Hypervelocity Launching and Frozen Fuels as a Major Contribution to Spaceflight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cocks, F. H.; Harman, C. M.; Klenk, P. A.; Simmons, W. N.

Acting as a virtual first stage, a hypervelocity launch together with the use of frozen hydrogen/frozen oxygen propellant, offers a Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) system that promises an enormous increase in SSTO mass-ratio. Ram acceleration provides hypervelocity (2 km/sec) to the orbital vehicle with a gas gun supplying the initial velocity required for ram operation. The vehicle itself acts as the center body of a ramjet inside a launch tube, filled with gaseous fuel and oxidizer, acting as an engine cowling. The high acceleration needed to achieve hypervelocity precludes a crew, and it would require greatly increased liquid fuel tank structural mass if a liquid propellant is used for post-launch vehicle propulsion. Solid propellants do not require as much fuel- chamber strengthening to withstand a hypervelocity launch as do liquid propellants, but traditional solid fuels have lower exhaust velocities than liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen. The shock-stability of frozen hydrogen/frozen oxygen propellant has been experimentally demonstrated. A hypervelocity launch system using frozen hydrogen/frozen oxygen propellant would be a revolutionary new development in spaceflight.

Rare emergence of drug resistance in HIV-1 treatment-naïve patients after 48 weeks of treatment with elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide.

PubMed

Margot, Nicolas A; Kitrinos, Kathryn M; Fordyce, Marshall; McCallister, Scott; Miller, Michael D; Callebaut, Christian

2016-03-01

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a novel prodrug of the NtRTI tenofovir (TFV), delivers TFV-diphosphate (TFV-DP) to target cells more efficiently than the current prodrug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), with a 90% reduction in TFV plasma exposure. TAF, within the fixed dose combination of elvitegravir /cobicistat / emtricitabine (FTC)/TAF (E/C/F/TAF), has been evaluated in one Phase 2 and two Phase 3 randomized, double-blinded studies in HIV-infected treatment-naive patients, comparing E/C/F/TAF to E/C/F/TDF. In these studies, the TAF-containing group demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to the TDF-containing comparator group with 91.9% of E/C/F/TAF patients having <50 copies/mL of HIV-1 RNA at week 48. An integrated resistance analysis across these three studies was conducted, including HIV-1 genotypic analysis at screening, and genotypic/phenotypic analysis for patients with HIV-1 RNA>400 copies/mL at virologic failure. Pre-existing primary resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) were observed at screening among the 1903 randomized and treated patients: 7.5% had NRTI-RAMs, 18.2% had NNRTI-RAMs, and 3.4% had primary PI-RAMs. Pre-treatment RAMs did not influence treatment response at Week 48. In the E/C/F/TAF group, resistance development was rare; seven patients (0.7%, 7/978) developed NRTI-RAMs, five of whom (0.5%, 5/978) also developed primary INSTI-RAMs. In the E/C/F/TDF group, resistance development was also rare; seven patients (0.8%, 7/925) developed NRTI-RAMs, four of whom (0.4%, 4/925) also developed primary INSTI-RAMs. An additional analysis by deep sequencing in virologic failures revealed minimal differences compared to population sequencing. Overall, resistance development was rare in E/C/F/TAF-treated patients, and the pattern of emergent mutations was similar to E/C/F/TDF.

Ram locus is a key regulator to trigger multidrug resistance in Enterobacter aerogenes.

PubMed

Molitor, Alexander; James, Chloë E; Fanning, Séamus; Pagès, Jean-Marie; Davin-Regli, Anne

2018-02-01

Several genetic regulators belonging to AraC family are involved in the emergence of MDR isolates of E. aerogenes due to alterations in membrane permeability. Compared with the genetic regulator Mar, RamA may be more relevant towards the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Focusing on the global regulators, Mar and Ram, we compared the amino acid sequences of the Ram repressor in 59 clinical isolates and laboratory strains of E. aerogenes. Sequence types were associated with their corresponding multi-drug resistance phenotypes and membrane protein expression profiles using MIC and immunoblot assays. Quantitative gene expression analysis of the different regulators and their targets (porins and efflux pump components) were performed. In the majority of the MDR isolates tested, ramR and a region upstream of ramA were mutated but marR or marA were unchanged. Expression and cloning experiments highlighted the involvement of the ram locus in the modification of membrane permeability. Overexpression of RamA lead to decreased porin production and increased expression of efflux pump components, whereas overexpression of RamR had the opposite effects. Mutations or deletions in ramR, leading to the overexpression of RamA predominated in clinical MDR E. aerogenes isolates and were associated with a higher-level of expression of efflux pump components. It was hypothesised that mutations in ramR, and the self-regulating region proximal to ramA, probably altered the binding properties of the RamR repressor; thereby producing the MDR phenotype. Consequently, mutability of RamR may play a key role in predisposing E. aerogenes towards the emergence of a MDR phenotype.

Integration of RAMS in LCC analysis for linear transport infrastructures. A case study for railways.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calle-Cordón, Álvaro; Jiménez-Redondo, Noemi; Morales-Gámiz, F. J.; García-Villena, F. A.; Garmabaki, Amir H. S.; Odelius, Johan

2017-09-01

Life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis is an economic technique used to assess the total costs associated with the lifetime of a system in order to support decision making in long term strategic planning. For complex systems, such as railway and road infrastructures, the cost of maintenance plays an important role in the LCC analysis. Costs associated with maintenance interventions can be more reliably estimated by integrating the probabilistic nature of the failures associated to these interventions in the LCC models. Reliability, Maintainability, Availability and Safety (RAMS) parameters describe the maintenance needs of an asset in a quantitative way by using probabilistic information extracted from registered maintenance activities. Therefore, the integration of RAMS in the LCC analysis allows obtaining reliable predictions of system maintenance costs and the dependencies of these costs with specific cost drivers through sensitivity analyses. This paper presents an innovative approach for a combined RAMS & LCC methodology for railway and road transport infrastructures being developed under the on-going H2020 project INFRALERT. Such RAMS & LCC analysis provides relevant probabilistic information to be used for condition and risk-based planning of maintenance activities as well as for decision support in long term strategic investment planning.

Remote Attitude Measurement Sensor (RAMS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, H. W.

1989-01-01

Remote attitude measurement sensor (RAMS) offers a low-cost, low-risk, proven design concept that is based on mature, demonstrated space sensor technology. The electronic design concepts and interpolation algorithms were tested and proven in space hardware like th Retroreflector Field Tracker and various star trackers. The RAMS concept is versatile and has broad applicability to both ground testing and spacecraft needs. It is ideal for use as a precision laboratory sensor for structural dynamics testing. It requires very little set-up or preparation time and the output data is immediately usable without integration or extensive analysis efforts. For on-orbit use, RAMS rivals any other type of dynamic structural sensor (accelerometer, lidar, photogrammetric techniques, etc.) for overall performance, reliability, suitability, and cost. Widespread acceptance and extensive usage of RAMS will occur only after some interested agency, such as OAST, adopts the RAMS concept and provides the funding support necessary for further development and implementation of RAMS for a specific program.

76 FR 65317 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-4184, Risk Management and Analysis (RAM)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-20

..., Risk Management and Analysis (RAM) ACTION: Notice of request for public comments. SUMMARY: The... of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Risk Analysis and Management. OMB Control Number: None.... Methodology: The State Department, is implementing a Risk Analysis and Management Program to vet potential...

Deep sequencing analysis of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase at baseline and time of failure in patients receiving rilpivirine in the phase III studies ECHO and THRIVE.

PubMed

Van Eygen, Veerle; Thys, Kim; Van Hove, Carl; Rimsky, Laurence T; De Meyer, Sandra; Aerssens, Jeroen; Picchio, Gaston; Vingerhoets, Johan

2016-05-01

Minority variants (1.0-25.0%) were evaluated by deep sequencing (DS) at baseline and virological failure (VF) in a selection of antiretroviral treatment-naïve, HIV-1-infected patients from the rilpivirine ECHO/THRIVE phase III studies. Linkage between frequently emerging resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) was determined. DS (llIumina®) and population sequencing (PS) results were available at baseline for 47 VFs and time of failure for 48 VFs; and at baseline for 49 responders matched for baseline characteristics. Minority mutations were accurately detected at frequencies down to 1.2% of the HIV-1 quasispecies. No baseline minority rilpivirine RAMs were detected in VFs; one responder carried 1.9% F227C. Baseline minority mutations associated with resistance to other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) were detected in 8/47 VFs (17.0%) and 7/49 responders (14.3%). Baseline minority nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) RAMs M184V and L210W were each detected in one VF (none in responders). At failure, two patients without NNRTI RAMs by PS carried minority rilpivirine RAMs K101E and/or E138K; and five additional patients carried other minority NNRTI RAMs V90I, V106I, V179I, V189I, and Y188H. Overall at failure, minority NNRTI RAMs and NRTI RAMs were found in 29/48 (60.4%) and 16/48 VFs (33.3%), respectively. Linkage analysis showed that E138K and K101E were usually not observed on the same viral genome. In conclusion, baseline minority rilpivirine RAMs and other NNRTI/NRTI RAMs were uncommon in the rilpivirine arm of the ECHO and THRIVE studies. DS at failure showed emerging NNRTI resistant minority variants in seven rilpivirine VFs who had no detectable NNRTI RAMs by PS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Real time display Fourier-domain OCT using multi-thread parallel computing with data vectorization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eom, Tae Joong; Kim, Hoon Seop; Kim, Chul Min; Lee, Yeung Lak; Choi, Eun-Seo

2011-03-01

We demonstrate a real-time display of processed OCT images using multi-thread parallel computing with a quad-core CPU of a personal computer. The data of each A-line are treated as one vector to maximize the data translation rate between the cores of the CPU and RAM stored image data. A display rate of 29.9 frames/sec for processed OCT data (4096 FFT-size x 500 A-scans) is achieved in our system using a wavelength swept source with 52-kHz swept frequency. The data processing times of the OCT image and a Doppler OCT image with a 4-time average are 23.8 msec and 91.4 msec.

HyRAM V1.0 User Guide

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

Groth, Katrina M.; Zumwalt, Hannah Ruth; Clark, Andrew Jordan

2016-03-01

Hydrogen Risk Assessment Models (HyRAM) is a prototype software toolkit that integrates data and methods relevant to assessing the safety of hydrogen fueling and storage infrastructure. The HyRAM toolkit integrates deterministic and probabilistic models for quantifying accident scenarios, predicting physical effects, and characterizing the impact of hydrogen hazards, including thermal effects from jet fires and thermal pressure effects from deflagration. HyRAM version 1.0 incorporates generic probabilities for equipment failures for nine types of components, and probabilistic models for the impact of heat flux on humans and structures, with computationally and experimentally validated models of various aspects of gaseous hydrogen releasemore » and flame physics. This document provides an example of how to use HyRAM to conduct analysis of a fueling facility. This document will guide users through the software and how to enter and edit certain inputs that are specific to the user-defined facility. Description of the methodology and models contained in HyRAM is provided in [1]. This User’s Guide is intended to capture the main features of HyRAM version 1.0 (any HyRAM version numbered as 1.0.X.XXX). This user guide was created with HyRAM 1.0.1.798. Due to ongoing software development activities, newer versions of HyRAM may have differences from this guide.« less

ROSAT in-orbit attitude measurement recovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaffer, L.; Boeinghoff, A.; Bruederle, E.; Schrempp, W.; Wullstein, P.

After about 7 months of nearly perfect Attitude Measurement and Control System (AMCS) functioning, the ROSAT mission was influenced by gyro degradations which complicated the operation and after one year the nominal mission could no longer be maintained. The reestablishment of the nominal mission by the redesign of the attitude measurement using inertial reference generation from coarse Sun sensor and magnetometer together with a new star acquisition procedure is described. This success was only possible because sufficient reprogramming provisions in the onboard computer were available. The new software now occupies nearly the complete Random Access Memory (RAM) area and increases the computation time from about 50 msec to 300 msec per 1 sec cycle. This proves that deficiencies of the hardware can be overcome by a more intelligent software.

Reliable Acquisition of RAM Dumps from Intel-Based Apple Mac Computers over FireWire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladyshev, Pavel; Almansoori, Afrah

RAM content acquisition is an important step in live forensic analysis of computer systems. FireWire offers an attractive way to acquire RAM content of Apple Mac computers equipped with a FireWire connection. However, the existing techniques for doing so require substantial knowledge of the target computer configuration and cannot be used reliably on a previously unknown computer in a crime scene. This paper proposes a novel method for acquiring RAM content of Apple Mac computers over FireWire, which automatically discovers necessary information about the target computer and can be used in the crime scene setting. As an application of the developed method, the techniques for recovery of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) conversation fragments from RAM dumps are also discussed in this paper.

Objective assessment of sperm motion characteristics of Malpura ram lambs raised under intensive management system in semiarid tropical environment.

PubMed

Kumar, Davendra; Joshi, Anil; Naqvi, S M K

2010-04-01

A study was conducted to evaluate the semen production and sperm motion characteristics of ram lambs by computer-aided semen analysis technique. Eight Malpura rams were raised under intensive management system and were trained for semen collection at a weekly interval from the age of 6 months. Rams were scheduled for semen collection at a weekly interval up to 1 year of age to assess their potential for semen production and objective evaluation of semen quality. The average age of ram lambs at the time of first ejaculation was 219 days ranging from 186 to 245 days. The age of ram lambs significantly (p < 0.05) influenced sperm concentration, sperm velocities, and beat frequency of spermatozoa, which were higher in 9-12-month-old compared to 6-9-month-old ram lambs. However, the effect of age was not significant on semen volume, percent motility, percent rapid, medium or slow motile spermatozoa, percent linearity, percent straightness, amplitude of lateral head displacement, percent elongation, and area of sperm head. The body weight of ram lambs was significantly (p < 0.01) and positively correlated (r = 0.46) with age. The results indicate that Malpura ram lambs of 9-12 months of age raised under the intensive management system in a semiarid tropical environment can produce good quality of semen.

MSIX - A general and user-friendly platform for RAM analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Z. J.; Blemel, Peter

The authors present a CAD (computer-aided design) platform supporting RAM (reliability, availability, and maintainability) analysis with efficient system description and alternative evaluation. The design concepts, implementation techniques, and application results are described. This platform is user-friendly because of its graphic environment, drawing facilities, object orientation, self-tutoring, and access to the operating system. The programs' independency and portability make them generally applicable to various analysis tasks.

Metal flow and temperature in direct extrusion of large-size aluminum billets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valberg, Henry; Costa, André L. M.

2018-05-01

FEM-analysis is used to study thermo-mechanical conditions in aluminum rod extrusion for billets with large size corresponding to that used in industrial production. In the analysis, focus is on how the metal flow and the temperature conditions in the extrusion material is affected by the extrusion velocity in terms of the ram speed used in the extrusion process. In the study, metal flow is characterized by the deformations in extrusion subjected to a perfect grid pattern, consisting of orthogonal crossing lines, added into the longitudinal mid-plane of the initial billet. The analysis shows that metal flow in extrusion conducted at a low ram speed of 1 mms-1, is predicted significantly different from that at a high speed of 5 mms-1, or above. As regards the thermal conditions in the extrusion material, they are also predicted significantly different, at the low and the high ram speed level. A likely explanation why metal flow is different at low and high ram speeds may be that flow is altered because of the concurrent change in the temperature field within the billet.

Comparison of Postoperative Respiratory Monitoring by Acoustic and Transthoracic Impedance Technologies in Pediatric Patients at Risk of Respiratory Depression.

PubMed

Patino, Mario; Kalin, Megan; Griffin, Allison; Minhajuddin, Abu; Ding, Lili; Williams, Timothy; Ishman, Stacey; Mahmoud, Mohamed; Kurth, C Dean; Szmuk, Peter

2017-06-01

In children, postoperative respiratory rate (RR) monitoring by transthoracic impedance (TI), capnography, and manual counting has limitations. The rainbow acoustic monitor (RAM) measures continuous RR noninvasively by a different methodology. Our primary aim was to compare the degree of agreement and accuracy of RR measurements as determined by RAM and TI to that of manual counting. Secondary aims include tolerance and analysis of alarm events. Sixty-two children (2-16 years old) were admitted after tonsillectomy or receiving postoperative patient/parental-controlled analgesia. RR was measured at regular intervals by RAM, TI, and manual count. Each TI or RAM alarm resulted in a clinical evaluation to categorize as a true or false alarm. To assess accuracy and degree of agreement of RR measured by RAM or TI compared with manual counting, a Bland-Altman analysis was utilized showing the average difference and the limits of agreement. Sensitivity and specificity of RR alarms by TI and RAM are presented. Fifty-eight posttonsillectomy children and 4 patient/parental-controlled analgesia users aged 6.5 ± 3.4 years and weighting 35.3 ± 22.7 kg (body mass index percentile 76.6 ± 30.8) were included. The average monitoring time per patient was 15.9 ± 4.8 hours. RAM was tolerated 87% of the total monitoring time. The manual RR count was significantly different from TI (P = .007) with an average difference ± SD of 1.39 ± 10.6 but were not significantly different from RAM (P = .81) with an average difference ± SD of 0.17 ± 6.8. The proportion of time when RR measurements differed by ≥4 breaths was 22% by TI and was 11% by RAM. Overall, 276 alarms were detected (mean alarms/patient = 4.5). The mean number of alarms per patient were 1.58 ± 2.49 and 2.87 ± 4.32 for RAM and TI, respectively. The mean number of false alarms was 0.18 ± 0.71 for RAM and 1.00 ± 2.78 for TI. The RAM was found to have 46.6% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.64), 95.9% specificity (95% CI, 0.90-1.00), 88.9% positive predictive value (95% CI, 0.73-1.00), and 72.1% negative predictive value (95% CI, 0.61-0.84), whereas the TI monitor had 68.5% sensitivity (95% CI, 0.53-0.84), 72.0% specificity (95% CI, 0.60-0.84), 59.0% positive (95% CI, 0.44-0.74), and 79.5% negative predictive value (95% CI, 0.69-0.90). In children at risk of postoperative respiratory depression, RR assessment by RAM was not different to manual counting. RAM was well tolerated, had a lower incidence of false alarms, and had better specificity and positive predictive value than TI. Rigorous evaluation of the negative predictive value is essential to determine the role of postoperative respiratory monitoring with RAM.

RAM simulation model for SPH/RSV systems

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

Schryver, J.C.; Primm, A.H.; Nelson, S.C.

1995-12-31

The US Army`s Project Manager, Crusader is sponsoring the development of technologies that apply to the Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH), formerly the Advanced Field Artillery System (AFAS), and Resupply Vehicle (RSV), formerly the Future Armored Resupply Vehicle (FARV), weapon system. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is currently performing developmental work in support of the SPH/PSV Crusader system. Supportive analyses of reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) aspects were also performed for the SPH/RSV effort. During FY 1994 and FY 1995 OPNL conducted a feasibility study to demonstrate the application of simulation modeling for RAM analysis of the Crusader system. Following completion ofmore » the feasibility study, a full-scale RAM simulation model of the Crusader system was developed for both the SPH and PSV. This report provides documentation for the simulation model as well as instructions in the proper execution and utilization of the model for the conduct of RAM analyses.« less

Bioprospecting marine actinomycetes for multidrug-resistant pathogen control from Rameswaram coastal area, Tamil Nadu, India.

PubMed

Wahaab, Femina; Subramaniam, Kalidass

2018-01-01

A potent Streptomyces bacillaris strain RAM25C4 was isolated for controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 131 actinomycetes were isolated from the Rameswaram coastal region, Tamil Nadu, India. Among 131 actinomycetes, maximum number of actinomycetes (55%) isolated at the distance of 3-6 m from seashore. Out of 131 actinomycetes, 85% of the actinomycetes exhibited different degree of antagonistic activity against test pathogens. The antagonistic activity evaluated using actinomycetes direct culture filtrate and culture filtrate extracts. Among these culture filtrate, extracts had supreme antagonistic activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and the solvent ethyl acetate was the best for extracting secondary metabolites from actinomycetes. In HPTLC analysis, the presence of macrolides, terpenoids, and quinolones was identified in RAM25C4 extract. In GC-MS analysis, various potent compounds such as phenolic compound-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, alkaloid compound-1H, 5H, pyrrolo (1' 2':3, 4) imidazo, and quinolone compound-1,4-benzenediol, 2,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) were identified in the ethyl acetate extract of RAM25C4. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence of RAM25C4 isolate was deposited in NCBI with name Streptomyces bacillaris strain RAM25C4 and accession number KM513543.

The psychological health of remote area medics in Iraq.

PubMed

Whittaker-Howe, S; Brown, G; Williamson, V; Greenberg, N

2017-12-30

Remote area medics (RAMs) may be at increased risk of mental health difficulties. To explore the occupational experiences of RAMs to identify stressors and the mental health impact. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six RAMs working in Iraq to gather data, which was explored using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three key themes emerged from the data (i) the experience of being remote, (ii) cultural shock and (iii) social support. A number of key stressors were identified, including loneliness and boredom, associated with being remote, and the loss of professional identity due to the occupational role. Three out of the six participants reported substantial depressive symptoms. A number of positive coping strategies were identified, particularly relationships with other RAMs, via instant messaging forums. RAMs experience a number of particular stressors that could put them at risk of depression. Adaptive coping strategies were identified; in particular, virtual social support. These findings should be of interest to companies which employ RAMs. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

PET Imaging of VEGFR-2 Expression in Lung Cancer with 64Cu-Labeled Ramucirumab.

PubMed

Luo, Haiming; England, Christopher G; Graves, Stephen A; Sun, Haiyan; Liu, Glenn; Nickles, Robert J; Cai, Weibo

2016-02-01

Lung cancer accounts for 17% of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and most patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Novel PET imaging agents for assessing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) expression can be used for detecting VEGFR-2-positive malignancies and subsequent monitoring of therapeutic response to VEGFR-2-targeted therapies. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of an antibody-based imaging agent for PET imaging of VEGFR-2 expression in vivo. Ramucirumab (named RamAb), a fully humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody, was conjugated to 2-S-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-NOTA) and labeled with (64)Cu. Flow cytometry analysis and microscopy studies were performed to compare the VEGFR-2 binding affinity of RamAb and NOTA-RamAb. PET imaging and biodistribution studies were performed in nude mice bearing HCC4006 and A549 xenograft tumors. Ex vivo histopathology was performed to elucidate the expression patterns of VEGFR-2 in different tissues and organs to validate in vivo results. Flow cytometry examination revealed the specific binding capacity of fluorescein isothiocyanate-RamAb to VEGFR-2, and no difference in VEGFR-2 binding affinity was seen between RamAb and NOTA-RamAb. After being labeled with (64)Cu, PET imaging revealed specific and prominent uptake of (64)Cu-NOTA-RamAb in VEGFR-2-positive HCC4006 tumors (9.4 ± 0.5 percentage injected dose per gram at 48 h after injection; n = 4) and significantly lower uptake in VEGFR-2-negative A549 tumors (4.3 ± 0.2 percentage injected dose per gram at 48 h after injection; n = 3). Blocking experiments revealed significantly lower uptake in HCC4006 tumors, along with histology analysis, further confirming the VEGFR-2 specificity of (64)Cu-NOTA-RamAb. This study provides initial evidence that (64)Cu-NOTA-RamAb can function as a PET imaging agent for visualizing VEGFR-2 expression in vivo, which may also find potential applications in monitoring the treatment response of VEGFR-2-targeted cancer therapy. © 2016 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Secretome Analysis Defines the Major Role of SecDF in Staphylococcus aureus Virulence

PubMed Central

Quiblier, Chantal; Seidl, Kati; Roschitzki, Bernd; Zinkernagel, Annelies S.; Berger-Bächi, Brigitte; Senn, Maria M.

2013-01-01

The Sec pathway plays a prominent role in protein export and membrane insertion, including the secretion of major bacterial virulence determinants. The accessory Sec constituent SecDF has been proposed to contribute to protein export. Deletion of Staphylococcus aureus secDF has previously been shown to reduce resistance, to alter cell separation, and to change the expression of certain virulence factors. To analyse the impact of the secDF deletion in S. aureus on protein secretion, a quantitative secretome analysis was performed. Numerous Sec signal containing proteins involved in virulence were found to be decreased in the supernatant of the secDF mutant. However, two Sec-dependent hydrolases were increased in comparison to the wild type, suggesting additional indirect, regulatory effects to occur upon deletion of secDF. Adhesion, invasion, and cytotoxicity of the secDF mutant were reduced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Virulence was significantly reduced using a Galleria mellonella insect model. Altogether, SecDF is a promising therapeutic target for controlling S. aureus infections. PMID:23658837

Suppressor Analysis Reveals a Role for SecY in the SecA2-Dependent Protein Export Pathway of Mycobacteria

PubMed Central

Ligon, Lauren S.; Rigel, Nathan W.; Romanchuk, Artur; Jones, Corbin D.

2013-01-01

All bacteria use the conserved Sec pathway to transport proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane, with the SecA ATPase playing a central role in the process. Mycobacteria are part of a small group of bacteria that have two SecA proteins: the canonical SecA (SecA1) and a second, specialized SecA (SecA2). The SecA2-dependent pathway exports a small subset of proteins and is required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence. The mechanism by which SecA2 drives export of proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane remains poorly understood. Here we performed suppressor analysis on a dominant negative secA2 mutant (secA2 K129R) of the model mycobacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis to better understand the pathway used by SecA2 to export proteins. Two extragenic suppressor mutations were identified as mapping to the promoter region of secY, which encodes the central component of the canonical Sec export channel. These suppressor mutations increased secY expression, and this effect was sufficient to alleviate the secA2 K129R phenotype. We also discovered that the level of SecY protein was greatly diminished in the secA2 K129R mutant, but at least partially restored in the suppressors. Furthermore, the level of SecY in a suppressor strongly correlated with the degree of suppression. Our findings reveal a detrimental effect of SecA2 K129R on SecY, arguing for an integrated system in which SecA2 works with SecY and the canonical Sec translocase to export proteins. PMID:23913320

Extrusion-formed uranium-2.4 wt. % article with decreased linear thermal expansion and method for making the same

DOEpatents

Anderson, Robert C.; Jones, Jack M.; Kollie, Thomas G.

1982-01-01

The present invention is directed to the fabrication of an article of uranium-2.4 wt. % niobium alloy in which the linear thermal expansion in the direction transverse to the extrusion direction is less than about 0.98% between 22.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. which corresponds to a value greater than the 1.04% provided by previous extrusion operations over the same temperature range. The article with the improved thermal expansion possesses a yield strength at 0.2% offset of at least 400 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1050 MPa, a compressive yield strength of at least 0.2% offset of at least 675 MPa, and an elongation of at least 25% over 25.4 mm/sec. To provide this article with the improved thermal expansion, the uranium alloy billet is heated to 630.degree. C. and extruded in the alpha phase through a die with a reduction ratio of at least 8.4:1 at a ram speed no greater than 6.8 mm/sec. These critical extrusion parameters provide the article with the desired decrease in the linear thermal expansion while maintaining the selected mechanical properties without encountering crystal disruption in the article.

ssaD1, a suppressor of secA51(Ts) that renders growth of Escherichia coli cold sensitive, is an early amber mutation in the transcription factor gene nusB.

PubMed Central

Rajapandi, T.; Oliver, D.

1994-01-01

Complementation analysis of the ssaD1 mutation, isolated as a suppressor of the secA51(Ts) mutation that renders growth of Escherichia coli cold sensitive, was used to show that ssaD corresponds to nusB, a gene known to be important in transcription antitermination. DNA sequence analysis of the ssaD1 allele showed that it creates an amber mutation in the 15th codon of nusB. Analysis of the effect of different levels of NusB protein on secA transcription and translation suggested that NusB plays little or no role in the control of secA expression. Accordingly, mechanisms by which nusB inactivation can lead to suppression of secA51(Ts) and secY24(Ts) mutations without affecting secA expression need to be considered. PMID:8021230

Influence of ablation impurities on blunt body re-entry ionization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schexnayder, C. J., Jr.; Evans, J. S.

1974-01-01

Electron density profiles which include the effect of an ablated sodium impurity were computed for the boundary layer on a blunt-nosed body re-entering the atmosphere at 7.62 km/sec. Profiles are computed from the nose to a distance of four diameters along the RAM C-payload. A finite-difference, laminar, nonequilibrium chemistry boundary-layer program was used. Comparison of theory with S-band diagnostic antenna results, electron concentration deduced from X- and C-band attenuation data, and Langmuir probe data at several different aft body locations show that agreement is good at high altitude. At the lower altitudes there is disagreement between theory and S-band antenna data where the apparent discrepancy is attributed to the three-body recombination rate constant used for deionization of sodium coupled with the effect of angle of attack.

Rare emergence of drug resistance in HIV-1 treatment-naïve patients receiving elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide for 144 weeks.

PubMed

Margot, Nicolas; Cox, Stephanie; Das, Moupali; McCallister, Scott; Miller, Michael D; Callebaut, Christian

2018-06-01

The single tablet regimen (STR) composed of elvitegravir (E), cobicistat (C), emtricitabine (F), and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) (E/C/F/TAF) was compared to the STR composed of E, C, F, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) (E/C/F/TDF) in 2 phase 3 studies in 1733 HIV-1 infected treatment-naïve adults. Superior efficacy of E/C/F/TAF compared to E/C/F/TDF was demonstrated at Week 144 with 84% treatment success compared to 80%, respectively, along with significantly better outcomes of bone and renal safety. Analyze the emergence of HIV-1 resistance in treatment-naïve adults receiving E/C/F/TAF for 144 weeks. We conducted an integrated resistance analysis of the 2 Phase 3 studies, comprising pretreatment HIV-1 sequencing for all participants (N = 1733) and post-baseline HIV-1 resistance analysis for participants with virologic failure (HIV-1 RNA ≥400 copies/mL). Primary resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) were observed pre-treatment in 7.4% (NRTI-RAMs), 18.1% (NNRTI-RAMs), and 3.3% (PI-RAMs) of enrolled subjects. Baseline HIV-1 subtype or pre-existing RAMs did not affect E/C/F/TAF treatment response at week 144. Virologic failure resistance analyses were conducted for 28/866 (3.2%) and 30/867 (3.5%) patients in the E/C/F/TAF and E/C/F/TDF arms, respectively. Over the 3-year study, the rate of resistance emergence remained low at 1.4% in each group (12/866 in E/C/F/TAF; 12/867 in E/C/F/TDF). Resistant virus emerged in 24 patients who developed resistance to antiretrovirals in the regimens (E/C/F/TAF: M184V/I [1.3%], INSTI-RAMs [0.9%], K65R/N [0.2%]; E/C/F/TDF: M184V/I [1.0%], INSTI-RAMs [0.9%], K65R/N [0.5%]). Resistance emergence was rare (1.4%) with similar patterns of emergent mutations in both groups. M184V/I was the most prevalent RAM (1.2% overall). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Summary of results of frictional sliding studies, at confining pressures up to 6.98 kb, in selected rock materials

USGS Publications Warehouse

Summers, R.; Byerlee, J.

1977-01-01

This report is a collection of stress-strain charts which were produced by deforming selected simuiated fault gouge materials. Several sets of samples consisted of intact cylinders, 1.000 inch in diameter and 2.500 inches long. The majority of the samples consisted of thin layers of the selected sample material, inserted within a diagonal sawcut in a 1.000-inch by 2.500-inch Westerly Granite cylinder. Two sorts of inserts were used. The first consisted of thin wafers cut from 1.000-inch-diameter cores of the rock being tested. The other consisted of thin layers of crushed material packed onto the sawcut surface. In several groups of tests using various thicknesses (0.010 inch to 0.160 inch) of a given type material there were variations in the stress level and/or stability of sliding as a function of the fault zone width. Because of this we elected to use a standard 0.025-inch width fault zone to compare the frictional properties of many of the different types of rock materials. This 0.025-inch thickness was chosen partially because this thickness of crushed granite behaves approximately the same as a fractured sample of initially intact granite, and also because this is near the lower limit at which we could cut intact wafers for those samples that were prepared from thin slices of rock. One series of tests was done with saw cut granite cylinders without fault gouge inserts. All of these tests were done in a hydraulically operated triaxial testing machine. The confining pressure (δ1, least principal stress) was applied by pumping petroleum ether into a pressure vessel. The differential stress (δ3-δ1) was applied by a hydraulically operated ram that could be advanced into the pressure vessel at any of several strain rates (10-4sec-1, 10-5sec-1, 10-6sec-1, 10-7sec-1, or 10-8sec-1). All samples were jacketed in polyurethane tubing to exclude the confining pressure medium from the samples. The majority of the samples, with the exception of some of the initially intact rocks, also had thin copper jackets. These served to hold the saw cut parts of the granite sample holders in alignment while the samples were handled and pushed into the polyurethane jackets.

Agonal sequences in a filmed suicidal hanging: analysis of respiratory and movement responses to asphyxia by hanging.

PubMed

Sauvageau, Anny; Racette, Stéphanie

2007-07-01

The forensic literature on the pathophysiology of human hanging is still limited. Therefore, forensic pathologists often feel uncomfortable when confronted with related questions. Here presented is the filmed suicidal hanging of a 37-year-old man. This recording allows a unique analysis of agonal movement sequences: loss of consciousness (13 sec), convulsions (15 sec), decortication rigidity (21 sec), decerebration rigidity (46 sec), second decortication rigidity (1 min 11 sec), loss of muscle tone, (1 min 38 sec) and last isolated muscle movement (4 min 10 sec). As for respiratory responses, very deep respiratory attempts started at 20 sec. Respiratory movements progressively decreased and completely stopped at 2 min. Despite the fact that extending the presented data on all cases of hanging asphyxia would be a mistake, this case gives a very interesting insight into movement and respiratory response to asphyxia by hanging.

Research and Applications Modules (RAM), phase B study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The research and applications modules (RAM) system is discussed. The RAM is a family of payload carrier modules that can be delivered to and retrieved from earth orbit by the space shuttle. The RAM's capability for implementing a wide range of manned and man-tended missions is described. The rams have evolved into three types; (1) pressurized RAMs, (2) unpressurized RAMs, and (3) pressurizable free-flying RAMs. A reference experiment plan for use as a baseline in the derivation and planning of the RAM project is reported. The plan describes the number and frequency of shuttle flights dedicated to RAM missions and the RAM payloads for the identified flights.

Blackcomb: Hardware-Software Co-design for Non-Volatile Memory in Exascale Systems

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

Schreiber, Robert

Summary of technical results of Blackcomb Memory Devices We explored various different memory technologies (STTRAM, PCRAM, FeRAM, and ReRAM). The progress can be classified into three categories, below. Modeling and Tool Releases Various modeling tools have been developed over the last decade to help in the design of SRAM or DRAM-based memory hierarchies. To explore new design opportunities that NVM technologies can bring to the designers, we have developed similar high-level models for NVM, including PCRAMsim [Dong 2009], NVSim [Dong 2012], and NVMain [Poremba 2012]. NVSim is a circuit-level model for NVM performance, energy, and area estimation, which supports variousmore » NVM technologies, including STT-RAM, PCRAM, ReRAM, and legacy NAND Flash. NVSim is successfully validated against industrial NVM prototypes, and it is expected to help boost architecture-level NVM-related studies. On the other side, NVMain is a cycle accurate main memory simulator designed to simulate emerging nonvolatile memories at the architectural level. We have released these models as open source tools and provided contiguous support to them. We also proposed PS3-RAM, which is a fast, portable and scalable statistical STT-RAM reliability analysis model [Wen 2012]. Design Space Exploration and Optimization With the support of these models, we explore different device/circuit optimization techniques. For example, in [Niu 2012a] we studied the power reduction technique for the application of ECC scheme in ReRAM designs and proposed to use ECC code to relax the BER (Bit Error Rate) requirement of a single memory to improve the write energy consumption and latency for both 1T1R and cross-point ReRAM designs. In [Xu 2011], we proposed a methodology to design STT-RAM for different optimization goals such as read performance, write performance and write energy by leveraging the trade-off between write current and write time of MTJ. We also studied the tradeoffs in building a reliable crosspoint ReRAM array [Niu 2012b]. We have conducted an in depth analysis of the circuit and system level design implications of multi-layer cross-point Resistive RAM (MLCReRAM) from performance, power and reliability perspectives [Xu 2013]. The objective of this study is to understand the design trade-offs of this technology with respect to the MLC Phase Change Memory (MLCPCM).Our MLC ReRAM design at the circuit and system levels indicates that different resistance allocation schemes, programming strategies, peripheral designs, and material selections profoundly affect the area, latency, power, and reliability of MLC ReRAM. Based on this analysis, we conduct two case studies: first we compare MLC ReRAM design against MLC phase-change memory (PCM) and multi-layer cross-point ReRAM design, and point out why multi-level ReRAM is appealing; second we further explore the design space for MLC ReRAM. Architecture and Application We explored hybrid checkpointing using phase-change memory for future exascale systems [Dong 2011] and showed that the use of nonvolatile memory for local checkpointing significantly increases the number of faults covered by local checkpoints and reduces the probability of a global failure in the middle of a global checkpoint to less than 1%. We also proposed a technique called i2WAP to mitigate the write variations in NVM-based last-level cache for the improvement of the NVM lifetime [Wang 2013]. Our wear leveling technique attempts to work around the limitations of write endurance by arranging data access so that write operations can be distributed evenly across all the storage cells. During our intensive research on fault-tolerant NVM design, we found that ECC cannot effectively tolerate hard errors from limited write endurance and process imperfection. Therefore, we devised a novel Point and Discard (PAD) architecture in in [ 2012] as a hard-error-tolerant architecture for ReRAM-based Last Level Caches. PAD improves the lifetime of ReRAM caches by 1.6X-440X under different process variations without performance overhead in the system's early life. We have investigated the applicability of NVM for persistent memory design [Zhao 2013]. New byte addressable NVM enables fast persistent memory that allows in-memory persistent data objects to be updated with much higher throughput. Despite the significant improvement, the performance of these designs is only 50% of the native system with no persistence support, due to the logging or copy-on-write mechanisms used to update the persistent memory. A challenge in this approach is therefore how to efficiently enable atomic, consistent, and durable updates to ensure data persistence that survives application and/or system failures. We have designed a persistent memory system, called Klin, that can provide performance as close as that of the native system. The Klin design adopts a non-volatile cache and a non-volatile main memory for constructing a multi-versioned durable memory system, enabling atomic updates without logging or copy-on-write. Our evaluation shows that the proposed Kiln mechanism can achieve up to 2X of performance improvement to NVRAM-based persistent memory employing write-ahead logging. In addition, our design has numerous practical advantages: a simple and intuitive abstract interface, microarchitecture-level optimizations, fast recovery from failures, and no redundant writes to slow non-volatile storage media. The work was published in MICRO 2013 and received Best Paper Honorable Mentioned Award.« less

Modeling of behavioral responses for successful selection of easy-to-train rams for semen collection with an artificial vagina.

PubMed

Ambrosi, Claudia Pamela; Rubio, Natalia; Giménez, Gustavo; Venturino, Andrés; Aisen, Eduardo Gabriel; López Armengol, María Fernanda

2018-06-01

The aim of this study was to analyze the reproductive behavioral responses in Australian Merino rams, to identify those related to a faster training for semen collection with an artificial vagina. Eight Australian Merino rams, aged 1.5 years and with no prior sexual experience, were randomly selected from an extensively grazed flock. One immobilized ewe with no hormone stimulation was used for rams to sexually interact and mount. The frequencies of approaching, sniffing, flehmen, pushing, pawing with chin resting, and tongue flicking were recorded during eight training and three post-training assessments periods. In addition, the duration of sniffing and flehmen responses, as well as the time from when the ram started to approach the ewe until the mount with ejaculation (completed mount) were recorded. Descriptive, correlation, and modeling analyses were performed. Amongst the rams, four mounted the ewe and ejaculated for the first time during the training phase, and three mounted and ejaculated for the first time after the training phase. The remaining ram mounted the ewe and ejaculated for the first time during the post-training evaluation in the following year. A great variability in the behavior repertoire was observed among rams. The correlation analysis indicated that the completed mount was associated with the behaviors during the approaching response. The expression of the sniffing response decreased between the training phase and post-training evaluation, while the responses of pushing the ewe and tongue flicking ceased to occur. Pawing the side of the ewe with the chin resting on the back of the ewe and flehmen responses, however, continued between the training and post-training phases. This led to a decrease in the time from when the ram started to approach the ewe until the completed mount. It is concluded that the responses of approaching the ewe, pawing the side of the ewe with chin resting on the ewe, and sniffing of the ewe (the latter occurring only during the training phase) are behavioral indicators that could be used for selection of easy-to-train rams for purposes of semen collection with an artificial vagina. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Atomic Oxygen Erosion of EVA-Stranded Soft-Goods on the ISS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alred, John W.

2017-01-01

This paper presents the results of an analysis to calculate the cumulative, effective atomic oxygen (AO) flux impinging on short-duration EVA tethers used to secure panel NOD1/C2-02 and panel LAB/C2-03. Shadowing from the ram reduces the AO flux on much of the Node 1 panel. On the Lab panel, the tethers are essentially in the ram flux. Table 1 summarizes the results of the analysis for Node 1 and the US Lab panels.

Structural Responses and Finite Element Modeling of Hakka Tulou Rammed Earth Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sranislawski, Daniel

Hakka Tulous are rammed earth structures that have survived the effects of aging and natural elements upwards of even over a thousand years. These structures have housed the Hakka people of the Fujian Province, China in natural yet modern housing that has provided benefits over newer building materials. The key building material, rammed earth, which is used for the walls of the Hakka Tulou structures, has provided structural stability along with thermal comfort to the respective inhabitants of the Hakka Tulous. Through material testing and analysis this study has examined how the Tulou structures have maintained their structural stability while also providing thermal comfort. Reports of self healing cracks in the rammed earth walls were also analyzed for their validity in this study. The study has found that although the story of the self healing crack cannot be validated, there is reason to believe that with the existence of lime, some type of autogenous healing could occur on a small scale. The study has also found, through the use of nondestructive testing, that both the internal wooden systems (flooring, roof, and column support) and the rammed earth walls, are still structurally sound. Also, rammed earth's high thermal mass along with the use of sufficient shading has allowed for a delay release of heat energy from the walls of the Tulous, thus providing thermal comfort that can be felt during both night and day temperatures. The Hakka Tulou structures have been found to resist destruction from natural disasters such as strong earthquakes even when more modern construction has not. Through finite element modeling, this study has shown that the high volume of rammed earth used in the construction of the Hakka Tulous helps dissipate lateral force energy into much lower stresses for the rammed earth wall. This absorption of lateral force energy allows the rammed earth structures to survive even the strongest of earthquakes experienced in the region. The Hakka Tulou, if rated by the LEED green building certification program, would earn the highest certification as this rammed earth construction has offered efficient living for hundreds of years. As historic as these rammed earth structures are, they present an environmentally friendly option to structures of the future.

A Search for Ram-pressure Stripping in the Hydra I Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, B.

2005-01-01

Ram-pressure stripping is a method by which hot interstellar gas can be removed from a galaxy moving through a group or cluster of galaxies. Indirect evidence of ram-pressure stripping includes lowered X-ray brightness in a galaxy due to less X-ray emitting gas remaining in the galaxy. Here we present the initial results of our program to determine whether cluster elliptical galaxies have lower hot gas masses than their counterparts in less rich environments. This test requires the use of the high-resolution imaging of the Chandra Observatory and we present our analysis of the galaxies in the nearby cluster Hydra I.

A Search for Ram-pressure Stripping in the Hydra I Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, B. A.

2005-01-01

Ram-pressure stripping is a method by which hot interstellar gas can be removed from a galaxy moving through a group or cluster of galaxies. Indirect evidence of ram-pressure stripping includes lowered X- ray brightness in a galaxy due to less X-ray emitting gas remaining in the galaxy. Here we present the initial results of our program to determine whether cluster elliptical galaxies have lower hot gas masses than their counterparts in less rich environments. This test requires the use of the high-resolution imaging of the Chundru Observatory and we present our analysis of the galaxies in the nearby cluster Hydra I.

Error analysis and prevention of cosmic ion-induced soft errors in static CMOS RAMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diehl, S. E.; Ochoa, A., Jr.; Dressendorfer, P. V.; Koga, P.; Kolasinski, W. A.

1982-12-01

Cosmic ray interactions with memory cells are known to cause temporary, random, bit errors in some designs. The sensitivity of polysilicon gate CMOS static RAM designs to logic upset by impinging ions has been studied using computer simulations and experimental heavy ion bombardment. Results of the simulations are confirmed by experimental upset cross-section data. Analytical models have been extended to determine and evaluate design modifications which reduce memory cell sensitivity to cosmic ions. A simple design modification, the addition of decoupling resistance in the feedback path, is shown to produce static RAMs immune to cosmic ray-induced bit errors.

Characterization of experimentally induced, nonaflatoxigenic variant strains of Aspergillus parasiticus.

PubMed Central

Kale, S P; Cary, J W; Bhatnagar, D; Bennett, J W

1996-01-01

Six previously isolated, nonaflatoxigenic variants of Aspergillus parasiticus, designated sec mutants, were characterized morphologically by electron microscopy, biochemically by biotransformation studies with an aflatoxin precursor, and genetically by Northern (RNA) hybridization analysis of aflatoxin biosynthetic gene transcripts. Scanning electron micrographs clearly demonstrated that compared with the parental sec+ forms, the variant sec forms had an abundance of vegetative mycelia, orders of magnitude reduced number of conidiophores and conidia, and abnormal metulae. Conidiospores were detected in sec cultures only at higher magnifications (x 500), in contrast to the sec+ (wild-type) strain, in which abundant conidiospores (masking the vegetative mycelia) were observed at even lower magnifications (x 300). All sec+ forms, but none of the sec forms, showed bioconversion of sterigmatocystin to aflatoxins. Northern blots probed with pathway genes demonstrated lack of expression of both the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway structural (nor-1 and omtA) and regulatory (aflR) genes in the sec forms; PCR and Southern hybridization analysis confirmed the presence of the genes in the sec genomes. Thus, the loss of aflatoxigenic capabilities in the sec form is correlated with alterations in the conidial morphology of the fungus, suggesting that the regulation of aflatoxin synthesis and conidiogenesis may be interlinked. PMID:8795232

Identification of sperm subpopulations with defined motility characteristics in ejaculates from Ile de France rams.

PubMed

Bravo, J A; Montanero, J; Calero, R; Roy, T J

2011-11-01

The aims of this study were to identify different motile sperm subpopulations in fresh ejaculates from six Ile de France rams, by using a computer-assisted sperm motility analysis (CASA) system, and to evaluate the effects of individual ram and season on population distribution. Overall sperm motility and individual kinematic parameters of motile spermatozoa were evaluated for 125,312 spermatozoa, defined by curvilinear velocity (VCL), linear velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity coefficient (LIN), straightness coefficient (STR), wobble coefficient (WOB), mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and frequency of head displacement (BCF). A multivariate cluster analysis was carried out to classify these spermatozoa into a reduced number of subpopulations according to their movement patterns. The statistical analysis clustered the whole motile sperm population into five separate groups: subpopulation 1, constituted by rapid, progressive and non sinuous spermatozoa (VCL=126.41 μm/s, STR=92.87% and LIN=86.47%); subpopulation 2, characterized by progressive spermatozoa with moderate velocity (VCL=74.74 μm/s and STR=84.03%); subpopulation 3, represented by rapid, progressive and sinuous spermatozoa (VCL=130.45 μm/s, STR=76.02% and LIN=47.68%); subpopulation 4 represents rapid nonprogressive spermatozoa (VCL=128.69 μm/s and STR=44.09%); subpopulation 5 includes poorly motile, nonprogressive spermatozoa with a very irregular trajectory (VCL=36.81 μm/s and STR=47.04%). Our results show the existence of five subpopulations of motile spermatozoa in ram ejaculates. The frequency distribution of spermatozoa within subpopulations was quite similar for the six rams, and the five subpopulations turned out to be very stable along seasons. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space station electrical power system availability study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turnquist, Scott R.; Twombly, Mark A.

1988-01-01

ARINC Research Corporation performed a preliminary reliability, and maintainability (RAM) anlaysis of the NASA space station Electric Power Station (EPS). The analysis was performed using the ARINC Research developed UNIRAM RAM assessment methodology and software program. The analysis was performed in two phases: EPS modeling and EPS RAM assessment. The EPS was modeled in four parts: the insolar power generation system, the eclipse power generation system, the power management and distribution system (both ring and radial power distribution control unit (PDCU) architectures), and the power distribution to the inner keel PDCUs. The EPS RAM assessment was conducted in five steps: the use of UNIRAM to perform baseline EPS model analyses and to determine the orbital replacement unit (ORU) criticalities; the determination of EPS sensitivity to on-orbit spared of ORUs and the provision of an indication of which ORUs may need to be spared on-orbit; the determination of EPS sensitivity to changes in ORU reliability; the determination of the expected annual number of ORU failures; and the integration of the power generator system model results with the distribution system model results to assess the full EPS. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made.

Urinary Squamous Epithelial Cells Do Not Accurately Predict Urine Culture Contamination, but May Predict Urinalysis Performance in Predicting Bacteriuria.

PubMed

Mohr, Nicholas M; Harland, Karisa K; Crabb, Victoria; Mutnick, Rachel; Baumgartner, David; Spinosi, Stephanie; Haarstad, Michael; Ahmed, Azeemuddin; Schweizer, Marin; Faine, Brett

2016-03-01

The presence of squamous epithelial cells (SECs) has been advocated to identify urinary contamination despite a paucity of evidence supporting this practice. We sought to determine the value of using quantitative SECs as a predictor of urinalysis contamination. Retrospective cross-sectional study of adults (≥18 years old) presenting to a tertiary academic medical center who had urinalysis with microscopy and urine culture performed. Patients with missing or implausible demographic data were excluded (2.5% of total sample). The primary analysis aimed to determine an SEC threshold that predicted urine culture contamination using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. The a priori secondary analysis explored how demographic variables (age, sex, body mass index) may modify the SEC test performance and whether SECs impacted traditional urinalysis indicators of bacteriuria. A total of 19,328 records were included. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that SEC count was a poor predictor of urine culture contamination (area under the ROC curve = 0.680, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.671 to 0.689). In secondary analysis, the positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of predicting bacteriuria via urinalysis among noncontaminated specimens was 4.98 (95% CI = 4.59 to 5.40) in the absence of SECs, but the LR+ fell to 2.35 (95% CI = 2.17 to 2.54) for samples with more than 8 SECs/low-powered field (lpf). In an independent validation cohort, urinalysis samples with fewer than 8 SECs/lpf predicted bacteriuria better (sensitivity = 75%, specificity = 84%) than samples with more than 8 SECs/lpf (sensitivity = 86%, specificity = 70%; diagnostic odds ratio = 17.5 [14.9 to 20.7] vs. 8.7 [7.3 to 10.5]). Squamous epithelial cells are a poor predictor of urine culture contamination, but may predict poor predictive performance of traditional urinalysis measures. © 2016 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

An Analysis of Alternatives to Verbal FM Radio Tactical Command and Control Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-06

specialist’s ,, , nwarted by these means even more reliablv than by conventional weapons.16 renaoiy an enemy attack can be th1 Marshal Vasili ...Mort Pit Squad(4) FDC F0(3) LDR FAC Bn LN0(2) Conmel Cff Survl Sec Sgt Commo Pit Gnd Survl Sec(6) Spt Pit Co Maint Sec AVLB Sec Med Sec Bn

75 FR 35966 - Farm Credit Administration Board Meetings; Assessment and Apportionment of Administrative...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-24

...-Section Analysis A. Section 604.420(i)(1)--Farm Credit Administration Board Meetings; Sec. 607.2(j... Mediation Programs; Right of First Refusal We previously removed Sec. Sec. 614.4514 through 614.4522 of... described in the ``Section-by-Section Analysis'' above by a direct final rulemaking. The Administrative...

Effect of dispersion on convective mixing in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Baole; Hesse, Marc; Geological porous media Group Team

2017-11-01

We investigate the effect of dispersion on convection in porous media by performing direct numerical simulations (DNS) in a 2D Rayleigh-Darcy domain. Scaling analysis of the governing equations shows that the dynamics of this system is not only controlled by the classical Rayleigh-Darcy number based on molecular diffusion, Ram , and the domain aspect ratio, but also controlled by two other dimensionless parameters: the dispersive Rayleigh number Rad = H /αt and the dispersivity ratio r =αl /αt , where H is the domain height, αt and αl are the transverse and longitudinal dispersivities, respectively. For Ram << Rad , the effect of dispersion on convection is negligible; for Ram >> Rad , however, the flow pattern is determined by Rad while the mass transport flux F Ram at high- Ram regime. Our DNS results also show that the increase of the mechanical dispersion (i.e. decreasing Rad) will broaden the plume spacing and coarsen the convective pattern. Moreover, for r >> 1 the anisotropy of dispersion destroys the slender columnar structure of the primary plumes at large Ram and therefore reduces the mass transport rate. This work was supported by the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences under Award Number DE-SC0001114.

Analytical Versus Numerical Estimates of Water-Level Declines Caused by Pumping, and a Case Study of the Iao Aquifer, Maui, Hawaii

USGS Publications Warehouse

Oki, Delwyn S.; Meyer, William

2001-01-01

Comparisons were made between model-calculated water levels from a one-dimensional analytical model referred to as RAM (Robust Analytical Model) and those from numerical ground-water flow models using a sharp-interface model code. RAM incorporates the horizontal-flow assumption and the Ghyben-Herzberg relation to represent flow in a one-dimensional unconfined aquifer that contains a body of freshwater floating on denser saltwater. RAM does not account for the presence of a low-permeability coastal confining unit (caprock), which impedes the discharge of fresh ground water from the aquifer to the ocean, nor for the spatial distribution of ground-water withdrawals from wells, which is significant because water-level declines are greatest in the vicinity of withdrawal wells. Numerical ground-water flow models can readily account for discharge through a coastal confining unit and for the spatial distribution of ground-water withdrawals from wells. For a given aquifer hydraulic-conductivity value, recharge rate, and withdrawal rate, model-calculated steady-state water-level declines from RAM can be significantly less than those from numerical ground-water flow models. The differences between model-calculated water-level declines from RAM and those from numerical models are partly dependent on the hydraulic properties of the aquifer system and the spatial distribution of ground-water withdrawals from wells. RAM invariably predicts the greatest water-level declines at the inland extent of the aquifer where the freshwater body is thickest and the potential for saltwater intrusion is lowest. For cases in which a low-permeability confining unit overlies the aquifer near the coast, however, water-level declines calculated from numerical models may exceed those from RAM even at the inland extent of the aquifer. Since 1990, RAM has been used by the State of Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management for establishing sustainable-yield values for the State?s aquifers. Data from the Iao aquifer, which lies on the northeastern flank of the West Maui Volcano and which is confined near the coast by caprock, are now available to evaluate the predictive capability of RAM for this system. In 1995 and 1996, withdrawal from the Iao aquifer reached the 20 million gallon per day sustainable-yield value derived using RAM. However, even before 1996, water levels in the aquifer had declined significantly below those predicted by RAM, and continued to decline in 1997. To halt the decline of water levels and to preclude the intrusion of salt-water into the four major well fields in the aquifer, it was necessary to reduce withdrawal from the aquifer system below the sustainable-yield value derived using RAM. In the Iao aquifer, the decline of measured water levels below those predicted by RAM is consistent with the results of the numerical model analysis. Relative to model-calculated water-level declines from numerical ground-water flow models, (1) RAM underestimates water-level declines in areas where a low-permeability confining unit exists, and (2) RAM underestimates water-level declines in the vicinity of withdrawal wells.

Remote Asynchronous Message Service Gateway

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Shin-Ywan; Burleigh, Scott C.

2011-01-01

The Remote Asynchronous Message Service (RAMS) gateway is a special-purpose AMS application node that enables exchange of AMS messages between nodes residing in different AMS "continua," notionally in different geographical locations. JPL s implementation of RAMS gateway functionality is integrated with the ION (Interplanetary Overlay Network) implementation of the DTN (Delay-Tolerant Networking) bundle protocol, and with JPL s implementation of AMS itself. RAMS protocol data units are encapsulated in ION bundles and are forwarded to the neighboring RAMS gateways identified in the source gateway s AMS management information base. Each RAMS gateway has interfaces in two communication environments: the AMS message space it serves, and the RAMS network - the grid or tree of mutually aware RAMS gateways - that enables AMS messages produced in one message space to be forwarded to other message spaces of the same venture. Each gateway opens persistent, private RAMS network communication channels to the RAMS gateways of other message spaces for the same venture, in other continua. The interconnected RAMS gateways use these communication channels to forward message petition assertions and cancellations among themselves. Each RAMS gateway subscribes locally to all subjects that are of interest in any of the linked message spaces. On receiving its copy of a message on any of these subjects, the RAMS gateway node uses the RAMS network to forward the message to every other RAMS gateway whose message space contains at least one node that has subscribed to messages on that subject. On receiving a message via the RAMS network from some other RAMS gateway, the RAMS gateway node forwards the message to all subscribers in its own message space.

Comparing interfertility data with random amplified microsatellites DNA (RAMS) studies in Ganoderma Karst. Taxonomy.

PubMed

Nudin, Nur Fatihah Hasan; S, Siddiquee

2012-03-01

The taxonomy of the causal pathogen of basal stem rot of oil palms, Ganoderma is somewhat problematic at present. In order to determine the genetic distance relationship between G. boninense isolates and non-boninense isolates, a random amplified microsatellites DNA (RAMS) technique was carried out. The result was then compared with interfertility data of G. boninense that had been determined in previous mating studies to confirm the species of G. boninense. Dendrogram from cluster analysis based on UPGMA of RAMS data showed that two major clusters, I and II which separated at a genetic distance of 0.7935 were generated. Cluster I consisted of all the biological species G. boninense isolates namely CNLB, GSDK 3, PER 71, WD 814, GBL 3, GBL 6, OC, GH 02, 170 SL and 348781 while all non-boninense isolates namely G. ASAM, WRR, TFRI 129, G. RES, GJ, and CNLM were grouped together in cluster II. Although the RAMS markers showed polymorphisms in all the isolates tested, the results obtained were in agreement with the interfertility data. Therefore, the RAMS data could support the interfertility data for the identification of Ganoderma isolates.

Genetic characterization of tigecycline resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter aerogenes.

PubMed

Veleba, Mark; De Majumdar, Shyamasree; Hornsey, Michael; Woodford, Neil; Schneiders, Thamarai

2013-05-01

The intrinsically encoded ramA gene has been linked to tigecycline resistance through the up-regulation of efflux pump AcrAB in Enterobacter cloacae. The molecular basis for increased ramA expression in E. cloacae and Enterobacter aerogenes, as well as the role of AraC regulator rarA, has not yet been shown. To ascertain the intrinsic molecular mechanism(s) involved in tigecycline resistance in Enterobacter spp., we analysed the expression levels of ramA and rarA and corresponding efflux pump genes acrAB and oqxAB in Enterobacter spp. clinical isolates. The expression levels of ramA, rarA, oqxA and acrA were tested by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The ramR open reading frames of the ramA-overexpressing strains were sequenced; strains harbouring mutations were transformed with wild-type ramR to study altered ramA expression and tigecycline susceptibility. Tigecycline resistance was mediated primarily by increased ramA expression in E. cloacae and E. aerogenes. Only the ramA-overexpressing E. cloacae isolates showed increased rarA and oqxA expression. Upon complementation with wild-type ramR, all Enterobacter spp. containing ramR mutations exhibited decreased ramA and acrA expression and increased tigecycline susceptibility. Exceptions were one E. cloacae strain and one E. aerogenes strain, where a decrease in ramA levels was not accompanied by lower acrA expression. Increased ramA expression due to ramR deregulation is the primary mediator of tigecycline resistance in clinical isolates of E. cloacae and E. aerogenes. However, some ramA-overexpressing isolates do not show changes in ramR, suggesting alternate pathways of ramA regulation; the rarA regulator and the oqxAB efflux pump may also play a role in tigecycline resistance in E. cloacae.

Reliability and Maintainability Model (RAM): User and Maintenance Manual. Part 2; Improved Supportability Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebeling, Charles E.

1996-01-01

This report documents the procedures for utilizing and maintaining the Reliability & Maintainability Model (RAM) developed by the University of Dayton for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC). The purpose of the grant is to provide support to NASA in establishing operational and support parameters and costs of proposed space systems. As part of this research objective, the model described here was developed. This Manual updates and supersedes the 1995 RAM User and Maintenance Manual. Changes and enhancements from the 1995 version of the model are primarily a result of the addition of more recent aircraft and shuttle R&M data.

Analysis of a waterborne disease model with socioeconomic classes.

PubMed

Collins, O C; Robertson, Suzanne L; Govinder, K S

2015-11-01

Waterborne diseases such as cholera continue to pose serious public health problems in the world today. Transmission parameters can vary greatly with socioeconomic class (SEC) and the availability of clean water. We formulate a multi-patch waterborne disease model such that each patch represents a particular SEC with its own water source, allowing individuals to move between SECs. For a 2-SEC model, we investigate the conditions under which each SEC is responsible for driving a cholera outbreak. We determine the effect of SECs on disease transmission dynamics by comparing the basic reproduction number of the 2-SEC model to that of a homogeneous model that does not take SECs into account. We conclude by extending several results of the 2-SEC model to an n-SEC model. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The behavioral component of the ram effect: the influence of ram sexual behavior on the induction of estrus in anovulatory ewes.

PubMed

Perkins, A; Fitzgerald, J A

1994-01-01

The objective of this study was to test whether the sexual behavior of the ram affects the ram effect. Rams exhibiting either high (HP) or low (LP) levels of sexual performance (on the basis of serving capacity tests) were exposed to 89 anestrous ewes for 28 d. Thirty-two anestrous ewes were not exposed to rams. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of estrus induction by HP (n = 4) vs LP (n = 4) rams. Plasma progesterone concentration was used as an index of ovarian activity. Groups of ewes were exposed to either an HP or an LP ram in a .32-ha pasture. Courtship behaviors of rams were recorded for 6 h on the initial day of exposure and for 30-min periods on alternate days thereafter. A greater percentage of ewes exposed to HP rams ovulated (95%) compared with ewes exposed to LP rams (78%) (P < .02). On the 1st d of exposure, the HP rams exhibited more courtship behavior and spent more time near the ewes (P < .04). The HP rams spent more time within 1 m of ewes during the 28-d exposure. There were no differences in the amount of contact with rams (LP or HP) between rise in progesterone indicate of ovulation tended to occur earlier (P = .06) in ewes penned with HP rams. A greater percentage of ewes exposed to LP rams (P = .03) had early elevations of progesterone with no concurrent sexual behavior. These data imply that in addition to a pheromone the sexual behavior of the ram may be important in initiating ovarian cycle activity.

Agonal sequences in four filmed hangings: analysis of respiratory and movement responses to asphyxia by hanging.

PubMed

Sauvageau, Anny

2009-01-01

The human pathophysiology of asphyxia by hanging is still poorly understood, despite great advances in forensic science. In that context, filmed hangings may hold the key to answer questions regarding the sequence of events leading to death in human asphyxia. Four filmed hangings were analyzed. Rapid loss of consciousness was observed between 13 sec and 18 sec after onset of hanging, closely followed by convulsions (at 14-19 sec). A complex pattern of decerebration rigidity (19-21 sec in most cases), followed by a quick phase of decortication rigidity (1 min 00 sec-1 min 08 sec in most cases), an extended phase of decortication rigidity (1 min 04 sec-1 min 32 sec) and loss of muscle tone (1 min 38 sec-2 min 47 sec) was revealed. Very deep respiratory attempts started between 20 and 22 sec, the last respiratory attempt being detected between 2 min 00 sec and 2 min 04 sec. Despite differences in the types of hanging, this unique study reveals similarities that are further discussed.

The Effectiveness of Software Project Management Practices: A Quantitative Measurement

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

Assessment (SPMMA) model ( Ramli , 2007). The purpose of the SPMMA was to help a company measure the strength and weaknesses of its software project...Practices,” Fuazi and Ramli presented a model to assess software project management practices using their Software Project Management Maturity...Analysis The SPMMA was carried out on one mid-size Information Technology (IT) Company . Based on the questionnaire responses, interviews and discussions

Size-exclusion chromatography using core-shell particles.

PubMed

Pirok, Bob W J; Breuer, Pascal; Hoppe, Serafine J M; Chitty, Mike; Welch, Emmet; Farkas, Tivadar; van der Wal, Sjoerd; Peters, Ron; Schoenmakers, Peter J

2017-02-24

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is an indispensable technique for the separation of high-molecular-weight analytes and for determining molar-mass distributions. The potential application of SEC as second-dimension separation in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography demands very short analysis times. Liquid chromatography benefits from the advent of highly efficient core-shell packing materials, but because of the reduced total pore volume these materials have so far not been explored in SEC. The feasibility of using core-shell particles in SEC has been investigated and contemporary core-shell materials were compared with conventional packing materials for SEC. Columns packed with very small core-shell particles showed excellent resolution in specific molar-mass ranges, depending on the pore size. The analysis times were about an order of magnitude shorter than what could be achieved using conventional SEC columns. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure of the IMF turbulences at 2.5 AU

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mavromichalaki, H.; Vassilaki, A.; Marmatsouri, L.; Moussas, X.; Quenby, J. J.; Smith, E. J.

1995-01-01

A detailed analysis of small period (15-900 sec) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulences of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been made using Pioneer-11 high time resolution data (0.75 sec) inside a Corotating Interaction Region (CIR) at a heliocentric distance of 2.5 AU in 1973. The methods used are the hodogram analysis, the minimum variance matrix analysis and the cohenrence analysis. The minimum variance analysis gives evidence of linear polarized wave modes. Coherence analysis has shown that the field fluctuations are dominated by the magnetosonic fast modes with periods 15 sec to 15 min. However, it is also shown that some small amplitude Alfven waves are present in the trailing edge of this region with characteristic periods (15-200 sec). The observed wave modes are locally generated and possibly attributed to the scattering of Alfven waves energy into random magnetosonic waves.

Evaluating the reproductive ability of breeding rams in North-Eastern Spain using clinical examination of the body and external genitalia.

PubMed

Mozo, René; Galeote, Ana Isabel; Alabart, José Luis; Fantova, Enrique; Folch, José

2015-11-26

Predicting the ability of rams to detect, mate and fertilise ewes in oestrus accurately is certainly difficult; however, tests based on clinical examinations have been performed to assess the overall potential capacity of rams to serve and impregnate ewes. Clinical examinations for breeding soundness evaluation were carried out in 897 Rasa Aragonesa (RA) rams from 35 flocks in North-Eastern (NE) Spain. Clinical examinations of head, trunk, limbs and genitals were performed in each ram. Blood samples were collected for a serological study of Brucella ovis. The sheep owners were surveyed regarding the characteristics of the flock, rams' health history and the management of rams. The clinical alterations found were classified according to severity (mild or severe). Rams were classified as suitable (without lesions or with only mild lesions) or unsuitable (with severe lesions) for breeding depending on the results of the clinical examinations. The results showed that 60.6 % of rams presented some type of alteration (mild: 43.3 %; severe: 17.3 %) in various body parts (genitalia: 31.6 %; head and trunk: 37.2 %; limbs: 15.5 %), and that 16.7 % of rams were classified as unsuitable breeders. The most common genital alterations were ulcerative posthitis (18.7 %) followed by testicular lesions (5.3 %). The highest prevalence of unsuitable breeders was found in the category of adult and aged rams (13.8 % and 37.4 %, respectively) and in the category of emaciated rams (33.3 %). All rams examined were seronegative to Brucella ovis. The mean percentage of rams in flocks was 2.8 % (min: 1.6 %; max: 4.6 %); nevertheless, this percentage dropped to 2.5 % (min: 1.4 %; max: 3.7 %) and 2.1 % (min: 0.3 %; max: 3.5 %) when only suitable or effective (suitable mature) rams were considered. Thus, it is concluded that there are fewer effective rams in farms than farmers realise. Frequent clinical examination of males is recommended in order to identify potentially infertile rams.

An automatic analyzer of solid state nuclear track detectors using an optic RAM as image sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staderini, Enrico Maria; Castellano, Alfredo

1986-02-01

An optic RAM is a conventional digital random access read/write dynamic memory device featuring a quartz windowed package and memory cells regularly ordered on the chip. Such a device is used as an image sensor because each cell retains data stored in it for a time depending on the intensity of the light incident on the cell itself. The authors have developed a system which uses an optic RAM to acquire and digitize images from electrochemically etched CR39 solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) in the track count rate up to 5000 cm -2. On the digital image so obtained, a microprocessor, with appropriate software, performs image analysis, filtering, tracks counting and evaluation.

Demonstration of a Specific Escherichia coli SecY–Signal Peptide Interaction†

PubMed Central

Wang, Ligong; Miller, Alexander; Rusch, Sharyn L.; Kendall, Debra A.

2011-01-01

Protein translocation in Escherichia coli is initiated by the interaction of a preprotein with the membrane translocase composed of a motor protein, SecA ATPase, and a membrane-embedded channel, the SecYEG complex. The extent to which the signal peptide region of the preprotein plays a role in SecYEG interactions is unclear, in part because studies in this area typically employ the entire preprotein. Using a synthetic signal peptide harboring a photoaffinity label in its hydrophobic core, we examined this interaction with SecYEG in a detergent micellar environment. The signal peptide was found to specifically bind SecY in a saturable manner and at levels comparable to those that stimulate SecA ATPase activity. Chemical and proteolytic cleavage of cross-linked SecY and analysis of the signal peptide adducts indicate that the binding was primarily to regions of the protein containing transmembrane domains seven and two. The signal peptide–SecY interaction was affected by the presence of SecA and nucleotides in a manner consistent with the transfer of signal peptide to SecY upon nucleotide hydrolysis at SecA. PMID:15476412

Use of gonadotropin releasing hormone to improve reproductive responses of ewes introduced to rams during seasonal anestrus.

