is usually not provided for. iSamplES, a recently-funded EarthCube Research Coordination Network (RCN), seeks to integrate scientific samples, including 'uncurated' samples, into digital data and information infrastructure in the Earth Sciences and to facilitate their curation, discovery, access, sharing, and analysis. The RCN seeks to develop and implement best practices that increase digital access to samples with the goal of establishing a comprehensive infrastructure not only for the digital, but also physical curation of samples. The RCN will engage a broad group of individuals from domain scientists to curators to publishers to computer scientists to define, articulate, and address the needs and challenges of digital sample management and recommend community-endorsed best practices and standards for registering, describing, identifying, and citing physical specimens, drawing upon other initiatives and existing or emerging software tools for digital sample and collection management. Community engagement will include surveys, in-person workshops and outreach events, the creation of the iSamplES knowledge hub (semantic wiki) and a registry of collections. iSamplES will specifically engage early career scientists to encourage that no samples go uncurated.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: OGLE high proper motion stars towards MC (Soszynski+, 2002)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soszynski, I.; Zebrun, K.; Udalski, A.; Wozniak, P. R.; Szymanski, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzynski, G.; Szewczyk, O.; Wyrzykowski, L.

2002-11-01

We present a catalog of high proper motion (HPM) stars detected in the foreground of central parts of the Magellanic Clouds. The Catalog contains 2161 objects in the 4.5 square degree area towards the LMC, and 892 HPM stars in the 2.4 square degree area towards the SMC. The Catalog is based on observations collected during four years of the OGLE-II microlensing survey. The Difference Image Analysis (DIA) of the images provided candidate HPM stars with proper motion as small as 4mas/yr. These appeared as pseudo-variables, and were all measured astrometrically on all CCD images, providing typically about 400 data points per star. The reference frame was defined by the majority of background stars, most of them members of the Magellanic Clouds. The reflex motion due to solar velocity with respect to the local standards of rest is clearly seen. The largest proper motion in our sample is 363mas/yr. Parallaxes were measured with errors smaller than 20% for several stars. (2 data files).

Colour coding for blood collection tube closures - a call for harmonisation.

PubMed

Simundic, Ana-Maria; Cornes, Michael P; Grankvist, Kjell; Lippi, Giuseppe; Nybo, Mads; Ceriotti, Ferruccio; Theodorsson, Elvar; Panteghini, Mauro

2015-02-01

At least one in 10 patients experience adverse events while receiving hospital care. Many of the errors are related to laboratory diagnostics. Efforts to reduce laboratory errors over recent decades have primarily focused on the measurement process while pre- and post-analytical errors including errors in sampling, reporting and decision-making have received much less attention. Proper sampling and additives to the samples are essential. Tubes and additives are identified not only in writing on the tubes but also by the colour of the tube closures. Unfortunately these colours have not been standardised, running the risk of error when tubes from one manufacturer are replaced by the tubes from another manufacturer that use different colour coding. EFLM therefore supports the worldwide harmonisation of the colour coding for blood collection tube closures and labels in order to reduce the risk of pre-analytical errors and improve the patient safety.

Quality variations in black musli (curculigo orchioides gaertn.).

PubMed

Mathew, P P Joy Samuel; Savithri, K E; Skaria, Baby P; Kurien, Kochurani

2004-07-01

Black musli (Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.) one of the ayurvedic dasapushpa and a rejuvenating and aphrodisiac drug. Is on the verge of extinction and needs to be conserved and cultivated. Large variations are also observed in the quality of the crude drug available in the market. Study on the quality of C. orchioides in natural habitat, under cultivation and in trade in south India showed that there was considerable variation with biotypes and habitats. Drugs collected form the natural habitat was superior in quality to that produced by cultivation. Among the market samples collected from the various Zones of kerala, those from the High Ranges were superior in most of the quality parameters, which indicated its superiority for high quality drug formulation. Among the southern states, Tamil Nadu samples ranked next to High Range samples in this respect. There exists large variability in the market samples and there is felt-need for proper standardization of the crude drug for ensuring quality in the drug formulations.

Silk-based blood stabilization for diagnostics.

PubMed

Kluge, Jonathan A; Li, Adrian B; Kahn, Brooke T; Michaud, Dominique S; Omenetto, Fiorenzo G; Kaplan, David L

2016-05-24

Advanced personalized medical diagnostics depend on the availability of high-quality biological samples. These are typically biofluids, such as blood, saliva, or urine; and their collection and storage is critical to obtain reliable results. Without proper temperature regulation, protein biomarkers in particular can degrade rapidly in blood samples, an effect that ultimately compromises the quality and reliability of laboratory tests. Here, we present the use of silk fibroin as a solid matrix to encapsulate blood analytes, protecting them from thermally induced damage that could be encountered during nonrefrigerated transportation or freeze-thaw cycles. Blood samples are recovered by simple dissolution of the silk matrix in water. This process is demonstrated to be compatible with a number of immunoassays and provides enhanced sample preservation in comparison with traditional air-drying paper approaches. Additional processing can remediate interactions with conformational structures of the silk protein to further enhance blood stabilization and recovery. This approach can provide expanded utility for remote collection of blood and other biospecimens empowering new modalities of temperature-independent remote diagnostics.

PAH and PCB in the Baltic -- A budget approach including fluxes, occurrence and concentration variability in air, suspended and settling particulates in water, surface sediments and river water

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

Broman, D.; Axelman, J.; Bandh, C.

In order to study the fate and occurrence of two groups of hydrophobic compounds in the Baltic aquatic environment a large number of samples were collected from the southern Baltic proper to the northern Bothnian Bay for the analyses of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The following sample matrices were collected; bottom surface sediments (0--1 cm, collected with gravity corer), settling particulate matter (collected with sediment traps), open water samples and over water samples (suspended particulates and dissolved fraction sampled by filtration) and air samples (aerosols and vapor phase sampled by filtration). All samples (except over watermore » and air) were collected at open sea in the Baltic. The analyses results have been used to make a model approach on the whole Baltic and to elucidate different aspects of the behavior of PAHs and PCBs in the Baltic, such as the occurrence of the compounds in water and sediment, the total content as well as the concentration variabilities over such a large geographical area, Further, the data on settling particulate matter as well as the air concentration data were used to estimate the total fluxes of PAHs and PCBs to the bottoms of the Baltic and t o the total water area of the Baltic, respectively. Further, data on the PAH and PCB content in river water from four major rivers provides rough estimates of the riverine input to the Baltic. The dynamics of PAHs and PCBs within the water mass have also been studied in terms of settling velocities and residence times in the water mass for these type of compounds in the open Baltic.« less

Analysis of sexual assault survivours in a tertiary care hospital in delhi: a retrospective analysis.

PubMed

Lal, Sweta; Singh, Alpana; Vaid, Neelam Bala; Behera, Sanjeeta

2014-09-01

Rape and abuse of women are common occurrences, which, many a times go unspoken due to social stigma or fear of retribution. Rape is a crime not against a single human being but against the entire humanity. For granting justice to the rape survivor it becomes necessary that such matters are properly presented before the Courts of Law. Healthcare workers play an important role in this regard because they are the first person who examine the rape victims. They prepare a documented record of medical condition of rape victim and do relevant sample collection. The objective of this study is to analyse demographic and event characteristics of rape victims who presented to the Emergency Department in tertiary care, Delhi after sexual assault. Data was retrospectively collected from the medico legal register of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between June 2010 to December 2013. We noted a marked increase in the number of cases. Mean age of victims was 17 and most belonged to the lower socio-economic strata of the society. Use of sedatives and physical trauma was not common. Victims often knew the perpetrator of the event. Most (58%) of them reported within one day of the incident. Major degrees of perineal tears were seen in young victims. By understanding the demography of the sexual assault victims, we need to train our doctors for proper evidence collection not just in a government set up but also in private clinics, to help rape victims get justice and proper medical treatment.

CARMENES science preparation: characterisation of M dwarfs with low-resolution spectroscopy and search for low-mass wide companions to young stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alonso-Floriano, F. J.

2015-11-01

This thesis is focused on the study of low-mass objects that can be targets of exoplanet searches with near-infrared spectrographs in general and CARMENES (Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exo-earths with Near-infrared and optical Echelle Spectrographs; see Quirrenbach et al. 2014) in particular. The CARMENES consortium comprises 11 institutions from Germany and Spain that are building a high-resolution spectrograph (R=82,000) with two channels, visible (0.55 - 1.05 um) and infrared (0.95 - 1.7 um), for the 3.5 m Calar Alto telescope. It will observe a sample of 300 M dwarfs in 600 nights of guaranteed time during at least three years, starting in January 2016. The final sample will be chosen from the 2200 M dwarfs included in the CARMENCITA input catalogue. For these stars, we have obtained and collected a large amount of data: spectral types, radial and rotational velocities, photometry in several bands, etc. Part of the e effort of the science preparation necessary for the final selection of targets for CARMENES and other near-infrared spectrographs has been collected in two publications, which are presented in this PhD thesis. In the first publication (Alonso-Floriano et al., 2015A&A...577A.128A), we obtained low-resolution spectra for 753 stars using the CAFOS spectrograph at the 2.2 m Calar Alto telescope. The main goal was to derive accurate spectral types, which are fundamental parameters for the sample selection. We used a grid of 49 standard stars, from spectral types K3V to M8V, together with a double least-square minimisation technique and 31 spectral indices previously defined by other authors. In addition, we quantified the surface gravity, metallicity and chromospheric activity of the sample, in order to detect low-gravity stars (giants and very young), metal-poor and very metal-poor stars (subdwarfs), and very active stars. In the second publication (Alonso-Floriano et al., 2015A&A...583A..85A), we searched for common proper motion companions, especially of low mass, to members of the near young beta Pictoris moving group. First, we compiled a list of 185 members and candidate members to beta Pictoris from 35 representatives studies on this moving group. Next, we used the Aladin and STILTS virtual observatory tools, as well as the PPMXL proper motion and Washington double stars catalogues. The objects that showed similar proper motions to those stars of the sample were targets of an astro-photometric follow-up. The 36 common proper motion companion eventually obtained were subjects of a study of binding energies to determine their physical ligation.

Key parameters for behaviour related to source separation of household organic waste: A case study in Hanoi, Vietnam.

PubMed

Kawai, Kosuke; Huong, Luong Thi Mai

2017-03-01

Proper management of food waste, a major component of municipal solid waste (MSW), is needed, especially in developing Asian countries where most MSW is disposed of in landfill sites without any pretreatment. Source separation can contribute to solving problems derived from the disposal of food waste. An organic waste source separation and collection programme has been operated in model areas in Hanoi, Vietnam, since 2007. This study proposed three key parameters (participation rate, proper separation rate and proper discharge rate) for behaviour related to source separation of household organic waste, and monitored the progress of the programme based on the physical composition of household waste sampled from 558 households in model programme areas of Hanoi. The results showed that 13.8% of 558 households separated organic waste, and 33.0% discharged mixed (unseparated) waste improperly. About 41.5% (by weight) of the waste collected as organic waste was contaminated by inorganic waste, and one-third of the waste disposed of as organic waste by separators was inorganic waste. We proposed six hypothetical future household behaviour scenarios to help local officials identify a final or midterm goal for the programme. We also suggested that the city government take further actions to increase the number of people participating in separating organic waste, improve the accuracy of separation and prevent non-separators from discharging mixed waste improperly.

A Comparison of Domain Sampling Procedures for Test Construction

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-10-01

B AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPNENT GENERAL MECHANIC AFSC 454X1 306 KNOWLEDGE TEST AFPT 80-423-205 103 AEROSPACE GOUND EQUIPNENT SPECIALTY (AFS 454Xl) JOB... 454X1 ). The information collected will be used for research purposes only and will have no effect on your career. Test results will be available for...exercise proper towing and positioning procedures, operate two-way radios and clean vehicles. 127 AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT AFSC 454X1 SELF-RATING FORNS

Applications of X-Ray Micro-Beam for Data Collection.

PubMed

Sanishvili, Ruslan; Fischetti, Robert F

2017-01-01

Micro-diffraction tools for macromolecular crystallography, first developed at the end of 1990s and now an integral part of many synchrotron beamlines, enable some of the experiments which were not feasible just a decade or so ago. These include data collection from very small samples, just a few micrometers in size; from larger, but severely inhomogeneous samples; and from samples which are optically invisible. Improved micro-diffraction tools led to improved signal-to-noise ratio, to mitigation of radiation damage in some cases, and to better-designed diffraction experiments. Small, micron-scale beams can be attained in different ways and knowing the details of the implementation is important in order to design the diffraction experiment properly. Similarly, precision, reproducibility and stability of the goniometry, and caveats of detection systems need to be taken into account. Lastly, to make micro-diffraction widely applicable, the sophistication, robustness, and user-friendliness of these tools are just as important as the technical capabilities.

Use of FTA sampling cards for molecular detection of avian influenza virus in wild birds.

PubMed

Keeler, Shamus P; Ferro, Pamela J; Brown, Justin D; Fang, Xingwang; El-Attrache, John; Poulson, Rebecca; Jackwood, Mark W; Stallknecht, David E

2012-03-01

Current avian influenza (AI) virus surveillance programs involving wild birds rely on sample collection methods that require refrigeration or low temperature freezing to maintain sample integrity for virus isolation and/or reverse-transcriptase (RT) PCR. Maintaining the cold chain is critical for the success of these diagnostic assays but is not always possible under field conditions. The aim of this study was to test the utility of Finders Technology Associates (FTA) cards for reliable detection of AI virus from cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs of wild birds. The minimum detectable titer was determined, and the effect of room temperature storage was evaluated experimentally using multiple egg-propagated stock viruses (n = 6). Using real time RT-PCR, we compared results from paired cloacal swab and samples collected on FTA cards from both experimentally infected mallards (Anasplatyrhynchos) and hunter-harvested waterfowl sampled along the Texas Gulf Coast. Based on the laboratory trials, the average minimal detectable viral titer was determined to be 1 x 10(4.7) median embryo infectious dose (EID50)/ml (range: 1 x 10(4.3) to 1 x 10(5.4) EID50/ml), and viral RNA was consistently detectable on the FTA cards for a minimum of 20 days and up to 30 days for most subtypes at room temperature (23 C) storage. Real-time RT-PCR of samples collected using the FTA cards showed fair to good agreement in live birds when compared with both real-time RT-PCR and virus isolation of swabs. AI virus detection rates in samples from several wild bird species were higher when samples were collected using the FTA cards compared with cloacal swabs. These results suggest that FTA cards can be used as an alternative sample collection method when traditional surveillance methods are not possible, especially in avian populations that have historically received limited testing or situations in which field conditions limit the ability to properly store or ship swab samples.

Advances in Astromaterials Curation: Supporting Future Sample Return Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, C. A.; Zeigler, R. A.; Fries, M. D..; Righter, K.; Allton, J. H.; Zolensky, M. E.; Calaway, M. J.; Bell, M. S.

2015-01-01

NASA's Astromaterials, curated at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, are the most extensive, best-documented, and leastcontaminated extraterrestrial samples that are provided to the worldwide research community. These samples include lunar samples from the Apollo missions, meteorites collected over nearly 40 years of expeditions to Antarctica (providing samples of dozens of asteroid bodies, the Moon, and Mars), Genesis solar wind samples, cosmic dust collected by NASA's high altitude airplanes, Comet Wild 2 and interstellar dust samples from the Stardust mission, and asteroid samples from JAXA's Hayabusa mission. A full account of NASA's curation efforts for these collections is provided by Allen, et al [1]. On average, we annually allocate about 1500 individual samples from NASA's astromaterials collections to hundreds of researchers from around the world, including graduate students and post-doctoral scientists; our allocation rate has roughly doubled over the past 10 years. The curation protocols developed for the lunar samples returned from the Apollo missions remain relevant and are adapted to new and future missions. Several lessons from the Apollo missions, including the need for early involvement of curation scientists in mission planning [1], have been applied to all subsequent sample return campaigns. From the 2013 National Academy of Sciences report [2]: "Curation is the critical interface between sample return missions and laboratory research. Proper curation has maintained the scientific integrity and utility of the Apollo, Antarctic meteorite, and cosmic dust collections for decades. Each of these collections continues to yield important new science. In the past decade, new state-of-the-art curatorial facilities for the Genesis and Stardust missions were key to the scientific breakthroughs provided by these missions." The results speak for themselves: research on NASA's astromaterials result in hundreds of papers annually, yield fundamental discoveries about the evolution of the solar system (e.g. [3] and references contained therein), and serve the global scientific community as ground truth for current and planned missions such as NASA's Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres, and the future OSIRIS REx mission to asteroid Bennu [1,3

Coffee berry borer in conilon coffee in the Brazilian Cerrado: an ancient pest in a new environment.

PubMed

Oliveira, C M; Santos, M J; Amabile, R F; Frizzas, M R; Bartholo, G F

2018-02-01

The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), and to evaluate the population fluctuation of the pest in the Brazilian Cerrado (Federal District). The study was conducted, between November 2014 and October 2015, at Embrapa Cerrados (Planaltina/DF, Brazil) in an irrigated conilon coffee production area. In November 2014, 120 samples (ten berries/sample) were collected from berries that had fallen on the ground from the previous harvest. Between November 2014 and October 2015, insects were collected weekly, using traps (polyethylene terephthalate bottles) baited with ethyl alcohol (98 GL), ethyl alcohol (98 GL) with coffee powder, or molasses. Between January and July 2015, samples were collected fortnightly from 92 plants (12 berries per plant). All samples were evaluated for the presence of adult coffee berry borers. Samples from the previous harvest had an attack incidence of 72.4%. The baited traps captured 4062 H. hampei adults, and showed no statistical difference in capture efficiency among the baits. Pest population peaked in the dry season, with the largest percentage of captured adults occurring in July (31.0%). An average of 18.6% of the collected berries was attacked by the borer and the highest percentage incidence was recorded in July (33.2%). Our results suggest that the coffee berry borer, if not properly managed, could constitute a limiting factor for conilon coffee production in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Composition and trace element content of coal in Taiwan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tsai, L.-Y.; Chen, C.-F.; Finkelman, R.B.

2005-01-01

To investigate the trace element contents of local coal, four coal samples were collected from operating mines in NW Taiwan. Detailed petrographic and chemical characterization analyses were then conducted. Analytical results indicate that (1) the samples were high volatile bituminous coal in rank with ash content ranging from 4.2 to 14.4% and with moisture content ranging from 2.7 to 4.6%; (2) the macerals were mostly composed of vitrinite with vitrinite reflectance less than 0.8%; (3) the sample of Wukeng mine has the highest Fe2O3 (29.5%), TI (54.8 ppm), Zn (140 ppm), and As (697 ppm) contents in ash and Hg (2.3 ppm) in the coal. If used properly, these coals should not present health hazards.

Long-Range Transport of Perchlorate Observed in the Atmospheric Aerosols Collected at Okinawa Island, Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handa, D.; Okada, K.; Kuroki, Y.; Nakama, Y.; Nakajima, H.; Arakaki, T.; Tanahara, A.; Oomori, T.; Miyagi, T.; Kadena, H.; Ishizaki, T.; Nakama, F.

2007-12-01

The study of perchlorate has become quite active in the U.S. in the last several years. Perchlorate has been recognized as a new environmental pollutant and it attracted much attention quickly in the world. The health concern about perchlorate stems from the fact that it displaces iodide in the thyroid gland, while iodine-containing thyroid hormones are essential for proper neural development from the fetal stage through the first years of life. In this study, we determined the concentrations of perchlorate ion present in the atmospheric aerosols collected in Okinawa Island, Japan. We then examined the relationships between the perchlorate concentrations and the environmental parameters and the climatic conditions peculiar to Okinawa. Bulk aerosol samples were collected on quartz filters by using a high volume air sampler at Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS). Each sampling duration was one week. The quartz filters with aerosols were stirred with Milli-Q pure water for three hours before perchlorate ion was extracted. The extracted perchlorate ion concentrations were determined by ion chromatography (ICS-2000, DIONEX). The mean perchlorate concentration for the samples collected at CHAAMS was 1.83 ng/m3, and the minimum was 0.18 ng/m3. The samples collected during November 21-27, 2005, January 23-30, 2006 and April 24-01, 2006 had highest perchlorate concentrations. For these three samples, we performed back trajectory analysis, and found that the air mass for the three samples arrived from the Asian continent. A relatively strong correlation (r2 = 0.55) was found between perchlorate and nss-sulfate concentrations for the CHAAMS samples. Furthermore, we analyzed perchlorate in the soils and the fertilizers used for sugar cane farming around the CHAAMS area. The Milli-Q extract of the soil and the fertilizers did not contain any detectable levels of perchlorate ions. Therefore, it was suggested that perchlorate found in the atmospheric aerosols collected at CHAAMS was probably transported from the Asian continent.

Sample handling and contamination encountered when coupling offline normal phase high performance liquid chromatography fraction collection of petroleum samples to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Oro, Nicole E; Whittal, Randy M; Lucy, Charles A

2012-09-05

Normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to separate a gas oil petroleum sample, and the fractions are collected offline and analyzed on a high resolution Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer (FT-ICR MS). The separation prior to MS analysis dilutes the sample significantly; therefore the fractions need to be prepared properly to achieve the best signal possible. The methods used to prepare the HPLC fractions for MS analysis are described, with emphasis placed on increasing the concentration of analyte species. The dilution effect also means that contamination in the MS spectra needs to be minimized. The contamination from molecular sieves, plastics, soap, etc. and interferences encountered during the offline fraction collection process are described and eliminated. A previously unreported MS contamination of iron formate clusters with a 0.8 mass defect in positive mode electrospray is also described. This interference resulted from the stainless steel tubing in the HPLC system. Contamination resulting from what has tentatively been assigned as palmitoylglycerol and stearoylglycerol was also observed; these compounds have not previously been reported as contaminant peaks. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sampling and sample processing in pesticide residue analysis.

PubMed

Lehotay, Steven J; Cook, Jo Marie

2015-05-13

Proper sampling and sample processing in pesticide residue analysis of food and soil have always been essential to obtain accurate results, but the subject is becoming a greater concern as approximately 100 mg test portions are being analyzed with automated high-throughput analytical methods by agrochemical industry and contract laboratories. As global food trade and the importance of monitoring increase, the food industry and regulatory laboratories are also considering miniaturized high-throughput methods. In conjunction with a summary of the symposium "Residues in Food and Feed - Going from Macro to Micro: The Future of Sample Processing in Residue Analytical Methods" held at the 13th IUPAC International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry, this is an opportune time to review sampling theory and sample processing for pesticide residue analysis. If collected samples and test portions do not adequately represent the actual lot from which they came and provide meaningful results, then all costs, time, and efforts involved in implementing programs using sophisticated analytical instruments and techniques are wasted and can actually yield misleading results. This paper is designed to briefly review the often-neglected but crucial topic of sample collection and processing and put the issue into perspective for the future of pesticide residue analysis. It also emphasizes that analysts should demonstrate the validity of their sample processing approaches for the analytes/matrices of interest and encourages further studies on sampling and sample mass reduction to produce a test portion.

Hydrogeologic characterization of wells HTH-1, UE18r, UE6e, and HTH-3, Nevada Test Site

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

Lyles, B.F.; McKay, W.A.; Chapman, J.B.

1991-06-01

Monitoring for the migration of contaminants in groundwater or for the proper design of nuclear test emplacement holes at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) requires proper placement and completion of monitoring wells. This is only possible if the hydrogeologic system is understood in a regional and local context, necessitating data from existing wells and boreholes. Though the NTS Groundwater Characterization Project will be drilling wells, their great expense limits the number of new wells. However, there are many existing boreholes and wells on the NTS which have not been completely evaluated hydrologically. Some of these are incorporated in the Longmore » Term Hydrologic Monitoring Program (LTHMP) of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), others are related to the testing programs. In all cases, additional site investigation in necessary to properly interpret the hydrogeologic data from these wells. Monitoring wells on the NTS are poorly characterized with regard to aquifers penetrated, vertical hydraulic gradients, and vertical variations in water quality. One of the goals of the well validation program was to gain a thorough understanding of the parameters needed to interpret the source and fate potential hazardous and radioactive substances that may be detected in these wells in the future. One of the most critical parameters for monitoring is the knowledge of what aquifer or geologic unit is being sampled when a water sample is collected. Pumped water samples are weighted most heavily to the water quality of the most productive (highest transmissivity) aquifer penetrated by the well.« less

Mass rearing of Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

PubMed Central

Firoozfar, F; Moosa-Kazemi, H; Baniardalani, M; Abolhassani, M; Khoobdel, M; Rafinejd, J

2011-01-01

Objective To carry out an experimental study with the main objective of mass rearing of sheep flies (Lucilia sericata). Methods Hand collection and beef- or cattle liver-baited net traps were used for field fly sampling from April, 2010 to November, 2010. The samples collected from different places were placed in properly labeled tubes and sent to the Entomology Laboratory. Since maggot identification is important in inducing mortality, they were kept under insectary condition to develop to adult stage and identified using systematic keys. Results A total of 218 flies were collected in three rounds of sampling from the field of Tehran and Karaj Counties. In the first generation, 433 flies including 135 (31.17%) male, and 298 (68.82%) female were yielded. The female/male of parent ratio was calculated as 1.72 in Tehran and in Karaj areas, whereas it was 2.20% and 1.81%, respectively in F1 and F2 generations, respectively. Conclusions During this study, the mass rearing of sheep blow fly has been established at the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and can be used for producing flies for maggot therapy. PMID:23569725

Slaughterhouses Fungal Burden Assessment: A Contribution for the Pursuit of a Better Assessment Strategy

PubMed Central

Viegas, Carla; Faria, Tiago; dos Santos, Mateus; Carolino, Elisabete; Sabino, Raquel; Quintal Gomes, Anita; Viegas, Susana

2016-01-01

In slaughterhouses, the biological risk is present not only from the direct or indirect contact with animal matter, but also from the exposure to bioaerosols. Fungal contamination was already reported from the floors and walls of slaughterhouses. This study intends to assess fungal contamination by cultural and molecular methods in poultry, swine/bovine and large animal slaughterhouses. Air samples were collected through an impaction method, while surface samples were collected by the swabbing method and subjected to further macro- and micro-scopic observations. In addition, we collected air samples using the impinger method in order to perform real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) amplification of genes from specific fungal species, namely A. flavus, A. fumigatus and A. ochraceus complexes. Poultry and swine/bovine slaughterhouses presented each two sampling sites that surpass the guideline of 150 CFU/m3. Scopulariopsis candida was the most frequently isolated (59.5%) in poultry slaughterhouse air; Cladosporium sp. (45.7%) in the swine/bovine slaughterhouse; and Penicillium sp. (80.8%) in the large animal slaughterhouse. Molecular tools successfully amplified DNA from the A. fumigatus complex in six sampling sites where the presence of this fungal species was not identified by conventional methods. This study besides suggesting the indicators that are representative of harmful fungal contamination, also indicates a strategy as a protocol to ensure a proper characterization of fungal occupational exposure. PMID:27005642

[First occurrence of Biomphalaria straminea in the South Goiano, Brazil].

PubMed

Marchiori, C H

1999-12-01

The objective of this note is to report the occurrence of the Biomphalaria straminea in the county of Cachoeira Dourada in the south of Goiás, and with that enhance the knowledge about its geographical distribution in the state. More than identify the species, the collection of thirty samples helped study and verify the presence of cercariae, especially because they were found in a setting which offers proper conditions to the development of a focal transmission site of schistosomiasis.

5 CFR 1320.8 - Agency collection of information responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... information is planned to be and/or has been used to further the proper performance of the functions of the... for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have... copy without charge, including, if applicable, how the public can gain access to the collection of...

Revisiting the linkage between ethnomedical use and development of new medicines: A novel plant collection strategy towards the discovery of anticancer agents

PubMed Central

Henkin, Joshua M.; Sydara, Kongmany; Xayvue, Mouachanh; Souliya, Onevilay; Kinghorn, A. Douglas; Burdette, Joanna E.; Chen, Wei-Lun; Elkington, Bethany G.; Soejarto, Djaja D.

2017-01-01

The Vietnam-Laos International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) based at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) catalyzed a country-wide network of medicinal plant preserves (MPP) and medicinal biodiversity preserves (MBP) now established in ten provinces of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), which are relied upon as protected sources of ethnomedicines for local villagers and traditional healers. In collaboration with the Lao PDR’s Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM), our ongoing P01 Program Project (Ohio State University) examined the anticancer bioprospecting potential for two of the most exhaustively inventoried of these sites: the Bolikhamxay MPP and the Xiengkhouang MBP. Guided by prior voucher specimens sourced from these preserves with an overwhelming emphasis on plants employed in traditional medicine, 201 distinct samples from 96 species were collected along with proper herbarium documentation. Aliquots of these plant samples were extracted in azeotropic ethanol and evaporated to dryness for initial biological evaluation. In six samples from six different species (2.99% of the collected samples, 6.25% of taxa) it was observed that extracts exhibited notable cytotoxicity against HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. The wisdom behind the utilization of HT-29 cells in this preliminary biological screen is discussed. Furthermore, comparison of screening results based on longstanding considerations and ideological underpinnings of ethnobotanical vs. “random” biodiversity-based collection approaches is detailed herein. The results of this interdisciplinary study support the hypothesis that, by privileging the initial sample set in terms of human safety and pharmacological activity, ethnobotanically driven collection for biological screening efforts can produce leads unprecedented by the strict traditional usages of plants. PMID:29152156

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

Kreuzer, Helen W.; Horita, Juske; Moran, James J.

Sodium and potassium cyanide are highly toxic, produced in large amounts by the chemical industry, and linked to numerous high-profile crimes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cyanide as one of the most probable agents to be used in a future chemical terrorism event. We investigated whether stable C and N isotopic content of sodium and potassium cyanide could serve as a forensic signature for sample matching, using a collection of 65 cyanide samples. A few of these samples displayed non-homogeneous isotopic content associated with degradation to a carbonate salt and loss of hydrogen cyanide. Mostmore » samples had highly reproducible isotope content. Of these, >95% could be properly matched based on C and N isotope ratios, with a false match rate <3%. These results suggest that stable C and N isotope ratios are a useful forensic signature for matching cyanide samples.« less

Metals associated with stormwater-relevant brake and tire samples

PubMed Central

McKenzie, Erica R.; Money, Jon E.; Green, Peter G.; Young, Thomas M.

2009-01-01

Properly apportioning the loads of metals in highway stormwater runoff to the appropriate sources requires accurate data on source composition, especially regarding constituents that help to distinguish among sources. Representative tire and brake samples were collected from privately owned vehicles and aqueous extracts were analyzed for twenty-eight elements. Correlation principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that tires were most influenced by Zn, Pb, and Cu, while brakes were best characterized by Na and Fe followed by Ba, Cu, Mg, Mn, and K; the latter three may be due to roadside soil contributions. Notably elevated Cd contributions were found in several brake samples. A targeted Cd-plated brake rotor was sampled, producing results consistent with the elevated levels found in the larger sample population. This enriched source of Cd is of particular concern due to high toxicity of Cd in aquatic ecosystems. PMID:19709720

Poisoning: fact or fiction?

PubMed

Flanagan, Robert J

2012-01-01

Analytical toxicology is a complex discipline. Simply detecting a poison in a biological sample does not necessarily mean that the individual from whom the sample was obtained had been poisoned. An analysis can prove exposure and perhaps give an indication of the magnitude of exposure, but the results have to be placed in proper context. Even if sampling was ante-mortem an analysis does not necessarily prove the effects that the drug or poison had on the victim immediately before or at the time of sampling. Tolerance is one big issue, the mechanism of exposure (how the drug got into the body) is another, and of course with post-mortem work there are always additional considerations such as site of sample collection and the possibility of post-mortem change in analyte concentration. There are also questions of quality and reliability, and whether a particular analysis and the interpretation placed upon the result are appropriate in a particular case.

The proposal of a clinical protocol to assess central and peripheral fatigue in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

PubMed

Baldanzi, S; Ricci, G; Bottari, M; Chico, L; Simoncini, C; Siciliano, G

2017-07-01

DM1 is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by muscle weakness, myotonia, and multisystemic involvement. According to current literature fatigue and daytime sleepiness are among the main symptoms of DM1. Oxidative stress has been proposed to be one of the pathogenic factors of fatigue consequent to DM1. In this study, we investigated the dimensions of experienced fatigue and  physiological fatigue in a sample of 26 DM1 patients (17 males, 9 females, mean age 41.6 years, SD±12.7); experienced fatigue has been studied through Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and physiological fatigue was measured through an intermittent incremental exercise of the forearm muscles using a myometer; oxidative stress balance markers trend during aerobic exercise test have been collected. The occurrence of central fatigue in the sample means that central activation worsens during the motor contraction; interestingly FSS score was significantly correlated to MVC (before and after the effort, r-before=-0.583, p<0.01, r-after= -0.534, p<0.05), and to motor disability measured by MRC (r=-0.496, p<0.05); moreover we found a strong tendency towards significance in the association to lactate baseline (r=0.378, p=0.057).Results are discussed to define whether or not, based on clinical and laboratory grounds, such exercise training protocol may be suitable for proper management of DM1 patients; proper assessment of fatigue should be included in algorithms for data collection in DM1 patient registries.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in wild game in Slovenia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Križman, M.; Kirbiš, A.; Jamnikar-Ciglenečki, U.

2017-09-01

Wildlife is usually not exposed to clinically-used antimicrobial agents but can acquire antimicrobial resistance throughout contact with humans, domesticated animals and environments. Samples of faeces from intestines (80 in total) were collected from roe deer (52), wild boars (11), chamois (10) red deer (6) and moufflon (1). After culture on ChromID extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) plates to select for growth of ESBL-producing bacteria, 25 samples produced bacterial colonies for further study. Six species of bacteria were identified from the 25 samples: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Serratia fonticola, Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Two ESBL enzymes were amplified from group TEM and three from group CTX-M-1. Undercooked game meat and salami can be a source of resistant bacteria when animals are not eviscerated properly.

Search for Bs0 oscillations using inclusive lepton events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ALEPH Collaboration; Barate, R.; et al.

1999-03-01

A search for Bs0 oscillations is performed using a sample of semileptonic b-hadron decays collected by the ALEPH experiment during 1991-95. Compared to previous inclusive lepton analyses, the proper time resolution and b-flavour mistag rate are significantly improved. Additional sensitivity to Bs0 mixing is obtained by identifying subsamples of events having a Bs0 purity which is higher than the average for the whole data sample. Unbinned maximum likelihood amplitude fits are performed to derive a lower limit of Δ m s > 9.5 ps-1 at the 95% confidence limit (95% CL). Combining with the ALEPH Ds--based analyses yields Δ m s > 9.6 ps-1 at 95% CL.

Analysis of cannabis in oral fluid specimens by GC-MS with automatic SPE.

