External quality assurance performance of clinical research laboratories in sub-saharan Africa.

PubMed

Amukele, Timothy K; Michael, Kurt; Hanes, Mary; Miller, Robert E; Jackson, J Brooks

2012-11-01

Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratories (JHU-SMILE) is a resource at Johns Hopkins University that supports and monitors laboratories in National Institutes of Health-funded international clinical trials. To determine the impact of the JHU-SMILE quality assurance scheme in sub-Saharan African laboratories, we reviewed 40 to 60 months of external quality assurance (EQA) results of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in these laboratories. We reviewed the performance of 8 analytes: albumin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, sodium, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and the human immunodeficiency virus antibody rapid test. Over the 40- to 60-month observation period, the sub-Saharan laboratories had a 1.63% failure rate, which was 40% lower than the 2011 CAP-wide rate of 2.8%. Seventy-six percent of the observed EQA failures occurred in 4 of the 21 laboratories. These results demonstrate that a system of remote monitoring, feedback, and audits can support quality in low-resource settings, even in places without strong regulatory support for laboratory quality.

Microbial monitoring of spacecraft and associated environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

La Duc, M. T.; Kern, R.; Venkateswaran, K.

2004-01-01

Rapid microbial monitoring technologies are invaluable in assessing contamination of spacecraft and associated environments. Universal and widespread elements of microbial structure and chemistry are logical targets for assessing microbial burden. Several biomarkers such as ATP, LPS, and DNA (ribosomal or spore-specific), were targeted to quantify either total bioburden or specific types of microbial contamination. The findings of these assays were compared with conventional, culture-dependent methods. This review evaluates the applicability and efficacy of some of these methods in monitoring the microbial burden of spacecraft and associated environments. Samples were collected from the surfaces of spacecraft, from surfaces of assembly facilities, and from drinking water reservoirs aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Culture-dependent techniques found species of Bacillus to be dominant on these surfaces. In contrast, rapid, culture-independent techniques revealed the presence of many Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, as well as actinomycetes and fungi. These included both cultivable and noncultivable microbes, findings further confirmed by DNA-based microbial detection techniques. Although the ISS drinking water was devoid of cultivable microbes, molecular-based techniques retrieved DNA sequences of numerous opportunistic pathogens. Each of the methods tested in this study has its advantages, and by coupling two or more of these techniques even more reliable information as to microbial burden is rapidly obtained. Copyright 2004 Springer-Verlag.

iss053e238931

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-11-22

iss053e238931 (Nov. 22, 2017) --- Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin from Roscosmos works with the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose) experiment in the Zvezda service module. ENose is a full-time, continuously operating event monitor designed to detect air contamination from spills and leaks in the crew habitat of the International Space Station. It fills the long-standing gap between onboard alarms and complex analytical instruments. ENose provides rapid, early identification and quantification of atmospheric changes caused by chemical species to which it has been trained. ENose can also be used to monitor cleanup processes after a leak or a spill.

Status of Core Products of the International GNSS Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, K. K.

2014-12-01

The International GNSS Service (IGS) has been providing high accuracy GNSS orbits, clocks and Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP) in three different time intervals. The quality of the IGS core products are regularly monitored since 2010, and the level of accuracies has not been changed noticeably. The Final and Rapid orbit's accuracies are known to be about ~2.5 cm and the near-real time (observed) Ultra-rapid orbit is about 3 cm. The real-time orbits obtained by propagating the Ultra-rapid orbits shows an accuracy of about 5 cm. The most significant error source of the real-time orbit is the sub-daily variation of the Earth orientation. Number of IGS08 core sites has been decreasing with the rate of ~0.13 stations per week due to equipment changes and natural disasters such as Earthquakes. This paper summarizes the quality state of the IGS core products for 2014, and the upcoming new official product IGV, Glonass Ultra-rapid orbit product which have been experimental for last 4 years. Eight IGS Analysis Centers (ACs) have completed their efforts to participate in the second reprocessing campaign (repro2). Based on their input, this paper summarizes the models and methodologies each AC have adopted for this campaign.

Linking Geophysical Networks to International Economic Development Through Integration of Global and National Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lerner-Lam, A.

2007-05-01

Outside of the research community and mission agencies, global geophysical monitoring rarely receives sustained attention except in the aftermath of a humanitarian disaster. The recovery and rebuilding period focuses attention and resources for a short time on regional needs for geophysical observation, often at the national or sub-national level. This can result in the rapid deployment of national monitoring networks, but may overlook the longer-term benefits of integration with global networks. Even in the case of multinational disasters, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, it has proved difficult to promote the integration of national solutions with global monitoring, research and operations infrastructure. More importantly, continuing operations at the national or sub-national scale are difficult to sustain once the resources associated with recovery and rebuilding are depleted. Except for some notable examples, the vast infrastructure associated with global geophysical monitoring is not utilized constructively to promote the integration of national networks with international efforts. This represents a missed opportunity not only for monitoring, but for developing the international research and educational collaborations necessary for technological transfer and capacity building. The recent confluence of highly visible disasters, global multi-hazard risk assessments, evaluations of the relationships between natural disasters and socio-economic development, and shifts in development agency policies, provides an opportunity to link global geophysical monitoring initiatives to central issues in international development. Natural hazard risk reduction has not been the first priority of international development agendas for understandable, mainly humanitarian reasons. However, it is now recognized that the so-called risk premium associated with making development projects more risk conscious or risk resilient is relatively small relative to potential losses. Thus there is an attitudinal shift emerging whereby disaster risk management can be "mainstreamed" into the sustainable development programs in many countries. Consequently, it is incumbent to demonstrate that multi-scale geophysical monitoring, comprising integration of global networks with national and sub-national operations, is a foundational component of sustainable development infrastructure. This suggests even greater emphasis on developing dynamic and adaptive multi- hazard risk assessments, encompassing valid estimates of social and physical vulnerabilities; designing multi- scale network integration strategies that consider risk as well as hazard; providing operational and flexible templates for developing national networks in a global context; emphasizing the backbone characteristics of global geophysical monitoring to nations seeking to develop their own monitoring capacity; promoting sustained international research, education and training collaborations coinciding with the development of monitoring capacity; and continuing to promote the free and open exchange of data as a necessary component of sustained intellectual interest in monitoring. A combination of these strategies may counteract the decay of interest in regional geophysical monitoring after a disaster.

World Bank Contribution to Building National HIV/AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity in Africa: Going beyond Indicator Development and Conceptual Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, David

2004-01-01

International commitment to the human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic has grown rapidly in recent years, stimulated by the leadership of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and its cosponsors and supported by a range of new mechanisms. These include the World Bank's Multi-Country…

Rate of Homologous Desensitization and Internalization of the GLP-1 Receptor.

PubMed

Shaaban, Ghina; Oriowo, Mabayoje; Al-Sabah, Suleiman

2016-12-26

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is an important target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of agonist stimulated desensitization and internalization of GLP-1R. To this end, an N-terminally myc-tagged GLP-1R was stably expressed in HEK-293 cells. Homologous desensitization was assessed by measuring the cAMP response to agonist stimulation following pre-incubation with agonist for up to 120 min. Receptor internalization was monitored using an indirect ELISA-based method and confocal microscopy. Pre-incubation with GLP-1 resulted in a time-dependent loss of response to a second stimulation. Washing cells following pre-incubation failed to bring cAMP levels back to basal. Taking this into account, two desensitization rates were calculated: "apparent" (t 1/2 = 19.27 min) and "net" (t 1/2 = 2.99 min). Incubation of cells with GLP-1 also resulted in a time-dependent loss of receptor cell surface expression (t 1/2 = 2.05 min). Rapid agonist-stimulated internalization of GLP-1R was confirmed using confocal microscopy. Stimulation of GLP-1R with GLP-1 results in rapid desensitization and internalization of the receptor. Interestingly, the rate of "net" desensitization closely matches the rate of internalization. Our results suggest that agonist-bound GLP-1R continues to generate cAMP after it has been internalized.

Impacts of Earth rotation parameters on GNSS ultra-rapid orbit prediction: Derivation and real-time correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qianxin; Hu, Chao; Xu, Tianhe; Chang, Guobin; Hernández Moraleda, Alberto

2017-12-01

Analysis centers (ACs) for global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) cannot accurately obtain real-time Earth rotation parameters (ERPs). Thus, the prediction of ultra-rapid orbits in the international terrestrial reference system (ITRS) has to utilize the predicted ERPs issued by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) or the International GNSS Service (IGS). In this study, the accuracy of ERPs predicted by IERS and IGS is analyzed. The error of the ERPs predicted for one day can reach 0.15 mas and 0.053 ms in polar motion and UT1-UTC direction, respectively. Then, the impact of ERP errors on ultra-rapid orbit prediction by GNSS is studied. The methods for orbit integration and frame transformation in orbit prediction with introduced ERP errors dominate the accuracy of the predicted orbit. Experimental results show that the transformation from the geocentric celestial references system (GCRS) to ITRS exerts the strongest effect on the accuracy of the predicted ultra-rapid orbit. To obtain the most accurate predicted ultra-rapid orbit, a corresponding real-time orbit correction method is developed. First, orbits without ERP-related errors are predicted on the basis of ITRS observed part of ultra-rapid orbit for use as reference. Then, the corresponding predicted orbit is transformed from GCRS to ITRS to adjust for the predicted ERPs. Finally, the corrected ERPs with error slopes are re-introduced to correct the predicted orbit in ITRS. To validate the proposed method, three experimental schemes are designed: function extrapolation, simulation experiments, and experiments with predicted ultra-rapid orbits and international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) products. Experimental results show that using the proposed correction method with IERS products considerably improved the accuracy of ultra-rapid orbit prediction (except the geosynchronous BeiDou orbits). The accuracy of orbit prediction is enhanced by at least 50% (error related to ERP) when a highly accurate observed orbit is used with the correction method. For iGMAS-predicted orbits, the accuracy improvement ranges from 8.5% for the inclined BeiDou orbits to 17.99% for the GPS orbits. This demonstrates that the correction method proposed by this study can optimize the ultra-rapid orbit prediction.

Managing and monitoring tuberculosis using web-based tools in combination with traditional approaches

PubMed Central

Chapman, Ann LN; Darton, Thomas C; Foster, Rachel A

2013-01-01

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health emergency. Ongoing challenges include the coordination of national and international control programs, high levels of drug resistance in many parts of the world, and availability of accurate and rapid diagnostic tests. The increasing availability and reliability of Internet access throughout both affluent and resource-limited countries brings new opportunities to improve TB management and control through the integration of web-based technologies with traditional approaches. In this review, we explore current and potential future use of web-based tools in the areas of TB diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, service monitoring, and teaching and training. PMID:24294008

Gross alpha and beta activity analyses in urine-a routine laboratory method for internal human radioactivity detection.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaowen; Zhao, Luqian; Qin, Hongran; Zhao, Meijia; Zhou, Yirui; Yang, Shuqiang; Su, Xu; Xu, Xiaohua

2014-05-01

The aim of this work was to develop a method to provide rapid results for humans with internal radioactive contamination. The authors hypothesized that valuable information could be obtained from gas proportional counter techniques by screening urine samples from potentially exposed individuals rapidly. Recommended gross alpha and beta activity screening methods generally employ gas proportional counting techniques. Based on International Standards Organization (ISO) methods, improvements were made in the evaporation process to develop a method to provide rapid results, adequate sensitivity, and minimum sample preparation and operator intervention for humans with internal radioactive contamination. The method described by an American National Standards Institute publication was used to calibrate the gas proportional counter, and urine samples from patients with or without radionuclide treatment were measured to validate the method. By improving the evaporation process, the time required to perform the assay was reduced dramatically. Compared with the reference data, the results of the validation samples were very satisfactory with respect to gross-alpha and gross-beta activities. The gas flow proportional counting method described here has the potential for radioactivity monitoring in the body. This method was easy, efficient, and fast, and its application is of great utility in determining whether a sample should be analyzed by a more complicated method, for example radiochemical and/or γ-spectroscopy. In the future, it may be used commonly in medical examination and nuclear emergency treatment.Health Phys. 106(5):000-000; 2014.

The Phagocytosis and Toxicity of Amorphous Silica

PubMed Central

Costantini, Lindsey M.; Gilberti, Renée M.; Knecht, David A.

2011-01-01

Background Inhalation of crystalline silica is known to cause an inflammatory reaction and chronic exposure leads to lung fibrosis and can progress into the disease, silicosis. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. Methodology/Principal Findings Amorphous silica particles are phagocytosed by macrophage cells and a single internalized particle is capable of killing a cell. Fluorescent dextran is released from endo-lysosomes within two hours after silica treatment and Caspase-3 activation occurs within 4 hours. Interestingly, toxicity is specific to macrophage cell lines. Other cell types are resistant to silica particle toxicity even though they internalize the particles. The large and uniform size of the spherical, amorphous silica particles allowed us to monitor them during the uptake process. In mCherry-actin transfected macrophages, actin rings began to form 1-3 minutes after silica binding and the actin coat disassembled rapidly following particle internalization. Pre-loading cells with fluorescent dextran allowed us to visualize the fusion of phagosomes with endosomes during internalization. These markers provided two new ways to visualize and quantify particle internalization. At 37°C the rate of amorphous silica internalization was very rapid regardless of particle coating. However, at room temperature, opsonized silica is internalized much faster than non-opsonized silica. Conclusions/Significance Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcγRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. PMID:21311600

The phagocytosis and toxicity of amorphous silica.

PubMed

Costantini, Lindsey M; Gilberti, Renée M; Knecht, David A

2011-02-02

Inhalation of crystalline silica is known to cause an inflammatory reaction and chronic exposure leads to lung fibrosis and can progress into the disease, silicosis. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. Amorphous silica particles are phagocytosed by macrophage cells and a single internalized particle is capable of killing a cell. Fluorescent dextran is released from endo-lysosomes within two hours after silica treatment and Caspase-3 activation occurs within 4 hours. Interestingly, toxicity is specific to macrophage cell lines. Other cell types are resistant to silica particle toxicity even though they internalize the particles. The large and uniform size of the spherical, amorphous silica particles allowed us to monitor them during the uptake process. In mCherry-actin transfected macrophages, actin rings began to form 1-3 minutes after silica binding and the actin coat disassembled rapidly following particle internalization. Pre-loading cells with fluorescent dextran allowed us to visualize the fusion of phagosomes with endosomes during internalization. These markers provided two new ways to visualize and quantify particle internalization. At 37 °C the rate of amorphous silica internalization was very rapid regardless of particle coating. However, at room temperature, opsonized silica is internalized much faster than non-opsonized silica. Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcγRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis.

Collaborative Monitoring and Hazard Mitigation at Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyons, J. J.; Bluth, G. J.; Rose, W. I.; Patrick, M.; Johnson, J. B.; Stix, J.

2007-05-01

A portable, digital sensor network has been installed to closely monitor changing activity at Fuego volcano, which takes advantage of an international collaborative effort among Guatemala, U.S. and Canadian universities, and the Peace Corps. The goal of this effort is to improve the understanding shallow internal processes, and consequently to more effectively mitigate volcanic hazards. Fuego volcano has had more than 60 historical eruptions and nearly-continuous activity make it an ideal laboratory to study volcanic processes. Close monitoring is needed to identify base-line activity, and rapidly identify and disseminate changes in the activity which might threaten nearby communities. The sensor network is comprised of a miniature DOAS ultraviolet spectrometer fitted with a system for automated plume scans, a digital video camera, and two seismo-acoustic stations and portable dataloggers. These sensors are on loan from scientists who visited Fuego during short field seasons and donated use of their sensors to a resident Peace Corps Masters International student from Michigan Technological University for extended data collection. The sensor network is based around the local volcano observatory maintained by Instituto National de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Metrologia e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH). INSIVUMEH provides local support and historical knowledge of Fuego activity as well as a secure location for storage of scientific equipment, data processing, and charging of the batteries that power the sensors. The complete sensor network came online in mid-February 2007 and here we present preliminary results from concurrent gas, seismic, and acoustic monitoring of activity from Fuego volcano.

Rapid whole brain imaging of neural activity in freely behaving larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

PubMed Central

Shang, Chunfeng; Yang, Wenbin; Bai, Lu; Du, Jiulin

2017-01-01

The internal brain dynamics that link sensation and action are arguably better studied during natural animal behaviors. Here, we report on a novel volume imaging and 3D tracking technique that monitors whole brain neural activity in freely swimming larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). We demonstrated the capability of our system through functional imaging of neural activity during visually evoked and prey capture behaviors in larval zebrafish. PMID:28930070

Distributed and recoverable digital control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stange, Kent (Inventor); Hess, Richard (Inventor); Kelley, Gerald B (Inventor); Rogers, Randy (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A real-time multi-tasking digital control system with rapid recovery capability is disclosed. The control system includes a plurality of computing units comprising a plurality of redundant processing units, with each of the processing units configured to generate one or more redundant control commands. One or more internal monitors are employed for detecting data errors in the control commands. One or more recovery triggers are provided for initiating rapid recovery of a processing unit if data errors are detected. The control system also includes a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the computing units. The actuator control units are configured to initiate a rapid recovery if data errors are detected in one or more of the processing units. A plurality of smart actuators communicates with the actuator control units, and a plurality of redundant sensors communicates with the computing units.

Capillary whole blood testing by a new portable monitor. Comparison with standard determination of the international normalized ratio.

PubMed

de Miguel, Dunia; Burgaleta, Carmen; Reyes, Eduardo; Pascual, Teresa

2003-07-01

We evaluated a new portable monitor (AvoSure PT PRO, Menarini Diagnostics, Firenze, Italy) developed to test the prothrombin time in capillary blood and plasma by comparing it with the standard laboratory determination. We studied 62 patients receiving acenocoumarol therapy. The international normalized ratio (INR) in capillary blood was analyzed by 2 methods: AvoSure PT PRO and Thrombotrack Nycomed Analyzer (Axis-Shield, Dundee, Scotland). Parallel studies were performed in plasma samples by a reference method using the Behring Coagulation Timer (Behring Diagnostics, Marburg, Germany). Plasma samples also were tested with the AvoSure PT PRO. Correlation was good for INR values for capillary blood and plasma samples by AvoSure PT PRO and our reference method (R2 = 0.8596) and for capillary blood samples tested by the AvoSure PT PRO and Thrombotrack Nycomed Analyzer (R2 = 0.8875). The correlation for INR in capillary blood and plasma samples by AvoSure PT PRO was 0.6939 (P < .0004). Capillary blood determinations are rapid and effective for monitoring oral anticoagulation therapy and have a high correlation to plasma determinations. AvoSure PT PRO is accurate for controlling INR in plasma and capillary blood samples, may be used in outpatient clinics, and has advantages over previous portable monitors.

Quantitative monitoring of HCMV DNAlactia in human milk by real time PCR assay: Implementation of internal control contributes to standardization and quality control.

PubMed

Hartleif, Steffen; Göhring, Katharina; Goelz, Rangmar; Jahn, Gerhard; Hamprecht, Klaus

2016-11-01

For cytomegalovirus screening of breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants under risk, we present a rapid, quantitative real-time PCR protocol using the hybridization format of the viral gB target region. For quantification, we used an external gB fragment cloned into a vector system. For standardization, we created an internal control-plasmid by site-directed mutagenesis with an exchange of 9 nucleotides. Spiked with internal control, patient wildtype amplicons could be discriminated from internal controls by hybridization probes using two-channel fluorescence detection. Potential bias of formerly reported false nucleotide sequence data of gB-hybridization probes was excluded. Using this approach, we could demonstrate excellent analytical performance and high reproducibility of HCMV detection during lactation. This assay shows very good correlation with a commercial quantitative HCMV DNA PCR and may help to identify rapidly HCMV shedding mothers of very low birth weight preterm infants to prevent HCMV transmission. On the other hand, negative DNA amplification results allow feeding of milk samples of seropositive mothers to their preterm infants under risk (<30 weeks of gestational age, <1000g birth weight) during the onset and late stage of HCMV shedding during lactation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diffuse optical monitoring of peripheral tissues during uncontrolled internal hemorrhage in a porcine model

PubMed Central

Vishwanath, Karthik; Gurjar, Rajan; Wolf, David; Riccardi, Suzannah; Duggan, Michael; King, David

2018-01-01

Reliable, continuous and noninvasive blood flow and hemoglobin monitoring in trauma patients remains a critical, but generally unachieved goal. Two optical sensing methods - diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) – are used to monitor and detect internal hemorrhage. Specifically, we investigate if cutaneous perfusion measurements acquired using DCS and DRS in peripheral (thighs and ear-lobe) tissues could detect severe hemorrhagic shock in a porcine model. Four animals underwent high-grade hepato-portal injury in a closed abdomen, to induce uncontrolled hemorrhage and were subsequently allowed to bleed for 10 minutes before fluid resuscitation. DRS and DCS measurements of cutaneous blood flow were acquired using fiber optical probes placed on the thigh and earlobe of the animals and were obtained repeatedly starting from 1 to 5 minutes pre-injury, up to several minutes post shock. Clear changes were observed in measured optical spectra across all animals at both sites. DCS-derived cutaneous blood flow decreased sharply during hemorrhage, while DRS-derived vascular saturation and hemoglobin paralleled cardiac output. All derived optical parameters had the steepest changes during the rapid initial hemorrhage unambiguously. This suggests that a combined DCS and DRS based device might provide an easy-to-use, non-invasive, internal-hemorrhage detection system that can be used across a wide array of clinical settings. PMID:29552394

Guiding Principles for a Pediatric Neurology ICU (neuroPICU) Bedside Multimodal Monitor: Findings from an International Working Group.

