Performance testing of a semi-automatic card punch system, using direct STR profiling of DNA from blood samples on FTA™ cards.

PubMed

Ogden, Samantha J; Horton, Jeffrey K; Stubbs, Simon L; Tatnell, Peter J

2015-01-01

The 1.2 mm Electric Coring Tool (e-Core™) was developed to increase the throughput of FTA(™) sample collection cards used during forensic workflows and is similar to a 1.2 mm Harris manual micro-punch for sampling dried blood spots. Direct short tandem repeat (STR) DNA profiling was used to compare samples taken by the e-Core tool with those taken by the manual micro-punch. The performance of the e-Core device was evaluated using a commercially available PowerPlex™ 18D STR System. In addition, an analysis was performed that investigated the potential carryover of DNA via the e-Core punch from one FTA disc to another. This contamination study was carried out using Applied Biosystems AmpflSTR™ Identifiler™ Direct PCR Amplification kits. The e-Core instrument does not contaminate FTA discs when a cleaning punch is used following excision of discs containing samples and generates STR profiles that are comparable to those generated by the manual micro-punch. © 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Estimation of Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel AISI 410 by Small-Punch Testing (Erickson Test)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, A.-P.

2014-07-01

The small-punch testing (SPT) method is used for determining the mechanical properties of AISI 410 (0.14% C, 12% Cr) stainless steel. A thin disc-shaped specimen with known mechanical properties is pressed with a small ball until the appearance of cracks in the former. The load - displacement curves are recorded. Computation of the yield strength and fracture energy by the curve obtained and by known formulas shows good convergence with the characteristics obtained by standard testing.

Task Identification and Evaluation System (TIES)

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-08-01

Caliorate A N/AVh-11A- iUD -test -sets 127. Calibrate AN/AWII1-55 ASCU test setsI - 128. Calibrate 5001L11 tally punched tape readersI- 129. Perform...11AKHbD test sets -- 132. ?erform fault isolation of U4/AWN-55 ASCU -test sets -- 133. Perform fault isolation of 500 R.M tally punched tape I...AIN/AVM1-11A HfLM test sets- 137. Perf-orm self-tests of AL%/AWL-S5 ASCU test sets G. !MAI.T.T!ING A-7D_ ANUAL TEST SETS 138. Adjust SM-661/AS-388air

Accelerated aging, natural aging, and small punch testing of gamma-air sterilized polycarbonate urethane acetabular components.

PubMed

Kurtz, S M; Siskey, R; Reitman, M

2010-05-01

The objectives of this study were three-fold: (1) to determine the applicability of the small punch test to characterize Bionate 80A polycarbonate urethane (PCU) acetabular implants; (2) to evaluate the susceptibility of PCU acetabular implants to exhibit degradation of mechanical behavior following gamma irradiation in air and accelerated aging; and (3) to compare the oxidation of gamma-air sterilized PCU following accelerated aging and 5 years of natural shelf aging. In addition to attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we also adapted a miniature specimen mechanical test, the small punch test, for the deformable PCU cups. Accelerated aging was performed using ASTM F2003, a standard test that represents a severe oxidative challenge. The results of this study suggest that the small punch test is sufficiently sensitive and reproducible to discriminate slight differences in the large-deformation mechanical behavior of Bionate 80A following accelerated aging. The gamma-air sterilized PCU had a reduction of 9% in ultimate load after aging. Five years of shelf aging had little effect on the mechanical properties of the PCU. Overall, our findings suggest that the Bionate 80A material has greater oxidative stability than ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene following gamma irradiation in air and exposure to a severe oxidative challenge. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Physiological profile of a professional boxer preparing for Title Bout: A case study.

PubMed

Halperin, Israel; Hughes, Steven; Chapman, Dale W

2016-10-01

This study aimed to (1) profile a professional boxer (23 years and 80 kg) with boxing-specific, muscle function, aerobic capacity and body composition tests, and (2) quantify how these measures varied during an 8-week preparation phase leading to, and post a state-Title Bout fought in the 76.2-kg class. A series of boxing-specific and muscle function tests were completed on 11 occasions: 9 prior and twice after the bout, each separated by approximately 2 weeks. The boxing test included 36 maximal punches (9 of each: lead and rear straights, lead and rear hooks) to a punching integrator measuring forces and velocity. Muscle function tests included countermovement jump, drop-jumps, isometric mid-thigh pull and isometric bench-press. Body composition was assessed using skin-fold measurements on three occasions and one dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Aerobic capacity was assessed using 2 VO2 max tests. Leading up to the bout, performance decreased in isometric mid-thigh pull (8%), isometric bench-press (5%), countermovement jump (15%) and impact forces in 3 of 4 punches (4%-7%). Whereas measures of dynamic and isometric muscle function remained depressed or unchanged post competition, punching forces (6%-15%) and aerobic power (6%) increased. Data suggest the athlete may have super-compensated following rest as fatigue dissipated and further adaptation occurred.

Assessment of the Critical Parameters Influencing the Edge Stretchability of Advanced High-Strength Steel Sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathak, N.; Butcher, C.; Worswick, M.

2016-11-01

The edge formability of ferritic-martensitic DP (dual-phase) and ferritic-bainitic CP (complex-phase) steels was evaluated using a hole expansion test for different edge conditions. Hole expansion tests involving the standard conical punch as well as a custom flat punch were performed to investigate formability when the hole is expanded out-of-plane (conical punch) and in-plane using the flat punch. A range of edge conditions were considered, in order to isolate the influence of a range of factors thought to influence edge formability. The results demonstrate that work hardening and void damage at the sheared edge govern formability, while the sheared surface quality plays a minor or secondary role. A comparison of the edge stretching limits of DP and CP steels demonstrates the advantages of a ferritic-bainitic microstructure for forming operations with severe local deformation as in a stretch-flanging operation. A comparison of a traditional DP780 steel with a CP steel of similar strength showed that the edge stretching limit of the CP steel was three times larger than that of the DP780.

Cytopathology of parasitic dermatitis in dogs.

PubMed

Sood, N K; Mekkib, Berhanu; Singla, L D; Gupta, K

2012-04-01

Out of 44 cases of dermatitis in dogs, 11 cases of parasitic origin were analyzed by cytopathology. Histopathologic examination of punch biopsies was also done for correlation with cytologic findings. Sarcoptic dermatitis was recorded in six cases, wherein, besides sarcoptic mites, neutrophils, macrophages, and plasma cells and keratinizing epithelial cells were also seen. Hematology revealed a relative neutrophilia and mild eosinophilia. Four cases of severe and generalized demodicosis complicated with bacteria and/or Malassezia sp. infection were also recorded. Histopathologically numerous Demodex sp. mites in varying stage of maturation were found damaging the hair follicles along with associated pathological changes and foreign body granulomas in one case. In addition, flea allergy dermatitis was also observed in one dog. In nutshell, cytology was found to be unequivocally effective in diagnosing parasitic dermatitis.

Investigating the effect of tablet thickness and punch curvature on density distribution using finite elements method.

PubMed

Diarra, Harona; Mazel, Vincent; Busignies, Virginie; Tchoreloff, Pierre

2015-09-30

Finite elements method was used to study the influence of tablet thickness and punch curvature on the density distribution inside convex faced (CF) tablets. The modeling of the process was conducted on 2 pharmaceutical excipients (anhydrous calcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose) by using Drucker-Prager Cap model in Abaqus(®) software. The parameters of the model were obtained from experimental tests. Several punch shapes based on industrial standards were used. A flat-faced (FF) punch and 3 convex faced (CF) punches (8R11, 8R8 and 8R6) with a diameter of 8mm were chosen. Different tablet thicknesses were studied at a constant compression force. The simulation of the compaction of CF tablets with increasing thicknesses showed an important change on the density distribution inside the tablet. For smaller thicknesses, low density zones are located toward the center. The density is not uniform inside CF tablets and the center of the 2 faces appears with low density whereas the distribution inside FF tablets is almost independent of the tablet thickness. These results showed that FF and CF tablets, even obtained at the same compression force, do not have the same density at the center of the compact. As a consequence differences in tensile strength, as measured by diametral compression, are expected. This was confirmed by experimental tests. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of G-Coat Plus on the mechanical properties of glass-ionomer cements.

PubMed

Bagheri, R; Taha, N A; Azar, M R; Burrow, M F

2013-12-01

Although various mechanical properties of tooth-coloured materials have been described, little data have been published on the effect of ageing and G-Coat Plus on the hardness and strength of the glass-ionomer cements (GICs). Specimens were prepared from one polyacid-modified resin composite (PAMRC; Freedom, SDI), one resin-modified glass-ionomer cement; (RM-GIC; Fuji II LC, GC), and one conventional glass-ionomer cement; (GIC; Fuji IX, GC). GIC and RM-GIC were tested both with and without applying G-Coat Plus (GC). Specimens were conditioned in 37 °C distilled water for either 24 hours, four and eight weeks. Half the specimens were subjected to a shear punch test using a universal testing machine; the remaining half was subjected to Vickers Hardness test. Data analysis showed that the hardness and shear punch values were material dependent. The hardness and shear punch of the PAMRC was the highest and GIC the lowest. Applying the G-Coat Plus was associated with a significant decrease in the hardness of the materials but increase in the shear punch strength after four and eight weeks. The mechanical properties of the restorative materials were affected by applying G-Coat Plus and distilled water immersion over time. The PAMRC was significantly stronger and harder than the RM-GIC or GIC. © 2013 Australian Dental Association.

Effects of Polarization on Mechanical Properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramics Evaluated by Modified Small Punch Tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Qihuang; Fan, Yuchi; Wang, Lianjun; Xiong, Zhi; Wang, Hongzhi; Li, Yaogang; Zhang, Qinghong; Kawasaki, Akira; Jiang, Wan

2012-01-01

Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ceramics were prepared by the conventional mixed oxide method, and the strength of the resultant PZT ceramics was evaluated using modified small punch (MSP) tests. Load-displacement curve test results showed that the crack-initiation and fracture strengths of PZT ceramics decreased after polarization. The effect of the polarization accelerated the fatigue properties of PZT ceramics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that microcracks were formed before the maximum load in the MSP test, and the first load drop corresponded to crack initiation.

Strength and Power Qualities Are Highly Associated With Punching Impact in Elite Amateur Boxers.

PubMed

Loturco, Irineu; Nakamura, Fabio Y; Artioli, Guilherme G; Kobal, Ronaldo; Kitamura, Katia; Cal Abad, Cesar C; Cruz, Igor F; Romano, Felipe; Pereira, Lucas A; Franchini, Emerson

2016-01-01

This study investigated the relationship between punching impact and selected strength and power variables in 15 amateur boxers from the Brazilian National Team (9 men and 6 women). Punching impact was assessed in the following conditions: 3 jabs starting from the standardized position, 3 crosses starting from the standardized position, 3 jabs starting from a self-selected position, and 3 crosses starting from a self-selected position. For punching tests, a force platform (1.02 × 0.76 m) covered by a body shield was mounted on the wall at a height of 1 m, perpendicular to the floor. The selected strength and power variables were vertical jump height (in squat jump and countermovement jump), mean propulsive power in the jump squat, bench press (BP), and bench throw, maximum isometric force in squat and BP, and rate of force development in the squat and BP. Sex and position main effects were observed, with higher impact for males compared with females (p ≤ 0.05) and the self-selected distance resulting in higher impact in the jab technique compared with the fixed distance (p ≤ 0.05). Finally, the correlations between strength/power variables and punching impact indices ranged between 0.67 and 0.85. Because of the strong associations between punching impact and strength/power variables (e.g., lower limb muscle power), this study provides important information for coaches to specifically design better training strategies to improve punching impact.

Effect of punch tip geometry and embossment on the punch tip adherence of a model ibuprofen formulation.

PubMed

Roberts, Matthew; Ford, James L; MacLeod, Graeme S; Fell, John T; Smith, George W; Rowe, Philip H; Dyas, A Mark

2004-07-01

The sticking of a model ibuprofen-lactose formulation with respect to compaction force, punch tip geometry and punch tip embossment was assessed. Compaction was performed at 10, 25 or 40 kN using an instrumented single-punch tablet press. Three sets of 'normal' concave punches were used to evaluate the influence of punch curvature and diameter. The punches were 10, 11 and 12 mm in diameter, respectively. The 10-mm punch was embossed with a letter 'A' logo to assess the influence of an embossment on sticking. Flat-faced punches (12.5 mm) were used for comparison with the concave tooling. Surface profiles (Taylor Hobson Talysurf 120) of the upper punch faces were obtained to evaluate the surface quality of the tooling used. Following compaction, ibuprofen attached to the upper punch face was quantified by spectroscopy. Increasing punch curvature from flat-faced punches to concave decreased sticking. Altering punch diameter of the concave punches had no effect on sticking when expressed as microg mm(-2). The embossed letter 'A' logo increased sticking considerably owing to the probable concentration of shear stresses at the lateral faces of the embossed logo.

Studies on Punching Shear Resistance of Two Way Slab Specimens with Partial Replacement of Cement by GGBS with Different Edge Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nemani, Ravi Dakshina Murthy; Rao, M. V. S.; Grandhe, Veera Venkata Satya Naranyana

2016-09-01

The present work is an effort to quantify the punching shear load resistance effect on two way simply supported slab specimens with replacement of cement by Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) with different edge conditions at various replacement levels and evaluate its efficiency. GGBS replacement has emerged as a major alternative to conventional concrete and has rapidly drawn the concrete industry attention due to its cement savings, cost savings, environmental and socio-economic benefits. The two way slab specimens were subjected to punching shear load by in house fabricated apparatus. The slab specimens were cast using M30 grade concrete with HYSD bars. The cement was partially replaced with GGBS at different percentages i.e., 0 to 30 % at regular intervals of 10 %. The test results indicate that the two way slab specimens with partial replacement of cement by GGBS exhibit high resistance against punching shear when compared with conventional concretes slab specimens.

Biomechanics of head injury in olympic taekwondo and boxing.

PubMed

Fife, G P; O'Sullivan, D; Pieter, W

2013-12-01

The purpose was to examine differences between taekwondo kicks and boxing punches in resultant linear head acceleration (RLA), head injury criterion (HIC15), peak head velocity, and peak foot and fist velocities. Data from two existing publications on boxing punches and taekwondo kicks were compared. For taekwondo head impacts a Hybrid II Crash Dummy (Hybrid II) head was instrumented with a tri-axial accelerometer mounted inside the Hybrid II head. The Hybrid II was fixed to a height-adjustable frame and fitted with a protective taekwondo helmet. For boxing testing, a Hybrid III Crash Dummy head was instrumented with an array of tri-axial accelerometers mounted at the head centre of gravity. Differences in RLA between the roundhouse kick (130.11±51.67 g) and hook punch (71.23±32.19 g, d = 1.39) and in HIC15 (clench axe kick: 162.63±104.10; uppercut: 24.10±12.54, d = 2.29) were observed. Taekwondo kicks demonstrated significantly larger magnitudes than boxing punches for both RLA and HIC.

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

Ellen M. Rabenberg; Brian J. Jaques; Bulent H. Sencer

The mechanical properties of AISI 304 stainless steel irradiated for over a decade in the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-II) were measured using miniature mechanical testing methods. The shear punch method was used to evaluate the shear strengths of the neutron-irradiated steel and a correlation factor was empirically determined to predict its tensile strength. The strength of the stainless steel slightly decreased with increasing irradiation temperature, and significantly increased with increasing dose until it saturated above approximately 5 dpa. Ferromagnetic measurements were used to observe and deduce the effects of the stress-induced austenite to martensite transformation as a result of shearmore » punch testing.« less

21 CFR 882.4750 - Skull punch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Skull punch. 882.4750 Section 882.4750 Food and... NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Surgical Devices § 882.4750 Skull punch. (a) Identification. A skull punch is a device used to punch holes through a patient's skull to allow fixation of cranioplasty plates or...

Design study of the geometry of the blanking tool to predict the burr formation of Zircaloy-4 sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Jisun; Lee, Hyungyil; Kim, Dongchul; Kim, Naksoo

2013-12-01

In this work, we investigated factors that influence burr formation for zircaloy-4 sheet used for spacer grids of nuclear fuel roads. Factors we considered are geometric factors of punch. We changed clearance and velocity in order to consider the failure parameters, and we changed shearing angle and corner radius of L-shaped punch in order to consider geometric factors of punch. First, we carried out blanking test with failure parameter of GTN model using L-shaped punch. The tendency of failure parameters and geometric factors that affect burr formation by analyzing sheared edges is investigated. Consequently, geometric factor's influencing on the burr formation is also high as failure parameters. Then, the sheared edges and burr formation with failure parameters and geometric factors is investigated using FE analysis model. As a result of analyzing sheared edges with the variables, we checked geometric factors more affect burr formation than failure parameters. To check the reliability of the FE model, the blanking force and the sheared edges obtained from experiments are compared with the computations considering heat transfer.

BIOMECHANICS OF HEAD INJURY IN OLYMPIC TAEKWONDO AND BOXING

PubMed Central

Fife, G.P.; Pieter, W.

2013-01-01

Objective The purpose was to examine differences between taekwondo kicks and boxing punches in resultant linear head acceleration (RLA), head injury criterion (HIC15), peak head velocity, and peak foot and fist velocities. Data from two existing publications on boxing punches and taekwondo kicks were compared. Methods For taekwondo head impacts a Hybrid II Crash Dummy (Hybrid II) head was instrumented with a tri-axial accelerometer mounted inside the Hybrid II head. The Hybrid II was fixed to a height-adjustable frame and fitted with a protective taekwondo helmet. For boxing testing, a Hybrid III Crash Dummy head was instrumented with an array of tri-axial accelerometers mounted at the head centre of gravity. Results Differences in RLA between the roundhouse kick (130.11±51.67 g) and hook punch (71.23±32.19 g, d = 1.39) and in HIC15 (clench axe kick: 162.63±104.10; uppercut: 24.10±12.54, d = 2.29) were observed. Conclusions Taekwondo kicks demonstrated significantly larger magnitudes than boxing punches for both RLA and HIC. PMID:24744497

Experiments and FE-simulations of stretch flanging of DP-steels with different shear cut edge quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sigvant, M.; Falk, J.; Pilthammar, J.

2017-09-01

Dual-Phase (DP) steels are today used in the automotive industry due to its large strength to weight ratio. However, the high strength of DP-steel does have a negative impact on the general formability in sheet metal forming. Unfavourable process conditions in the press shop will, on top of this, reduce the formability of DP-steels even more. This paper addresses the problem of edge fracture in stretch flanges in sheet metal parts made of DP-steel. The experimental part involves tests of ten different DP590 and DP780 steel grades with three different shear cut qualities. The influence on the fracture strain of the sample orientation of the shear cut are also studied by facing the burr away or towards the punch and testing samples with the cut edge parallel with the rolling direction and the transverse direction. The strains are measured with an ARAMIS system in each test, together with punch displacement and punch force. All tests are then simulated with AutoFormplus R7 and the results from these simulations are compared with the experimental results in order to find the appropriate failure strain for each combination of supplier, coating, thickness and shear cut quality.

Powder properties and compaction parameters that influence punch sticking propensity of pharmaceuticals.

PubMed

Paul, Shubhajit; Taylor, Lisa J; Murphy, Brendan; Krzyzaniak, Joseph F; Dawson, Neil; Mullarney, Matthew P; Meenan, Paul; Sun, Changquan Calvin

2017-04-15

Punch sticking is a frequently occurring problem that challenges successful tablet manufacturing. A mechanistic understanding of the punch sticking phenomenon facilitates the design of effective strategies to solve punch sticking problems of a drug. The first step in this effort is to identify process parameters and particle properties that can profoundly affect sticking performance. This work was aimed at elucidating the key material properties and compaction parameters that influence punch sticking by statistically analyzing punch sticking data of 24 chemically diverse compounds obtained using a set of tooling with removable upper punch tip. Partial least square (PLS) analysis of the data revealed that particle surface area and tablet tensile strength are the most significant factors attributed to punch sticking. Die-wall pressure, ejection force, and take-off force also correlate with sticking, but to a lesser extent. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the hadronic background in the identification of muons

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

Leuchs, Reinhard

1982-10-01

A 2 /times/ 2 m/sup 2/-sized prototype of the muon detector for the UA1 experiment at the pp storage ring of the European Nuclear Research Center CERN was tested in a negative pion beam with 10 GeV/c momentum. The muon detector consists of drift tubes with an optimized, simple electric field configuration. The spatial resolution of the drift tubes lies between 0.2 and 0.3 mm for perpendicular particle incidence, and decreases up to 1 mm for an incidence angle of 60/degree/. Non-linearities in the location-time relation are explainable from the shape of the electric field. The hadronic punch-through was studiedmore » in connection with the calorimeters of the UA1 experiment. This punch-through forms a strong source of background in muon identification. In the momentum range from 2 GeV/c to 10 GeV/c and an equivalent calorimeter thickness of 102 cm of iron the probability for hadronic punch-through W/sub h/ is described. W/sub h/ is taken with respect to an incident pion. By inserting additional calorimeters, each equivalent to 24.3 cm of iron, the punch-through is reduced by a factor of 1/3. Only at high particle momenta above 5 GeV/c does the information from the calorimeters make punch-through suppression possible. At lower momenta in the range of 2 to 3 GeV/c an angle cut for the tracks in the muon detector as reconstructed in two projections is very effective. This suppresses the punch-through by a factor of 20 to 50, without losing more than 5% of the muons with a momentum greater than 10 GeV/c. 36 refs., 46 figs., 5 tabs.« less

Measuring the force of punches and kicks among combat sport athletes using a modified punching bag with an embedded accelerometer.

PubMed

Buśko, Krzysztof; Staniak, Zbigniew; Szark-Eckardt, Mirosława; Nikolaidis, Pantelis Theodoros; Mazur-Różycka, Joanna; Łach, Patrycja; Michalski, Radosław; Gajewski, Jan; Górski, Michał

2016-01-01

The main aim of the study was to design a new system to measure punching and kicking forces as well as reaction times in combat sport athletes. In addition, the study examined whether there were any intergender differences in the force of punches thrown by boxers and kicking forces delivered by taekwondo athletes. Boxers (male, n = 13; female, n = 7) were examined for the force of single straight punches and taekwondo athletes (male, n = 14; female, n = 14) for force of single Apdolio and Dwit Chagi kicks. The punching bag was equipped with acceleration transducers and gyroscopes embedded in a cylinder covered with a layer to absorb shock as well as a set of colour signal diodes. Value of the punching bag's acceleration was used for calculating: strike force; the punching location on the bag; and time of a strike. The relative error of force calculation was 3%; the relative error in acceleration measurement was less than 1%. The force of a straight rear-hand punch was greater than the force of a lead-hand punch among male and female boxers. The force of Apdolio kick delivered with a rear leg was greater compared to a lead leg among female and male taekwondo athletes. Significant gender differences were noticed in the force in both types of kicks. In boxers, intergender differences were reported only for the force of a punch thrown with the rear hand. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the modified punching bag is a good diagnostic tool for combat sports.

Studies in Cup Drawing Behavior of Polymer Laminated Sheet Metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elnagmi, M.; Jain, M.; Bruhis, M.; Nielsen, K.

2011-08-01

Axisymmetric deep drawing behavior of a polymer laminated sheet metal (PLSM) is investigated using an axisymmetric cup drawing test. PLSMs are of interest as a replacement for painted finishes for automotive applications as they have the potential to achieve good quality long lasting and aesthetically appealing surfaces on stamped parts. However, there is limited understanding of PLSMs in automotive deep drawing situations to produce complex 3-D parts. The tests are carried out using well-controlled, laboratory-based, dual-action, servo-hydraulic forming presses under blank-holder force and punch displacement control conditions. An optical strain mapping system is used to measure the surface strains (and to construct 3D strain maps) from the film side of the deformed samples for a range of forming conditions. Deep drawing characteristics such as punch load versus punch displacement traces, strain distribution along the cup profile, flange wrinkling and fracture characteristics are experimentally assessed for stainless steel-plastic film laminated sheet materials. Also the effect of lamination pressure on wrinkling and delamination is investigated for a decorative pressure sensitive adhesive film affixed to the stainless steel sheet.

Ear wound regeneration in the African spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus

PubMed Central

Matias Santos, Dino; Rita, Ana Martins; Casanellas, Ignasi; Brito Ova, Adélia; Araújo, Inês Maria; Power, Deborah

2016-01-01

Abstract While regeneration occurs in a number of taxonomic groups across the Metazoa, there are very few reports of regeneration in mammals, which generally respond to wounding with fibrotic scarring rather than regeneration. A recent report described skin shedding, skin regeneration and extensive ear punch closure in two rodent species, Acomys kempi and Acomys percivali. We examined these striking results by testing the capacity for regeneration of a third species, Acomys cahirinus, and found a remarkable capacity to repair full thickness circular punches in the ear pinna. Four‐millimeter‐diameter wounds closed completely in 2 months in 100% of ear punches tested. Histology showed extensive formation of elastic cartilage, adipose tissue, dermis, epidermis and abundant hair follicles in the repaired region. Furthermore, we demonstrated abundant angiogenesis and unequivocal presence of both muscle and nerve fibers in the reconstituted region; in contrast, similar wounds in C57BL/6 mice simply healed the borders of the cut by fibrotic scarring. Our results confirm the regenerative capabilities of Acomys, and suggest this model merits further attention. PMID:27499879

Review of Punching Shear Behaviour of Flat Slabs Reinforced with FRP Bars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, Osama A.; Khattab, Rania

2017-10-01

Using Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars to reinforce two-way concrete slabs can extend the service life, reduce maintenance cost and improve-life cycle cost efficiency. FRP reinforcing bars are more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional reinforcing steel. Shear behaviour of reinforced concrete structural members is a complex phenomenon that relies on the development of internal load-carrying mechanisms, the magnitude and combination of which is still a subject of research. Many building codes and design standards provide design formulas for estimation of punching shear capacity of FRP reinforced flat slabs. Building code formulas take into account the effects of the axial stiffness of main reinforcement bars, the ratio of the perimeter of the critical section to the slab effective depth, and the slab thickness on the punching shear capacity of two-way slabs reinforced with FRP bars or grids. The goal of this paper is to compare experimental data published in the literature to the equations offered by building codes for the estimation of punching shear capacity of concrete flat slabs reinforced with FRP bars. Emphasis in this paper is on two North American codes, namely, ACI 440.1R-15 and CSA S806-12. The experimental data covered in this paper include flat slabs reinforced with GFRP, BFRP, and CFRP bars. Both ACI 440.1R-15 and CSA S806-12 are shown to be in good agreement with test results in terms of predicting the punching shear capacity.

A comparison of liver sampling techniques in dogs.

PubMed

Kemp, S D; Zimmerman, K L; Panciera, D L; Monroe, W E; Leib, M S; Lanz, O I

2015-01-01

The liver sampling technique in dogs that consistently provides samples adequate for accurate histopathologic interpretation is not known. To compare histopathologic results of liver samples obtained by punch, cup, and 14 gauge needle to large wedge samples collected at necropsy. Seventy dogs undergoing necropsy. Prospective study. Liver specimens were obtained from the left lateral liver lobe with an 8 mm punch, a 5 mm cup, and a 14 gauge needle. After sample acquisition, two larger tissue samples were collected near the center of the left lateral lobe to be used as a histologic standard for comparison. Histopathologic features and numbers of portal triads in each sample were recorded. The mean number of portal triads obtained by each sampling method were 2.9 in needle samples, 3.4 in cup samples, 12 in punch samples, and 30.7 in the necropsy samples. The diagnoses in 66% of needle samples, 60% of cup samples, and 69% of punch samples were in agreement with the necropsy samples, and these proportions were not significantly different from each other. The corresponding kappa coefficients were 0.59 for needle biopsies, 0.52 for cup biopsies, and 0.62 for punch biopsies. The histopathologic interpretation of a liver sample in the dog is unlikely to vary if the liver biopsy specimen contains at least 3-12 portal triads. However, in comparison large necropsy samples, the accuracy of all tested methods was relatively low. Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Microleakage and shear punch bond strength in class II primary molars cavities restored with low shrink silorane based versus methacrylate based composite using three different techniques.

PubMed

Fahmy, Amal Ezzeldin; Farrag, Nadia Moustafa

2010-01-01

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the gingival microleakage in class II cavities in primary molars restored with a low shrink silorane resin composite (Filtek P90) or a nanohybride composite resin (Filtek supreme XT) using three different techniques, (total bonding, closed or open sandwich techniques) lined by nano-filled resin modified glass ionomer cement RMGIC (Ketac N100). Additionally, the shear punch bond strength between the two types of composite and KNIO0 was also examined. For microleakage test, two standardized class II slot cavities were prepared in proximal surfaces of 60 sound extracted primary molars which were divided into 2 groups of 30 each according to the type of composite. Each group was subdivided into 3 groups (n = 10) according to the restorative technique used. The restored teeth were examined for microleakage after immersion in 2% methylene blue dye using stereomicroscope at 20 X. Microleakage scores among the groups were compared using Kruskal Wallis test followed by pair wise Mann Whitney U test at P < or = 0.05. Thirty disc specimens were prepared for determining the shear punch bond strength between the two composite materials and the KN100. Specimens were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) according to the adhesive protocol. The differences in mean bond strength values in MPa between groups were statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by pair wise Tukey Post hoc test at P < or = 0. 05. Mode of failure was also evaluated for all groups. Both the silorane resin and nano-composite resin showed superior marginal seal with the total bonding technique compared to closed and open sandwich techniques. The recorded mean shear punch bond strength values showed no statistical significant difference between the two resin composites without or with their adhesive bonding systems when bonded to the nano-ionomer. All specimens showed cohesive mode of failures except for silorane resin with Adper Easy Bond Self Etch Adhesive (AEBSEA) which showed adhesive mode of failure. The best marginal seal was obtained with the total bonding technique using both resin composites. The shear punch bond strength between KN100 and the two composite materials was not affected by either of the used adhesive bonding agent.

21 CFR 882.4750 - Skull punch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Skull punch. 882.4750 Section 882.4750 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Surgical Devices § 882.4750 Skull punch. (a) Identification. A skull punch is...

Edge crack sensitivity of lightweight materials under different load conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsoupis, I.; Merklein, M.

2016-11-01

This study addresses the analysis of edge crack sensitivity of DP800 steel and AA5182 aluminum alloy in dependency of punching and machining operation as well as load case of subsequent forming. The inserting of a round hole by punching with defined punch-to- die-clearance, milling and drilling is compared. Subsequent forming is performed by standardized hole expansion test and by Nakajima-tests with three different specimen geometries. Local strain distribution at the surface for Nakajima-tests is measured by optical strain measurement technique and investigated in order to evaluate local deformation before failure. Additionally, resulting hole expansion ratio λ is determined. Significant higher X as well as local strain values ε max are achieved by machined holes. This is directly coupled to higher local formability and stretchability for both materials. Furthermore, the load condition has a strong impact on the edge crack sensitivity of the material. Prior failure is observed with changing stress conditions using different specimen geometries also influencing the reachable maximum failure strain. Higher edge crack sensitivity is observed for DP800, which is in good accordance to the material properties in terms of ductility and strength. These data in dependency of the process parameter can be used for the design of automotive components.

Further Theoretical Insight into the Mechanical Properties of Polycaprolactone Loaded with Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Fillers

PubMed Central

Maietta, Saverio; Russo, Teresa; De Santis, Roberto; Ronca, Dante; Riccardi, Filomena; Martorelli, Massimo; Gloria, Antonio

2018-01-01

Experimental/theoretical analyses have already been performed on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) loaded with organic–inorganic fillers (PCL/TiO2 and PCL/ZrO2) to find a correlation between the results from the small punch test and Young’s modulus of the materials. PCL loaded with Ti2 (PCL = 12, TiO2 = 88 wt %) and Zr2 (PCL = 12, ZrO2 = 88 wt %) hybrid fillers showed better performances than those obtained for the other particle composition. In this context, the aim of current research is to provide further insight into the mechanical properties of PCL loaded with sol–gel-synthesized organic–inorganic hybrid fillers for bone tissue engineering. For this reason, theoretical analyses were performed by the finite element method. The results from the small punch test and Young’s modulus of the materials were newly correlated. The obtained values of Young’s modulus (193 MPa for PCL, 378 MPa for PCL/Ti2 and 415 MPa for PCL/Zr2) were higher than those obtained from a previous theoretical modelling (144 MPa for PCL, 282 MPa for PCL/Ti2 and 310 MPa for PCL/Zr2). This correlation will be an important step for the evaluation of Young’s modulus, starting from the small punch test data. PMID:29466299

Further Theoretical Insight into the Mechanical Properties of Polycaprolactone Loaded with Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Fillers.

PubMed

Maietta, Saverio; Russo, Teresa; Santis, Roberto De; Ronca, Dante; Riccardi, Filomena; Catauro, Michelina; Martorelli, Massimo; Gloria, Antonio

2018-02-21

Experimental/theoretical analyses have already been performed on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) loaded with organic-inorganic fillers (PCL/TiO₂ and PCL/ZrO₂) to find a correlation between the results from the small punch test and Young's modulus of the materials. PCL loaded with Ti2 (PCL = 12, TiO₂ = 88 wt %) and Zr2 (PCL = 12, ZrO₂ = 88 wt %) hybrid fillers showed better performances than those obtained for the other particle composition. In this context, the aim of current research is to provide further insight into the mechanical properties of PCL loaded with sol-gel-synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid fillers for bone tissue engineering. For this reason, theoretical analyses were performed by the finite element method. The results from the small punch test and Young's modulus of the materials were newly correlated. The obtained values of Young's modulus (193 MPa for PCL, 378 MPa for PCL/Ti2 and 415 MPa for PCL/Zr2) were higher than those obtained from a previous theoretical modelling (144 MPa for PCL, 282 MPa for PCL/Ti2 and 310 MPa for PCL/Zr2). This correlation will be an important step for the evaluation of Young's modulus, starting from the small punch test data.

Relations of Dispositions toward Ridicule and Histrionic Self-Presentation with Quantitative and Qualitative Humor Creation Abilities.

PubMed

Renner, Karl-Heinz; Manthey, Leonie

2018-01-01

Previous research has shown that humor and self-presentation are linked in several ways. With regard to individual differences, it turned out that gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at) and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others) are substantially associated with the histrionic self-presentation style that is characterized by performing explicit As-If-behaviors (e.g., irony, parodying others) in everyday interactions. By contrast, gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) shows a negative correlation with histrionic self-presentation. In order to further contribute to the nomological network, we have explored whether the three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter as well as histrionic self-presentation are related to humor creation abilities. In doing so, we have assessed the four constructs in a study with 337 participants that also completed the Cartoon Punch line Production Test (CPPT, Köhler and Ruch, 1993, unpublished). In the CPPT, subjects were asked to generate as many funny punch lines as possible for six caption-removed cartoons. The created punch lines were then analyzed with regard to quantitative (e.g., number of punch lines) and qualitative (e.g., wittiness of the punch lines and overall wittiness of the person as evaluated by three independent raters) humor creation abilities. Results show that both gelotophilia and histrionic self-presentation were positively correlated with quantitative and qualitative humor creation abilities. By contrast, gelotophobia showed slightly negative and katagelasticism no associations with the assessed humor creation abilities. These findings especially apply to the subgroup of participants that created punch lines for each of the six cartoons and partly replicate and extend the results of a previous study by Ruch et al. (2009). Altogether, the results of our study show that individual differences in humor-related traits are associated with the quantity and quality of humorous punch lines. It is argued that behavior-related or performative humor creation tasks should be considered in addition to the CPPT in order to open up new avenues that can cross-fertilize research on individual differences in humor and self-presentation.

Relations of Dispositions toward Ridicule and Histrionic Self-Presentation with Quantitative and Qualitative Humor Creation Abilities

PubMed Central

Renner, Karl-Heinz; Manthey, Leonie

2018-01-01

Previous research has shown that humor and self-presentation are linked in several ways. With regard to individual differences, it turned out that gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at) and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others) are substantially associated with the histrionic self-presentation style that is characterized by performing explicit As-If-behaviors (e.g., irony, parodying others) in everyday interactions. By contrast, gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) shows a negative correlation with histrionic self-presentation. In order to further contribute to the nomological network, we have explored whether the three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter as well as histrionic self-presentation are related to humor creation abilities. In doing so, we have assessed the four constructs in a study with 337 participants that also completed the Cartoon Punch line Production Test (CPPT, Köhler and Ruch, 1993, unpublished). In the CPPT, subjects were asked to generate as many funny punch lines as possible for six caption-removed cartoons. The created punch lines were then analyzed with regard to quantitative (e.g., number of punch lines) and qualitative (e.g., wittiness of the punch lines and overall wittiness of the person as evaluated by three independent raters) humor creation abilities. Results show that both gelotophilia and histrionic self-presentation were positively correlated with quantitative and qualitative humor creation abilities. By contrast, gelotophobia showed slightly negative and katagelasticism no associations with the assessed humor creation abilities. These findings especially apply to the subgroup of participants that created punch lines for each of the six cartoons and partly replicate and extend the results of a previous study by Ruch et al. (2009). Altogether, the results of our study show that individual differences in humor-related traits are associated with the quantity and quality of humorous punch lines. It is argued that behavior-related or performative humor creation tasks should be considered in addition to the CPPT in order to open up new avenues that can cross-fertilize research on individual differences in humor and self-presentation. PMID:29487549

Intraplate deformation due to continental collisions: A numerical study of deformation in a thin viscous sheet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, S. C.; Morgan, R. C.

1985-01-01

A model of crustal deformation from continental collision that involves the penetration of a rigid punch into a deformable sheet is investigated. A linear viscous flow law is used to compute the magnitude and rate of change of crustal thickness, the velocity of mass points, strain rates and their principal axes, modes of deformation, areal changes, and stress. In general, a free lateral boundary reduces the magnitude of changes in crustal thickening by allowing material to more readily escape the advancing punch. The shearing that occurs diagonally in front of the punch terminates in compression or extension depending on whether the lateral boundary is fixed or free. When the ratio of the diameter of the punch to that of the sheet exceeds one-third, the deformation is insenstive to the choice of lateral boundary conditions. When the punch is rigid with sharply defined edges, deformation is concentrated near the punch corners. With non-rigid punches, shearing results in deformation being concentrated near the center of the punch. Variations with respect to linearity and nonlinearity of flow are discussed.

Decision Support to Combined Joint Task Force and Component Commanders (L’aide a la prise de decisions pour les commandants de composantes et de groupes de forces interarmees multinationales)

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

RTO-TR-SAS-044 4 Stapler 4 in total 5 Hole punch 4 in total 6 Long ruler 4 in total 7 Protractor and set squares 4 in total 8 Compass 4 in...ESPAGNE 00187 Roma Information Centre, Building 247 SDG TECEN / DGAM Dstl Porton Down C/ Arturo Soria 289 LUXEMBOURG Salisbury Madrid 28033 Voir...CZECH REPUBLIC H-1525 Budapest P O Box 26 SDG TECEN / DGAM LOM PRAHA s.p. C/ Arturo Soria 289 VTÚL a PVO o.z. ICELAND Madrid 28033 DIS ČR – NATO RTO

Design and finite element analysis of micro punch CNC machine modeling for medical devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pranoto, Sigiet Haryo; Mahardika, Muslim

2018-03-01

Research on micromanufacturing has been conducted. Miniaturization and weight reduction of various industrial products continue to be developed, machines with high accuracy and good quality of machining results are needed recently. This research includes design and simulation of Micro Punch CNC Machine using Abaqus with pneumatic system. This article concern of modeling simulation of punching miniplate titanium with 0.6 MPa of pressure and 500 µm of thickness. This study explaining von misses stress, safety factor and displacement analysis while the machine had the load of punching. The result gives the reaction forced of punching is 0.5 MPa on punch tip and maximum displacement is 3.237 × 10-1 mm. The safety factor is over than 12, and considered it safe for manufacturing process.

Not so secret agents: Event-related potentials to semantic roles in visual event comprehension.

PubMed

Cohn, Neil; Paczynski, Martin; Kutas, Marta

2017-12-01

Research across domains has suggested that agents, the doers of actions, have a processing advantage over patients, the receivers of actions. We hypothesized that agents as "event builders" for discrete actions (e.g., throwing a ball, punching) build on cues embedded in their preparatory postures (e.g., reaching back an arm to throw or punch) that lead to (predictable) culminating actions, and that these cues afford frontloading of event structure processing. To test this hypothesis, we compared event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to averbal comic panels depicting preparatory agents (ex. reaching back an arm to punch) that cued specific actions with those to non-preparatory agents (ex. arm to the side) and patients that did not cue any specific actions. We also compared subsequent completed action panels (ex. agent punching patient) across conditions, where we expected an inverse pattern of ERPs indexing the differential costs of processing completed actions asa function of preparatory cues. Preparatory agents evoked a greater frontal positivity (600-900ms) relative to non-preparatory agents and patients, while subsequent completed actions panels following non-preparatory agents elicited a smaller frontal positivity (600-900ms). These results suggest that preparatory (vs. non-) postures may differentially impact the processing of agents and subsequent actions in real time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reconciling species-level vs plastic responses of evergreen leaf structure to light gradients: shade leaves punch above their weight.

PubMed

Lusk, Christopher H; Onoda, Yusuke; Kooyman, Robert; Gutiérrez-Girón, Alba

2010-04-01

*When grown in a common light environment, the leaves of shade-tolerant evergreen trees have a larger leaf mass per unit area (LMA) than their light-demanding counterparts, associated with differences in lifespan. Yet plastic responses of LMA run counter to this pattern: shade leaves have smaller LMA than sun leaves, despite often living longer. *We measured LMA and cell wall content, and conducted punch and shear tests, on sun and shade leaves of 13 rainforest evergreens of differing shade tolerance, in order to understand adaptation vs plastic responses of leaf structure and biomechanics to shade. *Species shade tolerance and leaf mechanical properties correlated better with cell wall mass per unit area than with LMA. Growth light environment had less effect on leaf mechanics than on LMA: shade leaves had, on average, 40% lower LMA than sun leaves, but differences in work-to-shear, and especially force-to-punch, were smaller. This was associated with a slightly larger cell wall fraction in shade leaves. *The persistence of shade leaves might reflect unattractiveness to herbivores because they yield smaller benefits (cell contents per area) per unit fracture force than sun leaves. In forest trees, cell wall fraction and force-to-punch are more robust correlates of species light requirements than LMA.

Science in mid-Victorian Punch.

PubMed

Noakes, Richard

2002-09-01

This article examines the scientific content of the most famous comic journal of the Victorian period: Punch. Concentrating on the first three decades of the periodical (1841-1871), I show that Punch usually engaged with science that was highly topical, of consequence to the lives of its bourgeois readers, and suitable for comic interpretation. But Punch's satire of scientific topics was highly complex. It often contained allusions to non-scientific topics, and its engagement with science ranged from the utterly comic to the sharply critical. Punch prompted readers to think as well as laugh about science, and probably shaped their scientific education more than we think.

Contact interaction between a layered foundation and a system of annular punches with complex base shapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazakov, K. E.; Kurdina, S. P.

2018-04-01

We study the contact interaction between a system of rigid annular punches and a viscoelastic two-layer foundation. The upper layer is thin compared with the punch width. We study the case where the punch shapes are described by a rapidly varying functions. We use special methods for constructing the solutions, because the standard methods are inefficient.

Proposal of a punch biopsy protocol as a pre-requisite for the establishment of a tissue bank from resected esophageal tumors.

PubMed

Bonavina, Luigi; Laface, Letizia; Picozzi, Stefano; Nencioni, Marco; Siboni, Stefano; Bona, Davide; Sironi, Andrea; Sorba, Francesca; Clemente, Claudio

2010-09-01

With the development of tissue banking, a need for homogeneous methods of collection, processing, and storage of tissue has emerged. We describe the implementation of a biological bank in a high-volume, tertiary care University referral center for esophageal cancer surgery. We also propose an original punch biopsy technique of the surgical specimen. The method proved to be simple, reproducible, and not expensive. Unified standards for specimen collection are necessary to improve results of specimen-based diagnostic testing and research in surgical oncology.

Applying a punch with microridges in multistage deep drawing processes.

PubMed

Lin, Bor-Tsuen; Yang, Cheng-Yu

2016-01-01

The developers of high aspect ratio components aim to minimize the processing stages in deep drawing processes. This study elucidates the application of microridge punches in multistage deep drawing processes. A microridge punch improves drawing performance, thereby reducing the number of stages required in deep forming processes. As an example, the original eight-stage deep forming process for a copper cylindrical cup with a high aspect ratio was analyzed by finite element simulation. Microridge punch designs were introduced in Stages 4 and 7 to replace the original punches. In addition, Stages 3 and 6 were eliminated. Finally, these changes were verified through experiments. The results showed that the microridge punches reduced the number of deep drawing stages yielding similar thickness difference percentages. Further, the numerical and experimental results demonstrated good consistency in the thickness distribution.

Material fatigue data obtained by card-programmed hydraulic loading system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, W. T.

1967-01-01

Fatigue tests using load distributions from actual loading histories encountered in flight are programmed on punched electronic accounting machine cards. With this hydraulic loading system, airframe designers can apply up to 55 load levels to a test specimen.

23. NORTHEAST TO CIRCA 1875 POWER SHEAR, PUNCH, AND RIVETING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

23. NORTHEAST TO CIRCA 1875 POWER SHEAR, PUNCH, AND RIVETING MACHINE SET UP TO DEMONSTRATE USE IN RIVETING COMPONENTS OF WHEEL ARMS FOR ELI WINDMILLS. HISTORIC DEBRIS FROM PUNCHING WORK IS VISIBLE BENEATH THE MACHINE IN THE OPERATOR'S PIT.' ON THE LEFT IS A U-SHAPED LOVEJOY FIELD PUNCH FOR USE IN INSTALLING STEEL WINDMILL/TOWER COMPONENTS. - Kregel Windmill Company Factory, 1416 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, Otoe County, NE

The potential role of sensory testing, skin biopsy, and functional brain imaging as biomarkers in chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT considerations

PubMed Central

Smith, Shannon M.; Dworkin, Robert H.; Turk, Dennis C.; Baron, Ralf; Polydefkis, Michael; Tracey, Irene; Borsook, David; Edwards, Robert R.; Harris, Richard E.; Wager, Tor D.; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars; Burke, Laurie B.; Carr, Daniel B.; Chappell, Amy; Farrar, John T.; Freeman, Roy; Gilron, Ian; Goli, Veeraindar; Haeussler, Juergen; Jensen, Troels; Katz, Nathaniel P.; Kent, Jeffrey; Kopecky, Ernest A.; Lee, David A.; Maixner, William; Markman, John D.; McArthur, Justin C.; McDermott, Michael P.; Parvathenani, Lav; Raja, Srinivasa N.; Rappaport, Bob A.; Rice, Andrew S. C.; Rowbotham, Michael C.; Tobias, Jeffrey K.; Wasan, Ajay D.; Witter, James

2017-01-01

Valid and reliable biomarkers can play an important role in clinical trials as indicators of biological or pathogenic processes or as a signal of treatment response. Currently, there are no biomarkers for pain qualified by the US Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency for use in clinical trials. This article summarizes an Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) meeting in which 3 potential biomarkers were discussed for use in the development of analgesic treatments: (1) sensory testing, (2), skin punch biopsy, and (3) brain imaging. The empirical evidence supporting the use of these tests is described within the context of the 4 categories of biomarkers: (1) diagnostic, (2) prognostic, (3) predictive, and (4) pharmacodynamic. Although sensory testing, skin punch biopsy, and brain imaging are promising tools for pain in clinical trials, additional evidence is needed to further support and standardize these tests for use as biomarkers in pain clinical trials. PMID:28254585

3. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING SOUTH SHOWING PUNCH AND SHEAR MACHINE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

3. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING SOUTH SHOWING PUNCH AND SHEAR MACHINE (manufactured by Cleveland Punch and Shear Works Company, USA) - Cambria & Indiana Railroad, Blacksmith Shop, .25 miles northwest of Colver, Colver, Cambria County, PA

Tablet compression tooling - Impact of punch face edge modification.

PubMed

Anbalagan, Parthiban; Heng, Paul Wan Sia; Liew, Celine Valeria

2017-05-30

The influence of punch face edge geometry modification on tablet compression and the properties of the resultant tablets produced on a rotary press were investigated. The results revealed that tablets produced from the punches with radius edge face geometry consistently displayed better physical quality; higher tensile strength and lower capping tendency. Modification of the angled edge of the bevel face to the curved edge of the radius face, enabled deeper punch penetration in the die cavity during the compression cycle, bringing about greater compact densification. Improved die fill packing increased interparticulate bond formation and helped to dissipate destructive elasticity within the compact, consequently reduced tablet expansion during the decompression phase. The positive impact of punch face edge modification was also more noticeable at a higher turret speed. The application of the precompression force along with dwell time extension amplified the tableting performance of radius edge punch face design to a greater extent when compared to bevel edge punch face design. This could be attributed to the enhanced packing efficiency at both precompression and main compression stages. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wiring harnesses documented by punched-card technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hicks, W. W.; Kloezeman, W. G.

1970-01-01

Cards representing a connector are punched, sorted, and then used to printout wiring documentation for that connector. When wiring changes are made, new cards are punched and the wiring documentation is reprinted to reflect the latest configuration.

Harms of cervical cancer screening in the United States and the Netherlands.

PubMed

Habbema, Dik; Weinmann, Sheila; Arbyn, Marc; Kamineni, Aruna; Williams, Andrew E; M C M de Kok, Inge; van Kemenade, Folkert; Field, Terry S; van Rosmalen, Joost; Brown, Martin L

2017-03-01

We studied harms related to cervical cancer screening and management of screen-positive women in the United States (US) and the Netherlands. We utilized data from four US integrated health care systems (SEARCH), the US National Health Interview Survey, New Mexico state, the Netherlands national histopathology registry, and included studies on adverse health effects of cervical screening. We compared the number of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear tests, abnormal test results, punch biopsies, treatments, health problems (anxiety, pain, bleeding and discharge) and preterm births associated with excisional treatments. Results were age-standardized to the 2007 US population. Based on SEARCH, an estimated 36 million Pap tests were performed in 2007 for 91 million US women aged 21-65 years, leading to 2.3 million abnormal Pap tests, 1.5 million punch biopsies, 0.3 million treatments for precancerous lesions, 5 thousand preterm births and over 8 million health problems. Under the Netherlands screening practice, fewer Pap tests (58%), abnormal test results (64%), punch biopsies (75%), treatment procedures (40%), preterm births (60%) and health problems (63%) would have occurred. The SEARCH data did not differ much from other US data for 2007 or from more recent data up to 2013. Thus compared to the less intensive screening practice in the Netherlands, US practice of cervical cancer screening may have resulted in two- to threefold higher harms, while the effects on cervical cancer incidence and mortality are similar. The results are also of high relevance in making recommendations for HPV screening. Systematic collection of harms data is needed for monitoring and for better incorporation of harms in making screening recommendations. © 2016 UICC.

Mechanization of Cataloging Procedures *

PubMed Central

Kilgour, Frederick G.

1965-01-01

The Columbia-Harvard-Yale Medical Libraries Computerization Project has put into operation its mechanized procedure for the production of catalog cards. Cards produced are in final form ready to be filed into a card catalog. Catalogers prepare copy on a worksheet from which punched cards are punched. An IBM 1401 computer processes the decklets of punched cards on magnetic tape to produce the expanded decklets of punched cards needed to print the various packs of catalog cards required to go into different catalogs. Next, the computer punches the expanded decklets of cards to operate an 870 Document Writer, which types out the catalog cards in final form. Cost of cards ready to file is 12.5 cents per card. Images PMID:14271110

An ear punch model for studying the effect of radiation on wound healing.

PubMed

Deoliveira, Divino; Jiao, Yiqun; Ross, Joel R; Corbin, Kayla; Xiao, Qizhen; Toncheva, Greta; Anderson-Evans, Colin; Yoshizumi, Terry T; Chen, Benny J; Chao, Nelson J

2011-08-01

Radiation and wound combined injury represents a major clinical challenge because of the synergistic interactions that lead to higher morbidity and mortality than either insult would produce singly. The purpose of this study was to develop a mouse ear punch model to study the physiological mechanisms underlying radiation effects on healing wounds. Surgical wounds were induced by a 2 mm surgical punch in the ear pinnae of MRL/MpJ mice. Photographs of the wounds were taken and the sizes of the ear punch wounds were quantified by image analysis. Local radiation to the ear was delivered by orthovoltage X-ray irradiator using a specially constructed jig that shields the other parts of body. Using this model, we demonstrated that local radiation to the wound area significantly delayed the healing of ear punch wounds in a dose-dependent fashion. The addition of sublethal whole body irradiation (7 Gy) further delayed the healing of ear punch wounds. These results were replicated in C57BL/6 mice; however, wound healing in MRL/MpJ mice was accelerated. These data indicate that the mouse ear punch model is a valuable model to study radiation and wound combined injury.

Experimental and Numerical Investigations of Applying Tip-bottomed Tool for Bending Advanced Ultra-high Strength Steel Sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitsomwang, Pusit; Borrisutthekul, Rattana; Klaiw-awoot, Ken; Pattalung, Aran

2017-09-01

This research was carried out aiming to investigate the application of a tip-bottomed tool for bending an advanced ultra-high strength steel sheet. The V-die bending experiment of a dual phase steel (DP980) sheet which had a thickness of 1.6 mm was executed using a conventional bending and a tip-bottomed punches. Experimental results revealed that the springback of the bent worksheet in the case of the tip-bottomed punch was less than that of the conventional punch case. To further discuss bending characteristics, a finite element (FE) model was developed and used to simulate the bending of the worksheet. From the FE analysis, it was found that the application of the tip-bottomed punch contributed the plastic deformation to occur at the bending region. Consequently, the springback of the worksheet reduced. In addition, the width of the punch tip was found to affect the deformation at the bending region and determined the springback of the bent worksheet. Moreover, the use of the tip-bottomed punch resulted in the apparent increase of the surface hardness of the bent worksheet, compared to the bending with the conventional punch.

29 CFR 570.59 - Occupations involved in the operations of power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., or bending rolls; and hot or cold rolling mills. (ii) All pressing or punching machines, such as... presses; and plate punches. (iii) All bending machines, such as apron brakes and press brakes. (iv) All...

Acute high-dose lead exposure from beverage contaminated by traditional Mexican pottery.

PubMed

Matte, T D; Proops, D; Palazuelos, E; Graef, J; Hernandez Avila, M

1994-10-15

Screening and follow-up blood lead measurements in a 7-year-old child of a US Embassy official in Mexico City revealed an increase in blood lead concentration from 1.10 to 4.60 mumol/L in less than 4 weeks. The cause was traced to fruit punch contaminated with lead leached from traditional ceramic pottery urns. Consumption of the contaminated punch at a picnic was associated with a 20% increase in blood lead concentrations among embassy staff and dependants who were tested 6 weeks after the exposure. This episode highlights the continued health risk, even from brief exposure, posed by traditional pottery in Mexico.

Portable punch and die jig

DOEpatents

Lewandowski, Edward F.; Anderson, Petrus A.

1978-01-01

A portable punch and die jig includes a U-shaped jig of predetermined width having a slot of predetermined width in the base thereof extending completely across the width of the jig adapted to fit over the walls of rectangular tubes and a punch and die assembly disposed in a hole extending through the base of the jig communicating with the slot in the base of the jig for punching a hole in the walls of the rectangular tubes at precisely determined locations.

Athletic fashion, "Punch," and the creation of the new woman.

PubMed

Collins, Tracy J R

2010-01-01

Between 1885-1900 "Punch" satirized the personality of the New Woman. However, virtually single-handedly it also gave a body and emancipated culture to this otherwise socially abstract personality. Using illustrations from "Punch," this essay argues that using sport specific clothing and equipment in its cartoons, "Punch" completely unintentionally created a liberating picture of women while simultaneously using its captions and border texts to make the New Woman's body signify the anxieties patriarchal culture had about her social personality and politics.

Examining the microtexture evolution in a hole-edge punched into 780 MPa grade hot-rolled steel

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

Shin, J.H.; Kim, M.S.

The deformation behavior in the hole-edge of 780 MPa grade hot-rolled steel during the punching process was investigated via microstructure characterization and computational simulation. Microstructure characterization was conducted to observe the edges of punched holes through the thickness direction, and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyze the heterogeneity of the deformation. Finite element analysis (FEA) that could account for a ductile fracture criterion was conducted to simulate the deformation and fracture behaviors of 780 MPa grade hot-rolled steel during the punching process. Calculation of rotation rate fields at the edges of the punched holes during the punching processmore » revealed that metastable orientations in Euler space were confined to specific orientation groups. Rotation-rate fields effectively explained the stability of the initial texture components in the hole-edge region during the punching process. A visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) polycrystal model was used to calculate the microtexture evolution in the hole-edge region during the punching process. FEA revealed that the heterogeneous effective strain was closely related to the heterogeneity of the Kernel average misorientation (KAM) distribution in the hole-edge region. A simulation of the deformation microtexture evolution in the hole-edge region using a VPSC model was in good agreement with the experimental results. - Highlights: •We analyzed the microstructure in a hole-edge punched in HR 780HB steel. •Rotation rate fields revealed the stability of the initial texture components. •Heterogeneous effective stain was closely related to the KAM distribution. •VPSC model successfully simulated the deformation microtexture evolution.« less

Effect of Punch Stroke on Deformation During Sheet Forming Through Finite Element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akinlabi, Stephen; Akinlabi, Esther

2017-08-01

Forming is one of the traditional methods of making shapes, bends and curvature in metallic components during a fabrication process. Mechanical forming, in particular, employs the use of a punch, which is pressed against the sheet material to be deformed into a die by the application of an external force. This study reports on the finite element analysis of the effects of punch stroke on the resulting sheet deformation, which is directly a function of the structural integrity of the formed components for possible application in the automotive industry. The results show that punch stroke is directly proportional to the resulting bend angle of the formed components. It was further revealed that the developed plastic strain increases as the punch stroke increases.

Love-type wave propagation in a pre-stressed viscoelastic medium influenced by smooth moving punch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, A. K.; Parween, Z.; Chatterjee, M.; Chattopadhyay, A.

2015-04-01

In the present paper, a mathematical model studying the effect of smooth moving semi-infinite punch on the propagation of Love-type wave in an initially stressed viscoelastic strip is developed. The dynamic stress concentration due to the punch for the force of a constant intensity has been obtained in the closed form. Method based on Weiner-hopf technique which is indicated by Matczynski has been employed. The study manifests the significant effect of various affecting parameters viz. speed of moving punch associated with Love-type wave speed, horizontal compressive/tensile initial stress, vertical compressive/tensile initial stress, frequency parameter, and viscoelastic parameter on dynamic stress concentration due to semi-infinite punch. Moreover, some important peculiarities have been traced out and depicted by means of graphs.

FE Simulation of Ultrasonic Back Extrusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosochowska, Malgorzata; Rosochowski, Andrzej

2007-04-01

The main benefit of using ultrasonic vibrations in metal forming arises from the reduction in the mean forming force. In order to examine mechanisms responsible for this effect FE simulations of ultrasonic back extrusion using ABAQUS/Explicit were carried out. In two analysed models, vibration of frequency of 20 kHz was imposed on the punch. In the first model, the die and the punch were defined as rigid bodies and in the second, the punch was modelled as an elastic body, this being the innovative feature of the research. The punch vibrated in a longitudinal mode. Simulations were performed for amplitude of vibrations of 8.5μm and different punch velocities for both friction and frictionless conditions. Results showed that the amplitude and the mean forming force depended on the process velocity. Further, the decrease in the mean forming force might be partly explained by the reduction in the friction force due to changes in the direction and magnitude of the frictional stress over the vibration period. A lower deflection of the elastic punch under oscillatory conditions was observed, which was an indirect evidence of the reduced forming force. It was also observed that amplitude of vibrations at the working surface of the elastic punch was smaller than the applied one.

Single maximal versus combination punch kinematics.

PubMed

Piorkowski, Barry A; Lees, Adrian; Barton, Gabor J

2011-03-01

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of punch type (Jab, Cross, Lead Hook and Reverse Hook) and punch modality (Single maximal, 'In-synch' and 'Out of synch' combination) on punch speed and delivery time. Ten competition-standard volunteers performed punches with markers placed on their anatomical landmarks for 3D motion capture with an eight-camera optoelectronic system. Speed and duration between key moments were computed. There were significant differences in contact speed between punch types (F(2,18,84.87) = 105.76, p = 0.001) with Lead and Reverse Hooks developing greater speed than Jab and Cross. There were significant differences in contact speed between punch modalities (F(2,64,102.87) = 23.52, p = 0.001) with the Single maximal (M+/- SD: 9.26 +/- 2.09 m/s) higher than 'Out of synch' (7.49 +/- 2.32 m/s), 'In-synch' left (8.01 +/- 2.35 m/s) or right lead (7.97 +/- 2.53 m/s). Delivery times were significantly lower for Jab and Cross than Hook. Times were significantly lower 'In-synch' than a Single maximal or 'Out of synch' combination mode. It is concluded that a defender may have more evasion-time than previously reported. This research could be of use to performers and coaches when considering training preparations.

An ear punch model for studying the effect of radiation on wound healing

PubMed Central

DeOLIVEIRA, DIVINO; JIAO, YIQUN; ROSS, JOEL R.; CORBIN, KAYLA; XIAO, QIZHEN; TONCHEVA, GRETA; ANDERSON-EVANS, COLIN; YOSHIZUMI, TERRY T.; CHEN, BENNY J.; CHAO, NELSON J.

2011-01-01

Purpose Radiation and wound combined injury represents a major clinical challenge because of the synergistic interactions that lead to higher morbidity and mortality than either insult would produce singly. The purpose of this study was to develop a mouse ear punch model to study the physiological mechanisms underlying radiation effects on healing wounds. Materials and methods Surgical wounds were induced by a 2 mm surgical punch in the ear pinnae of MRL/MpJ mice. Photographs of the wounds were taken and the sizes of the ear punch wounds were quantified by image analysis. Local radiation to the ear was delivered by orthovoltage X-ray irradiator using a specially constructed jig that shields the other parts of body. Results Using this model, we demonstrated that local radiation to the wound area significantly delayed the healing of ear punch wounds in a dose-dependent fashion. The addition of sublethal whole body irradiation (7 Gy) further delayed the healing of ear punch wounds. These results were replicated in C57BL/6 mice; however, wound healing in MRL/MpJ mice was accelerated. Conclusions These data indicate that the mouse ear punch model is a valuable model to study radiation and wound combined injury. PMID:21480768

Amateur boxing: activity profile of winners and losers.

PubMed

Davis, Philip; Wittekind, Anna; Beneke, Ralph

2013-01-01

An activity profile of competitive 3 × 2-min novice-level amateur boxing was created based on video footage and postbout blood [La] in 32 male boxers (mean ± SD) age 19.3 ± 1.4 y, body mass 62.6 ± 4.1 kg. Winners landed 18 ± 11 more punches than losers by applying more lead-hand punches in round 1 (34.2 ± 10.9 vs 26.5 ± 9.4), total punches to the head (121.3 ± 10.2 vs 96.0 ± 9.8), and block and counterpunch combinations (2.8 ± 1.1 vs. 0.1 ± 0.2) over all 3 rounds and punching combinations (44.3 ± 6.4 vs 28.8 ± 6.7) in rounds 1 and 3 (all P < .05). In 16 boxers, peak postbout blood [La] was 11.8 ± 1.6 mmol/L irrespective of winning or losing. The results suggest that landing punches requires the ability to maintain a high frequency of attacking movements, in particular the lead-hand straight punch to the head together with punching combinations. Defensive movements must initiate a counterattack. Postbout blood [La] suggests that boxers must be able to tolerate a lactate production rate of 1.8 mmol · L-1 · min-1 and maintain skillful techniques at a sufficient activity rate.

Low-resistance strip sensors for beam-loss event protection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ullán, M.; Benítez, V.; Quirion, D.; Zabala, M.; Pellegrini, G.; Lozano, M.; Lacasta, C.; Soldevila, U.; García, C.; Fadeyev, V.; Wortman, J.; DeFilippis, J.; Shumko, M.; Grillo, A. A.; Sadrozinski, H. F.-W.

2014-11-01

AC-coupled silicon strip sensors can be damaged in case of a beam loss due to the possibility of a large charge accumulation in the bulk, developing very high voltages across the coupling capacitors which can destroy them. Punch-through structures are currently used to avoid this problem helping to evacuate the accumulated charge as large voltages are developing. Nevertheless, previous experiments, performed with laser pulses, have shown that these structures can become ineffective in relatively long strips. The large value of the implant resistance can effectively isolate the "far" end of the strip from the punch-through structure leading to large voltages. We present here our developments to fabricate low-resistance strip sensors to avoid this problem. The deposition of a conducting material in contact with the implants drastically reduces the strip resistance, assuring the effectiveness of the punch-through structures. First devices have been fabricated with this new technology. Initial results with laser tests show the expected reduction in peak voltages on the low resistivity implants. Other aspects of the sensor performance, including the signal formation, are not affected by the new technology.

Shelter effect efficacy of sand fences: A comparison of systems in a wind tunnel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tao; Qu, Jianjun; Ling, Yuquan; Liu, Benli; Xiao, Jianhua

2018-02-01

The Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through an expansive wind area in the Gobi Desert and blown-sand disasters are a critical issue affecting its operation. To strengthen the blown-sand disaster shelter systems along the railway, the shelter effects of punching plate and wire mesh fences with approximately equal porosity (48%) were simulated in a wind tunnel. The experimental results showed that the wind velocity was reduced to a higher extent by the punching plate fence than by the wire mesh fence. When a single row of sand fencing was used, the wind velocity reduction coefficient (Rcz) values downwind of the punching plate fence and wire mesh fence reached 71.77% and 39.37%, respectively. When double rows of sand fencing were used, the Rcz values downwind of the punching plate and wire mesh fences were approximately 87.48% and 60.81%, respectively. For the flow field structure on the leeward side of the fencing, the deceleration zone behind the punching plate fence was more pronounced than that behind the wire mesh fence. The vortex zone was not obvious and the reverse flow disappeared for both types of fences, which indicates that the turbulent intensity was small. The sand-trapping efficiency of the wire mesh fence was close to that of punching plate fence. When a single row of sand fencing was set up, the total mass flux density decreased, on average, by 65.85% downwind of the wire mesh fence, and 75.06% downwind of the punching plate fence; when double rows of sand fencing were present, the total mass flux density decreased, on average, by 84.53% downwind of the wire mesh fence and 84.51% downwind of the punching plate fence. In addition, the wind-proof efficiency and the sand-proof efficiency of the punching plate fence and the wire mesh fence decreased with increasing wind velocities. Consequently, punching plate and wire mesh fences may effectively control the sand hazard in the expansive wind area of the Gobi Desert.

