Tang-Tong-Fang Confers Protection against Experimental Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy by Reducing Inflammation

PubMed Central

Li, Mingdi; Huang, Da; Liu, Xiaoxing; Lin, Lan

2015-01-01

Tang-tong-fang (TTF) is a Chinese herbal formula that has been shown to be beneficial in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication secondary to diabetic microvascular injury. However, the underlying mechanism of protection in nerve ischemia provided by TTF is still unclear. We hypothesized that TTF alleviates DPN via inhibition of ICAM-1 expression. Therefore, we tested the effect of TTF in a previously established DPN model, in which nerve injury was induced by ischemia/reperfusion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We found that the conduction velocity and amplitude of action potentials of sciatic nerve conduction were reduced in the DPN model group but were rescued by TTF treatment. In addition, TTF treatment also attenuated the effect of DPN on other parameters including histology and ultrastructural changes, expression of ICAM-1, MPO, and TNF-α in rat sciatic nerves, and plasma sICAM-1 and MPO levels. Together, our data suggest that TTF treatment may alleviate DPN via ICAM-1 inhibition. PMID:26539228

[The affinity between Le family of Tong Ren Tang and acu-moxibustion as viewed from Mian xue tang zhen jiu ji cheng (Mian Xuetang's Synthetic Work of Acu-moxibustion)].

PubMed

Huang, L X

2017-11-28

This compilation process of Mian xue tang zhen jiu ji cheng ( Mian Xuetang ' s Synthetic Work of Acu - moxibustion )was quite mysterious, the book's advent coincidentally met with several major historical events which made its value of decoding its historical functions far beyond its academic value. The editor of this book is Le Xianyang, the founder of Tong Ren Tang. While compiling this book, he also made a replica of Ming-Dynasty's Zhengtong bronze statue. More than 200 years later, Le Jingyu, the 12th generation of the Le family revised Ming Tang Tu inherited from his ancestors and engraved Ming Tang Tu on the stone for its standardization. This great achievement of Le family was no less than the recasting of the Tiansheng bronze statue and the reengraving Tong ren shu xue zhen jiu tu jing ( Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points of the Bronze Figure ) by support of state power for building the Beijing Imperial Hospital in the eighth year of the Zhengtong reign (1443).

Simultaneous determination of phenolic acids and diterpenoids and their comparative pharmacokinetic study in normal and acute blood stasis rats by UFLC-MS/MS after oral administration of Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong capsules.

PubMed

Gao, Xun; Mu, Jingqing; Guan, Shaoyi; Li, Qing; Du, Yiyang; Zhang, Huifen; Bi, Kaishun

2018-01-01

Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong capsules are one of the well-known and first-line Chinese traditional herbal formula for treating coronary heart disease. A validated and sensitive method via ultra fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) was established to simultaneously determinate five phenolic acids and four diterpenoids in rats in order to investigate their pharmacokinetic profiles firstly. Analytes were extracted by ethyl acetate and determined via multiple reaction monitoring mode in both positive and negative ion modes. The values for limit of quantification were in range of 0.025-1.250ng/ml. Inter- and intra-day precisions were no more than 10.9% with accuracy of -11.0%-10.6%, meanwhile the stable and suitable extraction recoveries were also obtained. And finally such excellent method was used to compare the pharmacokinetics of nine compounds in normal and acute blood stasis rats after oral administration of Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong capsules. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comment on: Discovery of the fossiliferous Cu Brei Formation (Lower Devonian) in the Kon Tum Block (South Viet Nam): Tong-Dzuy Thanh, Than Duc Duyen, Nguyen Huu Hung, Bui Phu My

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maluski, Henri

2008-01-01

The publication of Tong-Dzuy Thanh et al. calls for two remarks: The metamorphism in the "Kon Tum block" cannot be younger than Permian because the outcrop they describe is not metamorphic. Their very interesting discovery is a new piece of evidence for the exotic origin of the Dien Binh Series.

Comparison of meiofaunal abundance in two mangrove wetlands in Tong'an Bay, Xiamen, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xiping; Cai, Lizhe; Fu, Sujing

2015-10-01

To compare meiofaunal community in the two mangrove wetlands in Tong'an Bay, Xiamen, China, and probe the response of meiofauna to high organic matter, sampling was carried out in Fenglin and Xiang'an mangrove wetlands in the bay. The results showed that the Ne/Co ratio (nematode to benthic copepod) and organic matter in Fenglin mangrove wetland were higher than those in Xiang'an mangrove wetland. The meiofaunal abundance in Fenglin mangrove was all lower than that in Xiang'an mangrove wetland in summer, autumn and spring, while the meiofaunal abundance in Fenglin mangrove was higher than that in Xiang'an mangrove wetland in winter. Two-way ANOVA results showed that the meiofaunal abundance and nematode abundance were significantly different between regions, seasons and region×season. With all the results in the present study, we confirmed that the positive response of meiofaunal and nematode abundance were only detected for medium organic matter contents according to the Xiang'an wetland's level, and that the distribution of meiofaunal abundance would be influenced by sand content. Higher copepod abundance and lower N/C value usually suggest better environmental quality.

Ionic liquid and aqueous two-phase extraction based on salting-out coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of seven rare ginsenosides in Xue-Sai-Tong injection.

PubMed

Li, Lan-Jie; Jin, Yong-Ri; Wang, Xiao-Zhong; Liu, Ying; Wu, Qian; Shi, Xiao-Lei; Li, Xu-Wen

2015-09-01

A method of ionic liquid salt aqueous two-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the analysis of seven rare ginsenosides including Rg6 , F4 , 20(S)-Rg3 , 20(R)-Rg3 , Rk3 , Rk1 , and Rg5 in Xue-Sai-Tong injection. The injection was mixed with ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide aqueous solution, and a mixture was obtained. With the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dipotassium phosphate into the mixture, the aqueous two-phase mixture was formed after ultrasonic treatment and centrifuged. Rare ginsenosides were extracted into the upper phase. To obtain a high extraction factors, various influences were considered systematically, such as the volume of ionic liquid, the category and amount of salts, the amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the pH value of system, and the time of ultrasonic treatment. Under the optimal condition, rare ginsenosides in Xue-Sai-Tong injection were enriched and detected, the recoveries of seven rare ginsenosides ranged from 90.05 to 112.55%, while relative standard deviations were lower than 2.50%. The developed method was reliable, rapid and sensitive for the determination of seven rare ginsenosides in the injections. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Exposure to PM2.5 and PAHs from the Tong Liang, China epidemiological study

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

Chow, J.C.; Watson, J.G.; Chen, L.W.A.

2006-07-01

Chemically speciated PM2.5 and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) measurements were made at three sites near urban Tong Liang, Chongqing, a Chinese inland city where coal combustion is used for electricity generation and residential purposes outside of the central city. Ambient sampling was based on 72-hr averages between 3/2/2002 and 2/26/2003. Elevated PM2.5 and PAH concentrations were observed at all three sites, with the highest concentrations found in winter and the lowest in summer. This reflects a coupling effect of source variability and meteorological conditions. The PM2.5 mass estimated from sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organics, elemental carbon, crustal material, and saltmore » corresponded with the annual average gravimetric mass within 10%. Carbonaceous aerosol was the dominant species, while positive correlations between organic carbon and trace elements (e.g., As, Se, Br, Pb, and Zn) were consistent with coal-burning and motor vehicle contributions. Ambient particle-bound PAHs of molecular weight 168-266 were enriched by 1.5 to 3.5 times during the coal-fired power plant operational period. However, further investigation is needed to determine the relative contribution from residential and utility coal combustion and vehicular activities.« less

Physiological and Psychological Characteristics of Successful Combat Controller Trainees

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

here. Reaction Time. Eye-hand reaction speeds were measured on the Makoto Sports Arena (Makoto USA, Centennial , CO) in reactive and proactive modes... depression , self- consciousness, immoderation, and vulnerability. Individuals that score low in this area are less easily upset and are less emotionally

[Peritubular capillary injury in Chinese herb guan-mu-tong-induced acute tubular necrosis].

PubMed

Yang, Li; Li, Xiao-mei; Wang, Su-xia; Wang, Hai-yan

2005-07-01

To explore the role and mechanisms of peritubular capillary (PTC) injury in the progression of Chinese Herb guan-mu-tong (GMT, aristolochiae manshuriensis kom) induced acute tubular necrosis (GMT-ATN). Renal biopsy tissue from 4 cases of GMT-ATN and 5 cases of antibiotic induced ATN (A-ATN) were included in the study. Tubulointerstitial injury was semi-quantitatively assessed. Immunohistochemical SP method was applied to reveal PTC as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Ultra microstructure of endothelial cells and basement membrane of PTC was detected by electronic microscopy (EM). 5 cases of minor mesangioproliferative non-IgA glomerulonephritis were selected as a control group. The density of PTC was decreased significantly in GMT-ATN, as compared with the A-ATN and control group (211.08 +/- 56.15 vs 413.54 +/- 66.59, 536.62 +/- 68.38, P < 0.01). Dilated and deformed PTC lumina were noted in GMT-ATN with some endothelial cells and basement membrane partially disrupted. Most endothelial cells were found to be swollen with vacuoles dispersed in the cell plasma. The basement membrane was partially shrunk and thickened. The expression of VEGF in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) was much less in the GMT-ATN than that in A-ATN group 2.1 (0-3.86)% vs [42.5 (31.33-60.25)%, P < 0.01], even though it was higher than that in the control group [23.1 (18.2-39.5)%, P < 0.01]; the expression was correlated with PTC density. Close correlation was also found between RTEC regeneration and PTC density, as well as VEGF expression (r = 0.880 and 0.802 respectively, P < 0.01). PTC was markedly injured in GMT-ATN; this could be one of the cause for the continuously progressing tubulointerstitial damage. The low expression of VEGF in RTEC might contribute to the PTC injury process.

De novo transcriptome analysis reveals insights into different mechanisms of growth and immunity in a Chinese soft-shelled turtle hybrid and the parental varieties.

PubMed

Zhang, Haiqi; Xu, Xiaojun; He, Zhongyang; Zheng, Tianlun; Shao, Jianzhong

2017-03-20

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a highly important freshwater aquaculture species in China. The molecular mechanisms underlying changes in immunity and growth in hybrid vigor are not well understood. In the present study, the transcriptomes from significantly different P. sinensis strains (Qingxi black turtle, B and Japanese strain, J) and the resulting hybrid (Zajiao-1, F) were sequenced using an Illumina sequencing platform. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Zajiao-1 and the Qingxi black turtle were enriched mainly in the HTLV-I infection and Hippo signaling pathways, while DEGs between the Zajiao-1 and Japanese strain were enriched mainly in tryptophan metabolism, caner-associated pathways, transcriptional dysregulation in cancer, amebiasis, Fcγ-mediated phagocytosis and the peroxisome pathway. Highly expressed genes involved in the regulation of disorders of the fatty acid biosynthesis, immune and cardiovascular systems in P. sinensis were found among the DEGs. Enrichment categories for gene ontology included cellular processes, metabolic pathways, and the actin cytoskeleton pathway. The reliability of the sequencing data was verified through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of 20 immunity or growth-related genes. These findings offer new insights into heterosis of growth traits and resistance to stresses and potential strategies for selective breeding. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wen-Luo-Tong Prevents Glial Activation and Nociceptive Sensitization in a Rat Model of Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

PubMed

Deng, Bo; Jia, Liqun; Pan, Lin; Song, Aiping; Wang, Yuanyuan; Tan, Huangying; Xiang, Qing; Yu, Lili; Ke, Dandan

2016-01-01

One of the main dose-limiting complications of the chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin (OXL) is painful neuropathy. Glial activation and nociceptive sensitization may be responsible for the mechanism of neuropathic pain. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Wen-luo-tong (WLT) has been widely used in China to treat chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain. However, there is no study on the effects of WLT on spinal glial activation induced by OXL. In this study, a rat model of OXL-induced chronic neuropathic pain was established and WLT was administrated. Pain behavioral tests and morphometric examination of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were conducted. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining was performed, glial activation was evaluated, and the excitatory neurotransmitter substance P (SP) and glial-derived proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were analyzed. WLT treatment alleviated OXL-induced mechanical allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia. Changes in the somatic, nuclear, and nucleolar areas of neurons in DRG were prevented. In the spinal dorsal horn, hypertrophy and activation of GFAP-positive astrocytes were averted, and the level of GFAP mRNA decreased significantly. Additionally, TNF-α mRNA and protein levels decreased. Collectively, these results indicate that WLT reversed both glial activation in the spinal dorsal horn and nociceptive sensitization during OXL-induced chronic neuropathic pain in rats.

Inhibitory effect of bofutsushosan (fang feng tong sheng san) on glucose transporter 5 function in vitro.

PubMed

Gao, Shengli; Satsu, Hideo; Makino, Toshiaki

2018-03-01

Bofutsushosan (BTS; fang feng tong sheng san in Chinese) is a formula in traditional Japanese Kampo medicine and Chinese medicine comprising eighteen crude drugs, and is used to treat obesity and metabolic syndrome. Fructose is contained in refreshing beverages as high-fructose corn syrup, and is associated with obesity. Fructose is absorbed via glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5) in the intestine. Therefore, the inhibition of GLUT5 is considered to be a target of obesity drugs. We evaluated the inhibitory effects of BTS extract and its constituents on fructose uptake using Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells, i.e., cells stably expressing GLUT5. Boiled water extract of BTS significantly suppressed GLUT5 function in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicities. Among 18 components of BTS, the boiled water extracts of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, the root and rhizome of Saposhnikovia divaricata, and the root of Platycodon grandiflorum exhibited significant inhibitory effects on fructose uptake with IC 50 values of 314, 119 and 475 µg/ml, respectively. Among the constituents of the rhizome of Z. officinale extract, 6-gingerol significantly inhibited GLUT5 with an IC 50 value of 39 µM, while 6-shogaol exhibited a significant but weak inhibition on GLUT5 at 100 µM. One of the mechanisms of action of BTS may be the inhibition of fructose absorption in the intestine, and one of the active components of BTS is the rhizome of Z. officinale and 6-gingerol.

Comparison of Chang Run Tong and Forlaxin Treatment of Constipation in Elderly Diabetic Patients.

PubMed

Zhao, Dong; Zhao, Jing-Bo

2018-05-01

Constipation is quite common and has impact on life quality in the elderly diabetic patients; therefore it is important to seek better treatments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Chang Run Tong (CRT) decoction on constipation in elderly diabetic patients in comparison with the effect of Macrogol 4000 powder (Forlax). This study was designed as a prospective study consisting of two parallel arms: CRT group and Forlax group. The study was conducted in China-Japan Hospital. Subject interventions: Eighty elderly diabetic patients with constipation were evaluated, among them 52 patients were treated with CRT and 28 patients were treated with Forlax. The patients were interviewed for Bristol stool scale, spontaneous complete bowel movements (SCBM) and symptoms of defecation feeling, defecation weakness, feeling of incomplete evacuation, bloating, and flatulence at different time points. The changes of all above parameters from treatment for 2 and 4 weeks and follow-up for 1 and 2 months with reference to the baseline (before treatment) were compared between CRT and Forlax treatments. The treatment efficiency was evaluated and compared between two different treatments. For the improvement of Bristol stool scale, SCBM and feeling of incomplete evacuation, CRT was significantly better than Forlax at different time points (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). For the symptoms of defecation feeling, defecation weakness, bloating, and flatulence, CRT was significantly better than Forlax for follow-up improvement (p < 0.01, p < 0.001); whereas no difference was found at other time points of the treatment (p > 0.05). Furthermore, CRT had a significantly better treatment efficiency than Forlax (p < 0.001). Both CRT and Forlax treatment could effectively improve bowel habits and symptoms of constipation in elderly diabetic patients. CRT was better than Forlax to treat constipation in elderly diabetic patients and had better follow-up improvement after

Effect of Tong Luo Jiu Nao on Aβ-degrading enzymes in AD rat brains.

PubMed

Liu, Yuan; Hua, Qian; Lei, Hongtao; Li, Pengtao

2011-09-02

Tong Luo Jiu Nao (TLJN) is a modern Chinese formula based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory that has been used to treat ischemic cerebral stroke and vascular dementia. TLJN belongs to the ethnopharmacological family of medicines. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the TLJN effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate the effect of TLJN on β-amyloid-degrading enzymes and learning and memory in the AD rat brain. AD rats whose disease was induced by Aβ(25-35) injection into the bilateral hippocampus CA1 region were subjected to intragastric administration of various preparations. The experimental animals were healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats which were randomly divided into normal, sham, model, TLJN min, TLJN max and donepezil hydrochloride groups. Spontaneous alternation and passive avoidance behavior, which are regarded as measures of spatial learning and memory, were investigated using Y-maze testing. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the therapeutic effect of TLJN on the deposits of amyloid plaque and on the expression of synaptophysin, insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin. Y-maze results showed that the AD model group presented with spatial learning and memory impairments. Hematoxylin-eosin and Congo red staining indicated neuronal impairment and deposits of amyloid plaque in the model group and these results were consistent with their learning and memory deficits in the Y-maze. The TLJN-treated groups exhibited prolonged a cavity delitescence, decreased arm entries and improvement in learning and memory. Moreover, the structure of the neurons of the treated groups was restored and the expression of synaptophysin increased in both the hippocampus and cortex. In addition, their levels of insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin in the cortex and hippocampus were upregulated and the amyloid plaque was decreased. TLJN can improve learning and memory, up-regulate insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin levels

Five new species of the genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 from Singapore

PubMed Central

Tong, Yanfeng; Koh, Joseph K. H.; Tong, Xiujiao; Li, Shuqiang

2016-01-01

Abstract Five new species of the genus Ischnothyreus are reported from Singapore: Ischnothyreus an Tong & Li, sp. n., Ischnothyreus brunneus Tong & Li, sp. n., Ischnothyreus dactylinus Tong & Li, sp. n., Ischnothyreus poculum Tong & Li, sp. n. and Ischnothyreus tectorius Tong & Li, sp. n. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are given for all new species. PMID:27853399

Neuroprotective effects and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based active components identification of external applied a novel Wen-Luo-Tong microemulsion.

PubMed

Lin, Hong-Mei; Lin, Long-Fei; Xia, Zhen-Zhen; Mao, Yong; Liu, Jia; Xu, Ling-Yan; Wu, Qing

2017-11-13

Chemotherapy induced neuropathy causes excruciating pain to cancer patients. Wen-Luo-Tong (WLT), a traditional Chinese medicinal compound, has been used to alleviate anti-cancer drug such as oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain for many years. However, the current route of administration of WLT is inconvenient and the active ingredients and mechanism of action of WLT are still unclear. To address these issues, we developed a novel formulation of WLT (W/O microemulsion) for the ease of application. New ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) methods were employed for analysis of the ingredients. We identified seven ingredients that penetrated through the skin into the Franz cell receptor solution and four of those ingredients were retained in skin tissue when WLT microemulsion was applied. We tested the microemulsion formulation on an oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy rat model and showed that this formulation significantly decreased oxaliplatin-induced mechanical hyperalgesia responses. Schwann cells (SCs) viability experiment in vitro was studied to test the protective effect of the identified seven ingredients. The result showed that Hydroxysafflor Yellow A, icariin, epimedin B and 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid significantly increased the viability of SCs after injured by Oxaliplatin. Our report presents the first novel formulation of WLT with neuroprotective effect and ease of use, which has potential for clinical applications.

Tong Xie Yao Fang relieves irritable bowel syndrome in rats via mechanisms involving regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P

PubMed Central

Yin, Yue; Zhong, Lei; Wang, Jian-Wei; Zhao, Xue-Ying; Zhao, Wen-Jing; Kuang, Hai-Xue

2015-01-01

AIM: To investigate whether the Chinese medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang (TXYF) improves dysfunction in an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rat model. METHODS: Thirty baby rats for IBS modeling were separated from mother rats (1 h per day) from days 8 to 21, and the rectum was expanded by angioplasty from days 8 to 12. Ten normal rats were used as normal controls. We examined the effects of TXYF on defection frequency, colonic transit function and smooth muscle contraction, and the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and substance P (SP) in colonic and hypothalamus tissues by Western blot and RT-PCT techniques in both normal rats and IBS model rats with characterized visceral hypersensitivity. RESULTS: Defecation frequency was 1.8 ± 1.03 in normal rats and 4.5 ± 1.58 in IBS model rats (P < 0.001). However, the defecation frequency was significantly decreased (3.0 ± 1.25 vs 4.5 ± 1.58, P < 0.05), while the time (in seconds) of colon transit function was significantly increased (256.88 ± 20.32 vs 93.36 ± 17.28, P < 0.001) in IBS + TXYF group rats than in IBS group rats. Increased colonic smooth muscle tension and contract frequency in IBS model rats were significantly decreased by administration of TXYF. Exogenous agonist stimulants increased spontaneous activity and elicited contractions of colon smooth muscle in IBS model rats, and all of these actions were significantly reduced by TXYF involving 5-HT and SP down-regulation. CONCLUSION: TXYF can modulate the activity of the enteric nervous system and alter 5-HT and SP activities, which may contribute to the symptoms of IBS. PMID:25914462

Tong Xie Yao Fang relieves irritable bowel syndrome in rats via mechanisms involving regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P.

PubMed

Yin, Yue; Zhong, Lei; Wang, Jian-Wei; Zhao, Xue-Ying; Zhao, Wen-Jing; Kuang, Hai-Xue

2015-04-21

To investigate whether the Chinese medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang (TXYF) improves dysfunction in an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rat model. Thirty baby rats for IBS modeling were separated from mother rats (1 h per day) from days 8 to 21, and the rectum was expanded by angioplasty from days 8 to 12. Ten normal rats were used as normal controls. We examined the effects of TXYF on defection frequency, colonic transit function and smooth muscle contraction, and the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and substance P (SP) in colonic and hypothalamus tissues by Western blot and RT-PCT techniques in both normal rats and IBS model rats with characterized visceral hypersensitivity. Defecation frequency was 1.8 ± 1.03 in normal rats and 4.5 ± 1.58 in IBS model rats (P < 0.001). However, the defecation frequency was significantly decreased (3.0 ± 1.25 vs 4.5 ± 1.58, P < 0.05), while the time (in seconds) of colon transit function was significantly increased (256.88 ± 20.32 vs 93.36 ± 17.28, P < 0.001) in IBS + TXYF group rats than in IBS group rats. Increased colonic smooth muscle tension and contract frequency in IBS model rats were significantly decreased by administration of TXYF. Exogenous agonist stimulants increased spontaneous activity and elicited contractions of colon smooth muscle in IBS model rats, and all of these actions were significantly reduced by TXYF involving 5-HT and SP down-regulation. TXYF can modulate the activity of the enteric nervous system and alter 5-HT and SP activities, which may contribute to the symptoms of IBS.

A sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of eleven bioactive components of Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang decoction in rat biological matrices.

PubMed

Li, Tian-xue; Hu, Lang; Zhang, Meng-meng; Sun, Jian; Qiu, Yue; Rui, Jun-qian; Yang, Xing-hao

2014-01-01

There is a growing concern for the sensitive quantification of multiple components using advanced data acquisition method in herbal medicines (HMs). An improved and rugged UPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for sensitive and rapid determination of multiply analytes from Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF) decoction in three biological matrices (plasma/brain tissue/urine) using geniposide and formononetin as internal standards. After solid-phase extraction, chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column using gradient elution. Quantifier and qualifier transitions were monitored using novel Triggered Dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (TdMRM) in the positive ionization mode. A significant peak symmetry and sensitivity improvement in the TdMRM mode was achieved as compared to conventional MRM. The reproducibility (RSD%) was ≤7.9% by applying TdMRM transition while the values were 6.8-20.6% for MRM. Excellent linear calibration curves were obtained under TdMRM transitions over the tested concentration ranges. Intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%) were ≤14.2% and accuracies (RE%) ranged from -9.6% to 10.6%. The validation data of specificity, carryover, recovery, matrix effect and stability were within the required limits. The method was effectively applied to simultaneously detect and quantify 1 lactone, 2 monoterpene glucosides, 1 alkaloid, 5 flavonoids and 2 chromones in plasma, brain tissue and urine after oral administration of TXYF decoction. In conclusion, this new and reliable method is beneficial for quantification and confirmation assays of multiply components in complex biological samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Visual-haptic integration with pliers and tongs: signal “weights” take account of changes in haptic sensitivity caused by different tools

PubMed Central

Takahashi, Chie; Watt, Simon J.

2014-01-01

When we hold an object while looking at it, estimates from visual and haptic cues to size are combined in a statistically optimal fashion, whereby the “weight” given to each signal reflects their relative reliabilities. This allows object properties to be estimated more precisely than would otherwise be possible. Tools such as pliers and tongs systematically perturb the mapping between object size and the hand opening. This could complicate visual-haptic integration because it may alter the reliability of the haptic signal, thereby disrupting the determination of appropriate signal weights. To investigate this we first measured the reliability of haptic size estimates made with virtual pliers-like tools (created using a stereoscopic display and force-feedback robots) with different “gains” between hand opening and object size. Haptic reliability in tool use was straightforwardly determined by a combination of sensitivity to changes in hand opening and the effects of tool geometry. The precise pattern of sensitivity to hand opening, which violated Weber's law, meant that haptic reliability changed with tool gain. We then examined whether the visuo-motor system accounts for these reliability changes. We measured the weight given to visual and haptic stimuli when both were available, again with different tool gains, by measuring the perceived size of stimuli in which visual and haptic sizes were varied independently. The weight given to each sensory cue changed with tool gain in a manner that closely resembled the predictions of optimal sensory integration. The results are consistent with the idea that different tool geometries are modeled by the brain, allowing it to calculate not only the distal properties of objects felt with tools, but also the certainty with which those properties are known. These findings highlight the flexibility of human sensory integration and tool-use, and potentially provide an approach for optimizing the design of visual

Chemical profiling and quantification of Dan-Deng-Tong-Nao-capsule using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution hybrid quadruple-orbitrap mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Lv, Xiao-Jing; Sun, Zhi; Wang, Pei-Le; Yang, Jing; Xu, Tan-Ye; Jia, Qing-Quan; Li, Da-Wei; Su, Fang-Yi; Zhu, Zhen-Feng; Kang, Jian; Zhang, Xiao-Jian

2018-01-30

Dan-Deng-Tong-Nao capsule (DDTN) was a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, and has been widely used for the treatment of stroke clinically which caused by blood stasis. However, the bioactive substances and mechanism are unclear because of the complex compositions in DDTN. In this research, An ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with hybrid quadruple-orbitrap mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap MS) method was utilized to identify the chemical constituents of DDTN. In total, 102 compounds including diterpenes, lactones, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were identified by the accurate masses and fragmentation pathways, and 18 of them were unambiguously determined by comparison of reference standards. Besides, 12 representative compounds were simultaneously quantification analyzed and successfully applified for detecting in 9 batches of DDTN samples by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS in parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode. The proposed approach was validated to be satisfied in terms of linearity (0.9954-0.9999), LOD (0.771ng/mL), LOQ (2.568ng/mL), intra-day precision ( <2.68%), inter-day precision ( <4.52%), repeatability ( <2.96%), stability ( <3.21%), and recovery (94.6-105.5%). The results indicate that the method of combining UHPLC with Q-Orbitrap MS is practical and efficient for the chemical clarification in DDTN, and has great potential for the integrating quality control of other traditional Chinese medicines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 27613 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, California Air Resources Board-Consumer...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-12

... listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley Tong, EPA Region IX, (415) 947-4122, tong.stanley@epa.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document...

77 FR 7535 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, California Air Resources Board-Consumer...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-13

... contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley Tong, EPA Region IX, (415) 947-4122, tong.stanley@epa.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this...

Traumatic Brain Injury Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Roadmap Development Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-10-01

Susceptibility- weighted MR imaging: a review of clinical applications in children . AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008 Jan;29(1):9-17. Hou DJ, Tong KA, Ashwal S ...2005;33:184-194. Holshouser BA, Tong KA, Ashwal S . “Proton MR spectroscopic imaging depicts diffuse axonal injury in children with traumatic brain injury...Proton spectroscopy detected myoinositol in children with traumatic brain injury.” Pediatr Res 2004;56:630-638. Ashwal S , Holshouser B, Tong K, Serna T

Identification of C-geranylated flavonoids from Paulownia catalpifolia Gong Tong fruits by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and their anti-aging effects on 2BS cells induced by H2O2.

PubMed

Tang, Wen-Zhao; Wang, Ying-Ai; Gao, Tian-Yang; Wang, Xiao-Jing; Zhao, Yun-Xue

2017-05-01

The fruits of Paulownia catalpifolia Gong Tong are used as a Chinese folk herbal medicine for the treatment of enteritis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and dysentery, etc. Our previous study has identified new C-geranylated flavanones with obvious anti-proliferative effects in lung cancer A549 cells. In the present study, a new C-geranylated flavone, paucatalinone C (1) and five known C-geranylated flavanones (2-6) were isolated. In addition, a total of 34 C-geranylated flavonoids were detected by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS coupling techniques from the CH 2 Cl 2 extract of P. catalpifolia. Futhermore, anti-aging effects of isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro with premature senescent 2BS cells induced by H 2 O 2 . Phytochemical results indicated that P. catalpifolia was a natural resource of abundant C-geranylated flavonoids. Diplacone (3) and paucatalinone A (5) were the potent anti-aging agents in the premature senescent 2BS cells induced by H 2 O 2 and the C-geranyl substituent may be an important factor because of its lipophilic character. Copyright © 2017 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine formula NaoShuanTong capsule on haemorheology and cerebral energy metabolism disorders in rats with blood stasis.

PubMed

Liu, Hong; Peng, Yao-Yao; Liang, Feng-Yin; Chen, Si; Li, Pei-Bo; Peng, Wei; Liu, Zhong-Zheng; Xie, Cheng-Shi; Long, Chao-Feng; Su, Wei-Wei

2014-01-02

NaoShuanTong capsule (NSTC), an oral traditional Chinese medicine formula, is composed of Pollen Typhae , Radix Paeoniae Rubra , Rhizoma Gastrodiae , Radix Rhapontici and Radix Curcumae . It has been widely used to treat ischemic stroke in clinic for many years in China. In addition to neuronal apoptosis, haemorheology and cerebral energy metabolism disorders also play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of ischemic stroke. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo protective effects of NSTC on haemorheology and cerebral energy metabolism disorders in rats with blood stasis. Sixty specific pathogen-free sprague-dawley rats, male only, were randomly divided into six groups (control group, model group, aspirin (100 mg/kg/d) group, NSTC low-dose (400 mg/kg/d) group, NSTC intermediate-dose (800 mg/kg/d) group, NSTC high-dose (1600 mg/kg/d) group) with 10 animals in each. The rats except those in the control group were placed in ice-cold water (0-4 °C) for 5 min during the time interval (4 h) of two adrenaline hydrochloride injections (0.8 mg/kg) to induce blood stasis. After treatment, whole blood viscosity at three shear rates, plasma viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate significantly decreased in NSTC intermediate- and high-dose groups; erythrocyte aggregation index and red corpuscle electrophoresis index significantly decreased in all the three dose NSTC groups. Moreover, treatment with high-dose NSTC could significantly improve Na + -K + adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca 2+ ATPase activity, as well as lower lactic acid level in brain tissues. These results demonstrated the protective effects of NSTC on haemorheology and cerebral energy metabolism disorders, which may provide scientific information for the further understanding of mechanism(s) of NSTC as a clinical treatment for ischemic stroke. Furthermore, the protective effects of activating blood circulation as observed in this study might create valuable

WenTong HuoXue Cream Can Inhibit the Reduction of the Pain-Related Molecule PLC-β3 in the Dorsal Root Ganglion of a Rat Model of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

PubMed Central

Feng, Chengcheng; Xu, Lijuan; Guo, Shiyun; Chen, Qian; Shen, Yuguo; Zang, Deng

2018-01-01

WenTong HuoXue Cream (WTHX-Cream) has been shown to effectively alleviate clinical symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). This study investigated the gene and protein expression of the pain-related molecule PLC-β3 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of DPN rats. 88 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats were randomly divided into placebo (10 rats) and DPN model (78 rats) groups, and the 78 model rats were used to establish the DPN model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and were then fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. These rats were randomly divided into the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose WTHX-Cream + metformin groups, the metformin group, the capsaicin cream group, and the capsaicin cream + metformin group. After 4 weeks of continuous drug administration, the blood glucose, body weight, behavioral indexes, and sciatic nerve conduction velocity were measured. The pathological structure of the DRG and the sciatic nerve were observed. PLC-β3 mRNA and protein levels in the DRG of rats were measured. Compared with the model group, the high-dose WTHX-Cream group showed increased sciatic nerve conduction velocity, improved sciatic nerve morphological changes, and increased expression of PLC-β3 mRNA and protein in the DRG. This study showed that WTHX-Cream improves hyperalgesia symptoms of DPN by inhibiting the reduction of PLC-β3 mRNA and protein expression in the diabetic DRG of DPN rats. PMID:29599806

WenTong HuoXue Cream Can Inhibit the Reduction of the Pain-Related Molecule PLC-β3 in the Dorsal Root Ganglion of a Rat Model of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

PubMed

Feng, Chengcheng; Xu, Lijuan; Guo, Shiyun; Chen, Qian; Shen, Yuguo; Zang, Deng; Ma, Li

2018-01-01

WenTong HuoXue Cream (WTHX-Cream) has been shown to effectively alleviate clinical symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). This study investigated the gene and protein expression of the pain-related molecule PLC- β 3 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of DPN rats. 88 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats were randomly divided into placebo (10 rats) and DPN model (78 rats) groups, and the 78 model rats were used to establish the DPN model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and were then fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. These rats were randomly divided into the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose WTHX-Cream + metformin groups, the metformin group, the capsaicin cream group, and the capsaicin cream + metformin group. After 4 weeks of continuous drug administration, the blood glucose, body weight, behavioral indexes, and sciatic nerve conduction velocity were measured. The pathological structure of the DRG and the sciatic nerve were observed. PLC- β 3 mRNA and protein levels in the DRG of rats were measured. Compared with the model group, the high-dose WTHX-Cream group showed increased sciatic nerve conduction velocity, improved sciatic nerve morphological changes, and increased expression of PLC- β 3 mRNA and protein in the DRG. This study showed that WTHX-Cream improves hyperalgesia symptoms of DPN by inhibiting the reduction of PLC- β 3 mRNA and protein expression in the diabetic DRG of DPN rats.

Tongxinluo (Tong xin luo or Tong-xin-luo) capsule for unstable angina pectoris.

PubMed

Wu, Taixiang; Harrison, R A; Chen, Xiaoyan; Ni, Juan; Zhou, Likun; Qiao, Jieqi; Wang, Qin; Wei, Jiafu; Xin, Duan; Zheng, Jie

2006-10-18

Tongxinluo capsule is a medicine consisting of traditional Chinese herbs and insects used for cardiovascular diseases in China and some other Asian countries. To date the evidence of its effect has not previously been subject to systematic review, making it difficult to derive robust conclusions about its actual benefits, and indeed, possible harms. To assess systematically the effects of tongxinluo capsule in people with unstable angina pectoris. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library, Issue 4 2004, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (all 1995 to 2005). We also handsearched the relevant Chinese journals, checked with manufacturers and registers of ongoing studies. Randomised trials comparing either tongxinluo capsule only or standard treatment plus tongxinluo capsule with standard treatment or other anti-angina pectoris drugs, placebo or no intervention. Two authors identified relevant studies for the review independently and went on to abstract data, and assess trial quality. Authors of included studies were contacted to obtain further information as required. 18 short term follow-up trials involving 1413 people were included. The studies did not provide strong support of a benefit of tongxinluo for reducing the combined outcome of acute myocardial infarction, angioplasty (PTCA) coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and sudden death or all-cause mortality (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.59, P=0.35; RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01to 7.78, P=0.49, respectively). Tongxinluo reduced the frequency of acute angina attacks (WMD -1.20, 95%CI -1.38 to -1.02, P<0.00001 and RR -2.36, 95%CI -2.53 to -2.18, P<0.00001, respectively), improved ECG (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.57, P=0.005) and angina symptoms (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.40; P=0.007). Tongxinluo in combination with routine angina therapy appears to reduce the risk of subsequent AMI, PTCA or CABG, angina attacks and severity, as well as improving symptoms and ischaemic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Due to the methodological limitations of the studies, the evidence is insufficient to make any conclusive recommendations about the use of this treatment for patients presenting with unstable angina. Large high quality randomised controlled trials are warranted.

The Man behind the World's Most-Watched College Rankings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hvistendahl, Mara

2008-01-01

This article reports that when Nian Cai Liu, director of Shanghai Jiao Tong's Institute of Higher Education, posted his first ranking of the world's top 500 universities on Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Web site, in June 2003, he thought the list might interest Chinese education officials, along with a few scholars of higher education. Instead…

Hydraulic drill string breakdown and bleed off unit

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

Zeringue, F.J. Jr.

1987-02-17

An apparatus is described for use within an oil well rig for decoupling a tubing string into pipe segments comprising, in combination: rotary tong means for applying an unthreading torque to a first, upper pipe segment within the tubing string; torque resisting means for securing a second, lower pipe segment within the tubing string against the unthreading torque; containing means, intermediate the rotary tong means and the torque resisting means, enclosing a threaded joint of the tubing string, adapted for containing pressurized gases, liquids, and particulates, released from the threaded joint upon the decoupling; fluid communicating means for allowing fluidmore » communication between the containing means and a receiving point adapted for receiving the pressurized gases, liquids, and particulates; means for moving the rotary tong means, the torque resisting means and the containing means between a closed, engaging position with the tubing string and an open position; and means for horizontally moving the rotary tong means, the torque resisting means and the containing means between a position adjacent the tubing string and a position away from the tubing string.« less

A Converse of the Mean Value Theorem Made Easy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mortici, Cristinel

2011-01-01

The aim of this article is to discuss some results about the converse mean value theorem stated by Tong and Braza [J. Tong and P. Braza, "A converse of the mean value theorem", Amer. Math. Monthly 104(10), (1997), pp. 939-942] and Almeida [R. Almeida, "An elementary proof of a converse mean-value theorem", Internat. J. Math. Ed. Sci. Tech. 39(8)…

The Role of miRNAs in the Progression of Prostate Cancer from Androgen-Dependent to Androgen-Independent Stages

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

Calin GA. MicroRNAs and cancer: profile, profile, profile. Int J Cancer 2008; 122: 969-77. 4. Tong AW, Fulgham P, Jay C, et al. MicroRNA profile...Dutta A. Muscle-specific microRNA miR- 206 promotes muscle differentiation. J Cell Biol 2006; 174: 677-87. Appendices miR-99 family of microRNAs...2009; 4: 199-227. 3. Barbarotto E, Schmittgen TD, Calin GA. MicroRNAs and cancer: profile, profile, profile. Int J Cancer 2008; 122: 969-77. 4. Tong

Automated Sample Exchange Robots for the Structural Biology Beam Lines at the Photon Factory

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

Hiraki, Masahiko; Watanabe, Shokei; Yamada, Yusuke

2007-01-19

We are now developing automated sample exchange robots for high-throughput protein crystallographic experiments for onsite use at synchrotron beam lines. It is part of the fully automated robotics systems being developed at the Photon Factory, for the purposes of protein crystallization, monitoring crystal growth, harvesting and freezing crystals, mounting the crystals inside a hutch and for data collection. We have already installed the sample exchange robots based on the SSRL automated mounting system at our insertion device beam lines BL-5A and AR-NW12A at the Photon Factory. In order to reduce the time required for sample exchange further, a prototype ofmore » a double-tonged system was developed. As a result of preliminary experiments with double-tonged robots, the sample exchange time was successfully reduced from 70 seconds to 10 seconds with the exception of the time required for pre-cooling and warming up the tongs.« less

JPRS Report, China.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-09

Kong CHING-CHITAO-PAO [ECONOMIC REPORTER] in Chinese No 6, 15Feb93p25 [Article by staff reporter Ho I-wen (0149 0076 2429): "Tong Dalin, Wu Mingyu ...high and low. On 5 February, before the Latern Festival, on Jian- guomenwai Avenue in Beijing, Tong Dalin [4547’ 1127 2651] and Wu Mingyu [0702 2494...straight to the point, Wu Mingyu spoke first. If it is the case that, provided economic development is fast, the economy does not need to be reformed

Study of Turbulence by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-10-23

Hepp, and H . A. Weidenmuller (Springer Lecture Notes in Physics, Vol 12, 1972) p. 402. [17] A. Onuki , Phys. Lett. 127, 143 (1988). [18) K. R...of Turbulence", (W. I. Goldburg, P. Tong, and H . K. Pak), Physica D 38 (1989) 134-140. 2. "Scaling Laws in Weak Turbulence", (with H . K. Pak, W. I...Goldburg and P. Tong), (in press). 3. "An Experimental Study of Weak Turbulence", (with H . K. Pak and W. I. Goldburg), "Fluid Dynamics Research" (in

Construction of the vessel-collateral theory and its guidance for prevention and treatment of vasculopathy.

PubMed

Wu, Yiling

2011-06-01

According to the self-discipline of traditional Chinese medicine, vessel-collateral theory was constructed systematically, which was important to improving prevention and treatment level of vasculopathy. The hypothesis of "homeostasis (Cheng), compensatory auto-adaptation (Zhi), regulation (Tiao) and equilibrium (Ping)" based on the "qi-yin-yang-five elements" coupled with the ying (nutrients)-wei (defense) theory, has become the core content of the vessel-collateral theory. Clinical and laboratory trials have been developed to further confirm the scientific connotations of the hypothesis, such as Tong Xin Luo capsule, as the representative drugs of vessel collateral theory, showed good efficacy in protecting the vascular endothelium, stabilizing the vulnerable plaque and reducing the blood vessel spasm. "Sou, ti, shu, tong" was the characteristics of Tong Xin Luo capsule in treating "microvascular damage" as the core mechanism of acute myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and microvascular complications of diabetes. Shen Song Yang Xin capsules in the treatment of arrhythmia have made integrated adjustment advantage. Qi Li Qiang Xin capsules have been made treating both manifestation and root cause of chronic heart failure. These research have improved prevention and treatment level of major vascular system diseases.

Combining research-enhanced and technology-enhanced teaching approaches in module design: A case study of an undergraduate course in Solar Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, V.

2011-12-01

There is a growing emphasis on the research-teaching nexus, and there are many innovative ways to incorporate research materials and methods in undergraduate teaching. Solar Physics is a cross-disciplinary subject and offers the ideal opportunity for research-enhanced teaching (1). In this presentation, I outline i) how student-led teaching of research content and methods is introduced in an undergraduate module in Solar Physics, and ii) how electronic learning and teaching can be used to improve students' learning of mathematical concepts in Solar Physics. More specifically, I discuss how research literature reviewing and reporting methods can be embedded and developed systematically throughout the module with aligned assessments. Electronic feedback and feedforward (2) are given to the students in order to enhance their understanding of the subject and improve their research skills. Other technology-enhanced teaching approaches (3) are used to support students' learning of the more quantitative components of the module. This case study is particularly relevant to a wide range of pedagogical contexts (4) as the Solar Physics module is taught to students following undergraduate programs in Geology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Geology as well as Planetary Science with Astronomy in the host Department. Related references: (1) Tong, C. H., Let interdisciplinary research begin in undergraduate years, Nature (2010) v. 463, p. 157. (2) Tong, V. C. H., Linking summative assessments? Electronic feedback and feedforward in module design, British Journal of Educational Technology (2011), accepted for publication. (3) Tong, V. C. H., Using asynchronous electronic surveys to help in-class revision: A case study, British Journal of Educational Technology (2011), doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01207.x (4) Tong, V. C. H. (ed.), Geoscience Research and Education, Springer, Dordrecht (2012)

Assessment of correlations and models for the prediction of CHF in water subcooled flow boiling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celata, G. P.; Cumo, M.; Mariani, A.

1994-01-01

The present paper provides an analysis of available correlations and models for the prediction of Critical Heat Flux (CHF) in subcooled flow boiling in the range of interest of fusion reactors thermal-hydraulic conditions, i.e. high inlet liquid subcooling and velocity and small channel diameter and length. The aim of the study was to establish the limits of validity of present predictive tools (most of them were proposed with reference to light water reactors (LWR) thermal-hydraulic studies) in the above conditions. The reference dataset represents almost all available data (1865 data points) covering wide ranges of operating conditions in the frame of present interest (0.1 less than p less than 8.4 MPa; 0.3 less than D less than 25.4 mm; 0.1 less than L less than 0.61 m; 2 less than G less than 90.0 Mg/sq m/s; 90 less than delta T(sub sub,in) less than 230 K). Among the tens of predictive tools available in literature four correlations (Levy, Westinghouse, modified-Tong and Tong-75) and three models (Weisman and Ileslamlou, Lee and Mudawar and Katto) were selected. The modified-Tong correlation and the Katto model seem to be reliable predictive tools for the calculation of the CHF in subcooled flow boiling.

Coercion, dissatisfaction, and social stigma: an ethnographic study of compensated living kidney donation in Iran.

PubMed

Fry-Revere, Sigrid; Chen, Deborah; Bastani, Bahar; Golestani, Simin; Agarwal, Rachana; Kugathasan, Howsikan; Le, Melissa

2018-02-26

This article updates the qualitative research on Iran reported in the 2012 article by Tong et al. "The experiences of commercial kidney donors: thematic synthesis of qualitative research" (Tong et al. in Transpl Int 25:1138-1149, 2012). The basic approach used in the Tong et al. article is applied to a more recent and more comprehensive study of Iranian living organ donors, providing a clearer picture of what compensated organ donation is like in Iran since the national government began regulating compensated donation. Iran is the only country in the world where kidney selling is legal, regulated, and subsidized by the national government. This article focuses on three themes: (1) coercion and other pressures to donate, (2) donor satisfaction with their donation experience, and (3) whether donors fear social stigma. We found no evidence of coercion, but 68% of the paid living organ donors interviewed felt pressure to donate due to extreme poverty or other family pressures. Even though 27% of the living kidney donors interviewed said they were satisfied with their donation experience, 74% had complaints about the donation process or its results, including some of the donors who said they were satisfied. In addition, 84% of donors indicated they feared experiencing social stigma because of their kidney donation.

Variability in Treatment for Patients with Cervical Spine Fracture and Dislocation: An Analysis of 107,152 Patients.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Eltorai, Adam E M; DePasse, J Mason; Durand, Wesley; Reid, Daniel; Daniels, Alan H

2018-06-01

Cervical spine injuries are a common cause of morbidity and mortality; however, the optimal treatment of many of these injuries is debated, and previous studies have shown substantial variation in treatment. We sought to examined treatment variation in arthrodesis and halo/tong placement in cervical spine injury patients over a 12-year period. Data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample, from 2000 to 2011, were used for this study. Patients were identified with a cervical vertebral facture or dislocation based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes. Using χ 2 analysis, spinal arthrodesis rates and halo/tong placement rates were compared between hospitals based on teaching status for patients with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). The records of 107,152 patients with cervical fractures were examined. From 2000 to 2011, the overall arthrodesis rates fell from 25.2% to 20.6% (P < 0.001), and halo/tong placement rates fell from 13.2% to 3.6% (P < 0.001). In patients with cervical fracture without SCI, arthrodesis rates fell from 17.6% to 13.9% (P < 0.001), in cervical fracture patients with SCI, arthrodesis rates rose from 50.0% to 58.9% (P < 0.001), and in cervical dislocation patients, arthrodesis rates rose from 47.6% to 57.5% (P < 0.001). During the 12-year period, teaching hospitals had higher arthrodesis rates compared with nonteaching hospitals for patients with cervical fractures with SCI (57.3% vs. 53.4%, P = 0.001) and higher halo/tong placement rates for patients with cervical dislocations (2.7% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.004). Individual hospital variation showed a 3.5-fold variation in arthrodesis rates in 2000 to 2002, which fell to 3.0-fold by 2009 to 2011. Arthrodesis rates for cervical fracture patients significantly decreased, and arthrodesis rates for cervical dislocation and SCI patients increased from 2000 to 2011, with variability in treatment based on hospital teaching status

Examination of a pre-exercise, high energy supplement on exercise performance

PubMed Central

Hoffman, Jay R; Kang, Jie; Ratamess, Nicholas A; Hoffman, Mattan W; Tranchina, Christopher P; Faigenbaum, Avery D

2009-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pre-exercise high energy drink on reaction time and anaerobic power in competitive strength/power athletes. In addition, the effect of the pre-exercise drink on subjective feelings of energy, fatigue, alertness and focus was also explored. Methods Twelve male strength/power athletes (21.1 ± 1.3 y; 179.8 ± 7.1 cm; 88.6 ± 12.1 kg; 17.6 ± 3.3% body fat) underwent two testing sessions administered in a randomized and double-blind fashion. During each session, subjects reported to the Human Performance Laboratory and were provided with either 120 ml of a high energy drink (SUP), commercially marketed as Redline Extreme® or 120 ml of a placebo (PL) that was similar in taste and appearance but contained no active ingredients. Following consumption of the supplement or placebo subjects rested quietly for 10-minutes prior to completing a survey and commencing exercise. The survey consisted of 4 questions asking each subject to describe their feelings of energy, fatigue, alertness and focus for that moment. Following the completion of the questionnaire subjects performed a 2-minute quickness and reaction test on the Makoto testing device (Makoto USA, Centennial CO) and a 20-second Wingate Anaerobic Power test. Following a 10-minute rest subjects repeated the testing sequence and after a similar rest period a third and final testing sequence was performed. The Makoto testing device consisted of subjects reacting to both a visual and auditory stimulus and striking one out of 30 potential targets on three towers. Results Significant difference in reaction performance was seen between SUP and PL in both average number of targets struck (55.8 ± 7.4 versus 51.9 ± 7.4, respectively) and percent of targets struck (71.9 ± 10.5% versus 66.8 ± 10.9%, respectively). No significant differences between trials were seen in any anaerobic power measure. Subjective feelings of energy (3.5 ± 0.5 versus 3.1 ± 0

Study of parameter of nonlinearity in 2-chloroethanol with 2-dimethylethanolamine/2-diethylethanolamine at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awasthi, Anjali; Awasthi, Aashees

2017-06-01

The acoustic non-linearity parameter (B/A) for binary mixtures of 2-chloroethanol with 2-dimethylethanolamine (2-DMAE) and 2-diethylethanolamine (2-DEAE) are evaluated using Tong Dong, Beyer and Beyer-Tong Dong coefficients at varying concentrations and temperatures ranging from 293.15 to 313.15 K. The nonlinearity parameter is used to calculate various molecular properties such as internal pressure, cohesive energy density, Van der waals' constant, distance of closest approach, diffusion coefficient and rotational correlation time. Additionally, the intermediate quantities like temperature and pressure derivatives of sound velocity and phase shift parameter as a function of temperature are also deduced. The extent of intermolecular interactions, anharmonicity and structural configuration of the binaries under investigation are discussed in terms of excess non-linearity parameter (B/A)E.

Advanced servo manipulator

DOEpatents

Holt, William E.; Kuban, Daniel P.; Martin, H. Lee

1988-01-01

An advanced servo manipulator has modular parts. Modular motor members drive individual input gears to control shoulder roll, shoulder pitch, elbow pitch, wrist yaw, wrist pitch, wrist roll, and tong spacing. The modules include a support member, a shoulder module for controlling shoulder roll, and a sleeve module attached to the shoulder module in fixed relation thereto. The shoulder roll sleeve module has an inner cylindrical member rotatable relative to the outer cylindrical member, and upon which a gear pod assembly is mounted. A plurality of shafts are driven by the gears, which are in turn driven by individual motor modules to transmit rotary power to control elbow pitch as well as to provide four different rotary shafts across the bendable elbow joint to supply rotary motive power to a wrist member and tong member.

Advanced servo manipulator

DOEpatents

Holt, W.E.; Kuban, D.P.; Martin, H.L.

1988-10-25

An advanced servo manipulator has modular parts. Modular motor members drive individual input gears to control shoulder roll, shoulder pitch, elbow pitch, wrist yaw, wrist pitch, wrist roll, and tong spacing. The modules include a support member, a shoulder module for controlling shoulder roll, and a sleeve module attached to the shoulder module in fixed relation thereto. The shoulder roll sleeve module has an inner cylindrical member rotatable relative to the outer cylindrical member, and upon which a gear pod assembly is mounted. A plurality of shafts are driven by the gears, which are in turn driven by individual motor modules to transmit rotary power to control elbow pitch as well as to provide four different rotary shafts across the bendable elbow joint to supply rotary motive power to a wrist member and tong member. 41 figs.

76 FR 67178 - Riverbank Hydro No. 15 LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-31

... Corps. Applicant Contact: Mr. Kuo-Bao Tong, Riverbank Power Corporation, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, P.O. Box 166, 200 Bay Street, Suite 3230, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J2J4. (416) 861-0092 x 154. FERC...

Verification of the enhanced integrated climatic module soil subgrade input parameters in the MEPDG.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-10-01

At the beginning of 2009, INDOT adopted the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) method to study the tong-term : pavement performance. The implementation of this new design approach led to difficulties for the pavement to pass the INDO...