PubMed

Grinspan, Zachary M; Eldar, Yonina C; Gopher, Daniel; Gottlieb, Amihai; Lammfromm, Rotem; Mangat, Halinder S; Peleg, Nimrod; Pon, Steven; Rozenberg, Igal; Schiff, Nicholas D; Stark, David E; Yan, Peter; Pratt, Hillel; Kosofsky, Barry E

2016-01-01

Physicians caring for children with serious acute neurologic disease must process overwhelming amounts of physiological and medical information. Strategies to optimize real time display of this information are understudied. Our goal was to engage clinical and engineering experts to develop guiding principles for creating a pediatric neurology intensive care unit (neuroPICU) monitor that integrates and displays data from multiple sources in an intuitive and informative manner. To accomplish this goal, an international group of physicians and engineers communicated regularly for one year. We integrated findings from clinical observations, interviews, a survey, signal processing, and visualization exercises to develop a concept for a neuroPICU display. Key conclusions from our efforts include: (1) A neuroPICU display should support (a) rapid review of retrospective time series (i.e. cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic physiology data), (b) rapidly modifiable formats for viewing that data according to the specialty of the reviewer, and (c) communication of the degree of risk of clinical decline. (2) Specialized visualizations of physiologic parameters can highlight abnormalities in multivariable temporal data. Examples include 3-D stacked spider plots and color coded time series plots. (3) Visual summaries of EEG with spectral tools (i.e. hemispheric asymmetry and median power) can highlight seizures via patient-specific "fingerprints." (4) Intuitive displays should emphasize subsets of physiology and processed EEG data to provide a rapid gestalt of the current status and medical stability of a patient. A well-designed neuroPICU display must present multiple datasets in dynamic, flexible, and informative views to accommodate clinicians from multiple disciplines in a variety of clinical scenarios.

Total-Internal-Reflection Platforms for Chemical and Biological Sensing Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sapsford, Kim E.

Sensing platforms based on the principle of total internal reflection (TIR) represent a fairly mature yet still expanding and exciting field of research. Sensor development has mainly been driven by the need for rapid, stand-alone, automated devices for application in the fields of clinical diagnosis and screening, food and water safety, environmental monitoring, and chemical and biological warfare agent detection. The technologies highlighted in this chapter are continually evolving, taking advantage of emerging advances in microfabrication, lab-on-a-chip, excitation, and detection techniques. This chapter describes many of the underlying principles of TIR-based sensing platforms and additionally focusses on planar TIR fluorescence (TIRF)-based chemical and biological sensors.

Towards practical implementation of biophotonics-based solutions for cost-effective monitoring of food quality control (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meglinski, Igor; Popov, Alexey; Bykov, Alexander

2017-03-01

Biophotonics-based diagnostic and imaging modalities have been widely used in various applications associated with the non-invasive imaging of the internal structure of a range biological media from a range of cells cultures to biological tissues. With the fast growing interest in food securities there remains strong demand to apply reliable and cost effective biophotonics-based technologies for rapid screening of freshness, internal defects and quality of major agricultural products. In current presentation the results of application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and encapsulated optical bio-sensors for quantitative assessment of freshness of agricultural products, such as meat and sea foods, are presented, and their further perspectives are discussed.

International GPS Service for Geodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zumberge, J. F. (Editor); Urban, M. P. (Editor); Liu, R. (Editor); Neilan, R. E. (Editor)

1996-01-01

This 1995 annual report of the IGS International GPS (Global Positioning System) Service for Geodynamics - describes the second operational year of the service. It provides the many IGS contributing agencies and the rapidly growing user community with essential information on current organizational and technical matters promoting the IGS standards and products (including organizational framework, data processing strategies, and statistics showing the remarkable expansion of the GPS monitoring network, the improvement of IGS performance, and product quality). It also introduces important practical concepts for network densification by integration of regional stations and the combination of station coordinate solutions. There are groups of articles describing general aspects of the IGS, the Associate Analysis Centers (AACs), Data Centers, and IGS stations.

The spatial coherence structure of infrasonic waves: analysis of data from International Monitoring System arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, David N.

2015-04-01

The spatial coherence structure of 30 infrasound array detections, with source-to-receiver ranges of 25-6500 km, has been measured within the 0.25-1 Hz passband. The data were recorded at International Monitoring System (IMS) microbarograph arrays with apertures of between 1 and 4 km. Such array detections are of interest for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty monitoring. The majority of array detections (e.g. 80 per cent of recordings in the third-octave passband centred on 0.63 Hz) exhibit spatial coherence loss anisotropy that is consistent with previous lower frequency atmospheric acoustic studies; coherence loss is more rapid perpendicular to the acoustic propagation direction than parallel to it. The thirty array detections display significant interdetection variation in the magnitude of spatial coherence loss. The measurements can be explained by the simultaneous arrival of wave fronts at the recording array with angular beamwidths of between 0.4 and 7° and velocity bandwidths of between 2 and 40 m s-1. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between source-to-receiver range and the magnitude of coherence loss. Acoustic multipathing generated by interactions with fine-scale wind and temperature gradients along stratospheric propagation paths is qualitatively consistent with the observations. In addition, the study indicates that to isolate coherence loss generated by propagation effects, analysis of signals exhibiting high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) is required (SNR2 > 11 in this study). The rapid temporal variations in infrasonic noise observed in recordings at IMS arrays indicates that correcting measured coherence values for the effect of noise, using pre-signal estimates of noise power, is ineffective.

RAPID: Collaborative Commanding and Monitoring of Lunar Assets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Torres, Recaredo J.; Mittman, David S.; Powell, Mark W.; Norris, Jeffrey S.; Joswig, Joseph C.; Crockett, Thomas M.; Abramyan, Lucy; Shams, Khawaja S.; Wallick, Michael; Allan, Mark;

GRIP Experiment 2010

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-08-15

Susan Kool, a researcher from the Langley Research Center, works on monitoring the Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft, Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. LASE probes the atmosphere using lasers and is part of the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment is a NASA Earth science field experiment in 2010 that is being conducted to better understand how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Application-ready expedited MODIS data for operational land surface monitoring of vegetation condition

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brown, Jesslyn; Howard, Daniel M.; Wylie, Bruce K.; Friesz, Aaron M.; Ji, Lei; Gacke, Carolyn

2015-01-01

Monitoring systems benefit from high temporal frequency image data collected from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) system. Because of near-daily global coverage, MODIS data are beneficial to applications that require timely information about vegetation condition related to drought, flooding, or fire danger. Rapid satellite data streams in operational applications have clear benefits for monitoring vegetation, especially when information can be delivered as fast as changing surface conditions. An “expedited” processing system called “eMODIS” operated by the U.S. Geological Survey provides rapid MODIS surface reflectance data to operational applications in less than 24 h offering tailored, consistently-processed information products that complement standard MODIS products. We assessed eMODIS quality and consistency by comparing to standard MODIS data. Only land data with known high quality were analyzed in a central U.S. study area. When compared to standard MODIS (MOD/MYD09Q1), the eMODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maintained a strong, significant relationship to standard MODIS NDVI, whether from morning (Terra) or afternoon (Aqua) orbits. The Aqua eMODIS data were more prone to noise than the Terra data, likely due to differences in the internal cloud mask used in MOD/MYD09Q1 or compositing rules. Post-processing temporal smoothing decreased noise in eMODIS data.

Structural health monitoring and impact detection for primary aircraft structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosters, Eric; van Els, Thomas J.

2010-04-01

The increasing use of thermoplastic carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials in the aerospace industry for primary aircraft structures, such as wing leading-edge surfaces and fuselage sections, has led to rapid growth in the field of structural health monitoring (SHM). Impact, vibration, and load can all cause failure, such as delamination and matrix cracking, in composite materials. Moreover, the internal material damage can occur without being visible to the human eye, making inspection of and clear insight into structural integrity difficult using currently available evaluation methods. Here, we describe the detection of impact and its localization in materials and structures by high-speed interrogation of multiple-fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors mounted on a composite aircraft component.

A Cyber-Physical System for Girder Hoisting Monitoring Based on Smartphones.

PubMed

Han, Ruicong; Zhao, Xuefeng; Yu, Yan; Guan, Quanhua; Hu, Weitong; Li, Mingchu

2016-07-07

Offshore design and construction is much more difficult than land-based design and construction, particularly due to hoisting operations. Real-time monitoring of the orientation and movement of a hoisted structure is thus required for operators' safety. In recent years, rapid development of the smart-phone commercial market has offered the possibility that everyone can carry a mini personal computer that is integrated with sensors, an operating system and communication system that can act as an effective aid for cyber-physical systems (CPS) research. In this paper, a CPS for hoisting monitoring using smartphones was proposed, including a phone collector, a controller and a server. This system uses smartphones equipped with internal sensors to obtain girder movement information, which will be uploaded to a server, then returned to controller users. An alarming system will be provided on the controller phone once the returned data exceeds a threshold. The proposed monitoring system is used to monitor the movement and orientation of a girder during hoisting on a cross-sea bridge in real time. The results show the convenience and feasibility of the proposed system.

Near-Real Time Monitoring of TEC Over Japan at NICT (RWC Tokyo OF ISES)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, W.; Jin, H.

2010-05-01

The world wide use of global navigation satellite systems such as GPS offers unique opportunities for a permanent monitoring of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. We have developed a system of the rapid derivation of TEC from GEONET (a dense GPS receiver network in Japan). In addition to a previous plot of TEC temporal variation over Japan, we have recently developed a near-real-time two-dimensional TEC map and have used it for the daily operation of Space Weather Forecast Center at NICT (Regional Warning Center Tokyo of International Space Environment Service). The TEC map can be used to continuously monitor the ionospheric disturbances over Japan, including spatial and temporal development of ionospheric storms, large-amplitude traveling ionospheric disturbances, and plasma bubbles intruding over Japan, with high time resolution. The development of the real-time monitoring system of TEC enables us to monitor large ionospheric disturbances, ranging from global- to small-scale disturbances, expected in the next solar maximum. The plot and maps are open to the public and are available on http://wdc.nict.go.jp/IONO/index_E.html.

Arctic in Rapid Transition: Priorities for the future of marine and coastal research in the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werner, Kirstin; Fritz, Michael; Morata, Nathalie; Keil, Kathrin; Pavlov, Alexey; Peeken, Ilka; Nikolopoulos, Anna; Findlay, Helen S.; Kędra, Monika; Majaneva, Sanna; Renner, Angelika; Hendricks, Stefan; Jacquot, Mathilde; Nicolaus, Marcel; O'Regan, Matt; Sampei, Makoto; Wegner, Carolyn

2016-09-01

Understanding and responding to the rapidly occurring environmental changes in the Arctic over the past few decades require new approaches in science. This includes improved collaborations within the scientific community but also enhanced dialogue between scientists and societal stakeholders, especially with Arctic communities. As a contribution to the Third International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARPIII), the Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) network held an international workshop in France, in October 2014, in order to discuss high-priority requirements for future Arctic marine and coastal research from an early-career scientists (ECS) perspective. The discussion encompassed a variety of research fields, including topics of oceanographic conditions, sea-ice monitoring, marine biodiversity, land-ocean interactions, and geological reconstructions, as well as law and governance issues. Participants of the workshop strongly agreed on the need to enhance interdisciplinarity in order to collect comprehensive knowledge about the modern and past Arctic Ocean's geo-ecological dynamics. Such knowledge enables improved predictions of Arctic developments and provides the basis for elaborate decision-making on future actions under plausible environmental and climate scenarios in the high northern latitudes. Priority research sheets resulting from the workshop's discussions were distributed during the ICARPIII meetings in April 2015 in Japan, and are publicly available online.

78 FR 74007 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Grand Rapids, MI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-10

... coordinates for Gerald R. Ford International Airport, formerly known as Kent County International Airport... Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI, formerly called Kent County International Airport... authority as it amends controlled airspace at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI. List...

Lab-on-a-Chip: From Astrobiology to the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maule, Jake; Wainwright, Nor; Steele, Andrew; Gunter, Dan; Monaco, Lisa A.; Wells, Mark E.; Morris, Heather C.; Boudreaux, Mark E.

2008-01-01

The continual and long-term habitation of enclosed environments, such as Antarctic stations, nuclear submarines and space stations, raises unique engineering, medical and operational challenges. There is no easy way out and no easy way to get supplies in. This situation elevates the importance of monitoring technology that can rapidly detect events within the habitat that affect crew safety such as fire, release of toxic chemicals and hazardous microorganisms. Traditional methods to monitor microorganisms on the International Space Station (ISS) have consisted of culturing samples for 3-5 days and eventual sample return to Earth. To augment these culture methods with new, rapid molecular techniques, we developed the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development - Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS). The system consists of a hand-held spectrophotometer, a series of interchangeable cartridges and a surface sampling/dilution kit that enables crew to collect samples and detect a range of biological molecules, all within 15 minutes. LOCAD-PTS was launched to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in December 2006, where it was operated for the first time during March-May 2007. The surfaces of five separate sites in the US Lab and Node 1 of ISS were analyzed for endotoxin, using cartridges that employ the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay; results of these tests will be presented. LOCAD-PTS will remain permanently onboard ISS with new cartridges scheduled for launch in February and October of 2008 for the detection of fungi (Beta-glucan) and Gram-positive bacteria (lipoteichoic acid), respectively.

Elevator ride comfort monitoring and evaluation using smartphones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yang; Sun, Xiaowei; Zhao, Xuefeng; Su, Wensheng

2018-05-01

With rapid urbanization, the demand for elevators is increasing, and their level of safety and ride comfort under vibrating conditions has also aroused interest. It is therefore essential to monitor the ride comfort level of elevators. The traditional method for such monitoring depends significantly on regular professional inspections, and requires expensive equipment and professional skill. With this regard, a new method for elevator ride comfort monitoring using a smartphone is demonstrated herein in detail. A variety of high-precision sensors are installed in a smartphone with strong data processing and telecommunication capabilities. A series of validation tests were designed and completed, and the international organization for standardization ISO2631-1997 was applied to evaluate the level of elevator ride comfort. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method is stable and reliable, its precision meets the engineering requirements, and the elevator ride comfort level can be accurately monitored under various situations. The method is very economical and convenient, and provides the possibility for the public to participate in elevator ride comfort monitoring. In addition, the method can both provide a wide range of data support and eliminate data errors to a certain extent.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Phenytoin by Simple, Rapid, Accurate, Highly Sensitive and Novel Method and Its Clinical Applications.

PubMed

Shaikh, Abdul S; Guo, Ruichen

2017-01-01

Phenytoin has very challenging pharmacokinetic properties. To prevent its toxicity and ensure efficacy, continuous therapeutic monitoring is required. It is hard to get a simple, accurate, rapid, easily available, economical and highly sensitive assay in one method for therapeutic monitoring of phenytoin. The present study is directed towards establishing and validating a simpler, rapid, an accurate, highly sensitive, novel and environment friendly liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for offering rapid and reliable TDM results of phenytoin in epileptic patients to physicians and clinicians for making immediate and rational decision. 27 epileptics patients with uncontrolled seizures or suspected of non-compliance or toxicity of phenytoin were selected and advised for TDM of phenytoin by neurologists of Qilu Hospital Jinan, China. The LC/MS assay was used for performing of therapeutic monitoring of phenytoin. The Agilent 1100 LC/MS system was used for TDM. The mixture of Ammonium acetate 5mM: Methanol at (35: 65 v/v) was used for the composition of mobile phase. The Diamonsil C18 (150mm×4.6mm, 5μm) column was used for the extraction of analytes in plasma. The samples were prepared with one step simple protein precipitation method. The technique was validated with the guidelines of International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH). The calibration curve demonstrated decent linearity within (0.2-20 µg/mL) concentration range with linearity equation, y= 0.0667855 x +0.00241785 and correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99928. The specificity, recovery, linearity, accuracy, precision and stability results were within the accepted limits. The concentration of 0.2 µg/mL was observed as lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ), which is 12.5 times lower than the currently available enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) for measurement of phenytoin in epilepsy patients. A rapid, simple, economical, precise, highly sensitive and novel LC/MS assay has been established, validated and applied successfully in TDM of 27 epileptics patients. It was alarmingly found that TDM results of all these patients were out of safe range except two patients. However, it needs further evaluation. Besides TDM, the stated method can also be applied in bioequivalence, pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics and pharmacovigilance studies. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

High-resolution IKONOS satellite imagery for normalized difference vegetative index-related assessment applied to land clearance studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lavers, Chris R.; Mason, Travis

2017-07-01

High-resolution satellite imagery permits verification of human rights land clearance violations across international borders as a result of unstable regimes or socio-economic upheaval. Without direct access to these areas to validate allegations of human rights abuse, the use of remote sensing tools, techniques, and data is extremely important. Humanitarian assessment can benefit from software-based solutions, involving radiometrically calibrated normalized difference vegetation index and temporal change imagery. We discuss the introduction of a matrix filter approach for change detection studies to help assist rapid building detection over large search areas against a bright background to evaluate internally displaced people in the 2005 Porta Farm Zimbabwe clearances. Future wide-scale near real-time space-based monitoring with a range of digital filters would be of great benefit to international human rights observers and human rights networks.

CTBT on-site inspections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zucca, J. J.

2014-05-01

On-site inspection (OSI) is a critical part of the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The OSI verification regime provides for international inspectors to make a suite of measurements and observations on site at the location of an event of interest. The other critical component of the verification regime is the International Monitoring System (IMS), which is a globally distributed network of monitoring stations. The IMS along with technical monitoring data from CTBT member countries, as appropriate, will be used to trigger an OSI. After the decision is made to carry out an OSI, it is important for the inspectors to deploy to the field site rapidly to be able to detect short-lived phenomena such as the aftershocks that may be observable after an underground nuclear explosion. The inspectors will be on site from weeks to months and will be working with many tens of tons of equipment. Parts of the OSI regime will be tested in a field exercise in the country of Jordan late in 2014. The build-up of the OSI regime has been proceeding steadily since the CTBT was signed in 1996 and is on track to becoming a deterrent to someone considering conducting a nuclear explosion in violation of the Treaty.

Microbial Monitoring of Common Opportunistic Pathogens by Comparing Multiple Real-Time PCR Platforms for Potential Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oubre, Cherie M.; Birmele, Michele N.; Castro, Victoria A.; Venkateswaran, Kasthuri J.; Vaishampayan, Parag A.; Jones, Kathy U.; Singhal, Adesh; Johnston, Angela S.; Roman, Monserrate C.; Ozbolt, Tamra A.;

Demonstrating Change with Astronaut Photography Using Object Based Image Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollier, Andi; Jagge, Amy

2017-01-01

Every day, hundreds of images of Earth flood the Crew Earth Observations database as astronauts use hand held digital cameras to capture spectacular frames from the International Space Station. The variety of resolutions and perspectives provide a template for assessing land cover change over decades. We will focus on urban growth in the second fastest growing city in the nation, Houston, TX, using Object-Based Image Analysis. This research will contribute to the land change science community, integrated resource planning, and monitoring of the rapid rate of urban sprawl.

Rapid Verification of Candidate Serological Biomarkers Using Gel-based, Label-free Multiple Reaction Monitoring

PubMed Central

Tang, Hsin-Yao; Beer, Lynn A.; Barnhart, Kurt T.; Speicher, David W.

2011-01-01

Stable isotope dilution-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry (SID-MRM-MS) has emerged as a promising platform for verification of serological candidate biomarkers. However, cost and time needed to synthesize and evaluate stable isotope peptides, optimize spike-in assays, and generate standard curves, quickly becomes unattractive when testing many candidate biomarkers. In this study, we demonstrate that label-free multiplexed MRM-MS coupled with major protein depletion and 1-D gel separation is a time-efficient, cost-effective initial biomarker verification strategy requiring less than 100 μl serum. Furthermore, SDS gel fractionation can resolve different molecular weight forms of targeted proteins with potential diagnostic value. Because fractionation is at the protein level, consistency of peptide quantitation profiles across fractions permits rapid detection of quantitation problems for specific peptides from a given protein. Despite the lack of internal standards, the entire workflow can be highly reproducible, and long-term reproducibility of relative protein abundance can be obtained using different mass spectrometers and LC methods with external reference standards. Quantitation down to ~200 pg/mL could be achieved using this workflow. Hence, the label-free GeLC-MRM workflow enables rapid, sensitive, and economical initial screening of large numbers of candidate biomarkers prior to setting up SID-MRM assays or immunoassays for the most promising candidate biomarkers. PMID:21726088

Rapid verification of candidate serological biomarkers using gel-based, label-free multiple reaction monitoring.