PubMed

Choi, Hyeyoung; Baeck, Seungkyung; Kim, Eunmi; Lee, Sooyeun; Jang, Moonhee; Lee, Juseon; Choi, Hwakyung; Chung, Heesun

2009-12-01

Methamphetamine (MA) is the most commonly abused drug in Korea, followed by cannabis. Traditionally, MA analysis is carried out on both urine and hair samples and cannabis analysis in urine samples only. Despite the fact that oral fluid has become increasingly popular as an alternative specimen in the field of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and work place drug testing, its application has not been expanded to drug analysis in Korea. Oral fluid is easy to collect and handle and can provide an indication of recent drug abuse. In this study, we present an analytical method using GC-MS to determine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its main metabolite 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in oral fluid. The validated method was applied to oral fluid samples collected from drug abuse suspects and the results were compared with those in urine. The stability of THC and THC-COOH in oral fluid stored in different containers was also investigated. Oral fluid specimens from 12 drug abuse suspects, submitted by the police, were collected by direct expectoration. The samples were screened with microplate ELISA. For confirmation they were extracted using automated SPE with mixed-mode cation exchange cartridge, derivatized and analyzed by GC-MS using selective ion monitoring (SIM). The concentrations ofTHC and THC-COOH in oral fluid showed a large variation and the results from oral fluid and urine samples from cannabis abusers did not show any correlation. Thus, detailed information about time interval between drug use and sample collection is needed to interpret the oral fluid results properly. In addition, further investigation about the detection time window ofTHC and THC-COOH in oral fluid is required to substitute oral fluid for urine in drug testing.

Practice, awareness and opinion of pharmacists toward disposal of unwanted medications in Kuwait

PubMed Central

Abahussain, Eman; Waheedi, Mohammad; Koshy, Samuel

2012-01-01

Background The disposal of unwanted medications has been a concern in many countries, as pharmaceutical waste enters the ecosystem, ultimately having an effect on human health and environment. Earlier studies in Kuwait found that the method of disposal by the public was by disposing in the garbage or by flushing down the drain. In accordance with patient preference and environment safety, it would be appropriate to use local government pharmacies as collection points for proper disposal. Objective To determine the practice of pharmacists, working in government healthcare sectors, with regard to disposal of returned unwanted medications by the public. This study also aims to assess pharmacists’ awareness toward the impact of improper disposal on the environment and to investigate whether pharmacists agree to have their pharmacies as collection points for future take-back programs. Method A random sample of 144 pharmacists from the six main governmental hospitals and 12 specialized polyclinics in Kuwait, completed a self-administered questionnaire about their practice of disposal, awareness and opinion on using pharmacies as collection points for proper disposal of UMs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 144 pharmacists completed the survey. Throwing UMs in the trash was the main method of disposal by majority of the respondents (73%). Only 23 pharmacists disposed UMs according to the guidelines of Ministry of Health, Kuwait (MOH). However, about 82% are aware that improper disposal causes damage to the environment and 97% agree that it is their responsibility to protect the environment. About 86–88% of the pharmacists agree to have government hospital pharmacies and polyclinics as collection points for future take-back programs. Conclusion Even though the current practice of disposal by majority of pharmacists is inappropriate, they are aware of the damage and acknowledge their responsibilities toward environment protection. Concerned authorities should monitor and implement proper disposal guidelines in all pharmacies. Majority of pharmacists support the idea of having the government pharmacies as collection points for safe disposal of UMs in Kuwait. PMID:23960793

Organophosphorus and carbamate pesticide residues detected in water samples collected from paddy and vegetable fields of the Savar and Dhamrai Upazilas in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Chowdhury, Md Alamgir Zaman; Banik, Sanjoy; Uddin, Borhan; Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Karim, Nurul; Gan, Siew Hua

2012-09-11

Several types of organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides have been used extensively by the farmers in Bangladesh during the last few decades. Twenty seven water samples collected from both paddy and vegetable fields in the Savar and Dhamrai Upazilas in Bangladesh were analyzed to determine the occurrence and distribution of organo-phosphorus (chlorpyrifos, malathion and diazinon) and carbamate (carbaryl and carbofuran) pesticide residues. A high performance liquid chromatograph instrument equipped with a photodiode array detector was used to determine the concentrations of these pesticide residues. Diazinon and carbofuran were detected in water samples collected from Savar Upazila at 0.9 μg/L and 198.7 μg/L, respectively. Malathion was also detected in a single water sample at 105.2 μg/L from Dhamrai Upazila. Carbaryl was the most common pesticide detected in Dhamrai Upazila at 14.1 and 18.1 μg/L, while another water sample from Dhamrai Upazila was contaminated with carbofuran at 105.2 μg/L. Chlorpyrifos was not detected in any sample. Overall, the pesticide residues detected were well above the maximum acceptable levels of total and individual pesticide contamination, at 0.5 and 0.1 μg/L, respectively, in water samples recommended by the European Economic Community (Directive 98/83/EC). The presence of these pesticide residues may be attributed by their intense use by the farmers living in these areas. Proper handling of these pesticides should be ensured to avoid direct or indirect exposure to these pesticides.

Final Report: Laser-Based Optical Trap for Remote Sampling of Interplanetary and Atmospheric Particulate Matter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stysley, Paul

2016-01-01

Applicability to Early Stage Innovation NIAC Cutting edge and innovative technologies are needed to achieve the demanding requirements for NASA origin missions that require sample collection as laid out in the NRC Decadal Survey. This proposal focused on fully understanding the state of remote laser optical trapping techniques for capturing particles and returning them to a target site. In future missions, a laser-based optical trapping system could be deployed on a lander that would then target particles in the lower atmosphere and deliver them to the main instrument for analysis, providing remote access to otherwise inaccessible samples. Alternatively, for a planetary mission the laser could combine ablation and trapping capabilities on targets typically too far away or too hard for traditional drilling sampling systems. For an interstellar mission, a remote laser system could gather particles continuously at a safe distance; this would avoid the necessity of having a spacecraft fly through a target cloud such as a comet tail. If properly designed and implemented, a laser-based optical trapping system could fundamentally change the way scientists designand implement NASA missions that require mass spectroscopy and particle collection.

On the origin of extraterrestrial stratospheric particles: Interplanetary dust or meteor ablation debris?. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kyte, F. T.

1977-01-01

Meteor ablation debris was distinguished from unablated interplanetary dust in a collection of extraterrestrial particles collected in the stratosphere using NASA U-2 aircraft. A 62 g sample of the Murchison (C2) meteorite was artificially ablated to characterize ablation debris for comparison with the stratospheric particles. By using proper experimental conditions, artificial ablation debris can be produced that is similar to natural ablation debris. Analyses of natural fusion crusts, artificial fusion crust, and artificial ablation debris of the Murchison meteorite produced criteria for recognizing debris ablated by a primitive meteoroid. Ninety-five percent of the stratospheric particles can be described as either ablation debris from a primitive meteoroid, or as very primitive interplanetary dust.

Environmental isolation, biochemical identification, and antifungal drug susceptibility of Cryptococcus species.

PubMed

Teodoro, Valter Luis Iost; Gullo, Fernanda Patrícia; Sardi, Janaína de Cássia Orlandi; Torres, Edson Maria; Fusco-Almeida, Ana Marisa; Mendes-Giannini, Maria José Soares

2013-01-01

The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections has increased in recent years and is considered an important public health problem. Among systemic and opportunistic mycoses, cryptococcosis is distinguished by its clinical importance due to the increased risk of infection in individuals infected by human immunodeficiency virus. To determine the occurrence of pathogenic Cryptococcus in pigeon excrement in the City of Araraquara, samples were collected from nine environments, including state and municipal schools, abandoned buildings, parks, and a hospital. The isolates were identified using classical tests, and susceptibility testing for the antifungal drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B) independently was also performed. After collection, the excrement samples were plated on Niger agar and incubated at room temperature. A total of 87 bird dropping samples were collected, and 66.6% were positive for the genus Cryptococcus. The following species were identified: Cryptococcus neoformans (17.2%), Cryptococcus gattii (5.2%), Cryptococcus ater (3.5%), Cryptococcus laurentti (1.7%), and Cryptococcus luteolus (1.7%). A total of 70.7% of the isolates were not identified to the species level and are referred to as Cryptococcus spp. throughout the manuscript. Although none of the isolates demonstrated resistance to antifungal drugs, the identification of infested areas, the proper control of birds, and the disinfection of these environments are essential for the epidemiological control of cryptococcosis.

Blood transfusion-acquired hemoglobin C.

PubMed

Suarez, A A; Polski, J M; Grossman, B J; Johnston, M F

1999-07-01

Unexpected and confusing laboratory test results can occur if a blood sample is inadvertently collected following a blood transfusion. A potential for transfusion-acquired hemoglobinopathy exists because heterozygous individuals show no significant abnormalities during the blood donor screening process. Such spurious results are infrequently reported in the medical literature. We report a case of hemoglobin C passively transferred during a red blood cell transfusion. The proper interpretation in our case was assisted by calculations comparing expected hemoglobin C concentration with the measured value. A review of the literature on transfusion-related preanalytic errors is provided.

Method for Hot Real-Time Analysis of Pyrolysis Vapors at Pilot Scale

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

Pomeroy, Marc D

Pyrolysis oils contain more than 400 compounds, up to 60% of which do not re-volatilize for subsequent chemical analysis. Vapor chemical composition is also complicated as additional condensation reactions occur during quenching and collection of the product. Due to the complexity of the pyrolysis oil, and a desire to catalytically upgrade the vapor composition before condensation, online real-time analytical techniques such as Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry (MBMS) are of great use. However, in order to properly sample hot pyrolysis vapors at the pilot scale, many challenges must be overcome.

Recent developments and future trends in solid phase microextraction techniques towards green analytical chemistry.

PubMed

Spietelun, Agata; Marcinkowski, Łukasz; de la Guardia, Miguel; Namieśnik, Jacek

2013-12-20

Solid phase microextraction find increasing applications in the sample preparation step before chromatographic determination of analytes in samples with a complex composition. These techniques allow for integrating several operations, such as sample collection, extraction, analyte enrichment above the detection limit of a given measuring instrument and the isolation of analytes from sample matrix. In this work the information about novel methodological and instrumental solutions in relation to different variants of solid phase extraction techniques, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) is presented, including practical applications of these techniques and a critical discussion about their advantages and disadvantages. The proposed solutions fulfill the requirements resulting from the concept of sustainable development, and specifically from the implementation of green chemistry principles in analytical laboratories. Therefore, particular attention was paid to the description of possible uses of novel, selective stationary phases in extraction techniques, inter alia, polymeric ionic liquids, carbon nanotubes, and silica- and carbon-based sorbents. The methodological solutions, together with properly matched sampling devices for collecting analytes from samples with varying matrix composition, enable us to reduce the number of errors during the sample preparation prior to chromatographic analysis as well as to limit the negative impact of this analytical step on the natural environment and the health of laboratory employees. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

7 CFR 29.112 - Proper light.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Proper light. 29.112 Section 29.112 Agriculture... INSPECTION Regulations Inspectors, Samplers, and Weighers § 29.112 Proper light. Tobacco shall not be inspected or sampled for the purposes of the Act except when displayed in proper light for correct...

7 CFR 29.112 - Proper light.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Proper light. 29.112 Section 29.112 Agriculture... INSPECTION Regulations Inspectors, Samplers, and Weighers § 29.112 Proper light. Tobacco shall not be inspected or sampled for the purposes of the Act except when displayed in proper light for correct...

7 CFR 29.112 - Proper light.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Proper light. 29.112 Section 29.112 Agriculture... INSPECTION Regulations Inspectors, Samplers, and Weighers § 29.112 Proper light. Tobacco shall not be inspected or sampled for the purposes of the Act except when displayed in proper light for correct...

7 CFR 29.112 - Proper light.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Proper light. 29.112 Section 29.112 Agriculture... INSPECTION Regulations Inspectors, Samplers, and Weighers § 29.112 Proper light. Tobacco shall not be inspected or sampled for the purposes of the Act except when displayed in proper light for correct...

7 CFR 29.112 - Proper light.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Proper light. 29.112 Section 29.112 Agriculture... INSPECTION Regulations Inspectors, Samplers, and Weighers § 29.112 Proper light. Tobacco shall not be inspected or sampled for the purposes of the Act except when displayed in proper light for correct...

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of sodium and potassium cyanide as a forensic signature.

PubMed

Kreuzer, Helen W; Horita, Juske; Moran, James J; Tomkins, Bruce A; Janszen, Derek B; Carman, April

2012-01-01

Sodium and potassium cyanide are highly toxic, produced in large amounts by the chemical industry, and linked to numerous high-profile crimes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cyanide as one of the most probable agents to be used in a chemical terrorism event. We investigated whether stable C and N isotopic content of sodium and potassium cyanide could serve as a forensic signature for sample matching, using a collection of 65 cyanide samples. Upon analysis, a few of the cyanide samples displayed nonhomogeneous isotopic content associated with degradation to a carbonate salt and loss of hydrogen cyanide. Most samples had highly reproducible isotope content. Of the 65 cyanide samples, >95% could be properly matched based on C and N isotope ratios, with a false match rate <3%. These results suggest that stable C and N isotope ratios are a useful forensic signature for matching cyanide samples. © 2011 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

ARTS: automated randomization of multiple traits for study design.

PubMed

Maienschein-Cline, Mark; Lei, Zhengdeng; Gardeux, Vincent; Abbasi, Taimur; Machado, Roberto F; Gordeuk, Victor; Desai, Ankit A; Saraf, Santosh; Bahroos, Neil; Lussier, Yves

2014-06-01

Collecting data from large studies on high-throughput platforms, such as microarray or next-generation sequencing, typically requires processing samples in batches. There are often systematic but unpredictable biases from batch-to-batch, so proper randomization of biologically relevant traits across batches is crucial for distinguishing true biological differences from experimental artifacts. When a large number of traits are biologically relevant, as is common for clinical studies of patients with varying sex, age, genotype and medical background, proper randomization can be extremely difficult to prepare by hand, especially because traits may affect biological inferences, such as differential expression, in a combinatorial manner. Here we present ARTS (automated randomization of multiple traits for study design), which aids researchers in study design by automatically optimizing batch assignment for any number of samples, any number of traits and any batch size. ARTS is implemented in Perl and is available at github.com/mmaiensc/ARTS. ARTS is also available in the Galaxy Tool Shed, and can be used at the Galaxy installation hosted by the UIC Center for Research Informatics (CRI) at galaxy.cri.uic.edu. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

30 CFR 70.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter cassette or alter the weight of any filter... accordance with § 70.202 (Certified person; sampling) shall properly complete the dust data card that is.... Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed will be voided by MSHA. (d) All respirable...

30 CFR 70.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter cassette or alter the weight of any filter... accordance with § 70.202 (Certified person; sampling) shall properly complete the dust data card that is.... Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed will be voided by MSHA. (d) All respirable...

Biomedical analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples: The Holy Grail for molecular diagnostics.

PubMed

Donczo, Boglarka; Guttman, Andras

2018-06-05

More than a century ago in 1893, a revolutionary idea about fixing biological tissue specimens was introduced by Ferdinand Blum, a German physician. Since then, a plethora of fixation methods have been investigated and used. Formalin fixation with paraffin embedment became the most widely used types of fixation and preservation method, due to its proper architectural conservation of tissue structures and cellular shape. The huge collection of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample archives worldwide holds a large amount of unearthed information about diseases that could be the Holy Grail in contemporary biomarker research utilizing analytical omics based molecular diagnostics. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the omics options for FFPE tissue sample analysis in the molecular diagnostics field. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

78 FR 40827 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-08

... registration-required obligations in bearer form properly report interest and gain on disposition of the... information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the...

The UKIDSS-2MASS proper motion survey - I. Ultracool dwarfs from UKIDSS DR4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deacon, N. R.; Hambly, N. C.; King, R. R.; McCaughrean, M. J.

2009-04-01

The UK Infrared Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) is the first of a new generation of infrared surveys. Here, we combine the data from two UKIDSS components, the Large Area Survey (LAS) and the Galactic Cluster Survey (GCS), with Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) data to produce an infrared proper motion survey for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. In total, we detect 267 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs with significant proper motions. We recover all 10 known single L dwarfs and the one known T dwarf above the 2MASS detection limit in our LAS survey area and identify eight additional new candidate L dwarfs. We also find one new candidate L dwarf in our GCS sample. Our sample also contains objects from 11 potential common proper motion binaries. Finally, we test our proper motions and find that while the LAS objects have proper motions consistent with absolute proper motions, the GCS stars may have proper motions which are significantly underestimated. This is possibly due to the bulk motion of some of the local astrometric reference stars used in the proper motion determination.

Effectiveness of Modal Decomposition for Tapping Atomic Force Microscopy Microcantilevers in Liquid Environment.

PubMed

Kim, Il Kwang; Lee, Soo Il

2016-05-01

The modal decomposition of tapping mode atomic force microscopy microcantilevers in liquid environments was studied experimentally. Microcantilevers with different lengths and stiffnesses and two sample surfaces with different elastic moduli were used in the experiment. The response modes of the microcantilevers were extracted as proper orthogonal modes through proper orthogonal decomposition. Smooth orthogonal decomposition was used to estimate the resonance frequency directly. The effects of the tapping setpoint and the elastic modulus of the sample under test were examined in terms of their multi-mode responses with proper orthogonal modes, proper orthogonal values, smooth orthogonal modes and smooth orthogonal values. Regardless of the stiffness of the microcantilever under test, the first mode was dominant in tapping mode atomic force microscopy under normal operating conditions. However, at lower tapping setpoints, the flexible microcantilever showed modal distortion and noise near the tip when tapping on a hard sample. The stiff microcantilever had a higher mode effect on a soft sample at lower tapping setpoints. Modal decomposition for tapping mode atomic force microscopy can thus be used to estimate the characteristics of samples in liquid environments.

Development of a downhole tool measuring real-time concentration of ionic tracers and pH in geothermal reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hess, Ryan F.; Boyle, Timothy J.; Limmer, Steven; Yelton, William G.; Bingham, Samuel; Stillman, Greg; Lindblom, Scott; Cieslewski, Grzegorz

2014-06-01

For enhanced or Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS) geothermal brine is pumped to the surface via the production wells, the heat extracted to turn a turbine to generate electricity, and the spent brine re-injected via injection wells back underground. If designed properly, the subsurface rock formations will lead this water back to the extraction well as heated brine. Proper monitoring of these geothermal reservoirs is essential for developing and maintaining the necessary level of productivity of the field. Chemical tracers are commonly used to characterize the fracture network and determine the connectivity between the injection and production wells. Currently, most tracer experiments involve injecting the tracer at the injection well, manually collecting liquid samples at the wellhead of the production well, and sending the samples off for laboratory analysis. While this method provides accurate tracer concentration data at very low levels of detection, it does not provide information regarding the location of the fractures which were conducting the tracer between wellbores. Sandia is developing a high-temperature electrochemical sensor capable of measuring tracer concentrations and pH downhole on a wireline tool. The goal of this effort is to collect real-time pH and ionic tracer concentration data at temperatures up to 225 °C and pressures up to 3000 psi. In this paper, a prototype electrochemical sensor and the initial data obtained will be presented detailing the measurement of iodide tracer concentrations at high temperature and pressure in a newly developed laboratory scale autoclave.

Effectiveness of different types of hair traps for brown bear research and monitoring

PubMed Central

Okarma, Henryk; Selva, Nuria

2017-01-01

Non-invasive sampling by hair-trapping is increasingly used worldwide in wildlife research. Despite this rise and the potential of hair samples for ecology and conservation studies, the relative performance of hair collection devices has been rarely tested. Here, we compare the effectiveness of five types of hair traps for brown bears Ursus arctos in the Carpathian Mountains (SE Poland) and test the effects of trap type, season, number of days elapsed since trap installation and trap features on the trapping success in order to provide recommendations for optimal sampling in future studies. The trap types were corral, path-trap, “smola”(beechwood tar) tree-trap, turpentine tree-trap and natural rub. In 2010, we collected 858 hair samples during 2330 inspections of 175 hair traps and found that the most effective traps were smola tree-traps (mean percentage of successful inspections ± SD: 30.2% ± 26.0) and natural rubs (50.8% ± 16.7). Based on this finding, over the following 2 years we focused on 24 smola tree-traps and eight natural rubs. During this long-term survey (2010–2012, 969 inspections, 1322 samples collected) the trapping success increased with time and smola tree-traps achieved similar effectiveness to natural rubs (45.5% ± 29.7 and 45.9 ± 23.4, respectively). We show that when baiting smola tree-traps ten weeks prior to research or monitoring, sampling effectiveness can reach up to 30%. Taking into account the logistical and methodological constraints associated with detecting and using natural rubs for a proper survey design, we recommend using smola tree-traps baited in advance for hair sampling in wildlife studies. PMID:29073161

Effectiveness of different types of hair traps for brown bear research and monitoring.

PubMed

Berezowska-Cnota, Teresa; Luque-Márquez, Ignacio; Elguero-Claramunt, Isabel; Bojarska, Katarzyna; Okarma, Henryk; Selva, Nuria

2017-01-01

Non-invasive sampling by hair-trapping is increasingly used worldwide in wildlife research. Despite this rise and the potential of hair samples for ecology and conservation studies, the relative performance of hair collection devices has been rarely tested. Here, we compare the effectiveness of five types of hair traps for brown bears Ursus arctos in the Carpathian Mountains (SE Poland) and test the effects of trap type, season, number of days elapsed since trap installation and trap features on the trapping success in order to provide recommendations for optimal sampling in future studies. The trap types were corral, path-trap, "smola"(beechwood tar) tree-trap, turpentine tree-trap and natural rub. In 2010, we collected 858 hair samples during 2330 inspections of 175 hair traps and found that the most effective traps were smola tree-traps (mean percentage of successful inspections ± SD: 30.2% ± 26.0) and natural rubs (50.8% ± 16.7). Based on this finding, over the following 2 years we focused on 24 smola tree-traps and eight natural rubs. During this long-term survey (2010-2012, 969 inspections, 1322 samples collected) the trapping success increased with time and smola tree-traps achieved similar effectiveness to natural rubs (45.5% ± 29.7 and 45.9 ± 23.4, respectively). We show that when baiting smola tree-traps ten weeks prior to research or monitoring, sampling effectiveness can reach up to 30%. Taking into account the logistical and methodological constraints associated with detecting and using natural rubs for a proper survey design, we recommend using smola tree-traps baited in advance for hair sampling in wildlife studies.

78 FR 31563 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-24

... collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and... Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request AGENCY: Health Resources and... utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2...

The Genome Austria Tissue Bank (GATiB).

PubMed

Asslaber, M; Abuja, P M; Stark, K; Eder, J; Gottweis, H; Trauner, M; Samonigg, H; Mischinger, H J; Schippinger, W; Berghold, A; Denk, H; Zatloukal, K

2007-01-01

In the context of the Austrian Genome Program, a tissue bank is being established (Genome Austria Tissue Bank, GATiB) which is based on a collection of diseased and corresponding normal tissues representing a great variety of diseases at their natural frequency of occurrence from a non-selected Central European population of more than 700,000 patients. Major emphasis is put on annotation of archival tissue with comprehensive clinical data, including follow-up data. A specific IT infrastructure supports sample annotation, tracking of sample usage as well as sample and data storage. Innovative data protection tools were developed which prevent sample donor re-identification, particularly if detailed medical and genetic data are combined. For quality control of old archival tissues, new techniques were established to check RNA quality and antigen stability. Since 2003, GATiB has changed from a population-based tissue bank to a disease-focused biobank comprising major cancers such as colon, breast, liver, as well as metabolic liver diseases and organs affected by the metabolic syndrome. Prospectively collected tissues are associated with blood samples and detailed data on the sample donor's disease, lifestyle and environmental exposure, following standard operating procedures. Major emphasis is also placed on ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) related to biobanks. A specific research project and an international advisory board ensure the proper embedding of GATiB in society and facilitate international networking. (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Ensuring Sample Quality for Biomarker Discovery Studies - Use of ICT Tools to Trace Biosample Life-cycle.

PubMed

Riondino, Silvia; Ferroni, Patrizia; Spila, Antonella; Alessandroni, Jhessica; D'Alessandro, Roberta; Formica, Vincenzo; Della-Morte, David; Palmirotta, Raffaele; Nanni, Umberto; Roselli, Mario; Guadagni, Fiorella

2015-01-01

The growing demand of personalized medicine marked the transition from an empirical medicine to a molecular one, aimed at predicting safer and more effective medical treatment for every patient, while minimizing adverse effects. This passage has emphasized the importance of biomarker discovery studies, and has led sample availability to assume a crucial role in biomedical research. Accordingly, a great interest in Biological Bank science has grown concomitantly. In biobanks, biological material and its accompanying data are collected, handled and stored in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and existing legislation. Sample quality is ensured by adherence to SOPs and sample whole life-cycle can be recorded by innovative tracking systems employing information technology (IT) tools for monitoring storage conditions and characterization of vast amount of data. All the above will ensure proper sample exchangeability among research facilities and will represent the starting point of all future personalized medicine-based clinical trials. Copyright© 2015, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature

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

Kruzer, Helen W; Horita, Juske; Moran, James J

2012-01-01

Sodium and potassium cyanide are highly toxic, produced in large amounts by the chemical industry, and linked to numerous high-profile crimes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cyanide as one of the most probable agents to be used in a future chemical terrorism event. We investigated whether stable C and N isotopic content of sodium and potassium cyanide could serve as a forensic signature for sample matching, using a collection of 65 cyanide samples. A few of these samples displayed non-homogeneous isotopic content associated with degradation to a carbonate salt and loss of hydrogen cyanide. Mostmore » samples had highly reproducible isotope content. Of these, >95% could be properly matched based on C and N isotope ratios, with a false match rate <3%. These results suggest that stable C and N isotope ratios are a useful forensic signature for matching cyanide samples.« less

The Solar Neighborhood. XXV. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars with 0.40 sec/yr mu or = 0.18 sec/yr Between Declinations -47 deg and 00 deg

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

that the object was indeed a proper motion object. For real ob- jects, Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ) positions, epochs, and JHKs photometry were...and vice versa, and to ensure the correct 2MASS data were collected. The blinking process led to the discovery of many common proper motion (CPM...Proper motion or position angle suspect. f No 2MASS data available, so no distance estimate. g Coordinates not J2000.0 due to lack of proper motion or

Potable water scarcity: options and issues in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

PubMed

Islam, Atikul; Sakakibara, Hiroyuki; Karim, Rezaul; Sekine, Masahiko

2013-09-01

In the coastal areas of Bangladesh, scarcity of drinking water is acute as freshwater aquifers are not available at suitable depths and surface water is highly saline. Households are mainly dependent on rainwater harvesting, pond sand filters and pond water for drinking purposes. Thus, individuals in these areas often suffer from waterborne diseases. In this paper, water consumption behaviour in two southwestern coastal districts of Bangladesh has been investigated. The data for this study were collected through a survey conducted on 750 rural households in 39 villages of the study area. The sample was selected using a random sampling technique. Households' choice of water source is complex and seasonally dependent. Water sourcing patterns, households' preference of water sourcing options and economic feasibility of options suggest that a combination of household and community-based options could be suitable for year-round water supply. Distance and time required for water collection were found to be difficult for water collection from community-based options. Both household and community-based options need regular maintenance. In addition to installation of water supply facilities, it is necessary to make the residents aware of proper operation and maintenance of the facilities.

78 FR 23930 - Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-23

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and... following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the...

Air-conditioning vs. presence of pathogenic fungi in hospital operating theatre environment.

PubMed

Gniadek, Agnieszka; Macura, Anna B

2011-01-01

Infections related to modern surgical procedures present a difficult problem for contemporary medicine. Infections acquired during surgery represent a risk factor related to therapeutical interventions. Eradication of microorganisms from hospital operating theatre environment may contribute to reduction of infections as the laminar flow air-conditioning considerably reduces the number of microorganisms in the hospital environment. The objective of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of fungi in air-conditioned operating theatre rooms. The study was carried out in one of the hospitals in Krak6w during December 2009. Indoor air samples and imprints from the walls were collected from five operating theatre rooms. A total of fifty indoor air samples were collected with a MAS-100 device, and twenty five imprints from the walls were collected using a Count Tact method. Fungal growth was observed in 48 air samples; the average numbers of fungi were within the range of 5-100 c.f.u. in one cubic metre of the air. Fungi were detected only in four samples of the wall imprints; the number of fungi was 0.01 c.f.u. per one square centimetre of the surface. The mould genus Aspergillus was most frequently isolated, and the species A. fumigatus and A. versicolor were the dominating ones. To ensure microbiological cleanness of hospital operating theatre, the air-conditioning system should be properly maintained. Domination of the Aspergillus fungi in indoor air as well as increase in the number of moulds in the samples taken in evenings (p < 0.05) may suggest that the room decontamination procedures were neglected.

Abnormal gel flotation caused by contrast media during adrenal vein sampling.

PubMed

Lima-Oliveira, Gabriel; Lippi, Giuseppe; Salvagno, Gian Luca; Gelati, Matteo; Bassi, Antonella; Contro, Alberto; Pizzolo, Francesca; Guidi, Gian Cesare

2016-10-15

During adrenal venous sampling (AVS) procedure, radiologists administer a contrast agent via the catheter to visualize the proper catheter position. A patient with primary aldosteronism diagnostic-hypothesis was admitted for AVS. A venogram was performed to
confirm the catheter's position with 2mL of Iopamidol 300 mg/mL. Samples were collected with syringe connected to a hydrophilic coated catheter by low-pressure aspiration from each of the four collection sites: inferior vena cava in the suprarenal portion, inferior vena cava in the infrarenal portion, left adrenal vein, and right adrenal vein; then immediately transferred from syringe to tubes with gel separator. All tubes were centrifuged at 1200 x g for 10 minutes. At the end of centrifugation process, primary blood tubes containing blood from inferior vena cava and left adrenal vein exhibited the standard gel separator barrier, while tubes from right adrenal vein showed abnormal flotation of gel separator. The radiologist confirmed the usage of 2.6 mL instead of 2.0 mL of Iopamidol 300 mg/mL. This iodinated contrast media, with 1.33 g/cm 3 of density, was used close to the right adrenal vein due to some difficulty to access it. The abnormal flotation of gel separator in samples taken from right adrenal vein can be explained by the usage of the iodinated
contrast media. We suggest using plain-tubes (without gel separator) for AVS in order to avoid preanalytical nonconformities. Moreover, a blood volume equivalent to twice the catheter extension should be discarded to eliminate residual contrast media before collection of samples for laboratory assays.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Giardia Infection among Indigenous Communities in Rural Malaysia

PubMed Central

Choy, Seow Huey; Al-Mekhlafi, Hesham M.; Mahdy, Mohammed A. K.; Nasr, Nabil N.; Sulaiman, Maria; Lim, Yvonne A. L.; Surin, Johari

2014-01-01

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia infection among indigenous people in rural Malaysia. Faecal samples were collected from 1,330 participants from seven states of Malaysia and examined by wet mount and formalin-ether sedimentation methods while demographic, socioeconomic and environmental information was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 11.6% and was significantly higher among those aged ≤ 12 years compared to their older counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression identified age of ≤12 years, lacking of toilet at household, not washing hands before eating, not washing hands after playing with animals, not boiling water before consumption, bathing in the river, and not wearing shoes when outside as the significant risk factors of Giardia infection among these communities. Based on a multilocus genotyping approach (including tpi, gdh and bg gene sequences), 69 isolates were identified as assemblage A, and 69 as assemblage B. No association between the assemblages and presence of symptoms was found. Providing proper sanitation, as well as provision of clean drinking water and proper health education regarding good personal hygiene practices will help significantly in reducing the prevalence and burden of Giardia infection in these communities. PMID:25366301

76 FR 62413 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-07

... proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of... currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web Enabled Network (CROWNWeb) Third-party Submission Authorization Form; Use: The Consolidated Renal...

Assessment of microbiological quality of retail fresh sushi from selected sources in Norway.

PubMed

Hoel, Sunniva; Mehli, Lisbeth; Bruheim, Torkjel; Vadstein, Olav; Jakobsen, Anita Nordeng

2015-05-01

Retail fresh sushi is gaining popularity in Europe. This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological quality of selected samples of fresh sushi with a shelf life of 2 to 3 days offered as complete meals in Norwegian supermarkets. Analysis of aerobic plate counts in 58 sushi samples from three producers revealed large variations in microbiological quality, and 48% of the analyzed sushi boxes were rated as unsatisfactory (> 6.0 log CFU/g). Mesophilic Aeromonas spp. was detected in 71% of the samples. In a follow-up study, we collected products and raw materials directly from the production facility of one producer and observed a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in aerobic plate counts compared with the initial sampling. The observed difference between products purchased in stores compared with those collected directly from the factory suggests that poor temperature control during distribution and display in stores leads to reduced microbiological quality. Microbiological analysis of the sushi ingredients revealed that potentially pathogenic bacteria such as mesophilic Aeromonas spp. or bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae can be introduced into sushi through both raw vegetables and fish. The results highlight the importance of high quality ingredients and proper temperature control to ensure stable quality and safety of these food products.

Spatial and temporal assessment of surface water quality in the Arka River, Akkar, Lebanon.

PubMed

Daou, Claude; Nabbout, Rony; Kassouf, Amine

2016-12-01

Surface water quality monitoring constitutes a crucial and important step in any water quality management system. Twenty-three physicochemical and microbiological parameters were assessed in surface water samples collected from the Arka River located in the Akkar District, north of Lebanon. Eight sampling locations were considered along the river and seven sampling campaigns were performed in order to evaluate spatial and temporal influences. The extraction of relevant information from this relatively large data set was done using principal component analysis (PCA), being a very well established chemometric tool in this field. In a first step, extracted PCA loadings revealed the implication of several physicochemical parameters in the discriminations and trends highlighted by PCA scores, mainly due to soil leaching and seawater intrusion. However, further investigations showed the implication of organic and bacterial parameters in the discrimination of stations in the Akkar flatland. These discriminations probably refer to anthropogenic pollution coming from the agricultural area and the surrounding villages. Specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA) indices confirmed these findings since values decreased for samples collected across the villages and the flatland, indicating an increase in anthropogenic dissolved organic matter. This study will hopefully help the national and local authorities to ameliorate the surface water quality management, enabling its proper use for irrigation purposes.

Classification of urine sediment based on convolution neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Jingjing; Jiang, Cunbo; Zhu, Tiantian

2018-04-01

By designing a new convolution neural network framework, this paper breaks the constraints of the original convolution neural network framework requiring large training samples and samples of the same size. Move and cropping the input images, generate the same size of the sub-graph. And then, the generated sub-graph uses the method of dropout, increasing the diversity of samples and preventing the fitting generation. Randomly select some proper subset in the sub-graphic set and ensure that the number of elements in the proper subset is same and the proper subset is not the same. The proper subsets are used as input layers for the convolution neural network. Through the convolution layer, the pooling, the full connection layer and output layer, we can obtained the classification loss rate of test set and training set. In the red blood cells, white blood cells, calcium oxalate crystallization classification experiment, the classification accuracy rate of 97% or more.

The role of field auditing in environmental quality assurance management.