Defense Automation Resources Management Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-01

Electronic Command Signals Programmer, Plugboard Programmers Punch, Card Punch, Paper Tape Reader, Character Reader-Generator, Time Cards Reader...Multiplexor-Shift Register Group Multiplier Panel Control, Plugboard Panel, Interconnection, Digital Computer Panel, Meter-Attenuator, Tape Recorder PC Cards...Perforator, Tape Plug-In Unit Potentiometer, Coefficient, Analog Computer Programmer, Plugboard Punch, Paper Tape Racks Reader, Time Code Reader

Assessing the anti-fungal efficiency of filters coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decelis, Stephen; Sardella, Davide; Triganza, Thomas; Brincat, Jean-Pierre; Gatt, Ruben; Valdramidis, Vasilis P.

2017-05-01

Air filters support fungal growth, leading to generation of conidia and volatile organic compounds, causing allergies, infections and food spoilage. Filters that inhibit fungi are therefore necessary. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have anti-fungal properties and therefore are good candidates for inhibiting growth. Two concentrations (0.012 M and 0.12 M) were used to coat two types of filters (melt-blown and needle-punched) for three different periods (0.5, 5 and 50 min). Rhizopus stolonifer and Penicillium expansum isolated from spoiled pears were used as test organisms. Conidial suspensions of 105 to 103 spores ml-1 were prepared in Sabouraud dextrose agar at 50°C, and a modified slide-culture technique was used to test the anti-fungal properties of the filters. Penicillium expansum was the more sensitive organism, with inhibition at 0.012 M at only 0.5 min coating time on the needle-punched filter. The longer the coating time, the more effective inhibition was for both organisms. Furthermore, it was also determined that the coating process had only a slight effect on the Young's Moduli of the needle-punched filters, while the Young's Moduli of the melt-blown filters is more susceptible to the coating method. This work contributes to the assessment of the efficacy of filter coating with ZnO nanopaticles aimed at inhibiting fungal growth.

Assessing the anti-fungal efficiency of filters coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Decelis, Stephen; Sardella, Davide; Triganza, Thomas; Brincat, Jean-Pierre; Gatt, Ruben

2017-01-01

Air filters support fungal growth, leading to generation of conidia and volatile organic compounds, causing allergies, infections and food spoilage. Filters that inhibit fungi are therefore necessary. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have anti-fungal properties and therefore are good candidates for inhibiting growth. Two concentrations (0.012 M and 0.12 M) were used to coat two types of filters (melt-blown and needle-punched) for three different periods (0.5, 5 and 50 min). Rhizopus stolonifer and Penicillium expansum isolated from spoiled pears were used as test organisms. Conidial suspensions of 105 to 103 spores ml−1 were prepared in Sabouraud dextrose agar at 50°C, and a modified slide-culture technique was used to test the anti-fungal properties of the filters. Penicillium expansum was the more sensitive organism, with inhibition at 0.012 M at only 0.5 min coating time on the needle-punched filter. The longer the coating time, the more effective inhibition was for both organisms. Furthermore, it was also determined that the coating process had only a slight effect on the Young's Moduli of the needle-punched filters, while the Young's Moduli of the melt-blown filters is more susceptible to the coating method. This work contributes to the assessment of the efficacy of filter coating with ZnO nanopaticles aimed at inhibiting fungal growth. PMID:28572995

Assessing the anti-fungal efficiency of filters coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles.

PubMed

Decelis, Stephen; Sardella, Davide; Triganza, Thomas; Brincat, Jean-Pierre; Gatt, Ruben; Valdramidis, Vasilis P

2017-05-01

Air filters support fungal growth, leading to generation of conidia and volatile organic compounds, causing allergies, infections and food spoilage. Filters that inhibit fungi are therefore necessary. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have anti-fungal properties and therefore are good candidates for inhibiting growth. Two concentrations (0.012 M and 0.12 M) were used to coat two types of filters (melt-blown and needle-punched) for three different periods (0.5, 5 and 50 min). Rhizopus stolonifer and Penicillium expansum isolated from spoiled pears were used as test organisms. Conidial suspensions of 10 5 to 10 3 spores ml -1 were prepared in Sabouraud dextrose agar at 50°C, and a modified slide-culture technique was used to test the anti-fungal properties of the filters. Penicillium expansum was the more sensitive organism, with inhibition at 0.012 M at only 0.5 min coating time on the needle-punched filter. The longer the coating time, the more effective inhibition was for both organisms. Furthermore, it was also determined that the coating process had only a slight effect on the Young's Moduli of the needle-punched filters, while the Young's Moduli of the melt-blown filters is more susceptible to the coating method. This work contributes to the assessment of the efficacy of filter coating with ZnO nanopaticles aimed at inhibiting fungal growth.

The effects of attentional focus instructions on punching velocity and impact forces among trained combat athletes.

PubMed

Halperin, Israel; Chapman, Dale W; Martin, David T; Abbiss, Chris

2017-03-01

Research indicates that instructing athlete's to focus on bodily movements (internal focus of attention [IFA]) may hinder performance, whereas instructing them to focus on the movement outcome (external focus of attention [EFA]) often enhances performance. Despite the importance of instructions in striking combat sports, limited research has examined the influence of IFA and EFA on performance in well-trained combat athletes. This study investigated the effects of different instructional cues on punching velocity (m · s -1 ) and normalised impact forces (N · kg -1 ) among intermediate (n = 8) and expert (n = 7) competitive boxers and kickboxers. Athletes completed three rounds of 12 maximal effort punches delivered to a punching integrator on three separate days. Day one was a familiarisation session with only control instructions provided. In the following two days athletes randomly received IFA, EFA or control instructions prior to each of the three rounds. Athletes punching with EFA were 4% faster and 5% more forceful than IFA (P < 0.05), and 2% faster and 3% more forceful than control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, experts punched 11% faster and with 13% greater force compared with intermediate athletes (P < 0.05). EFA led to a positive effect on punching performance and should be favoured over IFA and control instructions.

High-throughput sequencing of forensic genetic samples using punches of FTA cards with buccal swabs.

PubMed

Kampmann, Marie-Louise; Buchard, Anders; Børsting, Claus; Morling, Niels

2016-01-01

Here, we demonstrate that punches from buccal swab samples preserved on FTA cards can be used for high-throughput DNA sequencing, also known as massively parallel sequencing (MPS). We typed 44 reference samples with the HID-Ion AmpliSeq Identity Panel using washed 1.2 mm punches from FTA cards with buccal swabs and compared the results with those obtained with DNA extracted using the EZ1 DNA Investigator Kit. Concordant profiles were obtained for all samples. Our protocol includes simple punch, wash, and PCR steps, reducing cost and hands-on time in the laboratory. Furthermore, it facilitates automation of DNA sequencing.

John Punch, Scotist Holy War, and the Irish Catholic Revolutionary Tradition in the Seventeenth Century.

PubMed

Campbell, Ian W

2016-07-01

During the 1640s, the Irish Franciscan theologian John Punch taught his theology students in Rome that war against Protestants was made just by their religion alone. Jesuits like Luis de Molina identified the holy war tradition in which Punch stood as a Scotist one, and insisted that the Scotists had confused the natural and supernatural spheres. Among Irishmen, Punch was unusual. The main Irish Catholic revolutionary tradition employed Jesuit and Thomist theory. They argued that the Stuarts had lost the right to rule Ireland for natural reasons, not supernatural ones; because the Stuarts were tyrants, not because they were Protestants.

Computational study of graphene-based vertical field effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wenchao; Rinzler, Andrew; Guo, Jing

2013-03-01

Poisson and drift-diffusion equations are solved in a three-dimensional device structure to simulate graphene-based vertical field effect transistors (GVFETs). Operation mechanisms of the GVFET with and without punched holes in the graphene source contact are presented and compared. The graphene-channel Schottky barrier can be modulated by gate electric field due to graphene's low density of states. For the graphene contact with punched holes, the contact barrier thinning and lowering around punched hole edge allow orders of magnitude higher tunneling current compared to the region away from the punched hole edge, which is responsible for significant performance improvement as already verified by experiments. Small hole size is preferred due to less electrostatic screening from channel inversion layer, which gives large electric field around the punched hole edge, thus, leading to a thinner and lower barrier. Bilayer and trilayer graphenes as the source contact degrade the performance improvement because stronger electrostatic screening leads to smaller contact barrier lowering and thinning. High punched hole area percentage improves current performance by allowing more gate electric field to modulate the graphene-channel barrier. Low effective mass channel material gives better on-off current ratio.

Study on In-mold Punching during PPS/GF Injection Molding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inuzuka, Takayuki; Fujita, Akihiro; Nakai, Asami; Hamada, Hiroyuki

The influence of the punching condition on strength and the amount of shear droop was investigated to optimize the processing condition for punching in the mold during glass fiber reinforced polyphenylenesulfide (PPS/GF) injection molding. For in-mold punching part during cooling process, the tensile strength was constant because the pressure loss by the punch did not occur. The amount of the shear droop decreased in line with the increase in delay time because the rigidity of injection molded part in the mold increased when the resin was cooled. Moreover, when the resin temperature lowered more than the glass transition temperature, the amount of the shear droop was constant because the rigidity became constant. It is necessary to begin punching when the resin temperature lowers more than the glass transition temperature after holding pressure process is completed, to secure high strength and to assume 0.05 mm or less, at which level the shear droop cannot be visually recognized. The shortest delay time for PPS/GF is 8 sec. The delay time to minimize the amount of the shear droop can be guessed by analyzing the temperature change of the resin in the mold by injection molding CAE.

The structure-property relationships of powder processed Fe-Al-Si alloys

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

Prichard, Paul D.

1998-02-23

Iron-aluminum alloys have been extensively evaluated as semi-continuous product such as sheet and bar, but have not been evaluated by net shape P/M processing techniques such as metal injection molding. The alloy compositions of iron-aluminum alloys have been optimized for room temperature ductility, but have limited high temperature strength. Hot extruded powder alloys in the Fe-Al-Si system have developed impressive mechanical properties, but the effects of sintering on mechanical properties have not been explored. This investigation evaluated three powder processed Fe-Al-Si alloys: Fe-15Al, Fe-15Al-2.8Si, Fe-15Al-5Si (atomic %). The powder alloys were produced with a high pressure gas atomization (HPGA) processmore » to obtain a high fraction of metal injection molding (MIM) quality powder (D 84 < 32 μm). The powders were consolidated either by P/M hot extrusion or by vacuum sintering. The extruded materials were near full density with grain sizes ranging from 30 to 50 μm. The vacuum sintering conditions produced samples with density ranging from 87% to 99% of theoretical density, with an average grain size ranging from 26 μm to 104 μm. Mechanical property testing was conducted on both extruded and sintered material using a small punch test. Tensile tests were conducted on extruded bar for comparison with the punch test data. Punch tests were conducted from 25 to 550 C to determine the yield strength, and fracture energy for each alloy as a function of processing condition. The ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) was observed to increase with an increasing silicon content. The Fe-15Al-2.8Si alloy was selected for more extensive testing due to the combination of high temperature strength and low temperature toughness due to the two phase α + DO 3 structure. This investigation provided a framework for understanding the effects of silicon in powder processing and mechanical property behavior of Fe-Al-Si alloys.« less

Inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 alters the wound epidermis and enhances auricular cartilage regeneration

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qian-Shi; Kurpad, Deepa S.; Mahoney, My G.; Steinbeck, Marla J.

2017-01-01

Why regeneration does not occur in mammals remains elusive. In lower vertebrates, epimorphic regeneration of the limb is directed by the wound epidermis, which controls blastema formation to promote regrowth of the appendage. Herein, we report that knockout (KO) or inhibition of Apoptosis Signal-regulated Kinase-1 (ASK1), also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5 (MAP3K5), after full thickness ear punch in mice prolongs keratinocyte activation within the wound epidermis and promotes regeneration of auricular cartilage. Histological analysis showed the ASK1 KO ears displayed enhanced protein markers associated with blastema formation, hole closure and regeneration of auricular cartilage. At seven days after punch, the wound epidermis morphology was markedly different in the KO, showing a thickened stratum corneum with rounded cell morphology and a reduction of both the granular cell layer and decreased expression of filament aggregating protein. In addition, cytokeratin 6 was expressed in the stratum spinosum and granulosum. Topical application of inhibitors of ASK1 (NQDI-1), the upstream ASK1 activator, calcium activated mitogen kinase 2 (KN93), or the downstream target, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SP600125) also resulted in enhanced regeneration; whereas inhibition of the other downstream target, the p38 α/β isoforms, (SB203580) had no effect. The results of this investigation indicate ASK1 inhibition prolongs keratinocyte and blastemal cell activation leading to ear regeneration. PMID:29045420

Inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 alters the wound epidermis and enhances auricular cartilage regeneration.

PubMed

Zhang, Qian-Shi; Kurpad, Deepa S; Mahoney, My G; Steinbeck, Marla J; Freeman, Theresa A

2017-01-01

Why regeneration does not occur in mammals remains elusive. In lower vertebrates, epimorphic regeneration of the limb is directed by the wound epidermis, which controls blastema formation to promote regrowth of the appendage. Herein, we report that knockout (KO) or inhibition of Apoptosis Signal-regulated Kinase-1 (ASK1), also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5 (MAP3K5), after full thickness ear punch in mice prolongs keratinocyte activation within the wound epidermis and promotes regeneration of auricular cartilage. Histological analysis showed the ASK1 KO ears displayed enhanced protein markers associated with blastema formation, hole closure and regeneration of auricular cartilage. At seven days after punch, the wound epidermis morphology was markedly different in the KO, showing a thickened stratum corneum with rounded cell morphology and a reduction of both the granular cell layer and decreased expression of filament aggregating protein. In addition, cytokeratin 6 was expressed in the stratum spinosum and granulosum. Topical application of inhibitors of ASK1 (NQDI-1), the upstream ASK1 activator, calcium activated mitogen kinase 2 (KN93), or the downstream target, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SP600125) also resulted in enhanced regeneration; whereas inhibition of the other downstream target, the p38 α/β isoforms, (SB203580) had no effect. The results of this investigation indicate ASK1 inhibition prolongs keratinocyte and blastemal cell activation leading to ear regeneration.

A Comparison of Solo and Multiplayer Active Videogame Play in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

PubMed

Howcroft, Jennifer; Fehlings, Darcy; Wright, Virginia; Zabjek, Karl; Andrysek, Jan; Biddiss, Elaine

2012-08-01

Active videogames (AVGs) have potential in terms of physical activity and therapy for children with cerebral palsy. However, the effect of social interaction on AVG play has not yet been assessed. The objective of this study is to determine if multiplayer AVG versus solo affects levels of energy expenditure and movement patterns. Fifteen children (9.77 [standard deviation (SD) 1.78] years old) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I) participated in solo and multiplayer Nintendo(®) "Wii™ Boxing" (Nintendo, Inc., Redmond, WA) AVG play while energy expenditure and punching frequency were monitored. Moderate levels of physical activity were achieved with no significant differences in energy measures during multiplayer and solo play. Dominant arm punching frequency increased during the multiplayer session from 95.75 (SD 37.93) punches/minute to 107.77 (SD 36.99) punches/minute. Conversely, hemiplegic arm punching frequency decreased from 39.05 (SD 29.57) punches/minutes to 30.73 (SD 24.74) punches/minutes during multiplayer game play. Children enjoyed multiplayer more than solo play. Opportunities to play AVGs with friends and family may translate to more frequent participation in this moderate physical activity. Conversely, increased hemiplegic limb use during solo play may have therapeutic advantages. As such, new strategies are recommended to promote use of the hemiplegic hand during multiplayer AVG play and to optimize commercial AVG systems for applications in virtual reality therapy.

Analysis of full-scale tank car shell impact tests

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-09-11

This paper describes analyses of a railroad tank car : impacted at its side by a ram car with a rigid punch. This : generalized collision, referred to as a shell impact, is examined : using nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) and threedimensional...

Immunodiagnostic Techniques for Bacterial Infections

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

specificity that specific immune sera (the immune response) provides. The early use of immunological diagnosis was to demonstrate circulating antibodies to...testing requirements. 4. Carefully remove punched plugs by suction. 5. Fill the central well with immune serum and the surrounding wells with test...capsulatuni Serum Actinomvcesr israeli Serum Aspergillus fumiqatus Serum Protozoan: Trvnanosoma cruzi Serum Entameaba histolvtica Serum Trichinella sviralis

Convergent production and tolerance among 107 woody species and divergent production between shrubs and trees.

PubMed

He, Wei-Ming; Sun, Zhen-Kai

2016-02-08

Green leaves face two fundamental challenges (i.e., carbon fixation and stress tolerance) during their lifespan. However, the relationships between leaf production potential and leaf tolerance potential have not been explicitly tested with a broad range of plant species in the same environment. To do so, we conducted a field investigation based on 107 woody plants grown in a common garden and complementary laboratory measurements. The values, as measured by a chlorophyll meter, were significantly related to the direct measurements of chlorophyll content on a leaf area basis. Area-based chlorophyll content was positively correlated with root surface area, whole-plant biomass, leaf mass per area (LMA), and force to punch. Additionally, LMA had a positive correlation with force to punch. Shrubs had a higher leaf chlorophyll content than trees; however, shrubs and trees exhibited a similar leaf lifespan, force to punch, and LMA. These findings suggest that the production potential of leaves and their tolerance to stresses may be convergent in woody species and that the leaf production potential may differ between shrubs and trees. This study highlights the possibility that functional convergence and divergence might be linked to long-term selection pressures and genetic constraints.

Convergent production and tolerance among 107 woody species and divergent production between shrubs and trees

PubMed Central

He, Wei-Ming; Sun, Zhen-Kai

2016-01-01

Green leaves face two fundamental challenges (i.e., carbon fixation and stress tolerance) during their lifespan. However, the relationships between leaf production potential and leaf tolerance potential have not been explicitly tested with a broad range of plant species in the same environment. To do so, we conducted a field investigation based on 107 woody plants grown in a common garden and complementary laboratory measurements. The values, as measured by a chlorophyll meter, were significantly related to the direct measurements of chlorophyll content on a leaf area basis. Area-based chlorophyll content was positively correlated with root surface area, whole-plant biomass, leaf mass per area (LMA), and force to punch. Additionally, LMA had a positive correlation with force to punch. Shrubs had a higher leaf chlorophyll content than trees; however, shrubs and trees exhibited a similar leaf lifespan, force to punch, and LMA. These findings suggest that the production potential of leaves and their tolerance to stresses may be convergent in woody species and that the leaf production potential may differ between shrubs and trees. This study highlights the possibility that functional convergence and divergence might be linked to long-term selection pressures and genetic constraints. PMID:26854019

Deformation field heterogeneity in punch indentation

PubMed Central

Murthy, Tejas G.; Saldana, Christopher; Hudspeth, Matthew; M'Saoubi, Rachid

2014-01-01

Plastic heterogeneity in indentation is fundamental for understanding mechanics of hardness testing and impression-based deformation processing methods. The heterogeneous deformation underlying plane-strain indentation was investigated in plastic loading of copper by a flat punch. Deformation parameters were measured, in situ, by tracking the motion of asperities in high-speed optical imaging. These measurements were coupled with multi-scale analyses of strength, microstructure and crystallographic texture in the vicinity of the indentation. Self-consistency is demonstrated in description of the deformation field using the in situ mechanics-based measurements and post-mortem materials characterization. Salient features of the punch indentation process elucidated include, among others, the presence of a dead-metal zone underneath the indenter, regions of intense strain rate (e.g. slip lines) and extent of the plastic flow field. Perhaps more intriguing are the transitions between shear-type and compression-type deformation modes over the indentation region that were quantified by the high-resolution crystallographic texture measurements. The evolution of the field concomitant to the progress of indentation is discussed and primary differences between the mechanics of indentation for a rigid perfectly plastic material and a strain-hardening material are described. PMID:24910521

Design and performance of a punch mechanism based pellet injector for alternative injection in the large helical device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, J. S.; Sakamoto, R.; Motojima, G.; Matsuyama, A.; Yamada, H.

2011-02-01

A low speed single barrel pellet injector, using a mechanical punch device has been developed for alternative injection in the large helical device. A pellet is injected by the combined operation of a mechanical punch and a pneumatic propellant system. The pellet shape is cylindrical, 3 mm in diameter and 3 mm in length. Using this technique the speed of the pellet can be controlled flexibly in the range of 100-450 m/s, and a higher speed can be feasible for a higher gas pressure. The injector is equipped with a guide tube selector to direct the pellet to different injection locations. Pellets are exposed to several curved parts with the curvature radii Rc = 0.8 and 0.3 m when they are transferred in guided tubes to the respective injection locations. Pellet speed variation with pressure at different pellet formation temperatures has been observed. Pellet intactness tests through these guide tubes show a variation in the intact speed limit over a range of pellet formation temperatures from 6.5 to 9.8 K. Pellet speed reduction of less than 6% has been observed after the pellet moves through the curved guide tubes.

Shear punch and ball microhardness measurements of 14 MeV neutron irradiation hardening in five metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinohara, K.; Lucas, G. E.; Odette, G. R.

1985-08-01

The irradiation hardening response of five metals irradiated in RTNS-II was investigated using a combination of ball microhardness and shear punch test techniques. The specimens were transmission electron microscopy disks of pure nickel, Ni-5wt%Si, pure iron, solution annealed prime candidate alloy (PCA) for Path A, and 40% cold worked MFE 316 stainless steel. Specimens were irradiated in RTNS-II to fluences in the range 6 × 10 16 to 6 × 10 17 n/cm 2. Only limited ball microhardness data could be obtained because of disk thickness. However, the ball microhardness data obtained were in good agreement with shear punch data. It was found that the pure metals exhibited little hardening after exposure to fluences of ~1 × 10 17 n/cm 2, but Ni-5 Si exhibited significant hardening after 6 × 10 17 n/cm 2. Hardening in PCA was similar to that observed in solution annealed 316 stainless steel; and hardening in 40% cold worked MFE 316 was relatively small after 6 × 10 17 n/cm 2. The Ni-5 Si response may be due to irradiation induced precipitation.

EDXRF study of Indian punch-marked silver coins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayan, V.; Rautray, T. R.; Basa, D. K.

2004-09-01

Coins are important archaeological objects that can provide valuable information regarding coin minting methodology and provenance as well as politics and economics of the time. Punch-marked coins are the oldest known numismatics used in ancient India. 23 Indian punch-marked silver coins were analysed, for the first time, by using multi-elemental non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Our study reveals that silver, copper, iron, gold and lead are the significant constituents of the Indian punch marked silver coins, with minor/trace of elements like Ti, Cr, Co, Ni, As and Y also seems to indicate the fragmentation as well as the impoverishment of the power for the regimes that had produced the studied coins.

Optimization of fruit punch using mixture design.

PubMed

Kumar, S Bharath; Ravi, R; Saraswathi, G

2010-01-01

A highly acceptable dehydrated fruit punch was developed with selected fruits, namely lemon, orange, and mango, using a mixture design and optimization technique. The fruit juices were freeze dried, powdered, and used in the reconstitution studies. Fruit punches were prepared according to the experimental design combinations (total 10) based on a mixture design and then subjected to sensory evaluation for acceptability. Response surfaces of sensory attributes were also generated as a function of fruit juices. Analysis of data revealed that the fruit punch prepared using 66% of mango, 33% of orange, and 1% of lemon had highly desirable sensory scores for color (6.00), body (5.92), sweetness (5.68), and pleasantness (5.94). The aroma pattern of individual as well as combinations of fruit juices were also analyzed by electronic nose. The electronic nose could discriminate the aroma patterns of individual as well as fruit juice combinations by mixture design. The results provide information on the sensory quality of best fruit punch formulations liked by the consumer panel based on lemon, orange, and mango.

Effects of laser power density and initial grain size in laser shock punching of pure copper foil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Chao; Zhang, Xiu; Zhang, Yiliang; Ji, Zhong; Luan, Yiguo; Song, Libin

2018-06-01

The effects of laser power density and initial grain size on forming quality of holes in laser shock punching process were investigated in the present study. Three different initial grain sizes as well as three levels of laser power densities were provided, and then laser shock punching experiments of T2 copper foil were conducted. Based upon the experimental results, the characteristics of shape accuracy, fracture surface morphology and microstructures of punched holes were examined. It is revealed that the initial grain size has a noticeable effect on forming quality of holes punched by laser shock. The shape accuracy of punched holes degrades with the increase of grain size. As the laser power density is enhanced, the shape accuracy can be improved except for the case in which the ratio of foil thickness to initial grain size is approximately equal to 1. Compared with the fracture surface morphology in the quasistatic loading conditions, the fracture surface after laser shock can be divided into three zones including rollover, shearing and burr. The distribution of the above three zones strongly relates with the initial grain size. When the laser power density is enhanced, the shearing depth is not increased, but even diminishes in some cases. There is no obvious change of microstructures with the enhancement of laser power density. However, while the initial grain size is close to the foil thickness, single-crystal shear deformation may occur, suggesting that the ratio of foil thickness to initial grain size has an important impact on deformation behavior of metal foil in laser shock punching process.

Discrepancy between colposcopy, punch biopsy and final histology of cone specimen: a prospective study.

PubMed

Petousis, Stamatios; Christidis, Panagiotis; Margioula-Siarkou, Chrysoula; Sparangis, Nikolaos; Athanasiadis, Apostolos; Kalogiannidis, Ioannis

2018-05-01

Τo estimate the discrepancy rate between colposcopy, punch biopsy histology and surgical specimen histology as well as the positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of colposcopic diagnosis for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL). A prospective study was conducted during the period of 2012-2016. Αll cases in which surgical treatment had been applied and histopathological diagnosis of those surgical specimens was available were included. Cases in which ablation was performed and cases with incomplete data or conservative approach were excluded. Primary outcome was the agreement rate between histologic diagnosis of surgical specimen, histologic diagnosis of punch biopsy and colposcopic diagnosis according to REID Colposcopic Index. PPV and NPV of colposcopy and biopsy to diagnose HGSIL were also assessed. Τhere were 120 cases meeting our inclusion criteria, while biopsy was obtained in 104 cases. Mean age of women was 32.7 ± 9.0. Colposcopic diagnosis was CIN2 in 65 cases, CIN3 in 11 cases, CIN1 or less in 44 cases. Τhe level of agreement was fair between colposcopy-surgical specimen histology (κ value 0.443), fair between colposcopy-punch biopsy (κ value 0.34) and moderate between punch biopsy-cone specimen histology (κ value 0.443). PPV of colposcopy to detect HGSIL was 72.3%, while NPV was only 47.7%. Punch biopsy and surgical specimen histology present the highest agreement between the different diagnostic procedures. Colposcopy presented satisfying PPV for HGSIL cases, but its NPV was poor. In contrary, punch biopsy was characterized by both satisfying PPV and NPV for HGSIL cases.

Predicting punching acceleration from selected strength and power variables in elite karate athletes: a multiple regression analysis.

PubMed

Loturco, Irineu; Artioli, Guilherme Giannini; Kobal, Ronaldo; Gil, Saulo; Franchini, Emerson

2014-07-01

This study investigated the relationship between punching acceleration and selected strength and power variables in 19 professional karate athletes from the Brazilian National Team (9 men and 10 women; age, 23 ± 3 years; height, 1.71 ± 0.09 m; and body mass [BM], 67.34 ± 13.44 kg). Punching acceleration was assessed under 4 different conditions in a randomized order: (a) fixed distance aiming to attain maximum speed (FS), (b) fixed distance aiming to attain maximum impact (FI), (c) self-selected distance aiming to attain maximum speed, and (d) self-selected distance aiming to attain maximum impact. The selected strength and power variables were as follows: maximal dynamic strength in bench press and squat-machine, squat and countermovement jump height, mean propulsive power in bench throw and jump squat, and mean propulsive velocity in jump squat with 40% of BM. Upper- and lower-body power and maximal dynamic strength variables were positively correlated to punch acceleration in all conditions. Multiple regression analysis also revealed predictive variables: relative mean propulsive power in squat jump (W·kg-1), and maximal dynamic strength 1 repetition maximum in both bench press and squat-machine exercises. An impact-oriented instruction and a self-selected distance to start the movement seem to be crucial to reach the highest acceleration during punching execution. This investigation, while demonstrating strong correlations between punching acceleration and strength-power variables, also provides important information for coaches, especially for designing better training strategies to improve punching speed.

Human behaviours associated with dominance in elite amateur boxing bouts: A comparison of winners and losers under the Ten Point Must System

PubMed Central

Humberstone, Clare E.; Iredale, K. Fiona; Martin, David T.; Blazevich, Anthony J.

2017-01-01

Humans commonly ascertain physical dominance through non-lethal fighting by participating in combat sports. However, the behaviours that achieve fight dominance are not fully understood. Amateur boxing competition, which is judged using the subjective “Ten Point Must-System”, provides insight into fight dominance behaviours. Notational analysis was performed on 26 elite male competitors in a national boxing championship. Behavioural (guard-drop time; movement style [stepping/bouncing time]; clinch-time; interaction-time) and technical (total punches; punches landed [%Hit]; air punches [%Air]; defence) measures were recorded. Participants reported effort required (0–100%) and perceived effect of fatigue on their own performance (5-point Likert scale) following bouts. Differences between winners and losers, and changes across the duration of the bout were examined. Winners punched more accurately than losers (greater %Hit [33% vs. 23%] and lower %Air [17% vs. 27%]) but total punches, defence and interaction-time were similar. From rounds 1–2, clinch-time and guard drops increased whilst bouncing decreased. Perceived effect of fatigue increased throughout the bout while perceived effort increased only from rounds 2–3. %Hit and movement index together in regression analysis correctly classified 85% of bout outcomes, indicating that judges (subjectively) chose winning (dominant) boxers according to punch accuracy and style, rather than assertiveness (more punches thrown). Boxers appear to use tactical strategies throughout the bout to pace their effort and minimise fatigue (increased guard drops, reduced bouncing), but these did not influence perceived dominance or bout outcome. These results show that judges use several performance indicators not including the total number of successful punches thrown to assess fight dominance and superiority between fighters. These results provide valuable information as to how experienced fight observers subjectively rate superiority and dominance during one-on-one human fighting. PMID:29287064

Human behaviours associated with dominance in elite amateur boxing bouts: A comparison of winners and losers under the Ten Point Must System.

PubMed

Dunn, Emily C; Humberstone, Clare E; Iredale, K Fiona; Martin, David T; Blazevich, Anthony J

2017-01-01

Humans commonly ascertain physical dominance through non-lethal fighting by participating in combat sports. However, the behaviours that achieve fight dominance are not fully understood. Amateur boxing competition, which is judged using the subjective "Ten Point Must-System", provides insight into fight dominance behaviours. Notational analysis was performed on 26 elite male competitors in a national boxing championship. Behavioural (guard-drop time; movement style [stepping/bouncing time]; clinch-time; interaction-time) and technical (total punches; punches landed [%Hit]; air punches [%Air]; defence) measures were recorded. Participants reported effort required (0-100%) and perceived effect of fatigue on their own performance (5-point Likert scale) following bouts. Differences between winners and losers, and changes across the duration of the bout were examined. Winners punched more accurately than losers (greater %Hit [33% vs. 23%] and lower %Air [17% vs. 27%]) but total punches, defence and interaction-time were similar. From rounds 1-2, clinch-time and guard drops increased whilst bouncing decreased. Perceived effect of fatigue increased throughout the bout while perceived effort increased only from rounds 2-3. %Hit and movement index together in regression analysis correctly classified 85% of bout outcomes, indicating that judges (subjectively) chose winning (dominant) boxers according to punch accuracy and style, rather than assertiveness (more punches thrown). Boxers appear to use tactical strategies throughout the bout to pace their effort and minimise fatigue (increased guard drops, reduced bouncing), but these did not influence perceived dominance or bout outcome. These results show that judges use several performance indicators not including the total number of successful punches thrown to assess fight dominance and superiority between fighters. These results provide valuable information as to how experienced fight observers subjectively rate superiority and dominance during one-on-one human fighting.

Punching influence on magnetic properties of the stator teeth of an induction motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kedous-Lebouc, A.; Cornut, B.; Perrier, J. C.; Manfé, Ph.; Chevalier, Th.

2003-01-01

In order to study the effects of punching of electrical steel sheets, a suitable geometrical structure able to characterize the stator teeth behavior of an induction motor is proposed and validated. The influence of the punching on a fully processed M330-65A is then characterized. A spectacular degradation of loss and B( H) curves is observed. This leads to a perceptible increase of the no-load machine current.

"One can't shake off the women": images of sport and gender in Punch, 1901-10.

PubMed

Constanzo, Marilyn

2002-01-01

Examining the manner in which the popular press portrayed middle-class Edwardian women's activity in sport provides insight into the social liberation of English women. The popular middle-class British journal Punch included thousands of images of sportswomen. Despite the misogynistic satirizing of inept women, Punch's cartoons and articles depict distinct changes in women's behavior and social expectations that are linked to their increasing involvement in sport. By engaging in sport, women unconsciously challenged and permanently altered the pervasive middle-class Victorian ideology. The contents of Punch suggests that middle-class women's participation in sport, though perhaps begun in a conservative manner, completely altered and expanded their social role and changed the traditional image of womanhood.

Enhanced cellular infiltration of human adipose-derived stem cells in allograft menisci using a needle-punch method.

PubMed

Nordberg, Rachel C; Charoenpanich, Adisri; Vaughn, Christopher E; Griffith, Emily H; Fisher, Matthew B; Cole, Jacqueline H; Spang, Jeffrey T; Loboa, Elizabeth G

2016-10-28

The meniscus plays a crucial role in knee joint stability, load transmission, and stress distribution. Meniscal tears are the most common reported knee injuries, and the current standard treatment for meniscal deficiency is meniscal allograft transplantation. A major limitation of this approach is that meniscal allografts do not have the capacity to remodel and maintain tissue homeostasis due to a lack of cellular infiltration. The purpose of this study was to provide a new method for enhanced cellular infiltration in meniscal allografts. Twenty medial menisci were collected from cadaveric human sources and split into five experimental groups: (1) control native menisci, (2) decellularized menisci, (3) decellularized menisci seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC), (4) decellularized needle-punched menisci, and (5) decellularized needle-punched menisci seeded with hASC. All experimental allografts were decellularized using a combined method with trypsin EDTA and peracetic acid. Needle punching (1-mm spacing, 28 G microneedle) was utilized to improve porosity of the allograft. Samples were recellularized with hASC at a density of 250 k/g of tissue. After 28 days of in vitro culture, menisci were analyzed for mechanical, biochemical, and histological characteristics. Menisci maintained structural integrity and material properties (compressive equilibrium and dynamic moduli) throughout preparations. Increased DNA content was observed in the needle-punched menisci but not in the samples without needle punching. Histology confirmed these results, showing enhanced cellular infiltration in needle-punched samples. The enhanced infiltration achieved in this study could help meniscal allografts better remodel post-surgery. The integration of autologous adipose-derived stem cells could improve long-term efficacy of meniscal transplantation procedures by helping to maintain the meniscus in vivo.

Using stamping punch force variation for the identification of changes in lubrication and wear mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voss, B. M.; Pereira, M. P.; Rolfe, B. F.; Doolan, M. C.

2017-09-01

The growth in use of Advanced High Strength Steels in the automotive industry for light-weighting and safety has increased the rates of tool wear in sheet metal stamping. This is an issue that adds significant costs to production in terms of manual inspection and part refinishing. To reduce these costs, a tool condition monitoring system is required and a firm understanding of process signal variation must form the foundation for any such monitoring system. Punch force is a stamping process signal that is widely collected by industrial presses and has been linked closely to part quality and tool condition, making it an ideal candidate as a tool condition monitoring signal. In this preliminary investigation, the variation of punch force due to different lubrication conditions and progressive wear are examined. Linking specific punch force signature changes to developing lubrication and wear events is valuable for die wear and stamping condition monitoring. A series of semi-industrial channel forming trials were conducted under different lubrication regimes and progressive die wear. Punch force signatures were captured for each part and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to determine the key Principal Components of the signature data sets. These Principal Components were linked to the evolution of friction conditions over the course of the stroke for the different lubrication regimes and mechanism of galling wear. As a result, variation in punch force signatures were correlated to the current mechanism of wear dominant on the formed part; either abrasion or adhesion, and to changes in lubrication mechanism. The outcomes of this study provide important insights into punch force signature variation, that will provide a foundation for future work into the development of die wear and lubrication monitoring systems for sheet metal stamping.

Effects of Sparring Load on Reaction Speed and Punch Force During the Precompetition and Competition Periods in Boxing.

PubMed

Hukkanen, Esa; Häkkinen, Keijo

2017-06-01

Seven, male, national-level boxers (age, 20.3 ± 2.7 years; height, 1.80 ± 0.06 m; mass, 73.8 ± 11.1 kg) participated in this study to investigate the effects of sparring on reaction time and punch force of straight punches measured during the precompetition and competition periods. Heart rate and blood lactate concentrations were also monitored. Sparring load was chosen in accordance with the current rules: 3 × 3-minute bouts with 1-minute break in between. Reaction time of rear straight lengthened (p < 0.01) during the sparring load of the precompetition period after the third round (to 390 milliseconds) in comparison to the competition period (to 310 milliseconds). Reaction time of lead straight lengthened (p ≤ 0.05) between the first and third round during the precompetition with no differences during the competition period. Both rear and lead straight punch forces were greater at all measurement points during the precompetition compared with the competition period. Punch forces increased for both rear and lead straight between the first and third rounds with the highest forces after third round during the precompetition (rear straight, 209 kg) and competition (rear straight, 176 kg) periods. Blood lactate levels increased after every round during both periods being at its greatest after the third round (17 mmol·L during the precompetition and 13 mmol·L during the competition period). The present sparring-induced differences in reaction time and punch forces of straight punches during the precompetition compared with the competition period may be the result of different volume and intensity of training with different goals in boxing-specific and explosive strength training.

ASDIR-II. Volume I. User Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-12-01

normally the most significant part of the overall aircraft IR signature. The 4 radiance is directly dependent upon the geometric view factors , a set...tactors as punched card output in. a view factor computer run. For the view factor computer run IB49 through 53 and all IDS input A, from IDS-2 to IDS-6...may be excluded from the input string if the * program execution is requested to stop after punching the viewv factors . Inputs required for punching

Star Catalogs on Punched Cards and Magnetic Tape

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berbert, J. H.

1961-01-01

In connection with the calibration of the Minitrack satellite tracking stations, the Goddard Space Flight Center has had the contents of a number of star catalogs put on punched cards and magnetic tape. This report discusses the plate data reduction procedures, briefly describes the information on the punched cards and magnetic tape, and calls attention to other applications of the card and tape star catalogs. The Goddard Space Flight Center has offered to prepare duplicate catalogs for qualified organizations.

An Introduction to PunchScan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popoveniuc, Stefan; Hosp, Ben

PunchScan is a precinct-read optical-scan balloting system that allows voters to take their ballot with them after scanning. This does not violate the secret ballot principle because the ballots cannot be read without secret information held by the distributed authority in charge of the election. In fact, this election authority will publish the ballots for everyone to see, allowing voters whose ballots were incorrectly omitted to complain. PunchScan vote-counting is performed in private by the election authority - who uses their secret information to decode the ballots - but is verified in public by an auditor.In this paper we describe how and why PunchScan works. We have kept most of the description at an outline level so that it may be used as a straw model of a cryptographic voting system.

[Women boxing athletes' EMG of upper limbs and lumbar muscles in the training of air striking of straight punch].

PubMed

Zhang, Ri-Hui; Kang, Zhi-Xin

2011-05-01

To study training effect of upper limbs and lumbar muscles in the proceed of air striking of straight punch by analyzing boxing athletes' changes of electromyogram (EMG). We measured EMG of ten women boxing athletes' upper arm biceps (contractor muscle), upper arm triceps (antagonistic muscle), forearm flexor muscle (contractor muscle), forearm extensor muscle (antagonistic muscle), and lumbar muscles by ME6000 (Mega Electronics Ltd.). The stipulated exercise was to do air striking of straight punch with loads of 2.5 kg of dumbbell in the hand until exhausted. In the proceed of exercise-induce exhausted, the descend magnitude and speed of median frequency (MF) in upper limb antagonistic muscle exceeded to contracting muscle, moreover, the work percentage showed that contractor have done a larger percentage of work than antagonistic muscle. Compared with world champion's EMG, the majority of ordinary athletes' lumbar muscles MF revealed non-drop tendency, and the work percentage showed that lumbar muscles had a very little percentage of work. After comparing the EMG test index in upper limb and lumbar muscle of average boxing athletes with that of the world champion, we find the testees lack of the training of upper limb antagonistic muscle and lumbar muscle, and more trainings aimed at these muscles need to be taken.

Ultrasonic Welding of Graphite/Thermoplastic Composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardy, S. S.; Page, D. B.

1982-01-01

Ultrasonic welding of graphite/thermoplastic composite materials eliminates need for fasteners (which require drilling or punching, add weight, and degrade stiffness) and can be totally automated in beam fabrication and assembly jigs. Feasibility of technique has been demonstrated in laboratory tests which show that neither angular orientation nor vacuum affect weld quality.

Gin saw wear test

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Most current gin saw manufacturers use a 1074 steel or similar as a basis to manufacture their saw blades. The saw teeth are individually punched on the edges of the blades and then the blade goes through a heat treating process prior to use. There are indications from other industries with similar ...

Teletext Brings TV into the Computer Age.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wollman, Jane

1982-01-01

Briefly reviews two teletext services being tested in Chicago--KEYFAX and NITE-OWL--and other teletext experiments. KEYFAX offers information on news, sports, weather/travel, and leisure, which can be selected and displayed on the screen of a home television set by punching code numbers on a remote-control device. (JJD)

Influence of Punch Geometry on Process Parameters in Cold Backward Extrusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plančak, M.; Barišić, B.; Car, Z.; Movrin, D.

2011-01-01

In cold extrusion of steel tools make direct contact with the metal to be extruded. Those tools are exposed to high contact stresses which, in certain cases, may be limiting factors in applying this technology. The present paper was bound to the influence of punch head design on radial stress at the container wall in the process of cold backward extrusion. Five different punch head geometries were investigated. Radial stress on the container wall was measured by pin load cell technique. Special tooling for the experimental investigation was designed and made. Process has been analyzed also by FE method. 2D models of tools were obtained by UGS NX and for FE analysis Simufact Forming GP software was used. Obtained results (experimental and obtained by FE) were compared and analyzed. Optimal punch head geometry has been suggested.

High-speed blanking of copper alloy sheets: Material modeling and simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husson, Ch.; Ahzi, S.; Daridon, L.

2006-08-01

To optimize the blanking process of thin copper sheets ( ≈ 1. mm thickness), it is necessary to study the influence of the process parameters such as the punch-die clearance and the wear of the punch and the die. For high stroke rates, the strain rate developed in the work-piece can be very high. Therefore, the material modeling must include the dynamic effects.For the modeling part, we propose an elastic-viscoplastic material model combined with a non-linear isotropic damage evolution law based on the theory of the continuum damage mechanics. Our proposed modeling is valid for a wide range of strain rates and temperatures. Finite Element simulations, using the commercial code ABAQUS/Explicit, of the blanking process are then conducted and the results are compared to the experimental investigations. The predicted cut edge of the blanked part and the punch-force displacement curves are discussed as function of the process parameters. The evolution of the shape errors (roll-over depth, fracture depth, shearing depth, and burr formation) as function of the punch-die clearance, the punch and the die wear, and the contact punch/die/blank-holder are presented. A discussion on the different stages of the blanking process as function of the processing parameters is given. The predicted results of the blanking dependence on strain-rate and temperature using our modeling are presented (for the plasticity and damage). The comparison our model results with the experimental ones shows a good agreement.

Joint punching and frequency effects on practical magnetic characteristics of electrical steels for high-speed machines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kedous-Lebouc, A.; Messal, O.; Youmssi, A.

2017-03-01

Mechanical punching of electrical steels causes a degradation of their magnetic characteristics which can extend several millimeters from the cut edge. So, in the field of industrial applications, particularly that of small electrical machines, the stator core made of rigid and thin teeth would be subject to more losses. Thus, this topic of the effect of punching has to be submitted to further deep characterization and development in order to give some insight into the different mechanisms. In this framework, this paper evaluates the combined effect of punching and frequency on the magnetization curve and iron losses in thin SiFe and CoFe soft magnetic sheets. These alloys are typically suitable for the manufacture of high-speed electrical machines used in on board applications (aircraft power generators, automotive, etc). Two SiFe alloys and a CoFe alloy have been investigated. First, different rectangular samples of variable width (15, 10, 5, 3 mm) have been industrially punched. Then, a dedicated magnetic characterization has been made, using basically a mini-Epstein frame. Measurements have been performed from 50 Hz to 1 kHz and from 0.3 T to near saturation. Both rolling and transverse directions have been considered. Finally, a first attempt to predict the degradation due to the punching is presented. A useful description of the magnetic permeability as a function of B and f is given and the degradation parameters are estimated based on the knowledge of the reference permeability.

Evaluation of punching shear strength of flat slabs supported on rectangular columns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filatov, Valery

2018-03-01

The article presents the methodology and results of an analytical study of structural parameters influence on the value of punching force for the joint of columns and flat reinforced concrete slab. This design solution is typical for monolithic reinforced concrete girderless frames, which have a wide application in the construction of high-rise buildings. As the results of earlier studies show the punching shear strength of slabs at rectangular columns can be lower than at square columns with a similar length of the control perimeter. The influence of two structural parameters on the punching strength of the plate is investigated - the ratio of the side of the column cross-section to the effective depth of slab C/d and the ratio of the sides of the rectangular column Cmax/Cmin. According to the results of the study, graphs of reduction the control perimeter depending on the structural parameters are presented for columns square and rectangular cross-sections. Comparison of results obtained by proposed approach and MC2010 simplified method are shown, that proposed approach gives a more conservative estimate of the influence of the structural parameters. A significant influence of the considered structural parameters on punching shear strength of reinforced concrete slabs is confirmed by the results of experimental studies. The results of the study confirm the necessity of taking into account the considered structural parameters when calculating the punching shear strength of flat reinforced concrete slabs and further development of code design methods.

Task Shifting and Skin Punch for the Histologic Diagnosis of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Public Health Solution to a Public Health Problem.

PubMed

Laker-Oketta, Miriam O; Wenger, Megan; Semeere, Aggrey; Castelnuovo, Barbara; Kambugu, Andrew; Lukande, Robert; Asirwa, F Chite; Busakhala, Naftali; Buziba, Nathan; Diero, Lameck; Wools-Kaloustian, Kara; Strother, Robert Matthew; Bwana, Mwebesa; Muyindike, Winnie; Amerson, Erin; Mbidde, Edward; Maurer, Toby; Martin, Jeffrey

2015-01-01

Fueled by HIV, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in the world. Despite this, KS diagnosis in the region is based mostly on clinical grounds. Where biopsy is available, it has traditionally been excisional and performed by surgeons, resulting in multiple appointments, follow-up visits for suture removal, and substantial costs. We hypothesized that a simpler approach - skin punch biopsy - would make histologic diagnosis more accessible. To address this, we provided training and equipment for skin punch biopsy of suspected KS to three HIV clinics in East Africa. The procedure consisted of local anesthesia followed by a disposable cylindrical punch blade to obtain specimens. Hemostasis is facilitated by Gelfoam®. Patients removed the dressing after 4 days. From 2007 to 2013, 2,799 biopsies were performed. Although originally targeted to be used by physicians, biopsies were performed predominantly by nurses (62%), followed by physicians (15%), clinical officers (12%) and technicians (11%). There were no reports of recurrent bleeding or infection. After minimal training and provision of inexpensive equipment (USD 3.06 per biopsy), HIV clinics in East Africa can integrate same-day skin punch biopsy for suspected KS. Task shifting from physician to non-physician greatly increases access. Skin punch biopsy should be part of any HIV clinic's essential procedures. This example of task shifting may also be applicable to the diagnosis of other cancers (e.g., breast) in resource-limited settings.

Cracking the code: a decode strategy for the international business machines punch cards of Korean war soldiers.

PubMed

Mitsunaga, Erin M

2006-05-01

During the Korean War, International Business Machines (IBM) punch cards were created for every individual involved in military combat. Each card contained all pertinent personal information about the individual and was utilized to keep track of all soldiers involved. However, at present, all of the information known about these punch cards reveals only their format and their significance; there is little to no information on how these cards were created or how to interpret the information contained without the aid of the computer system used during the war. Today, it is believed there is no one available to explain this computerized system, nor do the original computers exist. This decode strategy is the result of an attempt to decipher the information on these cards through the use of all available medical and dental records for each individual examined. By cross-referencing the relevant personal information with the known format of the cards, a basic guess-and-check method was utilized. After examining hundreds of IBM punch cards, however, it has become clear that the punch card method of recording information was not infallible. In some cases, there are gaps of information on cards where there are data recorded on personal records; in others, information is punched incorrectly onto the cards, perhaps as the result of a transcription error. Taken all together, it is clear that the information contained on each individual's card should be taken solely as another form of personal documentation.

Experimental investigation of piercing of high-strength steels within a critical range of slant angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senn, S.; Liewald, M.

2017-09-01

Deep drawn parts often do have complex designs and, therefore, must be trimmed or punched subsequently in a second stage. Due to the complex part geometry, most punching areas do reveal critical slant angle (angle between part surface and ram movement direction) different to perpendicular direction. Piercing within a critical range of slant angle may lead to severe damage of the cutting tool. Consequently, expensive cam units are required to transform the ram moving direction in order to perform the piercing process perpendicularly to the local part surface. For modern sheet metals, however, the described critical angle of attack has not been investigated adequately until now. Therefore, cam units are used in cases in which regular piercing with high slant angle wouldn’t be possible. Purpose of this study is to investigate influencing factors and their effect on punch damage during piercing of high strength steels with slant angles. Therefore, a modular shearing tool was designed, which allows to simply switch die parts to vary cutting clearance and cutting angle. The target size of the study is to measure the lateral deviation of the punch which is monitored by an eddy current sensor. The sensor is located in the downholder and measures the lateral punch deviation in-line during manufacturing. The deviation is mainly influenced by slant angle of workpiece surface. In relation to slang angle and sheet thickness the clearance has a small influence on the measured punch deflection.

Failure prediction for the optimization of stretch forming aluminium-polymer laminate foils used for pharmaceutical packaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Simon; Weygand, Sabine M.

2018-05-01

Axisymmetric stretch forming processes of aluminium-polymer laminate foils (e.g. consisting of PA-Al-PVC layers) are analyzed numerically by finite element modeling of the multi-layer material as well as experimentally in order to identify a suitable damage initiation criterion. A simple ductile fracture criterion is proposed to predict the forming limits. The corresponding material constants are determined from tensile tests and then applied in forming simulations with different punch geometries. A comparison between the simulations and the experimental results shows that the determined failure constants are not applicable. Therefore, one forming experiment was selected and in the corresponding simulation the failure constant was fitted to its measured maximum stretch. With this approach it is possible to predict the forming limit of the laminate foil with satisfying accuracy for different punch geometries.

Surprise but not coherence: sensitivity to verbal humor in right-hemisphere patients.

PubMed

Brownell, H H; Michel, D; Powelson, J; Gardner, H

1983-01-01

Verbal humor deficits were investigated in right-hemisphere-damaged patients. It was hypothesized that the appreciation of jokes presupposes two elements: sensitivity to the surprise element entailed in the punch line of a joke and apprehension of the coherence which results when the punch line has been integrated with the body of the joke. The possible dissociation between these elements was tested by asking subjects to select from four alternatives the appropriate ending to a joke. Right-hemisphere patients exhibited a selective attraction to endings which contained an element of surprise but which were not otherwise coherent with the body of the joke. This finding suggests that right-hemisphere patients have difficulty in integrating content across parts of a narrative and confirms the psychological reality of the proposed distinction between the surprise and coherence elements of humor processing.

Use of loading-unloading compression curves in medical device design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciornei, M. C.; Alaci, S.; Ciornei, F. C.; Romanu, I. C.

2017-08-01

The paper presents a method and experimental results regarding mechanical testing of soft materials. In order to characterize the mechanical behaviour of technological materials used in prosthesis, a large number of material constants are required, as well as the comparison to the original. The present paper proposes as methodology the comparison between compression loading-unloading curves corresponding to a soft biological tissue and to a synthetic material. To this purpose, a device was designed based on the principle of the dynamic harness test. A moving load is considered and the force upon the indenter is controlled for loading-unloading phases. The load and specimen deformation are simultaneously recorded. A significant contribution of this paper is the interpolation of experimental data by power law functions, a difficult task because of the instability of the system of equations to be optimized. Finding the interpolation function was simplified, from solving a system of transcendental equations to solving a unique equation. The characteristic parameters of the experimentally curves must be compared to the ones corresponding to actual tissue. The tests were performed for two cases: first, using a spherical punch, and second, for a flat-ended cylindrical punch.

The Potential Role of Sensory Testing, Skin Biopsy, and Functional Brain Imaging as Biomarkers in Chronic Pain Clinical Trials: IMMPACT Considerations.

PubMed

Smith, Shannon M; Dworkin, Robert H; Turk, Dennis C; Baron, Ralf; Polydefkis, Michael; Tracey, Irene; Borsook, David; Edwards, Robert R; Harris, Richard E; Wager, Tor D; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars; Burke, Laurie B; Carr, Daniel B; Chappell, Amy; Farrar, John T; Freeman, Roy; Gilron, Ian; Goli, Veeraindar; Haeussler, Juergen; Jensen, Troels; Katz, Nathaniel P; Kent, Jeffrey; Kopecky, Ernest A; Lee, David A; Maixner, William; Markman, John D; McArthur, Justin C; McDermott, Michael P; Parvathenani, Lav; Raja, Srinivasa N; Rappaport, Bob A; Rice, Andrew S C; Rowbotham, Michael C; Tobias, Jeffrey K; Wasan, Ajay D; Witter, James

2017-07-01

Valid and reliable biomarkers can play an important role in clinical trials as indicators of biological or pathogenic processes or as a signal of treatment response. Currently, there are no biomarkers for pain qualified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency for use in clinical trials. This article summarizes an Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials meeting in which 3 potential biomarkers were discussed for use in the development of analgesic treatments: 1) sensory testing, 2) skin punch biopsy, and 3) brain imaging. The empirical evidence supporting the use of these tests is described within the context of the 4 categories of biomarkers: 1) diagnostic, 2) prognostic, 3) predictive, and 4) pharmacodynamic. Although sensory testing, skin punch biopsy, and brain imaging are promising tools for pain in clinical trials, additional evidence is needed to further support and standardize these tests for use as biomarkers in pain clinical trials. The applicability of sensory testing, skin biopsy, and brain imaging as diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for use in analgesic treatment trials is considered. Evidence in support of their use and outlining problems is presented, as well as a call for further standardization and demonstrations of validity and reliability. Copyright © 2017 American Pain Society. All rights reserved.

Usefulness of High-Frequency Ultrasound in the Classification of Histologic Subtypes of Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma.

PubMed

Hernández-Ibáñez, C; Blazquez-Sánchez, N; Aguilar-Bernier, M; Fúnez-Liébana, R; Rivas-Ruiz, F; de Troya-Martín, M

Incisional biopsy may not always provide a correct classification of histologic subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging of the skin is useful for the diagnosis and management of this tumor. The main aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of HFUS compared with punch biopsy for the correct classification of histologic subtypes of primary BCC. We also analyzed the influence of tumor size and histologic subtype (single subtype vs. mixed) on the diagnostic yield of HFUS and punch biopsy. Retrospective observational study of primary BCCs treated by the Dermatology Department of Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella, Spain, between october 2013 and may 2014. Surgical excision was preceded by HFUS imaging (Dermascan C © , 20-MHz linear probe) and a punch biopsy in all cases. We compared the overall diagnostic yield and accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV], and negative predictive value [NPV]) of HFUS and punch biopsy against the gold standard (excisional biopsy with serial sections) for overall and subgroup results. We studied 156 cases. The overall diagnostic yield was 73.7% for HFUS (sensitivity, 74.5%; specificity, 73%) and 79.9% for punch biopsy (sensitivity, 76%; specificity, 82%). In the subgroup analyses, HFUS had a PPV of 93.3% for superficial BCC (vs. 92% for punch biopsy). In the analysis by tumor size, HFUS achieved an overall diagnostic yield of 70.4% for tumors measuring 40mm 2 or less and 77.3% for larger tumors; the NPV was 82% in both size groups. Punch biopsy performed better in the diagnosis of small lesions (overall diagnostic yield of 86.4% for lesions ≤40mm 2 vs. 72.6% for lesions >40mm 2 ). HFUS imaging was particularly useful for ruling out infiltrating BCCs, diagnosing simple, superficial BCCs, and correctly classifying BCCs larger than 40mm 2 . Copyright © 2016 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Interaction between a punch and an arbitrary crack or inclusion in a transversely isotropic half-space

DOE PAGES

Fabrikant, I.; Karapetian, E.; Kalinin, S. V.

2017-12-09

Here, we consider the problem of an arbitrary shaped rigid punch pressed against the boundary of a transversely isotropic half-space and interacting with an arbitrary flat crack or inclusion, located in the plane parallel to the boundary. The set of governing integral equations is derived for the most general conditions, namely the presence of both normal and tangential stresses under the punch, as well as general loading of the crack faces. In order to verify correctness of the derivations, two different methods were used to obtain governing integral equations: generalized method of images and utilization of the reciprocal theorem. Bothmore » methods gave the same results. Axisymmetric coaxial case of interaction between a rigid inclusion and a flat circular punch both centered along the z-axis is considered as an illustrative example. Most of the final results are presented in terms of elementary functions.« less

Interaction between a punch and an arbitrary crack or inclusion in a transversely isotropic half-space

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

Fabrikant, I.; Karapetian, E.; Kalinin, S. V.

Here, we consider the problem of an arbitrary shaped rigid punch pressed against the boundary of a transversely isotropic half-space and interacting with an arbitrary flat crack or inclusion, located in the plane parallel to the boundary. The set of governing integral equations is derived for the most general conditions, namely the presence of both normal and tangential stresses under the punch, as well as general loading of the crack faces. In order to verify correctness of the derivations, two different methods were used to obtain governing integral equations: generalized method of images and utilization of the reciprocal theorem. Bothmore » methods gave the same results. Axisymmetric coaxial case of interaction between a rigid inclusion and a flat circular punch both centered along the z-axis is considered as an illustrative example. Most of the final results are presented in terms of elementary functions.« less

Operating manual for the U.S. Geological Survey minimonitor, 1988 revised edition; punched-paper-tape model

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ficken, James H.; Scott, Carl T.

1988-01-01

This manual describes the U.S. Geological Survey Minimonitor Water Quality Data Measuring and Recording System. Instructions for calibrating, servicing, maintaining, and operating the system are provided. The Survey Minimonitor is a battery-powered , multiparameter water quality monitoring instrument designed for field use. A watertight can containing signal conditioners is connected with cable and waterproof connectors to various water quality sensors. Data are recorded on a punched paper-tape recorder. An external battery is required. The operation and maintenance of various sensors and signal conditioners are discussed, for temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Calibration instructions are provided for each parameter, along with maintenance instructions. Sections of the report explain how to connect the Minimonitor to measure direct-current voltages, such as signal outputs from other instruments. Instructions for connecting a satellite data-collection platform or a solid-state data recorder to the Minimonitor are given also. Basic information is given for servicing the Minimonitor and trouble-shooting some of its electronic components. The use of test boxes to test sensors, isolate component problems, and verify calibration values is discussed. (USGS)

An investigation on microstructure and mechanical property of thermally aged stainless steel weld overlay cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, X. Y.; Zhu, P.; Ding, X. F.; Lu, Y. H.; Shoji, T.

2017-04-01

Microstructural evolution and mechanical property change of E308L stainless steel weld overlay cladding aged at 400 °C for 400, 1000 and 5000 h were investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and small punch test (SPT). The results indicated that thermal aging had no obvious effect on the volume fraction of ferrite, but can cause microstructural evolution by spinodal decomposotion and G-phase precipitation in the ferrite phase. Spinodal decomposition took place after aging up to 1000 h, while G-phase formed along dislocations, and growed up to 2-11 nm after aging for 5000 h. The total energy for inducing deformation and fracture by the small punch tests decreased with the increase of thermal aging time, and this decline was associated with spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. Plastic deformation of the aged ferrite proceeded via formation of curvilinear slip bands. Nucleation of microcracks occurred at the δ/γ interface along the slip bands. The hardening of the ferrite and high stress concentration on δ/γ phase interface resulted in brittle fracture and phase boundary separation after thermal aging.

Configurational phases in elastic foams under lengthscale-free punching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabuwala, Tapan; Dai, Xiangyu; Gioia, Gustavo

2016-08-01

We carry out experiments with brick-like specimens of elastic open-cell (EOC) foams of three relative densities. Individual specimens may be "tall" (height = width = depth) or "short" (2 height = width = depth). We place each specimen on a supporting plate and use a lengthscale-free (wedge-shaped or conical) punch to apply forces downward along the specimen's height. Regardless of the type of specimen, the force-penetration curves remain linear, for the wedge-shaped punch, or quadratic, for the conical punch, up to a sizable penetration commensurate with the smallest lengthscale of the specimen. After that there is an abrupt, all-but-discontinuous change in stiffness: if the specimen is tall, the stiffness drops; if the specimen is short, the stiffness shoots up. To analyze these curious experimental results, we posit that EOC foams can be found in either of two configurational phases, here termed the low-strain phase and the high-strain phase, which share a two-dimensional interface (a surface of strain discontinuity). The analysis may be outlined as follows. In the first part of an experiment, there obtains a "similarity regime" in which the penetration of the punch and the radius of the interface are the only prevailing lengthscales (because the punch is lengthscale free). In this case, it is possible to show that the force-penetration curve must be linear, or quadratic, depending on whether the punch be wedge-shaped or conical, respectively. This prediction of the analysis is consistent with the experiments. In time, the similarity regime breaks down when the interface reaches one of the specimen's boundaries distal to the tip of the punch. If the specimen is tall, the soft, stress-free lateral boundary is reached first, and the stiffness must drop; if the specimen is short, the hard boundary in contact with the supporting plate is reached first, and the stiffness must shoot up. These predictions too are consistent with the experiments. To provide direct empirical evidence of the interface, we use a digital-image correlation method. Lastly, we run computational simulations of all the experiments, using finite elements and the skeleton-and-bubble model of EOC foams. The computational results are in good accord with the experimental ones, and they allow us to carry out a detailed validation of the analysis. Our findings evince the cardinal role of configurational phases in the mechanics of EOC foams.

29 CFR 570.59 - Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... beading, straightening, corrugating, flanging, or bending rolls; and hot or cold rolling mills. (ii) All... area between the dies; power presses; and plate punches. (iii) All bending machines, such as apron...

Tag gas capsule with magnetic piercing device

DOEpatents

Nelson, Ira V.

1976-06-22

An apparatus for introducing a tag (i.e., identifying) gas into a tubular nuclear fuel element. A sealed capsule containing the tag gas is placed in the plenum in the fuel tube between the fuel and the end cap. A ferromagnetic punch having a penetrating point is slidably mounted in the plenum. By external electro-magnets, the punch may be caused to penetrate a thin rupturable end wall of the capsule and release the tag gas into the fuel element. Preferably the punch is slidably mounted within the capsule, which is in turn loaded as a sealed unit into the fuel element.

16. SOUTH TO VIEW OF CIRCA 1900 MICHIGAN MACHINERY MFG. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

16. SOUTH TO VIEW OF CIRCA 1900 MICHIGAN MACHINERY MFG. CO. PUNCH PRESS WITH WOOD-BURNING HEATING STOVE LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE FACTORY BUILDING. BESIDE THE HEATING STOVE, POINTING TOWARD THE PUNCH PRESS, IS A JIG USED TO POSITION ANGLE STEEL COMPONENTS OF STEEL WINDMILL TOWER LEGS FOR PUNCHING BOLT HOLES. THE SUPPORT FOR THE BRICK FLUE OF THE HEATING STOVE IS CONSTRUCTED FROM SALVAGED GALVANIZED ANGLE STEEL OF THE TYPE USED IN FABRICATING WINDMILL TOWERS MANUFACTURED IN THE FACTORY. - Kregel Windmill Company Factory, 1416 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, Otoe County, NE

Identifying thematic roles from neural representations measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Cherkassky, Vladimir L; Yang, Ying; Chang, Kai-Min Kevin; Vargas, Robert; Diana, Nicholas; Just, Marcel Adam

2016-01-01

The generativity and complexity of human thought stem in large part from the ability to represent relations among concepts and form propositions. The current study reveals how a given object such as rabbit is neurally encoded differently and identifiably depending on whether it is an agent ("the rabbit punches the monkey") or a patient ("the monkey punches the rabbit"). Machine-learning classifiers were trained on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data evoked by a set of short videos that conveyed agent-verb-patient propositions. When tested on a held-out video, the classifiers were able to reliably identify the thematic role of an object from its associated fMRI activation pattern. Moreover, when trained on one subset of the study participants, classifiers reliably identified the thematic roles in the data of a left-out participant (mean accuracy = .66), indicating that the neural representations of thematic roles were common across individuals.

Constitutive Behavior and Deep Drawability of Three Aluminum Alloys Under Different Temperatures and Deformation Speeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panicker, Sudhy S.; Prasad, K. Sajun; Basak, Shamik; Panda, Sushanta Kumar

2017-08-01

In the present work, uniaxial tensile tests were carried out to evaluate the stress-strain response of AA2014, AA5052 and AA6082 aluminum alloys at four temperatures: 303, 423, 523 and 623 K, and three strain rates: 0.0022, 0.022 and 0.22 s-1. It was found that the Cowper-Symonds model was not a robust constitutive model, and it failed to predict the flow behavior, particularly the thermal softening at higher temperatures. Subsequently, a comparative study was made on the capability of Johnson-Cook (JC), modified Zerilli-Armstrong (m-ZA), modified Arrhenius (m-ARR) and artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling the constitutive behavior of all the three aluminum alloys under the mentioned strain rates and temperatures. Also, the improvement in formability of the materials was evaluated at an elevated temperature of 623 K in terms of cup height and maximum safe strains by conducting cylindrical cup deep drawing experiments under two different punch speeds of 4 and 400 mm/min. The cup heights increased during warm deep drawing due to thermal softening and increase in failure strains. Also, a small reduction in cup height was observed when the punch speed increased from 4 to 400 mm/min at 623 K. Hence, it was suggested to use high-speed deformation at elevated temperature to reduce both punch load and cycle time during the deep drawing process.