PubMed

Jordan, K M; Inskeep, E K; Knights, M

2009-12-01

Three experiments were conducted on anestrous ewes of Suffolk, Dorset, and Katahdin breeding to examine the potential value of GnRH to improve ovulation and pregnancy in response to introduction of rams. In Experiment 1, treatment with GnRH 2d after treatment with progesterone (P(4); 25mg i.m.) at introduction of rams was compared to treatment with P(4) alone at the time of introduction of rams. Treatment with GnRH did not increase percentages of ewes with a corpus luteum (CL) 14d after introduction of rams, pregnant 32d after treatment with PGF(2)alpha 14d after introduction of rams, or percent of treated ewes lambing to all services. In Experiment 2, treatments with GnRH on day 2, 7, or both after introduction of rams were compared. Treatments did not differ in mean estrous response, percentages of ewes with a detectable CL or number of CL present on day 11, or mean pregnancy and lambing rates. Therefore, neither one nor two injections of GnRH at these times appeared to be effective to induce anestrous ewes to breed. In Experiment 3, treatments compared included GnRH 4d before introduction of rams, GnRH 4d before and 1d after introduction of rams, ram introduction alone, and treatment with P(4) (25mg i.m.) at the time of introduction of rams. Percentages of ewes with concentrations of P(4) greater than 1ng/mL (indicating formation of CL had occurred) 7d after ram introduction tended to be greater (P<0.07) in ewes treated with GnRH or P(4) than in control ewes treated with ram introduction alone. However, there was no difference in P(4) concentrations between groups by day 11 or 12 after introduction of rams. Estrous response rates and percentages of ewes pregnant 95d after PGF(2)alpha was administered (on day 12 after introduction of rams) tended to be greater (P=0.08 and 0.06, respectively) in ewes treated with GnRH or P(4) than in ewes exposed to rams only. There was no difference in response variables between ewes treated with GnRH 4d before introduction of rams and ewes treated with GnRH 4d before and 1d after introduction of rams. In conclusion, treatment with GnRH 4d before ram introduction showed promise as an alternative to treatment with P(4) to improve the ovulatory response and reproductive performance of ewes introduced to rams during seasonal anestrus.

Development of battering ram vibrator system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, F.; Chen, Z.; Lin, J.; Tong, X.

2012-12-01

This paper researched the battering ram vibrator system, by electric machinery we can control oil system of battering ram, we realized exact control of battering ram, after analyzed pseudorandom coding, code "0" and "1" correspond to rest and shake of battering ram, then we can get pseudorandom coding which is the same with battering ram vibrator. After testing , by the reference trace and single shot record, when we using pseudorandom coding mode, the ratio of seismic wavelet to correlation interfere is about 68 dB, while the general mode , the ratio of seismic wavelet to correlation interfere only is 27.9dB, by battering ram vibrator system, we can debase the correlation interfere which come from the single shaking frequency of battering ram, this system advanced the signal-to-noise ratio of seismic data, which can give direction of the application of battering ram vibrator in metal mine exploration and high resolving seismic exploration.

In vitro effects of nonylphenol on motility, mitochondrial, acrosomal and chromatin integrity of ram and boar spermatozoa.

PubMed

Uguz, C; Varisli, O; Agca, C; Evans, T; Agca, Y

2015-10-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nonylphenol (NP) on viability of ram and boar sperm in vitro. Ram or boar spermatozoa were exposed to 1, 10, 100, 250 and 500 μg NP ml(-1) for 1, 2, 3 or 4 h. Computer-assisted sperm motility analysis (CASA) system was used to evaluate sperm motility characteristics. Flow cytometry was used to determine mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and chromatin integrity, while epifluorescent microscopy was used to determine sperm acrosomal status. Exposure of both species spermatozoa to 250 and 500 μg NP ml(-1) was detrimental to progressive motility (P < 0.05), and its adverse effect was significant at lower (100 μg NP ml(-1) ) concentration (P < 0.05). The percentages of ram and boar spermatozoa with high MMP declined drastically after exposures to ≥250 μg ml(-1) NP (P < 0.05). Unlike chromatin integrity, which did not appear to be altered by NP exposure, there were dose-dependent NP effects (P < 0.05) on acrosomal integrity of both species at as low as 1 μg ml(-1) NP for boar spermatozoa and 10 μg ml(-1) NP for ram spermatozoa. These data show adverse effects of NP on ram and boar spermatozoa and thus its potential harmful effects on male reproduction as NP is found in fruits, vegetables, human milk, fish and livestock products. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Optimizing Clinical Drug Product Performance: Applying Biopharmaceutics Risk Assessment Roadmap (BioRAM) and the BioRAM Scoring Grid.

PubMed

Dickinson, Paul A; Kesisoglou, Filippos; Flanagan, Talia; Martinez, Marilyn N; Mistry, Hitesh B; Crison, John R; Polli, James E; Cruañes, Maria T; Serajuddin, Abu T M; Müllertz, Anette; Cook, Jack A; Selen, Arzu

2016-11-01

The aim of Biopharmaceutics Risk Assessment Roadmap (BioRAM) and the BioRAM Scoring Grid is to facilitate optimization of clinical performance of drug products. BioRAM strategy relies on therapy-driven drug delivery and follows an integrated systems approach for formulating and addressing critical questions and decision-making (J Pharm Sci. 2014,103(11): 3777-97). In BioRAM, risk is defined as not achieving the intended in vivo drug product performance, and success is assessed by time to decision-making and action. Emphasis on time to decision-making and time to action highlights the value of well-formulated critical questions and well-designed and conducted integrated studies. This commentary describes and illustrates application of the BioRAM Scoring Grid, a companion to the BioRAM strategy, which guides implementation of such an integrated strategy encompassing 12 critical areas and 6 assessment stages. Application of the BioRAM Scoring Grid is illustrated using published literature. Organizational considerations for implementing BioRAM strategy, including the interactions, function, and skillsets of the BioRAM group members, are also reviewed. As a creative and innovative systems approach, we believe that BioRAM is going to have a broad-reaching impact, influencing drug development and leading to unique collaborations influencing how we learn, and leverage and share knowledge. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Effect of breed and age on sexual behaviour of rams.

PubMed

Simitzis, Panagiotis E; Deligeorgis, Stelios G; Bizelis, Joseph A

2006-05-01

The objective of this study was to highlight the problems that arise during the reproduction between thin-tailed rams and fat-tailed ewes. At the same time, particular emphasis laid on the influence of sheep breed, sheep age, time after ram introduction and day of the ewe estrus cycle on ram and ewe sexual behaviour. Rams were subjected to sexual performance tests by being individually exposed to 12 ewes for 3 h daily, 19 consecutive days. The 16 rams of the experiment were separated according to their age (9 and 21 months old) and breed (Chios and Karagouniki), and the 96 ewes of Chios fat-tailed breed, were divided by age (9 and 21 months old). The main characteristics of courtship behaviour, like sniffing, nudging, flehmen response and following were recorded and studied in detail. Mature Chios rams, which were the only one with previous experience of Chios ewes, exhibited higher rates of sexual interest per ewe than the other rams (P < 0.05). On the other hand, rams sniffed and nudged more young than mature ewes (P < 0.05), probably due to the fact that young ewes did not express intense symptoms of estrus. Young rams exhibited substandard sexual interest towards mature ewes, when they first came in contact with them (P < 0.05). In general, Karagouniki thin-tailed rams exhibited reduced rates of mating behaviour when they courted with Chios fat-tailed ewes in comparison with Chios rams (P < 0.05). Moreover, as the time after ram introduction passed, the frequency and duration of sexual behaviour components decreased (P < 0.001). Finally, the effect of the day of the experiment was only significant in the case of sniffing, which increased during the first 2 days and then declined and stabilized (P < 0.01). As it was demonstrated, ram age and ram breed played a fundamental role in the exhibition of sexual interest elements.

Description of FORTRAN Program DAWNA for Analysis of Muzzle Blast Field

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-04-01

meter feet 2/D ! P pressure N/m 2 lb/ft2 00 ’! u velocity m/sec ft/sec u/a» i OO { s entropy m2/sec2 0K ft2/sec2 0R (S...0,KK,i.L/ IPUNCH, IRSTRT, IMOVE , lUNl T, lUNQUT, 18« *** ** HÜUMBHl IFdMOVE. REA0(S,2) READ(5,2

Progesterone stimulates the long-distance migration of capacitated ram spermatozoa through viscous media under geotactic condition.

PubMed

Martínez-Rodríguez, Carmen; Anel-López, Luis; Alvarez, Mercedes; Ortega-Ferrusola, Cristina; Boixo, Juan Carlos; Peña, Fernando J; Anel, Luis; de Paz, Paulino

2018-05-15

Forward progressive motility of spermatozoa is an essential prerequisite for reproductive success, and sperm navigation is assisted by guidance mechanisms that may depend on micro-environmental factors. In the present study, we performed an integrated analysis of long-distance ram sperm migration in vitro that combined two environmental factors (10 μM progesterone and a geotactic effect) and the physiological status of the cells (capacitation treatment). A penetration assay was used in which spermatozoa had to travel 20 mm in a viscous medium (two media of differing viscosity: acrylamide and hyaluronic acid) through a tube device. The number of migrating spermatozoa, the physiology of the cells (motility analyzed using a CASA system; acrosomal status, viability and active mitochondria evaluated by flow cytometry; DNA fragmentation index calculated by quantitative PCR) and the morphometry of sperm heads (performed using an image analysis system) were evaluated after long-distance sperm migration. Ram sperm capacitation significantly stimulates cell migration through viscous media under geotactic conditions, and this effect is enhanced by progesterone induction. The rheological characteristics of viscous media have a marked impact on ram sperm migration, and acrylamide more favorably facilitates navigation over a large distance. The migrating spermatozoa are morphologically better adapted (high ellipticity) for displacement in viscous media and exhibit remarkably depleted mitochondrial membrane potential. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ACS Science Data Buffer Check/Self-Tests for CS Buffer RAM and MIE RAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balzano, V.

2001-07-01

The ACS Science Buffer RAM is checked for bit flips during SAA passages. This is followed by a Control Section {CS} self-test consisting of writing/reading a specified bit pattern from each memory location in Buffer RAM and a similar test for MIE RAM. The MIE must be placed in BOOT mode for its self-test. The CS Buffer RAM self-test as well as the bit flip tests are all done with the CS in Operate.

COS Side 2 Science Data Buffer Check/Self-Tests for CS Buffer RAM and DIB RAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacinski, John

2013-10-01

The COS Science Buffer RAM is checked for bit flips during SAA passages. This is followed by a Control Section {CS} self-test consisting of writing/reading a specified bit pattern from each memory location in Buffer RAM and a similar test for DIB RAM. The DIB must be placed in BOOT mode for its self-test. The CS Buffer RAM self-test as well as the bit flip tests are all done with the CS in Operate.

ACS Science Data Buffer Check/Self-Tests for CS Buffer RAM and MIE RAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welty, Alan

2005-07-01

The ACS Science Buffer RAM is checked for bit flips during SAA passages. Thisis followed by a Control Section {CS} self-test consisting of writing/reading a specified bit pattern from each memory location in Buffer RAM and a similar test for MIE RAM. The MIE must be placed in BOOT mode for its self-test. The CS Buffer RAM self-test as well as the bit flip tests are all done with the CS in Operate.

NASA Space Science and a Search for Ram-Pressure Stripping in the Hydra I Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Beth

2005-01-01

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Sciences and Exploration Directorate seeks to expand scientific knowledge through observational and theoretical research in the study of the Earth-Sun system, the solar system and the origins of life, and the birth and evolution of the universe. This talk will discuss some of the cutting-edge space science research being conducted at Goddard. In addition, I will discuss my research on ram-pressure stripping in cluster elliptical galaxies. Ram-pressure stripping is a method by which hot interstellar gas can be removed from a galaxy moving through a group or cluster of galaxies. Indirect evidence of ram-pressure stripping includes lowered X-ray brightness in a galaxy due to less X-ray emitting gas remaining in the galaxy. Here we present the initial results of our program to determine whether cluster elliptical galaxies have lower hot gas masses than their counterparts in less rich environments. This test requires the use of the high-resolution imaging of the Chandra Observatory and we present our analysis of the galaxies in the nearby cluster Hydra I.

Short term, repeated exposure to rams during the transition into the breeding season improves the synchrony of mating in the breeding season.

PubMed

Hawken, P A R; Evans, A C O; Beard, A P

2008-07-01

The ram effect is widely used in Mediterranean breeds of sheep but its use in temperate genotypes is restricted by breed seasonality. However, ewes from these highly seasonal genotypes are sensitive to stimulation by rams close to the onset of the natural breeding season. In this study we developed a pre-mating protocol of repeated, short-term exposure to rams (fence-line contact or vasectomised rams) beginning during late anoestrus and continuing into the breeding season. We hypothesised that this pre-mating protocol would synchronise the distribution of mating of North of England Mule ewes during the breeding season above that observed in ewes isolated from rams prior to mating. Ram-exposed ewes were given contact with rams (Experiment 1: fence-line; FR, n=94 and Experiment 2: vasectomised rams; VR; n=103) for 24h on Days 0 (10 September), 17 and 34 of the experiment. Control ewes (Experiment 1; FC, n=98 and Experiment 2; VC; n=106) remained isolated from rams prior to mating. In Experiment 2, a subset of VR (n=35) and VC ewes (n=35) were blood sampled twice weekly to monitor their pre-mating progesterone profiles. At mating, harnessed entire rams were introduced, 17 or 16 days after the last ram exposure (Experiments 1 and 2) and raddle marks were recorded daily. The median time from ram introduction to mating was reduced in ewes given both fence-line and vasectomised ram contact (P<0.001), leading to a more compact distribution of mating and lambing (At least P<0.01). In the blood sampled VR ewes, there was a progressive decline in the number of days from ram exposure to the onset of dioestrus (at least P<0.05). This observation indicates that the cycles in VR ewes became increasingly synchronised over the pre-mating period, a pattern not evident in VC ewes. In conclusion, repeated, short-term exposure of ewes to rams during the transition into the breeding season is an effective method of synchronising the distribution of mating during the breeding season.

Concept definition study for an extremely large aerophysics range facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swift, Hallock F.

1993-01-01

A conceptual design of a very large aeroballistic range is presented, as are its operational characteristics and procedures. The proposed model launcher is a two-stage light-gas gun, having a launch tube diameter of 254 mm, and the capability of accelerating a 14 kg launch mass to 6.1 km/sec. The gun's 91.4 cm diameter piston is driven by pressurized helium. High pressures in the central breech are contained by a multiple disk arrangement. The blast tank and sabot separation tank are described, as are methods for arresting sabot segments. The conceptual design of the range itself includes a 3.3 m diameter test or flight chamber some 330 m in length. Provisions are made for testing of free flight models and tests in which the model is confined by a track system. Methods for model deceleration and recovery are described. Provisions required for future addition of advanced model launchers such as an electromagnetic launcher or ram accelerator are addressed. Siting and safety issues are also addressed.

Design and analysis of hydraulic ram water pumping system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussin, N. S. M.; Gamil, S. A.; Amin, N. A. M.; Safar, M. J. A.; Majid, M. S. A.; Kazim, M. N. F. M.; Nasir, N. F. M.

2017-10-01

The current pumping system (DC water pump) for agriculture is powered by household electricity, therefore, the cost of electricity will be increased due to the higher electricity consumption. In addition, the water needs to be supplied at different height of trees and different places that are far from the water source. The existing DC water pump can pump the water to 1.5 m height but it cost money for electrical source. The hydraulic ram is a mechanical water pump that suitable used for agriculture purpose. It can be a good substitute for DC water pump in agriculture use. The hydraulic ram water pumping system has ability to pump water using gravitational energy or the kinetic energy through flowing source of water. This project aims to analyze and develop the water ram pump in order to meet the desired delivery head up to 3 meter height with less operation cost. The hydraulic ram is designed using CATIA software. Simulation work has been done using ANSYS CFX software to validate the working concept. There are three design were tested in the experiment study. The best design reached target head of 3 m with 15% efficiency and flow rate of 11.82l/min. The results from this study show that the less diameter of pressure chamber and higher supply head will create higher pressure.

COS Science Data Buffer Check/Self-Tests for CS Buffer RAM and DIB RAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welty, Alan

2009-07-01

The COS Science Buffer RAM is checked for bit flips during SAA passages. This is followed by a Control Section {CS} self-test consisting of writing/reading a specified bit pattern from each memory location in Buffer RAM and a similar test for DIB RAM. The DIB must be placed in BOOT mode for its self-test. The CS Buffer RAM self-test as well as the bit flip tests are all done with the CS in Operate.Supports Activity COS-03

The interbreeding of sheep and goats.

PubMed Central

Kelk, D A; Gartley, C J; Buckrell, B C; King, W A

1997-01-01

To determine the outcome of interbreeding sheep and goats, ewes and does were bred to rams and bucks, and their embryos recovered. Pregnancy was monitored in 2 does bred to a ram. Fertilization rates in ram X does, buck X does, ram X ewes, and buck X ewes were 72%, 96%, 90%, and 0%, respectively. Ram X doe fetuses died at 5 to 10 weeks. PMID:9105723

Investigation of advanced propulsion technologies: The RAM accelerator and the flowing gas radiation heater

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruckner, A. P.; Knowlen, C.; Mattick, A. T.; Hertzberg, A.

1992-01-01

The two principal areas of advanced propulsion investigated are the ram accelerator and the flowing gas radiation heater. The concept of the ram accelerator is presented as a hypervelocity launcher for large-scale aeroballistic range applications in hypersonics and aerothermodynamics research. The ram accelerator is an in-bore ramjet device in which a projectile shaped like the centerbody of a supersonic ramjet is propelled in a stationary tube filled with a tailored combustible gas mixture. Combustion on and behind the projectile generates thrust which accelerates it to very high velocities. The acceleration can be tailored for the 'soft launch' of instrumented models. The distinctive reacting flow phenomena that have been observed in the ram accelerator are relevant to the aerothermodynamic processes in airbreathing hypersonic propulsion systems and are useful for validating sophisticated CFD codes. The recently demonstrated scalability of the device and the ability to control the rate of acceleration offer unique opportunities for the use of the ram accelerator as a large-scale hypersonic ground test facility. The flowing gas radiation receiver is a novel concept for using solar energy to heat a working fluid for space power or propulsion. Focused solar radiation is absorbed directly in a working gas, rather than by heat transfer through a solid surface. Previous theoretical analysis had demonstrated that radiation trapping reduces energy loss compared to that of blackbody receivers, and enables higher efficiencies and higher peak temperatures. An experiment was carried out to measure the temperature profile of an infrared-active gas and demonstrate the effect of radiation trapping. The success of this effort validates analytical models of heat transfer in this receiver, and confirms the potential of this approach for achieving high efficiency space power and propulsion.

SRAG Measurements Performed During the Orion EFT-1 Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaza, Ramona

2015-01-01

The Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) was the first flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). The flight was launched on December 5, 2014, by a Delta IV Heavy rocket and lasted 4.5 hours. The EFT-1 trajectory involved one low altitude orbit and one high altitude orbit with an apogee of almost 6000 km. As a result of this particular flight profile, the Orion MPCV passed through intense regions of trapped protons and electron belts. In support of the radiation measurements aboard the EFT-1, the Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) provided a Battery-operated Independent Radiation Detector (BIRD) based on Timepix radiation monitoring technology similar to that employed by the ISS Radiation Environmental Monitors (REM). In addition, SRAG provided a suite of optically and thermally stimulated luminescence detectors, with 2 Radiation Area Monitor (RAM) units collocated with the BIRD instrument for comparison purposes, and 6 RAM units distributed at different shielding configurations within the Orion MPCV. A summary of the EFT-1 Radiation Area Monitors (RAM) mission dose results obtained from measurements performed in the Space Radiation Dosimetry Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center will be presented. Each RAM included LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100), (6)LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-600), (7)LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-700), Al2O3:C (Luxel trademark), and CaF2:Tm (TLD-300). The RAM mission dose values will be compared with the BIRD instrument total mission dose. In addition, a similar comparison will be shown for the ISS environment by comparing the ISS RAM data with data from the six Timepix-based REM units deployed on ISS as part of the NASA REM Technology Demonstration.

Epididymitis Caused by Brucella ovis in a Southern Ontario Sheep Flock

PubMed Central

Buckrell, Brian C.; McEwen, Scott A.; Johnson, Walter H.; Savage, Neale C.

1985-01-01

Epididymitis was diagnosed in three rams in a commercial sheep flock in southern Ontario. The affected rams had palpably enlarged epididymides and two rams had semen which contained inflammatory cells and was of poor quality. Serum compliment fixation titers for Brucella ovis were 1:20, 1:80 and 1:90. Five other rams in the flock were clinically normal and without titers. Two of the affected rams had lesions similar to those produced by experimental infection with B. ovis. The infection in the rams had no apparent affect on ewe performance. The source of the infection remains unknown, but the rams were purchased from a flock which had imported ewes from the western U.S.A. ImagesFigure 1.Figure 2. PMID:17422577

Sexual behaviour of rams: male orientation and its endocrine correlates.

PubMed

Resko, J A; Perkins, A; Roselli, C E; Stellflug, J N; Stormshak, F K

1999-01-01

The components of heterosexual behaviour in rams are reviewed as a basis for understanding partner preference behaviour. A small percentage of rams will not mate with oestrous females and if given a choice will display courtship behaviour towards another ram in preference to a female. Some of the endocrine profiles of these male-oriented rams differ from those of heterosexual controls. These differences include reduced serum concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and oestrone, reduced capacity to produce testosterone in vitro, and reduced capacity to aromatize androgens in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus of the brain. Our observation that aromatase activity is significantly lower in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area of male-oriented rams than in female-oriented rams may indicate an important neurochemical link to sexual behaviour that should be investigated. The defect in steroid hormone production by the adult testes of the male-oriented ram may represent a defect that can be traced to the fetal testes. If this contention is correct, partner preference behaviour of rams may also be traceable to fetal development and represent a phenomenon of sexual differentiation.

SEC14 is a specific requirement for secretion of phospholipase B1 and pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans

PubMed Central

Chayakulkeeree, Methee; Johnston, Simon Andrew; Oei, Johanes Bijosono; Lev, Sophie; Williamson, Peter Richard; Wilson, Christabel Frewen; Zuo, Xiaoming; Leal, Ana Lusia; Vainstein, Marilene Henning; Meyer, Wieland; Sorrell, Tania Christine; May, Robin Charles; Djordjevic, Julianne Teresa

2011-01-01

Summary Secreted phospholipase B1 (CnPlb1) is essential for dissemination of Cryptococcus neoformans to the central nervous system (CNS) yet essential components of its secretion machinery remain to be elucidated. Using gene deletion analysis we demonstrate that CnPlb1 secretion is dependent on the CnSEC14 product, CnSec14-1p. CnSec14-1p is a homologue of the phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) ScSec14p, which is essential for secretion and viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast to CnPlb1, neither laccase 1 (Lac1)-induced melanization within the cell wall nor capsule induction were negatively impacted in CnSEC14-1 deletion mutants (CnΔsec14-1 and CnΔsec14-1CnΔsfh5). Similar to the CnPLB1 deletion mutant (CnΔplb1), CnΔsec14-1 was hypo-virulent in mice and did not disseminate to the CNS by day 14 post infection. Furthermore, macrophage expulsion of live CnΔsec14-1 and CnΔplb1 (vomocytosis) was reduced. Individual deletion of CnSEC14-2, a closely-related CnSEC14-1 homologue, and CnSFH5, a distantly-related SEC fourteen-like homologue, did not abrogate CnPlb1 secretion or virulence. However, reconstitution of CnΔsec14-1 with CnSEC14-1 or CnSEC14-2 restored both phenotypes, consistent with functional genetic redundancy. We conclude that CnPlb1 secretion is SEC14-dependent and that C. neoformans preferentially exports virulence determinants to the cell periphery via distinct pathways. We also demonstrate that CnPlb1 secretion is essential for vomocytosis. PMID:21453402

Nascent chain-monitored remodeling of the Sec machinery for salinity adaptation of marine bacteria

PubMed Central

Ishii, Eiji; Chiba, Shinobu; Hashimoto, Narimasa; Kojima, Seiji; Homma, Michio; Ito, Koreaki; Akiyama, Yoshinori; Mori, Hiroyuki

2015-01-01

SecDF interacts with the SecYEG translocon in bacteria and enhances protein export in a proton-motive-force-dependent manner. Vibrio alginolyticus, a marine-estuarine bacterium, contains two SecDF paralogs, V.SecDF1 and V.SecDF2. Here, we show that the export-enhancing function of V.SecDF1 requires Na+ instead of H+, whereas V.SecDF2 is Na+-independent, presumably requiring H+. In accord with the cation-preference difference, V.SecDF2 was only expressed under limited Na+ concentrations whereas V.SecDF1 was constitutive. However, it is not the decreased concentration of Na+ per se that the bacterium senses to up-regulate the V.SecDF2 expression, because marked up-regulation of the V.SecDF2 synthesis was observed irrespective of Na+ concentrations under certain genetic/physiological conditions: (i) when the secDF1VA gene was deleted and (ii) whenever the Sec export machinery was inhibited. VemP (Vibrio export monitoring polypeptide), a secretory polypeptide encoded by the upstream ORF of secDF2VA, plays the primary role in this regulation by undergoing regulated translational elongation arrest, which leads to unfolding of the Shine–Dalgarno sequence for translation of secDF2VA. Genetic analysis of V. alginolyticus established that the VemP-mediated regulation of SecDF2 is essential for the survival of this marine bacterium in low-salinity environments. These results reveal that a class of marine bacteria exploits nascent-chain ribosome interactions to optimize their protein export pathways to propagate efficiently under different ionic environments that they face in their life cycles. PMID:26392525

Strain gage measurement errors in the transient heating of structural components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, W. Lance

1993-01-01

Significant strain-gage errors may exist in measurements acquired in transient thermal environments if conventional correction methods are applied. Conventional correction theory was modified and a new experimental method was developed to correct indicated strain data for errors created in radiant heating environments ranging from 0.6 C/sec (1 F/sec) to over 56 C/sec (100 F/sec). In some cases the new and conventional methods differed by as much as 30 percent. Experimental and analytical results were compared to demonstrate the new technique. For heating conditions greater than 6 C/sec (10 F/sec), the indicated strain data corrected with the developed technique compared much better to analysis than the same data corrected with the conventional technique.

Preliminary research informing policy on remote alcohol monitoring in criminal justice: the Scottish experience.

PubMed

Goodall, Christine A; Neville, Fergus G; Williams, Damien J; Donnelly, Peter D

2016-11-01

To explore the views of Scottish offenders on the impact of alcohol on their experience of offending and their lives in general. Furthermore, to explore their views on the concept of remote alcohol monitoring (RAM) as a way to address alcohol misuse upon liberation from prison. A convenience sample of 12 serving offenders participated in one of three focus groups. Data were analysed using the principles of thematic analysis. Analysis of the data revealed the significant impact of alcohol on the lives of the participants. Key themes included the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption; the association of alcohol with harm; the association of alcohol with offending; the previous attempts to reduce alcohol consumption and possible reasons for failure; and the views of participants on the utility of RAM in relation to crime prevention. Participants had significant issues with alcohol misuse prior to incarceration that had impacted on their offending and resulted in both health and social harms. Participants were generally positive but pragmatic about RAM, recognising that technology alone may not be enough to change deeply ingrained and addictive behaviours.

Socioeconomic Condition and Prevalence of Malaria Fever in Pakistani Children: Findings from a Community Health Survey.

PubMed

Asif, Atta Muhammad; Tahir, Muhammad Ramzan; Arshad, Irshad Ahmad

2018-06-01

We assessed the prevalence of malarial fever and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors in children <5 years of age. Using the data of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), the socioeconomic condition (SEC) was assessed by using a household wealth index as a proxy indicator, generated through principal component analysis. Two-stage sampling was used for selection of households, and multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. The PDHS contains 10 935 children <5 years of age with valid information about malaria fever. In total, 36% (3930) children have malaria 2 weeks before the survey. A decreasing trend in prevalence of malaria fever was found with increasing SEC. Compared with SEC Quintile V, children of SEC Quintile I were more likely to get fever [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.40 (1.15-1.69)] and of SEC Quintile II [AOR = 1.23 (1.03-1.45)]. SEC has a significant impact on the prevalence of malaria fever in the context of different regions in Pakistan.

FPS-RAM: Fast Prefix Search RAM-Based Hardware for Forwarding Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaitsu, Kazuya; Yamamoto, Koji; Kuroda, Yasuto; Inoue, Kazunari; Ata, Shingo; Oka, Ikuo

Ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) is becoming very popular for designing high-throughput forwarding engines on routers. However, TCAM has potential problems in terms of hardware and power costs, which limits its ability to deploy large amounts of capacity in IP routers. In this paper, we propose new hardware architecture for fast forwarding engines, called fast prefix search RAM-based hardware (FPS-RAM). We designed FPS-RAM hardware with the intent of maintaining the same search performance and physical user interface as TCAM because our objective is to replace the TCAM in the market. Our RAM-based hardware architecture is completely different from that of TCAM and has dramatically reduced the costs and power consumption to 62% and 52%, respectively. We implemented FPS-RAM on an FPGA to examine its lookup operation.

Recurrent 3-day cycles of water deprivation for over a month depress mating behaviour but not semen characteristics of adult rams.

PubMed

Khnissi, S; Lassoued, N; Rekik, M; Ben Salem, H

2016-02-01

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water deprivation (WD) on reproductive traits of rams. Ten mature rams were used and allocated to two groups balanced for body weight. Control (C) rams had free access to drinking water, while water-restricted rams (WD) were deprived from water for 3 consecutive days and early on the morning of day 4, they had ad libitum access to water for 24 h, similar to C animals. The experiment lasted 32 days, that is eight 4-day cycles of water deprivation and subsequent watering. Feed and water intake were significantly affected by water deprivation; in comparison with C rams, WD rams reduced their feed intake by 18%. During the watering day of the deprivation cycle, WD rams consumed more water than C rams on the same day (11.8 (SD = 3.37) and 8.4 (SD = 1.92) l respectively; p < 0.05). Glucose, total protein and creatinine were increased as a result of water deprivation. However, testosterone levels were lowered as a result of water deprivation and average values were 10.9 and 6.2 (SEM 1.23) ng/ml for C and WD rams respectively (p < 0.05). Semen traits were less affected by treatment; WD rams consistently had superior sperm concentrations than C animals; and statistical significances were reached in cycles 5 and 8 of water deprivation. Several mating behaviour traits were modified as a result of water deprivation. When compared to controls, WD rams had a more prolonged time to first mount attempt (p < 0.001), their frequency of mount attempts decreased [6.8 vs. 5.2 (SEM 0.1); p < 0.001] and their flehmen reaction intensity was negatively affected (p < 0.05). Water deprivation may have practical implications reducing the libido and therefore the serving capacity of rams under field conditions. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

A Pseudo-Atomic Model of the COPII Cage Obtained from CryoEM and Mass Spectrometry Analyses

PubMed Central

Noble, Alex J.; Zhang, Qian; O’Donnell, Jason; Hariri, Hanaa; Bhattacharya, Nilakshee; Marshall, Alan G.

2012-01-01

COPII vesicles transport proteins from the ER to the Golgi apparatus. Previous cryoEM structures of the COPII cage lacked the resolution necessary to determine the residues of Sec13 and Sec31 that mediate assembly and flexibility of the COPII cage. Here we present a 12Å-resolution structure of the COPII cage, where the tertiary structure of Sec13 and Sec31 is clearly identifiable. We employ this structure and a homology model of the Sec13-Sec31 complex to create a reliable pseudo-atomic model of the COPII cage. We combined this model with hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis to characterize four distinct contact regions at the vertices of the COPII cage. Furthermore, we found that the 2-fold symmetry of the Sec31 dimeric region of Sec13-31 is broken on cage formation, and that the resulting hinge is essential to form the proper edge geometry in COPII cages. PMID:23262493

Agonal sequences in eight filmed hangings: analysis of respiratory and movement responses to asphyxia by hanging.

PubMed

Sauvageau, Anny; LaHarpe, Romano; Geberth, Vernon J

2010-09-01

It has been proposed that filmed hangings may hold the key to a better understanding of human asphyxia, and The Working Group on Human Asphyxia was formed to systematically review and compare these video recordings. This study analyzed eight filmed hangings. Considering time 0 to represent the onset of the final hanging, rapid loss of consciousness was observed (at 8-18 sec), closely followed by convulsions (at 10-19 sec). A complex pattern of decerebrate rigidity and decorticate rigidity then followed. Between 1 min 38 sec and 2 min 15 sec, muscle tone seemed to be lost, the body becoming progressively flaccid. From then on, isolated body movements were observed from time to time, the last one occurring between 1 min 2 sec and 7 min 31 sec. As for the respiratory responses, all cases presented deep rhythmic abdominal respiratory movements (last one between 1 min 2 sec and 2 min 5 sec). © 2010 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Characterization of Crude Oil Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Contaminated Soils Surrounding Gas Stations.

PubMed

Abou-Shanab, Reda A I; Eraky, Mohamed; Haddad, Ahmed M; Abdel-Gaffar, Abdel-Rahman B; Salem, Ahmed M

2016-11-01

A total of twenty bacterial cultures were isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Of the 20 isolates, RAM03, RAM06, RAM13, and RAM17 were specifically chosen based on their relatively higher growth on salt medium amended with 4 % crude oil, emulsion index, surface tension, and degradation percentage. These bacterial cultures had 16S rRNA gene sequences that were most similar to Ochrobactrum cytisi (RAM03), Ochrobactrum anthropi (RAM06 and RAM17), and Sinorhizobium meliloti (RAM13) with 96 %, 100 % and 99 %, and 99 % similarity. The tested strains revealed a promising potential for bioremediation of petroleum oil contamination as they could degrade >93 % and 54 % of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in a liquid medium and soil amended with 4 % crude oil, respectively, after 30 day incubation. These bacteria could effectively remove both aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons. In conclusion, these strains could be considered as good prospects for their application in bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated environment.

Information Systems: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen SEC’s Oversight of Capacity and Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-07-01

Strengthen SEC’s Oversight of Capacity and Security 5 . FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) GAO 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING...ANSI Std. Z39-18 298-102 Page i GAO-01-863 Information Systems Letter 1 Results in Brief 2 Background 4 Scope and Methodology 5 SEC Uses a Wide Range...or external organizations to conduct the independent reviews. These internal audits are performed cyclically based on an annual risk analysis. SEC

The rapid mode of calcium uptake into heart mitochondria (RaM): comparison to RaM in liver mitochondria.

PubMed

Buntinas, L; Gunter, K K; Sparagna, G C; Gunter, T E

2001-04-02

A mechanism of Ca(2+) uptake, capable of sequestering significant amounts of Ca(2+) from cytosolic Ca(2+) pulses, has previously been identified in liver mitochondria. This mechanism, the Rapid Mode of Ca(2+) uptake (RaM), was shown to sequester Ca(2+) very rapidly at the beginning of each pulse in a sequence [Sparagna et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 27510-27515]. The existence and properties of RaM in heart mitochondria, however, are unknown and are the basis for this study. We show that RaM functions in heart mitochondria with some of the characteristics of RaM in liver, but its activation and inhibition are quite different. It is feasible that these differences represent different physiological adaptations in these two tissues. In both tissues, RaM is highly conductive at the beginning of a Ca(2+) pulse, but is inhibited by the rising [Ca(2+)] of the pulse itself. In heart mitochondria, the time required at low [Ca(2+)] to reestablish high Ca(2+) conductivity via RaM i.e. the 'resetting time' of RaM is much longer than in liver. RaM in liver mitochondria is strongly activated by spermine, activated by ATP or GTP and unaffected by ADP and AMP. In heart, RaM is activated much less strongly by spermine and unaffected by ATP or GTP. RaM in heart is strongly inhibited by AMP and has a biphasic response to ADP; it is activated at low concentrations and inhibited at high concentrations. Finally, an hypothesis consistent with the data and characteristics of liver and heart is presented to explain how RaM may function to control the rate of oxidative phosphorylation in each tissue. Under this hypothesis, RaM functions to create a brief, high free Ca(2+) concentration inside mitochondria which may activate intramitochondrial metabolic reactions with relatively small amounts of Ca(2+) uptake. This hypothesis is consistent with the view that intramitochondrial [Ca(2+)] may be used to control the rate of ADP phosphorylation in such a way as to minimize the probability of activating the Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MPT).

Functional Analysis of Developmentally Regulated Genes chs7 and sec22 in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora.

PubMed

Traeger, Stefanie; Nowrousian, Minou

2015-04-14

During sexual development, filamentous ascomycetes form complex, three-dimensional fruiting bodies for the generation and dispersal of spores. In previous studies, we identified genes with evolutionary conserved expression patterns during fruiting body formation in several fungal species. Here, we present the functional analysis of two developmentally up-regulated genes, chs7 and sec22, in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The genes encode a class VII (division III) chitin synthase and a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, respectively. Deletion mutants of chs7 had normal vegetative growth and were fully fertile but showed sensitivity toward cell wall stress. Deletion of sec22 resulted in a reduced number of ascospores and in defects in ascospore pigmentation and germination, whereas vegetative growth was normal in the mutant. A SEC22-EGFP fusion construct under control of the native sec22 promoter and terminator regions was expressed during different stages of sexual development. Expression of several development-related genes was deregulated in the sec22 mutant, including three genes involved in melanin biosynthesis. Our data indicate that chs7 is dispensable for fruiting body formation in S. macrospora, whereas sec22 is required for ascospore maturation and germination and thus involved in late stages of sexual development. Copyright © 2015 Traeger and Nowrousian.

Functional Analysis of Developmentally Regulated Genes chs7 and sec22 in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora

PubMed Central

Traeger, Stefanie; Nowrousian, Minou

2015-01-01

During sexual development, filamentous ascomycetes form complex, three-dimensional fruiting bodies for the generation and dispersal of spores. In previous studies, we identified genes with evolutionary conserved expression patterns during fruiting body formation in several fungal species. Here, we present the functional analysis of two developmentally up-regulated genes, chs7 and sec22, in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The genes encode a class VII (division III) chitin synthase and a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, respectively. Deletion mutants of chs7 had normal vegetative growth and were fully fertile but showed sensitivity toward cell wall stress. Deletion of sec22 resulted in a reduced number of ascospores and in defects in ascospore pigmentation and germination, whereas vegetative growth was normal in the mutant. A SEC22-EGFP fusion construct under control of the native sec22 promoter and terminator regions was expressed during different stages of sexual development. Expression of several development-related genes was deregulated in the sec22 mutant, including three genes involved in melanin biosynthesis. Our data indicate that chs7 is dispensable for fruiting body formation in S. macrospora, whereas sec22 is required for ascospore maturation and germination and thus involved in late stages of sexual development. PMID:25873638

mRNA Cap Methyltransferase, RNMT-RAM, Promotes RNA Pol II-Dependent Transcription.

PubMed

Varshney, Dhaval; Lombardi, Olivia; Schweikert, Gabriele; Dunn, Sianadh; Suska, Olga; Cowling, Victoria H

2018-05-01

mRNA cap addition occurs early during RNA Pol II-dependent transcription, facilitating pre-mRNA processing and translation. We report that the mammalian mRNA cap methyltransferase, RNMT-RAM, promotes RNA Pol II transcription independent of mRNA capping and translation. In cells, sublethal suppression of RNMT-RAM reduces RNA Pol II occupancy, net mRNA synthesis, and pre-mRNA levels. Conversely, expression of RNMT-RAM increases transcription independent of cap methyltransferase activity. In isolated nuclei, recombinant RNMT-RAM stimulates transcriptional output; this requires the RAM RNA binding domain. RNMT-RAM interacts with nascent transcripts along their entire length and with transcription-associated factors including the RNA Pol II subunits SPT4, SPT6, and PAFc. Suppression of RNMT-RAM inhibits transcriptional markers including histone H2BK120 ubiquitination, H3K4 and H3K36 methylation, RNA Pol II CTD S5 and S2 phosphorylation, and PAFc recruitment. These findings suggest that multiple interactions among RNMT-RAM, RNA Pol II factors, and RNA along the transcription unit stimulate transcription. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Critical role of a double-layer configuration in solution-based unipolar resistive switching memories.

PubMed

Carlos, Emanuel; Kiazadeh, Asal; Deuermeier, Jonas; Branquinho, Rita; Martins, Rodrigo; Fortunato, Elvira

2018-08-24

Lately, resistive switching memories (ReRAM) have been attracting a lot of attention due to their possibilities of fast operation, lower power consumption and simple fabrication process and they can also be scaled to very small dimensions. However, most of these ReRAM are produced by physical methods and nowadays the industry demands more simplicity, typically associated with low cost manufacturing. As such, ReRAMs in this work are developed from a solution-based aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) using a simple combustion synthesis process. The device performance is optimized by two-stage deposition of the Al 2 O 3 film. The resistive switching properties of the bilayer devices are reproducible with a yield of 100%. The ReRAM devices show unipolar resistive switching behavior with good endurance and retention time up to 10 5 s at 85 °C. The devices can be programmed in a multi-level cell operation mode by application of different reset voltages. Temperature analysis of various resistance states reveals a filamentary nature based on the oxygen vacancies. The optimized film was stacked between ITO and indium zinc oxide, targeting a fully transparent device for applications on transparent system-on-panel technology.

Semen Quality of Post-Thawed Local Ram’s in Tris-Egg Yolk Extender with Different Glutathione Level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solihati, N.; Rasad, S. D.; Setiawan, R.; Foziah, E. N.; Wigiyanti, E. T.

2018-02-01

The aims of this research were to find out the effect of glutathione level on semen quality of local ram and to find out the glutathione level that provide the best quality of local ram semen. This research use Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments of glutathione level (0 mM, 4 mM, 5 mM, 6 mM and 7mM) and was repeated for 10 times. Data were analyzed using analysis of varians (ANOVA) and differences between treatment was analyzed using Duncan test. The parameter were semen quality consist of motility, intact plasma membrane (IPM), abnormality, and recovery rate. Result of this research showed that glutathione level significantly (p<0.05) affect on motility, IPM, abnormality and recovery rate. Duncan test result showed that recovery rate from treatment of 5 mM glutathione level have significantly higher than other treatment, whereas for motility, IPM and abnormality were not significant different with 4 mM, and 6 mM. It is concluded that semen quality of local ram was affected by glutathione level, and the level of 5 mM in egg yolk tris extender provide the best quality of local ram semen.

Ram-pressure feeding of supermassive black holes.

PubMed

Poggianti, Bianca M; Jaffé, Yara L; Moretti, Alessia; Gullieuszik, Marco; Radovich, Mario; Tonnesen, Stephanie; Fritz, Jacopo; Bettoni, Daniela; Vulcani, Benedetta; Fasano, Giovanni; Bellhouse, Callum; Hau, George; Omizzolo, Alessandro

2017-08-16

When a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy accretes matter, it gives rise to a highly energetic phenomenon: an active galactic nucleus. Numerous physical processes have been proposed to account for the funnelling of gas towards the galactic centre to feed the black hole. There are also several physical processes that can remove gas from a galaxy, one of which is ram-pressure stripping by the hot gas that fills the space between galaxies in galaxy clusters. Here we report that six out of a sample of seven 'jellyfish' galaxies-galaxies with long 'tentacles' of material that extend for dozens of kiloparsecs beyond the galactic disks-host an active nucleus, and two of them also have galactic-scale ionization cones. The high incidence of nuclear activity among heavily stripped jellyfish galaxies may be due to ram pressure causing gas to flow towards the centre and triggering the activity, or to an enhancement of the stripping caused by energy injection from the active nucleus, or both. Our analysis of the galactic position and velocity relative to the cluster strongly supports the first hypothesis, and puts forward ram pressure as another possible mechanism for feeding the central supermassive black hole with gas.

Ram-pressure feeding of supermassive black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poggianti, Bianca M.; Jaffé, Yara L.; Moretti, Alessia; Gullieuszik, Marco; Radovich, Mario; Tonnesen, Stephanie; Fritz, Jacopo; Bettoni, Daniela; Vulcani, Benedetta; Fasano, Giovanni; Bellhouse, Callum; Hau, George; Omizzolo, Alessandro

2017-08-01

When a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy accretes matter, it gives rise to a highly energetic phenomenon: an active galactic nucleus. Numerous physical processes have been proposed to account for the funnelling of gas towards the galactic centre to feed the black hole. There are also several physical processes that can remove gas from a galaxy, one of which is ram-pressure stripping by the hot gas that fills the space between galaxies in galaxy clusters. Here we report that six out of a sample of seven ‘jellyfish’ galaxies—galaxies with long ‘tentacles’ of material that extend for dozens of kiloparsecs beyond the galactic disks—host an active nucleus, and two of them also have galactic-scale ionization cones. The high incidence of nuclear activity among heavily stripped jellyfish galaxies may be due to ram pressure causing gas to flow towards the centre and triggering the activity, or to an enhancement of the stripping caused by energy injection from the active nucleus, or both. Our analysis of the galactic position and velocity relative to the cluster strongly supports the first hypothesis, and puts forward ram pressure as another possible mechanism for feeding the central supermassive black hole with gas.

Seroprevalence of Brucella ovis in rams and associated flock level risk factors in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

PubMed

Machado, G; Santos, D V; Kohek, I; Stein, M C; Hein, H E; Poeta, A S; Vidor, A C M; Corbellini, L G

2015-09-01

A cross-sectional study based on a planned probabilistic sampling was carried out to estimate animal and flock prevalence of Brucella ovis in rams, as well as to determine risk factors at the flock level. Data regarding the flocks were collected by means of a questionnaire applied on 705 farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using one-stage cluster sampling. From the 705 flocks, 20 (2.5%, CI95%: 2.0-3.1%) had at least one positive ram. At the animal level, out of 1800 rams, 52 were positive (2.89%, CI95%: 0.4-5.3%). Statistical analysis identified the following as risk factors: average age of rams in the flocks (PR: 1.99, CI95%: 1.19-3.32); farms larger than 5 km(2) (500 ha) on extension area (PR: 7.46CI95%: 2.03-27.43); and the lack of lambing paddocks (PR: 5.56, CI95%: 1.70-18.11). This study provided relevant information for authorities to elaborate plans for the first Brazilian state based B. ovis disease control and eradication program. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that shows the importance of lambing paddocks in order to keep pre-lambing and lambing ewes away from the rest of the flock, the lack of this infrastructure was considered an important risk factor for B. ovis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vesicovaginal fistula repair with rectus abdominus myofascial interposition flap.

PubMed

Reynolds, W Stuart; Gottlieb, Lawrence J; Lucioni, Alvaro; Rapp, David E; Song, David H; Bales, Gregory T

2008-06-01

Complex, recurrent vesicovaginal fistulas (VVFs) can be very challenging to repair and often require interposition of nonirradiated, well-vascularized tissue between the urinary system and vagina. We report our experience using a rectus abdominus myofascial (RAM) interposition flap for VVF repair. A retrospective analysis was performed to identify patients who had undergone VVF repair with RAM interposition. Data were collected focusing on preoperative patient characteristics, etiology of VVF, intraoperative parameters, including surgical techniques, and postoperative patient outcomes. We used a RAM interposition flap for VVF repair in 5 patients. All VVFs had developed postoperatively; no patient had received radiotherapy. VVF developed after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) or radical cystectomy in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Both cases of VVF after radical cystectomy occurred in conjunction with orthotopic diversion (neobladder-vaginal fistula). In 3 patients with post-TAH VVF, a total of five previous failed repairs were attempted before RAM interposition. In 1 patient with a neobladder-vaginal fistula, who had received adjuvant chemotherapy, RAM interposition failed, and the patient ultimately required cutaneous urinary diversion after two subsequent failed attempts at repair (68 months of follow-up). The remaining 4 patients (80%) had no evidence of recurrent VVF or voiding abnormalities at a mean follow-up of 19 months (range 8 to 32). Rectus abdominus muscle can be a successful interposition flap during repair of complex, recurrent VVF. In our experience, this has been successful in most cases, particularly in younger patients with nonmalignant processes.

Ram seminal plasma improves pregnancy rates in ewes cervically inseminated with ram semen stored at 5 °C for 24 hours.

PubMed

López-Pérez, A; Pérez-Clariget, R

2012-01-15

In this study, we compared pregnancy rates obtained using ram semen stored at 5 °C for 24 h, with ram or bull seminal plasma (SP) added to TRIS-egg yolk extender. During the breeding period, 670 adult Corriedale ewes were cervically inseminated with semen (2 × 10(8) sperm in a volume of 0.2 mL) from eight adult Corriedale rams. Ejaculates, obtained using an artificial vagina, were split into three aliquots and diluted with the following: TRIS-egg yolk based extender (T), T + 30% ram SP (R), or T + 30% bull SP (B). Samples were refrigerated and stored at 5 °C for 24 h until used for AI. Pregnancy was assessed by ultrasonography 35 to 40 d after AI. Pregnancy rate was not affected by ram (P = 0.77) or breeding period (P = 0.43), and there were no interactions between extender and ram (P = 0.94), or extender and breeding period (P = 0.24). However, there was an effect of extender (P = 0.0009) on pregnancy rates; ram SP, but not bull SP, increased pregnancy rates compared with extender without SP (49.7, 38.1, and 31.1%, for R, B, and T respectively). In conclusion, ram SP added to TRIS-egg yolk extender had a beneficial effect on the pregnancy rate of ram sperm stored at 5 °C for 24 h and used for cervical insemination of ewes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Research and Applications Modules (RAM). Phase B study: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The design, development, and characteristics of the Research and Applications Module (RAM) system is discussed. The RAM system is a family of payload carriers that can be delivered to and retrieved from low earth orbit by the space shuttle. The RAM payload carriers are used to support diverse technological and scientific investigations. The NASA study objectives, the relationship of the RAM payload carriers to other systems in the orbital space program, and recommendations for additional effort are presented.

High Resolution, High Precision I-Line Stepper Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanazawa, H.; Hasegawa, N.; Kurosaki, T.; Hashimoto, N.; Nonogaki, S.

1985-06-01

Currently, the integrated MOS dynamic RAM has as many as 256 thousand memory cells per chip based on 2 pm photolithography. Figure 1 shows the history and the prospects for progress in microfabrication technology. Feature size versus year, as reported by Bossung in 1978, is shown, as developed from independent analysis by Moore, Noyce and Gnostic concept. Circles numbered 1 and 2 show that 64K- and 256K-bit RAMs were developed in 1981 and 1984, and that their feature sizes were 3μm and 2μm, respectively. It is significant that the predictions and the real developments are so close. Furthermore, since the basic process for 3 M-bit RAMs based on 1.3μm microlithography has already been reported in conference, it is highly likely that they will become commercially available around 1987, as predicted by the circle numbered 3 based on 1.3μm microlithography.

Functional diversification of Arabidopsis SEC1-related SM proteins in cytokinetic and secretory membrane fusion.

PubMed

Karnahl, Matthias; Park, Misoon; Krause, Cornelia; Hiller, Ulrike; Mayer, Ulrike; Stierhof, York-Dieter; Jürgens, Gerd

2018-06-12

Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins contribute to membrane fusion by interacting with Qa-SNAREs or nascent trans -SNARE complexes. Gymnosperms and the basal angiosperm Amborella have only a single SEC1 gene related to the KEULE gene in Arabidopsis However, the genomes of most angiosperms including Arabidopsis encode three SEC1-related SM proteins of which only KEULE has been functionally characterized as interacting with the cytokinesis-specific Qa-SNARE KNOLLE during cell-plate formation. Here we analyze the closest paralog of KEULE named SEC1B. In contrast to the cytokinesis defects of keule mutants, sec1b mutants are homozygous viable. However, the keule sec1b double mutant was nearly gametophytically lethal, displaying collapsed pollen grains, which suggests substantial overlap between SEC1B and KEULE functions in secretion-dependent growth. SEC1B had a strong preference for interaction with the evolutionarily ancient Qa-SNARE SYP132 involved in secretion and cytokinesis, whereas KEULE interacted with both KNOLLE and SYP132. This differential interaction with Qa-SNAREs is likely conferred by domains 1 and 2a of the two SM proteins. Comparative analysis of all four possible combinations of the relevant SEC1 Qa-SNARE double mutants revealed that in cytokinesis, the interaction of SEC1B with KNOLLE plays no role, whereas the interaction of KEULE with KNOLLE is prevalent and functionally as important as the interactions of both SEC1B and KEU with SYP132 together. Our results suggest that functional diversification of the two SEC1-related SM proteins during angiosperm evolution resulted in enhanced interaction of SEC1B with Qa-SNARE SYP132, and thus a predominant role of SEC1B in secretion.

Ultra-high performance size-exclusion chromatography in polar solvents.

PubMed

Vancoillie, Gertjan; Vergaelen, Maarten; Hoogenboom, Richard

2016-12-23

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is amongst the most widely used polymer characterization methods in both academic and industrial polymer research allowing the determination of molecular weight and distribution parameters, i.e. the dispersity (Ɖ), of unknown polymers. The many advantages, including accuracy, reproducibility and low sample consumption, have contributed to the worldwide success of this analytical technique. The current generation of SEC systems have a stationary phase mostly containing highly porous, styrene-divinylbenzene particles allowing for a size-based separation of various polymers in solution but limiting the flow rate and solvent compatibility. Recently, sub-2μm ethylene-bridged hybrid (BEH) packing materials have become available for SEC analysis. These packing materials can not only withstand much higher pressures up to 15000psi but also show high spatial stability towards different solvents. Combining these BEH columns with the ultra-high performance LC (UHPLC) technology opens up UHP-SEC analysis, showing strongly reduced runtimes and unprecedented solvent compatibility. In this work, this novel characterization technique was compared to conventional SEC using both highly viscous and highly polar solvents as eluent, namely N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and methanol, focusing on the suitability of the BEH-columns for analysis of highly functional polymers. The results show a high functional group compatibility comparable with conventional SEC with remarkably short runtimes and enhanced resolution in methanol. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Complete positive ion, electron, and ram negative ion measurements near Comet Halley (COPERNIC) plasma experiment for the European Giotto Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Robert P.

1988-01-01

Participation of U.S. scientists on the COPERNIC (COmplete Positive ions, Electrons and Ram Negative Ion measurements near Comet Halley) plasma experiment on the Giotto mission is described. The experiment consisted of two detectors: the EESA (electron electrostatic analyzer) which provided three-dimensional measurements of the distribution of electrons from 10 eV to 30 keV, and the PICCA (positive ion cluster composition analyzer) which provided mass analysis of positively charged cold cometary ions from mass 10 to 210 amu. In addition, a small 3 deg wide sector of the EESA looking in the ram direction was devoted to the detection of negatively charged cold cometary ions. Both detectors operated perfectly up to near closest approach (approx. 600 km) to Halley, but impacts of dust particles and neutral gas on the spacecraft contaminated parts of the data during the last few minutes. Although no flight hardware was fabricated in the U.S., The U.S. made very significant contributions to the hardware design, ground support equipment (GSE) design and fabrication, and flight and data reduction software required for the experiment, and also participated fully in the data reduction and analysis, and theoretical modeling and interpretation. Cometary data analysis is presented.

Evaluation of a nutritional strategy to increase ovulation rate in merino ewes mated in late spring-early summer.

PubMed

Nottle, M B; Kleemann, D O; Grosser, T I; Seamark, R F

1997-07-01

A nutritional strategy for increasing ovulation rate in Merino ewes mated in late spring-early summer was evaluated on two commercial farms. The strategy used the 'ram effect' to induce oestrus in seasonally anoestrus ewes and supplementary feeding of lupin grain six days prior to oestrus to increase ovulation rate. Ewes that had been isolated from rams for 6 weeks were exposed to vasectomised rams for 2 weeks and then mated to fertile rams for 6 weeks. Feeding 500 g lupins/head/day for 14 days commencing 12 days after the introduction of vasectomised rams, increased the number of ovulations from 126 to 146 per 100 ewes exposed to rams (P < 0.05). This increase was reflected in an improvement in fecundity (lambs born per ewe lambing; P < 0.05) but not fertility (ewes lambing per ewe mated to rams). Net reproductive performance (the product of fertility, fecundity and lamb survival) was increased by 11 lambs weaned per 100 ewes exposed to rams due to lupin supplementation at mating.

Characterizing property distributions of polymeric nanogels by size-exclusion chromatography.

PubMed

Mourey, Thomas H; Leon, Jeffrey W; Bennett, James R; Bryan, Trevor G; Slater, Lisa A; Balke, Stephen T

2007-03-30

Nanogels are highly branched, swellable polymer structures with average diameters between 1 and 100nm. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) fractionates materials in this size range, and it is commonly used to measure nanogel molar mass distributions. For many nanogel applications, it may be more important to calculate the particle size distribution from the SEC data than it is to calculate the molar mass distribution. Other useful nanogel property distributions include particle shape, area, and volume, as well as polymer volume fraction per particle. All can be obtained from multi-detector SEC data with proper calibration and data analysis methods. This work develops the basic equations for calculating several of these differential and cumulative property distributions and applies them to SEC data from the analysis of polymeric nanogels. The methods are analogous to those used to calculate the more familiar SEC molar mass distributions. Calibration methods and characteristics of the distributions are discussed, and the effects of detector noise and mismatched concentration and molar mass sensitive detector signals are examined.

The Evaluation of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System in the Eastern Range Dispersion Assessment System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Case, Jonathan

2001-01-01

The Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) evaluated the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) contained within the Eastern Range Dispersion Assessment System (ERDAS). ERDAS provides emergency response guidance for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center operations in the event of an accidental hazardous material release or aborted vehicle launch. The RAMS prognostic data are available to ERDAS for display and are used to initialize the 45th Space Wing/Range Safety dispersion model. Thus, the accuracy of the dispersion predictions is dependent upon the accuracy of RAMS forecasts. The RAMS evaluation consisted of an objective and subjective component for the 1999 and 2000 Florida warm seasons, and the 1999-2000 cool season. In the objective evaluation, the AMU generated model error statistics at surface and upper-level observational sites, compared RAMS errors to a coarser RAMS grid configuration, and benchmarked RAMS against the nationally-used Eta model. In the subjective evaluation, the AMU compared forecast cold fronts, low-level temperature inversions, and precipitation to observations during the 1999-2000 cool season, verified the development of the RAMS forecast east coast sea breeze during both warm seasons, and examined the RAMS daily thunderstorm initiation and precipitation patterns during the 2000 warm season. This report summarizes the objective and subjective verification for all three seasons.

Effects of Long-Term Flutamide Treatment during Development on Sexual Behavior and Hormone Responsiveness in Rams

PubMed Central

Roselli, Charles E.; Meaker, Mary; Stormshak, Fred; Estill, Charles T.

2016-01-01

Testosterone (T) exposure during midgestation differentiates neural circuits controlling sex-specific behaviors and patterns of gonadotropin secretion in male sheep. T acts through androgen receptors (AR) and/or after aromatization to estradiol and binding to estrogen receptors. The current study assessed the role of AR activation in male sexual differentiation. We compared rams that were exposed to the AR antagonist flutamide (Flu) throughout the critical period (i.e. day 30 – 90 of gestation) to control rams and ewes that received no prenatal treatments. The external genitalia of all Flu rams were phenotypically female. Testes were positioned subcutaneously in the inguinal region of the abdomen, exhibited seasonally impaired androgen secretion and were azospermic. Flu rams displayed male-typical precopulatory and mounting behaviors, but could not intromit or ejaculate because they lacked a penis. Flu rams exhibited greater mounting behavior than control rams, and like controls, showed sexual partner preferences for estrous ewes. Neither control nor Flu rams responded to estradiol treatments with displays of female-typical receptive behavior or LH surge responses; whereas all control ewes responded as expected. The ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus in Flu rams was intermediate in volume between control rams and ewes and significantly different from both. . These results indicate that prenatal antiandrogen exposure is not able to block male sexual differentiation in sheep and suggest that compensatory mechanisms intervene to maintain sufficient androgen stimulation during development. PMID:27005749

Tyrosine hydroxylase in the ventral tegmental area of rams with high or low libido-A role for dopamine.

PubMed

Kramer, A C; Mirto, A J; Austin, K J; Roselli, C E; Alexander, B M

2017-12-01

Dopamine synthesis in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is necessary for the reinforcement of sexual behavior. The objective of this study determined if sexual stimuli initiates reward, and whether reward is attenuated in sexually inactive rams. Sexually active rams were exposed to urine from estrous (n=4) or ovariectomized (n=3) ewes with inactive rams (n=3) exposed to urine from estrous ewes. Following exposure, rams were exsanguinated and brains perfused. Alternating sections of the VTA were stained for Fos related antigens (FRA), tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity. Forebrain tissue, mid-sagittal ventral to the anterior corpus callosum, was stained for dopamine D 2 receptors. Concentrations of cortisol was determined prior to and following exposure. Exposure to ovariectomized-ewe urine in sexually active rams did not influence (P=0.6) FRA expression, but fewer (P<0.05) neurons were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase in the VTA. Sexually inactive rams had fewer (P<0.05) FRA and tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in the VTA than sexually active rams following exposure to estrous ewe urine. VTA neurons staining positive for dopamine beta-hydroxylase did not differ by sexual activity (P=0.44) or urine exposure (P=0.07). Exposure to stimulus did not influence (P=0.46) numbers of forebrain neurons staining positive for dopamine D2 receptors in sexually active rams, but fewer (P=0.04) neurons stain positive in inactive rams. Serum concentrations of cortisol did not differ (P≥0.52) among rams prior to or following stimulus. In conclusion sexual inactivity is unlikely due to stress, but may be partially a result of decreased tyrosine hydroxylase and/or the response to dopamine. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of the GRAS transcription factor ATA/RAM1 in the transcriptional reprogramming of arbuscular mycorrhiza in Petunia hybrida.

PubMed

Rich, Mélanie K; Courty, Pierre-Emmanuel; Roux, Christophe; Reinhardt, Didier

2017-08-08

Development of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) requires a fundamental reprogramming of root cells for symbiosis. This involves the induction of hundreds of genes in the host. A recently identified GRAS-type transcription factor in Petunia hybrida, ATA/RAM1, is required for the induction of host genes during AM, and for morphogenesis of the fungal endosymbiont. To better understand the role of RAM1 in symbiosis, we set out to identify all genes that depend on activation by RAM1 in mycorrhizal roots. We have carried out a transcript profiling experiment by RNAseq of mycorrhizal plants vs. non-mycorrhizal controls in wild type and ram1 mutants. The results show that the expression of early genes required for AM, such as the strigolactone biosynthetic genes and the common symbiosis signalling genes, is independent of RAM1. In contrast, genes that are involved at later stages of symbiosis, for example for nutrient exchange in cortex cells, require RAM1 for induction. RAM1 itself is highly induced in mycorrhizal roots together with many other transcription factors, in particular GRAS proteins. Since RAM1 has previously been shown to be directly activated by the common symbiosis signalling pathway through CYCLOPS, we conclude that it acts as an early transcriptional switch that induces many AM-related genes, among them genes that are essential for the development of arbuscules, such as STR, STR2, RAM2, and PT4, besides hundreds of additional RAM1-dependent genes the role of which in symbiosis remains to be explored. Taken together, these results indicate that the defect in the morphogenesis of the fungal arbuscules in ram1 mutants may be an indirect consequence of functional defects in the host, which interfere with nutrient exchange and possibly other functions on which the fungus depends.

Laser geodynamic satellite thermal/optical/vibrational analysis and testing, volume 2, book 2. [cubes and far fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The main tasks described involved an interferometric evaluation of several cubes, a prediction of their dihedral angles, a comparison of these predictions with independent measurements, a prediction and comparison of far field performance, recommendations as to revised dihedral angles and a subsequent analysis of cubes which were reworked to confirm the recommendations. A tolerance study and theoretical evaluation of several cubes was also performed to aid in understanding the results. The far field characteristics evaluated included polarization effects and treated both intensity distribution and encircled energy data. The energy in the 13.2 - 16.9 arc-sec annular region was tabulated as an indicator of performance sensitivity. The results are provided in viewgraph form, and show the average dihedral angle of an original set of test cubes to have been 1.8 arc-sec with an average far field annulus diameter of 18 arc-sec. Since the peak energy in the 13.2 - 16.9 arc-sec annulus was found to occur for a 1.35 arc-sec cube, and since cube tolerances were shown to increase the annulus diameter slightly, a nominal dihedral angle of 1.25 arc-sec was recommended.

Eco-friendly streamlined process for sporopollenin exine capsule extraction

PubMed Central

Mundargi, Raghavendra C.; Potroz, Michael G.; Park, Jae Hyeon; Seo, Jeongeun; Tan, Ee-Lin; Lee, Jae Ho; Cho, Nam-Joon

2016-01-01

Sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs) extracted from Lycopodium clavatum spores are an attractive biomaterial possessing a highly robust structure suitable for microencapsulation strategies. Despite several decades of research into SEC extraction methods, the protocols commonly used for L. clavatum still entail processing with both alkaline and acidolysis steps at temperatures up to 180 °C and lasting up to 7 days. Herein, we demonstrate a significantly streamlined processing regimen, which indicates that much lower temperatures and processing durations can be used without alkaline lysis. By employing CHN elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dynamic image particle analysis (DIPA), the optimum conditions for L. clavatum SEC processing were determined to include 30 hours acidolysis at 70 °C without alkaline lysis. Extending these findings to proof-of-concept encapsulation studies, we further demonstrate that our SECs are able to achieve a loading of 0.170 ± 0.01 g BSA per 1 g SECs by vacuum-assisted loading. Taken together, our streamlined processing method and corresponding characterization of SECs provides important insights for the development of applications including drug delivery, cosmetics, personal care products, and foods. PMID:26818918

Eco-friendly streamlined process for sporopollenin exine capsule extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mundargi, Raghavendra C.; Potroz, Michael G.; Park, Jae Hyeon; Seo, Jeongeun; Tan, Ee-Lin; Lee, Jae Ho; Cho, Nam-Joon

2016-01-01

Sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs) extracted from Lycopodium clavatum spores are an attractive biomaterial possessing a highly robust structure suitable for microencapsulation strategies. Despite several decades of research into SEC extraction methods, the protocols commonly used for L. clavatum still entail processing with both alkaline and acidolysis steps at temperatures up to 180 °C and lasting up to 7 days. Herein, we demonstrate a significantly streamlined processing regimen, which indicates that much lower temperatures and processing durations can be used without alkaline lysis. By employing CHN elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dynamic image particle analysis (DIPA), the optimum conditions for L. clavatum SEC processing were determined to include 30 hours acidolysis at 70 °C without alkaline lysis. Extending these findings to proof-of-concept encapsulation studies, we further demonstrate that our SECs are able to achieve a loading of 0.170 ± 0.01 g BSA per 1 g SECs by vacuum-assisted loading. Taken together, our streamlined processing method and corresponding characterization of SECs provides important insights for the development of applications including drug delivery, cosmetics, personal care products, and foods.

76 FR 76103 - Privacy Act; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: State-78, Risk Analysis and Management Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-06

... Rulemaking: State-78, Risk Analysis and Management Records SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the... portions of the Risk Analysis and Management (RAM) Records, State-78, system of records contain criminal...) * * * (2) * * * Risk Analysis and Management Records, STATE-78. * * * * * (b) * * * (1) * * * Risk Analysis...

The Impact of Boarding on Campus on the Social-Emotional Competence of Left-Behind Children in Rural Western China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Shutao; Dong, Xuan; Mao, Yaqing

2017-01-01

This study aimed to determine if boarding on campus benefited left-behind children's social-emotional competence (SEC). We developed a SEC scale for the Chinese context and culture using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability analysis. Data were collected from 6638 school-aged children from 74 rural boarding…

A Training Manual in Conducting a Workshop in the Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Repair of Hydrams.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peace Corps, Washington, DC. Office of Programming and Training Coordination.

This manual presents a comprehensive training design, suggested procedures, and materials for conducting a workshop in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of hydrams, and in the planning and implementation of hydram projects. Hydrams (hydraulic rams, hydraulic ram pumps, automatic hydraulic ram pumps, rams) are devices…

Comparison of hourly surface downwelling solar radiation estimated from MSG-SEVIRI and forecast by the RAMS model with pyranometers over Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Federico, Stefano; Torcasio, Rosa Claudia; Sanò, Paolo; Casella, Daniele; Campanelli, Monica; Fokke Meirink, Jan; Wang, Ping; Vergari, Stefania; Diémoz, Henri; Dietrich, Stefano

2017-06-01

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of two global horizontal solar irradiance (GHI) estimates, one derived from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and another from the 1-day forecast of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) mesoscale model. The horizontal resolution of the MSG-GHI is 3 × 5 km2 over Italy, which is the focus area of this study. For this paper, RAMS has the horizontal resolution of 4 km.The performances of the MSG-GHI estimate and RAMS-GHI 1-day forecast are evaluated for 1 year (1 June 2013-31 May 2014) against data of 12 ground-based pyranometers over Italy spanning a range of climatic conditions, i.e. from maritime Mediterranean to Alpine climate.Statistics for hourly GHI and daily integrated GHI are presented for the four seasons and the whole year for all the measurement sites. Different sky conditions are considered in the analysisResults for hourly data show an evident dependence on the sky conditions, with the root mean square error (RMSE) increasing from clear to cloudy conditions. The RMSE is substantially higher for Alpine stations in all the seasons, mainly because of the increase of the cloud coverage for these stations, which is not well represented at the satellite and model resolutions. Considering the yearly statistics computed from hourly data for the RAMS model, the RMSE ranges from 152 W m-2 (31 %) obtained for Cozzo Spadaro, a maritime station, to 287 W m-2 (82 %) for Aosta, an Alpine site. Considering the yearly statistics computed from hourly data for MSG-GHI, the minimum RMSE is for Cozzo Spadaro (71 W m-2, 14 %), while the maximum is for Aosta (181 W m-2, 51 %). The mean bias error (MBE) shows the tendency of RAMS to over-forecast the GHI, while no specific behaviour is found for MSG-GHI.Results for daily integrated GHI show a lower RMSE compared to hourly GHI evaluation for both RAMS-GHI 1-day forecast and MSG-GHI estimate. Considering the yearly evaluation, the RMSE of daily integrated GHI is at least 9 % lower (in percentage units, from 31 to 22 % for RAMS in Cozzo Spadaro) than the RMSE computed for hourly data for each station. A partial compensation of underestimation and overestimation of the GHI contributes to the RMSE reduction. Furthermore, a post-processing technique, namely model output statistics (MOS), is applied to improve the GHI forecast at hourly and daily temporal scales. The application of MOS shows an improvement of RAMS-GHI forecast, which depends on the site considered, while the impact of MOS on MSG-GHI RMSE is small.

The ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus, aromatase, and sexual partner preferences in sheep.