PubMed

Claycomb, D R

2000-01-01

Environmental data quality improvement continues to focus on analytical laboratoryperformance with little, if any, attention given to improving the performance of field consultants responsible for sample collection. Many environmental professionals often assume that the primary opportunity for data error lies within the activities conducted by the laboratory. Experience in the evaluation of environmental data and project-wide quality assurance programs indicates that an often-ignored factor affecting environmental data quality is the manner in which a sample is acquired and handled in the field. If a sample is not properly collected, preserved, stored, and transported in the field, even the best laboratory practices and analytical methods cannot deliver accurate and reliable data (i.e., bad data in equals bad data out). Poor quality environmental data may result in inappropriate decisions regarding site characterization and remedial action. Field auditing is becoming an often-employed technique for examining the performance of the environmental sampling field team and how their performance may affect data quality. The field audits typically focus on: (1) verifying that field consultants adhere to project control documents (e.g., Work Plans and Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs]) during field operations; (2) providing third-party independent assurance that field procedures, quality assurance/ quality control (QA/QC)protocol, and field documentation are sufficient to produce data of satisfactory quality; (3) providing a defense in the event that field procedures are called into question; and (4) identifying ways to reduce sampling costs. Field audits are typically most effective when performed on a surprise basis; that is, the sampling contractor may be aware that a field audit will be conducted during some phase of sampling activities but is not informed of the specific day(s) that the audit will be conducted. The audit also should be conducted early on in the sampling program such that deficiencies noted during the audit can be addressed before the majority of field activities have been completed. A second audit should be performed as a follow-up to confirm that the recommended changes have been implemented. A field auditor is assigned to the project by matching, as closely as possible, the auditor's experience with the type of field activities being conducted. The auditor uses a project-specific field audit checklist developed from key information contained in project control documents. Completion of the extensive audit checklist during the audit focuses the auditor on evaluating each aspect of field activities being performed. Rather than examine field team performance after sampling, a field auditor can do so while the samples are being collected and can apply real-time corrective action as appropriate. As a result of field audits, responsible parties often observe vast improvements in their consultant's field procedures and, consequently, receive more reliable and representative field data at a lower cost. The cost savings and improved data quality that result from properly completed field audits make the field auditing process both cost-effective and functional.

Update of membership and mean proper motion of open clusters from UCAC5 catalog

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dias, W. S.; Monteiro, H.; Assafin, M.

2018-06-01

We present mean proper motions and membership probabilities of individual stars for optically visible open clusters, which have been determined using data from the UCAC5 catalog. This follows our previous studies with the UCAC2 and UCAC4 catalogs, but now using improved proper motions in the GAIA reference frame. In the present study results were obtained for a sample of 1108 open clusters. For five clusters, this is the first determination of mean proper motion, and for the whole sample, we present results with a much larger number of identified astrometric member stars than on previous studies. It is the last update of our Open cluster Catalog based on proper motion data only. Future updates will count on astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic GAIA data as input for analyses.

NIR and UV-vis spectroscopy, artificial nose and tongue: comparison of four fingerprinting techniques for the characterisation of Italian red wines.

PubMed

Casale, M; Oliveri, P; Armanino, C; Lanteri, S; Forina, M

2010-06-04

Four rapid and low-cost vanguard analytical systems (NIR and UV-vis spectroscopy, a headspace-mass based artificial nose and a voltammetric artificial tongue), together with chemometric pattern recognition techniques, were applied and compared in addressing a food authentication problem: the distinction between wine samples from the same Italian oenological region, according to the grape variety. Specifically, 59 certified samples belonging to the Barbera d'Alba and Dolcetto d'Alba appellations and collected from the same vintage (2007) were analysed. The instrumental responses, after proper data pre-processing, were used as fingerprints of the characteristics of the samples: the results from principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis were discussed, comparing the capability of the four analytical strategies in addressing the problem studied. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vintage venoms: proteomic and pharmacological stability of snake venoms stored for up to eight decades.

PubMed

Jesupret, Clémence; Baumann, Kate; Jackson, Timothy N W; Ali, Syed Abid; Yang, Daryl C; Greisman, Laura; Kern, Larissa; Steuten, Jessica; Jouiaei, Mahdokht; Casewell, Nicholas R; Undheim, Eivind A B; Koludarov, Ivan; Debono, Jordan; Low, Dolyce H W; Rossi, Sarah; Panagides, Nadya; Winter, Kelly; Ignjatovic, Vera; Summerhayes, Robyn; Jones, Alun; Nouwens, Amanda; Dunstan, Nathan; Hodgson, Wayne C; Winkel, Kenneth D; Monagle, Paul; Fry, Bryan Grieg

2014-06-13

For over a century, venom samples from wild snakes have been collected and stored around the world. However, the quality of storage conditions for "vintage" venoms has rarely been assessed. The goal of this study was to determine whether such historical venom samples are still biochemically and pharmacologically viable for research purposes, or if new sample efforts are needed. In total, 52 samples spanning 5 genera and 13 species with regional variants of some species (e.g., 14 different populations of Notechis scutatus) were analysed by a combined proteomic and pharmacological approach to determine protein structural stability and bioactivity. When venoms were not exposed to air during storage, the proteomic results were virtually indistinguishable from that of fresh venom and bioactivity was equivalent or only slightly reduced. By contrast, a sample of Acanthophis antarcticus venom that was exposed to air (due to a loss of integrity of the rubber stopper) suffered significant degradation as evidenced by the proteomics profile. Interestingly, the neurotoxicity of this sample was nearly the same as fresh venom, indicating that degradation may have occurred in the free N- or C-terminus chains of the proteins, rather than at the tips of loops where the functional residues are located. These results suggest that these and other vintage venom collections may be of continuing value in toxin research. This is particularly important as many snake species worldwide are declining due to habitat destruction or modification. For some venoms (such as N. scutatus from Babel Island, Flinders Island, King Island and St. Francis Island) these were the first analyses ever conducted and these vintage samples may represent the only venom ever collected from these unique island forms of tiger snakes. Such vintage venoms may therefore represent the last remaining stocks of some local populations and thus are precious resources. These venoms also have significant historical value as the Oxyuranus venoms analysed include samples from the first coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) collected for antivenom production (the snake that killed the collector Kevin Budden), as well as samples from the first Oxyuranus microlepidotus specimen collected after the species' rediscovery in 1976. These results demonstrate that with proper storage techniques, venom samples can retain structural and pharmacological stability. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 18222 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-01

... proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of... currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Independent Renal Dialysis Facility Cost Report; Use: The Independent Renal Dialysis Facility Cost Report, is filed annually by providers...

76 FR 59410 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-26

... Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request In compliance with the requirement for.... To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans...) 443-1129. Comments are invited on: (a) The proposed collection of information for the proper...

78 FR 41043 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-09

...) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of... 0701- 0134. Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is to obtain the information needed.../ [[Page 41044

SSAGES: Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations.

PubMed

Sidky, Hythem; Colón, Yamil J; Helfferich, Julian; Sikora, Benjamin J; Bezik, Cody; Chu, Weiwei; Giberti, Federico; Guo, Ashley Z; Jiang, Xikai; Lequieu, Joshua; Li, Jiyuan; Moller, Joshua; Quevillon, Michael J; Rahimi, Mohammad; Ramezani-Dakhel, Hadi; Rathee, Vikramjit S; Reid, Daniel R; Sevgen, Emre; Thapar, Vikram; Webb, Michael A; Whitmer, Jonathan K; de Pablo, Juan J

2018-01-28

Molecular simulation has emerged as an essential tool for modern-day research, but obtaining proper results and making reliable conclusions from simulations requires adequate sampling of the system under consideration. To this end, a variety of methods exist in the literature that can enhance sampling considerably, and increasingly sophisticated, effective algorithms continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Implementation of these techniques, however, can be challenging for experts and non-experts alike. There is a clear need for software that provides rapid, reliable, and easy access to a wide range of advanced sampling methods and that facilitates implementation of new techniques as they emerge. Here we present SSAGES, a publicly available Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations designed to interface with multiple widely used molecular dynamics simulations packages. SSAGES allows facile application of a variety of enhanced sampling techniques-including adaptive biasing force, string methods, and forward flux sampling-that extract meaningful free energy and transition path data from all-atom and coarse-grained simulations. A noteworthy feature of SSAGES is a user-friendly framework that facilitates further development and implementation of new methods and collective variables. In this work, the use of SSAGES is illustrated in the context of simple representative applications involving distinct methods and different collective variables that are available in the current release of the suite. The code may be found at: https://github.com/MICCoM/SSAGES-public.

Sampling considerations for modal analysis with damping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jae Young; Wakin, Michael B.; Gilbert, Anna C.

2015-03-01

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are critical for monitoring aging infrastructure (such as buildings or bridges) in a cost-effective manner. Wireless sensor networks that sample vibration data over time are particularly appealing for SHM applications due to their flexibility and low cost. However, in order to extend the battery life of wireless sensor nodes, it is essential to minimize the amount of vibration data these sensors must collect and transmit. In recent work, we have studied the performance of the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) applied to the collection of data and provided new finite sample analysis characterizing conditions under which this simple technique{also known as the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD){can correctly estimate the mode shapes of the structure. Specifically, we provided theoretical guarantees on the number and duration of samples required in order to estimate a structure's mode shapes to a desired level of accuracy. In that previous work, however, we considered simplified Multiple-Degree-Of-Freedom (MDOF) systems with no damping. In this paper we consider MDOF systems with proportional damping and show that, with sufficiently light damping, the POD can continue to provide accurate estimates of a structure's mode shapes. We support our discussion with new analytical insight and experimental demonstrations. In particular, we study the tradeoffs between the level of damping, the sampling rate and duration, and the accuracy to which the structure's mode shapes can be estimated.

User-driven integrated software lives: ``Paleomag'' paleomagnetics analysis on the Macintosh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Craig H.

2002-12-01

"PaleoMag," a paleomagnetics analysis package originally developed for the Macintosh operating system in 1988, allows examination of demagnetization of individual samples and analysis of directional data from collections of samples. Prior to recent reinvigorated development of the software for both Macintosh and Windows, it was widely used despite not running properly on machines and operating systems sold after 1995. This somewhat surprising situation demonstrates that there is a continued need for integrated analysis software within the earth sciences, in addition to well-developed scripting and batch-mode software. One distinct advantage of software like PaleoMag is in the ability to combine quality control with analysis within a unique graphical environment. Because such demands are frequent within the earth sciences, means of nurturing the development of similar software should be found.

77 FR 38297 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-27

... Identifier CMS-359 and -360] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request... information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated...

30 CFR 90.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... designated by the District Manager. (b) The operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter... properly complete the dust data card that is provided by the manufacturer for each filter cassette. The... include that person's certification number. Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed...

30 CFR 90.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... designated by the District Manager. (b) The operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter... properly complete the dust data card that is provided by the manufacturer for each filter cassette. The... include that person's certification number. Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed...

30 CFR 71.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... designated by the District Manager. (b) The operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter... properly complete the dust data card that is provided by the manufacturer for each filter cassette. The... include that person's certification number. Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed...

30 CFR 71.209 - Respirable dust samples; transmission by operator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... designated by the District Manager. (b) The operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter... properly complete the dust data card that is provided by the manufacturer for each filter cassette. The... include that person's certification number. Respirable dust samples with data cards not properly completed...

78 FR 13878 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-01

... Agreement Use: The primary function of the Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement (CMS 588) is to... proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of...

75 FR 33308 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-11

... information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated... most individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), could elect to receive benefits either through...

78 FR 40142 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection Renewal; Comment Request Re...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-03

... with an accounting of the FDIC's assessment. Request for Comment Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the FDIC's functions...

Structural and morphological study of Fe-doped Bi-based superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Yadunath; Kumar, Rohitash

2018-05-01

In the present work, we report the study of iron-doped Bi-based superconductor sample with stoichiometric composition of Bi2Sr2Can-1(Cu1-x Fex)3O2n+4 where n=3 and x = 0.7. This sample was prepared by grinding the precursor oxides in the Ball mill for 6 hours continuous at the rate of 400 rpm for a proper mixing and to obtain the required grain size. Then the solid-state reaction method was used to prepare the sample. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDX) were performed for determination of the crystal structure, surface morphology and trace the material elements of samples, respectively. The surface microscopy data were collected over a selected area of the surface of the material and a two-dimensional image generated that displays spatial variations in properties including chemical characterization and orientation of materials.

The Third SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-3)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B.; VanHeukelem, Laurei; Thomas, Crystal S.; Claustre, Herve; Ras, Josephine; Schluter, Louise; Clementson, Lesley; vanderLinde, Dirk; Eker-Develi, Elif; Berthon, Jean-Francois;

Total Water Content Measurements with an Isokinetic Sampling Probe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reehorst, Andrew L.; Miller, Dean R.; Bidwell, Colin S.

2010-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a Total Water Content (TWC) Isokinetic Sampling Probe. Since it is not sensitive to cloud water particle phase nor size, it is particularly attractive to support super-cooled large droplet and high ice water content aircraft icing studies. The instrument is comprised of the Sampling Probe, Sample Flow Control, and Water Vapor Measurement subsystems. Analysis and testing have been conducted on the subsystems to ensure their proper function and accuracy. End-to-end bench testing has also been conducted to ensure the reliability of the entire instrument system. A Stokes Number based collection efficiency correction was developed to correct for probe thickness effects. The authors further discuss the need to ensure that no condensation occurs within the instrument plumbing. Instrument measurements compared to facility calibrations from testing in the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel are presented and discussed. There appears to be liquid water content and droplet size effects in the differences between the two measurement techniques.

78 FR 56681 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-09-13

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army [Docket ID: USA-2013-0031] Proposed Collection... public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the...

76 FR 17126 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Place of Performance

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2011-03-28

...; Information Collection; Place of Performance AGENCY: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services... currently approved information collection requirement concerning place of performance. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of...

Differential Topic Models.

PubMed

Chen, Changyou; Buntine, Wray; Ding, Nan; Xie, Lexing; Du, Lan

2015-02-01

In applications we may want to compare different document collections: they could have shared content but also different and unique aspects in particular collections. This task has been called comparative text mining or cross-collection modeling. We present a differential topic model for this application that models both topic differences and similarities. For this we use hierarchical Bayesian nonparametric models. Moreover, we found it was important to properly model power-law phenomena in topic-word distributions and thus we used the full Pitman-Yor process rather than just a Dirichlet process. Furthermore, we propose the transformed Pitman-Yor process (TPYP) to incorporate prior knowledge such as vocabulary variations in different collections into the model. To deal with the non-conjugate issue between model prior and likelihood in the TPYP, we thus propose an efficient sampling algorithm using a data augmentation technique based on the multinomial theorem. Experimental results show the model discovers interesting aspects of different collections. We also show the proposed MCMC based algorithm achieves a dramatically reduced test perplexity compared to some existing topic models. Finally, we show our model outperforms the state-of-the-art for document classification/ideology prediction on a number of text collections.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gaia-PS1-SDSS (GPS1) proper motion catalog (Tian+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, H.-J.; Gupta, P.; Sesar, B.; Rix, H.-W.; Martin, N. F.; Liu, C.; Goldman, B.; Platais, I.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Waters, C. Z.

2018-02-01

In order to construct proper motions, we analyze and model catalog positions from four different imaging surveys, as discussed below. Gaia DR1 is based on observations collected between 2014 July 25 and 2015 September 16. PS1 observations were collected between 2010 and 2014. The SDSS DR9 data used here were obtained in the years between 2000 and 2008. The images from 2MASS were taken between 1997 and 2001. (1 data file).

Quality of nutrient data from streams and ground water sampled during water years 1992-2001

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mueller, David K.; Titus, Cindy J.

2005-01-01

Proper interpretation of water-quality data requires consideration of the effects that bias and variability might have on measured constituent concentrations. In this report, methods are described to estimate the bias due to contamination of samples in the field or laboratory and the variability due to sample collection, processing, shipment, and analysis. Contamination can adversely affect interpretation of measured concentrations in comparison to standards or criteria. Variability can affect interpretation of small differences between individual measurements or mean concentrations. Contamination and variability are determined for nutrient data from quality-control samples (field blanks and replicates) collected as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program during water years 1992-2001. Statistical methods are used to estimate the likelihood of contamination and variability in all samples. Results are presented for five nutrient analytes from stream samples and four nutrient analytes from ground-water samples. Ammonia contamination can add at least 0.04 milligram per liter in up to 5 percent of all samples. This could account for more than 22 percent of measured concentrations at the low range of aquatic-life criteria (0.18 milligram per liter). Orthophosphate contamination, at least 0.019 milligram per liter in up to 5 percent of all samples, could account for more than 38 percent of measured concentrations at the limit to avoid eutrophication (0.05 milligram per liter). Nitrite-plus-nitrate and Kjeldahl nitrogen contamination is less than 0.4 milligram per liter in 99 percent of all samples; thus there is no significant effect on measured concentrations of environmental significance. Sampling variability has little or no effect on reported concentrations of ammonia, nitrite-plus-nitrate, orthophosphate, or total phosphorus sampled after 1998. The potential errors due to sampling variability are greater for the Kjeldahl nitrogen analytes and for total phosphorus sampled before 1999. The uncertainty in a mean of 10 concentrations caused by sampling variability is within a small range (1 to 7 percent) for all nutrients. These results can be applied to interpretation of environmental data collected during water years 1992-2001 in 52 NAWQA study units.

77 FR 15111 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

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2012-03-14

... are invited on: (a) The proposed collection of information for the proper performance of the functions... needed to improve services and processes. Focus groups may also be used to gain partner input into the...

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2013-01-08

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NASA GRC and MSFC Space-Plasma Arc Testing Procedures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, Dale C.; Vayner, Boris V.; Galofaro, Joel T.; Hillard, G. Barry; Vaughn, Jason; Schneider, Todd

2007-01-01

Tests of arcing and current collection in simulated space plasma conditions have been performed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, for over 30 years and at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, for almost as long. During this period, proper test conditions for accurate and meaningful space simulation have been worked out, comparisons with actual space performance in spaceflight tests and with real operational satellites have been made, and NASA has achieved our own internal standards for test protocols. It is the purpose of this paper to communicate the test conditions, test procedures, and types of analysis used at NASA GRC and MSFC to the space environmental testing community at large, to help with international space-plasma arcing-testing standardization. Discussed herein are neutral gas conditions, plasma densities and uniformity, vacuum chamber sizes, sample sizes and Debye lengths, biasing samples versus self-generated voltages, floating samples versus grounded samples, test electrical conditions, arc detection, preventing sustained discharges during testing, real samples versus idealized samples, validity of LEO tests for GEO samples, extracting arc threshold information from arc rate versus voltage tests, snapover, current collection, and glows at positive sample bias, Kapton pyrolysis, thresholds for trigger arcs, sustained arcs, dielectric breakdown and Paschen discharge, tether arcing and testing in very dense plasmas (i.e. thruster plumes), arc mitigation strategies, charging mitigation strategies, models, and analysis of test results. Finally, the necessity of testing will be emphasized, not to the exclusion of modeling, but as part of a complete strategy for determining when and if arcs will occur, and preventing them from occurring in space.

FUNGI ISOLATED FROM THE EXCRETA OF WILD BIRDS IN SCREENING CENTERS IN PELOTAS, RS, BRAZIL

PubMed Central

Mendes, Josiara Furtado; Albano, Ana Paula Neuschrank; Coimbra, Marco Antônio A.; de Ferreira, Gracialda Ferreira; Gonçalves, Carolina Lambrecht; Nascente, Patrícia da Silva; de Mello, João Roberto Braga

2014-01-01

The identification of the fungal species belonging to the healthy microflora in animals is a precondition for the recognition of pathological processes causing them. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic fungi in the feces of wild birds collected in Screening Centers. Samples were collected from the feces of 50 cages with different species of birds. The samples were processed according to the modified method STAIB and the plates incubated at 32 °C for up to ten days with daily observation for detection of fungal growth. The isolation of the following species was observed: Malassezia pachydermatis, Candida albicans, C. famata, C. guilliermondii, C. sphaerica, C. globosa, C. catenulata, C. ciferri, C. intermedia, Cryptococcus laurentii, Trichosporon asahii, Geotrichum klebahnii, Aspergillus spp., A. niger and Penicillium spp. Knowing the character of some opportunistic fungi is important in identifying them, facilitating the adoption of preventive measures, such as proper cleaning of cages, since the accumulation of excreta may indicate a risk for both health professionals and centers for screening public health. PMID:25351548

Recommendations and Standardization of Biomarker Quantification Using NMR-Based Metabolomics with Particular Focus on Urinary Analysis.

PubMed

Emwas, Abdul-Hamid; Roy, Raja; McKay, Ryan T; Ryan, Danielle; Brennan, Lorraine; Tenori, Leonardo; Luchinat, Claudio; Gao, Xin; Zeri, Ana Carolina; Gowda, G A Nagana; Raftery, Daniel; Steinbeck, Christoph; Salek, Reza M; Wishart, David S

2016-02-05

NMR-based metabolomics has shown considerable promise in disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery because it allows one to nondestructively identify and quantify large numbers of novel metabolite biomarkers in both biofluids and tissues. Precise metabolite quantification is a prerequisite to move any chemical biomarker or biomarker panel from the lab to the clinic. Among the biofluids commonly used for disease diagnosis and prognosis, urine has several advantages. It is abundant, sterile, and easily obtained, needs little sample preparation, and does not require invasive medical procedures for collection. Furthermore, urine captures and concentrates many "unwanted" or "undesirable" compounds throughout the body, providing a rich source of potentially useful disease biomarkers; however, incredible variation in urine chemical concentrations makes analysis of urine and identification of useful urinary biomarkers by NMR challenging. We discuss a number of the most significant issues regarding NMR-based urinary metabolomics with specific emphasis on metabolite quantification for disease biomarker applications and propose data collection and instrumental recommendations regarding NMR pulse sequences, acceptable acquisition parameter ranges, relaxation effects on quantitation, proper handling of instrumental differences, sample preparation, and biomarker assessment.

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR ASYMPTOMATIC INTESTINAL MICROSPORIDIOSIS AMONG ABORIGINAL SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PAHANG, MALAYSIA.

PubMed

Anuar, Tengku Shahrul; Bakar, Nur Hazirah Abu; Al-Mekhlafi, Hesham M; Moktar, Norhayati; Osman, Emelia

2016-05-01

The epidemiology and environmental factors affecting transmission of human microsporidiosis are poorly understood. We conducted the present study to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with asymptomatic intestinal microsporidiosis among aboriginal school children in the Kuala Krau District, Pahang State, Malaysia. We collected stool samples from 255 school children and examined the samples using Gram-chromotrope Kinyoun stain. We also collected demographic, socioeconomic, environmental and personal hygiene information using a pre-tested questionnaire. Sixty-nine of the children was positive for microsporidia: 72.5% and 27.5% were low (1+) and moderate (2+) excretions of microsporidia spores, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed being aged 10 years (p = 0.026), using an unsafe water supply as a source for drinking water (p = 0.044) and having close contact with domestic animals (p = 0.031) were all significantly associated with microsporidial infection among study subjects. Our findings suggest asymptomatic intestinal microsporidiosis is common in the study population, more than previously reported. In the study population, control measures need to be implemented, such as good personal hygiene, proper sanitation and safe drinking water supply.

77 FR 43077 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; North Carolina Sales Tax Certification

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2012-07-23

...; Information Collection; North Carolina Sales Tax Certification AGENCY: Department of Defense (DOD), General... information collection requirement concerning North Carolina sales tax certification. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of...

76 FR 69251 - Proposed Agency Information Collection

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2011-11-08

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Proposed Agency Information Collection AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE... on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of...) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of...

76 FR 63289 - Agency Information Collection Extension

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2011-10-12

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78 FR 19695 - Agency Information Collection Extension

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2013-04-02

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76 FR 20347 - Proposed Agency Information Collection

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2011-04-12

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78 FR 51173 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-08-20

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DoD-2013-OS-0178] Proposed Collection... public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the...

77 FR 34367 - Agency Information Collection Extension

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2012-06-11

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77 FR 8822 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2012-02-15

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2013-04-19

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2011-09-08

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Physico-Chemical and Bacterial Evaluation of Public and Packaged Drinking Water in Vikarabad, Telangana, India - Potential Public Health Implications.

PubMed

Rao, Koppula Yadav; Anjum, Mohammad Shakeel; Reddy, Peddireddy Parthasarathi; Monica, Mocherla; Hameed, Irram Abbass; Sagar, Goje Vidya

2016-05-01

Humanity highly depends on water and its proper utilization and management. Water has various uses and its use as thirst quenching fluid is the most significant one. To assess physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters of various public and packaged drinking water samples collected from villages of Vikarabad mandal. Public and packaged drinking water samples collected were analysed for various parameters using American Public Health Association (APHA 18(th) edition 1992) guidelines and the results obtained were compared with bureau of Indian standards for drinking water. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations were done. Among bottled water samples, magnesium in 1 sample was >30mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among sachet water samples, copper in 1 sample was >0.05mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among canned water samples, total hardness in 1 sample was >200mg/litre, magnesium in 3 samples was >30mg/litre. In tap water sample, calcium was >75mg/litre, magnesium was >30mg/litre, nickel was >0.02mg/litre. Among public bore well water samples, pH in 1 sample was >8.5, total dissolved solids in 17 samples was >500mg/litre, total alkalinity in 9 samples was >200mg/litre, total hardness in 20 samples was >200mg/litre, calcium in 14 samples was >75mg/litre, fluoride in 1 sample was >1mg/litre, magnesium in 14 samples was >30mg/litre. Total coliform was absent in bottled water, sachet water, canned water, tap water samples. Total Coliform was present but E. coli was absent in 4 public bore well water samples. The MPN per 100 ml in those 4 samples of public bore well water was 50. Physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters tested in present study showed values greater than acceptable limit for some samples, which can pose serious threat to consumers of that region.

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid endogenous production and post-mortem behaviour - the importance of different biological matrices, cut-off reference values, sample collection and storage conditions.

PubMed

Castro, André L; Dias, Mário; Reis, Flávio; Teixeira, Helena M

2014-10-01

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) is an endogenous compound with a story of clinical use, since the 1960's. However, due to its secondary effects, it has become a controlled substance, entering the illicit market for recreational and "dance club scene" use, muscle enhancement purposes and drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Its endogenous context can bring some difficulties when interpreting, in a forensic context, the analytical values achieved in biological samples. This manuscript reviewed several crucial aspects related to GHB forensic toxicology evaluation, such as its post-mortem behaviour in biological samples; endogenous production values, whether in in vivo and in post-mortem samples; sampling and storage conditions (including stability tests); and cut-off reference values evaluation for different biological samples, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, bile, vitreous humour and hair. This revision highlights the need of specific sampling care, storage conditions, and cut-off reference values interpretation in different biological samples, essential for proper practical application in forensic toxicology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Abnormal gel flotation caused by contrast media during adrenal vein sampling

PubMed Central

Lima-Oliveira, Gabriel; Lippi, Giuseppe; Salvagno, Gian Luca; Gelati, Matteo; Bassi, Antonella; Contro, Alberto; Pizzolo, Francesca; Guidi, Gian Cesare

2016-01-01

Introduction During adrenal venous sampling (AVS) procedure, radiologists administer a contrast agent via the catheter to visualize the proper catheter position. Materials and methods A patient with primary aldosteronism diagnostic-hypothesis was admitted for AVS. A venogram was performed to
confirm the catheter’s position with 2mL of Iopamidol 300 mg/mL. Samples were collected with syringe connected to a hydrophilic coated catheter by low-pressure aspiration from each of the four collection sites: inferior vena cava in the suprarenal portion, inferior vena cava in the infrarenal portion, left adrenal vein, and right adrenal vein; then immediately transferred from syringe to tubes with gel separator. All tubes were centrifuged at 1200 x g for 10 minutes. Results At the end of centrifugation process, primary blood tubes containing blood from inferior vena cava and left adrenal vein exhibited the standard gel separator barrier, while tubes from right adrenal vein showed abnormal flotation of gel separator. The radiologist confirmed the usage of 2.6 mL instead of 2.0 mL of Iopamidol 300 mg/mL. This iodinated contrast media, with 1.33 g/cm3 of density, was used close to the right adrenal vein due to some difficulty to access it. Conclusion The abnormal flotation of gel separator in samples taken from right adrenal vein can be explained by the usage of the iodinated
contrast media. We suggest using plain-tubes (without gel separator) for AVS in order to avoid preanalytical nonconformities. Moreover, a blood volume equivalent to twice the catheter extension should be discarded to eliminate residual contrast media before collection of samples for laboratory assays. PMID:27812311

Hair Analysis in Forensic Toxicology: An Updated Review with a Special Focus on Pitfalls.

PubMed

Kintz, Pascal

2017-01-01

The detection of drugs in hair analysis has progressively emerged as a consequence of the enhanced sensitivity of analytical techniques used in forensic toxicology; a greater advantage in using this matrix with respect to classical ones (i.e. urine and blood) is an easier and non-invasive sample collection, even when the careful supervision of law enforcement officers is required to avoid the risk that the sample may be adulterated or replaced. Moreover, according to the length of the hair, the history of drug exposure can be retrospectively monitored from few weeks up to months or years since sample collection. Through a detailed revision of the existent literature, this manuscript provides information on the proper sample collection, preparation and analysis, as well as pitfalls in forensic hair analysis, and summarizes the wide range of application of this technology, including excessive alcohol drinking, doping, child abuse, and offences linked to drug use. Verification of history of psychotropic drugs, alcohol and doping agents use by hair analysis, hair testing for driving license regranting and drug facilitated crimes, and testing for drugs in hair of children have been reviewed together with recent trends in hair contamination and possibility to disclose use of new psychoactive substances by hair analysis. Hair analysis in forensic toxicology has been quickly emerged and improved in recent years; a deeper knowledge of advantages and limitations of this unique matrix is necessary for a better use in forensic caseworks. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Thermal and Evolved Gas Analysis of "Nanophase" Carbonates: Implications for Thermal and Evolved Gas Analysis on Mars Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lauer, Howard V., Jr.; Archer, P. D., Jr.; Sutter, B.; Niles, P. B.; Ming, Douglas W.

2012-01-01

Data collected by the Mars Phoenix Lander's Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) suggested the presence of calcium-rich carbonates as indicated by a high temperature CO2 release while a low temperature (approx.400-680 C) CO2 release suggested possible Mg- and/or Fe-carbonates [1,2]. Interpretations of the data collected by Mars remote instruments is done by comparing the mission data to a database on the thermal properties of well-characterized Martian analog materials collected under reduced and Earth ambient pressures [3,4]. We are proposing that "nano-phase" carbonates may also be contributing to the low temperature CO2 release. The objectives of this paper is to (1) characterize the thermal and evolved gas proper-ties of carbonates of varying particle size, (2) evaluate the CO2 releases from CO2 treated CaO samples and (3) examine the secondary CO2 release from reheated calcite of varying particle size.

The Gould’s Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS). I. Trigonometric Parallax Distances and Depth of the Ophiuchus Complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz-León, Gisela N.; Loinard, Laurent; Kounkel, Marina A.; Dzib, Sergio A.; Mioduszewski, Amy J.; Rodríguez, Luis F.; Torres, Rosa M.; González-Lópezlira, Rosa A.; Pech, Gerardo; Rivera, Juana L.; Hartmann, Lee; Boden, Andrew F.; Evans, Neal J., II; Briceño, Cesar; Tobin, John J.; Galli, Phillip A. B.; Gudehus, Donald

2017-01-01

We present the first results of the Gould’s Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS), a project aimed at measuring the proper motion and trigonometric parallax of a large sample of young stars in nearby regions using multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio observations. Enough VLBA detections have now been obtained for 16 stellar systems in Ophiuchus to derive their parallax and proper motion. This leads to distance determinations for individual stars with an accuracy of 0.3 to a few percent. In addition, the orbits of six multiple systems were modelled by combining absolute positions with VLBA (and, in some cases, near-infrared) angular separations. Twelve stellar systems are located in the dark cloud Lynds 1688 the individual distances for this sample are highly consistent with one another and yield a mean parallax for Lynds 1688 of \\varpi =7.28+/- 0.06 mas, corresponding to a distance d=137.3+/- 1.2 pc. This represents an accuracy greater than 1%. Three systems for which astrometric elements could be measured are located in the eastern streamer (Lynds 1689) and yield an estimate of \\varpi =6.79+/- 0.16 mas, corresponding to a distance d=147.3+/- 3.4 pc. This suggests that the eastern streamer is located about 10 pc farther than the core, but this conclusion needs to be confirmed by observations of additional sources in the eastern streamer (currently being collected). From the measured proper motions, we estimate the one-dimensional velocity dispersion in Lynds 1688 to be 2.8 ± 1.8 and 3.0 ± 2.0 km s-1, in R.A. and decl., respectively; these are larger than, but still consistent within 1σ of, those found in other studies.

78 FR 23628 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

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2013-04-19

... Activities; Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Aircraft Noise... to renew an information collection. This collection ensures that U.S. operators have proper noise...: OMB Control Number: 2120-073. Title: Aircraft Noise Certification Documents for International...

77 FR 19275 - Proposed Agency Information Collection

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2012-03-30

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78 FR 51172 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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75 FR 8722 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2010-02-25

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2010-10-26

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2012-05-23

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2011-05-10

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SSAGES: Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations

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

Sidky, Hythem; Colón, Yamil J.; Helfferich, Julian

Molecular simulation has emerged as an essential tool for modern-day research, but obtaining proper results and making reliable conclusions from simulations requires adequate sampling of the system under consideration. To this end, a variety of methods exist in the literature that can enhance sampling considerably, and increasingly sophisticated, effective algorithms continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Implementation of these techniques, however, can be challenging for experts and non-experts alike. There is a clear need for software that provides rapid, reliable, and easy access to a wide range of advanced sampling methods, and that facilitates implementation of new techniquesmore » as they emerge. Here we present SSAGES, a publicly available Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations designed to interface with multiple widely used molecular dynamics simulations packages. SSAGES allows facile application of a variety of enhanced sampling techniques—including adaptive biasing force, string methods, and forward flux sampling—that extract meaningful free energy and transition path data from all-atom and coarse grained simulations. A noteworthy feature of SSAGES is a user-friendly framework that facilitates further development and implementation of new methods and collective variables. In this work, the use of SSAGES is illustrated in the context of simple representative applications involving distinct methods and different collective variables that are available in the current release of the suite.« less

SSAGES: Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sidky, Hythem; Colón, Yamil J.; Helfferich, Julian; Sikora, Benjamin J.; Bezik, Cody; Chu, Weiwei; Giberti, Federico; Guo, Ashley Z.; Jiang, Xikai; Lequieu, Joshua; Li, Jiyuan; Moller, Joshua; Quevillon, Michael J.; Rahimi, Mohammad; Ramezani-Dakhel, Hadi; Rathee, Vikramjit S.; Reid, Daniel R.; Sevgen, Emre; Thapar, Vikram; Webb, Michael A.; Whitmer, Jonathan K.; de Pablo, Juan J.

2018-01-01

Molecular simulation has emerged as an essential tool for modern-day research, but obtaining proper results and making reliable conclusions from simulations requires adequate sampling of the system under consideration. To this end, a variety of methods exist in the literature that can enhance sampling considerably, and increasingly sophisticated, effective algorithms continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Implementation of these techniques, however, can be challenging for experts and non-experts alike. There is a clear need for software that provides rapid, reliable, and easy access to a wide range of advanced sampling methods and that facilitates implementation of new techniques as they emerge. Here we present SSAGES, a publicly available Software Suite for Advanced General Ensemble Simulations designed to interface with multiple widely used molecular dynamics simulations packages. SSAGES allows facile application of a variety of enhanced sampling techniques—including adaptive biasing force, string methods, and forward flux sampling—that extract meaningful free energy and transition path data from all-atom and coarse-grained simulations. A noteworthy feature of SSAGES is a user-friendly framework that facilitates further development and implementation of new methods and collective variables. In this work, the use of SSAGES is illustrated in the context of simple representative applications involving distinct methods and different collective variables that are available in the current release of the suite. The code may be found at: https://github.com/MICCoM/SSAGES-public.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis Of Leukemic Blood Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunter, U.; Harms, H.; Haucke, M.; Aus, H. M.; ter Meulen, V.