76 FR 58246 - Certain Activated Carbon From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Partial Rescission of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-20

... Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; Shanxi Zuoyun Yunpeng Coal Chemistry; Shenzhen Sihaiweilong Technology Co...; Beijing Broad Activated Carbon Co., Ltd.; Beijing Haijian Jiechang Environmental Protection Chemicals... Locomotive Coal & Chemicals Co., Ltd.; Datong Tianzhao Activated Carbon Co., Ltd.; DaTong Tri-Star & Power...

Suprapubic track pressure and force--deformation measurements in a (live) human subject and in animal models post-mortem.

PubMed

Coveney, V A; Gepi-Attee, S; Gröver, D; Painter, D

2001-01-01

Tests have been performed on animal models shortly post-mortem and on a healthy human subject in order to obtain estimates of the forces which act on suprapubic urinary catheters and similar devices and to develop an abdominal wall simulator. Such data and test methods are required for the systematic design of suprapubic devices because of the dual need to maintain the functionality of devices and to avoid excessive pressure on soft body tissue which could lead to ischaemia and in turn necrosis. In the post-mortem animal models, electrical excitation was applied to the abdominal wall in order to stimulate muscle activity. Two types of transducers were used: a soft membrane transducer (SMT) for pressure measurement and novel instrumented 'tongs' to determine indentation stiffness characteristics in the suprapubic track or artificial pathway created for a device. The SMT has been extensively used in the urethras and bladders of human subjects while the tongs were built specifically for these tests. Only the well-established SMT was used with the human subject; a peak pressure of 22 kPa was obtained. In the animal models the pressure profile given by the SMT had a peak whose position corresponded well with the estimated location of the rectus muscle measured on the fixed tissue section. The peak value was 5.5 kPa, comparable with values likely to cause necrosis if maintained for more than 1 day. Remarkably consistent indentation stiffness values were obtained with the instrumented tongs; all values were close to 0.45 N/mm (33 kPa/mm).

Heterotic flux tubes in N=2 supersymmetric QCD with N=1 preserving deformations

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

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.; Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300

2008-06-15

We consider non-Abelian Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield-saturated flux tubes (strings) in N=2 supersymmetric QCD deformed by superpotential terms of a special type breaking N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. Previously it was believed that world sheet supersymmetry is accidentally enhanced due to the facts that N=(1,1) supersymmetry is automatically elevated up to N=(2,2) on CP(N-1) and, at the same time, there are no N=(0,2) generalizations of the bosonic CP(N-1) model. Edalati and Tong noted that the target space is in fact CP(N-1)xC rather than CP(N-1). This allowed them to suggest a heterotic N=(0,2) sigma model, with the CP(N-1) target space for bosonic fields andmore » an extra right-handed fermion which couples to the fermion fields of the N=(2,2) CP(N-1) model. We derive the heterotic N=(0,2) world sheet model directly from the bulk theory. The relation between the bulk and world sheet deformation parameters we obtain does not coincide with that suggested by Edalati and Tong at large values of the deformation parameter. For polynomial deformation superpotentials in the bulk we find nonpolynomial response in the world sheet model. We find a geometric representation for the heterotic model. Supersymmetry is proven to be spontaneously broken for small deformations (at the quantum level). This confirms Tong's conjecture. A proof valid for large deformations will be presented in the subsequent publication.« less

From the Beauty of Genomic Landscapes to the Strength of Transcriptional Mechanisms.

PubMed

Natoli, Gioacchino

2016-03-24

Genomic analyses are commonly used to infer trends and broad rules underlying transcriptional control. The innovative approach by Tong et al. to interrogate genomic datasets allows extracting mechanistic information on the specific regulation of individual genes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Status, Intra-Institutional Stratification and Organizational Segmentation: A Time-Dynamic Tobit Analysis of ARWU Position among U.S. Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cantwell, Brendan; Taylor, Barrett J.

2013-01-01

Ranking systems such as "The Times Higher Education's World University Rankings" and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's "Academic Rankings of World Universities" simultaneously mark global status and stimulate global academic competition. As international ranking systems have become more prominent, researchers have begun to examine whether global…

Cellular Energy Pathways as Novel Targets for the Therapy of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

on Pkd1- /-, Pkd2-/- and control cells to elucidate the effects of genotype and metformin treatment on oxidative metabolism ( oxygen consumption ...accomplished by using specially designed tongs that have been cooled to liquid nitrogen temperatures to freeze clamp the kidneys in situ in

Selling University Reform: The University of Melbourne and the Press

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potts, Anthony

2012-01-01

Since the advent of the "Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings" and the "Academic Rankings of World Universities" by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, some Australian universities have become especially concerned with being ranked among the 100 leading universities. The University of Melbourne, Australia's…

Adaptive Skills and Maladaptive Behavior of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders Attending Special Schools in Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poon, Kenneth K.

2011-01-01

This study describes the profile of and relationships between adaptive skills and the maladaptive behaviors exhibited by adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) attending special schools in Singapore. Parents of 20 adolescents with ASD attending special schools completed the Development Behavior Checklist (DBC; Einfeld & Tonge, 1995;…

A Weighted Difference of Anisotropic and Isotropic Total Variation Model for Image Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

A WEIGHTED DIFFERENCE OF ANISOTROPIC AND ISOTROPIC TOTAL VARIATION MODEL FOR IMAGE PROCESSING YIFEI LOU∗, TIEYONG ZENG† , STANLEY OSHER‡ , AND JACK...grants DMS-0928427 and DMS-1222507. † Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong , Hong Kong. Email: zeng@hkbu.edu.hk. TZ is

Effect of Oil on the Onset of Nucleate Pool Boiling of R-124 from a Single Horizontal Tube

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

investigated by Bar-Cohen and Simon [Ref. 15], Marsh and Mudawar [Ref. 25], and Tong et al. [Ref. 26]. They found the 17 following significant...pp. 400-416, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, 1972. 25. Marsh, W.M., and Mudawar , I., Effect of Surface Tension and Contact Angle on

Effects of Practical Life Materials on Kindergartners' Fine Motor Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rule, Audrey C.; Stewart, Roger A.

2002-01-01

A pretest-posttest control group design was used to measure the effect of practical life materials (e.g., tweezers, tongs, spoons) on kindergarten children's fine motor skill development. Experimental and control group teachers reported equal amounts of fine motor activity in their classrooms; however, significant interaction effects were found…

Teaching Earth Sciences as an interdisciplinary subject: Novel module design involving research literature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Vincent C. H.

2010-05-01

The study of Earth Sciences requires an interdisciplinary approach as it involves understanding scientific knowledge originating from a wide spectrum of research areas. Not only does it include subjects ranging from, for instance, hydrogeology to deep crustal seismology and from climate science to oceanography, but it also has many direct applications in closely related disciplines such as environmental engineering and natural resources management. While research crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries in geosciences is becoming increasingly common, there is only limited integration of interdisciplinary research in the teaching of the subject. Given that the transition from undergraduate education based on subject modules to postgraduate interdisciplinary research is never easy, such integration is a highly desirable pedagogical approach at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My presentation is based on a recent teaching project involving novel design of an undergraduate course. The course is implemented in order to address the synergy between research and teaching (Tong, 2009). This project has been shown to be effective and successful in teaching geosciences undergraduates at the University of London. The module consists of studying core geophysical principles and linking them directly to a selection of recently published research papers in a wide range of interdisciplinary applications. Research reviewing and reporting techniques are systematically developed, practised and fully integrated into teaching of the core scientific theories. A fully-aligned assignment with a feedback website invites the students to reflect on the scientific knowledge and the study skills related to research literature they have acquired in the course. This teaching project has been recognized by a teaching award (http://www.clpd.bbk.ac.uk/staff/BETA). In this presentation, I will discuss how undergraduate teaching with a focus on research literature in Earth Sciences can

Population-Based Case–Control Study of Chinese Herbal Products Containing Aristolochic Acid and Urinary Tract Cancer Risk

PubMed Central

Lai, Ming-Nan; Chen, Pau-Chung; Chen, Ya-Yin

2010-01-01

Background Consumption of Chinese herbs that contain aristolochic acid (eg, Mu Tong) has been associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer. Methods We conducted a population-based case–control study in Taiwan to examine the association between prescribed Chinese herbal products that contain aristolochic acid and urinary tract cancer. All patients newly diagnosed with urinary tract cancer (case subjects) from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, and a random sample of the entire insured population from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002 (control subjects), were selected from the National Health Insurance reimbursement database. Subjects who were ever prescribed more than 500 pills of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or acetaminophen were excluded, leaving 4594 case patients and 174 701 control subjects in the final analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by using multivariable logistic regression models for the association between prescribed Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid and the occurrence of urinary tract cancer. Models were adjusted for age, sex, residence in a township where black foot disease was endemic (an indicator of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water [a risk factor for urinary tract cancer]), and history of chronic urinary tract infection. Statistical tests were two-sided. Results Having been prescribed more than 60 g of Mu Tong and an estimated consumption of more than 150 mg of aristolochic acid were independently associated with an increased risk for urinary tract cancer in multivariable analyses (Mu Tong: at 61–100 g, OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3 to 2.1, and at >200 g, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.4; aristolochic acid: at 151–250 mg, OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.8, and at >500 mg, OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.9). A statistically significant linear dose–response relationship was observed between the prescribed dose of Mu Tong or the estimated cumulative dose

76 FR 64421 - Senior Executive Service: Performance Review Board Members

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-18

... Financial Law and Lender Oversight 4. Pravina Raghavan, District Director, New York District Office 5. Tong Qin, Deputy Chief Financial Officer 6. Steven Smits, Associate Administrator for Capital Access 7. Jonathan Swain, Chief of Staff Karen G. Mills, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2011-26833 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am...

Dynamics of water transport and storage in conifers studied with deuterium and heat tracing techniques.

Treesearch

F.C. Meinzer; J.R. Brooks; J.-C. Domec; B.L. Gartner; J.M. Warren; D.R. Woodruff; K. Bible; D.C. Shaw

2006-01-01

The volume and complexity of their vascular systems make the dynamics of tong-distance water transport in large trees difficult to study. We used heat and deuterated water (D20) as tracers to characterize whole-tree water transport and storage properties in individual trees belonging to the coniferous species Pseudotsuga menziesii...

To Rank or to Be Ranked: The Impact of Global Rankings in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marginson, Simon; van der Wende, Marijk

2007-01-01

Global university rankings have cemented the notion of a world university market arranged in a single "league table" for comparative purposes and have given a powerful impetus to intranational and international competitive pressures in the sector. Both the research rankings by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the composite rankings by…

Academic Ranking of World Universities by Broad Subject Fields

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Ying; Liu, Nian Cai

2007-01-01

Upon numerous requests to provide ranking of world universities by broad subject fields/schools/colleges and by subject fields/programs/departments, the authors present the ranking methodologies and problems that arose from the research by the Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University on the Academic Ranking of World…

Examining Construct Congruence for Psychometric Tests: A Note on an Extension to Binary Items and Nesting Effects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raykov, Tenko; Marcoulides, George A.; Dimitrov, Dimiter M.; Li, Tatyana

2018-01-01

This article extends the procedure outlined in the article by Raykov, Marcoulides, and Tong for testing congruence of latent constructs to the setting of binary items and clustering effects. In this widely used setting in contemporary educational and psychological research, the method can be used to examine if two or more homogeneous…

An Investigation of Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines for Modeling and Analysis of Univariate and Semi-Multivariate Time Series Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

However, there is no guarantee that this would work; for instance if the data were generated by an ARCH model (Tong, 1990 pp. 116-117) then a simple...Hill, R., Griffiths, W., Lutkepohl, H., and Lee, T., Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Econometrics , 2th ed., Wiley, 1985. Kendall, M., Stuart

77 FR 34340 - Order Denying Export Privileges

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-11

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Order Denying Export Privileges In the... Nanyang Plaza, No. 57 Hung To Road, Kwum Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Related Persons. A. Denial of Export... Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (2000)) (``IEEPA'') and Section 38 of the Arms Export Control...

Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Performance of East Asian Universities. RIHE International Seminar Reports. No. 24

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Nian Cai

2016-01-01

The first multi-indicator ranking of world universities, "Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)", was published by the Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in June 2003. Although the initial purpose of ARWU was to find the global standing of top Chinese universities, it has been attracting world-wide…

Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam (1954-1963): The Battle of Ap Bac

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-08

division that could have scored a victory had it not been led by pusillanimous officers.233 — Stanley Karnow, Vietnam: A History The above quote...Department of Defense assets. Captain Ly Tong Ba Commanded the 4th Squadron 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of Ap Bac. The squadron was...

University Rankings: The Web Ranking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aguillo, Isidro F.

2012-01-01

The publication in 2003 of the Ranking of Universities by Jiao Tong University of Shanghai has revolutionized not only academic studies on Higher Education, but has also had an important impact on the national policies and the individual strategies of the sector. The work gathers the main characteristics of this and other global university…

Proceedings of Symposium on Energy Engineering in the 21st Century (SEE 2000). Volume One

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-01-13

18, pp. 81-90 (1978). 9. G. Venuti and P. Valentin , High Temp. High Pressure, 11, pp. 301-310 (1979). 10. A.B. Murphy, Plasma Chemistry and Plasma...Galloway and Mudawar [7] for forced convection boiling in a narrow channel. (3) Based on the experiments by Tong et al. [8], and Carvalho and Bergles

Catching up with Harvard: Results from Regression Analysis of World Universities League Tables

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Mei; Shankar, Sriram; Tang, Kam Ki

2011-01-01

This paper uses regression analysis to test if the universities performing less well according to Shanghai Jiao Tong University's world universities league tables are able to catch up with the top performers, and to identify national and institutional factors that could affect this catching up process. We have constructed a dataset of 461…

Needs and Concerns of Male Combat Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

is bothering me . . . . I bought an old house and I’ve been remodeling it. And I found some old dressers from an old house, I’ve been refin- ishing...EW, Tong EC, Yip SC, Lui WF, Lam CS. Health services needs and quality of life assessment of individuals with brain injuries: a pilot cross -sectional

Four-Month-Old Infants Individuate and Track Simple Tools Following Functional Demonstrations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stavans, Maayan; Baillargeon, Renée

2018-01-01

Two experiments examined whether 4-month-olds (n = 120) who were induced to assign two objects to different categories would then be able to take advantage of these contrastive categorical encodings to individuate and track the objects. In each experiment, infants first watched functional demonstrations of two tools, a masher and tongs (Experiment…

We'll Support You Ever More!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gora, Joseph

2011-01-01

In this article the author discusses public reaction generated by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. He argues that it is not simply that the methodologies adopted by the main rankers -- Times Higher Education (THE), QS and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University -- are diverse and open to the usual interpretation, but there…

Structure-based Design of Cdk4/6-Specific Inhibitors

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-10-01

were selected to facilitate interactions with residues in neighboring repeats. Moreover,buried hydrophilic residues were mutated to hydrophobic res- Fio ... Russo , A. A., Tong, L., Lee, J.-O., Jeffrey, P. D., and Pavletich, N. P. (1998) tion, although we do not yet have structures for the p18"NK4c Nature 395

Creating a Schoolyard Mini-Garden

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia-Ruiz, Francisca

2009-01-01

The creation of schoolyard gardens is a growing movement in the United States and around the world (Ballard, Tong, and Usher 1998; Pope 1998; Lewis 2004). It brings together all of the features of authentic hands-on science: Students can collect data on plant growth, observe the plant and animal interactions in the garden, and acquire a sense of…

3 CFR 8360 - Proclamation 8360 of April 9, 2009. National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2009

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... sacrifice that define our men and women in uniform. These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the... than 1,600 Americans died under grave conditions at the Pyok Tong camp. In Vietnam’s Hoa Lo Prison—the... States. Their commitment calls out to all Americans to live up to our Nation’s highest ideals and to...

Obsession with Rankings Goes Global

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labi, Aisha

2008-01-01

A Chinese list of the world's top universities would seem an unlikely concern for French politicians. But this year, France's legislature took aim at the annual rankings produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which claims to list the 500 best universities in the world. The highest-ranked French entry, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, comes in…

Research Universities: Their Value to Society Extends Well Beyond Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berdahl, Robert M.

2009-01-01

A recent ranking undertaken by Jiao Tong University in Shanghai shows 36 U.S universities among the top 50 universities in the world, with eight of the top 10 in the United States. Author Fareed Zakaria has declared: "[H]igher education is the United States' best industry. In no other field is the United States' advantage so overwhelming. Although…

Back of the Envelope Reasoning for Robust Quantitative Problem Solving

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-31

limited numeric vocabulary, for example, the Pirahã tribe in Amazonia [Gordon, 2004] and Munduruku [Pica et al., 2004], an Amazonian language... investigation of category structure: 1. Level of categorization: Rosch [1978] identifies three levels of categorization: subordinate, basic-level...Using Common Sense Knowledge to Overcome Brittleness and Knowledge Acquisition Bottlenecks. AI Magazine . Lenhart K. Schubert and Matthew Tong

New Magnetic Materials and Phenomena for Radar and Microwave Signal Processing Devices - Bulk and Thin Film Ferrites and Metallic Films

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-15

Magnon scattered light generally experiences a 90° rotation in polarization from the incident beam. The wave- vector selective BLS measurements...filters, phase locked microwave pulse sources, microwave and millimeter wave devices such as isolators, circulators, phase shifters, secure signal...Wave vector selective Brillouin light scattering measurements and analysis, " C. L. Ordofiez-Romero, B. A. Kalinikos, P. Krivosik, Wei Tong, P

Microevolution and History of the Plague Bacillus, Yersinia pestis

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-21

Nichols, R. A., Oyston, P. C., Hinds, J., Titball, R. W. & Wren, B. W. (2003) Genome Res. 13, 2018 –2029. 7. Zhou, D., Han, Y., Song, Y., Tong, Z., Wang...Res. 11, 179–197. 29. Deng, W., Burland, V., Plunkett, G., III, Boutin , A., Mayhew, G. F., Liss, P., Perna, N. T., Rose, D. J., Mau, B., Zhou, S., et

Nonopioid anesthesia for awake craniotomy: a case report.

PubMed

Wolff, Diane L; Naruse, Robert; Gold, Michele

2010-02-01

Awake craniotomy is becoming more popular as a neurosurgical technique that allows for increased tumor resection and decreased postoperative neurologic morbidity. This technique, however, presents many challenges to both the neurosurgeon and anesthetist. An ASA class II, 37-year-old man with recurrent oligodendroglioma presented for repeated craniotomy. Prior craniotomy under general anesthesia resulted in residual neurologic deficits. An awake craniotomy was planned to allow for intraoperative testing for maximum tumor resection and avoidance of neurologic morbidity. The patient was sedated with propofol, and bupivacaine was infiltrated for placement of Mayfield tongs and skin incision. Following exposure of brain tissue, propofol infusion was discontinued to allow for patient cooperation during the procedure. Speech, motor, and sensory testing occurred during tumor resection until resection stopped after onset of weakness in the right arm. The propofol infusion was resumed while the cranium was closed and Mayfield tongs removed. The patient was awake, alert, oriented, and able to move all extremities but had residual weakness in the right forearm. Awake craniotomy requires appropriate patient selection, knowledge of the surgeon's skill, and a thorough anesthesia plan. This case report discusses the clinical and anesthetic management for awake craniotomy and reviews the literature.

Music therapy to promote prosocial behaviors in aggressive adolescent boys--a pilot study.

PubMed

Rickson, Daphne J; Watkins, William G

2003-01-01

This pilot study was undertaken to investigate whether music therapy is effective in promoting prosocial behaviors in aggressive adolescent boys who have social, emotional, and learning difficulties. Fifteen subjects (aged 11-15 years), enrolled at a special residential school in New Zealand, were randomly assigned to music therapy treatment groups (n = 6, n = 5), and a waitlist control group (n = 4). Examination of demographic data identified differences between groups for diagnosis (p =.044), with Group 1 all having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and for age (p =.027), with Group 2 having a mean age 1.38 years older. Measures included parent and teacher versions of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC-P & DBC-T) (Einfeld & Tonge, 1994; Einfeld, Tonge, & Parmenter, 1998). While no definite treatment effects could be detected, results suggest that a music therapy program promoting autonomy and creativity may help adolescents to interact more appropriately with others in a residential villa setting, but might also lead to a temporary mild increase in disruptive behavior in the classroom. A more highly structured program and smaller group numbers may be advantageous for boys who have ADHD.

Description of the heterotic string solutions in U(N) supersymmetric QCD

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

Bolokhov, P. A.; Theoretical Physics Department, St. Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya 1, Peterhof, St. Petersburg, 198504; Shifman, M.

2009-04-15

We continue the study of heterotic non-Abelian Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield-saturated flux tubes (strings). Previously, such solutions were obtained [M. Shifman and A. Yung, Phys. Rev. D 77, 125016 (2008).] in a particular U(2) gauge theory: N=2 supersymmetric QCD deformed by superpotential terms of a special type breaking N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. Here we generalize the previous results to U(N) gauge theories. As was suggested by Edalati and Tong [M. Edalati and D. Tong, J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2007) 005.], the string world-sheet theory is a heterotic N=(0,2) sigma model, with the CP(N-1) target space for bosonic fields and an extramore » right-handed fermion which couples to the fermion fields of the N=(2,2) CP(N-1) model. We derive the heterotic N=(0,2) world-sheet model directly from the U(N) bulk theory. Parameters of the bulk theory are related to those of the world-sheet theory. Qualitatively this relation turns out to be the same as in the U(2) case.« less

Hidden Process Models

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-18

cannot be detected with univariate techniques, but require multivariate analysis instead (Kamitani and Tong [2005]). Two other time series analysis ...learning for time series analysis . The historical record of DBNs can be traced back to Dean and Kanazawa [1988] and Dean and Wellman [1991], with...Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 Keywords: Hidden Process Models, probabilistic time series modeling, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Efficient Effects-Based Military Planning Final Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-13

using probabilistic infer- ence methods,” in Proc. 8th Annu. Conf. Uncertainty Artificial Intelli - gence (UAI), Stanford, CA. San Mateo, CA: Morgan...Imprecise Probabilities, the 24th Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (UAI), 2008. 7. Yan Tong and Qiang Ji, Learning Bayesian Networks...Bayesian Networks using Constraints Cassio P. de Campos cassiopc@acm.org Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Galleria 2, Manno 6928

Evaluation of the Material Point Method within CTH to Model 2-Dimensional Plate Impact Problems

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

Howard University . 14. ABSTRACT The material point method (MPM) is a mixed Eulerian and Lagrangian computational method that allows for the... University in Washington, DC, as a second-year graduate student within mechanical engineering. I also attended Howard University for my undergraduate...Kevin Rugirello, Dr Andrew Tonge, Dr Jeffrey Lloyd, Dr Mary Jane Graham, and Dr Gbadebo Owolabi. vi Student Bio I am currently attending Howard

50. SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WELLSERVICE SHED ADDITION ON ...

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

50. SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WELL-SERVICE SHED ADDITION ON REAR OF FACTORY BUILDING. HANGING FROM AND LEANING AGAINST THE WALL ARE TOOLS USED IN WATER WELL SERVICE, SUCH AS BAILER, CHAINS, WRENCHES, PULLEYS, ROPE, SAFETY BELT, CHAIN TONGS, AND LEATHER SEALS FOR PISTON DISPLACEMENT PUMPS. CLEARLY VISIBLE ON RAFTERS IS HISTORIC ELECTRICAL WIRING. - Kregel Windmill Company Factory, 1416 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, Otoe County, NE

Southeast Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-05-19

Megat Junid Megat Ayob, and Deputy Minister of Labor Datuk Wan Abu Bakar Ahmad. Old UMNO Supreme Council members, who were reelected in the UMNO...Brunei 18 Mokhtar Confers With Brunei Sultan 18 Paper Views Central Committee Analysis of Economic Weakness (PASASON, 3 Feb 87) .... . 19...first deputy prime minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, now in Negara Brunei Darussalem [State of Brunei Darussalam], has met Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He

The Effects of Day-to-Day Variability of Physiological Data on Operator Functional State Classification

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

fMRI data (e.g. Kamitami & Tong, 2005). This approach has been remarkably successful in classifying mental workload in complex tasks (Berka, et al...1991). These previous studies relied upon spectral comparison rather than classification. In previous research examining the stability of fMRI ...chose to focus on electrophysiology, as the collection conditions may be more carefully controlled across days than fMRI and it is more amenable to

East Asia: Korea

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

fermenting within the parties as a result of the party standard-bearers and their subordi- nates’ different assessments of the causes of the defeat...Explosives, Korea Yogurt and Sammi Group each has four PhD’s, and Tong-yang Chemical, Pacific Chem- ical Group, Hanil Pharmaceutical, Korea Electrical...including insecticides by using microorganisms and pharmaceutical materials. Dr Sin Sok-pong, manager in the PCC, got his degree in fermentation

JiaZhang Dui ErTong FaZhan TongBan GuanXi De ZuoYong (The Role of Parents in the Development of Peer Group Competence). ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Shirley G.

Among studies that have examined the relationship between parenting styles and children's development of social skills, the research of Diana Baumrind is noteworthy. In several studies, she has identified authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative parenting styles, which differ on the dimensions of nurturance and parental control. Authoritarian…

Antioxidant effects of herbal therapies used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an in vitro study.

PubMed

Langmead, L; Dawson, C; Hawkins, C; Banna, N; Loo, S; Rampton, D S

2002-02-01

Herbal remedies used by patients for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease include slippery elm, fenugreek, devil's claw, Mexican yam, tormentil and wei tong ning, a traditional Chinese medicine. Reactive oxygen metabolites produced by inflamed colonic mucosa may be pathogenic. Aminosalicylates (5-ASA) are antioxidant and other such agents could be therapeutic. To assess the antioxidant effects of herbal remedies in cell-free oxidant-generating systems and inflamed human colorectal biopsies. Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence in a xanthine/xanthine oxidase cell-free system was used to detect superoxide scavenging by herbs and 5-ASA, and fluorimetry to define peroxyl radical scavenging using a phycoerythrin degradation assay. Chemiluminescence was used to detect herbal effects on generation of oxygen radicals by mucosal biopsies from patients with active ulcerative colitis. Like 5-ASA, all herbs, except fenugreek, scavenged superoxide dose-dependently. All materials tested scavenged peroxyl dose-dependently. Oxygen radical release from biopsies was reduced after incubation in all herbs except Mexican yam, and by 5-ASA. All six herbal remedies have antioxidant effects. Fenugreek is not a superoxide scavenger, while Mexican yam did not inhibit radical generation by inflamed biopsies. Slippery elm, fenugreek, devil's claw, tormentil and wei tong ning merit formal evaluation as novel therapies in inflammatory bowel disease.

Precision Spectroscopy on Single Cold Trapped Molecular Nitrogen Ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hegi, Gregor; Najafian, Kaveh; Germann, Matthias; Sergachev, Ilia; Willitsch, Stefan

2016-06-01

The ability to precisely control and manipulate single cold trapped particles has enabled spectroscopic studies on narrow transitions of ions at unprecedented levels of precision. This has opened up a wide range of applications, from tests of fundamental physical concepts, e.g., possible time-variations of fundamental constants, to new and improved frequency standards. So far most of these experiments have concentrated on atomic ions. Recently, however, attention has also been focused on molecular species, and molecular nitrogen ions have been identified as promising candidates for testing a possible time-variation of the proton/electron mass ratio. Here, we report progress towards precision-spectroscopic studies on dipole-forbidden vibrational transitions in single trapped N2+ ions. Our approach relies on the state-selective generation of single N2+ ions, subsequent infrared excitation using high intensity, narrow-band quantum-cascade lasers and a quantum-logic scheme for non-destructive state readout. We also characterize processes limiting the state lifetimes in our experiment, which impair the measurement fidelity. P. O. Schmidt et. al., Science 309 (2005), 749. M. Kajita et. al., Phys. Rev. A 89 (2014), 032509 M. Germann , X. Tong, S. Willitsch, Nature Physics 10 (2014), 820. X. Tong, A. Winney, S. Willitsch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 (2010), 143001

The 2016 NIST Speaker Recognition Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-08-20

The 2016 NIST Speaker Recognition Evaluation Seyed Omid Sadjadi1,∗, Timothée Kheyrkhah1,†, Audrey Tong1, Craig Greenberg1, Douglas Reynolds2, Elliot...recent in an ongoing series of speaker recognition evaluations (SRE) to foster research in ro- bust text-independent speaker recognition, as well as...online evaluation platform, a fixed training data condition, more variability in test segment duration (uni- formly distributed between 10s and 60s

Astronaut John Young photographed collecting lunar samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

Astronaut John W. Young, commander of the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission, is photographed collecting lunar samples near North Ray crater during the third Apollo 16 extravehicular activity (EVA-3) at the Descartes landing site. This picture was taken by Astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot. Young is using the lunar surface rake and a set of tongs. The Lunar Roving Vehicle is parked in the field of large boulders in the background.

Thermal Management as a Force Multiplier within the Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

pp. 4–9. 46. Ye, Liang; Tong, Ming Wei; Zeng, Xin Design and Analysis of Multiple Parallel-pass Condensers. International Journal of Refrigeration...we mean energy that has low availability to do work (low exergy ). The closer a system is to the condition of its surroundings in terms of...vehicle with a gasoline internal combustion engine loses 40% of its fuel energy through the exhaust gas, which is still at a relatively high

Taxonomic Changes, Revised Occurrence Records and Notes on the Culicidae of Thailand and Neighboring Countries

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

Lindesayi Complex were made on the tallest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai Province. Two of these collec- tions also contained members of...34Le, 28P and 389L) were examined. Chiang Mai , Chom Tong District, Doi Inthanon, collection 07892, 4 July 1978, seep- age bog, 2,540 m,just below...from the following provinces of Thailand: Chiang Mai , Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Narathiwat, Ranung and Trang. 199 5. Aedes (Fin.) jugraensis

Luminescence and Absorption Spectra of C sub 60 Films

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-01

J. McKeirnan, J.L Zink, R. Stanley Williams, W.M. Tong, D.A.A. Ohlberg and R.L. Whetten Submitted t DTIC Physical Review Letters ELECT E SFEB 2? 7,19...range at 20K. A 1400 cm"& progression in the a soccerball inflation mode is observed. The low-temperature absorption spectrum exhibits similar fine...ag soccerball inflation mode is observed. The low temperature absorption spectrum exhibits similar fine structure. The characterization of vibronic

Korean Affairs Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-11

president of Pyongyang Music and Dance Univers- ity Kim Tong-sop, president of University of Commerce, and academician, Dr and Prof Pak Si-hyong and...investigation of the building. They decided to demand a meeting with the American Ambassador to Korea and a press conference with reporters from both within and...Chong-chin and Sim Yong-chin who at the underground fountain of the Lotte Department Store at the Ulchiro en- trance collected rocks from the nearby

Chemical Genetic Screens for TDP-43 Modifiers and ALS Drug Discovery

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

Mayo Clinic, United States of America Received October 11, 2011; Accepted January 5, 2012; Published February 21, 2012 Copyright: 2012 Vaccaro et al...Editor: Weidong Le, Baylor College of Medicine, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, United States of America Received March 9, 2012; Accepted July...Grasshopper 2 Camera (Point Grey Research) at 30 Hz. The movies were then analyzed using the manual tracking plugin of ImageJ 1.45r software (NIH) and the swim

Korean Affairs Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-19

SOUTH KOREA POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NKDP Post-Election Tasks, Problems Scrutinized (HANGUK ILBO, 17 Feb 85) • 63 67 Kim Tae-chung, Kim Yong -sam...National Day 122 Kim Il-song Sends Greetings 123 Kim Yong -nam Greets Maldives Counterpart 123 Kim Il-song Greets Peru President on National Day (KCNA, 27...including Kim Tae- yong , member of the Subcommittee for the Masses of the Sammin Struggle Committee of the Seoul National University [SNU], Ha Tong

Remote tong/tool latch and storage bracket for an advanced servo-manipulator

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

Nicholson, J.R.

1990-04-03

An arrangement is described for stowing releasable end effectors for manipulator arms wherein the end effector includes a releasable latch mechanism for connecting the end effector to the manipulator arm, and a storage holder is provided which includes an arrangement for actuating the latch mechanism as the end effector is moved into and out of the holder by the action of the manipulator arm. 7 figs.

Remote tong/tool latch and storage bracket for an advanced servo-manipulator

DOEpatents

Nicholson, John R.

1990-01-01

An arrangement for stowing releasable end effectors for manipulator arms wherein the end effector includes a releasable latch mechanism for connecting the end effector to the manipulator arm, and a storage holder is provided which includes an arrangement for actuating the latch mechanism as the end effector is moved into and out of the holder by the action of the manipulator arm.

Broadband ground motion simulation using a paralleled hybrid approach of Frequency Wavenumber and Finite Difference method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, M.; Wei, S.

2016-12-01

The serious damage of Mexico City caused by the 1985 Michoacan earthquake 400 km away indicates that urban areas may be affected by remote earthquakes. To asses earthquake risk of urban areas imposed by distant earthquakes, we developed a hybrid Frequency Wavenumber (FK) and Finite Difference (FD) code implemented with MPI, since the computation of seismic wave propagation from a distant earthquake using a single numerical method (e.g. Finite Difference, Finite Element or Spectral Element) is very expensive. In our approach, we compute the incident wave field (ud) at the boundaries of the excitation box, which surrounding the local structure, using a paralleled FK method (Zhu and Rivera, 2002), and compute the total wave field (u) within the excitation box using a parallelled 2D FD method. We apply perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing condition to the diffracted wave field (u-ud). Compared to previous Generalized Ray Theory and Finite Difference (Wen and Helmberger, 1998), Frequency Wavenumber and Spectral Element (Tong et al., 2014), and Direct Solution Method and Spectral Element hybrid method (Monteiller et al., 2013), our absorbing boundary condition dramatically suppress the numerical noise. The MPI implementation of our method can greatly speed up the calculation. Besides, our hybrid method also has a potential use in high resolution array imaging similar to Tong et al. (2014).

Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of extracts of three spices and a medicinal plant in Thailand.

PubMed

Higashimoto, M; Purintrapiban, J; Kataoka, K; Kinouchi, T; Vinitketkumnuen, U; Akimoto, S; Matsumoto, H; Ohnishi, Y

1993-11-01

Three kinds of spices (caraway, coriander and black pepper seeds) and a medicinal plant called 'tong tak' in Thai (Baliospermum axillar, a species of the spurge family) were fractionated into hot water, methanol and hexane extracts. These extracts were not mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 by the Ames assay. However, when the extracts were treated with nitrite, samples of the water and methanol extracts were mutagenic for strain TA100 without metabolic activation. The mutagenicity of the nitrite-treated methanol and hot water extracts of black pepper was highest (8380 and 22,200 His+ per 0.1 g of spice powder, respectively), and that of the nitrite-treated hot water extracts of caraway and tong tak was moderate. The hot water extracts were examined for their antimutagenic activity against mutagenicity induced by various carcinogens by the Ames assay, using the preincubation technique. The tested samples (equivalent to 1-2 mg of spice powder) reduced the mutagenicity induced by 2.7 nmole (397 ng) of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine by more than 84%, and that induced by dimethylnitrosamine (1.48 mg) or ICR-170 (10 ng) by 30-60%. However, they did not inhibit the mutagenic activity of 1-nitropyrene, 3-nitrofluoranthene, AF-2, methyl methanesulfonate, N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 2-aminoanthracene, 2-acetylaminofluorene, benzo[a]pyrene or IQ.

Environmental Studies of Little River Inlet, Horry County, South Carolina and Brunswick County, North Carolina.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-09-01

patent tongs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION I Hydrography and Sediments The Little River Inlet system conforms with Pritchard’s (1955) de - finition of an estuary...operations are planned within the immediate vicinity of these reefs. Provided that no extensive sand ~ I transport from the inlet channel dredging occurs...19 15 Heteromasts filiformis (P) 35 Polychaeta (undet.) 12 23 Sigambra -as-si (P’) 8 23 Ttirbonilla into~ rutA (G) 27 1Aop~j~h.mus verrilli (P) 12 12

Structure and Dynamics of Cu3Au(001) Studied by Elastic and Inelastic Helium Atom Scattering

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

longitudinal] decouple from the shear horizontal (SH) modes. Selection rules dictate that our experiment was sensitive only to sagittal modes...Hoffmann, E. Preu3, R. Franchy , H. lbach, Y. Chen, M. L. Xu, and S Y. Tong, preprint. 4. A. i. Taub, and R. L. Fleisher, Science 243, 616 (1989).: B. H. Kear... Franchy , and H. Ibach, Z. Phys. B-Condensed Matter 65, 71 (1986). 19. E. D. Hallman, Can. J. Phys. 52, 2235 (1974). 20. E. C. Svensson, E. D. Hallman

Translations on North Korea, Number 525.

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-04-28

Recounted ( Kim Tong-i; NODONG CH’ ONGNYOI, 28 Jan 77) 7 Struggle of ’Sea of Blood’ Guards in Speed Battle Described. (Han Yong -il; MIWJU CHOSON, 5...Praised as Invincible ( Kim Ik-hyon; MINJU CHOSON, Feb 77) 28 Foreign Attaches, Newsmen in DPRK Mark Kim Il-song Birthday (KCWA, 9 Apr 77) 3...Relay Racers Arrive in Pyongyang With Loyalty Letter (KCNA, 11 Apr 77) 35 Japanese Companies Offer Birthday Gifts to Kim Il-song (KCNA, 12

JPRS Report, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam: Tap Chi Cong San, No. 9, September 1990

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-15

34 (1853) in which Victor Hugo condemned the dictator Louis Bonaparte, who strangled the republic and established the Second Empire in 1851. And we...clearly in the recent works of Nguyen Minh Chau, Ma Van Khang, Le Luu, Mai Ngu, Do Chu, Khuat Quang Thuy, Nguyen Tri Huan, Tran Thanh Giao, Trung...have called our literature "mandarin literature" during the time of Le Thanh Tong and "palace literature." (SONG HUONG No 31, 1988) They have put

Extension to linear dynamics for hybrid stress finite element formulation based on additional displacements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumihara, K.

Based upon legitimate variational principles, one microscopic-macroscopic finite element formulation for linear dynamics is presented by Hybrid Stress Finite Element Method. The microscopic application of Geometric Perturbation introduced by Pian and the introduction of infinitesimal limit core element (Baby Element) have been consistently combined according to the flexible and inherent interpretation of the legitimate variational principles initially originated by Pian and Tong. The conceptual development based upon Hybrid Finite Element Method is extended to linear dynamics with the introduction of physically meaningful higher modes.

Korean Affairs Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-26

with the "outrageous" measures recently taken by the police to block its headquarters, Floor leader Kim Tong- yong of the party said that he expects the... Kims on the party as a precondition, is too wide. In the wake of his recent meetings with Kim Yong -sam, Yi Min-u, and Kim Sang- hyon, Cho is...Initial police investigation showed that Yi was hit by a 50cm-long wooden bar carried by Yim Yong -chol, 23, a junior. Police apprehended Yim, Miss Kim

Luminescent Photoelectrochemical Cells. 7. Photoluminescent and Electroluminescent Properties of Cadmium Sulfo-Selenide Electrodes.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-10-06

STRECKERT, J TONG. M K CARPENTER N00014-76"C-0633 UNCLASSIFIED TR-9 NL* EIIIIEIIIIEE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIfllfllf IIIIIIIIIII2 LEVEV, OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH i...REPORT DATE Office of Naval Research /Chemistry Program October 6, 1981 Arlington, Virginia 22217 13. NUMBER OF PAGES 37 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME 6...0.11, 0.00) emit when excited with ultraband gap excitation. The 295 K band gaps monotonically decrease with X from ’U2.4 eV for CdS to \\,1.7 eV for

Enhancements to the Tonge-Ramesh Ceramic Failure Model for Use in Eulerian Simulations

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-14

ability to project an arbitrary trial stress (σtr) onto the quasi -static yield surface (providing the value for σqs). Once the projection onto the quasi ...Model Evaluation Methods 4.1 Geometry from Prior Experiments There are experimental data from 2 research groups on penetration of confined boron carbide...by high-density, long-rod projectiles.21,22 Based on these prior ex- periments, the following 3 experimental geometries were identified to test the

Documentation of the Tonge-Ramesh Material Model for Release 2015-06-05-152756

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

crush curves showing pressure required to initiate pore collapse for pure hydrostatic loading as a function of distension for the 2 different granular...Illustration of the crush curves showing pressure required to initiate pore collapse for pure hydrostatic loading as a function of distension for the 2...is an additional yield surface that depends on only the hydrostatic pressure (p = −1/3tr(σ)). 13 It is defined by fφ(P, J GP , J) =  P Pc−P0

Recompression Chamber Communication Systems Test and Evaluation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-04-01

consisted of a selector switch and two banana jacks in order to use the same connecting cable on all of the systems tested. This modification would be...thin 6. din dic din dill 31. bark mark lark park 7. dun dud dung dug 32. gale pale bale male 8. f fig fin fizz fib 33. peel feel eel keel 9. leave...tale male bale S. fin fig fib fizz fill 33. heel keel feel peel eel 9. leash lead leave leach liege 34. till hill bill kill will 10. taj tog tong toss

Examining Construct Congruence for Psychometric Tests: A Note on an Extension to Binary Items and Nesting Effects.

PubMed

Raykov, Tenko; Marcoulides, George A; Dimitrov, Dimiter M; Li, Tatyana

2018-02-01

This article extends the procedure outlined in the article by Raykov, Marcoulides, and Tong for testing congruence of latent constructs to the setting of binary items and clustering effects. In this widely used setting in contemporary educational and psychological research, the method can be used to examine if two or more homogeneous multicomponent instruments with distinct components measure the same construct. The approach is useful in scale construction and development research as well as in construct validation investigations. The discussed method is illustrated with data from a scholastic aptitude assessment study.

ML 3.1 developer's guide.

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

Sala, Marzio; Hu, Jonathan Joseph; Tuminaro, Raymond Stephen

2004-05-01

ML development was started in 1997 by Ray Tuminaro and Charles Tong. Currently, there are several full- and part-time developers. The kernel of ML is written in ANSI C, and there is a rich C++ interface for Trilinos users and developers. ML can be customized to run geometric and algebraic multigrid; it can solve a scalar or a vector equation (with constant number of equations per grid node), and it can solve a form of Maxwell's equations. For a general introduction to ML and its applications, we refer to the Users Guide [SHT04], and to the ML web site, http://software.sandia.gov/ml.

XueQian ErTong FaZhan PingGu (Assessing the Development of Preschoolers). ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, Lilian G.

To help parents address those aspects of their child's development which may need special encouragement, support, or intervention, this digest delineates 11 categories of behavior for assessment. Parents should not be alarmed if their children are having difficulty in only a few categories, and they should not judge their children's permanent…

Further investigation about inflation and reheating stages based on the Planck and WMAP-9

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghayour, Basem

The potential V (ϕ) = λϕn is responsible for the inflation of the universe as scalar field ϕ oscillates quickly around some point where V (ϕ) has a minimum. The end of this stage has an important role on the further evolution stages of the universe. The created particles are responsible for reheating the universe at the end of this stage. The behavior of the inflation and reheating stages are often known as power law expansion S(η) ∝ η1+β, S(η) ∝ η1+βs, respectively. The reheating temperature (Trh) and βs give us valuable information about the reheating stage. Recently, people have studied about the behavior of Trh based on slow-roll inflation and initial condition of quantum normalization. It is shown that there is some discrepancy on Trh due to the amount of βs under the condition of slow-roll inflation and quantum normalization [M. Tong, Class. Quantum Grav. 30 (2013) 055013.]. Therefore, the author is believed in [M. Tong, Class. Quantum Grav. 30 (2013) 055013.] that the quantum normalization may not be a good initial condition but it seems that, we can remove this discrepancy by determining the appropriate parameter βs and hence the obtained temperatures based on the calculated βs are in favor of both mentioned conditions. Then from given βs, we can calculate Trh, tensor-to-scalar ratio r and parameters β,n based on the Planck and WMAP-9 data. The observed results of r,βs,β and n have consistency with their constrains. Also the results of Trh are in agreement with its general range and special range based on the DECIGO and BBO detectors.

Promoting free flow in the networks: Reimagining the body in early modern Suzhou.

PubMed

Scheid, Volker

2017-06-01

The history of Chinese medicine is still widely imagined in terms dictated by the discourse of modernity, that is as 'traditional' and 'Chinese.' And yet, so as to be intelligible to us moderns, it must simultaneously be framed through categories that make it comparable somehow to the 'West' and the 'modern' from which it is said to be essentially different. This is accomplished, for instance, by viewing Chinese medicine as fundamentally shaped by cosmological thinking, as focusing on process rather than matter, and as forever hampered by attachments to the past even when it tries to innovate. At the same time, it is described as pursuing its objectives in ways that make sense in 'our' terms, too, such as the goal of creating physiological homeostasis through methods of supplementation and drainage. In this paper, I seek to move beyond this kind of analysis through a two-pronged approach. First, by focusing on the concept of tong - a character that calls forth images of free flow, connectivity, relatedness and understanding - I foreground an important aspect of Chinese medical thinking and practice that has virtually been ignored by Western historians of medicine and science. Second, by exploring how the influential physician Ye Tianshi (1664-1746) employed tong to advance medical thinking and practice at a crucial moment of change in the history of Chinese medicine, I demonstrate that physicians in early modern China moved towards new understandings of the body readily intelligible by modern biomedical anatomy. I argue that this mode of analysis allows us to transcend the limitations inherent in the current historiography of Chinese medicine: because it allows for comparison to emerge from our subject matter rather than imposing our imaginaries onto it in advance.

Non-Abelian semilocal strings in N=2 supersymmetric QCD

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

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.; Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300

2006-06-15

We consider a benchmark bulk theory in four dimensions: N=2 supersymmetric QCD with the gauge group U(N) and N{sub f} flavors of fundamental matter hypermultiplets (quarks). The nature of the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) strings in this benchmark theory crucially depends on N{sub f}. If N{sub f}{>=}N and all quark masses are equal, it supports non-Abelian BPS strings which have internal (orientational) moduli. If N{sub f}>N these strings become semilocal, developing additional moduli {rho} related to (unlimited) variations of their transverse size. Using the U(2) gauge group with N{sub f}=3, 4 as an example, we derive an effective low-energy theory on themore » (two-dimensional) string world sheet. Our derivation is field theoretic, direct and explicit: we first analyze the Bogomol'nyi equations for string-geometry solitons, suggest an ansatz, and solve it at large {rho}. Then we use this solution to obtain the world-sheet theory. In the semiclassical limit our result confirms the Hanany-Tong conjecture, which rests on brane-based arguments, that the world-sheet theory is an N=2 supersymmetric U(1) gauge theory with N positively and N{sub e}=N{sub f}-N negatively charged matter multiplets and the Fayet-Iliopoulos term determined by the four-dimensional coupling constant. We conclude that the Higgs branch of this model is not lifted by quantum effects. As a result, such strings cannot confine. Our analysis of infrared effects, not seen in the Hanany-Tong consideration, shows that, in fact, the derivative expansion can make sense only provided that the theory under consideration is regularized in the infrared, e.g. by the quark mass differences. The world-sheet action discussed in this paper becomes a bona fide low-energy effective action only if {delta}m{sub AB}{ne}0.« less

High quality single shot ultrafast MeV electron diffraction from a photocathode radio-frequency gun.

PubMed

Fu, Feichao; Liu, Shengguang; Zhu, Pengfei; Xiang, Dao; Zhang, Jie; Cao, Jianming

2014-08-01

A compact ultrafast electron diffractometer, consisting of an s-band 1.6 cell photocathode radio-frequency gun, a multi-function changeable sample chamber, and a sensitive relativistic electron detector, was built at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. High-quality single-shot transmission electron diffraction patterns have been recorded by scattering 2.5 MeV electrons off single crystalline gold and polycrystalline aluminum samples. The high quality diffraction pattern indicates an excellent spatial resolution, with the ratio of the diffraction ring radius over the ring rms width beyond 10. The electron pulse width is estimated to be about 300 fs. The high temporal and spatial resolution may open new opportunities in various areas of sciences.

High quality single shot ultrafast MeV electron diffraction from a photocathode radio-frequency gun

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

Fu, Feichao; Liu, Shengguang; Zhu, Pengfei

2014-08-15

A compact ultrafast electron diffractometer, consisting of an s-band 1.6 cell photocathode radio-frequency gun, a multi-function changeable sample chamber, and a sensitive relativistic electron detector, was built at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. High-quality single-shot transmission electron diffraction patterns have been recorded by scattering 2.5 MeV electrons off single crystalline gold and polycrystalline aluminum samples. The high quality diffraction pattern indicates an excellent spatial resolution, with the ratio of the diffraction ring radius over the ring rms width beyond 10. The electron pulse width is estimated to be about 300 fs. The high temporal and spatial resolution may open new opportunities inmore » various areas of sciences.« less

[History of the ear speculum. Images from the history of otorhinolaryngology, highlighted by instruments from the collection of the German Medical History Museum in Ingolstadt].

PubMed

Feldmann, H

1996-05-01

BACKGROUND. Inspection of or interventions in the external ear canal and the nostrils pose similar technical problems. This is the reason why early instruments devised for otoscopy and rhinoscopy were based on an identical principle. They were shaped like a pair of tongs, comparable to nasal specula of today. A similar type of instrument had been developed earlier by barber surgeons for inspecting narrow wound cavities. TONG-SHAPED SPECULA. The first description and illustration of an aural and nasal speculum was provided by Guy de Chauliac in Montpellier, France in 1363. Sophisticated models were presented by Fabricius Hildanus in Germany in 1646 and J.J. Perret in Paris in 1772, who offered them in his illustrated catalogue of surgical instruments at fixed prices. W. Kramer (1836) in Berlin improved this tong-shaped instrument and devised the ear speculum named after him that was generally favored during the first half of the 19th century. Further variations of this type were presented by Lincke and Schmalz (1846) in Germany. FUNNEL-SHAPED SPECULA. Ignaz Gruber in Vienna in 1838 devised the first tunnel-shaped ear specula made of metal. They had a simple conical shape, were not divided into separate jaws, and could not be spread. Gruber himself did not publish his invention, but he demonstrated his ear specula to W. R. Wilde from Dublin, who had paid a visit to his office in Vienna. Wilde reported on this in 1844, and subsequently systematically refined Gruber's specula. A. v. Tröltsch from Würzburg (Germany) had seen these instruments at Wilde's office and it was Wilde himself and v. Tröltsch who helped this type of ear speculum to gain acceptance on an international scale. A different type of bottle-shaped ear speculum was first used by Schmalz (1846) and Erhard (1859) in Germany, but it was only developed into a commercially available instrument by Josef Gruber in Vienna in 1870. The ear specula most in use today were first presented by A. Hartmann in

Effect of Diabetes Treatment-Related Attributes on Costs to Type 2 Diabetes Patients in a Real-World Population.

PubMed

Meng, Jie; Casciano, Roman; Lee, Yi-Chien; Stern, Lee; Gultyaev, Dmitry; Tong, Liyue; Kitio-Dschassi, Brice

2017-04-01

-related attributes and costs, including inpatient, outpatient, drug, and total costs. This association raises the question: what would the effect of a new diabetes therapy, with high efficacy, high adherence, and reduced risk of hypoglycemia have on economic outcomes? Funding from Sanofi supported this study. Tong was an employee of ProUnlimited, under contract with Sanofi during the time of the study. Kitio-Dschassi was a Sanofi employee at time of the analysis. Meng, Casciano, Stern, and Gultyaev are employees of LASER Analytica, which received research funds from Sanofi to conduct this database analysis. Lee was an employee at LASER Analytica at the time of the analysis and has received grants from Sanofi. This manuscript was presented as a poster at the American Diabetes Association, 76th Scientific Sessions; New Orleans, Louisiana; June 10-14, 2016. Study concept and design were contributed by Meng, Casciano, Gultyaev, and Kitio-Dschassi. Meng and Stern collected the data, and data interpretation was performed by Casciano, Lee, Tong, and Kitio-Dschassi. The manuscript was written primarily by Lee, along with Meng and Stern, and revised by Stern, Meng, Tong, Kitio-Dschassi, and Lee.

Two-photon decay of K-shell vacancies in silver atoms

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

Mokler, P.H.; University of Giessen, Giessen; Schaeffer, H.W.

2004-09-01

The spectral distributions for the two-photon decay modes of singly K-shell ionized silver atoms are determined by x-ray-x-ray coincidence measurements. Ag K-shell vacancies were induced by nuclear electron capture decay of radioactive cadmium isotopes {sup 109}Cd and two-photon coincidences were taken back to back (180 deg.) and at a 90 deg. opening angle for the emission. Each of the two-photon transitions from the 2s, 3s, and 3d states exhibits unique angular and spectral distributions. The measurements agree nicely with relativistic self-consistent field calculations of Tong et al. Our results also confirm and extend the earlier experimental data of Ilakovac andmore » co-workers with improved accuracy.« less

Quantum adiabatic computation and adiabatic conditions

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

Wei Zhaohui; Ying Mingsheng

2007-08-15

Recently, quantum adiabatic computation has attracted more and more attention in the literature. It is a novel quantum computation model based on adiabatic approximation, and the analysis of a quantum adiabatic algorithm depends highly on the adiabatic conditions. However, it has been pointed out that the traditional adiabatic conditions are problematic. Thus, results obtained previously should be checked and sufficient adiabatic conditions applicable to adiabatic computation should be proposed. Based on a result of Tong et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 150402 (2007)], we propose a modified adiabatic criterion which is more applicable to the analysis of adiabatic algorithms. Asmore » an example, we prove the validity of the local adiabatic search algorithm by employing our criterion.« less

Dataset of tear film cytokine levels in dry eye disease (DED) patients with and without HIV infection.