PubMed

Roselli, C E; Stormshak, F

2010-02-28

We are using the domestic ram as an experimental model to examine the role of aromatase in the development of sexual partner preferences. This interest has arisen because of the observation that as many as 8% of domestic rams are sexually attracted to other rams (male-oriented) in contrast to the majority of rams that are attracted to estrous ewes (female-oriented). Our findings demonstrate that aromatase expression is enriched in a cluster of neurons in the medial preoptic nucleus called the ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus (oSDN). The size of the oSDN is associated with a ram's sexual partner preference, such that the nucleus is 2-3 times larger in rams that are attracted to females (female-oriented) than in rams that are attracted to other rams (male-oriented). Moreover, the volume of the oSDN in male-oriented rams is similar to the volume in ewes. These volume differences are not influenced by adult concentrations of serum testosterone. Instead, we found that the oSDN is already present in late gestation lamb fetuses (approximately day 135 of gestation) when it is approximately 2-fold greater in males than in females. Exposure of genetic female fetuses to exogenous testosterone during the critical period for sexual differentiation masculinizes oSDN volume and aromatase expression when examined subsequently on day 135. The demonstration that the oSDN is organized prenatally by testosterone exposure suggests that the brain of the male-oriented ram may be under-androgenized during development. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Vitro Selection of ramR and soxR Mutants Overexpressing Efflux Systems by Fluoroquinolones as Well as Cefoxitin in Klebsiella pneumoniae▿

PubMed Central

Bialek-Davenet, Suzanne; Marcon, Estelle; Leflon-Guibout, Véronique; Lavigne, Jean-Philippe; Bert, Frédéric; Moreau, Richard; Nicolas-Chanoine, Marie-Hélène

2011-01-01

The relationship between efflux system overexpression and cross-resistance to cefoxitin, quinolones, and chloramphenicol has recently been reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae. In 3 previously published clinical isolates and 17 in vitro mutants selected with cefoxitin or fluoroquinolones, mutations in the potential regulator genes of the AcrAB efflux pump (acrR, ramR, ramA, marR, marA, soxR, soxS, and rob) were searched, and their impacts on efflux-related antibiotic cross-resistance were assessed. All mutants but 1, and 2 clinical isolates, overexpressed acrB. No mutation was detected in the regulator genes studied among the clinical isolates and 8 of the mutants. For the 9 remaining mutants, a mutation was found in the ramR gene in 8 of them and in the soxR gene in the last one, resulting in overexpression of ramA and soxS, respectively. Transformation of the ramR mutants and the soxR mutant with the wild-type ramR and soxR genes, respectively, abolished overexpression of acrB and ramA in the ramR mutants and of soxS in the soxR mutant, as well as antibiotic cross-resistance. Resistance due to efflux system overexpression was demonstrated for 4 new antibiotics: cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and ertapenem. This study shows that the ramR and soxR genes control the expression of efflux systems in K. pneumoniae and suggests the existence of efflux pumps other than AcrAB and of other loci involved in the regulation of AcrAB expression. PMID:21464248

Applications Guide for Propagation and Interference Analysis Computer Programs (0.1 to 20 GHz)

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-03-01

146 A33 average ground . . . . . .. ....... 147 A34 good ground . . . ........ . . . .. 148 A35 sea water . ..................... 149 A36...fresh water . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 A37 smooth plains ........ ......... . 152 A38 rolling plains .................... 153 A39 hills . s...sec. 4.1), e) circular polarization [25, sec. 3.5], f) frequency and temperature variations of the complex dielectric constant of water [25, sec

78 FR 49337 - Direct Grant Programs and Definitions That Apply to Department Regulations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-13

... Department's grant process with the Secretary's policy objectives and allow Department programs to design....210(c) (Quality of the Project Design) (Amended Sec. Sec. 75.209 and 75.210); 6. Authorize program... regulations. We group major issues according to subject. Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the...

Intrinsic Hydrophobicity of Rammed Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holub, M.; Stone, C.; Balintova, M.; Grul, R.

2015-11-01

Rammed earth is well known for its vapour diffusion properties, its ability to regulate humidity within the built environment. Rammed earth is also an aesthetically iconic material such as marble or granite and therefore is preferably left exposed. However exposed rammed earth is often coated with silane/siloxane water repellents or the structure is modified architecturally (large roof overhangs) to accommodate for the hydrophilic nature of the material. This paper sets out to find out optimal hydrophobicity for rammed earth based on natural composite fibres and surface coating without adversely affecting the vapour diffusivity of the material. The material is not required to be waterproof, but should resist at least driving rain. In order to evaluate different approaches to increase hydrophobicity of rammed earth surface, peat fibres and four types of repellents were used.

Hypomorphic mutations of SEC23B gene account for mild phenotypes of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II

PubMed Central

Russo, Roberta; Langella, Concetta; Esposito, Maria Rosaria; Gambale, Antonella; Vitiello, Francesco; Vallefuoco, Fara; Ek, Torben; Yang, Elizabeth; Iolascon, Achille

2013-01-01

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II, a recessive disorder of erythroid differentiation, is due to mutations in SEC23B, a component of the core trafficking machinery COPII. In no case homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for nonsense mutation(s) was found. This study represents the first description of molecular mechanisms underlying SEC23B hypomorphic genotypes by the analysis of five novel mutations. Our findings suggest that reduction of SEC23B gene expression is not associated with CDA II severe clinical presentation; conversely, the combination of a hypomorphic allele with one functionally altered results in more severe phenotypes. We propose a mechanism of compensation SEC23A-mediated which justifies these observations. PMID:23453696

Plastid-Localized Glutathione Reductase2–Regulated Glutathione Redox Status Is Essential for Arabidopsis Root Apical Meristem Maintenance[C][W

PubMed Central

Yu, Xin; Pasternak, Taras; Eiblmeier, Monika; Ditengou, Franck; Kochersperger, Philip; Sun, Jiaqiang; Wang, Hui; Rennenberg, Heinz; Teale, William; Paponov, Ivan; Zhou, Wenkun; Li, Chuanyou; Li, Xugang; Palme, Klaus

2013-01-01

Glutathione is involved in thiol redox signaling and acts as a major redox buffer against reactive oxygen species, helping to maintain a reducing environment in vivo. Glutathione reductase (GR) catalyzes the reduction of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) into reduced glutathione (GSH). The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes two GRs: GR1 and GR2. Whereas the cytosolic/peroxisomal GR1 is not crucial for plant development, we show here that the plastid-localized GR2 is essential for root growth and root apical meristem (RAM) maintenance. We identify a GR2 mutant, miao, that displays strong inhibition of root growth and severe defects in the RAM, with GR activity being reduced to ∼50%. miao accumulates high levels of GSSG and exhibits increased glutathione oxidation. The exogenous application of GSH or the thiol-reducing agent DTT can rescue the root phenotype of miao, demonstrating that the RAM defects in miao are triggered by glutathione oxidation. Our in silico analysis of public microarray data shows that auxin and glutathione redox signaling generally act independently at the transcriptional level. We propose that glutathione redox status is essential for RAM maintenance through both auxin/PLETHORA (PLT)-dependent and auxin/PLT-independent redox signaling pathways. PMID:24249834

System Verification Through Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM) Analysis & Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)

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

Emmanuel Ohene Opare, Jr.; Charles V. Park

The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Project, managed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is authored by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, to research, develop, design, construct, and operate a prototype fourth generation nuclear reactor to meet the needs of the 21st Century. A section in this document proposes that the NGNP will provide heat for process heat applications. As with all large projects developing and deploying new technologies, the NGNP is expected to meet high performance and availability targets relative to current state of the art systems and technology. One requirement for the NGNP is to provide heatmore » for the generation of hydrogen for large scale productions and this process heat application is required to be at least 90% or more available relative to other technologies currently on the market. To reach this goal, a RAM Roadmap was developed highlighting the actions to be taken to ensure that various milestones in system development and maturation concurrently meet required availability requirements. Integral to the RAM Roadmap was the use of a RAM analytical/simulation tool which was used to estimate the availability of the system when deployed based on current design configuration and the maturation level of the system.« less

Continuous exposure to sexually active rams extends estrous activity in ewes in spring.

PubMed

Abecia, J A; Chemineau, P; Flores, J A; Keller, M; Duarte, G; Forcada, F; Delgadillo, J A

2015-12-01

Sexual activity in sheep is under photoperiodic control, which is the main environmental factor responsible for the seasonality of reproduction. However, other natural environmental factors such as presence of conspecifics can slightly influence the timing of onset and offset of the breeding season. In goats, we have found that the continuous presence of bucks that were rendered sexually active out of season by previous exposure to long days, prevented goats from displaying seasonal anestrus, which suggests that the relative contribution of photoperiod in controlling seasonal anestrus should be reevaluated in small ruminant species. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of sexually active rams that had been stimulated by artificial photoperiod and melatonin implants, reduces seasonal anestrus in sheep, by prolonging ovulatory activity in spring. Ewes were assigned to one of two groups (n = 16 and 15), which were housed in two separate barns, and kept in contact, either with the treated or the control rams between March and July. Vasectomized rams were either exposed to 2 months of long days followed by the insertion of three subcutaneous melatonin implants (treated rams, n = 8), or exposed to natural light conditions (control rams, n = 2). Estrus was monitored daily, and weekly plasma progesterone analyses indicated ovulatory activity. Ewes that were exposed to treated rams exhibited a higher proportion of monthly estrus than ewes exposed to the control rams (P < 0.05). Thirteen of 15 ewes (one ewe was not considered because of the presence of persistent CL) exposed to stimulated rams exhibited estrous behavior in a cyclic manner. In contrast, all ewes exposed to control rams stopped estrous activity for a period of time during the study, such that this group exhibited a significantly longer anestrous season (mean ± standard error of the mean 89 ± 9 days) than did the ewes housed with treated rams (26 ± 10 days; P < 0.0001). Among 15 ewes housed with treated rams, 13 of them exhibited continuous ovulatory activity between March and July, whereas one stopped in June and two in July. All ewes kept with control rams stopped ovulating for some time; consequently, those ewes had a longer anovulation period than did the group exposed to treated rams (3 ± 3 vs. 18 ± 7 days, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, continuous exposure to sexually activated rams induced by artificial photoperiod and melatonin implants in spring extended the ovarian activity of ewes in spring, which results in an increase in estrous expression. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Selenocysteine in proteins-properties and biotechnological use.

PubMed

Johansson, Linda; Gafvelin, Guro; Arnér, Elias S J

2005-10-30

Selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid, exists naturally in all kingdoms of life as the defining entity of selenoproteins. Sec is a cysteine (Cys) residue analogue with a selenium-containing selenol group in place of the sulfur-containing thiol group in Cys. The selenium atom gives Sec quite different properties from Cys. The most obvious difference is the lower pK(a) of Sec, and Sec is also a stronger nucleophile than Cys. Proteins naturally containing Sec are often enzymes, employing the reactivity of the Sec residue during the catalytic cycle and therefore Sec is normally essential for their catalytic efficiencies. Other unique features of Sec, not shared by any of the other 20 common amino acids, derive from the atomic weight and chemical properties of selenium and the particular occurrence and properties of its stable and radioactive isotopes. Sec is, moreover, incorporated into proteins by an expansion of the genetic code as the translation of selenoproteins involves the decoding of a UGA codon, otherwise being a termination codon. In this review, we will describe the different unique properties of Sec and we will discuss the prerequisites for selenoprotein production as well as the possible use of Sec introduction into proteins for biotechnological applications. These include residue-specific radiolabeling with gamma or positron emitters, the use of Sec as a reactive handle for electophilic probes introducing fluorescence or other peptide conjugates, as the basis for affinity purification of recombinant proteins, the trapping of folding intermediates, improved phasing in X-ray crystallography, introduction of 77Se for NMR spectroscopy, or, finally, the analysis or tailoring of enzymatic reactions involving thiol or oxidoreductase (redox) selenolate chemistry.

Prevalence in the USA of rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations in clinical samples and effects on phenotypic susceptibility to rilpivirine and etravirine.

PubMed

Picchio, Gaston R; Rimsky, Laurence T; Van Eygen, Veerle; Haddad, Mojgan; Napolitano, Laura A; Vingerhoets, Johan

2014-01-01

The prevalence of rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in the USA, and their effect on phenotypic susceptibility to rilpivirine and etravirine, was evaluated in clinical samples from HIV-1-infected patients. In total, 15,991 samples submitted to Monogram Biosciences (South San Francisco, CA, USA) for routine resistance testing between January 2010 and June 2011 were assessed for the presence of known rilpivirine RAMs K101E/P, E138A/G/K/Q/R, V179L, Y181C/I/V, Y188L, H221Y, F227C and M230I/L; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) RAMs K103N, L100I and L100I+K103N; and the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) RAMs M184I/V and their combinations with rilpivirine RAMs. Phenotypic susceptibility (PhenoSenseGT(®) assay; Monogram Biosciences) was evaluated, with reduced susceptibility defined as fold change (FC) in 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50)>2.0 for rilpivirine and FC>2.9 for etravirine. Of the 15,991 samples, 17% harboured ≥1 rilpivirine RAMs. The prevalence of most rilpivirine RAMs and combinations of NNRTI RAMs of interest was low (≤3%), except for Y181C (7%). Rilpivirine RAMs were often associated with reduced rilpivirine phenotypic susceptibility. Median FC values >2.0 were observed for clinical isolates with rilpivirine RAMs K101P, E138Q/R, Y181C/I/V, Y188L or M230L, and for the combination of E138K with M184I/V, and K101E with M184I. Most rilpivirine FC values >2.0 were associated with etravirine FC values >2.9 for individual rilpivirine RAMs and those combined with M184I/V. There was no relationship between the presence of K103N and rilpivirine FC. However, the L100I+K103N combination (without rilpivirine RAMs), at <2% prevalence, was associated with a rilpivirine FC>2.0. Based on 15,991 US clinical samples from HIV-1-infected patients, the frequency of most known rilpivirine RAMs apart from Y181C was low.

Fission Yeast Sec3 and Exo70 Are Transported on Actin Cables and Localize the Exocyst Complex to Cell Poles

PubMed Central

Martin, Sophie G.

2012-01-01

The exocyst complex is essential for many exocytic events, by tethering vesicles at the plasma membrane for fusion. In fission yeast, polarized exocytosis for growth relies on the combined action of the exocyst at cell poles and myosin-driven transport along actin cables. We report here the identification of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Sec3 protein, which we identified through sequence homology of its PH-like domain. Like other exocyst subunits, sec3 is required for secretion and cell division. Cells deleted for sec3 are only conditionally lethal and can proliferate when osmotically stabilized. Sec3 is redundant with Exo70 for viability and for the localization of other exocyst subunits, suggesting these components act as exocyst tethers at the plasma membrane. Consistently, Sec3 localizes to zones of growth independently of other exocyst subunits but depends on PIP2 and functional Cdc42. FRAP analysis shows that Sec3, like all other exocyst subunits, localizes to cell poles largely independently of the actin cytoskeleton. However, we show that Sec3, Exo70 and Sec5 are transported by the myosin V Myo52 along actin cables. These data suggest that the exocyst holocomplex, including Sec3 and Exo70, is present on exocytic vesicles, which can reach cell poles by either myosin-driven transport or random walk. PMID:22768263

Prevalence of etravirine-associated mutations in clinical samples with resistance to nevirapine and efavirenz.

PubMed

Llibre, J M; Santos, J R; Puig, T; Moltó, J; Ruiz, L; Paredes, R; Clotet, B

2008-11-01

To evaluate the expected activity of etravirine in clinical samples, according to mutational patterns associated with decreased virological response (VR). We identified 1586 routine clinical samples with resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) to nevirapine and efavirenz (K103N 60%, Y181C 37%, G190A 27%, V108I 13%). Concerning in vitro identified etravirine mutations, samples with F227C, Y181I, M230L or L100I plus K103N plus Y181C were considered highly resistant. Samples with two RAMs plus Y181C or V179D or K101E or Y188L were considered intermediate. The prevalence of 13 RAMs recently associated with decreased VR to etravirine in the DUET clinical trials was also investigated. Most samples (69%) harboured more than one IAS-USA RAM to first-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): 42% harboured two RAMs, 21% three RAMs and 6% four or more RAMs. The prevalence of 13 specific etravirine RAMs was V179F 0.12%, G190S 3.9%, Y181V 0.1%, V106I 2.6%, V179D 1.6%, K101P 2.0%, K101E 10.1%, Y181C 36.9%, A98G 5.9%, V90I 6.9%, Y181I 3.6%, G190A 27% and L100I 9.1%. The five RAMs with the most impact on VR (V179F/D, G190S, Y181V and V106I) occurred less often. Overall, 8.2% of the samples had three or more etravirine RAMs and only 1.1% had four or more. In addition, patterns of RAMs previously associated with intermediate etravirine resistance were present in 26.2% of the samples, whereas 4.85% displayed patterns of high-degree resistance. For RAMs associated with decreased VR, etravirine resistance in routine clinical samples was lower than previously reported. High-degree resistance was uncommon, even in patients with resistance to first-generation NNRTIs, whereas low-to-intermediate etravirine resistance was more common.

Flight Control System Analysis and Design for a Remotely Piloted Vehicle with Thrust Vectoring Unit.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

about the X-axis (slug-ft 2) Ixz Product of inertia (slug-ft 2 ) ly Moi,;ent of inertia about Y-axis (slug-ft 2) Iz Moment of inertia about Z-axis (slug...domain n Load factor (g’s) P Roll rate (rad/sec) xi p Perturbation roll rate (rad/sec) Q Pitch rate (rad/sec) q Perturbation pitch rate (rad/sec...was decided to employ a scale factor of 1.75 in increasing the vertical tail area. This choice was somewhat aruitrary since no documentation could be

Fattening ability and carcass value of Dhamari and Tehami ram lambs, F₁ crossbreds of Dhamari × Tehami in Yemen.

PubMed

Al Khewani, Talal; Momani Shaker, Mohamed; Al-Olofi, Samer

2014-12-01

A fattening experiment was carried out to analyze and evaluate the effect of ram lamb genotype on the growth, feed conversion (FC), and carcass value of Dhamari ram lambs, F1 crossbreds of Dhamari × Tehami (F1 DhT), and Tehami ram lambs. Genotype of the ram lambs including the experiment (n = 30) had high significant effect on total weight gain (TWG), average daily gain (ADG), and FC (P < 0.01-0.001). Genotype of the lamb had significant effect on hot and cold dressing percentage (P < 0.001). Also, genotype of the lamb had significant effect on the highest leg percentage (P < 0.001). Furthermore, genotype of the ram lambs had significant effect on musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) area (P < 0.001). Genotype of the ram lamb had significant effect on TWG, ADG, and FC (P < 0.001). The results of moisture percentage, crude protein percentage, and ash percentage of muscle samples were significantly influenced by ram lamb's genotype (P < 0.001). Fasting live weight and other carcass measurements (hot carcass weight, leg weight, loin weight, shoulder weight, first quality cuts weight) have a positive and highest correlations (P < 0.001). The positive and the highest correlations were found between fasting live weight and hot carcass weight, first quality parts weight. In addition, the positive and the highest correlations were found between hot carcass weight and first quality cuts weight. In general, the results of this study documented that F1 DhT was better than Tehami ram lambs in ADG, TWG, and FC. Additionally, the results show that the feed conversion was in F1 DhT crossbreds ram lambs better than pure Dhamari and Tehami ram lambs, mainly in the carcass indicators.

Survey and Analysis of Environmental Requirements for Shipboard Electronic Equipment Applications. Appendix B. Volume 3.

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-07-31

memory banks Up to 1.25MByte SRAM 5 planes of 2048 x 1024 pixels Programmable video parameters max 720 x 512 pixels Sixteen colors TTL RGBI standard...bit I/O extension bus (VLXbus) Up to 2048 KByte 0-wait state static RAM BTT (Built-In-Test) PAL selectable dual ported VMEbus address Two RS-232/422...16, 25, or 33 MHz) A16/24:D08/16 VMEbus interface 8/16-bit I/O Extension bus (VLXbus) Up to 2048 KByte 32-bit wide static RAM -- 0-wait state at 16

Analysis of the Transportation Network for the Export of US Steam Coal.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-09-01

companies own transshipment facilities at some locations which they use even in the face of a cost disadvantage. The first factor explains a large part of...railfihli.12J - 4) and (railfilillI1 > 64) then netcl[hJ :- ROUND(0.94 * railfil[i,5J) else5 ~netcl[hJ :- 0;- (ABS* if ( raMli [i,121 -5) and (railfil...shipment * netcOfhl (3 *raiLfiifi,51); if (railfil~i,121 -0) and (railfilillJ > 12) then netcl[hJ :- ROUND(4.6 * raMli [i,5J) else netcl~hJ :- 0; (* manual

Influence of grazing management on the seasonal change in testicular morphology in Corriedale rams.

PubMed

Bielli, A; Pedrana, G; Gastel, M T; Castrillejo, A; Moraña, A; Lundeheim, N; Forsberg, M; Rodriguez-Martinez, H

1999-06-28

The present study was conducted: (a) to determine the degree of seasonal variation in testis stereology in Corriedale rams between autumn and winter; (b) to test the hypothesis that testis stereology of Corriedale rams grazing native pastures during autumn and winter would differ from those of Corriedale rams grazing sown pastures and supplemented with grain during the same period; and (c) to determine whether Sertoli cell numbers differ in adult rams between the breeding season (autumn) and the following non-breeding season (winter). Twenty experimental animals were studied. Six rams (autumn control group, C-A) that had been grazing on native pasture (stocking rate = 2-3 animals ha(-1)) were castrated at the beginning of the experiment (March, early autumn). Seven rams (winter control group, C-W) continued to graze on native pasture at the same stocking rate until the end of the experiment (August, late winter). Another seven rams (treated group, T) grazed on improved pasture (stocking rate = 1-2 animals ha(-1)) and were supplemented with 1 kg grain ram(-1) day(-1) until the end of the experiment. Live weight, scrotal circumference, serum testosterone concentration and selected testicular stereological parameters were measured. The treatment did not impede the winter reduction in testicular activity and reduced its magnitude slightly (group T) compared with controls (group C-W). Sertoli cell numbers were higher in autumn (group C-A) than in winter, both on native (group C-W) and sown pastures (group T). Diminishing Sertoli cell numbers between autumn and the following winter suggest the occurrence of that Sertoli cell death during this period. The results indicate that, although the reproductive activity of Corriedale rams is moderately seasonal, a restricted change in grazing and grain supplementation can only modify it to a limited extent.

Heart rate patterns during courtship and mating in rams and in estrous and nonestrous ewes ().

PubMed

Orihuela, A; Omaña, J C; Ungerfeld, R

2016-02-01

The aim of this study was to compare the heart rate (HR) patterns in rams mated with estrous or nonestrous ewes and in mated estrous and nonestrous ewes () during courtship and mating. For this purpose, HR and behavior were recorded using a radio telemetry recording system and a closed-circuit television system with video recording, respectively. Rams were joined with either an estrous ( = 10) or a nonestrous ( = 10) ewe that was restrained in a stanchion by the neck. Data were continuously recorded until each ram performed 3 ejaculations. Eight days later, the HR of the 10 estrous and 10 nonestrous ewes was recorded during mating. Although the time between entrance into the yard and the first ejaculation was similar across rams, rams that mounted estrous ewes were faster at attaining their second (3min5s ± 17 s vs. 5min28s ± 18 s) and third (7min58s ± 45 s vs. 12 min ± 1min14s) ejaculations (all < 0.05). By contrast, no differences in HR were observed between rams that interacted with estrous versus nonestrous ewes. In all cases, HR reached maximum values immediately after each ejaculation and the HR pattern was similar across ejaculations (first, second, and third). Although HR was similar between estrous and nonestrous ewes before mating, nonestrous ewes had higher HR ( < 0.05) during mating. In summary, 1) rams that mated estrous ewes displayed shorter interejaculation periods but HR did not differ between groups of rams during any ejaculation (first, second, or third), 2) HR for both groups of rams peaked shortly after each ejaculation, and 3) HR increased more in nonestrous than in estrous ewes while mating.

Fos Expression in the Olfactory Pathway of High- and Low-Sexually Performing Rams Exposed to Urine from Estrous or Ovariectomized Ewes

PubMed Central

Mirto, AJ; Austin, KJ; Uthlaut, VA; Roselli, CE; Alexander, BM

2015-01-01

Exposure to estrous ewe urine stimulates investigation and mounting activity in sexually active but not sexually inactive rams. It was hypothesized sexual indifference may result from an inability to detect olfactory cues or an interruption of the pathway from detection of the olfactory stimulus to the motor response. Sexually active (n=4) and inactive (n=3) rams were exposed to urine from estrous ewes. An additional group of sexually active rams (n=3) were exposed to urine from ovariectomized ewes. Rams were exsanguinated following 1 h of exposure to stimulus. Neural activity was determined in tissues of interest by the presence of fos and fos-related proteins detected by immunohistochemistry procedures. Sexually active rams exposed to urine from ovariectomized ewes had more (P ≤ 0.05) fos-positive cells in the olfactory bulb, but fewer (P = 0.03) fos-positive cells in the cortical amygdala compared to sexually active rams exposed to urine from estrous ewes. Sexually inactive rams had similar (P ≥ 0.13) numbers of fos positive neurons in the olfactory bulb and medial amygdala but fewer (P ≤ 0.04) in the central amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial preoptic area compared to sexually active rams exposed to urine from estrous ewes. Sexual inactivity was not associated with decreased hypothalamic function since fos activity was similar (P ≥ 0.14) among groups in the suprachiasmatic and ventral medial nucleus. Sexual inactivity is not likely due to an impaired ability to detect or process olfactory stimuli by the main olfactory bulb and medial-cortical amygdala. Sexually inactive rams may have reduced attentiveness to sexual stimuli and/or decreased responsiveness of regions in the brain which regulate reproductive behaviors. PMID:28348447

Influence of trophy hunting and horn size on mating behavior and survivorship of mountain sheep

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singer, F.J.; Zeigenfuss, L.C.

2002-01-01

We conducted a study of the effects of horn sizes and trophy hunting on mating behavior and survival of rams in hunted and unhunted populations of Dall sheep (Ovis dalli), Rocky Mountain bighorn (O. canadensis canadensis), and desert bighorn (O. c. nelsoni) sheep. Mating success was positively correlated with horn size in Dall sheep (P = 0.03) and Rocky Mountain bighorns (P = 0.05), but not in the desert bighorn (P > 0.05) taxa. Group sizes, rams per rut group, and competition between rams were lowest in desert bighorn sheep. There were indications of greater harassment of ewes by young rams in trophy-hunted populations. In hunted populations, compared with unhunted, ewes ran away more often from approaching rams, ewes moved farther away from courting young rams (P = 0.003), younger rams performed fewer courtship displays (P = 0.042) and more aggressive displays to ewes, and sheep interacted 27% more of the time. Ram-to-ewe interaction times per individual ewe did not differ for any of the taxa (P > 0.05), and, apparently as a consequence of this, we found no discernable effects of trophy hunting on survivorship of ewes, ewe fecundity, or recruitment of young (P > 0.05). There were greater energy expenditures by young rams in the heavily hunted Dall sheep population versus the paired Dall sheep unhunted population, but not in the lightly hunted Rocky Mountain and desert bighorn populations when compared with unhunted populations. This was consistent with evidence for depressed survivorship of rams too young or too small to be hunted (approximately ages 4–6) in the heavily hunted Dall sheep population (P = 0.0001), but not in the bighorn sheep populations (P > 0.05).

Reliability and Validity of a Brief Questionnaire to Assess Calcium Intake in Female Collegiate Athletes

PubMed Central

Ward, Kenneth D.; Hunt, Kami Mays; Berg, Melanie Burstyne; Slawson, Deborah A.; Vukadinovich, Christopher M.; McClanahan, Barbara S.; Clemens, Linda H.

2016-01-01

Calcium intake often is inadequate in female collegiate athletes, increasing the risk for training injuries and future osteoporosis. Thus, a brief and accurate assessment tool to quickly measure calcium intake in athletes is needed. We evaluated the reliability and validity, compared to 6 days of diet records (DRs), of the Rapid Assessment Method (RAM), a self-administered calcium checklist (14). Seventy-six female collegiate athletes (mean age = 18.8 yrs, range = 17–21; 97% Caucasian) were recruited from basketball, cross-country, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball teams. Athletes completed a RAM at the start of the training season to assess calcium intake during the past week. Two weeks later, a second RAM was completed to assess reliability, and athletes began 6 days of diet records (DRs) collection. At completion of DRs, athletes completed a final RAM, corresponding to the same time period as DRs, to assess agreement between the 2 instruments. The RAM demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability over 2 weeks (n = 56; Intraclass correlation [ICC] = .54, p < .0001) and adequate agreement with DRs (n = 34; ICC = .41, p = .0067). Calcium intake was below recommended levels, and mean estimates did not differ significantly on the RAM (823 ± 387 mg/d) and DRs (822 ± 330 mg/d; p = .988). Adequacy of calcium intake from both DRs and the RAM was classified as “inadequate” (<1000 mg/d) and “adequate” (≥1000 mg/d). Agreement between the RAM and DRs for adequacy classification was fair (ICC = .30, p = .042), with the RAM identifying 84% of athletes judged to have inadequate calcium intake based on DRs. The RAM briefly and accurately estimates calcium intake in female collegiate athletes compared to DRs. PMID:15118194

Space Station

NASA Image and Video Library

1971-01-01

This is an artist's concept of the Research and Applications Modules (RAM). Evolutionary growth was an important consideration in space station plarning, and another project was undertaken in 1971 to facilitate such growth. The RAM study, conducted through a Marshall Space Flight Center contract with General Dynamics Convair Aerospace, resulted in the conceptualization of a series of RAM payload carrier-sortie laboratories, pallets, free-flyers, and payload and support modules. The study considered two basic manned systems. The first would use RAM hardware for sortie mission, where laboratories were carried into space and remained attached to the Shuttle for operational periods up to 7 days. The second envisioned a modular space station capability that could be evolved by mating RAM modules to the space station core configuration. The RAM hardware was to be built by Europeans, thus fostering international participation in the space program.

Reliability evaluation of CMOS RAMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salvo, C. J.; Sasaki, A. T.

The results of an evaluation of the reliability of a 1K x 1 bit CMOS RAM and a 4K x 1 bit CMOS RAM for the USAF are reported. The tests consisted of temperature cycling, thermal shock, electrical overstress-static discharge and accelerated life test cells. The study indicates that the devices have high reliability potential for military applications. Use-temperature failure rates at 100 C were 0.54 x 10 to the -5th failures/hour for the 1K RAM and 0.21 x 10 to the -5th failures/hour for the 4K RAM. Only minimal electrostatic discharge damage was noted in the devices when they were subjected to multiple pulses at 1000 Vdc, and redesign of the 7 Vdc quiescent parameter of the 4K RAM is expected to raise its field threshold voltage.

SQL-RAMS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alfaro, Victor O.; Casey, Nancy J.

2005-01-01

SQL-RAMS (where "SQL" signifies Structured Query Language and "RAMS" signifies Rocketdyne Automated Management System) is a successor to the legacy version of RAMS -- a computer program used to manage all work, nonconformance, corrective action, and configuration management on rocket engines and ground support equipment at Stennis Space Center. The legacy version resided in the File-Maker Pro software system and was constructed in modules that could act as standalone programs. There was little or no integration among modules. Because of limitations on file-management capabilities in FileMaker Pro, and because of difficulty of integration of FileMaker Pro with other software systems for exchange of data using such industry standards as SQL, the legacy version of RAMS proved to be limited, and working to circumvent its limitations too time-consuming. In contrast, SQL-RAMS is an integrated SQL-server-based program that supports all data-exchange software industry standards. Whereas in the legacy version, it was necessary to access individual modules to gain insight into a particular workstatus document, SQL-RAMS provides access through a single-screen presentation of core modules. In addition, SQL-RAMS enables rapid and efficient filtering of displayed statuses by predefined categories and test numbers. SQL-RAMS is rich in functionality and encompasses significant improvements over the legacy system. It provides users the ability to perform many tasks, which in the past required administrator intervention. Additionally, many of the design limitations have been corrected, allowing for a robust application that is user centric.

SQL-RAMS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alfaro, Victor O.; Casey, Nancy J.

2005-01-01

SQL-RAMS (where "SQL" signifies Structured Query Language and "RAMS" signifies Rocketdyne Automated Management System) is a successor to the legacy version of RAMS a computer program used to manage all work, nonconformance, corrective action, and configuration management on rocket engines and ground support equipment at Stennis Space Center. The legacy version resided in the FileMaker Pro software system and was constructed in modules that could act as stand-alone programs. There was little or no integration among modules. Because of limitations on file-management capabilities in FileMaker Pro, and because of difficulty of integration of FileMaker Pro with other software systems for exchange of data using such industry standards as SQL, the legacy version of RAMS proved to be limited, and working to circumvent its limitations too time-consuming. In contrast, SQL-RAMS is an integrated SQL-server-based program that supports all data-exchange software industry standards. Whereas in the legacy version, it was necessary to access individual modules to gain insight to a particular work-status documents, SQL-RAMS provides access through a single-screen presentation of core modules. In addition, SQL-RAMS enable rapid and efficient filtering of displayed statuses by predefined categories and test numbers. SQL-RAMS is rich in functionality and encompasses significant improvements over the legacy system. It provides users the ability to perform many tasks which in the past required administrator intervention. Additionally many of the design limitations have been corrected allowing for a robust application that is user centric.

Analysis of full-scale tank car shell impact tests

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-09-11

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

Pressure Characteristics of a Diffuser in a Ram RDE Propulsive Device

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-21

Continuous detonation Rotating-detonation- engine Ethylene-air Diffuser Pressure feedback Modeling and simulation Office of Naval Research 875 N. Randolph...RDE PROPULSIVE DEVICE INTRODUCTION This report focuses on the diffuser of a ram Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) device. A ram RDE is a ramjet with...the constant pressure combustion chamber replaced with a Rotating Detonation Engine combustor to accomplish pressure gain combustion. A ram engine

Activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and testicular development in prepubertal ram lambs with induced hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Chandrasekhar, Y; D'Occhio, M J; Holland, M K; Setchell, B P

1985-10-01

Prepubertal (16 weeks old) ram lambs were used to investigate the effects of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on development of reproductive endocrine function. Over a period of 8 weeks, ram lambs were made hypothyroid (serum T4 less than or equal to 3 ng/ml compared with controls congruent to 30 ng/ml) by daily oral administration of methyl thiouracil or hyperthyroid (serum T4 congruent to 135 ng/ml) by daily sc injection of T4. Hyperthyroidism was associated with decreases in LH pulse frequency (2.25 +/- 0.75/12 h compared with controls 5.75 +/- 0.48/12 h), basal LH, and mean LH concentrations, together with arrested testicular growth and aspermatogenesis. Hypothyroid rams showed normal pubertal development. After iv injection of LHRH, hyperthyroid ram lambs showed similar LH responses to control and hypothyroid rams. Basal testosterone production (5.6 +/- 1.0 ng/min) and plasma testosterone concentrations after human CG (2.0 +/- 0.7 ng/ml) in hyperthyroid rams were significantly lower than in controls (67.5 +/- 24.0 ng/min and 5.2 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, respectively). It is concluded that retarded testicular development in hyperthyroid ram lambs results from changes in hypothalamo-pituitary activity manifested in a decreased LH pulse frequency.

Evaluation of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System in the Eastern Range Dispersion Assessment System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Case, Jonathan

2000-01-01

The Applied Meteorology Unit is conducting an evaluation of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) contained within the Eastern Range Dispersion Assessment System (ERDAS). ERDAS provides emergency response guidance for operations at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center in the event of an accidental hazardous material release or aborted vehicle launch. The prognostic data from RAMS is available to ERDAS for display and is used to initialize the 45th Range Safety (45 SW/SE) dispersion model. Thus, the accuracy of the 45 SW/SE dispersion model is dependent upon the accuracy of RAMS forecasts. The RAMS evaluation task consists of an objective and subjective component for the Florida warm and cool seasons of 1999-2000. The objective evaluation includes gridded and point error statistics at surface and upper-level observational sites, a comparison of the model errors to a coarser grid configuration of RAMS, and a benchmark of RAMS against the widely accepted Eta model. The warm-season subjective evaluation involves a verification of the onset and movement of the Florida east coast sea breeze and RAMS forecast precipitation. This interim report provides a summary of the RAMS objective and subjective evaluation for the 1999 Florida warm season only.

3. Light tower, view northwest, south side Ram Island ...

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

3. Light tower, view northwest, south side - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

Gambling and the Reasoned Action Model: Predicting Past Behavior, Intentions, and Future Behavior.

PubMed

Dahl, Ethan; Tagler, Michael J; Hohman, Zachary P

2018-03-01

Gambling is a serious concern for society because it is highly addictive and is associated with a myriad of negative outcomes. The current study applied the Reasoned Action Model (RAM) to understand and predict gambling intentions and behavior. Although prior studies have taken a reasoned action approach to understand gambling, no prior study has fully applied the RAM or used the RAM to predict future gambling. Across two studies the RAM was used to predict intentions to gamble, past gambling behavior, and future gambling behavior. In study 1 the model significantly predicted intentions and past behavior in both a college student and Amazon Mechanical Turk sample. In study 2 the model predicted future gambling behavior, measured 2 weeks after initial measurement of the RAM constructs. This study stands as the first to show the utility of the RAM in predicting future gambling behavior. Across both studies, attitudes and perceived normative pressure were the strongest predictors of intentions to gamble. These findings provide increased understanding of gambling and inform the development of gambling interventions based on the RAM.

Ontogenic and nutritional changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II and IGF-binding proteins in growing ewe and ram lambs.

PubMed

Gatford, K L; Quinn, K J; Walton, P E; Grant, P A; Hosking, B J; Egan, A R; Owens, P C

1997-10-01

The ontogeny of the IGF endocrine system was investigated in 15 young lambs before and after weaning at 62 days of age. Before weaning, plasma IGF-I concentrations were higher in rams than ewes, and plasma concentrations of IGF-II and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) also tended to be higher in rams than in ewes. Feed intake of ewes and rams was restricted after weaning to remove sex differences in feed intake. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 did not differ between rams and ewes at 100 days of age, but plasma IGF-II was higher in rams than in ewes at this time. Since circulating concentrations of GH were higher in rams than in ewes at 100 days of age, this implies that the restricted feed intake blocked the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 responses to GH. We conclude that sex differences in circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations in the growing lamb alter with age, and are not present when nutrition is restricted.

Determination of fatty acid profile in ram spermatozoa and seminal plasma.

PubMed

Díaz, R; Torres, M A; Bravo, S; Sanchez, R; Sepúlveda, N

2016-08-01

Fatty acids are important in male reproductive function because they are associated with membrane fluidity, acrosome reaction, sperm motility and viability, but limited information exists about the fatty acid profile of ram semen. Our aim was to determine the fatty acid composition in ram spermatozoa and seminal plasma. Sixty ejaculates were obtained from three ram (20 ejaculates/ram) using artificial vagina. Ram spermatozoa (RS) and seminal plasma (SP) were separated using centrifugation, and the fatty acids were analysed by gas chromatography. Total lipids obtained in ram spermatozoa were 1.8% and 1.6% in seminal plasma. Saturated fatty acid (SFA) was proportionally major in SP (66.6%) that RS (49.9%). The highest proportions of SFA corresponded to C4:0 (RS = 16.3% and SP = 28.8%) and C16:0 (RS = 16.3% and PS = 20%). The most important unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) was docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 44.9% in RS and 31.5% in SP. The profile of fatty acid and their proportions showed differences between spermatozoa and seminal plasma. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Transparent resistive switching memory using aluminum oxide on a flexible substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeom, Seung-Won; Shin, Sang-Chul; Kim, Tan-Young; Ha, Hyeon Jun; Lee, Yun-Hi; Shim, Jae Won; Ju, Byeong-Kwon

2016-02-01

Resistive switching memory (ReRAM) has attracted much attention in recent times owing to its fast switching, simple structure, and non-volatility. Flexible and transparent electronic devices have also attracted considerable attention. We therefore fabricated an Al2O3-based ReRAM with transparent indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) electrodes on a flexible substrate. The device transmittance was found to be higher than 80% in the visible region (400-800 nm). Bended states (radius = 10 mm) of the device also did not affect the memory performance because of the flexibility of the two transparent IZO electrodes and the thin Al2O3 layer. The conduction mechanism of the resistive switching of our device was explained by ohmic conduction and a Poole-Frenkel emission model. The conduction mechanism was proved by oxygen vacancies in the Al2O3 layer, as analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. These results encourage the application of ReRAM in flexible and transparent electronic devices.

The topology of large-scale structure. III - Analysis of observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gott, J. Richard, III; Miller, John; Thuan, Trinh X.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Weinberg, David H.; Gammie, Charles; Polk, Kevin; Vogeley, Michael; Jeffrey, Scott; Bhavsar, Suketu P.; Melott, Adrian L.; Giovanelli, Riccardo; Hayes, Martha P.; Tully, R. Brent; Hamilton, Andrew J. S.

1989-05-01

A recently developed algorithm for quantitatively measuring the topology of large-scale structures in the universe was applied to a number of important observational data sets. The data sets included an Abell (1958) cluster sample out to Vmax = 22,600 km/sec, the Giovanelli and Haynes (1985) sample out to Vmax = 11,800 km/sec, the CfA sample out to Vmax = 5000 km/sec, the Thuan and Schneider (1988) dwarf sample out to Vmax = 3000 km/sec, and the Tully (1987) sample out to Vmax = 3000 km/sec. It was found that, when the topology is studied on smoothing scales significantly larger than the correlation length (i.e., smoothing length, lambda, not below 1200 km/sec), the topology is spongelike and is consistent with the standard model in which the structure seen today has grown from small fluctuations caused by random noise in the early universe. When the topology is studied on the scale of lambda of about 600 km/sec, a small shift is observed in the genus curve in the direction of a 'meatball' topology.

The topology of large-scale structure. III - Analysis of observations. [in universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gott, J. Richard, III; Weinberg, David H.; Miller, John; Thuan, Trinh X.; Schneider, Stephen E.

1989-01-01

A recently developed algorithm for quantitatively measuring the topology of large-scale structures in the universe was applied to a number of important observational data sets. The data sets included an Abell (1958) cluster sample out to Vmax = 22,600 km/sec, the Giovanelli and Haynes (1985) sample out to Vmax = 11,800 km/sec, the CfA sample out to Vmax = 5000 km/sec, the Thuan and Schneider (1988) dwarf sample out to Vmax = 3000 km/sec, and the Tully (1987) sample out to Vmax = 3000 km/sec. It was found that, when the topology is studied on smoothing scales significantly larger than the correlation length (i.e., smoothing length, lambda, not below 1200 km/sec), the topology is spongelike and is consistent with the standard model in which the structure seen today has grown from small fluctuations caused by random noise in the early universe. When the topology is studied on the scale of lambda of about 600 km/sec, a small shift is observed in the genus curve in the direction of a 'meatball' topology.

Antiretroviral resistance at virological failure in the NEAT 001/ANRS 143 trial: raltegravir plus darunavir/ritonavir or tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir/ritonavir as first-line ART.

PubMed

Lambert-Niclot, S; George, E C; Pozniak, A; White, E; Schwimmer, C; Jessen, H; Johnson, M; Dunn, D; Perno, C F; Clotet, B; Plettenberg, A; Blaxhult, A; Palmisano, L; Wittkop, L; Calvez, V; Marcelin, A G; Raffi, F

2016-04-01

To describe the pattern of drug resistance at virological failure in the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial (first-line treatment with ritonavir-boosted darunavir plus either tenofovir/emtricitabine or raltegravir). Genotypic testing was performed at baseline for reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease genes and for RT, protease and integrase (IN) genes for patients with a confirmed viral load (VL) >50 copies/mL or any single VL >500 copies/mL during or after week 32. A resistance test was obtained for 110/805 (13.7%) randomized participants qualifying for resistance analysis (61/401 of participants in the raltegravir arm and 49/404 of participants in the tenofovir/emtricitabine arm). No resistance-associated mutation (RAM) was observed in the tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir/ritonavir arm, and all further analyses were limited to the raltegravir plus darunavir arm. In this group, 15/55 (27.3%) participants had viruses with IN RAMs (12 N155H alone, 1 N155H + Q148R, 1 F121Y and 1 Y143C), 2/53 (3.8%) with nucleotide analogue RT inhibitor RAMs (K65R, M41L) and 1/57 (1.8%) with primary protease RAM (L76V). The frequency of IN mutations at failure was significantly associated with baseline VL: 7.1% for a VL of <100,000 copies/mL, 25.0% for a VL of ≥100,000 copies/mL and <500,000 copies/mL and 53.8% for a VL of ≥500,000 copies/mL (PTREND = 0.007). Of note, 4/15 participants with IN RAM had a VL < 200 copies/mL at time of testing. In the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial, there was no RAM at virological failure in the standard tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir/ritonavir regimen, contrasting with a rate of 29.5% (mostly IN mutations) in the raltegravir plus darunavir/ritonavir NRTI-sparing regimen. The cumulative risk of IN RAM after 96 weeks of follow-up in participants initiating ART with raltegravir plus darunavir/ritonavir was 3.9%. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Space Station Freedom power - A reliability, availability, and maintainability assessment of the proposed Space Station Freedom electric power system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turnquist, S. R.; Twombly, M.; Hoffman, D.

1989-01-01

A preliminary reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis of the proposed Space Station Freedom electric power system (EPS) was performed using the unit reliability, availability, and maintainability (UNIRAM) analysis methodology. Orbital replacement units (ORUs) having the most significant impact on EPS availability measures were identified. Also, the sensitivity of the EPS to variations in ORU RAM data was evaluated for each ORU. Estimates were made of average EPS power output levels and availability of power to the core area of the space station. The results of assessments of the availability of EPS power and power to load distribution points in the space stations are given. Some highlights of continuing studies being performed to understand EPS availability considerations are presented.

SEC sensor parametric test and evaluation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

This system provides the necessary automated hardware required to carry out, in conjunction with the existing 70 mm SEC television camera, the sensor evaluation tests which are described in detail. The Parametric Test Set (PTS) was completed and is used in a semiautomatic data acquisition and control mode to test the development of the 70 mm SEC sensor, WX 32193. Data analysis of raw data is performed on the Princeton IBM 360-91 computer.

Laser Boost of a Small Interstellar Ram Jet to Obtain Operational Velocity. Implications for the DM Rocket/Ram Jet Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walcott Beckwith, Andrew

2010-05-01

In other conference research papers, Beckwith obtained a maximum DM mass/energy value of up to 5 TeV, as opposed to 400 GeV for DM, which may mean more convertible power for a dark matter ram jet. The consequences are from assuming that axions are CDM, and KK gravitons are for WDM, then ρWarm-Dark-Matter would dominate not only structure formation in early universe formation, but would also influence the viability of the DM ram jet applications for interstellar travel. The increase in convertible DM mass makes the ram jet a conceivable option. This paper in addition to describing the scientific issues leading to that 5 TeV mass for DM also what are necessary and sufficient laser boost systems which would permit a ram net to become operational.

Preference of redear sunfish on zebra mussels and rams-horn snails

USGS Publications Warehouse

French, John R. P.; Morgan, Michael N.

1995-01-01

We tested prey preferences of adult (200- to 222-mm long) redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) on two size classes of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and two-ridge rams-horns (Helisoma anceps) in experimental aquaria. We also tested physical limitations on consuming these mollusks and determined prey bioenergetic profitability. Redear sunfish strongly preferred rams-horns over zebra mussels, but they displayed no size preference for either prey. Ingestion was not physically limited since both prey species up to 15-mm long fit within the pharyngeal gapes of redear sunfish. Rams-horns were more bioenergetically profitable than zebra mussels and ingestion of rams-horn shell fragments was about three times less than zebra mussels. Rams-horns were somewhat more resistant to shell-crushing, but all size ranges of both prey species tested were crushable by redear sunfish. These studies suggested that the redear sunfish should not be considered a panacea for biological control of zebra mussels.

Analysis of railroad tank car shell impacts using finite element method

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-04-22

This paper examines impacts to the side of railroad tank : cars by a ram car with a rigid indenter using dynamic, : nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA). Such impacts are : referred to as shell impacts. Here, nonlinear means elasticplastic : mater...

Frontal cortex and hippocampus neurotransmitter receptor complex level parallels spatial memory performance in the radial arm maze.

PubMed

Shanmugasundaram, Bharanidharan; Sase, Ajinkya; Miklosi, András G; Sialana, Fernando J; Subramaniyan, Saraswathi; Aher, Yogesh D; Gröger, Marion; Höger, Harald; Bennett, Keiryn L; Lubec, Gert

2015-08-01

Several neurotransmitter receptors have been proposed to be involved in memory formation. However, information on receptor complexes (RCs) in the radial arm maze (RAM) is missing. It was therefore the aim of this study to determine major neurotransmitter RCs levels that are modulated by RAM training because receptors are known to work in homo-or heteromeric assemblies. Immediate early gene Arc expression was determined by immunohistochemistry to show if prefrontal cortices (PFC) and hippocampi were activated following RAM training as these regions are known to be mainly implicated in spatial memory. Twelve rats per group, trained and untrained in the twelve arm RAM were used, frontal cortices and hippocampi were taken, RCs in membrane protein were quantified by blue-native PAGE immunoblotting. RCs components were characterised by co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometrical analysis and by the use of the proximity ligation assay. Arc expression was significantly higher in PFC of trained as compared to untrained rats whereas it was comparable in hippocampi. Frontal cortical levels of RCs containing AMPA receptors GluA1, GluA2, NMDA receptors GluN1 and GluN2A, dopamine receptor D1, acetylcholine nicotinic receptor alpha 7 (nAChR-α7) and hippocampal levels of RCs containing D1, GluN1, GluN2B and nAChR-α7 were increased in the trained group; phosphorylated dopamine transporter levels were decreased in the trained group. D1 and GluN1 receptors were shown to be in the same complex. Taken together, distinct RCs were paralleling performance in the RAM which is relevant for interpretation of previous and design of future work on RCs in memory studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Two Distinct Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 78 α-l-Rhamnosidases from Pediococcus acidilactici▿†

PubMed Central

Michlmayr, Herbert; Brandes, Walter; Eder, Reinhard; Schümann, Christina; del Hierro, Andrés M.; Kulbe, Klaus D.

2011-01-01

α-l-Rhamnosidases play an important role in the hydrolysis of glycosylated aroma compounds (especially terpenes) from wine. Although several authors have demonstrated the enological importance of fungal rhamnosidases, the information on bacterial enzymes in this context is still limited. In order to fill this important gap, two putative rhamnosidase genes (ram and ram2) from Pediococcus acidilactici DSM 20284 were heterologously expressed, and the respective gene products were characterized. In combination with a bacterial β-glucosidase, both enzymes released the monoterpenes linalool and cis-linalool oxide from a muscat wine extract under ideal conditions. Additionally, Ram could release significant amounts of geraniol and citronellol/nerol. Nevertheless, the potential enological value of these enzymes is limited by the strong negative effects of acidity and ethanol on the activities of Ram and Ram2. Therefore, a direct application in winemaking seems unlikely. Although both enzymes are members of the same glycosyl hydrolase family (GH 78), our results clearly suggest the distinct functionalities of Ram and Ram2, probably representing two subclasses within GH 78: Ram could efficiently hydrolyze only the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (Vmax = 243 U mg−1). In contrast, Ram2 displayed considerable specificity toward hesperidin (Vmax = 34 U mg−1) and, especially, rutinose (Vmax = 1,200 U mg−1), a disaccharide composed of glucose and rhamnose. Both enzymes were unable to hydrolyze the flavanone glycoside naringin. Interestingly, both enzymes displayed indications of positive substrate cooperativity. This study presents detailed kinetic data on two novel rhamnosidases, which could be relevant for the further study of bacterial glycosidases. PMID:21784921

Methodology for assessing the safety of Hydrogen Systems: HyRAM 1.1 technical reference manual

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

Groth, Katrina; Hecht, Ethan; Reynolds, John Thomas

The HyRAM software toolkit provides a basis for conducting quantitative risk assessment and consequence modeling for hydrogen infrastructure and transportation systems. HyRAM is designed to facilitate the use of state-of-the-art science and engineering models to conduct robust, repeatable assessments of hydrogen safety, hazards, and risk. HyRAM is envisioned as a unifying platform combining validated, analytical models of hydrogen behavior, a stan- dardized, transparent QRA approach, and engineering models and generic data for hydrogen installations. HyRAM is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories for the U. S. De- partment of Energy to increase access to technical data about hydrogen safety andmore » to enable the use of that data to support development and revision of national and international codes and standards. This document provides a description of the methodology and models contained in the HyRAM version 1.1. HyRAM 1.1 includes generic probabilities for hydrogen equipment fail- ures, probabilistic models for the impact of heat flux on humans and structures, and computa- tionally and experimentally validated analytical and first order models of hydrogen release and flame physics. HyRAM 1.1 integrates deterministic and probabilistic models for quantifying accident scenarios, predicting physical effects, and characterizing hydrogen hazards (thermal effects from jet fires, overpressure effects from deflagrations), and assessing impact on people and structures. HyRAM is a prototype software in active development and thus the models and data may change. This report will be updated at appropriate developmental intervals.« less

Identification of cyclin B1 and Sec62 as biomarkers for recurrence in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection.

PubMed

Weng, Li; Du, Juan; Zhou, Qinghui; Cheng, Binbin; Li, Jun; Zhang, Denghai; Ling, Changquan

2012-06-08

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Frequent tumor recurrence after surgery is related to its poor prognosis. Although gene expression signatures have been associated with outcome, the molecular basis of HCC recurrence is not fully understood, and there is no method to predict recurrence using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which can be easily obtained for recurrence prediction in the clinical setting. According to the microarray analysis results, we constructed a co-expression network using the k-core algorithm to determine which genes play pivotal roles in the recurrence of HCC associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Furthermore, we evaluated the mRNA and protein expressions in the PBMCs from 80 patients with or without recurrence and 30 healthy subjects. The stability of the signatures was determined in HCC tissues from the same 80 patients. Data analysis included ROC analysis, correlation analysis, log-lank tests, and Cox modeling to identify independent predictors of tumor recurrence. The tumor-associated proteins cyclin B1, Sec62, and Birc3 were highly expressed in a subset of samples of recurrent HCC; cyclin B1, Sec62, and Birc3 positivity was observed in 80%, 65.7%, and 54.2% of the samples, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high expression levels of these proteins was associated with significantly reduced recurrence-free survival. Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that cyclin B1 (hazard ratio [HR], 4.762; p = 0.002) and Sec62 (HR, 2.674; p = 0.018) were independent predictors of HCC recurrence. These results revealed that cyclin B1 and Sec62 may be candidate biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for HBV-related HCC recurrence after surgery.

RAM Technology Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-03

characteristics. 4 2 Example of MOS scaling. 18 3 RAM chip area comparison. 31 4 Summary of RAM switching response. 34 5 Summary of RAM power dissipation...array to retain the data after power is removed (volatility). The level of chip complexity is that of the most complex arrays in current production and is...4) ..4 L) . C U ~~~~ -- -- t 0 -, 4 4 . . Data in the Read-Only-Memory is defined by the metallization pattern during chip fabrication. The stored

Single-Event Effect Response of a Commercial ReRAM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Dakai; Label, Kenneth A.; Kim, Hak; Phan, Anthony; Wilcox, Edward; Buchner, Stephen; Khachatrian, Ani; Roche, Nicolas

2014-01-01

We show heavy ion test results of a commercial production-level ReRAM. The memory array is robust to bit upsets. However the ReRAM system is vulnerable to SEFIs due to upsets in peripheral circuits, including the sense amplifier.

The “Ram Effect”: A “Non-Classical” Mechanism for Inducing LH Surges in Sheep

PubMed Central

Fabre-Nys, Claude; Chanvallon, Audrey; Dupont, Joëlle; Lardic, Lionel; Lomet, Didier; Martinet, Stéphanie; Scaramuzzi, Rex J.

2016-01-01

During spring sheep do not normally ovulate but exposure to a ram can induce ovulation. In some ewes an LH surge is induced immediately after exposure to a ram thus raising questions about the control of this precocious LH surge. Our first aim was to determine the plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E2) E2 in anoestrous ewes before and after the “ram effect” in ewes that had a “precocious” LH surge (starting within 6 hours), a “normal” surge (between 6 and 28h) and “late» surge (not detected by 56h). In another experiment we tested if a small increase in circulating E2 could induce an LH surge in anoestrus ewes. The concentration of E2 significantly was not different at the time of ram introduction among ewes with the three types of LH surge. “Precocious” LH surges were not preceded by a large increase in E2 unlike “normal” surges and small elevations of circulating E2 alone were unable to induce LH surges. These results show that the “precocious” LH surge was not the result of E2 positive feedback. Our second aim was to test if noradrenaline (NA) is involved in the LH response to the “ram effect”. Using double labelling for Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) we showed that exposure of anoestrous ewes to a ram induced a higher density of cells positive for both in the A1 nucleus and the Locus Coeruleus complex compared to unstimulated controls. Finally, the administration by retrodialysis into the preoptic area, of NA increased the proportion of ewes with an LH response to ram odor whereas treatment with the α1 antagonist Prazosin decreased the LH pulse frequency and amplitude induced by a sexually active ram. Collectively these results suggest that in anoestrous ewes NA is involved in ram-induced LH secretion as observed in other induced ovulators. PMID:27384667

Growth performance and hematology of Djallonké rams fed haulms of four varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

PubMed

Ansah, Terry; Yaccub, Zanabongo I; Rahman, Nurudeen A

2017-12-01

The study was conducted to assess the chemical composition of the haulms of 4 dual-purpose groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties and their effects on the growth and hematology of Djallonké rams. The groundnut varieties were ICGV 97049 (Obolo), ICGX SM 87057 (Yenyawoso), RMP 12 (Azivivi) and Manipinta. Rams (live weight 15.0 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 sole groundnut haulm meal (GHM) treatments, with 4 rams each in an individual pen per treatment (total n  = 16 rams). Samples of the groundnut haulms were milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The CP concentration was higher ( P  < 0.05) in Azivivi, Manipinta and Yenyawoso than in Obolo. The highest ( P  < 0.05) NDF and ADF fractions were obtained in Obolo. Whilst no significant difference was reported in total and daily dry matter (DM) intake among the varieties, CP, NDF and ADF intake all differed between Obolo and other varieties. The apparent nutrient digestibility did not differ ( P  > 0.05) when the Djallonké rams were fed the haulms. However, significant differences were observed in final live weight and average daily live weight gain. Rams fed the Yenyawoso variety had higher ( P  < 0.05) final live weight and average daily live weight gain compared with those fed Obolo and Azivivi varieties. Consumption of any of the 4 varieties of groundnut haulms by Djallonké rams did not have any harmful effect on their red and white blood cell numbers and hemoglobin concentration. The study revealed that the different varieties of groundnut haulms differ in nutrient composition and also affect the growth performance of the rams. The Yenyawoso variety may be used as a sole diet for fattening Djallonké rams.

Preliminary design package for Sunair SEC-601 solar collector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

The preliminary design of the Owens-Illinois model Sunair SEC-601 tubular air solar collector is presented. Information in this package includes the subsystem design and development approaches, hazard analysis, and detailed drawings available as the preliminary design review.

Progress on the Ram Wing Concept with Emphasis on Lateral Dynamics

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1971-01-01

Theoretical and experimental efforts conducted at the Transportation Systems Center in the ram wing program are described. Glide Tests were performed using a simple ram wing model operating in an open rectangular trough 50 ft long. Lift drag ratios o...

A Predictive Score for Thrombosis Associated with Breast, Colorectal, Lung, or Ovarian Cancer: The Prospective COMPASS-Cancer-Associated Thrombosis Study.

PubMed

Gerotziafas, Grigoris T; Taher, Ali; Abdel-Razeq, Hikmat; AboElnazar, Essam; Spyropoulos, Alex C; El Shemmari, Salem; Larsen, Annette K; Elalamy, Ismail

2017-10-01

The stratification of outpatients on chemotherapy for breast, colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancers at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains an unmet clinical need. The derivation of a risk assessment model (RAM) for VTE in these patients was the aim of the study "Prospective Comparison of Methods for thromboembolic risk assessment with clinical Perceptions and AwareneSS in real life patients-Cancer Associated Thrombosis" (COMPASS-CAT). The derivation cohort consisted of 1,023 outpatients. Patients on low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) thromboprophylaxis were excluded. Documented symptomatic VTE was the endpoint of the study. Patients had breast (61%), colorectal (17%), lung (13%), or ovarian cancer (8.6%) at localized (30%) or advanced stage (70%). In 64% of patients, cancer was diagnosed within the last 6 months prior to inclusion. Most of them were on chemotherapy when assessed. Symptomatic VTE occurred in 8.5% of patients. The COMPASS-CAT RAM includes the following variables: (a) anthracycline or anti - hormonal therapy, (b) time since cancer diagnosis, (c) central venous catheter, (d) stage of cancer, (e) presence of cardiovascular risk factors, (f) recent hospitalization for acute medical illness, (g) personal history of VTE, and (h) platelet count. At 6 months, patients stratified at low/intermediate and high-risk groups had VTE rates of 1.7% and 13.3%, respectively. The area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics analysis was 0.85. The sensitivity and specificity of the RAM were 88% and 52%, respectively. The negative and positive predictive values of the RAM were 98% and 13%, respectively. The COMPASS-CAT RAM includes reliable and easily collected VTE risk predictors and, in contrast to the Khorana score, it is applicable after the initiation of anticancer treatment in patients with common solid tumors. Its robustness for stratification of patients at high and low/intermediate VTE risk needs to be externally validated. The Prospective Comparison of Methods for thromboembolic risk assessment with clinical Perceptions and AwareneSS in real life patients-Cancer Associated Thrombosis (COMPASS-CAT) study provides a new risk assessment model (RAM) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) applicable in outpatients with breast, colorectal, lung or ovarian cancer. The COMPASS-CAT RAM is robust, applicable during chemotherapy and determines the need for VTE prévention by including reliable and easily collected VTE predictors associated with cancer status, its treatment as well as with patients' characteristics and comorbidities. An independent external validation of the RAM is indicated before its use in clinical practice. © 2017 The Authors The Oncologist published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of AlphaMed Press.

Evaluation of Multi-tRNA Synthetase Complex by Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Size Exclusion Chromatography

PubMed Central

Kim, Jun Seok; Lee, Cheolju

2015-01-01

Eight aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (M, K, Q, D, R, I, EP and LARS) and three auxiliary proteins (AIMP1, 2 and 3) are known to form a multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) in mammalian cells. We combined size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with reversed-phase liquid chromatography multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (RPLC-MRM-MS) to characterize MSC components and free ARS proteins in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293T) cells. Crude cell extract and affinity-purified proteins were fractionated by SEC in non-denaturing state and ARSs were monitored in each fraction by MRM-MS. The eleven MSC components appeared mostly in earlier SEC fractions demonstrating their participation in complex formation. TARSL2 and AIMP2-DX2, despite their low abundance, were co-purified with KARS and detected in the SEC fractions, where MSC appeared. Moreover, other large complex-forming ARS proteins, such as VARS and FARS, were detected in earlier fractions. The MRM-MS results were further confirmed by western blot analysis. Our study demonstrates usefulness of combined SEC-MRM analysis for the characterization of protein complexes and in understanding the behavior of minor isoforms or variant proteins. PMID:26544075

Evaluation of Multi-tRNA Synthetase Complex by Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Size Exclusion Chromatography.

PubMed

Park, Seong-Jun; Ahn, Hee-Sung; Kim, Jun Seok; Lee, Cheolju

2015-01-01

Eight aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (M, K, Q, D, R, I, EP and LARS) and three auxiliary proteins (AIMP1, 2 and 3) are known to form a multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) in mammalian cells. We combined size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with reversed-phase liquid chromatography multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (RPLC-MRM-MS) to characterize MSC components and free ARS proteins in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293T) cells. Crude cell extract and affinity-purified proteins were fractionated by SEC in non-denaturing state and ARSs were monitored in each fraction by MRM-MS. The eleven MSC components appeared mostly in earlier SEC fractions demonstrating their participation in complex formation. TARSL2 and AIMP2-DX2, despite their low abundance, were co-purified with KARS and detected in the SEC fractions, where MSC appeared. Moreover, other large complex-forming ARS proteins, such as VARS and FARS, were detected in earlier fractions. The MRM-MS results were further confirmed by western blot analysis. Our study demonstrates usefulness of combined SEC-MRM analysis for the characterization of protein complexes and in understanding the behavior of minor isoforms or variant proteins.

Reference intervals for serum reactive oxygen metabolites, biological antioxidant potential, and oxidative stress index in adult rams.

PubMed

Oikonomidis, Ioannis L; Kiosis, Evangelos A; Brozos, Christos N; Kritsepi-Konstantinou, Maria G

2017-03-01

OBJECTIVE To establish reference intervals for serum reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and oxidative stress index (OSi) in adult rams by use of controlled preanalytic and analytic procedures. ANIMALS 123 healthy 1- to 4-year-old rams of 2 Greek breeds (Chios [n = 62] and Florina [61]). PROCEDURES 4 hours after rams were fed, a blood sample was obtained from each ram, and serum was harvested. Concentrations of ROMs and BAP were measured colorimetrically on a spectrophotometric analyzer. The OSi was calculated as ROMs concentration divided by BAP concentration. Combined and breed-specific reference intervals were calculated by use of nonparametric and robust methods, respectively. Reference intervals were defined as the 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles. RESULTS Reference intervals for ROMs, BAP, and OSi for all rams combined were 65 to 109 Carratelli units, 2,364 to 4,491 μmol/L, and 18.2 to 43.0 Carratelli units/(mmol/L), respectively. Reference intervals of Chios rams for ROMs, BAP, and OSi were 56 to 113 Carratelli units, 2,234 to 4,290 μmol/L, and 12.9 to 38.4 Carratelli units/(mmol/L), respectively. Reference intervals of Florina rams for ROMs, BAP, and OSi were 68 to 111 Carratelli units, 2,337 to 4,363 μmol/L, and 14.1 to 38.1 Carratelli units/(mmol/L), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Reference intervals calculated in this study can be used as a guide for the interpretation of ROMs, BAP, and OSi results in rams and, under appropriate conditions, can be adopted for use by veterinary laboratories.

Multi-wavelength access gate for WDM-formatted words in optical RAM row architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fitsios, D.; Alexoudi, T.; Vagionas, C.; Miliou, A.; Kanellos, G. T.; Pleros, N.

2013-03-01

Optical RAM has emerged as a promising solution for overcoming the "Memory Wall" of electronics, indicating the use of light in RAM architectures as the approach towards enabling ps-regime memory access times. Taking a step further towards exploiting the unique wavelength properties of optical signals, we reveal new architectural perspectives in optical RAM structures by introducing WDM principles in the storage area. To this end, we demonstrate a novel SOAbased multi-wavelength Access Gate for utilization in a 4x4 WDM optical RAM bank architecture. The proposed multiwavelength Access Gate can simultaneously control random access to a 4-bit optical word, exploiting Cross-Gain-Modulation (XGM) to process 8 Bit and Bit channels encoded in 8 different wavelengths. It also suggests simpler optical RAM row architectures, allowing for the effective sharing of one multi-wavelength Access Gate for each row, substituting the eight AGs in the case of conventional optical RAM architectures. The scheme is shown to support 10Gbit/s operation for the incoming 4-bit data streams, with a power consumption of 15mW/Gbit/s. All 8 wavelength channels demonstrate error-free operation with a power penalty lower than 3 dB for all channels, compared to Back-to-Back measurements. The proposed optical RAM architecture reveals that exploiting the WDM capabilities of optical components can lead to RAM bank implementations with smarter column/row encoders/decoders, increased circuit simplicity, reduced number of active elements and associated power consumption. Moreover, exploitation of the wavelength entity can release significant potential towards reconfigurable optical cache mapping schemes when using the wavelength dimension for memory addressing.

Feeding of the megamouth shark (Pisces: Lamniformes: Megachasmidae) predicted by its hyoid arch: a biomechanical approach.

PubMed

Tomita, Taketeru; Sato, Keiichi; Suda, Kenta; Kawauchi, Junro; Nakaya, Kazuhiro

2011-05-01

Studies of the megamouth shark, one of three planktivorous sharks, can provide information about their evolutionary history. Megamouth shark feeding has never been observed in life animals, but two alternative hypotheses on biomechanics suggest either feeding, i.e., ram feeding or suction feeding. In this study, the second moment of area of the ceratohyal cartilages, which is an indicator of the flexural stiffness of the cartilages, is calculated for 21 species of ram- and suction-feeding sharks using computed tomography. The results indicate that suction-feeding sharks have ceratohyal cartilages with a larger second moment of area than ram-feeding sharks. The result also indicates that the ram-suction index, which is an indicator of relative contribution of ram and suction behavior, is also correlated with the second moment of area of the ceratohyal. Considering that large bending stresses are expected to be applied to the ceratohyal cartilage during suction, the larger second moment of area of the ceratohyal of suction-feeding sharks can be interpreted as an adaptation for suction feeding. Based on the small second moment of area of the ceratohyal cartilage of the megamouth shark, the feeding mode of the megamouth shark is considered to be ram feeding, similar to the planktivorous basking shark. From these results, an evolutionary scenario of feeding mechanics of three species of planktivorous sharks can be suggested. In this scenario, the planktivorous whale shark evolved ram feeding from a benthic suction-feeding ancestor. Ram feeding in the planktivorous megamouth shark and the basking shark evolved from ram feeding swimming-type ancestors and that both developed their unique filtering system to capture small-sized prey. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PADDLEFISH BUCCAL FLOW VELOCITY DURING RAM SUSPENSION FEEDING AND RAM VENTILATION

PubMed

Cech; Cheer

1994-01-01

A micro-thermistor probe was inserted into the buccal cavity of freely swimming paddlefish to measure flow velocity during ram ventilation, ram suspension feeding and prey processing. Swimming speed was measured from videotapes recorded simultaneously with the buccal flow velocity measurements. Both swimming velocity and buccal flow velocity were significantly higher during suspension feeding than during ram ventilation. As the paddlefish shifted from ventilation to feeding, buccal flow velocity increased to approximately 60 % of the swimming velocity. During prey processing, buccal flow velocity was significantly higher than the swimming velocity, indicating that prey processing involves the generation of suction. The Reynolds number (Re) for flow at the level of the paddlefish gill rakers during feeding is about 30, an order of magnitude lower than the Re calculated previously for pump suspension-feeding blackfish. These data, combined with data available from the literature, indicate that the gill rakers of ram suspension-feeding teleost fishes may operate at a substantially lower Re than the rakers of pump suspension feeders.

Evidence of gravity wave-tidal interaction observed near the summer mesopause at Poker Flat, Alaska

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Ding-Yi; Fritts, David C.

1991-01-01

An analysis of gravity wave-tidal interaction observed near the mesopause by the MST radar at Poker Flat in July of 1986 is presented. The observations revealed daily mean wind maxima of about 60 m/sec westward and 20 m/sec southward with daily mean momentum fluxes, contributed by gravity waves with periods less than 1 hour of 4-5 sq m/sec sq eastward and 1-2 sq m/sec sq northward. Considerable hourly height variability was found to exist for both winds and momentum fluxes. A significant modulation of the fluxes by tidal winds was observed, characterized by out-of-phase correlations over a number of heights.

Body Composition of Lambs and Rams Fed Complete Feed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmawati, F.; Rianto, E.