Report of Test Results: Halon 1301 versus Water Sprinkler Fire Protection for Essential Electronic Equipment.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

WE ii-" BOR # 66i596 FUNCTION: PUNCH CMTROLL MUTER MING: H RON: A POSITION-.. 8 PREEST POST TEST RES.LTS CONECTOR VOLTAG RESISTANCE VOLTAG RESISTNCE...O 86=±w RHNCTION. PRINTR CONTROLLER COMPUTER WING: A ROW: A POSITION. U2 PRETEST POST TEST RMlTS CONECTOR YOLTAGI RESISIWICE YOLTAGE RESISTI9ICE...WING: A ROW: A POSITION. 12 PRUEST POST TEST RMJLTS CONECTOR VOLT(iE FIS’IS VOLTAGE RISTFICE VOLTAGE S1INCE (VOLTS) (fILLIOM ) (VOLTS) (MILLIOMS

Deformation and fracture of cross-linked polymer gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Wei-Chun

Because soft materials, particularly polymer gels, are playing a greater role in industrial and biotechnological applications today, the exploration of their mechanical behavior over a range of deformations is becoming more relevant in our daily lives. Understanding these properties is therefore necessary as a means to predict their response for specific applications. To address these concerns, this dissertation presents a set of analytic tools based on flat punch probe indentation tests to predict the response of polymer gels from a mechanical perspective over a large range of stresses and at failure. At small strains, a novel technique is developed to determine the transport properties of gels based on their measured mechanical behavior. Assuming that a polymer gel behaves in a similar manner as a porous structure, the differentiation of solvent flow from viscoelasticity of a gel network is shown to be possible utilizing a flat, circular punch and a flat, rectangular punch under oscillatory conditions. Use of the technique is demonstrated with a poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (pNIPAM) hydrogel. Our results indicate that solvent flow is inhibited at temperatures above the critical solution temperature of 35°C. At high stresses and fracture, the flat probe punch indentation geometry is used to understand how the structure and geometry of silicone based gels affect their mechanical properties. A delayed failure response of the gels is observed and the modes of failure are found to be dependent on the geometry of the system. The addition of a sol fraction in these gels was found to toughen the network and play an important role at these large deformations. Potential mechanisms of fracture resistance are discussed, as is the effect of geometric confinement as it relates to large scale deformation and fracture. These results lay the groundwork for understanding the mechanical response of other highly, deformable material systems utilizing this particular geometry.

41 CFR 101-26.703 - Marginally punched continuous forms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Marginally punched continuous forms. 101-26.703 Section 101-26.703 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT 26-PROCUREMENT...

VO₂ requirements of boxing exercises.

PubMed

Arseneau, Eric; Mekary, Saïd; Léger, Luc A

2011-02-01

The purpose of this study was to quantify the physiological requirements of various boxing exercises such as sparring, pad work, and punching bag. Because it was not possible to measure the oxygen uptake (VO₂) of "true" sparring with a collecting gas valve in the face, we developed and validated a method to measure VO₂ of "true" sparring based on "postexercise" measurements. Nine experienced male amateur boxers (Mean ± SD: age = 22.0 ± 3.5 years, height = 176.0 ± 8.0 cm, weight = 71.4 ± 10.9 kg, number of fights = 13.0 ± 9.5) of regional and provincial level volunteered to participate in 3 testing sessions: (a) maximal treadmill test in the LAB, (b) standardized boxing training in the GYM, and (c) standardized boxing exercises in the LAB. Measures of VO₂, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration [LA], rated perceived exertion level, and punching frequencies were collected. VO₂ values of 43.4 ± 5.9, 41.1 ± 5.1, 24.7 ± 6.1, 30.4 ± 5.8, and 38.3 ± 6.5 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ were obtained, which represent 69.7 ± 8.0, 66.1 ± 8.0, 39.8 ± 10.4, 48.8 ± 8.5, and 61.7 ± 10.3%VO₂peak for sparring, pad work, and punching bag at 60, 120, and 180 b·min⁻¹, respectively. Except for lower VO₂ values for punching the bag at 60 and 120 b·min⁻¹ (p < 0.05), there was no VO₂ difference between exercises. Similar pattern was obtained for %HRmax with respective values of 85.5 ± 5.9, 83.6 ± 6.3, 67.5 ± 3.5, 74.8 ± 5.9, and 83.0 ± 6.0. Finally, sparring %HRmax and [LA] were slightly higher in the GYM (91.7 ± 4.3 and 9.4 ± 2.2 mmol·L⁻¹) vs. LAB (85.5 ± 5.9 and 6.1 ± 2.3 mmol·L⁻¹). Thus, in this study simulated LAB sparring and pad work required similar VO₂ (43-41 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively), which corresponds to ~70%VO₂peak. These results underline the importance of a minimum of aerobic fitness for boxers and draw some guidelines for the intensity of training.

The damaging punch.

PubMed Central

Atha, J; Yeadon, M R; Sandover, J; Parsons, K C

1985-01-01

The mechanical properties of a boxing punch have been determined using several techniques. The results are consistent with the medical consequences of boxing discussed in the report of the Board of Science and Education Working Party on boxing. Data were gathered from a world ranked British professional heavyweight, Frank Bruno, as he punched an instrumented, padded target mass suspended as a ballistic pendulum. Within 0.1 s of the start the punch had travelled 0.49 m and attained a velocity on impact of 8.9 m/s. The peak force on impact of 4096N (0.4 ton), attained within 14 ms of contact, represents a blow to the human head of up to 6320N (0.63 ton). The transmitted impulse generated an acceleration of 520 m/s2 (53 g) in the target head. For comparison an equivalent blow would be delivered by a padded wooden mallet with a mass of 6 kg (13 lbs) if swung at 20 mph. Images FIG 1 FIG 2 PMID:3936571

Prosodic Markers of Saliency in Humorous Narratives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickering, Lucy; Corduas, Marcella; Eisterhold, Jodi; Seifried, Brenna; Eggleston, Alyson; Attardo, Salvatore

2009-01-01

Much of what we think we know about the performance of humor relies on our intuitions about prosody (e.g., "it's all about timing"); however, this has never been empirically tested. Thus, the central question addressed in this article is whether speakers mark punch lines in jokes prosodically and, if so, how. To answer this question,…

Analysis of direct punch velocity in professional defence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapkova, Dora; Adamek, Milan

2016-06-01

This paper is focused on analysis of a direct punch. Nowadays, professional defence is basic part of effective protection of people and property. There are many striking techniques and the goal of this research was to analyze the direct punch. The analysis is aimed to measure the velocity with help of high speed camera Olympus i-Speed 2 and then find the dependences of this velocity on input parameters. For data analysis two pieces of software were used - i-Speed Control Software and MINITAB. 111 participants took part in this experiment. The results are presented in this paper - especially dependence of mean velocity on time and difference in velocity between genders.

Dysplastic naevi: to shave, or not to shave? A retrospective study of the use of the shave biopsy technique in the initial management of dysplastic naevi.

PubMed

Armour, Katherine; Mann, Stephen; Lee, Stephen

2005-05-01

The management of dysplastic naevi is a controversial subject. This study sought to assess the usefulness of the shave biopsy technique in the initial management of dysplastic naevi, and to demonstrate the advantages over the punch biopsy technique. We report a retrospective observational study of histopathology specimens examined in one histopathology practice over a 14-month period. Patients who had a clinical diagnosis of 'dysplastic naevus', which had initially been biopsied using either a shave or punch biopsy, and then followed up with a full-thickness elliptical excision, were included in the study. Histopathological concordance between the shave and punch biopsy specimens and their respective follow-up elliptical excisions was compared. We found that 21 of 22 (95.5%) shave biopsies were concordant with their respective excision specimens, and that 29 of 41 (70.7%) punch biopsies were concordant with their respective elliptical excision specimens. Of the shave biopsy specimens reviewed, 66% showed that the dysplastic naevi were completely excised with the initial biopsy, compared with 21.2% of the punch biopsy specimens. These findings confirm that shave biopsies provide accurate diagnostic information in the assessment of dysplastic naevi. Shave biopsies enable the entire lesion to be submitted for histopathological assessment, improving the chances of an accurate diagnosis.

Hole expansion test of third generation steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agirre, Julen; Mendiguren, Joseba; Galdos, Lander; de Argandoña, Eneko Sáenz

2017-10-01

The trend towards the implementation of new materials in the chassis of the automobiles is considerably making more complex the manufacturing of the components that built it up. In this scenario materials with higher strengths and lower formabilities are daily faced by tool makers and component producers what reduces the process windows and makes the forming processes to be in the limits of the materials. One of the concerns that tool makers must face during the definition of the tools is the expansion ratios that the holes in the sheet may reach before producing a breakage due to the stretching of the material (also known as edge cracks). For the characterization of such limits, a standard test, the hole expansion test, can be applied so that the limits of the material are known. At the present study, hole expansion tests of a third generation steel, Fortiform1050 with a thickness of 1.2 millimeters have been carried out and compared them to a mild steel, DX54D with a thickness of 0.6 millimeters. A comparison for each material in terms of technology used to punch the hole, mechanical punching vs laser cutting has also been conducted. In addition, the measurement technique (online measurement vs offline measurement) followed in the Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) identification has also been analyzed. Finally, differences between both materials and techniques are presented.

Promoting Response Variability and Stimulus Generalization in Martial Arts Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harding, Jay W.; Wacker, David P.; Berg, Wendy K.; Rick, Gary; Lee, John F.

2004-01-01

The effects of reinforcement and extinction on response variability and stimulus generalization in the punching and kicking techniques of 2 martial arts students were evaluated across drill and sparring conditions. During both conditions, the students were asked to demonstrate different techniques in response to an instructor's punching attack.…

Method for hot pressing irregularly shaped refractory articles

DOEpatents

Steinkamp, William E.; Ballard, Ambrose H.

1982-01-01

The present invention is directed to a method for hot pressing irregularly haped refractory articles with these articles of varying thickness being provided with high uniform density and dimensional accuracy. Two partially pressed compacts of the refractory material are placed in a die cavity between displaceable die punches having compact-contacting surfaces of the desired article configuration. A floating, rotatable block is disposed between the compacts. The displacement of the die punches towards one another causes the block to rotate about an axis normal to the direction of movement of the die punches to uniformly distribute the pressure loading upon the compacts for maintaining substantially equal volume displacement of the powder material during the hot pressing operation.

Stereomicroscopic imaging technique for the quantification of cold flow in drug-in-adhesive type of transdermal drug delivery systems.

PubMed

Krishnaiah, Yellela S R; Katragadda, Usha; Khan, Mansoor A

2014-05-01

Cold flow is a phenomenon occurring in drug-in-adhesive type of transdermal drug delivery systems (DIA-TDDS) because of the migration of DIA coat beyond the edge. Excessive cold flow can affect their therapeutic effectiveness, make removal of DIA-TDDS difficult from the pouch, and potentially decrease available dose if any drug remains adhered to pouch. There are no compendial or noncompendial methods available for quantification of this critical quality attribute. The objective was to develop a method for quantification of cold flow using stereomicroscopic imaging technique. Cold flow was induced by applying 1 kg force on punched-out samples of marketed estradiol DIA-TDDS (model product) stored at 25°C, 32°C, and 40°C/60% relative humidity (RH) for 1, 2, or 3 days. At the end of testing period, dimensional change in the area of DIA-TDDS samples was measured using image analysis software, and expressed as percent of cold flow. The percent of cold flow significantly decreased (p < 0.001) with increase in size of punched-out DIA-TDDS samples and increased (p < 0.001) with increase in cold flow induction temperature and time. This first ever report suggests that dimensional change in the area of punched-out samples stored at 32°C/60%RH for 2 days applied with 1 kg force could be used for quantification of cold flow in DIA-TDDS. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Performance improvement in a tubular heat exchanger by punched delta-winglet vortex generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanoknaiyakarn, C.; Promvonge, P.; Thianpong, C.; Skullong, S.

2018-01-01

A novel tubular heat exchanger incorporated with punched delta-winglet vortex generators (called perforated delta-winglet vortex generator, P-DWVG) is proposed for improving its thermal performance and energy saving. The P-DWVG elements are punched out from a straight tape having its width nearly equal to the tube diameter before insertion. The main aim at employing the P-DWVG insert is to produce counter-rotating vortices along the tube to promote turbulence intensity inside as well as to transport the cold fluid at the central core to the near-wall regions. The experiment was performed to study thermal behaviors in a uniform heat-fluxed tube inserted with P-DWVGs. The P-DWVGs with the attack angle of 45° were mounted periodically with three different blockage ratios (BR = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) and two pitch ratios (PR = 2 and 3). Air as the test fluid was varied to obtain turbulent airflow for Reynolds number (Re) in a range of 4,150-25,500. The experimental results show that the P-DWVG provides a considerable increase in the rate of heat transfer around 3.1-4.01 times whereas friction factor increases around 11.44- 34.23 times higher than the plain tube. To assess the real benefits of P-DWVGs, thermal performance factor (TEF) is examined and in the range of 1.39-1.48 where its maximum is at BR = 0.1 and PR = 2.

Enhancements to the Image Analysis Tool for Core Punch Experiments and Simulations (vs. 2014)

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

Hogden, John Edward; Unal, Cetin

A previous paper (Hogden & Unal, 2012, Image Analysis Tool for Core Punch Experiments and Simulations) described an image processing computer program developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This program has proven useful so developement has been continued. In this paper we describe enhacements to the program as of 2014.

PUNCHED CARD SYSTEM NEEDN'T BE COMPLEX TO GIVE COMPLETE CONTROL.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

BEMIS, HAZEL T.

AT WORCESTER JUNIOR COLLEGE, MASSACHUSETTS, USE OF A MANUALLY OPERATED PUNCHED CARD SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN (1) SIMPLIFIED REGISTRATION PROCEDURES, (2) QUICK ANALYSIS OF CONFLICTS AND PROBLEMS IN CLASS SCHEDULING, (3) READY ACCESS TO STATISTICAL INFORMATION, (4) DIRECTORY INFORMATION IN A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSIFICATIONS, (5) EASY VERIFICATION OF…

Comparison of Keyes Punch Biopsy Instrument with Cervical Punch Biopsy Forceps for Diagnosing Cervical Lesions.

PubMed

Tyagi, Natasha; Suneja, Amita; Mishra, Kiran; Jain, Sandhya; Vaid, Neelam Bala; Guleria, Kiran

2017-01-01

To assess the feasibility and efficacy of Keyes punch biopsy instrument (KP) in diagnosing cervical lesions and compare it with cervical punch biopsy forceps (CP). 75 women having satisfactory colposcopy with abnormal transformation zone were included and paired colposcopic directed biopsies were taken using KP followed by CP from the same target area. It was feasible in all cases to take cervical biopsy with KP after increasing its effective length. The volume of gross specimen obtained by KP was less than CP (0.076 ± 0.097 vs. 0.101 ± 0.156 cm3, p = 0.061), however on microscopic examination, mean length and mean depth of tissue in KP was greater than CP by 0.06 mm (p = 0.810) and 0.14 mm (p = 0.634) respectively. Exact agreement was found with the final surgical specimen in 42% of cases in both the biopsy forceps. KP is almost at par with CP for diagnosing preinvasive cervical lesions and is a useful adjunct to the existing armamentarium of biopsy forceps. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Anxiety Among Patients Undergoing Nail Surgery and Skin Punch Biopsy: Effects of Age, Gender, Educational Status, and Previous Experience.

PubMed

Göktay, Fatih; Altan, Zeynep Müzeyyen; Talas, Anıl; Akpınar, Esma; Özdemir, Ekin Özge; Aytekin, Sema

2016-01-01

Patient anxiety about nail surgery relates mainly to pain associated with needle puncture, anesthetic flow during the procedure, and postoperative care, as well as possible past traumatic experience. The aims of this study were to compare anxiety levels among patients undergoing nail surgery and skin punch biopsy and to assess the effects of demographic characteristics on anxiety. Forty-eight consecutive patients who were referred to a dermatological surgery unit for nail surgery intervention (group 1) and 50 age- and sex-matched patients referred to the same unit for skin punch biopsy (group 2) were enrolled in the study. Patients' anxiety levels were measured using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. There was no significant difference in median anxiety level between group 1 (42.00; interquartile range, 6.50) and group 2 (41.00; interquartile range, 8.25) (P = .517). The demographic factors of patient sex, educational status, and prior surgery showed no significant effects on anxiety levels. Nail surgery does not seem to cause significantly greater anxiety than skin punch biopsy. © The Author(s) 2015.

Newborn screening blood spot analysis in the UK: influence of spot size, punch location and haematocrit.

PubMed

Lawson, A J; Bernstone, L; Hall, S K

2016-03-01

In dried blood spot analysis, punch location and variations in applied sample volume and haematocrit can produce different measured concentrations of analytes. We investigated the magnitude of these effects in newborn screening in the UK. Heparinized blood spiked with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, methionine, octanoyl carnitine (C8), and immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) was spotted onto filter paper: (i) at a constant haematocrit of 50% at various volumes, and (ii) at a range of haematocrits using a constant volume. Subpunches (3.2 mm) of the dried blood spots were then analysed. Compared with a central punch from a 50 µL blood spot with 50% haematocrit, 10 µL spots can have significantly lower measured concentrations of all analytes, with decreases of 15% or more observed for leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Punching at the edge of a spot can increase measured concentrations up to 35%. Higher haematocrit decreased measured TSH and C8 yet increased amino acids and IRT by 15% compared with 50% haematocrit. Lower haematocrits had the opposite effect, but only with higher concentrations of some analytes. Differences in blood spot size, haematocrit and punch location substantially affect measured concentrations for analytes used in the UK newborn screening programme, and this could affect false positive and negative rates. To minimize analytical bias, these variables should be controlled or adjusted for where possible. © The Author(s) 2015.

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

Saleh, Tarik A.; Quintana, Matthew Estevan; Romero, Tobias J.

As a part of the project “High Fidelity Ion Beam Simulation of High Dose Neutron Irradiation” an Integrated Research Program (IRP) project from the U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), TEM geometry samples of ferritic cladding alloys, Ni based super alloys and model alloys were irradiated in the BOR-60 reactor to ~16 dpa at ~370°C and ~400°C. Samples were sent to Los Alamos National Laboratory and subjected to shear punch testing. This report presents the results from this testing.

C-shaped specimen plane strain fracture toughness tests. [metallic materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buzzard, R. T.; Fisher, D. M.

1977-01-01

Test equipment, procedures, and data obtained in the evaluation of C-shaped specimens are presented. Observations reported on include: specimen preparation and dimensional measurement; modifications to the standard ASTM E 399 displacement gage, which permit punch mark gage point engagement; and a measurement device for determining the interior and exterior radii of ring segments. Load displacement ratios were determined experimentally which agreed with analytically determined coefficients for three different gage lengths on the inner surfaces of radially-cracked ring segments.

Comparison of amateur boxing before and after the 2013 rules change and the impact on boxers' safety.

PubMed

Davis, Philip; Waldock, Robert; Connorton, Andrew; Driver, Sonny; Anderson, Sean

2018-06-01

The effect of the rules change in 2013 on amateur boxing strategy, technique and safety in comparison with pre-2013 is unknown. Pre-2013 and post-2013 3×3 min elite level amateur boxing was compared from video footage of 29 Olympic (pre-2013) and 50 World Championship bouts (post-2013) totalling 99 male boxers (mean±SD) age: 24.3±3.2 years, height: 177.3±11.3 cm and body mass: 70.7±16.4 kg. Many techniques that were dominant pre-2013 were used less post-2013, including: total punches thrown, rear hand punches, hook rear hand, punches landed, uppercut punches, total punches to the body (all <0.05), while movement around the ring and defensive movements were higher post-2013 (both p<0.004). Post-2013 boxers have increased their foot movement by 20% to move in and then away from their opponent, combined with long-range punches and deliberate defensive movements. The percentage of rounds where standing counts were issued changed from 9% to 3% pre-2013 to post-2013. However, pre-2013, 1.7% of bouts did not last the full duration due to referee stoppage, while post-2013, this increased to 4.2% as a result of two knockouts and eight technical knockouts. Boxers should be aware of the large changes in technical demands of boxing. An increased risk of concussive or traumatic brain injury post-2013 is equivocal. However, an increase in skin splits and technical knockouts is apparent. It is likely that boxers believe head guard removal has made them more prone to knockouts. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Disassembly Properties of Cementitious Finish Joints Using an Induction Heating Method

PubMed Central

Ahn, Jaecheol; Noguchi, Takafumi; Kitagaki, Ryoma

2015-01-01

Efficient maintenance and upgrading of a building during its lifecycle are difficult because a cementitious finish uses materials and parts with low disassembly properties. Additionally, the reuse and recycling processes during building demolition also present numerous problems from the perspective of environmental technology. In this study, an induction heating (IH) method was used to disassemble cementitious finish joints, which are widely used to join building members and materials. The IH rapidly and selectively heated and weakened these joints. The temperature elevation characteristics of the cementitious joint materials were measured as a function of several resistor types, including wire meshes and punching metals, which are usually used for cementitious finishing. The disassembly properties were evaluated through various tests using conductive resistors in cementitious joints such as mortar. When steel fiber, punching metal, and wire mesh were used as conductive resistors, the cementitious modifiers could be weakened within 30 s. Cementitious joints with conductive resistors also showed complete disassembly with little residual bond strength.

Experimental Analysis of Japanese Martial Art Nihon-Kempo

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuragano, Tetsuzo; Yokokura, Saburo

2012-01-01

With a male, adult subject, this study measured the punch force and kick force of the Japanese martial art Nihon-Kempo, the movements of the dominant (right) arm, leg, and the movements of the legs using timed synchronization. Using an electromyogram (EMG), the relationship between the variation of punch force and the variation of the electrical…

Computing Gross Pay from Punched Time Cards. Student Manual and Instructor's Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McElveen, Peggy C.

Supporting performance objective 30 of the V-TECS (Vocational-Technical Education Consortium of States) Secretarial Catalog, both a set of student materials and an instructor's manual on computing gross pay from punched time cards are included in this packet, which is part of a series. The student materials include a group of time cards,…

Development and Validation of a Shear Punch Test Fixture

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

composites (MMC) manufactured by friction stir processing (FSP) that are being developed as part of a Technology Investment Fund (TIF) project, as the...leading a team of government departments and academics to develop a friction stir processing (FSP) based procedure to create metal matrix composite... friction stir process to fabricate surface metal matrix composites in aluminum alloys for potential application in light armoured vehicles. The

Using Diffusion Bonding in Making Piezoelectric Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sager, Frank E.

2003-01-01

A technique for the fabrication of piezoelectric actuators that generate acceptably large forces and deflections at relatively low applied voltages involves the stacking and diffusion bonding of multiple thin piezoelectric layers coated with film electrodes. The present technique stands in contrast to an older technique in which the layers are bonded chemically, by use of urethane or epoxy agents. The older chemical-bonding technique entails several disadvantages, including the following: It is difficult to apply the bonding agents to the piezoelectric layers. It is difficult to position the layers accurately and without making mistakes. There is a problem of disposal of hazardous urethane and epoxy wastes. The urethane and epoxy agents are nonpiezoelectric materials. As such, they contribute to the thickness of a piezoelectric laminate without contributing to its performance; conversely, for a given total thickness, the performance of the laminate is below that of a unitary piezoelectric plate of the same thickness. The figure depicts some aspects of the fabrication of a laminated piezoelectric actuator by the present diffusion- bonding technique. First, stock sheets of the piezoelectric material are inspected and tested. Next, the hole pattern shown in the figure is punched into the sheets. Alternatively, if the piezoelectric material is not a polymer, then the holes are punched in thermoplastic films. Then both faces of each punched piezoelectric sheet or thermoplastic film are coated with a silver-ink electrode material by use of a silkscreen printer. The electrode and hole patterns are designed for minimal complexity and minimal waste of material. After a final electrical test, all the coated piezoelectric layers (or piezoelectric layers and coated thermoplastic films) are stacked in an alignment jig, which, in turn, is placed in a curved press for the diffusion-bonding process. In this process, the stack is pressed and heated at a specified curing temperature and pressure for a specified curing time. The pressure, temperature, and time depend on the piezoelectric material selected. At the end of the diffusion-bonding process, the resulting laminated piezoelectric actuator is tested to verify the adequacy of the mechanical output as a function of an applied DC voltage.

Punch Card Programmable Microfluidics

PubMed Central

Korir, George; Prakash, Manu

2015-01-01

Small volume fluid handling in single and multiphase microfluidics provides a promising strategy for efficient bio-chemical assays, low-cost point-of-care diagnostics and new approaches to scientific discoveries. However multiple barriers exist towards low-cost field deployment of programmable microfluidics. Incorporating multiple pumps, mixers and discrete valve based control of nanoliter fluids and droplets in an integrated, programmable manner without additional required external components has remained elusive. Combining the idea of punch card programming with arbitrary fluid control, here we describe a self-contained, hand-crank powered, multiplex and robust programmable microfluidic platform. A paper tape encodes information as a series of punched holes. A mechanical reader/actuator reads these paper tapes and correspondingly executes operations onto a microfluidic chip coupled to the platform in a plug-and-play fashion. Enabled by the complexity of codes that can be represented by a series of holes in punched paper tapes, we demonstrate independent control of 15 on-chip pumps with enhanced mixing, normally-closed valves and a novel on-demand impact-based droplet generator. We demonstrate robustness of operation by encoding a string of characters representing the word “PUNCHCARD MICROFLUIDICS” using the droplet generator. Multiplexing is demonstrated by implementing an example colorimetric water quality assays for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate content in different water samples. With its portable and robust design, low cost and ease-of-use, we envision punch card programmable microfluidics will bring complex control of microfluidic chips into field-based applications in low-resource settings and in the hands of children around the world. PMID:25738834

Treatment of Die-Punch Fractures with 3D Printing Technology.

PubMed

Chen, Chunhui; Cai, Leyi; Zhang, Chuanxu; Wang, Jianshun; Guo, Xiaoshan; Zhou, Yifei

2017-07-19

We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy and effectiveness of applying three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for preoperative planning for die-punch fractures. A total of 107 patients who underwent die-punch fracture surgery were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: 52 cases in the 3D model group and 55 cases in the routine group. A 3D digital model of each die-punch fracture was reconstructed in the 3D group. The 3D digital model was imported to a 3D printer to build the full solid model. The operation time, blood loss volume, and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy were recorded. Follow-up was performed to evaluate the patients' surgical outcomes. Treatment of die-punch fractures using the 3D printing approach reduced the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, blood loss volume, and operation time, but did not improve wrist function compared to those in the routine group. The patients wanted the doctor to use the 3D model to introduce the condition and operative plan because it was easier for them to understand. The orthopedic surgeons thought that the 3D model was useful for communicating with their patients, but their satisfaction with the preoperative plan was much lower than the benefit of using the 3D model to communicate with their patients. 3D printing technology produced more accurate morphometric information for orthopedists to provide personalized surgical planning and communicate better with their patients. However, it is difficult to use widely in the department of orthopedics.

Punch card programmable microfluidics.

PubMed

Korir, George; Prakash, Manu

2015-01-01

Small volume fluid handling in single and multiphase microfluidics provides a promising strategy for efficient bio-chemical assays, low-cost point-of-care diagnostics and new approaches to scientific discoveries. However multiple barriers exist towards low-cost field deployment of programmable microfluidics. Incorporating multiple pumps, mixers and discrete valve based control of nanoliter fluids and droplets in an integrated, programmable manner without additional required external components has remained elusive. Combining the idea of punch card programming with arbitrary fluid control, here we describe a self-contained, hand-crank powered, multiplex and robust programmable microfluidic platform. A paper tape encodes information as a series of punched holes. A mechanical reader/actuator reads these paper tapes and correspondingly executes operations onto a microfluidic chip coupled to the platform in a plug-and-play fashion. Enabled by the complexity of codes that can be represented by a series of holes in punched paper tapes, we demonstrate independent control of 15 on-chip pumps with enhanced mixing, normally-closed valves and a novel on-demand impact-based droplet generator. We demonstrate robustness of operation by encoding a string of characters representing the word "PUNCHCARD MICROFLUIDICS" using the droplet generator. Multiplexing is demonstrated by implementing an example colorimetric water quality assays for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate content in different water samples. With its portable and robust design, low cost and ease-of-use, we envision punch card programmable microfluidics will bring complex control of microfluidic chips into field-based applications in low-resource settings and in the hands of children around the world.

Application of PBL in the Course Fluid and Electrical Drive Systems, Case Study: Manufacturing an Automated Punch Machine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sedaghat, Ahmad; AlJundub, Mohammad; Eilaghi, Armin; Bani-Hani, Ehab; Sabri, Farhad; Mbarki, Raouf; Assad, M. El Haj

2017-01-01

The PBL unit of fluid and electrical drive systems is taught in final semester of undergraduates in mechanical engineering department of the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). The recent project on an automated punching machine is discovered more appealing to both students and instructors in triggering new ideas and satisfaction end results. In…

Mechanization in a New Medical School Library II. Serials and Circulation

PubMed Central

Payne, Ladye Margarete; Small, Louise; Divett, Robert T.

1966-01-01

The serials and circulation phases of the data-processing system in use at the University of New Mexico Library of the Medical Sciences are described. The development of the programs is also reported. The serials program uses simple punched card equipment. The circulation program uses the IBM 357 Data Collection System and punched card data-processing equipment. Images PMID:5921473

Mobile Timekeeping Application Built on Reverse-Engineered JPL Infrastructure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Witoff, Robert J.

2013-01-01

Every year, non-exempt employees cumulatively waste over one man-year tracking their time and using the timekeeping Web page to save those times. This app eliminates this waste. The innovation is a native iPhone app. Libraries were built around a reverse- engineered JPL API. It represents a punch-in/punch-out paradigm for timekeeping. It is accessible natively via iPhones, and features ease of access. Any non-exempt employee can natively punch in and out, as well as save and view their JPL timecard. This app is built on custom libraries created by reverse-engineering the standard timekeeping application. Communication is through custom libraries that re-route traffic through BrowserRAS (remote access service). This has value at any center where employees track their time.

Finite Element Analysis of Plastic Deformation During Impression Creep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naveena; Ganesh Kumar, J.; Mathew, M. D.

2015-04-01

Finite element (FE) analysis of plastic deformation associated with impression creep deformation of 316LN stainless steel was carried out. An axisymmetric FE model of 10 × 10 × 10 mm specimen with 1-mm-diameter rigid cylindrical flat punch was developed. FE simulation of impression creep deformation was performed by assuming elastic-plastic-power-law creep deformation behavior. Evolution of the stress with time under the punch during elastic, plastic, and creep processes was analyzed. The onset of plastic deformation was found to occur at a nominal stress about 1.12 times the yield stress of the material. The size of the developed plastic zone was predicted to be about three times the radius of the punch. The material flow behavior and the pile-up on specimen surface have been modeled.

[Synthesis and biological activity of substance P analogs].

PubMed

Liu, S Y; Zhong, M N; Dong, Y X; Li, Y L; Yuan, X M

1997-12-01

Substance P (SP) and its three analogs were synthesized through solid-phase procedure. The fully-protected peptide-resin was cleaved with anhydrous HF.--SH of Cys in [Cys5,9] SP(4-11) was protected with Acm, then deprotected through Iodine oxidation method, the disulfide bridge cyclization was formed subsequently. The crude product was purified on C18 RP-HPLC. The results of guinea-pig isolated ileum test (GPI) showed that the potency of the analogs was as follows: [AcGln5, Pro9] SP(5-11) > SP > SP(4-11) > [Cys5,9] SP(4-11). They induced GPI to contract very fast and showed the characteristics of tachykinin. On the writing test in mice, the results showed: [Cys5,9] SP(4-11) > SP > SP(4-11) > [AcGln5, Pro9] SP(5-11). The biological tests showed that the SP analogs have some extent of selectivity.

A Microprocessor-Controlled Data Acquisition System for the Federal Scientific Model UA-500-1 Ubiquitous Spectrum Analyzer

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-09-01

Model AN/ UGC -59A teletype and paper-tape punch console. This unit is connected with the Intellec 8 computer and punching operations are controlled by...order to use this program, the microprocessor would have to be one of the many types on the market that make use of the INTEL 8008-1 CPD chip. The use

Findings from the experience with the punch technique for auditory osseointegrated implants: A retrospective single center comparative study.

PubMed

Bonilla, Alfonso; Magri, Carlos; Juan, Eulalia

To compare the punch technique and linear incision with soft tissue reduction for the placement of auditory osseointegrated implants (AOI) and analyze results of osseointegration obtained with the punch technique as measured with the Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ). Case review of 34 patients who received auditory osseointegrated implants between January 2010 and July 2015 and were divided into two groups according to the surgical technique: 18 with the punch technique (PT) and 16 with the linear incision technique (LI). Minimum follow-up was four months (mean: 24 months; range 4-64 months). Included in the analysis were patient profiles and records of the demographic data, surgical indications, surgical technique, implant placement, surgical time, intraoperative complications, as well as postsurgical complications (Holgers classification) and implant stability quotients (ISQ). Use of larger abutments was significantly greater in the PT group (PT, 10mm; LI, 6mm, p<0.001). The PT technique resulted in a shorter procedure than the LI (PT, 20min; LI, 45min, p<0.001). Holgers classification scores identified significantly fewer skin complications one week after surgery for the PT group; however, only small differences were seen between the two groups at the one- and three-month control visits. As shown for our cohort, the punch technique for surgical placement of AOI is faster and presents fewer immediate postoperative complications when compared to the linear incision technique. The clinical application of the ISQ is a useful, easy method to demonstrate the status of osseointegration and, thus, the stability of the device. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of Punch Elevation Combined with Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing in Facial Atrophic Acne Scarring: A Randomized Split-face Clinical Study

PubMed Central

Faghihi, Gita; Nouraei, Saeid; Asilian, Ali; Keyvan, Shima; Abtahi-Naeini, Bahareh; Rakhshanpour, Mehrdad; Nilforoushzadeh, Mohammad Ali; Hosseini, Sayed Mohsen

2015-01-01

Background: A number of treatments for reducing the appearance of acne scars are available, but general guidelines for optimizing acne scar treatment do not exist. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and side effects of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing combined with punch elevation with fractional CO2 laser resurfacing alone in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Materials and Methods: Forty-two Iranian subjects (age range 18–55) with Fitzpatrick skin types III to IV and moderate to severe atrophic acne scars on both cheeks received randomized split-face treatments: One side received fractional CO2 laser treatment and the other received one session of punch elevation combined with two sessions of laser fractional CO2 laser treatment, separated by an interval of 1 month. Two dermatologists independently evaluated improvement in acne scars 4 and 16 weeks after the last treatment. Side effects were also recorded after each treatment. Results: The mean ± SD age of patients was 23.4 ± 2.6 years. Clinical improvement of facial acne scarring was assessed by two dermatologists blinded to treatment conditions. No significant difference in evaluation was observed 1 month after treatment (P = 0.56). Their evaluation found that fractional CO2 laser treatment combined with punch elevation had greater efficacy than that with fractional CO2 laser treatment alone, assessed 4 months after treatment (P = 0.02). Among all side effects, coagulated crust formation and pruritus at day 3 after fractional CO2 laser treatment was significant on both treatment sides (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Concurrent use of fractional laser skin resurfacing with punch elevation offers a safe and effective approach for the treatment of acne scarring. PMID:26538695

"Center punch" and "whole spot" bioanalysis of apixaban in human dried blood spot samples by UHPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Zheng, Naiyu; Yuan, Long; Ji, Qin C; Mangus, Heidi; Song, Yan; Frost, Charles; Zeng, Jianing; Aubry, Anne-Françoise; Arnold, Mark E

2015-04-15

Apixaban (Eliquis™) was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Pfizer to use as an antithrombotic/anticoagulant agent and has been recently approved for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. A clinical study of apixaban, sponsored by BMS and Pfizer, included a pilot exploratory portion to evaluate the potential for future drug concentration monitoring using dried blood spot (DBS) sample collection. For DBS sample collection, a fixed blood volume was dispensed onto a DBS card by either regular volumetric pipette (venous blood collection) or capillary dispenser (finger prick blood collection). A 96-well semi-automated liquid-liquid extraction sample preparation procedure was developed to provide clean extracts for UHPLC-MS/MS quantitation. Assays using both partial-spot center punch and whole spot punch were developed and validated. The linear dynamic ranges for all the analyses were from 0.5 to 500 ng/mL. The coefficient of determination (r(2)) values was >0.9944 for all the validation runs. For the center punch approach, the intra-assay precision (%CV) was within 4.4% and inter-assay precision was within 2.6%. The assay accuracy, expressed as %Dev., was within ± 5.4% of the nominal concentrations. One accuracy and precision run was performed using the whole spot approach, the intra-assay precision (%CV) was within 7.1% and the accuracy was within ± 8.0% of the nominal concentrations. In contrast to the center punch approach, the whole spot approach eliminated the effect of hematocrit and high lipids on the analysis of apixaban in human DBS when an accurate sample blood volume was collected on DBS cards. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Effect of Arsenate and Other Inhibitors on Early Events during the Germination of Lettuce Seeds (Lactuca sativa L.)

PubMed Central

Speer, Henry L.

1973-01-01

The effect of arsenate, arsenite, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and anaerobiosis on early events in seed germination was investigated using both intact and punched seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). It was found that punching the seed removes penetration barriers to the entrance of inhibitors without an undue loss of germination or light responses. The kinetics of the action of germination inhibitors were established by 2-hour pulse experiments. Arsenate and 2, 4-dinitrophenol have very different kinetics. The inhibition of germination in punched seeds by arsenate given in conjunction with phosphate compared with the lack of inhibition of arsenate plus phosphate on the growing seedling, suggest a distinct metabolic change in the germinating embryo at some time between the onset of germination and subsequent seedling growth. Images PMID:16658515

Promoting response variability and stimulus generalization in martial arts training.

PubMed Central

Harding, Jay W; Wacker, David P; Berg, Wendy K; Rick, Gary; Lee, John F

2004-01-01

The effects of reinforcement and extinction on response variability and stimulus generalization in the punching and kicking techniques of 2 martial arts students were evaluated across drill and sparring conditions. During both conditions, the students were asked to demonstrate different techniques in response to an instructor's punching attack. During baseline, the students received no feedback on their responses in either condition. During the intervention phase, the students received differential reinforcement in the form of instructor feedback for each different punching or kicking technique they performed during a session of the drill condition, but no reinforcement was provided for techniques in the sparring condition. Results showed that both students increased the number of different techniques they performed when reinforcement and extinction procedures were conducted during the drill condition, and that this increase in response variability generalized to the sparring condition. PMID:15293637

Development of a New Punch Head Shape to Replicate Scale-Up Issues on a Laboratory Tablet Press III: Replicating sticking phenomenon using the SAS punch and evaluation by checking the tablet surface using 3D laser scanning microscope.

PubMed

Ito, Manabu; Aoki, Shigeru; Uchiyama, Jumpei; Yamato, Keisuke

2018-04-20

Sticking is a common observation in the scale-up stage on the punch tip using a commercial tableting machine. The difference in the total compression time between a laboratory and a commercial tableting machine is considered one of the main root causes of scale up issues in the tableting processes. The proposed Size Adjusted for Scale-up (SAS) punch can be used to adjust the consolidation and dwell times for commercial tableting machine. As a result, the sticking phenomenon is able to be replicated at the pilot scale stage. As reported in this paper, the quantification of sticking was measured using a 3D laser scanning microscope to check the tablet surface. It was shown that the sticking area decreased with the addition of magnesium stearate in the formulation, but the sticking depth was not affected by the additional amount of magnesium stearate. It is proposed that use of a 3D laser scanning microscope can be applied to evaluate sticking as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool and so sticking can be monitored continuously without stopping the machine. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The activity profile of elite male amateur boxing.

PubMed

Davis, Philip; Benson, Peter R; Pitty, James D; Connorton, Andrew J; Waldock, Robert

2015-01-01

An activity profile of competitive 3 × 3-min elite-level amateur boxing was created from video footage of 29 Olympic final and semifinal bouts in 39 male boxers (mean ± SD) age 25.1 ± 3.6 y, height 178.3 ± 10.4 cm, and body mass 69.7 ± 16.5 kg. Boxing at this level requires the ability to maintain an activity rate of ~1.4 actions/s, consisting of ~20 punches, ~2.5 defensive movements, and ~47 vertical hip movements, all per minute, over 3 subsequent rounds lasting ~200 s each. Winners had higher total punches landed (P = .041) and a lower ratio of punches thrown to landed (P = .027) than losers in round 3. The hook rear-hand landed was also higher for winners than losers in round 2 (P = .038) and round 3 (P = .016), and defensive movements were used less by winners (P = .036). However, the results suggest that technical discrimination between winners and losers is difficult; bout outcome may be more dependent on which punch is "lucky" enough to be scored by the judges or who appears to be dominant on the day. This study gives both boxers and coaches a good idea of where subelite boxers need to aim if they want to become among the best amateur boxers in the world.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Bulk Nanostructured Cu-Ta Alloys Consolidated by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-01

5,9], W [16], Zr [17] and Nb [18]. These systems have shown moderate to extraordinarily high microstructural stability at elevated temperatures...cans were then either serial sectioned for shear punch testing or cut into compression samples using wire electric discharge machining. Through SEM...to resist deformation, but do not necessarily alter the dislocation mechanism operating during plastic deformation. There are a number of challenges

A parametric study on hydraulic conductivity and self-healing properties of geotextile clay liners used in landfills.

PubMed

Parastar, Fatemeh; Hejazi, Sayyed Mahdi; Sheikhzadeh, Mohammad; Alirezazadeh, Azam

2017-11-01

Nowadays, the raise of excessive generation of solid wastes is considered as a major environmental concern due to the fast global population growth. The contamination of groundwater from landfill leachate compromises every living creature. Geotextile clay liner (GCL) that has a sandwich structure with two fibrous sheets and a clay core can be considered as an engineered solution to prevent hazardous pollutants from entering into groundwater. The main objective of the present study is therefore to enhance the performance of GCL structures. By changing some structural factors such as clay type (sodium vs. calcium bentonite), areal density of clay, density of geotextile, geotextile thickness, texture type (woven vs. nonwoven), and needle punching density a series of GCL samples were fabricated. Water pressure, type of cover soil and overburden pressure were the environmental variables, while the response variables were hydraulic conductivity and self-healing rate of GCL. Rigid wall constant head permeability test was conducted on all the samples. The outlet water flow was measured and evaluated at a defined time period and the hydraulic conductivity was determined for each sample. In the final stage, self-healing properties of samples were investigated and an analytical model was used to explain the results. It was found that higher Montmorillonite content of clay, overburden pressure, needle punching density and areal density of clay poses better self-healing properties and less hydraulic conductivity, meanwhile, an increase in water pressure increases the hydraulic conductivity. Moreover, the observations were aligned with the analytical model and indicated that higher fiber inclusion as a result of higher needle-punching density produces closer contact between bentonite and fibers, reduces hydraulic conductivity and increases self-healing properties. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic effect in ultrasonic assisted micro-upsetting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Presz, Wojciech

2018-05-01

The use of ultrasonic assistance in microforming is becoming more and more popular. Mainly due to the beneficial effect of vibrations on the flow of plastic deformation reported already in the 50s of the last century. The influence is of two types: surface and volume. The surface effect is mainly the reduction of friction forces, and volumetric is the impact on the dislocation movement and even on phase transitions. The work focuses on the dynamic aspect of vibration assisted microforming. The use of ultrasonic vibrations at a frequency of 20 kHz and an amplitude of 16 µm, in the micro-upsetting process of an aluminum sample resulted in a high concentration of strain on both ends of the sample - at 14% of the height on both sides. There was observed (in relation to deformations of the sample without vibrations) 150-250% increase and a 50% decrease in strain in the center of the sample. At the same time, the larger deformations occurred from the impact side of the punch. Analyzing the course of forces of the upsetting process in the loading and unloading phase as well as the process of breaking glass samples, the spring deflections of key system elements and their natural frequencies were determined or calculated. Based on the determined or calculated parameters of the test stand, it was shown that during the micro-upsetting process the punch may detach from the sample surface and this is the main reason for the phenomena occurring. Detach of the punch is also the cause of the observed instability of the measurement of force, which should be considered unbelievable in such a situation.

Clearance of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Concomitant With Administration of a Microbiota-Based Drug Targeted at Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection.

PubMed

Dubberke, Erik R; Mullane, Kathleen M; Gerding, Dale N; Lee, Christine H; Louie, Thomas J; Guthertz, Harriet; Jones, Courtney

2016-09-01

Background.  Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a major healthcare-associated pathogen and a well known complication among transplant and immunocompromised patients. We report on stool VRE clearance in a post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 PUNCH CD study assessing a microbiota-based drug for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Methods.  A total of 34 patients enrolled in the PUNCH CD study received 1 or 2 doses of RBX2660 (microbiota suspension). Patients were requested to voluntarily submit stool samples at baseline and at 7, 30, and 60 days and 6 months after the last administration of RBX2660. Stool samples were tested for VRE using bile esculin azide agar with 6 µg/mL vancomycin and Gram staining. Vancomycin resistance was confirmed by Etest. Results.  VRE status (at least 1 test result) was available for 30 patients. All stool samples for 19 patients (63.3%, mean age 61.7 years, 68% female) tested VRE negative. Eleven patients (36.7%, mean age 75.5 years, 64% female) were VRE positive at the first test (baseline or 7-day follow-up). Of these patients, 72.7%, n = 8 converted to negative as of the last available follow-up (30 or 60 days or 6 months). Of the other 3: 1 died (follow-up data not available); 1 patient remained positive at all follow-ups; 1 patient retested positive at 6 months with negative tests during the interim. Conclusions.  Although based on a small sample size, this secondary analysis demonstrated the possibility of successfully converting a high percentage of VRE-positive patients to negative in a recurrent CDI population with RBX2660.

A Manualised Approach to Anger Management in a Group Therapy Context: Striving towards Accessibility, Affordability and Inclusivity within Mainstream Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiseman, Martin; O'Gorman, Shannon

2018-01-01

Queensland has recently seen the first conviction under the new one-punch law. In this instance a then 19-year-old male punched and fatally injured a 54-year-old man. This article details a six session manualised group therapy approach that was applied within a mainstream school in an effort to support adolescents who had been identified as having…

Evaluation of a cleanser for petroleum-contaminated skin.

PubMed

Phieffer, Laura S; Banks, David M; Bosse, Michael J; Meyer, Martha H; Meyer, Ralph A; Smith, Kevin

2003-12-01

Extremity injuries contaminated with petroleum products pose clinical dilemmas. This project was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DS) solution for cleansing petroleum-contaminated skin. One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a contamination protocol followed by a cleansing procedure. Four petroleum contaminants and five cleansing solutions were selected. The protocol consisted of shaving, initial punch biopsy, contamination, precleansing punch biopsy, standardized scrub protocol, and postcleansing punch biopsy. Biopsy samples were analyzed for petroleum residue using fluorometry. The 10% DS solution had the highest reduction of crude oil, grease, and tar: 99.6 +/- 0.4% (mean +/- SD) contaminant reduction for crude oil, 99.8 +/- 0.2% for grease, and 99.8 +/- 0.2% for tar. The other cleansers showed less efficacy (p < 0.05). Concentrated DS appears to be significantly more effective at cleaning petroleum products from skin than the commonly chosen surgical and commercial cleansers.

Axisymmetric problem of fretting wear for a foundation with a nonuniform coating and rough punch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manzhirov, A. V.; Kazakov, K. E.

2018-05-01

The axisymmetric contact problem with fretting wear for an elastic foundation with a longitudinally nonuniform (surface nonuniform) coating and a rigid punch with a rough foundation has been solved for the first time. The case of linear wear is considered. The nonuniformity of the coating and punch roughness are described by a different rapidly changing functions. This strong nonuniformity arises when coatings are deposited using modern additive manufacturing technologies. The problem is reduced the solution of an integral equation with two different integral operators: a compact self-adjoint positively defined operator with respect to the coordinate and the non-self-adjoint integral Volterra operator with respect to time. The solution is obtained in series using the projection method of the authors. The efficiency of the proposed approach for constructing a high-accuracy approximate solution to the problem (with only a few expansion terms retained) is demonstrated.

A distinct species, Dodona formosana, detected in the Dodona eugenes species complex: clarification of the taxonomic status of the Punch butterfly in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Wu, Li-Wei; Lin, Wen-Jie; Hsu, Yu-Feng

2018-01-01

Abstract The Tailed Punch, Dodona eugenes, is widely distributed in East Asia with seven subspecies currently recognized. However, two of them, namely ssp. formosana and ssp. esakii found in Taiwan, are hard to distinguish from each other due to ambiguous diagnostic characters. In this study, their taxonomic status is clarified by comparing genitalia characters and phylogenetic relationships based on mitochondrial sequences, COI and COII (total 2211 bps). Our results show that there is no reliable feature to separate these two subspecies. Surprisingly we found that Dodona in Taiwan is more closely related to the Orange Punch, D. egeon, than to other subspecies of D. eugenes. Therefore, the following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Dodona eugenes formosana is revised to specific status as Dodona formosana Matsumura, 1919, stat. rev, and ssp. esakii is sunk to a junior synonym of Dodona formosana syn. n. PMID:29674868

Investigation of holder pressure and size effects in micro deep drawing of rectangular work pieces driven by piezoelectric actuator.

PubMed

Aminzahed, Iman; Mashhadi, Mahmoud Mosavi; Sereshk, Mohammad Reza Vaziri

2017-02-01

Micro forming is a manufacturing process to fabricate micro parts with high quality and a cost effective manner. Deep drawing could be a favorable method for production of complicated parts in macro and micro sizes. In this paper piezoelectric actuator is used as a novel approach in the field of micro manufacturing. Also, in current work, investigations are conducted with four rectangular punches and blanks with various thicknesses. Blank holder pressure effects on thickness distributions, punch force, and springback are studied. According to the results of this work, increasing of blank holder pressure in scaled deep drawing, in contrast to thickness of drawn part, leads to decrease in the punch forces and springback. Furthermore, it is shown that in micro deep drawing, the effects of holder pressure on mentioned parameters can be ignored. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improvement of formability of high strength steel sheets in shrink flanging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamedon, Z.; Abe, Y.; Mori, K.

2016-02-01

In the shrinkage flanging, the wrinkling tends to occur due to compressive stress. The wrinkling will cause a difficulty in assembling parts, and severe wrinkling may leads to rupture of parts. The shrinkage flange of the ultra-high strength steel sheets not only defects the product by the occurrence of the wrinkling but also causes seizure and wear of the dies and shortens the life of dies. In the present study, a shape of a punch having gradual contact was optimized in order to prevent the wrinkling in shrinkage flanging of ultra-high strength steel sheets. The sheet was gradually bent from the corner of the sheet to reduce the compressive stress. The wrinkling in the shrink flanging of the ultra-high strength steel sheets was prevented by the punch having gradual contact. It was found that the punch having gradual contact is effective in preventing the occurrence of wrinkling in the shrinkage flanging.

Blanking and piercing theory, applications and recent experimental results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaid, Adnan l. O.

2014-06-01

Blanking and piercing are manufacturing processes by which certain geometrical shapes are sheared off a sheet metal. If the sheared off part is the one required, the processes referred to as blanking and if the remaining part in the sheet is the one required, the process is referred to as piercing. In this paper, the theory and practice of these processes are reviewed and discussed The main parameters affecting these processes are presented and discussed. These include: the radial clearance percentage, punch and die geometrical parameters, for example punch and die profile radii. The abovementioned parameters on the force and energy required to effect blanking together with their effect on the quality of the products are also presented and discussed. Recent experimental results together with photomacrographs and photomicrographs are also included and discussed. Finally, the effect of punch and die wear on the quality of the blanks is alsogiven and discussed.

Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal. Testing Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-01

should include a deposit-feeding amphipod and a polychaete. Bioaccumulation tests generally should include a deposit-feeding bivalve mollusc and a...Gibson. 1987. Regulatory identification of petroleum hydrocarbons in dredged material. Proceedings of a Workshop. Misc. Pap. D-87-3, U.S. Army... Bioaccumulation from Whole-Sediment Tests. Polychaetes Molluscs Neanthes sp.* Macoma clam, Macoma sp.* Nereis sp.* Yoldia clam, Yoldia limatula Nephiy sp.* Nucula

[Antagonism in vitro among phytopathogenic and saprobic fungi from horticultural soils].

PubMed

Alippi, H E; Monaco, C

1990-01-01

Two methods were tested in order to determine the existence of in vitro antagonism among saprobic and pathogenic fungi. These microorganisms were the most common isolates from horticultural soils of La Plata (Buenos Aires). Trichoderma harzianum; T. koningii and Penicillium sp. were antagonistic to all the pathogenic fungi tested, Fusarium solani; F. oxysporum; Alternaria solani; Colletotrichum sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii Spicaria sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Chaetomiun sp. were antagonistic only to Colletotrichum sp. and Fusarium solani.

Analysis of Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on Vannamei Shrimp using binary logit model approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oktaviana, P. P.; Fithriasari, K.

2018-04-01

Mostly Indonesian citizen consume vannamei shrimp as their food. Vannamei shrimp also is one of Indonesian exports comodities mainstay. Vannamei shrimp in the ponds and markets could be contaminated by Salmonella sp bacteria. This bacteria will endanger human health. Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on vannamei shrimp could be affected by many factors. This study is intended to identify what factors that supposedly influence the Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on vannamei shrimp. The researchers used the testing result of Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on vannamei shrimp as response variable. This response variable has two categories: 0 = if testing result indicate that there is no Salmonella sp on vannamei shrimp; 1 = if testing result indicate that there is Salmonella sp on vannamei shrimp. There are four factors that supposedly influence the Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on vannamei shrimp, which are the testing result of Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on farmer hand swab; the subdistrict of vannamei shrimp ponds; the fish processing unit supplied by; and the pond are in hectare. This four factors used as predictor variables. The analysis used is Binary Logit Model Approach according to the response variable that has two categories. The analysis result indicates that the factors or predictor variables which is significantly affect the Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on vannamei shrimp are the testing result of Salmonella sp bacterial contamination on farmer hand swab and the subdistrict of vannamei shrimp ponds.

Cultural Resources Survey and Testing Along Ditch 19 and Extensive Testing of 23DU289, Dunklin and Stoddard Counties, Missouri.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-30

Carya illinoensis ) 1 1 Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) T 2 2 Pl.um (Prunus sp.) T Red Haw (Crataegus sp.) T 1 11 Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) T...2 Cherry (Prunus sp.) T Cottonwood (Populus sp.) 1 3 Dogwood (Cornus sp.) 1 Hackberry (Celtus occidentalis) 12 9 Hickory, ( Carya sp.) 5 4 Shellhark... Carya laciniosa) T Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) 2 Kentucky Coffee Tree( Gymnoeladus dioica)T Locust, T Black (Robinia pseudo-acacia) T Honey

The Effects of Biomechanical Factors to Teach Different Hook Punch Techniques in Boxing and Education Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bingul, Bergun Meric; Bulgun, Cigdem; Tore, Ozlem; Bal, Erdal; Aydin, Mensure

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biomechanic factors to teach different hook punches in boxing. Eight light middleweight boxing athletes (mean age ± SD 19.00 ± 2.00 yrs, mean height ± SD 173.88 ± 3.89 cm, mean weight ± SD 64.25 ± 4.66 kg) participated in this study. Athletes performed a trial using three different hook punch…

Characterization of Tensile Properties, Limiting Strains, and Deep Drawing Behavior of AA5754-H22 Sheet at Elevated Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panicker, Sudhy S.; Singh, Har Govind; Panda, Sushanta Kumar; Dashwood, Richard

2015-11-01

Automotive industries are very much interested in characterization of formability improvement of aluminum alloys at elevated temperatures before designing tools, heating systems, and processing sequences for fabrication of auto-body panels by warm forming technology. In this study, tensile tests of AA5754-H22 aluminum alloy were carried out at five different temperatures and three different strain rates to investigate the deformation behavior correlating with Cowper-Symonds constitutive equation. Laboratory scale warm forming facilities were designed and fabricated to perform limiting dome height and deep drawing tests to evaluate forming limit strains and drawability of sheet metal at different tool temperatures. The forming limit strain and dome height improved significantly when both the die and punch were heated to 200 °C. Remarkable improvement in deep drawn cup depth was observed when die and punch temperatures were maintained at 200 and 30 °C, respectively, producing a non-isothermal temperature gradient of approximately 93 °C across the blank from flange to center. The forming behavior at different isothermal and non-isothermal conditions were predicted successfully using a thermo-mechanical FE model incorporating temperature-dependent properties in Barlat-89 yield criterion coupled with Cowper-Symonds hardening model, and the thinning/failure location in deformed cups were validated implementing the experimental limiting strains as damage model.

Livermore time-sharing system. Part I. Octopus. Chapter 5. Card reader/card punch. [Description of card reader and formats

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

Lawrence, J.D.

1970-03-12

The Control Data 405 card reader, modified by the Control Data 3649 card read controller, is the primary mechanism for transferring information from a deck of punched cards into the CDC 6600 and CDC 7600 computers of the LLL Octopus system. The card reader operates at a maximum rate of 1200 cards per minute. A description of the card reader and its operation is given. A discussion of formates is included. (RWR)

The Skin Punch Biopsy

PubMed Central

Blakeman, J. M.

1983-01-01

The skin punch biopsy is a simple and safe office procedure which is a valuable aid in diagnosing many skin diseases. It can be performed in a few minutes and offers in most situations a very suitable histological specimen with a minimum amount of scarring and little or no pain or discomfort to the patient. The indications for skin biopsy, selection of a proper site and the technique are described. ImagesFig. 1Fig. 2Fig. 3Fig. 4Fig. 5Fig. 6Fig. 7 PMID:21283375

Damage Accumulation in Advanced Metal Matrix Composites Under Thermal Cycling/Creep Loadings

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-09-01

34transformation strain" (Eshelby, 1957) or * eigenstrain " (Mura, 1987). The stress-strain relation of a ccmposite predicted by the Tanaka-Mori model is given by a0o...a short fiber MMC can be calculated if the following eigenstrains are given in the domains of fiber (0l) and of the punched region encompassing the...and Mortenson modified the above model to account for partial relaxation by dislocation punching along the fiber axis. The eigenstrains based on this

Space Shuttle stability and control test plan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cooke, D. R.

1982-01-01

The development of a completely automatic flight test program to test different aspects of the Shuttle flight capability during reentries is described. Data from each flight to date has been employed to devise a sequence of maneuvers which will be keyboard-punched into the Orbiter control system by the astronauts during entry phases of flight. Details of the interaction and cooperation of the Orbiter elevons and bodyflap to provide the vehicle with latitudinal and longitudinal directional control and trim are outlined. Uncertainties predicted for the control of the Orbiter during wind tunnel testing prior to actual flights have been adjusted to actual flight data, leading to the identification of actual flight regimes which need further investigation. Maneuvers scheduled for flights 5-9 are reviewed.

Proton irradiation damage of an annealed Alloy 718 beam window

DOE PAGES

Bach, H. T.; Anderoglu, O.; Saleh, T. A.; ...

2015-04-01

Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis was performed on an Alloy 718 window that was in use at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) Isotope Production Facility (IPF) for approximately 5 years. It was replaced as part of the IPF preventive maintenance program. The window was transported to the Wing 9 hot cells at the Chemical and Metallurgical Research (CMR) LANL facility, visually inspected and 3-mm diameter samples were trepanned from the window for mechanical testing and microstructural analysis. Shear punch testing and optical metallography was performed at the CMR hot cells. The 1-mm diameter shear punch disks were cutmore » into smaller samples to further reduce radiation exposure dose rate using Focus Ion Beam (FIB) and microstructure changes were analyzed using a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Irradiation doses were determined to be ~0.2–0.7 dpa (edge) to 11.3 dpa (peak of beam intensity) using autoradiography and MCNPX calculations. The corresponding irradiation temperatures were calculated to be ~34–120 °C with short excursion to be ~47–220 °C using ANSYS. Mechanical properties and microstructure analysis results with respect to calculated dpa and temperatures show that significant work hardening occurs but useful ductility still remains. The hardening in the lowest dose region (~0.2–0.7 dpa) was the highest and attributed to the formation of γ" precipitates and irradiation defect clusters/bubbles whereas the hardening in the highest dose region (~11.3 dpa) was lower and attributed mainly to irradiation defect clusters and some thermal annealing.« less

Fungus Resistance of Plastics

DTIC Science & Technology

1951-08-17

Phenolic Phenolic Phenolic Phe-nolle Genera^.’ General General Electrical Electrical! Punching Mechanical General Electrical Fine Machin ...spores» The resulting separate suspensions were mixed to obtain a composite : spore suspension ~för"üse in inocüla ting the test specimens© 79...7 {SQKT33SI3SDJ fltttg*.8..«t.J56 FÜtfOOS BIBlSTikÄ C£ HäST’Iö LAMINATS (EüHigjiTy EXBöSTJSB; METHOD JL-.-- Ör&ie 5 - 11G

Microprogrammable Data Acquisition and Probe Control System (MIDAS IV) with Application to Compressor Testing

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-03-01

and output is presently via a teletypewriter keyboard and paper-tape punch. A direct interface with the Hewlett-Packard HP 983OA calculator is a logical...Hewlett-Packard HP 9830A calculator is a logical modification of the systsi. CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION 12 II MIDAS 17 DATA ACQUISITDN AND CONTROL SYSTEM...interface with the Hewlett -Packard Model 9830 A calculator system for data reduction and presentation. The design of the system was initiated K v It. J. W

Mechanical Properties and Fatigue Behavior of Unitized Composite Airframe Structures at Elevated Temperature

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

created using a hammer and a punch tool provided by Material Test Systems (MTS) and were kept to a minimal depth to avoid fracture initiation at the...temperature. 76 be seen that the modulus remains relatively constant until near failure. There was no apparent correlation between modulus loss and...Normalized modulus vs. fatigue cycles of all ±45° specimens can be seen in Figure 56. There is not an evident correlation between number of cycles and

A method of lead determination in human teeth by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF).

PubMed

Sargentini-Maier, M L; Frank, R M; Leroy, M J; Turlot, J C

1988-12-01

A systematic sampling procedure was combined with a method of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) to study lead content and its variations in human teeth. On serial ground sections made on unembedded permanent teeth of inhabitants of Strasbourg with a special diamond rotating disk, 2 series of 500 microns large punch biopsies were made systematically in 5 directions from the tooth surface to the inner pulpal dentine with a micro-punching unit. In addition, pooled fragments of enamel and dentine were made for each tooth. On each punched fragment or pooled sample, lead content was determined after dissolution in ultrapure nitric acid, on a 4 microns thick polypropylene film, and irradiation with a Siemens EDXRF prototype with direct sample excitation by a high power X-ray tube with a molybdenum anode. Fluorescence was detected by a Si(Li) detector and calcium was used as an internal standard. This technique allowed a rapid, automatic, multielementary and non-destructive analysis of microsamples with good detection limits.

Delamination measurement of a laminates composite panel due to hole punching based on the focus variation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, A. B.; Zain, M. S. M.; Abdullah, M. S.; Samad, Z.

2017-07-01

Structural materials, such as composite panels, must be assembled, and such panels are typically constructed via the insertion of a fastener through a drilled hole. The main problem encountered in drilling is delamination, which affects assembly strength. The cost of drilling is also high because of the severe wear on drill bits. The main goal of this research is to develop a new punching method as an alternative to drilling during hole preparation. In this study, the main objective is to investigate the effect of different puncher profiles on the quality of holes punched into carbon fiber reinforcement polymer (CFRP) composite panels. Six types of puncher profiles were fabricated with minimum die clearance (1%), and two quality aspects, namely, incomplete shearing and delamination factor, were measured. The conical puncher incurred the least defects in terms of delamination and yielded an acceptable amount of incomplete shearing in comparison with the other punchers.

Water Potential in Excised Leaf Tissue

PubMed Central

Nelsen, Charles E.; Safir, Gene R.; Hanson, Andrew D.

1978-01-01

Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) determinations were made on excised leaf samples using a commercial dew point hygrometer (Wescor Inc., Logan, Utah) and a thermocouple psychrometer operated in the isopiestic mode. With soybean leaves (Glycine max L.), there was good agreement between instruments; equilibration times were 2 to 3 hours. With cereals (Triticum aestivum L. and Hordeum vulgare L.), agreement between instruments was poor for moderately wilted leaves when 7-mm-diameter punches were used in the hygrometer and 20-mm slices were used in the psychrometer, because the Ψleaf values from the dew point hygrometer were too high. Agreement was improved by replacing the 7-mm punch samples in the hygrometer by 13-mm slices, which had a lower cut edge to volume ratio. Equilibration times for cereals were normally 6 to 8 hours. Spuriously high Ψleaf values obtained with 7-mm leaf punches may be associated with the ion release and reabsorption that occur upon tissue excision; such errors evidently depend both on the species and on tissue water status. PMID:16660227

Out-of-plane stretching for simultaneous generation of different morphological wrinkles on a soft matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xin; Zhao, Zhi-Jun; Park, Sang-Hu

2016-07-01

This study demonstrates a simple and flexible out-of-plane induced mechanical stretching method for generating labyrinthic, waving, and straight orderly microscale directional wrinkles. Different complex wrinkling patterns were fabricated simultaneously using a UV-curable thin layer of resin NOA-68T that was coated on a soft foundation. Then an out-of-plane pre-straining deformation was applied by a specially designed punch to generate internal elastic instabilities. The surface wrinkling pattern characteristics (shapes and size) changed according to the amount of punch stroke (pre-strain) and the cross-sectional shape of the punch. This study confirms the usefulness of this method for controlling and generating local wrinkling patterns for diverse applications. As an example, the contact angles of a water droplet on a local area of the same pattern were measured to identify the change in wettability with respect to different wrinkling shapes. This method can be utilized in topographical tunable wrinkle fabrication for local surface modification.

A fat-derived metabolite regulates a peptidergic feeding circuit in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Jung, Sung-Hwan; Kim, Young-Joon

2017-01-01

Here, we show that the enzymatic cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) inhibits feeding in Drosophila. BH4 biosynthesis requires the sequential action of the conserved enzymes Punch, Purple, and Sepiapterin Reductase (Sptr). Although we observe increased feeding upon loss of Punch and Purple in the adult fat body, loss of Sptr must occur in the brain. We found Sptr expression is required in four adult neurons that express neuropeptide F (NPF), the fly homologue of the vertebrate appetite regulator neuropeptide Y (NPY). As expected, feeding flies BH4 rescues the loss of Punch and Purple in the fat body and the loss of Sptr in NPF neurons. Mechanistically, we found BH4 deficiency reduces NPF staining, likely by promoting its release, while excess BH4 increases NPF accumulation without altering its expression. We thus show that, because of its physically distributed biosynthesis, BH4 acts as a fat-derived signal that induces satiety by inhibiting the activity of the NPF neurons. PMID:28350856

Hair-follicle Transplant Into Chronic Ulcers: A New Graft Concept.