PubMed

Tang, Hsin-Yao; Beer, Lynn A; Barnhart, Kurt T; Speicher, David W

2011-09-02

Stable isotope dilution-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry (SID-MRM-MS) has emerged as a promising platform for verification of serological candidate biomarkers. However, cost and time needed to synthesize and evaluate stable isotope peptides, optimize spike-in assays, and generate standard curves quickly becomes unattractive when testing many candidate biomarkers. In this study, we demonstrate that label-free multiplexed MRM-MS coupled with major protein depletion and 1D gel separation is a time-efficient, cost-effective initial biomarker verification strategy requiring less than 100 μL of serum. Furthermore, SDS gel fractionation can resolve different molecular weight forms of targeted proteins with potential diagnostic value. Because fractionation is at the protein level, consistency of peptide quantitation profiles across fractions permits rapid detection of quantitation problems for specific peptides from a given protein. Despite the lack of internal standards, the entire workflow can be highly reproducible, and long-term reproducibility of relative protein abundance can be obtained using different mass spectrometers and LC methods with external reference standards. Quantitation down to ~200 pg/mL could be achieved using this workflow. Hence, the label-free GeLC-MRM workflow enables rapid, sensitive, and economical initial screening of large numbers of candidate biomarkers prior to setting up SID-MRM assays or immunoassays for the most promising candidate biomarkers.

Detection of UV-treatment effects on plankton by rapid analytic tools for ballast water compliance monitoring immediately following treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bradie, Johanna; Gianoli, Claudio; He, Jianjun; Lo Curto, Alberto; Stehouwer, Peter; Veldhuis, Marcel; Welschmeyer, Nick; Younan, Lawrence; Zaake, André; Bailey, Sarah

2018-03-01

Non-indigenous species seriously threaten native biodiversity. To reduce establishments, the International Maritime Organization established the Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments which limits organism concentrations at discharge under regulation D-2. Most ships will comply by using on-board treatment systems to disinfect their ballast water. Port state control officers will need simple, rapid methods to detect compliance. Appropriate monitoring methods may be dependent on treatment type, since different treatments will affect organisms by a variety of mechanisms. Many indicative tools have been developed, but must be examined to ensure the measured variable is an appropriate signal for the response of the organisms to the applied treatment. We assessed the abilities of multiple analytic tools to rapidly detect the effects of a ballast water treatment system based on UV disinfection. All devices detected a large decrease in the concentrations of vital organisms ≥ 50 μm and organisms < 10 μm (mean 82.7-99.7% decrease across devices), but results were more variable for the ≥ 10 to < 50 μm size class (mean 9.0-99.9% decrease across devices). Results confirm the necessity to choose tools capable of detecting the damage inflicted on living organisms, as examined herein for UV-C treatment systems.

Bioassay selection, experimental design and quality control/assurance for use in effluent assessment and control.

PubMed

Johnson, Ian; Hutchings, Matt; Benstead, Rachel; Thain, John; Whitehouse, Paul

2004-07-01

In the UK Direct Toxicity Assessment Programme, carried out in 1998-2000, a series of internationally recognised short-term toxicity test methods for algae, invertebrates and fishes, and rapid methods (ECLOX and Microtox) were used extensively. Abbreviated versions of conventional tests (algal growth inhibition tests, Daphnia magna immobilisation test and the oyster embryo-larval development test) were valuable for toxicity screening of effluent discharges and the identification of causes and sources of toxicity. Rapid methods based on chemiluminescence and bioluminescence were not generally useful in this programme, but may have a role where the rapid test has been shown to be an acceptable surrogate for a standardised test method. A range of quality assurance and control measures were identified. Requirements for quality control/assurance are most stringent when deriving data for characterising the toxic hazards of effluents and monitoring compliance against a toxicity reduction target. Lower quality control/assurance requirements can be applied to discharge screening and the identification of causes and sources of toxicity.

Developing a Nuclear Global Health Workforce Amid the Increasing Threat of a Nuclear Crisis.

PubMed

Burkle, Frederick M; Dallas, Cham E

2016-02-01

This study argues that any nuclear weapon exchange or major nuclear plant meltdown, in the categories of human systems failure and conflict-based crises, will immediately provoke an unprecedented public health emergency of international concern. Notwithstanding nuclear triage and management plans and technical monitoring standards within the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO), the capacity to rapidly deploy a robust professional workforce with the internal coordination and collaboration capabilities required for large-scale nuclear crises is profoundly lacking. A similar dilemma, evident in the early stages of the Ebola epidemic, was eventually managed by using worldwide infectious disease experts from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and multiple multidisciplinary WHO-supported foreign medical teams. This success has led the WHO to propose the development of a Global Health Workforce. A strategic format is proposed for nuclear preparedness and response that builds and expands on the current model for infectious disease outbreak currently under consideration. This study proposes the inclusion of a nuclear global health workforce under the technical expertise of the International Atomic Energy Agency and WHO's Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network leadership and supported by the International Health Regulations Treaty. Rationales are set forth for the development, structure, and function of a nuclear workforce based on health outcomes research that define the unique health, health systems, and public health challenges of a nuclear crisis. Recent research supports that life-saving opportunities are possible, but only if a rapidly deployed and robust multidisciplinary response component exists.

ISHNE/EHRA expert consensus on remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

PubMed

Dubner, Sergio; Auricchio, Angelo; Steinberg, Jonathan S; Vardas, Panos; Stone, Peter; Brugada, Josep; Piotrowicz, Ryszard; Hayes, David L; Kirchhof, Paulus; Breithardt, Günter; Zareba, Wojciech; Schuger, Claudio; Aktas, Mehmet K; Chudzik, Michal; Mittal, Suneet; Varma, Niraj

2012-02-01

We are in the midst of a rapidly evolving era of technology-assisted medicine. The field of telemedicine provides the opportunity for highly individualized medical management in a way that has never been possible before. Evolving medical technologies using cardiac implantable devices (CIEDs) with capabilities for remote monitoring permit evaluation of multiple parameters of cardiovascular physiology and risk, including cardiac rhythm, device function, blood pressure values, the presence of myocardial ischaemia, and the degree of compensation of congestive heart failure. Cardiac risk, device status, and response to therapies can now be assessed with these electronic systems of detection and reporting. This document reflects the extensive experience from investigators and innovators around the world who are shaping the evolution of this rapidly expanding field, focusing in particular on implantable pacemakers (IPGs), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) (both, with and without defibrillation properties), loop recorders, and haemodynamic monitoring devices. This document covers the basic methodologies, guidelines for their use, experience with existing applications, and the legal and reimbursement aspects associated with their use. To adequately cover this important emerging topic, the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology (ISHNE) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) combined their expertise in this field. We hope that the development of this field can contribute to improve care of our cardiovascular patients.

An International Haze-Monitoring Network for Students.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mims, Forrest M., III

1999-07-01

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international network of schools in 71 countries that monitors up to 20 environmental parameters. Recently GLOBE added a haze-monitoring program to its measurement protocols. This network has the potential of providing important data about changes in the aerosol optical depth of the atmosphere caused by weather fronts, industrial and automobile pollution, and smoke from forest and brush fires and volcanic eruptions. Initially, monitoring will be conducted with an inexpensive, single-channel (520 nm) sun photometer. Unlike conventional sun photometers that use interference filters that are subject to unpredictable and rapid degradation, the GLOBE instrument uses a common light-emitting diode (LED) as a spectrally selective detector. Annual calibrations of two LED sun photometers at Mauna Loa Observatory since 1992 show that these instruments have insignificant degradation when compared to filter sun photometers. Some 175 prototype versions of a kit LED sun photometer have been assembled and tested by students from 16 countries at the University of the Nations and by more than 130 high school teachers in various pilot studies. These studies have demonstrated that even inexperienced students and teachers can quickly assemble a sun photometer from a kit of parts and perform a reliable angley calibration. The pilot studies have also demonstrated that sun photometery provides a convenient means for allowing students to perform hands-on science while they learn about various topics in history, electronics, algebra, statistics, graphing, and meteorology.

Development and Comparison of a Rapid Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Test for Typing of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 on a Portable Fluorescence Detector

PubMed Central

Tong, Yanhong; McCarthy, Kaitlin; Kong, Huimin; Lemieux, Bertrand

2013-01-01

We have developed a rapid and simple molecular test, the IsoGlow HSV Typing assay, for the detection and typing of herpes simplex virus (type 1 and 2) from genital or oral lesions. Clinical samples suspended in viral transport mediums are simply diluted and then added to a helicase-dependent amplification master mix. The amplification and detection were performed on a portable fluorescence detector called the FireFly instrument. Detection of amplification products is based on end-point analysis using cycling probe technology. An internal control nucleic acid was included in the amplification master mix to monitor the presence of amplification inhibitors in the samples. Because the device has only two fluorescence detection channels, two strategies were developed and compared to detect the internal control template: internal control detected by melting curve analysis using a dual-labeled probe, versus internal control detection using end-point fluorescence release by a CPT probe at a lower temperature. Both have a total turnaround time of about 1 hour. Clinical performance relative to herpes viral culture was evaluated using 176 clinical specimens. Both formats of the IsoGlow HSV typing assay had sensitivities comparable to that of the Food and Drug Administration–cleared IsoAmp HSV (BioHelix Corp., Beverly MA) test and specificity for the two types of HSV comparable to that of ELVIS HSV (Diagnostic Hybrids, Athens, OH). PMID:22951487

Population trends of North American shorebirds based on the International Shorebird Survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Howe, M.A.; Geissler, P.H.; Harrington, B.A.

1989-01-01

Shorebirds (Charadiiformes) are prime candidates for population decline because of their dependence on wetlands that are being lost at a rapid pace. Thirty-six of the 49 species of shorebirds that breed in North America spend most of the year in Latin America. Because populations of most species breed and winter at remote sites , it may be feasible to monitor their numbers at migration stopovers. In this study, we used statistical trend analysis methods, developed for the North American Breeding Bird Survey, to analyze data on shorebird populations during south-bound migration in the United States. Survey data were collected by volunteers in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS). Methodological concerns over both the ISS and the trend analysis procedures are discussed in detail and biological interpretations of the results are suggested.

Reducing Proliferation Rick Through Multinational Fuel Cycle Facilities

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

Amanda Rynes

2010-11-01

With the prospect of rapid expansion of the nuclear energy industry and the ongoing concern over weapons proliferation, there is a growing need for a viable alternative to traditional nation-based fuel production facilities. While some in the international community remain apprehensive, the advantages of multinational fuel cycle facilities are becoming increasingly apparent, with states on both sides of the supply chain able to garner the security and financial benefits of such facilities. Proliferation risk is minimized by eliminating the need of states to establish indigenous fuel production capabilities and the concept's structure provides an additional internationally monitored barrier against themore » misuse or diversion of nuclear materials. This article gives a brief description of the arguments for and against the implementation of a complete multinational fuel cycle.« less

Total internal reflectance fluorescence imaging of genetically engineered ryanodine receptor-targeted Ca2+ probes in rat ventricular myocytes.

PubMed

Pahlavan, Sara; Morad, Marin

2017-09-01

The details of cardiac Ca 2+ signaling within the dyadic junction remain unclear because of limitations in rapid spatial imaging techniques, and availability of Ca 2+ probes localized to dyadic junctions. To critically monitor ryanodine receptors' (RyR2) Ca 2+ nano-domains, we combined the use of genetically engineered RyR2-targeted pericam probes, (FKBP-YCaMP, K d =150nM, or FKBP-GCaMP6, K d =240nM) with rapid total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy (resolution, ∼80nm). The punctate z-line patterns of FKBP, 2 -targeted probes overlapped those of RyR2 antibodies and sharply contrasted to the images of probes targeted to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA2a/PLB), or cytosolic Fluo-4 images. FKBP-YCaMP signals were too small (∼20%) and too slow (2-3s) to detect Ca 2+ sparks, but the probe was effective in marking where Fluo-4 Ca 2+ sparks developed. FKBP-GCaMP6, on the other hand, produced rapidly decaying Ca 2+ signals that: a) had faster kinetics and activated synchronous with I Ca 3 but were of variable size at different z-lines and b) were accompanied by spatially confined spontaneous Ca 2+ sparks, originating from a subset of eager sites. The frequency of spontaneously occurring sparks was lower in FKBP-GCaMP6 infected myocytes as compared to Fluo-4 dialyzed myocytes, but isoproterenol enhanced their frequency more effectively than in Fluo-4 dialyzed cells. Nevertheless, isoproterenol failed to dissociate FKBP-GCaMP6 from the z-lines. The data suggests that FKBP-GCaMP6 binds predominantly to junctional RyR2s and has sufficient on-rate efficiency as to monitor the released Ca 2+ in individual dyadic clefts, and supports the idea that β-adrenergic agonists may modulate the stabilizing effects of native FKBP on RyR2. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study on embedding fiber Bragg grating sensor into the 3D printing structure for health monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ruiya; Tan, Yuegang; Zhou, Zude; Fang, Liang; Chen, Yiyang

2016-10-01

3D printing technology is a rapidly developing manufacturing technology, which is known as a core technology in the third industrial revolution. With the continuous improvement of the application of 3D printing products, the health monitoring of the 3D printing structure is particularly important. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology is a new type of optical sensing technology with unique advantages comparing to traditional sensing technology, and it has great application prospects in structural health monitoring. In this paper, the FBG sensors embedded in the internal structure of the 3D printing were used to monitor the static and dynamic strain variation of 3D printing structure during loading process. The theoretical result and experimental result has good consistency and the characteristic frequency detected by FBG sensor is consistent with the testing results of traditional accelerator in the dynamic experiment. The results of this paper preliminary validate that FBG embedded in the 3D printing structure can effectively detecting the static and dynamic stain change of the 3D printing structure, which provide some guidance for the health monitoring of 3D printing structure.

A Theory for Rapid Charging Events on the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, Dale C.; Craven, Paul D.; Minow, Joseph I.; Wright, Kenneth H., Jr.

2009-01-01

The Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) has detected high negative amplitude rapid charging events (RCEs) on the International Space Station (ISS) at the morning terminator. These events are larger and more rapid than the ISS morning charging events first seen by the Floating Potential Probe (FPP) on ISS in 2001. In this paper, we describe a theory for the RCEs that further elucidates the nature of spacecraft charging in low Earth orbit (LEO) in a non-equilibrium situation. The model accounts for all essential aspects of the newly discovered phenomenon, and is amenable to testing on-orbit. Predictions of the model for the amplitude of the ISS RCEs for the full set of ISS solar arrays and for the coming solar cycle are given, and the results of modeling by the Environments WorkBench (EWB) are compared to the observed events to show that the phenomenon can be explained by solar array driven charging. The situation is unique because the coverglasses have not yet reached equilibrium with the surrounding plasma during the RCEs. Finally, a prescription for further use of the ISS for investigating fundamental plasma physics in LEO is given. Already, plasma and charging monitoring instruments on ISS have taught us much about spacecraft interactions with the dense LEO plasma, and we expect they will continue to yield more valuable science when the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) is in place.

CONFLICT IN EASTERN UKRAINE: STRATEGY FOR TUBERCULOSIS.

PubMed

Kuchuloria, T; Akhvlediani, T; Akhvlediani, N

2016-09-01

This root cause analysis concerns the conflict in the Eastern Ukraine and its impact on healthcare delivery in the context of treating internally displaced persons (IDPs). Inadequate treatment of tuberculosis (TB) was selected as a major topic for intervention planning in conflict areas in Ukraine. With respect to treating TB among IDPs, rapid diagnosis and adequate nutrition and shelter are important components of care and disease control. The DOT, supported by trained primary healthcare providers equipped with rapid MDR TB diagnostic capacities, need to provide appropriate shelter and nutrition to IDPs. In addition to active disease management, this paper discusses the important role of ongoing project monitoring and communicating evaluation findings with all the major stakeholders shaping the national TB strategy in Ukraine. A comprehensive strategy is essential for successful transitioning and re-structuring of TB healthcare delivery both during after conflict resolution.

Organizational HIV monitoring and evaluation capacity rapid needs assessment: the case of Kenya.

PubMed

Mbondo, Mwende; Scherer, Jennifer; Aluoch, Gilbert Onyango; Sundsmo, Aaron; Mwaura, Njeri

2013-01-01

Due to the commitment by the Government of Kenya (GoK) and international donors to address HIV/AIDS, Kenya has some of Africa's most developed health infrastructure for tackling the crisis. Despite this commitment, significant gaps exist in the national HIV/AIDS monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. To identify these gaps and opportunities for improvement, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded the Strengthening HIV Strategic Information in Kenya project, which conducted an organizational HIV M&E capacity rapid needs assessment (RNA). The project included an in-depth desk review of national documents, policies, tools, and international best practices. National, regional, and district officials from government agencies, development partners, and implementing partners participated in key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Given the large number of regions and districts, purposive sampling was used to select 16 facilities in 8 districts across 2 regions based on the general quality of the reported HIV data and the number of partners supporting the regions. RNA findings revealed tremendous improvements at the national level and in the various subsystems that contribute to the overall HIV strategic information. There also were significant gaps, including in a lack of M&E guidelines, parallel reporting systems, feedback given to subnational levels, and data use and general data management and use capacity at subnational levels. An urgent need exists for the development of national M&E guidelines and a comprehensive training curriculum. To ensure success further, capacity building for subnational levels should be conducted and feedback channels to subnational staff should be established and maintained.

Global health diplomacy, national integration, and regional development through the monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programs in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Samoa.

PubMed

Kevany, Sebastian; Gildea, Amy; Garae, Caleb; Moa, Serafi; Lautusi, Avaia

2015-04-27

The South Pacific countries of Vanuatu, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea have ascended rapidly up the development spectrum in recent years, refining an independent and post-colonial economic and political identity that enhances their recognition on the world stage. All three countries have overcome economic, political and public health challenges in order to stake their claim to sovereignty. In this regard, the contributions of national and international programs for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, with specific reference to their monitoring and evaluation (M&E) aspects, have contributed not just to public health, but also to broader political and diplomatic goals such as 'nation-building'. This perspective describes the specific contributions of global health programs to the pursuit of national integration, development, and regional international relations, in Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, respectively, based on in-country M&E activities on behalf of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) during 2014 and 2015. Key findings include: (1) that global health programs contribute to non-health goals; (2) that HIV/AIDS programs promote international relations, decentralized development, and internal unity; (3) that arguments in favour of the maintenance and augmentation of global health funding may be enhanced on this basis; and (4) that "smart" global health approaches have been successful in South Pacific countries. © 2015 by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

Development and Application of a Next Generation Air Sensor Network for the Hong Kong Marathon 2015 Air Quality Monitoring.

PubMed

Sun, Li; Wong, Ka Chun; Wei, Peng; Ye, Sheng; Huang, Hao; Yang, Fenhuan; Westerdahl, Dane; Louie, Peter K K; Luk, Connie W Y; Ning, Zhi

2016-02-05

This study presents the development and evaluation of a next generation air monitoring system with both laboratory and field tests. A multi-parameter algorithm was used to correct for the impact of environmental conditions on the electrochemical sensors for carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollutants. The field evaluation in an urban roadside environment in comparison to designated monitors showed good agreement with measurement error within 5% of the pollutant concentrations. Multiple sets of the developed system were then deployed in the Hong Kong Marathon 2015 forming a sensor-based network along the marathon route. Real-time air pollution concentration data were wirelessly transmitted and the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for the Green Marathon was calculated, which were broadcast to the public on an hourly basis. The route-specific sensor network showed somewhat different pollutant patterns than routine air monitoring, indicating the immediate impact of traffic control during the marathon on the roadside air quality. The study is one of the first applications of a next generation sensor network in international sport events, and it demonstrated the usefulness of the emerging sensor-based air monitoring technology in rapid network deployment to supplement existing air monitoring.