2018-02-01

This study was aimed to investigate the proportion of body water, protein and fat of lambs and rams. The material used in this study were 6 lambs (weighed of 15.92 kg), and 6 rams (weighed 23.31 kg). The sheep were fed a complete feed. In weeks 1, 5 and 9, the body composition (water, protein and body fat) was measured using the “urea space” method. The results showed that the proportion of water, protein and fat in the body of lambs and sheep differed significantly (P <0.01). The proportion of lambs’ body water in weeks 1, 5 and 9 were 58.71, 58.43 and 58.43%, respectively; while thoset of the rams were 58.40, 58.14% and 58.14%, respectively. The proportion of body protein of lambs in weeks 1, 5 and 9 were 11.84, 11.94 and 11.99%, respectively; while those of rams were 13.01; 13.01 and 13.03%, respectively. The proportion of body fat of lambs in weeks 1, 5 and 9 were 20.51, 20.87 and 20.87%, respectively; while those of rams were 20.9, 21.26 and 21.25%, respectively. Body water of lambs and rams week decreased from week 1 to 9. On the other hand, the proportion of body protein and fat increased. It is concluded that the proportion of body water was higher while the proportions of body protein and fat were lower in lambs as compared with those in rams.

Phytoplasma phylogenetics based on analysis of secA and 23S rRNA gene sequences for improved resolution of candidate species of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma'.

PubMed

Hodgetts, Jennifer; Boonham, Neil; Mumford, Rick; Harrison, Nigel; Dickinson, Matthew

2008-08-01

Phytoplasma phylogenetics has focused primarily on sequences of the non-coding 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (16-23S ISR), and primers that enable amplification of these regions from all phytoplasmas by PCR are well established. In this study, primers based on the secA gene have been developed into a semi-nested PCR assay that results in a sequence of the expected size (about 480 bp) from all 34 phytoplasmas examined, including strains representative of 12 16Sr groups. Phylogenetic analysis of secA gene sequences showed similar clustering of phytoplasmas when compared with clusters resolved by similar sequence analyses of a 16-23S ISR-23S rRNA gene contig or of the 16S rRNA gene alone. The main differences between trees were in the branch lengths, which were elongated in the 16-23S ISR-23S rRNA gene tree when compared with the 16S rRNA gene tree and elongated still further in the secA gene tree, despite this being a shorter sequence. The improved resolution in the secA gene-derived phylogenetic tree resulted in the 16SrII group splitting into two distinct clusters, while phytoplasmas associated with coconut lethal yellowing-type diseases split into three distinct groups, thereby supporting past proposals that they represent different candidate species within 'Candidatus Phytoplasma'. The ability to differentiate 16Sr groups and subgroups by virtual RFLP analysis of secA gene sequences suggests that this gene may provide an informative alternative molecular marker for pathogen identification and diagnosis of phytoplasma diseases.

Experimental analysis of 7.62 mm hydrodynamic ram in containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deletombe, E.; Fabis, J.; Dupas, J.; Mortier, J. M.

2013-02-01

The design of fuel tanks with a reduced vulnerability with respect to hydrodynamic ram pressure (HRAM) effects is of an increasing need in the Civil (e.g. the Concorde accident), and Defence (military aircraft, unmanned vehicle systems) aircraft industries. The presented work concerns experimental research which aims at observing two hydraulic ram events - both induced by a 7.62 mm bullet shot in very different containers - throughout their various steps until the final collapse of the generated cavity, in order to study the nature of HRAM, the influence of the containers geometry, and to measure original dynamic data for numerical modelling developments and validation. For that purpose, test configurations and experimental results are described, documented and discussed. They concern two types of firing tests that were performed at ONERA using the NATO 7.62 mm projectile, respectively in the frame of ONERA (pool) and EUCLID (caisson) funded research projects. The authors concentrate on two topics: on the one hand, digital image analysis to measure the cavity geometry during its growth and collapse phases and, on the other hand, pressure measurements that catch the transient shock wave. The originality of the work consists in the fact that - compared with other published works - the phenomenon is studied up to tens of milliseconds in a very large pool for theoretical analysis of the bullet/liquid interactions only, and in a realistic fuel tank specimen to consider influence of boundary conditions onto the cavity characteristics (geometry, dynamics).

Characterization of Malaysian Trichoderma isolates using random amplified microsatellites (RAMS).

PubMed

Siddiquee, Shafiquzzaman; Tan, Soon Guan; Yusuf, Umi Kalsom; Fatihah, Nur Hasan Nudin; Hasan, Md Mainul

2012-01-01

Trichoderma species are commercially applied as biocontrol agents against numerous plant pathogenic fungi due to their production of antifungal metabolites, competition for nutrients and space, and mycoparasitism. However, currently the identification of Trichoderma species from throughout the world based on micro-morphological descriptions is tedious and prone to error. The correct identification of Trichoderma species is important as several traits are species-specific. The Random Amplified Microsatellites (RAMS) analysis done using five primers in this study showed different degrees of the genetic similarity among 42 isolates of this genus. The genetic similarity values were found to be in the range of 12.50-85.11% based on a total of 76 bands scored in the Trichoderma isolates. Of these 76 bands, 96.05% were polymorphic, 3.95% were monomorphic and 16% were exclusive bands. Two bands (250 bp and 200 bp) produced by primer LR-5 and one band (250 bp) by primer P1A were present in all the Trichoderma isolates collected from healthy and infected oil palm plantation soils. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA of the RAMS marker data showed that T. harzianum, T. virens and T. longibrachiatum isolates were grouped into different clades and lineages. In this study we found that although T. aureoviride isolates were morphologically different when compared to T. harzianum isolates, the UPGMA cluster analysis showed that the majority isolates of T. aureoviride (seven from nine) were closely related to the isolates of T. harzianum.

Analytical Studies of the Lift and Roll Stability of a Ram Air Cushion Vehicle

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1972-12-01

A ram air cushion vehicle (a type of ram wing) is described schematically and compared with a conventional air cushion vehicle design. The nonlinear equations for the flow in the cushion region are derived. A review is made of the most recent literat...

Molecular gas mass and star formation of 12 Virgo spiral galaxies along the ram pressure time sequence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Eun Jung; Kim, S.

2014-01-01

The ram pressure stripping is known as one of the most efficient mechanisms to deplete the ISM of a galaxy in the clusters of galaxies. As being affected continuously by ICM pressure, a galaxy may lose their gas that is the fuel of star formation, and consequently star formation rate would be changed. We select twelve Virgo spiral galaxies according to their stage of the ram pressure stripping event to probe possible consequences of star formation of spiral galaxies in the ram pressure and thus the evolution of galaxies in the Virgo cluster. We investigate the molecular gas properties, star formation activity, and gas depletion time along the time from the ram pressure peak. We also discussed the evolution of galaxies in the cluster.

DESTINY

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

2015-03-10

DESTINY is a comprehensive tool for modeling 3D and 2D cache designs using SRAM,embedded DRAM (eDRAM), spin transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM), resistive RAM (ReRAM), and phase change RAM (PCN). In its purpose, it is similar to CACTI, CACTI-3DD or NVSim. DESTINY is very useful for performing design-space exploration across several dimensions, such as optimizing for a target (e.g. latency, area or energy-delay product) for agiven memory technology, choosing the suitable memory technology or fabrication method (i.e. 2D v/s 3D) for a given optimization target, etc. DESTINY has been validated against several cache prototypes. DESTINY is expected to boost studies ofmore » next-generation memory architectures used in systems ranging from mobile devices to extreme-scale supercomputers.« less

A Study of Pattern Prediction in the Monitoring Data of Earthen Ruins with the Internet of Things.

PubMed

Xiao, Yun; Wang, Xin; Eshragh, Faezeh; Wang, Xuanhong; Chen, Xiaojiang; Fang, Dingyi

2017-05-11

An understanding of the changes of the rammed earth temperature of earthen ruins is important for protection of such ruins. To predict the rammed earth temperature pattern using the air temperature pattern of the monitoring data of earthen ruins, a pattern prediction method based on interesting pattern mining and correlation, called PPER, is proposed in this paper. PPER first finds the interesting patterns in the air temperature sequence and the rammed earth temperature sequence. To reduce the processing time, two pruning rules and a new data structure based on an R-tree are also proposed. Correlation rules between the air temperature patterns and the rammed earth temperature patterns are then mined. The correlation rules are merged into predictive rules for the rammed earth temperature pattern. Experiments were conducted to show the accuracy of the presented method and the power of the pruning rules. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall dataset was used to examine the algorithm, and six predictive rules from the air temperature to rammed earth temperature based on the interesting patterns were obtained, with the average hit rate reaching 89.8%. The PPER and predictive rules will be useful for rammed earth temperature prediction in protection of earthen ruins.

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2, marks hepatic stellate cells in zebrafish: analysis of stellate cell entry into the developing liver.

PubMed

Yin, Chunyue; Evason, Kimberley J; Maher, Jacquelyn J; Stainier, Didier Y R

2012-11-01

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are liver-specific mesenchymal cells that play vital roles in liver development and injury. Our knowledge of HSC biology is limited by the paucity of in vivo data. HSCs and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) reside in close proximity, and interactions between these two cell types are potentially critical for their development and function. Here, we introduce a transgenic zebrafish line, Tg(hand2:EGFP), that labels HSCs. We find that zebrafish HSCs share many similarities with their mammalian counterparts, including morphology, location, lipid storage, gene-expression profile, and increased proliferation and matrix production, in response to an acute hepatic insult. Using the Tg(hand2:EGFP) line, we conducted time-course analyses during development to reveal that HSCs invade the liver after SECs do. However, HSCs still enter the liver in mutants that lack most endothelial cells, including SECs, indicating that SECs are not required for HSC differentiation or their entry into the liver. In the absence of SECs, HSCs become abnormally associated with hepatic biliary cells, suggesting that SECs influence HSC localization during liver development. We analyzed factors that regulate HSC development and show that inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor signaling significantly reduces the number of HSCs that enter the liver. We also performed a pilot chemical screen and identified two compounds that affect HSC numbers during development. Our work provides the first comprehensive description of HSC development in zebrafish and reveals the requirement of SECs in HSC localization. The Tg(hand2:EGFP) line represents a unique tool for in vivo analysis and molecular dissection of HSC behavior. Copyright © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Analyzing Spatial and Temporal Variation in Precipitation Estimates in a Coupled Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomkins, C. D.; Springer, E. P.; Costigan, K. R.

2001-12-01

Integrated modeling efforts at the Los Alamos National Laboratory aim to simulate the hydrologic cycle and study the impacts of climate variability and land use changes on water resources and ecosystem function at the regional scale. The integrated model couples three existing models independently responsible for addressing the atmospheric, land surface, and ground water components: the Regional Atmospheric Model System (RAMS), the Los Alamos Distributed Hydrologic System (LADHS), and the Finite Element and Heat Mass (FEHM). The upper Rio Grande Basin, extending 92,000 km2 over northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, serves as the test site for this model. RAMS uses nested grids to simulate meteorological variables, with the smallest grid over the Rio Grande having 5-km horizontal grid spacing. As LADHS grid spacing is 100 m, a downscaling approach is needed to estimate meteorological variables from the 5km RAMS grid for input into LADHS. This study presents daily and cumulative precipitation predictions, in the month of October for water year 1993, and an approach to compare LADHS downscaled precipitation to RAMS-simulated precipitation. The downscaling algorithm is based on kriging, using topography as a covariate to distribute the precipitation and thereby incorporating the topographical resolution achieved at the 100m-grid resolution in LADHS. The results of the downscaling are analyzed in terms of the level of variance introduced into the model, mean simulated precipitation, and the correlation between the LADHS and RAMS estimates. Previous work presented a comparison of RAMS-simulated and observed precipitation recorded at COOP and SNOTEL sites. The effects of downscaling the RAMS precipitation were evaluated using Spearman and linear correlations and by examining the variance of both populations. The study focuses on determining how the downscaling changes the distribution of precipitation compared to the RAMS estimates. Spearman correlations computed for the LADHS and RAMS cumulative precipitation reveal a disassociation over time, with R equal to 0.74 at day eight and R equal to 0.52 at day 31. Linear correlation coefficients (Pearson) returned a stronger initial correlation of 0.97, decreasing to 0.68. The standard deviations for the 2500 LADHS cells underlying each 5km RAMS cell range from 8 mm to 695 mm in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and 2 mm to 112 mm in the San Luis Valley. Comparatively, the standard deviations of the RAMS estimates in these regions are 247 mm and 30 mm respectively. The LADHS standard deviations provide a measure of the variability introduced through the downscaling routine, which exceeds RAMS regional variability by a factor of 2 to 4. The coefficient of variation for the average LADHS grid cell values and the RAMS cell values in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are 0.66 and 0.27, respectively, and 0.79 and 0.75 in the San Luis Valley. The coefficients of variation evidence the uniformity of the higher precipitation estimates in the mountains, especially for RAMS, and also the lower means and variability found in the valley. Additionally, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests indicate clear spatial and temporal differences in mean simulated precipitation across the grid.

Dabigatran exhibits low intensity of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation as compared with warfarin.

PubMed

Watanabe, Tetsuya; Shinoda, Yukinori; Ikeoka, Kuniyasu; Inui, Hirooki; Fukuoka, Hidetada; Sunaga, Akihiro; Kanda, Takashi; Uematsu, Masaaki; Hoshida, Shiro

2017-03-01

The presence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrium has been reported to be an independent predictor of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Dabigatran was associated with lower rates of stroke and systemic embolism as compared with warfarin when administered at a higher dose. Between July 2011 and October 2015, nonvalvular AF patients treated with warfarin or dabigatran who had transesophageal echocardiography prior to ablation therapy for AF were enrolled. The intensity of SEC was classified into four grades, from 0 to 3. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to analyze factors associated with SEC. Sixty-five patients were on dabigatran and 65 were on warfarin, with the prothrombin time in therapeutic range. There were no significant differences in the age, CHADS2 score, left atrial dimension, and left atrial appendage flow between the two groups. However, there were more grade 2 or higher patients with left atrial SEC in the warfarin group (n = 20) than in the dabigatran group (n = 2) (p < 0.001). When multivariate regression analysis was performed, grade 2 or higher left atrial SEC was independently associated with no dabigatran usage in addition to high brain natriuretic peptide level and high incidence of diabetes mellitus or persistent AF. Thus, dabigatran exhibited low intensity of left atrial SEC in nonvalvular AF patients as compared with warfarin.

Sub-10-Minute Characterization of an Ultrahigh Molar Mass Polymer by Multi-detector Hydrodynamic Chromatography

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Molar mass averages, distributions, and architectural information of polymers are routinely obtained using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). It has previously been shown that ultrahigh molar mass polymers may experience degradation during SEC analysis, leading to inaccurate molar mass averages a...

Polymer Analysis by Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

PubMed

Nielen, M W; Buijtenhuijs, F A

1999-05-01

Hyphenation of liquid chromatography (LC) techniques with electrospray ionization (ESI) orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (oa-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) provides both MS-based structural information and LC-based quantitative data in polymer analysis. In one experimental setup, three different LC modes are interfaced with MS:  size-exclusion chromatography (SEC/MS), gradient polymer elution chromatography (GPEC/MS), and liquid chromatography at the critical point of adsorption (LCCC/MS). In SEC/MS, both absolute mass calibration of the SEC column based on the polymer itself and determination of monomers and end groups from the mass spectra are achieved. GPEC/MS shows detailed chemical heterogeneity of the polymer and the chemical composition distribution within oligomer groups. In LCCC/MS, the retention behavior is primarily governed by chemical heterogeneities, such as different end group functionalities, and quantitative end group calculations can be easily made. The potential of these methods and the benefit of time-of-flight analyzers in polymer analysis are discussed using SEC/MS of a polydisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) sample, GPEC/MS of dipropoxylated bisphenol A/adipic acid polyester resin, LCCC/MS of alkylated poly(ethylene glycol), and LCCC/MS of terephthalic acid/neopentyl glycol polyester resin.

Length and activity of the root apical meristem revealed in vivo by infrared imaging.

PubMed

Bizet, François; Hummel, Irène; Bogeat-Triboulot, Marie-Béatrice

2015-03-01

Understanding how cell division and cell elongation influence organ growth and development is a long-standing issue in plant biology. In plant roots, most of the cell divisions occur in a short and specialized region, the root apical meristem (RAM). Although RAM activity has been suggested to be of high importance to understand how roots grow and how the cell cycle is regulated, few experimental and numeric data are currently available. The characterization of the RAM is difficult and essentially based upon cell length measurements through destructive and time-consuming microscopy approaches. Here, a new non-invasive method is described that couples infrared light imaging and kinematic analyses and that allows in vivo measurements of the RAM length. This study provides a detailed description of the RAM activity, especially in terms of cell flux and cell division rate. We focused on roots of hydroponic grown poplars and confirmed our method on maize roots. How the RAM affects root growth rate is studied by taking advantage of the high inter-individual variability of poplar root growth. An osmotic stress was applied and did not significantly affect the RAM length, highlighting its homeostasis in short to middle-term responses. The methodology described here simplifies a lot experimental procedures, allows an increase in the number of individuals that can be taken into account in experiments, and means new experiments can be formulated that allow temporal monitoring of the RAM length. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

The Implementation and Evaluation of the Emergency Response Dose Assessment System (ERDAS) at Cape Canaveral Air Station/Kennedy Space Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, Randolph J.; Tremback, Craig J.; Lyons, Walter A.

1996-01-01

The Emergency Response Dose Assessment System (ERDAS) is a system which combines the mesoscale meteorological prediction model RAMS with the diffusion models REEDM and HYPACT. Operators use a graphical user interface to run the models for emergency response and toxic hazard planning at CCAS/KCS. The Applied Meteorology Unit has been evaluating the ERDAS meteorological and diffusion models and obtained the following results: (1) RAMS adequately predicts the occurrence of the daily sea breeze during non-cloudy conditions for several cases. (2) RAMS shows a tendency to predict the sea breeze to occur slightly earlier and to move it further inland than observed. The sea breeze predictions could most likely be improved by better parameterizing the soil moisture and/or sea surface temperatures. (3) The HYPACT/REEDM/RAMS models accurately predict launch plume locations when RAMS winds are accurate and when the correct plume layer is modeled. (4) HYPACT does not adequately handle plume buoyancy for heated plumes since all plumes are presently treated as passive tracers. Enhancements should be incorporated into the ERDAS as it moves toward being a fully operational system and as computer workstations continue to increase in power and decrease in cost. These enhancements include the following: activate RAMS moisture physics; use finer RAMS grid resolution; add RAMS input parameters (e.g. soil moisture, radar, and/or satellite data); automate data quality control; implement four-dimensional data assimilation; modify HYPACT plume rise and deposition physics; and add cumulative dosage calculations in HYPACT.

Structural Analysis of the Complex between Penta-EF-Hand ALG-2 Protein and Sec31A Peptide Reveals a Novel Target Recognition Mechanism of ALG-2

PubMed Central

Takahashi, Takeshi; Kojima, Kyosuke; Zhang, Wei; Sasaki, Kanae; Ito, Masaru; Suzuki, Hironori; Kawasaki, Masato; Wakatsuki, Soichi; Takahara, Terunao; Shibata, Hideki; Maki, Masatoshi

2015-01-01

ALG-2, a 22-kDa penta-EF-hand protein, is involved in cell death, signal transduction, membrane trafficking, etc., by interacting with various proteins in mammalian cells in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Most known ALG-2-interacting proteins contain proline-rich regions in which either PPYPXnYP (type 1 motif) or PXPGF (type 2 motif) is commonly found. Previous X-ray crystal structural analysis of the complex between ALG-2 and an ALIX peptide revealed that the peptide binds to the two hydrophobic pockets. In the present study, we resolved the crystal structure of the complex between ALG-2 and a peptide of Sec31A (outer shell component of coat complex II, COPII; containing the type 2 motif) and found that the peptide binds to the third hydrophobic pocket (Pocket 3). While amino acid substitution of Phe85, a Pocket 3 residue, with Ala abrogated the interaction with Sec31A, it did not affect the interaction with ALIX. On the other hand, amino acid substitution of Tyr180, a Pocket 1 residue, with Ala caused loss of binding to ALIX, but maintained binding to Sec31A. We conclude that ALG-2 recognizes two types of motifs at different hydrophobic surfaces. Furthermore, based on the results of serial mutational analysis of the ALG-2-binding sites in Sec31A, the type 2 motif was newly defined. PMID:25667979

Effect of semen extender and storage temperature on ram sperm motility over time

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Storage of ram semen for long period of time depends on a number of factors, including type of extender and storage temperature. A study compared the effect of semen extender and storage temperature on motility of ram semen stored for 72 h. Semen collected via electroejaculator from 5 mature Katahd...

Integrated semiconductor-magnetic random access memory system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katti, Romney R. (Inventor); Blaes, Brent R. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

The present disclosure describes a non-volatile magnetic random access memory (RAM) system having a semiconductor control circuit and a magnetic array element. The integrated magnetic RAM system uses CMOS control circuit to read and write data magnetoresistively. The system provides a fast access, non-volatile, radiation hard, high density RAM for high speed computing.

Ram Pressure Stripping Made Easy: An Analytical Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köppen, J.; Jáchym, P.; Taylor, R.; Palouš, J.

2018-06-01

The removal of gas by ram pressure stripping of galaxies is treated by a purely kinematic description. The solution has two asymptotic limits: if the duration of the ram pressure pulse exceeds the period of vertical oscillations perpendicular to the galactic plane, the commonly used quasi-static criterion of Gunn & Gott is obtained which uses the maximum ram pressure that the galaxy has experienced along its orbit. For shorter pulses the outcome depends on the time-integrated ram pressure. This parameter pair fully describes the gas mass fraction that is stripped from a given galaxy. This approach closely reproduces results from SPH simulations. We show that typical galaxies follow a very tight relation in this parameter space corresponding to a pressure pulse length of about 300 Myr. Thus, the Gunn & Gott criterion provides a good description for galaxies in larger clusters. Applying the analytic description to a sample of 232 Virgo galaxies from the GoldMine database, we show that the ICM provides indeed the ram pressures needed to explain the deficiencies. We also can distinguish current and past strippers, including objects whose stripping state was unknown.

Single-cell full-length total RNA sequencing uncovers dynamics of recursive splicing and enhancer RNAs.

PubMed

Hayashi, Tetsutaro; Ozaki, Haruka; Sasagawa, Yohei; Umeda, Mana; Danno, Hiroki; Nikaido, Itoshi

2018-02-12

Total RNA sequencing has been used to reveal poly(A) and non-poly(A) RNA expression, RNA processing and enhancer activity. To date, no method for full-length total RNA sequencing of single cells has been developed despite the potential of this technology for single-cell biology. Here we describe random displacement amplification sequencing (RamDA-seq), the first full-length total RNA-sequencing method for single cells. Compared with other methods, RamDA-seq shows high sensitivity to non-poly(A) RNA and near-complete full-length transcript coverage. Using RamDA-seq with differentiation time course samples of mouse embryonic stem cells, we reveal hundreds of dynamically regulated non-poly(A) transcripts, including histone transcripts and long noncoding RNA Neat1. Moreover, RamDA-seq profiles recursive splicing in >300-kb introns. RamDA-seq also detects enhancer RNAs and their cell type-specific activity in single cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that RamDA-seq could help investigate the dynamics of gene expression, RNA-processing events and transcriptional regulation in single cells.

Rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide cells. A test report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farrington, Michael D.

The rechargeable alkaline MnO 2 (RAM) system has now been commercially available for several years. The Canadian Department of National Defence is interested in determining if the low cost RAM system is technically capable of replacing existing cells and batteries now in use. A preliminary study identified sufficient candidate batteries in use within the Department whose performance requirements compared favourably with RAM manufacturers' claims. Further study was warranted. Replacement cost savings could be significant. A study is now in progress that is aimed at determining how well the RAM technology actually performs. This paper presents test results that illustrate how RAM cells compare to primary alkaline cells and nickel/cadmium. The majority of the work is focused on the 'AA' size products from Rayovac and Pure Energy: tests were also conducted on Rayovac 'D' cells.

Atomistic mechanisms of ReRAM cell operation and reliability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Sumeet C.

2018-01-01

We present results from first-principles-based modeling that captures functionally important physical phenomena critical to cell materials selection, operation, and reliability for resistance-switching memory technologies. An atomic-scale description of retention, the low- and high-resistance states (RS), and the sources of intrinsic cell-level variability in ReRAM is discussed. Through the results obtained from density functional theory, non-equilibrium Green’s function, molecular dynamics, and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations; the role of variable-charge vacancy defects and metal impurities in determining the RS, the LRS-stability, and electron-conduction in such RS is reported. Although, the statistical electrical characteristics of the oxygen-vacancy (Ox-ReRAM) and conductive-bridging RAM (M-ReRAM) are notably different, the underlying similar electrochemical phenomena describing retention and formation/dissolution of RS are being discussed.

Resistance profile of darunavir: combined 24-week results from the POWER trials.

PubMed

de Meyer, Sandra; Vangeneugden, Tony; van Baelen, Ben; de Paepe, Els; van Marck, Herwig; Picchio, Gaston; Lefebvre, Eric; de Béthune, Marie-Pierre

2008-03-01

The resistance profile of darunavir (TMC114) in treatment-experienced patients was explored using pooled week 24 data from POWER 1, 2, and 3 at the recommended dose of darunavir with low-dose ritonavir (darunavir/r, 600/100 mg bid, N = 458). Baseline darunavir fold change in EC(50) was a strong predictor of virological response at week 24. Preliminary phenotypic clinical cut-offs of 10 and 40 were established. Virological response to darunavir/r was maintained in the presence at baseline of a high number of IAS-USA PI resistance-associated mutations (IAS-USA PI RAMS); a diminished response occurred with >or=14. Eleven protease mutations associated with diminished darunavir/r virological response were identified (V11I, V32I, L33F, I47V, I50V, I54L/M, G73S, L76V, I84V, and L89V). These darunavir resistance-associated mutations (DRV RAMS) occurred in the presence of a high number of IAS-USA PI RAMS. Virological response was diminished with three or more DRV RAMS in the background of a high number of IAS-USA PI RAMS. Incremental numbers of DRV RAMS were more predictive of outcome than were IAS-USA PI RAMS. Mutations developing during darunavir/r virological failure (V32I, L33F, I47V, I54L, and L89V) were also featured in the DRV RAMS list. Site-directed mutants carrying these five mutations, or any one of these mutations either alone or together with one or two IAS-USA PI RAMS, showed no reduced darunavir susceptibility, suggesting that a high number of additional background mutations is required for darunavir resistance. In this population of treatment-experienced patients, darunavir/r demonstrated significantly greater efficacy than investigator-selected control PIs of trials POWER 1 and 2, regardless of baseline viral genotype or phenotype, while exhibiting a high genetic barrier to the development of resistance.

Caveats when Analyzing Ultra-high Molar Mass Polymers by SEC

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The analysis of ultra-high molar mass (M > 1 million g/mol) polymers via size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) presents a number of non-trivial challenges. Dissolution and full solvation may take days, as is the case for cellulose dissolution in non-complexing non degrading solvents; very low concent...

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

Barr, Jonathan L.; Taira, Randal Y.; Orr, Heather M.

The purpose of this document is to describe the operating concepts, capabilities, and benefits of RAMS including descriptions of how the system implementations can improve emergency response, damage assessment, task prioritization, and situation awareness. This CONOPS provides general information on operational processes and procedures required to utilize RAMS, and expected performance benefits of the system. The primary audiences for this document are the end users of RAMS (including flight operators and incident commanders) and the RAMS management team. Other audiences include interested offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and officials from other state and local jurisdictions who wantmore » to implement similar systems.« less

Preliminary survey of propulsion using chemical energy stored in the upper atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baldwin, Lionel V; Blackshear, Perry L

1958-01-01

Ram-jet cycles that use the chemical energy of dissociated oxygen for propulsion in the ionosphere are presented. After a review of the properties and compositions of the upper atmosphere, the external drag, recombination kinetics, and aerodynamic-heating problems of an orbiting ram jet are analyzed. The study indicates that the recombination ram jet might be useful for sustaining a satellite at an altitude of about 60 miles. Atmospheric composition and recombination-rate coefficients were too uncertain for more definite conclusions. The ram jet is a marginal device even in the optimistic view.

A self-testing dynamic RAM chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Y.; Hayes, J. P.

1985-02-01

A novel approach to making very large dynamic RAM chips self-testing is presented. It is based on two main concepts: on-chip generation of regular test sequences with very high fault coverage, and concurrent testing of storage-cell arrays to reduce overall testing time. The failure modes of a typical 64 K RAM employing one-transistor cells are analyzed to identify their test requirements. A comprehensive test generation algorithm that can be implemented with minimal modification to a standard cell layout is derived. The self-checking peripheral circuits necessary to implement this testing algorithm are described, and the self-testing RAM is briefly evaluated.

Analysis of reduced monoclonal antibodies using size exclusion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hongcheng; Gaza-Bulseco, Georgeen; Chumsae, Chris

2009-12-01

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been widely used to detect antibody aggregates, monomer, and fragments. SEC coupled to mass spectrometry has been reported to measure the molecular weights of antibody; antibody conjugates, and antibody light chain and heavy chain. In this study, separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain by SEC and direct coupling to a mass spectrometer was further studied. It was determined that employing mobile phases containing acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid, and formic acid allowed the separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain after reduction by SEC. In addition, this mobile phase allowed the coupling of SEC to a mass spectrometer to obtain a direct molecular weight measurement. The application of the SEC-MS method was demonstrated by the separation of the light chain and the heavy chain of multiple recombinant monoclonal antibodies. In addition, separation of a thioether linked light chain and heavy chain from the free light chain and the free heavy chain of a recombinant monoclonal antibody after reduction was also achieved. This optimized method provided a separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain based on size and allowed a direct measurement of molecular weights by mass spectrometry. In addition, this method may help to identify peaks eluting from SEC column directly.

Toward Skillful Subseasonal Prediction of North Atlantic Hurricanes with regionally-refined GFDL HiRAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, K.; Harris, L.; Chen, J. H.; Lin, S. J.

2017-12-01

Skillful subseasonal prediction of hurricane activity (from two weeks to less than a season) is important for early preparedness and reducing the hurricane damage in coastal regions. In this study, we will present evaluations of the performance of GFDL HiRAM (High-Resolution Atmospheric Model) for the simulation and prediction of the North Atlantic hurricane activity on the sub-seasonal time scale. A series of sub-seasonal (30-day duration) retrospective predictions were performed over the years 2000-2014 using two configurations of HiRAM: a) global uniform 25km-resolution grid and b) two-way nested grid with a 8km-resolution nest over North Atlantic. The analysis of hurricane structure from the two sets of simulations indicates the two-way-nesting method is an efficient way to improve the representation of hurricanes in global models: the two-way nested configuration produces realistic hurricane inner-core size and structure, which leads to improved lifetime maximum intensity distribution. Both configurations show very promising performance in the subseasonal hurricane genesis prediction, but the two-way nested configuration shows better performance in the prediction of major hurricane (Categories 3-5) activity because of the improved intensity simulation. We will also present the analysis of how the phase and magnitude of MJO, as well as the initial SST anomaly affect the model's prediction skill.

The post-thaw quality of ram sperm held for 0 to 48 h at 5 degrees C prior to cryopreservation.

PubMed

Purdy, P H

2006-06-01

The effects of holding diluted ram semen at 5 degrees C for up to 48 h prior to cryopreservation were investigated. Semen from six rams was collected by electro-ejaculation in the autumn and again from six different rams in the spring. The sperm concentration and motility were determined using spectrophotometry and computerized automated semen analysis, respectively. Samples were diluted at 23 degrees C to 400 x 10(6)cells/ml in a one-step Tris-egg yolk-glycerol (5%, v/v) media, cooled to 5 degrees C over 2h and maintained at 5 degrees C for the duration of the experiments. Aliquots were loaded into 0.5 ml French straws at 0, 24 or 48 h after cooling, frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor for 12-13 min, 4.5 cm above the liquid nitrogen, and plunged into liquid nitrogen for storage. After thawing, autumn samples frozen after 0, 24, or 48 h of storage exhibited similar percentages of motility (29, 31, 36%, respectively), progressively motility (16, 15, 17%, respectively), plasma membrane integrity (28, 35, 29%, respectively) and live acrosome-reacted cells (0.4, 0.6, 0.8%, respectively; P>0.05). In addition, the quantity of sperm that bound to hen's egg perivitelline membranes after being held at 5 degrees C for 0, 24, or 48 h was not significantly different when the values were expressed as means of the quantity of sperm (155, 177, 106 sperm, respectively) or as the proportion of sperm inseminated (0.39, 0.49, 0.34, respectively; P>0.05). Likewise, ram sperm collected in the spring and frozen at 0, 24 and 48 h after cooling had similar (P>0.05) total motility (21, 25, 20%, respectively), progressive motility (14, 15, 11%, respectively), plasma membrane integrity (26, 33, 31%, respectively) and live acrosome-reacted cells (3.7, 3.5, 3.2%, respectively; P>0.05). The 0 h holding time had significantly less sperm bound to a hen's egg perivitelline membrane compared to the 48 h holding time (250 and 470 sperm, respectively) although the 24h holding time was not different from the 0 or 48 h holding time (281 sperm; P<0.05) but analysis of the proportion of the total sperm inseminated resulted in no significant differences observed (P>0.05). These results indicate that ram sperm can be held at 5 degrees C for up to 48 h prior to freezing with no injurious effects on motility, membrane integrity, or fertilizing potential as indicated by membrane binding ability.

eRAM: encyclopedia of rare disease annotations for precision medicine.

PubMed

Jia, Jinmeng; An, Zhongxin; Ming, Yue; Guo, Yongli; Li, Wei; Liang, Yunxiang; Guo, Dongming; Li, Xin; Tai, Jun; Chen, Geng; Jin, Yaqiong; Liu, Zhimei; Ni, Xin; Shi, Tieliu

2018-01-04

Rare diseases affect over a hundred million people worldwide, most of these patients are not accurately diagnosed and effectively treated. The limited knowledge of rare diseases forms the biggest obstacle for improving their treatment. Detailed clinical phenotyping is considered as a keystone of deciphering genes and realizing the precision medicine for rare diseases. Here, we preset a standardized system for various types of rare diseases, called encyclopedia of Rare disease Annotations for Precision Medicine (eRAM). eRAM was built by text-mining nearly 10 million scientific publications and electronic medical records, and integrating various data in existing recognized databases (such as Unified Medical Language System (UMLS), Human Phenotype Ontology, Orphanet, OMIM, GWAS). eRAM systematically incorporates currently available data on clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms of rare diseases and uncovers many novel associations among diseases. eRAM provides enriched annotations for 15 942 rare diseases, yielding 6147 human disease related phenotype terms, 31 661 mammalians phenotype terms, 10,202 symptoms from UMLS, 18 815 genes and 92 580 genotypes. eRAM can not only provide information about rare disease mechanism but also facilitate clinicians to make accurate diagnostic and therapeutic decisions towards rare diseases. eRAM can be freely accessed at http://www.unimd.org/eram/. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Overview of the response of anoestrous ewes to the ram effect.

PubMed

Ungerfeld, R; Forsberg, M; Rubianes, E

2004-01-01

The present review summarises knowledge of the reproductive response of anoestrous ewes to the introduction of rams - in other words, the ram effect. The ovarian and endocrine response, the factors that determine whether ewes will respond or not (associated with both the stimulus and the receptivity of the ewes) and some aspects of practical management are discussed. Information on the use of the ram effect to stimulate post-partum, prepubertal and cyclic ewes is also given. New insights are provided on ovarian response patterns, including recently collected information on luteal responses. The existence of delayed ovulation (5-7 days after the introduction of the rams) followed by luteal phases of normal or short length, luteal cysts and luteinised follicles is reported after scanning the ovaries with ultrasound. Endocrine parameters for depth of anoestrus, such as LH pulsatility and FSH concentrations, and how the concentrations of these hormones should be considered are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the observation of spontaneous, higher LH pulsatility and higher FSH concentrations in anoestrous ewes that respond to rams with luteal phases than in those that fail to respond. The use of progestogen priming and single progestogen administration and the possible advantages for synchronisation of oestrus are also discussed. Other factors that should be considered before the ram effect is applied, such as the strength of the stimulus and some practical considerations, are also included.

Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 have contrasting effects on the capacitation of ram spermatozoa.

PubMed

Pini, Taylor; de Graaf, Simon P; Druart, Xavier; Tsikis, Guillaume; Labas, Valerie; Teixeira-Gomes, Ana Paula; Gadella, Barend M; Leahy, Tamara

2018-06-01

Binder of Sperm Proteins (BSPs) are the most abundant seminal plasma protein family in the ram and bull. They have been extensively studied in the bull but less is known about their function in ovine seminal plasma and current knowledge suggests that BSPs may have different effects in these two species. In the bull, they facilitate capacitation and destabilize the sperm membrane during in vitro handling, whereas in the ram, they appear to stabilize the sperm membrane and prevent cryopreservation-induced capacitation-like changes. Further investigation into the effects of BSPs on ram spermatozoa under capacitating conditions is required to further clarify their physiological roles in the ram. We investigated the effects of Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 on epididymal ram spermatozoa in conditions of low, moderate, and high cAMP. BSPs had minimal effects on sperm function in low-cAMP conditions, but caused significant changes under cAMP upregulation. BSP1 stabilized the membrane and qualitatively reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, but significantly increased cholesterol efflux and induced spontaneous acrosome reactions. BSP5 slightly increased spontaneous acrosome reactions and caused sperm necrosis. However, BSP5 had minimal effects on membrane lipid order and cholesterol efflux and did not inhibit protein tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate that under maximal cAMP upregulation, BSP1 affected ram spermatozoa in a manner comparable to bull spermatozoa, while BSP5 did not.

Automation of GIS-based population data-collection for transportation risk analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-11-01

Estimation of the potential radiological risks associated with highway transport of radioactive : materials (RAM) requires input data describing population densities adjacent to all portions of : the route to be traveled. Previously, aggregated risks...

Timber RAM. . .a long-range planning method for commercial timber lands under multiple-use management

Treesearch

Daniel I. Navon

1971-01-01

Timber RAM (Resource Allocation Method) is a long-range planning method for commercial timber lands under multiple-use management. Timber RAM can produce cutting and reforestation schedules and related harvest and economic reports. Each schedule optimizes an index of performance, subject to periodic constraints on revenues, costs, and, harvest levels. Periodic...

RANGE RAM: a long-term planning method for managing grazing lands

Treesearch

Henricus C. Jansen

1976-01-01

Range RAM (Resource Allocation Method) is a computerized planning method designed to assist range managers in developing and selecting alternatives in spatial and temporal allocation of resources. The technique is applicable at the frest or district management levels, or their equivalents. Range RAM can help formulate plans that maximize the production of range outputs...

Production of a recombinant phospholipase A2 in Escherichia coli using resonant acoustic mixing that improves oxygen transfer in shake flasks.

PubMed

Valdez-Cruz, Norma A; Reynoso-Cereceda, Greta I; Pérez-Rodriguez, Saumel; Restrepo-Pineda, Sara; González-Santana, Jesus; Olvera, Alejandro; Zavala, Guadalupe; Alagón, Alejandro; Trujillo-Roldán, Mauricio A

2017-07-25

Shake flasks are widely used during the development of bioprocesses for recombinant proteins. Cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli with orbital mixing (OM) have an oxygen limitation negatively affecting biomass growth and recombinant-protein production. With the aim to improve mixing and aeration in shake flask cultures, we analyzed cultures subjected to OM and the novel resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) by applying acoustic energy to E. coli BL21-Gold (DE3): a producer of recombinant phospholipase A2 (rPLA2) from Micrurus laticollaris snake venom. Comparing OM with RAM (200 rpm vs. 7.5g) at the same initial volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k L a ≈ 80 h -1 ) ~69% less biomass was obtained with OM compared with RAM. We analyzed two more conditions increasing agitation until maximal speed (12.5 and 20g), and ~1.6- and ~1.4-fold greater biomass was obtained as compared with cultures at 7.5g. Moreover, the specific growth rate was statistically similar in all cultures carried out in RAM, but ~1.5-fold higher than that in cultures carried out under OM. Almost half of the glucose was consumed in OM, whereas between 80 and 100% of the glucose was consumed in RAM cultures, doubling biomass per glucose yields. Differential organic acid production was observed, but acetate production was prevented at the maximal RAM (20g). The amount of rPLA2 in both, OM and RAM cultures, represented 38 ± 5% of the insoluble protein. A smaller proportion of α-helices and β-sheet of purified inclusion bodies (IBs) were appreciated by ATR-FTIR from cultures carried out under OM, than those from RAM. At maximal agitation by RAM, internal E. coli localization patterns of protein aggregation changed, as well as, IBs proteolytic degradation, in conjunction with the formation of small external vesicles, although these changes did not significantly affect the cell survival response. In moderate-cell-density recombinant E. coli BL21-Gold (DE3) cultures, the agitation increases in RAM (up to the maximum) was not enough to avoid the classical oxygen limitation that happens in OM shake flasks. However, RAM presents a decrease of oxygen limitation, resulting in a favorable effect on biomass growth and volumetric rPLA2 production. While under OM a higher recombinant protein yield was obtained.

Kinematics of ram filter feeding and beat-glide swimming in the northern anchovy Engraulis mordax.

PubMed

Carey, Nicholas; Goldbogen, Jeremy A

2017-08-01

In the dense aquatic environment, the most adept swimmers are streamlined to reduce drag and increase the efficiency of locomotion. However, because they open their mouth to wide gape angles to deploy their filtering apparatus, ram filter feeders apparently switch between diametrically opposite swimming modes: highly efficient, streamlined 'beat-glide' swimming, and ram filter feeding, which has been hypothesized to be a high-cost feeding mode because of presumed increased drag. Ram filter-feeding forage fish are thought to play an important role in the flux of nutrients and energy in upwelling ecosystems; however, the biomechanics and energetics of this feeding mechanism remain poorly understood. We quantified the kinematics of an iconic forage fish, the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax , during ram filter feeding and non-feeding, mouth-closed beat-glide swimming. Although many kinematic parameters between the two swimming modes were similar, we found that swimming speeds and tailbeat frequencies were significantly lower during ram feeding. Rather than maintain speed with the school, a speed which closely matches theoretical optimum filter-feeding speeds was consistently observed. Beat-glide swimming was characterized by high variability in all kinematic parameters, but variance in kinematic parameters was much lower during ram filter feeding. Under this mode, body kinematics are substantially modified, and E. mordax swims more slowly and with decreased lateral movement along the entire body, but most noticeably in the anterior. Our results suggest that hydrodynamic effects that come with deployment of the filtering anatomy may limit behavioral options during foraging and result in slower swimming speeds during ram filtration. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

RamA, a Protein Required for Reductive Activation of Corrinoid-dependent Methylamine Methyltransferase Reactions in Methanogenic Archaea*S⃞

PubMed Central

Ferguson, Tsuneo; Soares, Jitesh A.; Lienard, Tanja; Gottschalk, Gerhard; Krzycki, Joseph A.

2009-01-01

Archaeal methane formation from methylamines is initiated by distinct methyltransferases with specificity for monomethylamine, dimethylamine, or trimethylamine. Each methylamine methyltransferase methylates a cognate corrinoid protein, which is subsequently demethylated by a second methyltransferase to form methyl-coenzyme M, the direct methane precursor. Methylation of the corrinoid protein requires reduction of the central cobalt to the highly reducing and nucleophilic Co(I) state. RamA, a 60-kDa monomeric iron-sulfur protein, was isolated from Methanosarcina barkeri and is required for in vitro ATP-dependent reductive activation of methylamine:CoM methyl transfer from all three methylamines. In the absence of the methyltransferases, highly purified RamA was shown to mediate the ATP-dependent reductive activation of Co(II) corrinoid to the Co(I) state for the monomethylamine corrinoid protein, MtmC. The ramA gene is located near a cluster of genes required for monomethylamine methyltransferase activity, including MtbA, the methylamine-specific CoM methylase and the pyl operon required for co-translational insertion of pyrrolysine into the active site of methylamine methyltransferases. RamA possesses a C-terminal ferredoxin-like domain capable of binding two tetranuclear iron-sulfur proteins. Mutliple ramA homologs were identified in genomes of methanogenic Archaea, often encoded near methyltrophic methyltransferase genes. RamA homologs are also encoded in a diverse selection of bacterial genomes, often located near genes for corrinoid-dependent methyltransferases. These results suggest that RamA mediates reductive activation of corrinoid proteins and that it is the first functional archetype of COG3894, a family of redox proteins of unknown function. PMID:19043046

Recognition of a heritage in danger: rammed-earth architecture in Lyon city, France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alex, Dorothée

2018-04-01

Historically, man has built with what he had underfoot: if the earthen construction is a tradition of 11 000 years old, the technique of the rammed earth (earth rammed in a formwork) is relatively new since it appeared for the first time in Tunisia in 814 BC. Exported in France, rammed earth is established mainly in Rhône-Alpes Region which has an ideal soil, rich in gravel, sand, silt and clay. Traditionally associated with the rural world, rammed earth heritage is also present in urban centers. The city of Lyon is one of the rare European cities to concentrate a large proportion of rammed earth buildings: the inventories made show that they are present in almost all the districts as well as in the suburban areas. This high density could be explained by the phenomenon of rural exodus experienced by Lyon during the nineteenth century. The agricultural populations, attracted by the prosperity of the city, then settled at the doors of this city, bringing their know-how by building with the cheaper and easier material available: earth. Rammed earth buildings are therefore located on bounder areas between the countryside and the city. They are thus found on lands that were once outside the city walls. With the advent of the industrial era at the end of the 19th century and the appearance of concrete, rammed earth constructions gradually disappeared. The constructions that we see today are therefore prior to 1900. Varied, ranging from detached houses to the 6-storey buildings, they stand as a testimony to a know-how that finds a particular resonance today, while the environmental and economic concerns are at the forefront. Little known, they constitute a heritage in danger that should be rediscovered.

FDDI network test adaptor error injection circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckenrode, Thomas (Inventor); Stauffer, David R. (Inventor); Stempski, Rebecca (Inventor)

1994-01-01

An apparatus for injecting errors into a FDDI token ring network is disclosed. The error injection scheme operates by fooling a FORMAC into thinking it sent a real frame of data. This is done by using two RAM buffers. The RAM buffer normally accessed by the RBC/DPC becomes a SHADOW RAM during error injection operation. A dummy frame is loaded into the shadow RAM in order to fool the FORMAC. This data is just like the data that would be used if sending a normal frame, with the restriction that it must be shorter than the error injection data. The other buffer, the error injection RAM, contains the error injection frame. The error injection data is sent out to the media by switching a multiplexor. When the FORMAC is done transmitting the data, the multiplexor is switched back to the normal mode. Thus, the FORMAC is unaware of what happened and the token ring remains operational.

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

Kim, Moon-Jung; Lee, Byung Cheon; Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a major thiol-disulfide reductase that plays a role in many biological processes, including DNA replication and redox signaling. Although selenocysteine (Sec)-containing Trxs have been identified in certain bacteria, their enzymatic properties have not been characterized. In this study, we expressed a selenoprotein Trx from Treponema denticola, an oral spirochete, in Escherichia coli and characterized this selenoenzyme and its natural cysteine (Cys) homologue using E. coli Trx1 as a positive control. {sup 75}Se metabolic labeling and mutation analyses showed that the SECIS (Sec insertion sequence) of T. denticola selenoprotein Trx is functional in the E. coli Sec insertion system with specificmore » selenium incorporation into the Sec residue. The selenoprotein Trx exhibited approximately 10-fold higher catalytic activity than the Sec-to-Cys version and natural Cys homologue and E. coli Trx1, suggesting that Sec confers higher catalytic activity on this thiol-disulfide reductase. Kinetic analysis also showed that the selenoprotein Trx had a 30-fold higher K{sub m} than Cys-containing homologues, suggesting that this selenoenzyme is adapted to work efficiently with high concentrations of substrate. Collectively, the results of this study support the hypothesis that selenium utilization in oxidoreductase systems is primarily due to the catalytic advantage provided by the rare amino acid, Sec. - Highlights: • The first characterization of a selenoprotein Trx is presented. • The selenoenzyme Trx exhibits 10-fold higher catalytic activity than Cys homologues. • Se utilization in Trx is primarily due to the catalytic advantage provided by Sec residue.« less

Direct Radiative Impacts of Central American Biomass Burning Smoke Aerosols: Analysis from a Coupled Aerosol-Radiation-Meteorology Model RAMS-AROMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Christopher, S. A.; Nair, U. S.; Reid, J. S.; Prins, E. M.

2005-12-01

Considerable efforts including various field experiments have been carried out in the last decade for studying the regional climatic impact of smoke aerosols produced by biomass burning activities in Africa and South America. In contrast, only few investigations have been conducted for Central American Biomass Burning (CABB) region. Using a coupled aerosol-radiation-meteorology model called RAMS-AROMA together with various ground-based observations, we present a comprehensive analysis of the smoke direct radiative impacts on the surface energy budget, boundary layer evolution, and e precipitation process during the CABB events in Spring 2003. Quantitative estimates are also made regarding the transboundary carbon mass to the U.S. in the form of smoke particles. Buult upon the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) mesoscale model, the RAMS AROMA has several features including Assimilation and Radiation Online Modeling of Aerosols (AROMA) algorithms. The model simulates smoke transport by using hourly smoke emission inventory from the Fire Locating and Modeling of Burning Emissions (FLAMBE) geostationary satellite database. It explicitly considers the smoke effects on the radiative transfer at each model time step and model grid, thereby coupling the dynamical processes and aerosol transport. Comparison with ground-based observation show that the simulation realistically captured the smoke transport timeline and distribution from daily to hourly scales. The effects of smoke radiative extinction on the decrease of 2m air temperature (2mT), diurnal temperature range (DTR), and boundary layer height over the land surface are also quantified. Warming due to smoke absorption of solar radiation can be found in the lower troposphere over the ocean, but not near the underlying land surface. The increase of boundary layer stability produces a positive feedback where more smoke particles are trapped in the lower boundary layer. These changes in temperature, surface energy budget and the atmospheric lapse rate have important ramification for the simulation of precipitations.

Inspection of Stryker Engines Evaluated Using SCPL in a 20K Mile RAM-D Test

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

Availability, Maintainability, and Durability (RAM-D) test. The Caterpillar 3126 engine as tested was removed from the IAV Stryker, an 18 ton 8-wheeled...The objective of this work was to complete a tear down and inspection of two CAT 3126 engines as used in the IAV Stryker. A 20k mile RAM-D test was

Analysis and design of ion thruster for large space systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poeschel, R. L.; Kami, S.

1980-01-01

Design analyses showed that an ion thruster of approximately 50 cm in diameter will be required to produce a thrust of 0.5 N using xenon or argon as propellants, and operating the thruster at a specific impulse of 3530 sec or 6076 sec respectively. A multipole magnetic confinement discharge chamber was specified.

Differentiation and classification of phytoplasmas in the pigeon pea witches'-broom group (16SrIX): an update based on multiple gene sequence analysis.

PubMed

Lee, I-M; Bottner-Parker, K D; Zhao, Y; Bertaccini, A; Davis, R E

2012-09-01

The pigeon pea witches'-broom phytoplasma group (16SrIX) comprises diverse strains that cause numerous diseases in leguminous trees and herbaceous crops, vegetables, a fruit, a nut tree and a forest tree. At least 14 strains have been reported worldwide. Comparative phylogenetic analyses of the highly conserved 16S rRNA gene and the moderately conserved rplV (rpl22)-rpsC (rps3) and secY genes indicated that the 16SrIX group consists of at least six distinct genetic lineages. Some of these lineages cannot be readily differentiated based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences alone. The relative genetic distances among these closely related lineages were better assessed by including more variable genes [e.g. ribosomal protein (rp) and secY genes]. The present study demonstrated that virtual RFLP analyses using rp and secY gene sequences allowed unambiguous identification of such lineages. A coding system is proposed to designate each distinct rp and secY subgroup in the 16SrIX group.

Automated Laser-Light Scattering measurements of Impurities, Bubbles, and Imperfections in Ice Cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stolz, M. R.; Ram, M.

2004-12-01

Laser- light scattering (LLS) on polar ice, or on polar ice meltwater, is an accepted method for measuring the concentration of water insoluble aerosol deposits (dust) in the ice. LLS on polar ice can also be used to measure water soluble aerosols, as well as imperfections (air bubbles and cavities) in the ice. LLS was originally proposed by Hammer (1977a, b) as a method for measuring the dust concentration in polar ice meltwater. Ram et al. (1995) later advanced the method and applied it to solid ice, measuring the dust concentration profile along the deep, bubble-free sections of the Greenland Ice Sheet Projetct 2 (GISP2) ice core (Ram et al., 1995, 2000) from central Greenland. In this paper, we will put previous empirical findings (Ram et al., 1995, 2000) on a theoretical footing, and extend the usability of LLS on ice into the realm of the non-transparent, bubbly polar ice. For LLS on clear, bubble-free polar ice, we studied numerically the scattering of light by soluble and insoluble (dust) aerosol particles embedded in the ice to complement previous experimental studies (Ram et al., 2000). For air bubbles in polar ice, we calculated the effects of multiple light scattering using Mie theory and Monte Carlo simulations, and found a method for determining the bubble number size and concentration using LLS on bubbly ice. We also demonstrated that LLS can be used on bubbly ice to measure annual layers rapidly in an objective manner. Hammer, C. U. (1977a), Dating of Greenland ice cores by microparticle concentration analyses., in International Symposium on Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice, pp. 297-301, IAHS publ. no. 118. Hammer, C. U. (1977b), Dust studies on Greenland ice cores, in International Symposium on Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice, pp. 365-370, IAHS publ. no. 118. Ram, M., M. Illing, P. Weber, G. Koenig, and M. Kaplan (1995), Polar ice stratigraphy from laser-light scattering: Scattering from ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22(24), 3525-3527. Ram, M., J. Donarummo, M. R. Stolz, and G. Koenig (2000), Calibration of laser-light scattering measurements of dust concentration for Wisconsinan GISP2 ice using instrumental neutron activation analysis of aluminum: Results and discussion, J. Geophys. Res., 105(D20), 24,731--24,738.

Review of radiation effects on ReRAM devices and technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez-Velo, Yago; Barnaby, Hugh J.; Kozicki, Michael N.

2017-08-01

A review of the ionizing radiation effects on resistive random access memory (ReRAM) technology and devices is presented in this article. The review focuses on vertical devices exhibiting bipolar resistance switching, devices that have already exhibited interesting properties and characteristics for memory applications and, in particular, for non-volatile memory applications. Non-volatile memories are important devices for any type of electronic and embedded system, as they are for space applications. In such applications, specific environmental issues related to the existence of cosmic rays and Van Allen radiation belts around the Earth contribute to specific failure mechanisms related to the energy deposition induced by such ionizing radiation. Such effects are important in non-volatile memory as the current leading technology, i.e. flash-based technology, is sensitive to the total ionizing dose (TID) and single-event effects. New technologies such as ReRAM, if competing with or complementing the existing non-volatile area of memories from the point of view of performance, also have to exhibit great reliability for use in radiation environments such as space. This has driven research on the radiation effects of such ReRAM technology, on both the conductive-bridge RAM as well as the valence-change memories, or OxRAM variants of the technology. Initial characterizations of ReRAM technology showed a high degree of resilience to TID, developing researchers’ interest in characterizing such resilience as well as investigating the cause of such behavior. The state of the art of such research is reviewed in this article.

The relationship between post-thaw sperm DNA integrity and non-return rate among Norwegian cross-bred rams.

PubMed

Nordstoga, A B; Krogenæs, A; Nødtvedt, A; Farstad, W; Waterhouse, K

2013-04-01

With the aim of investigating the relationship between sperm DNA integrity and non-return rate (NRR) among Norwegian cross-bred rams, semen from 15 individuals was examined by flow cytometry. Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) quantifies the proportion of spermatozoa with denatured DNA after in situ acid treatment, and the four parameters % DFI, % HDS, MEAN DFI and SD DFI are all different measures of DNA denaturation and maturation. Field fertility, reported as NRR 25 days after insemination was based on all inseminations from a large-scale breeding programme and supplied by the Norwegian Association of Sheep and Goat Farmers. From each ram, four straws from four different weeks of the breeding season were analysed, and the associations between 25-day NRR and the mean of the four SCSA parameters were tested using a logistic regression model. The results revealed no association between fertility and % DFI or % HDS, while SD DFI and MEAN DFI showed a significant negative association with NRR. Further, the SCSA values varied significantly between ejaculates within ram among some of the rams in the study. However, no significant association was seen between these intra-individual differences in sperm DNA integrity and NRR. In conclusion, this study suggests an association between sperm DNA integrity and NRR for rams. However, further research must be conducted to confirm these findings and determine whether sperm DNA assessments can be applied to predict ram fertility. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Phylogenetic revision of Minyomerus Horn, 1876 sec. Jansen & Franz, 2015 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) using taxonomic concept annotations and alignments

PubMed Central

Jansen, M. Andrew; Franz, Nico M.

2015-01-01

Abstract This contribution adopts the taxonomic concept annotation and alignment approach. Accordingly, and where indicated, previous and newly inferred meanings of taxonomic names are individuated according to one specific source. Articulations among these concepts and pairwise, logically consistent alignments of original and revisionary classifications are also provided, in addition to conventional nomenclatural provenance information. A phylogenetic revision of the broad-nosed weevil genera Minyomerus Horn, 1876 sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982), and Piscatopus Sleeper, 1960 sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982) (Curculionidae [non-focal]: Entiminae [non-focal]: Tanymecini [non-focal]) is presented. Prior to this study, Minyomerus sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982) contained seven species, whereas the monotypic Piscatopus sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982) was comprised solely of Piscatopus griseus Sleeper, 1960 sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982). We thoroughly redescribe these recognized species-level entities and furthermore describe ten species as new to science: Minyomerus bulbifrons sec. Jansen & Franz (2015) (henceforth: [JF2015]), sp. n., Minyomerus aeriballux [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus cracens [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus gravivultus [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus imberbus [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus reburrus [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus politus [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus puticulatus [JF2015], sp. n., Minyomerus rutellirostris [JF2015], sp. n., and Minyomerus trisetosus [JF2015], sp. n. A cladistic analysis using 46 morphological characters of 22 terminal taxa (5/17 outgroup/ingroup) yielded a single most-parsimonious cladogram (L = 82, CI = 65, RI = 82). The analysis strongly supports the monophyly of Minyomerus [JF2015] with eight unreversed synapomorphies, and places Piscatopus griseus sec. O’Brien & Wibmer (1982) within the genus as sister to Minyomerus rutellirostris [JF2015]. Accordingly, Piscatopus sec. Sleeper (1960), syn. n. is changed to junior synonymy of Minyomerus [JF2015], and its sole member Piscatopus griseus sec. Sleeper (1960) is moved to Minyomerus [JF2015] as Minyomerus griseus [JF2015], comb. n. In addition, the formerly designated type Minyomerus innocuus Horn, 1876 sec. Pierce (1913), syn. n. is changed to junior synonymy of Minyomerus microps (Say, 1831) [JF2015] which has priority. The genus is widespread throughout western North America, ranging from Canada to Mexico and Baja California. Apparent patterns of interspecific diversity of exterior and genitalic morphology, varying host plant ranges, overlapping and widely extending species distributions, suggest an early origin for Minyomerus [JF2015], with a diversification that likely followed the development of North American desert biomes. Three species in the genus – i.e., Minyomerus languidus Horn, 1876 [JF2015], Minyomerus microps [JF2015], and Minyomerus trisetosus [JF2015] – are putatively considered parthenogenetic. PMID:26692791

Fourier Image Synthesis and Slope Spectrum Analysis of Deepwater, Windwave Scenes Viewed at Brewster’s Angle

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

reflection is simulated by a one- level ray trace with selective filtering of the RGB color ’spectrum’ Fractal and sequential Markov-chain synthesis tech...above water level [cm/sec], and vfric = the wind friction velocity at the water surface (i.e. z = 0 cm). vfric and the wind velocity v [cm/sec] at height...12 cm/sec 1000 0 -4.5 -4.0 -3.5 -3.0 -2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0 -. 5 0 .5 1.0 LOGI0(k (k: 1/cm) ------------------------------------------------------ FIGUE

Upstream waves in Saturn's foreshock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bavassano Cattaneo, M. B.; Cattaneo, P.; Moreno, G.; Lepping, R. P.

1991-01-01

An analysis based on plasma and magnetic-field data obtained from Voyager 1 during its Saturn encounter is reported. The plasma data provided every 96 sec and magnetic-field data averaged over 48 sec are utilized. The evidence of upstream waves at Saturn are detected. The waves have a period, in the spacecraft frame, of about 550 sec and a relative amplitude larger than 0.3, are left- and right-hand elliptically polarized, and propagate at about 30 deg with respect to the average magnetic field. The appearance of the waves is correlated with the spacecraft being magnetically connected to the bow shock.

RECERTIFICATION OF THE MODEL 9977 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PACKAGING

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

Abramczyk, G.; Bellamy, S.; Loftin, B.

2013-06-05

The Model 9977 Packaging was initially issued a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) for the transportation of radioactive material (RAM) in the Fall of 2007. This first CoC was for a single radioactive material and two packing configurations. In the five years since that time, seven Addendums have been written to the Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP) and five Letter Amendments have been written that have authorized either new RAM contents or packing configurations, or both. This paper will discuss the process of updating the 9977 SARP to include allmore » the contents and configurations, including the addition of a new content, and its submittal for recertification.« less

APEX Detection of Molecular Gas in Ram-Pressure Stripped Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moretti, Alessia

2017-11-01

I will report on our recent study aimed at detecting molecular gas in the main body and in the tails of a sample of 5 jellyfish galaxies that have been observed within our ongoing MUSE Large Program (GASP). The analyzed sample is constituted by the most extreme jellyfish galaxies, for which the analysis of the ionized gas has already demonstrated that the mechanism at play in regulating 5the gas outflow is the ram pressure stripping. The detection of molecular gas in the tails and the broad characterization that we have been able to extract with APEX data is one of the key ingredients to understand if and how the molecular gas is subject to the same physical process.

75 FR 8239 - Federal Home Loan Bank Housing Associates, Core Mission Activities and Standby Letters of Credit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-24

... part 950 of this chapter. title. Sec. 1264.3(a), Sec. 926.4........ Sec. 1264.4. Introductory text. Sec...).. Sec. 1264.3(a)(2). Introductory text. Sec. 1264.4(c)(1)......... Sec. 926.3(a)(3).. Sec. 1264.3(a)(3...)......... Sec. 950.7 of this Sec. 950.7 of this chapter. title. Sec. 1269.3(a), Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Introductory...

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants versus warfarin for the prevention of spontaneous echo-contrast and thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter undergoing cardioversion: A trans-esophageal echocardiography study.

PubMed

Kim, Yun Gi; Choi, Jong-Il; Kim, Mi-Na; Cho, Dong-Hyuk; Oh, Suk-Kyu; Kook, Hyungdon; Park, Hee-Soon; Lee, Kwang No; Baek, Yong-Soo; Roh, Seung-Young; Shim, Jaemin; Park, Seong-Mi; Shim, Wan Joo; Kim, Young-Hoon

2018-01-01

Spontaneous echo-contrast (SEC) and thrombus observed in trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) is known as a strong surrogate marker for future risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL). The efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) compared to warfarin to prevent SEC or thrombus in patients with AF or AFL is currently unknown. AF or AFL patients who underwent direct current cardioversion (DCCV) and pre-DCCV TEE evaluation from January 2014 to October 2016 in a single center were analyzed. The prevalence of SEC and thrombus were compared between patients who received NOAC and those who took warfarin. NOAC included direct thrombin inhibitor and factor Xa inhibitors. Among 1,050 patients who were considered for DCCV, 424 patients anticoagulated with warfarin or NOAC underwent TEE prior to DCCV. Eighty patients who were anticoagulated for less than 21 days were excluded. Finally, 344 patients were included for the analysis (180 warfarin users vs. 164 NOAC users). No significant difference in the prevalence of SEC (44.4% vs. 43.9%; p = 0.919), dense SEC (13.9% vs. 15.2%; p = 0.722), or thrombus (2.2% vs. 4.3%; p = 0.281) was observed between the warfarin group and the NOAC group. In multivariate analysis, there was no association between NOAC and risk of SEC (odds ratio [OR]: 1.4, 95% CI: 0.796-2.297, p = 0.265) or thrombus (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 0.726-16.039, p = 0.120). In conclusion, effectiveness of NOAC is comparable to warfarin in preventing SEC and thrombus in patients with AF or AFL undergoing DCCV. However, numerical increase in the prevalence of thrombus in NOAC group warrants further evaluation.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants versus warfarin for the prevention of spontaneous echo-contrast and thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter undergoing cardioversion: A trans-esophageal echocardiography study

PubMed Central

Kim, Yun Gi; Kim, Mi-Na; Cho, Dong-Hyuk; Oh, Suk-Kyu; Kook, Hyungdon; Park, Hee-Soon; Lee, Kwang No; Baek, Yong-Soo; Roh, Seung-Young; Shim, Jaemin; Park, Seong-Mi; Shim, Wan Joo; Kim, Young-Hoon

2018-01-01

Spontaneous echo-contrast (SEC) and thrombus observed in trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) is known as a strong surrogate marker for future risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL). The efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) compared to warfarin to prevent SEC or thrombus in patients with AF or AFL is currently unknown. AF or AFL patients who underwent direct current cardioversion (DCCV) and pre-DCCV TEE evaluation from January 2014 to October 2016 in a single center were analyzed. The prevalence of SEC and thrombus were compared between patients who received NOAC and those who took warfarin. NOAC included direct thrombin inhibitor and factor Xa inhibitors. Among 1,050 patients who were considered for DCCV, 424 patients anticoagulated with warfarin or NOAC underwent TEE prior to DCCV. Eighty patients who were anticoagulated for less than 21 days were excluded. Finally, 344 patients were included for the analysis (180 warfarin users vs. 164 NOAC users). No significant difference in the prevalence of SEC (44.4% vs. 43.9%; p = 0.919), dense SEC (13.9% vs. 15.2%; p = 0.722), or thrombus (2.2% vs. 4.3%; p = 0.281) was observed between the warfarin group and the NOAC group. In multivariate analysis, there was no association between NOAC and risk of SEC (odds ratio [OR]: 1.4, 95% CI: 0.796–2.297, p = 0.265) or thrombus (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 0.726–16.039, p = 0.120). In conclusion, effectiveness of NOAC is comparable to warfarin in preventing SEC and thrombus in patients with AF or AFL undergoing DCCV. However, numerical increase in the prevalence of thrombus in NOAC group warrants further evaluation. PMID:29360845

An application of the distributed hydrologic model CASC2D to a tropical montane watershed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsik, Matt; Waylen, Peter

2006-11-01

SummaryIncreased stormflow in the Quebrada Estero watershed (2.5 km 2), in the northwestern Central Valley tectonic depression of Costa Rica, reportedly has caused flooding of the city of San Ramón in recent decades. Although scientifically untested, urban expansion was deemed the cause and remedial measures were recommended by the Programa de Investigación en Desarrollo Humano Sostenible (ProDUS). CASC2D, a physically-based, spatially explicit hydrologic model, was constructed and calibrated to a June 10th 2002 storm that delivered 110.5 mm of precipitation in 4.5 h visibly exceeded the bankfull stage (0.9 m) of the Quebrada flooding portions of San Ramón. The calibrated hydrograph showed a peak discharge 16.68% (2.5 m 3 s -1) higher, an above flood stage duration 20% shorter, and time to peak discharge 11 min later than the same observed discharge hydrograph characteristics. Simulations of changing land cover conditions from 1979 to 1999 showed an increase also in the peak discharge, above flood stage duration, and time to peak discharge. Analysis using a modified location quotient identified increased urbanization in lower portions of the watershed over the time period studied. These results suggest that increased urbanization in the Quebrada Estero watershed have increased flooding peaks, and durations above threshold, confirming the ProDUS report. These results and the CASC2D model offer an easy-to-use, pragmatic planning tool for policymakers in San Ramón to assess future development scenarios and their potential flooding impacts to San Ramón.

Selective molecularly imprinted polymer combined with restricted access material for in-tube SPME/UHPLC-MS/MS of parabens in breast milk samples.

PubMed

Souza, Israel D; Melo, Lidervan P; Jardim, Isabel C S F; Monteiro, Juliana C S; Nakano, Ana Marcia S; Queiroz, Maria Eugênia C

2016-08-17

A new molecularly imprinted polymer modified with restricted access material (a hydrophilic external layer), (MIP-RAM) was synthesized via polymerization in situ in an open fused silica capillary. This stationary phase was used as sorbent for in-tube solid phase microextraction (in-tube SPME) to determine parabens in breast milk samples by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) illustrate MIP surface modification after glycerol dimethacrylate (hydrophilic monomer) incorporation. The interaction between parabens and MIP-RAM was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The Scatchard plot for MIP-RAM presented two linear parts with different slopes, illustrating binding sites with high- and low-affinity. Endogenous compounds exclusion from the MIP-RAM capillary was demonstrated by in-tube SPME/LC-UV assays carried out with blank milk samples. The in-tube SPME/UHPLC-MS/MS method presented linear range from 10 ng mL(-1) (LLOQ) to 400 ng mL(-1) with coefficients of determination higher than 0.99, inter-assay precision with coefficient of variation (CV) values ranging from 2 to 15%, and inter-assay accuracy with relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from -1% to 19%. Analytical validation parameters attested that in-tube SPME/UHPLC-MS/MS is an appropriate method to determine parabens in human milk samples to assess human exposure to these compounds. Analysis of breast milk samples from lactating women demonstrated that the proposed method is effective. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Apoptosis-linked Gene-2 (ALG-2)/Sec31 Interactions Regulate Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi Transport

PubMed Central

Helm, Jared R.; Bentley, Marvin; Thorsen, Kevin D.; Wang, Ting; Foltz, Lauren; Oorschot, Viola; Klumperman, Judith; Hay, Jesse C.