PubMed

Martínez Martínez, M L; Escario Travesedo, E; Jiménez Acosta, F

Chronic venous leg ulcers are a major therapeutic challenge in clinical practice, and the search for new approaches to improve wound healing is essential. Many ulcers do not heal with traditional treatment using compression, debridement, and dressings. Skin-grafts variants, such as pinch grafts, punch grafts, split- or full-thickness skin grafts, and grafts derived from cells cultured in the laboratory, are among the most widely used options in ulcers that do not heal. In recent years, numerous studies have brought to our attention the important role of the hair follicle in the healing process of cutaneous wounds. Putting knowledge into practice, hair follicles from the scalp have been used in punch-type grafts transplanted to the base of chronic ulcers to stimulate healing. Results appear to be better than those with traditional hairless punch grafts, opening new lines of treatment for recalcitrant chronic venous ulcers. Copyright © 2017 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

A Study on Segmented Multiple-Step Forming of Doubly Curved Thick Plate by Reconfigurable Multi-Punch Dies

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

Ko, Young Ho; Han, Myoung Soo; Han, Jong Man

2007-05-17

Doubly curved thick plate forming in shipbuilding industries is currently performed by a thermal forming process, called as Line Heating by using gas flame torches. Due to the empirical manual work of it, the industries are eager for an alternative way to manufacture curved thick plates for ships. It was envisaged in this study to manufacture doubly curved thick plates by the multi-punch die forming. Experiments and finite element analyses were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the reconfigurable discrete die forming to the thick plates. Single and segmented multiple step forming procedures were considered from both forming efficiency andmore » accuracy. Configuration of the multi-punch dies suitable for the segmented multiple step forming was also explored. As a result, Segmented multiple step forming with matched dies had a limited formability when the objective shapes become complicate, while a unmatched die configuration provided better possibility to manufacture large curved plates for ships.« less

Onset of detachment in adhesive contact of an elastic half-space and flat-ended punches with non-circular shape: analytic estimates and comparison with numeric analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiang; Argatov, Ivan; Popov, Valentin L.

2018-04-01

A recent paper by Popov, Pohrt and Li (PPL) in Friction investigated adhesive contacts of flat indenters in unusual shapes using numerical, analytical and experimental methods. Based on that paper, we analyze some special cases for which analytical solutions are known. As in the PPL paper, we consider adhesive contact in the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts approximation. Depending on the energy balance, different upper and lower estimates are obtained in terms of certain integral characteristics of the contact area. The special cases of an elliptical punch as well as a system of two circular punches are considered. Theoretical estimations for the first critical force (force at which the detachment process begins) are confirmed by numerical simulations using the adhesive boundary element method. It is shown that simpler approximations for the pull-off force, based both on the Holm radius of contact and the contact area, substantially overestimate the maximum adhesive force.

Punched belt hole position deviation analysis of float type water level gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Chunlei; Wang, Tao; Fu, Weijie; Li, Lianhui

2018-03-01

The key parts of the float type water level gauge instrument is perforated belt, The size and tolerance requirements of its aperture is: (1) alternation of 100+0.2 and 100-0.2, (2) 200±0.1, (3) 1000±0.15, (4) 10000±0.2. The single hole position: alternation of 100+0.2 and 100-0.2; double: 200±0.1, and ensure the best hole position error avoidance tends to be one-way, that is to say: when the punched belt combined with a water wheel rotating line moving, The hole position error to single direction increase or decrease, caused the water level nail gradually and close to the edge of the hole, and then edge and final punched belt was lifted. This paper uses the laser drilling process of steel strip for data collection and analysis. It is found that this method cannot meet the tolerance requirements and the double stamping processing method with adjustable cylindrical pin is feasible.

Effect of repeated compaction of tablets on tablet properties and work of compaction using an instrumented laboratory tablet press.

PubMed

Gamlen, Michael John Desmond; Martini, Luigi G; Al Obaidy, Kais G

2015-01-01

The repeated compaction of Avicel PH101, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCP) powder, 50:50 DCP/Avicel PH101 and Starch 1500 was studied using an instrumented laboratory tablet press which measures upper punch force, punch displacement and ejection force and operates using a V-shaped compression profile. The measurement of work compaction was demonstrated, and the test materials were ranked in order of compaction behaviour Avicel PH101 > DCP/Avicel PH101 > Starch > DCP. The behaviour of the DCP/Avicel PH101 mixture was distinctly non-linear compared with the pure components. Repeated compaction and precompression had no effect on the tensile fracture strength of Avicel PH101 tablets, although small effects on friability and disintegration time were seen. Repeated compaction and precompression reduced the tensile strength and the increased disintegration time of the DCP tablets, but improved the strength and friability of Starch 1500 tablets. Based on the data reported, routine laboratory measurement of tablet work of compaction may have potential as a critical quality attribute of a powder blend for compression. The instrumented press was suitable for student use with minimal supervisor input.

Stiffness of frictional contact of dissimilar elastic solids

DOE PAGES

Lee, Jin Haeng; Gao, Yanfei; Bower, Allan F.; ...

2017-12-22

The classic Sneddon relationship between the normal contact stiffness and the contact size is valid for axisymmetric, frictionless contact, in which the two contacting solids are approximated by elastic half-spaces. Deviation from this result critically affects the accuracy of the load and displacement sensing nanoindentation techniques. This study gives a thorough numerical and analytical investigation of corrections needed to the Sneddon solution when finite Coulomb friction exists between an elastic half-space and a flat-ended rigid punch with circular or noncircular shape. Because of linearity of the Coulomb friction, the correction factor is found to be a function of the frictionmore » coefficient, Poisson's ratio, and the contact shape, but independent of the contact size. Two issues are of primary concern in the finite element simulations – adequacy of the mesh near the contact edge and the friction implementation methodology. Although the stick or slip zone sizes are quite different from the penalty or Lagrangian methods, the calculated contact stiffnesses are almost the same and may be considerably larger than those in Sneddon's solution. For circular punch contact, the numerical solutions agree remarkably well with a previous analytical solution. For non-circular punch contact, the results can be represented using the equivalence between the contact problem and bi-material fracture mechanics. Finally, the correction factor is found to be a product of that for the circular contact and a multiplicative factor that depends only on the shape of the punch but not on the friction coefficient or Poisson's ratio.« less

Stiffness of frictional contact of dissimilar elastic solids

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

Lee, Jin Haeng; Gao, Yanfei; Bower, Allan F.

The classic Sneddon relationship between the normal contact stiffness and the contact size is valid for axisymmetric, frictionless contact, in which the two contacting solids are approximated by elastic half-spaces. Deviation from this result critically affects the accuracy of the load and displacement sensing nanoindentation techniques. This study gives a thorough numerical and analytical investigation of corrections needed to the Sneddon solution when finite Coulomb friction exists between an elastic half-space and a flat-ended rigid punch with circular or noncircular shape. Because of linearity of the Coulomb friction, the correction factor is found to be a function of the frictionmore » coefficient, Poisson's ratio, and the contact shape, but independent of the contact size. Two issues are of primary concern in the finite element simulations – adequacy of the mesh near the contact edge and the friction implementation methodology. Although the stick or slip zone sizes are quite different from the penalty or Lagrangian methods, the calculated contact stiffnesses are almost the same and may be considerably larger than those in Sneddon's solution. For circular punch contact, the numerical solutions agree remarkably well with a previous analytical solution. For non-circular punch contact, the results can be represented using the equivalence between the contact problem and bi-material fracture mechanics. Finally, the correction factor is found to be a product of that for the circular contact and a multiplicative factor that depends only on the shape of the punch but not on the friction coefficient or Poisson's ratio.« less

Stiffness of frictional contact of dissimilar elastic solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jin Haeng; Gao, Yanfei; Bower, Allan F.; Xu, Haitao; Pharr, George M.

2018-03-01

The classic Sneddon relationship between the normal contact stiffness and the contact size is valid for axisymmetric, frictionless contact, in which the two contacting solids are approximated by elastic half-spaces. Deviation from this result critically affects the accuracy of the load and displacement sensing nanoindentation techniques. This paper gives a thorough numerical and analytical investigation of corrections needed to the Sneddon solution when finite Coulomb friction exists between an elastic half-space and a flat-ended rigid punch with circular or noncircular shape. Because of linearity of the Coulomb friction, the correction factor is found to be a function of the friction coefficient, Poisson's ratio, and the contact shape, but independent of the contact size. Two issues are of primary concern in the finite element simulations - adequacy of the mesh near the contact edge and the friction implementation methodology. Although the stick or slip zone sizes are quite different from the penalty or Lagrangian methods, the calculated contact stiffnesses are almost the same and may be considerably larger than those in Sneddon's solution. For circular punch contact, the numerical solutions agree remarkably well with a previous analytical solution. For non-circular punch contact, the results can be represented using the equivalence between the contact problem and bi-material fracture mechanics. The correction factor is found to be a product of that for the circular contact and a multiplicative factor that depends only on the shape of the punch but not on the friction coefficient or Poisson's ratio.

Using Teamcenter engineering software for a successive punching tool lifecycle management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaga, F.; Pele, A.-V.; Stǎnǎşel, I.; Buidoş, T.; Hule, V.

2015-11-01

The paper presents studies and researches results of the implementation of Teamcenter (TC) integrated management of a product lifecycle, in a virtual enterprise. The results are able to be implemented also in a real enterprise. The product was considered a successive punching and cutting tool, designed to materialize a metal sheet part. The paper defines the technical documentation flow (flow of information) in the process of constructive computer aided design of the tool. After the design phase is completed a list of parts is generated containing standard or manufactured components (BOM, Bill of Materials). The BOM may be exported to MS Excel (.xls) format and can be transferred to other departments of the company in order to supply the necessary materials and resources to achieve the final product. This paper describes the procedure to modify or change certain dimensions of sheet metal part obtained by punching. After 3D and 2D design, the digital prototype of punching tool moves to following lifecycle phase of the manufacturing process. For each operation of the technological process the corresponding phases are described in detail. Teamcenter enables to describe manufacturing company structure, underlying workstations that carry out various operations of manufacturing process. The paper revealed that the implementation of Teamcenter PDM in a company, improves efficiency of managing product information, eliminating time working with search, verification and correction of documentation, while ensuring the uniqueness and completeness of the product data.

Hole punch clouds over the Bahamas

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

In elementary school, students learn that water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). That is true most of the time, but there are exceptions to the rule. For instance, water with very few impurities (such as dust or pollution particles, fungal spores, bacteria) can be chilled to much cooler temperatures and still remain liquid—a process known as supercooling. Supercooling may sound exotic, but it occurs pretty routinely in Earth’s atmosphere. Altocumulus clouds, a common type of mid-altitude cloud, are mostly composed of water droplets supercooled to a temperature of about -15 degrees C. Altocumulus clouds with supercooled tops cover about 8 percent of Earth’s surface at any given time. Supercooled water droplets play a key role in the formation of hole-punch and canal clouds, the distinctive clouds shown in these satellite images. Hole-punch clouds usually appear as circular gaps in decks of altocumulus clouds; canal clouds look similar but the gaps are longer and thinner. This true-color image shows hole-punch and canal clouds off the coast of Florida, as observed on December 12, 2014, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite. Both types of cloud form when aircraft fly through cloud decks rich with supercooled water droplets and produce aerodynamic contrails. Air expands and cools as it moves around the wings and past the propeller, a process known as adiabatic cooling. Air temperatures over jet wings often cool by as much as 20 degrees Celsius, pushing supercooled water droplets to the point of freezing. As ice crystals form, they absorb nearby water droplets. Since ice crystals are relatively heavy, they tend to sink. This triggers tiny bursts of snow or rain that leave gaps in the cloud cover. Whether a cloud formation becomes a hole-punch or canal depends on the thickness of the cloud layer, the air temperature, and the degree of horizontal wind shear. Both descending and ascending aircraft—including jets and propeller planes—can trigger hole-punch and canal clouds. The nearest major airports in the images above include Miami International, Fort Lauderdale International, Grand Bahama International, and Palm Beach International. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Power estimation of martial arts movement using 3D motion capture camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azraai, Nur Zaidi; Awang Soh, Ahmad Afiq Sabqi; Mat Jafri, Mohd Zubir

2017-06-01

Motion capture camera (MOCAP) has been widely used in many areas such as biomechanics, physiology, animation, arts, etc. This project is done by approaching physics mechanics and the extended of MOCAP application through sports. Most researchers will use a force plate, but this will only can measure the force of impact, but for us, we are keen to observe the kinematics of the movement. Martial arts is one of the sports that uses more than one part of the human body. For this project, martial art `Silat' was chosen because of its wide practice in Malaysia. 2 performers have been selected, one of them has an experienced in `Silat' practice and another one have no experience at all so that we can compare the energy and force generated by the performers. Every performer will generate a punching with same posture which in this project, two types of punching move were selected. Before the measuring start, a calibration has been done so the software knows the area covered by the camera and reduce the error when analyze by using the T stick that have been pasted with a marker. A punching bag with mass 60 kg was hung on an iron bar as a target. The use of this punching bag is to determine the impact force of a performer when they punch. This punching bag also will be stuck with the optical marker so we can observe the movement after impact. 8 cameras have been used and placed with 2 cameras at every side of the wall with different angle in a rectangular room 270 ft2 and the camera covered approximately 50 ft2. We covered only a small area so less noise will be detected and make the measurement more accurate. A Marker has been pasted on the limb of the entire hand that we want to observe and measure. A passive marker used in this project has a characteristic to reflect the infrared that being generated by the camera. The infrared will reflected to the camera sensor so the marker position can be detected and show in software. The used of many cameras is to increase the precision and improve the accuracy of the marker. Performer movement was recorded and analyzed using software Cortex motion analysis where velocity and acceleration of a performer movement can be measured. With classical mechanics approach we have estimated the power and force of impact and shows that an experienced performer produces more power and force of impact is higher than the inexperienced performer.

Surface self-potential patterns related to transmissive fracture trends during a water injection test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DesRoches, A. J.; Butler, K. E.; MacQuarrie, K. TB

2018-03-01

Variations in self-potential (SP) signals were recorded over an electrode array during a constant head injection test in a fractured bedrock aquifer. Water was injected into a 2.2 m interval isolated between two inflatable packers at 44 m depth in a vertical well. Negative SP responses were recorded on surface corresponding to the start of the injection period with strongest magnitudes recorded in electrodes nearest the well. SP response decreased in magnitude at electrodes further from the well. Deflation of the packer system resulted in a strong reversal in the SP signal. Anomalous SP patterns observed at surface at steady state were found to be aligned with dominant fracture strike orientations found within the test interval. Numerical modelling of fluid and current flow within a simplified fracture network showed that azimuthal patterns in SP are mainly controlled by transmissive fracture orientations. The strongest SP gradients occur parallel to hydraulic gradients associated with water flowing out of the transmissive fractures into the tighter matrix and other less permeable cross-cutting fractures. Sensitivity studies indicate that increasing fracture frequency near the well increases the SP magnitude and enhances the SP anomaly parallel to the transmissive set. Decreasing the length of the transmissive fractures leads to more fluid flow into the matrix and into cross-cutting fractures proximal to the well, resulting in a more circular and higher magnitude SP anomaly. Results from the field experiment and modelling provide evidence that surface-based SP monitoring during constant head injection tests has the ability to identify groundwater flow pathways within a fractured bedrock aquifer.

Comparison of techniques of detecting immunoglobulin-binding protein reactivity to immunoglobulin produced by different avian and mammalian species.

PubMed

Justiz-Vaillant, A A; Akpaka, P E; McFarlane-Anderson, N; Smikle, M F

2013-01-01

The rationale of this study was to use several immunological assays to investigate the reactivity of immunoglobulin binding protein (IBP) to immunoglobulins from various avian and mammalian species. The IBP studied were Staphylococcal protein A (SpA), Streptococcal protein G (SpG), Peptostreptococcal protein L (SpL) and recombinant protein LA (SpLA). The various immunological techniques used were double immunodiffusion (Ouchterlony technique) that tested positive high protein reactivities, direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) that tested moderate and low positive protein binding capacities, respectively. In addition to sandwich ELISAs, immunoblot analyses and Ig-purification by SpA-affinity chromatography, which were sensitive tests and helpful in the screening and confirmatory tests were also used. The Ouchterlony technique showed that compared to the other proteins, SpLA had the highest range of reactivity with animal sera and purified immunoglobulins while SpL was least reactive. With the direct ELISA, SpL reacted with the raccoon sera, rabbit IgG and with IgY from bantam hens and pigeons. While with the direct ELISA, SpA reacted with sera from skunk, coyote, raccoon, mule, donkey and human. The sandwich ELISA revealed high reactivity of both SpG and SpLA with mammalian sera titres ranging from 1:32 (raccoon serum) to 1:1024 (mule and donkey sera). These results suggest that IBP can be used for the detection of immunoglobulin using various immunological assays and this is important for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in animal and bird populations studied and in the purification of immunoglobulins.

Signal peptide discrimination and cleavage site identification using SVM and NN.

PubMed

Kazemian, H B; Yusuf, S A; White, K

2014-02-01

About 15% of all proteins in a genome contain a signal peptide (SP) sequence, at the N-terminus, that targets the protein to intracellular secretory pathways. Once the protein is targeted correctly in the cell, the SP is cleaved, releasing the mature protein. Accurate prediction of the presence of these short amino-acid SP chains is crucial for modelling the topology of membrane proteins, since SP sequences can be confused with transmembrane domains due to similar composition of hydrophobic amino acids. This paper presents a cascaded Support Vector Machine (SVM)-Neural Network (NN) classification methodology for SP discrimination and cleavage site identification. The proposed method utilises a dual phase classification approach using SVM as a primary classifier to discriminate SP sequences from Non-SP. The methodology further employs NNs to predict the most suitable cleavage site candidates. In phase one, a SVM classification utilises hydrophobic propensities as a primary feature vector extraction using symmetric sliding window amino-acid sequence analysis for discrimination of SP and Non-SP. In phase two, a NN classification uses asymmetric sliding window sequence analysis for prediction of cleavage site identification. The proposed SVM-NN method was tested using Uni-Prot non-redundant datasets of eukaryotic and prokaryotic proteins with SP and Non-SP N-termini. Computer simulation results demonstrate an overall accuracy of 0.90 for SP and Non-SP discrimination based on Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) tests using SVM. For SP cleavage site prediction, the overall accuracy is 91.5% based on cross-validation tests using the novel SVM-NN model. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade After Vietnam

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-01-01

intake in the front, and two rear missiles on the aft belly stations. Each missile had an ejector foot that kicked the missile away from the aircraft...bar, often dragging a thrower or two along with him. The more dangerous the game, the better, and Sockey, a hybrid of soccer and hockey, was the most...When the LGB kits were added to the 2,000-pound ver- sion, they added a tremendous punch, but the biggest punch of all came from “ Fat Albert,” a 3,000

Technique for controlling shrinkage distortion in cold-pressed annular pellets

DOEpatents

Johnson, R.G.R.; Burke, T.J.

1982-06-28

A process and apparatus are described for the production of annular fuel pellets comprising locating particulate fuel material in a compaction chamber having side walls, a moveable punch located opposite a fixed member and a frustoconical element having a taper of between about 0.010 to 0.015 inches/inch located in about the center of the chamber. The punch is moved toward the fixed surface to compact the particulate material. The compacted pellet is fired to produce sintered pellets having substantially straight inner side walls essentially parallel to the pellet axis.

Antifungal activity of four honeys of different types from Algeria against pathogenic yeast: Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp.

PubMed

Moussa, Ahmed; Noureddine, Djebli; Saad, Aissat; Abdelmelek, Meslem; Abdelkader, Benhalima

2012-07-01

To evaluate the antifungal activity of four honeys of different types from Algeria against pathogenic yeast i.e. Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Rhodotorula sp. Four Algeria honeys of different botanical origin were analyzed to test antifungal effect against C. albicans, and Rhodotorula sp. Different concentrations (undiluted, 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% w/v) of honey were studied in vitro for their antifugal activity using C. albicans and Rhodotorula sp. as fungal strains. The range of the diameter of zone of inhibition of various concentrations of tested honeys was (7-23 mm) for Rhodotorula sp., while C. albicans showed clearly resistance towards all concentrations used. The MICs of tested honey concentrations against C. albicans and Rhodotorula sp. were (70.09-93.48)% and (4.90-99.70)% v/v, respectively. This study demonstrates that, in vitro, these natural products have clearly an antifungal activity against Rhodotorula sp. and C. albicans.

Antifungal activity of four honeys of different types from Algeria against pathogenic yeast: Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp.

PubMed Central

Moussa, Ahmed; Noureddine, Djebli; Saad, Aissat; Abdelmelek, Meslem; Abdelkader, Benhalima

2012-01-01

Objective To evaluate the antifungal activity of four honeys of different types from Algeria against pathogenic yeast i.e. Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Rhodotorula sp. Methods Four Algeria honeys of different botanical origin were analyzed to test antifungal effect against C. albicans, and Rhodotorula sp. Different concentrations (undiluted, 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% w/v) of honey were studied in vitro for their antifugal activity using C. albicans and Rhodotorula sp. as fungal strains. Results The range of the diameter of zone of inhibition of various concentrations of tested honeys was (7–23 mm) for Rhodotorula sp., while C. albicans showed clearly resistance towards all concentrations used. The MICs of tested honey concentrations against C. albicans and Rhodotorula sp. were (70.09–93.48)% and (4.90–99.70)% v/v, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates that, in vitro, these natural products have clearly an antifungal activity against Rhodotorula sp. and C. albicans. PMID:23569970

Direct hits to the head during amateur boxing is associated with a rise in serum biomarkers for brain injury.

PubMed

Graham, M R; Myers, T; Evans, P; Davies, B; Cooper, S M; Bhattacharya, K; Grace, F M; Baker, J S

2011-01-01

Boxing exposes participants to the physiological response to high intensity exercise and also to direct body and brain trauma. Amateur boxing is increasing and females have also been included in the Olympics. The aim of this study is to assess the stress response and possible brain injury incurred during a match by measuring serum biomarkers associated with stress and cellular brain injury before and after combat. Sixteen male amateur boxers were studied retrospectively. The study population was divided into two groups: (a) a group that received predominantly punches to the head (PTH) and (b) a group that received predominantly punches to the body (PTB). Blood samples were taken before and five minutes after each contest. They were analysed for S-100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), creatine kinase (CK) and cortisol. The PTH group received direct contacts to the head (not blocked, parried or avoided) and to the body (n=8, age: 17.6 ± 5.3, years; height: 1.68 ± 0.13, meters; mass: 65.4 ± 20.3, kg). The PTB group received punches to the body including blocked and parried punches, but received no direct punches to the head, (n=8, mean ± SD, age: 19.1 ± 3.2 years; height: 1.70 ± 0.75, meters; mass: 68.5 ± 15 kg). Significant increases (P<0.05) were observed between pre- and post-combat serum concentrations in serum concentrations in PTH of S-100B (0.35 ± 0.61 vs. 0.54 ± 0.73, μg.L-1) NSE (19.7 ± 14 vs.31.1 ± 26.6, ng.ml-1) and cortisol (373 ± 202 vs. 756 ± 93, nmol.L-1). Significant increases (P<0.05) of creatine kinase were recorded in both groups. This study demonstrates significant elevations in neurochemical biomarkers in boxers who received direct blows to the head. However, further work is required to quantify this volumetric brain damage and long term clinical sequelae.

The healing effects of autologous platelet gel on acute human skin wounds.

PubMed

Hom, David B; Linzie, Bradley M; Huang, Trevor C

2007-01-01

To compare the healing of full-thickness skin punch wounds treated with topical autologous platelet gel (APG) vs conventional therapy (antibiotic ointment and/or occlusive dressings) in healthy volunteers. A prospective, single-blind, pilot study comprising 80 full-thickness skin punch wounds (4 mm diameter) was conducted on the thighs of 8 healthy volunteers. With each subject serving as his or her own control (5 punch sites per leg), APG was applied topically on one thigh, and an antibiotic ointment and/or a semiocclusive dressing was applied on the other thigh. Healing was monitored for spontaneous wound closure by clinical assessment and by digital photographs over 6 months. Over 35 days, 64 serial dermal biopsy specimens (6 mm diameter) were analyzed (using hematoxylin-eosin, Mason trichrome, CD-34, and Ki-67 stains) to measure differences between treated and control sites for cellularity, granulation formation, vascularity, epithelialization, and cellular replication. Over a 42-day period, the APG-treated sites had statistically increased wound closure compared with controls by visual clinical assessment and by digital planimetry photographic measurements (P

Boxing and mixed martial arts: preliminary traumatic neuromechanical injury risk analyses from laboratory impact dosage data.

PubMed

Bartsch, Adam J; Benzel, Edward C; Miele, Vincent J; Morr, Douglas R; Prakash, Vikas

2012-05-01

In spite of ample literature pointing to rotational and combined impact dosage being key contributors to head and neck injury, boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) padding is still designed to primarily reduce cranium linear acceleration. The objects of this study were to quantify preliminary linear and rotational head impact dosage for selected boxing and MMA padding in response to hook punches; compute theoretical skull, brain, and neck injury risk metrics; and statistically compare the protective effect of various glove and head padding conditions. An instrumented Hybrid III 50th percentile anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was struck in 54 pendulum impacts replicating hook punches at low (27-29 J) and high (54-58 J) energy. Five padding combinations were examined: unpadded (control), MMA glove-unpadded head, boxing glove-unpadded head, unpadded pendulum-boxing headgear, and boxing glove-boxing headgear. A total of 17 injury risk parameters were measured or calculated. All padding conditions reduced linear impact dosage. Other parameters significantly decreased, significantly increased, or were unaffected depending on padding condition. Of real-world conditions (MMA glove-bare head, boxing glove-bare head, and boxing glove-headgear), the boxing glove-headgear condition showed the most meaningful reduction in most of the parameters. In equivalent impacts, the MMA glove-bare head condition induced higher rotational dosage than the boxing glove-bare head condition. Finite element analysis indicated a risk of brain strain injury in spite of significant reduction of linear impact dosage. In the replicated hook punch impacts, all padding conditions reduced linear but not rotational impact dosage. Head and neck dosage theoretically accumulates fastest in MMA and boxing bouts without use of protective headgear. The boxing glove-headgear condition provided the best overall reduction in impact dosage. More work is needed to develop improved protective padding to minimize linear and rotational impact dosage and develop next-generation standards for head and neck injury risk.

Formability analysis of aluminum alloys through deep drawing process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pranavi, U.; Janaki Ramulu, Perumalla; Chandramouli, Ch; Govardhan, Dasari; Prasad, PVS. Ram

2016-09-01

Deep drawing process is a significant metal forming process used in the sheet metal forming operations. From this process complex shapes can be manufactured with fewer defects. Deep drawing process has different effectible process parameters from which an optimum level of parameters should be identified so that an efficient final product with required mechanical properties will be obtained. The present work is to evaluate the formability of Aluminum alloy sheets using deep drawing process. In which effects of punch radius, lubricating conditions, die radius, and blank holding forces on deep drawing process observed for AA 6061 aluminum alloy sheet of 2 mm thickness. The numerical simulations are performed for deep drawing of square cups using three levels of aforesaid parameters like lubricating conditions and blank holding forces and two levels of punch radii and die radii. For numerical simulation a commercial FEM code is used in which Hollomon's power law and Hill's 1948 yield criterions are implemented. The deep drawing setup used in the FEM code is modeled using a CAD tool by considering the modeling requirements from the literature. Two different strain paths (150x150mm and 200x200mm) are simulated. Punch forces, thickness distributions and dome heights are evaluated for all the conditions. In addition failure initiation and propagation is also observed. From the results, by increasing the coefficient of friction and blank holding force, punch force, thickness distribution and dome height variations are observed. The comparison has done and the optimistic parameters were suggested from the results. From this work one can predict the formability for different strain paths without experimentation.

[Groupamatic 360 C1 and automated blood donor processing in a transfusion center].

PubMed

Guimbretiere, J; Toscer, M; Harousseau, H

1978-03-01

Automation of donor management flow path is controlled by: --a 3 slip "port a punch" card, --the groupamatic unit with a result sorted out on punch paper tape, --the management computer off line connected to groupamatic. Data tracking at blood collection time is made by punching a card with the donor card used as a master card. Groupamatic performs: --a standard blood grouping with one run for registered donors and two runs for new donors, --a phenotyping with two runs, --a screening of irregular antibodies. Themanagement computer checks the correlation between the data of the two runs or the data of a single run and that of previous file. It updates the data resident in the central file and prints out: --the controls of the different blood group for the red cell panel, --The listing of error messages, --The listing of emergency call up, --The listing of collected blood units when arrived at the blood center, with quantitative and qualitative information such as: number of blood, units collected, donor addresses, etc., --Statistics, --Donor cards, --Diplomas.

Aircraft-Induced Hole Punch and Canal Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heymsfield, A. J.; Kennedy, P.; Massie, S. T.; Schmitt, C. G.; Wang, Z.; Haimov, S.; Rangno, A.

2009-12-01

The production of holes and channels in altocumulus clouds by two commercial turboprop aircraft is documented for the first time. An unprecedented data set combining in situ measurements from microphysical probes with remote sensing measurements from cloud radar and lidar, all operating from the NSF/NCAR C130 aircraft, as well as ground-based NOAA and CSU radars, is used to describe the radar/lidar properties of a hole punch cloud and channel and the ensuing ice microphysical properties and structure of the ice column that subsequently developed. Ice particle production by commercial turboprop aircraft climbing through clouds much warmer than the regions where contrails are produced has the potential to modify significantly the cloud microphysical properties and effectively seed them under some conditions. Jet aircraft may also be producing hole punch clouds when flying through altocumulus with supercooled droplets at heights lower than their normal cruise altitudes where contrails can form. Commercial aircraft therefore can generate ice and affect the clouds at temperatures as much as 30°C warmer than the -40°C contrail formation threshold temperature.

Water potential in excised leaf tissue: comparison of a commercial dew point hygrometer and a thermocouple psychrometer on soybean, wheat, and barley.

PubMed

Nelsen, C E; Safir, G R; Hanson, A D

1978-01-01

Leaf water potential (Psi(leaf)) determinations were made on excised leaf samples using a commercial dew point hygrometer (Wescor Inc., Logan, Utah) and a thermocouple psychrometer operated in the isopiestic mode. With soybean leaves (Glycine max L.), there was good agreement between instruments; equilibration times were 2 to 3 hours. With cereals (Triticum aestivum L. and Hordeum vulgare L.), agreement between instruments was poor for moderately wilted leaves when 7-mm-diameter punches were used in the hygrometer and 20-mm slices were used in the psychrometer, because the Psi(leaf) values from the dew point hygrometer were too high. Agreement was improved by replacing the 7-mm punch samples in the hygrometer by 13-mm slices, which had a lower cut edge to volume ratio. Equilibration times for cereals were normally 6 to 8 hours. Spuriously high Psi(leaf) values obtained with 7-mm leaf punches may be associated with the ion release and reabsorption that occur upon tissue excision; such errors evidently depend both on the species and on tissue water status.

Stress concentration in periodically rough Hertzian contact: Hertz to soft-flat-punch transition

PubMed Central

Raphaël, E.; Léger, L.; Restagno, F.; Poulard, C.

2016-01-01

We report on the elastic contact between a spherical lens and a patterned substrate, composed of a hexagonal lattice of cylindrical pillars. The stress field and the size of the contact area are obtained by means of numerical methods: a superposition method of discrete pressure elements and an iterative bisection-like method. For small indentations, a transition from a Hertzian to a soft-flat-punch behaviour is observed when the surface fraction of the substrate that is covered by the pillars is increased. In particular, we present a master curve defined by two dimensionless parameters, which allows one to predict the stress at the centre of the contact region in terms of the surface fraction occupied by pillars. The transition between the limiting contact regimes, Hertzian and soft-flat-punch, is well described by a rational function. Additionally, a simple model to describe the Boussinesq–Cerruti-like contact between the lens and a single elastic pillar, which takes into account the pillar geometry and the elastic properties of the two bodies, is presented. PMID:27713659

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

An, Bo; Jenkins, Janelle E; Sampath, Sujatha

Dragline silk from orb-weaving spiders is a copolymer of two large proteins, major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and 2 (MaSp2). The ratio of these proteins is known to have a large variation across different species of orb-weaving spiders. NMR results from gland material of two different species of spiders, N. clavipes and A. aurantia, indicates that MaSp1 proteins are more easily formed into β-sheet nanostructures, while MaSp2 proteins form random coil and helical structures. To test if this behavior of natural silk proteins could be reproduced by recombinantly produced spider silk mimic protein, recombinant MaSp1/MaSp2 mixed fibers as well asmore » chimeric silk fibers from MaSp1 and MaSp2 sequences in a single protein were produced based on the variable ratio and conserved motifs of MaSp1 and MaSp2 in native silk fiber. Mechanical properties, solid-state NMR, and XRD results of tested synthetic fibers indicate the differing roles of MaSp1 and MaSp2 in the fiber and verify the importance of postspin stretching treatment in helping the fiber to form the proper spatial structure.« less

[Application of PBL combined with SP method in during-course practice of endodontics for undergraduate dental students].

PubMed

Shao, Li-Na; Qiu, Li-Hong; Zhan, Fu-Liang; Xue, Ming

2016-10-01

To apply problem-based learning (PBL) combined with standardized patients(SP) in during-course practice of endodontics for undergraduate dental students, in order to improve the teaching quality. One hundred and four undergraduate dental students of China Medical University School of Stomatology were randomly divided into 2 groups, 52 students in each group. One group were taught with PBL combined with SP while the other group with lecture-based learning (LBL) alone. The teaching effect was measured with examination and questionnaire survey. The data were analyzed by Student's t test using SPSS 11.5 software package. Students in PBL combined with SP group was better than LBL group in case analysis, didactic tests, practical tests and total scores, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). LBL group was better than PBL combined with SP group in basic theoretical knowledge scores, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). SP and PBL combined with SP method were welcomed by undergraduate dental students. The abilities of undergraduate dental students can be improved by PBL combined with SP in different aspects. PBL combined with SP achieves satisfactory teaching effect, and can be applied in during-course practice of endodontics to undergraduate dental students.

The specificity of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test for recreational soccer players is independent of their intermittent running ability.

PubMed

Coratella, Giuseppe; Beato, Marco; Schena, Federico

2016-01-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not recreational soccer players (SP) and non-soccer players (non-SP) with similar intermittent-running ability had similar physiological responses to a soccer match-simulation protocol. Twenty-two recreational SP and 19 fitness-matched non-SP participated. Yo-Yo level 1 assessed intermittent-running ability, while the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test served as soccer match-simulation protocol. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration [La - ] and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded after each bout (1-5, plus an exhaustive task). SP had lower HR after the third, fourth and fifth bout, compared to non-SP. Similarly, SP had lower [La - ] after the third, fourth and the fifth bout. SP also had lower RPE after the third, fourth and fifth bout. The appropriateness of intermittent-running ability as the main determinant of physical performance in SP was questioned.

VMOMS — A computer code for finding moment solutions to the Grad-Shafranov equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lao, L. L.; Wieland, R. M.; Houlberg, W. A.; Hirshman, S. P.

1982-08-01

Title of program: VMOMS Catalogue number: ABSH Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland (See application form in this issue) Computer: PDP-10/KL10; Installation: ORNL Fusion Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA Operating system: TOPS 10 Programming language used: FORTRAN High speed storage required: 9000 words No. of bits in a word: 36 Overlay structure: none Peripherals used: line printer, disk drive No. of cards in combined program and test deck: 2839 Card punching code: ASCII

A Summary of the Evaluation of PPG Herculite XP Glass in Punched Window and Storefront Assemblies

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

frames for all IGU windows extruded from existing dies. The glazing was secured to the frame on all four sides with a 1/2-in bead width of DOW 995...lite and non-laminated IGU debris tests. A wood frame with a 4-in wide slit was placed behind the window to transform the debris cloud into a narrow...speed camera DIC Set-up laser deflection gauge shock tube window wood frame with slit high speed camerawell lit backdrop Debris Tracking Set-up laser

Digital pulse-shape analysis with a TRACE early silicon prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mengoni, D.; Dueñas, J. A.; Assié, M.; Boiano, C.; John, P. R.; Aliaga, R. J.; Beaumel, D.; Capra, S.; Gadea, A.; Gonzáles, V.; Gottardo, A.; Grassi, L.; Herrero-Bosch, V.; Houdy, T.; Martel, I.; Parkar, V. V.; Perez-Vidal, R.; Pullia, A.; Sanchis, E.; Triossi, A.; Valiente Dobón, J. J.

2014-11-01

A highly segmented silicon-pad detector prototype has been tested to explore the performance of the digital pulse shape analysis in the discrimination of the particles reaching the silicon detector. For the first time a 200 μm thin silicon detector, grown using an ordinary floating zone technique, has been shown to exhibit a level discrimination thanks to the fine segmentation. Light-charged particles down to few MeV have been separated, including their punch-through. A coaxial HPGe detector in time coincidence has further confirmed the quality of the particle discrimination.

Improved Indentation Test for Measuring Nonlinear Elasticity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eldridge, Jeffrey I.

2004-01-01

A cylindrical-punch indentation technique has been developed as a means of measuring the nonlinear elastic responses of materials -- more specifically, for measuring the moduli of elasticity of materials in cases in which these moduli vary with applied loads. This technique offers no advantage for characterizing materials that exhibit purely linear elastic responses (constant moduli of elasticity, independent of applied loads). However, the technique offers a significant advantage for characterizing such important materials as plasma-sprayed thermal-barrier coatings, which, in cyclic loading, exhibit nonlinear elasticity with hysteresis related to compaction and sliding within their microstructures.

Proceedings of Asilomar Conference on Fire and Blast Effects of Nuclear Weapons (17th), held at the Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California, on May 30-June 3, 1983

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-07-01

July 1983 Washington DC 20472 1s. NUMBER OP PAGES 287 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME A AODRESSý./ dif.erent from Controlling Office) IS. SECURITY CLASS... controlling parameter used in the design of the upgrading scheme. However, the flat plate test indicated that more concern should be directed to punching shear...and type of structure. Very little duplication of experiments for control purposes has been performed. SUGGESTED RESEARCH After some thirty years of

Standardization of a latex agglutination test for coproantigen detection of Fasciola sp. in bovine cattle stool.

PubMed

Orejarena Ávila, Lina Paola; Inguilan Benavides, Erika Marcela; Padilla Sanabria, Leonardo; Recalde-Reyes, Delia Piedad; Rodríguez-Salazar, Carlos Andrés; Castaño-Osorio, Jhon Carlos

2018-03-01

Fasciolosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease, which affects humans and animals; diagnosed through noncommercial immunoassay tests that cannot be used on the field. Thereby, establishing the optimal conditions to develop a latex agglutination technique with IgG and IgM antibodies directed against excretion/secretion antigens of Fasciola sp. is a priority. Latex particles were sensitized with IgG and IgM antibodies directed against excretion/secretion antigens of Fasciola sp. The specificity of the antibodies was determined against antigens of different helminths and protozoa; the sensitivity and specificity of the test was evaluated against a previously standardized direct ELISA. The coupling rates of the IgG and IgM antibodies were 85.77 and 100%, respectively. The minimum detectable concentration of Fasciola sp. excretion/secretion antigens, diluted in a phosphate-buffered saline, was 1.589 mg/mL(IgG) and 0.158 mg/mL(IgM) and for the antigens incorporated in the bovine cattle stool it was 3.178 mg/mL(IgG) and 1.589 mg/mL(IgM). The test showed crossed reaction against Giardia sp., and Cryptosporidium sp. antigens. Agreement of the IgG and IgM latex test against the ELISA test was of 78.78 and 96.96%, respectively; the specificity found was of 100% for both tests and sensitivity was 78.79% (IgG) and 96.97% (IgM). This work standardized the latex agglutination technique to detect Fasciola sp. antigens in bovine cattle stool.

Lower risk taking and exploratory behavior in alcohol-preferring sP rats than in alcohol non-preferring sNP rats in the multivariate concentric square field (MCSF) test.

PubMed

Roman, Erika; Colombo, Giancarlo

2009-12-14

The present investigation continues previous behavioral profiling studies of selectively bred alcohol-drinking and alcohol non-drinking rats. In this study, alcohol-naïve adult Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and non-preferring (sNP) rats were tested in the multivariate concentric square field (MCSF) test. The MCSF test has an ethoexperimental approach and measures general activity, exploration, risk assessment, risk taking, and shelter seeking in laboratory rodents. The multivariate design enables behavioral profiling in one and the same test situation. Age-matched male Wistar rats were included as a control group. Five weeks after the first MCSF trial, a repeated testing was done to explore differences in acquired experience. The results revealed distinct differences in exploratory strategies and behavioral profiles between sP and sNP rats. The sP rats were characterized by lower activity, lower exploratory drive, higher risk assessment, and lower risk taking behavior than in sNP rats. In the repeated trial, risk-taking behavior was almost abolished in sP rats. When comparing the performance of sP and sNP rats with that of Wistar rats, the principal component analysis revealed that the sP rats were the most divergent group. The vigilant behavior observed in sP rats with low exploratory drive and low risk-taking behavior is interpreted here as high innate anxiety-related behaviors and may be related to their propensity for high voluntary alcohol intake and preference. We suggest that the different lines of alcohol-preferring rats with different behavioral characteristics constitute valuable animal models that mimic the heterogeneity in human alcohol dependence.

Robotic hair harvesting system: a new proposal.

PubMed

Lin, Xiang; Nakazawa, Toji; Yasuda, Ryuya; Kobayashi, Etsuko; Sakuma, Ichiro; Liao, Hongen

2011-01-01

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) has become a popular hair transplanting method for solving male-pattern baldness problem. Manually harvesting hairs one by one, however, is a tedious and time-consuming job to doctors. We design an accurate hair harvesting robot with a novel and efficient end-effector which consists of one digital microscope and a punch device. The microscope is first employed to automatically localize target hairs and then guides the punch device for harvesting after shifting. The end-effector shows average bias and precision of 0.014 mm by virtue of a rotary guidance design for the motorized shifting mechanism.

Contact problem on indentation of an elastic half-plane with an inhomogeneous coating by a flat punch in the presence of tangential stresses on a surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volkov, Sergei S.; Vasiliev, Andrey S.; Aizikovich, Sergei M.; Sadyrin, Evgeniy V.

2018-05-01

Indentation of an elastic half-space with functionally graded coating by a rigid flat punch is studied. The half-plane is additionally subjected to distributed tangential stresses. Tangential stresses are represented in a form of Fourier series. The problem is reduced to the solution of two dual integral equations over even and odd functions describing distribution of unknown normal contact stresses. The solutions of these dual integral equations are constructed by the bilateral asymptotic method. Approximated analytical expressions for contact normal stresses are provided.

A simple code for use in shielding and radiation dosage analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wan, C. C.

1972-01-01

A simple code for use in analyses of gamma radiation effects in laminated materials is described. Simple and good geometry is assumed so that all multiple collision and scattering events are excluded from consideration. The code is capable of handling laminates up to six layers. However, for laminates of more than six layers, the same code may be used to incorporate two additional layers at a time, making use of punch-tape outputs from previous computation on all preceding layers. Spectrum of attenuated radiation are obtained as both printed output and punch tape output as desired.

Exploration of PM2.5 filtration property of filter bag for environment protection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ruitian; Zheng, Jinwei; Ni, Bingxuan; Zhang, Peng

2017-06-01

In this paper, filter bag of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) needle punched nonwoven for environment protection was investigated. The results showed that air permeability of sample was linear rise with the increase of the pressure drop. During the testing process, the residual pressure drop rose with the increase of cycles because of test dust attaching on the surface of the filter. The PM2.5 filtration efficiency was obtained of 99.854%, which was smaller than the dust filtration efficiency of 99.971% because of the fine particles taking larger proportion of the dust through the sample. Results show that this method of evaluating the PM2.5 filtration property is feasible.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential of the Lichen Parmotrema sp. Extracts against Various Pathogens.

PubMed

Chauhan, Ritika; Abraham, Jayanthi

2013-07-01

The ongoing increasing antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest challenges faced by global public health. The perennial need for new antimicrobials against a background of increasing antibiotic resistance in pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms obliges the scientific community to constantly develop new drugs and antimicrobial agents. Lichens are known prolific sources of natural antimicrobial drugs and biologically active natural products. This study was aimed to explore in vitro antimicrobial activity of lichen Parmotrema sp. The methanol and aqueous extracts of lichen Parmotrema sp. was extracted using Soxhlet extractor. Antibiotic assessment of methanol and aqueous extracts was done against eight bacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Enterococci faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae,) clinical pathogens and five plant pathogenic fungal strains (Aspergillus terreus strain JAS1, Scedosporium sp. JAS1, Ganoderma sp. JAS4, Candida tropicalis and Fusarium sp.) by Kirby-Bauer method. The methanol lichen Parmotrema sp. extract inhibited all the test organisms. The highest antibacterial activity was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The weakest activity was manifested in Salmonella sp. and Scedosporium sp. JAS1. Strong antifungal effect was found against Ganoderma sp. JAS4 and Fusarium sp. The aqueous lichen Parmotrema sp. extract revealed neither antibacterial nor antifungal activity. The present study shows that tested lichen Parmotrema sp. extracts demonstrated a strong antimicrobial effect. That suggests the active components from methanol extracts of the investigated lichen Parmotrema sp. can be used as natural antimicrobial agent against pathogens.

Effect of sperminated pullulans on drug permeation through isolated rabbit cornea and determination of ocular irritation.

PubMed

Yu, N; Xun, Y; Jin, D; Yang, H; Hang, T; Cui, H

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two sperminated pullulans (SP) with a different number of amino groups (SP-L, amino group content 0.124 mmol/g polymer; and SP-H, amino group content 0.578 mmol/g polymer) on the permeation of drugs through isolated rabbit corneas. Determination of corneal hydration levels and Draize eye tests were performed to assess the safety of SP both in vitro and in vivo. For 0.2% (w/v) SP-L and 0.2% (w/v) SP-H, the enhancement ratios (ERs) with dexamethasone of 1.34 and 1.42, respectively, were not statistically significant. For ofloxacin, tobramycin and sodium fluorescein, the ERs with 0.2% SP-L were 1.37, 2.02 and 2.12, respectively, and with 0.2% SP-H the ERs were 1.84, 4.69 and 6.87, respectively; these ERs were all statistically significant. Enhancement increased with increasing amino group content of the SP. The improved transcorneal drug absorption via the paracellular route indicated opening of the tight junctions in the corneal epithelium. Irritation tests indicated that 0.2% SP-L and 0.2% SP-H did not damage the corneal tissues.

Safety pharmacology — Current and emerging concepts

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

Hamdam, Junnat; Sethu, Swaminathan; Smith, Trevor

2013-12-01

Safety pharmacology (SP) is an essential part of the drug development process that aims to identify and predict adverse effects prior to clinical trials. SP studies are described in the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) S7A and S7B guidelines. The core battery and supplemental SP studies evaluate effects of a new chemical entity (NCE) at both anticipated therapeutic and supra-therapeutic exposures on major organ systems, including cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal. This review outlines the current practices and emerging concepts in SP studies including frontloading, parallel assessment of core battery studies, use of non-standard species, biomarkers, and combiningmore » toxicology and SP assessments. Integration of the newer approaches to routine SP studies may significantly enhance the scope of SP by refining and providing mechanistic insight to potential adverse effects associated with test compounds. - Highlights: • SP — mandatory non-clinical risk assessments performed during drug development. • SP organ system studies ensure the safety of clinical participants in FiH trials. • Frontloading in SP facilitates lead candidate drug selection. • Emerging trends: integrating SP-Toxicological endpoints; combined core battery tests.« less

The delineation of DNAPL in a heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifer using a hydro punch sampler and hydrophobic dye testing procedures

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

Cirilli, J.; DeRose, N.

1995-09-01

The site is a pharmaceutical facility located in Newark, New Jersey. The facility which has been in operation for approximately 90 years, previously contained a 15,000 gallon underground tank used to store TCE. Upon the tanks removal in the early 1980`s the tank integrity was found to have been compromised. In compliance with the NJDEP Industrial Site Recovery Act, the responsible party was required to locate DNAPL in the aquifer. Due to TCE`s relative density, vertical migration to depths greater than 80 feet has occurred. Lateral migration over distances greater than 500 feet has been documented. Currently, the investigation hasmore » focused on the neighboring cemetery, where approximately 20 deep soil borings have been advanced at selected locations downslope of the TCE source area. The soil borings were drilled by mud rotary methods to a depth that was determined in the field to be proximal to the bottom of the heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifer. Continuous split spoon soil sampling for detailed geologic interpretation and field screening utilizing an organic vapor instrument was performed. The Hydro Punch (HP II) sampler was used in the aqueous sampling model to collect a discrete ground water sample from the interface between the aquifer and the till.« less

Studies on the finite element simulation in sheet metal stamping processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ying

The sheet metal stamping process plays an important role in modern industry. With the ever-increasing demand for shape complexity, product quality and new materials, the traditional trial and error method for setting up a sheet metal stamping process is no longer efficient. As a result, the Finite Element Modeling (FEM) method has now been widely used. From a physical point of view, the formability and the quality of a product are influenced by several factors. The design of the product in the initial stage and the motion of the press during the production stage are two of these crucial factors. This thesis focuses on the numerical simulation for these two factors using FEM. Currently, there are a number of commercial FEM software systems available in the market. These software systems are based on an incremental FEM process that models the sheet metal stamping process in small incremental steps. Even though the incremental FEM is accurate, it is not suitable for the initial conceptual design for its needing of detailed design parameters and enormous calculation times. As a result, another type of FEM, called the inverse FEM method or one-step FEM method, has been proposed. While it is less accurate than that of the incremental method, this method requires much less computation and hence, has a great potential. However, it also faces a number of unsolved problems, which limits its application. This motivates the presented research. After the review of the basic theory of the inverse method, a new modified arc-length search method is proposed to find better initial solution. The methods to deal with the vertical walls are also discussed and presented. Then, a generalized multi-step inverse FEM method is proposed. It solves two key obstacles: the first one is to determine the initial solution of the intermediate three-dimensional configurations and the other is to control the movement of nodes so they could only slide on constraint surfaces during the search by Newton-Raphson iteration. The computer implementation of the generalized multi-step inverse FEM is also presented. By comparing to the simulation results using a commercial software system, the effectiveness of the new method is validated. Other than the product design, the punch motion (including punch speed and punch trajectory) of the stamping press also has significant effect on the formability and the quality of the product. In fact, this is one of the major reasons why hydraulic presses and/or servo presses are used for parts which demand high quality. In order to reveal the quantitative correlation between the punch motion and the part quality, the Cowper-Symonds strain rate constitutive model and the implicit dynamic incremental FEM are combined to conduct the research. The effects of the punch motion on the part quality, especially the plastic strain distribution and the potential springback, have been investigated for the deep drawing and the bending processes respectively. A qualitative relationship between the punch motion and the part quality is also derived. The reaction force of the punch motion causes the dynamic deformation of the press during the stamping, which in turn influences the part quality as well. This dynamic information, in the form of the strain signal, is an important basis for the on-line monitoring of the part quality. By using the actual force as the input to the press, the incremental FEM is needed to predict the strain of the press. The result is validated by means of experiments and can be used to assist the on-line monitoring.

The Association Between CMV Viremia or Endoscopic Features and Histopathological Characteristics of CMV Colitis in Patients with Underlying Ulcerative Colitis.

PubMed

Yang, Hong; Zhou, Weixun; Lv, Hong; Wu, Dongsheng; Feng, Yunlu; Shu, Huijun; Jin, Meng; Hu, Lingling; Wang, Qiang; Wu, Dong; Chen, Jie; Qian, Jiaming

2017-05-01

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been shown to be related to severe or steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) flare-ups. The aim of this study was to evaluate the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of CMV colitis in patients with UC and to assess the predictive value of the endoscopic and pathological features of CMV colitis. A total of 50 consecutive UC patients with CMV infection who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2010 to 2015 were enrolled in this study. Twenty-five UC patients with CMV infection (50.0%) had concurrent CMV colitis. When the cutoff value was set at 1150 copies, the sensitivity and specificity of blood CMV DNAq polymerase chain reaction for predicting CMV colitis were 44.4% and 78.9%, respectively. A higher proportion of endoscopic punched-out ulcers, irregular ulcers, and cobblestone-like appearance were observed among the patients in the CMV colitis group than those in the non-CMV colitis group (52.0% versus 20.0%, 60.0% versus 16.0%, and 20.0% versus 0%, respectively, P < 0.05). The number of CMV inclusion bodies per high-power field was significantly higher in those with punch-out ulcerations (25.7% versus 60.0%, P < 0.05). A higher grade of pathological inflammation was observed in the CMV colitis group than in the control group (68.0% versus 44.0%). Characteristic endoscopic features with punch-out ulcers and high CMV viremia load may be useful for predicting the presence of CMV colitis in histology. Punch-out ulcers were found to be associated with a higher number of inclusion bodies on histology, suggesting a role of targeted biopsy for endoscopist.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Daily Text Messages to Support Adherence to Preexposure Prophylaxis in Individuals at Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus: The TAPIR Study.

PubMed

Moore, David J; Jain, Sonia; Dubé, Michael P; Daar, Eric S; Sun, Xiaoying; Young, Jason; Corado, Katya; Ellorin, Eric; Milam, Joel; Collins, Deborah; Blumenthal, Jill; Best, Brookie M; Anderson, Peter; Haubrich, Richard; Morris, Sheldon R

2018-05-02

Adherence is critical for efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (FTC) as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Between February 2013 and February 2016, 398 men who have sex with men and transgender women were randomized 1:1 to receive individualized texting for adherence building (iTAB) or standard care (SoC) for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was dried blood spot (DBS) tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentrations at both week 12 and the last on-drug visit of >719 fmol/punch (ie, adequate adherence). Secondary outcomes included DBS TFV-DP concentrations of >1246 fmol/punch (ie, near-perfect adherence) and plasma FTC >350 ng/mL (consistent with dosing within the past 24 hours). Concentrations >719 fmol/punch of TFV-DP were found in 88.6% of participants at week 12 and 82.5% at week 48. For the primary endpoint, the study arms did not differ (72.0% in iTAB and 69.2% in SoC; P > .05). For the secondary composite endpoint of >1246 fmol/punch the iTAB arm was superior to SoC (33.5% vs 24.8%; P = .06), reaching statistical significance when adjusting for age (odds ratio, 1.56 [95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.42]; P < .05). At week 48, iTAB was superior to SoC for near-perfect adherence (51.0% vs 37.4%; P = .02). At week 12, iTAB was superior to SoC for dosing in past 24 hours by plasma FTC (47.5% vs 33.3%; P = .007), but not at weeks 24, 36, and 48 (all P > .05). Automated text messaging is a low-burden tool that improves durability of near-perfect PrEP adherence. NCT01761643.

Selectivity of a bromelain based enzymatic debridement agent: a porcine study.

PubMed

Rosenberg, Lior; Krieger, Yuval; Silberstein, Eldad; Arnon, Ofer; Sinelnikov, Igor A; Bogdanov-Berezovsky, Alex; Singer, Adam J

2012-11-01

Debridement of the burn eschar is a cornerstone of burn wound care. Rapid enzymatic debridement with a bromelain-based agent (Debriding Gel Dressing-DGD) has recently been investigated. The current study was designed to further investigate the selectivity of DGD to burned eschar in a larger number and more varied types of wounds. A systematic animal experiment was conducted to determine the effects of DGD on normal, non-injured skin, burns, exposed dermis of donor sites, and skin punch biopsy wells. Partial thickness dermal burns and partial thickness skin graft donor sites were created on a pig and treated with a 4-h application of DGD or its control hydrating vehicle that does not have any activity except hydration. Punch biopsy samples were taken before and after treatment and microscopically assessed for evidence of tissue viability and its respective components thickness. Rapid dissolution of the burn eschar was noted in all DGD but not vehicle treated burns. There was no apparent damage to the underlying sub eschar dermis, donor sites, normal skin or punch biopsy wells after exposure to DGD. While the thickness of the treated tissues slightly increased due to edema, the increase in dermal thickness was similar after treatment with DGD or its vehicle. The increase in the cross section surface area of the treated punch biopsy wells was similar after treatment with DGD and its control vehicle. Exposure of the burn eschar to DGD results in its rapid dissolution. Exposure of normal skin or non-burned dermis to DGD has no effects demonstrating its selectivity to eschar. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

Li-ion Battery Separators, Mechanical Integrity and Failure Mechanisms Leading to Soft and Hard Internal Shorts

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaowei; Sahraei, Elham; Wang, Kai

2016-01-01

Separator integrity is an important factor in preventing internal short circuit in lithium-ion batteries. Local penetration tests (nail or conical punch) often produce presumably sporadic results, where in exactly similar cell and test set-ups one cell goes to thermal runaway while the other shows minimal reactions. We conducted an experimental study of the separators under mechanical loading, and discovered two distinct deformation and failure mechanisms, which could explain the difference in short circuit characteristics of otherwise similar tests. Additionally, by investigation of failure modes, we provided a hypothesis about the process of formation of local “soft short circuits” in cells with undetectable failure. Finally, we proposed a criterion for predicting onset of soft short from experimental data. PMID:27581185

SurePath Specimens Versus ThinPrep Specimen Types on the COBAS 4800 Platform: High-Risk HPV Status and Cytology Correlation in an Ethnically Diverse Bronx Population.

PubMed

Naeem, R C; Goldstein, D Y; Einstein, Mark H; Ramos Rivera, G; Schlesinger, K; Khader, S N; Suhrland, M; Fox, A S

2017-08-01

To compare the cytologic preparations of 130 cervical specimens (from women of various ethnicities at high risk for human papillomavirus [HPV] infection) using the SurePath (SP) collection system with specimens gathered using the ThinPrep (TP) system, as processed on the Cobas 4800 analyzer, to determine which collection method more accurately identifies HPV infection. In our prospective study, specimens were collected from 130 women of various ethnicities residing in or near Bronx County, NY. The SP-collected specimen was first processed for cytologic findings; if clinical HPV testing was requested on that specimen, it was tested using Hybrid Capture II (HC2) methodology. We tested the remnant SP-collected cell concentrate using the Cobas analyzer. Then, the TP-collected and SP-collected specimens were tested in the same run on that analyzer, and the results were compared. We also compared the results with the concurrent cytologic findings. The results were concordant for overall HR-HPV status in 93.8% of cases. Also, a statistically significant lower cycle threshold value was observed with Cobas testing of specimen concentrates tested via the BD SurePath Pap Test (P = .001), suggesting higher sensitivity compared with specimens tested via the ThinPrep Pap Test. Cobas 4800 HPV testing of SP-collected specimen concentrates yields comparable results to TP-collected specimen concentrates. Based on the limited data that we derived, SP collection may be a more favorable methodology than TP collection for HPV testing of individuals at high risk in our ethnically diverse, urban patient population. © American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Fracture-induced mechanophore activation and solvent healing in poly(methyl methacrylate)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celestine, Asha-Dee N.

Damage detection is a highly desirable functionality in engineering materials. The potential of using mechanophores, stress-sensitive molecules, as material stress sensors has been established through tensile, compressive and shear tests. Spiropyran (SP) has been the chosen mechanophore and this molecule undergoes a ring opening reaction (activation) upon the application of mechanical stress. This activation is accompanied by a change in color and fluorescence as the colorless SP is converted to the highly colored merocyanine (MC) form. One requirement for SP activation in bulk polymers is large scale plastic deformation. In order to induce this plastic deformation during fracture testing of SP-linked brittle polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), rubber nanoparticles can be incorporated into the matrix material. These nanoparticles facilitate the increased shear yielding necessary for SP activation during mechanical testing. Cross-linked SP-PMMA, containing 7.3 wt% rubber nanoparticles is synthesized via a free radical polymerization. Specimens of this material are fabricated for Single Edge Notch Tension (SENT) testing. The rubber toughened SP-PMMA specimens are first prestretched to approximately 35% axial strain to align the spiropyran molecules in the direction of applied force and thus increase the likelihood of fracture-induced activation. After prestretching the specimens are pre-notched and irradiated with 532 nm wavelength light to revert the colored merocyanine to the colorless spiropyran form. Specimens are then fracture tested to failure using the SENT test. The evolution of mechanophore activation is monitored via in situ fluorescence imaging and inspection of the specimens after testing. Activation of the SP is observed ahead of the crack tip and along the propagated crack. Also, the degree of activation is found to increase with crack growth and the size of the activation zone is linearly correlated to the size of the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip. Control specimens in which the mechanophore is absent or tethered in positions in which no mechanochemical activation is expected are also tested and exhibit no change in color or fluorescence intensity with crack propagation. The relationship between fracture-induced mechanophore activation in rubber toughened SP-PMMA and the strain and stress ahead of the propagating crack is also studied. SP activation is again detected and quantified by in situ fluorescence imaging. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to measure the strain ahead of the crack tip. The corresponding stress is generated through the use of the Hutchinson-Rice-Rosengren (HRR) singularity field equations. Mechanophore activation ahead of the crack tip is shown to follow a power law distribution that is closely aligned with strain. The potential of SP as a damage sensor is explored further by incorporating the spiropyran into the core of rubber nanoparticles. SP-linked rubber nanoparticles are synthesized using a seeded emulsion polymerization process and incorporated into cross-linked PMMA at a concentration of 5 wt%. Cylindrical specimens are torsion tested and the activation of the SP within the nanoparticles is monitored via full field fluorescence imaging. SP activation within the core is shown to increase with shear strain. Autonomous damage repair in PMMA is also investigated. The first demonstration of fully autonomous self-healing in PMMA is achieved through the use of solvent microcapsules. Solvent microcapsules with a PMMA-anisole liquid core are prepared and embedded within a linear PMMA matrix. Specimens of the microcapsule-loaded material are then fabricated for Double Cleavage Drilled Compression (DCDC) fracture testing. The DCDC specimens, containing increasing concentrations of solvent microcapsules, are tested and then allowed to heal for a fixed period of time before a second DCDC test. The healing efficiency of each material system is evaluated based on the recovery of fracture toughness and is shown to be dependent on healing time and microcapsule concentration. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

The N-terminal domain of substance P is required for complete homologous desensitization but not phosphorylation of the rat neurokinin-1 receptor.

PubMed

Vigna, S R

2001-02-01

The agonist activity of substance P (SP) is a function of the C-terminal domain of the peptide. A C-terminal SP fragment (SP(6-11)) and analog (septide) and neurokinin A (NKA; a related tachykinin with a divergent N-terminal amino acid sequence) were found to be full neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) agonists, but were not able to desensitize the receptor maximally as much as SP. Substance P caused 95.6 +/- 0.9% maximal desensitization of the NK-1R whereas SP(6-11), septide, and NKA(only)caused 74 +/- 3.5, 50.6 +/- 8, and 71.5 +/- 4.4% maximal desensitization, respectively (mean +/- SEM; P < 0.001 vs SP). When a series of SP C-terminal fragment peptides were tested for their NK-1R desensitizing activity, it was found that SP(5-11)and SP(6-11)caused significantly less maximal NK-1R desensitization than SP. SP N-terminal fragment peptides had no effect on the ability of SP(6-11)to compete with(3)H-SP binding, generate an IP(3)response, or cause NK-1R desensitization when tested with or without SP(6-11). SP, SP(6-11), septide, and NKA all maximally stimulated 8-9-fold increases in NK-1R phosphorylation. When attached to the C-terminal domain of SP responsible for NK-1R binding and agonism, the N-terminus of SP is responsible for 25-50% of homologous desensitization and this may occur via a mechanism other than NK-1R phosphorylation. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Numerical development of a new correlation between biaxial fracture strain and material fracture toughness for small punch test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Pradeep; Dutta, B. K.; Chattopadhyay, J.

2017-04-01

The miniaturized specimens are used to determine mechanical properties of the materials, such as yield stress, ultimate stress, fracture toughness etc. Use of such specimens is essential whenever limited quantity of material is available for testing, such as aged/irradiated materials. The miniaturized small punch test (SPT) is a technique which is widely used to determine change in mechanical properties of the materials. Various empirical correlations are proposed in the literature to determine the value of fracture toughness (JIC) using this technique. bi-axial fracture strain is determined using SPT tests. This parameter is then used to determine JIC using available empirical correlations. The correlations between JIC and biaxial fracture strain quoted in the literature are based on experimental data acquired for large number of materials. There are number of such correlations available in the literature, which are generally not in agreement with each other. In the present work, an attempt has been made to determine the correlation between biaxial fracture strain (εqf) and crack initiation toughness (Ji) numerically. About one hundred materials are digitally generated by varying yield stress, ultimate stress, hardening coefficient and Gurson parameters. Such set of each material is then used to analyze a SPT specimen and a standard TPB specimen. Analysis of SPT specimen generated biaxial fracture strain (εqf) and analysis of TPB specimen generated value of Ji. A graph is then plotted between these two parameters for all the digitally generated materials. The best fit straight line determines the correlation. It has been also observed that it is possible to have variation in Ji for the same value of biaxial fracture strain (εqf) within a limit. Such variation in the value of Ji has been also ascertained using the graph. Experimental SPT data acquired earlier for three materials were then used to get Ji by using newly developed correlation. A reasonable comparison of calculated Ji with the values quoted in literature confirmed usefulness of the correlation.

Substance P stimulates the opossum sphincter of Oddi in vitro.

PubMed

Parodi, J E; Cho, N; Zenilman, M E; Barteau, J A; Soper, N J; Becker, J M

1990-09-01

We have previously shown that substance P (SP) regulates sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility in vivo. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Our aim was to develop an in vitro model to measure spikeburst (SB) an contractile frequency (CMC) of the SO and to characterize further SP effects. In 16 opossums, SO rings were excised, mounted within a Kreb's tissue bath with bipolar electrodes and force transducers, allowed to equilibrate, and exposed to increasing SP concentrations with washout between each test solution. Spikeburst and CMC frequencies were recorded on a polygraph, quantitated, expressed as differences before and during SP, and statistically analyzed with Student's test. Although SP induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in phasic SB frequency and CMC, the amplitude of concentrations was not affected by SP. A close correlation was found between basal and SP-stimulated SB and CMC, suggesting myoelectric and mechanical coupling. Previous exposure of SO to SP antagonist [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-SP significantly decreased the response to SP. Tetrodotoxin (TTX), did not affect the delta CMC response to SP. In conclusion an in vitro preparation was developed to study the effect of SP on the SO. Substance P increased SB and CMC of the SO in a concentration-dependent fashion, thus acting as a stimulatory peptide. Perfusion of SO rings with SP antagonist had no effect on basal CMC but significantly inhibited the action of SP in a competitive manner. The effect of SP was not altered by TTX. These data suggest that the action of SP on the SO is primarily myogenic.

Is HLA-B27 increased in patients diagnosed with undifferentiated arthritis? Results from the Leiden early arthritis cohort.