Development and Application of a Next Generation Air Sensor Network for the Hong Kong Marathon 2015 Air Quality Monitoring

PubMed Central

Sun, Li; Wong, Ka Chun; Wei, Peng; Ye, Sheng; Huang, Hao; Yang, Fenhuan; Westerdahl, Dane; Louie, Peter K.K.; Luk, Connie W.Y.; Ning, Zhi

2016-01-01

This study presents the development and evaluation of a next generation air monitoring system with both laboratory and field tests. A multi-parameter algorithm was used to correct for the impact of environmental conditions on the electrochemical sensors for carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollutants. The field evaluation in an urban roadside environment in comparison to designated monitors showed good agreement with measurement error within 5% of the pollutant concentrations. Multiple sets of the developed system were then deployed in the Hong Kong Marathon 2015 forming a sensor-based network along the marathon route. Real-time air pollution concentration data were wirelessly transmitted and the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for the Green Marathon was calculated, which were broadcast to the public on an hourly basis. The route-specific sensor network showed somewhat different pollutant patterns than routine air monitoring, indicating the immediate impact of traffic control during the marathon on the roadside air quality. The study is one of the first applications of a next generation sensor network in international sport events, and it demonstrated the usefulness of the emerging sensor-based air monitoring technology in rapid network deployment to supplement existing air monitoring. PMID:26861336

Civil infrastructure monitoring for IVHS using optical fiber sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vries, Marten J.; Arya, Vivek; Grinder, C. R.; Murphy, Kent A.; Claus, Richard O.

1995-01-01

8Early deployment of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems would necessitate the internal instrumentation of infrastructure for emergency preparedness. Existing quantitative analysis and visual analysis techniques are time consuming, cost prohibitive, and are often unreliable. Fiber optic sensors are rapidly replacing conventional instrumentation because of their small size, light weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and extremely high information carrying capability. In this paper research on novel optical fiber sensing techniques for health monitoring of civil infrastructure such as highways and bridges is reported. Design, fabrication, and implementation of fiber optic sensor configurations used for measurements of strain are discussed. Results from field tests conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of fiber sensors at determining quantitative strain vector components near crack locations in bridges are presented. Emerging applications of fiber sensors for vehicle flow, vehicle speed, and weigh-in-motion measurements are also discussed.

AUTOMATED TECHNIQUE FOR FLOW MEASUREMENTS FROM MARIOTTE RESERVOIRS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Constantz, Jim; Murphy, Fred

1987-01-01

The mariotte reservoir supplies water at a constant hydraulic pressure by self-regulation of its internal gas pressure. Automated outflow measurements from mariotte reservoirs are generally difficult because of the reservoir's self-regulation mechanism. This paper describes an automated flow meter specifically designed for use with mariotte reservoirs. The flow meter monitors changes in the mariotte reservoir's gas pressure during outflow to determine changes in the reservoir's water level. The flow measurement is performed by attaching a pressure transducer to the top of a mariotte reservoir and monitoring gas pressure changes during outflow with a programmable data logger. The advantages of the new automated flow measurement techniques include: (i) the ability to rapidly record a large range of fluxes without restricting outflow, and (ii) the ability to accurately average the pulsing flow, which commonly occurs during outflow from the mariotte reservoir.

Corrosion monitoring along infrastructures using distributed fiber optic sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhandawi, Khalil B.; Vahdati, Nader; Shiryayev, Oleg; Lawand, Lydia

2016-04-01

Pipeline Inspection Gauges (PIGs) are used for internal corrosion inspection of oil pipelines every 3-5 years. However, between inspection intervals, rapid corrosion may occur, potentially resulting in major accidents. The motivation behind this research project was to develop a safe distributed corrosion sensor placed inside oil pipelines continuously monitoring corrosion. The intrinsically safe nature of light provided motivation for researching fiber optic sensors as a solution. The sensing fiber's cladding features polymer plastic that is chemically sensitive to hydrocarbons within crude oil mixtures. A layer of metal, used in the oil pipeline's construction, is deposited on the polymer cladding, which upon corrosion, exposes the cladding to surrounding hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon's interaction with the cladding locally increases the cladding's refractive index in the radial direction. Light intensity of a traveling pulse is reduced due to local reduction in the modal capacity which is interrogated by Optical Time Domain Reflectometery. Backscattered light is captured in real-time while using time delay to resolve location, allowing real-time spatial monitoring of environmental internal corrosion within pipelines spanning large distances. Step index theoretical solutions were used to calculate the power loss due changes in the intensity profile. The power loss is translated into an attenuation coefficient characterizing the expected OTDR trace which was verified against similar experimental results from the literature. A laboratory scale experiment is being developed to assess the validity of the model and the practicality of the solution.

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

Mark Schanfein

Nuclear material safeguards specialists and instrument developers at US Department of Energy (USDOE) National Laboratories in the United States, sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of NA-24, have been developing devices to monitor shipments of UF6 cylinders and other radioactive materials , . Tracking devices are being developed that are capable of monitoring shipments of valuable radioactive materials in real time, using the Global Positioning System (GPS). We envision that such devices will be extremely useful, if not essential, for monitoring the shipment of these important cargoes of nuclear material, including highly-enriched uranium (HEU), mixed plutonium/uranium oxidemore » (MOX), spent nuclear fuel, and, potentially, other large radioactive sources. To ensure nuclear material security and safeguards, it is extremely important to track these materials because they contain so-called “direct-use material” which is material that if diverted and processed could potentially be used to develop clandestine nuclear weapons . Large sources could be used for a dirty bomb also known as a radioactive dispersal device (RDD). For that matter, any interdiction by an adversary regardless of intent demands a rapid response. To make the fullest use of such tracking devices, we propose a National Tracking Center. This paper describes what the attributes of such a center would be and how it could ultimately be the prototype for an International Tracking Center, possibly to be based in Vienna, at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).« less

Ice-tethered measurement platforms in the Arctic Ocean: a contribution by the FRAM infrastructure program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoppmann, Mario; Nicolaus, Marcel; Rabe, Benjamin; Wenzhöfer, Frank; Katlein, Christian; Scholz, Daniel

2016-04-01

The Arctic Ocean has been in the focus of many studies during recent years, investigating the state, the causes and the implications of the observed rapid transition towards a thinner and younger sea-ice cover. However, consistent observational datasets of sea ice, ocean and atmosphere are still sparse due to the limited accessibility and harsh environmental conditions. One important tool to fill this gap has become more and more feasible during recent years: autonomous, ice-tethered measurement platforms (buoys). These drifting instruments independently transmit their data via satellites, and enable observations over larger areas and over longer time periods than manned expeditions, even throughout the winter. One aim of the newly established FRAM (FRontiers in Arctic marine Monitoring) infrastructure program at the Alfred-Wegener-Institute is to realize and maintain an interdisciplinary network of buoys in the Arctic Ocean, contributing to an integrated, Arctic-wide observatory. The additional buoy infrastructure, ship-time, and developments provided by FRAM are critical elements in the ongoing international effort to fill the large data gaps in a rapidly changing Arctic Ocean. Our focus is the particularly underrepresented Eurasian Basin. Types of instruments range from snow depth beacons and ice mass balance buoys for monitoring ice growth and snow accumulation, over radiation and weather stations for energy budget estimates, to ice-tethered profiling systems for upper ocean monitoring. Further, development of new bio-optical and biogeochemical buoys is expected to enhance our understanding of bio-physical processes associated with Arctic sea ice. The first set of FRAM buoys was deployed in September 2015 from RV Polarstern. All datasets are publicly available on dedicated web portals. Near real time data are reported into international initiatives, such as the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) and the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP). The additional data acquired by FRAM buoys facilitate the validation of model results and remote sensing products, play an important role in understanding the linkages between the atmosphere, sea ice and upper ocean, and help assess the physical, biological and biogeochemical states of the future Arctic Ocean. Here we present our recent work and future plans, but are also aiming for additional collaborations, especially on technical developments, scientific questions and deployment logistics.

High Resolution Rapid Revisits Insar Monitoring of Surface Deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singhroy, V.; Li, J.; Charbonneau, F.

2014-12-01

Monitoring surface deformation on strategic energy and transportation corridors requires high resolution spatial and temporal InSAR images for mitigation and safety purposes. High resolution air photos, lidar and other satellite images are very useful in areas where the landslides can be fatal. Recently, radar interferometry (InSAR) techniques using more rapid revisit images from several radar satellites are increasingly being used in active deformation monitoring. The Canadian RADARSAT Constellation (RCM) is a three-satellite mission that will provide rapid revisits of four days interferometric (InSAR) capabilities that will be very useful for complex deformation monitoring. For instance, the monitoring of surface deformation due to permafrost activity, complex rock slide motion and steam assisted oil extraction will benefit from this new rapid revisit capability. This paper provide examples of how the high resolution (1-3 m) rapid revisit InSAR capabilities will improve our monitoring of surface deformation and provide insights in understanding triggering mechanisms. We analysed over a hundred high resolution InSAR images over a two year period on three geologically different sites with various configurations of topography, geomorphology, and geology conditions. We show from our analysis that the more frequent InSAR acquisitions are providing more information in understanding the rates of movement and failure process of permafrost triggered retrogressive thaw flows; the complex motion of an asymmetrical wedge failure of an active rock slide and the identification of over pressure zones related to oil extraction using steam injection. Keywords: High resolution, InSAR, rapid revisits, triggering mechanisms, oil extraction.

77 FR 14269 - Amendment of Class C Airspace; Springfield, MO; Lincoln, NE; Grand Rapids, MI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-09

.... SUMMARY: This action corrects the Class C airspace designation for Gerald R. Ford International Airport... coordinates of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI, to match the FAA's aeronautical... legal description for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI, Class C airspace, as...

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

PubMed

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

2012-01-01

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

Quantification of rifampicin in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by a highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method.

PubMed

Srivastava, Abhishek; Waterhouse, David; Ardrey, Alison; Ward, Stephen A

2012-11-01

A highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed to measure the levels of the antitubercular drug rifampicin (RIF) in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The analyte and internal standard (IS) were isolated from plasma and CSF by a simple organic solvent based precipitation of proteins followed by centrifugation. Detection was carried out by electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The assay was linear in the concentration range 25-6400 ng/mL with intra- and inter-day precision of <7% and <8%, respectively. The validated method was applied to the study of RIF pharmacokinetics in human CSF and plasma over 25 h period after a 10 mg/kg oral dose. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

MONTE CARLO SIMULATION OF THE BREMSSTRAHLUNG RADIATION FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF AN INTERNAL CONTAMINATION WITH PURE-BETA EMITTERS IN VIVO.

PubMed

Fantínová, K; Fojtík, P; Malátová, I

2016-09-01

Rapid measurement techniques are required for a large-scale emergency monitoring of people. In vivo measurement of the bremsstrahlung radiation produced by incorporated pure-beta emitters can offer a rapid technique for the determination of such radionuclides in the human body. This work presents a method for the calibration of spectrometers, based on the use of UPh-02T (so-called IGOR) phantom and specific (90)Sr/(90)Y sources, which can account for recent as well as previous contaminations. The process of the whole- and partial-body counter calibration in combination with application of a Monte Carlo code offers readily extension also to other pure-beta emitters and various exposure scenarios. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Development and comparison of a rapid isothermal nucleic acid amplification test for typing of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 on a portable fluorescence detector.

PubMed

Tong, Yanhong; McCarthy, Kaitlin; Kong, Huimin; Lemieux, Bertrand

2012-11-01

We have developed a rapid and simple molecular test, the IsoGlow HSV Typing assay, for the detection and typing of herpes simplex virus (type 1 and 2) from genital or oral lesions. Clinical samples suspended in viral transport mediums are simply diluted and then added to a helicase-dependent amplification master mix. The amplification and detection were performed on a portable fluorescence detector called the FireFly instrument. Detection of amplification products is based on end-point analysis using cycling probe technology. An internal control nucleic acid was included in the amplification master mix to monitor the presence of amplification inhibitors in the samples. Because the device has only two fluorescence detection channels, two strategies were developed and compared to detect the internal control template: internal control detected by melting curve analysis using a dual-labeled probe, versus internal control detection using end-point fluorescence release by a CPT probe at a lower temperature. Both have a total turnaround time of about 1 hour. Clinical performance relative to herpes viral culture was evaluated using 176 clinical specimens. Both formats of the IsoGlow HSV typing assay had sensitivities comparable to that of the Food and Drug Administration-cleared IsoAmp HSV (BioHelix Corp., Beverly MA) test and specificity for the two types of HSV comparable to that of ELVIS HSV (Diagnostic Hybrids, Athens, OH). Copyright © 2012 American Society for Investigative Pathology and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[New international initiatives to create systems of effective risk prediction and food safety].

PubMed

Efimochkinal, N R; Bagryantseva, E C; Dupouy, E C; Khotimchenko, S A; Permyakov, E V; Sheveleva, S A; Arnautov, O V

2016-01-01

Ensuring food safety is one of the most important problems that is directly related to health protection of the population. The problem is particularly relevant on aglobalscale because ofincreasingnumberoffood-borne diseases andimportance of the health consequence early detection. In accordance with the position of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, food safety concept also includes quality. In this case, creation of the national, supranational and international early warning systems related to the food safety, designed with the purpose to prevent or minimize risks on different stages of the food value chain in various countries, regions and climate zones specific to national nutrition and lifestyle in different groups of population, gains particular importance. The article describes the principles and working examples of international, supranational and national food safety early warning systems. Great importance is given to the hazards of microbial origin - emergent pathogens. Example of the rapid reaction to the appearance of cases, related to the melanin presence in infant formula, are presented. Analysis of the current food safety and quality control system in Russian Federation shows that main improvements are mostly related to the development of the efficient monitoring, diagnostics and rapid alert procedures forfood safety on interregional and international levels that will allow to estimate real contamination of food with the most dangerous pathogens, chemical and biological contaminants, and the development of the electronic database and scientifically proved algorithms for food safety and quality management for targeted prevention activities against existing and emerging microbiological and other etiology risks, and public health protection.

The Risks and Benefits of Internal Monitors in Laboring Patients

PubMed Central

Harper, Lorie M.; Shanks, Anthony L.; Tuuli, Methodius G.; Roehl, Kimberly A.; Cahill, Alison G.

2013-01-01

Objective To estimate the impact of internal monitors (fetal scalp electrodes [FSE] and intrauterine pressure catheters [IUPC]) on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Study Design Retrospective cohort of all women admitted for labor 2004–2008. Women with internal monitors (FSE, IUPC, or both) were compared to women without internal monitors. Maternal outcomes were maternal fever and cesarean delivery (CD). Neonatal outcomes were a composite of 5-minute Apgar≤3, cord pH<7.1, cord base excess <-12, or admission to level 3 nursery. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the impact of internal monitors while adjusting for confounding variables, including time in labor. Results Of 6,445 subjects, 3,944 (61.2%) had internal monitors. Women with internal monitors were more likely to develop a fever than women without internal monitors (11.7% versus 4.5%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-2.5). FSE alone was not associated with an increased risk of fever (AOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1), but IUPC alone was (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.2). The risk of CD was higher in women with internal monitors (18.6% versus 9.7%, AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.5). Risk of CD was lower in women with FSE alone (AOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.7) but higher in women with both an FSE and IUPC (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-2.0). Risk of the composite neonatal outcome was not higher in women with internal monitors (3.3% versus 3.6%, AOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-1.1). Conclusions Routine use of IUPC in laboring patient should be avoided due to increased risk of maternal fever. PMID:23562354

Alaska - Russian Far East connection in volcano research and monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izbekov, P. E.; Eichelberger, J. C.; Gordeev, E.; Neal, C. A.; Chebrov, V. N.; Girina, O. A.; Demyanchuk, Y. V.; Rybin, A. V.

2012-12-01

The Kurile-Kamchatka-Alaska portion of the Pacific Rim of Fire spans for nearly 5400 km. It includes more than 80 active volcanoes and averages 4-6 eruptions per year. Resulting ash clouds travel for hundreds to thousands of kilometers defying political borders. To mitigate volcano hazard to aviation and local communities, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) and the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS), in partnership with the Kamchatkan Branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KBGS), have established a collaborative program with three integrated components: (1) volcano monitoring with rapid information exchange, (2) cooperation in research projects at active volcanoes, and (3) volcanological field schools for students and young scientists. Cooperation in volcano monitoring includes dissemination of daily information on the state of volcanic activity in neighboring regions, satellite and visual data exchange, as well as sharing expertise and technologies between AVO and the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) and Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT). Collaboration in scientific research is best illustrated by involvement of AVO, IVS, and KBGS faculty and graduate students in mutual international studies. One of the most recent examples is the NSF-funded Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)-Kamchatka project focusing on multi-disciplinary study of Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka. This international project is one of many that have been initiated as a direct result of a bi-annual series of meetings known as Japan-Kamchatka-Alaska Subduction Processes (JKASP) workshops that we organize together with colleagues from Hokkaido University, Japan. The most recent JKASP meeting was held in August 2011 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and brought together more than 130 scientists and students from Russia, Japan, and the United States. The key educational component of our collaborative program is the continuous series of international volcanological field schools organized in partnership with the Kamchatka State University. Each year more than 40 students and young scientists participate in our annual field trips to Katmai, Alaska and Mutnovsky, Kamchatka.

10 CFR 20.1502 - Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... internal occupational dose. 20.1502 Section 20.1502 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION Surveys and Monitoring § 20.1502 Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose. Each licensee shall monitor exposures to radiation and radioactive...

10 CFR 20.1502 - Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... internal occupational dose. 20.1502 Section 20.1502 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION Surveys and Monitoring § 20.1502 Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose. Each licensee shall monitor exposures to radiation and radioactive...

10 CFR 20.1502 - Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... internal occupational dose. 20.1502 Section 20.1502 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION Surveys and Monitoring § 20.1502 Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose. Each licensee shall monitor exposures to radiation and radioactive...

10 CFR 20.1502 - Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... internal occupational dose. 20.1502 Section 20.1502 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION Surveys and Monitoring § 20.1502 Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose. Each licensee shall monitor exposures to radiation and radioactive...

10 CFR 20.1502 - Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... internal occupational dose. 20.1502 Section 20.1502 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION Surveys and Monitoring § 20.1502 Conditions requiring individual monitoring of external and internal occupational dose. Each licensee shall monitor exposures to radiation and radioactive...

Assessing the Utility of a Satellite-Based Flood Inundation and Socio-Economic Impact Tool for the Lower Mekong River Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahamed, A.; Bolten, J. D.

2016-12-01

Flood disaster events in Southeast Asia result in significant loss of life and economic damage. Remote sensing information systems designed to monitor floods and assess their severity can help governments and international agencies formulate an effective response before and during flood events, and ultimately alleviate impacts to population, infrastructure, and agriculture. Recent examples of destructive flood events in the Lower Mekong River Basin occurred in 2000, 2011, and 2013. Floods can be particularly costly in the developing countries of Southeast Asia where large portions of the population live on or near the floodplain (Jonkman, 2005; Kirsch et al., 2012; Long and Trong, 2001; Stromberg. 2007). Regional studies (Knox, 1993; Mirza, 2002; Schiermeier, 2011; Västilä et al, 2010) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) projections suggest that precipitation extremes and flood frequency are increasing. Thus, improved systems to rapidly monitor flooding in vulnerable areas are needed. This study determines surface water extent for current and historic flood events by using stacks of historic multispectral Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250-meter imagery and the spectral Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) signatures of permanent water bodies (MOD44W). Supporting software tools automatically assess flood impacts to population and infrastructure to provide a rapid first set of impact numbers generated hours after the onset of an event. The near real-time component uses twice daily imagery acquired at 3-hour latency, and performs image compositing routines to minimize cloud cover. Case studies for historic flood events are presented. Results suggest that near real-time remote sensing-based observation and impact assessment systems can serve as effective regional decision support tools for governments, international agencies, and disaster responders.

Microbiological Monitoring for the Constellation Program: Current Requirements and Future Considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ott, C. Mark

2007-01-01

Microbiological requirements for spaceflight are based on assessments of infectious disease risk which could impact crew health or mission success. The determination of risk from infectious disease is composed of several factors including (1) crew susceptibility, (2) crew exposure to the infectious disease agent, (3) the concentration of the infectious agent, and (4) the characteristics of the infectious agent. As a result of the Health Stabilization Program, stringent monitoring, and cleaning protocols, in-flight environmental microbial monitoring is not necessary for short-duration spaceflights. However, risk factors change for long-duration missions, as exemplified by the presence of medically significant organisms in the environments of both the Mir and International Space Station (ISS). Based upon this historical evidence, requirements for short duration usage aboard the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and Lunar Lander Vehicle will not require in-flight monitoring; however, as mission duration increases with a Lunar Outpost, an ability to detect microbial hazard will be necessary. The nature of the detection requirements will depend on the maturity of technology in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Regardless, the hardware will still need to maximize information to discipline experts and the crew, while minimizing the size, mass, power consumption, and crew time usage. The refinement of these monitors will be a major goal in our efforts to travel successfully to Mars.

Real-time decision support systems: the famine early warning system network

USGS Publications Warehouse

Funk, Christopher C.; Verdin, James P.