1982-11-01

In a first clinical test, computer programs are being used to diagnose leukemias. The data collected include blood samples from patients suffering from acute myelomonocytic-, acute monocytic- and acute promyelocytic, myeloblastic, prolymphocytic, chronic lymphocytic leukemias and leukemic transformed immunocytoma. The proper differentiation of the leukemic cells is essential because the therapy depends on the type of leukemia. The algorithms analyse the fine chromatin texture and distribution in the nuclei as well as size and shape parameters from the cells and nuclei. Cells with similar nuclei from different leukemias can be distinguished from each other by analyzing the cell cytoplasm images. Recognition of these subtle differences in the cells require an image sampling rate of 15-30 pixel/micron. The results for the entire data set correlate directly to established hematological parameters and support the previously published initial training set .

Usefulness of laboratory methods in diagnosis of pertussis in adult with paroxysmal cough.

PubMed

Piekarska, Katarzyna; Rzeczkowska, Magdalena; Rastawicki, Waldemar; Dąbrowska-Iwanicka, Anna; Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Iwona

2014-01-01

Pertussis is an acute, highly contagious bacterial infection of respiratory system caused by Bordetella pertussis. Principally, disease affects young children, however, recently it is also reported in adolescents and adults. Symptoms of pertussis in adults are non-specific, i.e. dry, paroxysmal and protracted cough. Thus, it is rarely diagnosed in this group. This paper aimed at evaluating the usefulness of the laboratory methods in diagnosis of pertussis in adults based on a case presenting with dry, paroxysmal and chronic cough. Sputum (collected on 25th January 2013) and paired serum samples (collected on 13th February and 19 April 2013) were tested. Pertussis diagnostics involved culture, in-house PCR, real-time PCR and ELISA. Sputum culture, using commercial medium Bordetella Selective Medium by Oxoid did not reveal the presence of B. pertussis. Real-time PCR and PCR, however, confirmed the presence of insertion sequence IS481 and pertussis toxin promoter sequence ptx-Pr, markers indicative of B. pertussis infection. Serological testing revealed the high titres of IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies to B. pertussis in the first sample. In the second sample, collected 2 months following the first one, a significant decrease in IgA antibodies was reported. These data suggest a high usefulness of the laboratory methods in the diagnosis of pertussis in adults with chronic cough. Application of such methods ensures adequate diagnosis of disease, quick introduction of proper treatment and implementation of procedures preventing the spread of infection.

Streamflow data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holmes, Robert R.; Singh, Vijay P.

2016-01-01

The importance of streamflow data to the world’s economy, environmental health, and public safety continues to grow as the population increases. The collection of streamflow data is often an involved and complicated process. The quality of streamflow data hinges on such things as site selection, instrumentation selection, streamgage maintenance and quality assurance, proper discharge measurement techniques, and the development and continued verification of the streamflow rating. This chapter serves only as an overview of the streamflow data collection process as proper treatment of considerations, techniques, and quality assurance cannot be addressed adequately in the space limitations of this chapter. Readers with the need for the detailed information on the streamflow data collection process are referred to the many references noted in this chapter. 

A Comparison Study of Sampling and Analyzing Volatile Organic Compounds in Air in Kuwait by Using Tedlar Bags/Canisters and GC-MS with a Cryogenic Trap

PubMed Central

Tang, Hongmao; Beg, Khaliq R.; Al-Otaiba, Yousef

2006-01-01

Kuwait experiences desert climatic weather. Due to the extreme hot and dry conditions in this country, some analytical phenomena have been discovered. Therefore, a systematic study of sampling and analyzing volatile organic compounds in air by using GC-MS with a cryogenic trap is reported in this paper. This study included comparisons of using different sample containers such as Tedlar bags and SUMMA canisters, and different cryogenic freezing-out air volumes in the trap. Calibration curves for different compounds and improvement of replicated analysis results were also reported here. The study found that using different sample containers produced different results. Analysis of ambient air samples collected in Tedlar bags obtained several volatile organic compounds with large concentrations compared to using SUMMA canisters. Therefore, to choose a sample container properly is a key element for successfully completing a project. Because GC-MS with a cryogenic trap often generates replicated results with poor agreement, an internal standard added to gas standards and air samples by using a gas syringe was tested. The study results proved that it helped to improve the replicated results. PMID:16699723

A comparison study of sampling and analyzing volatile organic compounds in air in Kuwait by using Tedlar bags/canisters and GC-MS with a cryogenic trap.

PubMed

Tang, Hongmao; Beg, Khaliq R; Al-Otaiba, Yousef

2006-05-12

Kuwait experiences desert climatic weather. Due to the extreme hot and dry conditions in this country, some analytical phenomena have been discovered. Therefore, a systematic study of sampling and analyzing volatile organic compounds in air by using GC-MS with a cryogenic trap is reported in this paper. This study included comparisons of using different sample containers such as Tedlar bags and SUMMA canisters, and different cryogenic freezing-out air volumes in the trap. Calibration curves for different compounds and improvement of replicated analysis results were also reported here. The study found that using different sample containers produced different results. Analysis of ambient air samples collected in Tedlar bags obtained several volatile organic compounds with large concentrations compared to using SUMMA canisters. Therefore, to choose a sample container properly is a key element for successfully completing a project. Because GC-MS with a cryogenic trap often generates replicated results with poor agreement, an internal standard added to gas standards and air samples by using a gas syringe was tested. The study results proved that it helped to improve the replicated results.

Proper motion separation of Be stars in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira, K.; García, A.; Sabogal, B.

2018-01-01

We present a proper motion investigation of a sample of Be stars candidates towards the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which has resulted in the identification of two separate populations, in the Galactic foreground and in the Magellanic background. OGLE BVI and 2MASS JHK photometry were used with the SPM4 proper motions to discriminate the different populations located towards the LMC. Two populations with distinctive infrared colours and noticeable different kinematics were found, the bluer sample is consistent with being in the LMC and the redder one with belonging to the Milky Way (MW) disk. This settles the nature of the redder sample which had been described in previous publications as a possible unknown subclass of stars among the Be candidates in the LMC.

Demonstration of a Graywater Management Project at a Community Level on the Island of Puerto Rico

EPA Science Inventory

Housing development practices in Puerto Rico, especially in rural areas, have often not considered the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater or the collection and treatment of stormwater. These practices have created a legacy of communities without proper sewage disposal in...

40 CFR 264.19 - Construction quality assurance program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) Geomembranes (flexible membrane liners); (v) Leachate collection and removal systems and leak detection systems... section; (ii) Proper construction of all components of the liners, leachate collection and removal system...

40 CFR 264.19 - Construction quality assurance program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) Geomembranes (flexible membrane liners); (v) Leachate collection and removal systems and leak detection systems... section; (ii) Proper construction of all components of the liners, leachate collection and removal system...

40 CFR 264.19 - Construction quality assurance program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) Geomembranes (flexible membrane liners); (v) Leachate collection and removal systems and leak detection systems... section; (ii) Proper construction of all components of the liners, leachate collection and removal system...

Antibody response to rabies vaccination in captive and freeranging wolves (Canis lupus)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Federoff, N.E.

2001-01-01

Fourteen captive and five free-ranging Minnesota gray wolves (Canis lupus) were tested for the presence of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) after vaccination with an inactivated canine rabies vaccine. Blood was collected from all wolves prior to vaccination and at 1 mo postvaccination (PV) and from all captive and three wild wolves at 3 mo PV. In addition, one free-ranging wolf was sampled at 4 mo PV, and two free-ranging wolves were sampled at 6 mo PV. All wolves were seronegative prior to vaccination. RVNA were detected in 14 (100%) captive wolves and in four of five (80%) free-ranging wolves. The geometric mean titer of the captive wolves at 1 mo PV was significantly higher (P = 0.023) than in the free-ranging wolves. Five of 13 (38.5%) captive wolves and none of the three (0%) free-ranging wolves had measurable RVNA at 3 mo PV. No measurable RVNA were detected in the serum samples collected from the free-ranging wolves at 4 and 6 mo PV. These results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of free-ranging wolves tested. Further research is needed to properly assess immune function and antibody response to vaccination in captive wolves in comparison with their free-ranging counterparts.

Open source platform for collaborative construction of wearable sensor datasets for human motion analysis and an application for gait analysis.

PubMed

Llamas, César; González, Manuel A; Hernández, Carmen; Vegas, Jesús

2016-10-01

Nearly every practical improvement in modeling human motion is well founded in a properly designed collection of data or datasets. These datasets must be made publicly available for the community could validate and accept them. It is reasonable to concede that a collective, guided enterprise could serve to devise solid and substantial datasets, as a result of a collaborative effort, in the same sense as the open software community does. In this way datasets could be complemented, extended and expanded in size with, for example, more individuals, samples and human actions. For this to be possible some commitments must be made by the collaborators, being one of them sharing the same data acquisition platform. In this paper, we offer an affordable open source hardware and software platform based on inertial wearable sensors in a way that several groups could cooperate in the construction of datasets through common software suitable for collaboration. Some experimental results about the throughput of the overall system are reported showing the feasibility of acquiring data from up to 6 sensors with a sampling frequency no less than 118Hz. Also, a proof-of-concept dataset is provided comprising sampled data from 12 subjects suitable for gait analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessment of sample preservation techniques for pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and steroids in surface and drinking water.

PubMed

Vanderford, Brett J; Mawhinney, Douglas B; Trenholm, Rebecca A; Zeigler-Holady, Janie C; Snyder, Shane A

2011-02-01

Proper collection and preservation techniques are necessary to ensure sample integrity and maintain the stability of analytes until analysis. Data from improperly collected and preserved samples could lead to faulty conclusions and misinterpretation of the occurrence and fate of the compounds being studied. Because contaminants of emerging concern, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and steroids, generally occur in surface and drinking water at ng/L levels, these compounds in particular require such protocols to accurately assess their concentrations. In this study, sample bottle types, residual oxidant quenching agents, preservation agents, and hold times were assessed for 21 PPCPs and steroids in surface water and finished drinking water. Amber glass bottles were found to have the least effect on target analyte concentrations, while high-density polyethylene bottles had the most impact. Ascorbic acid, sodium thiosulfate, and sodium sulfite were determined to be acceptable quenching agents and preservation with sodium azide at 4 °C led to the stability of the most target compounds. A combination of amber glass bottles, ascorbic acid, and sodium azide preserved analyte concentrations for 28 days in the tested matrices when held at 4 °C. Samples without a preservation agent were determined to be stable for all but two of the analytes when stored in amber glass bottles at 4 °C for 72 h. Results suggest that if improper protocols are utilized, reported concentrations of target PPCPs and steroids may be inaccurate.

75 FR 71419 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

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2010-11-23

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2012-06-25

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How to differentiate collective variables in free energy codes: Computer-algebra code generation and automatic differentiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giorgino, Toni

2018-07-01

The proper choice of collective variables (CVs) is central to biased-sampling free energy reconstruction methods in molecular dynamics simulations. The PLUMED 2 library, for instance, provides several sophisticated CV choices, implemented in a C++ framework; however, developing new CVs is still time consuming due to the need to provide code for the analytical derivatives of all functions with respect to atomic coordinates. We present two solutions to this problem, namely (a) symbolic differentiation and code generation, and (b) automatic code differentiation, in both cases leveraging open-source libraries (SymPy and Stan Math, respectively). The two approaches are demonstrated and discussed in detail implementing a realistic example CV, the local radius of curvature of a polymer. Users may use the code as a template to streamline the implementation of their own CVs using high-level constructs and automatic gradient computation.

76 FR 81465 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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2011-12-28

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2012-11-19

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2011-08-19

... collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3... for the evaluation will come from three waves of in- person data collection collected from... follow-up surveys at approximately 9 and 18 months post-baseline in five sites. A fourth wave of data...

Nurses' requirements for relief and casualty support in disasters: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Nekooei Moghaddam, Mahmoud; Saeed, Sara; Khanjani, Narges; Arab, Mansour

2014-04-01

Nurses are among the most important groups engaged in casualty support, regardless of the cause, and they are one of the largest care groups involved in disasters. Consequently, these workers should gain proper support and skills to enable effective, timely, responsible and ethical emergency responses. In this study, we investigated the needs of nurses for proper casualty support in disasters, to facilitate better planning for disaster management. This was a qualitative content analysis study. Interviews were performed with 23 nurses, at educational hospitals and the Faculty of Nursing at Kerman Medical University, who had a minimum of five years working experience and assisted in an earthquake disaster. Intensity and snowball sampling were performed. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and coded into main themes and subthemes. Four major themes emerged from the data; 1) psychological support, 2) appropriate clinical skills education, 3) appropriate disaster management, supervision and programming, and 4) the establishment of ready for action groups and emergency sites. The participants' comments highlighted the necessity of training nurses for special skills including emotion management, triage and crush syndrome, and to support nurses' families, provide security, and act according to predefined programs in disasters. There are a wide range of requirements for disaster aid. Proper aid worker selection, frequent and continuous administration of workshops and drills, and cooperation and alignment of different governmental and private organizations are among the suggested initiatives.

78 FR 69838 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-11-21

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2011-05-24

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2013-11-13

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2012-09-27

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Pathogen prevalence and influence of composted dairy manure application on antimicrobial resistance profiles of commensal soil bacteria.

PubMed

Edrington, Tom S; Fox, William E; Callaway, Todd R; Anderson, Robin C; Hoffman, Dennis W; Nisbet, David J

2009-03-01

Composting manure, if done properly, should kill pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7, providing for an environmentally safe product. Over a 3-year period, samples of composted dairy manure, representing 11 composting operations (two to six samples per producer; 100 total samples), were screened for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 and were all culture negative. Nonpathogenic bacteria were cultured from these compost samples that could theoretically facilitate the spread of antimicrobial resistance from the dairy to compost application sites. Therefore, we collected soil samples (three samples per plot; 10 plots/treatment; 90 total samples) from rangeland that received either composted dairy manure (CP), commercial fertilizer (F), or no treatment (control, CON). Two collections were made appoximately 2 and 7 months following treatment application. Soil samples were cultured for Pseudomonas and Enterobacter and confirmed isolates subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Three species of Enterobacter (cloacae, 27 isolates; aeroginosa, two isolates; sakazakii, one isolate) and two species of Pseudomonas (aeruginosa, 11 isolates; putida, seven isolates) were identified. Five Enterobacter isolates were resistant to ampicillin and one isolate was resistant to spectinomycin. All Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to ampicillin, ceftiofur, florfenicol, sulphachloropyridazine, sulphadimethoxine, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and most isolates were resistant to chlortetracycline and spectinomycin. Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to an average of 8.6, 7.9, and 8 antibiotics for CON, CP, and F treatments, respectively. No treatment differences were observed in antimicrobial resistance patterns in any of the soil isolates examined. Results reported herein support the use of composted dairy manure as an environmentally friendly soil amendment.

78 FR 57421 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-18

... information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including... benefits are payable to qualified female employees if they are unable to work, or if working would be...

78 FR 19689 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-04-02

... proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency....) but is not required for that person to be registered and gain access to the controlled installation...

Anthropogenic microlitter in the Baltic Sea water column.

PubMed

Bagaev, Andrei; Khatmullina, Liliya; Chubarenko, Irina

2018-04-01

Microlitter (0.5-5mm) concentrations in water column (depth range from 0 to 217.5m) of the main Baltic Proper basins are reported. In total, 95 water samples collected in 6 research cruises in 2015-2016 in the Bornholm, Gdansk, and Gotland basins were analysed. Water from 10- and 30-litre Niskin bathometers was filtered through the 174μm filters, and the filtrate was examined under optical microscope (40×). The bulk mean concentration was 0.40±0.58 items per litre, with fibres making 77% of them. Other types of particles are the paint flakes (19%) and fragments (4%); no microbeads or pellets. The highest concentrations are found in the near-bottom samples from the coastal zone (2.2-2.7 items per litre max) and from near-surface waters (0.5m) in the Bornholm basin (5 samples, 1.6-2.5 items per litre). Distribution of particles over depths, types, and geographical regions is presented. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Volatile substance abuse--post-mortem diagnosis.

PubMed

Wille, Sarah M R; Lambert, Willy E E

2004-06-10

A substantial number of children and adolescents world-wide abuse volatile substances with the intention to experience an euphoric state of consciousness. Although the ratio of deaths to nonfatal inhalation escapades is low, it is an important and preventable cause of death in young people. In the analytical investigation of volatile substances proper sample collection, storage and handling are important in view of the volatile nature of the compounds. Volatile organic compounds in post-mortem matrices such as blood, urine and tissues are generally determined by gas chromatography after extracting the compounds with methods such as static and dynamic headspace or even with pulse-heating and solvent extraction. In post-mortem cases, metabolites in urine seem less relevant, however, trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid were determined in several cases. When interpreting qualitative and quantitative results, researchers should be aware of false conclusions. The main reason why scepticism is necessary is the occurrence of losses of analytes during sampling, sample handling and storage, which results in false quantitation.

Effects of abandoned arsenic mine on water resources pollution in north west of iran.

PubMed

Hajalilou, Behzad; Mosaferi, Mohammad; Khaleghi, Fazel; Jadidi, Sakineh; Vosugh, Bahram; Fatehifar, Esmail

2011-01-01

Pollution due to mining activities could have an important role in health and welfare of people who are living in mining area. When mining operation finishes, environ-ment of mining area can be influenced by related pollution e.g. heavy metals emission to wa-ter resources. The present study was aimed to evaluate Valiloo abandoned arsenic mine ef-fects on drinking water resources quality and possible health effects on the residents of min-ing area in the North West of Iran. Water samples and some limited composite wheat samples in downstream of min-ing area were collected. Water samples were analyzed for chemical parameters according to standard methods. For determination of arsenic in water samples, Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Method (GFAAS) and for wheat samples X - Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Method (ICP) were used. Information about possible health effects due to exposure to arsenic was collected through interviews in studied villages and health center of Herris City. The highest concentrations of arsenic were measured near the mine (as high as 2000 µg/L in Valiloo mine opening water). With increasing distance from the mine, concentration was decreased. Arsenic was not detectable in any of wheat samples. Fortunately, no health effects had been reported between residents of studied area due to exposure to arsenic. Valiloo abandoned arsenic mine has caused release of arsenic to the around en-vironment of the mine, so arsenic concentration has been increased in the groundwater and also downstream river that requires proper measures to mitigate spread of arsenic.

75 FR 76067 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-07

... qualified persons, and at proper intervals. This work is done by certified mechanics, repair stations, and... qualified persons, and at proper intervals. This work is done by certified mechanics, repair stations, and... for flight. Respondents: An estimated 87,769 certified mechanics, repair stations, and air carriers...

A proper motion study of the globular cluster M55

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zloczewski, K.; Kaluzny, J.; Thompson, I. B.

2011-07-01

We have derived the absolute proper motion (PM) of the globular cluster M55 using a large set of CCD images collected with the du Pont telescope between 1997 and 2008. We find (μα cos δ, μδ) = (-3.31 ± 0.10, -9.14 ± 0.15) mas yr-1 relative to background galaxies. Membership status was determined for 16 945 stars with 14 < V < 21 from the central part of the cluster. The PM catalogue includes 52 variables, of which 43 are probable members of M55. This sample not only is dominated by pulsating blue straggler stars, but also includes five eclipsing binaries, three of which are main-sequence objects. The survey also identified several candidate blue, yellow and red straggler stars belonging to the cluster. We detected 15 likely members of the Sgr dSph galaxy located behind M55. The average PM for these stars was measured to be (μα cos δ, μδ) = (-2.23 ± 0.14, -1.83 ± 0.24) mas yr-1.

Search for R -parity violating supersymmetry with displaced vertices in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV

DOE PAGES

Khachatryan, V.; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.; ...

2017-01-25

Results are reported from a search for R-parity violating supersymmetry in proton-proton collision events collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of √s = 8 TeV. Here, the data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 17.6 fb –1. This search assumes a minimal flavor violating model in which the lightest supersymmetric particle is a long-lived neutralino or gluino, leading to a signal with jets emanating from displaced vertices. In a sample of events with two displaced vertices, no excess yield above the expectation from standard model processes is observed, and limits are placed on the pair productionmore » cross section as a function of mass and lifetime of the neutralino or gluino. At 95% confidence level, the analysis excludes cross sections above approximately 1 fb for neutralinos or gluinos with mass between 400 and 1500 GeV and mean proper decay length between 1 and 30 mm. Gluino masses are excluded below 1 and 1.3 TeV for mean proper decay lengths of 300 μm an 1 mm, respectively, and below 1.4 TeV for the range 2–30 mm. The results are also applicable to other models in which long-lived particles decay into multijet final states.« less

Search for R -parity violating supersymmetry with displaced vertices in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV

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

Khachatryan, V.; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.

Results are reported from a search for R-parity violating supersymmetry in proton-proton collision events collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of √s = 8 TeV. Here, the data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 17.6 fb –1. This search assumes a minimal flavor violating model in which the lightest supersymmetric particle is a long-lived neutralino or gluino, leading to a signal with jets emanating from displaced vertices. In a sample of events with two displaced vertices, no excess yield above the expectation from standard model processes is observed, and limits are placed on the pair productionmore » cross section as a function of mass and lifetime of the neutralino or gluino. At 95% confidence level, the analysis excludes cross sections above approximately 1 fb for neutralinos or gluinos with mass between 400 and 1500 GeV and mean proper decay length between 1 and 30 mm. Gluino masses are excluded below 1 and 1.3 TeV for mean proper decay lengths of 300 μm an 1 mm, respectively, and below 1.4 TeV for the range 2–30 mm. The results are also applicable to other models in which long-lived particles decay into multijet final states.« less

Frequency of thermophilic Campylobacter in broiler chickens during industrial processing in a Southern Brazil slaughterhouse.

PubMed

Franchin, P R; Ogliari, P J; Batista, C R V

2007-04-01

1. The frequency of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. on broiler carcases was determined during processing in a Southern Brazil slaughterhouse. Samples were collected after defeathering, evisceration, water chilling and freezing. In addition, samples were obtained from the water of the chiller tank and from the surface of equipment in direct contact with the chicken. 2. Samples (335) were analysed and 71.3% were positive for Campylobacter. The frequency of Campylobacter spp. on carcases rinsed in BPW and skin samples from carcases was 49 of 72 (68.0%) after defeathering, 50 of 72 (69.4%) after evisceration, 61 of 72 (84.7%) after chilling, and 46 of 72 (63.9%) after freezing. Campylobacter was positive for 21 of 23 (91.3%) samples in the chilling water and for 12 of 24 (50.0%) samples on the table surface. 3. The frequency of qualitative analysis for Campylobacter spp. was reduced in frozen chickens, but not during the slaughtering process. The use of drinking water alone as a decontaminant to reduce the incidence of Campylobacter spp. during slaughter is therefore not sufficient. Furthermore, to ensure food safety, chickens must be cooked properly before consuming.

[Epidemiological investigation on thyroid disease among fertile women in different iodine intake areas of Shanxi province].

PubMed

Ren, Yanting; Jia, Qingzhen; Zhang, Xiangdong; Guo, Baisuo; Wen, Xinping; Zhang, Fengfeng; Wang, Yongping; Wang, Juanjuan

2014-01-01

To understand the prevalence of thyroid diseases and its influencing factors of iodine on thyroid gland function and autoimmune among fertile women in different iodine intake areas. Cross-sectional method was used for descriptive epidemiology. 236 women aged 19 to 45 years were sampled in 2011, in Shanxi province. Questionnaire was used to include general data on place, name, age etc. Sample of water from home, one time random urine sample and venous blood were collected to test the iodine contents using arsenic and cerium catalysis spectrophotometric methods. Finally, in blood, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotrophin (TSH) in blood were tested under auto-CLIA and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) through radio-immunological methods. 1)The urine iodine's medians were 486.9 µg/L for fertile women in high iodine areas, and 192.6 µg/L in low iodine areas, with difference on urine iodine level statistically significant (Z = -10.676, P = 0.000). 2) Levels of blood FT3 and FT4 in women from high iodine areas were obviously lower than those from proper iodine areas(t = -2.884, P = 0.004; t = -2.862, P = 0.005), but the level of TSH in high iodine areas was higher than that of proper iodine areas(t = 2.332, P = 0.021). 3) In both areas, the rate of the thyroid dysfunction with positive antibodies was obviously higher than those with negative antibodies (χ² = 20.941, P = 0.000;χ² = 5.596, P = 0.018), while the rate of the thyroid dysfunction with positive antibodies and the level of TSH in the blood for high iodine women higher than those in women with proper iodine level(χ² = 5.708, P = 0.37;t = -2.177, P = 0.031). 4)The morbidity rate of inferior clinical hyperthyroidism for women in high iodine areas was obviously higher than those in proper iodine areas(χ² = 9.542, P = 0.003), while the morbidity rate of inferior clinical hypothyroidism for women with positive antibodies in two areas obviously higher than those with negative antibodies (χ² = 17.264, P = 0.000; χ² = 6.002, P = 0.044). Morbidity rate of inferior clinical hypothyroidism for women in high iodine areas was obviously higher than those in proper iodine areas, suggesting that there were potential risks of hypothyroidism for overdose iodine intake which causing the existence of positive thyroid antibodies. Monitoring programs on iodine nutrition and thyroid function among women living in high iodine areas should be strengthened.

Understanding cross sample talk as a result of triboelectric charging on future mars missions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beegle, L. W.; Anderson, R. C.; Fleming, G.

2009-12-01

Proper scientific analysis requires the material that is collected and analyzed by in-situ instruments be as close as possible (chemically and mineralogically) to the initial, unaltered surface material prior to its collection and delivery. However this is not always possible for automated robotic in situ analysis. Therefore it is vital to understanding how the sample has been changed/altered prior to analysis so that analysis can be put in the proper context. We have examined the transport of fines when transferred under ambient martian conditions in hardware analogous to that being developed for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) sample acquisition flight hardware. We will discuss the amount of cross sample contamination when different mineralogy’s are transferred under Martian environmental conditions. Similar issues have been identified as problems within the terrestrial mining, textile, and pharmaceutical research communities that may alter/change the chemical and mineralogical compositions of samples before they are delivered to the MSL Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) analytical instruments. These cross-sample contamination will affect the overall quality of the science results and each of these processes need to be examined and understood prior to MSL landing on the surface of Mars. There are two forms of triboelectric charging that have been observed to occur on Earth and they are 1) when dissimilar material comes in contact (one material charges positive and the other negative depending on their relative positions on the triboelectric series and the work function of the material) and 2) when two similar materials come in contact, the larger particles can transfer one of their high energy electrons to a smaller particle. During the collisions, the transferred electron tends to lose energy and the charge tends not to move from the smaller particle back to the larger particle in further collisions. This transfer effect can occur multiple times on particles resulting in multiple charge states occurring on particles. While individual particles can have different charge sign, the bulk material can become charged due to contact of different minerals constituents in the sample and through contact of the wall. This results in a very complex system that has yet to be fully understood and characterized. We have begun to develop a characterize a data set which enable scientists to better relate arm and mast mounted measurements made on the surface by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MALHI), the Chemistry and Microimaging (ChemCam) and the Mast Camera (MastCam) instruments to the measurements made by the two onboard analytical instruments, CheMin and SAM after a sample is acquired, processed, and delivered.

Testing the causal theory of reference.

PubMed

Domaneschi, Filippo; Vignolo, Massimiliano; Di Paola, Simona

2017-04-01

Theories of reference are a crucial research topic in analytic philosophy. Since the publication of Kripke's Naming and Necessity, most philosophers have endorsed the causal/historical theory of reference. The goal of this paper is twofold: (i) to discuss a method for testing experimentally the causal theory of reference for proper names by investigating linguistic usage and (ii) to present the results from two experiments conducted with that method. Data collected in our experiments confirm the causal theory of reference for people proper names and for geographical proper names. A secondary but interesting result is that the semantic domain affects reference assignment: while with people proper names speakers tend to assign the semantic reference, with geographical proper names they are prompted to assign the speaker's reference. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

78 FR 8497 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

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2013-02-06

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2012-09-17

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78 FR 77169 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-12-20

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... Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Aircraft Noise.... 76, page 23628. This collection ensures that U.S. operators have proper noise certification...: 2120-0737. Title: Aircraft Noise Certification Documents for International Operations. Form Numbers...

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... primary function of the CMS-855 Medicare enrollment application is to gather information from a provider... utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2...-- Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Suppliers Use: The primary...

Providing Undergraduate Research Opportunities Through the World Rivers Observatory Collaborative Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillies, S. L.; Marsh, S. J.; Janmaat, A.; Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B.; Voss, B.; Holmes, R. M.

2013-12-01

Successful research collaboration exists between the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), a primarily undergraduate-serving university located on the Fraser River in British Columbia, and the World Rivers Observatory that is coordinated through the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC). The World Rivers Observatory coordinates time-series sampling of 15 large rivers, with particular focus on the large Arctic rivers, the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Congo, Fraser, Yangtze (Changjiang), Amazon, and Mackenzie River systems. The success of this international observatory critically depends on the participation of local collaborators, such as UFV, that are necessary in order to collect temporally resolved data from these rivers. Several faculty members and undergraduate students from the Biology and Geography Departments of UFV received on-site training from the lead-PIs of the Global Rivers Observatory. To share information and ensure good quality control of sampling methods, WHOI and WHRC hosted two international workshops at Woods Hole for collaborators. For the past four years, faculty and students from UFV have been collecting a variety of bi-monthly water samples from the Fraser River for the World Rivers Observatory. UFV undergraduate students who become involved learn proper sampling techniques and are given the opportunity to design and conduct their own research. Students have collected, analyzed and presented data from this project at regional, national, and international scientific meetings. UFV undergraduate students have also been hosted by WHOI and WHRC as guest students to work on independent research projects. While at WHOI and WHRC, students are able to conduct research using state-of-the-art specialized research facilities not available at UFV.

Relationships between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals in urban topsoils in the arid region of Isfahan, central Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimi, Rezvan; Ayoubi, Shamsollah; Jalalian, Ahmad; Sheikh-Hosseini, Ahmad Reza; Afyuni, Majid

2011-05-01

Recently methods dealing with magnetometry have been proposed as a proper proxy for assessing the heavy metal pollution of soils. A total of 113 topsoil samples were collected from public parks and green strips along the rim of roads with high-density traffic within the city of Isfahan, central Iran. The magnetic susceptibility (χ) of the collected soil samples was measured at both low and high frequency (χlf and χhf) using the Bartington MS2 dual frequency sensor. As, Cd, Cr, Ba, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, Sr and V concentrations were measured in the all collected soil samples. Significant correlations were found between Zn and Cu (0.85) and between Zn and Pb (0.84). The χfd value of urban topsoil varied from 0.45% to 7.7%. Low mean value of χfd indicated that the magnetic properties of the samples are predominately contributed by multi-domain grains, rather than by super-paramagnetic particles. Lead, Cu, Zn, and Ba showed positive significant correlations with magnetic susceptibility, but As, Sr, Cd, Mn, Cr and V, had no significant correlation with the magnetic susceptibility. There was a significant correlation between pollution load index (PLI) and χlf. PLI was computed to evaluate the soil environmental quality of selected heavy metals. Moreover, the results of multiple regression analysis between χlf and heavy metal concentrations indicated the LnPb, V and LnCu could explain approximately 54% of the total variability of χlf in the study area. These results indicate the potential of the magnetometric methods to evaluate the heavy metal pollution of soils.

78 FR 52236 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 13560

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2013-08-22

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75 FR 15491 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Revenue Procedure 98-25

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2010-03-29

... become material to the administration of the internal revenue laws.'' Such materiality would continue... invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the...

Correlates of domestic waste management and related health outcomes in Sunyani, Ghana: a protocol towards enhancing policy.

PubMed

Addo, Henry O; Dun-Dery, Elvis J; Afoakwa, Eugenia; Elizabeth, Addai; Ellen, Amposah; Rebecca, Mwinfaug

2017-07-03

Domestic waste generation has contributed significantly to hampering national waste management efforts. It poses serious threat to national development and requires proper treatment and management within and outside households. The problem of improper waste management has always been a challenge in Ghana, compelling several national surveys to report on the practice of waste management. However, little is known about how much waste is generated and managed within households and there is a serious dearth of information for national policy and planning. This paper seeks to document the handling and practice of waste management, including collection, storage, transportation and disposal along with the types and amount of waste generated by Households and their related health outcome. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and used a multi-stage sampling technique to sample 700 households. The study was planned and implemented from January to May 2015. It involved the use of structured questionnaires in the data collection over the period. Factors such as demographic characteristics, amount of waste generated, types of waste bins used within households, waste recycling, cost of disposing waste, and distance to dumpsite were all assessed. The paper shows that each surveyed household generated 0.002 t of waste per day, of which 29% are both organic and inorganic. Though more than half of the respondents (53.6%) had positive attitude towards waste management, only 29.1% practiced waste management. The study reveals that there is no proper management of domestic waste except in few households that segregate waste. The study identified several elements as determinants of waste management practice. Female respondents were less likely to practice waste management (AOR 0.45; 95% Cl 0.29, 0.79), household size also determined respondents practice (AOR 0.26; Cl 0.09, 0.77). Practice of recycling (AOR 0.03; Cl 0.02, 0.08), distance to dumpsite (AOR 0.45; Cl 0.20, 0.99), were all significant predictors of waste management practice. Cholera which is a hygiene related disease was three times more likely to determine households' waste management practice (AOR 3.22; Cl 1.33, 7.84). Considering the low waste management practice among households, there is the need for improved policy and enhanced education on proper waste management practice among households.

Prevalence of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables in villages of Qazvin Province, Iran.

PubMed

Shahnazi, Mojtaba; Jafari-Sabet, Majid

2010-09-01

We conducted a study to determine the extent of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables distributed by wholesalers in villages of Qazvin Province, Iran. Vegetables collected for the study were leek, parsley, lettuce, coriander, radish, spring onion, tarragon, basil, spearmint, and cress. Samples of each vegetable were collected at monthly intervals for 6 months from May to October 2008, yielding a total of 654 samples. Samples of each vegetable collected at each monthly interval were selected randomly and allocated to be washed or to remain unwashed before being analyzed for parasitic contamination. Of the 654 samples collected over the study period, 218 samples were analyzed for parasitic contamination without washing and 436 were washed before being analyzed, with the wash procedure consisting of submersion in a solution of 200 ppm of calcium hypochlorite and rinsing in an automated vegetable washer for 10 minutes. The samples were analyzed according to the method used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for identifying parasitic contamination of raw fruits and vegetables, with specimens weighing 200 g each being prepared from the vegetable samples, followed by sonication of each specimen for 10 minutes in 1.5 L of detergent wash solution, collection and centrifugation of a 50-mL aliquot of the wash solution for 15 minutes at 1500 g, and examination of the resulting sediment for parasites by light microscopy. No parasitic contamination was found on any of the 436 washed samples of vegetables. Of the 218 unwashed samples of vegetables, 82 (37.6%) were found to be contaminated with parasites, of which 69 (31.6%) were contaminated with metazoa (helminth eggs in 9.6% and rhabditoid larvae in 22.0%), and 13 (6.0%) were contaminated with protozoa (Entamoeba coli cysts in 2.8%, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar cysts in 1.4%, and Giardia lamblia cysts in 1.8%). The difference in parasitic contamination of the washed and unwashed groups of vegetables was significant at p < 0.05. Helminth eggs detected in unwashed samples included those of nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides [2.3%], Trichuris trichiura [0.9%], and Trichostrongylus spp. [2.8%]), trematodes (Dicrocoelium dendriticum [1.4%]), and cestodes (Taenia spp. [1.8%] and Hymenolepis nana [0.5%]). The eggs recovered in greatest number were those of nematodes (n = 13), followed by those of cestodes (n = 5) and trematodes (n = 3). No helminth eggs were found on unwashed samples of spearmint, tarragon, coriander, or radish. The percent parasitic contamination of unwashed samples was highest for leek (66.7%) and lowest for radish (20.7%). The highest percent parasitic contamination was with rhabditoid larvae (22.0%) and the lowest with H. nana eggs (0.5%). These findings emphasize the importance of properly washing and disinfecting raw vegetables before they are consumed.