PubMed

van Gaalen, Floris; van den Berg, Rosaline; Verhoog, Inge; Schonkeren, Joris; van der Helm-van Mil, Annette; Huizinga, Tom; van der Heijde, Désirée M

2014-10-01

Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) is a common form of arthritis. According to the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA), HLA-B27 can be used to help classify patients with pSpA. We tested whether HLA-B27 is increased in patients diagnosed with UA. Prevalence of HLA-B27 was compared between healthy controls and patients with UA. SpA features were compared between HLA-B27-positive and -negative UA, and SpA. We found 10.1% of UA (38/375) versus 7.2% (403/5584) of controls were HLA-B27-positive (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1; p = 0.037). HLA-B27-positive patients with UA had more SpA features than HLA-B27-negative patients (mean 1.6, SD 1.0, and 0.9 SD 0.6; p < 0.001), but patients with SpA had significantly more SpA features (mean 4.5, SD 1.5; p < 0.001). Family history and preceding infection were features more common in HLA-B27-positive than in HLA-B27-negative UA (15.8% vs 1.3%, p = 0.04 and 15.8% vs 2.6%, p = 0.04). After HLA-B27 testing, 21 additional patients (5.6%) with UA could potentially have been classified with pSpA according to the ASAS criteria. HLA-B27 is more common in patients with UA than in controls. However, the yield of HLA-B27 testing in UA is low. Our results suggest that HLA-B27 testing should be reserved for patients with additional SpA features.

Design of Tools for Press-countersinking or Dimpling 0.040-inch-thick-24S-T Sheet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Templin, R L; Fogwell, J W

1942-01-01

A set of dimpling tools was designed for 0.040-inch 24S-T sheet and flush-type rivets 1/8 inch in diameter with 100 degree countersunk heads. The dimples produced under different conditions of pressure, sheet thickness, and drill diameter are presented as cross-sectional photographs magnified 20 times. The most satisfactory values for the dimpling tools were found to be: maximum punch diameter, 0.231 inch; maximum die diameter, 0.223 inch; maximum mandrel diameter, 0.128 inch; dimple angle, 100 degree; punch springback angle, 1 1/2 degree; and die springback angle, 2 degree.

Precision hole punching on composite fiber reinforced polymer panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, A. B.; Zain, M. S. M.; Chan, H. Y.; Samad, Z.

2017-12-01

Structural materials, such as composite panels, can only be assembled, and in most cases through the use of fasteners, which are fitted into the drilled holes. However, drilling is costly and time consuming, thus affecting productivity. This research aims to develop an alternative method to drilling. In this paper, the precision of the holes was measured and the effects of the die clearance to the areas around the holes were evaluated. Measurement and evaluation were performed based on the profile of the holes constructed using Alicona IFM, a 3D surface measurement technique. Results showed that punching is a potential alternative to drilling but still requires improvements.

A new parallel closing mechanism for the laminectomy rongeur makes it significantly more precise: a biomechanical and mechanical comparison study.

PubMed

Külling, Fabrice Alexander; Ebneter, Lukas; Rempfler, Georg Stefan; Zdravkovic, Vilijam

2018-05-01

To prove that a modified closing mechanism of the rongeur gives better precision compared to the old Kerrison rongeur. Forty persons from the departments of orthopaedic surgery, urology and neurosurgery (35 orthopaedic, 2 urology and 3 neurosurgery) took part in the study. All participants were asked to punch ten times in a first step with either the old Kerrison rongeur with the scissors-like handle or the modified punch with a new parallel closing mechanism. In a second step, they punched 10 times with the other instrument. Shaft movement in three dimensions was measured with a stereoscopic, contactless, full-field digital image correlation system. The new rongeur is significantly more precise with less movement in all three dimensions. The mechanical model of the new rongeur shows that the momentum needed to keep the tip at the initial position changes only minimally during the closing act on the new model. The new rongeur is more precise compared to the old Kerrison model. It is more robust against changes in the direction of the finger forces and may reduce soreness, fatigue and CTS in spine surgeons. Not applicable: technical study.

Water potential in excised leaf tissue. Comparison of a commercial dew point hygrometer and a thermocouple psychrometer on soybean, wheat, and barley

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

Nelsen, C.E.; Safir, G.R.; Hanson, A.D.

1978-01-01

Leaf water potential (Psi/sub leaf/) determinations were made on excised leaf samples using a commercial dew point hygrometer (Wescor Inc., Logan, Utah) and a thermocouple psychrometer operated in the isopiestic mode. With soybean leaves (Glycine max L.), there was good agreement between instruments; equilibration times were 2 to 3 hours. With cereals (Triticum aestivum L. and Hordeum vulgare L.), agreement between instruments was poor for moderately wilted leaves when 7-mm-diameter punches were used in the hygrometer and 20-mm slices were used in the psychrometer, because the Psi/sub leaf/ values from the dew point hygrometer were too high. Agreement was improvedmore » by replacing the 7-mm punch samples in the hygrometer by 13-mm slices, which had a lower cut edge to volume ratio. Equilibration times for cereals were normally 6 to 8 hours. Spuriously high Psi/sub leaf/ values obtained with 7-mm leaf punches may be associated with the ion release and reabsorption that occur upon tissue excision; such errors evidently depend both on the species and on tissue water status.« less

Energy Absorption of Expansion Tube Considering Local Buckling Characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Kwang-Hyun; Kim, Jin-Sung; Huh, Hoon

This paper deals with the crash energy absorption and the local buckling characteristics of the expansion tube during the tube expanding processes. In order to improve energy absorption capacity of expansion tubes, local buckling characteristics of an expansion tube must be considered. The local buckling load and the absorbed energy during the expanding process were calculated for various types of tubes and punch shapes with finite element analysis. The energy absorption capacity of the expansion tube is influenced by the tube and the punch shape. The material properties of tubes are also important parameter for energy absorption. During the expanding process, local buckling occurs in some cases, which causes significant decreasing the absorbed energy of the expansion tube. Therefore, it is important to predict the local buckling load accurately to improve the energy absorption capacity of the expansion tube. Local buckling takes place relatively easily at the large punch angle and expansion ratio. Local buckling load is also influenced by both the tube radius and the thickness. In prediction of the local buckling load, modified Plantema equation was used for strain hardening and strain rate hardening. The modified Plantema equation shows a good agreement with the numerical result.

Optimal design of a main driving mechanism for servo punch press based on performance atlases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Yanhua; Xie, Fugui; Liu, Xinjun

2013-09-01

The servomotor drive turret punch press is attracting more attentions and being developed more intensively due to the advantages of high speed, high accuracy, high flexibility, high productivity, low noise, cleaning and energy saving. To effectively improve the performance and lower the cost, it is necessary to develop new mechanisms and establish corresponding optimal design method with uniform performance indices. A new patented main driving mechanism and a new optimal design method are proposed. In the optimal design, the performance indices, i.e., the local motion/force transmission indices ITI, OTI, good transmission workspace good transmission workspace(GTW) and the global transmission indices GTIs are defined. The non-dimensional normalization method is used to get all feasible solutions in dimensional synthesis. Thereafter, the performance atlases, which can present all possible design solutions, are depicted. As a result, the feasible solution of the mechanism with good motion/force transmission performance is obtained. And the solution can be flexibly adjusted by designer according to the practical design requirements. The proposed mechanism is original, and the presented design method provides a feasible solution to the optimal design of the main driving mechanism for servo punch press.

Effects of true density, compacted mass, compression speed, and punch deformation on the mean yield pressure.

PubMed

Gabaude, C M; Guillot, M; Gautier, J C; Saudemon, P; Chulia, D

1999-07-01

Compressibility properties of pharmaceutical materials are widely characterized by measuring the volume reduction of a powder column under pressure. Experimental data are commonly analyzed using the Heckel model from which powder deformation mechanisms are determined using mean yield pressure (Py). Several studies from the literature have shown the effects of operating conditions on the determination of Py and have pointed out the limitations of this model. The Heckel model requires true density and compacted mass values to determine Py from force-displacement data. It is likely that experimental errors will be introduced when measuring the true density and compacted mass. This study investigates the effects of true density and compacted mass on Py. Materials having different particle deformation mechanisms are studied. Punch displacement and applied pressure are measured for each material at two compression speeds. For each material, three different true density and compacted mass values are utilized to evaluate their effect on Py. The calculated variation of Py reaches 20%. This study demonstrates that the errors in measuring true density and compacted mass have a greater effect on Py than the errors incurred from not correcting the displacement measurements due to punch elasticity.

Quantitation of Tenofovir and Emtricitabine in Dried Blood Spots (DBS) with LC-MS/MS

PubMed Central

Zheng, Jia-Hua; Guida, Louis A; Rower, Caitlin; Castillo-Mancilla, Jose; Meditz, Amie; Klein, Brandon; Kerr, Becky Jo; Langness, Jacob; Bushman, Lane; Kiser, Jennifer; Anderson, Peter L.

2013-01-01

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (LC), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) assay for the determination of tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC) in dried blood spots (DBS) from human whole blood was developed and validated. Whole blood samples were spotted, dried, and a 3mm punch was extracted with methanol for analysis by LC-MS/MS utilizing stable isotope labeled internal standards. The assay was validated over the range of 2.5ng/mL to 1,000ng/mL for TFV and 2.5ng/mL to 5,000ng/mL for FTC. The method was accurate (within ± 15% of control) and precise (coefficient of variation ≤ 15%) for hematocrit concentrations ranging from 25% to 76%; using edge punches versus center punches; and spot volumes of 10µL to 50µL. Analytes were stable for five freeze/thaw cycles and up to 6 days at room temperature, whereas long-term storage required −20°C or −80°C. Comparison of TFV and FTC in DBS versus plasma yielded r2 ≥ 0.96, indicating that DBS can be used as a plasma alternative for pharmacokinetic analyses in vivo. PMID:24055850

SP-100 flight qualification testing assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jeanmougin, Nanette M.; Moore, Roger M.; Wait, David L.; Jacox, Michael G.

1988-01-01

The SP-100 is a compact space power system driven by a nuclear reactor that provides 100 kWe to the user at 200 VDC. The thermal energy generated by the nuclear reactor is converted into electrical energy by passive thermoelectric devices. Various options for tailoring the MIL-STD-1540B guidelines to the SP-100 nuclear power system are discussed. This study aids in selecting the appropriate qualification test program based on the cost, schedule, and test effectiveness of the various options.

A new species of Jahnulales from Las Ilusiones Lagoon, Tabasco, Mexico

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

During a study on biodiversity of freshwater ascomycetes from an urban tropical lagoon, an ascomycete with similar morphology to species of Jahnulales was obtained. Smooth surface test blocks of Pinus sp., Bucida sp., Cedrela sp. and Tabebuia sp. were submerged in pairs close to a private house whar...

Long-term safety of PEG 4000 in children with chronic functional constipation: A biochemical perspective

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the long-term safety of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 in children with constipation, particularly the biochemical aspects of safety. Methods Medical records were evaluated, and 100 children, who had been taking PEG 4000 for more than 6 months, and who had been under clinical and biochemical monitoring, were enrolled. Ages; 6.11±3.12 years, Duration of therapy; 16.93±7.02 months, dose of PEG 4000; 0.72±0.21 g/kg/d. Results None of the children complained of clinical adverse effect. The first biochemical test was performed at 8.05 months after beginning of PEG 4000. Serum phosphate (SP) value was high in 10 children, and leucopenia was noted in one child. The second test was performed in 44 children at 7.57 months after the first test. The SP value was high in four children, including the three children whose initial SP value was high and one new child. Six out of 10 children with high initial SP value became normal and one was lost. Hypernatremia was noted in one child. The third test was done in 15 children at 7.5 months after the second test. The SP value of the new child from the second test was high, but became normal after finishing treatment. Two out of 3 children with high SP value at the second test became normal and one was lost. The fourth test was done in 2 children few months after the third test. All of the results were normal. There were no relation between duration of therapy and hyperphosphatemia, or between dose of PEG 4000 and hyperphosphatemia. Conclusions PEG 4000 is safe for long-term therapy in children with constipation with respect to biochemical parameters. PMID:21189949

SP-100 initial startup and restart control strategy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halfen, Frank J.; Wong, Kwok K.; Switick, Dennis M.; Shukla, Jaikaran N.

Startup control strategies for SP-100 are described. Revised control and operating strategies are discussed which have been developed and tested using the SP-100 dynamic simulation model Aries-GFS (Generic Flight System).

Mortality in American Veterans with the HLA-B27 gene.

PubMed

Walsh, Jessica A; Zhou, Xi; Clegg, Daniel O; Teng, Chiachen; Cannon, Grant W; Sauer, Brian

2015-04-01

To compare survival in American veterans with and without the HLA-B27 (B27) gene. Mortality was evaluated in a national cohort of veterans with clinically available B27 test results between October 1, 1999, and December 31, 2011. The primary outcome was the mortality difference between B27-positive and B27-negative veterans, adjusted for age, sex, race, and diagnoses codes for diseases that may have influenced both B27 testing and mortality, including psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, spondyloarthritis (SpA), and other types of inflammatory arthritis. The secondary outcomes were the adjusted mortality HR for B27+ and B27- veterans, in subgroups with and without SpA. Among veterans with available B27 test results, 27,652 (84.7%) were B27- and 4978 (15.3%) were B27+. The mean followup time was 4.6 years. Mortality was higher in the B27+ group than in the B27- group (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03-1.27). Mortality was also higher in the B27+ subgroups with SpA (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.72) and without SpA (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.99-1.24), but the difference was significant only in the subgroup with SpA. B27 positivity was associated with an increased mortality rate in a cohort of veterans clinically selected for B27 testing, after adjustment for SpA. In the subgroup with SpA, the mortality rate was associated with B27 positivity, and in the subgroup without SpA, there was a nonsignificant association between B27+ and mortality.

Acute toxicity of cadmium, lead, zinc, and their mixtures to stream-resident fish and invertebrates

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mebane, Christopher A.; Dillon, Frank S.; Hennessy, Daniel P.

2012-01-01

The authors conducted 150 tests of the acute toxicity of resident fish and invertebrates to Cd, Pb, and Zn, separately and in mixtures, in waters from the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River watershed, Idaho, USA. Field-collected shorthead sculpin (Cottus confusus), westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi), two mayflies (Baetis tricaudatus and Rhithrogena sp.), a stonefly (Sweltsa sp.), a caddisfly (Arctopsyche sp.), a snail (Gyraulus sp.), and hatchery rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were tested with all three metals. With Pb, the mayflies (Drunella sp., Epeorus sp., and Leptophlebiidae), a Simuliidae black fly, a Chironomidae midge, a Tipula sp. crane fly, a Dytiscidae beetle, and another snail (Physa sp.), were also tested. Adult westslope cutthroat trout were captured to establish a broodstock to provide fry of known ages for testing. With Cd, the range of 96-h median effect concentrations (EC50s) was 0.4 to >5,329μg/L, and the relative resistances of taxa were westslope cutthroat trout ≈ rainbow trout ≈ sculpin << other taxa; with Pb, EC50s ranged from 47 to 3,323μg/L, with westslope cutthroat trout < rainbow trout < other taxa; and with Zn, EC50s ranged from 21 to 3,704μg/L, with rainbow trout < westslope cutthroat trout ≈ sculpin << other taxa. With swim-up trout fry, a pattern of decreasing resistance with increasing fish size was observed. In metal mixtures, the toxicities of the three metals were less than additive on a concentration-addition basis.

Translation and validation of a Spanish version of the xerostomia inventory.

PubMed

Serrano, Carlos; Fariña, María P; Pérez, Cristhian; Fernández, Marcos; Forman, Katherine; Carrasco, Mauricio

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to validate a Spanish cross-cultural adaptation of the xerostomia inventory (XI). The original English version of XI was translated into Spanish, cross-culturally adapted and field tested. The Spanish version of XI (XI-Sp) was tested with a sample of 41 patients with xerostomia. The reliability of the XI-Sp was determined through internal consistency and test-retest methods. The construct validity of XI-Sp was determined by means of correlation between XI-Sp scores and salivary flow measurements. Overall XI-Sp scores were 40.8 (SD = 10) for the first application and 40.2 (SD = 9.5) for the second. Cronbach's alpha value for the XI-Sp was 0.89 and 0.87, respectively, while interitem correlation averages were r = 0.44 and r = 0.39 for each application. Interitem correlation and corrected total was r c ≥0.30. The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient value for the XI-Sp score was 0.59 and 0.91. Convergent validity for construct validity correlation with salivary flow showed a medium effect size (r 2  = 0.10) for the first application but did not make a statistically significant prediction for the second (r 2  = 0.7). This study provides evidence concerning the reliability of the XI-Sp, showing that it may be a useful tool for Spanish-speaking xerostomia patients for both clinical and epidemiologic research. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Recombinant Salivary Proteins of Phlebotomus orientalis are Suitable Antigens to Measure Exposure of Domestic Animals to Sand Fly Bites

PubMed Central

Sima, Michal; Ferencova, Blanka; Warburg, Alon; Rohousova, Iva; Volf, Petr

2016-01-01

Background Certain salivary proteins of phlebotomine sand flies injected into the host skin during blood-feeding are highly antigenic and elicit strong antibody-mediated immune responses in repeatedly-exposed hosts. These antibodies can be measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assays (ELISAs) using salivary gland homogenates (SGHs) as the source of antigens and serve as a markers for exposure to biting sand flies. Large-scale screening for anti-sand fly saliva antibodies requires replacement of SGH with recombinant salivary proteins. In East Africa, Phlebotomus orientalis is the main vector of Leishmania donovani, a trypanosomatid parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis. We tested recombinant salivary proteins derived from Ph. orientalis saliva to study exposure of domestic animals to this sand fly species. Methodology/Principal Findings Antigenic salivary proteins from Ph. orientalis were identified by immunoblot and mass spectrometry. Recombinant apyrase rPorSP15, yellow-related protein rPorSP24, ParSP25-like protein rPorSP65, D7-related protein rPorSP67, and antigen 5-related protein rPorSP76 were tested using ELISA with sera of domestic animals from L. donovani foci in Ethiopia where Ph. orientalis is present. Our results highlighted recombinant yellow-related protein rPorSP24 as the most promising antigen, displaying a high positive correlation coefficient as well as good sensitivity and specificity when compared to SGH. This recombinant protein was the most suitable one for testing sera of dogs, sheep, and goats. In addition, a different antigen, rPorSP65 was found efficacious for testing canine sera. Conclusions/Significance Recombinant salivary proteins of Ph. orientalis, specifically rPorSP24, were shown to successfully substitute SGH in serological experiments to measure exposure of domestic animals to Ph. orientalis, the vector of L. donovani. The results suggest that rPorSP24 might be a suitable antigen for detecting anti-Ph. orientalis antibody-mediated reactions also in other host species. PMID:26986566

Recombinant Salivary Proteins of Phlebotomus orientalis are Suitable Antigens to Measure Exposure of Domestic Animals to Sand Fly Bites.

PubMed

Sima, Michal; Ferencova, Blanka; Warburg, Alon; Rohousova, Iva; Volf, Petr

2016-03-01

Certain salivary proteins of phlebotomine sand flies injected into the host skin during blood-feeding are highly antigenic and elicit strong antibody-mediated immune responses in repeatedly-exposed hosts. These antibodies can be measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assays (ELISAs) using salivary gland homogenates (SGHs) as the source of antigens and serve as a markers for exposure to biting sand flies. Large-scale screening for anti-sand fly saliva antibodies requires replacement of SGH with recombinant salivary proteins. In East Africa, Phlebotomus orientalis is the main vector of Leishmania donovani, a trypanosomatid parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis. We tested recombinant salivary proteins derived from Ph. orientalis saliva to study exposure of domestic animals to this sand fly species. Antigenic salivary proteins from Ph. orientalis were identified by immunoblot and mass spectrometry. Recombinant apyrase rPorSP15, yellow-related protein rPorSP24, ParSP25-like protein rPorSP65, D7-related protein rPorSP67, and antigen 5-related protein rPorSP76 were tested using ELISA with sera of domestic animals from L. donovani foci in Ethiopia where Ph. orientalis is present. Our results highlighted recombinant yellow-related protein rPorSP24 as the most promising antigen, displaying a high positive correlation coefficient as well as good sensitivity and specificity when compared to SGH. This recombinant protein was the most suitable one for testing sera of dogs, sheep, and goats. In addition, a different antigen, rPorSP65 was found efficacious for testing canine sera. Recombinant salivary proteins of Ph. orientalis, specifically rPorSP24, were shown to successfully substitute SGH in serological experiments to measure exposure of domestic animals to Ph. orientalis, the vector of L. donovani. The results suggest that rPorSP24 might be a suitable antigen for detecting anti-Ph. orientalis antibody-mediated reactions also in other host species.

Measurements for liquid rocket engine performance code verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Praharaj, Sarat C.; Palko, Richard L.

1986-01-01

The goal of the rocket engine performance code verification tests is to obtain the I sub sp with an accuracy of 0.25% or less. This needs to be done during the sequence of four related tests (two reactive and two hot gas simulation) to best utilize the loss separation technique recommended in this study. In addition to I sub sp, the measurements of the input and output parameters for the codes are needed. This study has shown two things in regard to obtaining the I sub sp uncertainty within the 0.25% target. First, this target is generally not being realized at the present time, and second, the instrumentation and testing technology does exist to obtain this 0.25% uncertainty goal. However, to achieve this goal will require carefully planned, designed, and conducted testing. In addition, the test-stand (or system) dynamics must be evaluated in the pre-test and post-test phases of the design of the experiment and data analysis, respectively always keeping in mind that a .25% overall uncertainty in I sub sp is targeted. A table gives the maximum allowable uncertainty required for obtaining I sub sp with 0.25% uncertainty, the currently-quoted instrument specification, and present test uncertainty for the parameters. In general, it appears that measurement of the mass flow parameter within the required uncertainty may be the most difficult.

Experimental formability analysis of bondal sandwich sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kami, Abdolvahed; Banabic, Dorel

2018-05-01

Metal/polymer/metal sandwich sheets have recently attracted the interests of industries like automotive industry. These sandwich sheets have superior properties over single-layer metallic sheets including good sound and vibration damping and light weight. However, the formability of these sandwich sheets should be enhanced which requires more research. In this paper, the formability of Bondal sheet (DC06/viscoelastic polymer/DC06 sandwich sheet) was studied through different types of experiments. The mechanical properties of Bondal were determined by uniaxial tensile tests. Hemispherical punch stretching and hydraulic bulge tests were carried out to determine the forming limit diagram (FLD) of Bondal. Furthermore, cylindrical and square cup drawing tests were performed in dry and oil lubricated conditions. These tests were conducted at different blank holding forces (BHFs). An interesting observation about Bondal sheet deep drawing was obtaining of higher drawing depths at dry condition in comparison with oil-lubricated condition.

Bayesian estimation of test characteristics of real-time PCR, bacteriological culture and California mastitis test for diagnosis of intramammary infections with Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cattle at routine milk recordings.

PubMed

Mahmmod, Yasser S; Toft, Nils; Katholm, Jørgen; Grønbæk, Carsten; Klaas, Ilka C

2013-11-01

Danish farmers can order a real-time PCR mastitis diagnostic test on routinely taken cow-level samples from milk recordings. Validation of its performance in comparison to conventional mastitis diagnostics under field conditions is essential for efficient control of intramammary infections (IMI) with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of real-time PCR, bacterial culture (BC) and California mastitis test (CMT) for the diagnosis of the naturally occurring IMI with S. aureus in routinely collected milk samples using latent class analysis (LCA) to avoid the assumption of a perfect reference test. Using systematic random sampling, a total of 609 lactating dairy cows were selected from 6 dairy herds with bulk tank milk PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value ≤39 for S. aureus. At routine milk recordings, automatically obtained cow-level (composite) milk samples were analyzed by PCR and at the same milking, 2436 quarter milk samples were collected aseptically for BC and CMT. Results showed that 140 cows (23%) were positive for S. aureus IMI by BC while 170 cows (28%) were positive by PCR. Estimates of Se and Sp for PCR were higher than test estimates of BC and CMT. SeCMT was higher than SeBC however, SpBC was higher than SpCMT. SePCR was 91%, while SeBC was 53%, and SeCMT was 61%. SpPCR was 99%, while SpBC was 89%, and SpCMT was 65%. In conclusion, PCR has a higher performance than the conventional diagnostic tests (BC and CMT) suggesting its usefulness as a routine test for accurate diagnosis of S. aureus IMI from dairy cows at routine milk recordings. The use of LCA provided estimates of the test characteristics for two currently diagnostic tests (BC, CMT) and a novel technique (real-time PCR) for diagnosing S. aureus IMI under field conditions at routine milk recordings in Denmark. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance profiles of some bacteria isolated from aquatic amphibian and reptile species.

PubMed

Hacioglu, Nurcihan; Tosunoglu, Murat

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the level of antibiotic resistance patterns and distribution of heavy metal resistance of bacterial isolates from aquatic animals (Lissotriton vulgaris, Pelophylax ridibundus, Emys orbicularis, Mauremys rivulata, and Natrix natrix) in Turkey (Kavak Delta). A total of 153 bacteria have been successfully isolated from cloaca and oral samples of the aquatic amphibians and reptilians which were found, namely, Aeromonas sp. (n = 29), Plesiomonas sp. (n = 7), Vibrio sp. (n = 12), Citrobacter sp. (n = 12), Enterobacter sp. (n = 11), Escherichia sp. (n = 22), Klebsiella sp. (n = 22), Edwardsiella sp. (n = 6), Hafnia sp. (n = 1), Proteus sp. (n = 19), Providencia sp. (n = 8), and Pseudomonas sp. (n = 4). In terms of antibiotic and heavy metal susceptibility testing, each isolate was tested against 12 antibiotics and 4 metals. There was a high incidence of resistance to cefoxitin (46.40 %), ampicillin (44.44 %), erythromycin (35.29 %), and a low incidence of resistance to gentamicin (6.53 %), kanamycin (8.49 %), chloramphenicol (9.15 %), and cefotaxime (10.45 %). The multiple antibiotic resistance index of each bacterial species indicated that bacteria from raised amphibians and reptiles have been exposed to tested antibiotics, with results ranging from 0 to 0.58. Most isolates showed tolerance to different concentrations of heavy metals, and minimal inhibition concentrations ranged from100 to >3,200 μg/mL. According to these results, a significant occurrence of bacteria in the internal organs of reptiles and amphibians, with a high incidence of resistance against antibiotics and heavy metals, may risk aquatic animals and the public health. These data appoint the importance of epidemiological surveillance and microbiological monitoring and reinforce the need to implement environment protection programs for amphibian and reptile species.

SP-100 ground engineering system test site description and progress update

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baxter, William F.; Burchell, Gail P.; Fitzgibbon, Davis G.; Swita, Walter R.

1991-01-01

The SP-100 Ground Engineering System Test Site will provide the facilities for the testing of an SP-100 reactor, which is technically prototypic of the generic design for producing 100 kilowatts of electricity. This effort is part of the program to develop a compact, space-based power system capable of producing several hundred kilowatts of electrical power. The test site is located on the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. The site is minimizing capital equipment costs by utilizing existing facilities and equipment to the maximum extent possible. The test cell is located in a decommissioned reactor containment building, and the secondary sodium cooling loop will use equipment from the Fast Flux Test Facility plant which has never been put into service. Modifications to the facility and special equipment are needed to accommodate the testing of the SP-100 reactor. Definitive design of the Ground Engineering System Test Site facility modifications and systems is in progress. The design of the test facility and the testing equipment will comply with the regulations and specifications of the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Washington.

Site Simulation of Solidified Peat: Lab Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durahim, N. H. Ab; Rahman, J. Abd; Tajuddin, S. F. Mohd; Mohamed, R. M. S. R.; Al-Gheethi, A. A.; Kassim, A. H. Mohd

2018-04-01

In the present research, the solidified peat on site simulation is conducted to obtain soil leaching from soil column study. Few raw materials used in testing such as Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA) which containing in solidified peat (SP), fertilizer (F), and rainwater (RW) are also admixed in soil column in order to assess their effects. This research was conducted in two conditions which dry and wet condition. Distilled water used to represent rainfall during flushing process while rainwater used to gain leaching during dry and wet condition. The first testing made after leaching process done was Moisture Content (MC). Secondly, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) will be conducted on SP to know the ability of SP strength. These MC and UCS were made before and after SP were applied in soil column. Hence, the both results were compared to see the reliability occur on SP. All leachate samples were tested using Absorption Atomic Spectroscopy (AAS), Ion Chromatography (IC) and Inductively-Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) testing to know the anion and cation present in it.

Feeding by heterotrophic dinoflagellates and ciliates on the free-living dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. (Clade E).

PubMed

Jeong, Hae Jin; Lim, An Suk; Yoo, Yeong Du; Lee, Moo Joon; Lee, Kyung Ha; Jang, Tae Young; Lee, Kitack

2014-01-01

To investigate heterotrophic protists grazing on Symbiodinium sp., we tested whether the common heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Gyrodinium spirale, Oblea rotundata, Oxyrrhis marina, and Polykrikos kofoidii and the ciliates Balanion sp. and Parastrombidinopsis sp. preyed on the free-living dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. (clade E). We measured the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina and G. dominans on Symbiodinium sp. as a function of prey concentration. Furthermore, we compared the results to those obtained for other algal prey species. In addition, we measured the growth and ingestion rates of other predators at single prey concentrations at which these rates of O. marina and G. dominans were saturated. All predators tested in the present study, except Balanion sp., preyed on Symbiodinium sp. The specific growth rates of O. marina and G. dominans on Symbiodinium sp. increased rapidly with increasing mean prey concentration < ca. 740-815 ng C/ml (7,400-8,150 cells/ml), but became saturated at higher concentrations. The maximum growth rates of O. marina and G. dominans on Symbiodinium sp. (0.87 and 0.61/d) were much higher than those of G. moestrupii and P. kofoidii (0.11 and 0.04/d). Symbiodinium sp. did not support positive growth of G. spirale, O. rotundata, and Parastrombidinopsis sp. However, the maximum ingestion rates of P. kofoidii and Parastrombidinopsis sp. (6.7-10.0 ng C/predator/d) were much higher than those of O. marina and G. dominans on Symbiodinium sp. (1.9-2.1 ng C/predator/d). The results of the present study suggest that Symbiodinium sp. may increase or maintain the populations of some predators. © 2013 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2013 International Society of Protistologists.

Effects of Testing Method on Stretch-Flangeability of Dual-Phase 980/1180 Steel Grades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madrid, Mykal; Van Tyne, Chester J.; Sadagopan, Sriram; Pavlina, Erik J.; Hu, Jun; Clarke, Kester D.

2018-04-01

Challenging fuel economy and safety standards in the automotive industry have led to the need for materials with higher strength while maintaining levels of formability that meet component manufacturing requirements. Advanced high-strength steels, such as dual-phase steels with tensile strengths of 980 MPa and 1180 MPa, are of interest to address this need. Increasing the strength of these materials typically comes at the expense of ductility, which may result in problems when stamping parts with trimmed or sheared edges, as cracking at the sheared edge may occur at lower strains. Here, hole expansion tests were performed with different punch geometries (conical and flat-bottom) and different edge conditions (sheared and machined) to understand the effects of testing conditions on performance, and these results are discussed in terms of mechanical properties and microstructures.

Effects of Testing Method on Stretch-Flangeability of Dual-Phase 980/1180 Steel Grades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madrid, Mykal; Van Tyne, Chester J.; Sadagopan, Sriram; Pavlina, Erik J.; Hu, Jun; Clarke, Kester D.

2018-06-01

Challenging fuel economy and safety standards in the automotive industry have led to the need for materials with higher strength while maintaining levels of formability that meet component manufacturing requirements. Advanced high-strength steels, such as dual-phase steels with tensile strengths of 980 MPa and 1180 MPa, are of interest to address this need. Increasing the strength of these materials typically comes at the expense of ductility, which may result in problems when stamping parts with trimmed or sheared edges, as cracking at the sheared edge may occur at lower strains. Here, hole expansion tests were performed with different punch geometries (conical and flat-bottom) and different edge conditions (sheared and machined) to understand the effects of testing conditions on performance, and these results are discussed in terms of mechanical properties and microstructures.

The effect of various concentration of tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) surimi for edible coating on the shelf-life of Pangasius sp. fillets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purnama, M. A. P.; Agustono; Sahidu, A. M.

2018-04-01

Pangasius sp. fillets prone to deterioration the quality that will affect the appearance and the shelf life of fillets. The effort to extend the shelf life of fish fillet that is by using an edible coating. Surimi can be used as a protein-based edible coating because they have superior inhibitory and mechanical properties compared to the polysaccharides based material. Surimi can be made from freshwater tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) fish. The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments of surimi (0 gr, 2 gr, 4 gr, 6 gr, 8 gr) with four replications. The results showed that Pangasius sp. fillets with an edible coating 8 gr surimi have the highest value in the organoleptic test. The pH testing on Pangasius sp. fillets with edible coating 2 gr, 4 gr, 6 gr, and 8 gr surimi from the 0th hour to 18th hour have increased but slower than Pangasius sp. fillets without edible coating surimi. The best value of Total Plate Count (TPC) test is in edible coating 6 gr and 8 gr surimi as it is in accordance with SNI 2696:2013 at room temperature storage until the 18th hours.

A system for multichannel recording and automatic reading of information. [for onboard cosmic ray counter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogomolov, E. A.; Yevstafev, Y. Y.; Karakadko, V. K.; Lubyanaya, N. D.; Romanov, V. A.; Totubalina, M. G.; Yamshchikov, M. A.

1975-01-01

A system for the recording and processing of telescope data is considered for measurements of EW asymmetry. The information is recorded by 45 channels on a continuously moving 35-mm film. The dead time of the recorder is about 0.1 sec. A sorting electronic circuit is used to reduce the errors when the statistical time distribution of the pulses is recorded. The recorded information is read out by means of photoresistors. The phototransmitter signals are fed either to the mechanical recorder unit for preliminary processing, or to a logical circuit which controls the operation of the punching device. The punched tape is processed by an electronic computer.

Using Force to Punch Holes: Mechanics of Contractile Nanomachines.

PubMed

Brackmann, Maximilian; Nazarov, Sergey; Wang, Jing; Basler, Marek

2017-09-01

Using physical force to translocate macromolecules across a membrane has the advantage of being a universal solution independent of the properties of the target membrane. However, physically punching a stiff membrane is not a trivial task and three things are necessary for success: a sharp tip, a source of energy, and the ability to strongly bind to the target. In this review we describe the basic mechanism of membrane puncturing by contractile nanomachines with a focus on the T4 phage, R-type pyocin, and the bacterial Type VI secretion system (T6SS) based on recent studies of the structures and dynamics of their assembly. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Correlation between microdilution, Etest, and disk diffusion methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of fluconazole against Candida sp. blood isolates.

PubMed

Menezes, Everardo Albuquerque; Vasconcelos Júnior, Antônio Alexandre de; Ângelo, Maria Rozzelê Ferreira; Cunha, Maria da Conceição dos Santos Oliveira; Cunha, Francisco Afrânio

2013-01-01

Antifungal susceptibility testing assists in finding the appropriate treatment for fungal infections, which are increasingly common. However, such testing is not very widespread. There are several existing methods, and the correlation between such methods was evaluated in this study. The susceptibility to fluconazole of 35 strains of Candida sp. isolated from blood cultures was evaluated by the following methods: microdilution, Etest, and disk diffusion. The correlation between the methods was around 90%. The disk diffusion test exhibited a good correlation and can be used in laboratory routines to detect strains of Candida sp. that are resistant to fluconazole.

Performance of the ASAS classification criteria for axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Sepriano, Alexandre; Rubio, Roxana; Ramiro, Sofia; Landewé, Robert; van der Heijde, Désirée

2017-05-01

To summarise the evidence on the performance of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) (also imaging and clinical arm separately), peripheral (p)SpA and the entire set, when tested against the rheumatologist's diagnosis ('reference standard'). A systematic literature review was performed to identify eligible studies. Raw data on SpA diagnosis and classification were extracted or, if necessary, obtained from the authors of the selected publications. A meta-analysis was performed to obtain pooled estimates for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, by fitting random effects models. Nine papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria (N=5739 patients). The entire set of the ASAS SpA criteria yielded a high pooled sensitivity (73%) and specificity (88%). Similarly, good results were found for the axSpA criteria (sensitivity: 82%; specificity: 88%). Splitting the axSpA criteria in 'imaging arm only' and 'clinical arm only' resulted in much lower sensitivity (30% and 23% respectively), but very high specificity was retained (97% and 94% respectively). The pSpA criteria were less often tested than the axSpA criteria and showed a similarly high pooled specificity (87%) but lower sensitivity (63%). Accumulated evidence from studies with more than 5500 patients confirms the good performance of the various ASAS SpA criteria as tested against the rheumatologist's diagnosis. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Use of an in vitro model in tissue engineering to study wound repair and differentiation of blastema tissue from rabbit pinna.

PubMed

Hashemzadeh, Mohammad Reza; Mahdavi-Shahri, Nasser; Bahrami, Ahmad Reza; Kheirabadi, Masoumeh; Naseri, Fatemeh; Atighi, Mitra

2015-08-01

Rabbit ear wound repair is an accepted model for studies of tissue regeneration, leading to scar less wound repair. It is believed that a specific tissue, blastema, is responsible for such interesting capacity of tissue regeneration. To test this idea further and to elucidate the cellular events happening during the ear wound repair, we designed some controlled experiments in vitro. Small pieces of the ear were punched and washed immediately with normal saline. The tissues were then cultured in the Dulbecco's Modified Eagle(')s Medium, supplemented with fetal bovine serum in control group. As a treatment vitamin A and C was used to evaluate the differentiation potency of the tissue. These tissues were fixed, sectioned, stained, and microscopically studied. Micrographs of electron microscopy provided evidences revealing dedifferentiation of certain cells inside the punched tissues after incubation in tissue culture medium. The histological studies revealed that cells of the tissue (i) can undergo cellular proliferation, (ii) differentiate to epithelial, condrogenic, and osteogenic tissues, and (iii) regenerate the wounds. These results could be used for interpretation of the possible events happening during tissue engineering and wound repair in vitro. An important goal of this study is to create a tissue engineering and tissue banking model, so that in the future it could be used in further blastema tissue studies at different levels.

A comparison of the palatability of flavored oral contrasts.

PubMed

Arya, Rajiv; Hansen, Allison; Taira, Breena R; Packy, Theodore; Singer, Adam J

2009-09-01

The aim of this study was to compare the taste of computed tomography (CT) oral contrast diluted with various flavored drinks. We performed a prospective, blinded, controlled trial in healthy adult volunteers. Subjects were assigned to ingest four 250-mL aliquots of oral contrast media diluted in water, Crystal Light Lemonade (Kraft Food, Northfield, Ill), Tropical Punch Kool-Aid (Kraft Food), and Tropicana orange juice (Pepsi Bottling Company, Sommers, NY) in random order; and the taste of the solution was measured with a 100-mm visual analogue scale and 5-point Likert scale from very worst to best. Between-group comparison of the taste scores was performed with repeated-measures analysis of variance and pairwise t tests. The study had 80% power to detect an effect size 0.75 SDs. There were 23 subjects; mean (SD) age was 33 (7.7) and 30% were female. The mean (SD) taste scores were water 12 (5), lemonade 37 (21), Kool-Aid 44 (20), and orange juice 40 (20) (P < .05). The proportion of subjects completely ingesting the contrast in water (65%) was significantly less than that with other 3 study solutions (100% each, P < .001). Dilution of oral contrast media with lemonade, fruit punch, or orange juice is tastier than with water. The choice of the specific juice used to dilute the oral contrast should be individualized based on patient preferences and availability.

Numerical simulation of high speed incremental forming of aluminum alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuseppina, Ambrogio; Teresa, Citrea; Luigino, Filice; Francesco, Gagliardi

2013-12-01

In this study, an innovative process is analyzed with the aim to satisfy the industrial requirements, such as process flexibility, differentiation and customizing of products, cost reduction, minimization of execution time, sustainable production, etc. The attention is focused on incremental forming process, nowadays used in different fields such as: rapid prototyping, medical sector, architectural industry, aerospace and marine, in the production of molds and dies. Incremental forming consists in deforming only a small region of the workspace through a punch driven by a NC machine. SPIF is the considered variant of the process, in which the punch gives local deformation without dies and molds; consequently, the final product geometry can be changed by the control of an actuator without requiring a set of different tools. The drawback of this process is its slowness. The aim of this study is to assess the IF feasibility at high speeds. An experimental campaign will be performed by a CNC lathe with high speed to test process feasibility and the influence on materials formability mainly on aluminum alloys. The first results show how the material presents the same performance than in conventional speed IF and, in some cases, better material behavior due to the temperature field. An accurate numerical simulation has been performed to investigate the material behavior during the high speed process substantially confirming experimental evidence.

Effects of edaravone on a rat model of punch-drunk syndrome.

PubMed

Nomoto, Jun; Kuroki, Takao; Nemoto, Masaaki; Kondo, Kosuke; Harada, Naoyuki; Nagao, Takeki

2011-01-01

Punch-drunk syndrome (PDS) refers to a pathological condition in which higher brain dysfunction occurs in a delayed fashion in boxers who have suffered repeated blows to the head. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study attempted to elucidate the mechanism of higher brain dysfunction observed following skull vibration in two experiments involving a rat model of PDS. Experiment 1 evaluated the effects of edaravone on histological changes in the rat brain tissue after skull vibration (frequency 20 Hz, amplitude 4 mm, duration 60 minutes). The amount of free radicals formed in response to skull vibration was very small, and edaravone administration reduced the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein and advanced glycation end product-positive cells. Experiment 2 examined the time course of change in learning ability following skull vibration in Tokai High Avoider rats. The learning ability of individual rats was evaluated by the Sidman-type electric shock avoidance test 5 days after the last session of skull vibration or final anesthesia and once a month for 9 consecutive months. Delayed learning disability was not observed in rats administered edaravone immediately after skull vibration. These results suggest that free radical-induced astrocyte activation and subsequent glial scar formation contribute to the occurrence of delayed learning disabilities. Edaravone administration after skull vibration suppressed glial scar formation, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of delayed learning disabilities.

Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC): Spanish validation.

PubMed

Lahera, G; Boada, L; Pousa, E; Mirapeix, I; Morón-Nozaleda, G; Marinas, L; Gisbert, L; Pamiàs, M; Parellada, M

2014-08-01

We present the Spanish validation of the "Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition" instrument (MASC-SP). We recruited 22 adolescents and young adults with Asperger syndrome and 26 participants with typical development. The MASC-SP and three other social cognition instruments (Ekman Pictures of Facial Affect test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and Happé's Strange Stories) were administered to both groups. Individuals with Asperger syndrome had significantly lower scores in all measures of social cognition. The MASC-SP showed strong correlations with all three measures and relative independence of general cognitive functions. Internal consistency was optimal (0.86) and the test-retest was good. The MASC-SP is an ecologically valid and useful tool for assessing social cognition in the Spanish population.

PhyloChip™ microarray comparison of sampling methods used for coral microbial ecology

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kellogg, Christina A.; Piceno, Yvette M.; Tom, Lauren M.; DeSantis, Todd Z.; Zawada, David G.; Andersen, Gary L.

2012-01-01

Interest in coral microbial ecology has been increasing steadily over the last decade, yet standardized methods of sample collection still have not been defined. Two methods were compared for their ability to sample coral-associated microbial communities: tissue punches and foam swabs, the latter being less invasive and preferred by reef managers. Four colonies of star coral, Montastraea annularis, were sampled in the Dry Tortugas National Park (two healthy and two with white plague disease). The PhyloChip™ G3 microarray was used to assess microbial community structure of amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences. Samples clustered based on methodology rather than coral colony. Punch samples from healthy and diseased corals were distinct. All swab samples clustered closely together with the seawater control and did not group according to the health state of the corals. Although more microbial taxa were detected by the swab method, there is a much larger overlap between the water control and swab samples than punch samples, suggesting some of the additional diversity is due to contamination from water absorbed by the swab. While swabs are useful for noninvasive studies of the coral surface mucus layer, these results show that they are not optimal for studies of coral disease.

Effect of YAG laser cutting on stretch-flangeability of TRIP steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagasaka, A.; Sugimoto, K.-I.; Kobayashi, M.

2003-10-01

The effect of YAG laser cutting on the stretch-flangeability of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided dual-phase sheet steels (TDP steels), which had different contents of C, Si and Mn, was examined. In TDP steels in which Si and Mn contents were constant and C content was varied ((O.1 0.4)C 1.5Si 1.5Mn, mass%), the strength stretch-flangeability balance (TS × λ) of holes obtained by either laser cutting, hole-punching or drilling decreased with increasing C content. When the C content was 0.3 mass% or higher, the λ value in the case of laser cutting, which originally was as good as that in the case of drilling, decreased to a level comparable to that in the case of hole-punching. On the other hand, in TDP steels in which Si and Mn contents were varied and C content was kept constant (0.2C (1.0 2.0)Si (1.0 2.0)Mn, mass%), the λ value of the hole obtained by hote-punching was low under high TS, however, the value was greatly improved by laser cutting. Based on the above results, we demonstrated that YAG laser cutting contributes to the improvement of the stretch-flangeability of 980-MPa-class TDP steels with 0.2 mass% C.

PhyloChip™ microarray comparison of sampling methods used for coral microbial ecology.

PubMed

Kellogg, Christina A; Piceno, Yvette M; Tom, Lauren M; DeSantis, Todd Z; Zawada, David G; Andersen, Gary L

2012-01-01

Interest in coral microbial ecology has been increasing steadily over the last decade, yet standardized methods of sample collection still have not been defined. Two methods were compared for their ability to sample coral-associated microbial communities: tissue punches and foam swabs, the latter being less invasive and preferred by reef managers. Four colonies of star coral, Montastraea annularis, were sampled in the Dry Tortugas National Park (two healthy and two with white plague disease). The PhyloChip™ G3 microarray was used to assess microbial community structure of amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences. Samples clustered based on methodology rather than coral colony. Punch samples from healthy and diseased corals were distinct. All swab samples clustered closely together with the seawater control and did not group according to the health state of the corals. Although more microbial taxa were detected by the swab method, there is a much larger overlap between the water control and swab samples than punch samples, suggesting some of the additional diversity is due to contamination from water absorbed by the swab. While swabs are useful for noninvasive studies of the coral surface mucus layer, these results show that they are not optimal for studies of coral disease. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effect of blend ratio of PP/kapok blend nonwoven fabrics on oil sorption capacity.

PubMed

Lee, Young-Hee; Kim, Ji-Soo; Kim, Do-Hyung; Shin, Min-Seung; Jung, Young-Jin; Lee, Dong-Jin; Kim, Han-Do

2013-01-01

More research and development on novel oil sorbent materials is needed to protect the environmental pollution. New nonwoven fabrics (pads) of polypropylene (PP)/kapok blends (blend ratio: 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 10/90) were prepared by needle punching process at a fixed (optimized) condition (punch density: 50 punches/cm2 and depth: 4mm). This study focused on the effect of blend ratio of PP/kapok nonwoven fabrics on oil sorption capacities to find the best blend ratio having the highest synergy effect. The PP/kapok blend (50/50) sample has the lowest bulk density and showed the best oil absorption capacity. The oil sorption capacity of PP/kapok blend (50/50) nonwoven fabric for kerosene/soybean oil [21.09/27.01 (g oil/g sorbent)] was 1.5-2 times higher than those of commercial PP pad oil sorbents. The highest synergy effect of PP/kapok blend (50/50) was ascribed to the lowest bulk density of PP/kapok blend (50/50), which might be due to the highest morphologically incompatibility between PP fibre and kapok. These results suggest that the PP/kapok blend (50/50) having the highest synergy effect has a high potential as a new high-performance oil sorbent material.

Oxygen desaturation during the six-minute walk test in COPD patients*

PubMed Central

Moreira, Maria Ângela Fontoura; de Medeiros, Gabriel Arriola; Boeno, Francesco Pinto; Sanches, Paulo Roberto Stefani; da Silva, Danton Pereira; Müller, André Frotta

2014-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the behavior of oxygen saturation curves throughout the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with COPD. Methods: We included 85 patients, all of whom underwent spirometry and were classified as having moderate COPD (modCOPD, n = 30) or severe COPD (sevCOPD, n = 55). All of the patients performed a 6MWT, in a 27-m corridor with continuous SpO2 and HR monitoring by telemetry. We studied the SpO2 curves in order to determine the time to a 4% decrease in SpO2, the time to the minimum SpO2 (Tmin), and the post-6MWT time to return to the initial SpO2, the last designated recovery time (RT). For each of those curves, we calculated the slope. Results: The mean age in the modCOPD and sevCOPD groups was 66 ± 10 years and 62 ± 11 years, respectively. At baseline, SpO2 was > 94% in all of the patients; none received supplemental oxygen during the 6MWT; and none of the tests were interrupted. The six-minute walk distance did not differ significantly between the groups. The SpO2 values were lowest in the sevCOPD group. There was no difference between the groups regarding RT. In 71% and 63% of the sevCOPD and modCOPD group patients, respectively, a ≥ 4% decrease in SpO2 occurred within the first minute. We found that FEV1% correlated significantly with the ΔSpO2 (r = −0.398; p < 0.001), Tmin (r = −0.449; p < 0.001), and minimum SpO2 (r = 0.356; p < 0.005). Conclusions: In the sevCOPD group, in comparison with the modCOPD group, SpO2 was lower and the Tmin was greater, suggesting a worse prognosis in the former. PMID:25029644

Geographic distribution of Theileria sp. (buffalo) and Theileria sp. (bougasvlei) in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in southern Africa: implications for speciation.

PubMed

Pienaar, Ronel; Latif, Abdalla A; Thekisoe, Oriel M M; Mans, Ben J

2014-03-01

Strict control measures apply to movement of buffalo in South Africa including testing for Theileria parva, the causative agent of Corridor disease in cattle. The official test is a real-time hybridization PCR assay that amplifies the 18S rRNA V4 hyper-variable region of T. parva, T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Mixed infections with the latter organisms affect diagnostic sensitivity due to PCR suppression. While the incidence of mixed infections in the Corridor disease endemic region of South Africa is significant, little information is available on the specific distribution and prevalence of T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Specific real-time PCR assays were developed and a total of 1211 samples known to harbour these parasites were screened. Both parasites are widely distributed in southern Africa and the incidence of mixed infections with T. parva within the endemic region is similar (∼25-50%). However, a significant discrepancy exists in regard to mixed infections of T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) (∼10%). Evidence for speciation between T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) is supported by phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene, and their designation as different species. This suggests mutual exclusion of parasites and the possibility of hybrid sterility in cases of mixed infections.

In vitro antifugal activity of medicinal plant extract against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3 the causal agent of tomato wilt.

PubMed

Isaac, G S; Abu-Tahon, M A

2014-03-01

Medicinal plant extracts of five plants; Adhatoda vasica, Eucalyptus globulus, Lantana camara, Nerium oleander and Ocimum basilicum collected from Cairo, Egypt were evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3 in vitro conditions using water and certain organic solvents. The results revealed that cold distilled water extracts of O. basilicum and E. globulus were the most effective ones for inhibiting the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Butanolic and ethanolic extracts of the tested plants inhibited the pathogen growth to a higher extent than water extracts. Butanolic extract of O. basilicum completely inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici at concentrations 1.5 and 2.0% (v/v). Butanolic extracts (2.0%) of tested plants had a strong inhibitory effect on hydrolytic enzymes; β-glucosidase, pectin lyase and protease of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. This study has confirmed that the application of plant extracts, especially from O. basilicum for controlling F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici is environmentally safe, cost effective and does not disturb ecological balance. Investigations are in progress to test the efficacy of O. basilicum extract under in vivo conditions.

Anticancer Activity of Marine Sponge Hyrtios sp. Extract in Human Colorectal Carcinoma RKO Cells with Different p53 Status

PubMed Central

Lim, Hyun Kyung; Bae, Woori; Lee, Hyi-Seung

2014-01-01

Drug development using marine bioresources is limited even though the ocean occupies about 70% of the earth and contains a large number of biological materials. From the screening test of the marine sponge extracts, we found Hyrtios sp. sponge collected from Chuuk island, Micronesia. In this study, the Hyrtios sp. extract was examined for anticancer activity against human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells that are wildtype for p53 and RKO-E6 that are p53 defective. The Hyrtios sp. extract dose-dependently inhibited viability in both cell lines. Multinucleation as an indication of mitotic catastrophe was also observed. Cytotoxicity tests gave significantly different results for RKO and RKO-E6 cells after 48 h exposure to Hyrtios sp. extract. In RKO cells treated with Hyrtios sp. extract, cell death occurred by induction of p53 and p21 proteins. In p53-defective RKO-E6 cells, Hyrtios sp. extract decreased expression of JNK protein and increased p21 protein. These results indicate that Hyrtios sp. extract induced apoptosis via different pathways depending on p53 status and could be a good natural product for developing new anticancer drugs. PMID:25243139

Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of a New Thrombin-Like Serine Protease from Bothrops pirajai Snake Venom

PubMed Central

Zaqueo, Kayena D.; Kayano, Anderson M.; Simões-Silva, Rodrigo; Moreira-Dill, Leandro S.; Fernandes, Carla F. C.; Fuly, André L.; Maltarollo, Vinícius G.; Honório, Kathia M.; da Silva, Saulo L.; Acosta, Gerardo; Caballol, Maria Antonia O.; de Oliveira, Eliandre; Albericio, Fernando; Calderon, Leonardo A.; Soares, Andreimar M.; Stábeli, Rodrigo G.

2014-01-01

This paper presents a novel serine protease (SP) isolated from Bothrops pirajai, a venomous snake found solely in Brazil that belongs to the Viperidae family. The identified SP, named BpirSP-39, was isolated by three chromatographic steps (size exclusion, bioaffinity, and reverse phase chromatographies). The molecular mass of BpirSP-39 was estimated by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by mass spectrometry (39,408.32 Da). The protein was able to form fibrin networks, which was not observed in the presence of serine protease inhibitors, such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Furthermore, BpirSP-39 presented considerable thermal stability and was apparently able to activate factor XIII of the blood coagulation cascade, unlike most serine proteases. BpirSP-39 was capable of hydrolyzing different chromogenic substrates tested (S-2222, S-2302, and S-2238) while Cu2+ significantly diminished BspirSP-39 activity on the three tested substrates. The enzyme promoted platelet aggregation and also exhibited fibrinogenolytic, fibrinolytic, gelatinolytic, and amidolytic activities. The multiple alignment showed high sequence similarity to other thrombin-like enzymes from snake venoms. These results allow us to conclude that a new SP was isolated from Bothrops pirajai snake venom. PMID:24719874

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical illness for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) diagnosis in beef cattle placed in feedlots: A systematic literature review and hierarchical Bayesian latent-class meta-analysis.

PubMed

Timsit, E; Dendukuri, N; Schiller, I; Buczinski, S

2016-12-01

Diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle placed in feedlots is typically based on clinical illness (CI) detected by pen-checkers. Unfortunately, the accuracy of this diagnostic approach (namely, sensitivity [Se] and specificity [Sp]) remains poorly understood, in part due to the absence of a reference test for ante-mortem diagnosis of BRD. Our objective was to pool available estimates of CI's diagnostic accuracy for BRD diagnosis in feedlot beef cattle while adjusting for the inaccuracy in the reference test. The presence of lung lesions (LU) at slaughter was used as the reference test. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify research articles comparing CI detected by pen-checkers during the feeding period to LU at slaughter. A hierarchical Bayesian latent-class meta-analysis was used to model test accuracy. This approach accounted for imperfections of both tests as well as the within and between study variability in the accuracy of CI. Furthermore, it also predicted the Se CI and Sp CI for future studies. Conditional independence between CI and LU was assumed, as these two tests are not based on similar biological principles. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Estimated pooled Se CI and Sp CI were 0.27 (95% Bayesian credible interval: 0.12-0.65) and 0.92 (0.72-0.98), respectively, whereas estimated pooled Se LU and Sp LU were 0.91 (0.82-0.99) and 0.67 (0.64-0.79). Predicted Se CI and Sp CI for future studies were 0.27 (0.01-0.96) and 0.92 (0.14-1.00), respectively. The wide credible intervals around predicted Se CI and Sp CI estimates indicated considerable heterogeneity among studies, which suggests that pooled Se CI and Sp CI are not generalizable to individual studies. In conclusion, CI appeared to have poor Se but high Sp for BRD diagnosis in feedlots. Furthermore, considerable heterogeneity among studies highlighted an urgent need to standardize BRD diagnosis in feedlots. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inter-observer agreement, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of animal-based indicators of young lamb welfare.

PubMed

Phythian, C J; Toft, N; Cripps, P J; Michalopoulou, E; Winter, A C; Jones, P H; Grove-White, D; Duncan, J S

2013-07-01

A scientific literature review and consensus of expert opinion used the welfare definitions provided by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) Five Freedoms as the framework for selecting a set of animal-based indicators that were sensitive to the current on-farm welfare issues of young lambs (aged ≤ 6 weeks). Ten animal-based indicators assessed by observation - demeanour, response to stimulation, shivering, standing ability, posture, abdominal fill, body condition, lameness, eye condition and salivation were tested as part of the objective of developing valid, reliable and feasible animal-based measures of lamb welfare The indicators were independently tested on 966 young lambs from 17 sheep flocks across Northwest England and Wales during December 2008 to April 2009 by four trained observers. Inter-observer reliability was assessed using Fleiss's kappa (κ), and the pair-wise agreement with an experienced, observer designated as the 'test standard observer' (TSO) was examined using Cohen's κ. Latent class analysis (LCA) estimated the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of each observer without assuming a gold standard and predicted the Se and Sp of randomly selected observers who may apply the indicators in the future. Overall, good levels of inter-observer reliability, and high levels of Sp were identified for demeanour (κ = 0.54, Se ≥ 0.70, Sp ≥ 0.98), stimulation (κ = 0.57, Se = 0.30 to 0.77, Sp ≥ 0.98), shivering (κ = 0.55, Se = 0.37 to 0.85, Sp ≥ 0.99), standing ability (0.54, Se ≥ 0.80, Sp ≥ 0.99), posture (κ = 0.45, Se ≥ 0.56, Sp = 0.99), abdominal fill (κ = 0.44, Se = 0.39 to 0.98, Sp = 0.99), body condition (κ = 0.72, Se ⩾ 0.38 to 0.90, Sp = 0.99), lameness (κ = 0.68, Se > 0.73, Sp = 1.00), and eye condition (κ = 0.72, Se ≥ 0.86, Sp = 0.99). LCA predicted that randomly selected observers had Se > 0.77 (acceptable), and Sp ≥ 0.98 (high) for assessments of demeanour, lameness, abdominal fill posture, body condition and eye condition. The diagnostic performance of some indicators was influenced by the composition of the study population, and it would be useful to test the indicators on lambs with a greater level of outcomes associated with poor welfare. The findings presented in this paper could be applied in the selection of valid, reliable and feasible indicators used for the purposes of on-farm assessments of lamb welfare.

Biodegradation and bioconversion of coals by fungi: Technical report No. 6 for the period December 1, 1986-February 28, 1987. [Candida sp. , Cunninghamella sp. , Acremonium sp. , and Trametes versicolor

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

Ward, B.

We continued our tests for biosolubilization activity on lignite, subbituminous, and bituminous coals, using both surface solubilization and agar diffusion assays for selected lignite-solubilizing strains challenged with untreated and treated coals shown in earlier tests to be resistant to biosolubilization. These latter were subjected to treatments with heat or pressurized oxygen atmosphere, or to combinations of the same. We have observed biosolubilization of some weathered high-rank coals by some of the fungal isolates tested. 1 tab.

Fuels irradiation testing for the SP-100 program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Makenas, Bruce J.; Hales, Janell W.; Ward, Alva L.

1991-01-01

An SP-100 fuel pin irradiation testing program is well on the way to providing data for performance correlations and demonstrating the lifetime and safety of the fuel system of the compact lithium-cooled reactor. Key SP-100 fuel performance issues addressed are the need for low fuel swelling and low fission gas release to minimize cladding strain, and the need for barrier integrity to prevent fuel/cladding chemical interaction. This paper provides a description of the irradiation test program that addresses these key issues and summarizes recent results of posttest examinations including data obtained at 6 atom percent goal burnup.

Identification of a Serine Proteinase Homolog (Sp-SPH) Involved in Immune Defense in the Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qiu-xia; Liu, Hai-peng; Chen, Rong-yuan; Shen, Kai-li; Wang, Ke-jian

2013-01-01

Clip domain serine proteinase homologs are involved in many biological processes including immune response. To identify the immune function of a serine proteinase homolog (Sp-SPH), originally isolated from hemocytes of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, the Sp-SPH was expressed recombinantly and purified for further studies. It was found that the Sp-SPH protein could bind to a number of bacteria (including Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahemolyticus), bacterial cell wall components such as lipopolysaccharide or peptidoglycan (PGN), and β-1, 3-glucan of fungus. But no direct antibacterial activity of Sp-SPH protein was shown by using minimum inhibitory concentration or minimum bactericidal concentration assays. Nevertheless, the Sp-SPH protein was found to significantly enhance the crab hemocyte adhesion activity (paired t-test, P<0.05), and increase phenoloxidase activity if triggered by PGN in vitro (paired t-test, P<0.05). Importantly, the Sp-SPH protein was demonstrated to promote the survival rate of the animals after challenge with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus which were both recognized by Sp-SPH protein, if pre-incubated with Sp-SPH protein, respectively. Whereas, the crabs died much faster when challenged with Vibrio alginolyiicus, a pathogenic bacterium not recognized by Sp-SPH protein, compared to those of crabs challenged with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus when pre-coated with Sp-SPH protein. Taken together, these data suggested that Sp-SPH molecule might play an important role in immune defense against bacterial infection in the mud crab S. paramamosain. PMID:23724001

Identification of a serine proteinase homolog (Sp-SPH) involved in immune defense in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain.

PubMed

Zhang, Qiu-xia; Liu, Hai-peng; Chen, Rong-yuan; Shen, Kai-li; Wang, Ke-jian

2013-01-01

Clip domain serine proteinase homologs are involved in many biological processes including immune response. To identify the immune function of a serine proteinase homolog (Sp-SPH), originally isolated from hemocytes of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, the Sp-SPH was expressed recombinantly and purified for further studies. It was found that the Sp-SPH protein could bind to a number of bacteria (including Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahemolyticus), bacterial cell wall components such as lipopolysaccharide or peptidoglycan (PGN), and β-1, 3-glucan of fungus. But no direct antibacterial activity of Sp-SPH protein was shown by using minimum inhibitory concentration or minimum bactericidal concentration assays. Nevertheless, the Sp-SPH protein was found to significantly enhance the crab hemocyte adhesion activity (paired t-test, P<0.05), and increase phenoloxidase activity if triggered by PGN in vitro (paired t-test, P<0.05). Importantly, the Sp-SPH protein was demonstrated to promote the survival rate of the animals after challenge with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus which were both recognized by Sp-SPH protein, if pre-incubated with Sp-SPH protein, respectively. Whereas, the crabs died much faster when challenged with Vibrio alginolyiicus, a pathogenic bacterium not recognized by Sp-SPH protein, compared to those of crabs challenged with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus when pre-coated with Sp-SPH protein. Taken together, these data suggested that Sp-SPH molecule might play an important role in immune defense against bacterial infection in the mud crab S. paramamosain.

The Protective Effect of Dietary Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima Against Mutagenicity Induced by Benzo[alpha]pyrene in Mice

PubMed Central

Garduño-Siciliano, Leticia; Martínez-Galero, Elizdath; Mojica-Villegas, Angélica; Pages, Nicole; Gutiérrez-Salmeán, Gabriela

2014-01-01

Abstract Benzo[alpha]pyrene (B[α]P) was used to test the possible antimutagenic effects of Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima (SP) on male and female mice. SP was orally administered at 0, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg of body weight to animals of both sexes for 2 weeks before starting the B[α]P (intraperitoneal injection) at 125 mg/kg of body weight for 5 consecutive days. For the male dominant lethal test, each male was caged with two untreated females per week for 3 weeks. For the female dominant lethal test, each female was caged for 1 week with one untreated male. All the females were evaluated 13–15 days after mating for incidence of pregnancy, total corpora lutea, total implants and pre- and postimplant losses. SP protected from B[α]P-induced pre- and postimplant losses in the male dominant lethal test, and from B[α]P-induced postimplantation losses in treated females. Moreover, SP treatment significantly reduced the detrimental effect of B[α]P on the quality of mouse semen. Our results illustrate the protective effects of SP in relation to B[α]P-induced genetic damage to germ cells. We conclude that SP, owing mainly to the presence of phycocyanin, could be of potential clinical interest in cancer treatment or prevention of relapse. PMID:24787733

A transversal study on antibodies against selected pathogens in dromedary camels in the Canary Islands, Spain.

PubMed

Mentaberre, Gregorio; Gutiérrez, Carlos; Rodríguez, Noé F; Joseph, Sunitha; González-Barrio, David; Cabezón, Oscar; de la Fuente, José; Gortazar, Christian; Boadella, Mariana

2013-12-27

The Canary Islands contain the most important dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population in the European Union and are the main export point of dromedaries to continental Europe and Latin America. We investigated the presence of antibodies against relevant disease agents in 100 Canarian camel sera. Selected blood samples of the same animals were also tested by PCR. Sera were tested for antibodies against Bluetongue virus (BTV; 0%), Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDV; 0%), Camelpox virus (CPV; 8% by serum neutralization, 16% by ELISA), Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRV, 0%), Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV; 0%) and West Nile Fever virus (WNV; 3%), the bacterial pathogens Anaplasma sp. (3%), Brucella sp. (1%), Coxiella burnetii (19%), Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP; 22%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC; 10%) and Rickettsia sp. (83%), and the parasites Toxoplasma gondii (36%) and Neospora caninum (86%). The most remarkable findings were the detection of antibodies against CPV and the high antibody prevalence against C. burnetii, Rickettsia sp., T. gondii and N. caninum. By PCR, we found no C. burnetii, N. caninum and Anaplasma sp. DNA in the tested samples. However, Rickettsia sp. DNA was detected in six antibody positive tested samples. These results should be taken into consideration in order to implement adequate control measures and avoid a potential dissemination of infections to other territories. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Molecular identification and detection of moon jellyfish (Aurelia sp.) based on partial sequencing of mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI].

PubMed

Wang, Jian-Yan; Zhen, Yu; Wang, Guo-shan; Mi, Tie-Zhu; Yu, Zhi-gang

2013-03-01

Taking the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. commonly found in our coastal sea areas as test object, its genome DNA was extracted, the partial sequences of mt-16S rDNA (650 bp) and mt-COI (709 bp) were PCR-amplified, and, after purification, cloning, and sequencing, the sequences obtained were BLASTn-analyzed. The sequences of greater difference with those of the other jellyfish were chosen, and eight specific primers for the mt-16S rDNA and mt-COI of Aurelia sp. were designed, respectively. The specificity test indicated that the primer AS3 for the mt-16S rDNA and the primer AC3 for the mt-COI were excellent in rapidly detecting the target jellyfish from Rhopilema esculentum, Nemopilema nomurai, Cyanea nozakii, Acromitus sp., and Aurelia sp., and thus, the techniques for the molecular identification and detection of moon jellyfish were preliminarily established, which could get rid of the limitations in classical morphological identification of Aurelia sp. , being able to find the Aurelia sp. in the samples more quickly and accurately.