2014-01-01

Luminal calcium released from secretory organelles has been suggested to play a regulatory role in vesicle transport at several steps in the secretory pathway; however, its functional roles and effector pathways have not been elucidated. Here we demonstrate for the first time that specific luminal calcium depletion leads to a significant decrease in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport rates in intact cells. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that luminal calcium depletion is accompanied by increased accumulation of intermediate compartment proteins in COPII buds and clusters of unfused COPII vesicles at ER exit sites. Furthermore, we present several lines of evidence suggesting that luminal calcium affected transport at least in part through calcium-dependent interactions between apoptosis-linked gene-2 (ALG-2) and the Sec31A proline-rich region: 1) targeted disruption of ALG-2/Sec31A interactions caused severe defects in ER-to-Golgi transport in intact cells; 2) effects of luminal calcium and ALG-2/Sec31A interactions on transport mutually required each other; and 3) Sec31A function in transport required luminal calcium. Morphological phenotypes of disrupted ALG-2/Sec31A interactions were characterized. We found that ALG-2/Sec31A interactions were not required for the localization of Sec31A to ER exit sites per se but appeared to acutely regulate the stability and trafficking of the cargo receptor p24 and the distribution of the vesicle tether protein p115. These results represent the first outline of a mechanism that connects luminal calcium to specific protein interactions regulating vesicle trafficking machinery. PMID:25006245

Digital MOS integrated circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elmasry, M. I.

MOS in digital circuit design is considered along with aspects of digital VLSI, taking into account a comparison of MOSFET logic circuits, 1-micrometer MOSFET VLSI technology, a generalized guide for MOSFET miniaturization, processing technologies, novel circuit structures for VLSI, and questions of circuit and system design for VLSI. MOS memory cells and circuits are discussed, giving attention to a survey of high-density dynamic RAM cell concepts, one-device cells for dynamic random-access memories, variable resistance polysilicon for high density CMOS Ram, high performance MOS EPROMs using a stacked-gate cell, and the optimization of the latching pulse for dynamic flip-flop sensors. Programmable logic arrays are considered along with digital signal processors, microprocessors, static RAMs, and dynamic RAMs.

77 FR 24385 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine; Regional Haze

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-24

... Maine's low sulfur fuel oil legislation, 38 MRSA Sec. 603-A, sub-Sec. 2(A), and to incorporate this... technology option of new Low NO X Burners with modified over-fire air (NLNB/MOFA) plus selective non... unreasonable. Comment: NPS commented that the analysis of lower sulfur fuel oil for Verso Androscoggin Power...

78 FR 55270 - Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration-DHS...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-10

... subsection (a) to add records containing the results from TSA's intelligence-driven risk- based analysis of... information. 49 CFR Sec. 1560. \\1\\ 77 FR 69491 (Nov. 19, 2012). Under sec. 4012(a)(1)-(2) of the Intelligence... the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense. The...

Resistive Random Access Memory from Materials Development fnd Engineering to Novel Encryption and Neuromorphic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beckmann, Karsten

Resistive random access memory (ReRAM or RRAM) is a novel form of non-volatile memory that is expected to play a major role in future computing and memory solutions. It has been shown that the resistance state of ReRAM devices can be precisely tuned by modulating switching voltages, by limiting peak current, and by adjusting the switching pulse properties. This enables the realization of novel applications such as memristive neuromorphic computing and neural network computing. I have developed two processes based on 100 and 300mm wafer platforms to demonstrate functional HfO2 based ReRAM devices. The first process is designed for a rapid materials engineering and device characterization, while the second is an advanced hybrid ReRAM/CMOS combination based on the IBM 65nm 10LPe process technology. The 100mm wafer efforts were used to show impacts of etch processes on ReRAM switching performance and the need for a rigorous structural evaluation of ReRAM devices before starting materials development. After an etch development, a bottom electrode comparison between the inert materials Pt, Ru and W was performed where Ru showed superior results with respect to yield and resilience against environmental impacts such as humidity over a 2-month period. A comparison of amorphous and crystalline devices showed no statistical difference in the performance with respect to random telegraph noise. This demonstrates, that the forming process fundamentally alters the crystallographic structure within and around the filament. The 300mm wafer development efforts were aimed towards implementing ReRAM in the FEOL, combined with CMOS, to yield a seamless process flow of 1 transistor 1 ReRAM structures (1T1R). This technology was customized with custom-developed tungsten metal 1 (M1) and dual tungsten/copper via 1 (V1) structures, within which the ReRAM stack is embedded. The ReRAM itself consists of an inert W bottom electrode, HfO2 based active switching layer, a Ti oxygen scavenger layer, and an inert TiN top electrode. Linear sweep and controlled pulse (down to 5 ns) based electrical characterization of 1 transistor 1 ReRAM (1T1R) elements was performed to determine key properties including endurance, reliability, and threshold voltages. We demonstrated endurance values above 1010 cycles with an average on/off ratio of 10, and pulse voltages for set/reset operation of +/-1.5V. The on-chip 1T1R structures show an excellent controllability with respect to the low and high resistive states by manipulating the peak current from 75 up to 350 mu?A resulting in 10 distinct low resistance states (LRS). Our results demonstrate that the set operation (which shifts the ReRAM device from the high to the low resistance state) is only dependent on the voltage of the switching pulse and the peak current limit. The reset operation, however, occurs in an analog fashion and appears to be dependent on the total energy of the applied switching pulse. Pulse energy was modulated by varying the peak voltage resulting in a larger relative change of the ReRAM device resistance. The incremental resistance changes are ideally suited to emulate synaptic weights for future implementation into neuromorphic architectures. Switching results from these devices were also used to develop a model time-delay physical unclonable function (PUF) circuit, which showed excellent performance when compared to a pure CMOS implementation with significant improvements in uniqueness, size and accuracy.

Incidence of enterotoxigenic staphylococci and their toxins in foods.

PubMed

Soriano, J M; Font, G; Rico, H; Moltó, J C; Mañes, J

2002-05-01

Of 504 food samples collected from cafeterias, 19 (3.8%) yielded strains of enterotoxigenic staphylococci, and 10 (52.6%), 4 (21.1%), 3 (15.8%), and 2 (10.5%) of these strains produced enterotoxins C (SEC), D (SED), B (SEB), and A (SEA), respectively. Moreover, SEA, SEB, and SEC were isolated from three hamburger samples. Of 181 food samples collected from four restaurants before the implementation of the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system, 7 (3.9%) were found to contain enterotoxigenic strains, and SED, SEC, and SEA were produced by 4 (57.1%), 2 (28.6%), and 1 (14.3%) of these strains, respectively. One meatball sample with SEC was detected in a restaurant. After the implementation of the HACCP system in four restaurants, neither enterotoxigenic staphylococci nor enterotoxins were detected in 196 studied samples.

Nanocrystal powered nanomotor

DOEpatents

Regan, Brian C [Los Angeles, CA; Zettl, Alexander K [Kensington, CA; Aloni, Shaul [Albany, CA

2011-01-04

A nanoscale nanocrystal which may be used as a reciprocating motor is provided, comprising a substrate having an energy differential across it, e.g. an electrical connection to a voltage source at a proximal end; an atom reservoir on the substrate distal to the electrical connection; a nanoparticle ram on the substrate distal to the atom reservoir; a nanolever contacting the nanoparticle ram and having an electrical connection to a voltage source, whereby a voltage applied between the electrical connections on the substrate and the nanolever causes movement of atoms between the reservoir and the ram. Movement of the ram causes movement of the nanolever relative to the substrate. The substrate and nanolever preferably comprise multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and the atom reservoir and nanoparticle ram are preferably metal (e.g. indium) deposited as small particles on the MWNTs. The substrate may comprise a silicon chip that has been fabricated to provide the necessary electrodes and other electromechanical structures, and further supports an atomic track, which may comprise an MWNT.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Harvey Cushing: two forefathers of neuroscience and neurosurgery.

PubMed

Zamora-Berridi, Grettel J; Pendleton, Courtney; Ruiz, Gabriel; Cohen-Gadol, Aaron A; Quiñones-Hinojosa, Alfredo

2011-11-01

To summarize the extraordinary accomplishments, and the commonalities, between Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Harvey Williams Cushing. Existing literature describing the lives and achievements of Ramón y Cajal and Cushing, as well as personal communication, and the surgical records of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, from 1896 to 1912, were reviewed. Both Ramón y Cajal and Cushing were men of unusually broad interests and talents, and these shared characteristics undoubtedly influenced the career paths and scientific investigations they pursued. Although Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Harvey Williams Cushing never directly interacted, the links between them can be traced through some of their disciples, including Pío del Río Hortega, Wilder Penfield, and Percival Bailey. Ramón y Cajal and Cushing are widely considered the forefathers of neuroscience and neurosurgery, respectively, and their discoveries have made lasting impressions on both the scientific and medical communities. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A robust activity marking system for exploring active neuronal ensembles

PubMed Central

Sørensen, Andreas T; Cooper, Yonatan A; Baratta, Michael V; Weng, Feng-Ju; Zhang, Yuxiang; Ramamoorthi, Kartik; Fropf, Robin; LaVerriere, Emily; Xue, Jian; Young, Andrew; Schneider, Colleen; Gøtzsche, Casper René; Hemberg, Martin; Yin, Jerry CP; Maier, Steven F; Lin, Yingxi

2016-01-01

Understanding how the brain captures transient experience and converts it into long lasting changes in neural circuits requires the identification and investigation of the specific ensembles of neurons that are responsible for the encoding of each experience. We have developed a Robust Activity Marking (RAM) system that allows for the identification and interrogation of ensembles of neurons. The RAM system provides unprecedented high sensitivity and selectivity through the use of an optimized synthetic activity-regulated promoter that is strongly induced by neuronal activity and a modified Tet-Off system that achieves improved temporal control. Due to its compact design, RAM can be packaged into a single adeno-associated virus (AAV), providing great versatility and ease of use, including application to mice, rats, flies, and potentially many other species. Cre-dependent RAM, CRAM, allows for the study of active ensembles of a specific cell type and anatomical connectivity, further expanding the RAM system’s versatility. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13918.001 PMID:27661450

How motivation affects academic performance: a structural equation modelling analysis.

PubMed

Kusurkar, R A; Ten Cate, Th J; Vos, C M P; Westers, P; Croiset, G

2013-03-01

Few studies in medical education have studied effect of quality of motivation on performance. Self-Determination Theory based on quality of motivation differentiates between Autonomous Motivation (AM) that originates within an individual and Controlled Motivation (CM) that originates from external sources. To determine whether Relative Autonomous Motivation (RAM, a measure of the balance between AM and CM) affects academic performance through good study strategy and higher study effort and compare this model between subgroups: males and females; students selected via two different systems namely qualitative and weighted lottery selection. Data on motivation, study strategy and effort was collected from 383 medical students of VU University Medical Center Amsterdam and their academic performance results were obtained from the student administration. Structural Equation Modelling analysis technique was used to test a hypothesized model in which high RAM would positively affect Good Study Strategy (GSS) and study effort, which in turn would positively affect academic performance in the form of grade point averages. This model fit well with the data, Chi square = 1.095, df = 3, p = 0.778, RMSEA model fit = 0.000. This model also fitted well for all tested subgroups of students. Differences were found in the strength of relationships between the variables for the different subgroups as expected. In conclusion, RAM positively correlated with academic performance through deep strategy towards study and higher study effort. This model seems valid in medical education in subgroups such as males, females, students selected by qualitative and weighted lottery selection.

Delayed puberty caused by hyperthyroidism in ram lambs is not a result of suppression in body growth.

PubMed

Chandrasekhar, Y; D'Occhio, M J; Setchell, B P

1986-03-01

Over a period of 8 weeks ram lambs (16 weeks old) were made hyperthyroidal (serum thyroxine approximately equal to 150 ng/ml, compared with control approximately equal to 48 ng/ml) by daily subcutaneous injections of thyroxine or maintained at a constant body weight by restriction of the feed intake. Hyperthyroidal and restricted-intake lambs remained at a constant body weight during the period of treatment whilst control rams gained body weight. Testicular growth was normal in restricted-intake lambs but was suppressed in hyperthyroidal animals. Hyperthyroidism, but not feed restriction, was also associated with decrease in LH pulse frequency (1.3 +/- 0.3/12 h compared with controls 4.8 +/- 0.9/12 h. Hyperthyroidal lambs showed normal LH responses to exogenous LHRH. After cessation of treatment testicular growth continued to be suppressed for up to 16 weeks in previously hyperthyroidic rams; thereafter testes began to increase in size but at 30 weeks after treatment were still smaller than those of control rams. It is concluded that elevated thyroxine concentrations directly influence sexual maturation in ram lambs through actions at hypothalamic and/or higher brain centres which control LH secretion. Transient hyperthyroidism during sexual maturation may cause permanent impairment of sexual development.

Advanced Cu chemical displacement technique for SiO2-based electrochemical metallization ReRAM application.

PubMed

Chin, Fun-Tat; Lin, Yu-Hsien; You, Hsin-Chiang; Yang, Wen-Luh; Lin, Li-Min; Hsiao, Yu-Ping; Ko, Chum-Min; Chao, Tien-Sheng

2014-01-01

This study investigates an advanced copper (Cu) chemical displacement technique (CDT) with varying the chemical displacement time for fabricating Cu/SiO2-stacked resistive random-access memory (ReRAM). Compared with other Cu deposition methods, this CDT easily controls the interface of the Cu-insulator, the switching layer thickness, and the immunity of the Cu etching process, assisting the 1-transistor-1-ReRAM (1T-1R) structure and system-on-chip integration. The modulated shape of the Cu-SiO2 interface and the thickness of the SiO2 layer obtained by CDT-based Cu deposition on SiO2 were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The CDT-fabricated Cu/SiO2-stacked ReRAM exhibited lower operation voltages and more stable data retention characteristics than the control Cu/SiO2-stacked sample. As the Cu CDT processing time increased, the forming and set voltages of the CDT-fabricated Cu/SiO2-stacked ReRAM decreased. Conversely, decreasing the processing time reduced the on-state current and reset voltage while increasing the endurance switching cycle time. Therefore, the switching characteristics were easily modulated by Cu CDT, yielding a high performance electrochemical metallization (ECM)-type ReRAM.

Response of anestrous ewes to the ram effect after follicular wave synchronization with a single dose of estradiol-17beta.

PubMed

Ungerfeld, Rodolfo; Dago, Ana L; Rubianes, Edgardo; Forsberg, Mats

2004-01-01

Anestrous ewes respond to the introduction of rams with either an ovulation within 2-3 days that may be followed by luteal phases of normal or short length, with delayed ovulations (5-6 days later), or with the luteinization of follicles. The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the growth status of the largest follicle present when rams are introduced and the type of ovarian response in non-treated ewes and in ewes treated with estradiol-17beta before ram introduction. Thirteen anestrous Corriedale ewes were divided into 2 groups: E2 (n = 7) and C (n = 6). The E2 ewes received a single dose of 50 microg estradiol-17beta 5 days before the introduction of the rams to synchronize the onset of their follicle waves, while C ewes remained untreated. When the rams were introduced, all E2 ewes had the largest follicle in a growing stage in contrast with the C ewes (3 out of 6; P < 0.05). Five C and 4 E2 ewes ovulated after the introduction of the rams (Day 3.4 +/- 0.4 for C vs. 4.8 +/- 0.3 for E2 ewes, respectively, P < 0.05). Only one ewe from each group developed a normal luteal phase: 4 C and 3 E2 ewes had short luteal phases. One C ewe and 2 E2 ewes had short luteal phases originating from follicles that did not ovulate. After the first luteal phase, all ewes returned to anesirus without a second ovulation or luteal phase. The remaining E2 ewe did not ovulate or show any changes in progesterone serum concentrations. We conclude that the growth status of the largest follicle alone does not determine the ovarian responding pattern of anestrous ewes to the ram effect.

Exposure to Photoperiod-Melatonin-Induced, Sexually-Activated Rams after Weaning Advances the Resumption of Sexual Activity in Post-Partum Mediterranean Ewes Lambing in January.

PubMed

Abecia, José A; Chemineau, Philippe; Gómez, Andrea; Palacios, Carlos; Keller, Matthieu; Delgadillo, José A

2017-01-21

This study was aimed to determine whether the presence of sexually stimulated rams by photoperiodic and melatonin treatments can advance the resumption of post-partum sexual activity in Mediterranean ewes lambing in January and weaned at the end of the breeding season at 41°N, in March. Rams were exposed to two months of long days (16 h light/day) and given three melatonin implants at the end of the long days (sexually-activated rams; SAR). Control rams (CR) were exposed to the natural photoperiod. Thirty-six ewes weaned on 25 February were assigned to one of two groups. From 1 March to 30 June, one group was housed with four SAR males (SAR-treated; n = 18), and the other group (CR-treated; n = 18) was housed with four unstimulated rams. Ovulation was assessed once per week based on plasma progesterone concentrations. Estrus was monitored daily by marks left on ewes by rams' harnesses. SAR-treated ewes had a shorter ( p < 0.01) weaning-first estrus interval than CR-treated ewes (61 ± 17 days vs. 102 ± 47 days; mean date of first estrus after weaning on April 26 and June 6, respectively). The proportion of the ewes ovulating in April or May was higher ( p < 0.05) in the SAR-treated group than in the CR-treated group. SAR-treated ewes resumed estrous activity sooner than CR-treated ewes such that, in April, May, and June, the proportion of females that exhibited estrus was higher ( p < 0.01) in the SAR-treated group (72%, 89%, and 100%, respectively) than in the CR-treated group (17%, 44%, and 61%, respectively). In conclusion, the introduction at weaning of sexually activated rams advanced the resumption of estrous activity in ewes in spring. The practical implications of this work could be important in ewes adapted for intensive production and accelerated lambing systems.

Prenatal programming of sexual partner preference: the ram model.

PubMed

Roselli, C E; Stormshak, F

2009-03-01

In our laboratory, the domestic ram is used as an experimental model to study the early programming of neural mechanisms underlying same-sex partner preference. This interest developed from the observation that approximately 8% of domestic rams are sexually attracted to other rams (male-oriented) in contrast to the majority of rams that are attracted to oestrous ewes (female-oriented). One prominent feature of sexual differentiation in many species is the presence of a sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus that is larger in males than in females. Lesion studies in rats and ferrets implicate the SDN in the expression of sexual preferences. We discovered an ovine SDN (oSDN) in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus that is smaller in male- than in female-oriented rams and similar in size to the oSDN of ewes. Neurones of the oSDN show abundant aromatase expression that is also reduced in male-oriented compared to female-oriented rams. This observation suggests that sexual partner preferences are neurologically hard-wired and could be influenced by hormones. Aromatase-containing neurones constitute a nascent oSDN as early as day 60 of gestation, which becomes sexually dimorphic by day 135 of gestation when it is two-fold larger in males than in females. Exposure of fetal female lambs to exogenous testosterone from days 30-90 of gestation resulted in a masculinised oSDN. These data demonstrate that the oSDN develops prenatally and may influence adult sexual preferences. Surprisingly, inhibition of aromatase activity in the brain of ram foetuses during the critical period did not interfere with defeminisation of adult sexual partner preference or oSDN volume. These results fail to support an essential role for neural aromatase in the sexual differentiation of sheep brain and behaviour. Thus, we propose that oSDN morphology and male-typical partner preferences may instead be programmed through an androgen receptor mechanism not involving aromatisation.

Appetitive and Consummatory Sexual Behaviors of Rams Treated with Exogenous Testosterone and Exposed to Anestrus Dorper Ewes: Efficacy of the Male Effect.

PubMed

Tejada, Luz M; Meza-Herrera, Cesar A; Rivas-Muñoz, Raymundo; Rodríguez-Martínez, Rafael; Carrillo, Evaristo; Mellado, Miguel; Véliz-Deras, Francisco G

2017-04-01

We determine whether Dorper rams treated with testosterone in the sexual resting season trigger both appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors and sexual and reproductive outcomes in anestrous ewes at 26° North during March-April. Dorper rams (n = 12, 2.5 years) were randomly divided prior to mating in two groups: GT (treated group; n = 6), treated with testosterone propionate (25 mg i.m. every 3 days × 3 weeks) and GC (control group; n = 6), treated with saline. Thereafter, adult anovulatory Dorper ewes (n = 61) were exposed to the GT-rams while the other group (n = 60) was exposed to the GC-rams. Ram's appetitive sexual behavior was similar (50 %) in both groups, yet the GT-rams exerted 100 % of the consummatory sexual behavior. Sexual and reproductive outcomes of the anestrus females exposed to both male groups considered two phases: 0-15 and 16-25 days from exposure to males. Involved variables were: ewes in estrus, ewes ovulating, duration of estrus, pregnant ewes, and lambed ewes. All the average variables favored those ewes exposed to GT-males: ewes in estrus: 85 versus 40 %; ewes ovulating: 80 versus 53 %; duration of estrus: 37 versus 25 h; pregnant ewes: 60 versus 31 %, and lambed ewes: 57 versus 31 %. Results confirm that adult Dorper rams treated with exogenous testosterone had improved consummatory sexual behavior and induced increased ovulation and pregnancy rates when exposed to anestrus ewes. This feasible and inexpensive testosterone-based protocol through the male effect also enhanced both sexual and reproductive outcomes in previously anestrous Dorper ewes during the natural out-of-season. Results are important to speed up reproductive performance of sheep during the natural anestrous season at this latitude, while also they embrace interesting outcomes from a comparative sexual behavior stand point.

Growing without a mother results in poorer sexual behaviour in adult rams.

PubMed

Damián, J P; Beracochea, F; Machado, S; Hötzel, M J; Banchero, G; Ungerfeld, R

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine if the absence of the mother during rearing has long-term effects on sexual behaviour and physiological reproductive parameters of adult rams. Two groups of rams were: (1) artificially reared, separated from their dams 24 to 36 h after birth (Week 0) and fed using sheep milk until 10 weeks of age (group AR, n=14); and (2) reared by their dams until 10 weeks of age (group DR, n=13). Sexual behaviour (tests of 20 min) and physiological reproductive parameters were analysed separately for the non-breeding (Weeks 42 to 64) and the breeding (Weeks 66 to 90) seasons. Body weight, scrotal circumference, gonado-somatic index, testosterone concentrations or sperm parameters were similar in both rearing conditions (AR v. DR) in both seasons. During the non-breeding season AR rams displayed fewer ano-genital sniffings (AR: 4.2±0.4 v. DR: 5.3±0.4, P=0.04) and matings (AR: 1.2±0.2 v. DR: 1.8±0.2, P=0.002) than DR rams. During the breeding season AR rams displayed fewer ano-genital sniffings (AR: 4.3±0.5 v. DR: 5.7±0.5, P=0.005), flehmen (AR: 0.7±0.2 v. DR: 1.1±0.2, P=0.03), mount attempts (AR: 1.4±0.2 v. DR: 2.1±0.2, P=0.04), and tended to mount less frequently (AR: 6.6±0.9 v. DR: 8.8±0.9, P=0.08) than DR rams. In conclusion, the absence of the mother during the rearing period negatively affected display of sexual behaviour towards oestrous ewes during a rams adult life in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. However, it did not affect testis size, testosterone secretion or sperm variables.

Structural Similarities and Differences between Two Functionally Distinct SecA Proteins, Mycobacterium tuberculosis SecA1 and SecA2

PubMed Central

Swanson, Stephanie; Ioerger, Thomas R.; Rigel, Nathan W.; Miller, Brittany K.; Braunstein, Miriam

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT While SecA is the ATPase component of the major bacterial secretory (Sec) system, mycobacteria and some Gram-positive pathogens have a second paralog, SecA2. In bacteria with two SecA paralogs, each SecA is functionally distinct, and they cannot compensate for one another. Compared to SecA1, SecA2 exports a distinct and smaller set of substrates, some of which have roles in virulence. In the mycobacterial system, some SecA2-dependent substrates lack a signal peptide, while others contain a signal peptide but possess features in the mature protein that necessitate a role for SecA2 in their export. It is unclear how SecA2 functions in protein export, and one open question is whether SecA2 works with the canonical SecYEG channel to export proteins. In this study, we report the structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SecA2 (MtbSecA2), which is the first structure of any SecA2 protein. A high level of structural similarity is observed between SecA2 and SecA1. The major structural difference is the absence of the helical wing domain, which is likely to play a role in how MtbSecA2 recognizes its unique substrates. Importantly, structural features critical to the interaction between SecA1 and SecYEG are preserved in SecA2. Furthermore, suppressor mutations of a dominant-negative secA2 mutant map to the surface of SecA2 and help identify functional regions of SecA2 that may promote interactions with SecYEG or the translocating polypeptide substrate. These results support a model in which the mycobacterial SecA2 works with SecYEG. IMPORTANCE SecA2 is a paralog of SecA1, which is the ATPase of the canonical bacterial Sec secretion system. SecA2 has a nonredundant function with SecA1, and SecA2 exports a distinct and smaller set of substrates than SecA1. This work reports the crystal structure of SecA2 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the first SecA2 structure reported for any organism). Many of the structural features of SecA1 are conserved in the SecA2 structure, including putative contacts with the SecYEG channel. Several structural differences are also identified that could relate to the unique function and selectivity of SecA2. Suppressor mutations of a secA2 mutant map to the surface of SecA2 and help identify functional regions of SecA2 that may promote interactions with SecYEG. PMID:26668263

Developmental programming in sheep: administration of testosterone during 60-90 days of pregnancy reduces breeding success and pregnancy outcome.

PubMed

Steckler, T L; Roberts, E K; Doop, D D; Lee, T M; Padmanabhan, V

2007-02-01

Evidence suggests that exposure to excess steroids during critical periods of fetal development leads to reproductive disorders. Exposure of female lambs to excess testosterone (T) from Days 60 to 90 of gestation (T60-90; term, 147 days) delayed onset of the LH surge and resulted in to male-typical reproductive behavior. The objectives of this study were to test the ability of T60-90 ewes to mate, conceive and lamb during the first three breeding seasons (Years 1, 2 and 3). Pregnant Suffolk ewes were injected with T propionate in cottonseed oil (100mg, im twice weekly) or vehicle (control; C) from Days 60 to 90 of gestation. In Year 1, ewes (C=12, T60-90=12) were kept with a vasectomized ram for 3 months and markings/visual observation of copulations were recorded. Rams had paint applied to their chest to facilitate detection of estrus and mating. All C but only three T60-90 ewes were marked (P<0.001). All ewes were then estrus-synchronized with two injections of prostaglandin F2alpha (20mg, im) given 11 days apart and allowed to mate with a painted, fertile ram. Nine of 12 C and 4 of 12 T60-90 ewes (P=0.1) were mated. Based on estrus and long-term monitoring of progesterone, more C than T60-90 became pregnant (82 and 18%, respectively; P<0.01). In Year 2, to maximize ram exposure, two C and two T60-90 estrus-synchronized ewes were placed with a painted, fertile ram at a time and mated ewes were removed to a nearby pen to force mating with others. Twenty-four hour video monitoring revealed the rams mated more C than T60-90 ewes (83 and 25%, respectively; P=0.01). In both Years 1 and 2, the rams preferred C over T60-90 ewes; therefore in Year 3 rams were given access only to T60-90 ewes. Only four T60-90 estrus-synchronized ewes were placed with a painted ram at a time. Not given an option, 91% of the T60-90 ewes were marked resulting in 4 of 11 (36%; first-service pregnancy rate in the breeding herd was 91%) ewes becoming pregnant to the synchronized estrus. Collectively these studies showed that fertility in T60-90 females was severely compromised, even after overcoming ram preference for controls.

Hydroxytyrosol and its complex forms (secoiridoids) modulate aorta and heart proteome in healthy rats: Potential cardio-protective effects.

PubMed

Catalán, Úrsula; Rubió, Laura; López de Las Hazas, Maria-Carmen; Herrero, Pol; Nadal, Pedro; Canela, Núria; Pedret, Anna; Motilva, Maria-José; Solà, Rosa

2016-10-01

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is the major phenolic compound in virgin olive oil (VOO) in both free and complex forms (secoiridoids; SEC). Proteomics of cardiovascular tissues such as aorta or heart represents a promising tool to uncover the mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds in healthy animals. Twelve female Wistar rats were separated into three groups: a standard diet and two diets supplemented in phenolic compounds (HT and SEC) adjusted to 5 mg/kg/day during 21 days. Proteomic analyses of aorta and heart tissues were performed by nano-LC and MS. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to generate interaction networks. HT or SEC modulated aorta and heart proteome compared to the standard diet. The top-scored networks were related to Cardiovascular System. HT and SEC downregulated proteins related to proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and occlusion of blood vessels in aorta and proteins related to heart failure in heart tissue. SEC showed higher fold change values compared to HT, attributed to higher concentration of HT detected in heart tissue. Changes at proteomic level in cardiovascular tissues may partially account for the underlying mechanisms of VOO phenols cardiovascular protection being the SEC effects higher than free HT. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Radiation immune RAM semiconductor technology for the 80's. [Random Access Memory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanna, W. A.; Panagos, P.

1983-01-01

This paper presents current and short term future characteristics of RAM semiconductor technologies which were obtained by literature survey and discussions with cognizant Government and industry personnel. In particular, total ionizing dose tolerance and high energy particle susceptibility of the technologies are addressed. Technologies judged compatible with spacecraft applications are ranked to determine the best current and future technology for fast access (less than 60 ns), radiation tolerant RAM.

Determining the solution conformational entropy of oligosaccharides by SEC with on-line viscometry detection.

PubMed

Morris, Mallory J; Striegel, André M

2014-06-15

Introduced here is a method for determining the solution conformational entropy of oligosaccharides (-ΔS) that relies on the on-line coupling of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), an entropically-controlled separation technique, and differential viscometry (VISC). Results from this SEC/VISC method were compared, for the same injections of the same sample dissolutions and under identical solvent/temperature conditions, to results from a benchmark SEC/differential refractometry (SEC/DRI) method which has been applied successfully over the last decade to determining -ΔS of a variety of mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides. The accuracy (as compared to SEC/DRI) and precision of SEC/VISC were found to be excellent, as was the sensitivity of the viscometer in the oligomeric region. The experiments presented here contrast three sets of (1→4)-β-d-oligosaccharides, namely manno-, cello-, and N-acetylchitooligosaccharides of degree of polymerization (DP) 2 through 6. For each series, the dependence of -ΔS on DP was found to be monotonic while, between series, differences at each DP could be ascribed to either the additional degrees of freedom imparted by large, multi-atomic substituent groups, or to the presence or absence of additional intramolecular hydrogen bonds, depending on the axial versus equatorial arrangement of particular hydroxyl groups. An hypothesis is advanced to explain the unexpectedly high sensitivity of viscometric detection for low-molar-mass analytes. The method presented can be extended to the analysis of oligosaccharides other than those studied here. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Determining the Side Channel Area in the Ciliwung Watershed for Decreasing the Hydrograph Flood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yayuk Supomo, Fani; Saleh Pallu, Muh.; Arsyad Thaha, Muh.; Tahir Lopa, Rita

2018-04-01

The condition of Jakarta with high population density and green open space switch function, causing the condition of flooding to be one of the risks that occur when the rainy season. Ciliwung River that flows from Katulampa into Jakarta bay, is considered as the largest contributor to flood discharge. This study will analyze the flood discharge plan on the side channel area to lower the flood hydrograph peaks and extend the detention time. The area to be side channel is Ciparigi with an area of 608.7 hectare and the slope of 8-10%. The result of flood discharge planning analysis at Ciparigi region (Sub watershed of Middle Ciliwung), obtained the amount of flood discharge for return period 2 yearly equal to 10.10 m3/sec, 5 yearly equal to 12.77 m3/sec, 10 yearly equal to 14.17 m3/sec, 25 yearly equal to 15.32 m3/sec, 50 yearly equal to 16.63 m3/sec and 100 yearly equal to 17.52 m3/sec. The percentage of flood discharge plans that will be reduced by 10% of the total flood discharge plan in sub watershed observation is 1.28 m3/sec with reservoir volume of 4.608 m3 which will be fully charged for 1 hour. This will extend the flow time from the control point in Depok to the Manggarai waterway to approximately 5 hours.

Aggregation factor analysis for protein formulation by a systematic approach using FTIR, SEC and design of experiments techniques.

PubMed

Feng, Yan Wen; Ooishi, Ayako; Honda, Shinya

2012-01-05

A simple systematic approach using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and design of experiments (DOE) techniques was applied to the analysis of aggregation factors for protein formulations in stress and accelerated testings. FTIR and SEC were used to evaluate protein conformational and storage stabilities, respectively. DOE was used to determine the suitable formulation and to analyze both the main effect of single factors and the interaction effect of combined factors on aggregation. Our results indicated that (i) analysis at a low protein concentration is not always applicable to high concentration formulations; (ii) an investigation of interaction effects of combined factors as well as main effects of single factors is effective for improving conformational stability of proteins; (iii) with the exception of pH, the results of stress testing with regard to aggregation factors would be available for suitable formulation instead of performing time-consuming accelerated testing; (iv) a suitable pH condition should not be determined in stress testing but in accelerated testing, because of inconsistent effects of pH on conformational and storage stabilities. In summary, we propose a three-step strategy, using FTIR, SEC and DOE techniques, to effectively analyze the aggregation factors and perform a rapid screening for suitable conditions of protein formulation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

MESO-Adaptation Based on Model Oriented Reengineering Process for Human-Computer Interface (MESOMORPH)

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-01

Publishing Company , Addison- Wesley Systems Programming Series, 1990. [5] E. Stroulia and T. Systa. Dynamic analysis for reverse engineering and program...understanding, Applied Computing Reviews, Spring 2002, ACM Press. [6] El- Ramly , Mohammad; Stroulia, Eleni; Sorenson, Paul. “Recovering software

Adobe, rammed earth and wood: An energy-based environmental analysis of residential construction in Phoenix, Arizona

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

Gossen, C.L.

1996-10-01

More than 90% of the new single-family dwellings built in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area consists of wood frame construction. Using adobe and rammed earth as alternatives in residential wall construction are the main focus of this study. The study examines the process of home construction, concentrating on the environmental impacts of energy embodied in the four stages: extraction, transportation, construction, and operation. These four stages were applied to three prototypes built in the Phoenix Area throughout one year. The results are compared to determine which has the lowest environmental costs and most likely to benefit sustainability. The study requires amore » comparative analysis rather than a definite choice of a better prototype. The information provides assistance to the builder/designer with options about environmental impacts and the whole energy spectrum. Wherein previous research was based on performance standards of operation, one must also consider environmental impacts and externalities.« less

Reproductive performance of postpartum ewes treated with insulin or progesterone hormones in association with ram effect.

PubMed

Ferreira-Silva, J C; Basto, Srl; Tenório Filho, F; Moura, M T; Silva Filho, M L; Oliveira, Mal

2017-08-01

The reproductive performance of postpartum Santa Inês (SI) and Morada Nova (MN) ewes treated with insulin or progesterone hormones in association with ram effect was evaluated. Ewes from SI (n = 69) and MN (n = 69) breeds were randomly allocated to three groups of each breed (T1-ram effect only; T2-ram effect + insulin; T3-ram effect + progesterone). Progesterone concentrations (ηg/ml; mean ± SD) before and after introduction of rams (n = 6) were 0.51 ± 0.22 and 3.78 ± 0.68 (T1), 0.65 ± 0.21 and 3.77 ± 0.78 (T2) and 0.52 ± 0.21 and 3.84 ± 0.84 (T3) in SI ewes and 0.74 ± 0.19 and 3.71 ± 0.56 (T1), 0.70 ± 0.21 and 3.79 ± 0.75 (T2) and 0.81 ± 0.14 and 3.87 ± 0.80 (T3) in MN ewes, respectively. Thus, lower progesterone concentrations were found before the introduction of rams (p < .05). After the introduction of rams, preovulatory peaks of LH (ηg/ml) occurred at 28 (T1), 44 (T2) and 48 (T3) hr in SI ewes and at 64 (T1), 40 (T2) and 44 (T3) hr in MN ewes. The mean number of ovulations was similar between groups (p > .05), was 1.3 ± 0.51 (T1), 1.5 ± 0.54 (T2) and 1.6 ± 0.51 (T3) in SI ewes and 1.3 ± 0.51 (T1), 1.6 ± 0.51 (T2) and 1.6 ± 0.51 (T3) in MN ewes. In conclusion, the ram effect alone is effective at inducing and synchronizing oestrus in sheep under postpartum anoestrus, irrespective of hormone treatments. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

An approach to holistically assess (dairy) farm eco-efficiency by combining Life Cycle Analysis with Data Envelopment Analysis models and methodologies.

PubMed

Soteriades, A D; Faverdin, P; Moreau, S; Charroin, T; Blanchard, M; Stott, A W

2016-11-01

Eco-efficiency is a useful guide to dairy farm sustainability analysis aimed at increasing output (physical or value added) and minimizing environmental impacts (EIs). Widely used partial eco-efficiency ratios (EIs per some functional unit, e.g. kg milk) can be problematic because (i) substitution possibilities between EIs are ignored, (ii) multiple ratios can complicate decision making and (iii) EIs are not usually associated with just the functional unit in the ratio's denominator. The objective of this study was to demonstrate a 'global' eco-efficiency modelling framework dealing with issues (i) to (iii) by combining Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data and the multiple-input, multiple-output production efficiency method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). With DEA each dairy farm's outputs and LCA-derived EIs are aggregated into a single, relative, bounded, dimensionless eco-efficiency score, thus overcoming issues (i) to (iii). A novelty of this study is that a model providing a number of additional desirable properties was employed, known as the Range Adjusted Measure (RAM) of inefficiency. These properties altogether make RAM advantageous over other DEA models and are as follows. First, RAM is able to simultaneously minimize EIs and maximize outputs. Second, it indicates which EIs and/or outputs contribute the most to a farm's eco-inefficiency. Third it can be used to rank farms in terms of eco-efficiency scores. Thus, non-parametric rank tests can be employed to test for significant differences in terms of eco-efficiency score ranks between different farm groups. An additional DEA methodology was employed to 'correct' the farms' eco-efficiency scores for inefficiencies attributed to managerial factors. By removing managerial inefficiencies it was possible to detect differences in eco-efficiency between farms solely attributed to uncontrollable factors such as region. Such analysis is lacking in previous dairy studies combining LCA with DEA. RAM and the 'corrective' methodology were demonstrated with LCA data from French specialized dairy farms grouped by region (West France, Continental France) and feeding strategy (regardless of region). Mean eco-efficiency score ranks were significantly higher for farms with 30% maize in the total forage area before correcting for managerial inefficiencies. Mean eco-efficiency score ranks were higher for West than Continental farms, but significantly higher only after correcting for managerial inefficiencies. These results helped identify the eco-efficiency potential of each region and feeding strategy and could therefore aid advisors and policy makers at farm or region/sector level. The proposed framework helped better measure and understand (dairy) farm eco-efficiency, both within and between different farm groups.

Supplementation of soybean lecithin-based semen extender by antioxidants: complementary flowcytometric study on post-thawed ram spermatozoa.

PubMed

Sharafi, Mohsen; Zhandi, Mahdi; Akbari Sharif, Abbas

2015-06-01

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of cysteine (C) and glutathione (G) on the post-thawed ram sperm quality. Collected semen samples from four mature rams were diluted with five soybean lecithin (SL)-based extenders containing: no antioxidant (SL-0), 5 mM cysteine (SL-C5), 10 mM cysteine (SL-C10), 5 mM glutathione (SL-G5) and 10 mM glutathione (SL-G10). After freeze-thawing process, motion and velocity parameters, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, morphological abnormality, lipid peroxidation, acrosomal status, mitochondria activity, and apoptosis status of post-thawed ram spermatozoa were assessed. The results showed that SL-C10 increased the total motility and plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05) of post-thawed ram spermatozoa (55.86 ± 1.37 and 60.57 ± 1.34 %) compared to other extenders. Progressive motility was significantly higher in SL-C10 (24.71 ± 1.13 %) compared to SL-0 (20 ± 1.13 %) and SL-G10 (15 ± 1.13 %). Mitochondrial activity was significantly higher in SL-C10 (56.83 ± 2.29 %) compared to SL-G10 (38.75 ± 2.29 %). Capacitation and acrosomal status, lipid peroxidation, and the percentage of dead spermatozoa were not affected by different extenders. The percentage of live spermatozoa was higher in SL-C10 (56.33 ± 1.35 %) compared to other extenders. Also, SL-C10 resulted in a lower percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa (14.17 ± 0.53 %) compared to other extenders. The results of this study showed that supplementation of SL-based ram semen extender with 10 mM cysteine resulted in an improved quality of post-thawed ram spermatozoa.

Pretreatment resistance to hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors boceprevir/telaprevir in hepatitis C virus subgenotype 1a-infected patients from Manitoba.

PubMed

Andonov, Anton; Kadkhoda, Kamran; Osiowy, Carla; Kaita, Kelly

2013-07-01

Traditional therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin combined with the new protease inhibitors boceprevir or telaprevir has demonstrated improved outcomes in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Prevalence data regarding pre-existing drug-resistant variants to these two new virus inhibitors in the Canadian population are not available. To detect pre-existing mutations conferring resistance to boceprevir and⁄or telaprevir in Canadian patients infected with HCV genotype 1a. Resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) were evaluated in 85 patients infected with HCV genotype 1a who had not yet received antiviral therapy. The NS3 protease gene was sequenced and common RAMs were identified based on a recently published list. The overall prevalence of pre-existing RAMs to boceprevir and telaprevir was higher compared with other similar studies. All of the observed RAMs were associated with a low level of resistance. A surprisingly high proportion of patients had the V55A RAM (10.6%). None of the mutations associated with a high level of resistance were observed. The simultaneous presence of two low-level resistance mutations (V36L and V55A) was observed in only one patient. Three other patients had both T54S RAM and V55I mutations, which may require a higher concentration of the protease drugs. The prevalence of various mutations in Aboriginal Canadian patients was higher (37.5%) compared with Caucasians (16.39%) (P=0.038). The present study was the first to investigate pre-existing drug resistance to boceprevir⁄telaprevir in Canadian HCV-infected patients. A relatively high proportion of untreated HCV genotype 1a patients in Manitoba harbour low-level RAMs, especially patients of Aboriginal descent, which may contribute to an increased risk of treatment failure.

Effects of immunization against alpha-inhibin using two adjuvants on daily sperm production and hormone concentrations in ram lambs.

PubMed

Voge, J L; Parker, J B; Wheaton, J E

2009-11-01

Twenty-five ram lambs were immunized against alpha-inhibin peptide emulsified in Freund's adjuvant (FRA), Emulsigen (EML) containing an oligodeoxynucleotide as an immunostimulant, or adjuvant without alpha-inhibin antigen (control). Four immunizations were administered during an 85-d period, after which testes were obtained for determination of daily sperm production (DSP) and histological evaluation. alpha-Inhibin antibody (Ab) titers were 70-fold greater in lambs treated with FRA than in EML-treated ram lambs. alpha-Inhibin immunization had no effect on testes weight or on plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Mean DSP/g tended (P=0.1) to be greater in alpha-inhibin-immunized (EML=17.6x10(6); FRA=15.8x10(6)) ram lambs than in control animals (14.4x10(6)). One of the 8 control ram lambs had an elevated DSP/g, which was a statistical outlier. Without data from this lamb, DSP/g was increased (P<0.01) in alpha-inhibin-immunized ram lambs by 28% over controls. No association was found between the titer of alpha-inhibin Ab developed and DSP/g. Histologically, the percentage of testicular area occupied by seminiferous tubules differed (P=0.01) by treatment and was greatest (82%) in EML-treated ram alpha-inhibin-immunized lambs and lowest (74%) in control animals. Percentage tubular area and DSP/g were correlated (r=0.57, P=0.003). Findings show that (1) the extent of the increase in DSP/g is not dependent on the titer of alpha-inhibin Ab; (2) the increase in DSP/g is achieved through an increase in the mass of seminiferous tubules; and (3) FRA elicits a greater alpha-inhibin Ab titer than EML containing an oligodeoxynucleotide.

Evaluation of Rectoanal Mucosal Swab Sampling for Molecular Detection of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Beef Cattle.

PubMed

Agga, Getahun E; Arthur, Terrance M; Hinkley, Susanne; Bosilevac, Joseph M

2017-04-01

Cattle are a primary reservoir of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and contaminated beef products are a source of human infections. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service declared seven EHEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157) as adulterants in raw ground beef. Sampling a large number of animals for EHEC surveillance or evaluations of EHEC-focused preharvest interventions requires a convenient and robust sampling method. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of rectoanal mucosal swab (RAMS) for the detection of the top seven EHEC serogroups. Paired fecal grab (FG) and RAMS samples were collected from 176 beef cattle and tested using the NeoSEEK Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) confirmation method. The prevalence of virulence-associated genes (stx 1 , stx 2 , stx 2c , eae, and nleB) was higher in RAMS than in FG samples. The results of the two methods had poor agreement, as indicated by kappa statistics, for the detection of the seven serogroups. When FG and RAMS results were combined for comparison, RAMS was more sensitive than FG for the detection of serogroups O103 (82% versus 39%), O157 (75% versus 67%), and O45 (79% versus 73%) with similar sensitivity for the detection of serogroup O145 (67%). Serogroups O111 and O121 were detected from one and two samples, respectively, by FG and were not detected by RAMS. Serogroup O26 was not detected with either method. RAMS appears to be equivalent or superior to FG sampling for detection of the top seven EHEC serogroups in the feces of beef cattle with the NeoSEEK STEC confirmation test.

Rumination relates to reduced autobiographical memory specificity in formerly depressed patients following a self-discrepancy challenge: the case of autobiographical memory specificity reactivity.

PubMed

Raes, Filip; Schoofs, Hanne; Griffith, James W; Hermans, Dirk

2012-12-01

Reduced Autobiographical Memory Specificity (rAMS) is a hypothesized vulnerability factor for depression. Rumination is thought to be one of the processes underlying rAMS, but research has failed to show an association between trait rumination and rAMS in individuals who are not currently depressed (e.g., community samples, college samples, and formerly depressed samples). The present study tested whether a challenge procedure that induces a self-discrepancy focus can elicit an association between trait rumination and rAMS in formerly depressed participants. Trait rumination was assessed via self-report. Measures of psychopathology and cognitive function, including depression, were assessed via self-report and interview. Autobiographical Memory Specificity (AMS) was evaluated before and after the induction of a self-discrepancy focus in formerly depressed participants. Results showed that trait rumination was indeed negatively correlated with AMS after, but not before the induction. Moreover, high trait ruminating participants showed a decrease in AMS following the induction. In other words, memory specificity was reactive to the induction, but no such decrease was observed in low trait ruminating individuals. This study is mostly of women. These results may not generalize well to men. Our experimental control was within-subjects, which, although powerful and economical, cannot rule out certain confounding processes including natural changes in self-discrepancy, or non-specific or unintended effects of the induction. In order to detect rAMS in formerly depressed individuals or to observe associations between rAMS and trait measures of rumination, state ruminative processing needs to be activated. Results are discussed by framing rAMS as an example of cognitive reactivity, a general type of processing that is associated with depression. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numerical evaluation of multi-loop integrals for arbitrary kinematics with SecDec 2.0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borowka, Sophia; Carter, Jonathon; Heinrich, Gudrun

2013-02-01

We present the program SecDec 2.0, which contains various new features. First, it allows the numerical evaluation of multi-loop integrals with no restriction on the kinematics. Dimensionally regulated ultraviolet and infrared singularities are isolated via sector decomposition, while threshold singularities are handled by a deformation of the integration contour in the complex plane. As an application, we present numerical results for various massive two-loop four-point diagrams. SecDec 2.0 also contains new useful features for the calculation of more general parameter integrals, related for example to phase space integrals. Program summaryProgram title: SecDec 2.0 Catalogue identifier: AEIR_v2_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEIR_v2_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 156829 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 2137907 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Wolfram Mathematica, Perl, Fortran/C++. Computer: From a single PC to a cluster, depending on the problem. Operating system: Unix, Linux. RAM: Depending on the complexity of the problem Classification: 4.4, 5, 11.1. Catalogue identifier of previous version: AEIR_v1_0 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 182(2011)1566 Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Nature of problem: Extraction of ultraviolet and infrared singularities from parametric integrals appearing in higher order perturbative calculations in gauge theories. Numerical integration in the presence of integrable singularities (e.g., kinematic thresholds). Solution method: Algebraic extraction of singularities in dimensional regularization using iterated sector decomposition. This leads to a Laurent series in the dimensional regularization parameter ɛ, where the coefficients are finite integrals over the unit hypercube. Those integrals are evaluated numerically by Monte Carlo integration. The integrable singularities are handled by choosing a suitable integration contour in the complex plane, in an automated way. Reasons for new version: In the previous version the calculation of multi-scale integrals was restricted to the Euclidean region. Now multi-loop integrals with arbitrary physical kinematics can be evaluated. Another major improvement is the possibility of full parallelization. Summary of revisions: No restriction on the kinematics for multi-loop integrals. The integrand can be constructed from the topological cuts of the diagram. Possibility of full parallelization. Numerical integration of multi-loop integrals written in C++ rather than Fortran. Possibility to loop over ranges of parameters. Restrictions: Depending on the complexity of the problem, limited by memory and CPU time. The restriction that multi-scale integrals could only be evaluated at Euclidean points is superseded in version 2.0. Running time: Between a few minutes and several days, depending on the complexity of the problem. Test runs provided take only seconds.

General Design Memorandum, Gulfport Harbor, Mississippi. Design Memorandum Number 1. Appendix F. Regional Impact and Financial Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-03-01

District, Mobile AREA A ORK UNIT NUMBCRS Economic Analysis Sec., Planning Div. (CESAM-PD-FE) P. 0. Box 2288, Mobile , AL 36628-0001 11. CONTROLLING OPPICE...NAME AND ADDRESS It. REPORT DATE US Army Engineer District, Mobile March 1990 Plan Development Sec., Planning Div. (CESAM-PD-FP) IS. NUMBER OF PAGES P...0. Box 2288, Mobile , AL 36628-0001 114 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAMIE & AOORIESSQif EU110nt km cIOfi.IAd 011*e) VS. SECURITY CLASS. (of Wol roport

Basic and Applied Studies of the RAM Accelerator as a Hypervelocity Projectile Launcher

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-10

The quasi-steady, one-dimensional "blackbox" model of thermally choked ram accelerator performance 18 that has been widely used by the authors and...the thermal choke point is assumed to be in equilibrium, the conditions can be determined by an equilibrium chemistry combustion routine. This model ...to operation, the details of the flow field must be examined. I The simplest model of the thermally choked ram accelerator flow field treats the flow

The effect of BaM/PANI composition with epoxy paint matrix on single and double layers coating with spray coating method for radar absorbing materials applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widyastuti, Fajarin, Rindang; Pratiwi, Vania Mitha; Kholid, Rifki Rachman; Habib, Abdulloh

2018-04-01

In this study, RAM composite has been succesfully synthesized by mixing BaM as magnetic materials and PANI as conductive materials. BaM and PANI materials were prepared separately by solid state method and polymerization method, respectively. To investigated the presence of BaM phase and magnetic property of the as prepared BaM, XRD pert PAN analytical and VSM 250 Dexing Magnet were employed. Inductance Capacitance Resistance technique was carried out to measure electrical conductivity of the synthesized PANI materials. In order to further characterized the structural features of BaM and PANI, SEM-EDX FEI 850 and FTIR characterizations were conducted. RAM composite was prepared by mixing BaM and PANI powders with ultrasonic cleaner. Afterwards, VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) characterization was carried out to determine reflection loss value of RAM by applying mixed RAM composite and epoxy paint on aluminum plate using spray gun. Microscopic characterization was employed to investigated the distribution of RAM particles on the substrate. It was found that reflection loss value as low as -27.153 dB was achieved when applied 15 wt% BaM/PANi composite at 100.6 µm thickness. In addition, the absorption of electromagnetic waves value increase as the addition of RAM composite composition increases.

The oviducal protein, heat-shock 70-kDa protein 8, improves the long-term survival of ram spermatozoa during storage at 17°C in a commercial extender.

PubMed

Lloyd, R E; Fazeli, A; Watson, P F; Holt, W V

2012-01-01

Poor fertility rates are often observed when fresh ram semen stored in conventional extenders is used for cervical artificial insemination (AI). Heat-shock 70-kDa protein 8 (HSPA8), found within the oviduct, prolongs boar, ram and bull sperm survival at body temperatures in vitro. Here, we aimed to determine whether supplementing extenders (INRA-96 and RSD-1) with HSPA8 (4 µg mL⁻¹) would improve their performance in maintaining freshly collected ram sperm viability and sperm nuclear DNA integrity during storage over 48 h at 17°C. Sperm function was assessed at 1, 6, 24 and 48h and this experiment was repeated using 25 × 10⁶ and 800 × 10⁶ spermatozoa mL⁻¹. INRA96 supplemented with HSPA8 maintained sperm viability significantly better than INRA96 alone at both sperm concentrations. However, sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation (DF) increased significantly during storage using the higher sperm concentration, irrespective of the extender and the protein treatment used. Increasing levels of sperm nuclear DF over time could explain why poor fertility rates are often observed following cervical AI using stored ram semen. However, further research is required to ascertain whether supplementing the commercially available INRA96 extender with HSPA8 will improve fertility rates following cervical AI using stored ram semen.

Galactic star formation enhanced and quenched by ram pressure in groups and clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bekki, Kenji

2014-02-01

We investigate how ram pressure of intragroup and intracluster medium can influence the spatial and temporal variations of star formation (SF) of disc galaxies with halo masses (Mh) ranging from 1010 to 1012 M⊙ (i.e. from dwarf irregular to Milky Way-type) in groups and clusters with 1013 ≤ Mh/M⊙ ≤ 1015 by using numerical simulations with a new model for time-varying ram pressure. The long-term evolution of SF rates and Hα morphologies corresponding to the distributions of star-forming regions are particularly investigated for different model parameters. The principal results are as follows. Whether ram pressure can enhance or reduce SF depends on Mh of disc galaxies and inclination angles of gas discs with respect to their orbital directions for a given orbit and a given environment. For example, SF can be moderately enhanced in disc galaxies with Mh = 1012 M⊙ at the pericentre passages in a cluster with Mh = 1014 M⊙ whereas it can be completely shut down (`quenching') for low-mass discs with Mh = 1010 M⊙. Ram pressure can reduce the Hα-to-optical-disc-size ratios of discs and the level of the reduction depends on Mh and orbits of disc galaxies for a given environment. Disc galaxies under strong ram pressure show characteristic Hα morphologies such as ring-like, one-sided and crescent-like distributions.

Mitigation of High Altitude and Low Earth Orbit Radiation Effects on Microelectronics via Shielding or Error Detection and Correction Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gupta, Kajal (Technical Monitor); Kirby, Kelvin

2004-01-01

The NASA Cooperative Agreement NAG4-210 was granted under the FY2000 Faculty Awards for Research (FAR) Program. The project was proposed to examine the effects of charged particles and neutrons on selected random access memory (RAM) technologies. The concept of the project was to add to the current knowledge of Single Event Effects (SEE) concerning RAM and explore the impact of selected forms of radiation on Error Detection and Correction Systems. The project was established as an extension of a previous FAR awarded to Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), under the direction of Dr. Richard Wilkins as principal investigator. The NASA sponsored Center for Applied Radiation Research (CARR) at PVAMU developed an electronic test-bed to explore and quantify SEE on RAM from charged particles and neutrons. The test-bed was developed using 486DX microprocessor technology (PC-104) and a custom test board to mount RAM integrated circuits or other electronic devices. The test-bed had two configurations - a bench test version for laboratory experiments and a 400 Hz powered rack version for flight experiments. The objectives of this project were to: 1) Upgrade the Electronic Test-bed (ETB) to a Pentium configuration; 2) Accommodate more than only 8 Mbytes of RAM; 3) Explore Error Detection and Correction Systems for radiation effects; 4) Test modern RAM technologies in radiation environments.

Application of the LEPS technique for Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting (QPF) in Southern Italy: a preliminary study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Federico, S.; Avolio, E.; Bellecci, C.; Colacino, M.; Walko, R. L.

2006-03-01

This paper reports preliminary results for a Limited area model Ensemble Prediction System (LEPS), based on RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modelling System), for eight case studies of moderate-intense precipitation over Calabria, the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula. LEPS aims to transfer the benefits of a probabilistic forecast from global to regional scales in countries where local orographic forcing is a key factor to force convection. To accomplish this task and to limit computational time in an operational implementation of LEPS, we perform a cluster analysis of ECMWF-EPS runs. Starting from the 51 members that form the ECMWF-EPS we generate five clusters. For each cluster a representative member is selected and used to provide initial and dynamic boundary conditions to RAMS, whose integrations generate LEPS. RAMS runs have 12-km horizontal resolution. To analyze the impact of enhanced horizontal resolution on quantitative precipitation forecasts, LEPS forecasts are compared to a full Brute Force (BF) ensemble. This ensemble is based on RAMS, has 36 km horizontal resolution and is generated by 51 members, nested in each ECMWF-EPS member. LEPS and BF results are compared subjectively and by objective scores. Subjective analysis is based on precipitation and probability maps of case studies whereas objective analysis is made by deterministic and probabilistic scores. Scores and maps are calculated by comparing ensemble precipitation forecasts against reports from the Calabria regional raingauge network. Results show that LEPS provided better rainfall predictions than BF for all case studies selected. This strongly suggests the importance of the enhanced horizontal resolution, compared to ensemble population, for Calabria for these cases. To further explore the impact of local physiographic features on QPF (Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting), LEPS results are also compared with a 6-km horizontal resolution deterministic forecast. Due to local and mesoscale forcing, the high resolution forecast (Hi-Res) has better performance compared to the ensemble mean for rainfall thresholds larger than 10mm but it tends to overestimate precipitation for lower amounts. This yields larger false alarms that have a detrimental effect on objective scores for lower thresholds. To exploit the advantages of a probabilistic forecast compared to a deterministic one, the relation between the ECMWF-EPS 700 hPa geopotential height spread and LEPS performance is analyzed. Results are promising even if additional studies are required.

Negative ions at Titan: New results using spacecraft attitude changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wellbrock, A.; Coates, A. J.; Lewis, G. R.; Jones, G. H.; Arridge, C. S.; Magee, B. A.; Crary, F. J.; Waite, J. H.; Sittler, E. C.; Young, D. T.

2009-04-01

A. Wellbrock, A. J. Coates, G. R. Lewis, G. H. Jones, C. S. Arridge, B. A. Magee, F. J. Crary, J. H. Waite, E. C. Sittler, D. T. Young The ELS (ELectron Spectrometer) part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) revealed the existence of negative ions in Titan's ionosphere (Coates et al, 2007, Waite et al, 2007). The instrument is mounted on a rotating platform called the actuator. The negative ions are detected when this actuator points in the direction in which the spacecraft travels (the ‘ram direction'). This is because the negative ions have slow thermal speeds compared to the spacecraft speed, whereas electrons have much higher thermal speeds and are detected in any direction as their distribution is isotropic. Hence the negative ions can be identified as narrow spikes in the ELS electron spectrograms. During most Titan flybys, the spacecraft attitude is oriented such that the central anode of the instrument points in the ram direction. However, during Titan encounters when the spacecraft rotates, other anodes can point in the ram direction for short periods of time, or in a direction very close to the ram direction. In the latter case, only higher mass ions are detected. Comparing data from different anodes in and near the ram direction can be used to obtain information related to the ion velocity and temperature, which we discuss. The study of measurements from all anodes of the instrument also significantly increases the number of negative ion spikes available for analysis. The resulting set of data allows a statistical study of the different mass groups at a range of altitudes and latitudes, and their scale heights. We summarise and discuss the results. References: Coates, A.J., F.J. Crary, G.R. Lewis, D.T. Young, J.H. Waite, Jr., E.C.Sittler Jr., Discovery of heavy negative ions in Titan's ionosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L22103, 2007. Waite, J. H., Jr., D. T. Young, T. E. Cravens, A. J. Coates, F. J. Crary, B. Magee and J. Westlake, The Process of Tholin Formation in Titan's Upper Atmosphere, Science 316, 870 (11 May 2007).

Automated internal pipe cutting device

DOEpatents

Godlewski, William J.; Haffke, Gary S.; Purvis, Dale; Bashar, Ronald W.; Jones, Stewart D.; Moretti, Jr., Henry; Pimentel, James

2003-01-21

The invention is a remotely controlled internal pipe cutting device primarily used for cutting pipes where the outside of the pipe is inaccessible at the line where the cut is to be made. The device includes an axial ram within a rotational cylinder which is enclosed in a housing. The housing is adapted for attachment to an open end of the pipe and for supporting the ram and cylinder in cantilever fashion within the pipe. A radially movable cutter, preferably a plasma arc torch, is attached to the distal end of the ram. A drive mechanism, containing motors and mechanical hardware for operating the ram and cylinder, is attached to the proximal end of the housing. The ram and cylinder provide for moving the cutter axially and circumferentially, and a cable assembly attached to a remote motor provide for the movement of the cutter radially, within the pipe. The control system can be adjusted and operated remotely to control the position and movement of the cutter to obtain the desired cut. The control system can also provide automatic standoff control for a plasma arc torch.

[A Case of Recurrent Gastric Cancer with Grade 3 Proteinuria Caused by Ramucirumab plus Paclitaxel Therapy].

PubMed

Kimura, Yutaka; Makari, Yoichi; Mikami, Jota; Hiraki, Yoko; Kato, Hiroaki; Iwama, Mitsuru; Shiraishi, Osamu; Yasuda, Atsushi; Shinkai, Masayuki; Imano, Motohiro; Imamoto, Haruhiko; Fujita, Junya; Furukawa, Hiroshi; Yasuda, Takushi

2017-11-01

Proteinuria is one of the characteristic adverse events by ramucirumab(RAM)plus paclitaxel(PTX)combination therapy for advanced gastric cancer. We reported a case of recurrent gastric cancer with grade(gr)3 proteinuria caused by RAM plus PTX therapy. 77-year-old woman was underwent distal gastrectomy in 76 years old for gastric cancer that was diagnosed mucinous adenocarcinoma, fStage III C(T4aN3H0P0CY0M0)and received adjuvant chemotherapy of S-1 for 1 year. She suffered from peritoneal recurrence with ascites after 1 year and 4 months of the operation and RAM(8mg/kg; day 1 and 15)plus PTX(80mg/m2; day 1, 8 and 15)therapy was administrated as second-line chemotherapy. After 1 course, weekly PTX has been continued for gr 3 proteinuria and the ascites disappeared after 4 courses. This successful case might indicate that it was important for patients with gr 3 proteinuria as adverse event to consider discontinuance of RAM and continuation of PTX according to the proper usage guide of RAM.

Ram pressure stripping of hot coronal gas from group and cluster galaxies and the detectability of surviving X-ray coronae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayaraghavan, Rukmani; Ricker, Paul M.

2015-05-01

Ram pressure stripping can remove hot and cold gas from galaxies in the intracluster medium, as shown by observations of X-ray and H I galaxy wakes in nearby clusters of galaxies. However, ram pressure stripping, including pre-processing in group environments, does not remove all the hot coronal gas from cluster galaxies. Recent high-resolution Chandra observations have shown that ˜1-4 kpc extended, hot galactic coronae are ubiquitous in group and cluster galaxies. To better understand this result, we simulate ram pressure stripping of a cosmologically motivated population of galaxies in isolated group and cluster environments. The galaxies and the host group and cluster are composed of collisionless dark matter and hot gas initially in hydrostatic equilibrium with the galaxy and host potentials. We show that the rate at which gas is lost depends on the galactic and host halo mass. Using synthetic X-ray observations, we evaluate the detectability of stripped galactic coronae in real observations by stacking images on the known galaxy centres. We find that coronal emission should be detected within ˜10 arcsec, or ˜5 kpc up to ˜2.3 Gyr in the lowest (0.1-1.2 keV) energy band. Thus, the presence of observed coronae in cluster galaxies significantly smaller than the hot X-ray haloes of field galaxies indicates that at least some gas removal occurs within cluster environments for recently accreted galaxies. Finally, we evaluate the possibility that existing and future X-ray cluster catalogues can be used in combination with optical galaxy positions to detect galactic coronal emission via stacking analysis. We briefly discuss the effects of additional physical processes on coronal survival, and will address them in detail in future papers in this series.

Regulation of exocytosis by the exocyst subunit Sec6 and the SM protein Sec1.

PubMed

Morgera, Francesca; Sallah, Margaret R; Dubuke, Michelle L; Gandhi, Pallavi; Brewer, Daniel N; Carr, Chavela M; Munson, Mary

2012-01-01

Trafficking of protein and lipid cargo through the secretory pathway in eukaryotic cells is mediated by membrane-bound vesicles. Secretory vesicle targeting and fusion require a conserved multisubunit protein complex termed the exocyst, which has been implicated in specific tethering of vesicles to sites of polarized exocytosis. The exocyst is directly involved in regulating soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes and membrane fusion through interactions between the Sec6 subunit and the plasma membrane SNARE protein Sec9. Here we show another facet of Sec6 function-it directly binds Sec1, another SNARE regulator, but of the Sec1/Munc18 family. The Sec6-Sec1 interaction is exclusive of Sec6-Sec9 but compatible with Sec6-exocyst assembly. In contrast, the Sec6-exocyst interaction is incompatible with Sec6-Sec9. Therefore, upon vesicle arrival, Sec6 is proposed to release Sec9 in favor of Sec6-exocyst assembly and to simultaneously recruit Sec1 to sites of secretion for coordinated SNARE complex formation and membrane fusion.

Understanding the Role of O-GlcNAc Modifications in Plant Development

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

Olszewski, Neil, E.

2011-06-16

This project has contributed towards understanding the role of O-GlcNAc (O-linked N-acetylglucosamine) transferases (OGTs) in plants. Through analyses of single and double mutants, we have investigated the unique and overlapping functions of SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY), the arabidopsis OGTs. This work showed that SEC functions as negative regulators of the long-day flowering pathway. SEC also has a positive role in regulation of rosette. An E. coli co-expression system that allows potential substrates to be co-expressed with and O-GlcNAc modified by SEC was developed. We showed that SEC is a bona fide OGT that modifies itself with single O-linkedmore » GlcNAc(s). Using this system, we tested a number of proteins that were hypothesized to be substrates of SEC and identified a number of substrates include GIGANTEA (GI), a component of the long day flowering pathway. The hypothesis that O-GlcNAc modification controls GI activity was tested by first mapping where E. coli-expressed SEC modifies GI and then assessing the activity of a non-modifiable mutant form of GI. The activity of the mutant form of GI was indistinguishable from that of wild type suggesting that either O-GlcNAc does not regulate GI activity or that additional modification sites exist on GI. In collaboration with Dr. Juan Antonio Garcia at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid the role of O-GlcNAc modification of the plum pox virus coat protein (PPV-CP) was investigated. SEC was shown to O-GlcNAc modify PPV-CP and the modification was shown to facilitate the infection process. E. coli-expressed SEC was shown to modify the same PPV-CP sites that are modified in plants. SEC has a large protein interaction domain called the TPR domain that has been hypothesized to have a role in determining the substrate specificity of the enzyme and/or to regulate its activity. A mutational analysis of the TPR domain did not find evidence for a role in substrate specificity but did obtain evidence that the domain regulates enzyme activity.« less

PO calculation for reduction in radar cross section of hypersonic targets using RAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Song-hua; Guo, Li-xin; Pan, Wei-tao; Chen, Wei; Xiao, Yi-fan

2018-06-01

The radar cross section (RCS) reduction of hypersonic targets by radar absorbing materials (RAM) coating under different reentry cases is analyzed in the C and X bands frequency range normally used for radar detection. The physical optics method is extended to both the inhomogeneous plasma sheath and RAM layer present simultaneously. The simulation results show that the absorbing coating can reduce the RCS of the plasma cloaking system and its effectiveness is related to the maximum plasma frequency. Moreover, the amount of the RCS decrease, its maxima, and the corresponding optimal RAM thickness depend on the non-uniformity and parameters of the plasma sheath. In addition, the backward RCS of the flight vehicle shrouded by plasma shielding and man-made absorber is calculated and compared to the bare cone.

Realization of Minimum and Maximum Gate Function in Ta2O5-based Memristive Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breuer, Thomas; Nielen, Lutz; Roesgen, Bernd; Waser, Rainer; Rana, Vikas; Linn, Eike

2016-04-01

Redox-based resistive switching devices (ReRAM) are considered key enablers for future non-volatile memory and logic applications. Functionally enhanced ReRAM devices could enable new hardware concepts, e.g. logic-in-memory or neuromorphic applications. In this work, we demonstrate the implementation of ReRAM-based fuzzy logic gates using Ta2O5 devices to enable analogous Minimum and Maximum operations. The realized gates consist of two anti-serially connected ReRAM cells offering two inputs and one output. The cells offer an endurance up to 106 cycles. By means of exemplary input signals, each gate functionality is verified and signal constraints are highlighted. This realization could improve the efficiency of analogous processing tasks such as sorting networks in the future.

Potential Solution of a Hardware-Software System V-Cluster for Big Data Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morra, G.; Tufo, H.; Yuen, D. A.; Brown, J.; Zihao, S.

2017-12-01

Today it cannot be denied that the Big Data revolution is taking place and is replacing HPC and numerical simulation as the main driver in society. Outside the immediate scientific arena, the Big Data market encompass much more than the AGU. There are many sectors in society that Big Data can ably serve, such as governments finances, hospitals, tourism, and, last by not least, scientific and engineering problems. In many countries, education has not kept pace with the demands from students outside computer science to get into Big Data science. Ultimate Vision (UV) in Beijing attempts to address this need in China by focusing part of our energy on education and training outside the immediate university environment. UV plans a strategy to maximize profits in our beginning. Therefore, we will focus on growing markets such as provincial governments, medical sectors, mass media, and education. And will not address issues such as performance for scientific collaboration, such as seismic networks, where the market share and profits are small by comparison. We have developed a software-hardware system, called V-Cluster, built with the latest NVIDIA GPUs and Intel CPUs with ample amounts of RAM (over couple of Tbytes) and local storage. We have put in an internal network with high bandwidth (over 100 Gbits/sec) and each node of V-Cluster can run at around 40 Tflops. Our system can scale linearly with the number of codes. Our main strength in data analytics is the use of graph-computing paradigm for optimizing the transfer rate in collaborative efforts. We focus in training and education with our clients in order to gain experience in learning about new applications. We will present the philosophy of this second generation of our Data Analytic system, whose costs fall far below those offered elsewhere.

Analysis of Ram Acceleration for High Velocity Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-08-01

South Street Buffalo, NY 14225-0400 Portsmouth, NH 03801-5423 General Electric Company 1 Physics International Company Tactical Systems Department...E. Oran Gaithersburg, MD 20882 Washington, DC 20375-5000 AFOSR/NA 1 Amtec Engineering, Inc. ATTN: Dr. J. Tishkoff P.O. Box 3633 Boiling AFB, DC 20332

Infertility in a Ram Associated with a Knobbed Acrosome Abnormality of the Spermatozoa

PubMed Central

Savage, N. C.