76 FR 7563 - Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-10

... necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information... small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of... Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. [[Page...

Protocol for the use of a rapid real-time PCR method for the detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA using double-stranded primer.

PubMed

Pau, Chou-Pong; Wells, Susan K; Granade, Timothy C

2012-01-01

This chapter describes a real-time PCR method for the detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA in whole blood samples using a novel double-stranded primer system. The assay utilizes a simple commercially available DNA extraction method and a rapid and easy-to-perform real-time PCR protocol to consistently detect a minimum of four copies of HIV-1 group M proviral DNA in as little as 90 min after sample (whole blood) collection. Co-amplification of the human RNase P gene serves as an internal control to monitor the efficiency of both the DNA extraction and amplification. Once the assay is validated properly, it may be suitable as an alternative confirmation test for HIV-1 infections in a variety of HIV testing venues including the mother-to-child transmission testing sites, clinics, and diagnostic testing centers.

An Independent Orbit Determination Simulation for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Getzandanner, Kenneth; Rowlands, David; Mazarico, Erwan; Antreasian, Peter; Jackman, Coralie; Moreau, Michael

2016-01-01

After arriving at the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in late 2018, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will execute a series of observation campaigns and orbit phases to accurately characterize Bennu and ultimately collect a sample of pristine regolith from its surface. While in the vicinity of Bennu, the OSIRIS-REx navigation team will rely on a combination of ground-based radiometric tracking data and optical navigation (OpNav) images to generate and deliver precision orbit determination products. Long before arrival at Bennu, the navigation team is performing multiple orbit determination simulations and thread tests to verify navigation performance and ensure interfaces between multiple software suites function properly. In this paper, we will summarize the results of an independent orbit determination simulation of the Orbit B phase of the mission performed to test the interface between the OpNav image processing and orbit determination software packages.

77 FR 2712 - Agency Information Collection Extension

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2012-01-19

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2013-03-08

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2013-01-15

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2012-07-18

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2011-06-08

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2013-12-30

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2013-07-03

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2010-09-16

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2011-08-22

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2012-07-23

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2011-11-29

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2013-10-31

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2010-01-04

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2011-11-16

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2011-07-25

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2011-01-21

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2011-06-07

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2010-07-07

... NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection: Comment Request ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The National Endowment for the Arts, as part of its..., and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the...

75 FR 29547 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Contract Financing

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2010-05-26

... particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of... to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we... INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward Chambers, Procurement Analyst, Contract Policy Branch, GSA, (202) 501-4770 or...

78 FR 59366 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-26

... required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individual or Households, Business or other non... necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will... Collection (1) Type of Information Collection: Extension, with non-substantive change of a currently approved...

Secular Extragalactic Parallax and Geometric Distances with Gaia Proper Motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paine, Jennie; Darling, Jeremiah K.

2018-06-01

The motion of the Solar System with respect to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) rest frame creates a well measured dipole in the CMB, which corresponds to a linear solar velocity of about 78 AU/yr. This motion causes relatively nearby extragalactic objects to appear to move compared to more distant objects, an effect that can be measured in the proper motions of nearby galaxies. An object at 1 Mpc and perpendicular to the CMB apex will exhibit a secular parallax, observed as a proper motion, of 78 µas/yr. The relatively large peculiar motions of galaxies make the detection of secular parallax challenging for individual objects. Instead, a statistical parallax measurement can be made for a sample of objects with proper motions, where the global parallax signal is modeled as an E-mode dipole that diminishes linearly with distance. We present preliminary results of applying this model to a sample of nearby galaxies with Gaia proper motions to detect the statistical secular parallax signal. The statistical measurement can be used to calibrate the canonical cosmological “distance ladder.”

Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Campinas City, Brazil Using Synchrotron Radiation Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Faria, Bruna Fernanda; Moreira, Silvana

2011-12-01

The problem of solid waste in most countries is on the rise as a result of rapid population growth, urbanization, industrial development and changes in consumption habits. Amongst the various forms of waste disposals, landfills are today the most viable for the Brazilian reality, both technically and economically. Proper landfill construction practices allow minimizing the effects of the two main sources of pollution from solid waste: landfill gas and slurry. However, minimizing is not synonymous with eliminating; consequently, the landfill alone cannot resolve all the problems with solid waste disposal. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the content of trace elements in samples of groundwater, surface water and slurry arising from local solid waste disposals in the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil. Samples were collected at the Delta, Santa Barbara and Pirelli landfills. At the Delta and Santa Barbara sites, values above the maximum permitted level established by CETESB for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and Pb were observed in samples of groundwater, while at the Pirelli site, elements with concentrations above the permitted levels were Mn, Fe, Ba and Pb. At Delta, values above levels permitted by the CONAMA 357 legislation were still observed in surface water samples for Cr, Mn, Fe and Cu, whereas in slurry samples, values above the permitted levels were observed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb. Slurry samples were prepared in accordance with two extraction methodologies, EPA 3050B and EPA 200.8. Concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu and Pb were higher than the limit established by CONAMA 357 for most samples collected at different periods (dry and rainy) and also for the two extraction methodologies employed.

SNIFFER: An aerial platform for the plume phase of a nuclear emergency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castelluccio, D. M.; Cisbani, E.; Frullani, S.

2012-04-01

When a nuclear or radiological accident results in a release of a radioactive plume, AGS (Aerial Gamma Spectrometry) systems used in many countries, equipped with passive detectors, can help in giving quantitative assessment on the radiological situation (land surface contamination level) only when the air contamination due to the passage of the travelling plume has become negligible. To overcome this limitation, the Italian Institute of Health has developed and implemented a multi purpose air sampling system based on a fixed wing aircraft, for time-effective, large areas radiological surveillance (to face radiological emergency and to support homeland security). A fixed wing aircraft (Sky Arrow 650) with the front part of the fuselage properly adapted to house the detection equipment has been equipped with a compact air sampling line where the isokinetic sampling is dynamically maintained. Aerosol is collected on a Teflon® filter positioned along the line and hosted on a rotating 4-filters disk. A complex of detectors allows radionuclide identification in the collected aerosol samples. A correlated analysis of these two detectors data allows a quantitative measurement of air as well as ground surface concentration of gamma emitting radioisotopes. Environmental sensors and a GPS receiver support the characterization of the sampling conditions and the temporal and geolocation of the acquired data. Acquisition and control system based on compact electronics and real time software that operate the sampling line actuators, guarantee the dynamical isokinetic condition, and acquire the detectors and sensor data. The system is also equipped with other sampling lines to provide information on the concentration of other chemical pollutants. Operative flights have been carried out in the last years, and performances and results are presented.

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

Faria, Bruna Fernanda de; Moreira, Silvana

The problem of solid waste in most countries is on the rise as a result of rapid population growth, urbanization, industrial development and changes in consumption habits. Amongst the various forms of waste disposals, landfills are today the most viable for the Brazilian reality, both technically and economically. Proper landfill construction practices allow minimizing the effects of the two main sources of pollution from solid waste: landfill gas and slurry. However, minimizing is not synonymous with eliminating; consequently, the landfill alone cannot resolve all the problems with solid waste disposal. The main goal of this work is to evaluate themore » content of trace elements in samples of groundwater, surface water and slurry arising from local solid waste disposals in the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil. Samples were collected at the Delta, Santa Barbara and Pirelli landfills. At the Delta and Santa Barbara sites, values above the maximum permitted level established by CETESB for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and Pb were observed in samples of groundwater, while at the Pirelli site, elements with concentrations above the permitted levels were Mn, Fe, Ba and Pb. At Delta, values above levels permitted by the CONAMA 357 legislation were still observed in surface water samples for Cr, Mn, Fe and Cu, whereas in slurry samples, values above the permitted levels were observed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb. Slurry samples were prepared in accordance with two extraction methodologies, EPA 3050B and EPA 200.8. Concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu and Pb were higher than the limit established by CONAMA 357 for most samples collected at different periods (dry and rainy) and also for the two extraction methodologies employed.« less

Recommendations and Standardization of Biomarker Quantification Using NMR-Based Metabolomics with Particular Focus on Urinary Analysis

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

NMR-based metabolomics has shown considerable promise in disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery because it allows one to nondestructively identify and quantify large numbers of novel metabolite biomarkers in both biofluids and tissues. Precise metabolite quantification is a prerequisite to move any chemical biomarker or biomarker panel from the lab to the clinic. Among the biofluids commonly used for disease diagnosis and prognosis, urine has several advantages. It is abundant, sterile, and easily obtained, needs little sample preparation, and does not require invasive medical procedures for collection. Furthermore, urine captures and concentrates many “unwanted” or “undesirable” compounds throughout the body, providing a rich source of potentially useful disease biomarkers; however, incredible variation in urine chemical concentrations makes analysis of urine and identification of useful urinary biomarkers by NMR challenging. We discuss a number of the most significant issues regarding NMR-based urinary metabolomics with specific emphasis on metabolite quantification for disease biomarker applications and propose data collection and instrumental recommendations regarding NMR pulse sequences, acceptable acquisition parameter ranges, relaxation effects on quantitation, proper handling of instrumental differences, sample preparation, and biomarker assessment. PMID:26745651

77 FR 42753 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Application for Identification Card

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2012-07-20

... the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency... Card which is used to gain access to CBP security areas. This form is usually completed by licensed...

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

Gould, Andrew; Yee, Jennifer C., E-mail: gould@astronomy.ohio-state.edu, E-mail: jyee@astronomy.ohio-state.edu

While of order of a million asteroids have been discovered, the number in rigorously controlled samples that have precise orbits and rotation periods, as well as well-measured colors, is relatively small. In particular, less than a dozen main-belt asteroids with estimated diameters D < 3 km have excellent rotation periods. We show how existing and soon-to-be-acquired microlensing data can yield a large asteroid sample with precise orbits and rotation periods, which will include roughly 6% of all asteroids with maximum brightness I < 18.1 and lying within 10 Degree-Sign of the ecliptic. This sample will be dominated by small andmore » very small asteroids, down to D {approx} 1 km. We also show how asteroid astrometry could turn current narrow-angle OGLE proper motions of bulge stars into wide-angle proper motions. This would enable one to measure the proper-motion gradient across the Galactic bar.« less

Native and European haplotypes of Phragmites Australis (common reed) in the central Platte River, Nebraska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Larson, D.L.; Galatowitsch, S.M.; Larson, J.L.

2011-01-01

Phragmites australis (common reed) is known to have occurred along the Platte River historically, but recent rapid increases in both distribution and density have begun to impact habitat for migrating sandhill cranes and nesting piping plovers and least terns. Invasiveness in Phragmites has been associated with the incursion of a European genotype (haplotype M) in other areas; determining the genotype of Phragmites along the central Platte River has implications for proper management of the river system. In 2008 we sampled Phragmites patches along the central Platte River from Lexington to Chapman, NE, stratified by bridge segments, to determine the current distribution of haplotype E (native) and haplotype M genotypes. In addition, we did a retrospective analysis of historical Phragmites collections from the central Platte watershed (1902-2006) at the Bessey Herbarium. Fresh tissue from the 2008 survey and dried tissue from the herbarium specimens were classified as haplotype M or E using the restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure. The European haplotype was predominant in the 2008 samples: only 14 Phragmites shoots were identified as native haplotype E; 224 were non-native haplotype M. The retrospective analysis revealed primarily native haplotype individuals. Only collections made in Lancaster County, near Lincoln, NE, were haplotype M, and the earliest of these was collected in 1973. ?? 2011 Copyright by the Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comparison of Grab, Air, and Surface Results for Radiation Site Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glassford, Eric Keith

2011-12-01

The use of proper sampling methods and sample types for evaluating sites believed to be contaminated with radioactive materials is necessary to avoid misrepresenting conditions at the site. This study was designed to investigate if the site characterization, based upon uranium contamination measured in different types of samples, is dependent upon the mass of the sample collected. A bulk sample of potentially contaminated interior dirt was collected from an abandoned metal processing mill that rolled uranium between 1948 and 1956. The original mill dates from 1910 and has a dirt floor. The bulk sample was a mixture of dirt, black and yellow particles of metal dust, and small fragments of natural debris. Small mass (approximately 0.75 grams (g)) and large mass (approximately 70g) grab samples were prepared from the bulk sample material to simulate collection of a "grab" type sample. Air sampling was performed by re-suspending a portion of the bulk sample material using a vibration table to simulate airborne contamination that might be present during site remediation. Additionally, samples of removable contaminated surface dust were collected on 47 mm diameter filter paper by wiping the surfaces of the exposure chamber used to resuspend the bulk material. Certified reference materials, one containing a precisely known quantity of U 3O8 and one containing a known quantity of natural uranium, were utilized to calibrate the gamma spectrometry measurement system. Non-destructive gamma spectrometry measurements were used to determine the content of uranium-235 (235U) at 185 keV and 143 keV, thorium-234 (234Th) at 63 keV, and protactinium-234m (234mPa) at 1001 keV in each sample. Measurement of natural uranium in small, 1 g samples is usually accomplished by radiochemical analysis in order to measure alpha particles emitted by 238U, 235U, and 234U. However, uranium in larger bulk samples can also be measured non-destructively using gamma spectrometry to detect the low energy photons from 234Th and 234mPa, the short-lived decay products of 238U, and 235U. Two sided t-tests and coefficient of variation were used to compare sampling types. The large grab samples had the lowest calculated coefficient of variation results for activity and atom percentage. The wipe samples had the highest calculated coefficient of variation of mean specific activity (dis/sec/g) for all three energies. The air filter samples had the highest coefficient of variation calculation for mean atom percentage, for both uranium isotopes examined. The data indicated that the large mass sample was the most effective at characterizing the rolling mill radioactive site conditions, since this would indicate which samples had the smallest variations compared to the mean. Additionally, measurement results of natural uranium in the samples indicate that the distribution of radioactive contamination at the sampling location is most likely non-homogeneous and that the size of the sample collected and analyzed must be sufficiently large to insure that the analytical results are truly representative of the activity present.

Physico-Chemical and Bacterial Evaluation of Public and Packaged Drinking Water in Vikarabad, Telangana, India - Potential Public Health Implications

PubMed Central

Rao, Koppula Yadav; Anjum, Mohammad Shakeel; Reddy, Peddireddy Parthasarathi; Monica, Mocherla; Hameed, Irram Abbass

2016-01-01

Introduction Humanity highly depends on water and its proper utilization and management. Water has various uses and its use as thirst quenching fluid is the most significant one. Aim To assess physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters of various public and packaged drinking water samples collected from villages of Vikarabad mandal. Materials and Methods Public and packaged drinking water samples collected were analysed for various parameters using American Public Health Association (APHA 18th edition 1992) guidelines and the results obtained were compared with bureau of Indian standards for drinking water. Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlations were done. Results Among bottled water samples, magnesium in 1 sample was >30mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among sachet water samples, copper in 1 sample was >0.05mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among canned water samples, total hardness in 1 sample was >200mg/litre, magnesium in 3 samples was >30mg/litre. In tap water sample, calcium was >75mg/litre, magnesium was >30mg/litre, nickel was >0.02mg/litre. Among public bore well water samples, pH in 1 sample was >8.5, total dissolved solids in 17 samples was >500mg/litre, total alkalinity in 9 samples was >200mg/litre, total hardness in 20 samples was >200mg/litre, calcium in 14 samples was >75mg/litre, fluoride in 1 sample was >1mg/litre, magnesium in 14 samples was >30mg/litre. Total coliform was absent in bottled water, sachet water, canned water, tap water samples. Total Coliform was present but E. coli was absent in 4 public bore well water samples. The MPN per 100 ml in those 4 samples of public bore well water was 50. Conclusion Physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters tested in present study showed values greater than acceptable limit for some samples, which can pose serious threat to consumers of that region. PMID:27437248

The Prevalence of PCR-Confirmed Pertussis Cases in Palestine From Archived Nasopharyngeal Samples.

PubMed

Dumaidi, Kamal; Al-Jawabreh, Amer

2018-05-01

Pertussis caused by Bordetella pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease causing whooping cough in humans of all ages. This study reports infection rate of pertussis in Palestine between the years 2004-2008 from archived nasopharyngeal samples collected from clinically- suspected cases. A convenience archived DNA samples collected from 267 clinically-suspected pertussis cases were investigated for B. pertussis. Laboratory diagnosis was done by examining all DNA samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Approximately 49% (130/267) were confirmed by PCR. A pertussis peak was shown to occur in 2008 with 77% (100/130) of PCR-confirmed cases isolated in that year. PCR-confirmed cases existed in all Palestinian districts with highest rate in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin and Al-Khalil. Half of the PCR-confirmed cases (68/130) were less than 2 months old. The positivity rate among who had three doses of vaccine (at 2, 4 and 6 months) was 38%, and became 50% with the fourth dose at 12 months. The prevalence of pertussis was found to be significantly high among infants less than 2 months old. Active pertussis surveillance using rapid PCR assays is essential, as it is helpful in prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients with pertussis. © 2018 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Planning for hazardous campus waste collection.

PubMed

Liu, Kun-Hsing; Shih, Shao-Yang; Kao, Jehng-Jung

2011-05-15

This study examines a procedure developed for planning a nation-wide hazardous campus waste (HCW) collection system. Alternative HCW plans were designed for different collection frequencies, truckloads, storage limits, and also for establishing an additional transfer station. Two clustering methods were applied to group adjacent campuses into clusters based on their locations, HCW quantities, the type of vehicles used and collection frequencies. Transportation risk, storage risk, and collection cost are the major criteria used to evaluate the feasibility of each alternative. Transportation risk is determined based on the accident rates for each road type and collection distance, while storage risk is calculated by estimating the annual average HCW quantity stored on campus. Alternatives with large trucks can reduce both transportation risk and collection cost, but their storage risks would be significantly increased. Alternatives that collect neighboring campuses simultaneously can effectively reduce storage risks as well as collection cost if the minimum quantity to collect for each group of neighboring campuses can be properly set. The three transfer station alternatives evaluated for northern Taiwan are cost effective and involve significantly lower transportation risk. The procedure proposed is expected to facilitate decision making and to support analyses for formulating a proper nation-wide HCW collection plan. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microbial Characterization and Comparison of Isolates During the Mir and ISS Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fontenot, Sondra L.; Castro, Victoria; Bruce, Rebekah; Ott, C. Mark; Pierson, Duane L.

2004-01-01

Spacecraft represent a semi-closed ecosystem that provides a unique model of microbial interaction with other microbes, potential hosts, and their environment. Environmental samples from the Mir Space Station (1995-1998) and the International Space Station (ISS) (2000-Present) were collected and processed to provide insight into the characterization of microbial diversity aboard spacecraft over time and assess any potential health risks to the crew. All microbiota were isolated using standard media-based methodologies. Isolates from Mir and ISS were processed using various methods of analysis, including VITEK biochemical analysis, 16s ribosomal identification, and fingerprinting using rep-PCR analysis. Over the first 41 months of habitation, the diversity of the microbiota from air and surface samples aboard ISS increased from an initial six to 53 different bacterial species. During the same period, fungal diversity increased from 2 to 24 species. Based upon rep-PCR analysis, the majority of isolates were unique suggesting the need for increased sampling frequency and a more thorough analysis of samples to properly characterize the ISS microbiota. This limited fungal and bacterial data from environmental samples acquired during monitoring currently do not indicate a microbial hazard to ISS or any trends suggesting potential health risks.

Characterization of Factors Affecting Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis Results With Synthetic and Protein Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Krueger, Aaron B; Carnell, Pauline; Carpenter, John F

2016-04-01

In many manufacturing and research areas, the ability to accurately monitor and characterize nanoparticles is becoming increasingly important. Nanoparticle tracking analysis is rapidly becoming a standard method for this characterization, yet several key factors in data acquisition and analysis may affect results. Nanoparticle tracking analysis is prone to user input and bias on account of a high number of parameters available, contains a limited analysis volume, and individual sample characteristics such as polydispersity or complex protein solutions may affect analysis results. This study systematically addressed these key issues. The integrated syringe pump was used to increase the sample volume analyzed. It was observed that measurements recorded under flow caused a reduction in total particle counts for both polystyrene and protein particles compared to those collected under static conditions. In addition, data for polydisperse samples tended to lose peak resolution at higher flow rates, masking distinct particle populations. Furthermore, in a bimodal particle population, a bias was seen toward the larger species within the sample. The impacts of filtration on an agitated intravenous immunoglobulin sample and operating parameters including "MINexps" and "blur" were investigated to optimize the method. Taken together, this study provides recommendations on instrument settings and sample preparations to properly characterize complex samples. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

78 FR 51748 - Proposed Information Collection; Hazardous Conditions Complaints

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-21

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Mine Safety and Health Administration Proposed Information Collection; Hazardous Conditions Complaints AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor. ACTION: Request for... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration...

75 FR 16876 - Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations.

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2010-04-02

... invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the... that if the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) receives a report of an annuitant working for a railroad or...

76 FR 60840 - Agency Information Collection Request; 30-Day Public Comment Request

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2011-09-30

... collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3... 373 Princeton Center for Leadership Traning (PCLT)/ 533 1 36/60 320 TeenPEP Total 3986 2512 Keith...

78 FR 52564 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Survey of...

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2013-08-23

... primary indicator of national progress in providing every working man and woman safe and healthful working...: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the...

Collection and analysis of colloidal particles transported in the Mississippi River, U.S.A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rees, T.F.; Ranville, J.F.

1990-01-01

Sediment transport has long been recognized as an important mechanism for the transport of contaminants in surface waters. Suspended sediment has traditionally been divided into three size classes: sand-sized (>63 ??m), silt-sized ( 63 ??m), silt-sized (< 63 ??m but settleable) and clay-sized (non-settleable). The first two classes are easily collected and characterized using screens (sand) and settling (silt). The clay-sized particles, more properly called colloids, are more difficult to collect and characterize, and until recently received little attention. From the hydrologic perspective, a colloid is a particle, droplet, or gas bubble with at least one dimension between 0.001 and 1 ??m. Because of their small size, colloids have large specific surface areas and high surface free energies which may facilitate sorption of hydrophobic materials. Understanding what types of colloids are present in a system, how contaminants of interest interact with these colloids, and what parameters control the transport of colloids in natural systems is critical if the relative importance of colloid-mediated transport is to be understood. This paper describes the collection, concentration and characterization of colloidal materials in the Mississippi River. Colloid concentrations, particle-size distributions, mineral composition and electrophoretic mobilities were determined. Techniques used are illustrated with samples collected at St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

Guidelines for the collection of continuous stream water-temperature data in Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Toohey, Ryan C.; Neal, Edward G.; Solin, Gary L.

2014-01-01

Objectives of stream monitoring programs differ considerably among many of the academic, Federal, state, tribal, and non-profit organizations in the state of Alaska. Broad inclusion of stream-temperature monitoring can provide an opportunity for collaboration in the development of a statewide stream-temperature database. Statewide and regional coordination could reduce overall monitoring cost, while providing better analyses at multiple spatial and temporal scales to improve resource decision-making. Increased adoption of standardized protocols and data-quality standards may allow for validation of historical modeling efforts with better projection calibration. For records of stream water temperature to be generally consistent, unbiased, and reproducible, data must be collected and analyzed according to documented protocols. Collection of water-temperature data requires definition of data-quality objectives, good site selection, proper selection of instrumentation, proper installation of sensors, periodic site visits to maintain sensors and download data, pre- and post-deployment verification against an NIST-certified thermometer, potential data corrections, and proper documentation, review, and approval. A study created to develop a quality-assurance project plan, data-quality objectives, and a database management plan that includes procedures for data archiving and dissemination could provide a means to standardize a statewide stream-temperature database in Alaska. Protocols can be modified depending on desired accuracy or specific needs of data collected. This document is intended to guide users in collecting time series water-temperature data in Alaskan streams and draws extensively on the broader protocols already published by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Gritty Surface Sample Holder Invented To Obtain Correct X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectra for Concentrated Materials by Fluorescence Yield.

PubMed

Abe, Hitoshi; Niwa, Yasuhiro; Kimura, Masao; Murakami, Youichi; Yokoyama, Toshiharu; Hosono, Hideo

2016-04-05

A gritty surface sample holder has been invented to obtain correct XAFS spectra for concentrated samples by fluorescence yield (FY). Materials are usually mixed with boron nitride (BN) to prepare proper concentrations to measure XAFS spectra. Some materials, however, could not be mixed with BN and would be measured in too concentrated conditions to obtain correct XAFS spectra. Consequently, XAFS spectra will be incorrect typically with decreased intensities of the peaks. We have invented the gritty surface sample holders to obtain correct XAFS spectra even for concentrated materials for FY measurements. Pure Cu and CuO powders were measured mounted on the sample holders, and the same spectra were obtained as transmission spectra of properly prepared samples. This sample holder is useful to measure XAFS for any concentrated materials.

76 FR 20365 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure...

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2011-04-12

... Information Collection: Comment Request; Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Requirements AGENCY: Office of... Sales, Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708... information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of the...

77 FR 70833 - Comment Request for Information Collection on the ETA 9048, Worker Profiling and Reemployment...

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2012-11-27

... Collection on the ETA 9048, Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Activity, and the ETA 9049, Worker... Administration (ETA), Labor. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its... impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, ETA is soliciting...

76 FR 4914 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Investigational...

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2011-01-27

...)--Investigator's brochure. 21 CFR 312.23(a)(6)--Protocols--Phase 1, 2, and 3. 21 CFR 312.23(a)(7)--Chemistry... comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper... of information technology. Investigational New Drug (IND) Regulations--21 CFR Part 312 (OMB Control...

76 FR 53966 - Proposed Renewal of Existing Collection; Comment Request

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2011-08-30

....C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired... understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the...: Certification of Medical Necessity (CM-893). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be...

78 FR 12364 - Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request

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2013-02-22

....C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired... understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the... information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section...

76 FR 45881 - National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2011-08-01

... (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the... clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed... the current information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in...

76 FR 49510 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2011-08-10

... Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be... instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly.... A copy of the current information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed...

78 FR 26399 - National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection, Comment Request

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2013-05-06

... (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the... clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed... Arts Agencies (LAAs). A copy of the current information collection request can be obtained by...

77 FR 6585 - Proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Impact Evaluation of the YouthBuild Program...

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2012-02-08

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75 FR 57736 - Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; National Animal Health Monitoring...

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2010-09-22

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77 FR 44269 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: List of...

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2012-07-27

... of Management and Budget, Attn: DOJ Desk Officer. The best way to ensure your comments are received... collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including... persons or employees authorized to possess explosive materials to ATF. Such report must be submitted...

75 FR 62536 - Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications...

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2010-10-12

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78 FR 24394 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical...

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2013-04-25

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78 FR 39715 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical...

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2013-07-02

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78 FR 37546 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the...

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2013-06-21

... collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the... multiple, discrete waves of media advertising planned for the campaigns. Outcome Evaluation Study The..., 8,281 completes at the second followup, and 6,625 completes at the third followup survey waves. The...

77 FR 36575 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-19

... proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency... (SGPLEA). This survey builds upon the previous eight waves of the BJS-sponsored surveys in the Law... from wave to wave. In addition to core issues concerning the number and type of agencies, the nature...

77 FR 37047 - Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-20

... collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3... ordering physicians. The anticipated bi-annual data collection effort will be conducted in two waves--Wave I in November of 2012 will establish the baseline and Wave II in 2014 will measure progress...

Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems. Volume I. Third Edition. A Field Study Training Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Univ., Sacramento. Dept. of Civil Engineering.

Proper installations, inspections, operations, maintenance and repairs of wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment facilities have a significant impact on the operation and maintenance costs, and the effectiveness of these facilities. This manual is the first volume of a two-part program designed to provide wastewater collection system…

78 FR 59720 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested; Training...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-27

... Request for Non-ATF Employees ACTION: 30-Day notice. The Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Alcohol... information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the... Form/Collection: Training Registration Request for Non-ATF Employees. (3) Agency form number, if any...

77 FR 36137 - Airworthiness Directives; AGUSTA S.p.A. Helicopters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-18

... the upper end of collective control rod C2 to torque tube C3 is properly installed. This AD is... prevent separation of the collective control rod from the torque tube, loss of control of the collective... helicopters because the production quality control procedures did not require recording the applied torque on...

Does quality of drinking water matter in kidney stone disease: A study in West Bengal, India.

PubMed

Mitra, Pubali; Pal, Dilip Kumar; Das, Madhusudan

2018-05-01

The combined interaction of epidemiology, environmental exposure, dietary habits, and genetic factors causes kidney stone disease (KSD), a common public health problem worldwide. Because a high water intake (>3 L daily) is widely recommended by physicians to prevent KSD, the present study evaluated whether the quantity of water that people consume daily is associated with KSD and whether the quality of drinking water has any effect on disease prevalence. Information regarding residential address, daily volume of water consumption, and source of drinking water was collected from 1,266 patients with kidney stones in West Bengal, India. Drinking water was collected by use of proper methods from case (high stone prevalence) and control (zero stone prevalence) areas thrice yearly. Water samples were analyzed for pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solutes, electrical conductivity, and salinity. Average values of the studied parameters were compared to determine if there were any statistically significant differences between the case and control areas. We observed that as many as 53.6% of the patients consumed <3 L of water daily. Analysis of drinking water samples from case and control areas, however, did not show any statistically significant alterations in the studied parameters. All water samples were found to be suitable for consumption. It is not the quality of water, rather the quantity of water consumed that matters most in the occurrence of KSD.

Observing and Understanding an On-Line Learning Activity: A Model-Based Approach for Activity Indicator Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Djouad, Tarek; Mille, Alain

2018-01-01

Although learning indicators are now properly studied and published, it is still very difficult to manage them freely within most distance learning platforms. As all activity indicators need to collect and analyze properly traces of the learning activity, we propose to use these traces as a starting point for a platform independent Trace…

Chemically Dissected Rotation Curves of the Galactic Bulge from Main-sequence Proper Motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clarkson, William I.; Calamida, Annalisa; Sahu, Kailash C.; Brown, Thomas M.; Gennaro, Mario; Avila, Roberto J.; Valenti, Jeff; Debattista, Victor P.; Rich, R. Michael; Minniti, Dante; Zoccali, Manuela; Aufdemberge, Emily R.

2018-05-01

We report results from an exploratory study implementing a new probe of Galactic evolution using archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging observations. Precise proper motions are combined with photometric relative metallicity and temperature indices, to produce the proper-motion rotation curves of the Galactic bulge separately for metal-poor and metal-rich main-sequence samples. This provides a “pencil-beam” complement to large-scale wide-field surveys, which to date have focused on the more traditional bright giant branch tracers. We find strong evidence that the Galactic bulge rotation curves drawn from “metal-rich” and “metal-poor” samples are indeed discrepant. The “metal-rich” sample shows greater rotation amplitude and a steeper gradient against line-of-sight distance, as well as possibly a stronger central concentration along the line of sight. This may represent a new detection of differing orbital anisotropy between metal-rich and metal-poor bulge objects. We also investigate selection effects that would be implied for the longitudinal proper-motion cut often used to isolate a “pure-bulge” sample. Extensive investigation of synthetic stellar populations suggests that instrumental and observational artifacts are unlikely to account for the observed rotation curve differences. Thus, proper-motion-based rotation curves can be used to probe chemodynamical correlations for main-sequence tracer stars, which are orders of magnitude more numerous in the Galactic bulge than the bright giant branch tracers. We discuss briefly the prospect of using this new tool to constrain detailed models of Galactic formation and evolution. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

Estimating occupancy dynamics for large-scale monitoring networks: amphibian breeding occupancy across protected areas in the northeast United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, David A.W.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell

2015-01-01

Regional monitoring strategies frequently employ a nested sampling design where a finite set of study areas from throughout a region are selected within which intensive sub-sampling occurs. This sampling protocol naturally lends itself to a hierarchical analysis to account for dependence among sub-samples. Implementing such an analysis within a classic likelihood framework is computationally prohibitive with species occurrence data when accounting for detection probabilities. Bayesian methods offer an alternative framework to make this analysis feasible. We demonstrate a general approach for estimating occupancy when data come from a nested sampling design. Using data from a regional monitoring program of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in vernal pools, we analyzed data using static and dynamic occupancy frameworks. We analyzed observations from 2004-2013collected within 14 protected areas located throughout the northeast United States . We use the data set to estimate trends in occupancy at both the regional and individual protected area level. We show that occupancy at the regional level was relatively stable for both species. Much more variation occurred within individual study areas, with some populations declining and some increasing for both species. We found some evidence for a latitudinal gradient in trends among protected areas. However, support for this pattern is overestimated when the hierarchical nature of the data collection is not controlled for in the analysis. For both species, occupancy appeared to be declining in the most southern areas, while occupancy was stable or increasing in more northern areas. These results shed light on the range-level population status of these pond-breeding amphibians and our approach provides a framework that can be used to examine drivers of change including among-year and among-site variation in occurrence dynamics, while properly accounting for nested structure of data collection.

76 FR 9559 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-18

..., reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood... appropriate data for the Corporation's required performance measurement and other reporting. DATES: Written... proper performance of the functions of the Corporation, including whether the information will have...

75 FR 45105 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-02

... which: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance...; Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information... evaluation will provide descriptive information of the programs [[Page 45106

78 FR 79561 - Information Collection Activities

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-30

... collection provisions in the HMR involving the transportation of radioactive materials in commerce... requirements help to establish that proper packages are used for the type of radioactive material being..., and emergency responders. Affected Public: Shippers and carriers of radioactive materials in commerce...

78 FR 74103 - Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-10

... fire and rescue program has been in existence for many years. This program has financed a wide range of... basis and use funds for authorized purposes. Failure to collect proper information could result in...

75 FR 37839 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-30

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., [[Page 37840

75 FR 5346 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-02

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts...

77 FR 36296 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-18

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room...

78 FR 41958 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-12

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room...

76 FR 71076 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-16

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the ``BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS...