Bioprospecting of lipolytic microorganisms obtained from industrial effluents.

PubMed

Peil, Greice H S; Kuss, Anelise V; Rave, Andrés F G; Villarreal, José P V; Hernandes, Yohana M L; Nascente, Patrícia S

2016-01-01

The lipases have ability to catalyze diverse reactions and are important in different biotechnological applications. The aim of this work was to isolate and characterize microorganisms that produce lipases, from different food industry effluents localized in Pelotas, RS/Brazil. Bacteria were identified using Gram stain and biochemical tests (Vitek 2(r)). Fungi were identified according to macro and micromorphology characteristics. The extracellular lipase production was evaluated using the Rhodamine B test and the enzymatic activity by titration. Twenty-one bacteria were isolated and identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Raoultella ornithinolytica and Raoultella planticola. Were characterized isolated filamentous fungi by the following genera: Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp., Geotrichum sp., Gliocladium sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Trichoderma sp. Extracellular lipase production was observed in 71.43% of the bacteria and 57.14% of the fungi. The bacterium that presented better promising enzymatic activity was E. aerogenes (1.54 U/ml) however between fungi there was not significant difference between the four isolates. This study indicated that microorganisms lipase producers are present in the industrial effluents, as well as these enzymes have potential of biodegradation of lipid compounds.

High pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and early adherence among men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk for HIV Infection: the PrEP Brasil demonstration project.

PubMed

Hoagland, Brenda; Moreira, Ronaldo I; De Boni, Raquel B; Kallas, Esper G; Madruga, José Valdez; Vasconcelos, Ricardo; Goulart, Silvia; Torres, Thiago S; Marins, Luana M S; Anderson, Peter L; Luz, Paula M; Costa Leite, Iuri da; Liu, Albert Y; Veloso, Valdilea G; Grinsztejn, Beatriz

2017-04-06

The efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing sexual acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is well established. Little is known about the feasibility of PrEP implementation in middle-income settings with concentrated epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). PrEP Brasil is a prospective, multicentre, open-label demonstration project assessing PrEP delivery in the context of the Brazilian Public Health System. HIV-uninfected MSM and TGW in 3 referral centres in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo were evaluated for eligibility and offered 48 weeks of daily emtricitabine/tenofovir for PrEP. Concentrations of tenofovir diphosphate in dried blood spot samples (DBS) at week 4 after enrolment (early adherence) were measured. Predictors of drug levels were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models considering the DBS drug level as a 3 level variable (<350 fmol/punch, ≥350-699 fmol/punch and ≥700 fmol/punch). 1,270 individuals were assessed for participation; n = 738 were potentially eligible and n = 450 were offered PrEP (PrEP uptake was 60.9%). Eligible but not enrolled individuals were younger, had lower HIV risk perception and had lower PrEP awareness. At week 4, 424 participants (of the 450 enrolled) had DBS TFV-DP concentrations, 94.1% in the protective range (≥350 fmol/punch, consistent with ≥2 pills per week), and 78% were in the highly protective range (≥700 fmol/punch, ≥4 pills per week). Participants with ≥12 years of schooling had 1.9 times the odds (95%CI 1.10-3.29) of a higher versus lower drug level than participants with <12 years of schooling. Condomless receptive anal intercourse in the prior 3 months was also associated with higher drug levels (adjusted OR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.08-2.94). The high uptake and early adherence indicate that PrEP for high-risk MSM and TGW can be successfully delivered in the context of the Brazilian Public Health System. Interventions to address disparities on PrEP awareness and HIV risk perception among the younger and less educated are urgently needed in order to maximize the impact of this prevention strategy on the reduction of HIV infection among MSM and TGW in Brazil.

Normobaric hypoxia inhalation test vs. response to airline flight in healthy passengers.

PubMed

Kelly, Paul T; Swanney, Maureen P; Frampton, Chris; Seccombe, Leigh M; Peters, Matthew J; Beckert, Lutz E

2006-11-01

There is little data available to determine the normal response to normobaric hypoxia inhalation testing (NHIT) and air travel. Quantifying a healthy response may assist in the evaluation of passengers considered at risk for air travel. The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify the degree of desaturation in healthy subjects during a NHIT and air travel; and (2) assess the validity of the NHIT when compared with actual in-flight responses. There were 15 healthy adults (age 23-57; 10 women) who volunteered for this study. Preflight tests included lung function, arterial blood gas, pulse oximetry (SpO2), and NHIT (inspired oxygen 15%). SpO2 and cabin pressure were measured continuously on each subject during a commercial air flight (mean cabin altitude 2178 m; range 1719-2426 m). In-flight oxygenation was compared with the preflight NHIT. Lung function testing results were normal. There was significant desaturation (SpO2) during the NHIT (pre: 98 +/- 2%; post: 92 +/- 2%) and at cruising altitude (pre: 97 +/- 1%; cruise: 92 +/- 2%). There was no difference between the final NHIT SpO2 and the mean in-flight SpO2. There was a significant difference between the lowest in-flight SpO2 (88 +/- 2%) vs. the lowest NHIT SpO2, (90 +/- 2%). Oxygen saturation decreases significantly during air travel in normal individuals. In this group of healthy passengers the NHIT approximates some, but not all, aspects of in-flight oxygenation. These results can be used to describe a normal response to the NHIT and air-travel.

Clinical utility of balloon expulsion test for functional defecation disorders

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Purpose I investigated the diagnostic accuracy of balloon expulsion test (BET) with various techniques to find out the most appropriate method, and tried to confirm its clinical utility in diagnosing functional defecation disorders (FDD) in constipated patients. Methods Eighty-seven patients constituted the study population. FDD was defined when patients had at least two positive findings in defecography, manometry, and electromyography. BET was done 4 times in each patient with 2 different positions and 2 different volumes. The positions were seated position (SP) and left lateral decubitus position (LDP). The volumes were fixed volume (FV) of 60 mL and individualized volume with which patient felt a constant desire to defecate (CDV). The results of BETs with 4 different settings (LDP-FV, LDP-CDV, SP-FV, and SP-CDV) were statistically compared and analyzed. Results Of 87 patients, 23 patients (26.4%) had at least two positive findings in 3 tests and thus were diagnosed to have FDD. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under curve was highest in BET with SP-FV. With a cutoff value of 30 seconds, the specificity of BET with SP-FV was 86.0%, sensitivity was 73.9%, negative predictive value was 89.8%, positive predictive value was 65.4%, and accuracy rate was 82.8% for diagnosing FDD. Conclusion SP-FV is the most appropriate method for BET. In this setting, BET has a diagnostic accuracy sufficient to identify constipated patients who do not have FDD. Patients with negative results in BET with SP-FV may not need other onerous tests to exclude FDD. PMID:26878016

Clinical utility of balloon expulsion test for functional defecation disorders.

PubMed

Seong, Moo-Kyung

2016-02-01

I investigated the diagnostic accuracy of balloon expulsion test (BET) with various techniques to find out the most appropriate method, and tried to confirm its clinical utility in diagnosing functional defecation disorders (FDD) in constipated patients. Eighty-seven patients constituted the study population. FDD was defined when patients had at least two positive findings in defecography, manometry, and electromyography. BET was done 4 times in each patient with 2 different positions and 2 different volumes. The positions were seated position (SP) and left lateral decubitus position (LDP). The volumes were fixed volume (FV) of 60 mL and individualized volume with which patient felt a constant desire to defecate (CDV). The results of BETs with 4 different settings (LDP-FV, LDP-CDV, SP-FV, and SP-CDV) were statistically compared and analyzed. Of 87 patients, 23 patients (26.4%) had at least two positive findings in 3 tests and thus were diagnosed to have FDD. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under curve was highest in BET with SP-FV. With a cutoff value of 30 seconds, the specificity of BET with SP-FV was 86.0%, sensitivity was 73.9%, negative predictive value was 89.8%, positive predictive value was 65.4%, and accuracy rate was 82.8% for diagnosing FDD. SP-FV is the most appropriate method for BET. In this setting, BET has a diagnostic accuracy sufficient to identify constipated patients who do not have FDD. Patients with negative results in BET with SP-FV may not need other onerous tests to exclude FDD.

Formability of Annealed Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy Sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fann, K. J.; Su, J. Y.; Chang, C. H.

2018-03-01

Ni-Ti shape memory alloy has two specific properties, superelasiticity and shape memory effect, and thus is widely applied in diverse industries. To extend its application, this study attempts to investigate the strength and cold formability of its sheet blank, which is annealed at various temperatures, by hardness test and by Erichsen-like cupping test. As a result, the higher the annealing temperature, the lower the hardness, the lower the maximum punch load as the sheet blank fractured, and the lower the Erichsen-like index or the lower the formability. In general, the Ni-Ti sheet after annealing has an Erichsen-like index between 8 mm and 9 mm. This study has also confirmed via DSC that the Ni-Ti shape memory alloy possesses the austenitic phase and shows the superelasticity at room temperature.

[Perinatal mortality in foreign workers (author's transl)].

PubMed

Höfling, H J; Jonas, R; Brusis, E; Lochmüller, H; Selbmann, H K; Holzmann, K; Zander, J

1975-03-01

From 1970 to 1972, there were 216 perinatal deaths among 5595 newborns at the I. Frauenklinik der Universität München. 54 of these deaths were children of foreign workers (so-called "Gastarbeiter"). The data have been processed on punch cards and analysed by a computer. The differences noted underwent significance testing by the CHI-Quadrat test. Only statistical significant results are published. The perinatal mortality in the above period shows no difference between foreign and German ward patients. There is, however, a significant lower perinatal mortality in private patients. We feel that this difference is due to a significant lower rate of prematures in the private patient group. The cocial status as well as higher interest and motivation in health resulting in better prenatal care are discussed as causal reasons for this fact.

Impact of body composition on performance in fitness tests among personnel of the Croatian navy.

PubMed

Sporis, Goran; Jukić, Igor; Bok, Daniel; Vuleta, Dinko; Harasin, Drazen

2011-06-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of body weight on fitness tests among the personnel of the Croatian navy. Forty two naval personnel (age 27 +/- 4.1 years; body mass 86.2 +/- 4.9 kg; height 184.6 +/- 7.4 cm; body fat percentage 17.3 +/- 5.2) participated in this study. In order to evaluate the fitness of the naval servicemen, we applied a testing procedure that included measurements of 7 fitness tests and 15 body anthropometric tests. A negative correlation was found between the body fat percentage and all the analyzed sprint tests and three anaerobic power tests (r), SP5 (r = -0.42), SP10 (r = -0.51), SP20 (r = -0.53), SJ (r = -0.45), CM (r = -0.57), SLJ (r = -0.67). Also a negative correlation was found between the body fat percentage and VO2(max) (r = -0.44). A positive correlation was found between the sprint test and the power performance test and thigh and calf girth. Spiriting ability is influenced by the strength of a person. This is one of the reasons why we found a positive correlation between the sprint test (SP5, SP10 and SP20) and thigh and calf girth. In this study we found a negative correlation between body fat percentages and all the sprint tests and three anaerobic power tests and VO2(max). The ectomorph somatotypes have positive correlations with all variables. The mesomorph somatotypes have the greatest positive correlations with all variables. The endomorph somatotypes have negative correlations with all variables. According to the body composition of Croatian naval servicemen we can conclude that they need a sufficient level of strength and endurance for everyday tasks. The effectiveness of a weight-management program is determined by the success of the participants in losing the necessary amount of weight and being able to maintain that weight loss. This requires long-term tracking of these individuals in a naval environment.

[Verrucous pastern dermatitis syndrome in heavy draught horses. Part II: Clinical findings].

PubMed

Geburek, F; Deegen, E; Hewicker-Trautwein, M; Ohnesorge, B

2005-07-01

In the present field study the skin of the feet of 37 heavy draught horses of different breeds showing verrucous pastern dermatitis was examined clinically. Included were the degree of severity of the disease and the prevalence of anatomically normal structures associated with the skin: fetlock tufts of hair ("feathering"), ergots, chestnuts, bulges in the pastern region, cannon circumference. Each horse was examined for Chorioptes sp. skin mites. Information was also collected on the development of the skin alterations and housing conditions and feeding. These individual data were correlated with the clinical degree of severity of verrucous pastern dermatitis, which was evaluated using a numerical code (scoring system). In addition, punch biopsies were taken from the diseased skin of the feet and from healthy skin of the neck for comparative patho-histological examination (see Part III). Verrucous pastern dermatitis is a chronic disease which can be divided into four groups: scaling (group I), hyperkeratotic and hyperplastic plaque-like lesions (group II), tuberous skin masses (group III), and verrucous skin lesions with rugged surfaces (group IV). No correlation was found between the clinical degree of severity of the skin lesions and sex, breed, amount of work, use of stallions for breeding, grooming condition of the hair, white markings in the foot region, or Chorioptes sp. infestation. In regard to feeding it was found that the amount of maize and oats fed had some influence on the clinical degree of severity. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the clinical degree of severity and the age, the grooming condition of the hooves, and the mean cannon circumference. The prevalence of fetlock tufts of hair, chestnuts, ergots, and anatomically normal bulges in the pastern region also increased significantly with the clinical degree of severity. Furthermore the study revealed that the clinical degree of severity depended on the hygienic conditions of the stables and of the ground where the horses were kept outdoors.

Chitin binding proteins act synergistically with chitinases in Serratia proteamaculans 568.

PubMed

Purushotham, Pallinti; Arun, P V Parvati Sai; Prakash, Jogadhenu S S; Podile, Appa Rao

2012-01-01

Genome sequence of Serratia proteamaculans 568 revealed the presence of three family 33 chitin binding proteins (CBPs). The three Sp CBPs (Sp CBP21, Sp CBP28 and Sp CBP50) were heterologously expressed and purified. Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 showed binding preference to β-chitin, while Sp CBP28 did not bind to chitin and cellulose substrates. Both Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 were synergistic with four chitinases from S. proteamaculans 568 (Sp ChiA, Sp ChiB, Sp ChiC and Sp ChiD) in degradation of α- and β-chitin, especially in the presence of external electron donor (reduced glutathione). Sp ChiD benefited most from Sp CBP21 or Sp CBP50 on α-chitin, while Sp ChiB and Sp ChiD had major advantage with these Sp CBPs on β-chitin. Dose responsive studies indicated that both the Sp CBPs exhibit synergism ≥ 0.2 µM. The addition of both Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 in different ratios to a synergistic mixture did not significantly increase the activity. Highly conserved polar residues, important in binding and activity of CBP21 from S. marcescens (Sm CBP21), were present in Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50, while Sp CBP28 had only one such polar residue. The inability of Sp CBP28 to bind to the test substrates could be attributed to the absence of important polar residues.

Chitin Binding Proteins Act Synergistically with Chitinases in Serratia proteamaculans 568

PubMed Central

Purushotham, Pallinti; Arun, P. V. Parvati Sai; Prakash, Jogadhenu S. S.; Podile, Appa Rao

2012-01-01

Genome sequence of Serratia proteamaculans 568 revealed the presence of three family 33 chitin binding proteins (CBPs). The three Sp CBPs (Sp CBP21, Sp CBP28 and Sp CBP50) were heterologously expressed and purified. Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 showed binding preference to β-chitin, while Sp CBP28 did not bind to chitin and cellulose substrates. Both Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 were synergistic with four chitinases from S. proteamaculans 568 (Sp ChiA, Sp ChiB, Sp ChiC and Sp ChiD) in degradation of α- and β-chitin, especially in the presence of external electron donor (reduced glutathione). Sp ChiD benefited most from Sp CBP21 or Sp CBP50 on α-chitin, while Sp ChiB and Sp ChiD had major advantage with these Sp CBPs on β-chitin. Dose responsive studies indicated that both the Sp CBPs exhibit synergism ≥0.2 µM. The addition of both Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 in different ratios to a synergistic mixture did not significantly increase the activity. Highly conserved polar residues, important in binding and activity of CBP21 from S. marcescens (Sm CBP21), were present in Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50, while Sp CBP28 had only one such polar residue. The inability of Sp CBP28 to bind to the test substrates could be attributed to the absence of important polar residues. PMID:22590591

DNA elution from buccal cells stored on Whatman FTA Classic Cards using a modified methanol fixation method.

PubMed

Johanson, Helene C; Hyland, Valentine; Wicking, Carol; Sturm, Richard A

2009-04-01

We describe here a method for DNA elution from buccal cells and whole blood both collected onto Whatman FTA technology, using methanol fixation followed by an elution PCR program. Extracted DNA is comparable in quality to published Whatman FTA protocols, as judged by PCR-based genotyping. Elution of DNA from the dried sample is a known rate-limiting step in the published Whatman FTA protocol; this method enables the use of each 3-mm punch of sample for several PCR reactions instead of the standard, one PCR reaction per sample punch. This optimized protocol therefore extends the usefulness and cost effectiveness of each buccal swab sample collected, when used for nucleic acid PCR and genotyping.

Bipolar battery plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowlette, John J. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

A liquid-impermeable plate (10) having through-plate conductivity with essentially zero resistance comprises an insulator sheet (12) having a series of spaced perforations (14) each of which contains a metal element (16) sealingly received into the perforation (14). A low-cost plate can readily be manufactured by punching a thermoplastic sheet (40) such as polypropylene with a punching tool (52), filling the apertures with led spheres (63) having a diameter smaller than the holes (50) but larger than the thickness of the sheet, sweeping excess spheres (62) off the sheet with a doctor blade (60) and then pressing a heated platen (74) onto the sheet to swage the spheres into a cylindrical shape and melt the surrounding resin to form a liquid-impermeable collar (4) sealing the metal into the sheet.

Bipolar battery plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowlette, John J. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

A liquid-impermeable plate (10) having throughplate conductivity with essentially zero resistance comprises an insulator sheet (12) having a series of spaced perforations (14) each of which contains a metal element (16) sealingly received into the perforation (14). A low-cost plate can readily be manufactured by punching a thermoplastic sheet (40) such as polypropylene with a punching tool (52), filling the apertures with lead spheres (63) having a diameter smaller than the holes (50) but larger than the thickness of the sheet, sweeping excess spheres (62) off the sheet with a doctor blade (60) and then pressing a heated platen (74) onto the sheet to swage the spheres into a cylindrical shape and melt the surrounding resin to form a liquid-impermeable collar (4) sealing the metal into the sheet.

Impact of various factors on radioactivity distribution in different DBS papers.

PubMed

Ren, Xiao; Paehler, Tobias; Zimmer, Manfred; Guo, Zuyu; Zane, Patricia; Emmons, Gary T

2010-08-01

Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling could potentially become the preferred blood collection technique in toxicological and clinical studies. Autoradiography was performed to study compound distribution within a dbs under different conditions using five papers, 31ETF, Grade 226, 903(®), FTA(®) and FTA(®) Elute. The results showed an uneven distribution in all papers with common distribution patterns regardless of compounds: decreased concentrations along the edge, the volcano effect in the middle and the speckle pattern in the center. Treated papers were more readily influenced by environmental factors. Autoradiography enables visualization of a compound's distribution and can guide bioanalytical assay development by allowing convenient evaluation of factors, such as choice of paper, spotting volume, punch size, punch location, temperature and humidity.

Wire electric-discharge machining and other fabrication techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, W. H.

1983-01-01

Wire electric discharge machining and extrude honing were used to fabricate a two dimensional wing for cryogenic wind tunnel testing. Electric-discharge cutting is done with a moving wire electrode. The cut track is controlled by means of a punched-tape program and the cutting feed is regulated according to the progress of the work. Electric-discharge machining involves no contact with the work piece, and no mechanical force is exerted. Extrude hone is a process for honing finish-machined surfaces by the extrusion of an abrasive material (silly putty), which is forced through a restrictive fixture. The fabrication steps are described and production times are given.

Decolorization improves the fuel properties of algal biodiesel from Isochrysis sp.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Results from the comprehensive fuel testing according to the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) standards of an alkenone-free and decolorized biodiesel produced from the industrially grown marine microalgae Isochrysis sp. are presented. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) pro...

An inter-laboratory comparative study of serological tools employed in the diagnosis of Besnoitia besnoiti infection in bovines.

PubMed

García-Lunar, P; Ortega-Mora, L M; Schares, G; Gollnick, N S; Jacquiet, P; Grisez, C; Prevot, F; Frey, C F; Gottstein, B; Alvarez-García, G

2013-02-01

Bovine besnoitiosis is considered an emerging chronic and debilitating disease in Europe. Many infections remain subclinical, and the only sign of disease is the presence of parasitic cysts in the sclera and conjunctiva. Serological tests are useful for detecting asymptomatic cattle/sub-clinical infections for control purposes, as there are no effective drugs or vaccines. For this purpose, diagnostic tools need to be further standardized. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the serological tests available in Europe in a multi-centred study. A coded panel of 241 well-characterized sera from infected and non-infected bovines was provided by all participants (SALUVET-Madrid, FLI-Wusterhausen, ENV-Toulouse, IPB-Berne). The tests evaluated were as follows: an in-house ELISA, three commercial ELISAs (INGEZIM BES 12.BES.K1 INGENASA, PrioCHECK Besnoitia Ab V2.0, ID Screen Besnoitia indirect IDVET), two IFATs and seven Western blot tests (tachyzoite and bradyzoite extracts under reducing and non-reducing conditions). Two different definitions of a gold standard were used: (i) the result of the majority of tests ('Majority of tests') and (ii) the majority of test results plus pre-test information based on clinical signs ('Majority of tests plus pre-test info'). Relative to the gold standard 'Majority of tests', almost 100% sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) were obtained with SALUVET-Madrid and FLI-Wusterhausen tachyzoite- and bradyzoite-based Western blot tests under non-reducing conditions. On the ELISAs, PrioCHECK Besnoitia Ab V2.0 showed 100% Se and 98.8% Sp, whereas ID Screen Besnoitia indirect IDVET showed 97.2% Se and 100% Sp. The in-house ELISA and INGEZIM BES 12.BES.K1 INGENASA showed 97.3% and 97.2% Se; and 94.6% and 93.0% Sp, respectively. IFAT FLI-Wusterhausen performed better than IFAT SALUVET-Madrid, with 100% Se and 95.4% Sp. Relative to the gold standard 'Majority of test plus pre-test info', Sp significantly decreased; this result was expected because of the existence of seronegative animals with clinical signs. All ELISAs performed very well and could be used in epidemiological studies; however, Western blot tests performed better and could be employed as a posteriori tests for control purposes in the case of uncertain results from valuable samples. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Environmental assessment of SP-100 ground engineering system test site: Hanford Site, Richland, Washington

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1988-12-01

The US Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to modify an existing reactor containment building (decommissioned Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR) 309 Building) to provide ground test capability for the prototype SP-100 reactor. The 309 Building (Figure 1.1) is located in the 300 Area on the Hanford Site in Washington State. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that Federal agencies assess the potential impacts that their actions may have on the environment. This Environmental Assessment describes the consideration given to environmental impacts during reactor concept and test site selection, examines the environmental effects of the DOE proposal to ground test the nuclear subsystem, describes alternatives to the proposed action, and examines radiological risks of potential SP-100 use in space.

Accuracy of Smartphone-Based Pulse Oximetry Compared with Hospital-Grade Pulse Oximetry in Healthy Children.

PubMed

Tomlinson, Sarah; Behrmann, Sydney; Cranford, James; Louie, Marisa; Hashikawa, Andrew

2017-12-07

Pulse oximetry, a ubiquitous, noninvasive method to monitor oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), requires larger, nonportable equipment. Smartphone pulse oximeter applications (apps) provide a portable, cost-effective option, but are untested in children. We hypothesize that smartphone pulse oximetry will not be inferior to standard pulse oximetry measured in healthy children. Two main types of pulse oximetry apps, a camera-based app (CBA) that uses a phone camera flash and lens and a probe-based app (PBA) that uses an external plug-in probe, were compared with standard pulse oximetry measured in children ages 2-13 years without a respiratory complaint and a triage SpO 2 ≥97% seen in a pediatric Emergency Department. Two investigators obtained heart rate and SpO 2 using each app. Inter-rater reliability was tested using interclass correlations (ICCs), and Bland-Altman method was used to compare app values to triage measurements. Eighty-one patients were enrolled. ICC for SpO 2 for PBA and CBA were 0.73 and -0.24, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement between the PBA SpO 2 and triage SpO 2 were -2.8 to +2.5 compared with -4.1 to +3.5 for the CBA SpO 2 and triage SpO 2 . Mean differences between triage SpO 2 and the PBA SpO 2 (-0.17%) and triage SpO 2 and CBA SpO 2 (-0.33%) were not statistically significant. Smartphone-based pulse oximetry is not inferior to standard pulse oximetry in pediatric patients without hypoxia. Reliability was superior for PBA compared with CBA, with more precise agreement for the PBA compared with the CBA. Future studies should test pulse oximetry apps in a hypoxic pediatric population.

15 CFR 700.31 - Metalworking machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... machines covered by this section include: Bending and forming machines Boring machines Broaching machines... Planers and shapers Polishing, lapping, boring, and finishing machines Punching and shearing machines...

15 CFR 700.31 - Metalworking machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... machines covered by this section include: Bending and forming machines Boring machines Broaching machines... Planers and shapers Polishing, lapping, boring, and finishing machines Punching and shearing machines...

15 CFR 700.31 - Metalworking machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... machines covered by this section include: Bending and forming machines Boring machines Broaching machines... Planers and shapers Polishing, lapping, boring, and finishing machines Punching and shearing machines...

15 CFR 700.31 - Metalworking machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... machines covered by this section include: Bending and forming machines Boring machines Broaching machines... Planers and shapers Polishing, lapping, boring, and finishing machines Punching and shearing machines...

15 CFR 700.31 - Metalworking machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... machines covered by this section include: Bending and forming machines Boring machines Broaching machines... Planers and shapers Polishing, lapping, boring, and finishing machines Punching and shearing machines...

14 CFR 249.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... constitute integral links in developing the history of, or facts regarding, financial transactions or... listings punched cards, computer-produced listings, microfilm, and magnetic storage media (i.e., magnetic...

14 CFR 249.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... constitute integral links in developing the history of, or facts regarding, financial transactions or... listings punched cards, computer-produced listings, microfilm, and magnetic storage media (i.e., magnetic...

14 CFR 249.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... constitute integral links in developing the history of, or facts regarding, financial transactions or... listings punched cards, computer-produced listings, microfilm, and magnetic storage media (i.e., magnetic...

14 CFR 249.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... constitute integral links in developing the history of, or facts regarding, financial transactions or... listings punched cards, computer-produced listings, microfilm, and magnetic storage media (i.e., magnetic...

Rolling contact fatigue strengths of shot-peened and crack-healed ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, K.; Oki, T.

2018-06-01

The effects of shot-peening (SP) and crack-healing on the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) strengths of Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics were investigated. Non-shot-peened, shot- peened, and shot-peened + crack-healed specimens were prepared. SP was performed using ZrO2 beads. The shot-peened + crack-healed specimen was crack-healed after SP. X-ray diffraction clearly showed that SP induced a compressive residual stress up to 300 MPa at the specimen surfaces. Furthermore, the shot-peened + crack-healed specimen retained a compressive residual stress of 200 MPa. The apparent surface fracture toughness of the shot- peened specimens increased owing to the positive effects of the compressive residual stress. RCF tests were performed using a thrust load-bearing test device. The RCF lives of the shot- peened specimens did not improve compared to that of the non-shot-peened specimen, because the numerous SP-introduced surface cracks could act as crack initiation sites during the RCF tests. However, the RCF life of the shot-peened + crack-healed specimen did improve compared to those of non-shot-peened and shot-peened specimens, implying that combining SP and crack-healing was an effective strategy for improving the RCF lives of Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics.

Laboratory and test-site testing of moisture-cured urethanes on steel in salt-rich environment.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-11-01

Three 3-coat moisture-cured (MC) urethane commercial products formulated for protecting new steel (SSPC-SP 10) and power : tool-cleaned steel (SSPC-SP 3) surfaces against corrosion were evaluated; the total coating film thickness was about 75 : micro...

Laboratory and test-site testing of moisture-cured urethanes on steel in salt-rich environment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-12-01

Three 3-coat moisture-cured (MC) urethane commercial products formulated for protecting new steel (SSPC-SP 10) and power tool-cleaned steel (SSPC-SP 3) surfaces against corrosion were evaluated; the total coating film thickness was about 75 microns. ...

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being scale (FACIT-Sp 12) among Brazilian psychiatric inpatients.

PubMed

Lucchetti, Giancarlo; Lucchetti, Alessandra Lamas Granero; de Bernardin Gonçalves, Juliane Piasseschi; Vallada, Homero P

2015-02-01

Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being scale (FACIT-Sp 12) is one of the most used and most validated instruments for assessing spiritual well-being in the world. Some Brazilian studies have used this instrument without, however, assessing its psychometric properties. The present study aims to validate the Portuguese version of the FACIT-Sp 12 among Brazilian psychiatric inpatients. A self-administered questionnaire, covering spiritual well-being (FACIT-Sp 12), depression, anxiety, religiosity, quality of life, and optimism, was administered. Of those who met the inclusion criteria, 579 patients were invited to participate and 493 (85.1 %) were able to fill out the FACIT-Sp 12 twice (test and retest). Subsequently, the validation analysis was carried out. Estimation of test-retest reliability, discriminant, and convergent validity was determined by the Spearman's correlation test, and the internal consistency was examined by the Cronbach's alpha. The sample was predominantly male (63.9 %) with a mean age of 35.9 years, and the most common psychiatric condition was bipolar disorder (25.7 %) followed by schizophrenia (20.4 %), drug use (20.0 %), and depression (17.6 %) according to ICD-10. The total FACIT-Sp 12 scale as well as the subscales demonstrated high internal consistency (coefficient alphas ranging from 0.893 for the total scale to 0.655 for the Meaning subscale), good convergent and divergent validity, and satisfactory test-retest reliability (rho = 0.699). The Portuguese version of FACIT-Sp 12 is a valid and reliable measure to use in Brazilian psychiatric inpatients. The availability of a brief and broad measure of spiritual well-being can help the study of spirituality and its influence on health by researchers from countries that speak the Portuguese language.

[Correlation between clinical characteristics and mycological tests in the vulvovaginitis by Candida].

PubMed

Buitrón García, Rafael; Bonifaz, Alexandro; Amancio Chassin, Octavio; Basurto Kuba, Erich; Araiza, Javier; Romero Cabello, Raúl

2007-02-01

Vulvovaginitis caused by Candida sp is one of the most frequent infections. To culture and to identify the fungi related to clinical manifestations of patients based on a suspected diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis. A prospective, transversal and comparative study was performed on 181 women older than 18 years with vulvovaginitis by Candida sp. A correlation was made between the clinical characteristics of this entity and mycological tests such as direct examination and cultures. The direct exam or fresh vaginal exam and cervical sample was positive for the different microscopic forms of Candida (blastoconidia, pseudohyphye or pseudomycelia) in 60.8% (110 women); at the same time that cultures were positive for Candida sp in 51.9% (94 patients). The direct examination and the cultures of vaginal and cervical exudate are mandatory tests for diagnosis of Candida sp in women with vulvovaginitis.

Hypoxic Challenge Testing (Fitness to Fly) in children with complex congenital heart disease.

PubMed

Naqvi, Nitha; Doughty, Victoria L; Starling, Luke; Franklin, Rodney C; Ward, Simon; Daubeney, Piers E F; Balfour-Lynn, Ian M

2018-02-14

Commercial airplanes fly with an equivalent cabin fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.15, leading to reduced oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) in passengers. How this affects children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) is unknown. We conducted Hypoxic Challenge Testing (HCT) to assess need for inflight supplemental oxygen. Children aged <16 years had a standard HCT. They were grouped as (A) normal versus abnormal baseline SpO 2 (≥95% vs <95%) and (B) absence versus presence of an actual/potential right-to-left (R-L) shunt. We measured SpO 2 , heart rate, QT interval corrected for heart rate and partial pressure of carbon dioxide measured transcutaneously (PtcCO 2 ). A test failed when children with (1) normal baseline SpO 2 desaturated to 85%, (2) baseline SpO 2 85%-94% desaturated by 15% of baseline; and (3) baseline SpO 2 75%-84% desaturated to 70%. There were 68 children, mean age 3.3 years (range 10 weeks-14.5 years). Children with normal (n=36) baseline SpO 2 desaturated from median 99% to 91%, P<0.0001, and 3/36 (8%) failed the test. Those with abnormal baseline SpO 2 (n=32) desaturated from median 84% to 76%, P<0.0001, and 5/32 (16%) failed (no significant difference between groups). Children with no R-L shunt (n=25) desaturated from median 99% to 93%, P<0.0001, but 0/25 failed. Those with an actual/potential R-L shunt (n=43) desaturated from median 87% to 78%, P<0.0001, and 8/43 (19%) failed (difference between groups P<0.02). PtcCO 2 , heart rate and QT interval corrected for heart rate were unaffected by the hypoxic state. This is the first evidence to help guide which children with CHD need a preflight HCT. We suggest all children with an actual or potential R-L shunt should be tested. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Antimicrobial activity of α-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-ω-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl) polymethylene from caesalpinia bonducella (L.) Flem

PubMed Central

Sagar, Kavitha; Vidyasagar, G. M.

2010-01-01

The compound, α-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-ω-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)polymethylene, isolated from ethyl acetate leaf extract of Caesalpinia bonducella (L.) Flem. was evaluated for antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus citrus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp. using agar diffusion method. The compound exerted inhibitory zone at all concentrations and revealed the concentration-dependent activity against all tested bacterial and yeast strains comparable to standards streptomycin sulphate and gentamycin for bacteria and fluconazole and griseofulvin for Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp. The inhibition zones were wider and clear for C. albicans and Rhodotorula sp. (IZ >20 mm) and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. vulgaris and E. coli zones were greater than standards tested, whereas, zones for Klebsiella sp. and S. aureus were similar to standards. PMID:21218063

Replacement of fishmeal by spirulina Arthrospira platensis affects growth, immune related-gene expression in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III), and its challenge against Aeromonas hydrophila infection.

PubMed

Cao, Shenping; Zhang, Peiyu; Zou, Tao; Fei, Shuzhan; Han, Dong; Jin, Junyan; Liu, Haokun; Yang, Yunxia; Zhu, Xiaoming; Xie, Shouqi

2018-05-15

The present study examined the effect of dietary spirulina, Arthrospira platensis on growth performance, blood physiological indices, immune-related gene expressions and resistance of juvenile gibel carp against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Four isonitrogenous (360 g kg -1 ) and isolipidic (90 g kg -1 ) diets were formulated with containing different levels of spirulina powder of 0 g (SP0, the control diet), 3.38 g (SP3.38), 6.76 g (SP6.76) and 13.52 g (SP13.52) per 100 g diet to replace 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% of fishmeal protein, respectively. And each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate tanks (150-L capacity per each) and each tank was stocked with 22 fish (15.37 ± 0.06 g). Fish were fed one of the tested diets up to satiation twice a day for 46 days. A challenge test was carried out after the feeding trial by injecting Aeromonas hydrophila intraperitoneally for 7 days. The results showed that fish growth, feeding rate in groups SP3.38 and SP6.76 were significantly higher than those of groups SP0 and SP13.52 (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein retention rate had no significant difference among all tested groups. Plasma superoxide dismutase and phagocyte activity of blood leukocytes significantly increased in the spirulina-fed fish groups at 12-h post the bacterial challenge (P < 0.05). Both pre and post challenge test, plasma lysozyme activities in spirulina-fed groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Plasma malondialdehyde got the lowest value in the SP13.52 group before and after the challenge test. The transcriptional levels of TLR2 (Toll like receptor 2), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α1 (TNF-α1) in spleen and kidney significantly increased post the bacterial challenge compared to the pre challenge. And the relative expressions of the immune-related genes of spirulina-fed fish groups were higher than those of the control group before and after the challenge test. The 7-day cumulative survival rate after the bacterial challenge was highest in the SP3.38 group (P < 0.05). The present results indicated that low dietary inclusion of spirulina significantly enhanced the immune response of gibel carp partly through TLR2 pathway and 3.38% of dietary spirulina was recommended for the juveniles based on the growth and immune response. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[A STUDY OF THE ISOLATED BACTERIOPHAGE ΦAB-SP7 ADSORPTION ON THE CELL SURFACE OF THE AZOSPIRILLUM BRASILENSE SP7].

PubMed

Guliy, O I; Karavaeva, O A; Velikov, V A; Sokolov, O I; Pavily, S A; Larionova, O S; Burov, A M; Ignatov, O V

2016-01-01

The bacteriophage ΦAb-Sp7 was isolated from the cells of the Azospirillum brasilense Sp7. The morphology, size of the gram-negative colonies, and range of lytic activity against other strains and species of the genus Azospirillum was tested. The isolated phage DNA was examined using electrophoretic and restriction analysis, and the size of the genome were established. The electron microscopy. resuIts show that the phage (capsid) has a strand-like form. The electron microscopy study of the bacteriophage ΦAb-Sp7 adsorption on the A. brasilense Sp7 bacterial surface was performed.

Diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of oxytetracycline-resistant isolates of Stenotrophomonas sp. and Serratia sp. associated with Costa Rican crops.

PubMed

Rodríguez, C; Wachlin, A; Altendorf, K; García, F; Lipski, A

2007-12-01

To ameliorate the identification, evaluate the diversity, and determine the antimicrobial sensitivity of 19 oxytetracycline-resistant isolates of Stenotrophomonas sp. and Serratia sp. associated with Costa Rican crops. Phenotypical, chemotaxonomical, and molecular data allocated most isolates to the species Sten. maltophilia and Ser. marcescens. The API profiles, antimicrobial resistance patterns (ATB system), and BOX-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genomic fingerprints of isolates of Stenotrophomonas sp. exhibited a higher degree of heterogeneity than those obtained for the isolates of Serratia sp. The former group of bacteria exhibited multiresistance to antimicrobials. In contrast, isolates of Serratia sp. were sensitive to the majority of the drugs tested. Changes in the results of the antibiograms throughout incubation, which indicate an induction of tolerance, were observed for isolates of both the species. Minimum inhibitory concentration of oxytetracycline, determined using E-test stripes, were rather elevated. The occurrence of two species of opportunistic pathogens in crop-associated materials poses a risk to consumers in the community. The phenotypic and genotypic data presented could support epidemiologist and physicians dealing with infections caused by environmental strains of these taxa.

Potential of Microbispora sp. V2 as biocontrol agent against Sclerotium rolfsii, the causative agent of southern blight of Zea mays L (Baby corn)--in vitro studies.

PubMed

Patil, N N; Waghmode, M S; Gaikwad, P S; Gajbhiye, M H; Gunjal, A B; Nawani, N N; Kapadnis, B P

2014-11-01

The study was undertaken with the aim of exploring novel and beneficial agro activities of rare actinomycetes like Microbispora sp. V2. The antagonistic activity of Microbispora sp. V2 was evaluated as a biocontrol agents against Sclerotium rolfsii, a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen. The methodology performed for evaluation of biocontrol agent was in vitro evaluation assay which comprised of three tests viz., cellophane overlay technique, seed germination test and Thiram (fungicide) tolerance of Microbispora sp. V2. The isolate was found to inhibit the fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii to 91.43% in cellophane assay. In seed germination assay, Microbispora sp. V2 treated seeds resulted in 25.75% increased germination efficiency, as compared to seeds infected by Sclerotium rolfsii. The isolate Microbispora sp. V2 could tolerate 1000 microg mL(-1) of Thiram (fungicide). The in vitro assay studies proved that Microbispora sp. V2 can be used as antifungal antagonist and thus posses' great potential as biocontrol agent against southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Zea mays L (Baby corn) which causes large economical losses.

Measuring family-centred practices of professionals in early intervention services in Taiwan.

PubMed

Kang, L-J; Palisano, R J; Simeonsson, R J; Hwang, A-W

2017-09-01

Family-centred practices emphasize professional supports for forming partnerships with families in early intervention. The Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers (MPOC-SP) measures the perceptions of paediatric service providers in supporting children and families. This study aimed to establish reliability of the Chinese version of the MPOC-SP (C-MPOC-SP) and to examine professional perceptions of family-centred practices in relation to professional discipline and years of experience. A convenience sample of 94 physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers and early childhood educators completed the C-MPOC-SP. Thirty-seven professionals completed the measure a second time within 2-4 weeks for test-retest reliability. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined by Cronbach's α and intra-class correlation coefficient. Comparisons were made across professional disciplines by multivariate analyses of variance followed by analyses of variance. Relationships between years of experience and ratings of family-centred practices were examined by Pearson's correlation coefficients (r). Cronbach's α for items on each of the four scales of the C-MPOC-SP ranged from 0.80 to 0.92, indicating adequate internal consistency. Intra-class correlation coefficient between the initial and repeat completion of the C-MPOC-SP for each scale ranged from 0.56 to 0.77, indicating adequate to excellent test-retest reliability. Mean ratings for the Communicating Specific Information were significantly higher for physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists than for social workers (P = 0.001). The C-MPOC-SP scores were positively correlated with years of experience for all four scales (r = 0.23-0.38; P < 0.05). This study established adequate internal consistency and adequate to excellent test-retest reliability of the C-MPOC-SP in measuring perceptions of family centeredness of early intervention service providers. Cross-discipline differences were found in communicating specific information about the child. Higher perceptions of family centeredness were associated with more years of experience. The results support the utility of the C-MPOC-SP in professional education and programme evaluation of early intervention services in Taiwan. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Distribution and histologic effects of intravenously administered amorphous nanosilica particles in the testes of mice

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

Morishita, Yuki; Yoshioka, Yasuo, E-mail: yasuo@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp; Satoh, Hiroyoshi

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer There is rising concern regarding the potential health risks of nanomaterials. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Few studies have investigated the effect of nanomaterials on the reproductive system. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Here, we evaluated the intra-testicular distribution of nanosilica particles. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We showed that nanosilica particles can penetrate the blood-testis barrier. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer These data provide basic information on ways to create safer nanomaterials. -- Abstract: Amorphous nanosilica particles (nSP) are being utilized in an increasing number of applications such as medicine, cosmetics, and foods. The reduction of the particle size to the nanoscale not only provides benefits to diverse scientific fields but also posesmore » potential risks. Several reports have described the in vivo and in vitro toxicity of nSP, but few studies have examined their effects on the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the testicular distribution and histologic effects of systemically administered nSP. Mice were injected intravenously with nSP with diameters of 70 nm (nSP70) or conventional microsilica particles with diameters of 300 nm (nSP300) on two consecutive days. The intratesticular distribution of these particles 24 h after the second injection was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. nSP70 were detected within sertoli cells and spermatocytes, including in the nuclei of spermatocytes. No nSP300 were observed in the testis. Next, mice were injected intravenously with 0.4 or 0.8 mg nSP70 every other day for a total of four administrations. Testes were harvested 48 h and 1 week after the last injection and stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histologic analysis. Histologic findings in the testes of nSP70-treated mice did not differ from those of control mice. Taken together, our results suggest that nSP70 can penetrate the blood-testis barrier and the nuclear membranes of spermatocytes without producing apparent testicular injury.« less

Positively reinforcing effects of the neurokinin substance P in the basal forebrain: mediation by its C-terminal sequence.

PubMed

Hasenöhrl, R U; Gerhardt, P; Huston, J P

1992-02-01

The conditioned corral preference paradigm was used to assess reinforcing effects of substance P (SP) and its N- and C-terminal fragments injected unilaterally into the region of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) in rats. Behavioral testing was carried out in a circular open field, consisting of 4 quadrants equally preferred by the animals prior to conditioning. A single conditioning trial was performed. Rats received one microinjection (0.5 microliter) of SP (0.74 pmol), of the N-terminal fragment SP (1-7) and the C-terminal fragment analog DiMe-C7 (each at doses of 0.074, 0.74, and 74 pmol), or vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline; PBS). After injection the rats were placed into the open field with the four quadrants being separated by Plexiglas barriers (closed corral). During the test for conditioned corral preference, when provided a choice between the four quadrants, only those rats injected with SP and the equimolar dose of DiMe-C7 (0.74 pmol) spent more time in the treatment corral, indicative of a positively reinforcing action. None of the other doses of DiMe-C7 and of SP(1-7) influenced the preference behavior. For rats injected with 0.74 pmol SP, SP (1-7), and DiMe-C7, a behavioral analysis was performed for the 15 min conditioning trial. SP and DiMe-C7 reduced rearing and grooming behavior, whereas DiMe-C7 and SP(1-7) increased locomotor activity. However, the acute behavioral effects of SP and its fragments were not correlated with the subsequent place preference behavior during the test trial. The results are discussed in the framework of a structure/activity relationship for the positively reinforcing properties of SP in the region of the NBM. Furthermore, neuropathological implications of the present data are considered, since the homologous nucleus basalis of Meynert in man is known to degenerate in Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized behaviorally by a progressive deterioration in associative functioning.

On the reliability of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum research: Do we need standardized testing methods?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nivium (Fon) is a pathogen highly variable in aggressiveness that requires a standardized testing method to more accurately define isolate aggressiveness (races) and to identify resistant watermelon lines. Isolates of Fon vary in aggressiveness from weakly to highly aggres...

Ultrasonic real-time in-die monitoring of the tablet compaction process-a proof of concept study.

PubMed

Stephens, James D; Kowalczyk, Brian R; Hancock, Bruno C; Kaul, Goldi; Cetinkaya, Cetin

2013-02-14

The mechanical properties of a drug tablet can affect its performance (e.g., dissolution profile and its physical robustness. An ultrasonic system for real-time in-die tablet mechanical property monitoring during compaction has been demonstrated. The reported set-up is a proof of concept compaction monitoring system which includes an ultrasonic transducer mounted inside the upper punch of the compaction apparatus. This upper punch is utilized to acquire ultrasonic pressure wave phase velocity waveforms and extract the time-of-flight of pressure waves travelling within the compact at a number of compaction force levels during compaction. The reflection coefficients for the waves reflecting from punch tip-powder bed interface are extracted from the acquired waveforms. The reflection coefficient decreases with an increase in compaction force, indicating solidification. The data acquisition methods give an average apparent Young's moduli in the range of 8-20 GPa extracted during the compaction and release/decompression phases in real-time. A monitoring system employing such methods is capable of determining material properties and the integrity of the tablet during compaction. As compared to the millisecond time-scale dwell time of a typical commercial compaction press, the micro-second pulse duration and ToF of an acoustic pulse are sufficiently fast for real-time monitoring. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

National Register Testing of 19 Prehistoric Archeological Sites on Fort Hood, Texas: The 1995 Season

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-07-01

arboreal species include ash (Fraxinus sp.), redbud (Cercis canadensis), hack- berry (Celtis sp.), Texas persimmon ( Diospyros texana), and Mexican...from flotation of hearth fill were identified as Celtis sp. nutlets, woody legume, Rosaceae wood, and Diospyros virginiana wood, the latter...early 1990s. For consistency, all of their studies have focused on a single genus , Rabdotus sp., that is abundant in the archeological deposits at

Monitoring efficacy of commonly used antimalarials by a 14-day in-vivo test in a new settler's camp in endemic zone at Cox's Bazar.

PubMed

Rahman, M R; Hassan, M R; Faiz, M A; Samad, R; Paul, B; Jalil, M A

1998-12-01

The study was done in a new settler's camp "Barachara" under Sadar thana of Cox's Bazar district. It has a total population of 784 of all age groups, registered in the middle of the study period. A prospective evaluation of all cases of fever were done over 12 months, to see the pattern of febrile illness among the population and to compare the therapeutic efficacy of two alternative drug regimens for uncomplicated falciparum malaria (UM). Blood for malarial parasite (MP) was done in all cases of fever and was treated in line with the new clinical case definitions and treatment guidelines for malaria in Bangladesh. Slide positive UM cases were subjected to a "14-day in-vivo test" for therapeutic efficacy testing of antimalarial agents. The two drug regimens were randomised by lottery--a) 3 days oral chloroquine plus single dose sulphadoxin/pyrimethamine (CQ + SP) and, b) 3 days oral quinine plus single dose sulphadoxin/pyrimethamine (Q3 + SP). Drug administration was supervised by the field assistant and was followed up on days 3, 7 and 14 for blood slide examinations and clinical assessment. Sensitive response was observed in 79% of the cases in the CQ + SP group and 84% in the Q3 + SP group. Early treatment failure (persistently febrile and parasitaemic on days 3 or 7) was observed in 16% in the CQ + SP group and 9% in the Q3 + SP group. Both the evaluated drug regimens had less than 20% failures and can be used as alternative first line agents and Q3 + SP regimens can also be used as the second line agents for treatment failure (to chloroquine and/or SP) UM cases in the study area.

Halobacterium sp. SP1(1) as a starter culture for accelerating fish sauce fermentation.

PubMed

Akolkar, A V; Durai, D; Desai, A J

2010-07-01

Application of Halobacterium sp. SP1(1) for the acceleration of fish sauce fermentation. Traditional fish sauce fermentation was mimicked using Halobacterium sp. SP1(1) as starter culture. Protease activity, peptide release and α-amino content (parameters used to monitor the progress of the fermentation) were high at day 10 in tests and day 20 in un-inoculated controls. The total protein and nitrogen contents were also high in tests compared with controls. The amino acid profile observed at the end of fermentation in experimental samples, when compared with the commercial sauce preparation, was found to be better with respect to flavour and aroma contributing amino acids as well as essential amino acid lysine. Microflora analysis of the final fish sauce revealed the absence of any nonhalophilic or halotolerant micro-organisms. The protease-producing halophilic isolates obtained from the fish sauce of eviscerated and uneviscerated controls were identified as Halobacterium sp. F1 and F2, respectively, by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Exogenous augmentation of Halobacterium sp. SP1(1) accelerated the fish sauce fermentation process with an additive effect on the existing natural microflora present in the fish during fermentation. Halobacterium sp SP1(1), therefore, can be used as an important starter culture for accelerating the fish fermentation process, which is attributed to its extracellular protease. The present study is the first report on use of Halobacterium species as a starter culture for accelerating fish sauce fermentation. Use of halobacterial starter cultures may revolutionize the process in fish sauce industries by reducing the fermentation time and making the process more economical with improved nutritive value of product. Journal compilation © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology. No claim to Indian Government works.

Air travel and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a new algorithm for pre-flight evaluation.

PubMed

Edvardsen, Anne; Akerø, Aina; Christensen, Carl C; Ryg, Morten; Skjønsberg, Ole H

2012-11-01

The reduced pressure in the aircraft cabin may cause significant hypoxaemia and respiratory distress in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Simple and reliable methods for predicting the need for supplemental oxygen during air travel have been requested. To construct a pre-flight evaluation algorithm for patients with COPD. In this prospective, cross-sectional study of 100 patients with COPD referred to hypoxia-altitude simulation test (HAST), sea level pulse oximetry at rest (SpO(2 SL)) and exercise desaturation (SpO(2 6MWT)) were used to evaluate whether the patient is fit to fly without further assessment, needs further evaluation with HAST or should receive in-flight supplemental oxygen without further evaluation. HAST was used as the reference method. An algorithm was constructed using a combination of SpO(2 SL) and SpO(2 6MWT). Categories for SpO(2 SL) were >95%, 92-95% and <92%, the cut-off value for SpO(2 6MWT) was calculated as 84%. Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2 HAST)) <6.6 kPa was the criterion for recommending supplemental oxygen. This algorithm had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 80% when tested prospectively on an independent sample of patients with COPD (n=50). Patients with SpO(2 SL) >95% combined with SpO(2 6MWT) ≥84% may travel by air without further assessment. In-flight supplemental oxygen is recommended if SpO(2 SL)=92-95% combined with SpO(2 6MWT) <84% or if SpO(2 SL) <92%. Otherwise, HAST should be performed. The presented algorithm is simple and appears to be a reliable tool for pre-flight evaluation of patients with COPD.

Central cardiovascular and behavioral effects of carboxy- and amino-terminal fragments of substance P in conscious rats.

PubMed

Tschöpe, C; Jost, N; Unger, T; Culman, J

1995-08-28

The central cardiovascular and behavioral effects of carboxy- (SP 5-11, SP 6-11, SP 7-11, SP 8-11) and amino- (SP 1-7, SP 1-9) terminal substance P (SP) fragments were compared with those of SP 1-11 in conscious rats. In addition, the ability of these SP-fragments to induce desensitization of the central NK1 receptor was investigated. SP 1-11 (50 pmol) injected i.c.v. induced an increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and a typical behavioral response consisting of face washing (FW), hindquarter grooming (HQG) and wet-dog shakes (WDS). The cardiovascular and behavioral responses to equimolar doses of SP 5-11 and SP 6-11 were similar to those of SP 1-11, however, only SP 5-11 induced exactly the same behavioral pattern as SP 1-11. SP 6-11 was more potent in inducing FW and WDS than SP 1-11 or SP 5-11. The carboxy-terminal SP-fragments, SP 7-11 and SP 8-11, and the amino-terminal SP-fragments, SP 1-7, SP 1-9, did not elicit any significant cardiovascular or behavioral responses. Pretreatment with SP 1-11 reduced the cardiovascular and behavioral responses to subsequent injections of SP 1-11. Of all SP-fragments tested, only SP 5-11 was able to attenuate the cardiovascular and behavioral responses to SP 1-11. Our results demonstrate that SP 6-11 represents the shortest carboxy-terminal amino acid sequence, that after i.c.v. injection, elicits the same cardiovascular response as SP 1-11, but fails to desensitize the NK1 receptor. The carboxy-terminal fragment, SP 5-11, is the shortest amino acid sequence which produces the same pattern of central cardiovascular and behavioral responses as SP 1-11 and also retains the ability to desensitize the NK1 receptor like SP 1-11.

Persistent ICT Malaria P.f/P.v Panmalarial and HRP2 Antigen Reactivity after Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Is Associated with Gametocytemia and Results in False-Positive Diagnoses of Plasmodium vivax in Convalescence

PubMed Central

Tjitra, Emiliana; Suprianto, Sri; McBroom, James; Currie, Bart J.; Anstey, Nicholas M.

2001-01-01

A problem with rapid Plasmodium falciparum-specific antigen histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) detection tests for malaria is the persistence of antigen in blood after the disappearance of asexual-stage parasitemia and clinical symptoms, resulting in false-positive (FP) test results following treatment. The ICT P.f/P.v immunochromatographic test detects both HRP2 and a panmalarial antigen (PMA) found in both P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. To examine posttreatment antigen persistence with this test and whether persistent sexual-stage forms (gametocytes) are a cause of FP tests after treatment, we compared serial antigen test results with microscopy results from patients symptomatic with P. falciparum malaria in Indonesia for 28 days following treatment with chloroquine (CQ; n = 66), sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP; n = 36), and artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (ART + SP; n = 15). Persistent FP antigenemia following SP treatment occurred in 29% (HRP2) and 42% (PMA) of the patients on day 7 and in 10% (HRP2) and 23% (PMA) on day 14. The high rates of persistent HRP2 and PMA antigenemia following CQ and SP treatment were strongly associated with the presence of gametocytemia, with the proportion with gametocytes on day 7 posttreatment being significantly greater in those with FP results than in those with true-negative PMA and HRP2 results. Gametocyte frequency on day 14 post-SP treatment was also greater in those with FP PMA results. Following SP treatment, PMA persisted longer than HRP2, giving an FP diagnosis of P. vivax in up to 16% of patients on day 14, with all FP P. vivax diagnoses having gametocytemia. In contrast, PMA was rapidly cleared following ART + SP treatment in association with rapid clearance of gametocytemia. Gametocytes appear to be an important cause of persistent posttreatment panmalarial antigenemia in areas of endemicity and may also contribute in part to persistent HRP2 antigenemia following treatment. PMID:11230422

21 CFR 888.4540 - Orthopedic manual surgical instrument.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., femoral neck punch, socket pusher, reamer, rongeur, scissors, screwdriver, bone skid, staple driver, bone screw starter, surgical stripper, tamp, bone tap, trephine, wire twister, and wrench. (b) Classification...

21 CFR 888.4540 - Orthopedic manual surgical instrument.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., femoral neck punch, socket pusher, reamer, rongeur, scissors, screwdriver, bone skid, staple driver, bone screw starter, surgical stripper, tamp, bone tap, trephine, wire twister, and wrench. (b) Classification...

21 CFR 888.4540 - Orthopedic manual surgical instrument.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., femoral neck punch, socket pusher, reamer, rongeur, scissors, screwdriver, bone skid, staple driver, bone screw starter, surgical stripper, tamp, bone tap, trephine, wire twister, and wrench. (b) Classification...

21 CFR 888.4540 - Orthopedic manual surgical instrument.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

..., femoral neck punch, socket pusher, reamer, rongeur, scissors, screwdriver, bone skid, staple driver, bone screw starter, surgical stripper, tamp, bone tap, trephine, wire twister, and wrench. (b) Classification...

21 CFR 888.4540 - Orthopedic manual surgical instrument.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., femoral neck punch, socket pusher, reamer, rongeur, scissors, screwdriver, bone skid, staple driver, bone screw starter, surgical stripper, tamp, bone tap, trephine, wire twister, and wrench. (b) Classification...

Data-management and information system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Long, J. J.; Hatfield, J. N.; Diethelm, M. R.; Masters, G.

1977-01-01

User command language consists of unabbreviated English words. System allows user to create, delete, sort, merge, update, punch, or transfer all or portion of any file in system without programmer assistance.

MODIFICATIONS OF THE RAND REAC,

DTIC Science & Technology

The major items of the modification program were the installation of a removable plugboard of the type used on the International Business Machines punched card tabulators, and a digital readout device.

School Lunches

MedlinePlus

... punch drink Skim milk Fewer calories, less sugar, plus calcium 980 calories 725 calories 255 fewer calories ... with low-fat dip or dressing 100% fruit juice box or bottle of water optional dessert (choose ...

Two cases of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the uterus: clinical, radiological and pathological diagnostic challenge.

PubMed

Kwon, Byung Su; Suh, Dong Soo; Lee, Nam Kyung; Song, Yong Jung; Choi, Kyung Un; Kim, Ki Hyung

2017-03-07

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare subtype of mesenchymal origin tumor composed of epithelioid cells which exhibits immunohistochemical co-expressions of melanocytic markers and smooth muscle markers. In the first case, malignant uterine PEComa with vaginal and multiple lung metastasis was misdiagnosed preoperatively as uterine leiomyosarcoma despite a preoperative punch biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis of the metastatic vaginal mass. In the second case, synchronous uterine PEComa showing benign histology with lymph node involvement was incidentally detected after a staging operation for ovarian cancer. Definitive diagnosis of uterine PEComa was achieved only after hysterectomy despite preoperative assessment with pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and punch biopsy of metastatic lesion. The authors report two rare cases of uterine PEComa diagnosed postoperatively based on the morphologic and immunohistochemical features.

Stress intensity factors in a cracked infinite elastic wedge loaded by a rigid punch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erdogan, F.; Civelek, M. B.

1978-01-01

A plane elastic wedge-shaped solid was split through the application of a rigid punch. It was assumed that the coefficient of friction on the the contact area was constant, and the problem had a plane of symmetry with respect to loading and geometry, with the crack in the plane of symmetry. The problem was formulated in terms of a system of integral equations with the contact stress and the derivative of the crack surface displacement as the unknown functions. The solution was obtained for an internal crack and for an edge crack. The results include primarily the stress intensity factors at the crack tips, and the measure of the stress singularity at the wedge apex, and at the end points of the contact area.

WHEN FUE GOES WRONG!

PubMed Central

Poswal, Arvind; Bhutia, Sangay; Mehta, Ruby

2011-01-01

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is an accepted method of extracting individual follicular unit grafts for hair transplant surgery. Since follicles are harvested from the back of the scalp using tiny punches resulting in minimal scarring, it has gained rapid acceptance among the patients. However, due care needs to be exercised while performing FUE. FUE should not be confused with the older plug graft extraction methods of coring out hair-bearing skin plugs. Lack of due diligence while performing such extractions can lead to subluxation of the grafts into the subdermal layer of scalp. Overtumescence of the scalp donor area, use of blunt punches and trying to “core” out the full thickness grafts can all contribute to this. The following cases illustrate some pitfalls to be avoided while performing FUE and the adverse consequences if they occur. PMID:22121268

Corrosive Metabolic Activity of Desulfovibrio sp. on 316L Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arkan, Simge; Ilhan-Sungur, Esra; Cansever, Nurhan

2016-12-01

The present study investigated the effects of chemical parameters (SO4 2-, PO4 3-, Cl-, pH) and the contents of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) regarding the growth of Desulfovibrio sp. on the microbiologically induced corrosion of 316L stainless steel (SS). The experiments were carried out in laboratory-scaled test and control systems. 316L SS coupons were exposed to Desulfovibrio sp. culture over 720 h. The test coupons were removed at specific sampling times for enumeration of Desulfovibrio sp., determination of the corrosion rate by the weight loss measurement method and also for analysis of carbohydrate and protein in the EPS. The chemical parameters of the culture were also established. Biofilm/film formation and corrosion products on the 316L SS surfaces were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry analyses in the laboratory-scaled systems. It was found that Desulfovibrio sp. led to the corrosion of 316L SS. Both the amount of extracellular protein and chemical parameters (SO4 2- and PO4 3-) of the culture caused an increase in the corrosion of metal. There was a significantly positive relationship between the sessile and planktonic Desulfovibrio sp. counts ( p < 0.01). It was detected that the growth phases of the sessile and planktonic Desulfovibrio sp. were different from each other and the growth phases of the sessile Desulfovibrio sp. vary depending on the subspecies of Desulfovibrio sp. and the type of metal when compared with the other published studies.

Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-Sp).

PubMed

Lopez, Rodrigo; Baelum, Vibeke

2006-07-07

The need for appraisal of oral health-related quality of life has been increasingly recognized over the last decades. The aims of this study were to develop a Spanish version (OHIP-Sp) of the Oral Health Impact Profile and to evaluate its convergent and discriminative validity, and its internal consistency. The original 49-items OHIP was translated to Spanish, revised for understanding and semantics by two independent dentists, and then translated back to English by an independent bilingual dentist. The data originated in a cross sectional study conducted among high school students from the Province of Santiago, Chile. The study group was sampled using a multistage random cluster procedure yielding 9,203 students aged 12-21 years. All selected students were invited to participate and all filled a questionnaire with information on socio-demographic factors; oral health related behaviors; and self-reported oral health status (good, fair or poor). From this group, 9,163 students also accepted to fill a detailed questionnaire on socio-economic indicators and to receive a clinical examination comprising direct recordings of clinical attachment levels (CAL) in molars and incisors, tooth loss, and the presence of necrotizing ulcerative gingival lesions. The participation rate and the questionnaire completeness were high with OHIP-Sp total scores being computed for 9,133 subjects. Self-perceived oral health status was associated with the total OHIP-Sp score and all its domains (Spearman rank correlation). The OHIP-Sp total score was also directly associated with the 4 dental outcomes investigated (Mann-Whitney test) and the largest impact was found for the outcomes, 'tooth loss' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.5 and 'CAL > or = 3 mm' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.0. The OHIP-Sp revealed suitable convergent and discriminative validity and appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Further studies on OHIP-Sp warrant the inclusion of populations with a higher disease burden; and the use of test-retest reliability exercises to evaluate the stability of the test.

The use of video in standardized patient training to improve portrayal accuracy: A randomized post-test control group study.

PubMed

Schlegel, Claudia; Bonvin, Raphael; Rethans, Jan Joost; van der Vleuten, Cees

2014-10-14

Abstract Introduction: High-stake objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) with standardized patients (SPs) should offer the same conditions to all candidates throughout the exam. SP performance should therefore be as close to the original role script as possible during all encounters. In this study, we examined the impact of video in SP training on SPs' role accuracy, investigating how the use of different types of video during SP training improves the accuracy of SP portrayal. Methods: In a randomized post-test, control group design three groups of 12 SPs each with different types of video training and one control group of 12 SPs without video use in SP training were compared. The three intervention groups used role-modeling video, performance-feedback video, or a combination of both. Each SP from each group had four students encounter. Two blinded faculty members rated the 192 video-recorded encounters, using a case-specific rating instrument to assess SPs' role accuracy. Results: SPs trained by video showed significantly (p < 0.001) better role accuracy than SPs trained without video over the four sequential portrayals. There was no difference between the three types of video training. Discussion: Use of video during SP training enhances the accuracy of SP portrayal compared with no video, regardless of the type of video intervention used.

Hair Transplants

MedlinePlus

... Search Skin Experts Skin Treatments Hair Transplants Share » HAIR TRANSPLANTS Before (left) and after (right) - front of ... transplant. Photo courtesy of N. Sadick What are hair transplants? In punch transplanting, a plug containing hair ...

Analysis and seismic tests of composite shear walls with CFST columns and steel plate deep beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Hongying; Cao, Wanlin; Wu, Haipeng; Zhang, Jianwei; Xu, Fangfang

2013-12-01

A composite shear wall concept based on concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns and steel plate (SP) deep beams is proposed and examined in this study. The new wall is composed of three different energy dissipation elements: CFST columns; SP deep beams; and reinforced concrete (RC) strips. The RC strips are intended to allow the core structural elements — the CFST columns and SP deep beams — to work as a single structure to consume energy. Six specimens of different configurations were tested under cyclic loading. The resulting data are analyzed herein. In addition, numerical simulations of the stress and damage processes for each specimen were carried out, and simulations were completed for a range of location and span-height ratio variations for the SP beams. The simulations show good agreement with the test results. The core structure exhibits a ductile yielding mechanism characteristic of strong column-weak beam structures, hysteretic curves are plump and the composite shear wall exhibits several seismic defense lines. The deformation of the shear wall specimens with encased CFST column and SP deep beam design appears to be closer to that of entire shear walls. Establishing optimal design parameters for the configuration of SP deep beams is pivotal to the best seismic behavior of the wall. The new composite shear wall is therefore suitable for use in the seismic design of building structures.

Cognitive impairment at diagnosis predicts 10-year multiple sclerosis progression.