1984-01-01

A yearling Rambouillet ram with an asymmetrical scrotum was examined for potential breeding soundness prior to use in a synchronized mating program in a purebred flock of 20 ewes. Initial sperm cell evaluation revealed 78% knobbed acrosomes associated with few other abnormalities of the head and midpiece. Use of the ram resulted in no conception in one group of ten synchronized ewes. One month later, the proportion of sperm cells with knobbed acrosomes was 80%. ImagesFigure 1.Figure 2. PMID:17422370

Non-Volatile Memory Technology Symposium 2001: Proceedings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aranki, Nazeeh; Daud, Taher; Strauss, Karl

2001-01-01

This publication contains the proceedings for the Non-Volatile Memory Technology Symposium 2001 that was held on November 7-8, 2001 in San Diego, CA. The proceedings contains a a wide range of papers that cover current and new memory technologies including Flash memories, Magnetic Random Access Memories (MRAM and GMRAM), Ferro-electric RAM (FeRAM), and Chalcogenide RAM (CRAM). The papers presented in the proceedings address the use of these technologies for space applications as well as radiation effects and packaging issues.

Software Method for Computed Tomography Cylinder Data Unwrapping, Re-slicing, and Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.

2013-01-01

A software method has been developed that is applicable for analyzing cylindrical and partially cylindrical objects inspected using computed tomography (CT). This method involves unwrapping and re-slicing data so that the CT data from the cylindrical object can be viewed as a series of 2D sheets (or flattened onion skins ) in addition to a series of top view slices and 3D volume rendering. The advantages of viewing the data in this fashion are as follows: (1) the use of standard and specialized image processing and analysis methods is facilitated having 2D array data versus a volume rendering; (2) accurate lateral dimensional analysis of flaws is possible in the unwrapped sheets versus volume rendering; (3) flaws in the part jump out at the inspector with the proper contrast expansion settings in the unwrapped sheets; and (4) it is much easier for the inspector to locate flaws in the unwrapped sheets versus top view slices for very thin cylinders. The method is fully automated and requires no input from the user except proper voxel dimension from the CT experiment and wall thickness of the part. The software is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and can be used with binary data (8- and 16-bit) and BMP type CT image sets. The software has memory (RAM) and hard-drive based modes. The advantage of the (64-bit) RAM-based mode is speed (and is very practical for users of 64-bit Windows operating systems and computers having 16 GB or more RAM). The advantage of the hard-drive based analysis is one can work with essentially unlimited-sized data sets. Separate windows are spawned for the unwrapped/re-sliced data view and any image processing interactive capability. Individual unwrapped images and un -wrapped image series can be saved in common image formats. More information is available at http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/OptInstr/ NDE_CT_CylinderUnwrapper.html.

Biosynthesis of Selenocysteine on Its tRNA in Eukaryotes

PubMed Central

Mix, Heiko; Zhang, Yan; Saira, Kazima; Glass, Richard S; Berry, Marla J; Gladyshev, Vadim N; Hatfield, Dolph L

2007-01-01

Selenocysteine (Sec) is cotranslationally inserted into protein in response to UGA codons and is the 21st amino acid in the genetic code. However, the means by which Sec is synthesized in eukaryotes is not known. Herein, comparative genomics and experimental analyses revealed that the mammalian Sec synthase (SecS) is the previously identified pyridoxal phosphate-containing protein known as the soluble liver antigen. SecS required selenophosphate and O-phosphoseryl-tRNA[Ser]Sec as substrates to generate selenocysteyl-tRNA[Ser]Sec. Moreover, it was found that Sec was synthesized on the tRNA scaffold from selenide, ATP, and serine using tRNA[Ser]Sec, seryl-tRNA synthetase, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA[Ser]Sec kinase, selenophosphate synthetase, and SecS. By identifying the pathway of Sec biosynthesis in mammals, this study not only functionally characterized SecS but also assigned the function of the O-phosphoseryl-tRNA[Ser]Sec kinase. In addition, we found that selenophosphate synthetase 2 could synthesize monoselenophosphate in vitro but selenophosphate synthetase 1 could not. Conservation of the overall pathway of Sec biosynthesis suggests that this pathway is also active in other eukaryotes and archaea that synthesize selenoproteins. PMID:17194211

Unraveling novel broad-spectrum antibacterial targets in food and waterborne pathogens using comparative genomics and protein interaction network analysis.

PubMed

Jadhav, Ankush; Shanmugham, Buvaneswari; Rajendiran, Anjana; Pan, Archana

2014-10-01

Food and waterborne diseases are a growing concern in terms of human morbidity and mortality worldwide, even in the 21st century, emphasizing the need for new therapeutic interventions for these diseases. The current study aims at prioritizing broad-spectrum antibacterial targets, present in multiple food and waterborne bacterial pathogens, through a comparative genomics strategy coupled with a protein interaction network analysis. The pathways unique and common to all the pathogens under study (viz., methane metabolism, d-alanine metabolism, peptidoglycan biosynthesis, bacterial secretion system, two-component system, C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism), identified by comparative metabolic pathway analysis, were considered for the analysis. The proteins/enzymes involved in these pathways were prioritized following host non-homology analysis, essentiality analysis, gut flora non-homology analysis and protein interaction network analysis. The analyses revealed a set of promising broad-spectrum antibacterial targets, present in multiple food and waterborne pathogens, which are essential for bacterial survival, non-homologous to host and gut flora, and functionally important in the metabolic network. The identified broad-spectrum candidates, namely, integral membrane protein/virulence factor (MviN), preprotein translocase subunits SecB and SecG, carbon storage regulator (CsrA), and nitrogen regulatory protein P-II 1 (GlnB), contributed by the peptidoglycan pathway, bacterial secretion systems and two-component systems, were also found to be present in a wide range of other disease-causing bacteria. Cytoplasmic proteins SecG, CsrA and GlnB were considered as drug targets, while membrane proteins MviN and SecB were classified as vaccine targets. The identified broad-spectrum targets can aid in the design and development of antibacterial agents not only against food and waterborne pathogens but also against other pathogens. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Two-dimensional fingerprinting approach for comparison of complex substances analysed by HPLC-UV and fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Ni, Yongnian; Liu, Ying; Kokot, Serge

2011-02-07

This work is concerned with the research and development of methodology for analysis of complex mixtures such as pharmaceutical or food samples, which contain many analytes. Variously treated samples (swill washed, fried and scorched) of the Rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae (RAM) traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as well as the common substitute, Rhizoma atractylodis (RA) TCM were chosen as examples for analysis. A combined data matrix of chromatographic 2-D HPLC-DAD-FLD (two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and fluorescence detectors) fingerprint profiles was constructed with the use of the HPLC-DAD and HPLC-FLD individual data matrices; the purpose was to collect maximum information and to interpret this complex data with the use of various chemometrics methods e.g. the rank-ordering multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) PROMETHEE and GAIA, K-nearest neighbours (KNN), partial least squares (PLS), back propagation-artificial neural networks (BP-ANN) methods. The chemometrics analysis demonstrated that the combined 2-D HPLC-DAD-FLD data matrix does indeed provide more information and facilitates better performing classification/prediction models for the analysis of such complex samples as the RAM and RA ones noted above. It is suggested that this fingerprint approach is suitable for analysis of other complex, multi-analyte substances.

The “ram effect”: new insights into neural modulation of the gonadotropic axis by male odors and socio-sexual interactions

PubMed Central

Fabre-Nys, Claude; Kendrick, Keith M.; Scaramuzzi, Rex J.

2015-01-01

Reproduction in mammals is controlled by the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis under the influence of external and internal factors such as photoperiod, stress, nutrition, and social interactions. Sheep are seasonal breeders and stop mating when day length is increasing (anestrus). However, interactions with a sexually active ram during this period can override the steroid negative feedback responsible for the anoestrus state, stimulate luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and eventually reinstate cyclicity. This is known as the “ram effect” and research into the mechanisms underlying it is shedding new light on HPG axis regulation. The first step in the ram effect is increased LH pulsatile secretion in anestrus ewes exposed to a sexually active male or only to its fleece, the latter finding indicating a “pheromone-like” effect. Estradiol secretion increases in all ewes and this eventually induces a LH surge and ovulation, just as during the breeding season. An exception is a minority of ewes that exhibit a precocious LH surge (within 4 h) with no prior increase in estradiol. The main olfactory system and the cortical nucleus of the amygdala are critical brain structures in mediating the ram effect since it is blocked by their inactivation. Sexual experience is also important since activation (increased c-fos expression) in these and other regions is greatly reduced in sexually naïve ewes. In adult ewes kisspeptin neurons in both arcuate and preoptic regions and some preoptic GnRH neurons are activated 2 h after exposure to a ram. Exposure to rams also activates noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus and A1 nucleus and increased noradrenalin release occurs in the posterior preoptic area. Pharmacological modulation of this system modifies LH secretion in response to the male or his odor. Together these results show that the ram effect can be a fruitful model to promote both a better understanding of the neural and hormonal regulation of the HPG axis in general and also the specific mechanisms by which male cues can overcome negative steroid feedback and trigger LH release and ovulatory cycles. PMID:25914614

Fertility in South Australian commercial Merino flocks: aspects of management.

PubMed

Kleemann, David O; Grosser, Timothy I; Walker, Simon K

2006-05-01

Wide variation in reproductive performance of commercial Merino flocks in south central Australia is the result of genetic and environmental influences that are both amenable to change through decisions of management. Relationships of reproductive traits (estrus, ovulation, fertility, fecundity, lamb survival, and lambs weaned) with variables that graziers can change or modify (strain of Merino, day or month of exposure of ewes to rams, ram effect or teasing, length of the mating period, ram percentage, days between weaning and next mating, stocking density and flock size at lambing, ewe liveweight, and condition) are reported in this paper, the third in a series. Small differences were observed between medium and strong-wool South Australian Merino strains for reproductive traits. Choosing the time of year that ewes are exposed to rams, between late spring to autumn, may result in reduced ovulation rate during early summer (December) giving a potentially smaller net reproductive efficiency (lambs weaned). The ram effect or teasing, used by about 50% of graziers to synchronise lambing, could be effectively employed to the end of January. The technique was not reproductively advantageous when compared with flocks that were not teased. The percentage of rams mated to ewes varied widely (approximately 1-3%) and did not alter flock fertility, suggesting that a substantial proportion of graziers could safely reduce the number of rams purchased. A positive relationship between incidence of estrus during the first 14 d of the cycle and the number of days from weaning to next mating and a negative relationship of returns to service with the same variable indicates that managers should consider increasing the time allowed for recovery of liveweight and body condition by adjusting age at weaning, length of the mating period, or both. Lamb survival was curvilinearly related to flock size and not stocking intensity, with the optimum size at about 400 ewes. The number of lambs weaned per 100 ewes exposed to rams increased by 1.0 kg(-1) increase in liveweight at mating. We concluded that the major factor controlling net reproductive efficiency is nutritional in origin through its effects on ewe liveweight and condition, and is a factor that can be largely manipulated through management.

Practical Thermal Evaluation Methods For HAC Fire Analysis In Type B Radiaoactive Material (RAM) Packages

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

Abramczyk, Glenn; Hensel, Stephen J; Gupta, Narendra K.

Title 10 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations Part 71 for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (10 CFR Part 71.73) requires that Type B radioactive material (RAM) packages satisfy certain Hypothetical Accident Conditions (HAC) thermal design requirements to ensure package safety during accidental fire conditions. Compliance with thermal design requirements can be met by prototype tests, analyses only or a combination of tests and analyses. Normally, it is impractical to meet all the HAC using tests only and the analytical methods are too complex due to the multi-physics non-linear nature of the fire event. Therefore, a combination of testsmore » and thermal analyses methods using commercial heat transfer software are used to meet the necessary design requirements. The authors, along with his other colleagues at Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, SC, USA, have successfully used this 'tests and analyses' approach in the design and certification of several United States' DOE/NNSA certified packages, e.g. 9975, 9977, 9978, 9979, H1700, and Bulk Tritium Shipping Package (BTSP). This paper will describe these methods and it is hoped that the RAM Type B package designers and analysts can use them for their applications.« less

MODIS land cover uncertainty in regional climate simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xue; Messina, Joseph P.; Moore, Nathan J.; Fan, Peilei; Shortridge, Ashton M.

2017-12-01

MODIS land cover datasets are used extensively across the climate modeling community, but inherent uncertainties and associated propagating impacts are rarely discussed. This paper modeled uncertainties embedded within the annual MODIS Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) products and propagated these uncertainties through the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). First, land cover uncertainties were modeled using pixel-based trajectory analyses from a time series of MCD12Q1 for Urumqi, China. Second, alternative land cover maps were produced based on these categorical uncertainties and passed into RAMS. Finally, simulations from RAMS were analyzed temporally and spatially to reveal impacts. Our study found that MCD12Q1 struggles to discriminate between grasslands and croplands or grasslands and barren in this study area. Such categorical uncertainties have significant impacts on regional climate model outputs. All climate variables examined demonstrated impact across the various regions, with latent heat flux affected most with a magnitude of 4.32 W/m2 in domain average. Impacted areas were spatially connected to locations of greater land cover uncertainty. Both biophysical characteristics and soil moisture settings in regard to land cover types contribute to the variations among simulations. These results indicate that formal land cover uncertainty analysis should be included in MCD12Q1-fed climate modeling as a routine procedure.

Nonvolatile ferroelectric memory based on PbTiO3 gated single-layer MoS2 field-effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Hyun Wook; Son, Jong Yeog

2018-01-01

We fabricated ferroelectric non-volatile random access memory (FeRAM) based on a field effect transistor (FET) consisting of a monolayer MoS2 channel and a ferroelectric PbTiO3 (PTO) thin film of gate insulator. An epitaxial PTO thin film was deposited on a Nb-doped SrTiO3 (Nb:STO) substrate via pulsed laser deposition. A monolayer MoS2 sheet was exfoliated from a bulk crystal and transferred to the surface of the PTO/Nb:STO. Structural and surface properties of the PTO thin film were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Raman spectroscopy analysis was performed to identify the single-layer MoS2 sheet on the PTO/Nb:STO. We obtained mobility value (327 cm2/V·s) of the MoS2 channel at room temperature. The MoS2-PTO FeRAM FET showed a wide memory window with 17 kΩ of resistance variation which was attributed to high remnant polarization of the epitaxially grown PTO thin film. According to the fatigue resistance test for the FeRAM FET, however, the resistance states gradually varied during the switching cycles of 109. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Analysis of the Isolated SecA DEAD Motor Suggests a Mechanism for Chemical-Mechanical Coupling

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

Nithianantham, Stanley; Shilton, Brian H

The preprotein cross-linking domain and C-terminal domains of Escherichia coli SecA were removed to create a minimal DEAD motor, SecA-DM. SecA-DM hydrolyzes ATP and has the same affinity for ADP as full-length SecA. The crystal structure of SecA-DM in complex with ADP was solved and shows the DEAD motor in a closed conformation. Comparison with the structure of the E. coli DEAD motor in an open conformation (Protein Data Bank ID 2FSI) indicates main-chain conformational changes in two critical sequences corresponding to Motif III and Motif V of the DEAD helicase family. The structures that the Motif III and Motifmore » V sequences adopt in the DEAD motor open conformation are incompatible with the closed conformation. Therefore, when the DEAD motor makes the transition from open to closed, Motif III and Motif V are forced to change their conformations, which likely functions to regulate passage through the transition state for ATP hydrolysis. The transition state for ATP hydrolysis for the SecA DEAD motor was modeled based on the conformation of the Vasa helicase in complex with adenylyl imidodiphosphate and RNA (Protein Data Bank ID 2DB3). A mechanism for chemical-mechanical coupling emerges, where passage through the transition state for ATP hydrolysis is hindered by the conformational changes required in Motif III and Motif V, and may be promoted by binding interactions with the preprotein substrate and/or other translocase domains and subunits.« less

Analysis of the Isolated SecA DEAD Motor Suggests a Mechanism for Chemical-Mechanical Coupling

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

Nithianantham, Stanley; Shilton, Brian H

2011-09-28

The preprotein cross-linking domain and C-terminal domains of Escherichia coli SecA were removed to create a minimal DEAD motor, SecA-DM. SecA-DM hydrolyzes ATP and has the same affinity for ADP as full-length SecA. The crystal structure of SecA-DM in complex with ADP was solved and shows the DEAD motor in a closed conformation. Comparison with the structure of the E. coli DEAD motor in an open conformation (Protein Data Bank ID 2FSI) indicates main-chain conformational changes in two critical sequences corresponding to Motif III and Motif V of the DEAD helicase family. The structures that the Motif III and Motifmore » V sequences adopt in the DEAD motor open conformation are incompatible with the closed conformation. Therefore, when the DEAD motor makes the transition from open to closed, Motif III and Motif V are forced to change their conformations, which likely functions to regulate passage through the transition state for ATP hydrolysis. The transition state for ATP hydrolysis for the SecA DEAD motor was modeled based on the conformation of the Vasa helicase in complex with adenylyl imidodiphosphate and RNA (Protein Data Bank ID 2DB3). A mechanism for chemical-mechanical coupling emerges, where passage through the transition state for ATP hydrolysis is hindered by the conformational changes required in Motif III and Motif V, and may be promoted by binding interactions with the preprotein substrate and/or other translocase domains and subunits.« less

[Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates with toxic shock syndrome toxin and staphylococcal enterotoxin C genes].

PubMed

Kim, Jae Seok; Kim, Han Sung; Song, Wonkeun; Cho, Hyoun Chan; Lee, Kyu Man; Kim, Eui Chong

2007-04-01

Many methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in Korea possess a specific profile of staphylococcal enterotoxins in that the toxic shock syndrome toxin gene (tst) coexists with the staphylococcal enterotoxin C gene (sec). Because the analysis of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), a mobile genetic element mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance, showed that majority of these are SCCmec type II, these MRSA isolates with tst and sec may be genetically related with each other. This study was performed to investigate the genetic relatedness of tstand sec-harboring MRSA strains isolated in Korea by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A total of 59 strains of MRSA isolates of SCCmec type II possessing tst and sec were selected for PFGE and phylogenetic analyses. These isolates were collected from 13 health care facilities during nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in 2002. The 59 MRSA isolates were clustered into 11 PFGE types, including one major group of 26 strains (44.1%) isolated from 7 healthcare facilities. Seven PFGE types contained 2 or more isolates each, comprising 55 isolates in total. Most of SCCmec type II MRSA isolates containing tst and sec showed closely related PFGE patterns. Moreover, MRSA isolates collected from different healthcare facilities showed identical PFGE patterns. These findings suggested a clonal spread of MRSA strains possessing tst and sec in Korean hospitals.

Cape Photographic Durchmusterung, volume 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

The Cape Photographic Durchmusterung (CPD, Gill and Kapleyn 1895-1900) is a photographic survey of southern stars in the declination range -18 to -90 degrees. This volume covers the declination range -53 through -89 degrees. Positions are given for the 1875 equinox. The summary of the positional uncertainties quoted in the third volume of the published catalog gives +/- 0.28 sec (R.A.), + 0.044 arcmin (Dec.) for zones -18 to -57 degrees, + 0.157 sec + 0.0764/cos(delta) sec (R.A.), +/- 0.056 arcmin (Dec.) for zones -58 to -85 degrees, +0.157 sec + 0.0353/cos(delta) sec (R.A.), +/- 0.0127 arcmin (Dec.) for the polar plate where, as explained in the introduction to the third volume, many positions were derived from rectangular coordinates (these are positions reported to 0.1 sec (R.A.) and 0.001 arcmin (Dec.) in the -86 to -89 degree zones in the catalog). The probable error of a photographic magnitude, as determined by combining results for different magnitudes and weighting proportionately according to the numbers of stars in each class of magnitude, is given as +0.055 mag. From an analysis of the faint magnitude limits on the plates discussed in the third volume introduction, the catalog as a whole can be considered complete to photographic magnitude 9.2, but it is stated that it will be found practically complete, in or near the Milky Way, to magnitude 9.5.

D-DIA High Pressure Facility at the Australian Synchrotron: First Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rushmer, T. A.; Wykes, J.

2016-12-01

The recent acquisition of a D-DIA type cubic multi-anvil apparatus for use at the Australian Synchrotron provides exciting opportunities for conducting a wide range of in situ experiments at high pressure and temperature. The MQ-AS D-DIA apparatus was designed as a mobile system capable of moving between beamlines. The apparatus was installed at the XAS beamline in May, 2016 and experiments performed since then include 1) a proof-of-concept in situ U and Th L3-edge XANES study of MORB liquid; 2) a proof-of-concept falling sphere viscometry of silicate liquid; and 3) room temperature transmission XANES in the high pressure assembly at energies as low as the Ga K-edge and as high as Sb K-edge. The MQ-AS D-DIA apparatus comprises a 350 ton ram in a four post press frame. The press is installed on a positioning table with motorised X-Y-Z-θ axes capable of positioning accuracy of <10 microns. The Rockland Research D-DIA module is equipped with 4 mm and 6 mm TEL anvils, capable of producing maximum sample pressure of 6 GPa. Stepper motors drive the main and differential ram hydraulic pressure generators in a control loop closed by pressure transducers. Samples are heated by graphite resistance furnaces driven by a Eurotherm 3504 PID controller driving a 5 V 200 A step down transformer via a phase angle power controller. Temperature is monitored via a thermocouple and power by true RMS voltage and current transducers. The XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron comprises a 1.9 T 40 pole wiggler, a bendable collimating mirror, a Si(111) / Si(311) DCM and a toroidal focussing mirror. Accessible energies are 5-34 keV with photon fluxes of 108-1012 photons/sec at the sample. Here we present an overview of our recent results. More detailed results of the in situ U and Th L3-edge XANES study are presented by Mallmann et al. (this meeting). In situ imaging and XRD experiments with the D-DIA apparatus on the AS Imaging and Medical Beamline are planned for the coming year.

Memory Forensics: Review of Acquisition and Analysis Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-01

Management Overview Processes running on modern multitasking operating systems operate on an abstraction of RAM, called virtual memory [7]. In these systems...information such as user names, email addresses and passwords [7]. Analysts also use tools such as WinHex to identify headers or other suspicious data within

Effect of ram semen extenders and supplements on computer assisted sperm analysis parameters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection of lambs is a major health issue that can cause anemia, reduced weight gains, poor performance, mortality and discouragement to farmers. Anthelmintic resistance limits the control of GIN by available dewormers, and most alternatives to dewormers have some dr...

How to Inspect Fruit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamaker, Ellen L.

2007-01-01

Nesselroade, Gerstof, Hardy, and Ram point out that the concept of invariance as it is used in factor analytic practice differs from that employed in psychological theory. Although substantive interests often center on a lawfulness in the relationships among abstract constructs (i.e., latent variables), the focus in factor analysis has primarily…

Computer program for assessing the theoretical performance of a three dimensional inlet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Agnone, A. M.; Kung, F.

1972-01-01

A computer program for determining the theoretical performance of a three dimensional inlet is presented. An analysis for determining the capture area, ram force, spillage force, and surface pressure force is presented, along with the necessary computer program. A sample calculation is also included.

Analysis of counting errors in the phase/Doppler particle analyzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oldenburg, John R.

1987-01-01

NASA is investigating the application of the Phase Doppler measurement technique to provide improved drop sizing and liquid water content measurements in icing research. The magnitude of counting errors were analyzed because these errors contribute to inaccurate liquid water content measurements. The Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer counting errors due to data transfer losses and coincidence losses were analyzed for data input rates from 10 samples/sec to 70,000 samples/sec. Coincidence losses were calculated by determining the Poisson probability of having more than one event occurring during the droplet signal time. The magnitude of the coincidence loss can be determined, and for less than a 15 percent loss, corrections can be made. The data transfer losses were estimated for representative data transfer rates. With direct memory access enabled, data transfer losses are less than 5 percent for input rates below 2000 samples/sec. With direct memory access disabled losses exceeded 20 percent at a rate of 50 samples/sec preventing accurate number density or mass flux measurements. The data transfer losses of a new signal processor were analyzed and found to be less than 1 percent for rates under 65,000 samples/sec.

Ultrahigh pressure fast size exclusion chromatography for top-down proteomics.

PubMed

Chen, Xin; Ge, Ying

2013-09-01

Top-down MS-based proteomics has gained a solid growth over the past few years but still faces significant challenges in the LC separation of intact proteins. In top-down proteomics, it is essential to separate the high mass proteins from the low mass species due to the exponential decay in S/N as a function of increasing molecular mass. SEC is a favored LC method for size-based separation of proteins but suffers from notoriously low resolution and detrimental dilution. Herein, we reported the use of ultrahigh pressure (UHP) SEC for rapid and high-resolution separation of intact proteins for top-down proteomics. Fast separation of intact proteins (6-669 kDa) was achieved in < 7 min with high resolution and high efficiency. More importantly, we have shown that this UHP-SEC provides high-resolution separation of intact proteins using a MS-friendly volatile solvent system, allowing the direct top-down MS analysis of SEC-eluted proteins without an additional desalting step. Taken together, we have demonstrated that UHP-SEC is an attractive LC strategy for the size separation of proteins with great potential for top-down proteomics. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Analysis of switch and examine combining with post-examining selection in cognitive radio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, Rupali; Srivastava, Neelam; Katiyar, Himanshu

2018-06-01

To perform spectrum sensing in fading environment is one of the most challenging tasks for a CR system. Diversity combining schemes are used to combat the effect of fading and hence detection probability of CR gets improved. Among many diversity combining techniques, switched diversity offers one of the lowest complexity solutions. The receiver embedded with switched diversity looks for an acceptable diversity path (having signal to noise ratio (SNR) above the required threshold) to receive the data. In conventional switch and examine combining (SEC) scheme, when no acceptable path is found after all the paths are examined, the receiver randomly chooses an unacceptable path. Switch and examine combining with post-examining selection (SECp) is a modified version of conventional SEC. In SECp, the conventional SEC scheme is altered in a way that it selects the best path when no acceptable path is found after all paths have been examined. In this paper, formula for probability of detection ( ?) is derived using SECp and SEC diversity combining technique over Rayleigh fading channel. Also the performance of SECp is compared with SEC and no diversity case. Performance comparison is done with the help of SNR vs. ? and complementary receiver operating characteristic curves.

77 FR 49434 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-16

... Standard (RAM/RS), with ancillary equipment, and machine guns. Also included are the upgrade of Brazil's... Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS), with ancillary equipment, and machine guns. Also included are the...

Precise Restraightening of Bent Studs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boardman, R. E.

1982-01-01

Special tool quickly bends studs back into shape accurately and safely by force applied by hydraulic ram, with deflection being measured by dial indicator. Ram and indicator can be interchanged for straightening in reverse direction.

Wireless data over RAM's Mobitex network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, M. Mobeen

1995-12-01

Mobitex is a mobile data technology standard created by Eritel, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson, that has been in existence for about a decade. Originally designed as a low speed (1.2 kbps) data system with a voice dispatch overlay, it was significantly enhanced in 1990 for use in North America and the UK. The enhanced system is a data-only system using cellular architecture and multi-channel frequency reuse, store-and-forward capability, and an 8 kbps over-the-air data rate. The mission of RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership ('RAM') is to provide high quality, cost efficient, wireless data communications solutions in its targeted market segments. RAM's Mobitex network is currently one of the two networks providing two way wireless data services nationwide using a long distance service provider of the customer's choice.

RAM-SCB simulations of electron transport and plasma wave scattering during the October 2012 “double-dip” storm

DOE PAGES

Jordanova, Vania Koleva; Tu, Weichao; Chen, Yue; ...

2016-09-01

Here, mechanisms for electron injection, trapping, and loss in the near-Earth space environment are investigated during the October 2012 “double-dip” storm using our magnetically self-consistent ring current model (RAM-SCB). Pitch angle and energy scattering are included for the first time in RAM-SCB using L and magnetic local time (MLT) dependent event-specific chorus wave models inferred from NOAA POES and Van Allen Probes EMFISIS observations. The dynamics of the source (~10s keV) and seed (~100s keV) populations of the radiation belts simulated with RAM-SCB is compared with Van Allen Probes MagEIS observations in the morning sector and with measurements from NOAA-15more » satellite in the predawn and afternoon MLT sectors. We find that although the low-energy (E < 100 keV) electron fluxes are in good agreement with observations, increasing significantly by magnetospheric convection during both SYM-H dips while decreasing during the intermediate recovery phase, the injection of high-energy electrons is underestimated by this mechanism throughout the storm. Local acceleration by chorus waves intensifies the electron fluxes at E ≥ 50 keV considerably and RAM-SCB simulations overestimate the observed trapped fluxes by more than an order of magnitude; the simulated with RAM-SCB precipitating fluxes are weaker and their temporal and spatial evolution agree well with POES/MEPED data.« less

Determinate Root Growth and Meristem Maintenance in Angiosperms

PubMed Central

Shishkova, S.; Rost, T. L.; Dubrovsky, J. G.

2008-01-01

Background The difference between indeterminate and determinate growth in plants consists of the presence or absence of an active meristem in the fully developed organ. Determinate root growth implies that the root apical meristem (RAM) becomes exhausted. As a consequence, all cells in the root tip differentiate. This type of growth is widely found in roots of many angiosperm taxa and might have evolved as a developmental adaptation to water deficit (in desert Cactaceae), or low mineral content in the soil (proteoid roots in various taxa). Scope and Conclusions This review considers the mechanisms of determinate root growth to better understand how the RAM is maintained, how it functions, and the cellular and genetic bases of these processes. The role of the quiescent centre in RAM maintenance and exhaustion will be analysed. During root ageing, the RAM becomes smaller and its organization changes; however, it remains unknown whether every root is truly determinate in the sense that its RAM becomes exhausted before senescence. We define two types of determinate growth: constitutive where determinacy is a natural part of root development; and non-constitutive where determinacy is induced usually by an environmental factor. Determinate root growth is proposed to include two phases: the indeterminate growth phase, when the RAM continuously produces new cells; and the termination growth phase, when cell production gradually decreases and eventually ceases. Finally, new concepts regarding stem cells and a stem cell niche are discussed to help comprehend how the meristem is maintained in a broad taxonomic context. PMID:17954472

RAM-SCB simulations of electron transport and plasma wave scattering during the October 2012 “double-dip” storm

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

Jordanova, Vania Koleva; Tu, Weichao; Chen, Yue

Here, mechanisms for electron injection, trapping, and loss in the near-Earth space environment are investigated during the October 2012 “double-dip” storm using our magnetically self-consistent ring current model (RAM-SCB). Pitch angle and energy scattering are included for the first time in RAM-SCB using L and magnetic local time (MLT) dependent event-specific chorus wave models inferred from NOAA POES and Van Allen Probes EMFISIS observations. The dynamics of the source (~10s keV) and seed (~100s keV) populations of the radiation belts simulated with RAM-SCB is compared with Van Allen Probes MagEIS observations in the morning sector and with measurements from NOAA-15more » satellite in the predawn and afternoon MLT sectors. We find that although the low-energy (E < 100 keV) electron fluxes are in good agreement with observations, increasing significantly by magnetospheric convection during both SYM-H dips while decreasing during the intermediate recovery phase, the injection of high-energy electrons is underestimated by this mechanism throughout the storm. Local acceleration by chorus waves intensifies the electron fluxes at E ≥ 50 keV considerably and RAM-SCB simulations overestimate the observed trapped fluxes by more than an order of magnitude; the simulated with RAM-SCB precipitating fluxes are weaker and their temporal and spatial evolution agree well with POES/MEPED data.« less

Operational advances in ring current modeling using RAM-SCB

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

Welling, Daniel T; Jordanova, Vania K; Zaharia, Sorin G

The Ring current Atmosphere interaction Model with Self-Consistently calculated 3D Magnetic field (RAM-SCB) combines a kinetic model of the ring current with a force-balanced model of the magnetospheric magnetic field to create an inner magnetospheric model that is magnetically self consistent. RAM-SCB produces a wealth of outputs that are valuable to space weather applications. For example, the anisotropic particle distribution of the KeV-energy population calculated by the code is key for predicting surface charging on spacecraft. Furthermore, radiation belt codes stand to benefit substantially from RAM-SCB calculated magnetic field values and plasma wave growth rates - both important for determiningmore » the evolution of relativistic electron populations. RAM-SCB is undergoing development to bring these benefits to the space weather community. Data-model validation efforts are underway to assess the performance of the system. 'Virtual Satellite' capability has been added to yield satellite-specific particle distribution and magnetic field output. The code's outer boundary is being expanded to 10 Earth Radii to encompass previously neglected geosynchronous orbits and allow the code to be driven completely by either empirical or first-principles based inputs. These advances are culminating towards a new, real-time version of the code, rtRAM-SCB, that can monitor the inner magnetosphere conditions on both a global and spacecraft-specific level. This paper summarizes these new features as well as the benefits they provide the space weather community.« less

Operational Advances in Ring Current Modeling Using RAM-SCB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morley, S.; Welling, D. T.; Zaharia, S. G.; Jordanova, V. K.

2010-12-01

The Ring current Atmosphere interaction Model with Self-Consistently calculated 3D Magnetic field (RAM-SCB) combines a kinetic model of the ring current with a force-balanced model of the magnetospheric magnetic field to create an inner magnetospheric model that is magnetically self consistent. RAM-SCB produces a wealth of outputs that are valuable to space weather applications. For example, the anisotropic particle distribution of the KeV-energy population calculated by the code is key for predicting surface charging on spacecraft. Furthermore, radiation belt codes stand to benefit substantially from RAM-SCB calculated magnetic field values and plasma wave growth rates - both important for determining the evolution of relativistic electron populations. RAM-SCB is undergoing development to bring these benefits to the space weather community. Data-model validation efforts are underway to assess the performance of the system. “Virtual Satellite” capability has been added to yield satellite-specific particle distribution and magnetic field output. The code’s outer boundary is being expanded to 10 Earth Radii to encompass previously neglected geosynchronous orbits and allow the code to be driven completely by either empirical or first-principles based inputs. These advances are culminating towards a new, real-time version of the code, rtRAM-SCB, that can monitor the inner magnetosphere conditions on both a global and spacecraft-specific level. This paper summarizes these new features as well as the benefits they provide the space weather community.

Determination of the extragalactic-planetary frame tie from joint analysis of radio interferometric and lunar laser ranging measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Folkner, W. M.; Charlot, P.; Finger, M. H.; Williams, J. G.; Sovers, O. J.; Newhall, XX; Standish, E. M., Jr.

1994-01-01

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of extragalactic radio sources provide the basis for defining an accurate non-rotating reference frame in terms of angular positions of the sources. Measurements of the distance from the Earth to the Moon and to the inner planets provide the basis for defining an inertial planetary ephemeris reference frame. The relative orientation, or frame tie, between these two reference frames is of interest for combining Earth orientation measurements, for comparing Earth orientation results with theories referred to the mean equator and equinox, and for determining the positions of the planets with respect to the extragalactic reference frame. This work presents an indirect determination of the extragalactic-planetary frame tie from a combined reduction of VLBI and Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) observations. For this determination, data acquired by LLR tracking stations since 1969 have been analyzed and combined with 14 years of VLBI data acquired by NASA's Deep Space Network since 1978. The frame tie derived from this joint analysis, with an accuracy of 0.003 sec, is the most accurate determination obtained so far. This result, combined with a determination of the mean ecliptic (defined in the rotating sense), shows that the mean equinox of epoch J2000 is offset from the x-axis of the extragalactic frame adopted by the International Earth Rotation Service for astrometric and geodetic applications by 0.078 sec +/- 0.010 sec along the y-direction and y 0.019 sec +/- 0.001 sec. along the z-direction.

Characterization of Native Protein Complexes and Protein Isoform Variation Using Size-fractionation-based Quantitative Proteomics*

PubMed Central

Kirkwood, Kathryn J.; Ahmad, Yasmeen; Larance, Mark; Lamond, Angus I.

2013-01-01

Proteins form a diverse array of complexes that mediate cellular function and regulation. A largely unexplored feature of such protein complexes is the selective participation of specific protein isoforms and/or post-translationally modified forms. In this study, we combined native size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with high-throughput proteomic analysis to characterize soluble protein complexes isolated from human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells. Using this approach, we have identified over 71,500 peptides and 1,600 phosphosites, corresponding to over 8,000 proteins, distributed across 40 SEC fractions. This represents >50% of the predicted U2OS cell proteome, identified with a mean peptide sequence coverage of 27% per protein. Three biological replicates were performed, allowing statistical evaluation of the data and demonstrating a high degree of reproducibility in the SEC fractionation procedure. Specific proteins were detected interacting with multiple independent complexes, as typified by the separation of distinct complexes for the MRFAP1-MORF4L1-MRGBP interaction network. The data also revealed protein isoforms and post-translational modifications that selectively associated with distinct subsets of protein complexes. Surprisingly, there was clear enrichment for specific Gene Ontology terms associated with differential size classes of protein complexes. This study demonstrates that combined SEC/MS analysis can be used for the system-wide annotation of protein complexes and to predict potential isoform-specific interactions. All of these SEC data on the native separation of protein complexes have been integrated within the Encyclopedia of Proteome Dynamics, an online, multidimensional data-sharing resource available to the community. PMID:24043423

Characterization of native protein complexes and protein isoform variation using size-fractionation-based quantitative proteomics.

PubMed

Kirkwood, Kathryn J; Ahmad, Yasmeen; Larance, Mark; Lamond, Angus I

2013-12-01

Proteins form a diverse array of complexes that mediate cellular function and regulation. A largely unexplored feature of such protein complexes is the selective participation of specific protein isoforms and/or post-translationally modified forms. In this study, we combined native size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with high-throughput proteomic analysis to characterize soluble protein complexes isolated from human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells. Using this approach, we have identified over 71,500 peptides and 1,600 phosphosites, corresponding to over 8,000 proteins, distributed across 40 SEC fractions. This represents >50% of the predicted U2OS cell proteome, identified with a mean peptide sequence coverage of 27% per protein. Three biological replicates were performed, allowing statistical evaluation of the data and demonstrating a high degree of reproducibility in the SEC fractionation procedure. Specific proteins were detected interacting with multiple independent complexes, as typified by the separation of distinct complexes for the MRFAP1-MORF4L1-MRGBP interaction network. The data also revealed protein isoforms and post-translational modifications that selectively associated with distinct subsets of protein complexes. Surprisingly, there was clear enrichment for specific Gene Ontology terms associated with differential size classes of protein complexes. This study demonstrates that combined SEC/MS analysis can be used for the system-wide annotation of protein complexes and to predict potential isoform-specific interactions. All of these SEC data on the native separation of protein complexes have been integrated within the Encyclopedia of Proteome Dynamics, an online, multidimensional data-sharing resource available to the community.

Head impacts in a junior rugby league team measured with a wireless head impact sensor: an exploratory analysis.

PubMed

King, Doug; Hume, Patria; Gissane, Conor; Clark, Trevor

2017-01-01

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, magnitude, and distribution of head impacts sustained by players in a junior rugby league over a season of matches. METHODS The authors performed a prospective cohort analysis of impact magnitude, frequency, and distribution on data collected with instrumented XPatches worn behind the ear of players in an "under-11" junior rugby league team (players under 11 years old). RESULTS A total of 1977 impacts were recorded. Over the course of the study, players sustained an average of 116 impacts (average of 13 impacts per player per match). The measured linear acceleration ranged from 10g to 123g (mean 22g, median 16g, and 95th percentile 57g). The rotational acceleration ranged from 89 rad/sec 2 to 22,928 rad/sec 2 (mean 4041 rad/sec 2 , median 2773 rad/sec 2 , and 95th percentile 11,384 rad/sec 2 ). CONCLUSIONS The level of impact severity based on the magnitude of impacts for linear and rotational accelerations recorded was similar to the impacts reported in studies of American junior and high school football, collegiate football, and youth ice hockey players, but the players in the rugby league cohort were younger, had less body mass, and played at a slower speed than the American players. Junior rugby league players are required to tackle the player to the ground and use a different tackle technique than that used in American football, likely increasing the rotational accelerations recorded at the head.

Badge Office Process Analysis

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

Haurykiewicz, John Paul; Dinehart, Timothy Grant; Parker, Robert Young

2016-05-12

The purpose of this process analysis was to analyze the Badge Offices’ current processes from a systems perspective and consider ways of pursuing objectives set forth by SEC-PS, namely increased customer flow (throughput) and reduced customer wait times. Information for the analysis was gathered for the project primarily through Badge Office Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and in-person observation of prevailing processes. Using the information gathered, a process simulation model was constructed to represent current operations and allow assessment of potential process changes relative to factors mentioned previously. The overall purpose of the analysis was to provide SEC-PS management with informationmore » and recommendations to serve as a basis for additional focused study and areas for potential process improvements in the future.« less

Association of soybean-based extenders with field fertility of stored ram (Ovis aries) semen: a randomized double-blind parallel group design.

PubMed

Khalifa, Tarek; Lymberopoulos, Aristotelis; Theodosiadou, Ekaterini

2013-02-01

Two consecutive randomized double-blind field fertility experiments were conducted over a 4-month period and aimed at evaluating the association of two commercial soybean lecithin-based extenders (AndroMed [Minitub, Tiefenbach, Germany] and BioXcell [IMV Technologies, L'Aigle, France]) with pregnancy rates of chilled-stored (CS) and frozen-thawed (FT) ram semen. Semen samples with more than 2 × 10(9) sperm per mL and 70% progressive motile spermatozoa were collected via an artificial vagina from twelve proven fertile Chios rams, split-diluted with the above mentioned extenders, packaged in 0.25 mL straws and either stored at 5 ± 1 °C for 30 to 36 hours or frozen and thawed. Non-lactating multiparous ewes were inseminated in progestagen-synchronized estrus either with CS (AndroMed: N = 212 and BioXcell: N = 206; intracervical AI) or with FT (AndroMed: N = 114 and BioXcell: N = 92; laparoscopic intrauterine AI) semen. Ovulation was confirmed in all ewes based on determination of blood plasma progesterone (>1 ng/mL) 8 days post AI. Ewes were screened for pregnancy diagnosis by transabdominal ultrasonography 65 days post AI. BioXcell was superior to AndroMed in preserving the fertilizing potential of CS (P < 0.05) and FT (P < 0.005) semen. In AndroMed-stored semen, young rams (1.5-2.5 years old, N = 8) had a pregnancy rate (59.1%; 124/210) lower than that (72.4%; 84/116) of mature rams (4.5 to 5.5 years, N = 4; P < 0.025). Compared with AndroMed extender, processing of young ram semen in BioXcell extender improved pregnancy rates of CS (66.7%; 88/132 vs. 83.9%; 94/112; P < 0.005) and FT (46.2%; 36/78 vs. 71.0%; 44/62; P < 0.01) spermatozoa. Both extenders were similarly effective in preserving pregnancy rates of mature ram semen (P > 0.05). Ram-by-extender interactions were significant for pregnancy rates of CS and FT semen. Irrespective of extenders, overall pregnancy rates after intracervical and intrauterine AI were 75.1% and 62.2%, respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, BioXcell is a suitable extender for short- and long-term storage of ram semen. Selection of the ewes, farms, and extenders for intracervical AI programs can contribute to satisfactory fertility rates with semen preserved more than 24 hours at 5 °C. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HIV multi-drug resistance at first-line antiretroviral failure and subsequent virological response in Asia

PubMed Central

Jiamsakul, Awachana; Sungkanuparph, Somnuek; Law, Matthew; Kantor, Rami; Praparattanapan, Jutarat; Li, Patrick CK; Phanuphak, Praphan; Merati, Tuti; Ratanasuwan, Winai; Lee, Christopher KC; Ditangco, Rossana; Mustafa, Mahiran; Singtoroj, Thida; Kiertiburanakul, Sasisopin

2014-01-01

Introduction First-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure often results from the development of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs). Three patterns, including thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs), 69 Insertion (69Ins) and the Q151M complex, are associated with resistance to multiple-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and may compromise treatment options for second-line ART. Methods We investigated patterns and factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure in patients from The TREAT Asia Studies to Evaluate Resistance – Monitoring study (TASER-M), and evaluated their impact on virological responses at 12 months after switching to second-line ART. RAMs were compared with the IAS-USA 2013 mutations list. We defined multi-NRTI RAMs as the presence of either Q151M; 69Ins; ≥2 TAMs; or M184V+≥1 TAM. Virological suppression was defined as viral load (VL) <400 copies/ml at 12 months from switch to second-line. Logistic regression was used to analyze (1) factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure and (2) factors associated with virological suppression after 12 months on second-line. Results A total of 105 patients from 10 sites in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines were included. There were 97/105 (92%) patients harbouring ≥1 RAMs at first-line failure, 39/105 with multi-NRTI RAMs: six with Q151M; 24 with ≥2 TAMs; and 32 with M184V+≥1 TAM. Factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs were CD4 ≤200 cells/µL at genotyping (OR=4.43, 95% CI [1.59–12.37], p=0.004) and ART duration >2 years (OR=6.25, 95% CI [2.39–16.36], p<0.001). Among 87/105 patients with available VL at 12 months after switch to second-line ART, virological suppression was achieved in 85%. The median genotypic susceptibility score (GSS) for the second-line regimen was 2.00. Patients with ART adherence ≥95% were more likely to be virologically suppressed (OR=9.33, 95% CI (2.43–35.81), p=0.001). Measures of patient resistance to second-line ART, including the GSS, were not significantly associated with virological outcome. Conclusions Multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure were associated with low CD4 level and longer duration of ART. With many patients switching to highly susceptible regimens, good adherence was still crucial in achieving virological response. This emphasizes the importance of continued adherence counselling well into second-line therapy. PMID:25141905

HIV multi-drug resistance at first-line antiretroviral failure and subsequent virological response in Asia.

PubMed

Jiamsakul, Awachana; Sungkanuparph, Somnuek; Law, Matthew; Kantor, Rami; Praparattanapan, Jutarat; Li, Patrick C K; Phanuphak, Praphan; Merati, Tuti; Ratanasuwan, Winai; Lee, Christopher K C; Ditangco, Rossana; Mustafa, Mahiran; Singtoroj, Thida; Kiertiburanakul, Sasisopin

2014-01-01

First-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure often results from the development of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs). Three patterns, including thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs), 69 Insertion (69Ins) and the Q151M complex, are associated with resistance to multiple-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and may compromise treatment options for second-line ART. We investigated patterns and factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure in patients from The TREAT Asia Studies to Evaluate Resistance - Monitoring study (TASER-M), and evaluated their impact on virological responses at 12 months after switching to second-line ART. RAMs were compared with the IAS-USA 2013 mutations list. We defined multi-NRTI RAMs as the presence of either Q151M; 69Ins; ≥ 2 TAMs; or M184V+≥ 1 TAM. Virological suppression was defined as viral load (VL) <400 copies/ml at 12 months from switch to second-line. Logistic regression was used to analyze (1) factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure and (2) factors associated with virological suppression after 12 months on second-line. A total of 105 patients from 10 sites in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines were included. There were 97/105 (92%) patients harbouring ≥ 1 RAMs at first-line failure, 39/105 with multi-NRTI RAMs: six with Q151M; 24 with ≥ 2 TAMs; and 32 with M184V+≥ 1 TAM. Factors associated with multi-NRTI RAMs were CD4 ≤ 200 cells/µL at genotyping (OR=4.43, 95% CI [1.59-12.37], p=0.004) and ART duration >2 years (OR=6.25, 95% CI [2.39-16.36], p<0.001). Among 87/105 patients with available VL at 12 months after switch to second-line ART, virological suppression was achieved in 85%. The median genotypic susceptibility score (GSS) for the second-line regimen was 2.00. Patients with ART adherence ≥ 95% were more likely to be virologically suppressed (OR=9.33, 95% CI (2.43-35.81), p=0.001). Measures of patient resistance to second-line ART, including the GSS, were not significantly associated with virological outcome. Multi-NRTI RAMs at first-line failure were associated with low CD4 level and longer duration of ART. With many patients switching to highly susceptible regimens, good adherence was still crucial in achieving virological response. This emphasizes the importance of continued adherence counselling well into second-line therapy.

Numerical simulation of terrain-induced mesoscale circulation in the Chiang Mai area, Thailand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sathitkunarat, Surachai; Wongwises, Prungchan; Pan-Aram, Rudklao; Zhang, Meigen

2008-11-01

The regional atmospheric modeling system (RAMS) was applied to Chiang Mai province, a mountainous area in Thailand, to study terrain-induced mesoscale circulations. Eight cases in wet and dry seasons under different weather conditions were analyzed to show thermal and dynamic impacts on local circulations. This is the first study of RAMS in Thailand especially investigating the effect of mountainous area on the simulated meteorological data. Analysis of model results indicates that the model can reproduce major features of local circulation and diurnal variations in temperatures. For evaluating the model performance, model results were compared with observed wind speed, wind direction, and temperature monitored at a meteorological tower. Comparison shows that the modeled values are generally in good agreement with observations and that the model captured many of the observed features.

Impact of Intraseasonal Oscillations on the Tropical Cyclone Activity Over the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean Sea in GFDL HiRAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Kun; Chen, Jan-Huey; Harris, Lucas M.; Lin, Shian-Jiann; Xiang, Baoqiang; Zhao, Ming

2017-12-01

The tropical cyclones (TCs) that form over the warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico region pose a major threat to the surrounding coastal communities. Skillful subseasonal prediction of TC activity is important for early preparedness and reducing the TC damage in this region. In this study, we evaluate the performance of a 25 km resolution Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) High Resolution Atmospheric Model (HiRAM) in simulating the modulation of the TC activity in the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea by the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) based on multiyear retrospective seasonal predictions. We demonstrate that the HiRAM faithfully captures the observed influence of ISO on TC activity over the region of interest, including the formation of tropical storms and (major) hurricanes, as well as the landfalling storms. This is likely because of the realistic representation of the large-scale anomalies associated with boreal summer ISO over Northeast Pacific in HiRAM, especially the enhanced (reduced) moisture throughout the troposphere during the convectively enhanced (suppressed) phase of ISO. The reasonable performance of HiRAM suggests its potential for the subseasonal prediction of regional TC risk.

Simulation of a Severe Autumn/Winter Drought in Eastern China by Regional Atmospheric Modeling System(RAMS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Chunchun; Ma, Yaoming

2016-04-01

Compared with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA-interim) Reanalysis data and Global Summary Of Day (GSOD) observation data, the outcomes from RAMS of the 2008/2009 severe autumn/winter drought in eastern china are analyzed in this study. The reanalysis data showed that most parts of north China are controlled by northwest wind which was accompanied by cold air, the warm and moist air from South Sea is so weak to meet with cold air, therefore forming a circulation which is unfavorable for the formation of precipitation over Eastern China. RAMS performs very well over the simulation of this atmospheric circulation, so do the rainfall and air temperature over China and where the drought occurred. Meanwhile, the simulation of the time series of precipitation and temperature behaves excellent, the square of correlation coefficient between simulations and observations reached above 0.8. Although the performance of RAMS on this drought simulation is fairly accurate, there is amount of research work to be continued to complete a more realistic simulation. KEY WORDS RAMS; severe drought; numerical simulation; atmospheric circulation; precipitation and air temperature

The Neurobiology of Sexual Partner Preferences in Rams

PubMed Central

Roselli, Charles E.; Stormshak, Fred

2009-01-01

The question of what causes a male animal to seek out and choose a female as opposed to another male mating partner is unresolved and remains an issue of considerable debate. The most developed biologic theory is the perinatal organizational hypothesis, which states that perinatal hormone exposure mediates sexual differentiation of the brain. Numerous animal experiments have assessed the contribution of perinatal testosterone and/or estradiol exposure to the development of a male-typical mate preference, but almost all have used hormonally manipulated animals. In contrast, variations in sexual partner preferences occur spontaneously in domestic rams, with as many as 8% of the population exhibiting a preference for same-sex mating partners (male-oriented rams). Thus, the domestic ram is an excellent experimental model to study possible links between fetal neuroendocrine programming of neural mechanisms and adult sexual partner preferences. In this review, we present an overview of sexual differentiation in relation to sexual partner preferences. We then summarize results that test the relevance of the organizational hypothesis to expression of same-sex sexual partner preferences in rams. Finally, we demonstrate that the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior in sheep do not depend critically on aromatization of testosterone to estradiol. PMID:19446078

Transcriptomics insights into the genetic regulation of root apical meristem exhaustion and determinate primary root growth in Pachycereus pringlei (Cactaceae).

PubMed

Rodriguez-Alonso, Gustavo; Matvienko, Marta; López-Valle, Mayra L; Lázaro-Mixteco, Pedro E; Napsucialy-Mendivil, Selene; Dubrovsky, Joseph G; Shishkova, Svetlana

2018-06-04

Many Cactaceae species exhibit determinate growth of the primary root as a consequence of root apical meristem (RAM) exhaustion. The genetic regulation of this growth pattern is unknown. Here, we de novo assembled and annotated the root apex transcriptome of the Pachycereus pringlei primary root at three developmental stages, with active or exhausted RAM. The assembled transcriptome is robust and comprehensive, and was used to infer a transcriptional regulatory network of the primary root apex. Putative orthologues of Arabidopsis regulators of RAM maintenance, as well as putative lineage-specific transcripts were identified. The transcriptome revealed putative orthologues of most proteins involved in housekeeping processes, hormone signalling, and metabolic pathways. Our results suggest that specific transcriptional programs operate in the root apex at specific developmental time points. Moreover, the transcriptional state of the P. pringlei root apex as the RAM becomes exhausted is comparable to the transcriptional state of cells from the meristematic, elongation, and differentiation zones of Arabidopsis roots along the root axis. We suggest that the transcriptional program underlying the drought stress response is induced during Cactaceae root development, and that lineage-specific transcripts could contribute to RAM exhaustion in Cactaceae.

Improving the leakage current of polyimide-based resistive memory by tuning the molecular chain stack of the polyimide film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chi-Chang; Hsiao, Yu-Ping; You, Hsin-Chiang; Lin, Guan-Wei; Kao, Min-Fang; Manga, Yankuba B.; Yang, Wen-Luh

2018-02-01

We have developed an organic-based resistive random access memory (ReRAM) by using spin-coated polyimide (PI) as the resistive layer. In this study, the chain distance and number of chain stacks of PI molecules are investigated. We employed different solid contents of polyamic acid (PAA) to synthesize various PI films, which served as the resistive layer of ReRAM, the electrical performance of which was evaluated. By tuning the PAA solid content, the intermolecular interaction energy of the PI films is changed without altering the molecular structure. Our results show that the leakage current in the high-resistance state and the memory window of the PI-based ReRAM can be substantially improved using this technique. The superior properties of the PI-based ReRAM are ascribed to fewer molecular chain stacks in the PI films when the PAA solid content is decreased, hence suppressing the leakage current. In addition, a device retention time of more than 107 s can be achieved using this technique. Finally, the conduction mechanism in the PI-based ReRAM was analyzed using hopping and conduction models.

The neurobiology of sexual partner preferences in rams.

PubMed

Roselli, Charles E; Stormshak, Fred

2009-05-01

The question of what causes a male animal to seek out and choose a female as opposed to another male mating partner is unresolved and remains an issue of considerable debate. The most developed biologic theory is the perinatal organizational hypothesis, which states that perinatal hormone exposure mediates sexual differentiation of the brain. Numerous animal experiments have assessed the contribution of perinatal testosterone and/or estradiol exposure to the development of a male-typical mate preference, but almost all have used hormonally manipulated animals. In contrast, variations in sexual partner preferences occur spontaneously in domestic rams, with as many as 8% of the population exhibiting a preference for same-sex mating partners (male-oriented rams). Thus, the domestic ram is an excellent experimental model to study possible links between fetal neuroendocrine programming of neural mechanisms and adult sexual partner preferences. In this review, we present an overview of sexual differentiation in relation to sexual partner preferences. We then summarize results that test the relevance of the organizational hypothesis to expression of same-sex sexual partner preferences in rams. Finally, we demonstrate that the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior in sheep does not depend critically on aromatization of testosterone to estradiol.

Unsteady aerodynamic characterization of a military aircraft in vertical gusts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebozec, A.; Cocquerez, J. L.

1985-01-01

The effects of 2.5-m/sec vertical gusts on the flight characteristics of a 1:8.6 scale model of a Mirage 2000 aircraft in free flight at 35 m/sec over a distance of 30 m are investigated. The wind-tunnel setup and instrumentation are described; the impulse-response and local-coefficient-identification analysis methods applied are discussed in detail; and the modification and calibration of the gust-detection probes are reviewed. The results are presented in graphs, and good general agreement is obtained between model calculations using the two analysis methods and the experimental measurements.

Understanding the Current State of Infection Prevention to Prevent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Human Factors and Systems Engineering Approach

PubMed Central

Yanke, Eric; Zellmer, Caroline; Van Hoof, Sarah; Moriarty, Helene; Carayon, Pascale; Safdar, Nasia

2015-01-01

Background Achieving and sustaining high levels of healthcare worker (HCW) compliance with contact isolation precautions is challenging. The aim of this study was to determine HCW work system barriers to, and facilitators of, adherence to contact isolation for patients with suspected or confirmed Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) using a human factors and systems engineering approach. Methods Prospective cohort study from September 2013 to November 2013 at a large academic medical center (hospital A) and an affiliated Veterans Administration (VA) hospital (hospital B). A human factors engineering (HFE) model for patient safety – the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model – was used to guide work system analysis and direct observation data collection. 288 observations were conducted. HCWs and visitors were assessed for compliance with all components of contact isolation precautions (hand hygiene, gowning, and gloving) before and after patient contact. Time required to complete contact isolation precautions was measured and adequacy of contact isolation supplies was assessed. Results Full compliance with contact isolation precautions was low at both hospitals: hospital A, 7%; hospital B, 22%. Lack of appropriate hand hygiene prior to room entry (Compliance: hospital A, 18%; hospital B, 29%) was the most common reason for lack of full compliance. More time was required for full compliance as compared to compliance with no components of contact isolation precautions before patient room entry, inside patient room, and after patient room exit (59.9 sec vs. 3.2 sec; P < .001; 507.3 sec vs. 149.7 sec; P = .006; 15.2 sec vs. 1.3 sec; P < .001). Compliance was lower when contact isolation supplies were inadequate (4% vs. 16%; P = .005). Conclusions Adherence to contact isolation precautions for CDI is a complex, time-consuming process. HFE analysis indicates multiple work system components serve as barriers and facilitators to full compliance with contact isolation precautions and should be addressed further to prevent CDI. PMID:25728149

H.R. 3627: This Act may be cited as the Brownfield Community Empowerment Act, introduced in the House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, April 1, 1998

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

NONE

1998-12-31

The purpose of this bill is to assist local governments and local citizens` organizations in the assessment and remediation of brownfield sites, and for other purposes. Attention is focused on the following: Sec. 101. Inventory, assessment, and training and grant program; Sec. 112. Grants for revolving loan programs; Sec. 113. Economic redevelopment grants; Sec. 114. Reports; Sec 115. Limitations on use of funds; Sec. 116 Siting of TSD facilities; Sec. 117. Effect on other laws; Sec. 118. Regulations; Sec. 119. Authorizations of appropriations; Sec 120. Research, development, and demonstration; Sec. 121. Assistance for workforce training; Sec. 122. Worker training andmore » education grants; and Sec. 201. Economic development grants in connection with community development loan guarantees.« less

INM. Integrated Noise Model Version 4.11. User’s Guide - Supplement

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

KB of Random Access Memory (RAM) or 3 MB of RAM, if operating the INM from a RAM disk, as discussed in Section 1.2.1 below; 0 Math co-processor, Series... accessible from the Data Base using the ACDB11.EXE computer program, supplied with the Version 4.11 release. With the exception of INM airplane numbers 1, 6...9214 10760 -- -.-- 27 7053 6215 9470 10703 --- --- - 28 SS7 5940 SS94 729S . ... ... 29 4223 4884 7897 9214 10760 ..... 30 sots 6474 7939 8774

TiO2-based memristors and ReRAM: materials, mechanisms and models (a review)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gale, Ella

2014-10-01

The memristor is the fundamental nonlinear circuit element, with uses in computing and computer memory. Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM) is a resistive switching memory proposed as a non-volatile memory. In this review we shall summarize the state of the art for these closely-related fields, concentrating on titanium dioxide, the well-utilized and archetypal material for both. We shall cover material properties, switching mechanisms and models to demonstrate what ReRAM and memristor scientists can learn from each other and examine the outlook for these technologies.

Flight and Preflight Tests of a Ram Jet Burning Magnesium Slurry Fuel and Utilizing a Solid-propellant Gas Generator for Fuel Expulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartlett, Walter, A , jr; Hagginbotham, William K , Jr

1955-01-01

Data obtained from the first flight test of a ram jet utilizing a magnesium slurry fuel are presented. The ram jet accelerated from a Mach number of 1.75 to a Mach number of 3.48 in 15.5 seconds. During this period a maximum values of air specific impulse and gross thrust coefficient were calculated to be 151 seconds and 0.658, respectively. The rocket gas generator used as a fuel-pumping system operated successfully.

Cleaning Puparia for Forensic Analysis.

PubMed

Higley, Leon G; Brosius, Tierney R; Reinhard, Karl J; Carter, David

2016-09-01

We tested procedures for removing adipocere from insect samples to allow identification. An acceptable procedure was determined: (i) Samples were sorted in petri dishes with 75% alcohol to remove any larvae, adult insects, or other soft-bodied material. (ii) Samples of up to 24 puparia were placed in a vial with 15 mL of 95% acetone, capped, and vortexed for a total of 30-90 sec in 10- to 15-sec bursts. This step removed large masses of adipocere or soil from specimen. (iii) Specimens were removed from acetone and placed in a vial of 15 mL of 2% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and vortexed in 10- to 15-sec bursts until all puparia appeared clean (with our samples this required a total of 60-120 sec). (iv) Specimens were removed from the 2% KOH, placed in 75% ethanol, and examined microscopically. (v) Material was stored in 75% ethanol for identification and long-term preservation. © 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

A statistical study of atypical wave modes in the Earth's foreshock region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsieh, W.; Shue, J.; Lee, B.

2010-12-01

The Earth's foreshock, the region upstream the Earth’s bow shock, is filled with back-streaming particles and ultra-low frequency waves. Three different wave modes have been identified in the region, including 30-sec waves, 3-sec waves, and shocklets. Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS), a satellite mission that consists of five probes, provides multiple measuements of the Earth’s foreshock region. The method of Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) includes the procedures of empirical mode decomposition and instantaneous frequency calculation. In this study, we use HHT to decompose intrinsic wave modes and perform a wave analysis of chaotic magnetic fields in the Earth's foreshock region. We find that some individual atypical wave modes other than 30-sec and 3-sec appear in the region. In this presentation, we will show the statistical characteristics, such as wave frequency, wave amplitude, and wave polarization of the atypical intrinsic wave modes, with respect to different locations in the foreshock region and to different solar wind conditions.

Influence of sexual behavior of Dorper rams treated with glutamate and/or testosterone on reproductive performance of anovulatory ewes.

PubMed

Calderón-Leyva, Guadalupe; Meza-Herrera, Cesar A; Rodriguez-Martinez, Rafael; Angel-García, Oscar; Rivas-Muñoz, Raymundo; Delgado-Bermejo, Juan V; Véliz-Deras, Francisco G

2018-01-15

The aim of this study was to determine if exogenous administration of glutamate and (or) testosterone to male rams during the season of reproductive arrest is able to re-activate male sexual behavior and, later on, to promote through the male effect, both sexual and reproductive competence of anovulatory nulliparous ewes. Therefore, an experiment was performed under long-day photoperiods (spring; photo-reproductive arrest, 26°N). Dorper rams were randomly divided into four homogeneous experimental groups (n = 5 males each) regarding live weight (LW), body condition score (BCS), scrotal circumference (SC) and odor intensity (OI). Then, groups were treated with: i) GG (7 mg kg -1  LW of glutamate, every 4d × 30d, im.), ii) GGT (7 mg kg -1  LW of glutamate every 4d × 30d im + 25 mg of testosterone propionate, every 3d × 15d, im.), iii) GT (25 mg of testosterone propionate every 3d × 15d, im, and iv) GC (1 mL of saline, every 4d × 30d, im.). Thereafter, Dorper rams, (n = 4 per group) were selected and exposed to Dorper anovulatory-nulliparous ewes divided in four groups (n = 14 ewes each), and all the appetitive (ASB) and consummatory (CSB) sexual behaviors and indicators of sexual rest (ISR) were registered during the first 48 h of this male-to-females contact. Thereafter, males continued the male-to-female contact for another 8 d, in order to quantify the ewe's sexual and reproductive response through the male effect. During the sexual behavior tests, the GGT rams showed the highest ASB + CSB frequencies (P < 0.05) followed by the GG-rams with the lowest frequencies showed by the GC and GT groups. While the highest ISR behaviors were shown by the GG and GGT groups (P < 0.05) followed by the GC and GT-rams, no differences occurred regarding LW, BCS, and SC along the experimental breeding, with the largest (P < 0.05) OI shown by the GGT-rams and the lowest value observed in the control rams. Regarding the reproductive response of the nulliparous-anovulatory ewes exposed to treated rams, the glutamate + testosterone treated males induced not only an increased (P < 0.05) ovulatory activity and faster (P < 0.05) estrus response but an augmented (P < 0.05) pregnancy rate of the previously anovulatory ewes. To conclude, whereas the GG and GGT treatments generated encouraging sexual and reproductive outcomes, our results are also thought-provoking from a comparative sexual behavior perspective while may embrace potential applications to other animal industries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning about cognition risk with the radial-arm maze in the developmental neurotoxicology battery.

PubMed

Levin, Edward D

2015-01-01

Cognitive dysfunction has been found in epidemiological studies to be among the most sensitive impairments associated with developmental exposure to a variety of environmental contaminants from heavy metals to polyhalogenated hydrocarbons and pesticides. These chemicals have been also shown to impair cognitive function after developmental exposure in experimental animal models. The radial-arm maze (RAM) has proven to be a sensitive and reliable way to assess both learning and memory in a variety of species, most often in rats and mice. The RAM is a very adaptable test method that takes advantage of rodents' instinct to explore new places in the environment to forage. That is, rodents do not need to be trained to run through the maze; they will normally do this from the initial session of testing. Training with differential reinforcement for arm choices provides a more rigorous test of learning and memory. The RAM is quite adaptable for assessing various aspects of cognition. Although the RAM has been mostly used to assess spatial learning and memory, it can be configured to assess non-spatial memory as well. Both working and reference memory can be easily distinguished. The RAM can be run with both appetitive (food reinforced) and aversive (water escape) motivators. The RAM has been found to be sensitive to a wide variety of developmental toxicants including heavy metals such as mercury and pesticides such as chlorpyrifos. There is an extremely rich literature especially with rats showing the effects of many types of brain lesions and drug effects so that the participation of a wide variety of neural systems in RAM performance is known. These systems, notably the hippocampus and frontal cortex, and acetylcholine and glutamate neurotransmitter systems, are the same neural systems that have been shown in humans to be critical for learning and memory. This considerably aids the interpretation of neurobehavioral toxicity studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exposure to Photoperiod-Melatonin-Induced, Sexually-Activated Rams after Weaning Advances the Resumption of Sexual Activity in Post-Partum Mediterranean Ewes Lambing in January

PubMed Central

Abecia, José A.; Chemineau, Philippe; Gómez, Andrea; Palacios, Carlos; Keller, Matthieu; Delgadillo, José A.

2017-01-01

This study was aimed to determine whether the presence of sexually stimulated rams by photoperiodic and melatonin treatments can advance the resumption of post-partum sexual activity in Mediterranean ewes lambing in January and weaned at the end of the breeding season at 41°N, in March. Rams were exposed to two months of long days (16 h light/day) and given three melatonin implants at the end of the long days (sexually-activated rams; SAR). Control rams (CR) were exposed to the natural photoperiod. Thirty-six ewes weaned on 25 February were assigned to one of two groups. From 1 March to 30 June, one group was housed with four SAR males (SAR-treated; n = 18), and the other group (CR-treated; n = 18) was housed with four unstimulated rams. Ovulation was assessed once per week based on plasma progesterone concentrations. Estrus was monitored daily by marks left on ewes by rams’ harnesses. SAR-treated ewes had a shorter (p < 0.01) weaning–first estrus interval than CR-treated ewes (61 ± 17 days vs. 102 ± 47 days; mean date of first estrus after weaning on April 26 and June 6, respectively). The proportion of the ewes ovulating in April or May was higher (p < 0.05) in the SAR-treated group than in the CR-treated group. SAR-treated ewes resumed estrous activity sooner than CR-treated ewes such that, in April, May, and June, the proportion of females that exhibited estrus was higher (p < 0.01) in the SAR-treated group (72%, 89%, and 100%, respectively) than in the CR-treated group (17%, 44%, and 61%, respectively). In conclusion, the introduction at weaning of sexually activated rams advanced the resumption of estrous activity in ewes in spring. The practical implications of this work could be important in ewes adapted for intensive production and accelerated lambing systems. PMID:29056663

Operation of polycarbonate projectiles in the ram accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elder, Timothy

The ram accelerator is a hypervelocity launcher with direct space launch applications in which a sub-caliber projectile, analogous to the center-body of a ramjet engine, flies through fuel and oxidizer that have been premixed in a tube. Shock interactions in the tube ignite the propellant upon entrance of the projectile and the combustion travels with it, creating thrust on the projectile by stabilizing a high pressure region of gas behind it. Conventional ram accelerator projectiles consist of aluminum, magnesium, or titanium nosecones and bodies. An experimental program has been undertaken to determine the performance of polycarbonate projectiles in ram accelerator operation. Experimentation using polycarbonate projectiles has been divided into two series: determining the lower limit for starting velocity (i.e., less than 1100 m/s) and investigating the upper velocity limit. To investigate the influence of body length and starting velocity, a newly developed "combustion gun" was used to launch projectiles to their initial velocities. The combustion gun uses 3-6 m of ram accelerator test section as a breech and 4-6 m of the ram accelerator test section as a launch tube. A fuel-oxidizer mix is combusted in the breech using a spark plug or electric match and bursts a diaphragm, accelerating the ram projectile to its entrance velocity. The combustion gun can be operated at modest fill pressures (20 bar) but can only launch to relatively low velocities (approximately 1000 m/s) without destroying the projectile and obturator upon launch. Projectiles were successfully started at entrance velocities as low as 810 m/s and projectile body lengths as long as 91 mm were used. The tests investigating the upper Mach number limits of polycarbonate projectiles used the conventional single-stage light-gas gun because of its ability to reach higher velocities with a lower acceleration launch. It was determined that polycarbonate projectiles have an upper velocity limit in the range of 1500-1550 m/s which is lower than that of magnesium projectiles.