PubMed

Balne, Praveen Kumar; Agrawal, Rupesh; Au, Veonice Bijin; Lee, Bernett; Loo, Eileen; Tong, Louis; Ghosh, Arkasubhra; Teoh, Stephen C; Connolly, John; Tan, Petrina

2017-02-01

The tear film cytokine profiling data in this article was obtained from a prospective case-control study with a sample size of 34 dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection and 32 DED patients without HIV infection, see "A distinct cytokines profile in tear film of dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection" (R. Agrawal, P.K. Balne, A. Veerappan, V.B. Au, B. Lee, E. Loo, A. Ghosh, L. Tong, S.C. Teoh, J. Connolly, P. Tan, 2016) [1]. Tear samples were collected from all the subjects using Schirmer׳s strips and cytokine profiling was done using the Luminex bead based multiplex assay with a panel of 41 analytes. The cytokine level differences in each group of subjects were analyzed using logistic regression models.

Reactive oxygen species from secondary organic aerosols decomposition in water and surrogate lung lining fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, H.; Shen, F.; Lakey, P. S. J.; Arangio, A. M.; Socorro, J.; Brune, W. H.; Lucas, K.; Poeschl, U.; Shiraiwa, M.

2016-12-01

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in climate and adverse health effects of air pollutants (Anglada, J. M. et al., 2015; Pöschl and Shiraiwa, 2015). Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) account for a major fraction of fine particles (Jimenez et al., 2009; Huang et al., 2014). Thus, studies on ROS production ability of SOA are important for comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of air particulate matter on climate change and public health. In this study, we have investigated ROS formation by laboratory-generated SOA particles using a variety of different experimental techniques including electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry, dithiothreitol and fluorometric hydrogen peroxide assays, and LC-MS/MS spectrometry, we found substantial amounts of ROS species such as •OH, O2•-, RO•, R• and H2O2 were generated by isoprene, β-pinene, and naphthalene SOA upon interaction with water and surrogate lung lining fluid. Antioxidants contained in surrogate lung lining fluid scavenge •OH and O2•-efficiently, but not organic radicals. LC-MS/MS analysis and kinetic modeling suggest that organic hydroperoxides, which account for a major fraction of SOA particles (Docherty et al., 2005; Ehn et al., 2014) play a critical role in ROS formation (Tong et al., 2016). We also found the cellular responses of human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) and macrophage cells (THP-1) to SOA could be explained by the ROS yields, indicating a key role of ROS on the cytotoxicity of SOA. Anglada, J. M. et al., Acc. Chem. Res. 48, 575-583, 2015. Docherty, K. S. eta al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, 4049-4059, 2005. Ehn, M. et al., Nature 506, 476-479, 2014. Huang, R.-J. et al., Nature 514, 218-222, 2014. Jimenez, J. L. et al., Science 326, 1525-1529, 2009. Pöschl, U., and Shiraiwa, M. Chem. Rev., 115, 4440-4475, 2015. Tong, H. et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 16, 1761-1771, 2016.

Radiation protection in radionuclide therapies with (90)Y-conjugates: risks and safety.

PubMed

Cremonesi, Marta; Ferrari, Mahila; Paganelli, Giovanni; Rossi, Annalisa; Chinol, Marco; Bartolomei, Mirco; Prisco, Gennaro; Tosi, Giampiero

2006-11-01

The widespread interest in (90)Y internal radionuclide treatments has drawn attention to the issue of radiation protection for staff. Our aim in this study was to identify personnel at risk and to validate the protection devices used. (90)Y-MoAb (Zevalin, 15 cases, 1.1 GBq/patient) and (90)Y-peptide ((90)Y-DOTATOC) systemic (i.v., 50 cases, 3.0 GBq/patient) and locoregional (l.r., 50 cases, 0.4 GBq/patient) treatments were considered. Radiolabelling was carried out in a dedicated hot cell. Tele-tongs, shielded (PMMA: polymethylmethacrylate) syringes/vials and an automatic dose fractionating system were used. Operators wore anti-X-ray and anti-contamination gloves, with TLD dosimeters placed over the fingertips. For i.v. administration, activity was administered by a dedicated system; for l.r. administration, during activity infusion in the brain cavity, tongs were used and TLDs were placed over the fingertips. The air kerma-rate was measured around the patients. The use of devices provided a 75% dose reduction, with mean fingertip doses of 2.9 mGy (i.v. MoAbs), 0.6 mGy (i.v. peptides)/radiolabelling procedure and 0.5 mGy/l.r. administration. The mean effective dose to personnel was 5 microSv/patient. The air kerma-rate around the patients administered i.v. (90)Y-peptides were 3.5 (1 h) and 1.0 (48 h) microGy/h at 1 m. Patient hospitalisation of 6 h (l.r.)/48 h (i.v.) guaranteed that the recommended limits of 3 mSv/year to family members and 0.3 mSv/year to the general population (Council Directive 97/43/Euratom) were respected. When specific procedures are adopted, a substantial improvement in (90)Y manipulation is attainable, reducing doses and increasing safety. For the widespread clinical use of (90)Y-conjugates, a completely automatic labelling procedure is desirable.

[Professor LAI Xinsheng's experience of acupuncture combined with medication for epilepsy].

PubMed

Fang, Yajing; Wu, Peilong; Wang, Yumei; He, Kejie; Zhang, Sujuan; Lai, Xinsheng

2018-04-12

Professor LAI Xinsheng 's experience of acupuncture combined with medication for epilepsy is summarized, which is explained from epilepsy's etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and medication, respectively. Besides, the theoretical foundation and use instruction of acupuncture technique " tong - yuan " for epilepsy are introduced. Professor LAI highly values the adherence to etiology and pathogenesis, pays attention to syndrome differentiation and searches for the primary disease cause. He proposes the wind, phlegm, stasis and deficiency are the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and points out acupuncture could be applied during attack stage and remittent stage, but electroacupuncture should be used with caution. Regulating spirit is the key for treating epilepsy. The combination of acupuncture and medication could regulate the governor vessel and guide qi to the origin, which have significant curative effect.

Perception of self in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery among adult Taiwanese and American-Chinese patients.

PubMed

Shih, F J

1997-02-01

A descriptive qualitative design was used to compare Taiwanese and American-Chinese patients' perceptions of self during their ICU recovery transition from cardiac surgery. A convenience sample consisting of 35 adult patients having cardiac surgery was obtained from two study sites in Taiwan (N = 30) and the USA (N = 5). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Patients' perceptions of self in the ICU included global sensations of abnormality, 'Tong-Kou' (Chinese, meaning physiologically and/or psychologically painful), and "Chin-Son' (Chinese, meaning physiologically and/or psychologically relaxed). The specific perceptions were the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual self. The nature and conceptual definition of Chinese patients' perceptions of self, as well as the impact of these perceptions on their recovery in the ICU were further delineated.

Determination of structure parameters in strong-field tunneling ionization theory of molecules

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

Zhao Songfeng; Jin Cheng; College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070

2010-03-15

In the strong field molecular tunneling ionization theory of Tong et al. [Phys. Rev. A 66, 033402 (2002)], the ionization rate depends on the asymptotic wave function of the molecular orbital from which the electron is removed. The orbital wave functions obtained from standard quantum chemistry packages in general are not good enough in the asymptotic region. Here we construct a one-electron model potential for several linear molecules using density functional theory. We show that the asymptotic wave function can be improved with an iteration method and after one iteration accurate asymptotic wave functions and structure parameters are determined. Withmore » the new parameters we examine the alignment-dependent tunneling ionization probabilities for several molecules and compare with other calculations and with recent measurements, including ionization from inner molecular orbitals.« less

The Menstruating Womb: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Body and Gender in Hŏ Chun’s Precious Mirror of Eastern Medicine (1613)

PubMed Central

Wu, Yi-Li

2017-01-01

This paper analyses body and gender in East Asian medicine through a case study of Hŏ Chun’s 許浚 Precious Mirror of Eastern Medicine (Tongŭi pogam 東醫寶鑑, first ed. 1613). While Hŏ Chun’s Chinese sources classified menstrual ailments as a disease of women, Hŏ created a new nosological model that defined menstrual ailments as maladies of the ‘womb’, an internal body part found in men and women alike. I read back and forth between the Precious Mirror and the Chinese sources that Hŏ Chun cites to analyse the textual and intellectual processes by which he constructed his androgynous, menstruating womb. My findings engage with scholarship on the history of East Asian medical exchanges as well as with scholarship on menstruation, sex, and gender in world medicine. PMID:29081728

Ab Initio Calculation of Photoionization and Inelastic Photon Scattering Spectra of He below the N=2 Threshold in a dc Electric Field

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

Mihelic, Andrej; Zitnik, Matjaz

2007-06-15

We study the Stark effect on doubly excited states of the helium atom below N=2. We present the ab initio photoionization and total inelastic photon scattering cross sections calculated with the method of complex scaling for field strengths F{<=}100 kV/cm. The calculations are compared to the measurements of the ion [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 133002 (2003)] and vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence yields [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 093001 (2006)]. For the case of photoionization and for incident photons with polarization vector P parallel to the electric field F, we confirm the propensity rule proposed by Tong and Lin [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92,more » 223003 (2004)]. Furthermore, the rule is also shown to apply for F perpendicular P and for the case of the inelastic scattering in both experimental geometries.« less

Design, data, and theory regarding a digital hand inclinometer: a portable device for studying slant perception.

PubMed

Li, Zhi; Durgin, Frank H

2011-06-01

Palm boards are often used as a nonverbal measure in human slant perception studies. It was recently found that palm boards are biased and relatively insensitive measures, and that an unrestricted hand gesture provides a more sensitive response (Durgin, Hajnal, Li, Tonge, & Stigliani, Acta Psychologica, 134, 182-197, 2010a). In this article, we describe an original design for a portable lightweight digital device for measuring hand orientation. This device is microcontroller-based and uses a micro inclinometer chip as its inclination sensor. The parts are fairly inexpensive. This device, used to measure hand orientation, provides a sensitive nonverbal method for studying slant perception, which can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments. We present data comparing the use of a free hand to palm-board and verbal measures for surfaces within reach and explain how to interpret free-hand measures for outdoor hills.

Publisher Correction: A Co3O4-CDots-C3N4 three component electrocatalyst design concept for efficient and tunable CO2 reduction to syngas.

PubMed

Guo, Sijie; Zhao, Siqi; Wu, Xiuqin; Li, Hao; Zhou, Yunjie; Zhu, Cheng; Yang, Nianjun; Jiang, Xin; Gao, Jin; Bai, Liang; Liu, Yang; Lifshitz, Yeshayahu; Lee, Shuit-Tong; Kang, Zhenhui

2018-02-08

The original HTML version of this Article omitted to list Yeshayahu Lifshitz as a corresponding author and incorrectly listed Shuit-Tong Lee as a corresponding author.Correspondingly, the original PDF version of this Article incorrectly stated that "Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to X.J. (email: xin.jiang@uni-siegen.de), or to Y.L. (email: yangl@suda.edu.cn), or to S.-T.L. (email: shayli@technion.ac.il), or to Z.K. (email: zhkang@suda.edu.cn)", instead of the correct "Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to X.J. (email: xin.jiang@uni-siegen.de), or to Y. Liu (email: yangl@suda.edu.cn), or to Y. Lifshitz (email: shayli@technion.ac.il), or to Z.K. (email: zhkang@suda.edu.cn)".This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Cradle and pressure grippers

DOEpatents

Muniak, John E.

2001-01-01

A gripper that is designed to incorporate the functions of gripping, supporting and pressure tongs into one device. The gripper has two opposing finger sections with interlocking fingers that incline and taper to form a wedge. The interlocking fingers are vertically off-set so that the opposing finger sections may close together allowing the inclined, tapered tips of the fingers to extend beyond the plane defined by the opposing finger section's engagement surface. The range of motion defined by the interlocking relationship of the finger sections allows the gripper to grab, lift and support objects of varying size and shape. The gripper has one stationary and one moveable finger section. Power is provided to the moveable finger section by an actuating device enabling the gripper to close around an object to be lifted. A lifting bail is attached to the gripper and is supported by a crane that provides vertical lift.

Exact moduli space metrics for hyperbolic vortex polygons

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

Krusch, S.; Speight, J. M.

2010-02-15

Exact metrics on some totally geodesic submanifolds of the moduli space of static hyperbolic N-vortices are derived. These submanifolds, denoted as {sigma}{sub n,m}, are spaces of C{sub n}-invariant vortex configurations with n single vortices at the vertices of a regular polygon and m=N-n coincident vortices at the polygon's center. The geometric properties of {sigma}{sub n,m} are investigated, and it is found that {sigma}{sub n,n-1} is isometric to the hyperbolic plane of curvature -(3{pi}n){sup -1}. The geodesic flow on {sigma}{sub n,m} and a geometrically natural variant of geodesic flow recently proposed by Collie and Tong ['The dynamics of Chern-Simons vortices', Phys.more » Rev. D Part. Fields Gravit. Cosmol. 78, 065013 (2008);e-print arXiv:hep-th/0805.0602] are analyzed in detail.« less

A sustainable landscape ecosystem design: a case study.

PubMed

Huang, Lei-Chang; Ye, Shu-Hong; Gu, Xun; Cao, Fu-Cun; Fan, Zheng-Qiu; Wang, Xiang-Rong; Wu, Ya-Sheng; Wang, Shou-Bing

2010-05-01

Landscape planning is clearly ecologically and socially relevant. Concern about sustainability between human and environment is now a driving paradigm for this professional. However, the explosion of the sustainable landscape in China is a very recent phenomenon. What is the sustainable landscape? How is this realized in practice? In this article, on the basis of the reviews of history and perplexities of Chinese landscape and nature analysis of sustainable landscape, the ecothinking model, an implemental tool for sustainable landscape, was developed, which applies ecothinking in vision, culture, conservation and development of site, and the process of public participation for a harmonious relationship between human and environment. And a case study of the south entrance of TongNiuling Scenic Area was carried out, in which the most optimum scenario was chosen from among three models according to the ecothinking model, to illustrate the construction of the ecothinking model and how to achieve a sustainable landscape.

Microwave Imaging with Infrared 2-D Lock-in Amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiyo, Noritaka; Arai, Mizuki; Tanaka, Yasuhiro; Nishikata, Atsuhiro; Maeno, Takashi

We have developed a 3-D electromagnetic field measurement system using 2-D lock-in amplifier. This system uses an amplitude modulated electromagnetic wave source to heat a resistive screen. A very small change of temperature on a screen illuminated with the modulated electromagnetic wave is measured using an infrared thermograph camera. In this paper, we attempted to apply our system to microwave imaging. By placing conductor patches in front of the resistive screen and illuminating with microwave, the shape of each conductor was clearly observed as the temperature difference image of the screen. In this way, the conductor pattern inside the non-contact type IC card could be visualized. Moreover, we could observe the temperature difference image reflecting the shape of a Konnyaku (a gelatinous food made from devil's-tonge starch) or a dried fishbone, both as non-conducting material resembling human body. These results proved that our method is applicable to microwave see-through imaging.

Determination of acrylamide in Thai-conventional snacks from Nong Mon market, Chonburi using GC-MS technique.

PubMed

Komthong, P; Suriyaphan, O; Charoenpanich, J

2012-01-01

Acrylamide in Thai-conventional snacks was analysed by GC/MS with a linear response ranged of 5-50 µg and r² > 0.99. The limit of detection (s/n = 3) and limit of quantification (s/n = 10) were 4 and 15 µg kg⁻¹, respectively, and RSD < 2%. Acrylamide in 19 food samples ranged from <15 µg kg⁻¹ to 1.26 mg kg⁻¹ with highest concentrations in Kanom Jak. Moderate levels (150-500 µg kg⁻¹) were detected mostly in deep-fried products, especially sweet potato and taro crisps, Kanom Kai Hong, banana fritters, durian chips and spring rolls. Thai-conventional snacks possessed low concentrations (<150 µg kg⁻¹) including Khao Larm, Pa Tong Koo, sweet banana crisps and deep-fried Chinese wonton. Acrylamide was lowest (<15 µg kg⁻¹) in fish strips, rice crackers, Hoi Jor and fried fish balls. Dietary habits by 400 tourists indicate a daily intake of acrylamide <150 ng, well below a toxic dose.

A Deconstruction Lattice Description of the D1/D5 Brane World-Volume Gauge Theory

DOE PAGES

Giedt, Joel

2011-01-01

I genermore » alize the deconstruction lattice formulation of Endres and Kaplan to two-dimensional super-QCD with eight supercharges, denoted by (4,4), and bifundamental matter. I specialize to a particularly interesting (4,4) gauge theory, with gauge group U ( N c ) × U ( N f ) , and U ( N f ) being weakly gauged. It describes the infrared limit of the D1/D5 brane system, which has been studied extensively as an example of the AdS 3 /CFT 2 correspondence. The construction here preserves two supercharges exactly and has a lattice structure quite similar to that which has previously appeared in the deconstruction approach, that is, site, link, and diagonal fields with both the Bose and Fermi statistics. I remark on possible applications of the lattice theory that would test the AdS 3 /CFT 2 correspondence, particularly one that would exploit the recent worldsheet instanton analysis of Chen and Tong.« less

Rainfall Threshold Assessment Corresponding to the Maximum Allowable Turbidity for Source Water.

PubMed

Fan, Shu-Kai S; Kuan, Wen-Hui; Fan, Chihhao; Chen, Chiu-Yang

2016-12-01

  This study aims to assess the upstream rainfall thresholds corresponding to the maximum allowable turbidity of source water, using monitoring data and artificial neural network computation. The Taipei Water Source Domain was selected as the study area, and the upstream rainfall records were collected for statistical analysis. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the cumulative rainfall records of one-day Ping-lin, two-day Ping-lin, two-day Tong-hou, one-day Guie-shan, and one-day Tai-ping (rainfall in the previous 24 or 48 hours at the named weather stations) were found to be the five most significant parameters for downstream turbidity development. An artificial neural network model was constructed to predict the downstream turbidity in the area investigated. The observed and model-calculated turbidity data were applied to assess the rainfall thresholds in the studied area. By setting preselected turbidity criteria, the upstream rainfall thresholds for these statistically determined rain gauge stations were calculated.

Experimental Study on New Multi-Column Tension-Leg-Type Floating Wind Turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong-sheng; She, Xiao-he; He, Yan-ping; Yang, Jian-min; Peng, Tao; Kou, Yu-feng

2018-04-01

Deep-water regions often have winds favorable for offshore wind turbines, and floating turbines currently show the greatest potential to exploit such winds. This work established proper scaling laws for model tests, which were then implemented in the construction of a model wind turbine with optimally designed blades. The aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and elastic characteristics of the proposed new multi-column tension-leg-type floating wind turbine (WindStar TLP system) were explored in the wave tank testing of a 1:50 scale model at the State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Tests were conducted under conditions of still water, white noise waves, irregular waves, and combined wind, wave, and current loads. The results established the natural periods of the motion, damping, motion response amplitude operators, and tendon tensions of the WindStar TLP system under different environmental conditions, and thus could serve as a reference for further research. Key words: floating wind turbine, model test, WindStar TLP, dynamic response

Non-Abelian vortices of higher winding numbers

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

Eto, Minoru; Konishi, Kenichi; Vinci, Walter

2006-09-15

We make a detailed study of the moduli space of winding number two (k=2) axially symmetric vortices (or equivalently, of coaxial composite of two fundamental vortices), occurring in U(2) gauge theory with two flavors in the Higgs phase, recently discussed by Hashimoto and Tong and by Auzzi, Shifman, and Yung. We find that it is a weighted projective space WCP{sub (2,1,1)}{sup 2}{approx_equal}CP{sup 2}/Z{sub 2}. This manifold contains an A{sub 1}-type (Z{sub 2}) orbifold singularity even though the full moduli space including the relative position moduli is smooth. The SU(2) transformation properties of such vortices are studied. Our results are thenmore » generalized to U(N) gauge theory with N flavors, where the internal moduli space of k=2 axially symmetric vortices is found to be a weighted Grassmannian manifold. It contains singularities along a submanifold.« less

Influence of insulating coating on aluminum wire explosions

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

Li, Yang; Wu, Jian, E-mail: jxjawj@gmail.com; State Key Laboratory of Intense Pulse Radiation of Simulation and Effect, Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024

2014-10-15

Single wire explosions are widely used in understanding the early stages of z-pinch experiments. This paper presents a serial of experiments conducted on the pulse power generator with ∼1 kA peak current and ∼10 ns rising time in Xi'an Jiao Tong University. Polyimide coated aluminum wires and uncoated ones were tested under three different voltages to analyze the effect of insulating coating. Experimental results showed that insulating coating can increase the energy deposition 10%∼30% in aluminum wires by delaying the voltage collapse and raising the maximum load resistance. The substantial energy deposition resulted in about 20% faster expansion rates for coated wires.more » Experimental evidence that plasma channel shunts the current from the wire core was observed by streak camera and schlieren graphs. This paper also briefly discussed the influence of nonuniform coating on the morphology of wire expansion.« less

Assertions of Japanese Websites for and Against Cancer Screening: a Text Mining Analysis

PubMed

Okuhara, Tsuyoshi; Ishikawa, Hirono; Okada, Masahumi; Kato, Mio; Kiuchi, Takahiro

2017-04-01

Background: Cancer screening rates are lower in Japan than in Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. While health professionals publish pro-cancer-screening messages online to encourage proactive seeking for screening, anti-screening activists use the same medium to warn readers against following guidelines. Contents of pro- and anti-cancer-screening sites may contribute to readers’ acceptance of one or the other position. We aimed to use a text-mining method to examine frequently appearing contents on sites for and against cancer screening. Methods: We conducted online searches in December 2016 using two major search engines in Japan (Google Japan and Yahoo! Japan). Targeted websites were classified as “pro”, “anti”, or “neutral” depending on their claims, with the author(s) classified as “health professional”, “mass media”, or “layperson”. Text-mining analyses were conducted, and statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. Results: Of the 169 websites analyzed, the top-three most frequently appearing content topics in pro sites were reducing mortality via cancer screening, benefits of early detection, and recommendations for obtaining detailed examination. The top three most frequent in anti-sites were harm from radiation exposure, non-efficacy of cancer screening, and lack of necessity of early detection. Anti-sites also frequently referred to a well-known Japanese radiologist, Makoto Kondo, who rejects the standard forms of cancer care. Conclusion: Our findings should enable authors of pro-cancer-screening sites to write to counter misleading anti-cancer-screening messages and facilitate dissemination of accurate information. Creative Commons Attribution License

A Study on the Establishment of Pochonka and Chonmun yucho in the Early Choson Dynasty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Sang-Hyeon

2009-12-01

We investigated the formation of Pochonka (Song of the Sky Pacers) and Chonmun yucho (Selected and classified writings on astrology) of the early Choson dynasty. We recognized that the songs in these books were deeply influenced by those in a Chinese book Tong-zhi published in 1161 A.D., based on the following facts; the contents of both treatises are described in the same order; the first phrase of the song for Thai-wei-yuan has composed of five words rather than seven words; in particular, Choson's Pochonka has the song that describes the position of the Milky Way relative to asterisms, which was supplemented by the author Zheng Qiao. Since Tong-zhi were brought into Koryo in 1364 A.D., Choson's Pochonka must be formed after that time. In particular, compared with Chinese Pu-tien-ko, Choson's Pochonka stresses the colors of asterisms in order to represent the origin of each asterism with respect to the astronomers, Shih-shen, Kan-te, and Wu-Hsien. We also find that the star-charts in Pochonka and Chonsang-yolcha-punyajido (Chart of the asterisms and the regions they govern) published in the early Choson dynasty are significantly similar in names, number of stars, and shapes of asterisms in them. This fact means that the star-charts in Pochonka originated from either the parent chart of Chonsang-yolcha-punyajido or Chonsang-yolcha-punyajido itself. The parent rubbing was reappeared in 1392 A.D. and carved on stele in 1396 A.D., and so the publication of Pochonka can be dated back to A.D. 1392. Chonmun yucho is a book that was formed by footnoting Pochonka with astrological descriptions in Chinese treatises. The formation period of Chonmun yucho is estimated to be 1440-1450 A.D. from the facts such as the biographical survey of the author Yi Sunji. Furthermore, Pochonka was adopted as a textbook of the government service examination for the astronomy division in Soungwan or the Royal Bureau of Astronomy in 1430 A.D.. We inferred from these facts that Choson

Maximum permissible voltage of YBCO coated conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, J.; Lin, B.; Sheng, J.; Xu, J.; Jin, Z.; Hong, Z.; Wang, D.; Zhou, H.; Shen, X.; Shen, C.

2014-06-01

Superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) could reduce short circuit currents in electrical power system. One of the most important thing in developing SFCL is to find out the maximum permissible voltage of each limiting element. The maximum permissible voltage is defined as the maximum voltage per unit length at which the YBCO coated conductors (CC) do not suffer from critical current (Ic) degradation or burnout. In this research, the time of quenching process is changed and voltage is raised until the Ic degradation or burnout happens. YBCO coated conductors test in the experiment are from American superconductor (AMSC) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). Along with the quenching duration increasing, the maximum permissible voltage of CC decreases. When quenching duration is 100 ms, the maximum permissible of SJTU CC, 12 mm AMSC CC and 4 mm AMSC CC are 0.72 V/cm, 0.52 V/cm and 1.2 V/cm respectively. Based on the results of samples, the whole length of CCs used in the design of a SFCL can be determined.

Electric drive motors for industrial robots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fichtner, K.

1985-04-01

In robotized industrial plants it is possible to use electric motors in the technological process and also for control, assembly, transport, testing, and measurements. Particularly suitable for these applications are permanent-magnet d.c. motors. A new special series was developed for industrial robots with hinge joints in kinematic pairs. The complete drive includes thyristors or transistor controls with regulators and, if necessary, a line transformer as well as a servomotor with tachometer and odometer for speed, current, and position control. The drive is coupled to a robot tong through mechanical torque and force converters. In addition to a 0 to 4000 rpm speed regulation, without wobble at low speeds, and a high torque-to-weight ratio for repetitive short-time heavy duty, these low-inertia motors develop high starting and accelerating torques over the entire speed range. They operate from a 1 to O 220 V a.c. line through a rectifier. The motors are totally enclosed, or of open construction for better ventilation. Their windings have class F insulation for operation at ambient temperatures up to 40 C.

Benefits of the Mediterranean diet beyond the Mediterranean Sea and beyond food patterns.

PubMed

Martínez-González, Miguel A

2016-10-14

Abundant and growing evidence has accrued to demonstrate that the traditional Mediterranean diet is likely to be the ideal dietary pattern for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. A landmark randomized trial (PREDIMED) together with many well-conducted long-term observational prospective cohort studies support this causal effect.A new, large British cohort study by Tong et al. assessing the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease was recently published in BMC Medicine. Using a superb methodology, they followed-up 23,902 participants for 12.2 years on average and observed several thousand incident cases.The results of this cohort study showed a significant beneficial effect of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular events. These findings support the transferability of this dietary pattern beyond the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The authors provided measures of population impact in cardiovascular prevention and estimated that 19,375 cases of cardiovascular death would be prevented each year in the UK by promoting the Mediterranean Diet.Please see related article: http://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-016-0677-4 .

PCCEServer

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

Perry, Marcia; Agarwal, Deb

2003-03-17

The PCCEServer application is a server that should be used in conjunction with the LBNLSecureMessaging user interface to enable secure synchronous and asynchronous messaging. It provides authentication and authorization services for members of a collaboration group via PKI/SSL and maintains an access control list. Members of collaboration groups using the LBNLSecureMessaging client must register identifying information. including usemame and password and an optional X.509 certificate, with the PCCEServer. This registration not only restricts access to instant messaging, but augments the LBNLSecureMessaging's IRC-based chat facility with persistence. Users register permanent unique user ids by which they are knowTl to other usersmore » in the system and create permanent venues intended for group conversations on a tong-term or continuous basis. In addition, the PCCEServer enhances instant messaging with presence and awareness information such as user availability, and it allows users to leave notes asynchronously for other users who are online or offline. Written in Java, it is a standalone application that can run on any platform that supports a Java Virtual Machine.« less

A micro-mechanical model to determine changes of collagen fibrils under cyclic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Michelle L.; Susilo, Monica E.; Ruberti, Jeffrey A.; Nguyen, Thao D.

Dynamic mechanical loading induces growth and remodeling in biological tissues. It can alter the degradation rate and intrinsic mechanical properties of collagen through cellular activity. Experiments showed that repeated cyclic loading of a dense collagen fibril substrate increased collagen stiffness and strength, lengthened the substrate, but did not significantly change the fibril areal fraction or fibril anisotropy (Susilo, et al. ``Collagen Network Hardening Following Cyclic Tensile Loading'', Interface Focus, submitted). We developed a model for the collagen fibril substrate (Tonge, et al. ``A micromechanical modeling study of the mechanical stabilization of enzymatic degradation of collagen tissues'', Biophys J, in press.) to probe whether changes in the fibril morphology and mechanical properties can explain the tissue-level properties observed during cyclic loading. The fibrils were modeled as a continuous distribution of wavy elastica, based on experimental measurements of fibril density and collagen anisotropy, and can experience damage after a critical stress threshold. Other mechanical properties in the model were fit to the stress response measured before and after the extended cyclic loading to determine changes in the strength and stiffness of collagen fibrils.

Establishment and application of the estimation model for pollutant concentrfation in agriculture drain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiangkun; Hu, Yawei; Jia, Qian; Song, Changji

2018-02-01

It is the key point of quantitative research on agricultural non-point source pollution load, the estimation of pollutant concentration in agricultural drain. In the guidance of uncertainty theory, the synthesis of fertilization and irrigation is used as an impulse input to the farmland, meanwhile, the pollutant concentration in agricultural drain is looked as the response process corresponding to the impulse input. The migration and transformation of pollutant in soil is expressed by Inverse Gaussian Probability Density Function. The law of pollutants migration and transformation in soil at crop different growth periods is reflected by adjusting parameters of Inverse Gaussian Distribution. Based on above, the estimation model for pollutant concentration in agricultural drain at field scale was constructed. Taking the of Qing Tong Xia Irrigation District in Ningxia as an example, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen and total phosphorus in agricultural drain was simulated by this model. The results show that the simulated results accorded with measured data approximately and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.972 and 0.964, respectively.

Culturally-grounded mother-daughter communication-focused intervention for Thai female adolescents.

PubMed

Powwattana, Arpaporn; Thammaraksa, Pimrat; Manora, Sroy

2018-02-05

Teenage pregnancy-prevention interventions have fallen short in significantly decreasing risk of pregnancy for Thai populations. The "breaking the voice" ("rak luk khun tong pood") culture-appropriate teenage pregnancy-prevention program was developed using community-based research. Qualitative analyses of focus group data identified salient factors related to sexual communication and behavior. The integration of focus group results with theoretical constructs guided the development of an intervention to reduce risky sexual behavior by increasing communication between mothers and their adolescent daughters. A total of 157 mother-daughter dyads from congested areas in Bangkok participated in pilot testing of the intervention by the use of a survey. The findings indicated a significant increase in the frequency of and number of sexual risk communication (P < .05). There was a significant increase in perceived power in relationship control, ability to prevent sexual risk, assertiveness, and ability to decrease sexual risk among daughters (P < .05). "Breaking the voice" represents a female-focused and culturally-relevant intervention to combat teenage pregnancy. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Experimental study on heat transfer to supercritical water flowing through tubes

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

Zhao, M.; Gu, H.; Cheng, X.

2012-07-01

A test facility named SWAMUP (Supercritical Water Multi-Purpose Loop) has been constructed in Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. to investigate heat transfer and pressure drop through tubes and rod bundles. SWAMUP is a closed loop with operating pressure up to 30 MPa, outlet-water temperature up to 550 deg. C, and mass flow rate up to 5 t/h. In this paper, experimental study has been carried out on heat transfer of supercritical water flowing vertically through tubes (ID=7.6 and 10 mm). A large number of test points in tubes has been obtained with a wide range of heat flux (200-1500 kw/m{sup 2})more » and mass flux (450-2000 kg/m{sup 2}s). Test results showed that heat transfer deterioration (HTD) caused by buoyancy effect only appears in upward flow and HTD caused by acceleration effect appears both in upward flow and downward flow. The heat transfer coefficients (HTC) produced in tube tests were compared with existing heat transfer correlations. (authors)« less

A method for integrating and ranking the evidence for biochemical pathways by mining reactions from text

PubMed Central

Miwa, Makoto; Ohta, Tomoko; Rak, Rafal; Rowley, Andrew; Kell, Douglas B.; Pyysalo, Sampo; Ananiadou, Sophia

2013-01-01

Motivation: To create, verify and maintain pathway models, curators must discover and assess knowledge distributed over the vast body of biological literature. Methods supporting these tasks must understand both the pathway model representations and the natural language in the literature. These methods should identify and order documents by relevance to any given pathway reaction. No existing system has addressed all aspects of this challenge. Method: We present novel methods for associating pathway model reactions with relevant publications. Our approach extracts the reactions directly from the models and then turns them into queries for three text mining-based MEDLINE literature search systems. These queries are executed, and the resulting documents are combined and ranked according to their relevance to the reactions of interest. We manually annotate document-reaction pairs with the relevance of the document to the reaction and use this annotation to study several ranking methods, using various heuristic and machine-learning approaches. Results: Our evaluation shows that the annotated document-reaction pairs can be used to create a rule-based document ranking system, and that machine learning can be used to rank documents by their relevance to pathway reactions. We find that a Support Vector Machine-based system outperforms several baselines and matches the performance of the rule-based system. The success of the query extraction and ranking methods are used to update our existing pathway search system, PathText. Availability: An online demonstration of PathText 2 and the annotated corpus are available for research purposes at http://www.nactem.ac.uk/pathtext2/. Contact: makoto.miwa@manchester.ac.uk Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:23813008

PROCEEDINGS OF RIKEN BNL RESEARCH CENTER WORKSHOP, VOLUME 77, RBRC SCIENTIFIC REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 10-12, 2005

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

SAMIOS, N.P.

The eighth evaluation of the RIKEN BNL Research Center (RBRC) took place on October 10-12, 2005, at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The members of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) were Dr. Jean-Paul Blaizot, Professor Makoto Kobayashi, Dr. Akira Masaike, Professor Charles Young Prescott (Chair), Professor Stephen Sharpe (absent), and Professor Jack Sandweiss. We are grateful to Professor Akira Ukawa who was appointed to the SRC to cover Professor Sharpe's area of expertise. In addition to reviewing this year's program, the committee, augmented by Professor Kozi Nakai, evaluated the RBRC proposal for a five-year extension of the RIKEN BNL Collaboration MOU beyondmore » 2007. Dr. Koji Kaya, Director of the Discovery Research Institute, RIKEN, Japan, presided over the session on the extension proposal. In order to illustrate the breadth and scope of the RBRC program, each member of the Center made a presentation on higher research efforts. In addition, a special session was held in connection with the RBRC QCDSP and QCDOC supercomputers. Professor Norman H. Christ, a collaborator from Columbia University, gave a presentation on the progress and status of the project, and Professor Frithjof Karsch of BNL presented the first physics results from QCDOC. Although the main purpose of this review is a report to RIKEN Management (Dr. Ryoji Noyori, RIKEN President) on the health, scientific value, management and future prospects of the Center, the RBRC management felt that a compendium of the scientific presentations are of sufficient quality and interest that they warrant a wider distribution. Therefore we have made this compilation and present it to the community for its information and enlightenment.« less

Indigenous technology development and standardization of the process for obtaining ready to use sterile sodium pertechnetate-Tc-99m solution from Geltech generator

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Sishir Kumar; Kothalkar, Chetan; Naskar, Prabhakar; Joshi, Sangeeta; Saraswathy, Padmanabhan; Dey, Arun Chandra; Vispute, Gunvant Leeladhar; Murhekar, Vishwas Vinayak; Pilkhwal, Neelam

2013-01-01

Purpose of the Study: The indigenous design and technology development for processing large scale zirconium molybdate-Mo-99 (ZrMo-99) Geltech generator was successfully commissioned in Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), India, in 2006. The generator production facility comprises of four shielded plant facilities equipped with tongs and special process gadgets amenable for remote operations for radiochemical processing of ZrMo-99 gel. Results: Over 2800 Geltech generators have been processed and supplied to user hospitals during the period 2006-2013. Geltech generator supplied by BRIT was initially not sterile. Simple elution of Tc-99m is performed by a sterile evacuated vial with sterile and pyrogen free 0.9% NaCl solution to obtain sodium (Tc-99m) pertechnetate solution. A special type online 0.22 μm membrane filter has been identified and adapted in Geltech generator. Conclusions: The online filtration of Tc-99m from Geltech generator; thus, provided sterile Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate solution. Generators assembled with modified filter assembly were supplied to local hospital in Mumbai Radiation Medicine Centre (RMC) and S.G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital) and excellent performances were reported by users. PMID:24163509

[Herbological studies on Chinese crude drug Ma-huang. Part 1-On the botanical origin of Ma-huang in ancient China and the origin of Japanese Ma-huang].

PubMed

Yoshizawa, Chieko; Kitade, Makiko; Mikage, Masayuki

2005-01-01

The botanical origin of a Chinese crude drug Ma-huang in ancient China and the origin of Japanese Ma-huang were herbologically studied. The results showed that the plants of Ephedra sinica Stapf, E. intermedia Schrenk & C. A. Meyer and E. equisetina Bunge were used as Ma-huang in China, and the first species was considered to be of high quality. The characters of Mao-zhou Ma-huang and Tong-zhou Ma-huang printed in Tu-jing-ben-cao, published in the Song Dynasty in China, were identified as E. likiangensis Florin and E. intermedia, respectively, and both species were recognized as excellent Ma-huang in the Ming Dynasty. The word origin of Katsune-kusa, the Japanese name for Ma-huang in the Heian Era, was etymologically considered as meaning the plant having reddish brown roots. In Japan, the plant of Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. var.japonicum Milde, of the family Equisetaceae, was substituted for Ma-huang in the middle of Edo Era, and it was designated that this action was based on the confusion of Ephedra plants and Equisetum plants those days in China.

Effect of implanted Cu/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite on the morphology of endometrium in the mouse.

PubMed

Xia, Xianping; Xie, Changsheng; Zhu, Changhong; Cai, Shuizhou; Yang, Xiangliang

2007-08-01

To investigate the damage of endometrium caused by the implanted Cu/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposite and the contraceptive effect of this novel copper-containing intrauterine device material. Experimental animal study. TongJi Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Sixty healthy female mice. Twenty mice received no implants, 20 mice received the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite, and 20 mice received bulk copper. Morphologic features of the endometrium, contraceptive effect, and surface condition of the implanted implants. The contraceptive effect of both the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite and bulk copper is 100%, the damage of the endometrium caused by the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much less than that caused by bulk copper, and the surface of the implanted Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much smoother and much softer than that of the implanted bulk copper. The contraceptive effect of the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is comparable with that of bulk copper, and the damage of the endometrium caused by the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much less than that caused by bulk copper. The endometrium injury is related to the surface condition of the implanted intrauterine device material.

Simulating the hydrologic impacts of land cover and climate changes in a semi-arid watershed

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Changes in climate and land cover are among the principal variables affecting watershed hydrology.This paper uses a cell-based model to examine the hydrologic impacts of climate and land-cover changes in thesemi-arid Lower Virgin River (LVR) watershed located upstream of Lake Mead, Nevada, USA. The cell-basedmodel is developed by considering direct runoff based on the Soil Conservation Service - Curve Number (SCSCN)method and surplus runoff based on the Thornthwaite water balance theory. After calibration and validation,the model is used to predict LVR discharge under future climate and land-cover changes. The hydrologicsimulation results reveal climate change as the dominant factor and land-cover change as a secondary factor inregulating future river discharge. The combined effects of climate and land-cover changes will slightly increaseriver discharge in summer but substantially decrease discharge in winter. This impact on water resources deservesattention in climate change adaptation planning.This dataset is associated with the following publication:Chen, H., S. Tong, H. Yang, and J. Yang. Simulating the hydrologic impacts of land cover and climate changes in a semi-arid watershed. Hydrological Sciences Journal. IAHS LIMITED, Oxford, UK, 60(10): 1739-1758, (2015).

Perspectives on family health, happiness and harmony (3H) among Hong Kong Chinese people: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Lam, W W T; Fielding, R; McDowell, I; Johnston, J; Chan, Sophia; Leung, G M; Lam, T H

2012-10-01

Family harmony, an important Confucian ideal in Chinese society is believed to determine family happiness and therefore health, but is this accurate? This is a qualitative study of 41 Hong Kong Chinese family members. Individual recorded interviews were thematically analysed describing perceived interactions between harmony, happiness and health. Family harmony comprised four components: communication, mutual respect, lack of conflict and family time [notably 'Gou tong' (in Cantonese )-opportunity and willingness to spend time together-requiring good interpersonal communication, emphasized by female respondents]. Lack of conflict was emphasized, while diverse values, parenting styles and financial difficulties were common causes of conflict. Respect required reciprocity. Family happiness comprised four elements: family harmony, an important pre-requisite; mutual caring and supportive orientation; sense of security emphasizing financial security in middle-class versus sense of togetherness in lower social class groups and contentment. Healthy families were harmonious; 'typical' (children/two-parent/two-grandparent); happy; caring and respectful, with individual health and healthy behaviours. Family harmony, happiness and health are interrelated and built on a communicative, respectful, caring and contented set of attitudes, in particular allowing for family time. Harmony is apparently a core element of good family functioning.

Differentiation of Staphylococcus argenteus (formerly: Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 75) by mass spectrometry from S. aureus using the first strain isolated from a wild African great ape.

PubMed

Schuster, Dominik; Rickmeyer, Jasmin; Gajdiss, Mike; Thye, Thorsten; Lorenzen, Stephan; Reif, Marion; Josten, Michaele; Szekat, Christiane; Melo, Luís D R; Schmithausen, Ricarda M; Liégeois, Florian; Sahl, Hans-Georg; Gonzalez, Jean-Paul J; Nagel, Michael; Bierbaum, Gabriele

2017-01-01

The species Staphylococcus argenteus was separated recently from Staphylococcus aureus (Tong S.Y., F. Schaumburg, M.J. Ellington, J. Corander, B. Pichon, F. Leendertz, S.D. Bentley, J. Parkhill, D.C. Holt, G. Peters, and P.M. Giffard, 2015). The objective of this work was to characterise the genome of a non-human S. argenteus strain, which had been isolated from the faeces of a wild-living western lowland gorilla in Gabon, and analyse the spectrum of this species in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The full genome sequence revealed a scarcity of virulence genes and absence of resistance genes, indicating a decreased virulence potential compared to S. aureus and the human methicillin-resistant S. argenteus isolate MSHR1132 T . Spectra obtained by MALDI-TOF MS and the analysis of available sequences in the genome databases identified several MALDI-TOF MS signals that clearly differentiate S. argenteus, the closely related Staphylococcus schweitzeri and S. aureus. In conclusion, in the absence of biochemical tests that identify the three species, mass spectrometry should be employed as method of choice. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Predictions of Critical Heat Flux in Annular Pipes with TRACEv4.160 code

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

Jasiulevicius, Audrius; Macian-Juan, Rafael

2006-07-01

both Biasi and CISE-GE correlations. To complement the work, three additional CHF correlations were implemented in TRACE v4.160, namely the Bowring, Tong W-3 and Levitan-Lantsman CHF models, in order to assess the applicability of these correlations to simulate the CHF in annular tubes. The improvement of CHF predictions for low coolant mass flows (up to 1500 kg/m{sup 2}s) is noted when applying Bowring CHF correlation. However, the increase in the inlet subcooling increases the error in predicted critical quality with the Bowring correlation. The Levitan-Lantsman and Tong-W-3 correlations provide results similar to the Biasi model. Therefore, the most correct CHF predictions among the investigated correlations were obtained using CISE-GE model in the standard TRAC v4.160 code. (authors)« less

77 FR 6782 - In the Matter of: Kok Tong Lim, a/k/a Thomas Lim Blk 258A Compassvale Road #07-551 Singapore...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-09

... (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (2000)) (``IEEPA''). Specifically, Lim conspired to illegally export wound... the Internal Security Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 783(b)), or section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22... Export Administration Act (50 U.S.C. app. Sec. Sec. 2401-2420 (2000)) (``EAA''). Since August 21, 2001...

Dimerization of the Bacterial Biotin Carboxylase Subunit Is Required for Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase Activity In Vivo

PubMed Central

Smith, Alexander C.

2012-01-01

Acetyl coenzyme A (acteyl-CoA) carboxylase (ACC) is the first committed enzyme of the fatty acid synthesis pathway. Escherichia coli ACC is composed of four different proteins. The first enzymatic activity of the ACC complex, biotin carboxylase (BC), catalyzes the carboxylation of the protein-bound biotin moiety of another subunit with bicarbonate in an ATP-dependent reaction. Although BC is found as a dimer in cell extracts and the carboxylase activities of the two subunits of the dimer are interdependent, mutant BC proteins deficient in dimerization are reported to retain appreciable activity in vitro (Y. Shen, C. Y. Chou, G. G. Chang, and L. Tong, Mol. Cell 22:807–818, 2006). However, in vivo BC must interact with the other proteins of the complex, and thus studies of the isolated BC may not reflect the intracellular function of the enzyme. We have tested the abilities of three BC mutant proteins deficient in dimerization to support growth and report that the two BC proteins most deficient in dimerization fail to support growth unless expressed at high levels. In contrast, the wild-type protein supports growth at low expression levels. We conclude that BC must be dimeric to fulfill its physiological function. PMID:22037404

Large-scale genome-wide association studies in East Asians identify new genetic loci influencing metabolic traits.

PubMed

Kim, Young Jin; Go, Min Jin; Hu, Cheng; Hong, Chang Bum; Kim, Yun Kyoung; Lee, Ji Young; Hwang, Joo-Yeon; Oh, Ji Hee; Kim, Dong-Joon; Kim, Nam Hee; Kim, Soeui; Hong, Eun Jung; Kim, Ji-Hyun; Min, Haesook; Kim, Yeonjung; Zhang, Rong; Jia, Weiping; Okada, Yukinori; Takahashi, Atsushi; Kubo, Michiaki; Tanaka, Toshihiro; Kamatani, Naoyuki; Matsuda, Koichi; Park, Taesung; Oh, Bermseok; Kimm, Kuchan; Kang, Daehee; Shin, Chol; Cho, Nam H; Kim, Hyung-Lae; Han, Bok-Ghee; Lee, Jong-Young; Cho, Yoon Shin

2011-09-11

To identify the genetic bases for nine metabolic traits, we conducted a meta-analysis combining Korean genome-wide association results from the KARE project (n = 8,842) and the HEXA shared control study (n = 3,703). We verified the associations of the loci selected from the discovery meta-analysis in the replication stage (30,395 individuals from the BioBank Japan genome-wide association study and individuals comprising the Health2 and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Diabetes cohorts). We identified ten genome-wide significant signals newly associated with traits from an overall meta-analysis. The most compelling associations involved 12q24.11 (near MYL2) and 12q24.13 (in C12orf51) for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 2p21 (near SIX2-SIX3) for fasting plasma glucose, 19q13.33 (in RPS11) and 6q22.33 (in RSPO3) for renal traits, and 12q24.11 (near MYL2), 12q24.13 (in C12orf51 and near OAS1), 4q31.22 (in ZNF827) and 7q11.23 (near TBL2-BCL7B) for hepatic traits. These findings highlight previously unknown biological pathways for metabolic traits investigated in this study.

Optimization of the model of abdominal aortic aneurysm by co-incubation of calcium chloride and collagenase in rats.

PubMed

Liu, Guang; Huang, Ying; Lu, Xin-Wu; Lu, Min; Huang, Xin-Tian; Li, Wei-Min; Jiang, Mi-Er

2009-08-01

To optimize the model of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in rats using calcium chloride (CaCl2) and collagenase together. This study was performed at the 9th People's Hospital, Institute of Traumatic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China from July 2008 to February 2009. Aortas of 55 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed and incubated for 20 minutes with fresh normal saline solutions supplemented with CaCl2 (0.4 M) and collagenase (4%, w/v) (group A), CaCl2 alone (group B), collagenase alone (group C), or normal saline alone (group D). After 4 weeks, the treated aortas were evaluated by digital measurement, angiography, and histological examination. In group A, there was a mean increase in diameter of 87.86% +/- 69.49% (range, 35.33-299.29%) weeks after surgery. The frequency of AAA in this group was 83.3% (10/12). One (1/13) AAA occurred in group C and none in other groups. Partial endothelial loss, elastin disruption, and abnormal collagen deposition were noted in the AAA tissues in group A, corresponded well to native aneurysms in human. The use of collagenase optimized the established CaCl2-induced rat model, giving a high frequency of AAA in a short period of time.

Opportunities and challenges for the biodegradable magnesium alloys as next-generation biomaterials

PubMed Central

Ding, Wenjiang

2016-01-01

In recent years, biodegradable magnesium alloys emerge as a new class of biomaterials for tissue engineering and medical devices. Deploying biodegradable magnesium-based materials not only avoids a second surgical intervention for implant removal but also circumvents the long-term foreign body effect of permanent implants. However, these materials are often subjected to an uncontrolled and fast degradation, acute toxic responses and rapid structural failure presumably due to a localized, too rapid corrosion process. The patented Mg–Nd–Zn–based alloys (JiaoDa BioMg [JDBM]) have been developed in Shanghai Jiao Tong University in recent years. The alloy series exhibit lower biodegradation rate and homogeneous nanophasic degradation patterns as compared with other biodegradable Mg alloys. The in vitro cytotoxicity tests using various types of cells indicate excellent biocompatibility of JDBM. Finally, bone implants using JDBM-1 alloy and cardiovascular stents using JDBM-2 alloy have been successfully fabricated and in vivo long-term assessment via implantation in animal model have been performed. The results confirmed the reduced degradation rate in vivo, excellent tissue compatibility and long-term structural and mechanical durability. Thus, this novel Mg-alloy series with highly uniform nanophasic biodegradation represent a major breakthrough in the field and a promising candidate for manufacturing the next generation biodegradable implants. PMID:27047673

36th International Conference on High Energy Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The Australian particle physics community was honoured to host the 36th ICHEP conference in 2012 in Melbourne. This conference has long been the reference event for our international community. The announcement of the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC was a major highlight, with huge international press coverage. ICHEP2012 was described by CERN Director-General, Professor Rolf Heuer, as a landmark conference for our field. In additional to the Higgs announcement, important results from neutrino physics, from flavour physics, and from physics beyond the standard model also provided great interest. There were also updates on key accelerator developments such as the new B-factories, plans for the LHC upgrade, neutrino facilities and associated detector developments. ICHEP2012 exceeded the promise expected of the key conference for our field, and really did provide a reference point for the future. Many thanks to the contribution reviewers: Andy Bakich, Csaba Balazs, Nicole Bell, Catherine Buchanan, Will Crump, Cameron Cuthbert, Ben Farmer, Sudhir Gupta, Elliot Hutchison, Paul Jackson, Geng-Yuan Jeng, Archil Kobakhidze, Doyoun Kim, Tong Li, Antonio Limosani (Head Editor), Kristian McDonald, Nikhul Patel, Aldo Saavedra, Mark Scarcella, Geoff Taylor, Ian Watson, Graham White, Tony Williams and Bruce Yabsley.

Evaluation of genotype-guided acenocoumarol dosing algorithms in Russian patients.

PubMed

Sychev, Dmitriy Alexeyevich; Rozhkov, Aleksandr Vladimirovich; Ananichuk, Anna Viktorovna; Kazakov, Ruslan Evgenyevich

2017-05-24

Acenocoumarol dose is normally determined via step-by-step adjustment process based on International Normalized Ratio (INR) measurements. During this time, the risk of adverse reactions is especially high. Several genotype-based acenocoumarol dosing algorithms have been created to predict ideal doses at the start of anticoagulant therapy. Nine dosing algorithms were selected through a literature search. These were evaluated using a cohort of 63 patients with atrial fibrillation receiving acenocoumarol therapy. None of the existing algorithms could predict the ideal acenocoumarol dose in 50% of Russian patients. The Wolkanin-Bartnik algorithtm based on European population was the best-performing one with the highest correlation values (r=0.397), mean absolute error (MAE) 0.82 (±0.61). EU-PACT also managed to give an estimate within the ideal range in 43% of the cases. The two least accurate results were yielded by the Indian population-based algorithms. Among patients receiving amiodarone, algorithms by Schie and Tong proved to be the most effective with the MAE of 0.48±0.42 mg/day and 0.56±0.31 mg/day, respectively. Patient ethnicity and amiodarone intake are factors that must be considered when building future algorithms. Further research is required to find the perfect dosing formula of acenocoumarol maintenance doses in Russian patients.