Hand Washing Among School Children in Bogotá, Colombia

PubMed Central

Lopez-Quintero, Catalina; Freeman, Paul

2009-01-01

Objectives. We assessed hand-washing behaviors and intentions among school children in Bogotá, Colombia, to help identify and overcome barriers to proper hygiene practices. Methods. Data on hand-washing behavior and intentions and individual and contextual factors were collected from 2042 sixth- through eighth-grade students in 25 schools in Bogotá via anonymous questionnaires. A member of the school administration or teaching staff completed a questionnaire about the school environment. Site inspections of bathroom facilities were conducted. Results. Only 33.6% of the sample reported always or very often washing hands with soap and clean water before eating and after using the toilet. About 7% of students reported regular access to soap and clean water at school. A high level of perceived control was the strongest predictor of positive hand-washing intentions (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.8, 7.5). Students with proper hand-washing behavior were less likely to report previous-month gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.6, 0.9) or previous-year school absenteeism (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.6, 0.9). Conclusions. Scarcity of adequate facilities in most schools in Bogotá prevents children from adopting proper hygienic behavior and thwarts health promotion efforts. The current renovation program of public schools in Bogotá provides a unique opportunity to meet the challenges of providing a supportive environment for adoption of healthy behaviors. PMID:19008513

Proper motion separation of Be star candidates in the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira, Katherine; García-Varela, Alejandro; Sabogal, Beatriz

2017-08-01

We present a proper motion investigation of a sample of Be star candidates towards the Magellanic Clouds, which has resulted in the identification of separate populations, in the Galactic foreground and in the Magellanic background. Be stars are broadly speaking B-type stars that have shown emission lines in their spectra. In this work, we studied a sample of 2446 and 1019 Be star candidates towards the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), respectively, taken from the literature and proposed as possible Be stars due to their variability behaviour in the OGLE-II I band. JHKs magnitudes from the InfraRed Survey Facility catalogue and proper motions from the Southern Proper Motion 4 catalogue were obtained for 1188 and 619 LMC and SMC Be stars candidates, respectively. Colour-colour and vector-point diagrams were used to identify different populations amongst the Be star candidates. In the LMC sample, two populations with distinctive infrared colours and kinematics were found, the bluer sample is consistent with being in the LMC and the redder one with belonging to the Milky Way disc. This settles the nature of the redder sample that had been described in previous publications as a possible unknown subclass of stars amongst the Be candidates in the LMC. In the SMC sample, a similar but less evident result was obtained, since this apparent unknown subclass was not seen in this galaxy. We confirm that in the selection of Be stars by their variability, although generally successful, there is a higher risk of contamination by Milky Way objects towards redder B - V and V - I colours.

Convair F-106B Delta Dart with Air Sampling Equipment

NASA Image and Video Library

1974-04-21

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center’s Convair F-106B Delta Dart equipped with air sampling equipment in the mid-1970s. NASA Lewis created and managed the Global Air Sampling Program (GASP) in 1972 in partnership with several airline companies. NASA researchers used the airliners’ Boeing 747 aircraft to gather air samples to determine the amount of pollution present in the stratosphere. Private companies developed the air sampling equipment for the GASP program, and Lewis created a particle collector. The collector was flight tested on NASA Lewis’ F-106B in the summer of 1973. The sampling equipment was automatically operated once the proper altitude was achieved. The sampling instruments collected dust particles in the air so their chemical composition could be analyzed. The equipment analyzed one second’s worth of data at a time. The researchers also monitored carbon monoxide, monozide, ozone, and water vapor. The 747 flights began in December 1974 and soon included four airlines flying routes all over the globe. The F-106B augmented the airline data with sampling of its own, seen here. It gathered samples throughout this period from locations such as New Mexico, Texas, Michigan, and Ohio. In July 1977 the F-106B flew eight GASP flights in nine days over Alaska to supplement the earlier data gathered by the airlines.

The pituitary gland under infrared light - in search of a representative spectrum for homogeneous regions.

PubMed

Banas, A; Banas, K; Furgal-Borzych, A; Kwiatek, W M; Pawlicki, B; Breese, M B H

2015-04-07

The pituitary gland is a small but vital organ in the human body. It is located at the base of the brain and is often described as the master gland due to its multiple functions. The pituitary gland secretes and stores hormones, such as the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (hGH), prolactin, gonadotropins, and luteinizing hormones, as well as the antidiuretic hormone (ADH). A proper diagnosis of pituitary disorders is of utmost importance as this organ participates in regulating a variety of body functions. Typical histopathological analysis provides much valuable information, but it gives no insight into the biochemical background of the changes that occur within the gland. One approach that could be used to evaluate the biochemistry of tissue sections obtained from pituitary disorders is Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectromicroscopy. In order to collect diagnostically valuable information large areas of tissue must be investigated. This work focuses on obtaining a unique and representative FTIR spectrum characteristic of one type of cell architecture within a sample. The idea presented is based on using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for data evaluation to search for uniform patterns within samples from the perspective of FTIR spectra. The results obtained demonstrate that FTIR spectromicroscopy, combined with proper statistical evaluation, can be treated as a complementary method for histopathological analysis and ipso facto can increase the sensitivity and specificity for detecting various disorders not only for the pituitary gland, but also for other human tissues.

50 CFR 216.37 - Marine mammal parts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... scientific research, maintenance in a properly curated, professionally accredited scientific collection, or... or otherwise disposed of during or after a scientific research or enhancement activity, if such... collection; or (2) Made available for purposes of scientific research or enhancement at the request of the...

78 FR 59010 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-25

...; Comment Request AGENCY: Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management & Comptroller, DoD..., the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management & Comptroller announces a proposed public...) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of...

75 FR 36375 - Proposed Agency Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-25

... and performance metrics under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the... ADDRESSES as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Matthew Dunne, [email protected] , Advanced Research...

76 FR 6161 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-03

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics...

77 FR 27798 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-11

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics...

76 FR 71075 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-16

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also may be...

76 FR 60930 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-30

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection, Comment Request ACTION: Notice... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the ``Mass Layoff Statistics Program.'' A copy of the...

75 FR 76494 - National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-08

... (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the... clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed... participation in the U.S. A copy of the current information collection request can be obtained by contacting the...

75 FR 62913 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form DS-5504, Application for a U.S. Passport...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-13

... Department to: Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary to properly perform our functions. Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the... the issuance of the passport (b) the passport holder needs correction of descriptive information on...

77 FR 3477 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-24

... collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3... submitted to CMS through the 372 web-based form. The report is used by CMS to compare actual data in the... provided is compared to that in the Medicaid Statistical Information System (CMS-R-284, OCN 0938-0345...

76 FR 27350 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection comments requested Race and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-11

... Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: DOJ Desk Officer. The best way to ensure your comments are...: --Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the... and National Origin data on all employees and new hires to meet diversity/EEO goals and act as a...

78 FR 48862 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-12

...; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NAEP Wave 2 (TEL... issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this... notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: NAEP Wave 2 (TEL and Assessment Feedback...

75 FR 54588 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Annual Report of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-08

... matching to meet the reporting required by 7 CFR 210.17(g). The form is an intrinsic part of the accounting system currently being used by the subject programs to ensure proper reimbursement as well as to... reporting system and 100 percent of the information is collected through electronic means. The instructions...

78 FR 40778 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-08

... utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways... number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive them...

77 FR 58186 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-19

... practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways...; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated... OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and...

78 FR 56757 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-13

... practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways...; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated... OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and...

77 FR 16870 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-22

... utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways... the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB...

Part II--IEPS Reports. The proper function of teaching hospitals within health systems.

PubMed

1998-01-01

The main points of the discussions from the international seminar organised by the World Health Organisation and the Institute for the Study of Health Policies (IEPS) were published in French by Flammarion Medecine-Sciences in the Collection entitled "The IEPS Reports" and in English by the WHO under the title "The Proper Function of Teaching Hospitals within Health Systems" (1995).

Seroepidemiology of Human Brucellosis Among Blood Donors in Southern Ethiopia: Calling Attention to a Neglected Zoonotic Disease.

PubMed

Workalemahu, Bereket; Sewunet, Tsegaye; Astatkie, Ayalew

2017-01-11

Human brucellosis is neglected in southern Ethiopia. Although traditional food processing practices and animal husbandry which increase the risk of brucellosis are common, it has not been properly studied yet. This study was conducted to determine the seroepidemiology of brucellosis among apparently healthy individuals in southern Ethiopia. In the study, blood samples were collected to screen for serum agglutinins reactive to stained antigen of Brucella abortus Standard tube titration was performed for reactive serum to determine the titer of the agglutinin. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on possible risk factors for brucellosis. The seroprevalence of human brucellosis in this study was found to be 10.6% (95% confidence interval = 7.0, 14.0). Possession of domestic ruminant animals, contact with ruminant animals, and husbandry practices at home were associated with seropositivity. The higher seroprevalence of human brucellosis in the study area needs attention and additional confirmatory investigation. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Applying an information literacy rubric to first-year health sciences student research posters.

PubMed

Goodman, Xan; Watts, John; Arenas, Rogelio; Weigel, Rachelle; Terrell, Tony

2018-01-01

This article describes the collection and analysis of annotated bibliographies created by first-year health sciences students to support their final poster projects. The authors examined the students' abilities to select relevant and authoritative sources, summarize the content of those sources, and correctly cite those sources. We collected images of 1,253 posters, of which 120 were sampled for analysis, and scored the posters using a 4-point rubric to evaluate the students' information literacy skills. We found that 52% of students were proficient at selecting relevant sources that directly contributed to the themes, topics, or debates presented in their final poster projects, and 64% of students did well with selecting authoritative peer-reviewed scholarly sources related to their topics. However, 45% of students showed difficulty in correctly applying American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. Our findings demonstrate a need for instructors and librarians to provide strategies for reading and comprehending scholarly articles in addition to properly using APA citation style.

Applying an information literacy rubric to first-year health sciences student research posters*

PubMed Central

Goodman, Xan; Watts, John; Arenas, Rogelio; Weigel, Rachelle; Terrell, Tony

2018-01-01

Objective This article describes the collection and analysis of annotated bibliographies created by first-year health sciences students to support their final poster projects. The authors examined the students’ abilities to select relevant and authoritative sources, summarize the content of those sources, and correctly cite those sources. Methods We collected images of 1,253 posters, of which 120 were sampled for analysis, and scored the posters using a 4-point rubric to evaluate the students’ information literacy skills. Results We found that 52% of students were proficient at selecting relevant sources that directly contributed to the themes, topics, or debates presented in their final poster projects, and 64% of students did well with selecting authoritative peer-reviewed scholarly sources related to their topics. However, 45% of students showed difficulty in correctly applying American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a need for instructors and librarians to provide strategies for reading and comprehending scholarly articles in addition to properly using APA citation style. PMID:29339940

International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) Recommendations for Laboratory Measurement of Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

PubMed

Gosselin, Robert C; Adcock, Dorothy M; Bates, Shannon M; Douxfils, Jonathan; Favaloro, Emmanuel J; Gouin-Thibault, Isabelle; Guillermo, Cecilia; Kawai, Yohko; Lindhoff-Last, Edelgard; Kitchen, Steve

2018-03-01

This guidance document was prepared on behalf of the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) for providing haemostasis-related guidance documents for clinical laboratories. This inaugural coagulation ICSH document was developed by an ad hoc committee, comprised of international clinical and laboratory direct acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) experts. The committee developed consensus recommendations for laboratory measurement of DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban), which would be germane for laboratories assessing DOAC anticoagulation. This guidance document addresses all phases of laboratory DOAC measurements, including pre-analytical (e.g. preferred time sample collection, preferred sample type, sample stability), analytical (gold standard method, screening and quantifying methods) and post analytical (e.g. reporting units, quality assurance). The committee addressed the use and limitations of screening tests such as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time as well as viscoelastic measurements of clotting blood and point of care methods. Additionally, the committee provided recommendations for the proper validation or verification of performance of laboratory assays prior to implementation for clinical use, and external quality assurance to provide continuous assessment of testing and reporting method. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

Impact of leachate on groundwater pollution due to non-engineered municipal solid waste landfill sites of erode city, Tamil Nadu, India

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Leachate and groundwater samples were collected from Vendipalayam, Semur and Vairapalayam landfill sites in Erode city, Tamil Nadu, India, to study the possible impact of leachate percolation on groundwater quality. Concentrations of various physicochemical parameters including heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Fe and Zn) were determined in leachate samples and are reported. The concentrations of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, NH4+ were found to be in considerable levels in the groundwater samples particularly near to the landfill sites, likely indicating that groundwater quality is being significantly affected by leachate percolation. Further they were proved to be the tracers for groundwater contamination near Semur and Vendipalayam dumpyards. The presence of contaminants in groundwater particularly near the landfill sites warns its quality and thus renders the associated aquifer unreliable for domestic water supply and other uses. Although some remedial measures are suggested to reduce further groundwater contamination via leachate percolation, the present study demands for the proper management of waste in Erode city. PMID:23369323

An Energy Efficient Adaptive Sampling Algorithm in a Sensor Network for Automated Water Quality Monitoring.

PubMed

Shu, Tongxin; Xia, Min; Chen, Jiahong; Silva, Clarence de

2017-11-05

Power management is crucial in the monitoring of a remote environment, especially when long-term monitoring is needed. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind may be harvested to sustain a monitoring system. However, without proper power management, equipment within the monitoring system may become nonfunctional and, as a consequence, the data or events captured during the monitoring process will become inaccurate as well. This paper develops and applies a novel adaptive sampling algorithm for power management in the automated monitoring of the quality of water in an extensive and remote aquatic environment. Based on the data collected on line using sensor nodes, a data-driven adaptive sampling algorithm (DDASA) is developed for improving the power efficiency while ensuring the accuracy of sampled data. The developed algorithm is evaluated using two distinct key parameters, which are dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity. It is found that by dynamically changing the sampling frequency, the battery lifetime can be effectively prolonged while maintaining a required level of sampling accuracy. According to the simulation results, compared to a fixed sampling rate, approximately 30.66% of the battery energy can be saved for three months of continuous water quality monitoring. Using the same dataset to compare with a traditional adaptive sampling algorithm (ASA), while achieving around the same Normalized Mean Error (NME), DDASA is superior in saving 5.31% more battery energy.

An Energy Efficient Adaptive Sampling Algorithm in a Sensor Network for Automated Water Quality Monitoring

PubMed Central

Shu, Tongxin; Xia, Min; Chen, Jiahong; de Silva, Clarence

2017-01-01

Power management is crucial in the monitoring of a remote environment, especially when long-term monitoring is needed. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind may be harvested to sustain a monitoring system. However, without proper power management, equipment within the monitoring system may become nonfunctional and, as a consequence, the data or events captured during the monitoring process will become inaccurate as well. This paper develops and applies a novel adaptive sampling algorithm for power management in the automated monitoring of the quality of water in an extensive and remote aquatic environment. Based on the data collected on line using sensor nodes, a data-driven adaptive sampling algorithm (DDASA) is developed for improving the power efficiency while ensuring the accuracy of sampled data. The developed algorithm is evaluated using two distinct key parameters, which are dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity. It is found that by dynamically changing the sampling frequency, the battery lifetime can be effectively prolonged while maintaining a required level of sampling accuracy. According to the simulation results, compared to a fixed sampling rate, approximately 30.66% of the battery energy can be saved for three months of continuous water quality monitoring. Using the same dataset to compare with a traditional adaptive sampling algorithm (ASA), while achieving around the same Normalized Mean Error (NME), DDASA is superior in saving 5.31% more battery energy. PMID:29113087

Sample size considerations for paired experimental design with incomplete observations of continuous outcomes.

PubMed

Zhu, Hong; Xu, Xiaohan; Ahn, Chul

2017-01-01

Paired experimental design is widely used in clinical and health behavioral studies, where each study unit contributes a pair of observations. Investigators often encounter incomplete observations of paired outcomes in the data collected. Some study units contribute complete pairs of observations, while the others contribute either pre- or post-intervention observations. Statistical inference for paired experimental design with incomplete observations of continuous outcomes has been extensively studied in literature. However, sample size method for such study design is sparsely available. We derive a closed-form sample size formula based on the generalized estimating equation approach by treating the incomplete observations as missing data in a linear model. The proposed method properly accounts for the impact of mixed structure of observed data: a combination of paired and unpaired outcomes. The sample size formula is flexible to accommodate different missing patterns, magnitude of missingness, and correlation parameter values. We demonstrate that under complete observations, the proposed generalized estimating equation sample size estimate is the same as that based on the paired t-test. In the presence of missing data, the proposed method would lead to a more accurate sample size estimate comparing with the crude adjustment. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the finite-sample performance of the generalized estimating equation sample size formula. A real application example is presented for illustration.

An improved switching converter model. Ph.D. Thesis. Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shortt, D. J.

1982-01-01

The nonlinear modeling and analysis of dc-dc converters in the continuous mode and discontinuous mode was done by averaging and discrete sampling techniques. A model was developed by combining these two techniques. This model, the discrete average model, accurately predicts the envelope of the output voltage and is easy to implement in circuit and state variable forms. The proposed model is shown to be dependent on the type of duty cycle control. The proper selection of the power stage model, between average and discrete average, is largely a function of the error processor in the feedback loop. The accuracy of the measurement data taken by a conventional technique is affected by the conditions at which the data is collected.

Wildlife health and disease investigations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roffe, T.J.; Work, Thierry M.; Braun, C.E.

2005-01-01

Wildlife population management requires knowledge of factors that affect population sustainability. Mortality is one of the most important of those factors. Without a clear understanding of the causes of mortality, decisions by managers of whether or how to intercede may be inappropriate. Wildlife biologists are usually the first to discover, assess, and respond to wildlife mortality. Biologists who make accurate, complete and timely field investigations, and proper collection and shipment of samples to a diagnostic facility are essential for an accurate diagnosis. In combination with wildlife disease specialists, biologists can identify causes of wildlife mortality, detect long-term patterns in factors that affect the survival of populations, and take appropriate corrective action to minimize the impact of some mortality factors on wildlife populations.

In-use catalyst surface area and its relation to HC conversion efficiency and FTP emissions

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

Donahue, K.S.; Sabourin, M.A.; Larson, R.E.

1986-01-01

Surface area data, steady-state hydrocarbon conversion efficiency data, and hydrocarbon emissions results have been determined for catalysts collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from properly maintained 1981 and 1982 model year vehicles. Catalysts covered in this study were limited to those with three-way-plus-oxidation monolith technologies. Catalyst surface areas were measured using the BET method, conversion efficiencies were measured on an exhaust gas generator, and emissions results were determined using the Urban Driving Schedule of the Federal Test Procedure. Results indicate that correlation of catalyst surface area data with hydrocarbon conversion efficiency data and hydrocarbon emissions results is significant formore » the sample studied.« less

78 FR 35848 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-14

... convenient access to their loan account information. RHS has developed a survey to measure the results and... of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review...) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper [[Page 35849

76 FR 45225 - Information Collection; Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, Helicopter Pilot...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-28

... conducted under extremely adverse conditions of weather, terrain, turbulence, smoke reduced visibility... and aircraft receives an approval card. The Forest Service personnel verify possession of properly approved cards before using contracted pilots and aircraft. Information collected on these forms includes...

78 FR 52910 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-27

... be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized... performance measures. Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office... information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, including whether the...

75 FR 15692 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

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2010-03-30

..., reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood... Performance Reporting System, also referred to as the Learn and Serve Systems and Information Exchange (LASSIE... information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Corporation, including whether the...

77 FR 2094 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-13

... ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments concerning... Regional Arts Organizations. A copy of the current information collection request can be obtained by...

78 FR 25058 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-29

... Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper... techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments regarding this information collection received...; Comment Request April 23, 2013. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information...

40 CFR 243.201-2 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... waste handling techniques, and in the proper operation of collection equipment, such as those presented in Operation Responsible: Safe Refuse Collection. (b) Personal protective equipment such as gloves... Standards for Subpart I—Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132 through 1910.137). (c) Scavenging...

40 CFR 243.201-2 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... waste handling techniques, and in the proper operation of collection equipment, such as those presented in Operation Responsible: Safe Refuse Collection. (b) Personal protective equipment such as gloves... Standards for Subpart I—Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132 through 1910.137). (c) Scavenging...

78 FR 36506 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-18

... techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments regarding this information collection received...; Comment Request June 12, 2013. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information... Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper...

78 FR 21121 - Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, Comments...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-09

... the carrier frequency, output power, and modulation of each transmitter authorized to operate with... per Response: .033 hours. Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement. Obligation to Respond... which would likely affect the modulation characteristics. Such measurements, which help ensure proper...

77 FR 65358 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-26

... National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) primary function of collecting, processing, and...) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the...'' program (non-immigrants who enter the United States for temporary or seasonal agricultural labor) and for...

[Quality Management System in Pathological Laboratory].

PubMed

Koyatsu, Junichi; Ueda, Yoshihiko

2015-07-01

Even compared to other clinical laboratories, the pathological laboratory conducts troublesome work, and many of the work processes are also manual. Therefore, the introduction of the systematic management of administration is necessary. It will be a shortcut to use existing standards such as ISO 15189 for this purpose. There is no standard specialized for the pathological laboratory, but it is considered to be important to a pathological laboratory in particular. 1. Safety nianagement of the personnel and environmental conditions. Comply with laws and regulations concerning the handling of hazardous materials. 2. Pre-examination processes. The laboratory shall have documented procedures for the proper collection and handling of primary samples. Developed and documented criteria for acceptance or rejection of samples are applied. 3. Examination processes. Selection, verification, and validation of the examination procedures. Devise a system that can constantly monitor the traceability of the sample. 4. Post-examination processes. Storage, retention, and disposal of clinical samples. 5. Release of results. When examination results fall within established alert or critical intervals, immediately notify the physicians. The important point is to recognize the needs of the client and be aware that pathological diagnoses are always "the final diagnoses".

Fixing the reference frame for PPMXL proper motions using extragalactic sources

DOE PAGES

Grabowski, Kathleen; Carlin, Jeffrey L.; Newberg, Heidi Jo; ...

2015-05-27

In this study, we quantify and correct systematic errors in PPMXL proper motions using extragalactic sources from the first two LAMOST data releases and the Vèron-Cetty & Vèron Catalog of Quasars. Although the majority of the sources are from the Vèron catalog, LAMOST makes important contributions in regions that are not well-sampled by previous catalogs, particularly at low Galactic latitudes and in the south Galactic cap. We show that quasars in PPMXL have measurable and significant proper motions, which reflect the systematic zero-point offsets present in the catalog. We confirm the global proper motion shifts seen by Wu et al.,more » and additionally find smaller-scale fluctuations of the QSO-derived corrections to an absolute frame. Finally, we average the proper motions of 158 106 extragalactic objects in bins of 3° × 3° and present a table of proper motion corrections.« less

Human presence impacts fungal diversity of inflated lunar/Mars analog habitat.

PubMed

Blachowicz, A; Mayer, T; Bashir, M; Pieber, T R; De León, P; Venkateswaran, K

2017-07-11

An inflatable lunar/Mars analog habitat (ILMAH), simulated closed system isolated by HEPA filtration, mimics International Space Station (ISS) conditions and future human habitation on other planets except for the exchange of air between outdoor and indoor environments. The ILMAH was primarily commissioned to measure physiological, psychological, and immunological characteristics of human inhabiting in isolation, but it was also available for other studies such as examining its microbiological aspects. Characterizing and understanding possible changes and succession of fungal species is of high importance since fungi are not only hazardous to inhabitants but also deteriorate the habitats. Observing the mycobiome changes in the presence of human will enable developing appropriate countermeasures with reference to crew health in a future closed habitat. Succession of fungi was characterized utilizing both traditional and state-of-the-art molecular techniques during the 30-day human occupation of the ILMAH. Surface samples were collected at various time points and locations to observe both the total and viable fungal populations of common environmental and opportunistic pathogenic species. To estimate the cultivable fungal population, potato dextrose agar plate counts method was utilized. The internal transcribed spacer region-based iTag Illumina sequencing was employed to measure the community structure and fluctuation of the mycobiome over time in various locations. Treatment of samples with propidium monoazide (PMA; a DNA intercalating dye for selective detection of viable microbial populations) had a significant effect on the microbial diversity compared to non-PMA-treated samples. Statistical analysis confirmed that viable fungal community structure changed (increase in diversity and decrease in fungal burden) over the occupation time. Samples collected at day 20 showed distinct fungal profiles from samples collected at any other time point (before or after). Viable fungal families like Davidiellaceae, Teratosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, and Pleosporaceae were shown to increase during the occupation time. The results of this study revealed that the overall fungal diversity in the closed habitat changed during human presence; therefore, it is crucial to properly maintain a closed habitat to preserve it from deteriorating and keep it safe for its inhabitants. Differences in community profiles were observed when statistically treated, especially of the mycobiome of samples collected at day 20. On a genus level Epiccocum, Alternaria, Pleosporales, Davidiella, and Cryptococcus showed increased abundance over the occupation time.

50 CFR 260.58 - Accessibility for sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Accessibility for sampling. 260.58 Section... Fishery Products for Human Consumption Sampling § 260.58 Accessibility for sampling. Each applicant shall cause the processed products for which inspection is requested to be made accessible for proper sampling...

50 CFR 260.58 - Accessibility for sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 9 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Accessibility for sampling. 260.58 Section... Fishery Products for Human Consumption Sampling § 260.58 Accessibility for sampling. Each applicant shall cause the processed products for which inspection is requested to be made accessible for proper sampling...

Understanding the Sampling Distribution and the Central Limit Theorem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Charla P.

The sampling distribution is a common source of misuse and misunderstanding in the study of statistics. The sampling distribution, underlying distribution, and the Central Limit Theorem are all interconnected in defining and explaining the proper use of the sampling distribution of various statistics. The sampling distribution of a statistic is…

Microbial Diversity in Milk of Women With Mastitis: Potential Role of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Viridans Group Streptococci, and Corynebacteria.

PubMed

Mediano, Pilar; Fernández, Leonides; Jiménez, Esther; Arroyo, Rebeca; Espinosa-Martos, Irene; Rodríguez, Juan M; Marín, María

2017-05-01

Lactational mastitis constitutes a significant cause of premature weaning. However, its etiology, linked to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, has been scarcely reported. Research aim: The aim of this study was to describe the microbial diversity in milk samples from women suffering from lactational mastitis and to identify more accurately a collection of isolates belonging to coagulase-negative staphylococci, streptococci, and coryneform bacteria. This is a cross-sectional descriptive one-group study. A total of 5,009 isolates from 1,849 mastitis milk samples was identified by culture, biochemical, and/or molecular methods at the species or genus level. A more precise identification of a collection of 211 isolates was carried out by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Mean total bacterial count in milk samples was 4.11 log 10 colony-forming units/ml, 95% confidence interval [4.08, 4.15]. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common species being isolated from 91.56% of the samples, whereas Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 29.74%. Streptococci and corynebacteria constituted the second (70.20%) and third (16.60%) most prevalent bacterial groups, respectively, found in this study. In contrast, Candida spp. was present in only 0.54% of the samples. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a high diversity of bacterial species among identified isolates. Many coagulase-negative staphylococci, viridans group streptococci, and corynebacteria, usually dismissed as contaminant bacteria, may play an important role as etiologic agents of mastitis. Proper diagnosis of mastitis should be established after performing microbiological testing of milk based on standardized procedures. A reliable analysis must identify the mastitis-causing pathogen(s) at the species level and its(their) concentration(s).

Investigation of a community outbreak of typhoid fever associated with drinking water

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Background This report is about the investigation of an outbreak of typhoid fever claimed three human lives and left more than 300 people suffered within one week. The aim of this report is to draw the attention of global health community towards the areas that are still far from basic human essentialities. Methods A total of 250 suspected cases of typhoid fever were interviewed, out of which 100 were selected for sample collection on the basis of criteria included temperature > 38°C since the onset of outbreak, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting and weakness. Food and water samples were also collected and analyzed microbiologically. Results Inhabitants of village lived in poor and unhygienic conditions with no proper water supply or sewage disposal facilities and other basic necessities of life. They consumed water from a nearby well which was the only available source of drinking water. Epidemiological evidences revealed the gross contamination of well with dead and decaying animal bodies, their fecal material and garbage. Microbiological analysis of household and well water samples revealed the presence of heavy bacterial load with an average total aerobic count 106-109 CFU/ml. A number of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Bacillus species, Staphylococcus species, Enterobacter species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated. Lab investigations confirmed the presence of multidrug resistant strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in 100% well water, 65% household water samples and 2% food items. 22% of clinical stool samples were tested positive with Salmonella enterica serover Typhi Conclusions This study indicated the possible involvement of well water in outbreaks. In order to avoid such outbreaks in future, we contacted the local health authorities and urged them to immediately make arrangements for safe drinking water supply. PMID:20021691

The Fourth SeaWiFS HPLC Analysis Round-Robin Experiment (SeaHARRE-4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B.; Thomas, Crystal S.; van Heukelem, Laurie; Schlueter, louise; Russ, Mary E.; Ras, Josephine; Claustre, Herve; Clementson, Lesley; Canuti, Elisabetta; Berthon, Jean-Francois;

Attitudes and Perceptions of Cancer Patients Toward Biospecimen Donation for Cancer Research: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Chinese Cancer Patients.

PubMed

He, Na; Guo, Yan; He, Min; Qiang, Wanmin; Li, Haixin

2017-08-01

High-quality biospecimen collection from consented patients is crucial for cancer research activities. Patients' attitudes and willingness toward specimen donation influence high-quality biospecimen collection for cancer research activities. We carried out a cross-sectional study among randomly selected patients from 11 cancer departments of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between August 2014 and August 2015. A total of 784 patients were included to complete a 30-item self-administered survey. We evaluated the patients' willingness to consider providing leftover samples and additional samples for cancer research purposes. Among 784 patients, 683 (87.1%) and 653 (83.3%) were willing to donate leftover tissue and surplus blood after diagnosis, respectively. Six hundred thirty-one (80.5%) were favorably disposed to consider donating both tissue and blood samples for future cancer research. Female patients showed less willingness to donate biospecimens or related clinical data for research. First-hospitalized or older patients were less willing to provide leftover biospecimens or additional blood samples or even clinical data for research. By contrast, patients with a higher education level were more likely to donate leftover tissues after biopsy or surgery for research activities. Most Chinese cancer patients were willing to consider donating blood and tissue samples for cancer research. Several factors, including age, gender, first hospitalization, and education level, can influence their willingness to donate biospecimens. We need to provide proper education to increase understanding of patients in biobanking activities. This study provides novel empirical data on the likelihood of donating surplus and additional biospecimens and clinical health information among Chinese cancer patients.

NASA GRC and MSFC Space-Plasma Arc Testing Procedures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, Dale C.; Vayner, Boris V.; Galofaro, Joel T,; Hillard, G. Barry; Vaughn, Jason; Schneider, Todd

2005-01-01

Tests of arcing and current collection in simulated space plasma conditions have been performed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, for over 30 years and at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, for almost as long. During this period, proper test conditions for accurate and meaningful space simulation have been worked out, comparisons with actual space performance in spaceflight tests and with real operational satellites have been made, and NASA has achieved our own internal standards for test protocols. It is the purpose of this paper to communicate the test conditions, test procedures, and types of analysis used at NASA GRC and MSFC to the space environmental testing community at large, to help with international space-plasma arcing-testing standardization. To be discussed are: 1.Neutral pressures, neutral gases, and vacuum chamber sizes. 2. Electron and ion densities, plasma uniformity, sample sizes, and Debuy lengths. 3. Biasing samples versus self-generated voltages. Floating samples versus grounded. 4. Power supplies and current limits. Isolation of samples from power supplies during arcs. 5. Arc circuits. Capacitance during biased arc-threshold tests. Capacitance during sustained arcing and damage tests. Arc detection. Prevention sustained discharges during testing. 6. Real array or structure samples versus idealized samples. 7. Validity of LEO tests for GEO samples. 8. Extracting arc threshold information from arc rate versus voltage tests. 9. Snapover and current collection at positive sample bias. Glows at positive bias. Kapon (R) pyrolisis. 10. Trigger arc thresholds. Sustained arc thresholds. Paschen discharge during sustained arcing. 11. Testing for Paschen discharge threshold. Testing for dielectric breakdown thresholds. Testing for tether arcing. 12. Testing in very dense plasmas (ie thruster plumes). 13. Arc mitigation strategies. Charging mitigation strategies. Models. 14. Analysis of test results. Finally, the necessity of testing will be emphasized, not to the exclusion of modeling, but as part of a complete strategy for determining when and if arcs will occur, and preventing them from occurring in space.

NASA GRC and MSFC Space-Plasma Arc Testing Procedures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, Dale C.a; Vayner, Boris V.; Galofaro, Joel T.; Hillard, G. Barry; Vaughn, Jason; Schneider, Todd

2005-01-01

Tests of arcing and current collection in simulated space plasma conditions have been performed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, for over 30 years and at the Marshall Space flight Center (MSFC) for almost as long. During this period, proper test conditions for accurate and meaningful space simulation have been worked out, comparisons with actual space performance in spaceflight tests and with real operational satellites have been made, and NASA has achieved our own internal standards for test protocols. It is the purpose of this paper to communicate the test conditions, test procedures, and types of analysis used at NASA GRC and MSFC to the space environmental testing community at large, to help with international space-plasma arcing testing standardization. To be discussed are: 1. Neutral pressures, neutral gases, and vacuum chamber sizes. 2. Electron and ion densities, plasma uniformity, sample sizes, and Debye lengths. 3. Biasing samples versus self-generated voltages. Floating samples versus grounded. 4. Power supplies and current limits. Isolation of samples from power supplies during arcs. Arc circuits. Capacitance during biased arc-threshold tests. Capacitance during sustained arcing and damage tests. Arc detection. Preventing sustained discharges during testing. 5. Real array or structure samples versus idealized samples. 6. Validity of LEO tests for GEO samples. 7. Extracting arc threshold information from arc rate versus voltage tests. 8 . Snapover and current collection at positive sample bias. Glows at positive bias. Kapton pyrolization. 9. Trigger arc thresholds. Sustained arc thresholds. Paschen discharge during sustained arcing. 10. Testing for Paschen discharge thresholds. Testing for dielectric breakdown thresholds. Testing for tether arcing. 11. Testing in very dense plasmas (ie thruster plumes). 12. Arc mitigation strategies. Charging mitigation strategies. Models. 13. Analysis of test results. Finally, the necessity of testing will be emphasized, not to the exclusion of modeling, but as part of a complete strategy for determining when and if arcs will occur, and preventing them from occurring in space.

Geostatistical approach for assessing soil volumes requiring remediation: validation using lead-polluted soils underlying a former smelting works.

PubMed

Demougeot-Renard, Helene; De Fouquet, Chantal

2004-10-01

Assessing the volume of soil requiring remediation and the accuracy of this assessment constitutes an essential step in polluted site management. If this remediation volume is not properly assessed, misclassification may lead both to environmental risks (polluted soils may not be remediated) and financial risks (unexpected discovery of polluted soils may generate additional remediation costs). To minimize such risks, this paper proposes a geostatistical methodology based on stochastic simulations that allows the remediation volume and the uncertainty to be assessed using investigation data. The methodology thoroughly reproduces the conditions in which the soils are classified and extracted at the remediation stage. The validity of the approach is tested by applying it on the data collected during the investigation phase of a former lead smelting works and by comparing the results with the volume that has actually been remediated. This real remediated volume was composed of all the remediation units that were classified as polluted after systematic sampling and analysis during clean-up stage. The volume estimated from the 75 samples collected during site investigation slightly overestimates (5.3% relative error) the remediated volume deduced from 212 remediation units. Furthermore, the real volume falls within the range of uncertainty predicted using the proposed methodology.