2010-01-01

A multi-institutional partnership, the US Agency for International Development’s Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) provides routine monitoring of climatic, agricultural, market, and socioeconomic conditions in over 20 countries. FEWS NET supports and informs disaster relief decisions that impact millions of people and involve billions of dollars. In this chapter, we focus on some of FEWS NET’s hydrologic monitoring tools, with a specific emphasis on combining “low frequency” and “high frequency” assessment tools. Low frequency assessment tools, tied to water and food balance estimates, enable us to evaluate and map long-term tendencies in food security. High frequency assessments are supported by agrohydrologic models driven by satellite rainfall estimates, such as the Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI). Focusing on eastern Africa, we suggest that both these high and low frequency approaches are necessary to capture the interaction of slow variations in vulnerability and the relatively rapid onset of climatic shocks.

Assay of free captopril in human plasma as monobromobimane derivative, using RPLC/(+)ESI/MS/MS: validation aspects and bioequivalence evaluation.

PubMed

Medvedovici, Andrei; Albu, Florin; Sora, Iuliana Daniela; Udrescu, Stefan; Galaon, Toma; David, Victor

2009-10-01

A sensitive method for determination of free captopril as monobromobimane derivative in plasma samples is discussed. The internal standard (IS) was 5-methoxy-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol. Derivatization with monobromobimane immediately after blood collection and plasma preparation prevents oxidation of captopril to the corresponding disulfide compound and enhances the ionization yield. Consequently, derivatization enhances sample stability and detection sensitivity. Addition of the internal standard was made immediately after plasma preparation. The internal standard was also derivatized by monobromobimane, as it contains a thiol functional group. Preparation of plasma samples containing captopril and IS derivatives was based upon protein precipitation through addition of acetonitrile, in a volumetric ratio 1:2. The reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation was achieved on a rapid resolution cartridge Zorbax SB-C(18), monitored through positive electrospray ionization and tandem MS detection using the multiple-reaction monitoring mode. Transitions were 408-362 amu for the captopril derivative and 371-260 amu for the internal standard derivative. The kinetics of captopril oxidation to the corresponding disulfide compound in plasma matrix was also studied using the proposed method. A linear log-log calibration was obtained over the concentration interval 2.5-750 ng/mL. A low limit of quantitation in the 2.5 ng/mL range was obtained. The analytical method was fully validated and successfully applied in a three-way, three-period, single-dose (50 mg), block-randomized bioequivalence study for two pharmaceutical formulations (captopril LPH 25 and 50 mg) against the comparator Capoten 50 mg. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Expansion of Microbial Monitoring Capabilities on the International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khodadad, Christina L.; Oubre, Cherie; Castro, Victoria; Flint, Stephanie; Melendez, Orlando; Ott, C. Mark; Roman, Monsi

2017-01-01

Microbial monitoring is one of the tools that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses on the International Space Station (ISS) to help maintain crew health and safety. In combination with regular housekeeping and disinfection when needed, microbial monitoring provides important information to the crew about the quality of the environment. Rotation of astronauts, equipment, and cargo on the ISS can affect the microbial load in the air, surfaces, and water. The current ISS microbial monitoring methods are focused on culture-based enumeration during flight and require a significant amount of crew time as well as long incubation periods of up to 5 days there by proliferating potential pathogens. In addition, the samples require return to Earth for complete identification of the microorganisms cultivated. Although the current approach assess the quality of the ISS environment, molecular technology offers faster turn-around of information particularly beneficial in an off-nominal situation. In 2011, subject matter experts from industry and academia recommended implementation of molecular-based technologies such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for evaluation to replace current, culture-based technologies. The RAZOR EX (BioFire Defense, Inc, Salt Lake City, UT) a ruggedized, compact, COTS (commercial off the shelf) qPCR instrument was tested, evaluated and selected in the 2 X 2015 JSC rapid flight hardware demonstration initiative as part of the Water Monitoring Suite. RAZOR EX was launched to ISS on SpaceX-9 in July 2016 to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the hardware by testing various concentrations of DNA in microgravity compared to ground controls. Flight testing was completed between September 2016 and March 2017. Data presented will detail the hardware performance of flight testing results compared to ground controls. Future goals include additional operational ground-based testing and assay development to determine if this technology can meet spaceflight microbial monitoring requirements.

Applicability of rapid and on-site measured enzyme activity for surface water quality monitoring in an agricultural catchment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stadler, Philipp; Farnleitner, Andreas H.; Sommer, Regina; Kumpan, Monika; Zessner, Matthias

2014-05-01

For the near real time and on-site detection of microbiological fecal pollution of water, the measurement of beta-D- Glucuronidase (GLUC) enzymatic activity has been suggested as a surrogate parameter and has been already successfully operated for water quality monitoring of ground water resources (Ryzinska-Paier et al. 2014). Due to possible short measure intervals of three hours, this method has high potential as a water quality monitoring tool. While cultivation based standard determination takes more than one working day (Cabral 2010) the potential advantage of detecting the GLUC activity is the high temporal measuring resolution. Yet, there is still a big gap of knowledge on the fecal indication capacity of GLUC (specificity, sensitivity, persistence, etc.) in relation to potential pollution sources and catchment conditions (Cabral 2010, Ryzinska-Paier et al. 2014). Furthermore surface waters are a big challenge for automated detection devices in a technical point of view due to the high sediment load during event conditions. This presentation shows results gained form two years of monitoring in an experimental catchment (HOAL) dominated by agricultural land use. Two enzymatic measurement devices are operated parallel at the catchment outlet to test the reproducibility and precision of the method. Data from continuous GLUC monitoring under both base flow and event conditions is compared with reference samples analyzed by standardized laboratory methods for fecal pollution detection (e.g. ISO 16649-1, Colilert18). It is shown that rapid enzymatic on-site GLUC determination can successfully be operated from a technical point of view for surface water quality monitoring under the observed catchment conditions. The comparison of enzyme activity with microbiological standard analytics reveals distinct differences in the dynamic of the signals during event conditions. Cabral J. P. S. (2010) "Water Microbiology. Bacterial Pathogens and Water" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7 (10): 3657-3703. Ryzinska-Paier, G., T. Lendenfeld, K. Correa, P. Stadler, A.P. Blaschke, R. L. Mach, H. Stadler, AKT Kirschner und A.H. Farnleitner (2014) A sensitive and robust method for automated on-line monitoring of enzymatic activities in water and water resources. Water Sci. Technol. in press

Verbal monitoring in Parkinson’s disease: A comparison between internal and external monitoring

PubMed Central

Mertens, Jolien; Mariën, Peter; Santens, Patrick; Pickut, Barbara A.; Hartsuiker, Robert J.

2017-01-01

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) display a variety of impairments in motor and non-motor language processes; speech is decreased on motor aspects such as amplitude, prosody and speed and on linguistic aspects including grammar and fluency. Here we investigated whether verbal monitoring is impaired and what the relative contributions of the internal and external monitoring route are on verbal monitoring in patients with PD relative to controls. Furthermore, the data were used to investigate whether internal monitoring performance could be predicted by internal speech perception tasks, as perception based monitoring theories assume. Performance of 18 patients with Parkinson’s disease was measured on two cognitive performance tasks and a battery of 11 linguistic tasks, including tasks that measured performance on internal and external monitoring. Results were compared with those of 16 age-matched healthy controls. PD patients and controls generally performed similarly on the linguistic and monitoring measures. However, we observed qualitative differences in the effects of noise masking on monitoring and disfluencies and in the extent to which the linguistic tasks predicted monitoring behavior. We suggest that the patients differ from healthy subjects in their recruitment of monitoring channels. PMID:28832595

A rapid review of key strategies to improve the cognitive and social development of children in Scotland.

PubMed

Geddes, Rosemary; Frank, John; Haw, Sally

2011-06-01

Inequalities in health and educational outcomes in Scotland show a strong and persistent socioeconomic status gradient. Our aims were to provide policy-makers with a synthesis of international research evidence that assesses the effectiveness of early childhood interventions aimed at equitably promoting cognitive and social development and suggest potential areas for action in Scotland. A rapid review was conducted of review level studies of early childhood interventions with outcome measures relating to child cognitive-language or social-emotional development, subsequent academic and life achievement. Websites were searched and interviews were conducted to identify relevant interventions, policies and programmes delivered in Scotland. : Early childhood intervention programmes can reduce disadvantage due to social and environmental factors. Scottish health policy demonstrates a clear commitment to early childhood development but much work remains in terms of detail of policy implementation, identification of high risk children and families, and early childhood monitoring systems. Programmes should provide a universal seamless continuum of care and support from pregnancy through to school entry with the intensity of support graded according to need. The current information systems in Scotland would be inadequate for monitoring the effects of early childhood interventions especially in relation to cognitive-language and social-emotional development. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Risk evaluation and monitoring in multiple sclerosis therapeutics.

PubMed

Clanet, Michel C; Wolinsky, Jerry S; Ashton, Raymond J; Hartung, Hans-Peter; Reingold, Stephen C

2014-09-01

Risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMT) must be assessed on an ongoing basis. Early concerns regarding the first-approved DMTs for MS have been mitigated, but recently licensed therapies have been linked to possibly greater risks. The objective of this review is to discuss risk assessment in MS therapeutics based on an international workshop and comprehensive literature search and recommend strategies for risk assessment/monitoring. Assessment and perception of therapeutic risks vary between patients, doctors and regulators. Acceptability of risk depends on the magnitude of risk and the demonstrated clinical benefits of any agent. Safety signals must be distinguishable from chance occurrences in a clinical trial and in long-term use of medications. Post-marketing research is crucial for assessing longer-term safety in large patient cohorts. Reporting of adverse events is becoming more proactive, allowing more rapid identification of risks. Communication about therapeutic risks and their relationship to clinical benefit must involve patients in shared decision making. It is difficult to produce a general risk-assessment algorithm for all MS therapies. Specific algorithms are required for each DMT in every treated-patient population. New and evolving risks must be evaluated and communicated rapidly to allow patients and physicians to be well informed and able to share treatment decisions. © The Author(s) 2013.

Application of a rapid and selective method for the simultaneous determination of carebastine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry for bioequivalence study in Korean subjects.

PubMed

Lee, Myung-Jae; Lee, Heon-Woo; Kang, Jong-Min; Seo, Ji-Hyung; Tak, Seong-Kun; Shim, Wangseob; Yim, Sung-Vin; Hong, Seung Jae; Lee, Kyung-Tae

2010-10-01

We describe a simple, rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method that was developed for the simultaneous determination of carebastine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma using cisapride as an internal standard. Acquisition was performed in multiple-reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the transitions: m/z 500.43 > 167.09 for carebastine and m/z 166.04 > 147.88 for pseudoephedrine. The devised method involves a simple single-step liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column at 0.2  mL/min by isocratic elution with 10  mM ammonium formate buffer-acetonitrile (30:70, v/v; adjusted to pH 3.3 with formic acid). The devised method was validated over 0.5-100  ng/mL of carebastine and 5-1000  ng/mL of pseudoephedrine with acceptable accuracy and precision, and was successfully applied to a bioequivalence study involving a single oral dose (10  mg of ebastine plus 120  mg of pseudoephedrine complex) to healthy Korean volunteers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

RadNet Air Data From Grand Rapids, MI

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Grand Rapids, MI from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

RadNet Air Data From Rapid City, SD

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Rapid City, SD from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

Planetary Lake Lander - A Robotic Sentinel to Monitor a Remote Lake

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pedersen, Liam; Smith, Trey; Lee, Susan; Cabrol, Nathalie; Rose, Kevin

2012-01-01

The Planetary Lake Lander Project is studying the impact of rapid deglaciation at a high altitude alpine lake in the Andes, where disrupted environmental, physical, chemical, and biological cycles result in newly emerging natural patterns. The solar powered Lake Lander robot is designed to monitor the lake system and characterize both baseline characteristics and impacts of disturbance events such as storms and landslides. Lake Lander must use an onboard adaptive science-on-the-fly approach to return relevant data about these events to mission control without exceeding limited energy and bandwidth resources. Lake Lander carries weather sensors, cameras and a sonde that is winched up and down the water column to monitor temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and other water quality parameters. Data from Lake Lander is returned via satellite and distributed to an international team of scientists via web-based ground data systems. Here, we describe the Lake Lander Project scientific goals, hardware design, ground data systems, and preliminary data from 2011. The adaptive science-on-the-fly system will be described in future papers.

Plant stress analysis technology deployment

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

Ebadian, M.A.

1998-01-01

Monitoring vegetation is an active area of laser-induced fluorescence imaging (LIFI) research. The Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) at Florida International University (FIU) is assisting in the transfer of the LIFI technology to the agricultural private sector through a market survey. The market survey will help identify the key eco-agricultural issues of the nations that could benefit from the use of sensor technologies developed by the Office of Science and Technology (OST). The principal region of interest is the Western Hemisphere, particularly, the rapidly growing countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The analysis of needs will assure thatmore » the focus of present and future research will center on economically important issues facing both hemispheres. The application of the technology will be useful to the agriculture industry for airborne crop analysis as well as in the detection and characterization of contaminated sites by monitoring vegetation. LIFI airborne and close-proximity systems will be evaluated as stand-alone technologies and additions to existing sensor technologies that have been used to monitor crops in the field and in storage.« less

Diurnal dynamics of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in shoots and rhizomes of a perennial in a constructed wetland indicate down-regulation of below ground oxygen consumption

PubMed Central

Faußer, Anna C.; Dušek, Jiří; Čížková, Hana; Kazda, Marian

2016-01-01

Wetland plants actively provide oxygen for aerobic processes in submerged tissues and the rhizosphere. The novel concomitant assessment of diurnal dynamics of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations under field conditions tests the whole-system interactions in plant-internal gas exchange and regulation. Oxygen concentrations ([O2]) were monitored in-situ in central culm and rhizome pith cavities of common reed (Phragmites australis) using optical oxygen sensors. The corresponding carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) were assessed via gas samples from the culms. Highly dynamic diurnal courses of [O2] were recorded, which started at 6.5–13 % in the morning, increased rapidly up to 22 % during midday and declined exponentially during the night. Internal [CO2] were high in the morning (1.55–17.5 %) and decreased (0.04–0.94 %) during the rapid increase of [O2] in the culms. The observed negative correlations between [O2] and [CO2] particularly describe the below ground relationship between plant-mediated oxygen supply and oxygen use by respiration and biogeochemical processes in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, the nocturnal declining slopes of [O2] in culms and rhizomes indicated a down-regulation of the demand for oxygen in the complete below ground plant-associated system. These findings emphasize the need for measurements of plant-internal gas exchange processes under field conditions because it considers the complex interactions in the oxic-anoxic interface. PMID:27207278

Measuring and Predicting the Internal Structure of Semiconductor Nanocrystals through Raman Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Mukherjee, Prabuddha; Lim, Sung Jun; Wrobel, Tomasz P; Bhargava, Rohit; Smith, Andrew M

2016-08-31

Nanocrystals composed of mixed chemical domains have diverse properties that are driving their integration in next-generation electronics, light sources, and biosensors. However, the precise spatial distribution of elements within these particles is difficult to measure and control, yet profoundly impacts their quality and performance. Here we synthesized a unique series of 42 different quantum dot nanocrystals, composed of two chemical domains (CdS:CdSe), arranged in 7 alloy and (core)shell structural classes. Chemometric analyses of far-field Raman spectra accurately classified their internal structures from their vibrational signatures. These classifications provide direct insight into the elemental arrangement of the alloy as well as an independent prediction of fluorescence quantum yield. This nondestructive, rapid approach can be broadly applied to greatly enhance our capacity to measure, predict and monitor multicomponent nanomaterials for precise tuning of their structures and properties.

Rapid internal contraction boosts DNA friction.

PubMed

Otto, Oliver; Sturm, Sebastian; Laohakunakorn, Nadanai; Keyser, Ulrich F; Kroy, Klaus

2013-01-01

Macroscopic objects are usually manipulated by force and observed with light. On the nanoscale, however, this is often done oppositely: individual macromolecules are manipulated by light and monitored with force. This procedure, which is the basis of single-molecule force spectroscopy, has led to much of our quantitative understanding of how DNA works, and is now routinely applied to explore molecular structure and interactions, DNA-protein reactions and protein folding. Here we develop the technique further by introducing a dynamic force spectroscopy set-up for a non-invasive inspection of the tension dynamics in a taut strand of DNA. The internal contraction after a sudden release of the molecule is shown to give rise to a drastically enhanced viscous friction, as revealed by the slow relaxation of an attached colloidal tracer. Our systematic theory explains the data quantitatively and provides a powerful tool for the rational design of new dynamic force spectroscopy assays.

Internal Temperature Control For Vibration Testers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dean, Richard J.

1996-01-01

Vibration test fixtures with internal thermal-transfer capabilities developed. Made of aluminum for rapid thermal transfer. Small size gives rapid response to changing temperatures, with better thermal control. Setup quicker and internal ducting facilitates access to parts being tested. In addition, internal flows smaller, so less energy consumed in maintaining desired temperature settings.

PCSYS: The optimal design integration system picture drawing system with hidden line algorithm capability for aerospace vehicle configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hague, D. S.; Vanderburg, J. D.

1977-01-01

A vehicle geometric definition based upon quadrilateral surface elements to produce realistic pictures of an aerospace vehicle. The PCSYS programs can be used to visually check geometric data input, monitor geometric perturbations, and to visualize the complex spatial inter-relationships between the internal and external vehicle components. PCSYS has two major component programs. The between program, IMAGE, draws a complex aerospace vehicle pictorial representation based on either an approximate but rapid hidden line algorithm or without any hidden line algorithm. The second program, HIDDEN, draws a vehicle representation using an accurate but time consuming hidden line algorithm.

Detecting rapid mass movements using electrical self-potential measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinze, Thomas; Limbrock, Jonas; Pudasaini, Shiva P.; Kemna, Andreas

2017-04-01

Rapid mass movements are a latent danger for lives and infrastructure in almost any part of the world. Often such mass movements are caused by increasing pore pressure, for example, landslides after heavy rainfall or dam breaking after intrusion of water in the dam. Among several other geophysical methods used to observe water movement, the electrical self-potential method has been applied to a broad range of monitoring studies, especially focusing on volcanism and dam leakage but also during hydraulic fracturing and for earthquake prediction. Electrical self-potential signals may be caused by various mechanisms. Though, the most relevant source of the self-potential field in the given context is the streaming potential, caused by a flowing electrolyte through porous media with electrically charged internal surfaces. So far, existing models focus on monitoring water flow in non-deformable porous media. However, as the self-potential is sensitive to hydraulic parameters of the soil, any change in these parameters will cause an alteration of the electric signal. Mass movement will significantly influence the hydraulic parameters of the solid as well as the pressure field, assuming that fluid movement is faster than the pressure diffusion. We will present results of laboratory experiments under drained and undrained conditions with fluid triggered as well as manually triggered mass movements, monitored with self-potential measurements. For the undrained scenarios, we observe a clear correlation between the mass movements and signals in the electric potential, which clearly differ from the underlying potential variations due to increased saturation and fluid flow. In the drained experiments, we do not observe any measurable change in the electric potential. We therefore assume that change in fluid properties and release of the load causes disturbances in flow and streaming potential. We will discuss results of numerical simulations reproducing the observed effect. Our results indicate that electrical self-potential measurements can observe rapid mass movements when the movement is large and fast enough to disturb the fluid pressure field significantly.

Necessity of Internal Monitoring for Nuclear Medicine Staff in a Large Specialized Chinese Hospital

PubMed Central

Wang, Hong-Bo; Zhang, Qing-Zhao; Zhang, Zhen; Hou, Chang-Song; Li, Wen-Liang; Yang, Hui; Sun, Quan-Fu

2016-01-01

This work intends to quantify the risk of internal contaminations in the nuclear medicine staff of one hospital in Henan province, China. For this purpose, the criteria proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to determine whether it is necessary to conduct internal individual monitoring was applied to all of the 18 nuclear medicine staff members who handled radionuclides. The activity of different radionuclides used during a whole calendar year and the protection measures adopted were collected for each staff member, and the decision as to whether nuclear medicine staff in the hospital should be subjected to internal monitoring was made on the basis of the criteria proposed by IAEA. It is concluded that for all 18 members of the nuclear medicine staff in the hospital, internal monitoring is required. Internal exposure received by nuclear medicine staff should not be ignored, and it is necessary to implement internal monitoring for nuclear medicine staff routinely. PMID:27077874

Necessity of Internal Monitoring for Nuclear Medicine Staff in a Large Specialized Chinese Hospital.