Spatial and Working Memory Is Linked to Spine Density and Mushroom Spines

PubMed Central

Aher, Yogesh D.; Sase, Ajinkya; Gröger, Marion; Mokhtar, Maher; Höger, Harald; Lubec, Gert

2015-01-01

Background Changes in synaptic structure and efficacy including dendritic spine number and morphology have been shown to underlie neuronal activity and size. Moreover, the shapes of individual dendritic spines were proposed to correlate with their capacity for structural change. Spine numbers and morphology were reported to parallel memory formation in the rat using a water maze but, so far, there is no information on spine counts or shape in the radial arm maze (RAM), a frequently used paradigm for the evaluation of complex memory formation in the rodent. Methods 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, 8 were trained, 8 remained untrained in the RAM and 8 rats served as cage controls. Dendritic spine numbers and individual spine forms were counted in CA1, CA3 areas and dentate gyrus of hippocampus using a DIL dye method with subsequent quantification by the Neuronstudio software and the image J program. Results Working memory errors (WME) and latency in the RAM were decreased along the training period indicating that animals performed the task. Total spine density was significantly increased following training in the RAM as compared to untrained rats and cage controls. The number of mushroom spines was significantly increased in the trained as compared to untrained and cage controls. Negative significant correlations between spine density and WME were observed in CA1 basal dendrites and in CA3 apical and basal dendrites. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between spine density and latency in CA3 basal dendrites. Conclusion The study shows that spine numbers are significantly increased in the trained group, an observation that may suggest the use of this method representing a morphological parameter for memory formation studies in the RAM. Herein, correlations between WME and latency in the RAM and spine density revealed a link between spine numbers and performance in the RAM. PMID:26469788

4. Keeper's house, view southeast, north and west sides ...

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

4. Keeper's house, view southeast, north and west sides - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

8. Oil house, view southeast, north and west sides ...

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

8. Oil house, view southeast, north and west sides - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

Wrap spring clutch syringe ram and frit mixer

DOEpatents

Simpson, Frank B.

2006-07-25

A wrap spring clutch syringe ram pushes at least one syringe with virtually instantaneous starting and stopping, and with constant motion at a defined velocity during the intervening push. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram includes an electric motor, a computer, a flywheel, a wrap spring clutch, a precision lead screw, a slide platform, and syringe reservoirs, a mixing chamber, and a reaction incubation tube. The electric motor drives a flywheel and the wrap spring clutch couples the precision lead screw to the flywheel when a computer enables a solenoid of the wrap spring clutch. The precision lead screw drives a precision slide which causes syringes to supply a portion of solution into the mixing chamber and the incubation tube. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram is designed to enable the quantitative study of solution phase chemical and biochemical reactions, particularly those reactions that occur on the subsecond time scale.

"It's Like a Cyber-Security Blanket": The Utility of Remote Activity Monitoring in Family Dementia Care.

PubMed

Mitchell, Lauren L; Peterson, Colleen M; Rud, Shaina R; Jutkowitz, Eric; Sarkinen, Andrielle; Trost, Sierra; Porta, Carolyn M; Finlay, Jessica M; Gaugler, Joseph E

2018-03-01

Technologies have emerged that aim to help older persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs) remain at home while also supporting their caregiving family members. However, the usefulness of these innovations, particularly in home-based care contexts, remains underexplored. The current study evaluated the acceptability and utility of an in-home remote activity monitoring (RAM) system for 30 family caregivers of persons with ADRD via quantitative survey data collected over a 6-month period and qualitative survey and interview data collected for up to 18 months. A parallel convergent mixed methods design was employed. The integrated qualitative and quantitative data suggested that RAM technology offered ongoing monitoring and provided caregivers with a sense of security. Considerable customization was needed so that RAM was most appropriate for persons with ADRD. The findings have important clinical implications when considering how RAM can supplement, or potentially substitute for, ADRD family care.

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in the farnesylation of Ras proteins.

PubMed Central

Goodman, L E; Judd, S R; Farnsworth, C C; Powers, S; Gelb, M H; Glomset, J A; Tamanoi, F

1990-01-01

Ras proteins are post-translationally modified by farnesylation. In the present investigation, we identified an activity in crude soluble extracts of yeast cells that catalyzes the transfer of a farnesyl moiety from farnesyl pyrophosphate to yeast RAS2 protein. RAS2 proteins having a C-terminal Cys-Ali-Ali-Xaa sequence (where Ali is an aliphatic amino acid and Xaa is the unspecified C-terminal amino acid) served as substrates for this reaction, whereas RAS2 proteins with an altered or deleted Cys-Ali-Ali-Xaa sequence did not. A yeast mutant, dpr1/ram1, originally isolated as a Ras-processing mutant was shown to be defective in farnesyltransferase activity. In addition, another mutant, ram2, also was defective in the transferase activity. These results demonstrate that at least two genes, DPR1/RAM1 and RAM2, are required for the farnesyltransferase activity in yeast. Images PMID:2124698

Antioxidant Effect of Xanthan Gum on Ram Sperm after Freezing and Thawing.

PubMed

Gastal, G DA; Silva, E F; Mion, B; Varela Junior, A S; Rosa, C E; Corcini, C D; Mondadori, R G; Vieira, A D; Bianchi, I; Lucia, T

Xanthan gum is used as thickener in media to preserve food products, having cryoprotectant and antioxidant properties that may be relevant for sperm cryopreservation. To evaluate the effects of adding xanthan gum to freezing extenders on post-thawing quality and oxidant activity of ram sperm. Ejaculates from seven rams extended TRIS-egg yolk-glycerol were split in three treatments including xanthan gum (0.15%; 0.20%; and 0.25%) and a control with no xanthan gum. After thawing, motility and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with 0.20% and 0.25% xanthan gum were lower than for the control (P < 0.05), but mitochondrial functionality and integrity of membrane, acrosome and DNA did not differ (P > 0.05). Xanthan gum at 0.20% and 0.25% may be an efficient antioxidant for frozen-thawed ram sperm, due to the reduction in ROS production.

All-optical clocked flip-flops and random access memory cells using the nonlinear polarization rotation effect of low-polarization-dependent semiconductor optical amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yongjun; Liu, Xinyu; Tian, Qinghua; Wang, Lina; Xin, Xiangjun

2018-03-01

Basic configurations of various all-optical clocked flip-flops (FFs) and optical random access memory (RAM) based on the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) effect of low-polarization-dependent semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) are proposed. As the constituent elements, all-optical logic gates and all-optical SR latches are constructed by taking advantage of the SOA's NPR switch. Different all-optical FFs (AOFFs), including SR-, D-, T-, and JK-types as well as an optical RAM cell were obtained by the combination of the proposed all-optical SR latches and logic gates. The effectiveness of the proposed schemes were verified by simulation results and demonstrated by a D-FF and 1-bit RAM cell experimental system. The proposed all-optical clocked FFs and RAM cell are significant to all-optical signal processing.

CAN IBEX DETECT INTERSTELLAR NEUTRAL HELIUM OR OXYGEN FROM ANTI-RAM DIRECTIONS?

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

Galli, A.; Wurz, P.; Park, J.

To better constrain the parameters of the interstellar neutral flow, we searched the Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX)-Lo database for helium and oxygen from the interstellar medium in the anti-ram direction in the three years (2009–2011) with the lowest background rates. We found that IBEX-Lo cannot observe interstellar helium from the anti-ram direction because the helium energy is too low for indirect detection by sputtering off the IBEX-Lo conversion surface. Our results show that this sputtering process has a low energy threshold between 25 and 30 eV, whereas the energy of the incident helium is only 10 eV for these observations.more » Interstellar oxygen, on the other hand, could in principle be detected in the anti-ram hemisphere, but the expected magnitude of the signal is close to the detection limit imposed by counting statistics and by the magnetospheric foreground.« less

Reactive approach motivation (RAM) for religion.

PubMed

McGregor, Ian; Nash, Kyle; Prentice, Mike

2010-07-01

In 3 experiments, participants reacted with religious zeal to anxious uncertainty threats that have caused reactive approach motivation (RAM) in past research (see McGregor, Nash, Mann, & Phills, 2010, for implicit, explicit, and neural evidence of RAM). In Study 1, results were specific to religious ideals and did not extend to merely superstitious beliefs. Effects were most pronounced among the most anxious and uncertainty-averse participants in Study 1 and among the most approach-motivated participants in Study 2 (i.e., with high Promotion Focus, Behavioral Activation, Action Orientation, and Self-Esteem Scale scores). In Studies 2 and 3, anxious uncertainty threats amplified even the most jingoistic and extreme aspects of religious zeal. In Study 3, reactive religious zeal occurred only among participants who reported feeling disempowered in their everyday goals in life. Results support a RAM view of empowered religious idealism for anxiety management (cf. Armstrong, 2000; Inzlicht, McGregor, Hirsch, & Nash, 2009).

Diagnosis of the influence of the solar cycle in the annular character of the NAM using RAM.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de La Torre, L.; Gimeno, L.; Tesouro, M.; Nieto, R.; Añel, J. A.; Ribera, P.; García, R.; Hernández, E.

2003-04-01

It has been suggested that the North Atlantic Oscillation is a regional expression of the so called Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode (NAM), although some evidences have been found against this hypothesis. However, recent studies conect the spatial structure of the NAM with the phase of solar cycle, being annular-like only for the periods of high solar activity. With this work we try to make a contribution to the debate by using atmospheric relative angular momentum (RAM) to diagnose the annular character of the mode. Correlations of RAM vs. temperature and geopotential height at different levels for high activity years show a more zonally extended pattern than those for low activity years. Moreover, the Atlantic pattern is always shown, even when using RAM computed by 60º longitude sectors. On the other hand, the Pacific pattern almost dissapear.

Effects of self-relevant cues and cue valence on autobiographical memory specificity in dysphoria.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Noboru; Mochizuki, Satoshi

2017-04-01

Reduced autobiographical memory specificity (rAMS) is a characteristic memory bias observed in depression. To corroborate the capture hypothesis in the CaRFAX (capture and rumination, functional avoidance, executive capacity and control) model, we investigated the effects of self-relevant cues and cue valence on rAMS using an adapted Autobiographical Memory Test conducted with a nonclinical population. Hierarchical linear modelling indicated that the main effects of depression and self-relevant cues elicited rAMS. Moreover, the three-way interaction among valence, self-relevance, and depression scores was significant. A simple slope test revealed that dysphoric participants experienced rAMS in response to highly self-relevant positive cues and low self-relevant negative cues. These results partially supported the capture hypothesis in nonclinical dysphoria. It is important to consider cue valence in future studies examining the capture hypothesis.

[The representation of scientific publications of RAMS in WEB of science: evaluation of current indicators and prospects of their increasing].

PubMed

Starodubtsev, V I; Kuznetsov, S L; Kurakova, N G; Tsvetkova, L A

2012-01-01

The contribution scientific publications of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS) in the national publication stream, indexed by Web of Science over the past thirty years, was estimated. The indicators of publication activity that are necessary for the institutions of RAMS to achieve in short-term period the conformity with bibliometric indicators, established by Presidential Decree of May 7, 2012 (to increase the share of Russian publications in Web of Science to 2.44% in 2015) were calculated. It is shown that the current structure of global science, where publications in medicine make up for approximately one third of scientific publications in the world, set for RAMS scientists particularly difficult task: to double in three years the number of publications in Web of Sci. In the article are proposed the priorities and the necessary steps to fulfill this task.

Somatic overgrowth associated with homozygous mutations in both MAN1B1 and SEC23A

PubMed Central

Gupta, Swati; Fahiminiya, Somayyeh; Wang, Tracy; Dempsey Nunez, Laura; Rosenblatt, David S.; Gibson, William T.; Gilfix, Brian; Bergeron, John J. M.; Jerome-Majewska, Loydie A.

2016-01-01

Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified homozygous mutations in two unlinked genes, SEC23A c.1200G>C (p.M400I) and MAN1B1 c.1000C>T (p.R334C), associated with congenital birth defects in two patients from a consanguineous family. Patients presented with carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, tall stature, obesity, macrocephaly, and maloccluded teeth. The parents were healthy heterozygous carriers for both mutations and an unaffected sibling with tall stature carried the heterozygous mutation in SEC23A only. Mutations in SEC23A are responsible for craniolenticosultura dysplasia (CLSD). CLSD patients are short, have late-closing fontanels, and have reduced procollagen (pro-COL1A1) secretion because of abnormal pro-COL1A1 retention in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The mutation we identified in MAN1B1 was previously associated with reduced MAN1B1 protein and congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). CDG patients are also short, are obese, and have abnormal glycan remodeling. Molecular analysis of fibroblasts from the family revealed normal levels of SEC23A in all cells and reduced levels of MAN1B1 in cells with heterozygous or homozygous mutations in SEC23A and MAN1B1. Secretion of pro-COL1A1 was increased in fibroblasts from the siblings and patients, and pro-COL1A1 was retained in Golgi of heterozygous and homozygous mutant cells, although intracellular pro-COL1A1 was increased in patient fibroblasts only. We postulate that increased pro-COL1A1 secretion is responsible for tall stature in these patients and an unaffected sibling, and not previously discovered in patients with mutations in either SEC23A or MAN1B1. The patients in this study share biochemical and cellular characteristics consistent with mutations in MAN1B1 and SEC23A, indicating a digenic disease. PMID:27148587

Frequency characteristics of the heart rate variability produced by Cheyne-Stokes respiration during 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

PubMed

Ichimaru, Y; Yanaga, T

1989-06-01

Spectral analysis of heart rates during 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring has been carried out to characterize the heart rate spectral components of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) by using fast Fourier transformation (FFT). Eight patients with congestive heart failure were selected for the study. FFT analyses have been performed for 614.4 sec. Out of the power spectrum, five parameters were extracted to characterize the CSR. The low peak frequencies in eight subjects were between 0.0179 Hz (56 sec) and 0.0081 Hz (123 sec). The algorithms used to detect CSR are the followings: (i) if the LFPA/ULFA ratios were above the absolute value of 1.0, and (ii) the LFPP/MLFP ratios were above the absolute values of 4.0, then the power spectrum is suggestive of CSR. We conclude that the automatic detection of CSR by heart rate spectral analysis during ambulatory ECG monitoring may afford a tool for the evaluation of the patients with congestive heart failure.

Crustal structure in the western United States; study of seismic propagation paths and regional traveltimes in the California-Nevada region

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roller, J.C.; Jackson, W.H.; Cooper, J.F.; Martina, B.A.

1963-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, with the assistance of United ElectroDynamics, Inc., completed ten weeks of seismic-refraction field work during the summer of 1962 in the southwestern part of the United States. This work was a continuation of a program initiated in 1961 to study traveltimes and seismic propagation paths in the earth?s crust and upper mantle in the western United States. A total of 761 seismograms were recorded along 10 profiles from 86 explosions at 18 shotpoints. Analysis of the data is continuing, but a few conclusions can be made from a preliminary study: (1) Variations in traveltimes in the Basin and Range province are large but measurable, and perhaps predictable. (2) Traveltimes of seismic waves in adjacent geologic provinces are usually significantly different. (3) The velocity of Pg along all of the profiles recorded in 1962 ranges from 5.0 to 6.5 km/sec, and averages 6.0 km/sec. (4) The average velocity of Pg in extreme northern Nevada and southern Idaho is 5.6 km/sec, and it is 6.1 km/sec in most of Nevada and California. (5) The average velocity of Pn is 7–9 km/ sec and ranges from 7.85 to 7.95 km/sec on reversed profiles where the true Pn velocity could be computed. (6) A shallow "intermediate" layer with a velocity of approximately 6.8 km/sec was found in the Snake River Plain. (7) Refraction arrivals from the mantle (Pn) were recorded in the Sierra Nevada. They indicate that the thickness of the crust in the Sierra Nevada is much greater than that in the Basin and Range province. (8) Many refinements in field techniques were made during the 1962 field season.

77 FR 14417 - Notice of Temporary Closure on Public Lands in Gooding and Elmore Counties, ID

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-09

... affected public lands is: Boise Meridian, Idaho T. 3 S., R. 10 E., Sec. 35. T. 4 S., R. 10 E., Secs. 1 and 2; Secs. 12 to 15, inclusive; Sec. 17; Secs. 20 to 28, inclusive; Secs. 33 to 35, inclusive. T. 5 S., R. 10 E., Secs. 3 and 4. T. 3 S., R. 11 E., Secs. 31 and 33. T. 4 S., R. 11 E., Secs. 3 to 15...

Principle of two-dimensional characterization of copolymers.

PubMed

Weidner, Steffen; Falkenhagen, Jana; Krueger, Ralph-Peter; Just, Ulrich

2007-07-01

Two-dimensional polymer characterization is used for a simultaneous analysis of molar masses and chemical heterogeneities (e.g., end groups, copolymer composition, etc.). This principle is based on coupling of two different chromatographic modes. Liquid adsorption chromatography at critical conditions (LACCC) is applied for a separation according to the chemical heterogeneity, whereas in the second-dimension fractions are analyzed with regard to their molar mass distribution by means of size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Because appropriate standards for a calibration of the SEC are seldom available, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to substitute the SEC. The LACCC-MALDI MS coupling enables acquiring additional structural information on copolymer composition, which can considerably enhance the performance of this coupled method.

The use of an exclusion-based risk-assessment model for venous thrombosis improves uptake of appropriate thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients.

PubMed

Bagot, C; Gohil, S; Perrott, R; Barsam, S; Patel, R K; Arya, R

2010-08-01

Venous thromboembolism is a common condition in hospitalized medical patients. Numerous studies have demonstrated that low molecular weight heparin significantly reduces this risk but, despite this, the use of thromboprophylaxis remains poor. To evaluate the use of an exclusion based risk-assessment model (RAM) for venous thrombosis in improving the uptake of appropriate thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients. A survey with a subsequent audit cycle of three separate audits over 36 months. 497 hospitalized patients with acute medical conditions on general medical wards were audited at a secondary care centre in London, UK. The survey and subsequent audits were performed by reviewing the notes and medication charts of medical patients, prior to the launch of the RAM and at 12, 28 and 36 months following its introduction. Prior to launching the RAM, 49% of hospitalized medical patients received appropriate thromboprophylaxis. This did not change 12 months after the RAM was introduced but increased significantly to 71% following formal education of the health care professionals involved in thromboprophylaxis prescription. This improvement was maintained as demonstrated by a subsequent audit 8 months later (75.9%). The introduction of a simple exclusion-based RAM for venous thrombosis in medical patients significantly improved delivery of thromboprophylaxis. The successful uptake of the RAM appears to have been dependent on direct education of those health carers involved in its use. A similar exclusion-based model used nationally could have a significant impact on the burden of VTE currently experienced in the UK.

Rectus flap reconstruction decreases perineal wound complications after pelvic chemoradiation and surgery: a cohort study.

PubMed

Chessin, David B; Hartley, John; Cohen, Alfred M; Mazumdar, Madhu; Cordeiro, Peter; Disa, Joseph; Mehrara, Babek; Minsky, Bruce D; Paty, Philip; Weiser, Martin; Wong, W Douglas; Guillem, Jose G

2005-02-01

A major source of morbidity after abdominoperineal resection (APR) after external beam pelvic radiation is perineal wound complications, seen in up to 66% of cases. Our purpose was to determine the effect of rectus abdominus myocutaneous (RAM) flap reconstruction on perineal wound morbidity in this population. The study group consisted of 19 patients with anorectal cancer treated with external beam pelvic radiation followed by APR and RAM flap reconstruction of the perineum. A prospectively collected database was queried to identify a control group (n = 59) with anorectal cancer treated with similar radiation doses that subsequently underwent an APR without a RAM flap during the same time period. Comparison of percentages was performed with a two-sided Fisher's exact test, and comparison of means was performed with Wilcoxon's test. Perineal wound complications occurred in 3 (15.8%) of the RAM flap patients and 26 (44.1%) of the control patients (P = .03). The incidence of other complications was not different between groups (42.1% vs. 42.4%; P = .8). Despite an increased number of anal squamous tumors, an increased vaginectomy rate, increased use of intraoperative radiotherapy, and an increased proportion of cases with recurrent disease, the flap group had a significantly lower rate of perineal wound complications relative to the control group. Perineal closure with a RAM flap significantly decreases the incidence of perineal wound complications in patients undergoing external beam pelvic radiation and APR for anorectal neoplasia. Because other complications are not increased, RAM flap closure of the perineal wound should be strongly considered in this patient population.

RAM-SCB simulations of electron transport and plasma wave scattering during the October 2012 "double-dip" storm.

PubMed

Jordanova, V K; Tu, W; Chen, Y; Morley, S K; Panaitescu, A-D; Reeves, G D; Kletzing, C A

2016-09-01

Mechanisms for electron injection, trapping, and loss in the near-Earth space environment are investigated during the October 2012 "double-dip" storm using our ring current-atmosphere interactions model with self-consistent magnetic field (RAM-SCB). Pitch angle and energy scattering are included for the first time in RAM-SCB using L and magnetic local time (MLT)-dependent event-specific chorus wave models inferred from NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and Van Allen Probes Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science observations. The dynamics of the source (approximately tens of keV) and seed (approximately hundreds of keV) populations of the radiation belts simulated with RAM-SCB is compared with Van Allen Probes Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer observations in the morning sector and with measurements from NOAA 15 satellite in the predawn and afternoon MLT sectors. We find that although the low-energy ( E < 100 keV) electron fluxes are in good agreement with observations, increasing significantly by magnetospheric convection during both SYM-H dips while decreasing during the intermediate recovery phase, the injection of high-energy electrons is underestimated by this mechanism throughout the storm. Local acceleration by chorus waves intensifies the electron fluxes at E ≥50 keV considerably, and RAM-SCB simulations overestimate the observed trapped fluxes by more than an order of magnitude; the precipitating fluxes simulated with RAM-SCB are weaker, and their temporal and spatial evolutions agree well with POES/Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detectors data.

Apigenin potentiates the antitumor activity of 5-FU on solid Ehrlich carcinoma: Crosstalk between apoptotic and JNK-mediated autophagic cell death platforms.

PubMed

Gaballah, Hanaa H; Gaber, Rasha A; Mohamed, Darin A

2017-02-01

Although 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU) has exhibited effectiveness against cancer, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to enhance its antitumor efficiency and modulate its cytotoxity. Apigenin, a flavonoid present in fruits and vegetables, is a potent dietary phytochemical effective in cancer chemoprevention. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential synergistic antitumor activity of apigenin and 5-FU on Solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC). Eighty Swiss albino male mice were divided into four equal groups: vehicle treated control SEC, SEC+5-FU, SEC+apigenin, SEC+ 5-FU+apigenin. Beclin-1 and caspases 3, 9 and JNK activities were estimated by ELISA; mRNA expression levels of the antiapoptotic gene Mcl-1 were estimated using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, while tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated spectrophotometrically. A part of the tumor was examined for histopathological and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry analysis. 5-FU and/or apigenin caused significant increase in tissue levels of Beclin-1, caspases 3, 9 and JNK activities, MDA with significant decrease in tumor volume, Mcl-1expression, tissue glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity and alleviated the histopathological changes with significant decrease of Ki-67 proliferation index compared to vehicle treated SEC control group. The combination of 5-FU and apigenin had a greater effect than each of 5-FU or apigenin alone against solid Ehrlich carcinoma in mice. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Protein Export by the Mycobacterial SecA2 System Is Determined by the Preprotein Mature Domain

PubMed Central

Feltcher, Meghan E.; Gibbons, Henry S.; Ligon, Lauren S.

2013-01-01

At the core of the bacterial general secretion (Sec) pathway is the SecA ATPase, which powers translocation of unfolded preproteins containing Sec signal sequences through the SecYEG membrane channel. Mycobacteria have two nonredundant SecA homologs: SecA1 and SecA2. While the essential SecA1 handles “housekeeping” export, the nonessential SecA2 exports a subset of proteins and is required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence. Currently, it is not understood how SecA2 contributes to Sec export in mycobacteria. In this study, we focused on identifying the features of two SecA2 substrates that target them to SecA2 for export, the Ms1704 and Ms1712 lipoproteins of the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis. We found that the mature domains of Ms1704 and Ms1712, not the N-terminal signal sequences, confer SecA2-dependent export. We also demonstrated that the lipid modification and the extreme N terminus of the mature protein do not impart the requirement for SecA2 in export. We further showed that the Ms1704 mature domain can be efficiently exported by the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway. Because the Tat system exports only folded proteins, this result implies that SecA2 substrates can fold in the cytoplasm and suggests a putative role of SecA2 in enabling export of such proteins. Thus, the mycobacterial SecA2 system may represent another way that bacteria solve the problem of exporting proteins that can fold in the cytoplasm. PMID:23204463

Direct identification of the site of binding on the chaperone SecB for the amino terminus of the translocon motor SecA.

PubMed

Randall, Linda L; Henzl, Michael T

2010-06-01

Protein export mediated by the general secretory Sec system in Escherichia coli proceeds by a dynamic transfer of a precursor polypeptide from the chaperone SecB to the SecA ATPase motor of the translocon and subsequently into and through the channel of the membrane-embedded SecYEG heterotrimer. The complex between SecA and SecB is stabilized by several separate sites of contact. Here we have demonstrated directly an interaction between the N-terminal residues 2 through 11 of SecA and the C-terminal 13 residues of SecB by isothermal titration calorimetry and analytical sedimentation velocity centrifugation. We discuss the unusual binding properties of SecA and SecB in context of a model for transfer of the precursor along the pathway of export.

Efficient coupling of Sec23-Sec24 to Sec13-Sec31 drives COPII-dependent collagen secretion and is essential for normal craniofacial development.

PubMed

Townley, Anna K; Feng, Yi; Schmidt, Katy; Carter, Deborah A; Porter, Robert; Verkade, Paul; Stephens, David J

2008-09-15

The COPII coat assembles on endoplasmic reticulum membranes to coordinate the collection of secretory cargo with the formation of transport vesicles. During COPII assembly, Sar1 deforms the membrane and recruits the Sec23-Sec24 complex (Sec23/24), which is the primary cargo-binding adaptor for the system, and Sec13-Sec31 (Sec13/31), which provides a structural outer layer for vesicle formation. Here we show that Sec13 depletion results in concomitant loss of Sec31 and juxtanuclear clustering of pre-budding complexes containing Sec23/24 and cargo. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of curved coated profiles on distended endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that Sec13/31 is not required for the generation or maintenance of the curvature. Surprisingly, export of tsO45-G-YFP, a marker of secretory cargo, is unaffected by Sec13/31 depletion; by contrast, secretion of collagen from primary fibroblasts is strongly inhibited. Suppression of Sec13 expression in zebrafish causes defects in proteoglycan deposition and skeletal abnormalities that are grossly similar to the craniofacial abnormalities of crusher mutant zebrafish and patients with cranio-lenticulo-sutural dysplasia. We conclude that efficient coupling of the inner (Sec23/24) and outer (Sec13/31) layers of the COPII coat is required to drive the export of collagen from the endoplasmic reticulum, and that highly efficient COPII assembly is essential for normal craniofacial development during embryogenesis.

Pancreatic SEC23B deficiency is sufficient to explain the perinatal lethality of germline SEC23B deficiency in mice

PubMed Central

Khoriaty, Rami; Everett, Lesley; Chase, Jennifer; Zhu, Guojing; Hoenerhoff, Mark; McKnight, Brooke; Vasievich, Matthew P.; Zhang, Bin; Tomberg, Kärt; Williams, John; Maillard, Ivan; Ginsburg, David

2016-01-01

In humans, loss of function mutations in SEC23B result in Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia type II (CDAII), a disease limited to defective erythroid development. Patients with two nonsense SEC23B mutations have not been reported, suggesting that complete SEC23B deficiency might be lethal. We previously reported that SEC23B-deficient mice die perinatally, exhibiting massive pancreatic degeneration and that mice with hematopoietic SEC23B deficiency do not exhibit CDAII. We now show that SEC23B deficiency restricted to the pancreas is sufficient to explain the lethality observed in mice with global SEC23B-deficiency. Immunohistochemical stains demonstrate an acinar cell defect but normal islet cells. Mammalian genomes contain two Sec23 paralogs, Sec23A and Sec23B. The encoded proteins share ~85% amino acid sequence identity. We generate mice with pancreatic SEC23A deficiency and demonstrate that these mice survive normally, exhibiting normal pancreatic weights and histology. Taken together, these data demonstrate that SEC23B but not SEC23A is essential for murine pancreatic development. We also demonstrate that two BAC transgenes spanning Sec23b rescue the lethality of mice homozygous for a Sec23b gene trap allele, excluding a passenger gene mutation as the cause of the pancreatic lethality, and indicating that the regulatory elements critical for Sec23b pancreatic function reside within the BAC transgenes. PMID:27297878

78 FR 58554 - Notice of Application for Withdrawal Extension, and Notification of a Public Meeting, Desert...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-24

...., partially surveyed, Sec. 7, NW\\1/4\\ and S\\1/2\\. T. 16 S., R. 58 E., unsurveyed, Secs. 11 thru 14, inclusive; Secs. 23 thru 26, inclusive; Secs. 35 and 36. T. 15 S., R. 59 E., unsurveyed, Secs. 2 thru 11, inclusive; Secs. 14 thru 23, inclusive; Secs. 26 thru 35, inclusive. T. 16 S., R. 59 E., unsurveyed, Secs. 2...

10. DETAIL OF CORNICE MOULDING WITH RAM'S HEAD MOTIF. EIGHT ...

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

10. DETAIL OF CORNICE MOULDING WITH RAM'S HEAD MOTIF. EIGHT SHADES OF GOLD LEAF AND BURNISHED GOLD LEAF WERE USED FOR THE INTERIOR FINISHES - Anaconda Historic District, Washoe Theater, 305 Main Street, Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, MT

DETAIL OF CORNICE MOULDING WITH RAM'S HEAD MOTIF. EIGHT SHADES ...

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

DETAIL OF CORNICE MOULDING WITH RAM'S HEAD MOTIF. EIGHT SHADES OF GOLD LEAF AND BURNISHED GOLD LEAF WERE USED FOR THE INTERIOR FINISHES. - Anaconda Historic District, Washoe Theater, 305 Main Street, Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, MT

EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL-SCALE PHOTOCHEMICAL MODELING SYSTEMS: PART I--METEOROLOGICAL PREDICTIONS. (R825260)

EPA Science Inventory

In this study, the concept of scale analysis is applied to evaluate two state-of-science meteorological models, namely MM5 and RAMS3b, currently being used to drive regional-scale air quality models. To this end, seasonal time series of observations and predictions for temperatur...

Producibility Analysis of the Alternative Antitank Airframe Configuration (AATAC) Flex-Wing

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

3 II. PRODUCTIONIPRODUCIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS ...................... 4 A. High Rage Manufacturing Issues...41 7. Hydroform process showing (1) blank in place, no pressure in cavity, (2) press closed and cavity pressurized, (3) ram... hydroforming and Guerin processes ..... 42 viI LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Comparison of Candidate Alloys ................................. 6 2. AATAC Wing

The Ram's Horn, Volume Three, 1-4 (Double Issue), Summer-Spring 1982-1983.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ram's Horn, 1984

1984-01-01

The combined Summer 1982-Spring 1983 issue of this journal dedicated to the Rassias Language Method includes the following articles: "Languages, Learning, and Change" (Ronald C. Rosbottom); "Role-Playing: Perception and Analysis of Sex-Role Stereotypes in Literature" (Judith G. Miller); "Prose as Drama: The Use of Fairy…

Comparison of effects of cryopreservation diluents on the ability of Ram sperm to reduce resazurin dye

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Resazurin dye is an effective way to test the metabolism of sperm. As sperm move, they create metabolic waste which is detected by the dye. Another way sperm are evaluated is by Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). CASA detects motility, progression, curvilinear velocity, lateral head amplitude,...

Roles of the conserved cytoplasmic region and non-conserved carboxy-terminal region of SecE in Escherichia coli protein translocase.

PubMed

Kontinen, V P; Yamanaka, M; Nishiyama, K; Tokuda, H

1996-06-01

SecE, an essential membrane component of the Escherichia coli protein translocase, consists of 127 amino acid residues. Only a part of the second putative cytoplasmic region comprising some 13 residues is essential for the SecE function as long as the proper topological arrangement is retained. The Trp84 and Pro85 residues of this region are conserved in all eubacterial SecE homologues. The conservation of positively charged residues corresponding to Arg80 and Lys81 is also substantial. We deleted or replaced these residues to assess their roles in the SecE function. Deletion of the Arg80-Lys81 dipeptide did not abolish the SecE function whereas that of Trp84 or Pro85 caused a loss of the function. Strikingly, however, replacement of Pro85 with either Gly, Ser, or Ala, and that of Trp84 with Lys did not abolish the SecE function. These results indicate that the strong conservation of these residues does not reflect their obligatory requirement for the SecE function. A chimeric SecE possessing the cytoplasmic region of the E. coli SecE and the following region of the Bacillus subtilis SecE was able to form the translocation machinery together with SecA, SecY, and SecG. Although a Leu to Arg mutation at position 108 has been thought to cause a loss of signal recognition fidelity and thereby suppress a signal sequence defect, the same mutation at position 111 caused a complete loss of the function. The levels of SecY and SecG in the secEcsE501 mutant, which expresses SecE at a decreased level and is sensitive to low temperature, increased upon the expression of functional SecE derivatives, irrespective of the site of mutation, suggesting that the levels of SecY and SecG are co-operatively determined by the level of functional, but not non-functional, SecE. Based on these results, the SecE function in the translocase is discussed.

Effects of Trx2p and Sec23p expression on stable production of hepatitis B surface antigen S domain in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Park, Young-Kyoung; Jung, Sang-Min; Lim, Hyung-Kwon; Son, Young-Jin; Park, Yong-Cheol; Seo, Jin-Ho

2012-08-31

The S domain of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (sHBsAg) is the primary component for vaccine development against virus infection. For stable expression of sHBsAg in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae, new accessory genes necessary for foreign protein expression were screened by DNA microarray. Among 600 genes of interest, genes coding for an activating protein of ATPase in Hsp90 (Aha1p), S. cerevisiae DnaJ (Scj1p), thioredoxin 2 (Trx2p) and a GTPase-activator specific for Sar1 (Sec23p) as well as Pdi1p were selected in transcriptome analysis, which are known to facilitate disulfide bond formation or induce protein transport in the secretion pathway. Individual and combinatorial expression of SEC23, TRX2 and PDI1 increased total sHBsAg concentration by 1.9-6.5-fold, relative to the control strain expressing sHBsAg only. Additionally, moderate expression of Kex2p protease able to cut off the signal peptide enhanced the portion of the authentic sHBsAg to total sHBsAg. Fed-batch fermentation of the S. cerevisiae 2805 strain coexpressing the sHBsAg, SEC23, PDI1 and KEX2 genes resulted in 70.6mg/L final sHBsAg concentration which was 5.6 times higher than that of the control. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of the yeast cells elucidated the effects of the accessory gene coexpression on the intracellular localization of sHBsAg. Like PDI1, coexpression of both SEC23 and/or TRX2 newly isolated in this study is expected to improve the target protein expression in S. cerevisiae. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel method for metalloproteins determination in human breast milk by size exclusion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Acosta, Mariano; Torres, Sabier; Mariño-Repizo, Leonardo; Martinez, Luis D; Gil, Raúl A

2018-06-02

Levels of essential metals in human breast milk (HBM) have been determined by different analytical techniques, but there is few woks about human whey milk fractions. However, the current trend lies in metalloproteomic and identification of different metalloproteins. In this sense, native separative techniques (N-PAGE and SEC) coupled to ICP-MS provide us with valuable information. Besides it is necessary the development of new methodologies in order to determine with accuracy and precision the profile of such metals and metalloproteins in the different whey protein fractions of HBM. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop a new method for metals and metalloproteins determination by SEC-ICP-MS in whey protein fractions of HBM. Human whey fractions were obtained of HBM samples by ultracentrifugation. Then, protein fractions of whey milk were separated by SEC coupled to ICP-MS for metalloproteins and Mn, Co, Cu and Se quantification. Besides, protein profile of whey milk was determined by N-PAGE and computer assisted image analysis. SEC-ICP-MS results indicated that first and second protein fractions showed detectable levels of the Mn, Co, Cu, and Se. Protein profile determined by N-PAGE and image analysis showed that molecular weight of protein fractions ranged between 68,878-1,228.277 Da. In this work, metalloproteins were analyzed by SEC coupled to ICP-MS, with adequate sensitivity and accuracy. Our study has shown the presence of Mn, Co, Cu and Se bound to two protein fractions in whey milk of HBM. Metals levels analyzed were within the ranges reported in the literature. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

77 FR 36611 - Core Principles and Other Requirements for Designated Contract Markets

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-19

.... 38.154--Regulatory Services Provided by a Third Party vi. Sec. 38.155--Compliance Staff and Resources... vi. Sec. 38.256--Trade Reconstruction vii. Sec. 38.257--Regulatory Service Provider viii. Sec. 38.258... Integrity iii. Sec. 38.603--Protection of Customer Funds iv. Sec. 38.604--Financial Surveillance v. Sec. 38...

Eye-head coordination during optokinetic stimulation in squirrel monkeys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kubo, T.; Igarashi, M.; Jensen, D. W.; Homick, J. L.

1981-01-01

Head and eye movements in the yaw plane were recorded during and after optokinetic stimulation in squirrel monkeys. 1) Phasic or tonic head deviations to the side of the ocular quick phase occurred in 94% of total recordings (n = 50) during the perstimulus period, and in 75% of recordings (n = 49) during the poststimulus period. Magnitude of mean head deviation was significantly different between perstimulus and poststimulus periods. 2) Head nystagmus associated with eye nystagmus was consistently observed in seven of nine squirrel monkeys during optokinetic stimulation. Squirrel monkeys are thereby less prone to display head nystagmus than either guinea pigs, pigeons or chickens. 3) Slow phase speeds of coupled head and eye nystagmus were subjected to statistical analysis. A highly significant negative correlation was found between slow phase head and eye speeds. The correlation coefficient was - 0.81 at 60 degrees / sec stimulus (n = 119) and -0.72 at 100 degrees / sec stimulus (n = 131). The gaze speed, calculated by summing the head and eye speeds, was 59.1 plus or minus 6.8 / sec at 60 degrees / sec and 92.2 plus or minus 11.4 at 100 degrees / sec stimulus. There was no significant difference between the gaze speed in a free head condition and the eye speed when the head was fixed.

SECIS elements in the coding regions of selenoprotein transcripts are functional in higher eukaryotes

PubMed Central

Mix, Heiko; Lobanov, Alexey V.; Gladyshev, Vadim N.

2007-01-01

Expression of selenocysteine (Sec)-containing proteins requires the presence of a cis-acting mRNA structure, called selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) element. In bacteria, this structure is located in the coding region immediately downstream of the Sec-encoding UGA codon, whereas in eukaryotes a completely different SECIS element has evolved in the 3′-untranslated region. Here, we report that SECIS elements in the coding regions of selenoprotein mRNAs support Sec insertion in higher eukaryotes. Comprehensive computational analysis of all available viral genomes revealed a SECIS element within the ORF of a naturally occurring selenoprotein homolog of glutathione peroxidase 4 in fowlpox virus. The fowlpox SECIS element supported Sec insertion when expressed in mammalian cells as part of the coding region of viral or mammalian selenoproteins. In addition, readthrough at UGA was observed when the viral SECIS element was located upstream of the Sec codon. We also demonstrate successful de novo design of a functional SECIS element in the coding region of a mammalian selenoprotein. Our data provide evidence that the location of the SECIS element in the untranslated region is not a functional necessity but rather is an evolutionary adaptation to enable a more efficient synthesis of selenoproteins. PMID:17169995

Outer satellite atmospheres: Their nature and planetary interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smyth, W. H.; Combi, M. R.

1984-01-01

Significant insights regarding the nature and interactions of Io and the planetary magnetosphere were gained through modeling studies of the spatial morphology and brightness of the Io sodium cloud. East-west intensity asymmetries in Region A are consistent with an east-west electric field and the offset of the magnetic and planetary-spin axes. East-west orbital asymmetries and the absolute brightness of Region B suggest a low-velocity (3 km/sec) satellite source of 1 to 2 x 10(26) sodium atoms/sec. The time-varying spatial structure of the sodium directional features in near Region C provides direct evidence for a magnetospheric-wind-driven escape mechanism with a high-velocity (20 km/sec) source of 1 x 10(26) atoms/sec and a flux distribution enhanced at the equator relative to the poles. A model for the Io potassium cloud is presented and analysis of data suggests a low velocity source rate of 5 x 10(24) atoms/sec. To understand the role of Titan and non-Titan sources for H atoms in the Saturn system, the lifetime of hydrogen in the planetary magnetosphere was incorporated into the earlier Titan torus model of Smyth (1981) and its expected impact discussed. A particle trajectory model for cometary hydrogen is presented and applied to the Lyman-alpha distribution of Comet Kohoutek (1973XII).

2. Light tower, view west towards Squirrel Island, south and ...

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

2. Light tower, view west towards Squirrel Island, south and east sides - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

7. Outhouse and shed, view west northwest, south and east ...

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

7. Outhouse and shed, view west northwest, south and east sides - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

5. Keeper's house, detail of entrance porch, southeast corner, looking ...

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

5. Keeper's house, detail of entrance porch, southeast corner, looking northwest - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

Lateral Stability of a Dynamic Ram Air Cushion Vehicle

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1974-08-01

The lateral stability derivatives of a dynamic ram air cushion vehicle in a rectangular guideway were measured using a ship model towing tank. Lift and pitching moment are also reported. The primary lateral derivatives are all stabilizing, with signi...

Dynamic-RAM Data Storage Unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sturman, J. C.

1985-01-01

Dynamic random-access-memory (RAM) data delay and storage unit developed to insure data received from satellite is stored and not lost when satellite is not within range of ground station. Stores 256K of serial data, with independent read and write capability.

The Ram's Horn.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rassias, John A., Ed.; And Others

1983-01-01

The summer-fall and winter-spring numbers of the journal, "The Ram's Horn," contain these articles: "The Text as Dramatic Departure"; "The Dartmouth Language Outreach Approach to Spanish for Police Action"; "The Dartmouth Intensive Language Model (DILM) in Florida: John Rassias with High School Teachers";…

[Santiago Ramón y Cajal and cardiology: His little known discovery of sarcolemma in the cardiomyocytes].

PubMed

de Fuentes Sagaz, M

2001-08-01

The first description of sarcolemma in cardiomyocytes was reported by Ramón y Cajal in Textura de la fibra muscular del corazón, published in 1888. In this article, he summarized his observations of the structure of cardiac fibres applying gold chloride dyes and posterior corrosion by acids. The sarcolemma, the fundamental membrane of the cardiac muscle cell, which was not recognized at that time by other researchers, was demonstrated by Ramón y Cajal who provided the first evidence supporting its existence and hypothetized about its functional significance.

Paging memory from random access memory to backing storage in a parallel computer

DOEpatents

Archer, Charles J; Blocksome, Michael A; Inglett, Todd A; Ratterman, Joseph D; Smith, Brian E

2013-05-21

Paging memory from random access memory (`RAM`) to backing storage in a parallel computer that includes a plurality of compute nodes, including: executing a data processing application on a virtual machine operating system in a virtual machine on a first compute node; providing, by a second compute node, backing storage for the contents of RAM on the first compute node; and swapping, by the virtual machine operating system in the virtual machine on the first compute node, a page of memory from RAM on the first compute node to the backing storage on the second compute node.

A 16K-bit static IIL RAM with 25-ns access time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inabe, Y.; Hayashi, T.; Kawarada, K.; Miwa, H.; Ogiue, K.

1982-04-01

A 16,384 x 1-bit RAM with 25-ns access time, 600-mW power dissipation, and 33 sq mm chip size has been developed. Excellent speed-power performance with high packing density has been achieved by an oxide isolation technology in conjunction with novel ECL circuit techniques and IIL flip-flop memory cells, 980 sq microns (35 x 28 microns) in cell size. Development results have shown that IIL flip-flop memory cell is a trump card for assuring achievement of a high-performance large-capacity bipolar RAM, in the above 16K-bit/chip area.

Female effect in sheep. II. Role of volatile substances from the sexually receptive female; implication of the sense of smell.

PubMed

Gonzalez, R; Levy, F; Orgeur, P; Poindron, P; Signoret, J P

1991-01-01

The importance of olfactory cues in inducing luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion as a response to stimulation by sexually receptive ewes has been tested. In sexually experienced rams, olfactory stimulation with urine, wool and vaginal secretions from sexually receptive females placed in a mask did not induce an endocrine response. The female-induced secretion of LH and testosterone was similar in anosmic, sham-operated and in control rams. These results show that olfactory cues are not necessary in the mediation of interindividual stimulation of endocrine response in the sexually experienced ram.

Binder of Sperm Proteins protect ram spermatozoa from freeze-thaw damage.

PubMed

Pini, Taylor; Farmer, Kiri; Druart, Xavier; Teixeira-Gomes, Ana Paula; Tsikis, Guillaume; Labas, Valerie; Leahy, Tamara; de Graaf, Simon P

2018-06-01

Cryopreservation causes sub-lethal damage which limits the fertility of frozen thawed spermatozoa. Seminal plasma has been investigated as a cryoprotectant, but has yielded inconsistent results due to considerable variation in its constituents. Individual seminal plasma proteins offer an ideal alternative to whole seminal plasma, and several have been correlated with freezing success. Binder of Sperm Proteins (BSPs) are abundant ram seminal plasma proteins which have been suggested to have significant protective effects on ram spermatozoa during cold shock. This is in direct opposition to bull spermatozoa, where BSPs cause sperm deterioration during in vitro handling. We investigated the potential of BSP1 and BSP5 to prevent freezing associated damage to important functional parameters of ram spermatozoa. BSPs purified by size exclusion chromatography improved post thaw motility and penetration through artificial mucus. Highly purified BSP1 and BSP5, isolated by gelatin affinity and RP-HPLC, improved motility and membrane integrity, and reduced post thaw protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Exposure to BSP5 before freezing increased the amount of phosphatidylethanolamine on the sperm surface after thawing. Neither BSP1 nor BSP5 prevented freezing associated changes in membrane lipid disorder. These results suggest that BSPs may significantly improve freezing outcomes of ram spermatozoa. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of distiller's dried grains with solubles on ram lamb growth and reproductive traits.

PubMed

Crane, Alison R; Redden, Reid R; Crouse, Matthew S; Kirsch, James D; Borowicz, Pawel P; Held, Jeffrey E; Swanson, Kendall C; Schauer, Christopher S

2018-04-14

The hypothesis of this experiment was that increasing the inclusion level of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in the diets would decrease semen quality but have no negative effects on growth performance. Following the removal of DDGS from the diet, it was hypothesized that the ram lambs would recover and become reproductively sound, independent of treatment. To test this hypothesis, Suffolk and Hampshire ram lambs (n = 112) were allocated to 4 treatments (n = 4 pens per treatment; 7 rams per pen) in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were 60% corn, 25% oats, and 15% commercial lamb pellet (CON), 15% of the ration as DDGS substituted for corn (% DM basis; 15DDGS), 30% of the ration as DDGS substituted for corn (% DM basis; 30DDGS), and 45% of the ration as DDGS substituted for corn (% DM basis; 45DDGS). Lambs were fed for 112 d on their respective treatment, after which they were placed on the CON ration until day 168. Lambs were weighed on consecutive d at the beginning (days 0 and 1) and end (days 167 and 168) of the study. Scrotal circumference was measured on all lambs on days 84, 112, 140, and 168. Semen samples were collected on a subset of 64 rams (4 rams per pen) to evaluate semen quality on days 84, 112, 140, and 168. Blood samples were collected on the same subset of rams every 14 d throughout the study. A quadratic effect on BW on day 112 and overall BW (P = 0.03 and P = 0.005, respectively), ADG on day 112 and overall ADG (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively), DMI (P = 0.007) on day 112, and a cubic effect (P = 0.05) for overall G:F were observed. Overall and day 168 scrotal circumference had a quadratic (P = 0.05) response. A linear increase in spermatozoa concentration on day 168 was observed (P = 0.03) as DDGS concentration increased in the treatment diets, although rams in this stage of the study were no longer receiving DDGS. Overall, testosterone concentrations exhibited a linear decrease (P = 0.005) as DDGS increased in the diet. The linear increase (P = 0.04) on day 168 in morphologically normal sperm as DDGS increased in the diets indicated that all rams, regardless of treatment, would have passed a reproductive soundness exam. In the current study, no negative effects were observed in lamb feedlot or reproductive traits due to increasing DDGS in the diet, indicating that DDGS may be included at levels up to 45% of growing lamb diets.

Ultrastructural studies on the boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules of different mammals.

PubMed

Cieciura, L; Jaszczuk-Jarosz, B; Pietrzkowska, K

1988-01-01

The aims of our studies were to compare the ultrastructure of the boundary tissue of seminiferous tubules of various mammals (rat, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, ram, bull and man). Visual analysis of electron micrographs revealed the similarity of structure of all layers at investigated animals. The boundary tissue consists of 4 layers: 1) amorphous inner lamina, 2) cellular inner lamina, 3) amorphous outer lamina, 4) cellular outer lamina. The outer lamina of boundary tissue of rat, mouse and hamster revealed in histochemical reactions meshes resembling honey-combs. The wall of seminiferous canalicules of bull and ram consists of more bigger and different structure than one at the other laboratory animals. The most different structure of boundary tissue in man was observed. The capillary vessels penetrate in the myofibroblastic layer, when comparted to that found in other mammals on the surface of the wall.

Crossing boundaries in a collaborative modeling workspace

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morisette, Jeffrey T.; Cravens, Amanda; Miller, Brian W.; Talbert, Marian; Talbert, Colin; Jarnevich, Catherine S.; Fink, Michelle; Decker, Karin; Odell, Eric

2017-01-01

There is substantial literature on the importance of bridging across disciplinary and science–management boundaries. One of the ways commonly suggested to cross boundaries is for participants from both sides of the boundary to jointly produce information (i.e., knowledge co-production). But simply providing tools or bringing people together in the same room is not sufficient. Here we present a case study documenting the mechanisms by which managers and scientists collaborated to incorporate climate change projections into Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan. A critical component of the project was the use of a collaborative modeling and visualization workspace: the U.S. Geological Survey’s Resource for Advanced Modeling (RAM). Using video analysis and pre/post surveys from this case study, we examine how the RAM facilitated cognitive and social processes that co-produced a more salient and credible end product. This case provides practical suggestions to scientists and practitioners who want to implement actionable science.

New species of the spider genera Aysenia and Aysenoides from Chile and Argentina: description and phylogenetic relationships (Araneae: Anyphaenidae, Amaurobioidinae).

PubMed

Laborda, Alvaro; Ramírez, Martín J; Pizarro-Araya, Jaime

2013-10-29

New spider species of the genera Aysenia Tullgren and Aysenoides Ramírez are described and their phylogenetic relationships discussed. The new species Aysenia paposo, from the coastal desert in northern Chile is sister to Aysenia araucana Ramírez. The diagnosis of Aysenia araucana is updated and new somatic variability is reported for the species. We present new records for other species of Aysenia and Aysenoides. The new species Aysenoides simoi, from temperate forests in Chile and adjacent Argentina is sister to Aysenoides nahuel. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of both genera. The support values of the genera are relatively high, but some internal branches show low support values. The genus Aysenia is supported by three synapomorphies, two of these from leg spination and one from the male genitalia. Aysenoides is supported by three synapomorphies from male and female genitalia.

Programming scheme based optimization of hybrid 4T-2R OxRAM NVSRAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majumdar, Swatilekha; Kingra, Sandeep Kaur; Suri, Manan

2017-09-01

In this paper, we present a novel single-cycle programming scheme for 4T-2R NVSRAM, exploiting pulse engineered input signals. OxRAM devices based on 3 nm thick bi-layer active switching oxide and 90 nm CMOS technology node were used for all simulations. The cell design is implemented for real-time non-volatility rather than last-bit, or power-down non-volatility. Detailed analysis of the proposed single-cycle, parallel RRAM device programming scheme is presented in comparison to the two-cycle sequential RRAM programming used for similar 4T-2R NVSRAM bit-cells. The proposed single-cycle programming scheme coupled with the 4T-2R architecture leads to several benefits such as- possibility of unconventional transistor sizing, 50% lower latency, 20% improvement in SNM and ∼20× reduced energy requirements, when compared against two-cycle programming approach.

Type B drum packages

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

McCoy, J.C.

1994-08-01

The Type B drum packages (TBD) are conceptualized as a family of containers in which a single 208 L or 114 L (55 gal or 30 gal) drum containing Type B quantities of radioactive material (RAM) can be packaged for shipment. The TBD containers are being developed to fill a void in the packaging and transportation capabilities of the U.S. Department of Energy as no container packaging single drums of Type B RAM exists offering double containment. Several multiple-drum containers currently exist, as well as a number of shielded casks, but the size and weight of these containers present manymore » operational challenges for single-drum shipments. As an alternative, the TBD containers will offer up to three shielded versions (light, medium, and heavy) and one unshielded version, each offering single or optional double containment for a single drum. To reduce operational complexity, all versions will share similar design and operational features where possible. The primary users of the TBD containers are envisioned to be any organization desiring to ship single drums of Type B RAM, such as laboratories, waste retrieval activities, emergency response teams, etc. Currently, the TBD conceptual design is being developed with the final design and analysis to be completed in 1995 to 1996. Testing and certification of the unshielded version are planned to be completed in 1996 to 1997 with production to begin in 1997 to 1998.« less

Mechanical and Histological Effects of Resorbable Blasting Media Surface Treatment on the Initial Stability of Orthodontic Mini-Implants

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Introduction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resorbable blasting media (RBM) treatment on early stability of orthodontic mini-implants by mechanical, histomorphometric, and histological analyses. Methods. Ninety-six (64 for mechanical study and 32 for histological study and histomorphometric analysis) titanium orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) with machined (machined group) or RBM-treated (CaP) surface (RBM group) were implanted in the tibiae of 24 rabbits. Maximum initial torque (MIT) was measured during insertion, and maximum removal torque (MRT) and removal angular momentum (RAM) were measured at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA) were analyzed at 4 weeks after implantation. Results. RBM group exhibited significantly lower MIT and significantly higher MRT and RAM at 2 weeks than machined group. No significant difference in MRT, RAM, and BIC between the two groups was noted at 4 weeks, although BA was significantly higher in RBM group than in machined group. RBM group showed little bone resorption, whereas machined group showed new bone formation after bone resorption. Conclusions. RBM surface treatment can provide early stability of OMIs around 2 weeks after insertion, whereas stability of machined surface OMIs may decrease in early stages because of bone resorption, although it can subsequently recover by new bone apposition. PMID:26942200

GASP. V. Ram-pressure stripping of a ring Hoag's-like galaxy in a massive cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moretti, A.; Poggianti, B. M.; Gullieuszik, M.; Mapelli, M.; Jaffé, Y. L.; Fritz, J.; Biviano, A.; Fasano, G.; Bettoni, D.; Vulcani, B.; D'Onofrio, M.

2018-04-01

Through an ongoing MUSE program dedicated to study gas removal processes in galaxies (GAs Stripping Phenomena in galaxies with MUSE, GASP), we have obtained deep and wide integral field spectroscopy of the galaxy JO171. This galaxy resembles the Hoag's galaxy, one of the most spectacular examples of ring galaxies, characterized by a completely detached ring of young stars surrounding a central old spheroid. At odds with the isolated Hoag's galaxy, JO171 is part of a dense environment, the cluster Abell 3667, which is causing gas stripping along tentacles. Moreover, its ring counter-rotates with respect to the central spheroid. The joint analysis of the stellar populations and the gas/stellar kinematics shows that the origin of the ring was not due to an internal mechanism, but was related to a gas accretion event that happened in the distant past, prior to accretion on to Abell 3667, most probably within a filament. More recently, since infall in the cluster, the gas in the ring has been stripped by ram pressure, causing the quenching of star formation in the stripped half of the ring. This is the first observed case of ram-pressure stripping in action in a ring galaxy, and MUSE observations are able to reveal both of the events (accretion and stripping) that caused dramatic transformations in this galaxy.

1. Shed, keeper's house and light tower, view west northwest, ...

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

1. Shed, keeper's house and light tower, view west northwest, south and east sides - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

Experimental Investigation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Tracked Ram Air Cushion Vehicle

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-01-01

The results of an experimental and theoretical investigation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a tracked ram air cushion vehicle are presented. Experiments have been conducted both in a wind tunnel with a model and section of guidewa...

The Effect of Central American Smoke Aerosols on the Air Quality and Climate over the Southeastern United States: First Results from RAMS-AROMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Christopher, S. A.; Nair, U. S.; Reid, J.; Prins, E. M.; Szykman, J.

2004-12-01

Observation shows that smoke aerosols from biomass burning activities in Central America can be transported to the Southeastern United States (SEUS). In this study, the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System - Assimilation and Radiation Online Modeling of Aerosols (RAMS-AROMA) is used to investigate the effect of transported smoke aerosols on climate and air quality over the SEUS. AROMA is an aerosol transport model with capabilities of online integration of aerosol radiation effects and online assimilation of satellite-derived aerosol and emission products. It is assembled within the RAMS, so two-way interactions between aerosol fields and other meteorology fields are achieved simultaneously during each model time step. RAMS-AROMA is a unique tool that can be used to examine the aerosol radiative impacts on the surface energy budget and atmospheric heating rate and to investigate how atmospheric thermal and dynamical processes respond to such impacts and consequently affect the aerosol distribution (so called feedbacks). First results regarding air quality effects and radiative forcing of transported smoke aerosols will be presented from RAMS-AROMA based on assimilation of smoke emission products from the Fire Locating and Modeling of Burning Emissions (FLAMBE) project and aerosol optical thickness data derived from the MODIS instrument on the Terra and Aqua satellites. Comparisons with PM2.5 data collected from the EPA observation network and the aerosol optical thickness data from the DOE Atmosphere Radiation Measurements in the Southern Great Plains (ARM SGP) showed that RAMS-AROMA can predict the timing and spatial distribution of smoke events very well, with an accuracy useful for air quality forecasts. The smoke radiative effects on the surface temperature and atmospheric heating rate as well as their feedbacks will also be discussed.

The pattern of LH secretion and the ovarian response to the 'ram effect' in the anoestrous ewe is influenced by body condition but not by short-term nutritional supplementation.

PubMed

Scaramuzzi, R J; Oujagir, L; Menassol, J-B; Freret, S; Piezel, A; Brown, H M; Cognié, J; Fabre Nys, C

2014-10-01

In sheep, the 'ram effect' induces out-of-season fertility and good nutrition increases prolificacy. This experiment determined if fatness or short-term nutritional supplementation modified the response to the 'ram effect'. A group of 48 Île-de-France ewes were fed diets that produced groups with body-condition scores (BCS) of >3.0 and <2.0. Within each BCS group animals were supplemented daily with 500g of lupins from Day -5 to Day 0 (ram introduction) resulting in four groups: low BCS, supplemented (n=7) and non-supplemented (n=8) and high BCS, supplemented (n=12) and non-supplemented (n=11). The blood concentrations of glucose and insulin and the LH response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were determined. After the 'ram effect' the pattern of LH pulsatility, the LH surge and ovarian responses were analysed. Low BCS ewes had lower glucose and insulin (P<0.001) and supplementation increased both (P≤0.001). The increase in LH induced by GnRH was reduced in low BCS ewes (P=0.015) but it was not affected by supplementation. Similarly, LH pulsatility was reduced in low BCS ewes (P<0.05). The LH surge and ovarian cyclicity were not affected but the follow-up cycle was delayed (P=0.034) and progesterone was reduced (P=0.029) in low BCS ewes. There was an effect of BCS on ovulation rate (P<0.05). These results show that the BCS can modify the response to the 'ram effect' and that supplementation has little effect on this response.

Integration of SrBi2Ta2O9 thin films for high density ferroelectric random access memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wouters, D. J.; Maes, D.; Goux, L.; Lisoni, J. G.; Paraschiv, V.; Johnson, J. A.; Schwitters, M.; Everaert, J.-L.; Boullart, W.; Schaekers, M.; Willegems, M.; Vander Meeren, H.; Haspeslagh, L.; Artoni, C.; Caputa, C.; Casella, P.; Corallo, G.; Russo, G.; Zambrano, R.; Monchoix, H.; Vecchio, G.; Van Autryve, L.

2006-09-01

Ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) is an attractive candidate technology for embedded nonvolatile memory, especially in applications where low power and high program speed are important. Market introduction of high-density FeRAM is, however, lagging behind standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) because of the difficult integration technology. This paper discusses the major integration issues for high-density FeRAM, based on SrBi2Ta2O9 (strontium bismuth tantalate or SBT), in relation to the fabrication of our stacked cell structure. We have worked in the previous years on the development of SBT-FeRAM integration technology, based on a so-called pseudo-three-dimensional (3D) cell, with a capacitor that can be scaled from quasi two-dimensional towards a true three-dimensional capacitor where the sidewalls will importantly contribute to the signal. In the first phase of our integration development, we integrated our FeRAM cell in a 0.35μm CMOS technology. In a second phase, then, possibility of scaling of our cell is demonstrated in 0.18μm technology. The excellent electrical and reliability properties of the small integrated ferroelectric capacitors prove the feasibility of the technology, while the verification of the potential 3D effect confirms the basic scaling potential of our concept beyond that of the single-mask capacitor. The paper outlines the different material and technological challenges, and working solutions are demonstrated. While some issues are specific to our own cell, many are applicable to different stacked FeRAM cell concepts, or will become more general concerns when more developments are moving into 3D structures.

Feed supplementation improves estrus response and increases fertility of sheep induced to breed out of season.

PubMed

Khlil, Z Ben; Khnissi, S; Rekik, M; Lassoued, N

2017-03-01

To test the efficacy on reproductive performance of nutritional supplementation in an out-of-season mating system, 66 adult prolific Barbarine ewes were selected and induced to breed using "ram effect". The ewes were allocated to two homogeneous groups; each ewe received on a daily basis 700 g of hay and 500 g of barley grains starting 3 weeks before or 1 week after rams' introduction in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Supplementation ended 1 month after rams' introduction and mating lasted 60 days. Final live weight 30 days after introduction of rams was higher (P < 0.05) for ewes in group1 (39.45 vs. 36.72 kg). Seven days after introduction of rams, ewes in group 1 recorded higher plasma glucose levels than females in group 2 (4.12 and 3.9 S.E.M. 0.05 mmol l -1 ). Proportions of ewes which displayed estrus between days 16 and 26 were 48 and 38% in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P < 0.05), and those which had a normal induced cycle (16-17 days) were 25 and 11% in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P < 0.05). Fertilities were higher (P < 0.05) for ewes in group 1 than in group 2 (91.17 vs. 75.75% and 97.1 vs. 81.8% for fertility at induced estrus and total fertility, respectively). It is concluded that a timed supplementation starting 3 weeks before introduction of rams is effective in yielding high reproductive performance for the prolific strain of the Barbarine breed.

A three-time-point method for assessing kinetic parameters of 64Cu-labeled Ramucirumab trapping in VEGFR-2 positive lung tumors.

PubMed

Laffon, Eric; Marthan, Roger

2017-11-01

To describe a three-time-point method for estimating kinetic parameters involved in 64 Cu-labeled Ramucirumab ( 64 Cu-NOTA-RamAb) trapping of VEGFR-2 positive lung tumors. Positron emission tomography (microPET) data of tumor-bearing mice for 64 Cu-NOTA-RamAb trapping in VEGFR-2 positive HCC4006 tumor were used, involving tissue activity measurements acquired at 3, 24 and 48 h post-injection, without and with administration of RamAb blocking dose. A kinetic model provided an analytical formula describing the tissue time-activity-curve, involving 64 Cu-NOTA-RamAb uptake (Ki), release rate constant (k R ) and fraction of free tracer in blood and interstitial volume (F). Fitting analytical formula outcomes on mean microPET data yielded values of the kinetic parameters: Ki = 0.0314/0.0123 gram of blood per hour per gram of tissue, k R  = 0.0387/0.0313 h -1 and F = 0.2075/0.2007 gram of blood per gram of tissue, without/with RamAb blocking dose, respectively (R = 0.99999 for the graph displaying microPET versus theoretical data; P < .01). Three independent kinetic parameters (Ki, k R and F) can be assessed from three data points acquired at early, mid and late imaging, i.e., at 3, 24 and 48 h post-injection, for further characterization of 64 Cu-NOTA-RamAb trapping in VEGFR-2 positive lung tumors. Copyright © 2017 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative effects of overproducing the AraC-type transcriptional regulators MarA, SoxS, RarA and RamA on antimicrobial drug susceptibility in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

PubMed

Jiménez-Castellanos, Juan-Carlos; Wan Ahmad Kamil, Wan Nur Ismah; Cheung, Ching Hei Phoebe; Tobin, Maryann S; Brown, James; Isaac, Sophie G; Heesom, Kate J; Schneiders, Thamarai; Avison, Matthew B

2016-07-01

In Klebsiella pneumoniae, overproduction of RamA and RarA leads to increased MICs of various antibiotics; MarA and SoxS are predicted to perform a similar function. We have compared the relative effects of overproducing these four AraC-type regulators on envelope permeability (a combination of outer membrane permeability and efflux), efflux pump and porin production, and antibiotic susceptibility in K. pneumoniae. Regulators were overproduced using a pBAD expression vector. Antibiotic susceptibility was measured using disc testing. Envelope permeability was estimated using a fluorescent dye accumulation assay. Porin and efflux pump production was quantified using proteomics and validated using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Envelope permeability and antibiotic disc inhibition zone diameters both reduced during overproduction of RamA and to a lesser extent RarA or SoxS, but did not change following overproduction of MarA. These effects were associated with overproduction of the efflux pumps AcrAB (for RamA and SoxS) and OqxAB (for RamA and RarA) and the outer membrane protein TolC (for all regulators). Effects on porin production were strain specific. RamA is the most potent regulator of antibiotic permeability in K. pneumoniae, followed by RarA then SoxS, with MarA having very little effect. This observed relative potency correlates well with the frequency at which these regulators are reportedly overproduced in clinical isolates. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Investigation of the aerothermodynamics of hypervelocity reacting flows in the ram accelerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hertzberg, A.; Bruckner, A. P.; Mattick, A. T.; Knowlen, C.

1992-01-01

New diagnostic techniques for measuring the high pressure flow fields associated with high velocity ram accelerator propulsive modes was experimentally investigated. Individual propulsive modes are distinguished by their operating Mach number range and the manner in which the combustion process is initiated and stabilized. Operation of the thermally choked ram accelerator mode begins by injecting the projectile into the accelerator tube at a prescribed entrance velocity by means of a conventional light gas gun. A specially designed obturator, which is used to seal the bore of the gun, plays a key role in the ignition of the propellant gases in the subsonic combustion mode of the ram accelerator. Once ignited, the combustion process travels with the projectile and releases enough heat to thermally choke the flow within several tube diameters behind it, thereby stabilizing a high pressure zone on the rear of the projectile. When the accelerating projectile approaches the Chapman-Jouguet detonation speed of the propellant mixture, the combustion region is observed to move up onto the afterbody of the projectile as the pressure field evolves to a distinctively different form that implies the presence of supersonic combustion processes. Eventually, a high enough Mach number is reached that the ram effect is sufficient to cause the combustion process to occur entirely on the body. Propulsive cycles utilizing on-body heat release can be established either by continuously accelerating the projectile in a single propellant mixture from low initial in-tube Mach numbers (M less than 4) or by injecting the projectile at a speed above the propellant's Chapman-Jouguet detonation speed. The results of experimental and theoretical explorations of ram accelerator gas dynamic phenomena and the effectiveness of the new diagnostic techniques are presented in this report.

Hemodynamic and neurochemical determinates of renal function in chronic heart failure.

PubMed

Gilbert, Cameron; Cherney, David Z I; Parker, Andrea B; Mak, Susanna; Floras, John S; Al-Hesayen, Abdul; Parker, John D

2016-01-15

Abnormal renal function is common in acute and chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) and is related to the severity of congestion. However, treatment of congestion often leads to worsening renal function. Our objective was to explore basal determinants of renal function and their response to hemodynamic interventions. Thirty-seven patients without CHF and 59 patients with chronic CHF (ejection fraction; 23 ± 8%) underwent right heart catheterization, measurements of glomerular filtration rate (GFR; inulin) and renal plasma flow (RPF; para-aminohippurate), and radiotracer estimates of renal sympathetic activity. A subset (26 without, 36 with CHF) underwent acute pharmacological intervention with dobutamine or nitroprusside. We explored the relationship between baseline and drug-induced hemodynamic changes and changes in renal function. In CHF, there was an inverse relationship among right atrial mean pressure (RAM) pressure, RPF, and GFR. By contrast, mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), and measures of renal sympathetic activity were not significant predictors. In those with CHF there was also an inverse relationship among the drug-induced changes in RAM as well as pulmonary artery mean pressure and the change in GFR. Changes in MAP and CI did not predict the change in GFR in those with CHF. Baseline values and changes in RAM pressure did not correlate with GFR in those without CHF. In the CHF group there was a positive correlation between RAM pressure and renal sympathetic activity. There was also an inverse relationship among RAM pressure, GFR, and RPF in patients with chronic CHF. The observation that acute reductions in RAM pressure is associated with an increase in GFR in patients with CHF has important clinical implications. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Investigation of Hafnium oxide/Copper resistive memory for advanced encryption applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briggs, Benjamin D.

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used encryption algorithm to protect data and communications in today's digital age. Modern AES CMOS implementations require large amounts of dedicated logic and must be tuned for either performance or power consumption. A high throughput, low power, and low die area AES implementation is required in the growing mobile sector. An emerging non-volatile memory device known as resistive memory (ReRAM) is a simple metal-insulator-metal capacitor device structure with the ability to switch between two stable resistance states. Currently, ReRAM is targeted as a non-volatile memory replacement technology to eventually replace flash. Its advantages over flash include ease of fabrication, speed, and lower power consumption. In addition to memory, ReRAM can also be used in advanced logic implementations given its purely resistive behavior. The combination of a new non-volatile memory element ReRAM along with high performance, low power CMOS opens new avenues for logic implementations. This dissertation will cover the design and process implementation of a ReRAM-CMOS hybrid circuit, built using IBM's 10LPe process, for the improvement of hardware AES implementations. Further the device characteristics of ReRAM, specifically the HfO2/Cu memory system, and mechanisms for operation are not fully correlated. Of particular interest to this work is the role of material properties such as the stoichiometry, crystallinity, and doping of the HfO2 layer and their effect on the switching characteristics of resistive memory. Material properties were varied by a combination of atomic layer deposition and reactive sputtering of the HfO2 layer. Several studies will be discussed on how the above mentioned material properties influence switching parameters, and change the underlying physics of device operation.

Description of the L76V resistance protease mutation in HIV-1 B and "non-B" subtypes.