78 FR 25324 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-30

... rules governing offers and sales of securities made outside the United States without registration under... 5 of the Securities Act applies to offers and sales of securities outside of the United States...) Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the...

76 FR 29211 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-20

... ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial... concerning the AmeriCorps Annual Progress Report designed to collect demographic, performance, and narrative... necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will...

78 FR 6851 - Agency Information Collection (Dental Record Authorization and Invoice for Outpatient Services...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-31

... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900-0335] Agency Information Collection (Dental....gov . Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0335.'' SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Dental Record... proper administration of VA outpatient fee dental program. The associated instructions make it possible...

78 FR 14592 - Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Emergency Mine Evacuation

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2013-03-06

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75 FR 79028 - Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Self-Contained Self-Rescue Devices (SCSRs)

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2010-12-17

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78 FR 13643 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

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2013-02-28

... ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial... requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, CNCS is soliciting comments concerning its... report via eGrants. Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office...

75 FR 69128 - Proposed Collection, Comment Request

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2010-11-10

... ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting... Goods and Services Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained...

75 FR 57741 - Notice of Submission for OMB Review

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2010-09-22

... comments which: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper...) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information... broad descriptive information on the range and quality of service provided to children participating in...

75 FR 81999 - Notice of Submission for OMB Review

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2010-12-29

... comments which: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper...) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information... study will use descriptive statistics and regression analysis to study how student outcomes and school...

76 FR 9025 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Good Laboratory...

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2011-02-16

... consumer protection, the Agency issued GLP regulations. The regulations specify minimum standards for the proper conduct of safety testing and contain sections on facilities, personnel, equipment, standard operating procedures (SOPs), test and control articles, quality assurance, protocol and conduct of a safety...

78 FR 35849 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-14

...) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the...: Fruits, Nut, and Specialty Crops. OMB Control Number: 0535-0039. Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current official...

78 FR 32638 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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2013-05-31

... information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by July 30, 2013... Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Air Force announces a reinstatement of a public information... proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency...

77 FR 44210 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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2012-07-27

...) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the... for the national office to compare, assess, and analyze the effectiveness and the impact of EFNEP without the annual collection of data. Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government...

78 FR 22544 - Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

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2013-04-16

... requested concerning whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance... entities; State, local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents and Responses: 760 respondents and 760... basic cable service, cable programming service, and equipment. The report must compare the prices...

78 FR 54444 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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2013-09-04

... Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review...) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's...

75 FR 15691 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-30

...(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format... Community Service. Title: Application for the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. OMB..., and the impact of the collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the...

77 FR 6799 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Past Performance Information

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2012-02-09

...; Submission for OMB Review; Past Performance Information AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General... collection requirement concerning past performance information. A notice was published in the Federal... invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of...

75 FR 47894 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

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2010-08-09

... accounting for a dual consolidated loss where the dual resident corporation files a consolidated return... information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records... for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall...

76 FR 28242 - Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-16

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Wage and Hour Division Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements AGENCY: Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The... be properly assessed. Currently, the Wage and Hour Division is soliciting comments concerning its...

Biodegradation of paper waste using Eisenia foetida by vermicomposting Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathivanan, Mahalakshmi; Aravind Vishnu Saravanan, G.; Baji, Aravindh; Manoj kumar, J.

2017-07-01

The paper wastes are being a big concern over past decades. The process of reuse of the paper wastes is employed by ‘eisenia foetida’ in Vermiculture. The paper waste in SASTRA is collected around 50kg and organic wastes like vegetable wastes and cow dung wastes are also collected. In the adjacent area of Nirman Vihar, SASTRA, the experimental setup is done in a Geosynthetic polymer bag. The area is divided into three segments and in each segment appropriate amount of paper waste and organic waste were added along with 25 numbers of earthworms. The setup is watered daily and monitored periodically and it is kindled for proper aeration. The soil samples were collected on 20 days, 45 days and 60 days from the day the earthworms were added. After 60 days of the experiment, the paper wastes, compost and earthworms are separated. The quantity of the wastes was compared to the initial amount and the composts are collected. The elemental analysis of the soil used as Vermi-bed is analyzed for improvement of soil nutrients. The vermiwashed water of the setup is analyzed for total protein. The number of earthworm is also compared to initial quantity. Out of all, the loss percentage of the organic waste and paper waste shows the degradation of the paper wastes.

A Method of Utilizing Small Astronomical Telescopes in Earth Science Instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kyung-Im; Lee, Young Bom

1985-12-01

Four observational astronomical items have been pilottested with a 150mm refracting telescope in order to lay out the detailed procedures for the suggested(inquiry) activities listed in the high school earth science curriculum and to contrive some adequate instructions for students stressed on how to make proper treatments with the collected materials. The tested items were of sunspots' motion, the size of lunar craters, the Galilean satellites' revolution, and the galactic distribution of stars. Following series of activities are suggested with respect to the way of collecting observational data and of giving proper instruction to students in class: 1) Photography and other materials be made by teacher and/or extracurricular group of students; 2) Replicas(xeroxed, photographs, or slides) be made from the collected materials, so that they are available to all the students in class; 3) Quantative analyses be taken as sutdents' activities

Very Low-mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Upper Scorpius Using Gaia DR1: Mass Function, Disks, and Kinematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cook, Neil J.; Scholz, Aleks; Jayawardhana, Ray

2017-12-01

Our understanding of the brown dwarf population in star-forming regions is dependent on knowing distances and proper motions and therefore will be improved through the Gaia space mission. In this paper, we select new samples of very low-mass objects (VLMOs) in Upper Scorpius using UKIDSS colors and optimized proper motions calculated using Gaia DR1. The scatter in proper motions from VLMOs in Upper Scorpius is now (for the first time) dominated by the kinematic spread of the region itself, not by the positional uncertainties. With age and mass estimates updated using Gaia parallaxes for early-type stars in the same region, we determine masses for all VLMOs. Our final most complete sample includes 453 VLMOs of which ˜125 are expected to be brown dwarfs. The cleanest sample is comprised of 131 VLMOs, with ˜105 brown dwarfs. We also compile a joint sample from the literature that includes 415 VLMOs, out of which 152 are likely brown dwarfs. The disk fraction among low-mass brown dwarfs (M< 0.05 {M}⊙ ) is substantially higher than in more massive objects, indicating that disks around low-mass brown dwarfs survive longer than in low-mass stars overall. The mass function for 0.01< M< 0.1 {M}⊙ is consistent with the Kroupa Initial Mass Function. We investigate the possibility that some “proper motion outliers” have undergone a dynamical ejection early in their evolution. Our analysis shows that the color-magnitude cuts used when selecting samples introduce strong bias into the population statistics due to varying levels of contamination and completeness.

Fungal infections of the eye--laboratory diagnosis and treatment.

PubMed

Nayak, N

2008-03-01

Infections of the eye give rise to severe ocular morbidity and blindness include keratitis, orbital cellulites, endophthalmitis and dacryocystitis. Corneal blindness, in developing countries is predominantly associated with infections. In India, nearly 30-35% of all culture positive infectious keratitis are caused fungi. Laboratory diagnosis mainly depends upon proper collection and transport of clinical specimens. In fungal keratitis, corneal scraping is the ideal sample, but occasionally corneal biopsy or anterior chamber aspirate may also be needed. Corneal scraping is usually by Kimura spatula, under a slit lamp examination, after anaesthetizing the cornea with topical anaesthetic like 0.4% proparcaine. Corneal biopsy is done by a minor trephining and AC aspirate using a sterile tuberculin syringe. In case of endophthalmitis, 150-200 ìl of aqueous humour is collected. Vitreous fluid (500-1000 ìl), however, is collected by pars plana vitrectomy onto sterile tuberculin syringe, the needle is then fixed to a sterile rubber bung after expelling air from the syringe. The collected sample is immediately transported to the laboratory. Swabs from the regurgitating lacrimnal sacs and wound aspirate/swabs are the ideal specimens for dacryocystitis and orbital cellulites, respectively. These samples are cultured onto SDA slants following standard procedures. The main draw back of culture is its long incubation time (5 to 14 days), though it is indispensable from the view point of the specificity. Direct examination (KOH wet mount, Gram's, Giemsa or calcofluor fluorescent staining methods) of the specimen, however, is quick and immensely helpful for ophthalmologist. The newer rapid methods, such as molecular techniques are also available and the management of patients can be according to the results obtained. With the advent of novel antifungal agents such as newer azoles and cell wall acting antifungals like echinocandins, the clinician has the wider option of selecting the therapeutic modality. In the event of the increasing reports of in vitro drug resistance to much frequently used azoles, polyenes and 5-fluorocytosines, clinical applicability of the newer antifungal agents seems to be quite promising.

Rescuing the Cahoon Mine drill cores: Opportunities for modern mapping of the ca. 1.7 Ga Freedom Formation in southern Wisconsin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanley, V.; Stewart, E.

2016-12-01

Rock cores collected during historic mineral exploration can provide invaluable data for modern analyses, but only if the samples are properly curated. The Cahoon Mine operated in Baraboo, WI during the 1910's and produced iron ore from the ca. 1.7 Ga Freedom Formation. The Freedom Formation is part of the well-known Baraboo-interval stratigraphy and is only present in the subsurface of Wisconsin (Weidman, 1904). Seventeen exploratory drill cores were rescued by Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) from the original drying house at the mine site. The condition of the containers endangered the stratigraphic context of the collection; identifiers and depth markings were often obscured or lost. The individual core pieces were coated in residue and dust. Most of what is known about the Freedom Formation is from core logs and master's theses from the early 1900's (Leith, 1935; Schmidt, 1951). Ongoing subsurface mapping of the Baraboo-interval sediments and underlying basement of southern Wisconsin integrates new and existing subsurface and regional geophysical datasets. Mapping involves calibrating unique signals in regional aeromagnetic data to known lithology from drill core and cuttings. The Freedom Formation is especially important in this process as its iron-rich composition and regional continuity causes it to have a somewhat unique signal in regional aeromagnetic data. The Cahoon Mine cores in the WGNHS repository are the most extensive collection of physical samples from the Freedom Formation still in existence. We are in the process of curating the cores to facilitate their use in ongoing bedrock mapping. Today the cost and logistics of extensive sampling of this unit makes the existing core collection irreplaceable. We transferred the material to new containers, digitally recorded metadata, and created archival labels. As a result of this effort, the Cahoon Mine cores are now stored in a format that is physically and digitally accessible.

Comparison of the detection of periodontal pathogens in bacteraemia after tooth brushing by culture and molecular techniques.

PubMed

Marín, M-J; Figuero, E; González, I; O'Connor, A; Diz, P; Álvarez, M; Herrera, D; Sanz, M

2016-05-01

The prevalence and amounts of periodontal pathogens detected in bacteraemia samples after tooth brushing-induced by means of four diagnostic technique, three based on culture and one in a molecular-based technique, have been compared in this study. Blood samples were collected from thirty-six subjects with different periodontal status (17 were healthy, 10 with gingivitis and 9 with periodontitis) at baseline and 2 minutes after tooth brushing. Each sample was analyzed by three culture-based methods [direct anaerobic culturing (DAC), hemo-culture (BACTEC), and lysis-centrifugation (LC)] and one molecular-based technique [quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)]. With culture any bacterial isolate was detected and quantified, while with qPCR only Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were detected and quantified. Descriptive analyses, ANOVA and Chi-squared tests, were performed. Neither BACTEC nor qPCR detected any type of bacteria in the blood samples. Only LC (2.7%) and DAC (8.3%) detected bacteraemia, although not in the same patients. Fusobacterium nucleatum was the most frequently detected bacterial species. The disparity in the results when the same samples were analyzed with four different microbiological detection methods highlights the need for a proper validation of the methodology to detect periodontal pathogens in bacteraemia samples, mainly when the presence of periodontal pathogens in blood samples after tooth brushing was very seldom.

Arthropod Surveillance Programs: Basic Components, Strategies, and Analysis.

PubMed

Cohnstaedt, Lee W; Rochon, Kateryn; Duehl, Adrian J; Anderson, John F; Barrera, Roberto; Su, Nan-Yao; Gerry, Alec C; Obenauer, Peter J; Campbell, James F; Lysyk, Tim J; Allan, Sandra A

2012-03-01

Effective entomological surveillance planning stresses a careful consideration of methodology, trapping technologies, and analysis techniques. Herein, the basic principles and technological components of arthropod surveillance plans are described, as promoted in the symposium "Advancements in arthropod monitoring technology, techniques, and analysis" presented at the 58th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in San Diego, CA. Interdisciplinary examples of arthropod monitoring for urban, medical, and veterinary applications are reviewed. Arthropod surveillance consists of the three components: 1) sampling method, 2) trap technology, and 3) analysis technique. A sampling method consists of selecting the best device or collection technique for a specific location and sampling at the proper spatial distribution, optimal duration, and frequency to achieve the surveillance objective. Optimized sampling methods are discussed for several mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) and ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). The advantages and limitations of novel terrestrial and aerial insect traps, artificial pheromones and kairomones are presented for the capture of red flour beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), small hive beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), and Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) respectively. After sampling, extrapolating real world population numbers from trap capture data are possible with the appropriate analysis techniques. Examples of this extrapolation and action thresholds are given for termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and red flour beetles.

Arthropod Surveillance Programs: Basic Components, Strategies, and Analysis

PubMed Central

Rochon, Kateryn; Duehl, Adrian J.; Anderson, John F.; Barrera, Roberto; Su, Nan-Yao; Gerry, Alec C.; Obenauer, Peter J.; Campbell, James F.; Lysyk, Tim J.; Allan, Sandra A.

2015-01-01

Effective entomological surveillance planning stresses a careful consideration of methodology, trapping technologies, and analysis techniques. Herein, the basic principles and technological components of arthropod surveillance plans are described, as promoted in the symposium “Advancements in arthropod monitoring technology, techniques, and analysis” presented at the 58th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in San Diego, CA. Interdisciplinary examples of arthropod monitoring for urban, medical, and veterinary applications are reviewed. Arthropod surveillance consists of the three components: 1) sampling method, 2) trap technology, and 3) analysis technique. A sampling method consists of selecting the best device or collection technique for a specific location and sampling at the proper spatial distribution, optimal duration, and frequency to achieve the surveillance objective. Optimized sampling methods are discussed for several mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) and ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). The advantages and limitations of novel terrestrial and aerial insect traps, artificial pheromones and kairomones are presented for the capture of red flour beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), small hive beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), and Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) respectively. After sampling, extrapolating real world population numbers from trap capture data are possible with the appropriate analysis techniques. Examples of this extrapolation and action thresholds are given for termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and red flour beetles. PMID:26543242

New Astrometric Limits on the Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darling, Jeremiah K.; Truebenbach, Alexandra; Paine, Jennie

2018-06-01

We present new limits on the low frequency (f < 10-8 Hz) stochastic gravitational wave background using correlated extragalactic proper motions. The familiar methods for gravitational wave detection are ground- and space-based laser interferometry, pulsar timing, and polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Astrometry offers an additional path to gravitational wave detection because gravitational waves deflect the light rays of extragalactic objects, creating apparent proper motions in a quadrupolar (and higher order modes) pattern. Astrometry is sensitive to gravitational waves with frequencies between roughly 10-18 Hz and 10-8 Hz (between H0 and 1/3 yr-1), which overlaps and bridges the pulsar timing and CMB polarization regimes. We present the methods and results of two complementary approaches to astrometric gravitational wave detection: (1) a small ~500-object radio interferometric sample with low per-source proper motion uncertainty but large intrinsic proper motions caused by radio jets, and (2) a thousand-fold larger sample with large per-source uncertainties that has small intrinsic proper motions (Gaia active galactic nuclei). Both approaches produce limits on ΩGW, the energy density of gravitational waves as a fraction of the cosmological critical energy density.The authors acknowledge support from the NSF grant AST-1411605 and the NASA grant 14-ATP14-0086.

[Prevalence of thyroid function in pregnant and lactating women in areas with different iodine levels of Shanxi province].

PubMed

Ren, Y T; Jia, Q Z; Zhang, X D; Guo, B S; Zhang, F F; Cheng, X T; Wang, Y P

2018-05-10

Objective: To investigate the effects of high iodine intake on thyroid function in pregnant and lactating women. Methods: A cross sectional epidemiological study was conducted among 130 pregnant women and 220 lactating women aged 19-40 years in areas with high environment iodine level (>300 μg/L) or proper environment iodine level (50-100 μg/L) in Shanxi in 2014. The general information, urine samples and blood samples of the women surveyed and water samples were collected. The water and urine iodine levels were detected with arsenic and cerium catalysis spectrophotometric method, the blood TSH level was detected with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, and thyroid stimulating hormone (FT(4)), antithyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) were detected with chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: The median urine iodine levels of the four groups were 221.9, 282.5, 814.1 and 818.6 μg/L, respectively. The median serum FT(4) of lactating women in high iodine area and proper iodine area were 12.96 and 13.22 pmol/L, and the median serum TSH was 2.45 and 2.17 mIU/L, respectively. The median serum FT(4) of pregnant women in high iodine area and proper iodine area were 14.66 and 16.16 pmol/L, and the median serum TSH was 2.13 and 1.82 mIU/L, respectively. The serum FT(4) levels were lower and the abnormal rates of serum TSH were higher in lactating women than in pregnant women in both high iodine area and proper iodine area, the difference was statistically significant (FT(4): Z =-6.677, -4.041, P <0.01; TSH: Z =8.797, 8.910, P <0.01). In high iodine area, the abnormal rate of serum FT(4) in lactating women was higher than that in pregnant women, the difference was statistically significant ( Z =7.338, P =0.007). The serum FT(4) level of lactating women in high iodine area was lower than that in proper iodine area, the difference was statistically significant ( Z =-4.687, P =0.000). In high iodine area, the median serum FT(4) in early pregnancy, mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy was 16.26, 14.22 and 14.80 pmol/L, respectively, and the median serum TSH was 1.74, 1.91 and 2.38 mIU/L, respectively. In high iodine area, the serum FT(4) level in early pregnancy was higher than that in mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy, and the serum TSH level was lower than that in mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy, the difference was statistically significant (FT(4): Z =-2.174, -2.238, P <0.05; TSH: Z =-2.985, -1.978, P <0.05). There were no significant differences in the positive rates of serum thyroid autoantibodies among the four groups of women and women in different periods of pregnancy ( P >0.05). The morbidity rates of subclinical hyperthyroidism in pregnant women and lactating women in high iodine area were obviously higher than those in proper iodine areas, the difference was statistically significant ( χ (2)=5.363, 5.007, P <0.05). Conclusions: Excessive iodine intake might increase the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women and lactating women. It is suggested to strengthen the iodine nutrition and thyroid function monitoring in women, pregnant women and lactating women in areas with high environmental iodine.

Novel infrastructure for sepsis biomarker research in critically ill neonates and children.

PubMed

Juskewitch, Justin E; Enders, Felicity T; Abraham, Roshini S; Huskins, W Charles

2013-02-01

Sepsis biomarker research requires an infrastructure to identify septic patients efficiently and to collect and store specimens properly. We developed a novel infrastructure to study biomarkers of sepsis in children. Patients in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units were enrolled prospectively; enrollment information was stored in a secure, remotely accessible database. Researchers were notified of electronic medical record (EMR) orders for blood cultures (a surrogate for a diagnostic evaluation of suspected sepsis) by a page triggered by the order. Staff confirmed patient enrollment and remotely submitted an EMR order for collection of study specimens simultaneous with the blood culture. Specimens were processed and stored by a mobile clinical research unit. Over 2 years, 2029 patients were admitted; 138 were enrolled. Staff received pages for 95% of blood cultures collected from enrolled patients. The median time between the blood culture order and collection was 34 minutes (range 9-241). Study specimens were collected simultaneously with 41 blood cultures. The median times between specimen collection and storage for flow cytometry and cytokine analysis were 33 minutes (range 0-82) and 52 minutes (range 28-98), respectively. This novel infrastructure facilitated prompt, proper collection and storage of specimens for sepsis biomarker analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Predicting water-to-cyclohexane partitioning of the SAMPL5 molecules using dielectric balancing of force fields.

PubMed

Paranahewage, S Shanaka; Gierhart, Cassidy S; Fennell, Christopher J

2016-11-01

Alchemical transformation of solutes using classical fixed-charge force fields is a popular strategy for assessing the free energy of transfer in different environments. Accurate estimations of transfer between phases with significantly different polarities can be difficult because of the static nature of the force fields. Here, we report on an application of such calculations in the SAMPL5 experiment that also involves an effort in balancing solute and solvent interactions via their expected static dielectric constants. This strategy performs well with respect to predictive accuracy and correlation with unknown experimental values. We follow this by performing a series of retrospective investigations which highlight the potential importance of proper balancing in these systems, and we use a null hypothesis analysis to explore potential biases in the comparisons with experiment. The collective findings indicate that considerations of force field compatibility through dielectric behavior is a potential strategy for future improvements in transfer processes between disparate environments.

Virus characterization and discovery in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

PubMed

Bodewes, Rogier; van Run, Peter R W A; Schürch, Anita C; Koopmans, Marion P G; Osterhaus, Albert D M E; Baumgärtner, Wolfgang; Kuiken, Thijs; Smits, Saskia L

2015-03-01

Detection and characterization of novel viruses is hampered frequently by the lack of properly stored materials. Especially for the retrospective identification of viruses responsible for past disease outbreaks, often only formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are available. Although FFPE tissues can be used to detect known viral sequences, the application of FFPE tissues for detection of novel viruses is currently unclear. In the present study it was shown that sequence-independent amplification in combination with next-generation sequencing can be used to detect sequences of known and unknown viruses, although with relatively low sensitivity. These findings indicate that this technique could be useful for detecting novel viral sequences in FFPE tissues collected from humans and animals with disease of unknown origin, when other samples are not available. In addition, application of this method to FFPE tissues allows to correlate with the presence of histopathological changes in the corresponding tissue sections. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estimation and quantification of human DNA in dental calculus: A pilot study.

PubMed

Singh, Udita; Goel, Saurabh

2017-01-01

Identification using DNA has proved its accuracy multiple times in the field of forensic investigations. Investigators usually rely on either teeth or bone as the DNA reservoirs. However, there are instances where the skeletal or dental remains are not available or not preserved properly. Moreover, due to religious beliefs, the family members of the dead do not allow the investigating team to damage the remains for the sole purpose of identification. To investigate the presence of human DNA in dental calculus and to quantify the amount, if present. This prospective single-blinded pilot study included twenty subjects selected from the patients visiting a dental college. The samples of dental calculus were collected from the thickest portion of calculus deposited on the lingual surfaces of mandibular incisors. These samples were decontaminated and subjected to gel electrophoresis for DNA extraction. DNA was found in 85% cases. The amount of DNA varied from 21 to 37 μg/ml of dental calculus. Dental calculus is a rich reservoir of human DNA.

Signal Peptide and Denaturing Temperature are Critical Factors for Efficient Mammalian Expression and Immunoblotting of Cannabinoid Receptors*

PubMed Central

WANG, Chenyun; WANG, Yingying; WANG, Miao; CHEN, Jiankui; YU, Nong; SONG, Shiping; KAMINSKI, Norbert E.; ZHANG, Wei

2013-01-01

Summary Many researchers employed mammalian expression system to artificially express cannabinoid receptors, but immunoblot data that directly prove efficient protein expression can hardly be seen in related research reports. In present study, we demonstrated cannabinoid receptor protein was not able to be properly expressed with routine mammalian expression system. This inefficient expression was rescued by endowing an exogenous signal peptide ahead of cannabinoid receptor peptide. In addition, the artificially synthesized cannabinoid receptor was found to aggregate under routine sample denaturing temperatures (i.e., ≥95°C), forming a large molecular weight band when analyzed by immunoblotting. Only denaturing temperatures ≤75°C yielded a clear band at the predicted molecular weight. Collectively, we showed that efficient mammalian expression of cannabinoid receptors need a signal peptide sequence, and described the requirement for a low sample denaturing temperature in immunoblot analysis. These findings provide very useful information for efficient mammalian expression and immunoblotting of membrane receptors. PMID:22528237

A socio-cognitive inquiry of excessive mobile phone use.

PubMed

Pourrazavi, Sara; Allahverdipour, Hamid; Jafarabadi, Mohammad Asghari; Matlabi, Hossein

2014-08-01

The study examined the predictive ability of selected demographic and socio-psychological characteristics in explaining excessive mobile phone use (EMPU) behavior and problematic use in a sample of university students on the basis of the social cognitive theory. The sample consisted of 476 randomly selected university students in Tabriz, Iran. The study was cross-sectional in nature. A researcher-designed questionnaire was used for the purpose of data collection. No causal inferences were drawn due to non-experimental nature of the study. It was found that having boyfriend/girlfriend increases the likelihood of EMPU while self-efficacy to avoid EMPU decreases it. Self-efficacy to avoid EMPU, self-regulation, observational learning, self-control, and attitude toward EMPU were predictors of mobile phone problematic use. The results provided a proper fit for a conceptual model of reciprocal determinism. Although social cognitive constructs may predict mobile phone problematic use, they are not useful in predicting the behavior of EMPU. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

45 CFR 153.350 - Risk adjustment data validation standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Risk adjustment data validation standards. 153.350... validation standards. (a) General requirement. The State, or HHS on behalf of the State, must ensure proper implementation of any risk adjustment software and ensure proper validation of a statistically valid sample of...

45 CFR 153.350 - Risk adjustment data validation standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Risk adjustment data validation standards. 153.350... validation standards. (a) General requirement. The State, or HHS on behalf of the State, must ensure proper implementation of any risk adjustment software and ensure proper validation of a statistically valid sample of...

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49 CFR 7.33 - Extension.

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2010-10-01

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

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Toward a common language for biobanking.

PubMed

Fransson, Martin N; Rial-Sebbag, Emmanuelle; Brochhausen, Mathias; Litton, Jan-Eric

2015-01-01

To encourage the process of harmonization, the biobank community should support and use a common terminology. Relevant terms may be found in general thesauri for medicine, legal instruments or specific glossaries for biobanking. A comparison of the use of these sources has so far not been conducted and would be a useful instrument to further promote harmonization and data sharing. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the preference of definitions important for sharing biological samples and data. Definitions for 10 terms -[human] biobank, sample/specimen, sample collection, study, aliquot, coded, identifying information, anonymised, personal data and informed consent-were collected from several sources. A web-based questionnaire was sent to 560 European individuals working with biobanks asking to select their preferred definition for the terms. A total of 123 people participated in the survey, giving a response rate of 23%. The result was evaluated from four aspects: scope of definitions, potential regional differences, differences in semantics and definitions in the context of ontologies, guided by comments from responders. Indicative from the survey is the risk of focusing only on the research aspect of biobanking in definitions. Hence, it is recommended that important terms should be formulated in such a way that all areas of biobanking are covered to improve the bridges between research and clinical application. Since several of the terms investigated here within can also be found in a legal context, which may differ between countries, establishing what is a proper definition on how it adheres to law is also crucial.

Does quality of drinking water matter in kidney stone disease: A study in West Bengal, India

PubMed Central

Mitra, Pubali; Pal, Dilip Kumar

2018-01-01

Purpose The combined interaction of epidemiology, environmental exposure, dietary habits, and genetic factors causes kidney stone disease (KSD), a common public health problem worldwide. Because a high water intake (>3 L daily) is widely recommended by physicians to prevent KSD, the present study evaluated whether the quantity of water that people consume daily is associated with KSD and whether the quality of drinking water has any effect on disease prevalence. Materials and Methods Information regarding residential address, daily volume of water consumption, and source of drinking water was collected from 1,266 patients with kidney stones in West Bengal, India. Drinking water was collected by use of proper methods from case (high stone prevalence) and control (zero stone prevalence) areas thrice yearly. Water samples were analyzed for pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solutes, electrical conductivity, and salinity. Average values of the studied parameters were compared to determine if there were any statistically significant differences between the case and control areas. Results We observed that as many as 53.6% of the patients consumed <3 L of water daily. Analysis of drinking water samples from case and control areas, however, did not show any statistically significant alterations in the studied parameters. All water samples were found to be suitable for consumption. Conclusions It is not the quality of water, rather the quantity of water consumed that matters most in the occurrence of KSD. PMID:29744472

Analysis of pesticide residues on museum objects repatriated to the Hupa tribe of California.

PubMed

Palmer, Peter T; Martin, Matthew; Wentworth, Gregory; Caldararo, Niccolo; Davis, Lee; Kane, Shawn; Hostler, David

2003-03-15

In the past, it was common practice for museum professionals and private collectors to apply a variety of pesticide agents to objects in their collections to preserve them from depredations by microorganisms, fungi, and other pests. The Native American Graves Repatriation and Protection Act allows federally recognized tribes to request that museums return objects taken from their ancestors. Given that poor records were kept on the treatment of individual objects, it is unknown whether specific objects are contaminated with these pesticide agents. Although chemical analysis represents the only reliable means to determine the types and levels of pesticides on these objects, surprisingly few publications document the extent of this contamination in museum collections. This paper reports on the determination of arsenic, mercury, and several organic pesticides on 17 objects that were recently repatriated to the Hupa tribe in northern California. Four samples were taken from each object: two for arsenic and mercury analysis via flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and two for organic pesticide analysis via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Percent levels (wt/wt) of mercury were detected on many samples, and 0.001 to 0.183% (wt/wt) levels of p-dichlorobenzene, naphthalene, thymol, lindane, and/or DDT were detected on many of the samples. These results indicate that Hupa tribal members should not wear these objects in religious ceremonies, proper precautions should be followed when dealing with potentially contaminated objects, and that more serious consideration should be given to this issue at a national level.

Species delimitation of the North American orchard-spider Leucauge venusta (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneae, Tetragnathidae).

PubMed

Ballesteros, Jesús A; Hormiga, Gustavo

2018-04-01

The orchard spider, Leucauge venusta (Walckenaer, 1841) is one of the most common and abundant orb-weavers in North America. This species has a broad geographic distribution extending across tropical and temperate regions of the Americas from Canada to Brazil. Guided by a preliminary observation of the barcode gap between sequences from specimens of L. venusta collected in Florida and other North American localities, we collected across a transect through the southeastern USA to investigate the observed genetic divide. The dataset, complemented with additional samples from Mexico, and Brazil was analyzed for species delimitation using STACEY and bGMYC based on sequences from one nuclear (ITS2) and one mitochondrial marker (COI). The analyses clearly separate USA samples into two deeply divergent and geographically structured groups (north-south) which we interpret as two different species. We generated ecological niche models for these two groups rejecting a niche equivalence hypothesis for these lineages. Taxonomic changes are proposed based on these findings, Leucauge venusta is restricted to denote the northern clade, and its known distribution restricted to the USA. Leucauge argyrobapta (White, 1841) is removed from synonymy to denote the populations in Florida, Mexico and Brazil. Although the delimitation analyses suggest each of these geographic clusters within the L. argyrobapta samples represent different species, more specimens from Central and South America are needed to properly test the cohesion of L. argyrobapta populations. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. The Catalog of Stellar Proper Motions toward the Magellanic Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poleski, R.; Soszyński, I.; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M. K.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzyński, G.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.; Ulaczyk, K.

2012-03-01

We present a catalog of over 6.2 million stars with measured proper motions. All these stars are observed in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds within the brightness range 12

Comprehensive outsourcing biobanking facility to serve the international research community.

PubMed

Diaferia, Giuseppe R; Biunno, Ida; DeBlasio, Pasquale

2011-06-01

The validity of results from biomarker studies using archived specimens depends on the integrity of the specimens and the manner in which they are collected, processed, and stored. The management of a huge amount of biomaterial generated from research studies and clinical trials is becoming a very demanding task and many organizations are facing the choice between in-house storage and processing and outsourcing some activities. Storage and logistic functions are the prime targets for outsourcing, because to sustain these critical assets organizations must have the expertise, the dedicated qualified personnel, the proper quality control programs, and available resources to fulfill the mandatory requirements to maintain the integrity of the samples. External biobanks are dedicated and certified infrastructures (ISO, GMP, etc.) that apply efficient logistic and shipping activities, use validated standard operating procedures, install appropriate monitoring back-up systems, and, most of all, have room for expansion. Thus, the choice between in-house biobanking and outsourcing cannot be exclusively based on a financial decision; it must also consider (i) type of collection/project, (ii) logistic complexity (number and locations of collection sites), (iii) safety requirements, (iv) functional expertise, and (v) business priorities.

Next generation offline approaches to trace organic compound speciation: Approaching comprehensive speciation with soft ionization and very high resolution tandem mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khare, P.; Marcotte, A.; Sheu, R.; Ditto, J.; Gentner, D. R.

2017-12-01

Intermediate- and semi-volatile organic compounds (IVOCs and SVOCs) have high secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yields, as well as significant ozone formation potentials. Yet, their emission sources and oxidation pathways remain largely understudied due to limitations in current analytical capabilities. Online mass spectrometers are able to collect real time data but their limited mass resolving power renders molecular level characterization of IVOCs and SVOCs from the unresolved complex mixture unfeasible. With proper sampling techniques and powerful analytical instrumentation, our offline tandem mass spectrometry (i.e. MS×MS) techniques provide molecular-level and structural identification over wide polarity and volatility ranges. We have designed a novel analytical system for offline analysis of gas-phase SOA precursors collected on custom-made multi-bed adsorbent tubes. Samples are desorbed into helium via a gradual temperature ramp and sample flow is split equally for direct-MS×MS analysis and separation via gas chromatography (GC). The effluent from GC separation is split again for analysis via atmospheric pressure chemical ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (APCI-Q×TOF) and traditional electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS). The compounds for direct-MS×MS analysis are delivered via a transfer line maintained at 70ºC directly to APCI-Q×TOF, thus preserving the molecular integrity of thermally-labile, or other highly-reactive, organic compounds. Both our GC-MS×MS and direct-MS×MS analyses report high accuracy parent ion masses as well as information on molecular structure via MS×MS, which together increase the resolution of unidentified complex mixtures. We demonstrate instrument performance and present preliminary results from urban atmospheric samples collected from New York City with a wide range of compounds including highly-functionalized organic compounds previously understudied in outdoor air. Our work offers new insights into emerging emission sources in urban environments that can have a major impact on public health and also improves understanding of anthropogenic SOA precursor emissions.

A Synopsis of Technical Issues of Concern for Monitoring Trace Elements in Highway and Urban Runoff

USGS Publications Warehouse

Breault, Robert F.; Granato, Gregory E.