PubMed

Moccia, Marcello; Lanzillo, Roberta; Palladino, Raffaele; Chang, Kiara Chu-Mei; Costabile, Teresa; Russo, Cinzia; De Rosa, Anna; Carotenuto, Antonio; Saccà, Francesco; Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa; Brescia Morra, Vincenzo

2016-04-01

Cognitive impairment occurs from the early phases of multiple sclerosis (MS), and more frequently affects secondary progressive (SP) subjects than relapsing-remitting (RR). To investigate relationships between cognitive dysfunctions in newly diagnosed RRMS, and long-term MS-related outcomes. The present 10-year retrospective longitudinal study included 155 RRMS subjects, tested with the Rao Brief Repeatable Battery at MS diagnosis. The reaching of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.0, and the SP conversion were recorded. 67 subjects (43.2%) reached EDSS 4.0, and 34 subjects (21.9%) converted to SP during a follow-up period of 10.0±1.8 years. Subjects with cognitive impairment at diagnosis had a rate of reaching EDSS 4.0 more than three times greater (p<0.001; HR=3.183), and a rate of SP conversion more than two times greater, as compared to cognitively preserved subjects (p=0.008; HR=2.535). In particular, better scores in the Selective Reminding Test-Delayed Recall and in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test at baseline were associated with lower SP conversion rates during the follow-up period (p=0.018; HR=0.835; and p=0.001; HR=0.941, respectively). Cognitive impairment, with particular involvement of processing speed and memory, predicts disability progression and SP conversion in newly diagnosed RRMS, highlighting the importance of cognitive assessment from the beginning of MS. © The Author(s), 2015.

Parasitological and immunological diagnoses from feces of captive-bred snakes at Vital Brazil Institute.

PubMed

Souza, Janaína Lima de; Barbosa, Alynne da Silva; Vazon, Adriana Prado; Uchôa, Claudia Maria Antunes; Nunes, Beatriz Coronato; Cortez, Myrian Bandeira Vianna; Silva, Valmir Laurentino da; Más, Leonora Brazil; Melgarejo, Aníbal Rafael; Bastos, Otilio Machado Pereira

2014-01-01

Fecal samples from 56 snakes at the Vital Brazil Institute, in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, were tested using the sedimentation and flotation techniques to investigate the evolutionary forms of parasites such as helminths and protozoa, and using enzyme immunoassay techniques to detect antigens of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. Among the animals tested, 80.3% were positive for parasites. Out of these, there were 16 Bothrops jararaca, 16 B. jararacussu and 13 Crotalus durissus. The prevalence of parasitic nematodes was 41.1%, and nematodes were found in all three snake species. Among these, the most frequent finding was eggs of Kalicephalus sp., which were diagnosed in 25% of the snakes. The positivity for protozoa detected using parasite concentration techniques was 75%, including oocysts of Caryospora sp. in 75%, cysts with morphology similar to Giardia sp. 3.6%, amoeboid cysts in 41.1% and unsporulated coccidia oocysts in 8.9%. Immunoassays for Cryptosporidium sp. antigens produced positive findings in 60.7%. Pseudoparasites were detected in 64.3%. These results show that there is a need to improve the sanitary handling of captive-bred snakes, and also for the animal house that supplies rodents to feed them. The results also highlight that diagnostic tests should be performed periodically on stool specimens from captive-bred snakes.

ADad 8: School Phobia and Anxiety Disorders among adolescents in a rural community population in India.

PubMed

Nair, M K C; Russell, Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar; Subramaniam, Vinod Shanmukham; Nazeema, Suma; Chembagam, Neethu; Russell, Sushila; Shankar, Satya Raj; Jakati, Praveen Kumar; Charles, Helen

2013-11-01

School Phobia (SP), although is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis, is widely prevalent debilitating phenomenon with a gamut of underlying psychiatric conditions in an overwhelming majority of cases. This study documents the prevalence, symptom presentation and the relationship between the various subtypes of Anxiety Disorders (AD) and School Phobia. In a prospective community survey of 500 adolescents, independent raters administered the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children/Present and Lifetime to identify SP and subtype of AD respectively. Descriptive statistics for the prevalence and symptom presentation, Spearman's Correlation test, Independent t tests, on-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were done to compare the prevalence and severity of School Phobia among various age groups and gender. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done for documenting the relationship between the School Phobia and Anxiety Disorders. School Phobia was noted in 4.8% of adolescents. Although age was related to SP, gender, school grade the adolescent was attending and family structure were not related to SP. Somatic symptoms were more often noted than cognitive-emotional symptoms among adolescents with SP. Panic Disorder (OR = 8.62), Social Anxiety Disorder (OR = 8.63), and Separation Anxiety Disorder (OR = 6.26), were significantly related to SP. School Phobia is noted in a significant proportion of adolescents in the community. Anxiety Disorder is a major underlying factor resulting in SP. Community and clinical intervention and service models should include anxiety alleviation methods in adolescents with School Phobia.

Toxicity of Single-dose Intramuscular Injection of Samjeong Pharmacopuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

PubMed

Kwon, Kang; Kim, Chul-Yun; Kim, Nam-Kwen; Sun, Seung-Ho; Seo, Hyung-Sik

2015-06-01

This study was carried out in order to find both the single-dose intramuscular injection toxicity and the approximate lethal dose of samjeong pharmacopuncture (SP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The SD rats in this study were divided into four groups, one control group (1.0 mL/animal, normal saline) and three experimental groups (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL/animal, SP). All groups consisted of five male and five female rats. SP was injected as a single-dose intramuscularly at the thigh. After the injection, general symptoms and weight were observed for 14 days. After the observations had ended, hematologic and serum biochemical examinations, necropsy and a local tolerance test at the injection site were performed. The experiments were carried out at the Good Laboratory Practice firm, Biotoxtech Co. (Cheongwon, Chungbuk). Animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 130379). No deaths occurred in any of the three experimental groups. The injection of SP had no effects on the general symptoms, body weights, results of the hematologic, and serum biochemical examinations, and necropsy findings. In local tolerance tests at the injection sites, mild inflammation was observed in the experimental group, but it did not appear to be a treatment related effect. Under the conditions of this test, the results from the injection of SP suggest that the approximate lethal dose of SP is above 1.0 mL/animal for both male and female SD rats. Therefore, the clinical use of SP is thought to be safe.

Objectifying when to halt a boxing match: a video analysis of fatalities.

PubMed

Miele, Vincent J; Bailes, Julian E

2007-02-01

Although numerous prestigious medical organizations have called for its abolishment, participation in the sport of boxing has reached an all-time high among both men and women, and its elimination is unlikely in the near future. Physicians should strive to increase boxing safety by improving the rules of competition, which have evolved minimally over the past two centuries. Currently, subjective criteria are used to determine whether or not a contest should be halted. Developing a standardized, objective method of determining when a contest should be halted would be a significant paradigm shift and could increase the safety of the sport's participants. This study analyzed the number and types of punches landed in a typical professional match, in bouts considered to be competitive and in those that ended in fatalities, to determine whether or not this would be a practical method of differentiating between these groups. Three groups of professional boxing matches were defined at the beginning of the study: 1) a "fatal" group, consisting of bouts that resulted in the death of a participant; 2) a "classic" group that represented competitive matches; and 3) a "control" group of 4000 professional boxing matches representing the average bout. A computer program known as Punchstat (Compubox, Inc., Manorville, NY) was used in the objective analysis of these matches via videotape playback. Several statistically significant differences were discovered between matches that resulted in fatalities and the control group. These include the number of punches landed per round, the number of power punches landed per round, and the number of power punches thrown per round by losing boxers. However, when the fatal bouts were compared with the most competitive bouts, these differences were no longer evident. Based on the data analyzed between the control and fatal-bout groups, a computerized method of counting landed blows at ringside could provide sufficient data to stop matches that might result in fatalities. However, such a process would become less effective as matches become more competitive, and implementing such a change would significantly decrease the competitive nature of the sport. Therefore, other methods of quantifying acceleration-deceleration brain injuries are necessary to improve the safety of boxing.

Power estimation of martial arts movement with different physical, mood, and behavior using motion capture camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awang Soh, Ahmad Afiq Sabqi; Mat Jafri, Mohd Zubir; Azraai, Nur Zaidi

2017-07-01

In Malay world, there is a spirit traditional ritual where they use it as healing practices or for normal life. Malay martial arts (silat) also is not exceptional where some branch of silat have spirit traditional ritual where they said can help them in combat. In this paper, we will not use any ritual, instead we will use some medicinal and environment change when they are performing. There will be 2 performers (fighter) selected, one of them have an experience in martial arts training and another performer does not have experience. Motion Capture (MOCAP) camera will help observe and analyze this move. 8 cameras have been placed in the MOCAP room 2 on each side of the wall facing toward the center of the room from every angle. This will help prevent the loss detection of a marker that been stamped on the limb of a performer. Passive marker has been used where it will reflect the infrared to the camera sensor. Infrared is generated by the source around the camera lens. A 60 kg punching bag was hung on the iron bar function as the target for the performer when throws a punch. Markers also have been stamped on the punching bag so we can detect the movement how far can it swing when hit by the performer. 2 performers will perform 2 moves each with the same position and posture. For every 2 moves, we have made the environment change without the performer notice about it. The first 2 punch with normal environment, second part we have played a positive music to change the performer's mood and third part we have put a medicine (cream/oil) on the skin of the performer. This medicine will make the skin feel a little bit hot. This process repeated to another performer with no experience. The position of this marker analyzed by the Cortex Motion Analysis software where from this data, we can estimate the kinetics and kinematics of the performer. It shows that the increase of kinetics for every part because of the change in the environment, and different result for the 2 performers.

A novel in vitro bovine cartilage punch model for assessing the regeneration of focal cartilage defects with biocompatible bacterial nanocellulose.

PubMed

Pretzel, David; Linss, Stefanie; Ahrem, Hannes; Endres, Michaela; Kaps, Christian; Klemm, Dieter; Kinne, Raimund W

2013-01-01

Current therapies for articular cartilage defects fail to achieve qualitatively sufficient tissue regeneration, possibly because of a mismatch between the speed of cartilage rebuilding and the resorption of degradable implant polymers. The present study focused on the self-healing capacity of resident cartilage cells in conjunction with cell-free and biocompatible (but non-resorbable) bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). This was tested in a novel in vitro bovine cartilage punch model. Standardized bovine cartilage discs with a central defect filled with BNC were cultured for up to eight weeks with/without stimulation with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1. Cartilage formation and integrity were analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Content, release and neosynthesis of the matrix molecules proteoglycan/aggrecan, collagen II and collagen I were also quantified. Finally, gene expression of these molecules was profiled in resident chondrocytes and chondrocytes migrated onto the cartilage surface or the implant material. Non-stimulated and especially TGF-β1-stimulated cartilage discs displayed a preserved structural and functional integrity of the chondrocytes and surrounding matrix, remained vital in long-term culture (eight weeks) without signs of degeneration and showed substantial synthesis of cartilage-specific molecules at the protein and mRNA level. Whereas mobilization of chondrocytes from the matrix onto the surface of cartilage and implant was pivotal for successful seeding of cell-free BNC, chondrocytes did not immigrate into the central BNC area, possibly due to the relatively small diameter of its pores (2 to 5 μm). Chondrocytes on the BNC surface showed signs of successful redifferentiation over time, including increase of aggrecan/collagen type II mRNA, decrease of collagen type I mRNA and initial deposition of proteoglycan and collagen type II in long-term high-density pellet cultures. Although TGF-β1 stimulation showed protective effects on matrix integrity, effects on other parameters were limited. The present bovine cartilage punch model represents a robust, reproducible and highly suitable tool for the long-term culture of cartilage, maintaining matrix integrity and homoeostasis. As an alternative to animal studies, this model may closely reflect early stages of cartilage regeneration, allowing the evaluation of promising biomaterials with/without chondrogenic factors.

New microbial growth factor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bok, S. H.; Casida, L. E., Jr.

1977-01-01

A screening procedure was used to isolate from soil a Penicillium sp., two bacterial isolates, and a Streptomyces sp. that produced a previously unknown microbial growth factor. This factor was an absolute growth requirement for three soil bacteria. The Penicillium sp. and one of the bacteria requiring the factor, an Arthrobacter sp., were selected for more extensive study concerning the production and characteristics of the growth factor. It did not seem to be related to the siderochromes. It was not present in soil extract, rumen fluid, or any other medium component tested. It appears to be a glycoprotein of high molecular weight and has high specific activity. When added to the diets for a meadow-vole mammalian test system, it caused an increased consumption of diet without a concurrent increase in rate of weight gain.

Exercise-induced oxygen desaturation in COPD patients without resting hypoxemia.

PubMed

Andrianopoulos, Vasileios; Franssen, Frits M E; Peeters, Jos P I; Ubachs, Tim J A; Bukari, Halah; Groenen, Miriam; Burtin, Chris; Vogiatzis, Ioannis; Wouters, Emiel F M; Spruit, Martijn A

2014-01-01

Exercise-induced oxygen desaturation (EID) is associated with increased risk of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several screening tests have been proposed to predict EID, including FEV1, DLCO and baseline-SpO2. We aimed to validate a proposed cut-off of baseline-SpO2 ≤95% as simple screening procedure to predict EID during six-minute walk test (6MWT). In addition, we studied the prevalence and characteristics of patients exhibited EID to SpO2nadir ≤88%. 402 non-hypoxemic COPD patients performed 6MWT. Sensitivity and specificity of baseline SpO2 ≤95% as a cut-off to predict EID and determinants of EID were investigated. 158 patients (39%) exhibited EID. The sensitivity of baseline-SpO2 ≤95% to predict EID was 81.0%, specificity 49.2%, positive and negative predictive values were 50.8% and 80.0%, respectively. In a multivariate model, DLCO <50%, FEV1 <45%, PaO2 <10kPa, baseline-SpO2 <95%, and female sex were the strongest determinants of EID. Baseline oxygen saturation solely is inaccurate to predict EID. A combination of clinical characteristics (DLCO, FEV1, PaO2, baseline-SpO2, sex) increases the odds for EID in COPD. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improving the detectability of oxygen saturation level targets for preterm neonates: A laboratory test of tremolo and beacon sonifications.

PubMed

Deschamps, Marie-Lys; Sanderson, Penelope; Hinckfuss, Kelly; Browning, Caitlin; Loeb, Robert G; Liley, Helen; Liu, David

2016-09-01

Recent guidelines recommend oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels of 90%-95% for preterm neonates on supplemental oxygen but it is difficult to discern such levels with current pulse oximetry sonifications. We tested (1) whether adding levels of tremolo to a conventional log-linear pulse oximetry sonification would improve identification of SpO2 ranges, and (2) whether adding a beacon reference tone to conventional pulse oximetry confuses listeners about the direction of change. Participants using the Tremolo (94%) or Beacon (81%) sonifications identified SpO2 range significantly more accurately than participants using the LogLinear sonification (52%). The Beacon sonification did not confuse participants about direction of change. The Tremolo sonification may have advantages over the Beacon sonification for monitoring SpO2 of preterm neonates, but both must be further tested with clinicians in clinically representative scenarios, and with different levels of ambient noise and distractions. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microbiological Quality of Panicum maximum Grass Silage with Addition of Lactobacillus sp. as Starter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumarsih, S.; Sulistiyanto, B.; Utama, C. S.

2018-02-01

The aim of the research was to evaluate microbiological quality of Panicum maximum grass silage with addition Lactobacillus sp as starter. The completely randomized design was been used on this research with 4 treaments and 3 replications. The treatments were P0 ( Panicum maximum grass silage without addition Lactobacillus sp ), P1 ( Panicum maximum grass silage with 2% addition Lactobacillus sp), P2 (Panicum maximum grass silage with 4% addition Lactobacillus sp) and P3 (Panicum maximum grass silage with 6% addition Lactobacillus sp).The parameters were microbial populations of Panicum maximum grass silage (total lactic acid bacteria, total bacteria, total fungi, and Coliform bacteria. The data obtained were analyzed variance (ANOVA) and further tests performed Duncan’s Multiple Areas. The population of lactic acid bacteria was higher (P<0.05) and the total bacteria, fungi and Coliform were lower (P<0.05) with addition Lactobacillus sp. Microbiological quality of Panicum maximum grass silage with addition Lactobacillus sp was better than no addition Lactobacillus sp.

Chloride channel function is linked to epithelium-dependent airway relaxation.

PubMed

Fortner, C N; Lorenz, J N; Paul, R J

2001-02-01

We previously reported that substance P (SP) and ATP evoke transient, epithelium-dependent relaxation of mouse tracheal smooth muscle. Since both SP and ATP are known to evoke transepithelial Cl- secretion across epithelial monolayers, we tested the hypothesis that epithelium-dependent relaxation of mouse trachea depends on Cl- channel function. In perfused mouse tracheas, the responses to SP and ATP were both inhibited by the Cl- channel inhibitors diphenylamine-2-carboxylate and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate. Relaxation to ATP or SP was unaffected by 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DNDS), and relaxation to SP was unaffected by either DIDS or DNDS. Replacing Cl- in the buffer solutions with the impermeable anion gluconate on both sides of the trachea inhibited relaxation to SP or ATP. In contrast, increasing the gradient for Cl- secretion using Cl- free medium only in the tracheal lumen enhanced the relaxation to SP or ATP. We conclude that Cl- channel function is linked to receptor-mediated, epithelium-dependent relaxation. The finding that relaxation to SP was not blocked by DIDS suggested the involvement of a DIDS-insensitive Cl- channel, potentially the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated tracheas from CFTR-deficient mice and found that the peak relaxation to SP or ATP was not significantly different from those responses in wild-type littermates. This suggests that a DIDS-insensitive Cl- channel other than CFTR is active in the SP response. This work introduces a possible role for Cl- pathways in the modulation of airway smooth muscle function and may have implications for fundamental studies of airway function as well as therapeutic approaches to pulmonary disease.

Disk Diffusion Testing Using Candida sp. Colonies Taken Directly from CHROMagar Candida Medium May Decrease Time Required To Obtain Results

PubMed Central

Klevay, Michael; Ebinger, Alex; Diekema, Daniel; Messer, Shawn; Hollis, Richard; Pfaller, Michael

2005-01-01

We compared results of disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility testing from Candida sp. strains passaged on CHROMagar and on potato dextrose agar. The overall categorical agreements for fluconazole and voriconazole disk testing were 95% and 98% with 0% and 0.5% very major errors, respectively. Disk diffusion testing by the CLSI (formerly NCCLS) M44-A method can be performed accurately by taking inocula directly from CHROMagar. PMID:16000489

Screening for physical inactivity among adults: the value of distance walked in the six-minute walk test. A cross-sectional diagnostic study.

PubMed

Sperandio, Evandro Fornias; Arantes, Rodolfo Leite; da Silva, Rodrigo Pereira; Matheus, Agatha Caveda; Lauria, Vinícius Tonon; Bianchim, Mayara Silveira; Romiti, Marcello; Gagliardi, Antônio Ricardo de Toledo; Dourado, Victor Zuniga

2016-01-01

Accelerometry provides objective measurement of physical activity levels, but is unfeasible in clinical practice. Thus, we aimed to identify physical fitness tests capable of predicting physical inactivity among adults. Diagnostic test study developed at a university laboratory and a diagnostic clinic. 188 asymptomatic subjects underwent assessment of physical activity levels through accelerometry, ergospirometry on treadmill, body composition from bioelectrical impedance, isokinetic muscle function, postural balance on a force platform and six-minute walk test. We conducted descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression including age, sex, oxygen uptake, body fat, center of pressure, quadriceps peak torque, distance covered in six-minute walk test and steps/day in the model, as predictors of physical inactivity. We also determined sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp) and area under the curve of the main predictors by means of receiver operating characteristic curves. The prevalence of physical inactivity was 14%. The mean number of steps/day (≤ 5357) was the best predictor of physical inactivity (S = 99%; Sp = 82%). The best physical fitness test was a distance in the six-minute walk test and ≤ 96% of predicted values (S = 70%; Sp = 80%). Body fat > 25% was also significant (S = 83%; Sp = 51%). After logistic regression, steps/day and distance in the six-minute walk test remained predictors of physical inactivity. The six-minute walk test should be included in epidemiological studies as a simple and cheap tool for screening for physical inactivity.

SP-100 lithium thaw design, analysis, and testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choe, Hwang; Schrag, Michael R.; Koonce, David R.; Gamble, Robert E.; Halfen, Frank J.; Kirpich, Aaron S.

1993-01-01

The thaw design has been established for the 100 kWe SP-100 Space Reactor Power System. System thaw/startup analysis has confirmed that all system thaw requirements are met, and that rethaw and restart can be easily accomplished with this design. In addition, a series of lithium thaw characterization tests has been performed, confirming key design assumptions.

NMSBA: Aken Technologies Final Report: Toxicity Testing of Liquidoff

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

Ruffing, Anne; Jensen, Travis; Strickland, Lucas

2015-02-01

To determine the effect of Liquidoff on bacteria, three bacterial strains were tested: Escherichia coli DH5α, Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. E. coli DH5α is a Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium that is often found in normal gut flora and is commonly used the laboratory due to its fast growth rate. Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 and S. elongatus PCC 7942 are Gram-negative, aquatic, autophototrophic cyanobacteria. Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 is a marine cyanobacterium isolated from ‘fish pens’ on Magueyes Island, Puerto Rico in 1962, while S. elongatus PCC 7942 is a freshwater cyanobacterium. It should be noted thatmore » no Gram-positive bacterium was tested in this study.« less

HLA B27 antigen in Middle Eastern and Arab countries: systematic review of the strength of association with axial spondyloarthritis and methodological gaps.

PubMed

Ziade, Nelly Raymond

2017-06-29

Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is a relatively frequent and debilitating disease, with a prevalence ranging from 0.1 to 2% in the Caucasian population. Current Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria of AxSpA rely either on sacroiliitis on imaging plus one SpA feature or positive HLAB27 antigen plus two SpA features, in a patient with chronic low back pain and age at onset of less than 45 years. Therefore, HLA-B27 is a central feature in SpA classification and plays a pivotal role in referral strategies and early diagnosis. The primary objective of the study is to review the prevalence of HLA-B27 in normal and AxSpA populations in Middle Eastern and Arab Countries and to assess the strength of association between HLA-B27 antigen and AxSpA. The secondary objective is to identify the gaps in the methodology of the studies and suggest a framework for future research. Studies were included in the analysis if they reported prevalence of HLA-B27 in AxSpA and/or general population and if they covered geographical location in the Middle East or Arab countries in the Mediterranean basin. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for each country, as a measure of the strength of association between HLA-B27 and AxSpA, compared to the normal population, using the two-by-two frequency table. Available data from the literature were analyzed according to the following quality indicators: sample size, method of HLA-B27 testing, presence of control group and external validity. Twenty-seven studies were analyzed. HLAB27 prevalence in the normal population ranged from 0.3% (Oman) to 6.8% (Turkey). HLA-B27 prevalence in AxSpA ranged from 26.2% (Lebanon) to 91% (Turkey). HLA-B27 prevalence in all SpA ranged from 13.87% (Lebanon) to 69.43% (Kuwait). Peripheral SpA was less associated with HLA-B27 than AxSpA, indicating the need of differentiating between the two entities when calculating prevalence. When available (8 studies), the OR ranged from 21.63 (Morocco) to 105.6 (Syria). The high heterogeneity between the results can be due to differences in methodology: study sample size, different classification criteria, absence of control groups, HLA-B27 testing method. The prevalence of HLA-B27 in the normal population is significantly lower in the Middle Eastern and Arab countries than in Western Countries. However, HLA-B27 testing can be useful for AxSpA positive diagnosis, given the high OR. Heterogeneity between countries may be due to methodological differences.

Is it feasible to diagnose catheter-related candidemia without catheter withdrawal?

PubMed

Fernández-Cruz, Ana; Martín-Rabadán, Pablo; Suárez-Salas, Marisol; Rojas-Wettig, Loreto; Pérez, María Jesús; Guinea, Jesús; Guembe, María; Peláez, Teresa; Sánchez-Carrillo, Carlos; Bouza, Emilio

2014-07-01

Many bloodstream infections (BSI) in patients with central venous catheters (CVC) are not catheter-related (CR). Assessment of catheter involvement without catheter withdrawal has not been studied in candidemia. We assessed the value of conservative techniques to evaluate catheters as the origin of candidemia in patients with CVC in a prospective cohort study (superficial Gram stain and culture, Kite technique (Gram stain and culture of the first 1 cm blood drawn from the CVC), proportion of positive blood cultures (PPBCs), differential time to positivity (DTP), and minimal time to positivity (MTP)). All catheters were cultured at withdrawal. From June 2008 to January 2012, 22 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. CR-candidemia (CRC) was confirmed in 10. Validity values for predicting CRC were: superficial Gram stain (S, 30%; Sp, 81.83%; PPV, 60%; NPV, 56.3%; Ac, 57.1%), superficial cultures (S, 40%; Sp, 75%; PPV, 57.1%; NPV, 60%; Ac, 59.1%), Kite Gram stain (S, 33.3%; Sp, 66.7%; PPV, 50%; NPV, 50%; Ac, 50%), Kite culture (S, 80%; Sp, 66.7%; PPV, 66.7%; NPV, 80%; Ac, 72.7%), PPBC (S, 50%; Sp, 41.7%; PPV, 41.7%; NPV, 50.0%; Ac, 45.5%), DTP (S, 100%; Sp, 33.3%; PPV, 55.6%; NPV, 100%; Ac, 63.6%), and MTTP (S, 70%; Sp, 58.3%; PPV, 58.3%; NPV, 70%; Ac, 63.6%). While combinations of two tests improved sensitivity and NPV, more than two tests did not improve validity values. Classic tests to assess CR-BSI caused by bacteria cannot be reliably used to diagnose CRC. Combinations of tests could be useful, but more and larger studies are required. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A comparison between two brine shrimp assays to detect in vitro cytotoxicity in marine natural products

PubMed Central

Carballo, José Luis; Hernández-Inda, Zaira L; Pérez, Pilar; García-Grávalos, María D

2002-01-01

Background The brine shrimp lethality assay is considered a useful tool for preliminary assessment of toxicity. It has also been suggested for screening pharmacological activities in plant extracts. However, we think that it is necessary to evaluate the suitability of the brine shrimp methods before they are used as a general bio-assay to test natural marine products for pharmacological activity. Material and Methods The bioactivity of the isopropanolic (2-PrOH) extracts of 14 species of marine invertebrates and 6 species of macroalgae was evaluated with the shrimp lethality assay (lethality assay), as well as with another assay based on the inhibition of hatching of the cyst (hatchability assay). The extracts were also assayed for cytotoxicity against two human cell lines, lung carcinoma A-549 and colon carcinoma HT-29, in order to assess the sensitivity of the shrimp assays to detect cytotoxic activity. Results Two sponges (Hyatella sp, Dysidea sp.), two gorgonians (Pacifigorgia adamsii, Muricea sp.), one tunicate (Polyclinum laxum), and three echinoderms (Holothuria impatiens, Pseudoconus californica and Pharia pyramidata) showed a strong cytostatic (growth inhibition) and cytotoxic effect. The hatchability assay showed a strong activity in 4 of the species active against the two human cell lines tested (Hyatella sp, Dysidea sp., Pacifigorgia adamsii and Muricea sp.), and the lethality assay also showed a high lethality in 4 of them (Pacifigorgia adamsii, Muricea sp., Polyclinum laxum, and Pharia pyramidata). Each bioassay detected activity in 50% of the species that were considered active against the two human cell lines tested. However, the simultaneous use of both bioassays increased the percentage to 75%. Conclusions Our results seem consistent with the correlation previously established between cytotoxicity and brine shrimp lethality in plant extracts. We suggest using both bioassays simultaneously to test natural marine products for pharmacological activity. PMID:12270067

78 FR 20352 - Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Applications

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-04

... Applicant: Burns and McDonnell Engineering, Kansas City, Missouri. Applicant requests an amendment to a..., identify, and release using mist nets and harp traps; collect tissue samples using wing punches, hair...

Environmental Elementals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Teaching PreK-8, 1995

1995-01-01

Describes five new and creative products for classroom use to help celebrate Earth Day (April 22): a craft book, curriculum activity guide, workshop series, punch out kit, and interactive book. Product descriptions include price and ordering information. (TM)

Punch stretching process monitoring using acoustic emission signal analysis. II - Application of frequency domain deconvolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liang, Steven Y.; Dornfeld, David A.; Nickerson, Jackson A.

1987-01-01

The coloring effect on the acoustic emission signal due to the frequency response of the data acquisition/processing instrumentation may bias the interpretation of AE signal characteristics. In this paper, a frequency domain deconvolution technique, which involves the identification of the instrumentation transfer functions and multiplication of the AE signal spectrum by the inverse of these system functions, has been carried out. In this way, the change in AE signal characteristics can be better interpreted as the result of the change in only the states of the process. Punch stretching process was used as an example to demonstrate the application of the technique. Results showed that, through the deconvolution, the frequency characteristics of AE signals generated during the stretching became more distinctive and can be more effectively used as tools for process monitoring.

Experimental Investigation on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Marble Dust Particulate-Filled Needle-Punched Nonwoven Jute Fiber/Epoxy Composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ankush; Patnaik, Amar

2018-03-01

The present investigation evaluates the effects of waste marble dust, collected from the marble industries of Rajasthan, India, on the mechanical properties of needle-punched nonwoven jute fiber/epoxy composites. The composites with varying filler contents from 0 wt.% to 30 wt.% marble dust were prepared using vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding. The influences of the filler material on the void content, tensile strength, flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and thermal conductivity of the hybrid composites have been analyzed experimentally under the desired optimal conditions. The addition of marble dust up to 30 wt.% increases the flexural strength, ILSS, and thermal conductivity, but decreases the tensile strength. Subsequently, the fractured surfaces of the particulate-filled jute/epoxy composites were analyzed microstructurally by field-emission scanning electron microscopy.

A new recreational mechanism for the boxer's knuckle: cause for concern?

PubMed

Javed, M; Hemington-Gorse, S; Shokrollahi, K

2011-07-01

Traumatic injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joints are a common occurrence in professional and recreational sports such as boxing and martial arts, especially the fourth and fifth metacarpals. Injury usually results from a forceful impact with a clenched fist. The spectrum of injuries varies from simple skin laceration to extensor mechanism disruption, dorsal capsule rupture, metacarpal fractures and carpometacarpal joint injuries. These injuries are well documented in boxers as well as in patients who had been involved in fights and assaults. We report on two patients sustaining similar injuries to the dorsum of the hand but following punching of a recreational 'punching machine'. We describe the patterns of injury encountered and summarise the treatment. For clinical and safety reasons as well as the potential medicolegal implications, we believe it is important to highlight this mechanism of injury.

A new recreational mechanism for the boxer’s knuckle: cause for concern?

PubMed Central

Hemington-Gorse, S; Shokrollahi, K

2011-01-01

Traumatic injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joints are a common occurrence in professional and recreational sports such as boxing and martial arts, especially the fourth and fifth metacarpals. Injury usually results from a forceful impact with a clenched fist. The spectrum of injuries varies from simple skin laceration to extensor mechanism disruption, dorsal capsule rupture, metacarpal fractures and carpometacarpal joint injuries. These injuries are well documented in boxers as well as in patients who had been involved in fights and assaults. We report on two patients sustaining similar injuries to the dorsum of the hand but following punching of a recreational ’punching machine’. We describe the patterns of injury encountered and summarise the treatment. For clinical and safety reasons as well as the potential medicolegal implications, we believe it is important to highlight this mechanism of injury. PMID:21943451

What boxing-related stimuli reveal about response behaviour.

PubMed

Ottoboni, Giovanni; Russo, Gabriele; Tessari, Alessia

2015-01-01

When two athletes meet inside the ropes of the boxing ring to fight, their cognitive systems have to respond as quickly as possible to a manifold of stimuli to assure victory. In the present work, we studied the pre-attentive mechanisms, which form the basis of an athlete's ability in reacting to an opponent's punches. Expert boxers, beginner boxers and people with no experience of boxing performed a Simon-like task where they judged the colour of the boxing gloves worn by athletes in attack postures by pressing two lateralised keys. Although participants were not instructed to pay attention to the direction of the punches, beginner boxers' responses resembled a defence-related pattern, expert boxers' resembled counterattacks, whereas non-athletes' responses were not influenced by the unrelated task information. Results are discussed in the light of an expertise-related action simulation account.

The principle of a three-staged operation in the surgery of acne scars.

PubMed

Whang, K K; Lee, M

1999-01-01

Acne scars cannot be effectively corrected by a single treatment modality because of their widely varied depth and width. We assessed the effectiveness of staged combinations of several surgical modalities in the treatment of acne scars. Focal chemical peeling, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, scar excision, punch grafting, and dermabrasion were used. Initially, focal chemical peeling was performed on all patients and then CO2 laser, scar excision, and punch grafts were used for deep scars. Finally, dermabrasion was done for the remaining scars. Seventy-five percent of patients showed excellent or good results. The degree of improvement increased as the follow-up periods and number of focal chemical peeling procedures increased and as the 3-staged operation progressed. A 3-staged operation is effective in the treatment of patients with various types of acne scars.

Biopsy of the buccal mucosa in oral lichen planus: the traditional method versus the use of a new pressure forceps.

PubMed

Bermejo-Fenoll, Ambrosio; López-Jornet, María Pía; Jiménez-Torres, María José; Camacho-Alonso, Fabio; Orduña-Domingo, Albina

2007-07-01

The authors designed a pressure forceps, called the "B forceps," for use in performing biopsies. They compared biopsy specimens taken with and without the aid of the B forceps from buccal mucosa of 84 patients divided equally into two groups, all of whom satisfied the World Health Organization's diagnostic criteria for oral lichen planus. They analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of using this instrument. The 42 patients in group A underwent a conventional biopsy (29 with a scalpel and 13 with a punch). The 42 patients in group B underwent a biopsy performed with the B forceps and a punch. The authors studied artifacts of fragmentation, pseudocysts, crushing, fissures and hemorrhages histologically in both groups. There were no significant differences within group A between the subjects who had undergone either the scalpel or the punch biopsy. There were, however, significant differences between groups A and B. Group B experienced less fragmentation (P = .021), fewer fissures (P = .001) and fewer hemorrhages (P = .001). The new B forceps was a useful aid in the performance of biopsies. It improved visibility and reduced the time needed for the procedure. Biopsy specimens taken with the B forceps also had histologically fewer artifacts than did those taken without the B forceps. This technique using the B forceps has several advantages, including speed, because the ischemia produced by the clamp stabilizes the tissue and increases visibility, facilitating dissection. The time needed for surgical removal thus is shortened.

[Laser Raman spectral investigations of the carbon structure of LiFePO4/C cathode material].

PubMed

Yang, Chao; Li, Yong-Mei; Zhao, Quan-Feng; Gan, Xiang-Kun; Yao, Yao-Chun

2013-10-01

In the present paper, Laser Raman spectral was used to study the carbon structure of LiFePO4/C positive material. The samples were also been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM), selected area electron diffraction (SEAD) and resistivity test. The result indicated that compared with the sp2/sp3 peak area ratios the I(D)/I(G) ratios are not only more evenly but also exhibited some similar rules. However, the studies indicated that there exist differences of I(D)/ I(G) ratios and sp2/sp3 peak area ratios among different points in the same sample. And compared with the samples using citric acid or sucrose as carbon source, the sample which was synthetized with mixed carbon source (mixed by citric acid and sucrose) exhibited higher I(D)/I(G) ratios and sp2/sp3 peak area ratios. Also, by contrast, the differences of I(D)/I(G) ratios and sp2/sp3 peak area ratios among different points in the same sample are less than the single carbon source samples' datas. In the scanning electron microscopy (sem) and transmission electron microscopy (sem) images, we can observed the uneven distributions of carbon coating of the primary particles and the secondary particles, this may be the main reason for not being uniform of difference data in the same sample. The obvious discreteness will affect the normal use of Raman spectroscopy in these tests.

Rhodotorula bloemfonteinensis sp. nov., Rhodotorula eucalyptica sp. nov., Rhodotorula orientis sp. nov. and Rhodotorula pini sp. nov., yeasts isolated from monoterpene-rich environments.

PubMed

Pohl, Carolina H; Smit, Martha S; Albertyn, Jacobus

2011-09-01

Recent rDNA sequencing of 25 isolates from a previous study, during which limonene-utilizing yeasts were isolated from monoterpene-rich environments by using 1,4-disubstituted cyclohexanes as sole carbon sources, led to the identification of four hitherto unknown Rhodotorula species. Analyses of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 region as well as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) domain indicated that two isolates (CBS 8499(T) and CBS 10736) were identical and were closely related to Rhodotorula cycloclastica, a previously described limonene-utilizing yeast. These novel isolates differed from known yeast species and could be distinguished from R. cycloclastica by standard physiological tests. The other three isolates represent three novel Rhodotorula species, closely related to Sporobolomyces magnisporus. These three species could also be distinguished from other Rhodotorula species by standard physiological tests. Based on these results, we suggest that the new isolates represent novel species, for which the names Rhodotorula eucalyptica sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8499(T)  = NRRL Y-48408(T)), Rhodotorula pini sp. nov. (type strain CBS 10735(T)  = NRRL Y-48410(T)), Rhodotorula bloemfonteinensis sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8598(T)  = NRRL Y-48407(T)) and Rhodotorula orientis sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8594(T)  = NRRL Y-48719(T)) are proposed. R. eucalyptica and R. pini can also utilize limonene.

Occurrence of substance P(1-7) in the metabolism of substance P and its antinociceptive activity at the mouse spinal cord level.

PubMed

Sakurada, C; Watanabe, C; Sakurada, T

2004-04-01

Substance P (SP), which is known as a pain transmitter or modulator in the spinal cord, was degraded by the synaptic membranes of the mouse spinal cord. The major metabolites of SP were phenylalanine, SP(1-6), SP(1-7), SP(1-9), SP(8-9) and SP(10-11). Degradation of SP was inhibited by a metal chelator, o-phenanthroline, and also by specific inhibitors of endopeptidase-24.11, thiorphan and phosphoramidon. In contrast, captopril (a specific inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme), bestatin (a specific inhibitor of aminopeptidase) and Z-321 (a specific inhibitor of prolylendopeptidase) showed little effect on the degradation of SP. The accumulation of the major cleavage products was strongly inhibited by phosphoramidon and thirophan, as well as the initial cleavage of SP. Thus, endopeptidase-24.11 plays a major role in SP degradation in the mouse spinal cord. Additional in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of SP(1-7), a major product of SP that was detected after incubation with spinal synaptic membranes. In the mouse tail-flick test, the intrathecal administration of SP(1-7) (1.0-4.0 pmol) increased tail-flick latency in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that degradation of SP by spinal endopeptidase-24.11 may lead to the formation of SP(1-7), which has an ability to produce antinociceptive effects at the mouse spinal cord level.

SpSM30 gene family expression patterns in embryonic and adult biomineralized tissues of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

PubMed

Killian, Christopher E; Croker, Lindsay; Wilt, Fred H

2010-01-01

The SpSM30 gene family of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is comprised of six members, designated SpSM30A through SpSM30F (Livingston et al., 2006). The SpSM30 proteins are found uniquely in embryonic and adult mineralized tissues of the sea urchin. Previous studies have revealed that SpSM30 proteins are occluded within the embryonic endoskeleton and adult mineralized tissues (Killian and Wilt, 1996; Mann et al., 2008a,b; Urry et al., 2000). Furthermore, some of the SpSM30 proteins are among the most abundant of the approximately four-dozen integral matrix proteins of the larval spicule (Killian and Wilt, 1996). The amino acid sequence, protein domain architecture, and contiguity within the genome strongly support the supposition that the six genes constitute a gene family. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used in the present study to describe the time course of expression of the family members during embryonic development, and their expression in adult tissues. SpSM30A, B, C and E are expressed, albeit at different levels, during overt spicule deposition in the embryo with some differences in the precise timing of expression. SpSM30D is not expressed in the embryo, and SpSM30F is expressed transiently and at low levels just prior to overt spicule formation. Whole mount in situ hybridization studies show that SpSM30A, B, C, and E are expressed exclusively in primary mesenchyme (PMC) cells and their descendants. In addition, tissue fractionation studies indicate that SpSM30F expression is highly enriched in PMCs. Each adult tissue examined expresses a different cohort of the SpSM30 family members at varying levels: SpSM30A mRNA is not expressed in adult tissues. Its expression is limited to the embryo. Conversely, SpSM30D mRNA is not expressed in the embryo, but is expressed in adult spines and teeth. SpSM30B and SpSM30C are expressed at modest levels in all mineralized adult tissues; SpSM30E is expressed highly in tooth and test; and SpSM30F is expressed in spine and at low levels in the other adult tissues except the test. Relative levels of expression of the several family members in these different tissues vary widely. It is likely SpSM30 proteins play a vital, but still unknown, role in biomineralization of these tissues during development. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Substance P and Calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in human periodontal ligament after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files.

PubMed

Caviedes-Bucheli, J; Rios-Osorio, N; Rey-Rojas, M; Laguna-Rivero, F; Azuero-Holguin, M M; Diaz, L E; Curtidor, H; Castaneda-Ramirez, J J; Munoz, H R

2018-05-17

To quantify Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in healthy human periodontal ligament from premolars after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files. A total of 50 human periodontal ligament samples were obtained from healthy mandibular premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. Prior to extraction, 40 of these premolars were equally divided into four groups, and root canals were prepared using four different systems: Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and a hand instrumentation technique. The remaining 10 healthy premolars were extracted without treatment and served as a negative control group. All periodontal ligament samples were processed, and SP and CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to establish significant differences between groups and LSD post hoc comparisons were also performed. Greater SP and CGRP values were found in the hand instrumentation group, followed by the XP EndoShaper, WaveOne Gold and the Reciproc groups. The lower SP and CGRP values were for the healthy periodontal ligament group. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). Post hoc Least Significant Difference (LSD) tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in SP and CGRP expression between all the comparisons except for the Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold group (P > 0.05). All the root canal preparation techniques tested increased SP and CGRP expression in human periodontal ligament, with hand files and XP EndoShaper instruments being associated with greater neuropeptide release compared to Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold files. © 2018 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Is there an alternative to pre-flight hypoxic challenge testing in scoliotic patients?

PubMed

Bandyopadhyay, Debrata; Oscroft, Nicholas S; Shneerson, John M; Smith, Ian E

2010-10-01

Hypoxic challenge testing (HCT) is not readily available in all hospitals. It has recently been shown that resting oximetry does not reliably predict the results of HCT in patients with extrapulmonary restrictive lung disease. We assessed other clinical tests to see if they might be used as an alternative screen for HCT. People with primary thoracic scoliosis were recruited. Resting SpO(2), arterial blood gases (ABG's), lung function and shuttle walking test (SWT) were measured. All subjects underwent HCT breathing an inhaled oxygen fraction of 15% for 20 min, or until SpO(2) fell below 85%, when ABG's were taken. Fourteen people (5 male) with thoracic scoliosis, Cobb angle 93 (31) degrees , aged 65 (8.5) years, FEV(1) 0.86 (0.4) L, FVC 1.2 (0.4)L were studied. The resting SpO(2) was 96 (2) %, PaO(2) 9.2 (1) kPa and PaCO(2) 6.1 (0.4) kPa. HCT was positive in 11 subjects (PaO(2) <6.6 kPa). Eight of 11 HCT positive subjects had a resting SpO(2) > 95%. Positive correlation was found between SpO(2) at SWT termination and PaO(2) following HCT (r = 0.56, p = 0.02). Those with saturations of 92% or under at SWT termination had positive HCT. Despite normal resting SpO(2) subjects with thoracic scoliosis may have positive HCT. Current recommendations for air travel do not accurately identify these people. Desaturation following a SWT may provide a useful screening tool, however a low threshold for performing HCT on people with thoracic scoliosis prior to air travel is warranted.

Sensitivity and specificity of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, histopathology, and immunohistochemical labeling for the detection of Rift Valley fever virus in naturally infected cattle and sheep.

PubMed

Odendaal, Lieza; Fosgate, Geoffrey T; Romito, Marco; Coetzer, Jacobus A W; Clift, Sarah J

2014-01-01

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), histopathology, and immunohistochemical labeling (IHC) were performed on liver specimens from 380 naturally infected cattle and sheep necropsied during the 2010 Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic in South Africa. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of real-time RT-PCR, histopathology, and IHC were estimated in a latent-class model using a Bayesian framework. The Se and Sp of real-time RT-PCR were estimated as 97.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 95.2-98.8%) and 71.7% (95% CI = 65-77.9%) respectively. The Se and Sp of histopathology were estimated as 94.6% (95% CI = 91-97.2%) and 92.3% (95% CI = 87.6-95.8%), respectively. The Se and Sp of IHC were estimated as 97.6% (95% CI = 93.9-99.8%) and 99.4% (95% CI = 96.9-100%), respectively. Decreased Sp of real-time RT-PCR was ascribed to cross-contamination of samples. Stratified analysis of the data suggested variations in test accuracy with fetuses and severely autolyzed specimens. The Sp of histopathology in fetuses (83%) was 9.3% lower than the sample population (92.3%). The Se of IHC decreased from 97.6% to 81.5% in the presence of severe autolysis. The diagnostic Se and Sp of histopathology was higher than expected, confirming the value of routine postmortem examinations and histopathology of liver specimens. Aborted fetuses, however, should be screened using a variety of tests in areas endemic for RVF, and results from severely autolyzed specimens should be interpreted with caution. The most feasible testing option for countries lacking suitably equipped laboratories seems to be routine histology in combination with IHC.

Characterization of plant growth-promoting traits of free-living diazotrophic bacteria and their inoculation effects on growth and nitrogen uptake of crop plants.

PubMed

Islam, Md Rashedul; Madhaiyan, M; Deka Boruah, Hari P; Yim, Woojong; Lee, Gillseung; Saravanan, V S; Fu, Qingling; Hu, Hongqing; Sa, Tongmin

2009-10-01

The search for diverse plant growth-promoting (PGP) diazotrophic bacteria is gaining momentum as efforts are made to exploit them as biofertilizers for various economically important crops. In the present study, 17 diazotrophic strains belonging to eight different genera isolated from rice paddy fields were screened for multiple PGP traits and evaluated for their inoculation effects on canola and rice plants. All of the strains tested positive for 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity and production of indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia (NH3). Additionally, four of the strains were able to solubilize phosphorus (P), five tested positive for zinc (Zn) solubilization and sulfur (S) oxidation, and eight strains produced siderophores. Based on the presence of multiple PGP traits, 10 strains were selected for inoculation studies. Treatment with Herbaspirillum sp. RFNB26 resulted in maximum root length (54.3%), seedling vigor, and dry biomass in canola, whereas Paenibacillus sp. RFNB4 exhibited the lowest activity under gnotobiotic conditions. However, under pot culture conditions, Paenibacillus sp. RFNB4 significantly increased plant height and dry biomass production by 42.3% and 29.5%, respectively. Canola plants and rhizosphere soils inoculated with Bacillus sp. RFNB6 exhibited significantly higher nitrogenase activity. In greenhouse experiments, Serratia sp. RFNB18 increased rice plant height by 35.1%, Xanthomonas sp. RFNB24 enhanced biomass production by 84.6%, and rice rhizosphere soils inoculated with Herbaspirillum sp. RFNB26 exhibited the highest nitrogenase activity. Our findings indicate that most of the selected strains possess multiple PGP properties that significantly improve the growth parameters of the two plants when tested under controlled conditions.

Software Testing and Verification in Climate Model Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clune, Thomas L.; Rood, RIchard B.

2011-01-01

Over the past 30 years most climate models have grown from relatively simple representations of a few atmospheric processes to a complex multi-disciplinary system. Computer infrastructure over that period has gone from punch card mainframes to modem parallel clusters. Model implementations have become complex, brittle, and increasingly difficult to extend and maintain. Existing verification processes for model implementations rely almost exclusively upon some combination of detailed analysis of output from full climate simulations and system-level regression tests. In additional to being quite costly in terms of developer time and computing resources, these testing methodologies are limited in terms of the types of defects that can be detected, isolated and diagnosed. Mitigating these weaknesses of coarse-grained testing with finer-grained "unit" tests has been perceived as cumbersome and counter-productive. In the commercial software sector, recent advances in tools and methodology have led to a renaissance for systematic fine-grained testing. We discuss the availability of analogous tools for scientific software and examine benefits that similar testing methodologies could bring to climate modeling software. We describe the unique challenges faced when testing complex numerical algorithms and suggest techniques to minimize and/or eliminate the difficulties.

Substance P antagonists and mucociliary activity in rabbit.

PubMed

Lindberg, S; Mercke, U

1985-06-01

Substance P (SP) is known to accelerate mucociliary (m.c.) activity in the rabbit maxillary sinus in vivo. The physiological significance of this finding was investigated by testing three putative SP antagonists. [Arg5, D-Trp7,9, Nle11]SP5-11 could not be used as an antagonist because it stimulated m.c. activity. [D-Arg1, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]SP had no effect on the m.c. activity changes induced by SP. [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]SP was found to be an effective antagonist, 1 mg/kg of this drug reversibly inhibiting both the effects of 0.1 micrograms/kg SP and the stimulating effect of 1.0 micrograms/kg bradykinin and 30.0 micrograms/kg capsaicin; the stimulating effect of 0.5 micrograms/kg methacholine was not inhibited. It is suggested that bradykinin and capsaicin stimulate m.c. activity at least partly by releasing SP. The results of this investigation also support the view that the accelerating effect of SP on m.c. activity reflects physiological SP-mediated protective mechanisms in the airways. It is concluded that [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]SP is a useful pharmacological tool for studying the role of SP in the control of m.c. activity in rabbits.

Interpretations of Antibody Responses to Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis gm Flagellin in Poultry Flocks Are Enhanced by a Kinetics-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

PubMed Central

McDonough, Patrick L.; Jacobson, Richard H.; Timoney, John F.; Mutalib, Ahmed; Kradel, David C.; Chang, Yung-fu; Shin, Sang J.; Lein, Donald H.; Trock, Susan; Wheeler, Kaye

1998-01-01

Many regulatory and diagnostic programs for the detection of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis infection in commercial poultry flocks have relied on rapid Pullorum agglutination tests to screen birds because of the shared antigens of S. enterica Enteritidis and S. enterica Pullorum and Gallinarum; however, the use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format affords better analytical sensitivity than crude agglutination tests. In this study, we adapted our earlier conventional indirect ELISA, using gm flagellin as the antigen, to a kinetics-based, computer-controlled ELISA (KELA). The KELA was used to screen for flagellin antibody from three commercial flocks: (i) a large flock involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture trace back from a human S. enterica Enteritidis foodborne outbreak (n = 3,209), (ii) a flock infected with the endemic S. enterica Enteritidis serotype but which also had multiple other salmonella serotypes (n = 65), and (iii) an S. enterica Pullorum-infected flock (n = 12). The first flock (S. enterica Enteritidis prevalence of 2.45% based on culture) provided a field test of the KELA and allowed the calculation of diagnostic sensitivity (D-Sn) and diagnostic specificity (D-Sp). With a cutoff of 10 (used for screening flocks [i.e., high sensitivity]), the KELA has a D-Sn of 95.2% and a D-Sp of 18.5%; with a cutoff of 140 (used in confirmatory flock testing [i.e., high specificity]), the KELA has a D-Sn of 28.0% and a D-Sp of 99.1%. We found that with a cutoff of 60 (D-Sn = 63.1%; D-Sp = 91.6%), we could eliminate reactions in the KELA caused by other non-S. enterica Enteritidis salmonellae. The KELA was also compared to two commercial rapid Pullorum tests, the Solvay (D-Sn = 94.9%; D-Sp = 55.5%) and the Vineland (D-Sn = 62.0%; D-Sp = 75.3%). PMID:9665965

Interpretations of antibody responses to Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis gm flagellin in poultry flocks are enhanced by a kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

PubMed

McDonough, P L; Jacobson, R H; Timoney, J F; Mutalib, A; Kradel, D C; Chang, Y F; Shin, S J; Lein, D H; Trock, S; Wheeler, K

1998-07-01

Many regulatory and diagnostic programs for the detection of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis infection in commercial poultry flocks have relied on rapid Pullorum agglutination tests to screen birds because of the shared antigens of S. enterica Enteritidis and S. enterica Pullorum and Gallinarum; however, the use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format affords better analytical sensitivity than crude agglutination tests. In this study, we adapted our earlier conventional indirect ELISA, using gm flagellin as the antigen, to a kinetics-based, computer-controlled ELISA (KELA). The KELA was used to screen for flagellin antibody from three commercial flocks: (i) a large flock involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture trace back from a human S. enterica Enteritidis foodborne outbreak (n = 3,209), (ii) a flock infected with the endemic S. enterica Enteritidis serotype but which also had multiple other Salmonella serotypes (n = 65), and (iii) an S. enterica Pullorum-infected flock (n = 12). The first flock (S. enterica Enteritidis prevalence of 2.45% based on culture) provided a field test of the KELA and allowed the calculation of diagnostic sensitivity (D-Sn) and diagnostic specificity (D-Sp). With a cutoff of 10 (used for screening flocks [i.e., high sensitivity]), the KELA has a D-Sn of 95.2% and a D-Sp of 18.5%; with a cutoff of 140 (used in confirmatory flock testing [i.e., high specificity]), the KELA has a D-Sn of 28.0% and a D-Sp of 99.1%. We found that with a cutoff of 60 (D-Sn = 63.1%; D-Sp = 91.6%), we could eliminate reactions in the KELA caused by other non-S. enterica Enteritidis salmonellae. The KELA was also compared to two commercial rapid Pullorum tests, the Solvay (D-Sn = 94.9%; D-Sp = 55.5%) and the Vineland (D-Sn = 62.0%; D-Sp = 75.3%).

Safety pharmacology--current and emerging concepts.

PubMed

Hamdam, Junnat; Sethu, Swaminathan; Smith, Trevor; Alfirevic, Ana; Alhaidari, Mohammad; Atkinson, Jeffrey; Ayala, Mimieveshiofuo; Box, Helen; Cross, Michael; Delaunois, Annie; Dermody, Ailsa; Govindappa, Karthik; Guillon, Jean-Michel; Jenkins, Rosalind; Kenna, Gerry; Lemmer, Björn; Meecham, Ken; Olayanju, Adedamola; Pestel, Sabine; Rothfuss, Andreas; Sidaway, James; Sison-Young, Rowena; Smith, Emma; Stebbings, Richard; Tingle, Yulia; Valentin, Jean-Pierre; Williams, Awel; Williams, Dominic; Park, Kevin; Goldring, Christopher

2013-12-01

Safety pharmacology (SP) is an essential part of the drug development process that aims to identify and predict adverse effects prior to clinical trials. SP studies are described in the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) S7A and S7B guidelines. The core battery and supplemental SP studies evaluate effects of a new chemical entity (NCE) at both anticipated therapeutic and supra-therapeutic exposures on major organ systems, including cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal. This review outlines the current practices and emerging concepts in SP studies including frontloading, parallel assessment of core battery studies, use of non-standard species, biomarkers, and combining toxicology and SP assessments. Integration of the newer approaches to routine SP studies may significantly enhance the scope of SP by refining and providing mechanistic insight to potential adverse effects associated with test compounds. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Screening and evaluation of antiparasitic and in vitro anticancer activities of Panamanian endophytic fungi.

PubMed

Martínez-Luis, Sergio; Cherigo, Lilia; Higginbotham, Sarah; Arnold, Elizabeth; Spadafora, Carmenza; Ibañez, Alicia; Gerwick, William H; Cubilla-Rios, Luis

2011-06-01

Many compounds produced by fungi have relevant pharmaceutical applications. The purpose of this study was to collect and isolate endophytic fungi from different regions of Panama and then to test their potential therapeutic activities against Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi as well as their anticancer activities in MCF-7 cells. Of the 25 fungal isolates obtained, ten of them had good anti-parasitic potential, showing selective activity against L. donovani; four had significant anti-malarial activity; and three inhibited the growth of T. cruzi. Anticancer activity was demonstrated in four isolates. Of the active isolates, Edenia sp. strain F0755, Xylaria sp. strain F1220, Aspergillus sp. strain F1544, Mycoleptodiscus sp. strain F0194, Phomopsis sp. strain F1566, Pycnoporus sp. strain F0305, and Diaporthe sp. strain F1647 showed the most promise based on their selective bioactivity and lack of toxicity in the assays.

Protease Production by Different Thermophilic Fungi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macchione, Mariana M.; Merheb, Carolina W.; Gomes, Eleni; da Silva, Roberto

A comparative study was carried out to evaluate protease production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF) by nine different thermophilic fungi — Thermoascus aurantiacus Miehe, Thermomyces lanuginosus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, Aspergillus flavus 1.2, Aspergillus sp. 13.33, Aspergillus sp. 13.34, Aspergillus sp. 13.35, Rhizomucor pusillus 13.36 and Rhizomucor sp. 13.37 — using substrates containing proteins to induce enzyme secretion. Soybean extract (soybean milk), soybean flour, milk powder, rice, and wheat bran were tested. The most satisfactory results were obtained when using wheat bran in SSF. The fungi that stood out in SSF were T. lanuginosus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, Aspergillus sp. 13.34, Aspergillus sp. 13.35, and Rhizomucor sp. 13.37, and those in SmF were T. aurantiacus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, and 13.37. In both fermentation systems, A. flavus 1.2 and R. pusillus 13.36 presented the lowest levels of proteolytic activity.

Quantification of phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1, 18:1/18:1, and 16:0/16:0 in venous blood and venous and capillary dried blood spots from patients in alcohol withdrawal and control volunteers.

PubMed

Kummer, Natalie; Ingels, Ann-Sofie; Wille, Sarah M R; Hanak, Catherine; Verbanck, Paul; Lambert, Willy E E; Samyn, Nele; Stove, Christophe P

2016-01-01

Phosphatidylethanol species (PEths) are promising biomarkers of alcohol consumption. Here, we report on the set-up, validation, and application of a novel UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the quantification of PEth 16:0/18:1, PEth 18:1/18:1, and PEth 16:0/16:0 in whole blood (30 μL) and in venous (V, 30 μL) or capillary (C, 3 punches (3 mm)) dried blood spots (DBS). The methods were linear from 10 (LLOQ) to 2000 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1, from 10 (LLOQ) to 1940 ng/mL for PEth 18:1/18:1, and from 19 (LLOQ) to 3872 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/16:0. Extraction efficiencies were higher than 55% (RSD < 18%) and matrix effects compensated for by IS were between 77 and 125% (RSD < 10%). Accuracy, repeatability, and intermediate precision fulfilled acceptance criteria (bias and RSD below 13%). Validity of the procedure for determination of PEth 16:0/18:1 in blood was demonstrated by the successful participation in a proficiency test. The quantification of PEths in C-DBS was not significantly influenced by the hematocrit, punch localization, or spot volume. The stability of PEths in V-DBS stored at room temperature was demonstrated up to 6 months. The method was applied to authentic samples (whole blood, V-DBS, and C-DBS) from 50 inpatients in alcohol withdrawal and 50 control volunteers. Applying a cut-off value to detect inpatients at 221 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1 provided no false positive results and a good sensitivity (86%). Comparison of quantitative results (Bland-Altman plot, Passing-Bablok regression, and Wilcoxon signed rank test) revealed that V-DBS and C-DBS were valid alternatives to venous blood for the detection of alcohol consumption.

Underwater Grass Comeback Helps Chesapeake Bay

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The fortified Susquehanna Flats, the largest bed of underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay, seems able to withstand a major weather punch. Its resilience is contributing to an overall increase in the Bay’s submerged aquatic vegetation.

48 CFR 1552.211-73 - Level of effort-cost-reimbursement term contract.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... programmers and not support personnel such as company management, typists, and key punch operators even though... specified in paragraph (a) includes Contractor, subcontractor, and consultant labor hours. (c) If the...

Transit Fare Prepayment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-08-01

Fare prepayment encompasses all methods of paying for transit rides other than by cash, namely, tickets, tokens, punch cards, passes, and permits. The purpose of this study is the examination of the overall ridership and revenue impacts of ongoing an...

Environmental conditions affecting exopolysaccharide production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus sp., and Ochrobactrum sp.

PubMed

Kiliç, Nur Koçberber; Dönmez, Gönül

2008-06-15

Three different chromium-resistant microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus sp., and Ochrobactrum sp.) were tested with regard to their EPS production at different pH levels, temperatures, Cr(VI) concentrations, and incubation periods. The optimum pH level was 7 for P. aeruginosa and Micrococcus sp., while it was 8 for Ochrobactrum sp. according to the highest EPS amount at 100 mg/L Cr(VI) concentration. The highest production of EPSs by the three bacteria was obtained under different environmental conditions. P. aeruginosa produced the highest EPS (863.3 mg/L) after incubation for 96 h on media with 50 mg/L Cr(VI) at 20 degrees C, Micrococcus sp. gave the highest yield (444.6 mg/L) after incubation for 72 h on media with 100 mg/L Cr(VI) at the same temperature, and Ochrobactrum sp. had the highest production (430.5 mg/L) on media with 150 mg/L Cr(VI) at 30 degrees C at the end of 48 h of incubation.

Factors governing hole expansion ratio of steel sheets with smooth sheared edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Jae Ik; Jung, Jaimyun; Lee, Hak Hyeon; Kim, Gyo-Sung; Kim, Hyoung Seop

2016-11-01

Stretch-flangeability measured using hole expansion test (HET) represents the ability of a material to form into a complex shaped component. Despite its importance in automotive applications of advanced high strength steels, stretch-flangeability is a less known sheet metal forming property. In this paper, we investigate the factors governing hole expansion ratio (HER) by means of tensile test and HET. We correlate a wide range of tensile properties with HERs of steel sheet specimens because the stress state in the hole edge region during the HET is almost the same as that of the uniaxial tensile test. In order to evaluate an intrinsic HER of steel sheet specimens, the initial hole of the HET specimen is produced using a milling process after punching, which can remove accumulated shearing damage and micro-void in the hole edge region that is present when using the standard HER evaluation method. It was found that the intrinsic HER of steel sheet specimens was proportional to the strain rate sensitivity exponent and post uniform elongation.

Reclaimed manufacturer asphalt roofing shingles in asphalt mixtures. Final research report

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

Reed, A.B.

1999-04-23

The purpose of this project was to pave a test section using hot mix asphalt with roofing shingle pieces in the wearing and binder courses and to evaluate. The test project near Allentown, PA plus two other test projects in 1998 provide evidence of very good pavement performance. The bituminous concrete mix was modified with shredded shingles with a maximum size of 1/2 inch which added 1% of the asphalt content. The Department issued a statewide Provisional Specification titled Reclaimed Manufacturer Asphalt Roofing Shingles in Plant-Mixed Bituminous Concrete Courses'' on March 15, 1999. New manufacturer asphalt roofing shingle scrap includingmore » tab punch-outs can be successfully incorporated in bituminous concrete pavements if the shingles are shredded to 100% passing the 3/4 inch sieve. To take full advantage of the potential to replace a portion of the asphalt and therefore, reduce mix costs, shingles should be shredded to 100% passing minus 1/2 inch sieve.« less

Differentiating vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia from nonneoplastic epithelial disorders. The toluidine blue test.

PubMed

Joura, E A; Zeisler, H; Lösch, A; Sator, M O; Müllauer-Ertl, S

1998-08-01

To determine the effectiveness of the toluidine blue test in the differentiation of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and nonneoplastic epithelial disorders (NNEDs). This retrospective clinical study included all women with VIN (n = 24) and NNED (n = 72) referred to a vulvar clinic at a university hospital during a two-year period. Vulvoscopy, staining of vulvar epithelium with 1% toluidine blue and punch biopsy were performed. Vulvar epithelium demonstrated toluidine blue staining in 100% of the patients with VIN 3, in 83% of women with VIN 1-2, in 50% of the women with squamous cell hyperplasia and in 10% of the women with lichen sclerosus. The differences in staining between the groups were statistically significant (P < .001). The sensitivity of toluidine blue staining for the detection of VIN was 92%; the negative predictive value 96% in teh investigated cohort. The specificity for strong staining was 88%. The toluidine blue test is an inexpensive and reliable method of separating VIN from hyperplastic NNED areas and choosing a biopsy site on the vulva.

Process air quality data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, C. M.; Hogge, J. E.

1978-01-01

Air quality sampling was conducted. Data for air quality parameters, recorded on written forms, punched cards or magnetic tape, are available for 1972 through 1975. Computer software was developed to (1) calculate several daily statistical measures of location, (2) plot time histories of data or the calculated daily statistics, (3) calculate simple correlation coefficients, and (4) plot scatter diagrams. Computer software was developed for processing air quality data to include time series analysis and goodness of fit tests. Computer software was developed to (1) calculate a larger number of daily statistical measures of location, and a number of daily monthly and yearly measures of location, dispersion, skewness and kurtosis, (2) decompose the extended time series model and (3) perform some goodness of fit tests. The computer program is described, documented and illustrated by examples. Recommendations are made for continuation of the development of research on processing air quality data.

[A case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with ileocecal ulcer].

PubMed

Iwasaki, Tetsuyoshi; Saruta, Masayuki; Sawada, Ryoichi; Ide, Daisuke; Arihiro, Seiji; Matsuoka, Mika; Katoh, Tomohiro; Tajiri, Hisao

2015-10-01

We report a case of a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and ileocecal ulcer. A 31-year-old man was admitted with chief complaints of decreased body weight and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed a round punched-out ulcer on the ileocecal valve. Initially, we suspected entero-Behçet's disease and simple ulcer as the cause of the ileocecal ulcer. However, after histologic examination of tissue biopsies obtained during colonoscopy, we diagnosed the patient as having cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis. Based on the patient's white blood cell depletion and CMV enteritis, we performed a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test. The test was positive, and the diagnosis of AIDS was established. The number of patients with AIDS has been increasing in Japan; thus, we should consider the possibility of CMV enteritis and AIDS in young adult patients affected by ileocecal ulcer with no notable history.

Overview of the 1985 NASA Lewis Research Center SP-100 free-piston Stirling engine activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slaby, J.

1985-01-01

This effort is keyed on the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of a 25 kWe Stirling space-power technology-feasibility demonstrator engine. Another facet of the SP-100 project covers the status of a 9000-hr endurance test conducted on a 2 kWe free-piston Stirling/linear alternator system employing hydrostatic gas bearings. Dynamic balancing of the RE-1000 engine (a 1 kWe free-piston Stirling engine) using a passive dynamic absorber will be discussed along with the results of a parametric study showing the relationships of Stirling power converter specific weight and efficiency as functions of Stirling engine heater to cooler temperature ratio. Planned tests will be described covering a hydrodynamic gas bearing concept for potential SP-100 application.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 1-[(tetrazol-5-yl)methyl] indole derivatives, their 1,2,4-triazole thioglycosides and acyclic analogs.

PubMed

El-Sayed, Weal A; Abdel Megeid, Randa E; Abbas, Hebat-Allah S

2011-07-01

New 1-[(tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]indole derivatives, their acyclic nucleoside analogs and the corresponding glycoside derivatives were synthesized. Furthermore, the [)(1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl])-2H-tetrazole derivative as well as the corresponding thioglucoside were prepared. The synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus Niger, Penicillium sp, Candida albican, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus lacti, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and streptomyces sp. Compounds 3, 5 and 19b exhibited potent antibacterial activity and compounds 4, 5 and 10 exhibited high activities against the tested fungi compared with fusidic acid.