Novel β-amyloid aggregation inhibitors possessing a turn mimic.

PubMed

Hamada, Yoshio; Miyamoto, Naoko; Kiso, Yoshiaki

2015-04-01

Amyloid β peptide, the main component of senile plaques found in the brain of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients, is a molecular target for AD therapeutic intervention. A number of potential AD therapeutics have been reported, including inhibitors of β-secretase, γ-secretase, and Aβ aggregation, and anti-amyloid agents, such as neprilysin, insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), and Aβ antibodies. Recently, we reported potent small-sized β-secretase (BACE1) inhibitors, which could serve as anti-AD drugs. However AD is a progressive disorder, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over several decades, and therefore may require many years to get cured. One possible way to achieve a greater therapeutic effect is through simultaneous administration of multiple drugs, similar to those used in Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) used to treat AIDS. In order to overcome AD, we took a drug discovery approach to evaluate, novel β-amyloid aggregation inhibitors. Previously, we reported that a tong-type compound possessing a turn mimic as the inhibitor of HIV-1 protease dimerization. Oligomerized amyloid β peptides contain a turn structure within the molecule. Here, we designed and synthesized novel β-amyloid aggregation inhibitors with a turn-mimic template, based on the turn conformer of the oligomerized amyloid β peptides. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Observational Studies on Evaluating the Safety and Adverse Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine

PubMed Central

Tang, Jin-Ling; Wang, Jung-Der

2013-01-01

Background. This study aims to share our experiences when carrying out observational studies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods. We have proactively monitored the safety profiles of Duhuo Jisheng Tang (DJT), Suan Zao Ren Tang (SZRT), and TMN-1. A list of adverse events (AEs), complete blood counts, and liver and kidney function tests were obtained from the participants during their scheduled hospital visits. Retrospective observational studies were conducted based on the reimbursement database of the National Health Insurance system, Taiwan, to explore the relationship between the use of TCM that have been adulterated by aristolochic acid and the risk from both nephrotoxins and carcinogens. Results. A total of 221, 287, and 203 AEs were detected after SZRT, DJT, and TMN-1 had been taken, respectively. Dizziness, headache, stomach ache, and diarrhea were judged to be probably related to SZRT treatment. Retrospective observational studies found an association between the consumption of aristolochic acid-containing Chinese formulae such as Mu Tong and an increased risk of CKD, ESRD, and urinary tract cancer. Conclusion. Prospective and retrospective observational studies seem to have specific advantages when investigating the safety and adverse effects of TCM therapies, as well as possibly other alternative/complementary therapies. PMID:24159351

Association between sequence variants in panicle development genes and the number of spikelets per panicle in rice.

PubMed

Jang, Su; Lee, Yunjoo; Lee, Gileung; Seo, Jeonghwan; Lee, Dongryung; Yu, Yoye; Chin, Joong Hyoun; Koh, Hee-Jong

2018-01-15

Balancing panicle-related traits such as panicle length and the numbers of primary and secondary branches per panicle, is key to improving the number of spikelets per panicle in rice. Identifying genetic information contributes to a broader understanding of the roles of gene and provides candidate alleles for use as DNA markers. Discovering relations between panicle-related traits and sequence variants allows opportunity for molecular application in rice breeding to improve the number of spikelets per panicle. In total, 142 polymorphic sites, which constructed 58 haplotypes, were detected in coding regions of ten panicle development gene and 35 sequence variants in six genes were significantly associated with panicle-related traits. Rice cultivars were clustered according to their sequence variant profiles. One of the four resultant clusters, which contained only indica and tong-il varieties, exhibited the largest average number of favorable alleles and highest average number of spikelets per panicle, suggesting that the favorable allele combination found in this cluster was beneficial in increasing the number of spikelets per panicle. Favorable alleles identified in this study can be used to develop functional markers for rice breeding programs. Furthermore, stacking several favorable alleles has the potential to substantially improve the number of spikelets per panicle in rice.

Kidney toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: Online table of case reports. Part 3 of 5 series.

PubMed

Brown, Amy Christine

2017-09-01

herba-alba). No longer sold in the United States are chocolate vine or mu tong (Caulis aristolochiae), guang fang ji (Aristolochia fangchi), ma huang (Ephedra sinica), and Tenshin Tokishigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to. The DS include bile (sheep), chlorella, chromium (Cr), CKLS, creatine, gallbladder (fish), glucosamine, hydrazine, N.O.-Xplode, Spanish fly, and excess intakes of vitamins A, C, and D. Germanium (Ge) is not available for sale. The top two DS with the largest number of reported publications, but not always case reports, in descending order, were the aristolochic acid-containing herbs guang fang ji (mistaken identity) and chocolate vine or mu tong. The remaining DS featured one to three publications over a 50+ year period. Numerous case reports were reported for kidney-toxic foods: djenkol bean, gallbladders (carp fish, pufferfish, & snake), and star fruit (only in chronic kidney disease patients), and uncooked yam powder or juice. This online "DS Toxic Table" provides clinicians, consumers, and manufacturers with a list of herbs that could potentially contribute to kidney injuries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Operational air quality forecast guidance for the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stajner, Ivanka; Lee, Pius; Tong, Daniel; Pan, Li; McQueen, Jeff; Huang, Jinaping; Djalalova, Irina; Wilczak, James; Huang, Ho-Chun; Wang, Jun; Stein, Ariel; Upadhayay, Sikchya

2016-04-01

satellite instruments (Tong et al., 2015) and to use these updated emissions to improve ozone predictions (Pan et al., 2015). An overview of the impacts of these recent and ongoing efforts to improve predictions of ozone, smoke and PM2.5 will be presented. Djalalova, I. et al., 2015: PM2.5 analog forecast and Kalman filter post-processing for the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Atmospheric Environment, doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.05.057. Pan L. et al., 2014: Assessment of NOx and O3 forecasting performances in the U.S. National Air Quality Forecasting Capability before and after the 2012 major emissions updates. Atmospheric Environment, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.06.020. Stein, A. et al., 2015: NOAA's HYSPLIT atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling system. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00110.1. Tong, D.Q. et al., 2015: Long-term NOx trends over large cities in the United States during the great recession: Comparison of satellite retrievals, ground observations, and emission inventories. Atmospheric Environment, doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.01.035.

Flavor Physics & CP Violation 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

"Flavor Physics & CP violation 2015" (FPCP 2015) was held in Nagoya, Japan, at Nagoya University, from May 25 to May 29 2015. This is the 13th meeting of the series of annual conferences started in Philadelphia, PA, USA in 2002. The aim of the conference is to review developments in flavor physics and CP violation, in both theory and experiment, exploiting the potential to study new physics at the LHC and future facilities. The topics include CP violation, rare decays, CKM elements with heavy quark decays, flavor phenomena in charged leptons and neutrinos, and also interplay between flavor and LHC high Pt physics. The FPCP2015 conference had more than 140 participants, including researchers from abroad and many young researchers (postdocs and students). The conference consisted of plenary talks and poster presentations. The plenary talks include 2 overview talks, 48 review talks, and 2 talks for outlook in theories and experiments, given by world leading researchers. There was also a special lecture by Prof. Makoto Kobayashi, one of the Nobel laureates in 2008. The poster session had 41 contributions. Many young researchers presented their works. These proceedings contain written documents for these plenary and poster presentations. The full scientific program and presentation materials can be found at http://fpcp2015.hepl.phys.nagoya-u.ac.jp/. We would like to thank the International Advisory Committee for their invaluable assistance in coordinating the scientific program and in helping to identifying many speakers. Thanks are also due to the Local Organizing Committee for tireless efforts for smooth running of the conference and very enjoyable social activities. We also thank the financial supports provided by Japanese Scociety for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) unfer the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) "Probing New Physics with Tau-Lepton" (No. 26220706), by Nagoya University under the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities, and

An angle encoder for super-high resolution and super-high accuracy using SelfA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Tsukasa; Kon, Masahito; Nabeshima, Nobuo; Taniguchi, Kayoko

2014-06-01

Angular measurement technology at high resolution for applications such as in hard disk drive manufacturing machines, precision measurement equipment and aspherical process machines requires a rotary encoder with high accuracy, high resolution and high response speed. However, a rotary encoder has angular deviation factors during operation due to scale error or installation error. It has been assumed to be impossible to achieve accuracy below 0.1″ in angular measurement or control after the installation onto the rotating axis. Self-calibration (Lu and Trumper 2007 CIRP Ann. 56 499; Kim et al 2011 Proc. MacroScale; Probst 2008 Meas. Sci. Technol. 19 015101; Probst et al Meas. Sci. Technol. 9 1059; Tadashi and Makoto 1993 J. Robot. Mechatronics 5 448; Ralf et al 2006 Meas. Sci. Technol. 17 2811) and cross-calibration (Probst et al 1998 Meas. Sci. Technol. 9 1059; Just et al 2009 Precis. Eng. 33 530; Burnashev 2013 Quantum Electron. 43 130) technologies for a rotary encoder have been actively discussed on the basis of the principle of circular closure. This discussion prompted the development of rotary tables which achieve reliable and high accuracy angular verification. We apply these technologies for the development of a rotary encoder not only to meet the requirement of super-high accuracy but also to meet that of super-high resolution. This paper presents the development of an encoder with 221 = 2097 152 resolutions per rotation (360°), that is, corresponding to a 0.62″ signal period, achieved by the combination of a laser rotary encoder supplied by Magnescale Co., Ltd and a self-calibratable encoder (SelfA) supplied by The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST). In addition, this paper introduces the development of a rotary encoder to guarantee ±0.03″ accuracy at any point of the interpolated signal, with respect to the encoder at the minimum resolution of 233, that is, corresponding to a 0.0015″ signal period after

Small-angle neutron scattering study of a dense microemulsion system formed with an ionic liquid

DOE PAGES

Kang, T.; Qian, S.; Smith, G. S.; ...

2017-09-07

Mixtures of water, octane and 1-octanol with 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C14MIM·Cl), often referred to as a surface active ionic liquid (SAIL), form water-in-oil microemulsions that have potential application as extraction media for various metal ions. Here in this work, we present a structural study by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) of dense microemulsions formed by surfactant-rich mixtures of these four compounds to understand how the SAIL can be used to tune the structures and properties of the microemulsions. The SANS experiments revealed that the microemulsions formed are composed of two phases, a water-in-oil microemulsion and a bicontinuous microemulsion, which becomes the dominantmore » phase at high surfactant concentration. In this concentration regime, the surfactant film becomes more rigid, having a higher bending modulus that results from the parallel stacking of the imidazolium ring of the SAIL. At lower surfactant concentrations, the molecular packing of the SAIL does not change with the water content of the microemulsion. Finally, the results presented here correlate well with previously observed changes in the interaction between the IL cation and metal ions (Y. Tong, L. Han and Y. Yang, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2012, 51, 16438–16443), while the capacity of the microemulsion system for water remains high enough for using the system as an extraction medium.« less

Small-angle neutron scattering study of a dense microemulsion system formed with an ionic liquid

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

Kang, T.; Qian, S.; Smith, G. S.

Mixtures of water, octane and 1-octanol with 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C14MIM·Cl), often referred to as a surface active ionic liquid (SAIL), form water-in-oil microemulsions that have potential application as extraction media for various metal ions. Here in this work, we present a structural study by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) of dense microemulsions formed by surfactant-rich mixtures of these four compounds to understand how the SAIL can be used to tune the structures and properties of the microemulsions. The SANS experiments revealed that the microemulsions formed are composed of two phases, a water-in-oil microemulsion and a bicontinuous microemulsion, which becomes the dominantmore » phase at high surfactant concentration. In this concentration regime, the surfactant film becomes more rigid, having a higher bending modulus that results from the parallel stacking of the imidazolium ring of the SAIL. At lower surfactant concentrations, the molecular packing of the SAIL does not change with the water content of the microemulsion. Finally, the results presented here correlate well with previously observed changes in the interaction between the IL cation and metal ions (Y. Tong, L. Han and Y. Yang, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2012, 51, 16438–16443), while the capacity of the microemulsion system for water remains high enough for using the system as an extraction medium.« less

Two body and multibody interaction in a cold Rydberg gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jianing; Gallagher, Tom

2009-05-01

Cold Rydberg atoms trapped in a Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) are not isolated and they tend to bond through dipole-dipole and multiple-multiple interactions between Rydberg atoms. The dipole-dipole interaction and van der Waals interaction between two atoms have been intensively studied. However, the fact that the dipole-dipole interaction and van der Waals interaction show the same size of broadening, studied by Raithel's group, and there is transition between two molecular states, studied by Farooqi and Overstreet, can not be explained by the two atom picture. The purpose of this paper is to show the multibody nature of a dense cold Rydberg gas by studying the molecular state microwave spectrum. Specifically, single body, two body and three body interaction regions are separated. Moreover, the multibody energy levels for selected geometries are calculated. In addition, multibody blockade will be discussed. [3pt] [1] A. Reinhard, K. C. Younge, T. Cubel Liebisch, B. Knuffman, P. R. Berman, and G. Raithel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 233201 (2008).[0pt] [2] S.M. Farooqi, D. Tong, S. Krishnan, J. Stanojevic,Y.P. Zhang, J.R. Ensher, A.S. Estrin, C. Boisseau, R. Cote, E.E. Eyler, and P.L. Gould, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 183002 (2003).[0pt] [3] K. Richard Overstreet, Arne Schwettmann, Jonathan Tallant, and James P. Shaffer, Phys. Rev. A 76, 011403 (2007).

Constraining the dipolar magnetic field of M82 X-2 by the accretion model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wen-Cong

2017-02-01

Recently, ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) M82 X-2 has been identified to be an accreting neutron star, which has a P = 1.37 s spin period, and is spinning up at a rate dot{P}=-2.0× 10^{-10} s s^{-1}. Interestingly, its isotropic X-ray luminosity Liso = 1.8 × 1040 erg s- 1 during outbursts is 100 times the Eddington limit for a 1.4 M⊙ neutron star. In this Letter, based on the standard accretion model we attempt to constrain the dipolar magnetic field of the pulsar in ULX M82 X-2. Our calculations indicate that the accretion rate at the magnetospheric radius must be super-Eddington during outbursts. To support such a super-Eddington accretion, a relatively high multipole field ( ≳ 1013 G) near the surface of the accretor is invoked to produce an accreting gas column. However, our constraint shows that the surface dipolar magnetic field of the pulsar should be in the range of 1.0-3.5 × 1012 G. Therefore, our model supports that the neutron star in ULX M82 X-2 could be a low-magnetic-field magnetar (proposed by Tong) with a normal dipolar field (˜1012 G) and relatively strong multipole field. For the large luminosity variations of this source, our scenario can also present a self-consistency interpretation.

Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on neurocognitive architecture and function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

PubMed Central

Xu, Huajun; Wang, Hui; Guan, Jian; Yi, Hongliang; Qian, Yingjun; Zou, Jianyin; Xia, Yunyan; Fu, Yiqun; Li, Xinyi; Jiao, Xiao; Huang, Hengye; Dong, Pin; Yu, Ziwei; Yang, Jun; Xiang, Mingliang; Li, Jiping; Chen, Yanqing; Wang, Peihua; Sun, Yizhou; Li, Yuehua; Zheng, Xiaojian; Jia, Wei; Yin, Shankai

2017-01-01

Objectives Many clinical studies have indicated that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the most common chronic sleep disorder, may affect neurocognitive function, and that treatment for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has some neurocognitive protective effects against the adverse effects of OSA. However, the effects of CPAP treatment on neurocognitive architecture and function remain unclear. Therefore, this multicentre trial was designed to investigate whether and when neurocognitive architecture and function in patients with OSA can be improved by CPAP treatment and to explore the role of gut microbiota in improving neurocognitive function during treatment. Methods/design This study will be a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial with allocation concealment and assessor blinding. A total of 148 eligible patients with moderate to severe OSA will be enrolled from five sleep centres and randomised to receive CPAP with best supportive care (BSC) intervention or BSC intervention alone. Cognitive function, structure and function of brain regions, gut microbiota, metabolites, biochemical variables, electrocardiography, echocardiography, pulmonary function and arterial stiffness will be assessed at baseline before randomisation and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital (approval number 2015-79). The results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and at relevant conferences. Trial registration number NCT02886156; pre-results. PMID:28550021

The concept of Compsoneuria Eaton, 1881 revisited in light of historical and new material from the Sunda Islands (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae).

PubMed

Sartori, Michel

2014-07-09

Based on re-examination of material belonging to the Museum of Zoology, Hamburg University, Germany, especially Georg Ulmer's collection, as well as newly collected specimens from the Sunda Islands, the genuine concept of Compsoneuria Eaton, 1881 is revised. The genus has had as junior synonyms Compsoneuriella Ulmer, 1939 (Oriental) and Notonurus Crass, 1947 (Afrotropical). A recent molecular study removed Notonurus from this synonymy. The type species of Compsoneuria, Compsoneuria spectabilis Eaton, 1881, is redescribed. A lectotype male imago is designated for Compsoneuriella thienemanni Ulmer, 1939, type species of Compsoneuriella. Based on egg morphology, nymphal stages of both Compsoneuria and Compsoneuriella are unequivocally attributed. The nymph of Compsoneuria spectabilis is described and corresponds in part to what Ulmer (1939) described as the nymph of Compsoneuriella thienemanni. The latter nymph is also redescribed from material collected recently in Sumatra. Due to the important number of morphological differences between these two species, Compsoneuriella stat. prop. is removed from its synonymy with Compsoneuria. Besides C. thienemanni, the genus Compsoneuriella encompasses C. langensis (Braasch & Boonsoong, 2010) comb. nov. from Thailand and C. tagbanua (Braasch & Freitag, 2008) comb. nov. from the Philippines (Palawan), which is partially redescribed. All other species under the combined concept of Compsoneuria/Compsoneuriella are mentioned and their generic placements are discussed. The new combination Afronurus taipokauensis (Tong & Dudgeon, 2003) comb. nov. from Hong Kong, China is proposed. 

Quantitative identification and source apportionment of anthropogenic heavy metals in marine sediment of Hong Kong

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Feng; Guo, Huaicheng; Liu, Lei

2007-10-01

Based on ten heavy metals collected twice annually at 59 sites from 1998 to 2004, enrichment factors (EFs), principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate linear regression of absolute principal component scores (MLR-APCS) were used in identification and source apportionment of the anthropogenic heavy metals in marine sediment. EFs with Fe as a normalizer and local background as reference values was properly tested and suitable in Hong Kong, and Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Cd, Hg and Cr mainly originated from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn and Fe were derived from rocks weathering. Rotated PCA and GIS mapping further identified two types of anthropogenic sources and their impacted regions: (1) electronic industrial pollution, riparian runoff and vehicle exhaust impacted the entire Victoria Harbour, inner Tolo Harbour, Eastern Buffer, inner Deep Bay and Cheung Chau; and (2) discharges from textile factories and paint, influenced Tsuen Wan Bay and Kwun Tong typhoon shelter and Rambler Channel. In addition, MLR-APCS was successfully introduced to quantitatively determine the source contributions with uncertainties almost less than 8%: the first anthropogenic sources were responsible for 50.0, 45.1, 86.6, 78.9 and 87.5% of the Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Hg, respectively, whereas 49.9% of the Ni and 58.4% of the Cr came from the second anthropogenic sources.

Establishment of turbidity forecasting model and early-warning system for source water turbidity management using back-propagation artificial neural network algorithm and probability analysis.

PubMed

Yang, Tsung-Ming; Fan, Shu-Kai; Fan, Chihhao; Hsu, Nien-Sheng

2014-08-01

The purpose of this study is to establish a turbidity forecasting model as well as an early-warning system for turbidity management using rainfall records as the input variables. The Taipei Water Source Domain was employed as the study area, and ANOVA analysis showed that the accumulative rainfall records of 1-day Ping-lin, 2-day Ping-lin, 2-day Fei-tsui, 2-day Shi-san-gu, 2-day Tai-pin and 2-day Tong-hou were the six most significant parameters for downstream turbidity development. The artificial neural network model was developed and proven capable of predicting the turbidity concentration in the investigated catchment downstream area. The observed and model-calculated turbidity data were applied to developing the turbidity early-warning system. Using a previously determined turbidity as the threshold, the rainfall criterion, above which the downstream turbidity would possibly exceed this respective threshold turbidity, for the investigated rain gauge stations was determined. An exemplary illustration demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed turbidity early-warning system as a precautionary alarm of possible significant increase of downstream turbidity. This study is the first report of the establishment of the turbidity early-warning system. Hopefully, this system can be applied to source water turbidity forecasting during storm events and provide a useful reference for subsequent adjustment of drinking water treatment operation.

Kinase activity in the olfactory bulb is required for odor memory consolidation.

PubMed

Tong, Michelle T; Kim, Tae-Young P; Cleland, Thomas A

2018-05-01

Long-term fear memory formation in the hippocampus and neocortex depends upon brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling after acquisition. Incremental, appetitive odor discrimination learning is thought to depend substantially on the differentiation of adult-born neurons within the olfactory bulb (OB)-a process that is closely associated with BDNF signaling. We sought to elucidate the role of neurotrophin signaling within the OB on odor memory consolidation. Male mice were trained on odor-reward associative discriminations after bilateral infusion of the kinase inhibitor K252a, or vehicle control, into the OB. K252a is a partially selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase (Trk) receptors, including the TrkB receptor for BDNF, though it also inhibits other plasticity-related kinases such as PKC and CaMKII/IV. K252a infusion into the OB did not impair odor acquisition or short-term (2 h) memory for the learned discriminations, but significantly impaired long-term (48 h) odor memory (LTM). This LTM deficit also was associated with reduced selectivity for the conditioned odorant in a reward-seeking digging task. Infusions of K252a immediately prior to testing did not impair LTM recall. These results indicate that kinase activation in the OB is required for the consolidation of odor memory of incrementally acquired information. © 2018 Tong et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Case report: absent C6 cervical pedicle in a collegiate football player.

PubMed

Fowler, John R; Moyer, Ray A

2010-06-01

Congenital absence of a cervical pedicle is a rare clinical finding with only 70 reported cases in the literature from 1946 until present. The congenitally absent pedicle has clinical importance owing to the frequency of misdiagnosis and inappropriate invasive treatments. We present the case of a 21-year-old college football player who experienced neck and shoulder pain after violent twisting of his neck by the face mask. The player walked off the field under his own power. He was sent to the locker room, where he underwent right shoulder and cervical spine radiographs. Initial review of the radiographs raised concern for a jumped right C6 facet. The patient then underwent CT and MRI of the cervical spine, confirming the diagnosis of an absent cervical pedicle. He was treated nonoperatively for a short time and completed the season. He had no symptoms at last followup at 8 months. The most frequent location of the absent cervical pedicle is at the C6 level, and the next most common is at the C5 level. Neural compression or instability is uncommon and nonsurgical treatment is the mainstay of treatment. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment such as halo or tong application with traction, which occurred in seven of 57 cases in one series, and exploratory surgery, which occurred in four of 57 cases.

Consistent Assignment of the Vibrations of Monohalosubstituted Benzenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Joe; Andrejeva, Anna; Tuttle, William Duncan; Pugliesi, Igor; Schriever, Christian; Wright, Tim

2014-06-01

When substituted benzenes become a focus of a spectroscopic study there are various well known vibrational labelling schemes present, however it was shown in recent works the description of monohalobenzene vibrations in terms of benzene modes (ie. Wilson notation) is questionable in some cases. A new scheme is presented which uses the motions of monofluorobenzene vibrations as a basis for labelling vibrational assignments of monosubstituted benzenes.d The scheme has been successfully applied to the ground and excited states of toluene and its deuterated-methyl group isotopologue. Here we present the application of the scheme to fluorobenzene and its fully deuterated analogue. One-colour resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy was employed in order to characterise the fluorobenzene and fluorobenzene-d5 excited state. E. B. Wilson Jr., Phys. Rev., 45, 706 (1934) G .Varsanyi, Assignments of the Vibrational Spectra of Seven Hundred Benzene Derivatives,Wiley, New York, 1974, Vol. I and II I. Pugliesi, N. C. Tonge and M. C. R. Cockett, J. Chem. Phys., 129, 104303 (2008) A. M. Gardner and T. G. Wright, J. Chem. Phys., 135,114305 (2011) A. M. Gardner, A. M. Green, V. M. Tame-Reyes, V. H. K. Wilton and T. G. Wright, 138, 134303 (2013) A. M. Gardner, A. M. Green, V. M. Tame-Reyes, K. L. Reid, J. A. Davies, V. H. K. Wilton and T. G. Wright, manuscript accepted

Comparison of non-schistosomal rectosigmoid cancer and schistosomal rectosigmoid cancer.

PubMed

Feng, Hao; Lu, Ai-Guo; Zhao, Xue-Wei; Han, Ding-Pei; Zhao, Jing-Kun; Shi, Lei; Schiergens, Tobias S; Lee, Serene M L; Zhang, Wen-Peng; Thasler, Wolfgang E

2015-06-21

To compare the clinicopathological features of patients with non-schistosomal rectosigmoid cancer and schistosomal rectosigmoid cancer. All the patients with rectosigmoid carcinoma who underwent laparoscopic radical surgical resection in the Shanghai Minimally Invasive Surgical Center at Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao-Tong University between October 2009 and October 2013 were included in this study. Twenty-six cases of colonic schistosomiasis diagnosed through colonoscopy and pathological examinations were collected. Symptoms, endoscopic findings and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated retrospectively. There were no significant differences between patients with and without schistosomiasis in gender, age, CEA, CA19-9, preoperative biopsy findings or postoperative pathology. Patients with rectosigmoid schistosomiasis had a significantly higher CA-125 level and a larger proportion of these patients were at an early tumor stage (P = 0.003). Various morphological characteristics of schistosomiasis combined with rectosigmoid cancer could be found by colonoscopic examination: 46% were fungating mass polyps, 23% were congestive and ulcerative polyps, 23% were cauliflower-like masses, 8% were annular masses. Only 27% of the patients were diagnosed with rectal carcinoma preoperatively after the biopsy. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed thickened intestinal walls combined with linear and tram-track calcifications in 26 patients. Rectosigmoid carcinoma combined with schistosomiasis is associated with higher CA-125 values and early tumor stages. CA-125 and CT scans have a reasonable sensitivity for the accurate diagnosis.

Retraction notice to “Methylation of apoptosis related genes in the pathogenesis and prognosis of prostate cancer” [Cancer Lett. 242 (2) (2006) 222–230]. Makoto Suzuki, Hisayuki Shigematsu, Narayan Shivapurkar, Jyotsna Reddy, Kuniharu Miyajima, Takao Takahashi, Adi F. Gazdar, Eugene P. Frenke.

PubMed

2015-04-28

Available online <2nd December 2008>. This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the first author, who accepts responsibility. Following an internal review at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, evidence has been found of improper manipulation and duplication of Figure 1 in this article.

Diagnosis and prognosis of early-onset intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a prospective study.

PubMed

Lin, Jing; Gu, Wei; Hou, Yanyan

2017-11-07

To explore the gestational age of early-onset intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP) of pregnancy, and to analyze the relationship between the clinical biochemical indices and pregnancy outcomes in order to arrive at a reasonable diagnosis and administer appropriate treatment. This is a retrospective clinical study. We selected 47,260 pregnant women who received prenatal care and underwent childbirth at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University from January 2014 to December 2016 for participating in this study. Of these 47,260 women, 407 developed ICP. To calculate the gestational week cutoff between early- and late-onset ICP by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden's index. Two independent samples t tests and chi square test were used to compare the differences in biochemical indices and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. We found that 34 weeks is the most appropriate cutoff gestational age for the diagnosis of early-onset ICP. Early-onset ICP is characterized by early onset, long disease duration and a higher incidence of preterm labor, fetal distress, and fetal low birth weight compared to late-onset ICP. Thirty-four weeks is the most appropriate cutoff gestational age for the diagnosis of early-onset ICP. And to reduce the adverse pregnancy outcomes in cases of early-onset ICP, we suggest prolonging gestation up to 37 weeks as far as possible before selecting iatrogenic birth.

Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on neurocognitive architecture and function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Xu, Huajun; Wang, Hui; Guan, Jian; Yi, Hongliang; Qian, Yingjun; Zou, Jianyin; Xia, Yunyan; Fu, Yiqun; Li, Xinyi; Jiao, Xiao; Huang, Hengye; Dong, Pin; Yu, Ziwei; Yang, Jun; Xiang, Mingliang; Li, Jiping; Chen, Yanqing; Wang, Peihua; Sun, Yizhou; Li, Yuehua; Zheng, Xiaojian; Jia, Wei; Yin, Shankai

2017-05-25

Many clinical studies have indicated that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the most common chronic sleep disorder, may affect neurocognitive function, and that treatment for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has some neurocognitive protective effects against the adverse effects of OSA. However, the effects of CPAP treatment on neurocognitive architecture and function remain unclear. Therefore, this multicentre trial was designed to investigate whether and when neurocognitive architecture and function in patients with OSA can be improved by CPAP treatment and to explore the role of gut microbiota in improving neurocognitive function during treatment. This study will be a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial with allocation concealment and assessor blinding. A total of 148 eligible patients with moderate to severe OSA will be enrolled from five sleep centres and randomised to receive CPAP with best supportive care (BSC) intervention or BSC intervention alone. Cognitive function, structure and function of brain regions, gut microbiota, metabolites, biochemical variables, electrocardiography, echocardiography, pulmonary function and arterial stiffness will be assessed at baseline before randomisation and at 3, 6 and 12 months. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital (approval number 2015-79). The results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and at relevant conferences. NCT02886156; pre-results. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

FILM-30: A Heat Transfer Properties Code for Water Coolant

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

MARSHALL, THERON D.

2001-02-01

A FORTRAN computer code has been written to calculate the heat transfer properties at the wetted perimeter of a coolant channel when provided the bulk water conditions. This computer code is titled FILM-30 and the code calculates its heat transfer properties by using the following correlations: (1) Sieder-Tate: forced convection, (2) Bergles-Rohsenow: onset to nucleate boiling, (3) Bergles-Rohsenow: partially developed nucleate boiling, (4) Araki: fully developed nucleate boiling, (5) Tong-75: critical heat flux (CHF), and (6) Marshall-98: transition boiling. FILM-30 produces output files that provide the heat flux and heat transfer coefficient at the wetted perimeter as a function ofmore » temperature. To validate FILM-30, the calculated heat transfer properties were used in finite element analyses to predict internal temperatures for a water-cooled copper mockup under one-sided heating from a rastered electron beam. These predicted temperatures were compared with the measured temperatures from the author's 1994 and 1998 heat transfer experiments. There was excellent agreement between the predicted and experimentally measured temperatures, which confirmed the accuracy of FILM-30 within the experimental range of the tests. FILM-30 can accurately predict the CHF and transition boiling regimes, which is an important advantage over current heat transfer codes. Consequently, FILM-30 is ideal for predicting heat transfer properties for applications that feature high heat fluxes produced by one-sided heating.« less

Impact of Different Correlations on TRACEv4.160 Predicted Critical Heat Flux

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

Jasiulevicius, A.; Macian-Juan, R.

2006-07-01

This paper presents an independent assessment of the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) models implemented in TRACEv4.160 with data from the experiments carried out at the Royal Institute of Technology (RIT) in Stockholm, Sweden, with single vertical uniformly heated 7.0 m long tubes. In previous CHF assessment studies with TRACE, it was noted that, although the overall code predictions in long single tubes with inner diameters of 1.0 to 2.49 cm agreed rather well with the results of experiments (with r.m.s. error being 25.6%), several regions of pressure and coolant mass flux could be identified, in which the code strongly under-predictsmore » or over-predicts the CHF. In order to evaluate the possibility of improving the code performance, some of the most widely used and assessed CHF correlations were additionally implemented in TRACEv4.160, namely Bowring, Levitan - Lantsman, and Tong-W3. The results obtained for the CHF predictions in single tubes with uniform axial heat flux by using these correlations, were compared to the results produced with the standard TRACE correlations (Biasi and CISE-GE), and with the experimental data from RIT, which covered a broad range of pressures (3-20 MPa) and coolant mass fluxes (500-3000 kg/m{sup 2}s). Several hundreds of experimental points were calculated to cover the parameter range mentioned above for the evaluation of the newly implemented correlations in the TRACEv4.160 code. (author)« less

Written Materials for the IYA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fierro Gossman, Julieta

2008-05-01

In the poster presentation I shall describe the written materials we have edited for the IYA. The first is a book written for general public about Galileo's life and research. The rest are a series of articles for teachers so that they include hands-on astronomy activities in their classroom including a star party. All these materials are written in Spanish, that is a language spoken is large areas of the world. I believe science is better understood in the mother tong so that many of these materials will be also useful for countries where Spanish is a second language. References Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro Galileo y el telescopio, 400 anios de ciencia Uribe y Ferrari Editores, 2007 ISBN 970 756 238-2 Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro Newton, la luz y el movimiento de los cuerpos Uribe y Ferrari Editores, 2007 ISBN 970 756 238 2 Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro, Galileo para Maestros I Correo del Maestro, Núm. 133, p. 15-26, Anio 12, Junio 2007. Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro, Galileo para Maestros II Correo del Maestro, Num. 134, p. 17-26, Anio 12, 2007. Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro, Galileo para Maestros III Correo del Maestro, Num. 135, p. 10-18, Anio 12, 2007. Hector Dominguez y Julieta Fierro Experimentos sobre la caida de los cuerpos El Correo del Maestro, anio 12 Numero 142, p. 5-18, 2008.

History of remote operations and robotics in nuclear facilities. Robotics and Intelligent Systems Program

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

Herndon, J.N.

1992-05-01

The field of remote technology is continuing to evolve to support man`s efforts to perform tasks in hostile environments. Remote technology has roots which reach into the early history of man. Fireplace pokers, blacksmith`s tongs, and periscopes are examples of the beginnings of remote technology. The technology which we recognize today has evolved over the last 45-plus years to support human operations in hostile environments such as nuclear fission and fusion, space, underwater, hazardous chemical, and hazardous manufacturing. The four major categories of approach to remote technology have been (1) protective clothing and equipment for direct human entry, (2) extendedmore » reach tools using distance for safety, (3) telemanipulators with barriers for safety, and (4) teleoperators incorporating mobility with distance and/or barriers for safety. The government and commercial nuclear industry has driven the development of the majority of the actual teleoperator hardware available today. This hardware has been developed due to the unsatisfactory performance of the protective-clothing approach in many hostile applications. Systems which have been developed include crane/impact wrench systems, unilateral power manipulators, mechanical master/slaves, and servomanipulators. Work for space applications has been primarily research oriented with few successful space applications, although the shuttle`s remote manipulator system has been successful. In the last decade, underwater applications have moved forward significantly, with the offshore oil industry and military applications providing the primary impetus. This document consists of viewgraphs and subtitled figures.« less

History of remote operations and robotics in nuclear facilities

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

Herndon, J.N.

1992-01-01

The field of remote technology is continuing to evolve to support man's efforts to perform tasks in hostile environments. Remote technology has roots which reach into the early history of man. Fireplace pokers, blacksmith's tongs, and periscopes are examples of the beginnings of remote technology. The technology which we recognize today has evolved over the last 45-plus years to support human operations in hostile environments such as nuclear fission and fusion, space, underwater, hazardous chemical, and hazardous manufacturing. The four major categories of approach to remote technology have been (1) protective clothing and equipment for direct human entry, (2) extendedmore » reach tools using distance for safety, (3) telemanipulators with barriers for safety, and (4) teleoperators incorporating mobility with distance and/or barriers for safety. The government and commercial nuclear industry has driven the development of the majority of the actual teleoperator hardware available today. This hardware has been developed due to the unsatisfactory performance of the protective-clothing approach in many hostile applications. Systems which have been developed include crane/impact wrench systems, unilateral power manipulators, mechanical master/slaves, and servomanipulators. Work for space applications has been primarily research oriented with few successful space applications, although the shuttle's remote manipulator system has been successful. In the last decade, underwater applications have moved forward significantly, with the offshore oil industry and military applications providing the primary impetus. This document consists of viewgraphs and subtitled figures.« less

Identification of QTLs for seed germination capability after various storage periods using two RIL populations in rice.

PubMed

Jiang, Wenzhu; Lee, Joohyun; Jin, Yong-Mei; Qiao, Yongli; Piao, Rihua; Jang, Sun Mi; Woo, Mi-Ok; Kwon, Soon-Wook; Liu, Xianhu; Pan, Hong-Yu; Du, Xinglin; Koh, Hee-Jong

2011-04-01

Seed germination capability of rice is one of the important traits in the production and storage of seeds. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed germination capability in various storage periods was identified using two sets of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) which derived from crosses between Milyang 23 and Tong 88-7 (MT-RILs) and between Dasanbyeo and TR22183 (DT-RILs). A total of five and three main additive effects (QTLs) associated with seed germination capability were identified in MT-RILs and DT-RILs, respectively. Among them, six QTLs were identified repeatedly in various seed storage periods designated as qMT-SGC5.1, qMT-SGC7.2, and qMT-SGC9.1 on chromosomes 5, 7, and 9 in MT-RILs, and qDT-SGC2.1, qDT-SGC3.1, and qDT-SGC9.1 on chromosomes 2, 3, and 9 in DT-RILs, respectively. The QTL on chromosome 9 was identified in both RIL populations under all three storage periods, explaining up to 40% of the phenotypic variation. Eight and eighteen pairs additive × additive epistatic effect (epistatic QTL) were identified in MT-RILs and DT-RILs, respectively. In addition, several near isogenic lines (NILs) were developed to confirm six repeatable QTL effects using controlled deterioration test (CDT). The identified QTLs will be further studied to elucidate the mechanisms controlling seed germination capability, which have important implications for long-term seed storage.

RM-10A robotic manipulator system

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

White, J.R.; Coughlan, J.B.; Harvey, H.W.

1988-01-01

The REMOTE RM-10A is a man-replacement manipulator system that has been developed specifically for use in radioactive and other hazardous environments. It can be teleoperated, with man-in-the-loop, for unstructured tasks or programmed to perform routine tasks automatically much like robots in the automated manufacturing industry. The RM-10A is a servomanipulator utilizing a closed-loop, microprocessor-based control system. The system consists of a slave assembly, master control station, and interconnecting cabling. The slave assembly is the part of the system that enters the hostile environment. It is man-like is size and configuration with two identical arms attached to a torso structure. Eachmore » arm attaches to the torso using two captive screws and two guide pins. The guide pins position and stabilize an arm during removal and reinstallation and also align the two electrical connectors located in the arm support plate and torso. These features allow easy remote replacement of an arm, and commonality of the arms allow interchangeability. The water-resistant slave assembly is equipped with gaskets and O-ring seals in the torso and arm and camera assemblies. In addition, each slave arm's elbow, wrist, and tong are protected by replaceable polyurethane boots. An upper camera assembly, consisting of a color television (TV) camera, 6:1 zoom lens, and a pan/tilt unit, mount to the torso to provide remote viewing capability.« less

Potential effects of surface coal mining on the hydrology of the Greenleaf-Miller area, Ashland coal field, southeastern Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Levings, G.W.

1982-01-01

The Greenleaf-Miller area of the Ashland coal field contains reserves of Federal coal that have been identified for potential lease sale. A hydrologic study was conducted in the potential lease area in 1981 to describe the existing hydrologic system and to assess potential impacts of surface coal mining on local water resources. The hydrologic data collected from wells, test holes, and springs were used to identify aquifers in the alluvium (Pleistocene and Holocene age) and the Tongue River member of the Fort Union Formation (Paleocene age). Coal, clinker, and sandstone beds comprise the aquifers in the Tongue River Member. Most streams are ephemeral and flow only as a result of precipitation. The only perennial surface-water flow in the study area is along short reaches downstream from springs. A mine plan for the area is not available; thus, the location of mine cuts, direction and rate of the mine expansion, and duration of mining are unknown. The mining of the Sawyer and Knoblock coal beds in the Tonge River Member would effect ground-water flow in the area. Declines in the potentiometric surface would be caused by dewatering where the mine pits intersect the water table. Wells and springs would be removed in the mine area; however, deeper aquifers are available as replacement sources of water. The chemical quality of the ground water would change after moving through the spoils. The change would be an increase in the concentration of dissolved solids. (USGS)

Higher winding strings and confined monopoles in N=2 supersymmetric QCD

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

Auzzi, R.; Bolognesi, S.; Shifman, M.

2010-04-15

We consider composite string solutions in N=2 SQCD with the gauge group U(N), the Fayet-Iliopoulos term {xi}{ne}0 and N (s)quark flavors. These bulk theories support non-Abelian strings and confined monopoles identified with kinks in the two-dimensional world-sheet theory. Similar and more complicated kinks (corresponding to composite confined monopoles) must exist in the world-sheet theories on composite strings. In a bid to detect them we analyze the Hanany-Tong (HT) model, focusing on a particular example of N=2. Unequal quark mass terms in the bulk theory result in the twisted masses in the N=(2,2) HT model. For spatially coinciding 2-strings, we findmore » three distinct minima of potential energy, corresponding to three different 2-strings. Then we find BPS-saturated kinks interpolating between each pair of vacua. Two kinks can be called elementary. They emanate one unit of the magnetic flux and have the same mass as the conventional 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole on the Coulomb branch of the bulk theory ({xi}=0). The third kink represents a composite bimonopole, with twice the minimal magnetic flux. Its mass is twice the mass of the elementary confined monopole. We find instantons in the HT model, and discuss quantum effects in composite strings at strong coupling. In addition, we study the renormalization group flow in this model.« less

Cruciate Paralysis in a 20- year -old Male with an Undisplaced Type III Odontoid Fracture.

PubMed

A, Mansukhani Sameer; V, Tuteja Sanesh; B, Dhar Sanjay

2016-01-01

Cruciate Paralysis is a rare incomplete spinal cord syndrome presenting as brachial diplegia with minimal or no involvement of the lower extremities. It occurs as a result of trauma to the cervical spine and is associated with fractures of the axis and/or atlas. Diagnosis is confirmed on MRI and is managed by treatment of the underlying pathology. Prognosis depends on the extent of spinal cord injury and the exact cause. A 20-year-old male presented to the casualty with a history of an injury to the back of the head as a result of a fall. He had severe pain in the neck and shoulder region and experienced difficulty in raising both arms and gripping objects. On examination, he had weakness of both arms, more on the right, involving the C5 to T1 distribution and brisk reflexes. There was no sensory deficit. Radiograph and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the cervical spine showed a type III undisplaced odontoid fracture. MRI showed a signal abnormality in the spinal cord at the level of the cervicomedullary junction extending up to the body of C2 vertebra. The patient was treated with traction in Gardner Wells tongs for six weeks and a sterno-occipital-mandibular immobilizer immobilizer (SOMI) brace thereafter. At three-month follow-up, he had attained complete neurological recovery. Cruciate Paralysis is an important cause of brachial diplegia and must be differentiated from Acute Central Cord syndrome which can have similar clinical features.

PREFACE: 3rd International Symposium on Laser Ultrasonics and Advanced Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2014-06-01

meeting for the next symposium, the next symposium will be held in Chicago, USA in 2015. We would be happy if the articles in this issue work as a trigger to attend LU2015. Kazushi Yamanaka Ikuo Ihara Makoto Ochiai Further conference information and photographs are found in the pdf.

Multi-millennial-scale climate variability in Antarctica during the past seven glacial periods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawamura, K.

2009-12-01

Climate variability on 1,000- to 10,000 -year timescales and associated interhemispheric seesaw during the last glacial period have been documented in a variety of paleoclimatic records. However, the frequency, magnitude, cause and prerequisites for the older glacial periods are still uncertain. We here present a new 720,000-year ice core record from Dome Fuji, East Antarctica. The agreement between the Dome Fuji and Dome C isotopic temperature records indicates homogeneous climate variability across the East Antarctic plateau throughout the past 720 kyr. By combining the two temperature proxy records, we identified persistent multi-millennial-scale Antarctic events over the past seven glacial periods. With a fully coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model, it is suggested that the prerequisite for the bipolar seesaw is the combination of a cold background climate and freshwater input into the northern North Atlantic. With our identification criteria, the mean repetition period of the large Antarctic events increased from 6 kyr in the older three glacial periods to 8 kyr in the younger four glacial periods. Low frequency variations (repetition period of >10 kyr) occur in the early parts of the last four glacial periods (i.e. after Mid-Brunhes climatic shift), suggesting a role of insolation forcing on the large bipolar events in the recent glacial periods. Dome Fuji Ice Core Project members (listed in alphabetical order): Ayako Abe-Ouchi, Yutaka Ageta, Shuji Aoki, Nobuhiko Azuma, Yoshiyuki Fujii, Koji Fujita, Shuji Fujita, Kotaro Fukui, Teruo Furukawa, Atsushi Furusaki, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Ralf Greve, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Takeo Hondoh, Akira Hori, Shinichiro Horikawa, Kazuho Horiuchi, Makoto Igarashi, Yoshinori Iizuka, Takao Kameda, Kokichi Kamiyama, Hiroshi Kanda, Kenji Kawamura, Mika Kohno, Takayuki Kuramoto, Yuki Matsushi, Morihiro Miyahara, Takayuki Miyake, Atsushi Miyamoto, Hideaki Motoyama, Yasuo Nagashima, Yoshiki Nakayama, Takakiyo Nakazawa, Fumio

Semantic and Plausibility Preview Benefit Effects in English: Evidence from Eye Movements

PubMed Central

Schotter, Elizabeth R.; Jia, Annie

2016-01-01

Theories of preview benefit in reading hinge on integration across saccades and the idea that preview benefit is greater the more similar the preview and target are. Schotter (2013) reported preview benefit from a synonymous preview, but it is unclear whether this effect occurs because of similarity between the preview and target (integration), or because of contextual fit of the preview—synonyms satisfy both accounts. Studies in Chinese have found evidence for preview benefit for words that are unrelated to the target, but are contextually plausible (Yang, Li, Wang, Slattery, & Rayner, 2014; Yang, Wang, Tong, & Rayner, 2012), which is incompatible with an integration account but supports a contextual fit account. Here, we used plausible and implausible unrelated previews in addition to plausible synonym, antonym, and identical previews to further investigate these accounts for readers of English. Early reading measures were shorter for all plausible preview conditions compared to the implausible preview condition. In later reading measures, a benefit for the plausible unrelated preview condition was not observed. In a second experiment, we asked questions that probed whether the reader encoded the preview or target. Readers were more likely to report the preview when they had skipped the word and not regressed to it, and when the preview was plausible. Thus, under certain circumstances, the preview word is processed to a high level of representation (i.e., semantic plausibility) regardless of its relationship to the target, but its influence on reading is relatively short-lived, being replaced by the target word, when fixated. PMID:27123754

Rise of an argon bubble in liquid steel in the presence of a transverse magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, K.; Kumar, P.; Vanka, S. P.; Thomas, B. G.

2016-09-01

The rise of gaseous bubbles in viscous liquids is a fundamental problem in fluid physics, and it is also a common phenomenon in many industrial applications such as materials processing, food processing, and fusion reactor cooling. In this work, the motion of a single argon gas bubble rising in quiescent liquid steel under an external magnetic field is studied numerically using a Volume-of-Fluid method. To mitigate spurious velocities normally generated during numerical simulation of multiphase flows with large density differences, an improved algorithm for surface tension modeling, originally proposed by Wang and Tong ["Deformation and oscillations of a single gas bubble rising in a narrow vertical tube," Int. J. Therm. Sci. 47, 221-228 (2008)] is implemented, validated and used in the present computations. The governing equations are integrated by a second-order space and time accurate numerical scheme, and implemented on multiple Graphics Processing Units with high parallel efficiency. The motion and terminal velocities of the rising bubble under different magnetic fields are compared and a reduction in rise velocity is seen in cases with the magnetic field applied. The shape deformation and the path of the bubble are discussed. An elongation of the bubble along the field direction is seen, and the physics behind these phenomena is discussed. The wake structures behind the bubble are visualized and effects of the magnetic field on the wake structures are presented. A modified drag coefficient is obtained to include the additional resistance force caused by adding a transverse magnetic field.

Role of Swallowing Function of Tracheotomised Patients in Major Head and Neck Cancer Surgery.

PubMed

Bartella, Alexander K; Kamal, Mohammad; Berman, Sean; Steiner, Timm; Frölich, Dirk; Hölzle, Frank; Lethaus, Bernd

2018-03-01

Tracheotomy is a frequent procedure in extended head and neck cancer surgery and known to be a risk factor for prolonged hospitalization. The authors hypothesized that the clinical course and delayed decannulation of patients are not only influenced by airway narrowing, but also by a compromised postoperative swallowing function. The investigators implemented a retrospective cohort study. The sample was composed of a tertiary care center patients who underwent major head and neck cancer surgery, each receiving a tracheostomy. Data collected include general clinical data as well as endoscopical evaluation of swallowing function and aspiration rate. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed and the P value was set at.05. The sample was composed of 96 patients with an average age of 64.2 and sex ratio of 1.4:1 (m:f). There was a strong statistically significant relation between swallowing function and timing of decannulation (P < 0.001) and duration of hospitalization (P < 0.001). Age (P = 0.55), sex (P = 0.54), tumor size (P = 0.12), general diseases (P = 0.24), distant metastases (P = 0.15), or extent of neck dissection (P = 0.15) were not significantly associated to swallowing function. Permanent cannulation was significantly correlated to a primary cancer of the soft palate or base of the tonge (P < 0.001). The results of this study confirm the importance of the evaluation of swallowing function before the removal of the tracheotomy cannula in head and neck cancer patients.

The center for plant and microbial complex carbohydrates at the University of Georgia Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. Five-year report, September 15, 1987--December 31, 1992

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

Albersheim, Peter; Darvill, Alan

1992-05-01

The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) is the home of ten independent but complementary interdisciplinary research groups led by nine regular faculty and one adjunct faculty. The research of these groups represents a broad spectrum of interests, and they are involved in about 90 collaborations with their CCRC and UGA colleagues and with scientists at other institutions and companies in the US, Canada, Europe, Israel, and Japan. The hallmark of the CCRC is the collaborative, interactive environment encouraged by its directors, faculty and tong-term staff. Newcomers to the CCRC or short-term members soon learn that everyone benefits from this process.more » The team-oriented approach in carbohydrate science translates into the day-today generous giving of one's time and expertise to the work of others, whether it be in sharing specialized instrumentation, participating in the design of experiments and interpretalon of data, providing service to scientists outside the CCRC, or joining collaborative projects. The CCRC is founded on the principle that the cross-fertilization of ideas and know-how leads to the synergistic advancement of science. This report contains a series of appendices that document the extent and breadth of the Plant and Microbial Carbohydrate Center's contributions to collaborative research and education. Several collaborative research projects that have received postdoctoral research associate support from the Grant are highlighted, as these projects are particularly illustrative of the wide-ranging collaborations that have evolved as a result of this Grant and the quality of the science that the Grant enables.« less

Crafting socialist embryology: dialectics, aquaculture and the diverging discipline in Maoist China, 1950-1965.

PubMed

Jiang, Lijing

2017-11-07

In the 1950s, embryology in socialist China underwent a series of changes that adjusted the disciplinary apparatus to suit socialism and the national goal of self-reliance. As the Communist state called on scientists to learn from the Soviets, embryologists' comprehensive view on heredity, which did not contradict Trofim Lysenko (1898-1976)'s doctrines, provided a space for them to advance their discipline. Leading scientists, often trained abroad in the tradition of experimental embryology, rode on the tides of Maoist ideology and repositioned their research. Some of their creative realignment of previous research questions, materials, and traditions to Marxist philosophy and agricultural objectives generated productive programs. In particular, Tong Dizhou (1902-1979) translated Engels's dialectics of nature into a research question about cytoplasmic inheritance. His continuing investigation on it led to the first goldfish "clone" through a nuclear transplantation experiment; Zhu Xi and his associates transferred a goldfish model in embryology into studies on improving carp aquaculture, leading to a rare success in the Great Leap Forward of 1958. These directions for embryology continued well into the 1960s. At a time when global embryology was diversifying and began to be molecularized, eventually forming "developmental biology," socialist embryology took shape in China with a different set of epistemic and practical commitments. The history of its development challenges and enriches our understanding of the concrete process of change in one discipline under Mao, showing ways in which scientists creatively adapted state-sanctioned ideologies and visions to do productive work outside the framework of molecular biology during the Cold War.

Tools and methods for automated assembly of miniaturized gear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nienhaus, Matthias; Ehrfeld, Wolfgang; Berg, Udo; Schmitz, Felix; Soultan, H.

2000-10-01

The assembly of gear systems with the size of a pin head is almost beyond the bound of human tactile skills. The magic formula for series fabrication of this hybrid micro systems is the automation of the assembly process. As a contribution, this paper presents and discusses three different assembly methods comprising specifically developed tools for different types of planetary gears with outer diameters of 1.9 mm. Because of the huge importance for the complete micro assembly process, particular attention will be dedicated to the feeding and magazining of the micro gear components. Starting with metallic gear wheels as bulk good, an extremely miniaturized gear system of the Wolfram type has been automatically assembled by employing the strategy of tolerance compensation movement. As a key component, a modular tong gripper with specifically adapted gripping jaws produced by LIGA technology has been used. Further detailed investigations were spend on handling and assembly of micro injection moulded gear wheels made of POM for a three state planetary gear system. One strategy, following the idea of in situ observation, focuses on the intensive use of electronic pattern recognition. Alternatively, an unusual method based on a novel plastic wafer magazine will be discussed in detail. Hereby the exact position and orientation of injection moulded micro components will be presented from the manufacturing process up to the final micro assembly procedure. By simplifying the moulding of the micro gears as well as their handling, storing and assembly, this method has the potential to revolutionize the series fabrication of products with dimensions in the microscopic range in general.