2000-01-01

Trace elements, which are regulated for aquatic life protection, are a primary concern in highway- and urban-runoff studies because stormwater runoff may transport these constituents from the land surface to receiving waters. Many of these trace elements are essential for biological activity and become detrimental only when geologic or anthropogenic sources exceed concentrations beyond ranges typical of the natural environment. The Federal Highway Administration and State Transportation Agencies are concerned about the potential effects of highway runoff on the watershed scale and for the management and protection of watersheds. Transportation agencies need information that is documented as valid, current, and scientifically defensible to support planning and management decisions. There are many technical issues of concern for monitoring trace elements; therefore, trace-element data commonly are considered suspect, and the responsibility to provide data-quality information to support the validity of reported results rests with the data-collection agency. Paved surfaces are fundamentally different physically, hydraulically, and chemically from the natural surfaces typical of most freshwater systems that have been the focus of many traceelement- monitoring studies. Existing scientific conceptions of the behavior of trace elements in the environment are based largely upon research on natural systems, rather than on systems typical of pavement runoff. Additionally, the logistics of stormwater sampling are difficult because of the great uncertainty in the occurrence and magnitude of storm events. Therefore, trace-element monitoring programs may be enhanced if monitoring and sampling programs are automated. Automation would standardize the process and provide a continuous record of the variations in flow and water-quality characteristics. Great care is required to collect and process samples in a manner that will minimize potential contamination or attenuation of trace elements and other sources of bias and variability in the sampling process. Trace elements have both natural and anthropogenic sources that may affect the sampling process, including the sample-collection and handling materials used in many trace-element monitoring studies. Trace elements also react with these materials within the timescales typical for collection, processing and analysis of runoff samples. To study the characteristics and potential effects of trace elements in highway and urban runoff, investigators typically sample one or more operationally defined matrixes including: whole water, dissolved (filtered water), suspended sediment, bottom sediment, biological tissue, and contaminant sources. The sampling and analysis of each of these sample matrixes can provide specific information about the occurrence and distribution of trace elements in runoff and receiving waters. There are, however, technical concerns specific to each matrix that must be understood and addressed through use of proper collection and processing protocols. Valid protocols are designed to minimize inherent problems and to maximize the accuracy, precision, comparability, and representativeness of data collected. Documentation, including information about monitoring protocols, quality assurance and quality control efforts, and ancillary data also is necessary to establish data quality. This documentation is especially important for evaluation of historical traceelement monitoring data, because trace-element monitoring protocols and analysis methods have been constantly changing over the past 30 years.

7 CFR 58.244 - Number of samples.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Number of samples. 58.244 Section 58.244 Agriculture... Procedures § 58.244 Number of samples. As many samples shall be taken from each dryer production lot as is necessary to assure proper composition and quality control. A sufficient number of representative samples...

7 CFR 58.244 - Number of samples.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Number of samples. 58.244 Section 58.244 Agriculture... Procedures § 58.244 Number of samples. As many samples shall be taken from each dryer production lot as is necessary to assure proper composition and quality control. A sufficient number of representative samples...

A comparison between families obtained from different proper elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zappala, Vincenzo; Cellino, Alberto; Farinella, Paolo

1992-01-01

Using the hierarchical method of family identification developed by Zappala et al., the results coming from the data set of proper elements computed by Williams (about 2100 numbered + about 1200 PLS 2 asteroids) and by Milani and Knezevic (5.7 version, about 4200 asteroids) are compared. Apart from some expected discrepancies due to the different data sets and/or low accuracy of proper elements computed in peculiar dynamical zones, a good agreement was found in several cases. It follows that these high reliability families represent a sample which can be considered independent on the methods used for their proper elements computation. Therefore, they should be considered as the best candidates for detailed physical studies.

Part I--IEPS (Institute for the Study of Health Policies) reports. The proper function of teaching hospitals within health systems.

PubMed

1997-01-01

The main points of the discussions from the international seminar organised by the World Health Organisation and the Institute for the Study of Health Policies (IEPS) were published in French by Flammarion Medecine-Sciences in the Collection entitled "The IEPS Reports" and in English by the WHO under the title "The Proper Function of Teaching Hospitals within Health Systems" (1995).

SAGITTARIUS STREAM THREE-DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS FROM SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY STRIPE 82

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

Koposov, Sergey E.; Belokurov, Vasily; Evans, N. Wyn

2013-04-01

Using multi-epoch observations of the Stripe 82 region from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we measure precise statistical proper motions of the stars in the Sagittarius (Sgr) stellar stream. The multi-band photometry and SDSS radial velocities allow us to efficiently select Sgr members and thus enhance the proper-motion precision to {approx}0.1 mas yr{sup -1}. We measure separately the proper motion of a photometrically selected sample of the main-sequence turn-off stars, as well as spectroscopically selected Sgr giants. The data allow us to determine the proper motion separately for the two Sgr streams in the south found in Koposov etmore » al. Together with the precise velocities from SDSS, our proper motions provide exquisite constraints of the three-dimensional motions of the stars in the Sgr streams.« less

Is the Milky Way still breathing? RAVE-Gaia streaming motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrillo, I.; Minchev, I.; Kordopatis, G.; Steinmetz, M.; Binney, J.; Anders, F.; Bienaymé, O.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Famaey, B.; Freeman, K. C.; Gilmore, G.; Gibson, B. K.; Grebel, E. K.; Helmi, A.; Just, A.; Kunder, A.; McMillan, P.; Monari, G.; Munari, U.; Navarro, J.; Parker, Q. A.; Reid, W.; Seabroke, G.; Sharma, S.; Siebert, A.; Watson, F.; Wojno, J.; Wyse, R. F. G.; Zwitter, T.

2018-04-01

We use data from the Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) and the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS) catalogue to compute the velocity fields yielded by the radial (VR), azimuthal (Vϕ),and vertical (Vz) components of associated Galactocentric velocity. We search in particular for variation in all three velocity components with distance above and below the disc mid-plane, as well as how each component of Vz (line-of-sight and tangential velocity projections) modifies the obtained vertical structure. To study the dependence of velocity on proper motion and distance, we use two main samples: a RAVE sample including proper motions from the Tycho-2, PPMXL, and UCAC4 catalogues, and a RAVE-TGAS sample with inferred distances and proper motions from the TGAS and UCAC5 catalogues. In both samples, we identify asymmetries in VR and Vz. Below the plane, we find the largest radial gradient to be ∂VR/∂R = -7.01 ± 0.61 km s-1 kpc-1, in agreement with recent studies. Above the plane, we find a similar gradient with ∂VR/∂R = -9.42 ± 1.77 km s-1 kpc-1. By comparing our results with previous studies, we find that the structure in Vz is strongly dependent on the adopted proper motions. Using the Galaxia Milky Way model, we demonstrate that distance uncertainties can create artificial wave-like patterns. In contrast to previous suggestions of a breathing mode seen in RAVE data, our results support a combination of bending and breathing modes, likely generated by a combination of external or internal and external mechanisms.

Waste management in small hospitals: trouble for environment.

PubMed

Pant, Deepak

2012-07-01

Small hospitals are the grassroots for the big hospital structures, so proper waste management practices require to be initiated from there. Small hospitals contribute a lot in the health care facilities, but due to their poor waste management practices, they pose serious biomedical waste pollution. A survey was conducted with 13 focus questions collected from the 100 hospital present in Dehradun. Greater value of per day per bed waste was found among the small hospitals (178 g compared with 114 g in big hospitals), indicating unskilled waste management practices. Small hospitals do not follow the proper way for taking care of segregation of waste generated in the hospital, and most biomedical wastes were collected without segregation into infectious and noninfectious categories.

Ancient mortars from Cape Verde: mineralogical and physical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocha, Fernando; Costa, Cristiana; Velosa, Ana; Quintela, Ana; Terroso, Denise; Marques, Vera

2014-05-01

Times and locations of different building constructions means different knowledge, habits, different construction methods and materials. The study and safeguarding of the architectural heritage takes nowadays a progressive importance as a vehicle for transmission of cultures and history of nations. The coatings are of great importance in the durability of a building due to the protective role of the masonry. The compatibility between the materials with which they are executed (masonry, mortar and grout settlement) promotes the proper functioning of the wall and a consequent increase in durability. Therefore, it becomes important to study and characterize the mortar coating of buildings to know its characteristics and to use compatible materials in the rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings. This study aims to characterize the chemical, physical, mechanical and mineralogical mortar samples collected in buildings in three islands of Cape Verde, for the conservation, rehabilitation and preservation of them. The collected samples belong to buildings constructed in the end of XIX century and in the beginning of XX century. In order to characterize the mortar samples some tests was made, such as X-Ray Diffraction, X- Ray Fluorescence, acid attack and mechanical strength. The samples were divided into three groups depending on origin; so we have a first group collected on the island of Santiago, the second on the island of Saint Vincent and the third on the island of Santo Antao. The samples are all carbonated, but Santiago samples have a lower carbonates content. In terms of insoluble residue (from the acid attack) it was concluded that the samples have similar value ranging from 9 to 26%. The compressive strength of the mortars have a range between 1.36 and 4.55 MPa, which is related to the presence of more binder in samples with higher resistance. The chemical and mineralogical analyzes showed that these consist of lime mortars (binder), natural pozzolan and basaltic sands, which would be expected because these buildings are in a volcanic complex. The addition of pozzolans mortars confers resistance. It will be important in the conservation and maintenance of these buildings to use mortars with the same constituents of those proposed on this study, for greater durability of the coating of these buildings. These basic properties provide a basis for the development of adequate interventions, preserving the characteristics of the buildings.

Impact of illegal trade on the quality of epoetin alfa in Thailand.

PubMed

Fotiou, Fotis; Aravind, Suresh; Wang, Ping-Ping; Nerapusee, Osot

2009-02-01

Reports from the World Health Organization have suggested that counterfeit medicines pose a serious problem in developing countries. An investigation of anti-erythropoietin antibody-mediated pure red cell aplasia in Thailand found evidence of drug smuggling, which may have serious safety implications. This study assessed the authenticity and quality of epoetin alfa samples in Thailand. Samples of epoetin alfa-prefilled syringes were collected from the pharmacies at 2 major hospitals (62 samples), 8 retail pharmacies (41 samples), and Thai authorities (30 samples confiscated from smugglers at 2 airports, and 6 samples from a condominium used by smugglers). These samples were tested against the European Union Pharmacopeia specifications for aggregate content in epoetins of <2%. The integrity of epoetin alfa distribution channels, coldchain processes (maintenance at 2 degrees C-8 degrees C), primary and secondary packaging components (eg, batch number, expiration date, appearance, letter size), and company's confidential features (eg, nature of the ink, type and quality of the paper, other covered features) were also investigated. The main outcome measures were protein aggregate content, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting; and isoform distribution, assessed by isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. Epoetin alfa samples obtained from the company's cold-chain and authorized distribution channels met all quality standards, as did all epoetin alfa samples obtained from the hospital pharmacies. However, evidence showed that some samples were being smuggled or sold illegally through certain unauthorized retail pharmacies. The epoetin alfa samples obtained from both airports and the condominium were stored improperly at room temperature. Aggregate levels exceeded the specification of <2% in 11 samples from 2 of the retail pharmacies (range, 1.2%-3.1%), 15 samples from the Dongmuang Airport (range, 2.2%-17.0%), and all 6 samples from the condominium (range, 10.5%-19.8%). All samples from the 2 hospitals, 8 retail pharmacies, and Suvarnabhumi Airport had the authentic 6 isoform bands. Samples from Dongmuang Airport and the condominium appeared to have the 6 characteristic bands, but positive confirmation was difficult because of band smearing caused by a high level of aggregates. All features of primary and secondary packaging were found to be authentic. This investigation found evidence that some epoetin alfa samples were smuggled into Thailand without proper cold chain, contained high levels of protein aggregates, and were sold illegally through certain retail pharmacies. The Thai authorities have intervened to stop such unauthorized products from reaching patients. Strenuous efforts must be made to prevent illegal cross-border smuggling of biopharmaceuticals without proper cold chain because of the serious safety implications for patients in developing countries.

Healthcare waste generation and management practice in government health centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Tadesse, Menelik Legesse; Kumie, Abera

2014-11-25

Healthcare wastes are hazardous organic and inorganic wastes. The waste disposal management in Addis Ababa city is seen unscientific manner. The waste management practice in the health facilities are poor and need improvement. This study will help different organizations, stakeholders and policy makers to correct and improve the existing situation of healthcare waste legislation and enforcement and training of staff in the healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa. The study aimed to assess the existing generation and management practice of healthcare waste in selected government health centers of Addis Ababa. The cross-sectional study was conducted to quantify waste generation rate and evaluate its management system. The study area was Addis Ababa. The sample size was determined by simple random sampling technique, the sampling procedure involved 10 sub-cities of Addis Ababa. Data were collected using both waste collecting and measuring equipment and check list. The Data was entered by EPI INFO version 6.04d and analyzed by and SPSS for WINDOW version15. The mean (±SD) healthcare waste generation rate was 9.61 ± 3.28 kg/day of which (38%) 3.64 ± 1.45 kg/day was general or non-hazardous waste and (62%) 5.97 ± 2.31 kg/day was hazardous. The mean healthcare waste generation rate between health centers was a significant different with Kurskal-Wallis test (χ2 = 21.83, p-value = 0.009). All health centers used safety boxes for collection of sharp wastes and all health centers used plastic buckets without lid for collection and transportation of healthcare waste. Pre treatment of infectious wastes was not practiced by any of the health centers. All health centers used incinerators and had placenta pit for disposal of pathological waste however only seven out of ten pits had proper covering material. Segregation of wastes at point of generation with appropriate collection materials and pre- treatment of infectious waste before disposal should be practiced. Training should be given to healthcare workers and waste handlers. Incinerators must be constructed in a manner that facilitates complete combustion and the lining of placenta pit should be constructed in water tight material.

Hybrid approach combining chemometrics and likelihood ratio framework for reporting the evidential value of spectra.

PubMed

Martyna, Agnieszka; Zadora, Grzegorz; Neocleous, Tereza; Michalska, Aleksandra; Dean, Nema

2016-08-10

Many chemometric tools are invaluable and have proven effective in data mining and substantial dimensionality reduction of highly multivariate data. This becomes vital for interpreting various physicochemical data due to rapid development of advanced analytical techniques, delivering much information in a single measurement run. This concerns especially spectra, which are frequently used as the subject of comparative analysis in e.g. forensic sciences. In the presented study the microtraces collected from the scenarios of hit-and-run accidents were analysed. Plastic containers and automotive plastics (e.g. bumpers, headlamp lenses) were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and car paints were analysed using Raman spectroscopy. In the forensic context analytical results must be interpreted and reported according to the standards of the interpretation schemes acknowledged in forensic sciences using the likelihood ratio approach. However, for proper construction of LR models for highly multivariate data, such as spectra, chemometric tools must be employed for substantial data compression. Conversion from classical feature representation to distance representation was proposed for revealing hidden data peculiarities and linear discriminant analysis was further applied for minimising the within-sample variability while maximising the between-sample variability. Both techniques enabled substantial reduction of data dimensionality. Univariate and multivariate likelihood ratio models were proposed for such data. It was shown that the combination of chemometric tools and the likelihood ratio approach is capable of solving the comparison problem of highly multivariate and correlated data after proper extraction of the most relevant features and variance information hidden in the data structure. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microbiological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Vegetables Collected in Mexico City: Occurrence of Aerobic-Mesophilic Bacteria, Fecal Coliforms, and Potentially Pathogenic Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

PubMed Central

Cerna-Cortes, Jorge Francisco; Leon-Montes, Nancy; Cortes-Cueto, Ana Laura; Salas-Rangel, Laura P.; Helguera-Repetto, Addy Cecilia; Lopez-Hernandez, Daniel; Rivera-Gutierrez, Sandra; Fernandez-Rendon, Elizabeth; Gonzalez-y-Merchand, Jorge Alberto

2015-01-01

The aims of this study were to evaluate the microbiological quality and the occurrence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in a variety of salads and sprouts from supermarkets and street vendors in Mexico City. Aerobic-mesophilic bacteria (AMB) were present in 100% of RTE-salads samples; 59% of samples were outside guidelines range (>5.17 log10 CFU per g). Although fecal coliforms (FC) were present in 32% of samples, only 8% of them exceeded the permissible limit (100 MPN/g). Regarding the 100 RTE-sprouts, all samples were also positive for AMB and total coliforms (TC) and 69% for FC. Seven NTM species were recovered from 7 salad samples; they included three M. fortuitum, two M. chelonae, one M. mucogenicum, and one M. sp. Twelve RTE-sprouts samples harbored NTM, which were identified as M. porcinum (five), M. abscessus (two), M. gordonae (two), M. mucogenicum (two), and M. avium complex (one). Most RTE-salads and RTE-sprouts had unsatisfactory microbiological quality and some harbored NTM associated with illness. No correlation between the presence of coliforms and NTM was found. Overall, these results suggest that RTE-salads and RTE-sprouts might function as vehicles for NTM transmission in humans; hence, proper handling and treatment before consumption of such products might be recommendable. PMID:25918721

Microbiological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Vegetables Collected in Mexico City: Occurrence of Aerobic-Mesophilic Bacteria, Fecal Coliforms, and Potentially Pathogenic Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

PubMed

Cerna-Cortes, Jorge Francisco; Leon-Montes, Nancy; Cortes-Cueto, Ana Laura; Salas-Rangel, Laura P; Helguera-Repetto, Addy Cecilia; Lopez-Hernandez, Daniel; Rivera-Gutierrez, Sandra; Fernandez-Rendon, Elizabeth; Gonzalez-y-Merchand, Jorge Alberto

2015-01-01

The aims of this study were to evaluate the microbiological quality and the occurrence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in a variety of salads and sprouts from supermarkets and street vendors in Mexico City. Aerobic-mesophilic bacteria (AMB) were present in 100% of RTE-salads samples; 59% of samples were outside guidelines range (>5.17 log10 CFU per g). Although fecal coliforms (FC) were present in 32% of samples, only 8% of them exceeded the permissible limit (100 MPN/g). Regarding the 100 RTE-sprouts, all samples were also positive for AMB and total coliforms (TC) and 69% for FC. Seven NTM species were recovered from 7 salad samples; they included three M. fortuitum, two M. chelonae, one M. mucogenicum, and one M. sp. Twelve RTE-sprouts samples harbored NTM, which were identified as M. porcinum (five), M. abscessus (two), M. gordonae (two), M. mucogenicum (two), and M. avium complex (one). Most RTE-salads and RTE-sprouts had unsatisfactory microbiological quality and some harbored NTM associated with illness. No correlation between the presence of coliforms and NTM was found. Overall, these results suggest that RTE-salads and RTE-sprouts might function as vehicles for NTM transmission in humans; hence, proper handling and treatment before consumption of such products might be recommendable.

Space Network Time Distribution and Synchronization Protocol Development for Mars Proximity Link

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woo, Simon S.; Gao, Jay L.; Mills, David

2010-01-01

Time distribution and synchronization in deep space network are challenging due to long propagation delays, spacecraft movements, and relativistic effects. Further, the Network Time Protocol (NTP) designed for terrestrial networks may not work properly in space. In this work, we consider the time distribution protocol based on time message exchanges similar to Network Time Protocol (NTP). We present the Proximity-1 Space Link Interleaved Time Synchronization (PITS) algorithm that can work with the CCSDS Proximity-1 Space Data Link Protocol. The PITS algorithm provides faster time synchronization via two-way time transfer over proximity links, improves scalability as the number of spacecraft increase, lowers storage space requirement for collecting time samples, and is robust against packet loss and duplication which underlying protocol mechanisms provide.

Measurements of time-dependent CP violation in B0→ωKS0, f0(980)KS0, KS0π0 and K+K-KS0 decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chao, Y.; Chen, K.-F.; Miyake, H.; Tajima, O.; Trabelsi, K.; Abe, K.; Abe, K.; Adachi, I.; Aihara, H.; Anipko, D.; Bakich, A. M.; Barberio, E.; Bitenc, U.; Bizjak, I.; Blyth, S.; Bondar, A.; Bračko, M.; Browder, T. E.; Chang, M.-C.; Chang, P.; Chen, A.; Chen, W. T.; Cheon, B. G.; Chistov, R.; Choi, Y.; Choi, Y. K.; Cole, S.; Dalseno, J.; Danilov, M.; Dash, M.; Dragic, J.; Drutskoy, A.; Eidelman, S.; Fratina, S.; Gabyshev, N.; Golob, B.; Ha, H.; Haba, J.; Hara, K.; Hara, T.; Hastings, N. C.; Hayashii, H.; Hazumi, M.; Heffernan, D.; Higuchi, T.; Hokuue, T.; Hoshi, Y.; Hou, W.-S.; Hsiung, Y. B.; Iijima, T.; Ikado, K.; Inami, K.; Ishikawa, A.; Ishino, H.; Itoh, R.; Iwasaki, M.; Iwasaki, Y.; Kaji, H.; Kang, J. H.; Kapusta, P.; Kawai, H.; Kawasaki, T.; Kim, H. J.; Kim, H. O.; Kim, Y. J.; Kinoshita, K.; Korpar, S.; Križan, P.; Krokovny, P.; Kulasiri, R.; Kumar, R.; Kuo, C. C.; Kuzmin, A.; Kwon, Y.-J.; Lee, M. J.; Lesiak, T.; Limosani, A.; Lin, S.-W.; Liventsev, D.; Matsumoto, T.; McOnie, S.; Miyabayashi, K.; Miyata, H.; Miyazaki, Y.; Mizuk, R.; Mohapatra, D.; Moloney, G. R.; Nakahama, Y.; Nakano, E.; Nakao, M.; Natkaniec, Z.; Nishida, S.; Nitoh, O.; Ogawa, S.; Okuno, S.; Olsen, S. L.; Onuki, Y.; Ozaki, H.; Pakhlov, P.; Pakhlova, G.; Park, C. W.; Pestotnik, R.; Piilonen, L. E.; Sakai, Y.; Satoyama, N.; Schietinger, T.; Schneider, O.; Schwartz, A. J.; Seidl, R.; Senyo, K.; Sevior, M. E.; Shapkin, M.; Shibuya, H.; Singh, J. B.; Somov, A.; Soni, N.; Stanič, S.; Starič, M.; Stoeck, H.; Sumisawa, K.; Sumiyoshi, T.; Suzuki, S.; Takasaki, F.; Tamai, K.; Tanaka, M.; Taylor, G. N.; Teramoto, Y.; Tian, X. C.; Tikhomirov, I.; Tsukamoto, T.; Uehara, S.; Ueno, K.; Unno, Y.; Uno, S.; Ushiroda, Y.; Usov, Y.; Varner, G.; Varvell, K. E.; Villa, S.; Vinokurova, A.; Wang, C. H.; Watanabe, Y.; Won, E.; Yabsley, B. D.; Yamaguchi, A.; Yamashita, Y.; Yamauchi, M.; Yusa, Y.; Zhilich, V.; Zhulanov, V.; Zupanc, A.

2007-11-01

We present measurements of time-dependent CP asymmetries in B0→ωKS0, f0(980)KS0, KS0π0 and K+K-KS0 decays based on a sample of 535×106 BB¯ pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e+e- collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in one of the specified decay channels, and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. CP-violation parameters for each of the decay modes are obtained from the asymmetries in the distributions of the proper-time intervals between the two B decays.

75 FR 78340 - Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-15

.../search/index.jsp . Specifically address whether this information collection is necessary for proper... version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp... visit http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp . (Authority: 49 CFR 1.66) By Order of the Maritime...

76 FR 28845 - Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-18

... ./search/index.jsp. Specifically address whether this information collection is necessary for proper... version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.regulations.gov/search/index,jsp... visit http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp . Authority: 49 CFR 1.66. Dated: May 9, 2011. By Order...

76 FR 71996 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Protection and Enhancement of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-21

... proposal. The information collection applies to applicants seeking HUD financial assistance for their project proposals and is used by HUD for the performance of the Department's compliance with the National... the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have...

77 FR 5581 - Submission for Review: Financial Resources Questionnaire (RI 34-1, RI 34-17) and Notice of Amount...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-03

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Financial Resources Questionnaire (RI 34- 1... opportunity to comment on a revised information collection request (ICR) 3206-0167, Financial Resources... whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the...

78 FR 78969 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-27

... utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2... 1412 of the Affordable Care Act and 45 CFR part 155 subpart D, an Exchange makes an advance... the individual meets the income and other requirements for advance payments and the amount of the...

Proposed seed collection zones for the central states

Treesearch

Gustaf A. Limstrom

1963-01-01

Seed collection zones have been established in several regions and countries to insure that the sources of seed used in tree planting are properly selected. Use of such zones has undoubtedly improved the survival and growth of trees in plantations and has also facilitated the establishment of specifications for seed procurement and seed certification.

A New Kind of English: Cultural Variance, Citizenship and DiY Politics amongst the Exodus Collective in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackstone, Lee Robert

2005-01-01

This article addresses the construction of citizenship in contemporary England as a boundary between "proper" and "improper" English behavior. Through an ethnographic study of the Exodus Collective, a Rastafarian-anarchist community that was located north of London, I show that constructing citizenship also constructs…

78 FR 26613 - Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-07

... announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension for a currently... information is necessary for the proper performance of RBS functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RBS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of...

76 FR 75868 - Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-05

... announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension of a currently... requested is vital to RBS for prudent loan servicing, credit decisions, and reasonable program monitoring... the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of RBS...

76 FR 3677 - National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-20

....C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format..., and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the... request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the address section of this notice. DATES...

76 FR 64976 - Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Proposed Renewal of Existing Collection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-19

... requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is... respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is...-207). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office...

75 FR 20627 - National Endowment for the Arts; Proposed Collection: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-20

....C. 3506(c)(A)]. This program helps ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format..., and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the... request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the address section of this notice. DATES...

76 FR 14995 - Comment Request for Information Collection for Work-Flex Plan Submission and Reporting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

... ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial... requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is... Requirements. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the...

77 FR 13636 - Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-07

... requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is... respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting... Benefit Payments (CM-908). A copy of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the...

75 FR 72861 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-26

... establish qualifications of eligibility to receive voluntary physiological training with the U.S. Air Force and will be used as proper evidence of training. The information is collected from pilots and... Training AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In...

78 FR 73917 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-09

... training with the US Air Force and will be used as proper evidence of training. The information is collected from pilots and crewmembers for application to receive voluntary training. DATES: Written comments... Training AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments...

78 FR 57416 - Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Proposed Revision of Existing Collection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-18

... provides benefits to workers injured in maritime employment on the navigable waters of the United States or... vessel. In addition, several Acts extend the Longshore Act's benefits and procedures to certain other employees. The information collections in this package are necessary for proper administration of the...

76 FR 9579 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-18

... Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) Security Consent Form; Use: The primary function of the... proposed information collection for the proper performance of the Agency's function; (2) the accuracy of.... Form CMS-37 is the primary document used by CMS in developing the national Medicaid budget estimates...

77 FR 12901 - Data Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

... collections are necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, whether the burden estimates are accurate, and if there are ways to minimize the estimated burden and enhance the quality of... Business Administration (SBA) Form 159 is used by 7(a) lenders, Certified Development companies, and...

78 FR 48413 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Voluntary Self-Disclosure of Antiboycott...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

... Respondents: 15. Estimated Time per Response: 10 for medium-size companies; 600 hours for large-size companies... proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical... proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the...

77 FR 14572 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-12

... provide notice to the Commission and the marketplace that a public company will be unable to timely file a... et seq.). If all the filing conditions of the form are satisfied, the company is granted an automatic... proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency...

75 FR 69095 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Revision of an Existing Information Collection; Comment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-10

... necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency's, including whether the information... Status--For Academic and Language Students/ICE Form I- 20 (Students). 90,000 Certificate of 0.5 Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status--For Academic and Language Students/ICE Form I- 20 (Spouse...

78 FR 33077 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-03

.... DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 3, 2013. ADDRESSES: Comments... interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper... of academic subjects and their grasp of tangible and marketable vocational skills. [[Page 33078...

75 FR 28327 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Revenue Procedure 2001-24

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-20

... consent to change its method of accounting for cash advances on commissions paid to its agents must agree... information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records... for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall...

76 FR 14397 - Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-16

... collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3.... The Office of Adolescent Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working collaboratively to address the high pregnancy rate of women between the ages of 15-19 by demonstrating the...

75 FR 41214 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-15

... proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical.../Collection: Non-Immigrant Checkout Letter. (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of... abstract: Primary: Individual or Households. When an alien (other than one who is required to depart under...

Plastic Tubing and Maple Syrup Quality

Treesearch

Russell S. Walters; Harry W. Yawney

1978-01-01

Maple syrup made from sap collected using improperly or carelessly installed plastic pipelines varied more in color from day to day, and was more often darker in color, than sap collected from either the property installed pipeline or clean, frequently emptied galvanized buckets. Use of both properly installed tubing and buckets, following recommended procedures,...

75 FR 36479 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 1099-INT

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-25

... on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of... Code. The IRS uses the form to verify compliance with the reporting rules and to verify that the recipient has included the proper amount of interest on his or her income tax return. Current Actions: There...

78 FR 31632 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 1099-INT

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-24

... on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of... Code. The IRS uses the form to verify compliance with the reporting rules and to verify that the recipient has included the proper amount of interest on his or her income tax return. Current Actions: There...

The Effects of Data Collection Method and Monitoring of Workers’ Behavior on the Generation of Demolition Waste

PubMed Central

Cha, Gi-Wook; Kim, Young-Chan; Moon, Hyeun Jun; Hong, Won-Hwa

2017-01-01

The roles of both the data collection method (including proper classification) and the behavior of workers on the generation of demolition waste (DW) are important. By analyzing the effect of the data collection method used to estimate DW, and by investigating how workers’ behavior can affect the total amount of DW generated during an actual demolition process, it was possible to identify strategies that could improve the prediction of DW. Therefore, this study surveyed demolition waste generation rates (DWGRs) for different types of building by conducting on-site surveys immediately before demolition in order to collect adequate and reliable data. In addition, the effects of DW management strategies and of monitoring the behavior of workers on the actual generation of DW were analyzed. The results showed that when monitoring was implemented, the estimates of DW obtained from the DWGRs that were surveyed immediately before demolition and the actual quantities of DW reported by the demolition contractors had an error rate of 0.63% when the results were compared. Therefore, this study has shown that the proper data collection method (i.e., data were collected immediately before demolition) applied in this paper and monitoring on the demolition site have a significant impact on waste generation. PMID:29023378

Computation of Asteroid Proper Elements: Recent Advances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knežević, Z.

2017-12-01

The recent advances in computation of asteroid proper elements are briefly reviewed. Although not representing real breakthroughs in computation and stability assessment of proper elements, these advances can still be considered as important improvements offering solutions to some practical problems encountered in the past. The problem of getting unrealistic values of perihelion frequency for very low eccentricity orbits is solved by computing frequencies using the frequency-modified Fourier transform. The synthetic resonant proper elements adjusted to a given secular resonance helped to prove the existence of Astraea asteroid family. The preliminary assessment of stability with time of proper elements computed by means of the analytical theory provides a good indication of their poorer performance with respect to their synthetic counterparts, and advocates in favor of ceasing their regular maintenance; the final decision should, however, be taken on the basis of more comprehensive and reliable direct estimate of their individual and sample average deviations from constancy.

Knowledge of Good Blood Culture Sampling Practice among Healthcare Staffs in An Emergency Department - Are We Getting It Right?

PubMed

Chew, K S; Mohd Hashairi, F; Jusoh, A F; Aziz, A A; Nik Hisamuddin, N A R; Siti Asma, H

2013-08-01

Although a vital test, blood culture is often plagued with the problem of contamination and false results, especially in a chaotic emergency department setting. The objectives of this pilot study is to find out the level of understanding among healthcare staffs in emergency department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) regarding good blood culture sampling practice. All healthcare staffs in emergency department, HUSM who consented to this study were given a set of selfadministered anonymous questionnaire to fill. More than half (53.1%) of the 64 participants are emergency medicine residents. Majority of them (75%) have been working in the emergency medicine, HUSM for more than 2 years. More than half of them were able to answer correctly the amount of blood volume needed for culture in adult and pediatric patients. When asked what are the factors required to improve the true yield as well as to reduce the risk of culture contamination, the four commonest answers given were observing proper aseptic technique during blood sampling, donning sterile glove, proper hand scrubbing as well as ensuring the sterility of the equipments. This study suggests that there is a lack of proper knowledge of good blood culture sampling practice among our healthcare staffs in emergency department.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE LEVEL OF BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES, PUBLIC TOILETS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH HELMETS IN KIGALI CITY, RWANDA.

PubMed

Nigatu, W; Fabiola, N S; Flora, I J; Mukahirwa, M A; Omar, M; Nsengimana, J; Nsabimana, A

2014-12-01

The environments can be contaminated by infectious agents that constitute a major health hazards as sources of community and hospital-acquired infections due to various activities. A comparative study on the level of bacteriological contamination of automatic teller machines (ATMs), public toilets and commercial motorcycle crash helmets were conducted in Kigali city during the period of January to March, 2013. Samples were collected from selected ATMs, public toilets and commercial motorcycle crash helmets surfaces. Micro-organisms identified from these samples were associated to infecting organisms recovered from unwashed hands surfaces and recorded results in the nearby hospital. Samples from each device and subject were transported to the laboratory where they were analysed for the presence of coliforms and other airborne, human skin and intestinal disease causing microorganisms. Microbiological methods including spread plate techniques and some biochemical tests were used to partially identify the microorganisms. Subjects involved in this study were consented students from University of Rwanda and Kigali motorcyclists for collections of samples from hands and crash helmets respectively. The following pathogenic bacteria have been found on the devices, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas. The commercial motorcycle crash helmets had the highest level of bacteriological contamination compared to ATMs and public toilets. There was no growth observed on samples collected after treatment from ATMs, public toilets, and commercial motorcycle crash helmets. Attempt to correlate this finding with infecting organisms recovered from unwashed hands surfaces and recorded results in the nearby hospital show that the presences of some of these infectious pathogens. This study has revealed the ability of these public devices to serve as vehicle of transmission of microorganisms with serious health implications. To improve and ensure the safety of these public devices the use of disinfectants is of high importance on reducing bacteriological load on those public devices. Proper cleaning regimen to sanitise these facilities regularly and public education on their hygienic usage are recommended to reduce the associated risks.

The Source and Credibility of Colorectal Cancer Information on Twitter.

PubMed

Park, SoHyun; Oh, Heung-Kwon; Park, Gibeom; Suh, Bongwon; Bae, Woo Kyung; Kim, Jin Won; Yoon, Hyuk; Kim, Duck-Woo; Kang, Sung-Bum

2016-02-01

Despite the rapid penetration of social media in modern life, there has been limited research conducted on whether social media serves as a credible source of health information. In this study, we propose to identify colorectal cancer information on Twitter and assess its informational credibility. We collected Twitter messages containing colorectal cancer-related keywords, over a 3-month period. A review of sample tweets yielded content and user categorization schemes. The results of the sample analysis were applied to classify all collected tweets and users, using a machine learning technique. The credibility of the information in the sampled tweets was evaluated. A total of 76,119 tweets were analyzed. Individual users authored the majority of tweets (n = 68,982, 90.6%). They mostly tweeted about news articles/research (n = 16,761, 22.0%) and risk/prevention (n = 14,767, 19.4%). Medical professional users generated only 2.0% of total tweets (n = 1509), and medical institutions rarely tweeted (n = 417, 0.6%). Organizations tended to tweet more about information than did individuals (85.2% vs 63.1%; P < 0.001). Credibility analysis of medically relevant sample tweets revealed that most were medically correct (n = 1763, 84.5%). Among those, more frequently retweeted tweets contained more medically correct information than randomly selected tweets (90.7% vs 83.2%; P < 0.01). Our results demonstrate an interest in and an engagement with colorectal cancer information from a large number and variety of users. Coupled with the Internet's potential to increase social support, Twitter may contribute to enhancing public health and empowering users, when used with proper caution.