Novel Pulse Oximetry Sonifications for Neonatal Oxygen Saturation Monitoring: A Laboratory Study.

PubMed

Hinckfuss, Kelly; Sanderson, Penelope; Loeb, Robert G; Liley, Helen G; Liu, David

2016-03-01

We aimed to test whether the use of novel pulse oximetry sounds (sonifications) better informs listeners when a neonate's oxygen saturation (SpO2) deviates from the recommended range. Variable-pitch pulse oximeters do not accurately inform clinicians via sound alone when SpO2 is outside the target range of 90% to 95% for neonates on supplemental oxygen. Risk of blindness, organ damage, and death increase if SpO2 remains outside the target range. A more informative sonification may improve clinicians' ability to maintain the target range. In two desktop experiments, nonclinicians' ability to detect SpO2 range and direction of change was tested with novel versus conventional sonifications of simulated patient data. In Experiment 1, a "shoulder" sonification used larger pitch differences between adjacent saturation percentages for SpO2 values outside the target range. In Experiment 2, a "beacon" sonification used equal-appearing pitch differences, but when SpO2 was outside the target range, a fixed-pitch reference tone from the center of the target SpO2 range preceded every fourth pulse tone. The beacon sonification improved range identification accuracy over the control display (85% vs. 60%; p < .001), but the shoulder sonification did not (55% vs. 52%). The beacon provided a distinct auditory alert and reference that significantly improved nonclinical participants' ability to identify SpO2 range. Adding a beacon to the variable-pitch pulse oximeter sound may help clinicians identify when, and by how much, a neonate's SpO2 deviates from the target range, particularly during patient transport situations when auditory information becomes essential. © 2015, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Therapeutic efficacy test in malaria falciparum in Antioquia, Colombia

PubMed Central

Blair, Silvia; Carmona-Fonseca, Jaime; Piñeros, Juan G; Ríos, Alexandra; Álvarez, Tania; Álvarez, Gonzalo; Tobón, Alberto

2006-01-01

Objective Evaluate the frequency of failure of eight treatments for non-complicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in patients from Turbo (Urabá region), El Bagre and Zaragoza (Bajo Cauca region), applying the 1998 protocol of the World Health Organization (WHO). Monotherapies using chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AQ), mefloquine (MQ) and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), and combinations using chloroquine-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (CQ-SP), amodiaquine-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ-SP), mefloquine-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (MQ-SP) and artesunate-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS-SP), were examined. Methodology A balanced experimental design with eight groups. Samples were selected based on statistical and epidemiological criteria. Patients were followed for 21 to 28 days, including seven or eight parasitological and clinical evaluations, with an active search for defaulting patients. A non-blinded evaluation of the antimalarial treatment response (early failure, late failure, adequate response) was performed. Results Initially, the loss of patients to follow-up was higher than 40%, but the immediate active search for the cases and the monetary help for transportation expenses of patients, reduced the loss to 6%. The treatment failure was: CQ 82%, AQ 30%, MQ 4%, SP 24%, CQ-SP 17%, AQ-SP 2%, MQ-S-P 0%, AS-SP 3%. Conclusion The characteristics of an optimal epidemiological monitoring system of antimalarial treatment response in Colombia are discussed. It is proposed to focus this on early failure detection, by applying a screening test every two to three years, based on a seven to 14-day follow-up. Clinical and parasitological assessment would be carried out by a general physician and a field microscopist from the local hospital, with active measures to search for defaulter patients at follow-up. PMID:16504002

Biofilm-forming activity of bacteria isolated from toilet bowl biofilms and the bactericidal activity of disinfectants against the isolates.

PubMed

Mori, Miho; Gomi, Mitsuhiro; Matsumune, Norihiko; Niizeki, Kazuma; Sakagami, Yoshikazu

2013-01-01

To evaluate the sanitary conditions of toilets, the bacterial counts of the toilet bowl biofilms in 5 Kansai area and 11 Kansai and Kanto area homes in Japan were measured in winter and summer seasons, respectively. Isolates (128 strains) were identified by analyzing 16S ribosomal RNA sequences. The number of colonies and bacterial species from biofilms sampled in winter tended to be higher and lower, respectively, than those in summer. Moreover, the composition of bacterial communities in summer and winter samples differed considerably. In summer samples, biofilms in Kansai and Kanto areas were dominated by Blastomonas sp. and Mycobacterium sp., respectively. Methylobacterium sp. was detected in all toilet bowl biofilms except for one sample. Methylobacterium sp. constituted the major presence in biofilms along with Brevundimonas sp., Sphingomonas sp., and/or Pseudomonas sp. The composition ratio of the sum of their genera was 88.0 from 42.9% of the total bacterial flora. The biofilm formation abilities of 128 isolates were investigated, and results suggested that Methylobacterium sp. and Sphingomonas sp. were involved in biofilm formation in toilet bowls. The biofilm formation of a mixed bacteria system that included bacteria with the highest biofilm-forming ability in a winter sample was greater than mixture without such bacteria. This result suggests that isolates possessing a high biofilm-forming activity are involved in the biofilm formation in the actual toilet bowl. A bactericidal test against 25 strains indicated that the bactericidal activities of didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) tended to be higher than those of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyldodecylammonium chloride (ADBAC). In particular, DDAC showed high bactericidal activity against approximately 90% of tested strains under the 5 h treatment.

Stomach position versus liver-to-thoracic volume ratio in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

PubMed

Cordier, Anne-Gaël; Cannie, Mieke M; Guilbaud, Lucie; De Laveaucoupet, Jocelyne; Martinovic, Jéléna; Nowakowska, Dorota; Milejska-Lewandowska, Malgorzata; Rodó, Carlota; Viaris de Lesegno, Benjamin; Votino, Carmela; Senat, Marie-Victoire; Jani, Jacques C; Benachi, Alexandra

2015-01-01

To describe a new grading method for stomach position (SP) in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (L-CDH) using ultrasound and to correlate SP to liver position and to liver-to-thoracic cavity volume ratio (LiTR) using magnetic resonance imaging. SP were graded at the level of the 4-chamber view as following: grade 1-to-4 for stomach not visualised, visualised anteriorly at the apex of the heart, stomach showing abdominal structures anteriorly and stomach with its larger part posterior to the level of the atrial-ventricular heart valves, respectively. The LiTR was calculated and correlated to SP using the Mann-Whitney U test. Seventy-four fetuses were included. Median LiTR for grade 1 SP was 0% and was not different from median LiTR for grade 2 SP (0%, p=NS). Median LiTR for grade 3 SP was 14.9% and was significantly higher than for grade 2 SP (p<0.001). Similarly, median LiTR for grade 4 SP was 20.7% and was significantly higher than for grade 3 SP (p<0.05). When SP was grade 1 or 2, liver was intra-abdominal in 21 (84%) out of 25 fetuses while it was always intrathoracic for SP 3 or 4. In L-CDH, SP as described represents a simple indirect measurement of intrathoracic position and quantification of liver.

Increasing volume of vestibular soft tissues in flapless implant surgery through a modified connective punch technique: a controlled clinical trial

PubMed Central

BASSI, M. ANDREASI; ANDRISANI, C.; LICO, S.; SILVESTRE, F.; GARGARI, M.; ARCURI, C.

2016-01-01

SUMMARY Purpose The aim of this article is to make a comparative assessment between the modification of the soft-tissue profile, around the healing cap screws (HCSs), following both the traditional flapless surgery (TFS) and a new modified flapless surgery, named Modified Connective Tissue Punch (MCTP) technique. Materials and methods 8 patients (3M and 5F) (mean age 54.25±11.247 years) were enrolled in this study. Sixteen two-piece implants were placed on upper jaws, 2 for each patient, 8 with TFS and 8 with MCTP technique. In each patient the implants were placed in edentulous areas, of 2 or 3 adjacent teeth long. MCTP technique was performed on the front implant site (FIS) while the TFS was performed on the rear implant site (RIS). All implants were inserted and covered with healing cap screws (HCSs). Alginate impressions were carried out at the moment of the surgery, at 1 month and 4 months post-operative. Plaster models were poured and subsequently digitally scanned, in order to measure the distance between the gingival outline and the free margin of the HCS. The recorded values were analyzed with the ANOVA test. Results The use of MTCP technique, in comparison to TFS, showed a significative better outcome, in terms of vertical increments, of gingiva, on the VS toward the HCSs, during the entire observation period (p = 0.000 for all). Conclusion The Authors recommend the use of MCTP technique for a better vestibular soft tissue outcome in flapless implant surgery. PMID:28042442

Multiplex tandem mass spectrometry assay for newborn screening of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, biotinidase deficiency, and galactosemia with flexibility to assay other enzyme assays and biomarkers.

PubMed

Hong, Xinying; Kumar, Arun Babu; Ronald Scott, C; Gelb, Michael H

2018-03-29

All States screen for biotinidase deficiency and galactosemia, and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) has recently been added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP).We sought to consolidate these tests by combining them into a single multiplex tandem mass spectrometry assay as well as to improve the current protocol for newborn screening of galactosemia.A 3 mm punch of a dried blood spot (DBS) was extracted with organic solvent for analysis of the C26:0-lysophosphatidylcholine biomarker for X-ALD.An additional punch was used to assay galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) and biotinidase.All assays were combined for a single injection for analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (2.3 min per sample).The GALT LC-MS/MS assay does not give a false positive for galactosemia if glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is deficient.The multiplex assay shows acceptable reproducibility and provides for rapid analysis of X-ALD, biotinidase deficiency, and galactosemia.The throughput and ease of sample preparation are acceptable for newborn screening laboratories.We also show that the LC-MS/MS assay is expandable to include several other diseases including Pompe and Hurler diseases (enzymatic activities and biomarkers).Because of consolidation of assays, less manpower is needed compared to running individual assays on separate platforms.The flexibility of the LC-MS/MS platform allows each newborn screening laboratory to analyze the set of diseases offered in their panel. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for assessment of hamstring injury: a systematic review.

PubMed

Reiman, Michael P; Loudon, Janice K; Goode, Adam P

2013-04-01

Systematic literature review. The diagnosis of a hamstring injury has traditionally relied on various clinical measures (eg, palpation, swelling, manual resistance), as well as the use of diagnostic imaging. But a few studies have suggested the use of specific clinical tests that may be helpful for the diagnostic process. To summarize the current literature on the diagnostic accuracy of orthopaedic special tests for hamstring injuries and to determine their clinical utility. A computer-assisted literature search of the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase databases (along with a manual search of grey literature) was conducted using key words related to diagnostic accuracy of hamstring injuries. To be considered for inclusion in the review, the study required (1) patients with hamstring or posterior thigh pain; (2) a cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional design; (3) inclusion of at least 1 clinical examination test used to evaluate hamstring pathology; (4) comparison against an acceptable reference standard; (5) reporting of diagnostic accuracy of the measures (sensitivity [SN], specificity [SP], or likelihood ratios); and (6) publication in English. SN, SP, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for each diagnostic test. The search strategy identified 602 potential articles, of which only 3 articles met the inclusion criteria, with only 1 of these 3 articles being of high quality. Two of the studies investigated a single special test, whereas the third article examined a composite clinical assessment employing various special tests. The SN values ranged from 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46, 0.69) for the active range-of-motion test to 1.00 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.00) for the taking-off-the-shoe test. The SP values ranged from 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.22) for the composite clinical assessment to 1.00 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.00) for the taking-off-the-shoe test, active range-of-motion test, passive range-of-motion test, and resisted range-of-motion test. The use of a single special test demonstrated stronger SP than SN properties, whereas the composite clinical assessment demonstrated stronger SN than SP properties. Very few studies have investigated the utilization of clinical special tests for the diagnosis of hamstring injuries. Further studies of higher quality design are suggested prior to advocating independent clinical utilization of these special tests. Diagnosis, level 3b.

Performances of antibiotic screening tests in determining the persistence of penicillin residues in ewe's milk.

PubMed

Berruga, M I; Yamaki, M; Althaus, R L; Molina, M P; Molina, A

2003-11-01

Milk collected at 12-h intervals throughout 6 days from three groups of Manchega ewes (n = 12 per group), treated intramuscularly with beta-lactams (benzyl penicillin procaine, ampicillin, and amoxicillin, respectively), was evaluated for antibiotic residue persistence with four microbial inhibitor tests (BRT MRL, CH ATK P&S, Delvotest SP, and Eclipse 100ov) and one enzymatic test (Penzym 100). Antibiotic depletion time was established using a logistic regression model. A clear effect (P < 0.0001) of milking order on the response of all tests was observed with the three antibiotics, but no significant effects were found for milk yield. Except with Eclipse 100ov, positive tests were observed after the recommended withdrawal period of benzyl penicillin procaine (five milkings) from 2% (Delvotest SP) to 11% (CH ATK P&S). There were almost no positive responses beyond the withdrawal period (six milkings) of ampicillin, except for the Penzym 100 test (7%). Residues of amoxicillin were found to persist beyond the six milkings established as the withdrawal period, from 2.8% (Eclipse 100ov) to 72.4% (CH ATK P&S) of positive cases. Higher frequencies of doubtful cases were found with BRT MRL and Delvotest SP assays with the three beta-lactams. Positive and doubtful results could be obtained when milk samples from individual ewes were analyzed using BRT MRL, CH ATK P&S, Delvotest SP, and Penzym 100 tests, even if farmers follow the antibiotic withdrawal periods.

Wheat TaSP gene improves salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Ma, Xiaoli; Cui, Weina; Liang, Wenji; Huang, Zhanjing

2015-12-01

A novel salt-induced gene with unknown functions was cloned through analysis of gene expression profile of a salt-tolerant wheat mutant RH8706-49 under salt stress. The gene was named Triticum aestivum salt-related protein (TaSP) and deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF307326). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed that TaSP expression was induced under salt, abscisic acid (ABA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stresses. Subcellular localization revealed that TaSP was mainly localized in cell membrane. Overexpression of TaSP in Arabidopsis could improve salt tolerance of 35S::TaSP transgenic Arabidopsis. 35S::TaSP transgenic Arabidopsis lines after salt stress presented better physiological indexes than the control group. In the non-invasive micro-test (NMT), an evident Na(+) excretion was observed at the root tip of salt-stressed 35S::TaSP transgenic Arabidopsis. TaSP promoter was cloned, and its beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activities before and after ABA, salt, cold, heat, and salicylic acid (SA) stresses were determined. Full-length TaSP promoter contained ABA and salt response elements. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Bradykinin contracts the pupillary sphincter and evokes ocular inflammation through release of neuronal substance P.

PubMed

Bynke, G; Håkanson, R; Hörig, J; Leander, S

1983-08-05

Bradykinin contracts the isolated rabbit sphincter pupillae muscle. The contraction produced by 10(-8) M bradykinin was resistant to atropine but not to tetrodotoxin, suggesting a non-cholinergic nervous mechanism. The contraction was blocked by specific substance P (SP) antagonists, suggesting the involvement of SP. The SP antagonists tested were [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]SP-(1-11) and [Arg5,D-Trp7,9]SP-(5-11). The bradykinin-induced contraction exhibited marked tachyphylaxis in contrast to that induced by SP. It appears that the tachyphylaxis reflects the depletion of a bradykinin-sensitive neuronal pool of SP. Injection of bradykinin into the vitreous chamber of the rabbit eye caused miosis and disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier (manifested as aqueous flare). A second administration of bradykinin a few hours after the first injection evoked a reduced response; the response to SP upon repeated administration was unchanged. Atropine was without effect on the response to bradykinin whereas tetrodotoxin and the SP antagonists reduced the response. The results suggest that bradykinin causes miosis and aqueous flare at least partly through local release of neuronal SP.

Production of induced secondary metabolites by a co-culture of sponge-associated actinomycetes, Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163.

PubMed

Dashti, Yousef; Grkovic, Tanja; Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan; Hentschel, Ute; Quinn, Ronald J

2014-05-22

Two sponge-derived actinomycetes, Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163, were grown in co-culture and the presence of induced metabolites monitored by ¹H NMR. Ten known compounds, including angucycline, diketopiperazine and β-carboline derivatives 1-10, were isolated from the EtOAc extracts of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163. Co-cultivation of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163 induced the biosynthesis of three natural products that were not detected in the single culture of either microorganism, namely N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (11), 1,6-dihydroxyphenazine (12) and 5a,6,11a,12-tetrahydro-5a,11a-dimethyl[1,4]benzoxazino[3,2-b][1,4]benzoxazine (13a). When tested for biological activity against a range of bacteria and parasites, only the phenazine 12 was active against Bacillus sp. P25, Trypanosoma brucei and interestingly, against Actinokineospora sp. EG49. These findings highlight the co-cultivation approach as an effective strategy to access the bioactive secondary metabolites hidden in the genomes of marine actinomycetes.

Pilot study: assessing the clinical diagnosis of allergy in atopic children using a microarray assay in addition to skin prick testing and serum specific IgE.

PubMed

Foong, Ru-Xin; Roberts, Graham; Fox, Adam Tobias; du Toit, George

2016-01-01

Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) are at risk of developing allergy. Alongside clinical history, testing modalities include skin prick tests (SPT), specific immunoglobulin-E (sp-IgE) and recently, microarray assays. The aim of this pilot study was to assess current tests and the ISAC sIgE-112 system in the diagnosis of food and aeroallergen allergy. Children aged 0-11 years with moderate to severe AD were included. An initial allergy assessment including clinical history, SPT and sp-IgE was performed to determine food and aeroallergen sensitization. A second independent clinical assessment using the same information given to the first assessor and ISAC test results for food and aeroallergen sensitization was also made for each participant. The results from both were compared. 30 children [mean age 3.91 years (SD 3.3)] were included; 53.3 and 46.7 % had moderate and severe AD, respectively. Sp-IgE tests had a higher percentage of positive results compared to SPT and ISAC tests for common allergens. There was a significant difference between the three tests in detecting aeroallergen sensitization (p = 0.038), especially between sp-IgE and ISAC tests, but no significant difference between the tests for food allergen sensitization. There was good agreement between the two assessors; 70 % of the children had a change in diagnosis, with 60 % having at least one diagnosis added and 40 % having at least one diagnosis removed. There is a role for the use of ISAC testing in diagnosing sensitization and allergy in children with AD as it leads to a change in diagnosis for many patients. Further work is required to assess its clinical and cost effectiveness.

Profiling of red pigment produced by Streptomyces sp. JAR6 and its bioactivity.

PubMed

Abraham, Jayanthi; Chauhan, Ritika

2018-01-01

Actinomycetes strain was isolated from leaf litter soil sample and was identified as Streptomyces sp. by conventional and molecular approaches. The biologically active compound responsible for antimicrobial and anticancer activity of the strain JAR6 was elucidated by solid state fermentation followed by subsequent chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. Extraction, purification and structural confirmation of red pigment metabolite viz undecylprodigiosin were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies and comparing the data from the literature. The biologically active compound was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates and its minimum inhibitory concentration was recorded. The antimicrobial activity of undecylprodigiosin is more prominent against Salmonella sp., Proteus mirabilis , Shigella sp. and Enterococcus sp. whereas, it was less effective against Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli . The anticancer activity of undecylprodigiosin was tested against HeLa cell lines and it exhibited commendable cytotoxicity effect with IC 50 value of 145 µg/ml. The present investigation reveals that undecylprodigiosin produced by Streptomyces strain JAR6 is a potent bioactive metabolite with effective pharmaceutical properties.

Anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse waste: main process limitations and microbial community interactions.

PubMed

Palatsi, J; Viñas, M; Guivernau, M; Fernandez, B; Flotats, X

2011-02-01

Fresh pig/cattle slaughterhouse waste mixtures, with different lipid-protein ratios, were characterized and their anaerobic biodegradability assessed in batch tests. The resultant methane potentials were high (270-300 L(CH4) kg(-1)(COD)) making them interesting substrates for the anaerobic digestion process. However, when increasing substrate concentrations in consecutive batch tests, up to 15 g(COD) kg(-1), a clear inhibitory process was monitored. Despite the reported severe inhibition, related to lipid content, the system was able to recover activity and successfully degrade the substrate. Furthermore, 16SrRNA gene-based DGGE results showed an enrichment of specialized microbial populations, such as β-oxidizing/proteolitic bacteria (Syntrophomonas sp., Coprothermobacter sp. and Anaerobaculum sp.), and syntrophic methanogens (Methanosarcina sp.). Consequently, the lipid concentration of substrate and the structure of the microbial community are the main limiting factors for a successful anaerobic treatment of fresh slaughterhouse waste. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Effect of simulated microgravity on peripheral oxygen saturation in rats].

PubMed

Chen, Guangfei; Zhang, Yahui; Yuan, Ming; He, Shilin; Ying, Jun; Li, Chen

2018-02-01

To study the effect of microgravity on peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) in rats, tail-suspended rats were applied to simulate microgravity environment. SpO 2 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) were measured by pulse oximeter and arterial blood gas analyzer (ABGA) respectively on the 14th day, 21st day and 28th day in tail-suspended group and control group. Paired t -test shows that SpO 2 was significantly lower than SaO 2 in tail-suspended group on the 14th day ( P < 0.05), the 21st day ( P < 0.05) and the 28th day ( P < 0.01). The ANOVA results shows that modeling time had significant effect on SpO 2 value but no effect on SaO 2 value in tail-suspended group. These results indicate that pulse oximeter may be not suitable for oxygen saturation test in microgravity environment.

Both substance P agonists and antagonists inhibit ion conductance through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on PC12 cells.

PubMed

Eardley, D; McGee, R

1985-08-07

Substance P stimulates substance P receptors but also inhibits ion conductance through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Substance P analogs, classified as agonists or antagonists based on their actions on smooth muscle, were tested to determine if they also could act at nicotinic receptors on the pheochromocytoma, PC12. All of the analogs tested, [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]SP, [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]SP, [pGlu5, MePhe8, Sar9]SP-(5-11), and [D-Pro4, D-Trp7,9,10]SP-(4-11), inhibited agonist-induced uptake of 86Rb+ through the nicotinic receptors at concentrations quite similar to those required for action at substance P receptors on smooth muscle. Thus, the chemical modifications in the analogs do not substantially alter their ability to inhibit nicotinic receptors.

Research on the innovative hybrid impact hydroforming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, Lihui; Wang, Shaohua; Yang, Chunlei

2013-12-01

The innovative hybrid impact hydro-forming (IHF) technology is a kind of high strain rate forming technique which can be used for forming complex parts with small features, such as convex tables, bars etc. The present work investigates IHF using a numerical /experimental approach. In this paper, the theory of IHF is presented and finite element simulation was carried out by using MSC. The pressure distribution changes in the depth direction, but not in the width direction. However, the pressure is uniform everywhere in traditional hydro-forming. Using this shock wave loading conditions, forming experiments were carried out. Punching occurred as a result of combined tensile and shear stress effects. Furthermore, results show that using IHF technology, the design constraint to make precise die may be considerably reduced. The need to accurately control punch-die clearance may also be eliminated. Therefore, the research is very useful for forming complicated products.

Xanthurenic acid 8-O-beta-D-glucoside, a novel tryptophan metabolite in eye-color mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

Ferré, J; Real, M D; Ménsua, J L; Jacobson, K B

1985-06-25

An unknown fluorescent metabolite has been isolated from heads of eye-color mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. Only a few mutations cause it to accumulate, viz. cardinal (cd), dark red brown (drb), Henna-recessive (Hnr), purple (pr), Punch2 (Pu2), Punch-Grape (PuGr), and scarlet (st). After purification by ion-exchange chromatography, the spectroscopic, chemical, and enzymatic analyses revealed that it is a novel quinoline derivative: xanthurenic acid 8-O-beta-D-glucoside. Feeding experiments suggest that this glucoside is synthesized from 3-hydroxykynurenine and that free xanthurenic acid is not a precursor. The results from the analysis for its occurrence in double mutants, together with the fact that xanthurenic acid 8-glucoside share the same precursor as xanthurenic acid and xanthommatin, suggest that xanthurenic acid 8-glucoside formation is closely related to the regulation of the last step in the biosynthesis of xanthommatin.

6. Photocopy of photograph, U.S. Army, ca. 1955 (original print ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

6. Photocopy of photograph, U.S. Army, ca. 1955 (original print located at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Commerce City, Colorado). AERIAL VIEW OF BUILDING 1611. VIEW TO NORTHEAST. 'THIS IS THE HONEST JOHN WARHEAD DEMILITARIZATION PLANT. THE DEMILITARIZATION PROCESS CONSISTS OF STRIPPING AND OPENING THE WARHEAD MANUALLY AND DOWNLOADING THE M139 BOMBLETS ONTO A CONVEYOR WHICH CARRIES THEM THROUGH A PUNCH, DRAIN AND RINSE MACHINE INTO A ROTARY RETORT DEACTIVATION FURNACE WHERE THE BURSTER IS BURNED. THE BOMBLET SHELLS, WHICH ARE ALUMINUM, ARE THEN CONVEYED TO A DECONTAMINATION FURNACE WHERE THEY ARE MELTED AND CAST INTO INGOTS. THE GB, WHICH IS COLLECTED IN THE PUNCH, DRAIN AND RINSE MACHINE, IS CONDUCTED TO A STORAGE TANK AND, ULTIMATELY, IS NEUTRALIZED ... - Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Ammunition Demolition Building-Tail Fin Storage & Assembly, 2750 feet South of Ninth Avenue; 3480 feet East of D Street, Commerce City, Adams County, CO

Meta-analyses of the sensitivity and specificity of ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis in the UK and Ireland.

PubMed

Nuñez-Garcia, Javier; Downs, Sara H; Parry, Jessica E; Abernethy, Darrell A; Broughan, Jennifer M; Cameron, Angus R; Cook, Alasdair J; de la Rua-Domenech, Ricardo; Goodchild, Anthony V; Gunn, Jane; More, Simon J; Rhodes, Shelley; Rolfe, Simon; Sharp, Michael; Upton, Paul A; Vordermeier, H Martin; Watson, Eamon; Welsh, Michael; Whelan, Adam O; Woolliams, John A; Clifton-Hadley, Richard S; Greiner, Matthias

2018-05-01

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle is a global health problem and eradication of the disease requires accurate estimates of diagnostic test performance to optimize their efficiency. The objective of this study was, through statistical meta-analyses, to obtain estimates of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp), for 14 different ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnostic tests for bTB in cattle. Using data from a systematic review of the scientific literature (published 1934-2009) diagnostic Se and Sp were estimated using Bayesian logistic regression models adjusting for confounding factors. Random effect terms were used to account for unexplained heterogeneity. Parameters in the models were implemented using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), and posterior distributions for the diagnostic parameters with adjustment for covariates (confounding factors) were obtained using the inverse logit function. Estimates for Se and/or Sp of the tuberculin skin tests and the IFN-γ blood test were compared with estimates published 2010-2015. Median Se for the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin skin (SICCT) test (standard interpretation) was 0.50 and Bayesian credible intervals (CrI) were wide (95% CrI 0.26, 0.78). Median Sp for the SICCT test was 1.00 (95% CrI 0.99, 1.00). Estimates for the IFN-γ blood test Bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPD)-Avian PPD and Early Secreted Antigen target 6 and Culture Filtrate Protein 10 (ESAT-6/CFP10) ESAT6/CFP10 were 0.67 (95% CrI 0.49, 0.82) and 0.78 (95% CrI 0.60, 0.90) respectively for Se, and 0.98 (95% CrI 0.96, 0.99) and 0.99 (95% CrI 0.99, 1.00) for Sp. The study provides an overview of the accuracy of a range of contemporary diagnostic tests for bTB in cattle. Better understanding of diagnostic test performance is essential for the design of effective control strategies and their evaluation. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mineralization of a Malaysian crude oil by Pseudomonas sp. and Achromabacter sp. isolated from coastal waters

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

Ahmad, J.; Ahmad, M.F.

1995-12-31

Regarded as being a potentially effective tool to combat oil pollution, bioremediation involves mineralization, i.e., the conversion of complex hydrocarbons into harmless CO{sub 2} and water by action of microorganisms. Therefore, in achieving optimum effectiveness from the application of these products on crude oil in local environments, the capability of the bacteria to mineralize hydrocarbons was evaluated. The microbial laboratory testing of mineralization on local oil degraders involved, first, isolation of bacteria found at a port located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Subsequently, these bacteria were identified by means of Biomereux`s API 20E and 20 NE systems andmore » later screened by their growth on a Malaysian crude oil. Selected strains of Pseudomonas sp. and Achromabacter sp. were then exposed individually to a similar crude oil in a mineralization unit and monitored for 16 days for release of CO{sub 2}. Pseudomonas paucimobilis was found to produce more CO{sub 2} than Achromobacter sp. When tested under similar conditions, mixed populations of these two taxa produced more CO{sub 2} than that produced by any individual strain. Effective bioremediation of local crude in Malaysian waters can therefore be achieved from biochemically developed Pseudomonas sp. strains.« less

Spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of Brazilian Sapindus saponaria

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Sapindus saponaria is used traditionally for curing ulcers, external wounds and inflammations. The spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity of S. saponaria and its effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus were evaluated. Methods Water-ethanol (WE) and butanolic (BE) extracts, as well as a purified sample of saponins (SP) from S. saponaria were tested for spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity and for their effect on L. acidophilus. Results WE, BE and SP immobilized spermatozoa at a minimum effective concentration (MEC) of 2.5 (gram %) for extracts and 1.25 (gram %) for SP. The effective concentrations that caused 50% immobilization of spermatozoa (EC50) were 0.5 (gram %) for WE and SP, and 0.1 (gram %) for BE. The compounds were effective against Trichomonas vaginalis (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration = 0.156 mg/mL for WE and BE, and 0.078 mg/mL for SP against a clinical strain (CS); and 0.312, 0.156 and 0.078 mg/mL for WE, BE and SP, respectively, against an ATCC strain). In all concentrations tested, the growth of L. acidophilus was not reduced. Conclusion The in vitro study proved the spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity of S. saponaria. Complementary in vivo studies should be made for establish the use as a vaginal spermicide, particularly in Brazil and Latin America. PMID:23890053

Efficacy of monotherapies and artesunate-based combination therapies in children with uncomplicated malaria in Somalia.

PubMed

Warsame, Marian; Atta, Hoda; Klena, John D; Waqar, Butt Ahmed; Elmi, Hussein Haji; Jibril, Ali Mohamed; Hassan, Hassan Mohamed; Hassan, Abdullahi Mohamed

2009-02-01

In order to guide the antimalarial treatment policy of Somalia, we conducted therapeutic efficacy studies of routinely used antimalarial monotherapies as well as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for uncomplicated malaria in three sentinel sites during 2003-2006. Therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AQ) and sulfadoxine/pyrimetahmine (SP) monotherapies, and artesunate plus SP (AS+SP) or AQ (AS+AQ) were evaluated in children 6 months to 10 years old with uncomplicated malaria. For the assessment of the monotherapies, 2003 WHO protocol with 14-day follow-up was used while the 2005 WHO protocol with 28-day follow-up was used for testing the ACTs. Of the monotherapies, CQ performed very poorly with treatment failures varying from 76.5% to 88% between the sites. AQ treatment failure was low except for Janale site with treatment failure of 23.4% compared to 2.8% and 8% in Jamame and Jowhar, respectively. For SP, treatment failures from 7.8% to 12.2% were observed. A 28-day test of artemisinin-based combinations, AS+SP and AS+AQ, proved to be highly efficacious with cure rates of 98-100% supporting the choice of AS+SP combination as first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria for Somalia.

The antigens contributing to the serological cross-reactions of Proteus antisera with Klebsiella representatives.

PubMed

Palusiak, Agata

2015-03-01

Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. mainly cause infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts or wounds in humans. The representatives of both genera produce virulence factors like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or outer membrane proteins (OMPs) having much in common in the structures and/or functions. To check how far this similarity is revealed in the serological cross-reactivity, the bacterial masses of 24 tested Klebsiella sp. strains were tested in ELISA with polyclonal rabbit antisera specific to the representatives of 79 Proteus O serogroups. The strongest reacting systems were selected to Western blot, where the majority of Klebsiella masses reacted in a way characteristic for electrophoretic patterns of proteins. The strongest reactions were obtained for proteins of near 67 and 40 kDa and 12.5 kDa. Mass spectrometry analysis of the proteins samples of one Proteus sp. and one Klebsiella sp. strain showed the GroEL like protein of a sequence GI number 2980926 to be similar for both strains. In Western blot some Klebsiella sp. masses reacted similarly to the homologous Proteus LPSs. The LPS contribution in the observed reactions of the high molecular-mass LPS species was confirmed for Klebsiella oxytoca 0.062. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cigarette smoke-induced hypercapnic emphysema in C3H mice is associated with increases of macrophage metalloelastase and substance P in the lungs.

PubMed

Xu, J; Xu, F; Wang, R; Seagrave, Jc; Lin, Y; March, T H

2007-01-01

The authors tested whether macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) and substance P (SP) were increased in the cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed female C3H/HeN mice with hypercapnic emphysema. The authors found that as compared to control (filtered air), 16 weeks of CS exposure significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of MMP-12, the ratio of MMP-12/tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, and SP/preprotachykinin-A (a precursor to SP) in the lungs. Importantly, a significant correlation was found between MMP-12 and SP, and between MMP-12/SP and the degrees of hypoxemia/hypercapnia denoted in CS-exposed mice. These data suggest a possible involvement of SP and MMP-12 in the pathogenesis of severe COPD.

Self-potential monitoring of water flux at the HOBE agricultural site, Voulund, Denmark

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jougnot, D.; Linde, N.; Looms, M. C.

2013-12-01

The self-potential (SP) method is of interest in hydrology and environmental sciences because of its non-invasive nature and its sensitivity to flow and transport processes in the subsurface. The contribution to the SP signal by water flux is referred to as the streaming potential and is due to the presence of an electrical double layer at the mineral-pore water interface. When water flows through the pore, it gives rise to a streaming current and a resulting measurable electrical voltage between non-polarizable electrodes placed at different locations. This electrokinetic behavior is well understood in water saturated porous media, but the best way to model streaming currents under partial saturation is still under discussion. To better understand SP data within the vadose zone, we conducted field-based monitoring of the vertical distribution of the SP signal following different hydrologic events. The investigations were carried out at the Voulund agricultural test site that is part of the Danish hydrological observatory, HOBE, located in the Skjern river catchment (Denmark) in the middle of a cultivated area. It has been instrumented since 2010 to monitor suction, water content and temperature down to a depth of 3 m, together with meteorological variables and repeated geophysical campaigns (cross borehole electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar). In July 2011, we installed 15 non-polarizable electrodes at 10 depths within the vadose zone (from 0.25 to 3.10 m) and a reference electrode below the water table (7.30 m). More than 2 years of data acquired at a measurement period of 5 minutes are now available with periods indicative of various hydrologic events, such as natural infiltration, water table rises and a high salinity tracer test. We performed wavelet-based signal analysis and investigated the wavelet coherency of the SP data with other measurement variables. The wavelet coherency analysis displays an anti-correlation between SP and water content at high frequencies (periods smaller than 1 day) and between SP and temperature at lower frequencies. For the high salinity tracer test, the continuous wavelet power spectra of the SP time series indicate that most signal energy is initially located in the higher frequencies at the top of the soil profile and later at lower frequencies at depth as the plume migrates downwards. We use a numerical model of the test site to simulate water fluxes, ionic transport and SP during different hydrological events. The first simulation results compare fairly well to the measured data. These initial results will serve as starting point for a detailed assessment of the value of SP data in vadose zone hydrology, particularly as a tool for in situ monitoring of water flux.

Space shuttle: Aerodynamic characteristics of a composite booster/040A orbiter launch configuration with fin and booster body configuration effect contribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ainsworth, R. W.; Johnson, J. C.; Watts, L. L.

1972-01-01

An investigation was made of the fin configuration and booster body configuration effects on a composite booster/040A orbiter launch configuration. Aerodynamic performance and stability characteristics in pitch and yaw were obtained. Configurations tested included two stepped cylindrical bodies of different lengths with a conical nose, four fin shapes of various sizes and aspect ratios mounted in different positions around the base of the bodies, two base flare angles and three 040A orbiter configurations. The orbiter variations included a tailless configuration and two tail sizes. A tailless booster launch configuration with deflected petals (expanded flare sectors) was also tested. The model scale was 0.003366. Data were converted to coefficient form in near real time, punched on cards, and tabulated. The cards used in conjunction with a Benson-Lehner plotter were used to provide plotted data. At the end of the test, tabulated input forms were completed for the SADSAC computer program to aid in publishing the final test data report.

A novel approach for quantitation of glucosylceramide in human dried blood spot using LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Ji, Allena Ji; Wang, Haixing; Ziso-Qejvanaj, Enida; Zheng, Kefei; Chung, Lee Lee; Foley, Timothy; Chuang, Wei-Lien; Richards, Susan; Sung, Crystal

2015-01-01

Glucosylceramide, an efficacy biomarker for Gaucher Type 1 disease, exhibits poor solubility in polar solvents and whole blood which makes it difficult to prepare a homogenous blood standard. We developed a novel method using standard addition approach by spiking a small volume of analyte solution on the surface of prespotted dried blood spot. The whole spots were punched out for subsequent extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis. The assay performance met all validation acceptance criteria. Glucosylceramide concentrations in 50 paired plasma and dry blood spot samples obtained from Gaucher Type 1 patients were tested and the results demonstrated the feasibility of using the DBS method for clinical biomarker monitoring. The new approach greatly improves assay precision and accuracy.

Computer Plotting Data Points in the Engine Research Building

NASA Image and Video Library

1956-09-21

A female computer plotting compressor data in the Engine Research Building at the NACA’s Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. The Computing Section was introduced during World War II to relieve short-handed research engineers of some of the tedious data-taking work. The computers made the initial computations and plotted the data graphically. The researcher then analyzed the data and either summarized the findings in a report or made modifications or ran the test again. With the introduction of mechanical computer systems in the 1950s the female computers learned how to encode the punch cards. As the data processing capabilities increased, fewer female computers were needed. Many left on their own to start families, while others earned mathematical degrees and moved into advanced positions.

Fundamental studies on a novel die concept for round-point shear-clinching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hörhold, Réjane; Müller, Martin; Merklein, Marion; Meschut, Gerson

2016-10-01

A newly-developed round-point shear-clinching technology could increase the use of different materials like well formable aluminium and hardly formable ultra-high-strength steels (UHSS). This innovative technology joins in a single-stage process without any pilot-hole, surface pre-treatment or auxiliary joining part. The combination of an inner and outer punch realises an indirect cutting operation of the die-sided material, whereas the punch-sided material remains unharmed. The current die-sided tool set acts as a cutting die and enables a radial extrusion of the punch-sided material after being drawn though the created hole in the UHSS. The die has a fixed die depth. After ejecting the joined components, the slug has to be removed from the top of the spring-loaded anvil. The novel die concept investigated in this paper offers the possibility to push the slug continuously through the die in the joining direction. The removed slugs remain inside the die, so manual removal is unnecessary. The one-parted tool is supposed to be more robust than the multi-parted one that is currently used. This paper represents the task to evaluate the geometry of a useful shear-clinching die concept. To reduce the experimental effort, FEM should assist the development of the most promising approach. To quantify the success, conventional shear-clinching with opening die acts as a reference. The results show the high potential and the raison d'être of shear-clinching technologies as a mechanical joining technology for future multimaterial applications especially for UHSS.

Cartilage microindentation using cylindrical and spherical optical fiber indenters with integrated Bragg gratings as force sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchi, G.; Canti, O.; Baier, V.; Micallef, W.; Hartmann, B.; Alberton, P.; Aszodi, A.; Clausen-Schaumann, H.; Roths, J.

2018-02-01

Fiber optic microindentation sensors that have the potential to be integrated into arthroscopic instruments and to allow localizing degraded articular cartilage are presented in this paper. The indenters consist of optical fibers with integrated Bragg gratings as force sensors. In a basic configuration, the tip of the fiber optic indenter consists of a cleaved fiber end, forming a cylindrical flat punch indenter geometry. When using this indenter geometry, high stresses at the edges of the cylinder are present, which can disrupt the tissue structure. This is avoided with an improved version of the indenter. A spherical indenter tip that is formed by melting the end of the glass fiber. The spherical fiber tip shows the additional advantage of strongly reducing reflections from the fiber end. This allows a reduction of the length of the fiber optic sensor element from 65 mm of the flat punch type to 27 mm of the spherical punch. In order to compare the performance of both indenter types, in vitro stress-relaxation indentation experiments were performed on bovine articular cartilage with both indenter types, to assess biomechanical properties of bovine articular cartilage. For indentation depths between 60 μm and 300 μm, the measurements with both indenter types agreed very well with each other. This shows that both indenter geometries are suitable for microindentation measuremnts . The spherical indenter however has the additional advantage that it minimizes the risk to damage the surface of the tissue and has less than half dimensions than the flat indenter.

Neural Extrapolation of Motion for a Ball Rolling Down an Inclined Plane

PubMed Central

La Scaleia, Barbara; Lacquaniti, Francesco; Zago, Myrka

2014-01-01

It is known that humans tend to misjudge the kinematics of a target rolling down an inclined plane. Because visuomotor responses are often more accurate and less prone to perceptual illusions than cognitive judgments, we asked the question of how rolling motion is extrapolated for manual interception or drawing tasks. In three experiments a ball rolled down an incline with kinematics that differed as a function of the starting position (4 different positions) and slope (30°, 45° or 60°). In Experiment 1, participants had to punch the ball as it fell off the incline. In Experiment 2, the ball rolled down the incline but was stopped at the end; participants were asked to imagine that the ball kept moving and to punch it. In Experiment 3, the ball rolled down the incline and was stopped at the end; participants were asked to draw with the hand in air the trajectory that would be described by the ball if it kept moving. We found that performance was most accurate when motion of the ball was visible until interception and haptic feedback of hand-ball contact was available (Experiment 1). However, even when participants punched an imaginary moving ball (Experiment 2) or drew in air the imaginary trajectory (Experiment 3), they were able to extrapolate to some extent global aspects of the target motion, including its path, speed and arrival time. We argue that the path and kinematics of a ball rolling down an incline can be extrapolated surprisingly well by the brain using both visual information and internal models of target motion. PMID:24940874

Neural extrapolation of motion for a ball rolling down an inclined plane.

PubMed

La Scaleia, Barbara; Lacquaniti, Francesco; Zago, Myrka

2014-01-01

It is known that humans tend to misjudge the kinematics of a target rolling down an inclined plane. Because visuomotor responses are often more accurate and less prone to perceptual illusions than cognitive judgments, we asked the question of how rolling motion is extrapolated for manual interception or drawing tasks. In three experiments a ball rolled down an incline with kinematics that differed as a function of the starting position (4 different positions) and slope (30°, 45° or 60°). In Experiment 1, participants had to punch the ball as it fell off the incline. In Experiment 2, the ball rolled down the incline but was stopped at the end; participants were asked to imagine that the ball kept moving and to punch it. In Experiment 3, the ball rolled down the incline and was stopped at the end; participants were asked to draw with the hand in air the trajectory that would be described by the ball if it kept moving. We found that performance was most accurate when motion of the ball was visible until interception and haptic feedback of hand-ball contact was available (Experiment 1). However, even when participants punched an imaginary moving ball (Experiment 2) or drew in air the imaginary trajectory (Experiment 3), they were able to extrapolate to some extent global aspects of the target motion, including its path, speed and arrival time. We argue that the path and kinematics of a ball rolling down an incline can be extrapolated surprisingly well by the brain using both visual information and internal models of target motion.

Semi-quantitative HPV viral load in patients with ASC-US cytology: viral load correlates strongly with the presence of CIN but only weakly with its severity.

PubMed

Lee, S J; Kim, W Y; Shim, S-H; Cho, S-H; Oh, I K; Hwang, T S; Kim, S-N; Kang, S-B

2015-02-01

This study was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load, expressed in relative light units (RLUs), in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) cytology. A total of 349 ASC-US cases with HPV infection, detected using Hybrid Capture 2, were diagnosed histologically. A colposcopically directed punch biopsy was performed on acetowhite areas. Endocervical curettage biopsy and random cervical punch biopsy in four quadrants were performed in unsatisfactory colposcopy cases. In negative colposcopy cases, random cervical punch biopsy in four quadrants was performed. Case with no cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), CIN1 and CIN2+ (CIN2/CIN3) accounted for 162, 135 and 52 cases, respectively. The mean age showed no difference among the three groups (P = 0.510). There was a significant correlation between RLU values and the presence of CIN (P < 0.001), but less so with its severity: the median RLU values for negative, CIN1 and CIN2+ cases were 42.68, 146.45 and 156.43, respectively, with widely overlapping confidence intervals. The cut-off values of RLU to detect CIN1+ and CIN2+ were 6.73 and 45.64, respectively. The HPV viral load in ASC-US cases showed a significant correlation with the presence of CIN and less so with its severity, and showed large overlap of viral loads between grades of CIN. In ASC-US cases, RLU was not an accurate predictor of immediate high-grade CIN. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chytridiomycosis of Marine Diatoms-The Role of Stress Physiology and Resistance in Parasite-Host Recognition and Accumulation of Defense Molecules.

PubMed

Scholz, Bettina; Küpper, Frithjof C; Vyverman, Wim; Ólafsson, Halldór G; Karsten, Ulf

2017-01-25

Little is known about the role of chemotaxis in the location and attachment of chytrid zoospores to potential diatom hosts. Hypothesizing that environmental stress parameters affect parasite-host recognition, four chytrid-diatom tandem cultures ( Chytridium sp./ Navicula sp., Rhizophydium type I/ Nitzschia sp., Rhizophydium type IIa/ Rhizosolenia sp., Rhizophydium type IIb/ Chaetoceros sp.) were used to test the chemotaxis of chytrid zoospores and the presence of potential defense molecules in a non-contact-co-culturing approach. As potential triggers in the chemotaxis experiments, standards of eight carbohydrates, six amino acids, five fatty acids, and three compounds known as compatible solutes were used in individual and mixed solutions, respectively. In all tested cases, the whole-cell extracts of the light-stressed (continuous light exposure combined with 6 h UV radiation) hosts attracted the highest numbers of zoospores (86%), followed by the combined carbohydrate standard solution (76%), while all other compounds acted as weak triggers only. The results of the phytochemical screening, using biomass and supernatant extracts of susceptible and resistant host-diatom cultures, indicated in most of the tested extracts the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenols, and aldehydes, whereas the bioactivity screenings showed that the zoospores of the chytrid parasites were only significantly affected by the ethanolic supernatant extract of the resistant hosts.

Hypoxemia and arrhythmia during daily activities and six-minute walk test in fibrotic interstitial lung diseases.

PubMed

Park, Jeong Hyun; Jegal, Yangjin; Shim, Tae Sun; Lim, Chae-Man; Lee, Sang Do; Koh, Younsuck; Kim, Woo Sung; Kim, Won Dong; du Bois, Roland; Do, Kyung-Hyun; Kim, Dong Soon

2011-03-01

We performed 24-hr monitoring of pulse oximetric saturation (SpO(2)) with ECG and six-minute walk test (6MWT) in 19 patients with fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD) to investigate; 1) The frequency and severity of hypoxemia and dysrhythmia during daily activities and 6MWT, 2) safety of 6MWT, and 3) the parameters of 6MWT which can replace 24-hr continuous monitoring of SpO(2) to predict hypoxemia during daily activities. All patients experienced waking hour hypoxemia, and eight of nineteen patients spent > 10% of waking hours in hypoxemic state. Most patients experienced frequent arrhythmia, mostly atrial premature contractions (APCs) and ventricular premature contractions (VPCs). There were significant correlation between the variables of 6MWT and hypoxemia during daily activities. All of the patients who desaturated below 80% before 300 meters spent more than 10% of waking hour in hypoxemia (P = 0.018). In contrast to waking hour hypoxemia, SpO(2) did not drop significantly during sleep except in the patients whose daytime resting SpO(2) was already low. In conclusion, patients with fibrotic ILD showed significant period of hypoxemia during daily activities and frequent VPCs and APCs. Six-minute walk test is a useful surrogate marker of waking hour hypoxemia and seems to be safe without continuous monitoring of SpO(2).

5. DETAIL VIEW OF OLD, PUNCHTYPE MASTER FIRE ALARM SYSTEM, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

5. DETAIL VIEW OF OLD, PUNCH-TYPE MASTER FIRE ALARM SYSTEM, LOCATED ON S WALL OF ENGINE STORAGE ROOM; LOOKING S. (Ceronie and Ryan) - Watervliet Arsenal, Building No. 22, Westervelt Avenue & Buffington Street, Watervliet, Albany County, NY

Election 2000: Voting Issues and Recommendations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davison, Donald L.

2001-01-01

Focuses on the many issues that the close 2000 presidential election brought to the forefront, such as: problems with the punch card systems, the need for convenient registration, the topic of provisional ballots, and the relevance of the Electoral College. (CMK)

Tuning Sensory Properties of Triazole-Conjugated Spiropyrans: Metal-Ion Selectivity and Paper-Based Colorimetric Detection of Cyanide

PubMed Central

Lee, Juhyen; Choi, Eun Jung; Kim, Inwon; Lee, Minhe; Satheeshkumar, Chinnadurai; Song, Changsik

2017-01-01

Tuning the sensing properties of spiropyrans (SPs), which are one of the photochromic molecules useful for colorimetric sensing, is important for efficient analysis, but their synthetic modification is not always simple. Herein, we introduce an alkyne-functionalized SP, the modification of which would be easily achieved via Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (“click reaction”). The alkyne-SP was conjugated with a bis(triethylene glycol)-benzyl group (EG-BtSP) or a simple benzyl group (BtSP), forming a triazole linkage from the click reaction. The effects of auxiliary groups to SP were tested on metal-ion sensing and cyanide detection. We found that EG-BtSP was more Ca2+-sensitive than BtSP in acetonitrile, which were thoroughly examined by a continuous variation method (Job plot) and UV-VIS titrations, followed by non-linear regression analysis. Although both SPs showed similar, selective responses to cyanide in a water/acetonitrile co-solvent, only EG-BtSP showed a dramatic color change when fabricated on paper, highlighting the important contributions of the auxiliary groups. PMID:28783127

Swimming speed alteration of Artemia sp. and Brachionus plicatilis as a sub-lethal behavioural end-point for ecotoxicological surveys.

PubMed

Garaventa, Francesca; Gambardella, Chiara; Di Fino, Alessio; Pittore, Massimiliano; Faimali, Marco

2010-03-01

In this study, we investigated the possibility to improve a new behavioural bioassay (Swimming Speed Alteration test-SSA test) using larvae of marine cyst-forming organisms: e.g. the brine shrimp Artemia sp. and the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Swimming speed was investigated as a behavioural end-point for application in ecotoxicology studies. A first experiment to analyse the linear swimming speed of the two organisms was performed to verify the applicability of the video-camera tracking system, here referred to as Swimming Behavioural Recorder (SBR). A second experiment was performed, exposing organisms to different toxic compounds (zinc pyrithione, Macrotrol MT-200, and Eserine). Swimming speed alteration was analyzed together with mortality. The results of the first experiment indicate that SBR is a suitable tool to detect linear swimming speed of the two organisms, since the values have been obtained in accordance with other studies using the same organisms (3.05 mm s(-1) for Artemia sp. and 0.62 mm s(-1) for B. plicatilis). Toxicity test results clearly indicate that swimming speed of Artemia sp. and B. plicatilis is a valid behavioural end-point to detect stress at sub-lethal toxic substance concentrations. Indeed, alterations in swimming speed have been detected at toxic compound concentrations as low as less then 0.1-5% of their LC(50) values. In conclusion, the SSA test with B. plicatilis and Artemia sp. can be a good behavioural integrated output for application in marine ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring programs.

[Modeling of lactic acid fermentation of leguminous plant juices].

PubMed

Shurkhno, R A; Validov, Sh Z; Boronin, A M; Naumova, R P

2006-01-01

Lactic acid fermentation of leguminous plant juices was modeled to provide a comparative efficiency assessment of the previously selected strains of lactic acid bacteria as potential components of starter cultures. Juices of the legumes fodder galega, red clover, and alfalfa were subjected to lactic acid fermentation in 27 variants of experiment. Local strains (Lactobacillus sp. RS 2, Lactobacillus sp. RS 3, and Lactobacillus sp. RS 4) and the collection strain Lactobacillus plantarum BS 933 appeared the most efficient (with reference to the rate and degree of acidogenesis, ratio of lactic and acetic acids, and dynamics of microflora) in fermenting fodder galega juice; Lactobacillus sp. RS 1, Lactobacillus sp. RS 2, Lactobacillus sp. RS 3, Lactobacillus sp. RS 4, and L. plantarum BS 933 were the most efficient for red clover juice. Correction of alfalfa juice fermentation using the tested lactic acid bacterial strains appeared inefficient, which is explainable by its increased protein content and a low level of the acids produced during fermentation.

Crystal structure of SP-PTP, a low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase from Streptococcus pyogenes.

PubMed

Ku, Bonsu; Keum, Chae Won; Lee, Hye Seon; Yun, Hye-Yeoung; Shin, Ho-Chul; Kim, Bo Yeon; Kim, Seung Jun

2016-09-23

Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus (GAS), is a pathogenic bacterium that causes a variety of infectious diseases. The GAS genome encodes one protein tyrosine phosphatase, SP-PTP, which plays an essential role in the replication and virulence maintenance of GAS. Herein, we present the crystal structure of SP-PTP at 1.9 Å resolution. Although SP-PTP has been reported to have dual phosphatase specificity for both phosphorylated tyrosine and serine/threonine, three-dimensional structural analysis showed that SP-PTP shares high similarity with typical low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatases (LMWPTPs), which are specific for phosphotyrosine, but not with dual-specificity phosphatases, in overall folding and active site composition. In the dephosphorylation activity test, SP-PTP consistently acted on phosphotyrosine substrates, but not or only minimally on phosphoserine/phosphothreonine substrates. Collectively, our structural and biochemical analyses verified SP-PTP as a canonical tyrosine-specific LMWPTP. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strength and stiffness of small glued-laminated beams with different qualities of tension laminations

Treesearch

Catherine M. Marx; Russell C. Moody

1981-01-01

A total of 180 small Douglas Fir–Larch (DF-L) or Southern Pine (SP) glued-laminated beams were evaluated to determine the tension lamination quality necessary to obtain desired design stresses. The test beams had either the regular laminating grades of L1 DF-L/No. 1D SP or the special 302-24 laminating grade as tension laminations. Because an initial set of SP beams...

Synthesis and contractile activity of the C-terminal heptapeptide of substance P with N5-dimethyl glutamine in the 6-position. Active site studies.

PubMed

Poulos, C P; Pinas, N; Theodoropoulos, D

1980-09-15

The synthesis and testing of [N5-dimethyl-Gln6]-SP5-11 showed 37 +/- 12% contractile activity relative to SP, and intrinsic efficacy 98 +/- 4%. This finding indicates that the carboxamide groups of the dual Gln5-Cln6 moiety are not equally related with the contractile response of the C-terminal heptapeptide of SP.

Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae): integrating qualitative morphology and multivariate morphometric analysis.

PubMed

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude; Csősz, Sándor; Fisher, Brian L

2016-01-01

The Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group is revised based on both qualitative morphological traits and multivariate analysis of continuous morphometric data. To minimize the effect of the scaling properties of diverse traits due to worker caste polymorphism, and to achieve the desired near-linearity of data, morphometric analyses were done only on minor workers. The majority of traits exhibit broken scaling on head size, dividing Camponotus workers into two discrete subcastes, minors and majors. This broken scaling prevents the application of algorithms that uses linear combination of data to the entire dataset, hence only minor workers were analyzed statistically. The elimination of major workers resulted in linearity and the data meet required assumptions. However, morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. Prior species hypotheses and the goodness of clusters were tested on raw data by confirmatory linear discriminant analysis. Due to the small sample size available for some species, a factor known to reduce statistical reliability, hypotheses generated by exploratory analyses were tested with extreme care and species delimitations were inferred via the combined evidence of both qualitative (morphology and biology) and quantitative data. Altogether, fifteen species are recognized, of which 11 are new to science: Camponotus alamaina sp. n. , Camponotus androy sp. n. , Camponotus bevohitra sp. n. , Camponotus galoko sp. n. , Camponotus matsilo sp. n. , Camponotus mifaka sp. n. , Camponotus orombe sp. n. , Camponotus tafo sp. n. , Camponotus tratra sp. n. , Camponotus varatra sp. n. , and Camponotus zavo sp. n. Four species are redescribed: Camponotus echinoploides Forel, Camponotus edmondi André, Camponotus ethicus Forel, and Camponotus robustus Roger. Camponotus edmondi ernesti Forel, syn. n. is synonymized under Camponotus edmondi . This revision also includes an identification key to species for both minor and major castes, information on geographic distribution and biology, taxonomic discussions, and descriptions of intraspecific variation. Traditional taxonomy and multivariate morphometric analysis are independent sources of information which, in combination, allow more precise species delimitation. Moreover, quantitative characters included in identification keys improve accuracy of determination in difficult cases.

Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae): integrating qualitative morphology and multivariate morphometric analysis

PubMed Central

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude; Csősz, Sándor; Fisher, Brian L.

2016-01-01

Abstract The Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group is revised based on both qualitative morphological traits and multivariate analysis of continuous morphometric data. To minimize the effect of the scaling properties of diverse traits due to worker caste polymorphism, and to achieve the desired near-linearity of data, morphometric analyses were done only on minor workers. The majority of traits exhibit broken scaling on head size, dividing Camponotus workers into two discrete subcastes, minors and majors. This broken scaling prevents the application of algorithms that uses linear combination of data to the entire dataset, hence only minor workers were analyzed statistically. The elimination of major workers resulted in linearity and the data meet required assumptions. However, morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. Prior species hypotheses and the goodness of clusters were tested on raw data by confirmatory linear discriminant analysis. Due to the small sample size available for some species, a factor known to reduce statistical reliability, hypotheses generated by exploratory analyses were tested with extreme care and species delimitations were inferred via the combined evidence of both qualitative (morphology and biology) and quantitative data. Altogether, fifteen species are recognized, of which 11 are new to science: Camponotus alamaina sp. n., Camponotus androy sp. n., Camponotus bevohitra sp. n., Camponotus galoko sp. n., Camponotus matsilo sp. n., Camponotus mifaka sp. n., Camponotus orombe sp. n., Camponotus tafo sp. n., Camponotus tratra sp. n., Camponotus varatra sp. n., and Camponotus zavo sp. n. Four species are redescribed: Camponotus echinoploides Forel, Camponotus edmondi André, Camponotus ethicus Forel, and Camponotus robustus Roger. Camponotus edmondi ernesti Forel, syn. n. is synonymized under Camponotus edmondi. This revision also includes an identification key to species for both minor and major castes, information on geographic distribution and biology, taxonomic discussions, and descriptions of intraspecific variation. Traditional taxonomy and multivariate morphometric analysis are independent sources of information which, in combination, allow more precise species delimitation. Moreover, quantitative characters included in identification keys improve accuracy of determination in difficult cases. PMID:28050160

Simple and rapid quality control of sulfated glycans by a fluorescence sensor assay--exemplarily developed for the sulfated polysaccharides from red algae Delesseria sanguinea.

PubMed

Lühn, Susanne; Grimm, Juliane C; Alban, Susanne

2014-04-10

Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) from algae are of great interest due to their manifold biological activities. Obstacles to commercial (especially medical) application include considerable variability and complex chemical composition making the analysis and the quality control challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate a simple microplate assay for screening the quality of SP. It is based on the fluorescence intensity (FI) increase of the sensor molecule Polymer-H by SP and was originally developed for direct quantification of SP. Exemplarily, 65 SP batches isolated from the red alga Delesseria sanguinea (D.s.-SP) and several other algae polysaccharides were investigated. Their FI increase in the Polymer-H assay was compared with other analytical parameters. By testing just one concentration of a D.s.-SP sample, quality deviations from the reference D.s.-SP and thus both batch-to-batch variability and stability can be detected. Further, structurally distinct SP showed to differ in their concentration-dependent FI profiles. By using corresponding reference compounds, the Polymer-H assay is therefore applicable as identification assay with high negative predictability. In conclusion, the Polymer-H assay showed to represent not only a simple method for quantification, but also for characterization identification and differentiation of SP of marine origin.

Microbiota from Rhabditis regina may alter nematode entomopathogenicity.

PubMed

Jiménez-Cortés, Jesús Guillermo; Canales-Lazcano, Jorge; Lara-Reyes, Nancy; Rosenblueth, Mónica; Martínez-Romero, Esperanza; Contreras-Garduño, Jorge

2016-11-01

Here we report the presence of the entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Rhabditoides) regina affecting white grubs (Phyllophaga sp. and Anomala sp.) in Mexico and R. regina-associated bacteria. Bioassays were performed to test the entomopathogenic capacity of dauer and L2 and L3 (combined) larval stages. Furthermore, we determined the diversity of bacteria from laboratory nematodes cultivated for 2 years (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) and from field nematodes (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) in addition to the virulence in Galleria mellonella larvae of some bacterial species from both laboratory and field nematodes. Dauer and non-dauer larvae of R. regina killed G. mellonella. Bacteria such as Serratia sp. (isolated from field nematodes) and Klebsiella sp. (isolated from larvae of laboratory and field nematodes) may explain R. regina entomopathogenic capabilities. Different bacteria were found in nematodes after subculturing in the laboratory suggesting that R. regina may acquire bacteria in different environments. However, there were some consistently found bacteria from laboratory and field nematodes such as Pseudochrobactrum sp., Comamonas sp., Alcaligenes sp., Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Leucobacter sp. that may constitute the nematode microbiome. Results showed that some bacteria contributing to entomopathogenicity may be lost in the laboratory representing a disadvantage when nematodes are cultivated to be used for biological control.

Role of the NH2-terminus of substance P in the inhibition by capsaicin of behavioral sensitization to kainic acid-induced activity in the adult mouse.

PubMed

Larson, A A; Sun, X

1994-01-01

Activation of primary afferent C-fibers by repeated intrathecal injection of kainic acid (KA) in mice is inhibited after pretreatment with capsaicin. The increased behavioral response to multiple injections of KA is thought to be brought about by an action of the NH2-terminus of substance P (SP). In light of our recent observation that the antinociceptive effect of capsaicin may also involve an action of the NH2-terminus of SP, we tested the hypothesis that capsaicin inhibits behavioral sensitization to KA by a desensitization to the action of the NH2-terminus of SP. Using adult mice, pretreatment (24 hr) with either capsaicin (0.8 micrograms) or SP(1-7) (1 and 10 nmol) attenuated sensitization of the behavioral response to four injections of 25 pmol of KA at 2-min intervals. Pretreatment with 10 nmol of the COOH-terminal SP fragment, SP(5-11), had no effect. [D-Pro2,D-Phe7]-SP(1-7), a SP NH2-terminal antagonist, injected 5 min before capsaicin or SP(1-7), inhibited the effects of both capsaicin and SP(1-7) on KA sensitization whereas the COOH-terminal neurokinin antagonist, [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-SP, did not. The similarities in behavioral responses after treatment with SP(1-7) or capsaicin, together with the sensitivity of these effects to D-SP(1-7), suggest that SP released in response to capsaicin may inhibit subsequent KA-induced activity 24 hr later. This action of SP appears to be brought about by its NH2-terminus and/or an accumulation of its NH2-terminal metabolites after capsaicin treatment.

Physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of sausage formulated with surimi powder.

PubMed

Santana, Palestina; Huda, Nurul; Yang, Tajul Aris

2015-03-01

The objectives of this study were to determine the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of fish sausage made with 100 % threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) surimi powder (SP100), a mix of 50 % surimi powder and 50 % frozen surimi (SP50), and a control (100 % frozen surimi). No significant differences in protein content and folding test results (P > 0.05) were detected among the SP100 and SP50 samples and the control. Gel strength of SP100 was lower (P > 0.05) than that of the control. The texture profile analysis (TPA) values (hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness) of SP100 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the control. However, the TPA values of SP100 and SP50 were still within the textural range of Malaysian commercial fish sausages. The water holding capacity, and emulsion stability of SP100 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of SP50 and the control. Of the cooking properties measured, SP100 had lower (P < 0.05) cooking yield, moisture retention, and fat retention than the control. Quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) performed by 12 trained panelists showed that sensory characteristic (hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness) scores of SP100 were lower than those of SP50 and the control. The use of surimi powder in fish sausage did not differ with that of control in the term of color, odor, or oiliness scored by panelists. The drying process impacted the texture properties of surimi when it was used in fish sausage. However, the use of surimi powder in fish sausage formulation is still accepted since the TPA values of SP100 and SP50 were still within the textural range of Malaysian commercial fish sausages.

Indonesian honey protein isolation Apis dorsata dorsata and Tetragonula sp. as antibacterial and antioxidant agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahlan, Muhamad; Damayanti, Vina; Azizah, Nurul; Hakamada, Kazuaki; Yohda, Masafumi; Hermansyah, Heri; Wijanarko, Anondho; Rohmatin, Etin

2018-02-01

Honey is a natural product that has many properties and been widely used for many theurapeutic purposes. Research on honey has been very rapid but not yet for Indonesia. Like local Indonesian honey Apis dorsata dorsata and Tetragonula sp. which has been widely consumed by the public but not yet known for certain efficacy of each content. The function of honey as antibacterial and antioxidant has not been specifically explained by the components contained in honey. Protein is one of the content of honey that turned out to have activity as an antibacterial and antioxidant in certain types of honey because of it antimicrobial peptide. Testing of honey activity as antibacterial and antioxidant through several stages including isolation, SDS-PAGE analysis, Bradford test, antibacterial activity test with well diffusion method and antioxidant activity test by DPPH method. Bacteria used were gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative Escherichia coli. After some experiment finally got protein isolation method that is in the form of further concentration using Millipore membrane for honey Tetragonula sp. and membrane filtration dot blot for honey Apis dorsata dorsata. The Bradford assay showed that Apis dorsata dorsata honey contains protein <5 µg / ml, while honey Tetragonula sp. has a protein content of 97 µg / ml. The characteristic profile of molecular weight of the protein showed honey Tetragonula sp. has 3 protein bands composed of 52, 96 - 61,9 kDa, 63,35 - 65,92 kDa and 86,16 - 91,4 kDa, whereas Apis dorsata dorsata honey has 5 protein bands consisting of 45,2 - 46,6 kDa, 50,2 - 50,9 kDa, 62,5 - 62,9 kDa, 73,1 - 73,9 kDa, 83,9 - 86,9 kDa. Isolate honey protein Apis dorsata dorsata has no antioxidant and antibacterial activity (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), whereas honey protein isolates Tetragonula sp. has antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.