The prescribing of Chinese herbal products in Taiwan: a cross-sectional analysis of the national health insurance reimbursement database.

PubMed

Hsieh, Shu-Ching; Lai, Jung-Nien; Lee, Chuan-Fang; Hu, Fu-Chang; Tseng, Wei-Lum; Wang, Jung-Der

2008-06-01

The consumption of Chinese herbal products (CHPs) is increasing exponentially. However, the scientific evidence is lacking and there is an urgent requirement for detailed pharmacoepidemiological information on CHP usage. This study was to investigate CHP prescription patterns in Taiwan. We carried out a cross-sectional analysis on a cohort of 200,000 patients based on 2004 data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement database. Data mining techniques were applied to explore CHP co-prescription patterns. A total of 46,938 patients had been prescribed CHPs on at least one occasion in 2004. Patients using CHPs were generally female and middle-aged, made more outpatient visits, had fewer hospitalizations and consumed more medical resources than non-users of CHPs. A total of 1,073,030 CHPs were contained within 220,123 prescriptions, for which acute nasopharyngitis was the most common indication. Yan hu suo and Jia Wei Xiao Yao San were the most frequently prescribed single herb (SH) and herbal formula (HF), respectively. The results of the data mining showed that the best predictions were provided by co-prescriptions of 'Mo yao and Ru xiang', 'Ye jiao teng and Suan Zao Ren Tan' and 'Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang and Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang' in the groups of SH-SH, SH-HF and HF-HF, respectively. This study provides national-level CHP prescription profiles and utilization rates, and documents, for the first time, HF-HF prescription combinations in Chinese medicine (CM) practices in Taiwan. We conclude that more studies are needed to validate the safety and effectiveness of CHP prescriptions.

Outbreaks where food workers have been implicated in the spread of foodborne disease. Part 7. Barriers to reduce contamination of food by workers.

PubMed

Todd, Ewen C D; Michaels, Barry S; Greig, Judy D; Smith, Debra; Holah, John; Bartleson, Charles A

2010-08-01

Contamination of food and individuals by food workers has been identified as an important contributing factor during foodborne illness investigations. Physical and chemical barriers to prevent microbial contamination of food are hurdles that block or reduce the transfer of pathogens to the food surface from the hands of a food worker, from other foods, or from the environment. In food service operations, direct contact of food by hands should be prevented by the use of barriers, especially when gloves are not worn. Although these barriers have been used for decades in food processing and food service operations, their effectiveness is sometimes questioned or their use may be ignored. Physical barriers include properly engineered building walls and doors to minimize the flow of outside particles and pests to food storage and food preparation areas; food shields to prevent aerosol contamination of displayed food by customers and workers; work clothing designated strictly for work (clothing worn outdoors can carry undesirable microorganisms, including pathogens from infected family members, into the work environment); and utensils such as spoons, tongs, and deli papers to prevent direct contact between hands and the food being prepared or served. Money and ready-to-eat foods should be handled as two separate operations, preferably by two workers. Chemical barriers include sanitizing solutions used to remove microorganisms (including pathogens) from objects or materials used during food production and preparation and to launder uniforms, work clothes, and soiled linens. However, laundering as normally practiced may not effectively eliminate viral pathogens.

Direct evidence of three-body interactions in a cold {sup 85}Rb Rydberg gas

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

Han Jianing

2010-11-15

Cold Rydberg atoms trapped in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are not isolated and they interact through dipole-dipole and multipole-multipole interactions. First-order dipole-dipole interactions and van der Waals interactions between two atoms have been intensively studied. However, the facts that the first-order dipole-dipole interactions and van der Waals interactions show the same size of broadening [A. Reinhard, K. C. Younge, T. C. Liebisch, B. Knuffman, P. R. Berman, and G. Raithel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 233201 (2008)] and there are transitions between two dimer states [S. M. Farooqi, D. Tong, S. Krishnan, J. Stanojevic, Y. P. Zhang, J. R. Ensher, A.more » S. Estrin, C. Boisseau, R. Cote, E. E. Eyler, and P. L. Gould, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 183002 (2003); K. R. Overstreet, Arne Schwettmann, Jonathan Tallant, and James P. Shaffer, Phys. Rev. A 76, 011403(R) (2007)] cannot be explained by the two-atom picture. The purpose of this article is to show the few-body nature of a dense cold Rydberg gas by studying the molecular-state microwave spectra. Specifically, three-body energy levels have been calculated. Moreover, the transition from three-body energy levels to two-body coupled molecular energy levels and to isolated atomic energy levels as a function of the internuclear spacing is studied. Finally, single-body, two-body, and three-body interaction regions are estimated according to the experimental data. The results reported here provides useful information for plasma formation, further cooling, and superfluid formation.« less

Electrochemistry for Energy Conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Hayre, Ryan

2010-10-01

Imagine a laptop computer that runs for 30 hours on a single charge. Imagine a world where you plug your house into your car and power lines are a distant memory. These dreams motivate today's fuel cell research. While some dreams (like powering your home with your fuel cell car) may be distant, others (like a 30-hour fuel cell laptop) may be closer than you think. If you are curious about fuel cells---how they work, when you might start seeing them in your daily life--- this talk is for you. Learn about the state-of-the art in fuel cells, and where the technology is likely to be headed in the next 20 years. You'll also be treated to several ``behind-the scenes'' glimpses of cutting-edge research projects under development in the Renewable Energy Materials Center at the Colorado School of Mines--- projects like an ``ionic transistor'' that works with protons instead of electrons, and a special ceramic membrane material that enables the ``uphill'' diffusion of steam. Associate Professor Ryan O'Hayre's laboratory at the Colorado School of Mines develops new materials and devices to enable alternative energy technologies including fuel cells and solar cells. Prof. O'Hayre and his students collaborate with the Colorado Fuel Cell Center, the Colorado Center for Advanced Ceramics, the Renewable Energy Materials Science and Engineering Center, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.[4pt] In collaboration with Ann Deml, Jianhua Tong, Svitlana Pylypenko, Archana Subramaniyan, Micahael Sanders, Jason Fish, Annette Bunge, Colorado School of Mines.

Distribution of Bathyarchaeota (MCG) archaea in the South China Sea sediments and implication of its ecological roles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiantian, Y.; Wang, F.; MingYang, N.

2015-12-01

Tiantian Yu1,2, Mingyang Niu1,2 and Fengping Wang1,2 1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai, 200240, China; 2State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China ABSTRACT: Archaea of Bathyarchaeota Phylum (Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotal Group, MCG) are widespread and abundant in various marine and continental environments. However, very little is understood on the metabolisms and ecological roles of this cosmopolitan sedimentary archaea , partly due to obstacles of cultivation. Bathyarchaeota could be divided into large members of subgroups with potentially high genetic heterogeneity, implying different metabolic capabilities and functions in different subgroups. Here, we report our work on investigating Bathyarchaeota abundance and types of subgroups in the South China Sea(SCS) sediments, aim to understand their ecological roles in the carbon cycling. Bathyarchaeota were found the most dominant archaeal group in the sediments of SCS , most of which belong to subgroups MCG-8, MCG-15, MCG-17 and MCG-3. A new pair of 16S rRNA gene primers was designed as the published primers could not cover MCG-15 and MCG-17, which are the most dominant subgroups in the SCS sediments. Comparing with previous primers which used for quantifying the abundance of Bathyarchaeota via Q-PCR, the new primer revealed about an order of magnitude higher abundance in all South China Sea sediments. The relationship of geochemical parameters and MCG subgroups will further be explored to provide the basis for further understanding the metabolic function and biogeochemical roles of these poor-understood sedimentary archaea.

Rise of an argon bubble in liquid steel in the presence of a transverse magnetic field

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

Jin, K.; Kumar, P.; Vanka, S. P., E-mail: spvanka@illinois.edu

2016-09-15

The rise of gaseous bubbles in viscous liquids is a fundamental problem in fluid physics, and it is also a common phenomenon in many industrial applications such as materials processing, food processing, and fusion reactor cooling. In this work, the motion of a single argon gas bubble rising in quiescent liquid steel under an external magnetic field is studied numerically using a Volume-of-Fluid method. To mitigate spurious velocities normally generated during numerical simulation of multiphase flows with large density differences, an improved algorithm for surface tension modeling, originally proposed by Wang and Tong [“Deformation and oscillations of a single gasmore » bubble rising in a narrow vertical tube,” Int. J. Therm. Sci. 47, 221–228 (2008)] is implemented, validated and used in the present computations. The governing equations are integrated by a second-order space and time accurate numerical scheme, and implemented on multiple Graphics Processing Units with high parallel efficiency. The motion and terminal velocities of the rising bubble under different magnetic fields are compared and a reduction in rise velocity is seen in cases with the magnetic field applied. The shape deformation and the path of the bubble are discussed. An elongation of the bubble along the field direction is seen, and the physics behind these phenomena is discussed. The wake structures behind the bubble are visualized and effects of the magnetic field on the wake structures are presented. A modified drag coefficient is obtained to include the additional resistance force caused by adding a transverse magnetic field.« less

Physical confinement alters tumor cell adhesion and migration phenotypes

PubMed Central

Balzer, Eric M.; Tong, Ziqiu; Paul, Colin D.; Hung, Wei-Chien; Stroka, Kimberly M.; Boggs, Amanda E.; Martin, Stuart S.; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos

2012-01-01

Cell migration on planar surfaces is driven by cycles of actin protrusion, integrin-mediated adhesion, and myosin-mediated contraction; however, this mechanism may not accurately describe movement in 3-dimensional (3D) space. By subjecting cells to restrictive 3D environments, we demonstrate that physical confinement constitutes a biophysical stimulus that alters cell morphology and suppresses mesenchymal motility in human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231). Dorsoventral polarity, stress fibers, and focal adhesions are markedly attenuated by confinement. Inhibitors of myosin, Rho/ROCK, or β1-integrins do not impair migration through 3-μm-wide channels (confinement), even though these treatments repress motility in 50-μm-wide channels (unconfined migration) by ≥50%. Strikingly, confined migration persists even when F-actin is disrupted, but depends largely on microtubule (MT) dynamics. Interfering with MT polymerization/depolymerization causes confined cells to undergo frequent directional changes, thereby reducing the average net displacement by ≥80% relative to vehicle controls. Live-cell EB1-GFP imaging reveals that confinement redirects MT polymerization toward the leading edge, where MTs continuously impact during advancement of the cell front. These results demonstrate that physical confinement can induce cytoskeletal alterations that reduce the dependence of migrating cells on adhesion-contraction force coupling. This mechanism may explain why integrins can exhibit reduced or altered function during migration in 3D environments.—Balzer, E. M., Tong, Z., Paul, C. D., Hung, W.-C., Stroka, K. M., Boggs, A. E., Martin, S. S., Konstantopoulos, K. Physical confinement alters tumor cell adhesion and migration phenotypes. PMID:22707566

Optimal visual-haptic integration with articulated tools.

PubMed

Takahashi, Chie; Watt, Simon J

2017-05-01

When we feel and see an object, the nervous system integrates visual and haptic information optimally, exploiting the redundancy in multiple signals to estimate properties more precisely than is possible from either signal alone. We examined whether optimal integration is similarly achieved when using articulated tools. Such tools (tongs, pliers, etc) are a defining characteristic of human hand function, but complicate the classical sensory 'correspondence problem' underlying multisensory integration. Optimal integration requires establishing the relationship between signals acquired by different sensors (hand and eye) and, therefore, in fundamentally unrelated units. The system must also determine when signals refer to the same property of the world-seeing and feeling the same thing-and only integrate those that do. This could be achieved by comparing the pattern of current visual and haptic input to known statistics of their normal relationship. Articulated tools disrupt this relationship, however, by altering the geometrical relationship between object properties and hand posture (the haptic signal). We examined whether different tool configurations are taken into account in visual-haptic integration. We indexed integration by measuring the precision of size estimates, and compared our results to optimal predictions from a maximum-likelihood integrator. Integration was near optimal, independent of tool configuration/hand posture, provided that visual and haptic signals referred to the same object in the world. Thus, sensory correspondence was determined correctly (trial-by-trial), taking tool configuration into account. This reveals highly flexible multisensory integration underlying tool use, consistent with the brain constructing internal models of tools' properties.

Moduli space potentials for heterotic non-Abelian flux tubes: Weak deformation

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

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.; Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300

2010-09-15

We consider N=2 supersymmetric QCD with the U(N) gauge group (with no Fayet-Iliopoulos term) and N{sub f} flavors of massive quarks deformed by the mass term {mu} for the adjoint matter, W={mu}A{sup 2}, assuming that N{<=}N{sub f}<2N. This deformation breaks N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. This theory supports non-Abelian flux tubes (strings) which are stabilized by W. They are referred to as F-term stabilized strings. We focus on the studies of such strings in the vacuum in which N squarks condense, at small {mu}, so that the Z{sub N} strings preserve, in a sense, their Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield nature. The (s)quark massesmore » are assumed to be nondegenerate. We calculate string tensions both in the classical and quantum regimes. Then we translate our results for the tensions in terms of the effective low-energy weighted CP(N{sub f}-1) model on the string world sheet. The bulk {mu} deformation makes this theory N=(0,2) supersymmetric heterotic weighted CP(N{sub f}-1) model in two dimensions. We find the deformation potential on the world sheet. This significantly expands the class of the heterotically deformed CP models emerging on the string world sheet compared to that suggested by Edalati and Tong. Among other things, we show that nonperturbative quantum effects in the bulk theory are exactly reproduced by the quantum effects in the world-sheet theory.« less

Cruciate Paralysis in a 20- year -old Male with an Undisplaced Type III Odontoid Fracture

PubMed Central

A, Mansukhani Sameer; V, Tuteja Sanesh; B, Dhar Sanjay

2016-01-01

Introduction: Cruciate Paralysis is a rare incomplete spinal cord syndrome presenting as brachial diplegia with minimal or no involvement of the lower extremities. It occurs as a result of trauma to the cervical spine and is associated with fractures of the axis and/or atlas. Diagnosis is confirmed on MRI and is managed by treatment of the underlying pathology. Prognosis depends on the extent of spinal cord injury and the exact cause. Case Presentation: A 20-year-old male presented to the casualty with a history of an injury to the back of the head as a result of a fall. He had severe pain in the neck and shoulder region and experienced difficulty in raising both arms and gripping objects. On examination, he had weakness of both arms, more on the right, involving the C5 to T1 distribution and brisk reflexes. There was no sensory deficit. Radiograph and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the cervical spine showed a type III undisplaced odontoid fracture. MRI showed a signal abnormality in the spinal cord at the level of the cervicomedullary junction extending up to the body of C2 vertebra. The patient was treated with traction in Gardner Wells tongs for six weeks and a sterno-occipital-mandibular immobilizer immobilizer (SOMI) brace thereafter. At three-month follow-up, he had attained complete neurological recovery. Conclusion: Cruciate Paralysis is an important cause of brachial diplegia and must be differentiated from Acute Central Cord syndrome which can have similar clinical features. PMID:28111622

How did matter gain the upper hand over antimatter?

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

Quinn, Helen; /SLAC

2009-01-30

Antimatter exists! We routinely make it in laboratories. For every familiar particle type we find a matching antiparticle with opposite charge, but exactly the same mass. For example, a positron with positive charge has the same mass as an electron; an antiproton with negative charge has the same mass as a proton. Antimatter occurs naturally all over the universe wherever high-energy particles collide. The laws of physics for antimatter are very, very similar to those for antimatter--so far we know only one tiny difference in them, a detail of the weak interactions of quarks that earned Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihidemore » Maskawa a share of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physics. Our understanding of the early Universe also tells us that after inflation ended equal amounts of matter and antimatter were produced. Today there's a lot of matter in the universe, but very little antimatter. This leaves a big question for cosmology. How did matter gain the upper hand over antimatter? It's a question at the root of our existence. Without this excess, there would be no stars, no Earth, and no us! When a particle meets its antiparticle, they annihilate each other in a flash of radiation. This process removed all the antimatter and most of the matter as the universe expanded and cooled. All that's left today is the excess amount of matter when destruction began to dominate over production. To get from equality to inequality for matter and antimatter requires a difference in the laws of physics between them and some special situation where it affects the balance between them. But, when we try to use the tiny difference we know about between quark and antiquark weak interactions to generate the imbalance, it doesn't work. We find a way that it can indeed give a small excess of matter over antimatter, but not nearly enough to give us all the matter we see in our universe. We can patch up the theory by adding unknown particles to it to make a scenario that works. Indeed we can do

Two-photon decay in gold atoms

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

Dunford, R. W.; Kanter, E. P.; Kraessig, B.

2006-07-15

We have measured the energy differential transition probabilities for the two-photon decay of K vacancies in gold atoms (nuclear charge Z=79). This is the heaviest atom for which this information has been obtained, and so is most sensitive to relativistic effects. The experiment determined the shape of the continuum radiation for the transitions 2s{yields}1s, 3s{yields}1s, 3d{yields}1s, and (4s+4d){yields}1s at an emission pair opening angle {theta}={pi}/2. Our results for 3d{yields}1s and (4s+4d){yields}1s extend to energies above and below the region of the intermediate state resonances. No relativistic calculations exist for Au, so we compare with calculations by Mu and Crasemann andmore » Tong et al. for Ag (Z=47) and Xe (Z=54). For equal-energy, back-to-back two-photon decay, the calculations show an increase in transition probability with Z for the 2s{yields}1s and 3d{yields}1s transitions. In contrast, our data, at Z=79, corrected for the angular distribution, give a smaller transition probability than the lower-Z experimental results of Ilakovac et al. and Mokler et al. for Ag and Xe. The shapes of the two-photon continua in our data are in general agreement with theory except that we find anomalously high values for the differential two-photon transition probability for the 3s{yields}1s transition near y=0.35, where y is the fraction of the transition energy carried by the lower-energy photon.« less

Transient Receptor Potential Channel and Interleukin-17A Involvement in LTTL Gel Inhibition of Bone Cancer Pain in a Rat Model.

PubMed

Wang, Juyong; Zhang, Ruixin; Dong, Changsheng; Jiao, Lijing; Xu, Ling; Liu, Jiyong; Wang, Zhengtao; Lao, Lixing

2015-07-01

Cancer pain management is a challenge for which Chinese herbal medicine might be useful. To study the spinal mechanisms of the Chinese medicated gel Long-Teng-Tong-Luo (LTTL), a 7-herb compound, on bone cancer pain, a bone cancer pain model was made by inoculating the tibias of female rats with Walker 256 cells. LTTL gel or inert gel, 0.5 g/cm(2)/d, was applied to the skin of tumor-bearing tibias for 21 days beginning a day after the inoculation. Mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal latency to thermal stimulation was measured. Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels in lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were immunostained and counted, and lumbar spinal cord interleukin-17A (IL-17A) was measured with real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TRP antagonists and interleukin (IL)-17A antibodies were intrathecally administered to determine their effects on bone cancer pain. The gel significantly (P < .05) alleviated cancer-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and inhibited cancer-enhanced expression of IL-17A in spinal astrocytes and the TRP subfamily members V1, A1, and V4 in lumbar DRG. Intrathecal TRP antagonists at 10 µg significantly (P < .05) attenuated mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and IL-17A expression, indicating that TRP channels facilitate spinal IL-17 expression and cancer pain. IL-17A antibodies inhibited cancer pain, suggesting that IL-17A promotes such pain. The data show that LTTL gel inhibits cancer pain, and this might be accounted for by the decrease in expression of DRG TRP channels and spinal astrocyte IL-17A. © The Author(s) 2015.

Advanced ASON prototyping research activities in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, WeiSheng; Jin, Yaohui; Guo, Wei; Su, Yikai; He, Hao; Sun, Weiqiang

2005-02-01

This paper provides an overview of prototyping research activities of automatically switched optical networks and transport networks (ASONs/ASTNs) in China. In recent years, China has recognized the importance and benefits of the emerging ASON/ASTN techniques. During the period of 2001 and 2002, the national 863 Program of China started the preliminary ASON research projects with the main objectives to build preliminary ASON testbeds, develop control plane protocols and test their performance in the testbeds. During the period of 2003 and 2004, the 863 program started ASTN prototyping equipment projects for more practical applications. Totally 12 ASTN equipments are being developed by three groups led by Chinese venders: ZTE with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunication (WRI) with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and Huawei Inc. Meanwhile, as the ASTN is maturing, some of the China"s carries are participating in the OIF"s World Interoperability Demonstration, carrying out ASTN test, or deploying ASTN backbone networks. Finally, several ASTN backbone networks being tested or deployed now will be operated by the carries in 2005. The 863 Program will carry out an ASTN field trail in Yangtse River Delta, and finally deploy the 3TNET. 3TNET stands for Tbps transmission, Tbps switching, and Tbps routing, as well as a network integrating the above techniques. A task force under the "863" program is responsible for ASTN equipment specifications and interoperation agreements, technical coordination among all the participants, schedule of the whole project during the project undergoing, and organization of internetworking of all the equipments in the laboratories and field trials.

Optimal Monochromatic Energy Levels in Spectral CT Pulmonary Angiography for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism

PubMed Central

Wu, Huawei; Zhang, Qing; Hua, Jia; Hua, Xiaolan; Xu, Jianrong

2013-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to determine the optimal monochromatic spectral CT pulmonary angiography (sCTPA) levels to obtain the highest image quality and diagnostic confidence for pulmonary embolism detection. Methods The Institutional Review Board of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all participating patients. Seventy-two patients with pulmonary embolism were scanned with spectral CT mode in the arterial phase. One hundred and one sets of virtual monochromatic spectral (VMS) images were generated ranging from 40 keV to 140 keV. Image noise, clot diameter and clot to artery contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) from seven sets of VMS images at selected monochromatic levels in sCTPA were measured and compared. Subjective image quality and diagnostic confidence for these images were also assessed and compared. Data were analyzed by paired t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results The lowest noise and the highest image quality score for the VMS images were obtained at 65 keV. The VMS images at 65 keV also had the second highest CNR value behind that of 50 keV VMS images. There was no difference in the mean noise and CNR between the 65 keV and 70 keV VMS images. The apparent clot diameter correlated with the keV levels. Conclusions The optimal energy level for detecting pulmonary embolism using dual-energy spectral CT pulmonary angiography was 65–70 keV. Virtual monochromatic spectral images at approximately 65–70 keV yielded the lowest image noise, high CNR and highest diagnostic confidence for the detection of pulmonary embolism. PMID:23667583

Direct evidence of three-body interactions in a cold Rb85 Rydberg gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jianing

2010-11-01

Cold Rydberg atoms trapped in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are not isolated and they interact through dipole-dipole and multipole-multipole interactions. First-order dipole-dipole interactions and van der Waals interactions between two atoms have been intensively studied. However, the facts that the first-order dipole-dipole interactions and van der Waals interactions show the same size of broadening [A. Reinhard, K. C. Younge, T. C. Liebisch, B. Knuffman, P. R. Berman, and G. Raithel, Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.100.233201 100, 233201 (2008)] and there are transitions between two dimer states [S. M. Farooqi, D. Tong, S. Krishnan, J. Stanojevic, Y. P. Zhang, J. R. Ensher, A. S. Estrin, C. Boisseau, R. Cote, E. E. Eyler, and P. L. Gould, Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.91.183002 91, 183002 (2003); K. R. Overstreet, Arne Schwettmann, Jonathan Tallant, and James P. Shaffer, Phys. Rev. APLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.76.011403 76, 011403(R) (2007)] cannot be explained by the two-atom picture. The purpose of this article is to show the few-body nature of a dense cold Rydberg gas by studying the molecular-state microwave spectra. Specifically, three-body energy levels have been calculated. Moreover, the transition from three-body energy levels to two-body coupled molecular energy levels and to isolated atomic energy levels as a function of the internuclear spacing is studied. Finally, single-body, two-body, and three-body interaction regions are estimated according to the experimental data. The results reported here provides useful information for plasma formation, further cooling, and superfluid formation.

Assessment of "YouTube" Content for Distal Radius Fracture Immobilization.

PubMed

Addar, Abdullah; Marwan, Yousef; Algarni, Nizar; Berry, Gregory

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the most common orthopedic fractures, with >70% of cases treated by closed immobilization using a short arm cast or a sugar tong splint. However, inadequate immobilization is a risk factor for loss of reduction requiring repeat reduction or surgical treatment. Therefore, education of clinical skills for appropriate immobilization of DRFs is important. With the increasing use of web-based information by medical learners, our aim was to assess the quality and quantity of videos regarding closed immobilization of DRFs on YouTube. Retrospective review of YouTube videos on distal radius fracture immobilization using specific search terms. Identified videos were analyzed for their educational value, quality of the technical skill demonstrated, and overall metrics. Educational value was scored on a 5-point scale, with "1" indicative of low quality and "5" of high quality. Not applicable. Among the 68,366 videos identified, 16 met our inclusion criteria of being in English; performed by a health care professional or institution; and with casting being the major theme of the educational information provided. Of these 16 videos, 6 had an educational value score of 4 or 5, with the remaining 10 having a score ≤3. Although immobilization was demonstrated by cast technician specialized in orthopedics, skills were also performed by orthopedic attendants, urgent care physicians, orthopedic residents, and nurse practitioners. The credentials of the performer in 3 videos were not identified. There is a need to promote high-quality educational videos produced by established medical school faculty members on open, web-based, portals. Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A community based intervention program to enhance neighborhood cohesion: The Learning Families Project in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Shen, Chen; Wan, Alice; Kwok, Lit Tung; Pang, Sally; Wang, Xin; Stewart, Sunita M; Lam, Tai Hing; Chan, Sophia S

2017-01-01

Neighborhood cohesion, which refers to the extent of the connectedness and solidarity among residents in a community or neighborhood, is an important determinant of human health. To enhance neighborhood cohesion, the "Learning Families Project" was developed with a series of intervention programs in Kwun Tong in Hong Kong, a district with low neighborhood cohesion. This project, based on the social ecological model, provided a platform for neighbors to learn, communicate and interact with each other. This quasi-experimental study included two nearby government subsidized low rent housing estates separated by busy main roads. One served as the intervention (Tsui Ping (South) Estate) and one as the control (Shun Tin Estate) estate. The intervention included promotion, resident training and learning programs, embodied by a series of community activities such as talks, day camp, thematic activities and horticulture class. Baseline (before the programs) and follow-up (one year after the programs) surveys were conducted both in the intervention and control estate to assess the impact of the programs on neighborhood cohesion. The number of residents who completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys was 502 in the intervention estate and 476 in the control estate. Neighborhood cohesion significantly improved in the intervention group after the programs (Cohen effect size d: 0.15). Compared with the control group, the improvements in closeness of the neighborhood and trust in neighbors were significantly greater in the intervention group (Cohen effect size d: 0.13 and 0.14, respectively). This brief intervention program using a quasi-experimental study design increased neighborhood cohesion in a low rent housing estate. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02851667.

Crustal Deformation along San Andreas Fault System revealed by GPS and Sentinel-1 InSAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, X.; Sandwell, D. T.

2017-12-01

We present a crustal deformation velocity map along the San Andreas Fault System by combining measurements from Sentinel-1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and Global Positioning System (GPS) velocity models (CGM V1). We assembled 5 tracks of descending Sentinel-1 InSAR data spanning 2014.11-2017.02, and produced 545 interferograms, each of which covers roughly 250km x 420km area ( 60 bursts). These interferograms are unwrapped using SNAPHU [Chen & Zebker, 2002], with the 2Npi unwrapping ambiguity corrected with a sparse recovery method. We used coherence-based small baseline subset (SBAS) method [Tong & Schmidt, 2016] together with atmospheric correction by common-point stacking [Tymofyeyeva and Fialko, 2015] to construct deformation time series [Xu et. al., 2017]. Then we project the horizontal GPS model and vertical GPS data into satellite line-of-sight directions separately. We first remove the horizontal GPS model from InSAR measurements and perform elevation-dependent atmospheric phase correction. Then we compute the discrepancy between the remaining InSAR measurements and vertical GPS data. We interpolate this discrepancy and remove it from the residual InSAR measurements. Finally, we restore the horizontal GPS model. Preliminary results show that fault creep over the San Jacinto fault, the Elsinore fault, and the San Andreas creeping section is clearly resolved. During the period of drought, the Central Valley of California was subsiding at a high rate (up to 40 cm/yr), while the city of San Jose is uplifting due to recharge, with a quaternary fault acting as a ground water barrier. These findings will be reported during the meeting.

The traditional Chinese medicine prescription patterns for migraine patients in Taiwan: a population-based study.

PubMed

Chang, Yu-Yun; Tsai, Yueh-Ting; Lai, Jung-Nien; Yeh, Chia-Hao; Lin, Shun-Ku

2014-02-12

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), when given for symptom relief, has gained widespread popularity among migraine patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization of TCM among migraine patients in Taiwan. The usage, frequency of service, and the Chinese herbal products prescribed for migraine were evaluated using a representative sample of one million subjects selected at random from the 22 million beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance scheme of Taiwan. Overall, 89.3% (N=12,827) migraine patients utilized TCM and 24.2% of them sought TCM with the intention of treating their migraine-related symptoms. Migraine patients who are living in urban area and those with an episodic migraine pattern (<15 days/month) (aOR=3.18, 95% CI: 2.75-3.67) were more likely to be TCM users than those living in a rural area and those who suffered from chronic migraine (≥15 days/month) (aOR=1.00). Overall, 81.2% of TCM visits involved the prescription of a Chinese herbal remedy or remedies and Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, Ge-Gen-Tang, Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang, Ban-Xia-Bai-Zhu-Tian-Ma-Tang, Qing-Shang-Juan-Tong-Tang, Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang, Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, and Tian-Wang-Bu-Xin-Dan were the ten most frequently prescribed formula for treating migraine based on syndrome differentiation. Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San, which contains sedative and anti-inflammatory agents, is the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of migraine-related phenomena. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mutation screening for thalassaemia in the Jino ethnic minority population of Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

PubMed

Wang, Shiyun; Zhang, Rong; Xiang, Guangxin; Li, Yang; Hou, Xuhong; Jiang, Fusong; Jiang, Feng; Hu, Cheng; Jia, Weiping

2015-12-29

This study aimed to detect α- and β-thalassaemia mutations in the Jino ethnic minority population of Yunnan Province, Southwest China. A total of 1613 Jino adults were continuously recruited from February 2012 to April 2012. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained to determine haematological variables. Haemoglobin analysis was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography. Participants with hypochromic microcytic anaemia or positive haemoglobin analysis profiles were confirmed by α- and β-globin genetic testing, including DNA microarray analysis, direct sequencing methods and multiplex gap-PCR assays. Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital. We found 363 suspected cases by primary screening of haematological variables and haemoglobin analysis. After further genetic testing, four types of α- and β-thalassaemia mutation were detected in 203 out of 363 individuals. Both α(0)- and α(+)-thalassaemia mutations, --(SEA) and -α(3.7), were identified. β-Thalassaemia mutations included CD17 (HBB:c.52A>T) and CD26 (HbE or HBB:c.79G>A). In addition, 13 HbE carriers had coexisting α(0)- or α(+)-thalassaemia deletions. Clinical haematological variables indicated that, in this study, carriers of all thalassaemic genotypes had more severe hypochromic microcytic anaemia than non-thalassaemic individuals. Our results provide information on the Jino ethnic minority that may be useful for further genetic counselling, prenatal screening and clinical diagnosis of thalassaemia in this region. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

A community based intervention program to enhance neighborhood cohesion: The Learning Families Project in Hong Kong

PubMed Central

Wan, Alice; Kwok, Lit Tung; Pang, Sally; Wang, Xin; Stewart, Sunita M.; Lam, Tai Hing; Chan, Sophia S.

2017-01-01

Background Neighborhood cohesion, which refers to the extent of the connectedness and solidarity among residents in a community or neighborhood, is an important determinant of human health. To enhance neighborhood cohesion, the “Learning Families Project” was developed with a series of intervention programs in Kwun Tong in Hong Kong, a district with low neighborhood cohesion. This project, based on the social ecological model, provided a platform for neighbors to learn, communicate and interact with each other. Methods This quasi-experimental study included two nearby government subsidized low rent housing estates separated by busy main roads. One served as the intervention (Tsui Ping (South) Estate) and one as the control (Shun Tin Estate) estate. The intervention included promotion, resident training and learning programs, embodied by a series of community activities such as talks, day camp, thematic activities and horticulture class. Baseline (before the programs) and follow-up (one year after the programs) surveys were conducted both in the intervention and control estate to assess the impact of the programs on neighborhood cohesion. Results The number of residents who completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys was 502 in the intervention estate and 476 in the control estate. Neighborhood cohesion significantly improved in the intervention group after the programs (Cohen effect size d: 0.15). Compared with the control group, the improvements in closeness of the neighborhood and trust in neighbors were significantly greater in the intervention group (Cohen effect size d: 0.13 and 0.14, respectively). Conclusion This brief intervention program using a quasi-experimental study design increased neighborhood cohesion in a low rent housing estate. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02851667 PMID:28827798

International ranking systems for universities and institutions: a critical appraisal

PubMed Central

Ioannidis, John PA; Patsopoulos, Nikolaos A; Kavvoura, Fotini K; Tatsioni, Athina; Evangelou, Evangelos; Kouri, Ioanna; Contopoulos-Ioannidis, Despina G; Liberopoulos, George

2007-01-01

Background Ranking of universities and institutions has attracted wide attention recently. Several systems have been proposed that attempt to rank academic institutions worldwide. Methods We review the two most publicly visible ranking systems, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University 'Academic Ranking of World Universities' and the Times Higher Education Supplement 'World University Rankings' and also briefly review other ranking systems that use different criteria. We assess the construct validity for educational and research excellence and the measurement validity of each of the proposed ranking criteria, and try to identify generic challenges in international ranking of universities and institutions. Results None of the reviewed criteria for international ranking seems to have very good construct validity for both educational and research excellence, and most don't have very good construct validity even for just one of these two aspects of excellence. Measurement error for many items is also considerable or is not possible to determine due to lack of publication of the relevant data and methodology details. The concordance between the 2006 rankings by Shanghai and Times is modest at best, with only 133 universities shared in their top 200 lists. The examination of the existing international ranking systems suggests that generic challenges include adjustment for institutional size, definition of institutions, implications of average measurements of excellence versus measurements of extremes, adjustments for scientific field, time frame of measurement and allocation of credit for excellence. Conclusion Naïve lists of international institutional rankings that do not address these fundamental challenges with transparent methods are misleading and should be abandoned. We make some suggestions on how focused and standardized evaluations of excellence could be improved and placed in proper context. PMID:17961208

[Near infrared spectrum analysis and meaning of the soil in 512 earthquake surface rupture zone in Pingtong, Sichuan].

PubMed

Yi, Ze-bang; Cao, Jian-jin; Luo, Song-ying; Wang, Zheng-yang; Liao, Yi-peng

2014-08-01

Through modern near infrared spectrum, the authors analyzed the yellow soil from the rupture zone located in Ping- tong town,Pingwu, Sichuan province. By rapid identification of the characteristic of peak absorption of mineral particles, the result shows that the soil samples mainly composed of calcite, dolomite, muscovite, sericite, illite, smectite; talc, tremolite, actinolite, chlorite, etc. And the mineral compositions of the soil is basically the same with the yellow soil in Sichuan region. By analyzing and comparing it was revealed that part of mineral compositions of the soil are in accordance with the characteristics of the rock mineral compositions below the rupture zone, indicating that part of the minerals of the soil's evolution is closely related to the rock compositions in this area; and the compositions of the clay mineral in the rupture zone is similar to the Ma Lan loess in the north of China, so it is presumed that the clay minerals in these two kinds of soil have the same genetic type. The characteristic of the mineral composition of the soil is in accordance with evolution characteristics of the rocks which is bellow the rupture zone, also it was demonstrated that the results of soil minerals near-infrared analysis can effectively analyze the mineral particles in the soil and indicate the pedogenic environment. Therefore, the result shows the feasibility of adopting modern near-infrared spectrum for rapid analysis of mineral particles of the soil and research of geology. Meanwhile, the results can be the foundation of this region's soil mineral analysis, and also provide new ideas and methods for the future research of soil minerals and the earthquake rupture zone.

QAPgrid: a two level QAP-based approach for large-scale data analysis and visualization.

PubMed

Inostroza-Ponta, Mario; Berretta, Regina; Moscato, Pablo

2011-01-18

The visualization of large volumes of data is a computationally challenging task that often promises rewarding new insights. There is great potential in the application of new algorithms and models from combinatorial optimisation. Datasets often contain "hidden regularities" and a combined identification and visualization method should reveal these structures and present them in a way that helps analysis. While several methodologies exist, including those that use non-linear optimization algorithms, severe limitations exist even when working with only a few hundred objects. We present a new data visualization approach (QAPgrid) that reveals patterns of similarities and differences in large datasets of objects for which a similarity measure can be computed. Objects are assigned to positions on an underlying square grid in a two-dimensional space. We use the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) as a mathematical model to provide an objective function for assignment of objects to positions on the grid. We employ a Memetic Algorithm (a powerful metaheuristic) to tackle the large instances of this NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem, and we show its performance on the visualization of real data sets. Overall, the results show that QAPgrid algorithm is able to produce a layout that represents the relationships between objects in the data set. Furthermore, it also represents the relationships between clusters that are feed into the algorithm. We apply the QAPgrid on the 84 Indo-European languages instance, producing a near-optimal layout. Next, we produce a layout of 470 world universities with an observed high degree of correlation with the score used by the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled in the The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities without the need of an ad hoc weighting of attributes. Finally, our Gene Ontology-based study on Saccharomyces cerevisiae fully demonstrates the scalability and precision of our method

A sustainable path to food security.

PubMed

Xuan, V T

1996-01-01

This paper summarizes remarks made by Vo-Tong Xuan, professor of agronomy at the University of Can Tho. He states that agricultural production affects government market systems of supply and demand. The aim of world food production is to supply more food with fewer resources to meet the needs of a growing global population, which may reach 8 billion by 2025. Global food production needs to increase by 2% annually. Developing country food production needs to increase by 3% annually. There are needs for new land use patterns, improved crop choices, and market options and responsiveness. Better national and regional food monitoring systems are needed, as well as appropriate farming systems. Sustainability entails appropriate receipts for producer costs and affordable costs for consumers. Yields must be increased while lowering production costs. This may be achieved through the use of labor-intensive, low-input technology, increases in non-rice food crops, and changes in livestock and fishery production. Food for livestock must not compete with human food demand. Sustainable food production is dependent upon efficient use of irrigation systems, less consumption of rain water, integrated pest and nutrient management for reducing soil and water degradation, and high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties suitable for a variety of land conditions. Crop loss must be reduced and better weed management implemented. Parliamentarians are important political resources for assuring the political will to make changes. Several delegations were concerned about the low prices for rice. Professor Xuan recommended reducing overproduction of rice, diversifying crops, and providing ready access to markets for food not consumed at home. Individual subsidies were discouraged in favor of better land use planning. Most delegates agreed that rice should be excluded from international trade agreements.

Study on the foot shape characteristics of the elderly in China.

PubMed

Luo, Xiang Dong; Xue, Chao-Hua; Li, Yan

2017-12-01

With aging, the feet of the elderly above 60 years old in China present degenerative changes, deformities, and diseases, which significantly affect their daily activities. The authors aimed to study the morphological characteristics of the feet and identify the foot type according to size (length and width) and defect characteristics of elderly feet in China. A convenient sample of 1000 subjects above 60 years old was recruited mainly in the regions of Shanghai, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, and Sichuan in China. Foot images were collected, and 800 (male 398, female 402) valid questionnaires were recovered. A total of 800 elderly subjects as the test group were invited to measure their foot sizes by means of a Footprint Collector (Tong Yuan Tang Health Management Limited, Qingdao in Shandong province). The foot type of the elderly was compared with that of the general adult Chinese population as the control group using the t-test for independent samples. Hallux valgus (46.9%) and flat foot (50.0%) were the most common foot shape deformities. The most frequent foot diseases were foot scaling (91.2%) and calluses (96.3%). The medial width of the first metatarsal-toe joint of the elderly was significantly higher (elderly female, 44.95±4.86mm; elderly male, 48.55±4.94mm) than that of the general adult population (adult female, 40.18±3.43mm; adult male, 43.22±3.20mm) (p<0.01). The foot length of the elderly was not significantly different from that of the general adult Chinese population. The width of the first metatarsal-toe joint in the forefoot of the elderly was significantly higher than that of the general adult Chinese population, which was consistent with the result that a high proportion of elderly subjects presented hallux valgus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recent Patents of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Allergic Rhinitis.

PubMed

Hon, Kam L; Fung, Ching K; Leung, Alexander K C; Lam, Hung S; Lee, So L

2015-01-01

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common respiratory disease affecting both adults and children worldwide. Affected patients may experience nasal congestion/stuffiness, rhinorrhea (anterior and/or posterior), nasal/ nasopharyngeal itching and sneezing. Allergen avoidance is the principal step in the management. Nasal saline irrigation to remove allergen (s) in the nose is a useful adjunctive therapy in the management of moderate to severe AR. Symptomatic relief and improved quality of life may be achieved in the majority of patients with appropriate pharmacotherapy. Mild-to-moderate cases are usually managed with either an oral second generation antihistamine or an intranasal corticosteroid. More severe cases may require treatment with an intranasal corticosteroid in combination with various oral medications. Patients who require medications for more than 6 months per year or have intolerable side effects from pharmacotherapy can be considered for immunotherapy. A wide range of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have also been proposed. This overview evaluates the evidence of use of CAM for AR. Some methods including acupuncture and herbal medicine have supportive evidence, but the efficacy of other CAM is controversial. Conversely, possible side effects of different modalities are often inadequately documented. The herbal formulae include Butterbur, Nigella sativa, Shi-Bi-Lin, Polyherbal formula, Grapeseed extract, Rosmarinic acid, Spirulina, Biminne, and Bhu-zhong-yi-qi-tong. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and safety before they are employed in treating AR. This review article also discusses recent CAM patents for use in AR, which are exclusively traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concoctions primarily for oral consumption but two as topical spray. Only 8 pertinent patents, all TCM compositions for treating AR and registered in 2014, were obtained. Description about their efficacy is impressive but objective outcome evaluation tools are

A coordinated PCP-Cardiologist Telemedicine Model (PCTM) in China's community hypertension care: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Xu, Lei; Fang, Wei-Yi; Zhu, Fu; Zhang, Hong-Guang; Liu, Kai

2017-05-25

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and its control rate has remained low worldwide. Studies have found that telemonitoring blood pressure (BP) helped control hypertension in randomized controlled trials. However, little is known about its effect in a structured primary care model in which primary care physicians (PCPs) are partnering with cardiology specialists in electronic healthcare data sharing and medical interventions. This study aims to identify the effects of a coordinated PCP-cardiologist model that applies telemedicine tools to facilitate community hypertension control in China. Patients with hypertension receiving care at four community healthcare centers that are academically affiliated to Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University are eligible if they have had uncontrolled BP in the previous 3 months and access to mobile Internet. Study subjects are randomly assigned to three interventional groups: (1) usual care; (2) home-based BP telemonitor with embedded Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) module and unlimited data plan, an app to access personal healthcare record and receive personalized lifestyle coaching contents, and proficiency training of their use; or (3) this plus coordinated PCP-cardiologist care in which PCPs and cardiologists share data via a secure CareLinker website to determine interventional approaches. The primary outcome is mean change in systolic blood pressure over a 12-month period. Secondary outcomes are changes of diastolic blood pressure, HbA1C, blood lipids, and medication adherence measured by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. This study will determine whether a coordinated PCP-Cardiologist Telemedicine Model that incorporates the latest telemedicine technologies will improve hypertension care. Success of the model would help streamline the present community healthcare processes and impact a greater number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Clinical

Disease-causing Mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Determine the Functional Responses of Alveolar Macrophages*

PubMed Central

Deriy, Ludmila V.; Gomez, Erwin A.; Zhang, Guangping; Beacham, Daniel W.; Hopson, Jessika A.; Gallan, Alexander J.; Shevchenko, Pavel D.; Bindokas, Vytautas P.; Nelson, Deborah J.

2009-01-01

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a major role in host defense against microbial infections in the lung. To perform this function, these cells must ingest and destroy pathogens, generally in phagosomes, as well as secrete a number of products that signal other immune cells to respond. Recently, we demonstrated that murine alveolar macrophages employ the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channel as a determinant in lysosomal acidification (Di, A., Brown, M. E., Deriy, L. V., Li, C., Szeto, F. L., Chen, Y., Huang, P., Tong, J., Naren, A. P., Bindokas, V., Palfrey, H. C., and Nelson, D. J. (2006) Nat. Cell Biol. 8, 933–944). Lysosomes and phagosomes in murine cftr−/− AMs failed to acidify, and the cells were deficient in bacterial killing compared with wild type controls. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in CFTR and is characterized by chronic lung infections. The information about relationships between the CFTR genotype and the disease phenotype is scarce both on the organismal and cellular level. The most common disease-causing mutation, ΔF508, is found in 70% of patients with cystic fibrosis. The mutant protein fails to fold properly and is targeted for proteosomal degradation. G551D, the second most common mutation, causes loss of function of the protein at the plasma membrane. In this study, we have investigated the impact of CFTR ΔF508 and G551D on a set of core intracellular functions, including organellar acidification, granule secretion, and microbicidal activity in the AM. Utilizing primary AMs from wild type, cftr−/−, as well as mutant mice, we show a tight correlation between CFTR genotype and levels of lysosomal acidification, bacterial killing, and agonist-induced secretory responses, all of which would be expected to contribute to a significant impact on microbial clearance in the lung. PMID:19837664

Uncertainty Quantification for CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Z.; Middleton, R.; Bauman, J.; Viswanathan, H.; Fessenden-Rahn, J.; Pawar, R.; Lee, S.

2013-12-01

CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is currently an option for permanently sequestering CO2 in oil reservoirs while increasing oil/gas productions economically. In this study we have developed a framework for understanding CO2 storage potential within an EOR-sequestration environment at the Farnsworth Unit of the Anadarko Basin in northern Texas. By coupling a EOR tool--SENSOR (CEI, 2011) with a uncertainty quantification tool PSUADE (Tong, 2011), we conduct an integrated Monte Carlo simulation of water, oil/gas components and CO2 flow and reactive transport in the heterogeneous Morrow formation to identify the key controlling processes and optimal parameters for CO2 sequestration and EOR. A global sensitivity and response surface analysis are conducted with PSUADE to build numerically the relationship among CO2 injectivity, oil/gas production, reservoir parameters and distance between injection and production wells. The results indicate that the reservoir permeability and porosity are the key parameters to control the CO2 injection, oil and gas (CH4) recovery rates. The distance between the injection and production wells has large impact on oil and gas recovery and net CO2 injection rates. The CO2 injectivity increases with the increasing reservoir permeability and porosity. The distance between injection and production wells is the key parameter for designing an EOR pattern (such as a five (or nine)-spot pattern). The optimal distance for a five-spot-pattern EOR in this site is estimated from the response surface analysis to be around 400 meters. Next, we are building the machinery into our risk assessment framework CO2-PENS to utilize these response surfaces and evaluate the operation risk for CO2 sequestration and EOR at this site.

Control of the vertebral artery from a posterior approach: a technical report.

PubMed

Ye, Jason Y; Ayyash, Omar M; Eskander, Mark S; Kang, James D

2014-06-01

Vertebral artery (VA) injury is a rare but potentially devastating complication of cervical spinal fusion. The Magerl and Harms techniques are associated with a rate between 0% to 8% and 0% to 5%, respectively. Most of reported VA injuries are related to surgical exposure or screw placement, which in turn is likely due to variability in VA anatomy. The purpose of this report was to present the case of a 77-year-old woman, with a history of right VA occlusion, who sustained an intraoperative left VA injury during posterior cervical spine fusion and the subsequent intraoperative and postoperative management strategies. This is a single-patient case report. The patient was placed prone and into Mayfield tongs. A midline incision was made, and dissection was carried down to the lamina and facet joints from occiput to T2. During dissection, she sustained a left-sided VA injury, which was subsequently controlled. The patient was doing well at her 1-year postoperative visit without any residual neurologic deficits. Her severe neck pain had resolved. A detailed understanding of VA anatomy of each individual patient is paramount. There are four types of anomalies: intraforaminal; extraforaminal; arterial; and anomalies of the surrounding bony and soft-tissue architecture. In the event of a posterior intraoperative VA injury, we outlined an algorithm to deal with this complication: control bleeding temporarily to gain visualization of the arterial injury; remove lateral masses and tissue to adequately visualize the arterial injury; once visualized, control the bleeding and see if there are any neuromonitoring changes as a result of the VA occlusion; and proceed with definitive control of the artery by either repair or ligation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PREFACE: Synthesis and integration of nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samuelson, L.

2006-06-01

The field of semiconductor nanowires has attracted much attention in recent years, from the areas of basic materials science, advanced characterization and technology, as well as from the perspective of the applications of nanowires. Research on large-sized whiskers and wires had already begun in the 1960s with the pioneering work of Wagner, as well as by other researchers. It was, however, in the early 1990s that Kenji Hiruma at Hitachi Central Research Laboratories in Japan first succeeded in developing methods for the growth of nanowires with dimensions on the scale of 10-100 nm, thereby initiating the field of growth and applications of nanowires, with a strong emphasis on epitaxial nucleation of nanowires on a single-crystalline substrate. Starting from the mid-1990s, the field developed very rapidly with the number of papers on the subject growing from ten per year to several thousand papers on the subject published annually today, although with a rather generous definition of the concept of nanowires. With this rapid development we have seen many new and different approaches to the growth of nanowires, technological advances leading to a more well-controlled formation of nanowires, new innovative methods for the characterization of structures, as well as a wealth of approaches towards the use of nanowires in electronics, photonics and sensor applications. This issue contains contributions from many different laboratories, each adding significant detail to the development of the field of research. The contributions cover issues such as basic growth, advanced characterization and technology, and application of nanowires. I would like to acknowledge the shared responsibilities for this special issue of Nanotechnology on the synthesis and integration of nanowires with my co-Editors, S Tong Lee and M Sunkara, as well as the highly professional support from Dr Nina Couzin, Dr Ian Forbes and the Nanotechnology team from the Institute of Physics Publishing.

Periglacial morphogenesis in the Paris basin: insight from geophysical survey and consequences for the fate of soil pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiry, Médard; van Oort, Folkert; Thiesson, Julien; Van Vliet-Lanoe, Brigitte

2013-09-01

Geophysical survey by Automatic Resistivity Profiling (ARP©) system of the Pierrelaye-Bessancourt area revealed remarkable conductive polygon patterns of 20- to 30-m diameter detected between 0.5- and 1.7-m depth. Trenches dug down to the limestone substrate allowed detailing of the pedological and lithological units that compose such polygonal features. The patterns are formed by greenish glauconite and carbonated sand hollows where clay-rich pedological horizons bend downward, forming narrow tongs extending up to 2- to 3-m depth. Such structures were interpreted as a buried polygonal ice-wedge network (thermokarst depressions). Geometrical relationships between the lithological units and consecutive erosional surfaces allowed the identification of successive landscape events and a landscape chronology. The sequence started during the Saalian glaciation with (1) the development of patterned grounds by thermokarstic cryoturbation; (2) the consecutive deflation/erosion during post-permafrost aridity; (3) the loess and eolian sand deposits; (4) the weathering of the former deposits with development of pedogenic horizons during the Eemian interglacial; (5) the recurrent cryoturbation and thermal cracking leading to infolding of the pedogenic horizons during the Pleniglacial optimum (Weichselian); and finally (5) the erosion that levelled the periglacial microreliefs, most probably during the last glacial stage (Weichselian), leading to the modern landscape. In this agricultural area, urban waste water has been spread for more than 100 years by flooding irrigation for food crop production and has led to high levels of metal pollution in the surface horizons of the soils. The polygonal cryogenic structures have major impacts on soil hydrology and dispersion/distribution of heavy metals toward the geological substrate. Such structures are essential to consider when conceiving proposals for future soil management of this polluted area.

Are nursery schools and kindergartens safe for our kids? The Hong Kong study.