PubMed

Wang, Hong-Bo; Zhang, Qing-Zhao; Zhang, Zhen; Hou, Chang-Song; Li, Wen-Liang; Yang, Hui; Sun, Quan-Fu

2016-04-12

This work intends to quantify the risk of internal contaminations in the nuclear medicine staff of one hospital in Henan province, China. For this purpose, the criteria proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to determine whether it is necessary to conduct internal individual monitoring was applied to all of the 18 nuclear medicine staff members who handled radionuclides. The activity of different radionuclides used during a whole calendar year and the protection measures adopted were collected for each staff member, and the decision as to whether nuclear medicine staff in the hospital should be subjected to internal monitoring was made on the basis of the criteria proposed by IAEA. It is concluded that for all 18 members of the nuclear medicine staff in the hospital, internal monitoring is required. Internal exposure received by nuclear medicine staff should not be ignored, and it is necessary to implement internal monitoring for nuclear medicine staff routinely.

5 CFR 575.212 - Internal monitoring requirements and revocation or suspension of authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Internal monitoring requirements and... MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS RECRUITMENT, RELOCATION, AND RETENTION INCENTIVES; SUPERVISORY DIFFERENTIALS; AND EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVES Relocation Incentives § 575.212 Internal monitoring...

5 CFR 575.312 - Internal monitoring requirements and revocation or suspension of authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Internal monitoring requirements and... MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS RECRUITMENT, RELOCATION, AND RETENTION INCENTIVES; SUPERVISORY DIFFERENTIALS; AND EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVES Retention Incentives § 575.312 Internal monitoring...

Environmental, political, and economic determinants of water quality monitoring in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Lucas; Bernauer, Thomas; Kalbhenn, Anna

2010-11-01

Effective monitoring is essential for effective pollution control in national and international water systems. To what extent are countries' monitoring choices driven by environmental criteria, as they should be? And to what extent are they also influenced by other factors, such as political and economic conditions? To address these questions, we describe and explain the evolution of one of the most important international environmental monitoring networks in Europe, the one for water quality, in the time period 1965-2004. We develop a geographic information system that contains information on the location of several thousand active monitoring stations in Europe. Using multivariate statistics, we then examine whether and to what extent the spatial and temporal clustering of monitoring intensity is driven by environmental, political, and economic factors. The results show that monitoring intensity is higher in river basins exposed to greater environmental pressure. However, political and economic factors also play a strong role in monitoring decisions: democracy, income, and peer pressure are conducive to monitoring intensity, and monitoring intensity generally increases over time. Moreover, even though monitoring is more intense in international upstream-downstream settings, we observe only a weak bias toward more monitoring downstream of international borders. In contrast, negative effects of European Union (EU) membership and runup to the EU's Water Framework Directive are potential reasons for concern. Our results strongly suggest that international coordination and standardization of water quality monitoring should be intensified. It will be interesting to apply our analytical approach also to other national and international monitoring networks, for instance, the U.S. National Water-Quality Assessment Program or the European Monitoring and Evaluation Program for air pollution.

Laser Spectroscopy Multi-Gas Monitor: Results of Technology Demonstration on ISS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mudgett, Paul D.; Pilgrim, Jeffrey S.

2015-01-01

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS) is an up and coming trace and major gas monitoring technology with unmatched selectivity, range and stability. The technology demonstration of the 4 gas Multi-Gas Monitor (MGM), reported at the 2014 ICES conference, operated continuously on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly a year. The MGM is designed to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and water vapor in ambient cabin air in a low power, relatively compact device. While on board, the MGM experienced a number of challenges, unplanned and planned, including a test of the ammonia channel using a commercial medical ammonia inhalant. Data from the unit was downlinked once per week and compared with other analytical resources on board, notably the Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA), a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. MGM spent the majority of the time installed in the Nanoracks Frame 2 payload facility in front breathing mode (sampling the ambient environment of the Japanese Experiment Module), but was also used to analyze recirculated rack air. The capability of the MGM to be operated in portable mode (via internal rechargeable lithium ion polymer batteries or by plugging into any Express Rack 28VDC connector) was a part of the usability demonstration. Results to date show unprecedented stability and accuracy of the MGM vs. the MCA for oxygen and carbon dioxide. The ammonia challenge (approx. 75 ppm) was successful as well, showing very rapid response time in both directions. Work on an expansion of capability in a next generation MGM has just begun. Combustion products and hydrazine are being added to the measurable target analytes. An 8 to 10 gas monitor (aka Gas Tricorder 1.0) is envisioned for use on ISS, Orion and Exploration missions.

Visualizing odorant receptor trafficking in living cells down to the single-molecule level

PubMed Central

Jacquier, V.; Prummer, M.; Segura, J.-M.; Pick, H.; Vogel, H.

2006-01-01

Despite the importance of trafficking for regulating G protein-coupled receptor signaling, for many members of the seven transmembrane helix protein family, such as odorant receptors, little is known about this process in live cells. Here, the complete life cycle of the human odorant receptor OR17-40 was directly monitored in living cells by ensemble and single-molecule imaging, using a double-labeling strategy. While the overall, intracellular trafficking of the receptor was visualized continuously by using a GFP tag, selective imaging of cell surface receptors was achieved by pulse-labeling an acyl carrier protein tag. We found that OR17-40 efficiently translocated to the plasma membrane only at low expression, whereas at higher biosynthesis the receptor accumulated in intracellular compartments. Receptors in the plasma membrane showed high turnover resulting from constitutive internalization along the clathrin pathway, even in the absence of ligand. Single-molecule microscopy allowed monitoring of the early, dynamic processes in odorant receptor signaling. Although mobile receptors initially diffused either freely or within domains of various sizes, binding of an agonist or an antagonist increased partitioning of receptors into small domains of ≈190 nm, which likely are precursors of clathrin-coated pits. The binding of a ligand, therefore, resulted in modulation of the continuous, constitutive internalization. After endocytosis, receptors were directed to early endosomes for recycling. This unique mechanism of continuous internalization and recycling of OR17-40 might be instrumental in allowing rapid recovery of odor perception. PMID:16980412

Development of an International Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry.

PubMed

Evans, Sue M; Nag, Nupur; Roder, David; Brooks, Andrew; Millar, Jeremy L; Moretti, Kim L; Pryor, David; Skala, Marketa; McNeil, John J

2016-04-01

To establish a Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry-Australia and New Zealand (PCOR-ANZ) for monitoring outcomes of prostate cancer treatment and care, in a cost-effective manner. Stakeholders were recruited based on their interest, importance in achieving the monitoring and reporting of clinical practice and patient outcomes, and in amalgamation of existing registries. Each participating jurisdiction is responsible for local governance, site recruitment, data collection, and data transfer into the PCOR-ANZ. To establish each local registry, hospitals and clinicians within a jurisdiction were approached to voluntarily contribute to the registry following relevant ethical approval. Patient contact occurs following notification of prostate cancer through a hospital or pathology report, or from a cancer registry. Patient registration is based on an opt-out model. The PCOR-ANZ is a secure web-based registry adhering to ISO 27001 standards. Based on a standardised minimum data set, information on demographics, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and patient reported quality of life, are collected. Eight of nine jurisdictions have agreed to contribute to the PCOR-ANZ. Each jurisdiction has commenced implementation of necessary infrastructure to support rapid rollout. PCOR-ANZ has defined a minimum data set for collection, to enable analysis of key quality indicators that will aid in assessing clinical practice and patient focused outcomes. PCOR-ANZ will provide a useful resource of risk-adjusted evidence-based data to clinicians, hospitals, and decision makers on prostate cancer clinical practice. © 2016 The Authors BJU International © 2016 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

50 CFR 300.37 - Radio monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 11 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Radio monitoring. 300.37 Section 300.37 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.37 Radio monitoring. The international distress frequency, 2.182 mHz...

50 CFR 300.37 - Radio monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 11 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Radio monitoring. 300.37 Section 300.37 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.37 Radio monitoring. The international distress frequency, 2.182 mHz...

50 CFR 300.37 - Radio monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 9 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Radio monitoring. 300.37 Section 300.37 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.37 Radio monitoring. The international distress frequency, 2.182 mHz...

50 CFR 300.37 - Radio monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 11 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Radio monitoring. 300.37 Section 300.37 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.37 Radio monitoring. The international distress frequency, 2.182 mHz...

50 CFR 300.37 - Radio monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Radio monitoring. 300.37 Section 300.37 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.37 Radio monitoring. The international distress frequency, 2.182 mHz...

Collaboration of the Joint Research Centre and the European Customs laboratories for Identification of New Psychoactive Substances.

PubMed

Guillou, Claude; Reniero, Fabiano; Vicente, Joana Lobo Pereira; Holland, Margaret; Kolar, Kamil; Chassaigne, Hubert; Tirendi, Salvatore; Schepers, Herve

2018-05-23

The emergence of designer drugs as substances of abuse has seen a dramatic increase over the last few years. Customs officials are responsible for the control of products entering the European Union (EU) market. This control applies to chemicals in general, pharmaceutical products and medicines. Numerous products imported from non-EU countries, often -declared as 'bath salts' or 'fertilizers', may in fact contain new psychoactive substance (NPS). These are not necessarily controlled under international law, but are subject to monitoring in agreement with EU legislation. This situation imposes many challenges for the maintenance of updated spectral libraries used for their detection by control laboratories. The chemical identification of new substances, with the use of powerful instrumentation, and the time needed for detailed analysis and interpretation of the results, demands a considerable scientific commitment. The Joint Research Centre endeavors to provide this through its scientific support to the EU Customs laboratories to facilitate the rapid identification and characterisation of seized samples. Apart from the known NPS, several new chemical substances have also been identified. Those belonging to known NPS families have already been notified to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The aim of this paper is to discuss the implementation of the workflow mechanism, regarding the harmonisation of procedures to facilitate the monitoring, communication and management of analytical data. The rapid dissemination of this information between control authorities would facilitate the protection of EU citizens against the health risks posed by harmful substances. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Influence of Internal DNA Pressure on Stability and Infectivity of Phage λ

PubMed Central

Bauer, D. W.; Evilevitch, A.

2016-01-01

Viruses must remain infectious while in harsh extracellular environments. An important aspect of viral particle stability for double-stranded DNA viruses is the energetically unfavorable state of the tightly confined DNA chain within the virus capsid creating pressures of tens of atmospheres. Here we study the influence of internal genome pressure on the thermal stability of viral particles. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to monitor genome loss upon heating, we find that internal pressure destabilizes the virion, resulting in a smaller activation energy barrier to trigger DNA release. These experiments are complemented by plaque assay and electron microscopy measurements to determine the influence of intra-capsid DNA pressure on the rates of viral infectivity loss. At higher temperatures (65 – 75 °C), failure to retain the packaged genome is the dominant mechanism of viral inactivation. Conversely, at lower temperatures (40 – 55 ºC), a separate inactivation mechanism dominates, which results in non-infectious particles that still retain their packaged DNA. Most significantly, both mechanisms of infectivity loss are directly influenced by internal DNA pressure, with higher pressure resulting in a more rapid rate of inactivation at all temperatures. PMID:26254570

Taiwan's Travel and Border Health Measures in Response to Zika.

PubMed

Ho, Li-Li; Tsai, Yu-Hui; Lee, Wang-Ping; Liao, Szu-Tsai; Wu, Li-Gin; Wu, Yi-Chun

Zika virus has recently emerged as a worldwide public health concern. Travel and border health measures stand as one of the main strategies and frontline defenses in responding to international epidemics. As of October 31, 2016, Taiwan has reported 13 imported cases, 5 of which were detected through routine entry screening and active monitoring at international airports. This article shares Taiwan's disease surveillance activities at designated points of entry and travel and border health measures in response to Zika. The Taiwan government collaborates with its tourism industry to disseminate information about precautionary measures and encourages tour guides to report suspected individuals or events to activate early response measures. Taiwan also engages in vector control activities at points of entry, including targeting aircraft from countries where vector-borne diseases are endemic, implementing mosquito sweep measures, and collecting vector surveillance data. In future emerging and reemerging disease events, entry surveillance at designated points of entry may enable early detection of diseases of international origin and more rapid activation of public health preparedness activities and international collaboration. Taiwan will continue to maximize border and travel health measures in compliance with IHR (2005) requirements, which rely on continued risk assessment, practical implementation activities, and engagement with all stakeholders.

49 CFR 192.477 - Internal corrosion control: Monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. 192.477... TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.477 Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. If corrosive gas is being transported, coupons...

49 CFR 192.477 - Internal corrosion control: Monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. 192.477... TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.477 Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. If corrosive gas is being transported, coupons...

Forest genetic monitoring: an overview of concepts and definitions.

PubMed

Fussi, Barbara; Westergren, Marjana; Aravanopoulos, Filippos; Baier, Roland; Kavaliauskas, Darius; Finzgar, Domen; Alizoti, Paraskevi; Bozic, Gregor; Avramidou, Evangelia; Konnert, Monika; Kraigher, Hojka

2016-08-01

Safeguarding sustainability of forest ecosystems with their habitat variability and all their functions is of highest priority. Therefore, the long-term adaptability of forest ecosystems to a changing environment must be secured, e.g., through sustainable forest management. High adaptability is based on biological variation starting at the genetic level. Thus, the ultimate goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to halt the ongoing erosion of biological variation is of utmost importance for forest ecosystem functioning and sustainability. Monitoring of biological diversity over time is needed to detect changes that threaten these biological resources. Genetic variation, as an integral part of biological diversity, needs special attention, and its monitoring can ensure its effective conservation. We compare forest genetic monitoring to other biodiversity monitoring concepts. Forest genetic monitoring (FGM) enables early detection of potentially harmful changes of forest adaptability before these appear at higher biodiversity levels (e.g., species or ecosystem diversity) and can improve the sustainability of applied forest management practices and direct further research. Theoretical genetic monitoring concepts developed up to now need to be evaluated before being implemented on a national and international scale. This article provides an overview of FGM concepts and definitions, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and provides a flow chart of the steps needed for the optimization and implementation of FGM. FGM is an important module of biodiversity monitoring, and we define an effective FGM scheme as consisting of an assessment of a forest population's capacity to survive, reproduce, and persist under rapid environmental changes on a long-term scale.

Rapid SAR and GPS Measurements and Models for Hazard Science and Situational Awareness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owen, S. E.; Yun, S. H.; Hua, H.; Agram, P. S.; Liu, Z.; Moore, A. W.; Rosen, P. A.; Simons, M.; Webb, F.; Linick, J.; Fielding, E. J.; Lundgren, P.; Sacco, G. F.; Polet, J.; Manipon, G.

2016-12-01

The Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project for Natural Hazards is focused on rapidly generating higher level geodetic imaging products and placing them in the hands of the solid earth science and local, national, and international natural hazard communities by providing science product generation, exploration, and delivery capabilities at an operational level. Space-based geodetic measurement techniques such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), SAR-based change detection, and image pixel tracking have recently become critical additions to our toolset for understanding and mapping the damage caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods. Analyses of these data sets are still largely handcrafted following each event and are not generated rapidly and reliably enough for response to natural disasters or for timely analysis of large data sets. The ARIA project, a joint venture co-sponsored by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and by NASA through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has been capturing the knowledge applied to these responses and building it into an automated infrastructure to generate imaging products in near real-time that can improve situational awareness for disaster response. In addition, the ARIA project is developing the capabilities to provide automated imaging and analysis capabilities necessary to keep up with the imminent increase in raw data from geodetic imaging missions planned for launch by NASA, as well as international space agencies. We will present the progress we have made on automating the analysis of SAR data for hazard monitoring and response using data from Sentinel 1a/b as well as continuous GPS stations. Since the beginning of our project, our team has imaged events and generated response products for events around the world. These response products have enabled many conversations with those in the disaster response community about the potential usefulness of rapid SAR and GPS-based information. We will present progress on our data system technology that enables rapid and reliable production of imagery, as well as lessons learned from our engagement with FEMA and others in the hazard response community on the important actionable information that they need.

Rapid sensitive validated UPLC-MS method for determination of venlafaxine and its metabolite in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Dubey, Sunil Kumar; Saha, R N; Jangala, Hemanth; Pasha, S

2013-12-01

A new ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/ESI) method for simultaneous determination of venlafaxine (VEN) and its metabolite O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV) in rat plasma has been developed and validated using Venlafaxine d6 as the internal standard. The compounds and internal standard were extracted from plasma by solid phase extraction. The UPLC separation of the analytes was performed on ACQUITY UPLC ® BEH Shield RP18 (1.7 µm, 100 mm×2.1 mm) column, using isocratic elution with mobile phase constituted of water (containing 2 mM ammonium acetate): acetonitrile (20:80, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. All of the analytes were eluted within 1.5 min. The compounds were ionized in the electrospray ionization (ESI) ion source of the mass spectrometer, operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and positive ion mode. The precursor to product ion transitions monitored for VEN, ODV and Venlafaxine d6 were m / z 278.3→121.08, 264.2→107.1 and 284.4→121.0, respectively. The developed and validated method was used for the pharmacokinetic study of VEN in rats.

Verbal Self-Monitoring in the Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broos, Wouter P. J.; Duyck, Wouter; Hartsuiker, Robert J.

2016-01-01

Speakers monitor their own speech for errors. To do so, they may rely on perception of their own speech (external monitoring) but also on an internal speech representation (internal monitoring). While there are detailed accounts of monitoring in first language (L1) processing, it is not clear if and how monitoring is different in a second language…

RAPID MONITORING BY QPCR FOR PATHOGENIC ASPERGILLUS DURING CARPET REMOVAL FROM A HOSPITAL

EPA Science Inventory

Monitoring for pathogenic Aspergillus species using a rapid, highly sensitive, quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique during carpet removal in a burn unit provided data which allowed the patients to be safely returned to the re-floored area sooner than if only conventi...

EDITORIAL: Sensors and sensing systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewhurst, Richard; Tian, Gui Yun

2008-02-01

Sensors are very important for measurement science and technology. They serve as a vital component in new measurement techniques and instrumentation systems. Key qualities of a good sensor system are high resolution, high reliability, low cost, appropriate output for a given input (good sensitivity), rapid response time, small random error in results, and small systematic error. Linearity is also useful, but with the advent of lookup tables and software, it is not as important as it used to be. In the last several years, considerable effort around the world has been devoted to a wide range of sensors from nanoscale sensors to sensor networks. Collectively, these vast and multidisciplinary efforts are developing important technological roadmaps to futuristic sensors with new modalities, significantly enhanced effectiveness and integrated functionality (data processing, computation, decision making and communications). When properly organized, they will have important relevance to life science and security applications, e.g. the sensing and monitoring of chemical, biological, radiological and explosive threats. A special feature in this issue takes a snapshot of some recent developments that were first presented at an international conference, the 2007 IEEE International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control (ICNSC). The conference discussed recent developments, from which a few papers have since been brought together in this special feature. Gas sensing for environmental monitoring remains a topical subject, and two papers deal with this issue. One is concerned with the exploitation of nanostructured Au-doped cobalt oxyhydroxide-based carbon monoxide sensors for fire detection at its earlier stages (Zhuiykov and Dowling), whilst another examines the role of oxygen in high temperature hydrogen sulfide detection using MISiC sensors (Weng et al). Again for environmental monitoring, another paper deals with accurate sound source localization in a reverberant environment using multiple acoustic sensors (Atmoko et al). Not only is gaseous monitoring important, there are particular difficulties when it comes to the continuous monitoring of solids by non-destructive evaluation techniques. Examples of potential solutions for specialist applications are sensors for the detection and measurement of thin dielectric layers using reflection of frequency-scanned millimetre electromagnetic waves (Bowring et al), and an electrostatic sensor for velocity measurements of pneumatically conveyed solid particles (Xu et al). For potential medical applications, position measurement of internal organs is an on-going challenge. Tracking of internal organ motion with a six degree-of-freedom MEMS sensor is discussed by Bandala and Joyce. We hope that these papers provide an insight into exciting developments that continue to take place in the field of sensors and control.

Study of nuclear medicine practices in Portugal from an internal dosimetry perspective.

PubMed

Bento, J; Teles, P; Neves, M; Santos, A I; Cardoso, G; Barreto, A; Alves, F; Guerreiro, C; Rodrigues, A; Santos, J A M; Capelo, C; Parafita, R; Martins, B

2012-05-01

Nuclear medicine practices involve the handling of a wide range of pharmaceuticals labelled with different radionuclides, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This work intends to evaluate the potential risks of internal contamination of nuclear medicine staff in several Portuguese nuclear medicine services and to conclude about the requirement of a routine internal monitoring. A methodology proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), providing a set of criteria to determine the need, or not, for an internal monitoring programme, was applied. The evaluation of the risk of internal contaminations in a given set of working conditions is based on the type and amount of radionuclides being handled, as well as the safety conditions with which they are manipulated. The application of the IAEA criteria showed that 73.1% of all the workers included in this study should be integrated in a routine monitoring programme for internal contaminations; more specifically, 100% of workers performing radioimmunoassay techniques should be monitored. This study suggests that a routine monitoring programme for internal exposures should be implemented in Portugal for most nuclear medicine workers.