PubMed

Charpentier, Charlotte; Lambert-Niclot, Sidonie; Alteri, Claudia; Storto, Alexandre; Flandre, Philippe; Svicher, Valentina; Perno, Carlo-Federico; Brun-Vézinet, Françoise; Calvez, Vincent; Marcelin, Anne-Geneviève; Ceccherini-Silberstein, Francesca; Descamps, Diane

2013-01-01

To describe the prevalence of the L76V protease inhibitors resistance-associated mutation (PI-RAM) in relation with patients' characteristics and protease genotypic background in HIV-1 B- and "non-B"-infected patients. Frequency of the L76V mutation between 1998 and 2010 was surveyed in the laboratory database of 3 clinical centers. Major PI-RAMs were identified according to the IAS-USA list. Fisher's and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare variables. Among the overall 29,643 sequences analyzed, the prevalence of L76V was 1.50%, while was 5.42% in PI-resistant viruses. Since 2008 the prevalence of L76V was higher in "non-B"-infected than in B-infected patients each year. Median time since diagnosis of HIV-1 infection and median time under antiretroviral-based regimen were both shorter in "non-B"- than in B-infected patients (8 vs 11 years, P<0.0001; and 7 vs 8 years, P = 0.004). In addition, "non-B"-infected patients had been pre-exposed to a lower number of PI (2 vs 3, P = 0.016). The L76V was also associated with a lower number of major PI-RAMs in "non-B" vs B samples (3 vs 4, P = 0.0001), and thus it was more frequent found as single major PI-RAM in "non-B" vs B subtype (10% vs 2%, P = 0.014). We showed an impact of viral subtype on the selection of the L76V major PI-RAM with a higher prevalence in "non-B" subtypes observed since 2008. In addition, in "non-B"-infected patients this mutation appeared more rapidly and was associated with less PI-RAM.

Fermi LAT detection of enhanced gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojha, Roopesh; Buehler, Rolf; Hays, Elizabeth; Dutka, Michael

2012-07-01

The Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of the two instruments on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has observed a significant increase in the gamma-ray activity from a source positionally consistent with the Crab Nebula on July 3, 2012. Preliminary LAT analysis indicates that the daily-averaged gamma-ray emission (E >100 MeV) from the direction of the Crab doubled from (2.4 +/- 0.5) x 10^-6 ph/cm2/sec (statistical errors only) on July 2nd to (5.5 +/- 0.7) x 10^-6 ph/cm2/sec on July 3rd, a factor of 2 greater than the average flux of (2.75 +/- 0.10) x 10^-6 ph/cm2/sec reported in the second Fermi LAT catalog (2FGL, Nolan et al.

A Dwarf Dissolving? - A Kinematic Analysis of Andromeda XXVII and the Northern Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, Michelle; Rich, R. M.; Chapman, S. C.; Ibata, R.; Irwin, M.; McConnachie, A. W.

2013-01-01

We report internal kinematics for an unusual M31 dwarf spheroidal galaxy, And XXVII, which is superposed against the Northern Arc Stream feature, isolated in the PandAS (Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey). In contrast to the coherent, cold velocity fields of most Andromeda dwarf spheroidals, And XXVII has a trimodal velocity distribution spanning 100 km/sec, with a relatively cold central peak at -530 km/sec , and a velocity dispersion of sigma= 8 km/sec. While all of the candidate members are < 2' (or approximately one half light radii, ~600 pc) from the core, the full velocity range is not consistent with a system of luminosity Mv=-7.9. We propose that And XXVII may be in the process of dissolving into the Northern Arc.

Emergence of uncommon HIV-1 non-B subtypes and circulating recombinant forms and trends in transmission of antiretroviral drug resistance in patients with primary infection during the 2013-2015 period in Marseille, Southeastern France.

PubMed

Tamalet, Catherine; Tissot-Dupont, Hervé; Motte, Anne; Tourrès, Christian; Dhiver, Catherine; Ravaux, Isabelle; Poizot-Martin, Isabelle; Dieng, Thérèse; Tomei, Christelle; Bregigeon, Sylvie; Zaegel-Faucher, Olivia; Laroche, Hélène; Aherfi, Sarah; Mokhtari, Saadia; Chaudet, Hervé; Ménard, Amelie; Brouqui, Philippe; Stein, Andreas; Colson, Philippe

2018-05-24

Primary HIV-1 infections (PHI) with non-B subtypes are increasing in developed countries while transmission of HIV-1 harboring antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) remains a concern. This study assessed non-B HIV-1 subtypes and RAMs prevalence among patients with PHI in university hospitals of Marseille, Southeastern France, in 2005-2015 (11 years). HIV-1 sequences were obtained by in-house protocols from 115 patients with PHI, including 38 for the 2013-2015 period. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis of the reverse transcriptase region, non-B subtypes were identified in 31% of these patients. They included 3 different subtypes (3A, 1C, 4F), 23 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) (CRF02_AG, best BLAST hits being CRF 36_cpx and CRF30 in 7 and 1 cases, respectively), and 5 unclassified sequences (U). Non-B subtypes proportion increased significantly, particularly in 2011-2013 vs in 2005-2010 (P = .03). CRF02_AG viruses largely predominated in 2005-2013 whereas atypical strains more difficult to classify and undetermined recombinants emerged recently (2014-2015). The prevalence of protease, nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase, and first-generation nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-associated RAMs were 1.7% (World Health Organization [WHO] list, 2009/2.6% International AIDS Society [IAS] list, 2017), 5.2%/4.3%, and 5.2%/5.2%, respectively. Etravirine/rilpivirine-associated RAM (IAS) prevalence was 4.3%. Men who have sex with men (MSM) were more frequently infected with drug-resistant viruses than other patients (26% vs 7%; P = .011). The recent increase of these rare HIV-1 strains and the spread of drug-resistant HIV-1 among MSM in Southeastern France might be considered when implementing prevention strategies and starting therapies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In Candida albicans hyphae, Sec2p is physically associated with SEC2 mRNA on secretory vesicles.

PubMed

Caballero-Lima, David; Hautbergue, Guillaume M; Wilson, Stuart A; Sudbery, Peter E

2014-11-01

Candida albicans hyphae grow in a highly polarized fashion from their tips. This polarized growth requires the continuous delivery of secretory vesicles to the tip region. Vesicle delivery depends on Sec2p, the Guanine Exchange Factor (GEF) for the Rab GTPase Sec4p. GTP bound Sec4p is required for the transit of secretory vesicles from the trans-Golgi to sites of polarized growth. We previously showed that phosphorylation of Sec2p at residue S584 was necessary for Sec2p to support hyphal, but not yeast growth. Here we show that on secretory vesicles SEC2 mRNA is physically associated with Sec2p. Moreover, we show that the phosphorylation of S584 allows SEC2 mRNA to dissociate from Sec2p and we speculate that this is necessary for Sec2p function and/or translation. During hyphal extension, the growing tip may be separated from the nucleus by up to 15 μm. Transport of SEC2 mRNA on secretory vesicles to the tip localizes SEC2 translation to tip allowing a sufficient accumulation of this key protein at the site of polarized growth. © 2014 The Authors. Molecular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Nonlethal sec71-1 and sec72-1 mutations eliminate proteins associated with the Sec63p-BiP complex from S. cerevisiae.

PubMed Central

Fang, H; Green, N

1994-01-01

The sec71-1 and sec72-1 mutations were identified by a genetic assay that monitored membrane protein integration into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mutations inhibited integration of various chimeric membrane proteins and translocation of a subset of water soluble proteins. In this paper we show that SEC71 encodes the 31.5-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein (p31.5) and SEC72 encodes the 23-kDa protein (p23) of the Sec63p-BiP complex. SEC71 is therefore identical to SEC66 (HSS1), which was previously shown to encode p31.5. DNA sequence analyses reveal that sec71-1 cells contain a nonsense mutation that removes approximately two-thirds of the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of p31.5. The sec72-1 mutation shifts the reading frame of the gene encoding p23. Unexpectedly, the sec71-1 mutant lacks p31.5 and p23. Neither mutation is lethal, although sec71-1 cells exhibit a growth defect at 37 degrees C. These results show that p31.5 and p23 are important for the trafficking of a subset of proteins to the ER membrane. Images PMID:7841522

Towing Tank Tests on a Ram Wing in a Rectangular Guideway

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-07-01

The object of the study was to set the theoretical and experimental basis for a preliminary design of a ram wing vehicle. A simplified one-dimensional mathematical model is developed in an attempt to estimate the stability derivatives of this type of...

Triggering active galactic nuclei in galaxy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Madeline A.; Shabala, Stanislav S.; Krause, Martin G. H.; Pimbblet, Kevin A.; Croton, Darren J.; Owers, Matt S.

2018-03-01

We model the triggering of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in galaxy clusters using the semi-analytic galaxy formation model SAGE. We prescribe triggering methods based on the ram pressure galaxies experience as they move throughout the intracluster medium, which is hypothesized to trigger star formation and AGN activity. The clustercentric radius and velocity distribution of the simulated active galaxies produced by these models are compared with those of AGN and galaxies with intense star formation from a sample of low-redshift relaxed clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The ram pressure triggering model that best explains the clustercentric radius and velocity distribution of these observed galaxies has AGN and star formation triggered if 2.5 × 10-14 Pa < Pram < 2.5 × 10-13 Pa and Pram > 2Pinternal; this is consistent with expectations from hydrodynamical simulations of ram-pressure-induced star formation. Our results show that ram pressure is likely to be an important mechanism for triggering star formation and AGN activity in clusters.

Carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography in retinal macroaneurysms.

PubMed

Thurairajan, G; Potamitis, T; Naylor, G; Gibson, J

1998-01-01

It is postulated that retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) occur at the site of incomplete embolic occlusion of a branch retinal artery. Embolic events of the retinal vessels are related to the state of the carotid artery tree and therefore Doppler ultrasonography of the carotid arteries in these patients is of particular interest. We have examined 13 patients with retinal artery macroaneurysms with carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography (CADU). Eight of these patients (61.5%) exhibited atheromatous plaques on the same side as the RAM with a moderate degree of arterial narrowing. Although our group of patients did not show advanced carotid artery disease, alterations of the arterial wall found at the level of the carotid artery were higher than expected in a similar hypertensive population. To our knowledge this is the first study of the carotid arterial tree in these patients. Our results support the theory that RAMs may be of embolic origin. Furthermore they demonstrate that CADU is a useful investigation in patients with RAMs.

Reduced-Rank Array Modes of the California Current Observing System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Andrew M.; Arango, Hernan G.; Edwards, Christopher A.

2018-01-01

The information content of the ocean observing array spanning the U.S. west coast is explored using the reduced-rank array modes (RAMs) derived from a four-dimensional variational (4D-Var) data assimilation system covering a period of three decades. RAMs are an extension of the original formulation of array modes introduced by Bennett (1985) but in the reduced model state-space explored by the 4D-Var system, and reveal the extent to which this space is activated by the observations. The projection of the RAMs onto the empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of the 4D-Var background error correlation matrix provides a quantitative measure of the effectiveness of the measurements in observing the circulation. It is found that much of the space spanned by the background error covariance is unconstrained by the present ocean observing system. The RAM spectrum is also used to introduce a new criterion to prevent 4D-Var from overfitting the model to the observations.

New activity-based funding model for Australian private sector overnight rehabilitation cases: the rehabilitation Australian National Sub-Acute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) model.

PubMed

Hanning, Brian; Predl, Nicolle

2015-09-01

Traditional overnight rehabilitation payment models in the private sector are not based on a rigorous classification system and vary greatly between contracts with no consideration of patient complexity. The payment rates are not based on relative cost and the length-of-stay (LOS) point at which a reduced rate applies (step downs) varies markedly. The rehabilitation Australian National Sub-Acute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) model (RAM), which has been in place for over 2 years in some private hospitals, bases payment on a rigorous classification system, relative cost and industry LOS. RAM is in the process of being rolled out more widely. This paper compares and contrasts RAM with traditional overnight rehabilitation payment models. It considers the advantages of RAM for hospitals and Australian Health Service Alliance. It also considers payment model changes in the context of maintaining industry consistency with Electronic Claims Lodgement and Information Processing System Environment (ECLIPSE) and health reform generally.

JuxtaView - A tool for interactive visualization of large imagery on scalable tiled displays

USGS Publications Warehouse

Krishnaprasad, N.K.; Vishwanath, V.; Venkataraman, S.; Rao, A.G.; Renambot, L.; Leigh, J.; Johnson, A.E.; Davis, B.

2004-01-01

JuxtaView is a cluster-based application for viewing ultra-high-resolution images on scalable tiled displays. We present in JuxtaView, a new parallel computing and distributed memory approach for out-of-core montage visualization, using LambdaRAM, a software-based network-level cache system. The ultimate goal of JuxtaView is to enable a user to interactively roam through potentially terabytes of distributed, spatially referenced image data such as those from electron microscopes, satellites and aerial photographs. In working towards this goal, we describe our first prototype implemented over a local area network, where the image is distributed using LambdaRAM, on the memory of all nodes of a PC cluster driving a tiled display wall. Aggressive pre-fetching schemes employed by LambdaRAM help to reduce latency involved in remote memory access. We compare LambdaRAM with a more traditional memory-mapped file approach for out-of-core visualization. ?? 2004 IEEE.

EqualChance: Addressing Intra-set Write Variation to Increase Lifetime of Non-volatile Caches

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

Mittal, Sparsh; Vetter, Jeffrey S

To address the limitations of SRAM such as high-leakage and low-density, researchers have explored use of non-volatile memory (NVM) devices, such as ReRAM (resistive RAM) and STT-RAM (spin transfer torque RAM) for designing on-chip caches. A crucial limitation of NVMs, however, is that their write endurance is low and the large intra-set write variation introduced by existing cache management policies may further exacerbate this problem, thereby reducing the cache lifetime significantly. We present EqualChance, a technique to increase cache lifetime by reducing intra-set write variation. EqualChance works by periodically changing the physical cache-block location of a write-intensive data item withinmore » a set to achieve wear-leveling. Simulations using workloads from SPEC CPU2006 suite and HPC (high-performance computing) field show that EqualChance improves the cache lifetime by 4.29X. Also, its implementation overhead is small, and it incurs very small performance and energy loss.« less

Method and apparatus for de-watering biomass materials in a compression drying process

DOEpatents

Haygreen, John G.

1986-01-01

A method and apparatus for more effectively squeezing moisture from wood chips and/or other "green" biomass materials. A press comprising a generally closed chamber having a laterally movable base at the lower end thereof, and a piston or ram conforming in shape to the cross-section of the chamber is adapted to periodically receive a charge of biomass material to be dehydrated. The ram is forced against the biomass material with suffcient force to compress the biomass and to crush the matrix in which moisture is contained within the material with the face of the ram being configured to cause a preferential flow of moisture from the center of the mass outwardly to the grooved walls of the chamber. Thus, the moisture is effectively squeezed from the biomass and flows through the grooves formed in the walls of the chamber to a collecting receptacle and is not drawn back into the mass by capillary action when the force is removed from the ram.

Ram Pressure Stripping: Observations Meet Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Past, Matthew; Ruszkowski, Mateusz; Sharon, Keren

2017-01-01

Ram pressure stripping occurs when a galaxy falls into the potential well of a cluster, removing gas and dust as the galaxy travels through the intracluster medium. This interaction leads to filamentary gas tails stretching behind the galaxy and plays an important role in galaxy evolution. Previously, these “jellyfish” galaxies had only been observed in nearby clusters, but recently, higher redshift (z > 0.3) examples have been found from HST data imaging.Recent work has shown that cosmic rays injected by supernovae can cause galactic disks to thicken due to cosmic ray pressure. We run three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of ram pressure stripping including cosmic rays to compare to previous models. We study how the efficiency of the ram pressure stripping of the gas, and the morphology of the filamentary tails, depend on the magnitude of the cosmic ray pressure support. We generate mock X-ray images and radio polarization data. Simultaneously, we perform an exhaustive search of the HST archive to increase the sample of jellyfish galaxies and compare selected cases to simulations.

Recent results from the University of Washington's 38 mm ram accelerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Turenne, J. A.; Chew, G.; Bruckner, A. P.

1992-01-01

The ram accelerator is a propulsive device that accelerates projectiles using gasdynamic cycles similar to those which generate thrust in airbreathing ramjets. The projectile, analogous to the centerbody of a ramjet, travels supersonically through a stationary tube containing a gaseous fuel and oxidizer mixture. The projectile itself carries no onboard propellant. A combustion zone follows the projectile and stabilizes the shock structure. The resulting pressure distribution continuously accelerates the projectile. Several modes of ram accelerator operation have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. At velocities below the Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) detonation speed of the propellant mixture, the thermally choked propulsion mode accelerates the projectiles. At projectile velocities between approximately 90 and 110 percent of the C-J speed, a transdetonative propulsion mode occurs. At velocities beyond 110 percent of the C-J speed, projectiles experience superdetonative propulsion. This paper presents recent experimental results from these propulsion modes obtained with the University of Washington's 38-mm bore ram accelerator. Data from investigations with hydrogen diluted-gas mixtures are also introduced.

Quality of life results from the phase 3 REVEL randomized clinical trial of ramucirumab-plus-docetaxel versus placebo-plus-docetaxel in advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy.

PubMed

Pérol, Maurice; Ciuleanu, Tudor-Eliade; Arrieta, Oscar; Prabhash, Kumar; Syrigos, Konstantinos N; Goksel, Tuncay; Park, Keunchil; Kowalyszyn, Ruben Dario; Pikiel, Joanna; Lewanski, Conrad R; Thomas, Michael; Dakhil, Shaker; Kim, Joo-Hang; Karaseva, Nina; Yurasov, Sergey; Zimmermann, Annamaria; Lee, Pablo; Carter, Gebra Cuyun; Reck, Martin; Cappuzzo, Federico; Garon, Edward B

2016-03-01

REVEL demonstrated that ramucirumab+docetaxel (RAM+DTX) improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy. This analysis examined quality of life (QoL) as assessed by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) and clinician-reported functional status. The LCSS includes 6 symptom and 3 global items measured on a 0-100-mm scale; higher scores represent greater symptom burden. LCSS and ECOG PS data were collected at baseline, every 3-week cycle, the summary visit, and at the 30-day follow-up. LCSS total score and Average Symptom Burden Index (ASBI) were calculated. The primary analysis compared time to deterioration (TtD) between treatment arms for all individual items and summary scores, defined as increase from baseline by ≥ 15 mm using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. TtD to ECOG PS ≥ 2 was analyzed. There were 1253 patients randomized to receive RAM+DTX or placebo+docetaxel (PL+DTX). Across all assessments, LCSS compliance was approximately 75% and balanced across arms. The mean (SD) baseline LCSS total score was 27.3mm (17.08 mm) on RAM+DTX and 29.6mm (17.59 mm) on PL+DTX. At 30-day follow-up, mean (SD) LCSS total score was 32.0 (19.03) on RAM+DTX and 32.5 (19.87) on PL+DTX. The TtD for all LCSS scores was similar between treatment arms. Stratified HRs (95% CI) for LCSS total score and ASBI were HR=0.99 (0.81, 1.22), p=0.932 and HR=0.93 (0.75, 1.15), p=0.514 with approximately 70% of patients censored. TtD to PS ≥ 2 was similar between treatment arms (HR=1.03 [95% CI: 0.85, 1.26], p=0.743) with approximately two-thirds of the patients censored. In addition to improvement of clinical efficacy outcomes demonstrated in REVEL, these results suggest that adding ramucirumab to docetaxel did not impair patient QoL, symptoms, or functioning. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A study of the relationship between depression symptom and physical performance in elderly women.

PubMed

Lee, Yang Chool

2015-12-01

Depression is a general public health problem; there is an association between regular exercise or vigorous physical activity and depression. Physical activity has positive physical, mental, and emotional effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depression symptom and physical performance in elderly women. A total of 173 elderly women aged 65 to 80 participated in this study. We evaluated elderly women using the 6-min walk, grip-strength, 30-sec arm curl, 30-sec chair stand, 8-foot up and go, back scratch, and chair sit and reach, and unipedal stance, measured the body mass index (BMI), and depression symptom assessed using Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, paired t-tests, and simple linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0. There were significant correlations between GDS-K and the 6-min walk, 30-sec chair stand, 30-sec arm curl, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go, and grip strength tests (P<0.05), but not BMI, back strength, and unipedal stance. When divided into two groups (GDS-K score≥14 and GDS-K score<14), there was a difference between the two groups in the 6-min walk, 30-sec chair stand, 30-sec arm curl test, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go test, and grip strength test performances. Physical performance factors were strongly associated with depression symptom, suggesting that physical performance improvements may play an important role in preventing depression.

A study of the relationship between depression symptom and physical performance in elderly women

PubMed Central

Lee, Yang Chool

2015-01-01

Depression is a general public health problem; there is an association between regular exercise or vigorous physical activity and depression. Physical activity has positive physical, mental, and emotional effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depression symptom and physical performance in elderly women. A total of 173 elderly women aged 65 to 80 participated in this study. We evaluated elderly women using the 6-min walk, grip-strength, 30-sec arm curl, 30-sec chair stand, 8-foot up and go, back scratch, and chair sit and reach, and unipedal stance, measured the body mass index (BMI), and depression symptom assessed using Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, paired t-tests, and simple linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0. There were significant correlations between GDS-K and the 6-min walk, 30-sec chair stand, 30-sec arm curl, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go, and grip strength tests (P<0.05), but not BMI, back strength, and unipedal stance. When divided into two groups (GDS-K score≥14 and GDS-K score<14), there was a difference between the two groups in the 6-min walk, 30-sec chair stand, 30-sec arm curl test, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go test, and grip strength test performances. Physical performance factors were strongly associated with depression symptom, suggesting that physical performance improvements may play an important role in preventing depression. PMID:26730389

The casein kinases Yck1p and Yck2p act in the secretory pathway, in part, by regulating the Rab exchange factor Sec2p

PubMed Central

Stalder, Danièle; Novick, Peter J.

2016-01-01

Sec2p is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates Sec4p, the final Rab GTPase of the yeast secretory pathway. Sec2p is recruited to secretory vesicles by the upstream Rab Ypt32p acting in concert with phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI(4)P). Sec2p also binds to the Sec4p effector Sec15p, yet Ypt32p and Sec15p compete against each other for binding to Sec2p. We report here that the redundant casein kinases Yck1p and Yck2p phosphorylate sites within the Ypt32p/Sec15p binding region and in doing so promote binding to Sec15p and inhibit binding to Ypt32p. We show that Yck2p binds to the autoinhibitory domain of Sec2p, adjacent to the PI(4)P binding site, and that addition of PI(4)P inhibits Sec2p phosphorylation by Yck2p. Loss of Yck1p and Yck2p function leads to accumulation of an intracellular pool of the secreted glucanase Bgl2p, as well as to accumulation of Golgi-related structures in the cytoplasm. We propose that Sec2p is phosphorylated after it has been recruited to secretory vesicles and the level of PI(4)P has been reduced. This promotes Sec2p function by stimulating its interaction with Sec15p. Finally, Sec2p is dephosphorylated very late in the exocytic reaction to facilitate recycling. PMID:26700316

Two alternative binding mechanisms connect the protein translocation Sec71-Sec72 complex with heat shock proteins.

PubMed

Tripathi, Arati; Mandon, Elisabet C; Gilmore, Reid; Rapoport, Tom A

2017-05-12

The biosynthesis of many eukaryotic proteins requires accurate targeting to and translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Post-translational protein translocation in yeast requires both the Sec61 translocation channel, and a complex of four additional proteins: Sec63, Sec62, Sec71, and Sec72. The structure and function of these proteins are largely unknown. This pathway also requires the cytosolic Hsp70 protein Ssa1, but whether Ssa1 associates with the translocation machinery to target protein substrates to the membrane is unclear. Here, we use a combined structural and biochemical approach to explore the role of Sec71-Sec72 subcomplex in post-translational protein translocation. To this end, we report a crystal structure of the Sec71-Sec72 complex, which revealed that Sec72 contains a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain that is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by Sec71. We also determined the crystal structure of this TPR domain with a C-terminal peptide derived from Ssa1, which suggests how Sec72 interacts with full-length Ssa1. Surprisingly, Ssb1, a cytoplasmic Hsp70 that binds ribosome-associated nascent polypeptide chains, also binds to the TPR domain of Sec72, even though it lacks the TPR-binding C-terminal residues of Ssa1. We demonstrate that Ssb1 binds through its ATPase domain to the TPR domain, an interaction that leads to inhibition of nucleotide exchange. Taken together, our results suggest that translocation substrates can be recruited to the Sec71-Sec72 complex either post-translationally through Ssa1 or co-translationally through Ssb1. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Two alternative binding mechanisms connect the protein translocation Sec71-Sec72 complex with heat shock proteins

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

Tripathi, Arati; Mandon, Elisabet C.; Gilmore, Reid

The biosynthesis of many eukaryotic proteins requires accurate targeting to and translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Post-translational protein translocation in yeast requires both the Sec61 translocation channel, and a complex of four additional proteins: Sec63, Sec62, Sec71, and Sec72. The structure and function of these proteins are largely unknown. This pathway also requires the cytosolic Hsp70 protein Ssa1, but whether Ssa1 associates with the translocation machinery to target protein substrates to the membrane is unclear. Here, we use a combined structural and biochemical approach to explore the role of Sec71-Sec72 subcomplex in post-translational protein translocation. To this end, wemore » report a crystal structure of the Sec71-Sec72 complex, which revealed that Sec72 contains a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain that is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by Sec71. We also determined the crystal structure of this TPR domain with a C-terminal peptide derived from Ssa1, which suggests how Sec72 interacts with full-length Ssa1. Surprisingly, Ssb1, a cytoplasmic Hsp70 that binds ribosome-associated nascent polypeptide chains, also binds to the TPR domain of Sec72, even though it lacks the TPR-binding C-terminal residues of Ssa1. We demonstrate that Ssb1 binds through its ATPase domain to the TPR domain, an interaction that leads to inhibition of nucleotide exchange. Taken together, our results suggest that translocation substrates can be recruited to the Sec71-Sec72 complex either post-translationally through Ssa1 or co-translationally through Ssb1.« less

EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL-SCALE PHOTOCHEMICAL MODELING SYSTEMS: PART II--OZONE PREDICTIONS. (R825260)

EPA Science Inventory

In this paper, the concept of scale analysis is applied to evaluate ozone predictions from two regional-scale air quality models. To this end, seasonal time series of observations and predictions from the RAMS3b/UAM-V and MM5/MAQSIP (SMRAQ) modeling systems for ozone were spectra...

Preclinical and Clinical Resistance Profile of EDP-239, a Novel Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Inhibitor.

PubMed

Owens, Christopher M; Brasher, Bradley B; Polemeropoulos, Alex; Rhodin, Michael H J; McAllister, Nicole; Wong, Kelly A; Jones, Christopher T; Jiang, Lijuan; Lin, Kai; Or, Yat Sun

2016-10-01

EDP-239, a potent and selective hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitor developed for the treatment of HCV infection, has been investigated in vitro and in vivo This study sought to characterize genotypic changes in the HCV NS5A sequence of genotype 1 (GT1) replicons and to compare those changes to GT1 viral RNA mutations isolated from clinical trial patients. Resistance selection experiments in vitro using a subgenomic replicon identified resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) at GT1a NS5A amino acid positions 24, 28, 30, 31, and 93 that confer various degrees of resistance to EDP-239. Key RAMs were similarly identified in GT1b NS5A at amino acid positions 31 and 93. Mutations F36L in GT1a and A92V in GT1b do not confer resistance to EDP-239 individually but were found to enhance the resistance of GT1a K24R and GT1b Y93H. RAMs were identified in GT1 patients at baseline or after dosing with EDP-239 that were similar to those detected in vitro Baseline RAMs identified at NS5A position 93 in GT1, or positions 28 or 30 in GT1a only, correlated with a reduced treatment response. RAMs at additional positions were also detected and may have contributed to reduced EDP-239 efficacy. The most common GT1a and GT1b RAMs found to persist up to weeks 12, 24, or 48 were those at NS5A positions 28, 30, 31, 58 (GT1a only), and 93. Those RAMs persisting at the highest frequencies up to weeks 24 or 48 were L31M and Q30H/R for GT1a and L31M and Y93H for GT1b. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01856426.). Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Analysis of seismic body waves excited by the Mount Saint Helens eruption of May 18, 1980

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanamori, H.; Given, J. W.; Lay, T.

1982-01-01

Seismic body waves which were excited by eruption of Mt. St. Helens, and recorded by the Global Digital Seismographic Network (GDSN) stations are analyzed to determine the nature and the time sequence of the events associated with the eruption. The polarity of teleseismic P waves (period 20 sec) is identical at six stations which are distributed over a wide azimuthal range. This observation, together with a very small S to P amplitude ratio (at 20 sec), suggests that the source is a nearly vertical single force that represents the counter force of the eruption. The time history of the vertical force suggests two distinct groups of events, about two minutes apart, each consisting of several subevents with a duration of about 25 sec. The magnitude of the force is approximately 2.6 to the 17th power dyne. this vertical force is in contrast with the long period (approximately 150 sec) southward horizontal single force which was determined by a previous study and interpreted to be due to the massive landslide.

Viscoplastic analysis of an experimental cylindrical thrust chamber liner

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arya, Vinod K.; Arnold, Steven M.

1991-01-01

A viscoplastic stress-strain analysis of an experimental cylindrical thrust chamber is presented. A viscoelastic constitutive model incorporating a single internal state variable that represents kinematic hardening was employed to investigate whether such a viscoplastic model could predict the experimentally observed behavior of the thrust chamber. Two types of loading cycles were considered: a short cycle of 3.5 sec. duration that corresponded to the experiments, and an extended loading cycle of 485.1 sec. duration that is typical of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) operating cycle. The analysis qualitatively replicated the deformation behavior of the component as observed in experiments designed to simulate SSME operating conditions. The analysis also showed that the mode and location in the component may depend on the loading cycle. The results indicate that using viscoplastic models for structural analysis can lead to a more realistic life assessment of thrust chambers.

A "push and slide" mechanism allows sequence-insensitive translocation of secretory proteins by the SecA ATPase.

PubMed

Bauer, Benedikt W; Shemesh, Tom; Chen, Yu; Rapoport, Tom A

2014-06-05

In bacteria, most secretory proteins are translocated across the plasma membrane by the interplay of the SecA ATPase and the SecY channel. How SecA moves a broad range of polypeptide substrates is only poorly understood. Here we show that SecA moves polypeptides through the SecY channel by a "push and slide" mechanism. In its ATP-bound state, SecA interacts through a two-helix finger with a subset of amino acids in a substrate, pushing them into the channel. A polypeptide can also passively slide back and forth when SecA is in the predominant ADP-bound state or when SecA encounters a poorly interacting amino acid in its ATP-bound state. SecA performs multiple rounds of ATP hydrolysis before dissociating from SecY. The proposed push and slide mechanism is supported by a mathematical model and explains how SecA allows translocation of a wide range of polypeptides. This mechanism may also apply to hexameric polypeptide-translocating ATPases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ram-recovery Characteristics of NACA Submerged Inlets at High Subsonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, Charles F; Frank, Joseph L

1948-01-01

Results are presented of an experimental investigation of the characteristics of NACA submerged inlets on a model of a fighter airplane for Mach numbers from 0.30 to 0.875. The effects on the ram-recovery ratio at the inlets of Mach number, angle of attack, boundary-layer thickness on the fuselage, inlet location, and boundary-layer deflectors are shown. The data indicate only a slight decrease in ram-recovery ratio for the inlets ahead of or just behind the wing leading edge as Mach number increased, but showed large decreases at high Mach numbers for the inlets aft of the point of maximum thickness of the wing.

Preliminary Results of British Nene II Engine Altitude-Chamber Performance Investigation. I - Altitude Performance Using Standard 18.75-Inch-Diameter Jet Nozzle. 1; Altitude Performance Using Standard 18.75-Inch-Diameter Jet Nozzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barson, Zelmar; Wilsted, H. D.

1948-01-01

An investigation is being conducted to determine the altitude performance characteristics of the British Nene II engine and its components. The present paper presents the preliminary results obtained using a standard jet nozzle. The test results presented are for conditions simulating altitudes from sea level to 60,000 feet and ram pressure ratios from 1.0 to 2.3. These ram pressure ratios correspond to flight Mach numbers between zero and 1.16 assuming a 100 percent ram recovery.

Optical RAM-enabled cache memory and optical routing for chip multiprocessors: technologies and architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pleros, Nikos; Maniotis, Pavlos; Alexoudi, Theonitsa; Fitsios, Dimitris; Vagionas, Christos; Papaioannou, Sotiris; Vyrsokinos, K.; Kanellos, George T.

2014-03-01

The processor-memory performance gap, commonly referred to as "Memory Wall" problem, owes to the speed mismatch between processor and electronic RAM clock frequencies, forcing current Chip Multiprocessor (CMP) configurations to consume more than 50% of the chip real-estate for caching purposes. In this article, we present our recent work spanning from Si-based integrated optical RAM cell architectures up to complete optical cache memory architectures for Chip Multiprocessor configurations. Moreover, we discuss on e/o router subsystems with up to Tb/s routing capacity for cache interconnection purposes within CMP configurations, currently pursued within the FP7 PhoxTrot project.

Data requirements for verification of ram glow chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swenson, G. R.; Mende, S. B.

1985-01-01

A set of questions is posed regarding the surface chemistry producing the ram glow on the space shuttle. The questions surround verification of the chemical cycle involved in the physical processes leading to the glow. The questions, and a matrix of measurements required for most answers, are presented. The measurements include knowledge of the flux composition to and from a ram surface as well as spectroscopic signatures from the U to visible to IR. A pallet set of experiments proposed to accomplish the measurements is discussed. An interim experiment involving an available infrared instrument to be operated from the shuttle Orbiter cabin is also be discussed.

Global Stability and Control Analysis of Aircraft at High Angles-of-Attack.

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-06-30

500 deg/sec to 500 deg/sec and com - puting the eigenvalues of the linearized system around different equilibrium points for 6e = 2°. It is noticed...SYSTEMS, INC. 0" -114- 2 Ä»" • + + + + + _+ + + + + + + + + M I o o o a i i 8 8 in 8 8 XNXX * x x» x x x< x...history com - parisons show significant improvement in dynamic response and performance using the BACTM ARI gain, as opposed to nulling the rudder

Swift J1822.3-1606: A Probable New SGR in Ground Analysis of BAT Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cummings, J. R.; Burrows, D.; Campana, S.; Kennea, J. A.; Krimm, H. A.; Palmer, D. M.; Sakamoto, T.; Zan, S.

2011-07-01

At 2011-07-14 at 12:47:47.1 UTC, Swift-BAT triggered (#457261) on a previously unknown source, Swift J1822.3-1606. This was at the same time as Fermi-GBM trigger #332340476. Only a subthreshold source was detected onboard. There were two subsequent rate increases of similar size, probably from the same source at about T+26 sec and T+308 sec, the latter also causing a rate trigger with no significant source found onboard (#457263).

Role of Doppler Diastolic Parameters in Differentiating Physiological Left Ventricular Hypertrophy from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Finocchiaro, Gherardo; Dhutia, Harshil; D'Silva, Andrew; Malhotra, Aneil; Sheikh, Nabeel; Narain, Rajay; Ensam, Bode; Papatheodorou, Stathis; Tome, Maite; Sharma, Rajan; Papadakis, Michael; Sharma, Sanjay

2018-05-01

The association between athletic participation and alteration in diastolic function is not well established. The aims of this study were to determine the spectrum of Doppler parameters of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in a large cohort of healthy athletes and to quantify the overlap between physiologic LV hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A retrospective analysis of indices of LV diastolic function was performed in 1,510 healthy athletes (mean age, 22 ± 5 years; range, 13-33 years; 72% men). The results were compared with those from 58 young patients with HCM. Septal E' < 7 cm/sec and lateral E' < 10 cm/sec were found in five (0.3%) and eight (0.5%) athletes, respectively. Septal E' was >14.6 cm/sec in 170 (11%) and lateral E' was >19.9 cm/sec in 430 (28%) athletes. Athletes aged >25 years showed lower E' velocities compared with younger athletes (mean septal E', 11.8 ± 6.1 vs 12.9 ± 5.9 cm/sec [P < .001]; mean lateral E', 17.1 ± 3.6 vs 19.3 ± 4.1 cm/sec [P < .001]). Athletes with high indexed LV end-diastolic diameters (>32 mm/m 2 ) exhibited lower septal E' compared with athletes with normal indexed LV end-diastolic diameters (mean septal E', 11.9 ± 6 vs 12.7 ± 6 cm/sec; P = .002). Septal E' < 10 cm/sec and lateral E' < 12 cm/sec showed the best accuracy in differentiating between HCM and athlete's heart. Reduced septal and lateral E' are rarely observed in young elite athletes. Tissue Doppler velocities tend to decrease with increasing age and LV size, and values representative of supernormal diastolic function are found in less than one-third of young athletes. Cutoff thresholds for Doppler parameters of diastolic function should be corrected for multiple demographic and clinical variables to differentiate cardiac adaptation to exercise from HCM in young individuals. Copyright © 2017 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lower Selenoprotein T Expression and Immune Response in the Immune Organs of Broilers with Exudative Diathesis Due to Selenium Deficiency.

PubMed

Pan, Tingru; Liu, Tianqi; Tan, Siran; Wan, Na; Zhang, Yiming; Li, Shu

2018-04-01

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether dietary selenium (Se) deficiency would affect the expression of selenoprotein T (SelT) and immune response in the immune organs of broilers. Changes in expression of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress response caused by Se deficiency can lead to organism damage, which in turn leads to immune response. Sixty (1-day-old) broilers were divided into the control group and Se-deficiency group. Animal models with exudative diathesis were duplicated in the broilers by feeding them Se-deficient diet for 20 days. After the Se-deficient group exhibited symptoms of exudative diathesis, all the broilers were euthanized, and their immune organs were taken for analysis. The tissues including spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and thymus were treated to determine the pathological changes (including microscopic and ultramicroscopic), the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of SelT and its synthetase (SecS and SPS1), cytokine mRNA expression levels, and antioxidant status. The microscopic and ultramicroscopic analyses showed that immune tissues were obviously injured in the Se-deficient group. The mRNA expression of SelT was decreased compared with that in the control group. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of SecS and SPS1 were downregulated. In the Se-deficient group, the mRNA expression levels of IL-1R and IL-1β were higher than those of three control organs. Additionally, the IL-2 and INF-γ mRNA expression levels were lower than those of the control group. The activity of CAT was decreased, and the contents of H 2 O 2 and •OH were increased due to Se deficiency. Pearson method analysis showed that the expression of SelT had a positive correlation with IL-2, INF-γ, SecS, and SPS1 and a negative correlation with IL-1R and IL-1β. In summary, these data indicated that Se-deficient diet decreased the SelT expression and its regulation of oxidative stress, and it inhibited a pleiotropic mechanism of the immune response.

Static RAM data recorder for flight tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoner, D. C.; Eklund, T. F. F.

A static random access memory (RAM) data recorder has been developed to recover strain and acceleration data during development tests of high-speed earth penetrating vehicles. Bilevel inputs are also available for continuity measurements. An iteration of this system was modified for use on water entry evaluations.

Aerodynamics of Tracked Ram Air Cushion Vehicles - Effects of Pitch Attitude and Upper Surface Flow

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-12-01

Three types of experiments were conducted on geometrically similar model of a Tracked Ram Air Cushion Vehicle (TRACV). The first consisted of wind tunnel tests with the vehicle model positioned within a short segment of stationary guideway. In the se...

HST Imaging of Dust Structures and Stars in the Ram Pressure Stripped Virgo Spirals NGC 4402 and NGC 4522: Stripped from the Outside In with Dense Cloud Decoupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramson, A.; Kenney, J.; Crowl, H.; Tal, T.

2016-08-01

We describe and constrain the origins of interstellar medium (ISM) structures likely created by ongoing intracluster medium (ICM) ram pressure stripping in two Virgo Cluster spirals, NGC 4522 and NGC 4402, using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) BVI images of dust extinction and stars, as well as supplementary H I, Hα, and radio continuum images. With a spatial resolution of ˜10 pc in the HST images, this is the highest-resolution study to date of the physical processes that occur during an ICM-ISM ram pressure stripping interaction, ram pressure stripping's effects on the multi-phase, multi-density ISM, and the formation and evolution of ram-pressure-stripped tails. In dust extinction, we view the leading side of NGC 4402 and the trailing side of NGC 4522, and so we see distinct types of features in both. In both galaxies, we identify some regions where dense clouds are decoupling or have decoupled and others where it appears that kiloparsec-sized sections of the ISM are moving coherently. NGC 4522 has experienced stronger, more recent pressure and has the “jellyfish” morphology characteristic of some ram-pressure-stripped galaxies. Its stripped tail extends up from the disk plane in continuous upturns of dust and stars curving up to ˜2 kpc above the disk plane. On the other side of the galaxy, there is a kinematically and morphologically distinct extraplanar arm of young, blue stars and ISM above a mostly stripped portion of the disk, and between it and the disk plane are decoupled dust clouds that have not been completely stripped. The leading side of NGC 4402 contains two kiloparsec-scale linear dust filaments with complex substructure that have partially decoupled from the surrounding ISM. NGC 4402 also contains long dust ridges, suggesting that large parts of the ISM are being pushed out at once. Both galaxies contain long ridges of polarized radio continuum emission indicating the presence of large-scale, ordered magnetic fields. We propose that magnetic fields could bind together gas of different densities, causing nearby gas of different densities to be stripped at the same rate and creating the large, coherent dust ridges and upturns. A number of factors likely play roles in determining what types of structures form as a result of ram pressure, including ram pressure strength and history, the location within the galaxy relative to the leading side, and pre-existing substructure in the ISM that may be bound together by magnetic fields during stripping.

Projectile Combustion Effects on Ram Accelerator Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chitale, Saarth Anjali

University of Washington Abstract Projectile Combustion Effects on Ram Accelerator Performance Saarth Anjali Chitale Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Prof. Carl Knowlen William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics The ram accelerator facility at the University of Washington is used to propel projectiles at supersonic velocities. This concept is similar to an air-breathing ramjet engine in that sub-caliber projectiles, shaped like the ramjet engine center-body, are shot through smooth-bore steel-walled tubes having an internal diameter of 38 mm. The ram accelerator propulsive cycles operate between Mach 2 to 10 and have the potential to accelerate projectile to velocities greater than 8 km/s. The theoretical thrust versus Mach number characteristics can be obtained using knowledge of gas dynamics and thermodynamics that goes into the design of the ram accelerator. The corresponding velocity versus distance profiles obtained from the test runs at the University of Washington, however, are often not consistent with the theoretical predictions after the projectiles reach in-tube Mach numbers greater than 4. The experimental velocities are typically greater than the expected theoretical predictions; which has led to the proposition that the combustion process may be moving up onto the projectile. An alternative explanation for higher than predicted thrust, which is explored here, is that the performance differences can be attributed to the ablation of the projectile body which results in molten metal being added to the flow of the gaseous combustible mixture around the projectile. This molten metal is assumed to mix uniformly and react with the gaseous propellant; thereby enhancing the propellant energy release and altering the predicted thrust-Mach characteristics. This theory predicts at what Mach number the projectile will first experience enhanced thrust and the corresponding velocity-distance profile. Preliminary results are in good agreement with projectiles operating in methane/oxygen/nitrogen propellants. Effects of projectile surface to volume ratio are also explored by applying the model to experimental results from smaller (Tohoku University, 25-mm-bore) and larger (Institute of Saint-Louis 90-mm-bore) bore ram accelerators. Due to lower surface-to-volume ratio, large diameter projectiles are predicted to need to reach higher Mach numbers than smaller diameter projectiles before thrust enhancement due to metal ablation and burning would be experienced. This proposition was supported by published experimental data. The theoretical modeling of projectile ablation, metal combustion, and subsequent ram accelerator thrust characteristics are presented along comparisons to experiments from three different sized ram accelerator facilities.

Architecture of the sperm whale forehead facilitates ramming combat.

PubMed

Panagiotopoulou, Olga; Spyridis, Panagiotis; Mehari Abraha, Hyab; Carrier, David R; Pataky, Todd C

2016-01-01

Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick was inspired by historical instances in which large sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus L.) sank 19th century whaling ships by ramming them with their foreheads. The immense forehead of sperm whales is possibly the largest, and one of the strangest, anatomical structures in the animal kingdom. It contains two large oil-filled compartments, known as the "spermaceti organ" and "junk," that constitute up to one-quarter of body mass and extend one-third of the total length of the whale. Recognized as playing an important role in echolocation, previous studies have also attributed the complex structural configuration of the spermaceti organ and junk to acoustic sexual selection, acoustic prey debilitation, buoyancy control, and aggressive ramming. Of these additional suggested functions, ramming remains the most controversial, and the potential mechanical roles of the structural components of the spermaceti organ and junk in ramming remain untested. Here we explore the aggressive ramming hypothesis using a novel combination of structural engineering principles and probabilistic simulation to determine if the unique structure of the junk significantly reduces stress in the skull during quasi-static impact. Our analyses indicate that the connective tissue partitions in the junk reduce von Mises stresses across the skull and that the load-redistribution functionality of the former is insensitive to moderate variation in tissue material parameters, the thickness of the partitions, and variations in the location and angle of the applied load. Absence of the connective tissue partitions increases skull stresses, particularly in the rostral aspect of the upper jaw, further hinting of the important role the architecture of the junk may play in ramming events. Our study also found that impact loads on the spermaceti organ generate lower skull stresses than an impact on the junk. Nevertheless, whilst an impact on the spermaceti organ would reduce skull stresses, it would also cause high compressive stresses on the anterior aspect of the organ and the connective tissue case, possibly making these structures more prone to failure. This outcome, coupled with the facts that the spermaceti organ houses sensitive and essential sonar producing structures and the rostral portion of junk, rather than the spermaceti organ, is frequently a site of significant scarring in mature males suggest that whales avoid impact with the spermaceti organ. Although the unique structure of the junk certainly serves multiple functions, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the structure also evolved to function as a massive battering ram during male-male competition.

Solar wind conditions in the outer heliosphere and the distance to the termination shock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belcher, John W.; Lazarus, Alan J.; Mcnutt, Ralph L., Jr.; Gordon, George S., Jr.

1993-01-01

The Plasma Science experiment on the Voyager 2 spacecraft has measured the properties of solar wind protons from 1 to 40.4 AU. We use these observations to discuss the probable location and motion of the termination shock of the solar wind. Assuming that the interstellar pressure is due to a 5 micro-G magnetic field draped over the upstream face of the heliopause, the radial variation of ram pressure implies that the termination shock will be located at an average distance near 89 AU. This distance scales inversely as the assumed field strength. There are also large variations in ram pressure on time scales of tens of days, due primarily to large variations in solar wind density at a given radius. Such rapid changes in the solar wind ram pressure can cause large perturbations in the location of the termination shock. We study the nonequilibrium location of the termination shock as it responds to these ram pressure changes. The results of this study suggest that the position of the termination shock can vary by as much as 10 AU in a single year, depending on the nature of variations in the ram pressure, and that multiple crossings of the termination shock by a given outer heliosphere spacecraft are likely. After the first crossing, such models of shock motion will be useful for predicting the timing of subsequent crossings.

Ethylene glycol, but not DMSO, could replace glycerol inclusion in soybean lecithin-based extenders in ram sperm cryopreservation.

PubMed

Najafi, Abouzar; Daghigh-Kia, Hossein; Dodaran, Hossein Vaseghi; Mehdipour, Mahdieh; Alvarez-Rodriguez, Manuel

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glycerol, ethylene glycol or DMSO in a soybean lecithin extender for freezing ram semen. In this study, 20 ejaculates were collected from four Ghezel rams and diluted with soybean lecithin extender with glycerol (7%), ethylene glycol (3%, 5% and 7%) or DMSO (3%, 5% and 7%). Sperm motility (CASA), membrane integrity (HOS test), viability, total abnormality, mitochondrial activity (Rhodamine 123) and apoptotic features (Annexin V/Propidium iodide) were assessed after thawing. There was no significant difference between glycerol and ethylene glycol at different concentrations (3% and 5%) regarding sperm total and progressive motility, viability, and membrane integrity. The least percentages of mitochondrial functionality were observed in samples frozen with all different DMSO concentrations tested (P<0.05). Moreover, the percentage of post-thawed dead sperm was the greatest for all the DMSO concentrations compared with other groups (P<0.05). Thus, DMSO had an adverse effect on the post thaw ram sperm parameters. In contrast, ethylene glycol could be a desirable substitute of glycerol in the freezing extender, in view of similar results obtained in post-thaw quality of ram semen cryopreserved in a soybean lecithin extender. We propose that glycerol in a soybean lecithin based extender could be replaced by ethylene glycol at 3% or 5% concentrations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor gene vaccine in immunocastration of ram lambs

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor (KISS1) gene vaccine in immunocastration. Methods Six eight-week old ram lambs were randomly divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccine (1 mg/ram lamb) was injected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 of the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before primary immunization and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22, and 30 after primary immunization. All ram lambs were slaughtered at 38 weeks of age, and samples were collected. Results The specific anti-KISS1 antibody titers in vaccinated animals were significantly higher and the serum testosterone level was significantly lower than those in the control groups from week 4 to 14 after primary immunization (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed at weeks 22 and 30 after the primary immunization. Similar results were also found for scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length, breadth, and spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in week 30 after primary immunization. KS (KISS1-hepatitis B surface antigen S) fusion fragment of KISS1 gene vaccine was not detected in host cell genomic DNA of 9 tissues of the vaccinated ram lambs by polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion The effects of KISS1 gene vaccine in immunocastration were reversible and no integration events were recorded. PMID:29268573

Reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor gene vaccine in immunocastration of ram lambs.

PubMed

Han, Yan-Guo; Liu, Gui-Qiong; Jiang, Xun-Ping; Xiang, Xing-Long; Huang, Yong-Fu; Nie, Bin; Zhao, Jia-Yu; Nabeel, Ijaz; Tesema, Birhanu

2018-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor ( KISS1 ) gene vaccine in immunocastration. Six eight-week old ram lambs were randomly divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccine (1 mg/ram lamb) was injected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 of the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before primary immunization and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22, and 30 after primary immunization. All ram lambs were slaughtered at 38 weeks of age, and samples were collected. The specific anti- KISS1 antibody titers in vaccinated animals were significantly higher and the serum testosterone level was significantly lower than those in the control groups from week 4 to 14 after primary immunization (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed at weeks 22 and 30 after the primary immunization. Similar results were also found for scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length, breadth, and spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in week 30 after primary immunization. KS ( KISS1 -hepatitis B surface antigen S ) fusion fragment of KISS1 gene vaccine was not detected in host cell genomic DNA of 9 tissues of the vaccinated ram lambs by polymerase chain reaction. The effects of KISS1 gene vaccine in immunocastration were reversible and no integration events were recorded.

GASP. IX. Jellyfish galaxies in phase-space: an orbital study of intense ram-pressure stripping in clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaffé, Yara L.; Poggianti, Bianca M.; Moretti, Alessia; Gullieuszik, Marco; Smith, Rory; Vulcani, Benedetta; Fasano, Giovanni; Fritz, Jacopo; Tonnesen, Stephanie; Bettoni, Daniela; Hau, George; Biviano, Andrea; Bellhouse, Callum; McGee, Sean

2018-06-01

It is well known that galaxies falling into clusters can experience gas stripping due to ram pressure by the intra-cluster medium. The most spectacular examples are galaxies with extended tails of optically bright stripped material known as `jellyfish'. We use the first large homogeneous compilation of jellyfish galaxies in clusters from the WINGS and OmegaWINGS surveys, and follow-up MUSE observations from the GASP MUSE programme to investigate the orbital histories of jellyfish galaxies in clusters and reconstruct their stripping history through position versus velocity phase-space diagrams. We construct analytic models to define the regions in phase-space where ram-pressure stripping is at play. We then study the distribution of cluster galaxies in phase-space and find that jellyfish galaxies have on average higher peculiar velocities (and higher cluster velocity dispersion) than the overall population of cluster galaxies at all cluster-centric radii, which is indicative of recent infall into the cluster and radial orbits. In particular, the jellyfish galaxies with the longest gas tails reside very near the cluster cores (in projection) and are moving at very high speeds, which coincides with the conditions of the most intense ram pressure. We conclude that many of the jellyfish galaxies seen in clusters likely formed via fast (˜1-2 Gyr), incremental, outside-in ram-pressure stripping during first infall into the cluster in highly radial orbits.

Observation of Pulsed Gamma Rays with Energies Greater than 250 keV from the Crab Nebula Pulsar NP 0532. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orwig, L. E.

1971-01-01

Data from a balloon flight experiment using an Na I scintillation spectrometer were analyzed for gamma ray pulsation. The payload was carried to a nominal atmospheric depth of 3.5 g/cm2. A superposed epoch analysis was performed on a 12,000 second portion of the data spanning a total time interval of 16,700 seconds at float altitude. A positive pulsed contribution was observed at the expected apparent frequency of NP 0532 having the typical double pulse structure. The results indicate a time-averaged pulse photon flux of 0.00144 + or - 0.00057 photons/sq cm/sec in the energy interval from 250 keV to 2.3 MeV. This represents a time-averaged pulsed power of 0.000649 + or - 0.000257 keV/sq cm/sec/keV. The ratio of interpulse to main pulse was found to be 2.4 + or - 1.9. The analysis indicates a positive photon flux from 250 keV to 725 keV of 0.00120 + or - 0.00052 photons/sq cm/sec.

Development of achiral and chiral 2D HPLC methods for analysis of albendazole metabolites in microsomal fractions using multivariate analysis for the in vitro metabolism.

PubMed

Belaz, Kátia Roberta A; Pereira-Filho, Edenir Rodrigues; Oliveira, Regina V

2013-08-01

In this work, the development of two multidimensional liquid chromatography methods coupled to a fluorescence detector is described for direct analysis of microsomal fractions obtained from rat livers. The chiral multidimensional method was then applied for the optimization of the in vitro metabolism of albendazole by experimental design. Albendazole was selected as a model drug because of its anthelmintics properties and recent potential for cancer treatment. The development of two fully automated achiral-chiral and chiral-chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for the determination of albendazole (ABZ) and its metabolites albendazole sulphoxide (ABZ-SO), albendazole sulphone (ABZ-SO2) and albendazole 2-aminosulphone (ABZ-SO2NH2) in microsomal fractions are described. These methods involve the use of a phenyl (RAM-phenyl-BSA) or octyl (RAM-C8-BSA) restricted access media bovine serum albumin column for the sample clean-up, followed by an achiral phenyl column (15.0×0.46cmI.D.) or a chiral amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) column (15.0×0.46cmI.D.). The chiral 2D HPLC method was applied to the development of a compromise condition for the in vitro metabolism of ABZ by means of experimental design involving multivariate analysis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Study of relationship between frailty and physical performance in elderly women.

PubMed

Jeoung, Bog Ja; Lee, Yang Chool

2015-08-01

Frailty is a disorder of multiple inter-related physiological systems. It is unclear whether the level of physical performance factors can serve as markers of frailty and a sign. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between frailty and physical performance in elderly women. One hundred fourteen elderly women participated in this study, their aged was from 65 to 80. We were measured 6-min walk test, grip-strength, 30-sec arm curl test, 30-sec chair stand test, 8 foot Up- and Go, Back scratch, chair sit and reach, unipedal stance, BMI, and the frailty with questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, frequencies, correlation analysis, ANOVA, and simple liner regression using the IBM 21. SPSS program. In results, statistic tests showed that there were significant differences between frailty and 6-min walk test, 30-sec arm curl test, 30-sec chair stand test, grip-strength, Back scratch, and BMI. However, we did not find significant differences between frailty and 8 foot Up- and Go, unipedal stance. When the subjects were divided into five groups according to physical performance level, subjects with high 6-min walk, 30-sec arm curl test, chair sit and reach test, and high grip strength had low score frailty. Physical performance factors were strongly associated with decreased frailty, suggesting that physical performance improvements play an important role in preventing or reducing the frailty.

Cape Photographic Durchmusterung, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

The Cape Photographic Durchmusterung (CPD, Gill and Kapteyn 1895-1900) is a Photographic survey of southern stars in the declination range -18 to -90 degrees. This volume covers the declination range -53 through -89 degrees. Positions are given for 1875 equinox. The summary of the positional uncertainties quoted in the third volume of the published catalog gives +/- 0.28 sec (R.A.), +/- 0.044 arcmin (Dec.) for zones - 18 to -57 degrees, + 0.157 sec + 0.0764/cos(delta) sec (R.A.), +/- 0.056 arcmin (Dec.) for zones -58 to -85 degrees, +0.157 sec + 0.0353/cos (delta) sec (R.A.), + 0.0127 arcmin (Dec.) for the polar plate where, as explained in the introduction to the third volume, many positions were derived from rectangular coordinates (these are positions reported to 0.1 SCC (R.A.) and 0.001 arcmin (Dec.) in the -86 to -89 degree zones in the catalog). The probable error of a photographic magnitude, as determined by combining results for different magnitudes and weighting proportionately according to the numbers of stars in each class of magnitude, is given as +0.055 mag. From an analysis of the faint magnitude limits on the plates discussed in the third volume introduction, the catalog as a whole can be considered complete to photographic magnitude 9.2, but it is stated that it will be found practically complete, in or near the Milky Way, to magnitude 9.5.

Rate of hexabromocyclododecane decomposition and production of brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during combustion in a pilot-scale incinerator.

PubMed

Miyake, Yuichi; Tokumura, Masahiro; Wang, Qi; Amagai, Takashi; Horii, Yuichi

2017-11-01

Here, we examined the incineration of extruded polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in a pilot-scale incinerator under various combustion temperatures (800-950°C) and flue gas residence times (2-8sec). Rates of HBCD decomposition ranged from 99.996% (800°C, 2sec) to 99.9999% (950°C, 8sec); the decomposition of HBCD, except during the initial stage of combustion (flue gas residence time<2sec), followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. An Arrhenius plot revealed that the activation energy and frequency factor of the decomposition of HBCD by combustion were 14.2kJ/mol and 1.69sec -1 , respectively. During combustion, 11 brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (BrPAHs) were detected as unintentional by-products. Of the 11 BrPAHs detected, 2-bromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were detected at the highest concentrations. The mutagenic and carcinogenic BrPAHs 1,5-dibromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were most frequently detected in the flue gases analyzed. The total concentration of BrPAHs exponentially increased (range, 87.8-2,040,000ng/m 3 ) with increasing flue gas residence time. Results from a qualitative analysis using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry suggest that bromofluorene and bromopyrene (or fluoranthene) congeners were also produced during the combustion. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The Effect of Al2O3 Addition on the Thermal Diffusivity of Heat Activated Acrylic Resin.

PubMed

Atla, Jyothi; Manne, Prakash; Gopinadh, A; Sampath, Anche; Muvva, Suresh Babu; Kishore, Krishna; Sandeep, Chiramana; Chittamsetty, Harika

2013-08-01

This study aimed at investigating the effect of adding 5% to 20% by weight aluminium oxide powder (Al2O3) on thermal diffusivity of heat-polymerized acrylic resin. Twenty five cylindrical test specimens with an embedded thermocouple were used to determine thermal diffusivity over a physiologic temperature range (0 to 70°C). The specimens were divided into five groups (5 specimens/group) which were coded A to E. Group A was the control group (unmodified acrylic resin specimens). The specimens of the remaining four groups were reinforced with 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% Al2O3 by weight. RESULTS were analysed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Test specimens which belonged to Group E showed the highest mean thermal diffusivity value of 10.7mm(2)/sec, followed by D (9.09mm(2)/sec), C (8.49mm(2)/sec), B(8.28mm(2)/sec) and A(6.48mm(2)/sec) groups respectively. Thermal diffusivities of the reinforced acrylic resins were found to be significantly higher than that of the unmodified acrylic resin. Thermal diffusivity was found to increase in proportion to the weight percentage of alumina filler. Al2O3 fillers have potential to provide increased thermal diffusivity. Increasing the heat transfer characteristics of the acrylic resin base material could lead to more patient satisfaction.

JPRS Report, Near East and South Asia, India.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-28

Malhotra, N.E. Balaram, Chaturanan Mishra, A.B. Bardhan , Homi Daji, Promod Gogoi, Ram Avatar Sharma, Suraj Prasad, Mrs. Gita Mukherjee, Ram Sajivan...Mr. Gupta, these members are Messrs M. Farooqi, Avatar Singh Malhotra, N.E. Bal- aram, Chaturanan Mishra, A.B. Bardhan , Homi Daji and Promod Gogoi

77 FR 40830 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-11

... proposed AD was prompted by reports of ram air turbine (RAT) pump failure. This proposed AD would require..., an A330 aeroplane experienced a RAT [ram air turbine] pump failure, as a result of which, the green hydraulic system could not be fully pressurized. Investigations concluded that this malfunction was due to...

6. Keeper's house, first floor, detail of woodwork, looking northeast ...

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

6. Keeper's house, first floor, detail of woodwork, looking northeast from southwest room into northwest room and stair hall - Ram Island Light Station, Ram Island, south of Ocean Point & just north of Fisherman Island, marking south side of Fisherman Island Passage, Ocean Point, Lincoln County, ME

Project SQUID. Annual Program Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1949-01-01

hydrogen had previously been observed by Taylor and Salley, but no similar data on the thermal reaction were available. The use of a spark source of... Brayton cycle. The process a-b is the adiabatic ram compression obtained by virtue of flight speed, and is the same as that experienced by a ram jet

76 FR 62671 - Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-11

... product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: The manufacturer of the Transformer Rectifier Unit... MCAI states: The manufacturer of the Transformer Rectifier Unit (TRU) part of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT..., all serial numbers, certificated in any category; equipped with any Ram Air Turbine (RAT) Transformer...

SIMULATION OF SULFATE AEROSOL IN EAST ASIA USING MODELS-3/CMAQ WITH RAMS METEOROLOGICAL DATA

EPA Science Inventory

The present study attempts to address a few challenges in utilizing the flexibility of the Models-3 Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. We apply the CMAQ system with the meteorological data provided by the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) and to a...

Tank 241-S-111 08/1999 Compatibility Grab Samples and Analytical Results for the Final Report [SEC 1 and SEC 2

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

STEEN, F.H.

This document is the format IV, final report for the tank 241-S-111 (S-111) grab samples taken in August 1999 to address waste compatibility concerns. Chemical, radiochemical, and physical analyses on the tank S-111 samples were performed as directed in Compatibility Grab Sampling and Analysis Plan for Fiscal Year 1999 (Sasaki 1999a,b). Any deviations from the instructions provided in the tank sampling and analysis plan (TSAP) were discussed in this narrative. The notification limit for {sup 137}Cs was exceeded on two samples. Results are discussed in Section 5.3.2. No other notification limits were exceeded.

High-resolution Antibody Array Analysis of Childhood Acute Leukemia Cells*

PubMed Central

Kanderova, Veronika; Kuzilkova, Daniela; Stuchly, Jan; Vaskova, Martina; Brdicka, Tomas; Fiser, Karel; Hrusak, Ondrej; Lund-Johansen, Fridtjof

2016-01-01

Acute leukemia is a disease pathologically manifested at both genomic and proteomic levels. Molecular genetic technologies are currently widely used in clinical research. In contrast, sensitive and high-throughput proteomic techniques for performing protein analyses in patient samples are still lacking. Here, we used a technology based on size exclusion chromatography followed by immunoprecipitation of target proteins with an antibody bead array (Size Exclusion Chromatography-Microsphere-based Affinity Proteomics, SEC-MAP) to detect hundreds of proteins from a single sample. In addition, we developed semi-automatic bioinformatics tools to adapt this technology for high-content proteomic screening of pediatric acute leukemia patients. To confirm the utility of SEC-MAP in leukemia immunophenotyping, we tested 31 leukemia diagnostic markers in parallel by SEC-MAP and flow cytometry. We identified 28 antibodies suitable for both techniques. Eighteen of them provided excellent quantitative correlation between SEC-MAP and flow cytometry (p < 0.05). Next, SEC-MAP was applied to examine 57 diagnostic samples from patients with acute leukemia. In this assay, we used 632 different antibodies and detected 501 targets. Of those, 47 targets were differentially expressed between at least two of the three acute leukemia subgroups. The CD markers correlated with immunophenotypic categories as expected. From non-CD markers, we found DBN1, PAX5, or PTK2 overexpressed in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias, LAT, SH2D1A, or STAT5A overexpressed in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, and HCK, GLUD1, or SYK overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemias. In addition, OPAL1 overexpression corresponded to ETV6-RUNX1 chromosomal translocation. In summary, we demonstrated that SEC-MAP technology is a powerful tool for detecting hundreds of proteins in clinical samples obtained from pediatric acute leukemia patients. It provides information about protein size and reveals differences in protein expression between particular leukemia subgroups. Forty-seven of SEC-MAP identified targets were validated by other conventional method in this study. PMID:26785729

Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of SecA from Enterococcus faecalis

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

Meining, Winfried, E-mail: wim@csb.ki.se; Scheuring, Johannes; Fischer, Markus

2006-06-01

SecA ATPase from E. faecalis has been cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Crystals belong to space group C2 and diffract to 2.4 Å resolution. The gene coding for SecA from Enterococcus faecalis was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. In this protein, the lysine at position 6 was replaced by an asparagine in order to reduce sensitivity towards proteases. The modified protein was purified and crystallized. Crystals diffracting to 2.4 Å resolution were obtained using the vapour-diffusion technique. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 203.4, b = 49.8, c = 100.8 Å,more » α = γ = 90.0, β = 119.1°. A selenomethionine derivative was prepared and is currently being tested in crystallization trials.« less

Structural Analysis of N- and O-glycans Using ZIC-HILIC/Dialysis Coupled to NMR Detection

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

Qu, Yi; Feng, Ju; Deng, Shuang

2014-11-19

Protein glycosylation, an important and complex post-translational modification (PTM), is involved in various biological processes including the receptor-ligand and cell-cell interaction, and plays a crucial role in many biological functions. However, little is known about the glycan structures of important biological complex samples, and the conventional glycan enrichment strategy (i.e., size-exclusion column [SEC] separation,) prior to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection is time-consuming and tedious. In this study, we employed SEC, Zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (ZIC-HILIC), and ZIC-HILIC coupled with dialysis strategies to enrich the glycopeptides from the pronase E digests of RNase B, followed by NMR analysis ofmore » the glycoconjugate. Our results suggest that the ZIC-HILIC enrichment coupled with dialysis is the most efficient, which was thus applied to the analysis of biological complex sample, the pronase E digest of the secreted proteins from the fungi Aspergillus niger. The NMR spectra revealed that the secreted proteins from A. niger contain both N-linked glycans with a high-mannose core and O-linked glycans bearing mannose and glucose with 1->3 and 1->6 linkages. In all, our study provides compelling evidence that ZIC-HILIC separation coupled to dialysis is superior to the commonly used SEC separation to prepare glycopeptides for the downstream NMR analysis, which could greatly facilitate the future NMR-based glycoproteomics research.« less

Dynamic distribution of the SecA and SecY translocase subunits and septal localization of the HtrA surface chaperone/protease during Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 cell division.

PubMed

Tsui, Ho-Ching Tiffany; Keen, Susan K; Sham, Lok-To; Wayne, Kyle J; Winkler, Malcolm E

2011-01-01

The Sec translocase pathway is the major route for protein transport across and into the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. Previous studies reported that the SecA translocase ATP-binding subunit and the cell surface HtrA protease/chaperone formed a single microdomain, termed "ExPortal," in some species of ellipsoidal (ovococcus) Gram-positive bacteria, including Streptococcus pyogenes. To investigate the generality of microdomain formation, we determined the distribution of SecA and SecY by immunofluorescent microscopy in Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), which is an ovococcus species evolutionarily distant from S. pyogenes. In the majority (≥ 75%) of exponentially growing cells, S. pneumoniae SecA (SecA (Spn)) and SecY (Spn) located dynamically in cells at different stages of division. In early divisional cells, both Sec subunits concentrated at equators, which are future sites of constriction. Further along in division, SecA(Spn) and SecY(Spn) remained localized at mid-cell septa. In late divisional cells, both Sec subunits were hemispherically distributed in the regions between septa and the future equators of dividing cells. In contrast, the HtrA (Spn) homologue localized to the equators and septa of most (> 90%) dividing cells, whereas the SrtA(Spn) sortase located over the surface of cells in no discernable pattern. This dynamic pattern of Sec distribution was not perturbed by the absence of flotillin family proteins, but was largely absent in most cells in early stationary phase and in cls mutants lacking cardiolipin synthase. These results do not support the existence of an ExPortal microdomain in S. pneumoniae. Instead, the localization of the pneumococcal Sec translocase depends on the stage of cell division and anionic phospholipid content. Two patterns of Sec translocase distribution, an ExPortal microdomain in certain ovococcus-shaped species like Streptococcus pyogenes and a spiral pattern in rod-shaped species like Bacillus subtilis, have been reported for Gram-positive bacteria. This study provides evidence for a third pattern of Sec localization in the ovococcus human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. The SecA motor and SecY channel subunits of the Sec translocase localize dynamically to different places in the mid-cell region during the division cycle of exponentially growing, but not stationary-phase, S. pneumoniae. Unexpectedly, the S. pneumoniae HtrA (HtrA(Spn)) protease/chaperone principally localizes to cell equators and division septa. The coincident localization of SecA(Spn), SecY (Spn), and HtrA (Spn) to regions of peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis in unstressed, growing cells suggests that the pneumococcal Sec translocase directs assembly of the PG biosynthesis apparatus to regions where it is needed during division and that HtrA(Spn) may play a general role in quality control of proteins exported by the Sec translocase.

76 FR 72245 - Implementation of Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-22

... clarifying language to Sec. Sec. 123.9(c), (c)(1), and (c)(2); and adding the language of the current (c)(4) to (c)(3). New language pertaining to new Sec. Sec. 126.16 and 126.17 will comprise a new (c)(4). We... clarifying language to Sec. Sec. 123.9(e)(3) and (e)(4). We are adding Israel to the list of countries and...

40 CFR 172.3 - Scope of requirement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....C. sec. 321(p) and sec. 355). (2) A “new animal drug” (21 U.S.C. sec. 321(w) and sec. 360(b)), or (3) An “animal feed” (21 U.S.C. sec. 321 (x)) containing a “new animal drug” (21 U.S.C. sec. 360(b)). (g... experimental use permit (EUP) is generally required for testing of any unregistered pesticide or any registered...

40 CFR 172.3 - Scope of requirement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....C. sec. 321(p) and sec. 355). (2) A “new animal drug” (21 U.S.C. sec. 321(w) and sec. 360(b)), or (3) An “animal feed” (21 U.S.C. sec. 321 (x)) containing a “new animal drug” (21 U.S.C. sec. 360(b)). (g... experimental use permit (EUP) is generally required for testing of any unregistered pesticide or any registered...