PubMed

Tong, S T; Lam, K C

1998-05-27

Pediatric heavy metal (particularly lead) poisoning is a widespread, yet preventable problem in many parts of the world. Interior floor dust is found to be one of the major pathways of childhood exposure. However, school and health authorities in most countries do not have any stipulations nor guidelines in regulating heavy metal contamination in floor dusts in schools. This study attempts to examine the level of heavy metal contamination in 53 nursery schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong and study its relationship with the environmental factors. The results of this study reveal that the arithmetic mean level of lead in exterior dust is 280.01 mg/kg, with a minimum level of 48.80 mg/kg and a maximum of 2108.31 mg/kg, which is somewhat lower than other studies, such as those reported by Chan et al. (Biomed. Environ. Sci. 1989;2:131-140) and Akhter and Madany (Water Air Soil Pollut. 1993;66:111-119), but those of the manganese (mean = 532.16 mg/kg, range = 102.51-1736.25 mg/kg) and zinc levels (mean = 2694.23 mg/kg, range = 898.33-9899.85 mg/kg) are much higher. Out of the 10 districts examined, Kwun Tong and North Point are found to be the most polluted. They are older districts with polluting industries and heavy traffic. The results of the analysis of variance suggest that the heavy metal particulate may originate from the exterior. Auto-vehicles are a likely source. The toxins are blown inside through the opened windows. Other factors that may affect the content of metal in floor dusts are the time since the school was last painted, the age of the housing complex, the condition of the school and the use of vacuum cleaners.

MR angiogenesis imaging with Robo4- vs. αVβ3-targeted nanoparticles in a B16/F10 mouse melanoma model

PubMed Central

Boles, Kent S.; Schmieder, Anne H.; Koch, Alexander W.; Carano, Richard A. D.; Wu, Yan; Caruthers, Shelton D.; Tong, Raymond K.; Stawicki, Scott; Hu, Grace; Scott, Michael J.; Zhang, Huiying; Reynolds, Benton A.; Wickline, Samuel A.; Lanza, Gregory M.

2010-01-01

The primary objective of this study was to utilize MR molecular imaging to compare the 3-dimensional spatial distribution of Robo4 and αVβ3-integrin as biosignatures of angiogenesis, in a rapidly growing, syngeneic tumor. B16-F10 melanoma-bearing mice were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR; 3.0 T) 11 d postimplantation before and after intravenous administration of either Robo4- or αVβ3-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles. The percentage of MR signal-enhanced voxels throughout the tumor volume was low and increased in animals receiving αVβ3- and Robo4-targeted nanoparticles. Neovascular signal enhancement was predominantly associated with the tumor periphery (i.e., outer 50% of volume). Microscopic examination of tumors coexposed to the Robo4- and αVβ3-targeted nanoparticles corroborated the MR angiogenesis mapping results and further revealed that Robo4 expression generally colocalized with αVβ3-integrin. Robo4- and αVβ3-targeted nanoparticles were compared to irrelevant or nontargeted control groups in all modalities. These results suggest that αVβ3-integrin and Robo4 are useful biomarkers for noninvasive MR molecular imaging in syngeneic mouse tumors, but αVβ3-integrin expression was more detectable by MR at 3.0 T than Robo4. Noninvasive, neovascular assessments of the MR signal of Robo4, particularly combined with αVβ3-integrin expression, may help define tumor character prior to and following cancer therapy.—Boles, K. S., Schmieder, A. H., Koch, A. W., Carano, R. A. D., Wu, Y., Caruthers, S. D., Tong, R. K., Stawicki, S., Hu, G., Scott, M. J., Zhang, H., Reynolds, B. A., Wickline, S. A., and Lanza, G. M. MR angiogenesis imaging with Robo4- vs. αVβ3-targeted nanoparticles in a B16/F10 mouse melanoma model. PMID:20585027

Non-smoker assertive behaviour against smoke exposure: Chinese and Korean American non-smokers.

PubMed

Saw, Anne; Tang, Hao; Tsoh, Janice Y; Chen, Moon S; Tong, Elisa K

2017-11-01

Non-smokers' assertive behaviour towards smokers by asking them not to smoke is important in promoting smoke-free environments. Korean and Chinese Americans come from countries where most women are non-smokers and assertive behaviour may not be prevalent but may increase after migration because of social-ecological factors. This study assessed the extent to which Korean and Chinese American non-smokers ask someone not to smoke and associated factors. The 2003 California Chinese American and Korean American Tobacco Use Surveys were analysed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined factors related to non-smoker self-reports that they asked someone not to smoke within the past year. About 40% reported past-year assertive behaviour against smoking, with higher rates among Koreans than Chinese (60.4% vs. 34.5%), those living with smokers (63.5%), ever exposed with a smoke-free home rule (62.3%), recently exposed at work without a smoke-free work policy (67.6%) and regularly exposed at other locations (52.3%). In combined multivariate analyses of both ethnic groups, assertive behaviour was associated with individual factors (single vs. married; tobacco exposure knowledge), family factors (living with smokers, exposed at home despite a smoke-free rule), community factors (exposed at work with no smoke-free policy, exposed at other locations) and cultural factors (Korean vs. Chinese ethnicity; lower acculturation). Chinese and Korean American non-smokers report assertive behaviour against smoking, which is associated with social-ecological factors. Results help identify target groups and strategies for future intervention, including the need to implement or enforce smoke-free environments and promote empowerment. [Saw A, Tang H, Tsoh JY, Chen MS Jr, Tong EK. Non-smoker assertive behaviour against smoke exposure: Chinese and Korean American non-smokers. © 2017 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Isolation and characterisation of phosphate solubilising microorganisms from the cold desert habitat of Salix alba Linn. in trans Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh.

PubMed

Chatli, Anshu S; Beri, Viraj; Sidhu, B S

2008-06-01

Phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) (bacteria and fungi) associated with Salix alba Linn. from Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh were isolated on Pikovskaya (PVK), modified Pikovskaya (MPVK) and National Botanical Research Institute agar (NBRIP) media by spread plating. The viable colony count of P-solubilising bacteria (PSB) and fungi (PSF) was higher in rhizosphere than that of non-rhizosphere. The frequency of PSM was highest on MPVK followed by NBRIP and PVK agar. The maximum proportion of PSM out of total bacterial and fungal count was found in upper Keylong while the least in Rong Tong. The PSB frequently were Gram-positive, endosporeforming, motile rods and belonged to Bacillus sp. The PSF mainly belonged to Penicillium sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. spp. and non-sporulating sterile. Amongst the isolates with high efficiency for tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilisation, seven bacterial and seven fungal isolates dissolved higher amount of P from North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP) than Mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) and Udaipur rock phosphate (URP). However, the organisms solubilised higher-P in NBRIP broth than PVK broth. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) bacterial isolates exhibited maximun P solubilisation (40 and 33 μg ml(-1) respectively) whereas FC28 (Penicillium sp.) isolate (52.3 μg ml(-1)) amongst fungi while solubilising URP. The amount of P solubilised was positively correlated with the decrease in pH of medium. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.), SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC4 (Micrococcus) decreased the pH of medium from 6.8 to 6.08 while FC28 (Penicillium sp.) and FC39 (Penicillium sp.) isolates of fungi recorded maximum decrease in pH of medium from 6.8 to 5.96 in NBRIP broth.

Downregulation of Notch-regulated Ankyrin Repeat Protein Exerts Antitumor Activities against Growth of Thyroid Cancer.

PubMed

Chu, Bing-Feng; Qin, Yi-Yu; Zhang, Sheng-Lai; Quan, Zhi-Wei; Zhang, Ming-Di; Bi, Jian-Wei

2016-07-05

The Notch-regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) is recently found to promote proliferation of breast cancer cells. The role of NRARP in carcinogenesis deserves extensive investigations. This study attempted to investigate the expression of NRARP in thyroid cancer tissues and assess the influence of NRARP on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and invasion in thyroid cancer. Thirty-four cases with thyroid cancer were collected from the Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between 2011 and 2012. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of NRARP in cancer tissues. Lentivirus carrying NRARP-shRNA (Lenti-NRARP-shRNA) was applied to down-regulate NRARP expression. Cell viability was tested after treatment with Lenti-NRARP-shRNA using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometry. Cell invasion was tested using Transwell invasion assay. In addition, expressions of several cell cycle-associated and apoptosis-associated proteins were examined using Western blotting after transfection. Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or Kaplan-Meier were used to analyze the differences between two group or three groups. NRARP was highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissues. Lenti-NRARP-shRNA showed significantly inhibitory activities against cell growth at a multiplicity of infection of 10 or higher (P < 0.05). Lenti-NRARP-shRNA-induced G1 arrest (BHT101: 72.57% ± 5.32%; 8305C: 75.45% ± 5.26%) by promoting p21 expression, induced apoptosis by promoting bax expression and suppressing bcl-2 expression, and inhibited cell invasion by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. Downregulation of NRARP expression exerts significant antitumor activities against cell growth and invasion of thyroid cancer, that suggests a potential role of NRARP in thyroid cancer targeted therapy.

Do-It-Yourself Device for Recovery of Cryopreserved Samples Accidentally Dropped into Cryogenic Storage Tanks

PubMed Central

Mehta, Rohini; Baranova, Ancha; Birerdinc, Aybike

2012-01-01

Liquid nitrogen is colorless, odorless, extremely cold (-196 °C) liquid kept under pressure. It is commonly used as a cryogenic fluid for long term storage of biological materials such as blood, cells and tissues 1,2. The cryogenic nature of liquid nitrogen, while ideal for sample preservation, can cause rapid freezing of live tissues on contact - known as 'cryogenic burn'2, which may lead to severe frostbite in persons closely involved in storage and retrieval of samples from Dewars. Additionally, as liquid nitrogen evaporates it reduces the oxygen concentration in the air and might cause asphyxia, especially in confined spaces2. In laboratories, biological samples are often stored in cryovials or cryoboxes stacked in stainless steel racks within the Dewar tanks1. These storage racks are provided with a long shaft to prevent boxes from slipping out from the racks and into the bottom of Dewars during routine handling. All too often, however, boxes or vials with precious samples slip out and sink to the bottom of liquid nitrogen filled tank. In such cases, samples could be tediously retrieved after transferring the liquid nitrogen into a spare container or discarding it. The boxes and vials can then be relatively safely recovered from emptied Dewar. However, the cryogenic nature of liquid nitrogen and its expansion rate makes sunken sample retrieval hazardous. It is commonly recommended by Safety Offices that sample retrieval be never carried out by a single person. Another alternative is to use commercially available cool grabbers or tongs to pull out the vials3. However, limited visibility within the dark liquid filled Dewars poses a major limitation in their use. In this article, we describe the construction of a Cryotolerant DIY retrieval device, which makes sample retrieval from Dewar containing cryogenic fluids both safe and easy. PMID:22617806

[From influence to confluence : positioning the history of pre-modern Korean medicine in East Asia].

PubMed

Suh, Soyoung

2010-12-31

This article surveys studies focusing on pre-modern Korean medicine, which are both written in English and analyzed primary sources up to 1876. Overall, the history of pre-modern Korean medicine is an unknown filed in Anglophone academia. Yung Sik Kim's, James Palais's, and Carter Ecart's problematization of the nationalist framework of Korean scholarship partially explains the marginality of the field. Addressing these criticisms, this review argues that pre-modern Korean medicine's uneasy task lies in both elaborating Korea's own experience of medicine, while simultaneously avoiding making the "Korean" category itself essential. Korean narratives of premodern medicine need to go beyond the mere territorilalization of Korean medicine against its Chinese, Japanese, or Western counterparts, thereby to tackle the field's own boundary of research objects. The existing scholarship in English responds to this challenge by primarily examining the way in which Korea has shared textual tradition with China. Sirhak scholars' innovation in medicine, visual representation of Tongŭi bogam, Korean management of epidemics in the eleventh century, and Korean indexing of local botanicals, engages not only native achievements, but also the process of modifying medicine across geographical and political boundaries. More to the point, the emerging native narratives, although written in Korean, are implicitly resonant with those currently present in Anglophone academia. Taking "tension," "intertextuality," and "local traits" as a lens, this article assesses a series of current research in Korea. Aiming to go beyond appeals for a "distinctively" Korean experience of medicine, the future study of Korean pre-modern medicine will further elucidate confluences of different flows, such as "Chinese and Korean," "universal and local," "center and periphery," and "native and foreign," which will eventually articulate a range of Korean techniques of creating a bricolage in medicine.

Staged corrective surgery for complex congenital scoliosis and split cord malformation

PubMed Central

Asad, Ambreen; Pasha, Ibrahim Farooq; Malik, Arslan Sharif; Arlet, Vincent

2009-01-01

Congenital scoliosis associated with split cord malformation raises the issue on how to best manage these patients to avoid neurologic injury while achieving satisfactory correction. We present the case of a 12-year-old girl who first presented when she was 11-year old with such combination but without much physical handicap or neurological deficit. The corrective surgery offered at that time was refused by the family. She again presented after 1 year with documented severe aggravation of the curve resulting in unstable walking and psychological upset. Her imaging studies showed multiple malformations in lower cervical and thoracic spine and a split cord malformation type 2 (fibrous septum with diplomyelia) at the apex of the deformity. A one-stage correction was deemed neurologically too risky. We therefore performed during a first stage a thoracotomy with anterior release. This was followed by skeletal traction with skull tongs and bilateral femoral pins. After gradual increase in traction weights a reasonable correction was achieved without any neurological deficit, over the next 10 days. A second-stage operation was done on the 11th day and a posterior instrumented fusion was performed. Post-operative recovery was uneventful and there were no complications. She was discharged with a Boston Brace to be worn for 3 months. At 2-year follow-up the patient outcome is excellent with excellent balance and correction of the deformity. In this grand round case, we discuss all the different option of treatment of congenital scoliosis associated with split cord malformation. In a medical environment where spinal cord monitoring is lacking, we recommend an initial release followed by skull and bifemoral traction over several days to monitor the neurologic status of the patient. Once optimal correction is achieved with the traction, a posterior instrumentation can be safely done. PMID:19626347

Integrative taxonomy of Leptonetela spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae), with descriptions of 46 new species

PubMed Central

Wang, Chun-Xia; Xu, Xin; Li, Shu-Qiang

2017-01-01

Extreme environments, such as subterranean habitats, are suspected to be responsible for morphologically inseparable cryptic or sibling species and can bias biodiversity assessment. A DNA barcode is a short, standardized DNA sequence used for taxonomic purposes and has the potential to lessen the challenges presented by a biotic inventory. Here, we investigate the diversity of the genus Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 that is endemic to karst systems in Eurasia using DNA barcoding. We analyzed 624 specimens using one mitochondrial gene fragment (COI). The results show that DNA barcoding is an efficient and rapid species identification method in this genus. DNA barcoding gap and automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD) analyses indicated the existence of 90 species, a result consistent with previous taxonomic hypotheses, and supported the existence of extreme male pedipalpal tibial spine and median apophysis polymorphism in Leptonetela species, with direct implications for the taxonomy of the group and its diversity. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, we delimit and diagnose 90 Leptonetela species, including the type species Leptonetela kanellisi(Deeleman-Reinhold, 1971). Forty-six of them are previously undescribed. The female of Leptonetela zhai Wang & Li, 2011 is reported for the first time. Leptonetela tianxinensis (Tong & Li, 2008) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Leptoneta Simon, 1872;the genus Guineta Lin & Li, 2010 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Leptonetela; Leptonetela gigachela(Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. is transferred from Guineta. The genus Sinoneta Lin & Li, 2010 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Leptonetela; Leptonetela notabilis(Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. and Leptonetela sexdigiti(Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. are transferred from Sinoneta; Leptonetela sanchahe Wang & Li nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for Sinoneta palmata(Chen et al, 2010) because Leptonetela palmata is preoccupied. PMID:29280363

2K09 and thereafter : the coming era of integrative bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing for functional genomics and personalized medicine research.

PubMed

Yang, Jack Y; Niemierko, Andrzej; Bajcsy, Ruzena; Xu, Dong; Athey, Brian D; Zhang, Aidong; Ersoy, Okan K; Li, Guo-Zheng; Borodovsky, Mark; Zhang, Joe C; Arabnia, Hamid R; Deng, Youping; Dunker, A Keith; Liu, Yunlong; Ghafoor, Arif

2010-12-01

Significant interest exists in establishing synergistic research in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. Supported by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), International Society of Intelligent Biological Medicine (http://www.ISIBM.org), International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design (IJCBDD) and International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalized Medicine, the ISIBM International Joint Conferences on Bioinformatics, Systems Biology and Intelligent Computing (ISIBM IJCBS 2009) attracted more than 300 papers and 400 researchers and medical doctors world-wide. It was the only inter/multidisciplinary conference aimed to promote synergistic research and education in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. The conference committee was very grateful for the valuable advice and suggestions from honorary chairs, steering committee members and scientific leaders including Dr. Michael S. Waterman (USC, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Chih-Ming Ho (UCLA, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Academician of Academia Sinica), Dr. Wing H. Wong (Stanford, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Ruzena Bajcsy (UC Berkeley, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Member of United States Institute of Medicine of the National Academies), Dr. Mary Qu Yang (United States National Institutes of Health and Oak Ridge, DOE), Dr. Andrzej Niemierko (Harvard), Dr. A. Keith Dunker (Indiana), Dr. Brian D. Athey (Michigan), Dr. Weida Tong (FDA, United States Department of Health and Human Services), Dr. Cathy H. Wu (Georgetown), Dr. Dong Xu (Missouri), Drs. Arif Ghafoor and Okan K Ersoy (Purdue), Dr. Mark Borodovsky (Georgia Tech, President of ISIBM), Dr. Hamid R. Arabnia (UGA, Vice-President of ISIBM), and other scientific leaders. The committee presented the 2009 ISIBM Outstanding Achievement Awards to Dr. Joydeep Ghosh (UT

Series of (2+1)-dimensional stable self-dual interacting conformal field theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Meng; Xu, Cenke

2016-12-01

Using the duality between seemingly different (2+1)-dimensional [(2 +1 )d ] conformal field theories (CFT) proposed recently [D. T. Son, Phys. Rev. X 5, 031027 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevX.5.031027; M. A. Metlitski and A. Vishwanath, Phys. Rev. B 93, 245151 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.245151; C. Wang and T. Senthil, Phys. Rev. X 6, 011034 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevX.6.011034; C. Wang and T. Senthil, Phys. Rev. X 5, 041031 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevX.5.041031; C. Wang and T. Senthil, Phys. Rev. B 93, 085110 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.085110; C. Xu and Y.-Z. You, Phys. Rev. B 92, 220416 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.220416; D. F. Mross et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 016802 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.016802; A. Karch and D. Tong, arXiv:1606.01893; N. Seiberg et al., arXiv:1606.01989; P.-S. Hsin and N. Seiberg, arXiv:1607.07457], we study a series of (2 +1 )d stable self-dual interacting CFTs. These CFTs can be realized (for instance) on the boundary of the 3 d bosonic topological insulator protected by U(1) and time-reversal symmetry (T ), and they remain stable as long as these symmetries are preserved. When realized as a boundary system, these CFTs can be driven into anomalous fractional quantum Hall states once T is broken. We demonstrate that the newly proposed dualities allow us to study these CFTs quantitatively through a controlled calculation, without relying on a large flavor number of matter fields. We also propose a numerical test for our results, which would provide strong evidence for the originally proposed duality between Dirac fermion and QED.

2K09 and thereafter : the coming era of integrative bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing for functional genomics and personalized medicine research

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Significant interest exists in establishing synergistic research in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. Supported by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), International Society of Intelligent Biological Medicine (http://www.ISIBM.org), International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design (IJCBDD) and International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalized Medicine, the ISIBM International Joint Conferences on Bioinformatics, Systems Biology and Intelligent Computing (ISIBM IJCBS 2009) attracted more than 300 papers and 400 researchers and medical doctors world-wide. It was the only inter/multidisciplinary conference aimed to promote synergistic research and education in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. The conference committee was very grateful for the valuable advice and suggestions from honorary chairs, steering committee members and scientific leaders including Dr. Michael S. Waterman (USC, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Chih-Ming Ho (UCLA, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Academician of Academia Sinica), Dr. Wing H. Wong (Stanford, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Ruzena Bajcsy (UC Berkeley, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Member of United States Institute of Medicine of the National Academies), Dr. Mary Qu Yang (United States National Institutes of Health and Oak Ridge, DOE), Dr. Andrzej Niemierko (Harvard), Dr. A. Keith Dunker (Indiana), Dr. Brian D. Athey (Michigan), Dr. Weida Tong (FDA, United States Department of Health and Human Services), Dr. Cathy H. Wu (Georgetown), Dr. Dong Xu (Missouri), Drs. Arif Ghafoor and Okan K Ersoy (Purdue), Dr. Mark Borodovsky (Georgia Tech, President of ISIBM), Dr. Hamid R. Arabnia (UGA, Vice-President of ISIBM), and other scientific leaders. The committee presented the 2009 ISIBM Outstanding Achievement Awards to Dr. Joydeep Ghosh (UT

Treating angina pectoris by acupuncture therapy.

PubMed

Xu, Lixian; Xu, Hao; Gao, Wei; Wang, Wei; Zhang, Hui; Lu, Dominic P

2013-01-01

Acupuncture therapy on PC 6 (Neiguan) has a therapeutic effect on cardiac and chest ailments including angina pectoris. Additional beneficial acupuncture points are PC 4 (Ximen), HT 7 (Shenmen point), PC 7 (Daling point), PC 5 (Jianshi point), PC 3 (Quze point), CV 17 (Danzhong point), CV 6 (Qihai point), BL 15 (Xinshu point), L 20 (Pishu point), BL 17 (Geshu point), BL23 (Shenshu point), BL18 (Ganshu point), HT 5 (Tongli point), and ST36 (Zusanli point). Acupuncture not only quickly relieve the symptoms of acute angina pectoris, but also improve nitroglycerine's therapeutic effects. Therefore, it is an efficient simple therapeutic method used for emergency and for regular angina treatment. Review of studies on acupuncture therapy has shown effectiveness were between 80% to 96.2% that are almost as effective as conventional drug regimen. When compared with conventional medical treatment, the acupuncture therapy shows the obvious advantage of lacking, adverse side effects commonly associated with the Western anti-anginal drugs such as 1) Nitroglycerine (headache--63% with nitroglycerine patch and 50% with spray; syncope--4%; and dizziness--8% with patch; hypotension--4% with patch; and increased angina 2% with patch). 2) Isosorbide mononitrate (dizziness--3 to 5%; nausea/vomiting--2 to 4% and other reactions including hypotension, and syncope even with small doses). 3) Propranolol (bradycardia, chest pain, hypotension, worsening of AV conduction disturbance, Raynaud's syndrome, mental depression, hyperglycemia, etc.). Many conventional anti-anginal medications cause inter-drug reactions with other medications the patients taking for other diseases. Whereas, acupuncture therapy does not pose such an interference with patient's medications. Nevertheless, surgery is still the treatment of choice when acupuncture or conventional drug therapy fails. Combination of conventional drug therapy and acupuncture would considerably decrease the frequency and the required dosage

Do-It-Yourself device for recovery of cryopreserved samples accidentally dropped into cryogenic storage tanks.

PubMed

Mehta, Rohini; Baranova, Ancha; Birerdinc, Aybike

2012-05-11

Liquid nitrogen is colorless, odorless, extremely cold (-196 °C) liquid kept under pressure. It is commonly used as a cryogenic fluid for long term storage of biological materials such as blood, cells and tissues (1,2). The cryogenic nature of liquid nitrogen, while ideal for sample preservation, can cause rapid freezing of live tissues on contact - known as 'cryogenic burn' (2), which may lead to severe frostbite in persons closely involved in storage and retrieval of samples from Dewars. Additionally, as liquid nitrogen evaporates it reduces the oxygen concentration in the air and might cause asphyxia, especially in confined spaces (2). In laboratories, biological samples are often stored in cryovials or cryoboxes stacked in stainless steel racks within the Dewar tanks (1). These storage racks are provided with a long shaft to prevent boxes from slipping out from the racks and into the bottom of Dewars during routine handling. All too often, however, boxes or vials with precious samples slip out and sink to the bottom of liquid nitrogen filled tank. In such cases, samples could be tediously retrieved after transferring the liquid nitrogen into a spare container or discarding it. The boxes and vials can then be relatively safely recovered from emptied Dewar. However, the cryogenic nature of liquid nitrogen and its expansion rate makes sunken sample retrieval hazardous. It is commonly recommended by Safety Offices that sample retrieval be never carried out by a single person. Another alternative is to use commercially available cool grabbers or tongs to pull out the vials (3). However, limited visibility within the dark liquid filled Dewars poses a major limitation in their use. In this article, we describe the construction of a Cryotolerant DIY retrieval device, which makes sample retrieval from Dewar containing cryogenic fluids both safe and easy.

[Acupuncture for aphasia: a retrospective analysis of clinical literature].

PubMed

Tan, Jie; Zhang, Hong; Han, Guodong; Ai, Kun; Deng, Shifeng

2016-04-01

With the Meta-analysis method, the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and other regular methods for aphasia was evaluated, and the acupoints selection for aphasia was explored. The acupuncture literature of clinical randomized control trials for aphasia published in CNKI, WANFANG, VIP and CBM database was searched; the statistical analysis of clinical efficacy of acupuncture and other regular methods for aphasia was performed by using software Revman 5. 2 provided by Cochrane library. A file of Microsoft Excel was established to perform the analysis of acupoints selection based on frequency analysis method, so as to summarize the characteristics and rules. Totally 385 articles were searched, and 37 articles those met the inclusive criteria was included, involving 1,260 patients in the acupuncture group and 1 238 patients in the control group. The Meta-analysis results showed OR = 3.82, 95% Cl [3.01, 4.85]; rhombus was located on the right side and the funnel plot was nearly symmetry, indicating the treatment effect of the acupuncture group for aphasia was superior to the control group (Z = 11.04, P < 0.000 01). The frequency-analysis results showed that the frequency of acupoints from top to bottom was Lian-quan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5), Yamen (GV 15), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), Baihui (GV 20), Yuyan II, Yuyan I and Yuyan III. The frequency of meridians from top to bottom was the governor vessel, extra channels, conception vessel, heart meridian and large intestine meridian. It is concluded that the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training and medication treatment for aphasia is superior to that of speech rehabilitation training and medication treatment alone. The clinical treatment for aphasia focuses on its local effect; the main acupoints are in the head and face, and the meridians are governor vessel, extra channels and conception vessel.

Role of deep-Earth water cycling in the growth and evolution of continental crust: Constraints from Cretaceous magmatism in southeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhen; Wang, Xuan-Ce; Wilde, Simon A.; Liu, Liang; Li, Wu-Xian; Yang, Xuemei

2018-03-01

The late Mesozoic igneous province in southeast China provides an excellent opportunity to understand the processes that controlled the growth and evolution of Phanerozoic continental crust. Here we report petrological, whole-rock geochemical and isotopic data, and in situ zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic data from granitoids and associated gabbros in the Pingtan and Tong'an complexes, southeast China. Through combining the new results with published datasets in southeast China, we show that the Early Cretaceous magmatic rocks are dominated by juvenile Nd-Hf isotopic compositions, whereas the Late Cretaceous ones display less radiogenic Nd-Hf isotope signatures. Furthermore, Nd-Hf isotope systematics are coupled with decreasing abundance of hydrous minerals and an increase of zircon saturation temperatures. Compiled zircon Hf-O data indicates that the 117-116 Ma granites have zircon δ18O values ranging from mantle values (close to 5.3‰) to as low as 3.9‰, but with dominantly positive initial epsilon Hf (εHf(t)) values. Zircon grains from 105 to 98 Ma rocks have δ18O values plotting within the mantle-like range (6.5‰ - 4.5‰), but mainly with negative εHf(t) values. Zircon grains from ca. 87 Ma rocks have positive εHf(t) values (+ 9.8 to + 0.7) and a large range of δ18O values (6.3‰ - 3.5‰). The variations in Hf-Nd-O isotopic compositions are correlated with decreasing abundance of magma water contents, presenting a case that water-fluxed melting generated large-scale granitic magmatism. Deep-Earth water cycling provides an alternative or additional mechanism to supply volatiles (e.g., H2O) for hydrous basaltic underplating, continental crustal melting, and magmatic differentiation.

Increased N-Acetylaspartate/creatine ratio in the medial prefrontal cortex among unmedicated obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.

PubMed

Fan, Qing; Tan, Ling; You, Chao; Wang, Jijun; Ross, Colin A; Wang, Xuemei; Zhang, Tianhong; Li, Jianqi; Chen, Kemin; Xiao, Zeping

2010-10-01

Changes in the fronto-striato-thalamo-cortical-circuit loop have been suggested in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and have been studied using (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) with interesting findings. However, whether neural metabolites are abnormal in the medial prefrontal cortex in patients with OCD is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate neural metabolites in this brain region in a sample of patients with OCD. Subjects were 21 unmedicated OCD patients, including 10 who were drug-naïve, and 19 healthy controls. Single-voxel (1)H MRS was used to study the medial prefrontal cortex for each subject. Levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds and myoinositol were measured in terms of their ratios with creatine (Cr). The NAA/Cr ratio was significantly higher among OCD patients than among healthy controls (F = 4.76, P = 0.037). However, it did not correlate with patients' symptoms or with their illness durations. The NAA/Cr ratio also did not differ between drug-naïve and previously medicated patients. No significant group differences were found between OCD patients and normal controls for the choline-containing compounds/Cr or myoinositol/Cr ratios. In addition, a significant correlation between the NAA/Cr ratio and trait anxiety scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was found among the controls (r = 0.639, P = 0.010). The N-Acetylaspartate level relative to creatine in the medial prefrontal cortex was increased among unmedicated OCD patients. This cannot be attributed to the effect of medications. The possible significance of this finding in the pathophysiology of OCD is discussed. © 2010 Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2010 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Integrative taxonomy of Leptonetela spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae), with descriptions of 46 new species.

PubMed

Wang, Chun-Xia; Xu, Xin; Li, Shu-Qiang

2017-11-18

Extreme environments, such as subterranean habitats, are suspected to be responsible for morphologically inseparable cryptic or sibling species and can bias biodiversity assessment. A DNA barcode is a short, standardized DNA sequence used for taxonomic purposes and has the potential to lessen the challenges presented by a biotic inventory. Here, we investigate the diversity of the genus Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 that is endemic to karst systems in Eurasia using DNA barcoding. We analyzed 624 specimens using one mitochondrial gene fragment ( COI ). The results show that DNA barcoding is an efficient and rapid species identification method in this genus. DNA barcoding gap and automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD) analyses indicated the existence of 90 species, a result consistent with previous taxonomic hypotheses, and supported the existence of extreme male pedipalpal tibial spine and median apophysis polymorphism in Leptonetela species, with direct implications for the taxonomy of the group and its diversity. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, we delimit and diagnose 90 Leptonetela species, including the type species Leptonetela kanellisi (Deeleman-Reinhold, 1971). Forty-six of them are previously undescribed. The female of Leptonetela zhai Wang & Li, 2011 is reported for the first time. Leptonetela tianxinensis (Tong & Li, 2008) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Leptoneta Simon, 1872; the genus Guineta Lin & Li, 2010 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Leptonetela; Leptonetela gigachela (Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. is transferred from Guineta . The genus Sinoneta Lin & Li, 2010 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Leptonetela ; Leptonetela notabilis (Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. and Leptonetela sexdigiti (Lin & Li, 2010) comb. nov. are transferred from Sinoneta ; Leptonetela sanchahe Wang & Li nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for Sinoneta palmata (Chen et al., 2010) because Leptonetela palmata is preoccupied.

Assessing composition and structure of soft biphasic media from Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative model parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongmei; Wang, Yue; Fatemi, Mostafa; Insana, Michael F.

2017-03-01

Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative (KVFD) model parameters have been used to describe viscoelastic properties of soft tissues. However, translating model parameters into a concise set of intrinsic mechanical properties related to tissue composition and structure remains challenging. This paper begins by exploring these relationships using a biphasic emulsion materials with known composition. Mechanical properties are measured by analyzing data from two indentation techniques—ramp-stress relaxation and load-unload hysteresis tests. Material composition is predictably correlated with viscoelastic model parameters. Model parameters estimated from the tests reveal that elastic modulus E 0 closely approximates the shear modulus for pure gelatin. Fractional-order parameter α and time constant τ vary monotonically with the volume fraction of the material’s fluid component. α characterizes medium fluidity and the rate of energy dissipation, and τ is a viscous time constant. Numerical simulations suggest that the viscous coefficient η is proportional to the energy lost during quasi-static force-displacement cycles, E A . The slope of E A versus η is determined by α and the applied indentation ramp time T r. Experimental measurements from phantom and ex vivo liver data show close agreement with theoretical predictions of the η -{{E}A} relation. The relative error is less than 20% for emulsions 22% for liver. We find that KVFD model parameters form a concise features space for biphasic medium characterization that described time-varying mechanical properties. The experimental work was carried out at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Methodological development, including numerical simulation and all data analysis, were carried out at the school of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an JiaoTong University, 710049, China.

QAPgrid: A Two Level QAP-Based Approach for Large-Scale Data Analysis and Visualization

PubMed Central

Inostroza-Ponta, Mario; Berretta, Regina; Moscato, Pablo

2011-01-01

Background The visualization of large volumes of data is a computationally challenging task that often promises rewarding new insights. There is great potential in the application of new algorithms and models from combinatorial optimisation. Datasets often contain “hidden regularities” and a combined identification and visualization method should reveal these structures and present them in a way that helps analysis. While several methodologies exist, including those that use non-linear optimization algorithms, severe limitations exist even when working with only a few hundred objects. Methodology/Principal Findings We present a new data visualization approach (QAPgrid) that reveals patterns of similarities and differences in large datasets of objects for which a similarity measure can be computed. Objects are assigned to positions on an underlying square grid in a two-dimensional space. We use the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) as a mathematical model to provide an objective function for assignment of objects to positions on the grid. We employ a Memetic Algorithm (a powerful metaheuristic) to tackle the large instances of this NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem, and we show its performance on the visualization of real data sets. Conclusions/Significance Overall, the results show that QAPgrid algorithm is able to produce a layout that represents the relationships between objects in the data set. Furthermore, it also represents the relationships between clusters that are feed into the algorithm. We apply the QAPgrid on the 84 Indo-European languages instance, producing a near-optimal layout. Next, we produce a layout of 470 world universities with an observed high degree of correlation with the score used by the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled in the The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities without the need of an ad hoc weighting of attributes. Finally, our Gene Ontology-based study on Saccharomyces

Particulate mercury in ambient air in Shanghai, China: Size-specific distribution, gas-particle partitioning, and association with carbonaceous composition.

PubMed

Han, Deming; Zhang, Jiaqi; Hu, Zihao; Ma, Yingge; Duan, Yusen; Han, Yan; Chen, Xiaojia; Zhou, Yong; Cheng, Jinping; Wang, Wenhua

2018-07-01

Mercury (Hg) has a complex atmospheric transformation cycle and acts as a global pollutant. Size-specific particle bound mercury (PBM) was implemented in different functional (industrial, urban and suburban) areas in Shanghai, China. The total concentration of 13-staged PBM (rang of 0.01-18.0 μm) varied of 99.0-611 pg/m 3 , with an average value of 318 ± 144 pg/m 3 . The Gaoqiao petrochemical industry (GQPI) site showed the highest concentrations, whereas the suburban Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) displayed the lowest. The PBM in nucleation, accumulation and coarse modes were 7.63-96.7, 69.5-455, and 9.43-176 pg/m 3 , respectively, and the fractions of 0.56-1.00 and 0.32-0.56 μm were the two most abundant. Both OC and EC displayed unimodal distribution patterns (peak of 0.56-1.00 μm) at GQPI, while bimodal distributions were observed at urban and suburban sites. Statistically positive correlations between the overall PBM and the corresponding PM and carbonaceous compounds (r = 0.38-0.54, p < 0.01), indicating their similar origins and OC/EC enhanced gaseous mercury forming PBM. The gas-particle partition model predicted gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) were 253 ± 133, 237 ± 122, and 257 ± 144 pg/m 3 for GQPI, SAES and SJTU, respectively. The particle proportions of divalent mercury in the fraction of 0.32-1.00 μm were substantial (>80%), but smaller (<50%) for nucleation and coarse modes. The fraction of 9.90-18.00 μm occupied nearly 50% of the overall dry deposition fluxes of mercury. These finding highlight the emissions from different mercury and OC/EC origins, caused different size-specific distributions of PBM, which further affect their gas-particle partitioning and dry deposition of mercury species. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neurosurgeon as innovator: William V. Cone (1897-1959).

PubMed

Preul, M C; Stratford, J; Bertrand, G; Feindel, W

1993-10-01

Neurosurgeons are well known for being productive researchers and innovators. Few, however, have possessed the prolific ingenuity of William Cone. In 1934, he and William Penfield were cofounders of the Montreal Neurological Institute where, until 1959, he filled the twin roles of neurosurgeon-in-chief and neuropathologist. Because he did not find writing easy, many of his technical inventions and refinements remained unpublished. His numerous innovations included the extensive use of twist-drill technique for biopsy, drainage for subdural hematoma and cerebral abscess, and ventriculography. In the mid-1940's, he developed power tools driven by nitrogen that led to the modern, universally used air-driven tool systems. He had a special interest in the treatment of spinal dysfunction, for which he invented the Cone-Barton skull-traction tongs along with the Cone spinal operating table. He also devised operative procedures for vertebral fracture-dislocation and craniospinal anomalies. For the maintenance of muscle tone in the paralyzed bladder, he constructed a tidal drainage system. He introduced and popularized ventriculoperitoneal shunting techniques and carried out some of the earliest experimental trails to treat brain infections with sulphonamide and antibiotic drugs. He designed his own set of surgical suction devices, bone rongeurs, and a personal suction "air-conditioning" system for each surgeon. He had a keen early interest in intracranial tumors, and also demonstrated on monkeys how subdural mass lesions caused pupillary dilation and mesial temporal lobe damage due to cerebral compression. His work for the military during World War II on effects of altitude on brain pressure remained classified for many years. The first clipping and excision of an intracranial aneurysm is attributed to Cone. Although Penfield was known as "the Chief," Cone was referred to as "the Boss." His fervent dedication to provide total care to his patients was expressed in round

Correlation between STK33 and the pathology and prognosis of lung cancer

PubMed Central

Lu, Yi; Tang, Jie; Zhang, Wenmei; Shen, Ce; Xu, Ling; Yang, Danrong

2017-01-01

Correlation between the expression of STK33 and the pathology of lung cancer was investigated, to explore its effects on prognosis. Hundred and two lung cancer patients diagnosed by pathological examinations were randomly selected in Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital from February, 2012 to February, 2017 to serve as observation group, and the tumor tissues were collected. At the same time, 19 patients with lung benign lesions were selected and lung tissues were also collected to serve as control group. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of STK33 mRNA in tissues. Expression levels of STK33 protein were detected and compared by SP immunohistochemistry staining and western blot analysis. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between STK33 expression and the pathology and prognosis of lung cancer. Results of PCR showed that expression level of STK33 gene in control group was significantly lower than that in observation group (p<0.05). The expression level of STK33 mRNA in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was lower than that in lung small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma (p<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the expression level of STK33 protein in lung small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.05). Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the positive rate of STK33 in lung large cell carcinoma (100%) and small cell carcinoma (100%) was significantly higher than that in lung adenocarcinoma (88.1%) and squamous cell carcinoma (86.2%) (p<0.05). The 5-year survival rate analysis showed that the recurrence-free survival rate and overall survival rate of STK33 gene high expression level group were significantly lower than those of low expression level group (p<0.05). The differential expression level of STK33 is related to the pathology and prognosis of lung cancer, which is of great value in

Chinese herbal prescriptions for osteoarthritis in Taiwan: analysis of national health insurance dataset

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been commonly used for treating osteoarthritis in Asia for centuries. This study aimed to conduct a large-scale pharmaco-epidemiologic study and evaluate the frequency and patterns of CHM used in treating osteoarthritis in Taiwan. Methods A complete database (total 22,520,776 beneficiaries) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outpatient claims offered by the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan for the year 2002 was employed for this research. Patients with osteoarthritis were identified according to the diagnostic code of the International Classification of Disease among claimed visiting files. Corresponding prescription files were analyzed, and an association rule was applied to evaluate the co-prescription of CHM for treating osteoarthritis. Results There were 20,059 subjects who visited TCM clinics for osteoarthritis and received a total of 32,050 CHM prescriptions. Subjects between 40 and 49 years of age comprised the largest number of those treated (19.2%), followed by 50-59 years (18.8%) and 60-69 years group (18.2%). In addition, female subjects used CHMs for osteoarthritis more frequently than male subjects (female: male = 1.89: l). There was an average of 5.2 items prescribed in the form of either an individual Chinese herb or formula in a single CHM prescription for osteoarthritis. Du-zhong (Eucommia bark) was the most commonly prescribed Chinese single herb, while Du-huo-ji-sheng-tang was the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal formula for osteoarthritis. According to the association rule, the most commonly prescribed formula was Du-huo-ji-sheng-tang plus Shen-tong-zhu-yu-tang, and the most commonly prescribed triple-drug combination was Du-huo-ji-sheng-tang, Gu-sui-pu (Drynaria fortune (Kunze) J. Sm.), and Xu-Duan (Himalaya teasel). Nevertheless, further clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these CHMs for treating osteoarthritis. Conclusions This study

Inhibition of the interactions between eosinophil cationic protein and airway epithelial cells by traditional Chinese herbs.

PubMed

Chang, Hao-Teng; Tseng, Louis J; Hung, Ta-Jen; Kao, Blacky T; Lin, Wei-Yong; Fan, Tan-chi; Chang, Margaret Dah-Tsyr; Pai, Tun-Wen

2010-09-13

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is cytotoxic to bacteria, viruses, parasites and mammalian cells. Cells are damaged via processes of pore formation, permeability alteration and membrane leaking. Some clinical studies indicate that ECP gathers in the bronchial tract of asthma sufferers, damages bronchial and airway epithelial cells, and leads to in breathing tract inflammation; therefore, prevention of the cytotoxicity caused by ECP may serve as an approach to treat airway inflammation. To achieve the purpose, reduction of the ECP-cell interactions is rational. In this work, the Chinese herbal combinative network was generated to predict and identify the functional herbs from the pools of prescriptions. It was useful to select the node herbs and to demonstrate the relative binding ability between ECP and Beas-2B cells with or withour herb treatments. Eighty three Chinese herbs and prescriptions were tested and five effective herbs and six prescription candidates were selected. On the basis of effective single-herbal drugs and prescriptions, a combinative network was generated. We found that a single herb, Gan-cao, served as a node connecting five prescriptions. In addition, Sheng-di-huang, Dang-guei and Mu-tong also appeared in five, four and three kinds of prescriptions, respectively. The extracts of these three herbs indeed effectively inhibited the interactions between ECP and Beas-2B cells. According to the Chinese herbal combinative network, eight of the effective herbal extracts showed inhibitory effects for ECP internalizing into Beas-2B cells. The major components of Gang-cao and Sheng-di-huang, glycyrrhizic acid and verbascose, respectively, reduced the binding affinity between ECP and cells effectively. Since these Chinese herbs reduced the binding affinity between ECP and cells and inhibited subsequent ECP entrance into cells, they were potential for mitigating the airway inflammation symptoms. Additionally, we mentioned a new concept to study the

Prescriptions of Chinese herbal medicine for constipation under the national health insurance in Taiwan.

PubMed

Jong, Maw-Shiou; Hwang, Shinn-Jang; Chen, Yu-Chun; Chen, Tzeng-Ji; Chen, Fun-Jou; Chen, Fang-Pey

2010-07-01

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of use and prescriptive patterns of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating constipation by analyzing the claims data of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan. The computerized claims dataset of the TCM office visits and the corresponding prescription files in 2004 compiled by the NHI Research Institute in Taiwan were linked and processed. Visit files with the single diagnostic coding of constipation (ICD-9-CM code 564.0) were extracted to analyze the frequency and pattern of corresponding CHM prescriptions. The association rule was applied to analyze the co-prescription of CHM in treating constipation. There were 152,564 subjects who visited TCM clinics only for constipation in Taiwan during 2004 and received a total of 387,268 CHM prescriptions. Subjects between 20 and 29 years of age comprised the largest number of those treated (25.5%). Female subjects used CHM for constipation more frequently than male subjects (female:male = 3.31:1). There was an average of 4.6 items of single Chinese herbs or formula in a single prescription for constipation. Ma-zi-renwan was the most commonly prescribed herbal formula, while Da-huang (Rheum palmatum) was the most commonly used single Chinese herb. According to the association rule, the most common prescribed pattern of 2-drug combination of CHM for treating constipation was Ban-xia-xie-xin-tang plus Ma-zi-ren-wan, while the 3-drug combination of CHM was Fang-feng-tong-sheng-san, Rheum palmatum and Ma-zi-ren-wan. This study showed the pattern of single Chinese herbs or herbal formulae used in treating constipation in Taiwan. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these CHMs in treating constipation. 2010 Elsevier. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

"Functional" Inspiratory and Core Muscle Training Enhances Running Performance and Economy.

PubMed

Tong, Tomas K; McConnell, Alison K; Lin, Hua; Nie, Jinlei; Zhang, Haifeng; Wang, Jiayuan

2016-10-01

Tong, TK, McConnell, AK, Lin, H, Nie, J, Zhang, H, and Wang, J. "Functional" inspiratory and core muscle training enhances running performance and economy. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2942-2951, 2016-We compared the effects of two 6-week high-intensity interval training interventions. Under the control condition (CON), only interval training was undertaken, whereas under the intervention condition (ICT), interval training sessions were followed immediately by core training, which was combined with simultaneous inspiratory muscle training (IMT)-"functional" IMT. Sixteen recreational runners were allocated to either ICT or CON groups. Before the intervention phase, both groups undertook a 4-week program of "foundation" IMT to control for the known ergogenic effect of IMT (30 inspiratory efforts at 50% maximal static inspiratory pressure [P0] per set, 2 sets per day, 6 days per week). The subsequent 6-week interval running training phase consisted of 3-4 sessions per week. In addition, the ICT group undertook 4 inspiratory-loaded core exercises (10 repetitions per set, 2 sets per day, inspiratory load set at 50% post-IMT P0) immediately after each interval training session. The CON group received neither core training nor functional IMT. After the intervention phase, global inspiratory and core muscle functions increased in both groups (p ≤ 0.05), as evidenced by P0 and a sport-specific endurance plank test (SEPT) performance, respectively. Compared with CON, the ICT group showed larger improvements in SEPT, running economy at the speed of the onset of blood lactate accumulation, and 1-hour running performance (3.04% vs. 1.57%, p ≤ 0.05). The changes in these variables were interindividually correlated (r ≥ 0.57, n = 16, p ≤ 0.05). Such findings suggest that the addition of inspiratory-loaded core conditioning into a high-intensity interval training program augments the influence of the interval program on endurance running performance and that this may be

Tectonothermal evolution of the Triassic flysch in the Bayan Har Orogen, Tibetan plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hejing; Rahn, Meinert; Zhou, Jian

2018-01-01

The Bayan Har Orogen comprises a major part of the "Qingzang-Dianxi fold region" in western China. It preserves important information of the tectono-thermal evolution covering the time span from the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean up to the formation of the Himalayas. Low temperature metamorphic indicators, such as mineral assemblages, illite "crystallinity" (IC), chlorite "crystallinity" (CC), illite polytype, b-cell dimension of K-white micas, geothermometry of selected minerals were analyzed. The values of Kübler index (KI) of the Triassic flysch in the Bayan Har Orogen range from 0.23-1.63°Δ2θ while Árkai index (ÁI) in a range of 0.21-0.60°Δ2θ. Iso-thermal zones mapped with KI describe a pair of anchizones and an anchiregion within the Bayan Har Orogen: the "Giant Yushu Anchizone" in the southwest (extending > 750 km long and 100 km wide), the "Zaling-Eling-Lakes Anchizone" in the center (about 150 km long and 40 km wide) and the "Xing-Tong-Zhe Anchiregion" in the northeast (covering an area of roughly 60,000 km2). They are separated by diagenetic zones. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated around 280-330 °C and a low to intermediate (N. New Hampshire) pressure type. A slight change with increasing then decreasing pressure was observed from SW to NE. The relationship between anchimetamorphic pattern of Triassic flysch and large-scale folds and faults indicates syn- to post structural metamorphism. Compression at the end of the Triassic, induced by the interaction of the Tarim, North China and Indian blocks caused the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and led to the folding of the Triassic flysch within the Paleo-Tethys Ocean basin. Anchimetamorphism may have been caused by crustal thickening of > 10 km due to an accretionary wedge setting and a temperature increase in those rocks due to burial. Such a regional metamorphic pattern would provide important information for reconstruction of palaeotectonic-palaeogeograph and the evolutionary history

Herbal prescription Chang'an II repairs intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with post-inflammation irritable bowel syndrome

PubMed Central

Wang, Feng-yun; Su, Min; Zheng, Yong-qiu; Wang, Xiao-ge; Kang, Nan; Chen, Ting; Zhu, En-lin; Bian, Zhao-xiang; Tang, Xu-dong

2015-01-01

Aim: The herbal prescription Chang'an II is derived from a classical TCM formula Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang for the treatment of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this study we investigated the effects of Chang'an II on the intestinal mucosal immune barrier in a rat post-inflammation IBS (PI-IBS) model. Methods: A rat model of PI-IBS was established using a multi-stimulation paradigm including early postnatal sibling deprivation, bondage and intrarectal administration of TNBS. Four weeks after TNBS administration, the rats were treated with Chang'an II (2.85, 5.71 and 11.42 g·kg−1·d−1, ig) for 14 d. Intestinal sensitivity was assessed based on the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores and fecal water content. Open field test and two-bottle sucrose intake test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes. CD4+ and CD8+ cells were counted and IL-1β and IL-4 levels were measured in intestinal mucosa. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate ultrastructural changes of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Results: PI-IBS model rats showed significantly increased AWR reactivity and fecal water content, and decreased locomotor activity and sucrose intake. Chang'an II treatment not only reduced AWR reactivity and fecal water content, but also suppressed the anxiety and depressive behaviors. Ultrastructural study revealed that the gut mucosal barrier function was severely damaged in PI-IBS model rats, whereas Chang'an II treatment relieved intestinal mucosal inflammation and repaired the gut mucosal barrier. Furthermore, PI-IBS model rats showed a significantly reduced CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio in lamina propria and submucosa, and increased IL-1β and reduced IL-4 expression in intestinal mucosa, whereas Chang'an II treatment reversed PI-IBS-induced changes in CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio and expression of IL-1β and IL-4. Conclusion: Chang'an II treatment protects the intestinal mucosa against PI-IBS through anti

Primary intrathoracic liposarcoma: a clinicopathologic study and prognostic analysis of 23 cases

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Primary intrathoracic liposarcoma is an extremely rare malignancy as well as a rare histologic subtype of intrathoracic sarcoma. Relatively few reports appear in the world literatures. We explored the clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of this tumor in this study. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 23 patients with primary intrathoracic liposarcoma who were treated in Shanghai chest Hospital affiliated to Jiao Tong University, from January 2003 to March 2013. These patients were classified into three groups according to the distinct tumor locations, including mediastinum, pleura and lung liposarcoma. Also, these patients could be divided into four types, including well-differentiated, myxoid, dedifferentiated and pleomorphic liposarcoma. The influences of age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, tumor histologic type and therapy on the prognosis of the patients were analyzed. Results There were no significant difference for survival among distinct liposarcoma locations. However, significant difference for survival among distinct liposarcoma types were observed. Poor disease-free survival (DFS) was observed in the myxoid, pleomorphic and dedifferentiated types as compared to well-differentiated type (P = 0.038). Inferior overall-survival (OS) was observed in dedifferentiated, pleomorphic and myxoid types relative to well-differentiated type (P = 0.027). The radical surgery was a favorable prognostic factor for OS, as demonstrated by the better OS of the radical surgery group as compared to that of the non-radical surgery group ( P = 0.029). Notably, there were no significant differences for DFS and OS in other clinical parameters including tumor size, gender and age. In addition, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy could not improve the prognosis of the patients receiving non-radical surgery or suffering from relapse. Conclusions The histological type and the radical surgery are the factors that

Mechanisms for the anti-obesity actions of bofutsushosan in high-fat diet-fed obese mice.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Shinjiro; Kawasaki, Yuki; Takahashi, Tatsuo; Maeno, Hironori; Nomura, Masaaki

2017-01-01

The Kampo medicine bofutsushosan (BTS; Pulvis ledebouriellae compositae ; Fang Feng Tong Sheng San ) has been used as an anti-obesity treatment in overweight patients. In this study, we assessed the underlying physiological changes induced by BTS in obese mice maintained on a high-fat diet. Male ICR mice were fed a 60% kcal fat diet for 5 weeks starting at 4 weeks of age and then fed the same diet with administration of water (control) or aqueous BTS extract (1.0-2.0 g/kg) for 25 days. Body weight, wet weight of isolated white adipose tissue, and obesity-related serum parameters (glucose, lipids, leptin, adiponectin) were measured after treatment. The mRNA expression levels of leptin, adiponectin, and UCP1 in the adipose tissues were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction after the first 5 days of treatment. Bofutsushosan (1.5-2.0 g/kg) significantly decreased total body weight and total wet weight of white adipose tissue isolated from subcutaneous (retroperitoneal) and visceral regions (epididymal, mesenteric, and perirenal). At 2.0 g/kg, BTS also decreased total fat mass, visceral fat mass, and ratio of fat mass to body weight as measured by computed tomography, and significantly decreased epididymal adipocyte size after 14 and 25 days' treatment. Twenty-five days' treatment lowered serum glucose, insulin, leptin, and triglycerides, and reduced homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance. Alternatively, 2.0 g/kg BTS significantly increased mRNA levels of adiponectin, leptin, and UCP1 in interscapular brown adipose tissue but not epididymal white adipose tissue after 5 days' administration. In the early administration period, BTS increased mRNA expression levels of leptin, adiponectin, and UCP1 in brown adipose tissues. With longer administration, BTS improved insulin resistance, and subsequently reduced serum levels of leptin and triglyceride in parallel with decreased visceral white adipose tissue volume and adipocyte size.