Near real-time monitoring of UT1 with geodetic VLBI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haas, R.; Hobiger, T.; Sekido, M.; Koyama, Y.; Kondo, T.; Takiguchi, H.; Kurihara, S.; Kokado, K.; Tanimoto, D.; Nozawa, K.; Wagner, J.; Ritakari, J.; Mujunen, A.; Uunila, M.

2011-07-01

Geodetic VLBI is unique among the geodetic space techniques since it provides a direct connection between the international terrestrial reference frame and the international celestial reference frame. The Earth rotation angle, usually expressed as UT1, can be determined directly from geodetic VLBI observations. Accurate information about the Earth rotation angle is necessary and important for navigation purposes, in particular for satellite missions and space navigation. A near real-time knowledge of UT1 with high accuracy is therefore highly desirable. During the last few years the advances in data transfer over high-speed optical fibre lines have made it possible to electronically send the observational data from a VLBI radio telescope on one side of the globe in real-time to a VLBI correlator on the other side of the globe. Thus, data of two telescopes on opposite sides of the Earth, forming a long east-west oriented baseline, can be correlated in near real-time. Furthermore, advances in automated processing of the correlation results have made it possible to derive the Earth rotation angle UT1 in near real-time. Since 2007, the VLBI research groups in Sweden, Finland and Japan collaborate to derive UT1 in near real-time. Several dedicated so-called ultra-rapid UT1-sessions with 1-2 hours duration were performed. It was shown that final UT1-results can be derived within a few minutes after the end of an observing session (Sekido et al., 2008; Matsuzaka et al., 2008). The quality of the UT1-results is on the same level as the so-called IERS rapid solutions, but with a much lower latency (Haas et al., 2010). Recently, the ultra-rapid approach has been applied to standard 24 hour long VLBI observing sessions that are organized by the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS). The long east-west baseline between Onsala (Sweden) and Tsukuba (Japan) is used to derive UT1 with a sliding window approach already during the ongoing IVS-session. The data processing and analysis is performed with a fully automated analysis software (Hobiger et al., 2010). We present results from the ultra-rapid UT1-sessions, both, from dedicated one-baseline sessions, as well from 24-hour ultra-rapid sessions during standard IVS-experiments. The near real-time UT1 results are compared to corresponding post-processing results, and results from independent analyses and techniques. Refrences: Sekido et al. (2008) Ultra-rapid UT1 measurements by e-VLBI, Earth Planets and Space, Vol. 60, 865-870. Matsuzaka et al. (2008) Ultra Rapid UT1 Experiment with e-VLBI, In: Proc. 5th IVS General Meeting, 68-71. Haas R et al. (2010) Ultra-Rapid DUT1-Observations with E-VLBI. Artificial Satellites, 45, 75-79. Hobiger et al. (2010) Fully automated VLBI analysis with c5++ for ultra-rapid determination of UT1, Earth Planets Space.

Recent Advances in Point-of-Access Water Quality Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korostynska, O.; Arshak, K.; Velusamy, V.; Arshak, A.; Vaseashta, Ashok

Clean water is one of our most valuable natural resources. In addition to providing safe drinking water it assures functional ecosystems that support fisheries and recreation. Human population growth and its associated increased demands on water pose risks to maintaining acceptable water quality. It is vital to assess source waters and the aquatic systems that receive inputs from industrial waste and sewage treatment plants, storm water systems, and runoff from urban and agricultural lands. Rapid and confident assessments of aquatic resources form the basis for sound environmental management. Current methods engaged in tracing the presence of various bacteria in water employ bulky laboratory equipment and are time consuming. Thus, real-time water quality monitoring is essential for National and International Health and Safety. Environmental water monitoring includes measurements of physical characteristics (e.g. pH, temperature, conductivity), chemical parameters (e.g. oxygen, alkalinity, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds), and abundance of certain biological taxa. Monitoring could also include assays of biological activity such as alkaline phosphatase, tests for toxins such as microcystins and direct measurements of pollutants such as heavy metals or hydrocarbons. Real time detection can significantly reduce the level of damage and also the cost to remedy the problem. This paper presents overview of state-of-the-art methods and devices used for point-of-access water quality monitoring and suggest further developments in this area.

RAPID MONITORING BY QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR PATHOGENIC ASPERGILLUS DURING CARPET REMOVAL FROM A HOSPITAL

EPA Science Inventory

Monitoring for pathogenic Aspergillus species using a rapid, highly sensitive, quantitative polumerase chain reaction technique during carpet removal in a burn unit provided data which allowed the patients to be safely returned to the re-floored area sooner than if only conventio...

Landuse Controls Fate and Transport of Radionulides in Fukushima Rivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onda, Y.; Taniguchi, K.; Yoshimura, K.; Smith, H.; Brake, W.

2017-12-01

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident has released massive amount of radiocesium into the terrestrial environment, and the radiocecium have been moved through rainfall and erosional processes. Especially, radiocesium (Cs-137) transfer and flux through river network is important to understand the redistribution of radiocesium in terrestrial environment, which is essential for assessing the external and internal radiological doses.An intensive field monitoring campaign has been started including mapping project, immediately after the Fukushima NPP accident including detailed monitoring site in upstream (Yamakiya site), and 30 monitoring sites in downstream river sites. The activity concentration of radiocesium of suspended sediment declining rapidly, and the effective half-life and had high correlation with land cover ratio by different land use of the catchments during the 1st year after the fallout. The total measured flux to the ocean of radiocesium from the Abukuma River at Iwanuma was 14 TBq for the period from August 2011 to October 2014. The detailed monitoring of activity concentration of radiocesium and their flux, which can be applicable for the fate and flux of the radionuclide transfer in humid temperate environment. We also found that land use controls most of the transport and then fate of Cs-137 in terrestrial environment.

Medication monitoring attitudes and perceived determinants to offering medication adherence advice to older hypertensive adults: a factorial survey of community pharmacy interns.

PubMed

Dillon, Paul; Smith, Susan M; Gallagher, Paul; Cousins, Gráinne

2018-06-13

Community pharmacy is an ideal setting to monitor medication adherence, however, barriers to pharmacist-led interventions exist. Preparing future pharmacists for enhanced roles may overcome such barriers. Our objective was to identify medication monitoring attitudes and contextual factors that influence adherence monitoring by pharmacy interns to inform educational activities on medication adherence. An online factorial survey of all pharmacy interns (N = 123) in the Republic of Ireland, completing advanced community pharmacy experiential learning in May 2016 was undertaken to evaluate attitudes to medication monitoring and to identify respondent characteristics and contextual factors which influence adherence monitoring of older hypertensive adults during repeat dispensing. The medication monitoring attitude measure (MMAM) was used to evaluate interns' attitudes, and factorial vignette analysis was performed to identify factors influencing behavioural intention to offer adherence advice. There were 121 completed online surveys. Half of interns reported they felt uncomfortable and confrontational discussing adherence with patients. In factorial vignette analysis, higher medication monitoring attitudes resulted in higher likelihood to offer adherence advice; experiential-learning characteristics such as pharmacy ownership-type (nonchain store) and contextual factors including patients being treated for longer and time-pressures had a significant negative influence on pharmacy interns' likelihood to offer adherence advice. Medication monitoring attitudes and contextual factors influenced responses to offer adherence advice in hypothetical scenarios. Ensuring pharmacy students are educated on patterns of adherence and appropriate skills to address nonadherence, and engage in structured programmes to facilitate patient interactions during experiential learning, may improve medication monitoring attitudes and adherence monitoring. © 2018 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

A Rapid Protocol of Crude RNA/DNA Extraction for RT-qPCR Detection and Quantification of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum'

PubMed Central

Minguzzi, Stefano; Terlizzi, Federica; Lanzoni, Chiara; Poggi Pollini, Carlo; Ratti, Claudio

2016-01-01

Many efforts have been made to develop a rapid and sensitive method for phytoplasma and virus detection. Taking our cue from previous works, different rapid sample preparation methods have been tested and applied to Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum (‘Ca. P. prunorum’) detection by RT-qPCR. A duplex RT-qPCR has been optimized using the crude sap as a template to simultaneously amplify a fragment of 16S rRNA of the pathogen and 18S rRNA of the host plant. The specific plant 18S rRNA internal control allows comparison and relative quantification of samples. A comparison between DNA and RNA contribution to qPCR detection is provided, showing higher contribution of the latter. The method presented here has been validated on more than a hundred samples of apricot, plum and peach trees. Since 2013, this method has been successfully applied to monitor ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ infections in field and nursery. A triplex RT-qPCR assay has also been optimized to simultaneously detect ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ and Plum pox virus (PPV) in Prunus. PMID:26742106

Water stress detection in the Amazon using radar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Emmerik, Tim; Steele-Dunne, Susan; Paget, Aaron; Oliveira, Rafael S.; Bittencourt, Paulo R. L.; Barros, Fernanda de V.; van de Giesen, Nick

2017-07-01

The Amazon rainforest plays an important role in the global water and carbon cycle, and though it is predicted to continue drying in the future, the effect of drought remains uncertain. Developments in remote sensing missions now facilitate large-scale observations. The RapidScat scatterometer (Ku band) mounted on the International Space Station observes the Earth in a non-Sun-synchronous orbit, which allows for studying changes in the diurnal cycle of radar backscatter over the Amazon. Diurnal cycles in backscatter are significantly affected by the state of the canopy, especially during periods of increased water stress. We use RapidScat backscatter time series and water deficit measurements from dendrometers in 20 trees during a 9 month period to relate variations in backscatter to increased tree water deficit. Morning radar bacskcatter dropped significantly with increased tree water deficit measured with dendrometers. This provides unique observational evidence that demonstrates the sensitivity of radar backscatter to vegetation water stress, highlighting the potential of drought detection and monitoring using radar.

Cryopreservation of boar semen. III: Ultrastructure of boar spermatozoa frozen ultra-rapidly at various stages of conventional freezing and thawing.

PubMed

Bwanga, C O; Ekwall, H; Rodriguez-Martinez, H

1991-01-01

Ejaculated boar spermatozoa subjected to a conventional freezing and thawing process, were ultra-rapidly fixed, freeze-substituted and examined by electron microscopy to monitor the presence of real or potential intracellular ice and the degree of cell protection attained with the different extenders used during the process. Numerous ice crystal marks representing the degree of hydration of the cells were located in the perinuclear space of those spermatozoa not in proper contact with the extender containing glycerol (i.e. prior to freezing). The spermatozoa which were in proper contact with the extenders presented a high degree of preservation of the acrosomes, plasma membranes as well as the nuclear envelopes. No ice marks were detected in acrosomes before thawing, indicating that the conventional assayed cryopreservation method provided a good protection against cryoinjury. The presence of acrosomal changes (internal vesiculization, hydration and swelling) in thawed samples however, raises serious questions about the thawing procedure employed.

Determination of lansoprazole in human plasma by rapid resolution liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: application to a bioequivalence study on Chinese volunteers.

PubMed

Wu, Guo-Lan; Zhou, Hui-Li; Shentu, Jian-Zhong; He, Qiao-Jun; Yang, Bo

2008-12-15

A simple, sensitive and rapid LC/MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of lansoprazole in human plasma. After a simple sample preparation procedure by one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile, lansoprazole and the internal standard bicalutamide were chromatographed on a Zorbax SB-C(18) (3.0 mm x 150 mm, 3.5 microm, Agilent) column with the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (70:30, v/v, containing 5 mM ammonium formate, pH was adjusted to 7.85 by 1% ammonia solution). Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via negative eletrospray ionization source (ESI(-)). The lower limit of quantification was 5.5 ng/mL, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 5.5-2200.0 ng/mL. The validated method was successfully applied to investigate the bioequivalence between two kinds of preparation (test vs. reference product) in twenty-eight healthy male Chinese volunteers.

Urbanization Process Monitoring in Northwest China based on DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, K.; Bai, L. Y.; Feng, J. Z.

2017-02-01

In recent years, the DMSP/OLS nighttime light data have been widely applied to various fields such as monitoring and evaluation of urbanization, estimation of social economy, economical environment and health effects, hazards analysis, and fisheries research. The general urbanized level in China has rapidly developed since the 1990s, and the cities in northwest China, which were important population centres of the ancient silk road, have also been developed in a high speed thanks to China’s national strategy of Western Development. Given the Xinjiang autonomous region as a core area of One Belt and One Road, it is very necessary to study the urbanization processes and changes of its urban system and the whole northwest region of China. In this paper, we extracted built-up areas of the cities in northwest China in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012, evaluated urban expansion and spatial pattern through appropriate indexes, and also quantitatively analyzed the urbanized level of each city. The results showed that the cities in northwest China generally presented high strong and rapid expansion, but there were some large differences among cities. Urban expansion forms alternate with exterior expansion and interior filling, in general, the cities externally expandedafter 2002 and internally filledbefore 2002, meanwhile, there were a high positive correlation between urban built-up areas and population growth in Xinjiang autonomous.

The effect of observing session duration on OPUS-RS results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dincer Dogru, A.; Ugur Sanli, D.; Hayal, Adem G.; Berber, Mustafa

2016-04-01

Online GPS positioning software has now a widespread interest among practitioners and researchers. Researchers rescently use online software to monitor natural hazards such as landslides. The fact that this software usually employs continuously operating GPS stations of the International GNSS Service (IGS) as reference stations in the processing, the community of world-wide users is growing day by day. In the monitoring of landslides, rapid static mode of a GPS surveying is usually preferred because it is possible to have wider field coverage with only a few minutes of data and low cost ground markers. Results comparable to static positioning can be obtained with careful network design and processing strategies. Some online software such as OPUS-RS developed by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of the USA provides rapid static positioning engine that processes GPS data from sessions of only a few minutes. 15-minute is the recommended/standard observing session duration for OPUS-RS processing. In this study, using the CORS data operating in the US, we carried out some tests in which the observing session duration is changed from 8 through 118 minutes, and observed the accuracy change on the OPUS-RS solutions. Then we compared the results with the accuracy levels given for 15-min solutions by the NGS. We determined that there is the effect of changing observing session duration on the obtained results, and we report them in this study.

The Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) Project: Status of SAR products for Earthquakes, Floods, Volcanoes and Groundwater-related Subsidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owen, S. E.; Yun, S. H.; Hua, H.; Agram, P. S.; Liu, Z.; Sacco, G. F.; Manipon, G.; Linick, J. P.; Fielding, E. J.; Lundgren, P.; Farr, T. G.; Webb, F.; Rosen, P. A.; Simons, M.

2017-12-01

The Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project for Natural Hazards is focused on rapidly generating high-level geodetic imaging products and placing them in the hands of the solid earth science and local, national, and international natural hazard communities by providing science product generation, exploration, and delivery capabilities at an operational level. Space-based geodetic measurement techniques including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), differential Global Positioning System, and SAR-based change detection have become critical additions to our toolset for understanding and mapping the damage and deformation caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, and groundwater extraction. Up until recently, processing of these data sets has been handcrafted for each study or event and has not generated products rapidly and reliably enough for response to natural disasters or for timely analysis of large data sets. The ARIA project, a joint venture co-sponsored by the California Institute of Technology and by NASA through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been capturing the knowledge applied to these responses and building it into an automated infrastructure to generate imaging products in near real-time that can improve situational awareness for disaster response. In addition to supporting the growing science and hazard response communities, the ARIA project has developed the capabilities to provide automated imaging and analysis capabilities necessary to keep up with the influx of raw SAR data from geodetic imaging missions such as ESA's Sentinel-1A/B, now operating with repeat intervals as short as 6 days, and the upcoming NASA NISAR mission. We will present the progress and results we have made on automating the analysis of Sentinel-1A/B SAR data for hazard monitoring and response, with emphasis on recent developments and end user engagement in flood extent mapping and deformation time series for both volcano monitoring and mapping of groundwater-related subsidence

The probability of seizures during EEG monitoring in critically ill adults.

PubMed

Westover, M Brandon; Shafi, Mouhsin M; Bianchi, Matt T; Moura, Lidia M V R; O'Rourke, Deirdre; Rosenthal, Eric S; Chu, Catherine J; Donovan, Samantha; Hoch, Daniel B; Kilbride, Ronan D; Cole, Andrew J; Cash, Sydney S

2015-03-01

To characterize the risk for seizures over time in relation to EEG findings in hospitalized adults undergoing continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG). Retrospective analysis of cEEG data and medical records from 625 consecutive adult inpatients monitored at a tertiary medical center. Using survival analysis methods, we estimated the time-dependent probability that a seizure will occur within the next 72-h, if no seizure has occurred yet, as a function of EEG abnormalities detected so far. Seizures occurred in 27% (168/625). The first seizure occurred early (<30min of monitoring) in 58% (98/168). In 527 patients without early seizures, 159 (30%) had early epileptiform abnormalities, versus 368 (70%) without. Seizures were eventually detected in 25% of patients with early epileptiform discharges, versus 8% without early discharges. The 72-h risk of seizures declined below 5% if no epileptiform abnormalities were present in the first two hours, whereas 16h of monitoring were required when epileptiform discharges were present. 20% (74/388) of patients without early epileptiform abnormalities later developed them; 23% (17/74) of these ultimately had seizures. Only 4% (12/294) experienced a seizure without preceding epileptiform abnormalities. Seizure risk in acute neurological illness decays rapidly, at a rate dependent on abnormalities detected early during monitoring. This study demonstrates that substantial risk stratification is possible based on early EEG abnormalities. These findings have implications for patient-specific determination of the required duration of cEEG monitoring in hospitalized patients. Copyright © 2014 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protein nanoparticles are nontoxic, tuneable cell stressors.

PubMed

de Pinho Favaro, Marianna Teixeira; Sánchez-García, Laura; Sánchez-Chardi, Alejandro; Roldán, Mónica; Unzueta, Ugutz; Serna, Naroa; Cano-Garrido, Olivia; Azzoni, Adriano Rodrigues; Ferrer-Miralles, Neus; Villaverde, Antonio; Vázquez, Esther

2018-02-01

Nanoparticle-cell interactions can promote cell toxicity and stimulate particular behavioral patterns, but cell responses to protein nanomaterials have been poorly studied. By repositioning oligomerization domains in a simple, modular self-assembling protein platform, we have generated closely related but distinguishable homomeric nanoparticles. Composed by building blocks with modular domains arranged in different order, they share amino acid composition. These materials, once exposed to cultured cells, are differentially internalized in absence of toxicity and trigger distinctive cell adaptive responses, monitored by the emission of tubular filopodia and enhanced drug sensitivity. The capability to rapidly modulate such cell responses by conventional protein engineering reveals protein nanoparticles as tuneable, versatile and potent cell stressors for cell-targeted conditioning.

Past, Present, and Future: A Science Program for the Arctic Ocean Linking Ancient and Contemporary Observations of Change Through Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coakley, Bernard; Edmonds, Henrietta N.; Frey, Karen; Gascard, Jean-Claude; Grebmeier, Jacqueline M.; Kassens, Heidemarie; Thiede, Jörn; Wegner, Carolyn

2007-07-01

A follow-up to the 2nd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning, 19-21 November 2007, Potsdam, Germany The Arctic Ocean is the missing piece for any global model. Records of processes at both long and short timescales will be necessary to predict the future evolution of the Arctic Ocean through what appears to be a period of rapid climate change. Ocean monitoring is impoverished without the long-timescale records available from paleoceanography and the boundary conditions that can be obtained from marine geology and geophysics. The past and the present are the key to our ability to predict the future.

Cybersecurity Regulation of Wireless Devices for Performance and Assurance in the Age of “Medjacking”

PubMed Central

Armstrong, David G.; Kleidermacher, David N.; Klonoff, David C.; Slepian, Marvin J.

2015-01-01

We are rapidly reaching a point where, as connected devices for monitoring and treating diabetes and other diseases become more pervasive and powerful, the likelihood of malicious medical device hacking (known as “medjacking”) is growing. While government could increase regulation, we have all been witness in recent times to the limitations and issues surrounding exclusive reliance on government. Herein we outline a preliminary framework for establishing security for wireless health devices based on international common criteria. Creation of an independent medical device cybersecurity body is suggested. The goal is to allow for continued growth and innovation while simultaneously fostering security, public trust, and confidence. PMID:26319227

Cybersecurity Regulation of Wireless Devices for Performance and Assurance in the Age of "Medjacking".

PubMed

Armstrong, David G; Kleidermacher, David N; Klonoff, David C; Slepian, Marvin J

2015-08-27

We are rapidly reaching a point where, as connected devices for monitoring and treating diabetes and other diseases become more pervasive and powerful, the likelihood of malicious medical device hacking (known as "medjacking") is growing. While government could increase regulation, we have all been witness in recent times to the limitations and issues surrounding exclusive reliance on government. Herein we outline a preliminary framework for establishing security for wireless health devices based on international common criteria. Creation of an independent medical device cybersecurity body is suggested. The goal is to allow for continued growth and innovation while simultaneously fostering security, public trust, and confidence. © 2015 Diabetes Technology Society.