Ferromagnetic resonance linewidth and damping in perpendicular-anisotropy magnetic multilayers thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beaujour, Jean-Marc

2010-03-01

Transition metal ferromagnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) have ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidths that are one order of magnitude larger than soft magnetic materials, such as pure iron (Fe) and permalloy (NiFe) thin films. We have conducted systematic studies of a variety of thin film materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy to investigate the origin of the enhanced FMR linewidths, including Ni/Co and CoFeB/Co/Ni multilayers. In Ni/Co multilayers the PMA was systematically reduced by irradiation with Helium ions, leading to a transition from out-of-plane to in-plane easy axis with increasing He ion fluence [1,2]. The FMR linewidth depends linearly on frequency for perpendicular applied fields and increases significantly when the magnetization is rotated into the film plane with an applied in-plane magnetic field. Irradiation of the film with Helium ions decreases the PMA and the distribution of PMA parameters, leading to a large reduction in the FMR linewidth for in-plane magnetization. These results suggest that fluctuations in the PMA lead to a large two magnon scattering contribution to the linewidth for in-plane magnetization and establish that the Gilbert damping is enhanced in such materials (α˜0.04, compared to α˜0.002 for pure Fe) [2]. We compare these results to those on CoFeB/Co/Ni and published results on other thin film materials with PMA [e.g., Ref. 3]. [1] D. Stanescu et al., J. Appl. Phys. 103, 07B529 (2008). [2] J-M. L. Beaujour, D. Ravelosona, I. Tudosa, E. Fullerton, and A. D. Kent, Phys. Rev. B RC 80, 180415 (2009). [3] N. Mo, J. Hohlfeld, M. ulIslam, C. S. Brown, E. Girt, P. Krivosik, W. Tong, A. Rebel, and C. E. Patton, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 022506 (2008). *Research done in collaboration with: A. D. Kent, New York University, D. Ravelosona, Institut d'Electronique Fondamentale, UMR CNRS 8622, Universit'e Paris Sud, E. E. Fullerton, Center for Magnetic Recording Research, UCSD, and supported by NSF

Hospital staff experiences of their relationships with adults who self-harm: A meta-synthesis.

PubMed

O'Connor, Sophie; Glover, Lesley

2017-09-01

This review aimed to synthesize qualitative literature exploring inpatient hospital staff experiences of their relationships with people who self-harm. Nine studies were identified from a systematic search of five research databases. Papers included the experiences of physical health and mental health staff working in inpatient settings. The studies employed various qualitative research methods and were appraised using an adapted quality assessment tool (Tong, Sainsbury, & Craig, 2007). A meta-synthesis was conducted using traditional qualitative analysis methods including coding and categorizing data into themes. Three main themes derived from the data. 'The impact of the system' influenced the extent to which staff were 'Fearing the harm from self-harm', or were 'Working alongside the whole person'. A fear-based relationship occurred across mental health and physical health settings despite differences in training; however, 'Working alongside the whole person' primarily emerged from mental health staff experiences. Systemic factors provided either an inhibitory or facilitative influence on the relational process. Staff experiences of their relationship with people who self-harm were highlighted to have an important impact on the delivery and outcome of care. Increasing support for staff with a focus on distress tolerance, managing relational issues, and developing self-awareness within the relationship may lead to a more mutually beneficial experience of care. Equally, structure, clarity, and support within inpatient systems may empower staff to feel more confident in utilizing their existing skills. Working with people who self-harm can be emotionally challenging and how staff cope with this can significantly impact on the engagement of staff and patients. Increasing the skills of staff in managing relational issues and tolerating distress, as well as providing support and reflective practice groups may be useful in managing emotional responses to working with

Cost-Utility Analyses of Cataract Surgery in Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PubMed Central

Ma, Yingyan; Huang, Jiannan; Zhu, Bijun; Sun, Qian; Miao, Yuyu; Zou, Haidong

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Purpose To explore the cost-utility of cataract surgery in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Patients who were diagnosed as having and treated for age-related cataract and with a history of advanced AMD at the Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, were included in the study. All of the participants underwent successful phacoemulsification with foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation under retrobulbar anesthesia. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and utility value elicited by time trade-off method from patients at 3-month postoperative time were compared with those before surgery. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained in a lifetime were calculated at a 3% annual discounted rate. Costs per QALY gained were calculated using the bootstrap method, and probabilities of being cost-effective were presented using a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. Results Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA in the operated eye increased from 1.37 ± 0.5 (Snellen, 20/469) to 0.98 ± 0.25 (Snellen, 20/191) (p < 0.001); BCVA in the weighted average from both eyes (=75% better eye + 25% worse eye) was changed from 1.13 ± 0.22 (Snellen, 20/270) to 0.96 ± 0.17 (Snellen, 20/182) (p < 0.001). Utility values from both patients and doctors increased significantly after surgery (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007). Patients gained 1.17 QALYs by cataract surgery in their lifetime. The cost per QALY was 8835 Chinese yuan (CNY) (1400 U.S. dollars [USD]). It is cost-effective at the threshold of 115,062 CNY (18,235 USD) per QALY in China recommended by the World Health Organization. The cost per QALY varied from 7045 CNY (1116 USD) to 94,178 CNY (14,925 USD) in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Visual acuity and quality of life assessed by utility value improved significantly after surgery

Transformation of Chlorpyrifos and Chlorpyrifos-Methyl in Prairie Pothole Porewaters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, R. M.; Chin, Y. P.

2014-12-01

The prairie pothole region (PPR) extends over approximately 700,000 km2 in the Great Plains region in United States and Canada and is a critical breeding ground for migratory waterfowl, as well as an important ecosystem for diverse invertebrates and aquatic plants (van der Valk, 2003). Consisting of up to 12 million permanent and temporary depressional wetlands, the PPR is negatively impacted by non-point source pesticide pollution due to extensive agricultural development in the region. Recent studies have shown that high (mM) levels of sulfate in the pothole lakes are capable of abiotically reducing dinitroaniline and chloroacetanilide pesticides (Zeng, 2011; Zeng, 2012). In this study the transformation of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos (CP) and its analog chlorpyrifos-methyl (CPM) was studied using pore waters sampled from two pothole lakes. CP and CPM have been found to react in the laboratory with sulfur species via a SN2 mechanism, with degradation by sulfur compounds occurring faster than hydrolysis at high pH (Wu, 2006). To date the reaction of CP and CPM in natural environments with sulfur species has not been studied. Chlorpyrifos-methyl underwent rapid degradation in the presence of reduced sulfur species in pore water, while chlorpyrifos degradation occurred at significantly slower rates. Both CP and CPM degradation occurred at comparable rates to what has been previously observed in the laboratory (Wu, 2006). References van der Valk, Arnold G., and Roger L. Pederson. "The SWANCC decision and its implications for prairie potholes." Wetlands 23.3 (2003): 590-596. Wu, Tong, Qiu Gan, and Urs Jans. "Nucleophilic Substitution of Phosphorothionate Ester Pesticides with Bisulfide (HS-) and Polysulfides (Sn2-)." Environmental science & technology 40.17 (2006): 5428-5434. Zeng, Teng, et al. "Pesticide processing potential in prairie pothole porewaters."Environmental science & technology 45.16 (2011): 6814-6822. Zeng, Teng, Yu-Ping Chin, and William

Overnutrition and maternal obesity in sheep pregnancy alter the JNK-IRS-1 signaling cascades and cardiac function in the fetal heart

PubMed Central

Wang, Jingying; Ma, Heng; Tong, Chao; Zhang, Hanying; Lawlis, Gavin B.; Li, Yuanda; Zang, Mengwei; Ren, Jun; Nijland, Mark J.; Ford, Stephen P.; Nathanielsz, Peter W.; Li, Ji

2010-01-01

Maternal obesity in pregnancy predisposes offspring to insulin resistance and associated cardiovascular disease. Here, we used a well-established sheep model to investigate the effects of maternal obesity on cardiac functions. Multiparous ewes were assigned to a control (CON) diet [100% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations] or an obesogenic (OB) diet (150% of NRC recommendations) from 60 d before conception to necropsy on d 135 of pregnancy. Fetal blood glucose and insulin were increased (P<0.01, n=8) in OB (35.09±2.03 mg/dl and 3.40±1.43 μU/ml, respectively) vs. CON ewes (23.80±1.38 mg/dl and 0.769±0.256 μU/ml). Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cardioprotective signaling pathway, was reduced (P<0.05), while the stress signaling pathway, p38 MAPK, was up-regulated (P<0.05) in OB maternal and fetal hearts. Phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) at Ser-307 were increased (P<0.05) in OB fetal heart associated with lower downstream PI3K-Akt activity (P<0.05), indicating impaired cardiac insulin signaling. Although OB fetal hearts exhibited a normal contractile function vs. CON fetal hearts during basal perfusion, they developed an impaired heart-rate-left-ventricular-developed pressure product in response to high workload stress. Taken together, fetuses of OB mothers demonstrate alterations in cardiac PI3K-Akt, AMPK, and JNK-IRS-1 signaling pathways that would predispose them to insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction.—Wang, J., Ma, H., Tong, C., Zhang, H., Lawlis, G. B., Li, Y., Zang, M., Ren, J., Nijland, M. J., Ford, S. P., Nathanielsz, P. W., Li, J. Overnutrition and maternal obesity in sheep pregnancy alter the JNK-IRS-1 signaling cascades and cardiac function in the fetal heart. PMID:20110268

Herbal prescription Chang'an II repairs intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with post-inflammation irritable bowel syndrome.

PubMed

Wang, Feng-yun; Su, Min; Zheng, Yong-qiu; Wang, Xiao-ge; Kang, Nan; Chen, Ting; Zhu, En-lin; Bian, Zhao-xiang; Tang, Xu-dong

2015-06-01

The herbal prescription Chang'an II is derived from a classical TCM formula Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang for the treatment of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this study we investigated the effects of Chang'an II on the intestinal mucosal immune barrier in a rat post-inflammation IBS (PI-IBS) model. A rat model of PI-IBS was established using a multi-stimulation paradigm including early postnatal sibling deprivation, bondage and intrarectal administration of TNBS. Four weeks after TNBS administration, the rats were treated with Chang'an II (2.85, 5.71 and 11.42 g · kg(-1) · d(-1), ig) for 14 d. Intestinal sensitivity was assessed based on the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores and fecal water content. Open field test and two-bottle sucrose intake test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes. CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were counted and IL-1β and IL-4 levels were measured in intestinal mucosa. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate ultrastructural changes of the intestinal mucosal barrier. PI-IBS model rats showed significantly increased AWR reactivity and fecal water content, and decreased locomotor activity and sucrose intake. Chang'an II treatment not only reduced AWR reactivity and fecal water content, but also suppressed the anxiety and depressive behaviors. Ultrastructural study revealed that the gut mucosal barrier function was severely damaged in PI-IBS model rats, whereas Chang'an II treatment relieved intestinal mucosal inflammation and repaired the gut mucosal barrier. Furthermore, PI-IBS model rats showed a significantly reduced CD4(+)/CD8(+) cell ratio in lamina propria and submucosa, and increased IL-1β and reduced IL-4 expression in intestinal mucosa, whereas Chang'an II treatment reversed PI-IBS-induced changes in CD4(+)/CD8(+) cell ratio and expression of IL-1β and IL-4. Chang'an II treatment protects the intestinal mucosa against PI-IBS through anti

Adaptations to a new physical training program in the combat controller training pipeline.

PubMed

Walker, Thomas B; Lennemann, Lynette M; Anderson, Vint; Lyons, William; Zupan, Michael F

2011-01-01

The United States Air Force combat controller (CCT) training pipeline is extremely arduous and historically has a high attrition rate of 70 to 80%. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of incorporating a 711 Human Performance Wing (HPW) / Biobehavior, Bioassessment, and Biosurveillance Branch (RHPF)-developed physical fitness-training program into the combat controller (CCT) 5-level training physical fitness program. One-hundred-nine CCT trainees were tested and trained during their initial eight weeks at the 720th Special Tactics Training Squadron (STTS) at Hurlburt Field. Modifications to their physical training program were principally aimed at reducing overtraining and overuse injury, educating trainees and cadre on how to train smarter, and transitioning from traditional to "functional" PT. A battery of physiological measurements and a psychological test were administered prior to and immediately after trainees undertook an 8-week modified physical fitness training program designed to reduce overtraining and injury and improve performance. We performed multiple physical tests for cardiovascular endurance (VO₂max and running economy), "anaerobic" capacity (Wingate power and loaded running tests), body composition (skinfolds), power (Wingate and vertical jump), and reaction time (Makoto eye-hand test). We used the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 48 (MTQ-48) for the psychological test. We observed several significant improvements in physical and physiological performance over the eight weeks of training. Body composition improved by 16.2% (p < 0.05). VO₂max, time-to-exhaustion, and ventilatory threshold were all significantly higher after implementation of the new program than before it. We observed strong trends towards improvement in work accomplished during loaded running (p = 0.07) and in average power per body mass during lower body Wingate (p = 0.08). Other measures of lower body power did not change significantly over the

PREFACE: 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Plasma Science and Technology (APCPST-11) and 25th Symposium on Plasma Science for Materials (SPSM-25)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Takayuki; Kaneko, Toshio; Sekine, Makoto; Tanaka, Yasunori

2013-06-01

advances in thermal and non-equilibrium plasmas as well as on more new and innovative developments in the field of life innovation, green innovation and a technical report session. The editors hope that this volume will be useful and helpful for deepening our understanding of science and technology of plasma materials processing and also for stimulating further development of the plasma technology. Finally, we would like to thank the conference chairmen, the members of the organizing committee, the advisory committee, the executive committee, the program committee, the publication committee, organizing secretariat and financial support from The 153rd Committee on Plasma Materials Science, JSPS. Sponsors and Supporting Organization: The 153rd Committee on Plasma Materials Science, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Organizing Committee Chairperson: Osamu Tsuji, SAMCO Corporation, Japan Advisory Committee Chairperson: Akihisa Matsuda, Osaka University, Japan Executive Committee Chairperson: Masaru Hori, Nagoya University, Japan Program Committee Chairperson: Takamasa Ishigaki, Hosei University, Japan Publication Committee Chairperson: Takayuki Watanabe, Kyushu University Editors of APCPST-11 and SPMS-25 Professor Takayuki Watanabe, Kyushu University, Japan Professor Toshio Kaneko, Tohoku University, Japan Professor Makoto Sekine, Nagoya University, Japan Professor Yasunori Tanaka, Kanazawa University, Japan

PREFACE: Asia-Pacific Interdisciplinary Research Conference 2011 (AP-IRC 2011)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandhu, Adarsh; Okada, Hiroshi; Maekawa, Toru; Okano, Ken

2012-03-01

; a novel method for the synthesis of graphene using bacteria extracted from a riverside in Toyohashi by Toyohashi Tech scientists; and ambitious plans to harvest energy by laying massive numbers of solar cells in North Africa as part of the 'Sahara Solar Breeder (SSB) Plan' for a global clean-energy superhighway, described by Hideomi Koinuma. In addition to the technical sessions, the conference banquet included a short session during which the invited speakers described notable trends in research and policy in their part of the world. The short speeches led to animated discussions between the delegates, particularly the young scientists and graduate students, who were able to talk directly with veteran researchers for a first-hand view of the issues raised during the day's presentations. In closing the conference, Professor Makoto Ishida, co-chair of the conference and vice-president of Toyohashi Tech announced that this conference will be held annually at the same time each year, with AP-IRC 2012 scheduled for 15-16 November 2012 at the Irago Sea-Park & Spa Hotel in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. AP-IRC group The PDF also contains lists of the Committees involved.

Circulation patterns in the deep Subtropical Northeast Atlantic with ARGO data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calheiros, Tomas; Bashmachnikov, Igor

2014-05-01

In this work we study the dominant circulation patterns in the Subtropical Northeast Atlantic using ARGO data [25-45o N, 5-35o W]. The data were obtained from the Coriolis operational data center (ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr) for the years 1999-2013. During this period of time in the study there were available area 376 floats with 15062 float-months of total time. The floats were launched in the depths range between 300 and 2000 m, but most of the floats were concentrated at 1000 m (2000 float-months) and 1500 m (3400 float-months). In the upper 400-m layer there were also about 1000 float-months, but their number and distribution did not allow analysis of the mean currents over the study region. For each float position Lagrangian current velocity was computed as the difference between the position when the buoy started sinking to the reference depth and the consequent position of surfacing of the float, divided by the respective time interval. This allowed reducing the noise related with sea-surface drift of the buoys during the data-transmission periods. Mean Eulerian velocity and its error were computed in each of the 2ox2o square. Whenever in a 2ox2o square more than 150 observations of the Lagrangian velocity were available, the square was split into 4 smaller 1ox1o squares, in each of which the mean Eulerian velocities and their errors were estimated. Eulerian currents at 1000 m, as well as at 1500 m depth formed an overall anticyclonic circulation pattern in the study region. The modal velocity of all buoys at 1000 m level was 4 cm/s with an error of the mean of 1.8 cm/s. The modal velocity of all buoys at 1500m was 3 cm/s with an error of the mean of 1.4 cm/s. The southwestward flows near the Madeira Island and further westwards flow along the zonal band of 25-30o N at 1500 m depth well corresponded to the extension of the deep fraction of the Mediterranean Water salt tong.

Test-Retest Reliability of a Serious Game for Delirium Screening in the Emergency Department.

PubMed

Tong, Tiffany; Chignell, Mark; Tierney, Mary C; Lee, Jacques S

2016-01-01

Introduction: Cognitive screening in settings such as emergency departments (ED) is frequently carried out using paper-and-pencil tests that require administration by trained staff. These assessments often compete with other clinical duties and thus may not be routinely administered in these busy settings. Literature has shown that the presence of cognitive impairments such as dementia and delirium are often missed in older ED patients. Failure to recognize delirium can have devastating consequences including increased mortality (Kakuma et al., 2003). Given the demands on emergency staff, an automated cognitive test to screen for delirium onset could be a valuable tool to support delirium prevention and management. In earlier research we examined the concurrent validity of a serious game, and carried out an initial assessment of its potential as a delirium screening tool (Tong et al., 2016). In this paper, we examine the test-retest reliability of the game, as it is an important criterion in a cognitive test for detecting risk of delirium onset. Objective: To demonstrate the test-retest reliability of the screening tool over time in a clinical sample of older emergency patients. A secondary objective is to assess whether there are practice effects that might make game performance unstable over repeated presentations. Materials and Methods: Adults over the age of 70 were recruited from a hospital ED. Each patient played our serious game in an initial session soon after they arrived in the ED, and in follow up sessions conducted at 8-h intervals (for each participant there were up to five follow up sessions, depending on how long the person stayed in the ED). Results: A total of 114 adults (61 females, 53 males) between the ages of 70 and 104 years ( M = 81 years, SD = 7) participated in our study after screening out delirious patients. We observed a test-retest reliability of the serious game (as assessed by correlation r -values) between 0.5 and 0.8 across adjacent

Analyzing the Chinese landscape in anti-diabetic drug research: leading knowledge production institutions and thematic communities.

PubMed

Deng, Junling; Sitou, Kaweng; Zhang, Yongping; Yan, Ru; Hu, Yuanjia

2016-01-01

The discovery of anti-diabetic drugs is an active Chinese medicine research area. This study aims to map out anti-diabetic drug research in China using a network-based systemic approach based on co-authorship of academic publications. We focused on identifying leading knowledge production institutions, analyzing interactions among them, detecting communities with high internal associations, and exploring future research directions. Target articles published in 2009-2013 under the topic "diabetes" and subject category "pharmacology & pharmacy," with "China," "Taiwan," "Hong Kong," or "Macao" (or "Macau") in the authors' address field were retrieved from the science citation index expanded database and their bibliographic information (e.g., article title, authors, keywords, and authors' affiliation addresses) analyzed. A social network approach was used to construct an institutional collaboration network based on co-publications. Gephi software was used to visualize the network and relationships among institutes were analyzed using centrality measurements. Thematic analysis based on article keywords and R sc value was applied to reveal the research hotspots and directions of network communities. The top 50 institutions were identified; these included Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Taiwan University, Peking University, and China Pharmaceutical University. Institutes from Taiwan tended to cooperate with institutes outside Taiwan, but those from mainland China showed low interest in external collaboration. Fourteen thematic communities were detected with the Louvain algorithm and further labeled by their high-frequency and characteristic keywords, such as Chinese medicines, diabetic complications, oxidative stress, pharmacokinetics, and insulin resistance. The keyword Chinese medicines comprised a range of Chinese medicine-related topics, including berberine, flavonoids, Astragalus polysaccharide, emodin, and ginsenoside. These keywords suggest potential fields

Test-Retest Reliability of a Serious Game for Delirium Screening in the Emergency Department

PubMed Central

Tong, Tiffany; Chignell, Mark; Tierney, Mary C.; Lee, Jacques S.

2016-01-01

Introduction: Cognitive screening in settings such as emergency departments (ED) is frequently carried out using paper-and-pencil tests that require administration by trained staff. These assessments often compete with other clinical duties and thus may not be routinely administered in these busy settings. Literature has shown that the presence of cognitive impairments such as dementia and delirium are often missed in older ED patients. Failure to recognize delirium can have devastating consequences including increased mortality (Kakuma et al., 2003). Given the demands on emergency staff, an automated cognitive test to screen for delirium onset could be a valuable tool to support delirium prevention and management. In earlier research we examined the concurrent validity of a serious game, and carried out an initial assessment of its potential as a delirium screening tool (Tong et al., 2016). In this paper, we examine the test-retest reliability of the game, as it is an important criterion in a cognitive test for detecting risk of delirium onset. Objective: To demonstrate the test-retest reliability of the screening tool over time in a clinical sample of older emergency patients. A secondary objective is to assess whether there are practice effects that might make game performance unstable over repeated presentations. Materials and Methods: Adults over the age of 70 were recruited from a hospital ED. Each patient played our serious game in an initial session soon after they arrived in the ED, and in follow up sessions conducted at 8-h intervals (for each participant there were up to five follow up sessions, depending on how long the person stayed in the ED). Results: A total of 114 adults (61 females, 53 males) between the ages of 70 and 104 years (M = 81 years, SD = 7) participated in our study after screening out delirious patients. We observed a test-retest reliability of the serious game (as assessed by correlation r-values) between 0.5 and 0.8 across adjacent

[The safety and effect of transhepatic hilar approach for the treatment of bismuth type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma].

PubMed

He, M; Wang, H L; Yan, J Y; Xu, S W; Chen, W; Wang, J

2018-05-01

Objective: To compare the efficiency between the transhepatic hilar approach and conventional approach for the surgical treatment of Bismuth type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: There were 42 consecutive patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma of Bismuth type Ⅲ and Ⅳ who underwent surgical treatment at Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from January 2008 to December 2013.The transhepatic hilar approach was used in 19 patients and conventional approach was performed in 23 patients.There were no differences in clinical parameters between the two groups(all P >0.05). The t-test was used to analyze the measurement data, and the χ(2) test was used to analyze the count data.Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze the survival period.Multivariate COX regression analysis was used to analyze the prognosis factors. Results: Among the 19 patients who underwent transhepatic hilar approach, 3 patients changed the operative planning after reevaluated by exposing the hepatic hilus.The intraoperative blood was 300(250-400)ml in the transhepatic hilar approach group, which was significantly less than the conventional approach group, 800(450-1 300)ml( t =4.276, P =0.00 1), meanwhile, the R0 resection rate was significantly higher in the transhepatic hilar approach group than in the conventional approach group(89.4% vs . 52.2; χ(2)=6.773, P =0.009) and the 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rate was better in the transhepatic hilar approach group than in the conventional approach group(63.2% vs . 47.8%, 26.3% vs . 0; χ(2)=66.363, 127.185, P =0.000). On univariate analysis, transhepatic hilar approach, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, R0 resection and lymph node metastasis were significant risk factors for patient survival(all P <0.05). On multivariate analysis, use of transhepatic hilar approach, intraoperative blood loss, R0 resection and lymph node

Diabetes and obesity trends in Fiji over 30 years.

PubMed

Lin, Sophia; Tukana, Isimeli; Linhart, Christine; Morrell, Stephen; Taylor, Richard; Vatucawaqa, Penina; Magliano, Dianna J; Zimmet, Paul

2016-07-01

No systematic comparison has been conducted in Fiji using all suitable surveys of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity prevalence after standardizing methodology and definitions. Unit records from six surveys of Fiji adults were variously adjusted for age, ethnicity (Fiji Melanesians, i-Taukei, and Fijians of Asian Indian descent [Indians]) and urban-rural by sex to previous censuses. Trends were assessed using meta-regression (random effect models) and estimates projected to 2020. Poisson regression of strata was used to assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) increases on T2DM period trends. Over 1980-2011, T2DM prevalence increased in i-Taukei men (3.2% to 11.1%; 1.32%/5 years) and women (5.3% to 13.6%; 1.40%/5 years) and Indian men (11.1% to 17.9%; 1.24%/5 years) and women (11.2% to 19.9%; 1.71%/5 years). Projected T2DM prevalence in 2020 is 13.3% and 16.7% in i-Taukei men and women, and 23.4% and 24.1% in Indian men and women, respectively. Obesity prevalence increased in i-Taukei men (12.6% to 28.9%; 2.99%/5 years) and women (30.1% to 52.9%; 3.84%/5 years) and in Indian men (2.8% to 9.4%; 1.21%/5 years) and women (13.2% to 26.6%; 2.61%/5 years). Projected obesity prevalence in 2020 is 34.0% and 60.0% in i-Taukei and women, and 11.4% and 31.0% in Indian men and women, respectively. After age-adjustment, an estimated 27%, 25%, 16% and 18% of the T2DM period trend is attributable to BMI in i-Taukei men and women and Indian men and women, respectively. Prevalence of T2DM in Fiji is projected to continue increasing, driven by rising obesity, with consequences for premature mortality and life expectancy. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Diabetes published by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine (SJTU), Chinese Society of Endocrinology and Chinese Endocrinologist Association and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Emergency preparedness for those who care for infants in developed country contexts

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Emergency management organisations recognise the vulnerability of infants in emergencies, even in developed countries. However, thus far, those who care for infants have not been provided with detailed information on what emergency preparedness entails. Emergency management authorities should provide those who care for infants with accurate and detailed information on the supplies necessary to care for them in an emergency, distinguishing between the needs of breastfed infants and the needs of formula fed infants. Those who care for formula fed infants should be provided with detailed information on the supplies necessary for an emergency preparedness kit and with information on how to prepare formula feeds in an emergency. An emergency preparedness kit for exclusively breastfed infants should include 100 nappies and 200 nappy wipes. The contents of an emergency preparedness for formula fed infants will vary depending upon whether ready-to-use liquid infant formula or powdered infant formula is used. If ready-to-use liquid infant formula is used, an emergency kit should include: 56 serves of ready-to-use liquid infant formula, 84 L water, storage container, metal knife, small bowl, 56 feeding bottles and teats/cups, 56 zip-lock plastic bags, 220 paper towels, detergent, 120 antiseptic wipes, 100 nappies and 200 nappy wipes. If powdered infant formula is used, an emergency preparedness kit should include: two 900 g tins powdered infant formula, 170 L drinking water, storage container, large cooking pot with lid, kettle, gas stove, box of matches/lighter, 14 kg liquid petroleum gas, measuring container, metal knife, metal tongs, feeding cup, 300 large sheets paper towel, detergent, 100 nappies and 200 nappy wipes. Great care with regards hygiene should be taken in the preparation of formula feeds. Child protection organisations should ensure that foster carers responsible for infants have the resources necessary to formula feed in the event of an emergency. Exclusive

Rice crop growth and outlook monitoring using SAR in Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamamoto, K.; Sobue, S.; Oyoshi, K.; Ikehata, Y.

2016-12-01

The Asia-RiCE initiative (http://www.asia-rice.org) has been organized to enhance rice production estimates through the use of Earth observation satellites data, and seeks to ensure that Asian rice crops are appropriately represented within GEO Global Agriculture Monitoring (GEO-GLAM) to support FAO Agriculture Market Information System (FAO-AMIS). Asia-RiCE is composed of national teams that are actively contributing to the Crop Monitor for AMIS and developing technical demonstrations of rice crop monitoring activities using both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data (Radarsat-2 from 2013; Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 from 2015; TerraSAR-X, Cosmo-SkyMed, RISAT, and others) and optical imagery (such as from MODIS, SPOT-5, Landsat, and Sentinel-2) for 100x100km Technical Demonstration Sites (TDS) as a phase 1 (2013-2015) in Asia. with satellite -based cultivated area and growing stage map. The Asia-RiCE teams are also developing satellite-based agro-met information for rice crop outlook, crop calendars and damage assessment in cooperation with ASEAN food security information system (AFSIS) for selected countries (currently Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippine, and Japan; http://www.afsisnc.org/blog), using JAXA's Satellite-based MonItoring Network system as a contribution to the FAO AMIS outlook (JASMIN) with University of Tokyo (http://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/cgi-bin/gcomw/jasm/jasm_top.cgi). Because of continous El Nino in South East Asia, there are less precipitation and rain fall pattern change in South East Asia, crop pattern has been changed and production may be decreased, especially for dry season crop. JAXA provides drought index (KBDI) and accumulated precipitation of Tak province, Thailand where main reservior is located, to AFSIS and national experts to assess rice crop outlook and NDVI time seriese to Ang Tong province where is main rice production area in downstream area of that reservior.From 2016 as a phase 2, Asia-RiCE initiative deploy up-scaling activity

Dynamic analysis of the combinatorial regulation involving transcription factors and microRNAs in cell fate decisions.

PubMed

Yan, Fang; Liu, Haihong; Liu, Zengrong

2014-01-01

P53 and E2F1 are critical transcription factors involved in the choices between different cell fates including cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Recent experiments have shown that two families of microRNAs (miRNAs), p53-responsive miR34 (miRNA-34 a, b and c) and E2F1-inducible miR449 (miRNA-449 a, b and c) are potent inducers of these different fates and might have an important role in sensitizing cancer cells to drug treatment and tumor suppression. Identifying the mechanisms responsible for the combinatorial regulatory roles of these two transcription factors and two miRNAs is an important and challenging problem. Here, based in part on the model proposed in Tongli Zhang et al. (2007), we developed a mathematical model of the decision process and explored the combinatorial regulation between these two transcription factors and two miRNAs in response to DNA damage. By analyzing nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the model, we found that p53 exhibits pulsatile behavior. Moreover, a comparison is given to reveal the subtle differences of the cell fate decision process between regulation and deregulation of miR34 on E2F1. It predicts that miR34 plays a critical role in promoting cell cycle arrest. In addition, a computer simulation result also predicts that the miR449 is necessary for apoptosis in response to sustained DNA damage. In agreement with experimental observations, our model can account for the intricate regulatory relationship between these two transcription factors and two miRNAs in the cell fate decision process after DNA damage. These theoretical results indicate that miR34 and miR449 are effective tumor suppressors and play critical roles in cell fate decisions. The work provides a dynamic mechanism that shows how cell fate decisions are coordinated by two transcription factors and two miRNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Computational Proteomics, Systems Biology and Clinical Implications. Guest Editor: Yudong Cai

Glycemic excursions are positively associated with HbA1c reduction from baseline after treatment with acarbose in patients with type 2 diabetes on metformin monotherapy.

PubMed

Wang, Jun-Sing; Lee, I-Te; Lee, Wen-Jane; Lin, Shi-Dou; Su, Shih-Li; Tu, Shih-Te; Tseng, Yao-Hsien; Lin, Shih-Yi; Sheu, Wayne Huey-Herng

2017-03-01

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between glycemic excursions before treatment and HbA1c reduction after treatment intensification with acarbose or glibenclamide in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Patients receiving single or dual oral antidiabetic drug treatment with an HbA1c of 7.0-11.0 % (53-97 mmol/mol) were switched to metformin monotherapy (500 mg, t.i.d.) for 8 weeks, followed by randomization to either acarbose (100 mg, t.i.d.) or glibenclamide (5 mg, t.i.d.) as add-on treatment for 16 weeks. Glycemic excursions were assessed as mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) with 72-h ambulatory continuous glucose monitoring. Treatment efficacy was evaluated as relative HbA1c reduction (%), calculated as (baseline HbA1c - post-treatment HbA1c)/baseline HbA1c × 100. Fifty patients (mean [±SD] age 53.5 ± 8.2 years, 48 % men, mean baseline HbA1c 8.4 ± 1.2 %) were analyzed. Baseline MAGE was positively correlated with relative HbA1c reduction from baseline in patients treated with acarbose (r = 0.421, P = 0.029) but not glibenclamide (r = 0.052, P = 0.813). Linear regression analysis revealed that the association between baseline MAGE and relative HbA1c reduction from baseline (β = 0.125, P = 0.029) in patients treated with acarbose remained significant after adjustment for several confounders (P < 0.05 for all models). In patients with T2D on metformin monotherapy, baseline MAGE was positively correlated with relative HbA1c reduction from baseline after treatment with acarbose, but not glibenclamide. These findings highlight the importance of glycemic excursions in individualized treatment for patients with T2D. © 2016 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine (SJTU), Chinese Society of Endocrinology and Chinese Endocrinologist Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Extreme QCD 2012 (xQCD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2013-04-01

Acknowledgements This conference would not have been possible without the generous support from Brookhaven National Laboratory and the George Washington University INS and IMPACT institutes, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Vice-President for Research, and the Department of Physics. We thank them wholeheartedly. We are also very grateful for the support of our colleagues on the local organizing committee, Walter Freeman and Frank Lee, and on the International Advisory Committee: Simon Hands, Tetsuo Hatsuda, Frithjof Karsch, Maria Paola Lombardo, Tereza Mendes, Atsushi Nakamura, Owe Philipsen, Claudia Ratti, Paul Romatschke, Misha Stephanov, and Nu Xu. List of participants Alexandru, Andrei George Washington University Bazavov, Alexei Brookhaven National Laboratory Bloch, Jacques University of Regensburg Braun-Munzinger, Peter EMMI, GSI Breto Rangel, Guillermo CMS/UC Davis D'Elia, Massimo University of Pisa, INFN Dexheimer, Veronica UFSC - Federal University of Santa Catarina Ding, Heng-Tong Brookhaven National Laboratory Dion, Alan Stony Brook University Dumitru, Adrian RBRC and Baruch College, CUNY Freeman, Walter George Washington University Gavai, Rajiv Tata Institute (TIFR), Mumbai Hanada, Masanori KEK Theory Center Hands, Simon Swansea University Hegde, Prasad Brookhaven National Laboratory Heinke, Craig University of Alberta Horvath, Ivan University of Kentucky Karsch, Frithjof Brookhaven National Laboratory Krieg, Stefan Wuppertal University Lattimer, James Stony Brook University Lee, Frank George Washington University Li, Anyi Institute for Nuclear Theory Liu, Keh-Fei University of Kentucky Lombardo, Maria Paola INFN - LNF Lottini, Stefano Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main Maezawa, Yu Brookhaven National Laboratory Miura, Kohtaroh Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati - INFN Monnai, Akihiko The University of Tokyo Mukherjee, Swagato Brookhaven National Laboratory Myers, Joyce University of Groningen Nakamura, Atsushi RIISE, Hiroshima

Dosimetric Comparison between Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided and Conventional Two-Dimensional Point A-Based Intracavitary Brachytherapy Planning for Cervical Cancer

PubMed Central

Ren, Juan; Yuan, Wei; Wang, Ruihua; Wang, Qiuping; Li, Yi; Xue, Chaofan; Yan, Yanli; Ma, Xiaowei; Tan, Li; Liu, Zi

2016-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to comprehensively compare the 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided and conventional 2-dimensional (2D) point A-based intracavitary brachytherapy (BT) planning for cervical cancer with regard to target dose coverage and dosages to adjacent organs-at risk (OARs). Methods A total of 79 patients with cervical cancer were enrolled to receive 2D point A-based BT planning and then immediately to receive 3D planning between October 2011 and April 2013 at the First Hospital Affiliated to Xi’an Jiao Tong University (Xi’an, China). The dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters for gross tumor volume (GTV), high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), intermediate-risk clinical target volume (IR-CTV) and OARs were compared between the 2D and 3D planning. Results In small tumors, there was no significant difference in most of the DVHs between 2D and 3D planning (all p>0.05). While in big tumors, 3D BT planning significantly increased the DVHs for most of the GTV, HR-CTV and IR-CTV, and some OARs compared with 2D planning (all P<0.05). In 3D planning, DVHs for GTV, HR-CTV, IR-CTV and some OARs were significantly higher in big tumors than in small tumors (all p<0.05). In contrast, in 2D planning, DVHs for almost all of the HR-CTV and IR-CTV were significantly lower in big tumors (all p<0.05). In eccentric tumors, 3D planning significantly increased dose coverage but decreased dosages to OARs compared with 2D planning (p<0.05). In tumors invading adjacent tissues, the target dose coverage in 3D planning was generally significantly higher than in 2D planning (P<0.05); the dosages to the adjacent rectum and bladder were significantly higher but those to sigmoid colon were lower in 3D planning (all P<0.05). Conclusions 3D MRI image-guided BT planning exhibits advantages over 2D planning in a complex way, generally showing advantages for the treatment of cervical cancer except small tumors. PMID:27611853

Gene-Specific Differential DNA Methylation and Chronic Arsenic Exposure in an Epigenome-Wide Association Study of Adults in Bangladesh

PubMed Central

Argos, Maria; Chen, Lin; Jasmine, Farzana; Tong, Lin; Pierce, Brandon L.; Roy, Shantanu; Paul-Brutus, Rachelle; Gamble, Mary V.; Harper, Kristin N.; Parvez, Faruque; Rahman, Mahfuzar; Rakibuz-Zaman, Muhammad; Slavkovich, Vesna; Baron, John A.; Graziano, Joseph H.; Kibriya, Muhammad G.

2014-01-01

Background: Inorganic arsenic is one of the most common naturally occurring contaminants found in the environment. Arsenic is associated with a number of health outcomes, with epigenetic modification suggested as a potential mechanism of toxicity. Objective: Among a sample of 400 adult participants, we evaluated the association between arsenic exposure, as measured by blood and urinary total arsenic concentrations, and epigenome-wide white blood cell DNA methylation. Methods: We used linear regression models to examine the associations between arsenic exposure and methylation at each CpG site, adjusted for sex, age, and batch. Differentially methylated loci were subsequently examined in relation to corresponding gene expression for functional evidence of gene regulation. Results: In adjusted analyses, we observed four differentially methylated CpG sites with urinary total arsenic concentration and three differentially methylated CpG sites with blood arsenic concentration, based on the Bonferroni-corrected significance threshold of p < 1 × 10–7. Methylation of PLA2G2C (probe cg04605617) was the most significantly associated locus in relation to both urinary (p = 3.40 × 10–11) and blood arsenic concentrations (p = 1.48 × 10–11). Three additional novel methylation loci—SQSTM1 (cg01225779), SLC4A4 (cg06121226), and IGH (cg13651690)—were also significantly associated with arsenic exposure. Further, there was evidence of methylation-related gene regulation based on gene expression for a subset of differentially methylated loci. Conclusions: We observed significant associations between arsenic exposure and gene-specific differential white blood cell DNA methylation, suggesting that epigenetic modifications may be an important pathway underlying arsenic toxicity. The specific differentially methylated loci identified may inform potential pathways for future interventions. Citation: Argos M, Chen L, Jasmine F, Tong L, Pierce BL, Roy S, Paul-Brutus R, Gamble MV

The Effects of Student Involvement and College Environment on Students' Learning and Living Experience at World-Class Research Universities in China: A Comparative Case Study of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Roy Yew-Hung

2011-01-01

This comparative research examined the effects of student involvement and college environment on students' learning and living experience delivered by two aspiring world-class universities in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Few studies have shown how the levels of student involvement and college environment can benefit students at world-class institution.…

PREFACE: 26th Symposium on Plasma Science for Materials (SPSM-26)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2014-06-01

papers that are selected via strict peer-review process from full papers submitted for the proceedings of the conference. The topics range from basic physics and chemistry of plasma processing to a broad variety of materials processing and environmental applications. This proceeding offers an overview on the recent advances in thermal and non-equilibrium plasmas as well as the challenges ahead in the field of plasma research and applications among engineers and scientists. It is an honor to present this volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series and we deeply thank the authors for their enthusiastic and high-grade contribution. The editors hope that this proceeding will be useful and helpful for deepening our understanding of science and technology of plasma materials processing and also for stimulating further development of the plasma technology. Finally, I would like to thank the organizing committee and organizing secretariat of SPSM-26, and the participants of the conference for contribution to a successful and exciting meeting. The conference was chaired by Prof. Masaharu Shiratani, Kyushu University. I would also like to thank the financial support from The 153rd Committee on Plasma Materials Science. Editors of SPMS-26 Prof Takayuki Watanabe, Kyushu University, Japan Prof Makoto Sekine, Nagoya University, Japan Prof Takanori Ichiki, The University of Tokyo, Japan Prof Masaharu Shiratani, Kyushu University, Japan Prof Akimitsu Hatta, Kochi University of Technology, Japan Sponsors and Supporting Organization: The 153rd Committee on Plasma Materials Science, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

PREFACE: The EPS High Energy Particle Physics Conference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barlow, Roger

2008-03-01

HEPP2007, the EPS High Energy Particle Physics Conference, was held in Manchester from July 19-26 2007. It brought together 580 delegates across the whole subject: from string theorists to detector technologists, from young postgraduate students to senior professors. Geographically they came from the UK, from the rest of Europe, from North America, and from the rest of the world. It covered the whole spectrum of the subject, not only accelerator-based experiments but also its astrophysical and cosmological aspects. The parallel and plenary talks can be found in these proceedings. A key feature of the conference, as always, was the award of the prizes: this year the EPS prize was awarded to Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa for their explanation of CP violation with a 6 quark model—Kobayashi came to accept it in person. The Gribov medal went to Niklas Beisert, the outreach prize to Richard Jacobsson and Charles Timmermans and the Young Physicist prizer to I Furic, G Gomez-Ceballos and S Menzemer. Parallel sessions were held in Manchester University, and plenary talks were held in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester Town centre, a magnificent modern venue whose positive and co-operative staff enabled the conference to make the most of the impressive surroundings. We were able to put the hall to its proper purpose one evening with a concert by the Fairey Band—one of the distinctive brass bands who form part of the rich musical tradition of the North of England, and came as something new and different to many of the delegates. The conference ran smoothly and successfully, thanks largely to hard work by the local organising committee who devoted a lot of time to planning, producing ideas, and anticipating potential problems. Many of them were not from Manchester itself but from other universities and laboratories in the North of England, so their dedication was especially appreciated. The EPS committee also played a major part, by the selection of plenary

The Deep Carbon Cycle and CO2 Sequestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filipovitch, N. B.; Mao, W. L.; Chou, I.; Mu, K.

2009-12-01

.G., Gormley, Deirdre, Nunez, Ryan, Carpenter, R.W., Squires, Kyle, Wolf, George, 2006, Carbon Sequestration via Aqueous Olivine Mineral Carbonation: Role of Passivating Layer Formation, Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 40, pp 4802-4808 3. Wolf, George H., Chizmeshya, Andrew V. G., Diefenbacher, Jason, McKelvy, Michael J., 2004, In Situ Observation of CO2 Sequestration Reactions Using a Novel Microreaction System, Environmental Science & Technology, Vol.38, No.3, pp 932-936 4. O’Connor, W. K., Dahlin, D. C., Nilsen, D.N., Rush, G.E., Walters, R.P., and Turner, P. C., 2000, “CO2 Storage in Solid Form: A Study of Direct Mineral Carbonation,” Proc. of the 5th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Technologies, Cairns, Australia, August 14-18, pp. 1-7 5. Isshiki, Maiko, Irifune, Tetsuo, Hirose, Kei, Ono, Shigeaki, Ohishi, Yasuo, Watanuki, Tetsu, Nishibori, Eiji, Takata, Masaki, Sakata, Makoto, 2004, Stability of magnesite and its high-pressure form in the lowermost mantle, Nature, Vol. 427, pp. 60-63 6. Kawano, Jun, Miyake, Akira, Shimobayashi, Norimasa, Kitamura, Masao, 2009, Molecular dynamics simulation of the phase transition between calcite and CaCO3-II , Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 21, pp. 1-11

Steady State Film Boiling Heat Transfer Simulated With Trace V4.160

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

Audrius Jasiulevicius; Rafael Macian-Juan

2006-07-01

This paper presents the results of the assessment and analysis of TRACE v4.160 heat transfer predictions in the post-CHF (critical heat flux) region and discusses the possibilities to improve the TRACE v4.160 code predictions in the film boiling heat transfer when applying different film boiling correlations. For this purpose, the TRACE v4.160-calculated film boiling heat flux and the resulting maximum inner wall temperatures during film boiling in single tubes were compared with experimental data obtained at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. The experimental database included measurements for pressures ranging from 30 to 200 bar and coolantmore » mass fluxes from 500 to 3000 kg/m{sup 2}s. It was found that TRACE v4.160 does not produce correct predictions of the film boiling heat flux, and consequently of the maximum inner wall temperature in the test section, under the wide range of conditions documented in the KTH experiments. In particular, it was found that the standard TRACE v4.160 under-predicts the film boiling heat transfer coefficient at low pressure-low mass flux and high pressure-high mass flux conditions. For most of the rest of the investigated range of parameters, TRACE v4.160 over-predicts the film boiling heat transfer coefficient, which can lead to non-conservative predictions in applications to nuclear power plant analyses. Since no satisfactory agreement with the experimental database was obtained with the standard TRACE v4.160 film boiling heat transfer correlations, we have added seven film boiling correlations to TRACE v4.160 in order to investigate the possibility to improve the code predictions for the conditions similar to the KTH tests. The film boiling correlations were selected among the most commonly used film boiling correlations found in the open literature, namely Groeneveld 5.7, Bishop (2 correlations), Tong, Konkov, Miropolskii and Groeneveld-Delorme correlations. The only correlation among the

Study of pH-responsive microgels containing methacrylic acid: effects of particle composition and added calcium.

PubMed

Dalmont, Helene; Pinprayoon, Orawan; Saunders, Brian R

2008-03-18

pH-responsive microgel dispersions contain cross-linked polymer particles that swell when the pH approaches the pKa of the ionic monomer incorporated within the particles. In recent work from our group, it was demonstrated that the mechanical properties of degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) could be restored to normal values by injection of pH-responsive microgel dispersions (Saunders, J. M.; Tong, T.; LeMaitre, C.; Freemont, A. J.; Saunders, B. R. Soft Matter 2007, 3, 486). These dispersions change from a fluid to a gel with increasing pH. The present work investigates the pH-dependent properties of dispersions of microgel particles containing MAA (methacrylic acid) and also the effects of added Ca2+. Two microgels are discussed: microgel A is poly(EA/MAA/AM) (EA and AM are ethyl acrylate and allyl methacrylate), and microgel B is poly(EA/MAA/BDDA) (butanediol diacrylate). The pH-dependent particle properties investigated include hydrodynamic diameters and electrophoretic mobilities. The critical coagulation concentrations (CCC) of dilute dispersions and the elastic modulus (G') of concentrated, gelled microgel dispersions were also investigated. In the absence of added Ca2+, the particle swelling and G' were smallest and largest, respectively, for microgel A. The changes in hydrodynamic diameter and mobility with pH were explained in terms of a core-shell swelling mechanism. Added Ca2+ was found to significantly decrease the CCCs, extents of particle swelling, and magnitude of the electrophoretic mobility. This was attributed to the ionic cross-linking of neighboring RCOO- groups by Ca2+. It is suggested that the formation of ionic cross-links is inefficient within the microgel particles because of the presence of covalent cross-links that oppose the large-scale conformational rearrangement of neighboring RCOO- groups. The effect of Ca2+ on the properties of the gelled dispersions is important from the viewpoint of potential application in vivo. Rheological

a Study of the Tungsten (001) Surface Using Low Energy Electron Diffraction and Other Electron Spectroscopies.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalceff, Marion Anne Stevens

The properties of the clean Tungsten (001) surfaces (both (1 x 1) and reconstructed (SQRT.(2 x SQRT.(2)R45(DEGREES) phases) and the effects of the common absorbates Hydrogen and Oxygen have been investigated using the techniques of Low Energy Electron Diffraction, Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Characteristic Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy. The origins of features observed in Characteristic Energy Loss Spectra, very low energy (<10 eV) Secondary Electron Emission spectra and low energy (<40 eV) Auger spectra, are deduced and compared with recent relevant independently obtained theoretical data and with other, sometimes conflicting, analyses. The use of these spectroscopies as monitors of surface cleanliness is evaluated. In particular a previously unreported emission, observed during Oxygen adsorption, is attributed to an Auger transition involving the Oxygen 2s and 2p adsorbate levels. Experimental conventional LEED and improved resolution very low energy intensity versus energy spectra are compared with Dynamical spectra, calculated using the program package of M. A. Van Hove and S. Y. Tong or calculated by R. O. Jones using a previously determined saturated image barrier, within a spin dependent scattering model, respectively. Structural information about the clean (1 x 1), clean reconstructed (SQRT.(2 x SQRT.(2)R45(DEGREES) and Hydrogen saturated (1 x 1)-H surfaces have been obtained via visual comparison or R factor (E. Zanazzi and F. Jona) analysis of the conventional data. The conventional methods of LEED Intensity data collection are assessed and procedures to improve experimental reproducibility are proposed. From the analysis of the improved resolution data, and with reference to the corresponding set of very low energy electron reflection data also obtained for comparison, conclusions are made about the origins of fine structure observed in the experimental profiles and about the W(001) surface order before and after the temperature dependent

Bulb turbine operating at medium head: XIA JIANG case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loiseau, F.; Desrats, C.; Petit, P.; Liu, J.

2012-11-01

With lots of references for 4-blade bulb turbines, such as these of Wu Jin Xia (4 units - 36.1 MW per unit - 9.2 m rated head), Chang Zhou (15 units - 46.7 MW per unit - 9.5 m rated head) and Tong Wan (4 units - 46.2 MW per unit - 11 m rated head), ALSTOM Power Hydro is one of the major suppliers of bulb turbines operating under medium head for the Chinese market. ALSTOM Power Hydro has been awarded in November 2010 a contract by Jiang Xi Province Xia Jiang Water Control Project Headquarters to equip Xia Jiang's new hydropower plant. The power dam is located on the Gan Jiang river, at about 160 km away from Nan Chang town in South Eastern China. The supply will consist in 5 bulb units including the furniture of both the turbine and its generator, for a total capacity of 200 MW, under a rated net head of 8.6 m. The prototype turbine is a 7.8 m diameter runner, rotating at 71.4 rpm speed. For this project, ALSTOM has proposed a fully new design of 4-blade bulb runner. This paper outlines the main steps of the hydraulic development. First of all, a fine tuning of the blade geometry was performed to enhance the runner behaviour at high loads and low heads, so that to fulfill the demanding requirements of efficiencies and maximum output. The challenge was also to keep an excellent cavitation behaviour, especially at the outer blade diameter in order to avoid cavitation erosion on the prototype. The shape of the blade was optimized by using the latest tools in computational fluid dynamics. Steady state simulations of the distributor and the runner were performed, in order to simulate more accurately the pressure fields on the blade and the velocity distribution at the outlet of the runner. Moreover, draft tube computations have been performed close to the design point and at higher loads. Then, a model fully homologous with the prototype was manufactured and tested at ALSTOM's laboratory in Grenoble (France). The model test results confirmed the predicted ones: the

Essay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Shuping

2018-05-01

Professor Yukihiro Ozaki has made great impacts in the spectroscopy communities all over the world. Throughout his career, he has established strong collaborations and communications with scientists from Asian countries, which solidified his grand academic stature in the field of molecular spectroscopy. In the past years, he has been pushing forward the development of spectroscopy in many Asian countries, particularly to China. Since his first trip to China in 1994, he has visited China almost 40 times. Under his continuous efforts during these years, deep and long-term collaborations with several universities and research institutes in China were established. Prof. Ozaki was endowed with honorary professorships in numerous institutes and universities in China including Jilin University and Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has been a visiting professor of many Chinese universities including Shanghai JiaoTong University, Hunan University, Central South University, Peking University, East China Normal University, and Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Great friendships have been established between him and his Chinese colleagues as a result of mutual respect and common scientific interests. Prof. Ozaki is an expert in various facets of spectroscopy including two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, polymer material science, deep-UV and near infrared spectroscopy, chemometrics, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Over the past decades, Prof. Ozaki has contributed greatly to training the Chinese youth scientists: 11 doctoral students, 16 post-doctoral researchers and 9 guest-professors and 17 visiting scholars from China have been studied/worked in his research group. He is not only a historical witness for the development of molecular spectroscopy in China, but also a creator. He has served on the editorial board of several Chinese journals such as the Journal of Light Scattering, Spectroscopy and Spectral

New Directions: GEIA’s 2020 Vision for Better Air Emissions Information

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

Frost, G. J.; Middleton, Paulette; Tarrason, Leonor

2013-12-01

We are witnessing a crucial change in how we quantify and understand emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, with an increasing demand for science-based transparent emissions information produced by robust community efforts. Today’s scientific capabilities, with near-real-time in-situ and remote sensing observations combined with forward and inverse models and a better understanding of the controlling processes, are contributing to this transformation and providing new approaches to derive, verify, and forecast emissions (Tong et al., 2011; Frost et al., 2012) and to quantify their impacts on the environment (e.g., Bond et al., 2013). At the same time, the needs formore » emissions information and the demands for their accuracy and consistency have grown. Changing economies, demographics, agricultural practices, and energy sources, along with mandates to evaluate emissions mitigation efforts, demonstrate compliance with legislation, and verify treaties, are leading to new challenges in emissions understanding. To quote NOAA Senior Technical Scientist David Fahey, "We are in the Century of Accountability. Emissions information is critical not only for environmental science and decision-making, but also as an instrument of foreign policy and international diplomacy." Emissions quantification represents a key step in explaining observed variability and trends in atmospheric composition and in attributing these observed changes to their causes. Accurate emissions data are necessary to identify feasible controls that reduce adverse impacts associated with air quality and climate and to track the success of implemented policies. To progress further, the international community must improve the understanding of drivers and contributing factors to emissions, and it must strengthen connections among and within different scientific disciplines that characterize our environment and entities that protect the environment and influence further emissions. The Global

PREFACE: Preface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audoin, Bertrand; Dehoux, Thomas; Guillet, Yannick

2011-02-01

and the gala dinner took place in a wine chateau in the medieval village. We hope this experience will remain in the attendees' memories as a pleasant and convivial time. We would like to express our thanks to the members of the organizing committee, the scientific committee, and all our generous sponsors, either institutions or companies, for their help in making this event possible. We would also like to thank the scientists involved for their confidence in our organization, and for their contributions. As unanimously decided by the attendees, the next symposium will be held in Japan, most likely in 2012. The papers published in this volume of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series provide a collection of state-of-the-art and recent advances in research and applications of laser ultrasonics as presented at this second Symposium. Bertrand Audoin - Conference ChairThomas Dehoux - Conference proceedings co-editorYannick Guillet - Conference proceedings co-editor Conference photograph Scientific committee Bertrand AudoinUniversité Bordeaux 1, France Alain BlouinNRC, Canada Christ GlorieuxKatholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Vitalyi GusevUniversité du Maine, France Peter HessUniversity of Heidelberg, Germany Alexander A KarabutovMoscow State University, Russia Sridhar KrishnaswamyNorthwestern University, USA Humphrey MarisBrown University, USA Jean-Pierre MonchalinNRC, Canada Todd MurrayBoston University, USA Makoto OchiaiToshiba Corp, Japan Menglu QianTongji University, China Daniel RoyerEcole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie, France Hervé TrétoutDassault Aviation, France Hubert VoillaumeEADS, France Oliver B WrightHokkaido University, Japan Shu-yi ZhangNanjing University, China Organizing committee Bertrand AudoinChair Sandrine GuitLocal administrator Christophe Aristégui Thomas Dehoux Evelyne Dewayse Yannick Guillet Armelle Guilloux

A Community-Based Intervention Program to Enhance Family Communication and Family Well-being: The Learning Families Project in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Shen, Chen; Wan, Alice; Kwok, Lit Tung; Pang, Sally; Wang, Xin; Stewart, Sunita M; Lam, Tai Hing; Chan, Sophia Siu Chee

2017-01-01

Family communication is important to maintain family relationships and family well-being. To enhance family communication and family well-being, a community-based "Learning Families Project," based on the social ecological model was developed in Kwun Tong in Hong Kong, a district with high prevalence of family problems. This quasi-experimental study included two nearby government subsidized low-rent housing estates separated by busy main roads, as the intervention [Tsui Ping (South) Estate] and control (Shun Tin Estate) estate. The main intervention was resident training programs, such as talks, day camps, and thematic activities. No program was implemented in the control estate. Participants in the intervention group received assessments before the intervention (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), and 6 weeks after the intervention (T3). Control group participants were assessed at baseline (March to April 2011) and follow-up (December 2011 to March 2012). Assessments of family communication (time and perceived adequacy) and family well-being (harmony, happiness, and health) at T1 and T3 were obtained in the intervention group to examine within-group changes. In addition, these differences in outcomes in the intervention group were compared with those in the control group to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. Family communication time and perceived communication adequacy increased significantly in the intervention group ( n  = 515) with a small effect size (Cohen effect d : 0.10 and 0.24, respectively). Compared with the control group ( n  = 476), the improvements in family communication time and perceived communication adequacy (Cohen effect d : 0.13 and 0.14, respectively), and perceived family harmony and happiness (Cohen effect d : 0.12 and 0.12, respectively) were significantly greater in the intervention group, adjusting for age and education, suggesting the intervention was effective in improving family communication and

Assessment of condylar morphology and position using MSCT in an Asian population.

PubMed

Liu, Qi; Wei, Xiaoer; Guan, Juanjuan; Wang, Ran; Zou, Derong; Yu, Lvfeng

2018-02-01

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the volume, surface, morphometric index (MI), and position of the condyle in a normal population by applying Mimics 17.0 software. Then, the difference between left and right sides, sex, and age can be explored, which will contribute to establish the reference value of condylar morphology and position in normal individuals, and help us to study characteristics of condylar morphology and position in abnormal individuals. Three-hundred subjects were enrolled in our study from the radiology department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital. They were divided into three groups according to the age: group 1 (18-24 years old), group 2 (25-34 years old), and group 3 (35-44 years old). Each group included 100 subjects (with 50 males and 50 females). They were examined using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) after that. All images of condyle were reconstructed by Mimics 17.0 software, so as to measure the volume, surface, and MI of condyle, and to analyze the position of condyle in the articular fossa by means of joint spaces. The differences of condylar volume, surface, and MI between left and right sides were not obvious (P > 0.05). The condylar volume and surface were greater in males than females (P < 0.05), while their condylar MI existed no difference (P > 0.05). No statistical differences were found in volume and surface among three age groups. However, the MI of group 1 was statistically lower than that of group 3 (P < 0.05). On the other hand, no significant differences were found between left and right condylar position (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, there were significant differences of condylar position regarding the gender and age (P < 0.05). This study showed no significant differences in condylar morphology and position between left and right sides, but factors of gender and age were proven to have a certain influence on the morphology and position of the

Microbiological quality of cooked foods and drinks sold in higher educational institutions around Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat Provinces, Southern Thailand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalee, Abdullah D.; Sali, Khosiya; Hayeeyusoh, Nurainee; Hayeewangoh, Zubaidah; Thadah, Amporn

2017-08-01

Quality of cooked foods and drinks water sold within the vicinity of higher institutions located in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces were randomly sampled and microbiologically evaluated. As to Thai National Food Safety Standard, various food menu and drinks were subjected to conventionally determining the bacterial index; Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliform and fecal coliform as well as the detection of indicator organisms; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. As for bacterial index, results showed that curry-type likes PSU-stir-fried liver (7.5x106 CFU/g), and and the lowest was PSU-Koleh chicken Roast (1.72x103 CFU/g). The highest and lowest counts of soup-type items were observed in YPH-KaengSom soup (1.9x107 CFU/g), and PSU-Palo soup (0.4x103 CFU/g), respectively. Higher bacterial counts were also found in YPH-spicy stir-fried chicken (7.5 x 106 CFU/g), and YPH-squid salad (2.2x107 CFU/g). For drinks, bacterial count ranged 2.0 x 103 to 8.3 x 103 CFU/g, and NRU-iced grape juice having the highest bacterial count (2.0x106 CFU/g). Overall, foods not complying to the Thai National Food Safety Standard of 1 x 103 CFU/g from higher to lower were those of soup, stir-fried, salad, fried, and curry categories with as much as 4:17 (23.53%), 4:21 (19.05%), 2:11 (18.18%), 2:16 (12.5%) and 1:12 (8.33%), respectively. As for Coliform and fecal coliform, the highest (>1100 MPN/g) and the lowest (0.34 MPN/g),were not much found in all food categories with percentages of 23.53, 24.00, 13.79, 9.10, and 47.37 for curry (4:17), soup (6:15), stir-fried (4:29), fried (2:22), and salad (9:19), respectively. However, indicator organisms were not detected in almost all food samples except PSU-chicken yellowish curry, NRU-chicken TongYam soup, NRU-Long-tail tuna soup, NRU-KaengSom soup, YPE-watery soup, NRU-stir-fried liver, NRU-omelets, NRU-fried chicken, YPE-crispy fish salad, and NRU-salted eggs salad, which showed the presence of E. coli, but not

Two approaches for numerical modelling of waves generated by landslides : macroscopic and grain scales.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clous, Lucie; Abadie, Stéphane

2017-04-01

tsunamis générés par glissements de terrains aériens. Thèse de doctorat, Aix-Marseille Université, France, 2013. GDR MiDi. On dense granular flows. The European Physical Journal E, 14(4):341-365, August 2004. Tong Shan and Zidong Zhao. A coupled CFD-DEM analysis of granular flow impacting on a water reservoir. Acta Mechanica, 225(8):2449-2470, August 2014. B. Ducassou, J. Nunez, M. Cruchaga, and S. Abadie. A fictitious domain approach on a viscosity penalty method to simulate wave / structure interaction. To appear in Journal of Hydraulic Research.

Are Face and Object Recognition Independent? A Neurocomputational Modeling Exploration.

PubMed

Wang, Panqu; Gauthier, Isabel; Cottrell, Garrison

2016-04-01

generalizes to objects that must be individuated. Interestingly, when the task of the network is basic level categorization, no increase in the correlation between domains is observed. Hence, our model predicts that it is the type of experience that matters and that the source of the correlation is in the fusiform face area, rather than in cortical areas that subserve basic level categorization. This result is consistent with our previous modeling elucidating why the FFA is recruited for novel domains of expertise [Tong, M. H., Joyce, C. A., & Cottrell, G. W. Why is the fusiform face area recruited for novel categories of expertise? A neurocomputational investigation. Brain Research, 1202, 14-24, 2008].

Structural Alteration of Gut Microbiota during the Amelioration of Human Type 2 Diabetes with Hyperlipidemia by Metformin and a Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula: a Multicenter, Randomized, Open Label Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Tong, Xiaolin; Xu, Jia; Lian, Fengmei; Yu, Xiaotong; Zhao, Yufeng; Xu, Lipeng; Zhang, Menghui; Zhao, Xiyan; Shen, Jian; Wu, Shengping; Pang, Xiaoyan; Tian, Jiaxing; Zhang, Chenhong; Zhou, Qiang; Wang, Linhua; Pang, Bing; Chen, Feng; Peng, Zhiping; Wang, Jing; Zhen, Zhong; Fang, Chao; Li, Min; Chen, Limei; Zhao, Liping

2018-05-22

hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by two drugs: metformin and a specifically designed Chinese herbal formula (AMC) for diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. Both drugs significantly ameliorated blood glucose and lipid levels and shifted the gut microbiota. Blautia spp. were identified as being associated with improvements in glucose and lipid homeostasis for both drugs. AMC exerted larger effects on the gut microbiota together with better efficacies in improving HOMA-IR and plasma triglyceride levels, which were associated with the enrichment of Faecalibacterium spp. In brief, these data suggest that gut microbiota might be involved in the alleviation of diabetes with hyperlipidemia by metformin and the AMC herbal formula. Copyright © 2018 Tong et al.

Tremendous Mass Concentration in Strange Galaxy Revealed by VLBA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1995-01-01

A dense whirling mass orbiting what almost certainly is a black hole of truly Brobdingnagian proportions has been discovered at the heart of an active galaxy some 21 million light years from Earth. The astronomical observations were made by an international team of Japanese and American astronomers using a continent-wide radio telescope funded by the National Science Foundation. The work is reported in the January 12th issue of Nature. The tremendous concentration of mass, equivalent to 40 million suns, in the center of the galaxy NGC4258 in the constellation Canes Venatici, was revealed by the apparent rotation of a molecular disk that surrounds it. The observations showed that the disk of dense material is orbiting within the galaxy's nucleus at velocities -- up to 650 miles per second -- that require the gravitational pull of such a massive object. The high angular resolution and sensitivity of the Very Long Baseline Array of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory allowed precise measurements of the differential rotation of the material in the disk, which provides the most direct and definitive evidence to date for the presence of a supermassive black hole in the center of another galaxy. Black holes, so dense that nothing -- not even light -- can escape their gravitational fields, have long been thought to be present in the centers of active galaxies, where they would act as central engines driving a variety of exotic and energetic phenomena that are seen on much larger scales, such as jets and powerful X ray emission. NGC 4258, a spiral some 90,000 light-years across, is known to have jets of gas that are twisted into the shape of a helix emerging from the nucleus at speeds of 400 miles per second. Makoto Miyoshi of Japan's Mizusawa Astrogeodymanics Observatory; James Moran, James Herrnstein and Lincoln Greenhill of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA; Naomasa Nakai of Japan's Nobeyama Radio Observatory; Philip Diamond of the

Structural events in the photocycle of green fluorescent protein.

PubMed

van Thor, Jasper J; Zanetti, Giulia; Ronayne, Kate L; Towrie, Michael

2005-08-25

Picosecond time-resolved mid-infrared absorption changes of the wild type green fluorescent protein from Aequorea victoria are reported on structural events during the photocycle. Concomitant with rapid H/D transfer following excitation of the neutral A state at 400 nm, a transient signal at 1721/1711 cm(-1) (H/D) developed belonging to protonated glutamate 222, which was definitively assigned using the E222D mutant from the altered proton-transfer kinetics to aspartate in addition to the altered band position and intensity in the spectra. A transient at 1697 cm(-1), assigned to a structural perturbation of glutamine 69, had a H/D kinetic isotope effect of >32, showing the conformational dynamics to be sensitive to the active site H/D vibrations. The kinetic data up to 2 ns after excitation in the 1250-1800 cm(-1) region in D2O provided 10 and 75 ps time constants for the excited-state deuteron transfer and the associated A1* - A1 and A2* - A2 difference spectra and showed the radiative intermediate I state vibrations and the transient accumulation of the long-lived ground-state intermediate I2. Assignments of chromophore modes for the A1, A2, and I2 ground states are proposed on the basis of published model compound studies (Esposito, A. P.; Schellenberg, P.; Parson, W. W.; Reid, P. J. J. Mol. Struct. 2001, 569, 25 and He, X.; Bell, A. F.; Tonge, P. J. J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 6056). Tentative assignments for the singlet-state intermediates A1*, A2*, and I* are discussed. An unexpected and unassigned band that may be a C=C chromophore vibration was observed in the ground state (1665 cm(-1)) as well as in all photocycle intermediates. Optical dumping of the transient I population was achieved using an additional 532 nm pulse and the directly obtained I2 - I* difference spectrum was highly similar to the I2 - I* photocycle spectrum. The pump-dump-probe spectrum differed from the pump-probe photocycle difference spectrum with respect to the intensity of the phenol

The implications of Chang'e-3 VIS/NIR Imaging Spectrometer in-situ analysis data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Meijuan; Zhang, Hongbo; Su, Yan; Liu, Bin; Zhao, Shu; Xue, Xiping

2015-04-01

believe that at least the identification of the minerals gives us valuable imformation about the landing site. References: [1] Liu B. (2014). RAA, 14, 1578-1594. [2] Thiessen F. et al., (2014). Planetary and Space Science, 104, 244-252. [3]Yamamoto S. et al., (2010). Nat. Geosci. 3, 533-536. [4] Tong S. et al,. (2013). Icarus 222, 401-410. [5] Wilhelm D.E., and McCauley J.F. (1971). 1-703. U.S. Geol. Surv., Washington D.C. [6] Li C.L. et al., (2014). RAA, 14, 1514-1529. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the CHANG'E-3 funding from Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, undertaken by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). This work is also supported by the NSFC program (41490633).

Development and Testing of an Intelligent Pain Management System (IPMS) on Mobile Phones Through a Randomized Trial Among Chinese Cancer Patients: A New Approach in Cancer Pain Management.

PubMed

Sun, Yunheng; Jiang, Feng; Gu, Juan J; Wang, Y Ken; Hua, Hongwei; Li, Jing; Cheng, Zhijun; Liao, Zhijun; Huang, Qian; Hu, Weiwei; Ding, Gang

2017-07-25

Cancer has become increasingly prevalent in China over the past few decades. Among the factors that determine the quality of life of cancer patients, pain has commonly been recognized as a most critical one; it could also lead to the ineffective treatment of the cancer. Driven by the need for better pain management for cancer patients, our research team developed a mobile-based Intelligent Pain Management System (IPMS). Our objective was to design, develop, and test the IPMS to facilitate real-time pain recording and timely intervention among cancer patients with pain. The system's usability, feasibility, compliance, and satisfaction were also assessed. A sample of 46 patients with cancer pain symptoms were recruited at the Oncology Center of Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Chongming Branch (hereinafter referred to as "the Oncology Center"). In a pretest, participants completed a pain management knowledge questionnaire and were evaluated using the baseline cancer pain assessment and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) evaluation. The participants were then randomly assigned into two groups (the trial group and the control group). After a 14-day trial period, another round of cancer pain assessment, KPS evaluation and pain management knowledge assessment were repeated. In the trial group, the data were fully automatically collected by the IPMS. In the control group, the data were collected using conventional methods, such as phone interviews or door-to-door visits by physicians. The participants were also asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire on the use of the IPMS. All participants successfully completed the trial. First, the feasibility of IPMS by observing the number of daily pain assessments recorded among patients was assessed. Second, the users' satisfaction, effectiveness of pain management, and changes in the quality of their lives were evaluated. All the participants gave high satisfaction score after

Oceanographic Changes through the Early Triassic Crisis Interval

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Algeo, T. J.

2013-12-01

-surface warming and attendant effects prior to the cessation of external perturbations to the marine system around the Early/Middle Triassic boundary. These oceanographic changes conform closely to the pattern and tempo of marine ecosystem recovery during the Early Triassic13. 1Sun, Y., et al., 2012, Science 338:366-370. 2Romano, C., et al., 2013, Nature Geosci. 6:57-60. 3Luo, G.M., et al., 2010, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 300:101-111. 4Song, H.Y., et al., 2013, Global Planet. Change 105:7-20. 5Algeo, T.J., Twitchett, R.J., 2010, Geology 38:1023-1026. 6Algeo, T.J., et al., 2011, Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 308:1-11. 7Yin, H.F., et al., 2012, Earth-Sci. Rev. 115:163-172. 8Xie, S.C., et al., 2010, Geology 38:447-450. 9Shen, J., et al., 2012, Geology 40:963-966. 10Shen, J., et al., 2012, Geobiology 10:82-103. 11Zhao, L., et al., 2013, Global Planet. Change 105:135-151. 12Tong, J.N., et al., 2007, Geol. Jour. 42:371-389. 13Chen, Z.Q., Benton, M.J., 2012, Nature Geosci. 5:375-383.

Dismantling of Radium-226 Coal Level Gauges: Encountered Problems and How to Solve

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

Punnachaiya, M.; Nuanjan, P.; Moombansao, K.

2006-07-01

was previously a leakage on inner source housing. Thus, during manufacturing the filled-lead for shielding passed through this small hole and fixed the deformed spring together with the source. The circular surface of inner hole was measured and slowly drilled at a diameter 2.2 cm behind shielding, till the spring and the fixed lead sheet were cut, therefore the source could be finally hammered out. The surface dose rate of coal level gauges before weld cutting was 10-15 mR/hr and the highest dose rate at the position of the weld cutter was 2.5 mR/hr. The total time for each weld cutting and automatic sawing was 2-3 minutes and 1 minute, respectively. The source was individually and safely transferred to store in lead safe box using a 1-meter length tong and a light container with 1 meter length handle. The total time for Ra-226 (70 pieces) dismantling, including the encountered problems and their troubles shooting took 4 days operation in which the total dose obtained by 18 operators were ranged from 1-38 {mu}Sv. The dismantling team safely completed the activities within the effective dose limit for occupational exposure of 20 mSv/year (80 {mu}Sv/day). (authors)« less

The application of simple mass spectrometers to planetary sub-surface sampling using penetrators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheridan, Simon; Morse, Andrew; Bardwell, Max; Barber, Simeon; Wright, Ian

2010-05-01

(1-4), 363-387. Todd, J.F.J., Barber, S.J., Wright, I.P., Morgan, G.H., Morse, A.D., Sheridan, S., Leese, M.R., Maynard, J., Evans, S.T., Pillinger, C.T. et al. (2007). Ion trap mass spectrometry on a comet nucleus: the Ptolemy instrument and the Rosetta space mission. J. Mass Spectrom. 42,1-10. Pillinger C. T., and Wright I. P. (1993). MODULUS - Methods Of Determining and Understanding Light elements from Unequivocal Stable isotope composition. A type 2 proposal submitted to the RoLand Cometary Lander of the ESA International Rosetta Mission for the provision of Ptolemy - an evolved gas analyser. Richter L., Coste P., Grzesik A., Magnani P., Nadalini R., Neuhaus D., Re E., Romstedt J., Sims M. and Sohl F. (2005). Instrumented Moles for Planetary Subsurface Regolith Studies. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 7, 08659 A. Smith A.,. Crawford I. A., Gowen R. A., Ball A. J., Barber S. J., Church P., Coates A. J., Gao Y., Griffiths A. D., Hagermann A.,•Joy K. H., Phipps A., Pike W. T., Scott R., Sheridan S., Sweeting M., Talboys D.,•Tong V.,•Wells N.,• Biele J., Chela-Flores J.,•Dabrowski B., Flannagan J., Grande M., Grygorczuk J., Kargl G.,. Khavroshkin O. B.,•Klingelhoefer G., Knapmeyer M.,• Marczewski W., McKenna-Lawlor S.,•Richter L., Rothery D. A., Seweryn K., Ulamec S., Wawrzaszek R., Wieczorek M., Wright I. P. and Sims M. (2009). LunarEX - a proposal to cosmic vision. Exp Astron 23:711-740: DOI 10.1007/s10686-008-9109-6

[Analysis of projects received and funded in fields of emergency and intensive care medicine/trauma/burns/plastic surgery from National Natural Science Foundation of China during 2010-2013].

PubMed

Xiong, Kun; Wang, Linlin; Chen, Xulin; Cao, Yongqian; Xiang, Chuan; Xue, Lixiang; Yan, Zhangcai

2014-01-01

To summarized the projects received and funded in the fields of emergency and intensive care medicine/trauma/burns/plastic surgery from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) during 2010-2013, put forward the thinking and perspective of this future trend in these fields. The number of the funded project and total funding in the fields of emergency and intensive care medicine/trauma/burns/plastic surgery from NSFC during 2010-2013 had been statistical analyzed, in the meantime, the overview situation of various branches in basic research and further preliminary analysis the research frontier and hot issues have been analyzed. (1) The number of funded project were 581 in H15 of NSFC during 2010-2013, total funding reached to 277.13 million RMB, including 117 projects in H1511 (emergency and intensive care medicine/trauma/burns/plastic surgery and other science issue), 96 projects in H1507 (wound healing and scar), 88 projects in H1502 (multi-organ failure), 71 projects in H1505 (burn), 61 projects in H1504 (trauma). (2) The top 10 working unit for project funding in the field of emergency and intensive care medicine/trauma/burns/plastic surgery present as Third Military Medical University (70), Shanghai Jiao tong University (69), Second Military Medical University (40), Chinese PLA General Hospital (36), Forth Military Medical University (35), Zhejiang University (22), Sun Yat-Sen University (18), Southern Medical University (14), China Medical University (11), Capital Medical University (11) respectively, the number of funded project positive correlated with funding. (3) The funded research field in H15 covered almost all important organs and system injury or repair research, our scientists reached a fairly high level in some research field, for example, sepsis, trauma, repair, et al. "Sepsis" was funded 112 projects in H15 for 4 years, the growth rate became rapid and stable comparing to shock, burns and cardiopulmonary resuscitation funded projects

EDITORIAL: Flexible OLEDs and organic electronics Flexible OLEDs and organic electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jang-Joo; Han, Min-Koo; Noh, Yong-Young

2011-03-01

as one of the best candidates for the purpose, and J K Jeong discusses their status and perspectives. Next, several excellent research articles on OFETs follow. In particular, Y-Y Noh et al introduce an interesting method to control charge injection in top-gated OFETs by insertion of various self-assembled monolayers in their paper entitled 'Controlling contact resistance in top-gate polythiophene-based field-effect transistors by molecular engineering'. We would like to thank all the authors for their contributions, which combine new results and profound overviews of the state of the art in flexible OLEDs and organic electronics areas; it is this combination that most often adds to the value of topical issues. Special thanks also go to the staff of IOP Publishing, particularly Ms Alice Malhador, for contributing to the success of this effort. In this special issue, many wonderful reviews and research articles provide a detailed overview of recent progress in OLEDs, OPVs and OFETs as well as a scientific understanding of the device physics with these materials. We sincerely believe this special issue is a timely publication and will give productive information to a broad range of readers. Flexible OLEDs and organic electronics Contents Thin film encapsulation for flexible AM-OLED: a review Jin-Seong Park, Heeyeop Chae, Ho Kyoon Chung and Sang In Lee Large-area OLED lightings and their applications J W Park, D C Shin and S H Park Controlling contact resistance in top-gate polythiophene-based field-effect transistors by molecular engineering Yong-Young Noh, Xiaoyang Cheng, Marta Tello, Mi-Jung Lee and Henning Sirringhaus Branched polythiophene as a new amorphous semiconducting polymer for an organic field-effect transistor Makoto Karakawa, Yutaka Ie and Yoshio Aso Influence of mechanical strain on the electrical properties of flexible organic thin-film transistors Fang-Chung Chen, Tzung-Da Chen, Bing-Ruei Zeng and Ya-Wei Chung Frequency operation of low

The vulnerability of organic matter in Swiss forest soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González Domínguez, Beatriz; Niklaus, Pascal A.; Studer, Mirjam S.; Hagedorn, Frank; Wacker, Lukas; Haghipour, Negar; Zimmermann, Stephan; Walthert, Lorenz; Abiven, Samuel; McIntyre, Cameron

2017-04-01

that best explained the variability of SOC vulnerability, with alkaline soils being the most vulnerable. This could be explained by the strongest adsorption of nitrogen organic compounds to minerals at lower pH [5]. We conclude that in temperate forests, the control that soil properties exert on SOC dynamics might outweigh the control of climate. Therefore, soil properties should be appropriately represented in Earth system models to obtain more realistic projections under different climate scenarios. 1. Ciais P, Sabine C, Bala G, Bopp L, Brovkin V, Canadell J, et al. Carbon and other biogeochemical cycles. Stocker TF, Qin D, Plattner G-K, Tignor M, Allen SK, Boschung J, et al., editors. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA; 2013. 2. Luo Y, Ahlström A, Allison SD, Batjes NH, Brovkin V, Carvalhais N, et al. Toward more realistic projections of soil carbon dynamics by Earth system models. Global Biogeochem Cycles. 2016;30: 40-56. doi:10.1002/2015GB005239 3. Wollum A, Gomez J. A conductivity method for measuring microbially evolved carbon dioxide. Ecology. 1970;51: 155-156. doi:10.2307/1933610 4. Raich JW, Tufekciogul A. Vegetation and soil respiration: Correlations and controls. Biogeochemistry. 2000;48: 71-90. doi:10.1023/A:1006112000616 5. Yu WH, Li N, Tong DS, Zhou CH, Lin CX (Cynthia), Xu CY. Adsorption of proteins and nucleic acids on clay minerals and their interactions: A review. Appl Clay Sci. 2013;80-81: 443-452. doi:10.1016/j.clay.2013.06.003

Episodic Aggradation and Asynchronous Incision of River Terraces in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgette, R. J.; Weldon, R. J.; Abdkrakhmatov, K. Y.; Ormukov, C.

2006-12-01

Sequences of terraces and alluvial fans with characteristic geomorphic expression lie above or at the mouth of rivers in all of the major basins in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The similarity of terraces and fans in different drainage basins, despite being bounded by faults of varying activity and style, has been used to argue for synchronous regional climatic variations controlling the timing of aggradation and incision. Our emerging set of radiocarbon dates (currently 24) from terrace deposits and overlying sediments suggest that despite the general regional synchroneity of a late Pleistocene terrace-forming event, deep incision below broad aggradational surfaces may be locally controlled and occurred over time spans up to 30 k.y. The most prominent intra-canyon terrace is known as QIII(2) in the characteristic sequence of Tien Shan terraces. QIII(2) is a fill terrace everywhere except for the hanging walls of the most active thrust faults in the Tien Shan, where it has a strath terrace morphology. In many places the base of the QIII(2) fill is not visible even at the level of the modern river. Five dates in the fill from the Ak-Terek and Tong Rivers in the Issyk-Kul basin and Kajerty River in the Naryn basin are all >40 Ka, and may be beyond the limit of radiocarbon. The Issyk-Kul basin is occupied by a large lake, which provides additional dating possibilities, while potentially complicating the geomorphic system. In Issyk-Kul dates from sediment overlying the QIII(2) gravel in thick colluvial wedges far from the edge of the riser to lower terraces along the Ak-Terek and Tamga rivers show that at least the highest level of the fill was abandoned by 33-30 Ka. However, the downstream reaches of Issyk- Kul rivers' QIII(2) surfaces clearly remained active through a high stand of the lake that persisted from 38 to 20 Ka. Remnants of terraces with steeper gradients that merge upstream with surfaces inset only a few m into the main QIII(2) post-date the high

Variability of PAHs and trace metals in the sediments in relation to environmental characteristics of the bottom layer in the middle Adriatic Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grilli, Federica; Frapiccini, Emanuela; Campanelli, Alessandra; Guicciardi, Stefano; Marini, Mauro; Marasovic, Ivona; Grbec, Branka; Skejić, Sanda; Ujević, Ivana; Lušić, Jelena

2015-04-01

towards the Italian coast. The total PAHs concentrations (sum of 16 PAH priority pollutant - US EPA) recorded in the marine sediments during the cruise in April 2013 showed a higher level of PAH contamination in the pits, especially in the central pit (28.5 ng/g d.w.), in comparison to others analyzed samples. The corresponding bottom water in the central pit is characterized by a temperature of 10.9°C, density of 29.6 kg/m3, salinity of 38.6 and low values of DIN (0.55 μmol•l-1). The linear regression between DIN and PAHs showed a significant negative relationship (p ≤ 0.05). This feature implies a possible accumulation of PAHs very likely due to a lower microbial activity as demonstrated by Xu et al. (2014). The physical and chemical characteristics of the bottom layer in these areas could influence the PAHs contamination of the deep sediments. Bibliography: Grbec, B. and Morović, M. (1997): Seasonal thermohaline fluctuations in the middle Adriatic Sea. Nuovo Cimento della Societa Italiana di Fisica C-Geophysics & Space Physics. 20(4): 561-576. Grilli F., Marini M., Book J. W., Campanelli A., Paschini E., Russo A., 2013. Flux of nutrients between the middle and southern Adriatic Sea (Gargano-Split section). Marine Chemistry 153,1-14. Marini, M., Russo, A., Paschini, E., Grilli, F., Campanelli, A., 2006. Short-term physical and chemical variations in the bottom water of middle Adriatic depressions. Climate Research 31, 227-237. Meiying Xu, Qin Zhang, Chunyu Xia, Yuming Zhong, Guoping Sun, Jun Guo, Tong Yuan, Jizhong Zhou and Zhili He, 2014. Elevated nitrate enriches microbial functional genes for potential bioremediation of complexly contaminated sediments. The ISME Journal 8, 1932-1944 | doi:10.1038/ismej.2014.42 Marasović I., Grbec B. & Morović M., 1995. Long term production changes in the Adriatic. Neth. J. of Sea Res. 34 (4): 267-273. Vilibić I., Grbec B. and Supić N., 2004. Dense water generation in the north Adriatic in 1999 and its recirculation along

[Research and control of relapse tuberculosis cases].

PubMed

Yamagishi, Fumio; Toyota, Makoto

2009-12-01

With this symposium, we focused on the relapse of tuberculosis in Japan. Out of 19,893 tuberculosis patients registered in 2007 in Japan, 7.48% were classified as relapse cases. Relapse cases have the risk of acquired drug resistance. But we have few analyses of the proportion of relapse tuberculosis cases with standard short course regimens for six months, factors contributing to tuberculosis relapse and the proportion of drug resistance among relapse TB cases in Japan. Therefore we analyzed the relapse tuberculosis cases in two rural areas and three urban areas. We also analyzed the proportion of drug resistance among relapse cases with the data of drug susceptibility survey of Ryoken. 1. Research of relapse tuberculosis cases: Makoto TOYOTA (Kochi City Public Health Center). To clarify the relapse rate and factors contributing to tuberculosis relapse, we investigated the relapse tuberculosis cases in the municipality where the proportion of elderly tuberculosis patients was high. Out of 902 tuberculosis patients registered in Kochi City Public Health Center during 10 years, 20 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were confirmed relapse cases with initial registered records. Pretreatment cavitations, sputum culture positivity at 2 months, medical miss-management (e.g. number of doses, duration of therapy) and poor adherence were considered to be factors contributing to tuberculosis relapse. Out of 20 relapse cases, 12 cases were detected with symptoms, while only 3 cases were detected by examination in law. 2. A clinical study on relapse cases of pulmonary tuberculosis: Shuichi TAKIKAWA (National Hospital Organization Nishibeppu National Hospital). The relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis was investigated. In the cases with a treatment history before short course chemotherapy, drug resistance rate was high, and thus it needs to be cautious of drug resistance at the time of the retreatment. In the cases with a treatment history of short course chemotherapy, relapse cases

NRAO Scientists on Team Receiving International Astronautics Award

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2005-10-01

, a radio telescope bigger than the Earth." In addition to Fomalont and Romney, they are: Hisashi Hirabayashi, of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Haruto Hirosawa (ISAS/JAXA), Peter Dewdney of Canada's Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Leonid Gurvits of the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE, The Netherlands), Makoto Inoue of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), David Jauncey of the Australia Telescope National Facility, Noriyuki Kawaguchi (NAOJ), Hideyuki Kobayashi (NAOJ), Kazuo Miyoshi (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan), Yasuhiro Murata (ISAS/JAXA), Takeshi Orii (NEC, Japan) Robert Preston of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Joel Smith (JPL). The International Academy of Astronautics was founded in August 1960 in Stockholm, Sweden, during the 11th International Astronautical Congress. The Academy aims to foster the development of astronautics for peaceful purposes; recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in a related branch of science or technology; provide a program through which members may contribute to international endeavours; cooperation in the advancement of aerospace science. Previous recipients of the Laurels for Team Achievement Award are the Russian Mir Space Station Team (2001), the U.S. Space Shuttle Team (2002), the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Team (2003), and the Hubble Space Telescope Team (2004). The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

[Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse: guidelines for clinical practice].

PubMed

Wagner, L; Meurette, G; Vidart, A; Warembourg, S; Terassa, J-B; Berrogain, N; Ragni, E; Le Normand, L

2016-07-01

brought by the posterior vaginal mesh is not established (level 3). There is no comparative studies which allows to conclude on the type and mode of fixation of the prostheses of sacrocolpopexy. We would only report the most common practices without other conclusion. The anterior mesh is usually fixed upper on the anterior part of uterus cervix and lower on the anterior vaginal wall. These fixations are most of the time made by suture and on the promontory with non absorbable suture. The great majority of the authors recommend to make a peritonisation of prostheses to limit the risk of post-operative occlusion. It is now recommended to use only 2 kind of not absorbable prostheses: type I (macroporous polypropylene) or type III (polyester) and not to use any more prostheses type II (PTFE, Silicone) (level C) because of a high rate of mesh erosion: PTFE (9 %) or Silicone (19%) (level 3). Biological prostheses are no more recommended, because of short and medium-term lower anatomical results (level B). Anatomical and functional results are not stastistically differents between laparotomy and coelioscopy (NP1) but the comparison of tong-term results between both ways is not yet established. Coelioscopy allows significant reduction of blood losses, hospital stay and return to normal activity (level 1). Furthemore, there is a higher level of post-operative complications in laparotomy (level 1). When sacrocolpopexy is indicated, coelioscopy is thus recommended (level B). During coelioscopic sacrocolpopexy, anatomical and functional result have not shown any significance difference when using or no a robotics assistance but real randomised studies does not exist (level 2). In comparison to coelioscopy, robotic seems not to improve post-operative consequences and not to decrease the rate of complications of sacrocolpopexy (level 3). Robotic assistance cannot be yet recommended when a coelioscopic sacrocolpopexy is indicated (rank B). Sacrocolpopexy using not absorbable meshes

Oral traditional Chinese medication for adhesive small bowel obstruction.

PubMed

Suo, Tao; Gu, Xixi; Andersson, Roland; Ma, Huaixing; Zhang, Wei; Deng, Wei; Zhang, Boheng; Cai, Dingfang; Qin, Xinyu

2012-05-16

); continuous outcomes are presented as mean differences (MD) and 95% CIs. The data analyses were carried out using Review Manager 5.1. For cases in which necessary information was not reported in the paper, we contacted the primary authors for additional information. Five randomised trials involving 664 participants were analysed. Five different herbal medicines were tested in these trials, including Huo-Xue-Tong-Fu decoction, Xiao-Cheng-Qi-Tang decoction, a combination of Xiao-Cheng-Qi-Tang and Si-Jun-Zi-Tang decoctions, Chang-Nian-Lian-Song-Jie-Tang decoction, and Fufang-Da-Cheng-Qi-Tang decoction. There were variations in the tested herbal compositions and methods of medicine administration. The main outcomes reported in the trials were effects on abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation defection, time of first defecation after treatment, and reoperation rate during the course of the disease. Secondary outcomes selected for this review were not available, including complications such as small bowel perfusion (bowel resection, system complications, and other possible complications), length of hospital stay, cost of hospitalisation, and time from admission to surgical intervention. The results of five trials showed that patients receiving TCM combined with conventional therapy seemed to have improved outcomes compared with patients receiving conventional treatment alone (OR 4.24, 95% CI 2.83 to 6.36).However, we cannot conclusively determine the efficacy of TCM in this review due to inadequate reporting, low methodological quality, and the prevalence of various biases in the reviewed studies. Furthermore, because none of the reviewed trials discussed adverse events, we could not evaluate the safety of TCM for adhesive SBO patients. All trials were conducted and published in China. Although many studies have assessed the use of TCM products for adhesive SBO, most were excluded from this review due to their methodological limitations. This systematic review did not

Increased AIF-1-mediated TNF-α expression during implantation phase in IVF cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol.

PubMed

Xu, Bufang; Zhou, Mingjuan; Wang, Jingwen; Zhang, Dan; Guo, Feng; Si, Chenchen; Leung, Peter C K; Zhang, Aijun

2018-06-12

. Microarray results revealed that AIF-1 was upregulated in the antagonist group compared with the control group (fold change [FC] = 3.75) and the agonist (FC = 2.20) group. The raw microarray data and complete gene expression table were uploaded to GEO under the accession number of GSE107914. Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of AIF-1 and TNF-α were the higher in the antagonist group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05) which did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The protein levels of TNF-α in both Ishikawa cells and primary endometrial cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 96 h after transfection with the AIF-1 expression vector, indicating that TNF-α was mediated by AIF-1 in endometrial cells. Overexpression of AIF-1 in Ishikawa cells inhibited adhesion of JAR cells to them. Thus, increased AIF-1 might inhibit adhesion during implantation via raised TNF-α. The sample size of the microarray was small, which might weaken the accuracy of our results; however, the sample size of RT-qPCR and the Western blotting assays were sufficient to compensate for this deficiency in our study. In addition, the aberrant AIF-1 and thus TNF-α expression is one of many factors that may contribute to limiting implantation success. Therefore, further extensive in vitro mechanistic and in vivo animal studies are needed to assess the actual functional impact of this pathway. Anti-TNF-α therapy might mitigate the adverse effects of GnRH antagonist on endometrial receptivity and improve the implantation rate in GnRH antagonist protocols in IVF. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant numbers 81771656 and 81370763; Clinical research special fund of Chinese Medical Association, Grant number 16020480664; Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medicine-Engineering Fund, Grant number YG2017ZD11 and YG2017MS57; and the Merck-Serono China Research Fund for Fertility Agreement. P.C.K.L. is supported by a Canadian Institutes of

[Lessons learned from tuberculosis outbreak cases].

PubMed

Kato, Seiya; Kuwabara, Katsuhiro

2014-02-01

screening result interpretation might have contributed to the delay. However, we also speculate that environmental factors, such as occurrence in the closed space of a prison, inmates spending long periods living together, inmates staying in their rooms due to the cold winter, and poor ventilation in the prison factory, all contributed to accelerating the spread of the infection. Both the QuantiFERON TB-2G (QFT)-positive rate and disease incidence were higher among the close contact group, and there were no cases of tuberculosis among QFT-negative individuals, proving the utility of QFT screening in contact surveys. Genetic testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a useful method for studying outbreak cases. In the present case, it led to the discovery of an unexpected route of infection, reaffirming its importance. This outbreak occurred among a particular population with whom it was difficult to deal and it occurred under unique circumstances. In fact, there were various obstacles to overcome, the most important of which was to ensure the three organizations involved (prisons, health centers, and hospitals) worked together closely, sharing accurate, real-time information. 4. Environmental factors, treatment for latent tuberculosis infection and molecular epidemiology relating to an outbreak of tuberculosis: Makoto TOYOTA (Kochi City Public Health Center), Seiya KATO (Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association). The ventilation rate within the room of a junior high school was analyzed using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as the tracer gas. Low ventilation of the room contributed to the massive outbreak. The risk of active tuberculosis was reduced by 81.0% with treatment for latent tuberculosis infection, compared with that without treatment. Delayed reactivation of tuberculosis was observed among patients treated with isoniazid for latent tuberculosis infection. Molecular epidemiology can provide insights into the process of tuberculosis

New material model for simulating large impacts on rocky bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tonge, A.; Barnouin, O.; Ramesh, K.

2014-07-01

-dependent failure behavior to the sub-scale flaw distribution in the material, we are able to investigate the effect of changing the assumed initial flaw population on an asteroid. Additionally, by simulating the naturally variable local flaw population in a body, we introduce macroscopic variability that is both physical and improves the numerical stability. We have implemented this material model using the Generalized Interpolated Material Point method (GIMP) within the Uintah computational framework [5]. GIMP is an updated Lagrangian formulation, which uses material points to track field quantities in the simulation and a background grid to solve the equations of motion. Since nodal quantities on the grid are mapped from the material points, the grid can be reset at the end of each timestep avoiding mesh entanglement errors associated with Lagrangian finite-element approaches. Since the material points always stay with the same block of material, this method is ideal for history-dependent damage models that are difficult to solve using Eulerian approaches. Finally, using a background grid simplifies the computation of gradients in the material and specifically eliminates the costly neighbor search step in pure particle methods such as SPH. The disadvantage of a background grid is that it must cover the entire simulation domain, not just the location where there is material. This is an acceptable trade-off, because, in our material model, most of the cost of the calculation is confined to the particles and updating the constitutive model. In this work, we demonstrate the strength of our modeling approach by simulating the impact history of Eros. We assume that Eros began as a solid shard of material, consistent with [3], and then simulate the series of impacts that could have formed the three major craters Himeros, Psyche, and Shoemaker. Work presented by Tonge et al. [6] demonstrated that this material model was able to explain the 20 percent porosity of (433) Eros from porosity

Extraordinary Cosmic Laboratory Helps Unravel Mysteries of a Galaxy's Powerful Central "Engine"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, NM; Mikoto Miyoshi of Japan's Misusawa Astrogeodynamics Observatory; and Naomasa Nakai and Makoto Inoue of Japan's Nobeyama Radio Observatory. The work formed the basis of Herrnstein's Ph.D. dissertation at Harvard University. The extraordinary detail of the observations is made possible by the fact that the water molecules in the disk orbiting the black hole are amplifying microwave radio emissions in the same manner that a laser amplifies light. These natural amplifiers are called cosmic masers, and they produce bright targets for radio telescopes. Study of water masers at the center of NGC 4258 is what revealed the orbiting disk in 1994. Further studies of the water masers in NGC 4258 now have allowed the research team to deduce the exact location of the object orbited by the disk. In addition, new observations of the galaxy's center show radio emission the astronomers believe traces the inner parts of the high-speed jets. Combined, these new observations allow measurement of the distance between the black hole and the innermost observable portions of the jets. Such measurement is extremely important, because the standard theoretical model, proposed in 1979 by Roger Blandford of Caltech and Arieh Konigl of the University of Chicago, makes a clear prediction that all detected radio emission will be offset from the central engine generating the jets. The new radio observations of NGC 4258 are the first to show the exact location of the core of an AGN, and thus the first to allow measurement of the offset between the core and the detected emission closest to it. Significantly, the offset measured in NGC 4258 is fully consistent with the quantitative prediction made by the model of Blandford and Konigl. "There has been a lot of speculation about the relationship between radio jets and black holes over the years," said Herrnstein. "But this measurement precisely pins down the geometric relationship between them in this object

EDITORIAL: Power is nothing without control Power is nothing without control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demming, Anna

2012-04-01

China have shown that they can fabricate well aligned arrays of ZnO nanorods as long as 10 μm by using a preheating hydrothermal treatment [5.] The dimensions and orientations of the nanorod arrays are particularly well suited to technological applications. Researchers in the US have enhanced the gas-sensing performance of SnO2 single-crystal nanostructures by fabricating nanowires with a segmented morphology [6]. The low-diameter sections allow an optimum ratio of the radius to the Debye length. At the same time, the structures are sufficiently robust to avoid the problems associated with manipulating extremely narrow nanowires. It has been suggested that differences in fabrication methods such as annealing parameters can affect the photoluminescence from silicon quantum dots. Hao and Shen from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China combined their data on silicon dots annealed in oxygen with that of silicon dots annealed in hydrogen and argon and used analysis of the results to identify the photoluminescence mechanism [7]. The work shows how annealing can be used to control photoluminescence properties by modifying the defect density through annealing treatment. Defects play an important role in tailoring the properties of graphene to maximise the materials potential in electronics and spintronics. Atomistic simulations of these sorts of systems can face problems due to the shear size of the calculations. Researchers in Brazil integrated a number of modelling approaches to propose a true spin filter based on realistic boron-doped zigzag singly hydrogen passivated graphene nanoribbons up to 450 nm in length [8]. The authors explain the excellent spin filtering performance in terms of different scattering probabilities at the impurity site for majority and minority spins, which consequently leads to different localization lengths. Carbon-based nanomaterials have catalysed enormous activity in nanoscale science and technology research. As Journet et al describe in their

Japan-China Joint Medical Workshop on Drug Discoveries and Therapeutics 2008: The need of Asian pharmaceutical researchers' cooperation.

PubMed

Nakata, M; Tang, W

2008-10-01

opportunity to reiterate the crucial role of medicinal chemistry in conquering influenza and created an environment for cooperative research in Asian countries. (reported on October 1st, with grateful thanks to all participants) Main program Session I. Research Advances in Drug Discoveries and Therapeutics ● Design, synthesis and preliminary activity assay of influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors by Wenfang Xu (Shandong University, China) ● Infection disease models with silkworms to evaluate the therapeutic effects of drug candidates by Kazuhisa Sekimizu (The University of Tokyo, Japan) ● Japan's governmental approaches to facilitate drug development process by Makoto Shimoaraiso (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan) ● Effective detection of the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation by the peptide nucleic acid-locked nucleic acid PCR Clamp by Sakuo Hoshi (The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan) ● Design and synthesis of p53-MDM2 binding inhibitors by Yongzhou Hu (Zhejiang University, China) Session II. Drug Synthesis/Clinical Therapeutics ● Pharmacogenomics-based clinical studies using a novel fully-automated genotyping system by Setsuo Hasegawa (Sekino Clinical Pharmacology Clinic, Japan) ● Synthesis and biological evaluation of pentacyclic triterpenes as anti-tumor agents by Hongbin Sun (China Pharmaceutical University, China) ● Drug discovery and therapeutics using silkworm as experimental animal by Yasuyuki Ogata (The University of Tokyo, Japan) ● Novel selective estrogen recetpor modulators (SERMs) with unusual structure and biological activities by Haibing Zhou (Wuhan University, China) Session III. Medicinal Chemistry/Natural Products ● Synthesis and properties of isonucleosides incorporated oligonucleotides by Zhenjun Yang (Peking University, China) ● Isolation of antiviral compounds from plant resources using silkworm bioassay by Yutaka Orihara (The University of Tokyo, Japan) ● Synthesis and structural modifcation of tasiamide

The extreme environments and their microbes as models for extraterrestrial life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seckbach, J.; Oren, A.; Chela-Flores, J.

2008-09-01

on Europa: a review of biomarkers of sulfate-reducers and other microorganisms, in: Hoover, R.B., Levin, G.V., Rozanov, A.Y. and Davies, P.C.W. (eds.), Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X. Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 6694, 66940W. Smith, A., Crawford, I. A., Gowen, R.A., Ball, A J., Barber, S.J., Church, P., Coates, A.J., Gao, Y., Griffiths, A.D., Hagermann, A., Phipps, A., Pike, W.T., Scott, R., Sheridan, S., Sweeting, M., Talboys, D., Tong, V., Wells, N., Biele, J., Chela-Flores, J., Dabrowski, B., Flannagan, J, Grande, M., Grygorczuk, J., Kargl, G., Khavroshkin, O. B., Klingelhoefer, G., Knapmeyer, M., Marczewski, W., McKenna-Lawlor, S., Richter, L., Rothery, D.A., Seweryn, K., Ulamec, S., Wawrzaszek, R., Wieczorek, M. and Wright, I.P. (2008). LunarEX - A proposal to cosmic vision. Experimental Astronomy Journal, submitted for publication.

PREFACE: Fourth Meeting on Constrained Dynamics and Quantum Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cadoni, Mariano; Cavaglia, Marco; Nelson, Jeanette E.

2006-04-01

, France) Michael Mueller (Sardinien.com, Cagliari, Italy) Mario Nadalini (Università di Trento, Italy) José Navarro-Salas (Universidad de Valencia, Spain) Jeanette E. Nelson (Università di Torino, Italy) Alexander Nesterov (Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico) Hermann Nicolai (Albert-Einstein-Institut, Golm, Germany) Daniele Oriti (DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK) Marcello Ortaggio (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic) Silvio Pallua (University of Zagreb, Croatia) Matej Pavsic (Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia) Wlodzimierz Piechocki (Soltan Inst. for Nuclear Studies, Warsaw, Poland) Nicola Pinamonti (Università di Trento, Italy) J. Brian Pitts (University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA) Vojtech Pravda (Academy of Sciences, Praha, Czech Rep.) Gianpaolo Procopio (DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK) Alice Rogers (King's College London, UK) Efrain Rojas (Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico) James Ryan (DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK) Augusto Sagnotti (Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy) Wenceslao Santiago-German (University of California at Davis, USA) Stefano Sciuto (Università di Torino, Italy) Domenico Seminara (Università di Firenze, Italy) Lorenzo Sindoni (Università di Udine, Italy) Kellogg S. Stelle (Imperial College, London, UK) Cosimo Stornaiolo (INFN, Sezione di Napoli, Italy) Ward Struyve (Perimeter Institute, Waterloo, Canada) Makoto Tanabe (Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan) Daniel Terno (Perimeter Institute, Waterloo, Canada) Charles Wang (Lancaster University, UK) Silke Weinfurtner (Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand) Hans Westman (Perimeter Institute, Waterloo, Canada) Ruth Williams (DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK) Tetsuyuki Yukawa (Graduate U. for Adv. Studies, Kanagawa, Japan) Jorge Zanelli (CECS, Santiago, Chile)

Editorial: Focus on Laser- and Beam-Driven Plasma Accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Chan; Malka, Victor

2010-04-01

Bajlekov, P A Walker, S Kneip, S P D Mangles, S R Nagel, C A J Palmer, N Delerue, G Doucas, D Urner, O Chekhlov, R J Clarke, E Divall, K Ertel, P Foster, S J Hawkes, C J Hooker, B Parry, P P Rajeev, M J V Streeter and S M Hooker Divergence of fast ions generated by interaction of intense ultra-high contrast laser pulses with thin foils A Andreev, T Ceccotti, A Levy, K Platonov and Ph Martin The application of laser-driven proton beams to the radiography of intense laser-hohlraum interactions G Sarri, C A Cecchetti, L Romagnani, C M Brown, D J Hoarty, S James, J Morton, M E Dieckmann, R Jung, O Willi, S V Bulanov, F Pegoraro and M Borghesi Laser-driven particle and photon beams and some applications K W D Ledingham and W Galster Target shape effects on monoenergetic GeV proton acceleration Min Chen, Tong-Pu Yu, Alexander Pukhov and Zheng-Ming Sheng