Development and validation of a rapid method for microcystins in fish and comparing LC-MS/MS results with ELISA

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Microcystins (MCs) are the most common cyanotoxins found world-wide in freshwater, brackish and marine environments. The rapid and accurate analysis of microcystins and nodularin in fish tissue is important for determining occurrence, monitoring trends, and exposure monitoring for risk assessment a...

50 years of Global Seismic Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, K. R.; Butler, R.; Berger, J.; Davis, P.; Derr, J.; Gee, L.; Hutt, C. R.; Leith, W. S.; Park, J. J.

2007-12-01

Seismological recordings have been made on Earth for hundreds of years in some form or another, however, global monitoring of earthquakes only began in the 1890's when John Milne created 40 seismic observatories to measure the waves from these events. Shortly after the International Geophysical Year (IGY), a concerted effort was made to establish and maintain a more modern standardized seismic network on the global scale. In the early 1960's, the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN) was established through funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and was installed and maintained by the USGS's Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (then a part of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey). This network of identical seismic instruments consisted of 120 stations in 60 countries. Although the network was motivated by nuclear test monitoring, the WWSSN facilitated numerous advances in observational seismology. From the IGY to the present, the network has been upgraded (High-Gain Long-Period Seismograph Network, Seismic Research Observatories, Digital WWSSN, Global Telemetered Seismograph Network, etc.) and expanded (International Deployment of Accelerometers, US National Seismic Network, China Digital Seismograph Network, Joint Seismic Project, etc.), bringing the modern day Global Seismographic Network (GSN) to a current state of approximately 150 stations. The GSN consists of state-of-the-art very broadband seismic transducers, continuous power and communications, and ancillary sensors including geodetic, geomagnetic, microbarographic, meteorological and other related instrumentation. Beyond the GSN, the system of global network observatories includes contributions from other international partners (e.g., GEOSCOPE, GEOFON, MEDNET, F-Net, CTBTO), forming an even larger backbone of permanent seismological observatories as a part of the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks. 50 years of seismic network operations have provided valuable data for earth science research. Developments in communications and other technological advances have expanded the role of the GSN in rapid earthquake analysis, tsunami warning, and nuclear test monitoring. With such long-term observations, scientists are now getting a glimpse of Earth structure changes on human time scales, such as the rotation of the inner core, as well as views into climate processes. Continued observations for the next 50 years will enhance our image of the Earth and its processes.

Research Activity and Infrastructure of Korea Polar Research Institute: Current and Future Perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, D.; Kim, S.; Lee, H.

2011-12-01

The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) opened the Antarctic King Sejong research station in 1988 at the King George Island off the Antarctic Peninsula and started the polar research mainly in the fields of biology and geology with some atmosphere observations. To extend the view of polar research, the KOPRI opened the Arctic Dasan research station at Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen Island in 2002 and has studied the rapid climate change diagnostics and some microbiological observation. The KOPRI is now expanding the Arctic research into Alaska and Canada under the international collaboration, and planning to outreach to Russia to monitor the change in permafrost and to understand its impact on global warming. To deepen the views of polar research including the ice covered oceans in both poles, the ice-breaking vessel, the ARAON of about 7000 ton, was launched recently and successfully finished the Arctic and Antarctic cruises for research activity on all perspectives of ocean sciences and support for the King Sejong station. The KOPRI is now building another Antarctic research station, called Jangbogo, at the Terra Nova Bay off the Ross Sea and plan to open the station at the March of 2014. By building the second Antarctic station together with the ARAON, the KOPRI will focus its research on understanding the rapid climate change in west Antarctica such as to monitor the calving of the Larsen Ice shelf, rapid melting of Pine Island Glacier, and upper atmosphere, to study the sea ice and ecosystem change in the Amundsen Sea and the role of the southern annular mode in the west Antarctic warming, upper atmosphere and climate change, to reconstruct paleoclimate records from ice and sediment cores.

Guiding Principles for a Pediatric Neurology ICU (neuroPICU) Bedside Multimodal Monitor

PubMed Central

Eldar, Yonina C.; Gopher, Daniel; Gottlieb, Amihai; Lammfromm, Rotem; Mangat, Halinder S; Peleg, Nimrod; Pon, Steven; Rozenberg, Igal; Schiff, Nicholas D; Stark, David E; Yan, Peter; Pratt, Hillel; Kosofsky, Barry E

2016-01-01

Summary Background Physicians caring for children with serious acute neurologic disease must process overwhelming amounts of physiological and medical information. Strategies to optimize real time display of this information are understudied. Objectives Our goal was to engage clinical and engineering experts to develop guiding principles for creating a pediatric neurology intensive care unit (neuroPICU) monitor that integrates and displays data from multiple sources in an intuitive and informative manner. Methods To accomplish this goal, an international group of physicians and engineers communicated regularly for one year. We integrated findings from clinical observations, interviews, a survey, signal processing, and visualization exercises to develop a concept for a neuroPICU display. Results Key conclusions from our efforts include: (1) A neuroPICU display should support (a) rapid review of retrospective time series (i.e. cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic physiology data), (b) rapidly modifiable formats for viewing that data according to the specialty of the reviewer, and (c) communication of the degree of risk of clinical decline. (2) Specialized visualizations of physiologic parameters can highlight abnormalities in multivariable temporal data. Examples include 3-D stacked spider plots and color coded time series plots. (3) Visual summaries of EEG with spectral tools (i.e. hemispheric asymmetry and median power) can highlight seizures via patient-specific “fingerprints.” (4) Intuitive displays should emphasize subsets of physiology and processed EEG data to provide a rapid gestalt of the current status and medical stability of a patient. Conclusions A well-designed neuroPICU display must present multiple datasets in dynamic, flexible, and informative views to accommodate clinicians from multiple disciplines in a variety of clinical scenarios. PMID:27437048

Rapid quantification of free cholesterol in tears using direct insertion/electron ionization-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Wei, Xiaojia Eric; Korth, John; Brown, Simon H J; Mitchell, Todd W; Truscott, Roger J W; Blanksby, Stephen J; Willcox, Mark D P; Zhao, Zhenjun

2013-12-09

To establish a simple and rapid analytical method, based on direct insertion/electron ionization-mass spectrometry (DI/EI-MS), for measuring free cholesterol in tears from humans and rabbits. A stable-isotope dilution protocol employing DI/EI-MS in selected ion monitoring mode was developed and validated. It was used to quantify the free cholesterol content in human and rabbit tear extracts. Tears were collected from adult humans (n = 15) and rabbits (n = 10) and lipids extracted. Screening, full-scan (m/z 40-600) DI/EI-MS analysis of crude tear extracts showed that diagnostic ions located in the mass range m/z 350 to 400 were those derived from free cholesterol, with no contribution from cholesterol esters. DI/EI-MS data acquired using selected ion monitoring (SIM) were analyzed for the abundance ratios of diagnostic ions with their stable isotope-labeled analogues arising from the D6-cholesterol internal standard. Standard curves of good linearity were produced and an on-probe limit of detection of 3 ng (at 3:1 signal to noise) and limit of quantification of 8 ng (at 10:1 signal to noise). The concentration of free cholesterol in human tears was 15 ± 6 μg/g, which was higher than in rabbit tears (10 ± 5 μg/g). A stable-isotope dilution DI/EI-SIM method for free cholesterol quantification without prior chromatographic separation was established. Using this method demonstrated that humans have higher free cholesterol levels in their tears than rabbits. This is in agreement with previous reports. This paper provides a rapid and reliable method to measure free cholesterol in small-volume clinical samples.

A Review of Player Monitoring Approaches in Basketball: Current Trends and Future Directions.

PubMed

Fox, Jordan L; Scanlan, Aaron T; Stanton, Robert

2017-07-01

Fox, JL, Scanlan, AT, and Stanton, R. A review of player monitoring approaches in basketball: current trends and future directions. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 2021-2029, 2017-Effective monitoring of players in team sports such as basketball requires an understanding of the external demands and internal responses, as they relate to training phases and competition. Monitoring of external demands and internal responses allows coaching staff to determine the dose-response associated with the imposed training load (TL), and subsequently, if players are adequately prepared for competition. This review discusses measures reported in the literature for monitoring the external demands and internal responses of basketball players during training and competition. The external demands of training and competition were primarily monitored using time-motion analysis, with limited use of microtechnology being reported. Internal responses during training were typically measured using hematological markers, heart rate, various TL models, and perceptual responses such as rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Heart rate was the most commonly reported indicator of internal responses during competition with limited reporting of hematological markers or RPE. These findings show a large discrepancy between the reporting of external and internal measures and training and competition demands. Microsensors, however, may be a practical and convenient method of player monitoring in basketball to overcome the limitations associated with current approaches while allowing for external demands and internal responses to be recorded simultaneously. The triaxial accelerometers of microsensors seem well suited for basketball and warrant validation to definitively determine their place in the monitoring of basketball players. Coaching staff should make use of this technology by tracking individual player responses across the annual plan and using real-time monitoring to minimize factors such as fatigue and injury risk.

Monitoring vegetation dynamics in the Amazon with RapidScat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Emmerik, Tim; Steele-Dunne, Susan; Paget, Aaron C.; van de Giesen, Nick

2017-04-01

Several studies affiliated diurnal variations in radar backscatter over the Amazon [1,2] with vegetation water stress. Recent studies on tree and corn canopies [3,4] have demonstrated that during periods of low soil moisture availability, the total radar backscatter is primarily sensitive to changes in leaf water content, highlighting the potential of radar for water stress detection. The RapidScat mission (Ku-band, 13.4GHz), mounted on the International Space Station, observes the Earth in a non-sun-synchronous orbit [5]. This unique orbit allows for reconstructing diurnal cycles of radar backscatter. We hypothesize that the state of the canopy is a significant portion of the diurnal variations observed in the radar backscatter. Recent, yet inconclusive, analyses support the theory of the impact of vegetation water content on diurnal variation in RapidScat radar backscatter over the Amazon and Congo. Linking ground measurements of canopy dynamics to radar backscatter will allow further exploration of the possibilities for monitoring vegetation dynamics. Our presentation focuses of two parts. First, we reconstruct diurnal cycles of RapidScat backscatter over the Amazon, and study its variation over time. Second, we analyze the pre-dawn backscatter over time. The water content at this time of day is a measure of water stress, and might therefore be visible in the backscatter time series. References [1] Frolking, S., et al.: "Tropical forest backscatter anomaly evident in SeaWinds scatterometer morning overpass data during 2005 drought in Amazonia", Remote Sensing of Environment, 2011. [2] Jaruwatanadilok, S., and B. Stiles: "Trends and variation in Ku-band backscatter of natural targets on land observed in QuikSCAT data", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing , 2014. [3] Steele-Dunne, S., et al.: "Using diurnal variation in backscatter to detect vegetation water stress", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2012. [4] van Emmerik, T., et al.: "Impact of diurnal variation in vegetation water content on radar backscatter from maize during water stress", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2015. [5] Paget, A., et al.: "RapidScat Diurnal Cycles Over Land", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2016.

Rapid-sequence MRI for long-term surveillance for paraganglioma and phaeochromocytoma in patients with succinate dehydrogenase mutations.

PubMed

Daniel, Eleni; Jones, Robert; Bull, Matthew; Newell-Price, John

2016-12-01

Patients with SDHx mutations need long-term radiological surveillance for the development of paragangliomas and phaeochromocytomas, but no longitudinal data exist. The aim of the study was to assess the performance of rapid-sequence non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the long-term monitoring of patients with SDHx mutations. Retrospective study between 2005 and 2015 at a University Hospital and regional endocrine genetics referral centre. Clinical and imaging data of 47 patients with SDHx mutations (SDHB (36), SDHC (6) and SDHD (5)) who had surveillance for detection of paragangliomas by rapid-sequence non-contrast MRI (base of skull to pubic symphysis) were collected. Twelve index cases (nine SDHB, one SDHC and two SDHD) and 35 mutation-positive relatives were monitored for a mean of 6.4 years (range 3.1-10.0 years). Mean age at the end of the study: SDHB 46.9 ± 17.6 years; SDHC 42.3 ± 24.4 years; SDHD 54.9 ± 10.6 years. On excluding imaging at initial diagnosis of index cases, 42 patients underwent 116 rapid-sequence MRI scans: 83 scans were negative and 31 scans were positive for sPGL/HNPGL in 13 patients. Most patients had multiple scans (n = number of patients (number of rapid-sequence MRI scans during screening)): n = 9 (2), n = 20 (3), n = 6 (4), n = 1 (6). Nine patients (three index) were diagnosed with new paragangliomas during surveillance and non-operated tumour size was monitored in nine patients. There were two false-positive scans (1.6%). Scans were repeated every 27 ± 9 months. Biannual rapid-sequence non-contrast MRI is effective to monitor patients with SDHx mutations for detection of new tumours and monitoring of known tumours. © 2016 European Society of Endocrinology.

Rapid culture-independent microbial analysis aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

PubMed

Maule, Jake; Wainwright, Norm; Steele, Andrew; Monaco, Lisa; Morris, Heather; Gunter, Daniel; Damon, Michael; Wells, Mark

2009-10-01

A new culture-independent system for microbial monitoring, called the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS), was operated aboard the International Space Station (ISS). LOCAD-PTS was launched to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle STS-116 on December 9, 2006, and has since been used by ISS crews to monitor endotoxin on cabin surfaces. Quantitative analysis was performed within 15 minutes, and sample return to Earth was not required. Endotoxin (a marker of Gram-negative bacteria) was distributed throughout the ISS, despite previous indications that mostbacteria on ISS surfaces were Gram-positive [corrected].Endotoxin was detected at 24 out of 42 surface areas tested and at every surface site where colony-forming units (cfu) were observed, even at levels of 4-120 bacterial cfu per 100 cm(2), which is below NASA in-flight requirements (<10,000 bacterial cfu per 100 cm(2)). Absent to low levels of endotoxin (<0.24 to 1.0 EU per 100 cm(2); defined in endotoxin units, or EU) were found on 31 surface areas, including on most panels in Node 1 and the US Lab. High to moderate levels (1.01 to 14.7 EU per 100 cm(2)) were found on 11 surface areas, including at exercise, hygiene, sleeping, and dining facilities. Endotoxin was absent from airlock surfaces, except the Extravehicular Hatch Handle (>3.78 EU per 100 cm(2)). Based upon data collected from the ISS so far, new culture-independent requirements (defined in EU) are suggested, which are verifiable in flight with LOCAD-PTS yet high enough to avoid false alarms. The suggested requirements are intended to supplement current ISS requirements (defined in cfu) and would serve a dual purpose of safeguarding crew health (internal spacecraft surfaces <20 EU per 100 cm(2)) and monitoring forward contamination during Constellation missions (surfaces periodically exposed to the external environment, including the airlock and space suits, <0.24 EU per 100 cm(2)).

Rapid Culture-Independent Microbial Analysis Aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maule, Jake; Wainwright, Norm; Steele, Andrew; Monaco, Lisa; Morris, Heather; Gunter, Daniel; Damon, Michael; Wells, Mark

2009-10-01

A new culture-independent system for microbial monitoring, called the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS), was operated aboard the International Space Station (ISS). LOCAD-PTS was launched to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle STS-116 on December 9, 2006, and has since been used by ISS crews to monitor endotoxin on cabin surfaces. Quantitative analysis was performed within 15 minutes, and sample return to Earth was not required. Endotoxin (a marker of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi) was distributed throughout the ISS, despite previous indications that most bacteria on ISS surfaces were Gram-positive. Endotoxin was detected at 24 out of 42 surface areas tested and at every surface site where colony-forming units (cfu) were observed, even at levels of 4-120 bacterial cfu per 100 cm2, which is below NASA in-flight requirements (<10,000 bacterial cfu per 100 cm2). Absent to low levels of endotoxin (<0.24 to 1.0 EU per 100 cm2; defined in endotoxin units, or EU) were found on 31 surface areas, including on most panels in Node 1 and the US Lab. High to moderate levels (1.01 to 14.7 EU per 100 cm2) were found on 11 surface areas, including at exercise, hygiene, sleeping, and dining facilities. Endotoxin was absent from airlock surfaces, except the Extravehicular Hatch Handle (>3.78 EU per 100 cm2). Based upon data collected from the ISS so far, new culture-independent requirements (defined in EU) are suggested, which are verifiable in flight with LOCAD-PTS yet high enough to avoid false alarms. The suggested requirements are intended to supplement current ISS requirements (defined in cfu) and would serve a dual purpose of safeguarding crew health (internal spacecraft surfaces <20 EU per 100 cm2) and monitoring forward contamination during Constellation missions (surfaces periodically exposed to the external environment, including the airlock and space suits, <0.24 EU per 100 cm2).

Nosepiece respiration monitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lavery, A. L.; Long, L. E.; Rice, N. E.

1968-01-01

Comfortable, inexpensive nosepiece respiration monitor produces rapid response signals to most conventional high impedance medical signal conditioners. The monitor measures respiration in a manner that produces a large signal with minimum delay.

Spray Inlet Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (SI-PTR-MS) for Rapid and Sensitive Online Monitoring of Benzene in Water.

PubMed

Zou, Xue; Kang, Meng; Li, Aiyue; Shen, Chengyin; Chu, Yannan

2016-03-15

Rapid and sensitive monitoring of benzene in water is very important to the health of people and for environmental protection. A novel and online detection method of spray inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (SI-PTR-MS) was introduced for rapid and sensitive monitoring of trace benzene in water. A spraying extraction system was coupled with the self-developed PTR-MS. The benzene was extracted from the water sample in the spraying extraction system and continuously detected with PTR-MS. The flow of carrier gas and salt concentration in water were optimized to be 50 sccm and 20% (w/v), respectively. The response time and the limit of detection of the SI-PTR-MS for detection of benzene in water were 55 s and 0.14 μg/L at 10 s integration time, respectively. The repeatability of the SI-PTR-MS was evaluated, and the relative standard deviation of five replicate determinations was 4.3%. The SI-PTR-MS system was employed for monitoring benzene in different water matrices, such as tap water, lake water, and wastewater. The results indicated that the online SI-PTR-MS can be used for rapid and sensitive monitoring of trace benzene in water.

Listening to Yourself Is like Listening to Others: External, but Not Internal, Verbal Self-Monitoring Is Based on Speech Perception

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huettig, Falk; Hartsuiker, Robert J.

2010-01-01

Theories of verbal self-monitoring generally assume an internal (pre-articulatory) monitoring channel, but there is debate about whether this channel relies on speech perception or on production-internal mechanisms. Perception-based theories predict that listening to one's own inner speech has similar behavioural consequences as listening to…

Effects of coal mine wastewater on locomotor and non-locomotor activities of empire gudgeons (Hypseleotris compressa).

PubMed

Lanctôt, C; Melvin, S D; Fabbro, L; Leusch, F D L; Wilson, S P

2016-05-01

Coal mining represents an important industry in many countries, but concerns exist about the possible adverse effects of minewater releases on aquatic animals and ecosystems. Coal mining generates large volumes of complex wastewater, which often contains high concentrations of dissolved solids, suspended solids, metals, hydrocarbons, salts and other compounds. Traditional toxicological testing has generally involved the assessment of acute toxicity or chronic toxicity with longer-term tests, and while such tests provide useful information, they are poorly suited to ongoing monitoring or rapid assessment following accidental discharge events. As such, there is considerable interest in developing rapid and sensitive approaches to environmental monitoring, and particularly involving the assessment of sub-lethal behavioural responses in locally relevant aquatic species. We therefore investigated behavioural responses of a native Australian fish to coal mine wastewater, to evaluate its potential use for evaluating sub-lethal effects associated with wastewater releases on freshwater ecosystems. Empire gudgeons (Hypseleotris compressa) were exposed to wastewater from two dams located at an open cut coal mine in Central Queensland, Australia and activity levels were monitored using the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor® (LimCo International GmbH). A general decrease in locomotor activity (i.e., low frequency movement) and increase in non-locomotor activity (i.e., high frequency movement including ventilation and small fin movement) was observed in exposed fish compared to those in control water. Altered activity levels were observable within the first hour of exposure and persisted throughout the 15-d experiment. Results demonstrate the potential for using behavioural endpoints as tools for monitoring wastewater discharges using native fish species, but more research is necessary to identify responsible compounds and response thresholds, and to understand the relevance of the observed effects for populations in natural receiving environments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapid Monitoring of Bacteria and Fungi aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gunter, D.; Flores, G.; Effinger, M.; Maule, J.; Wainwright, N.; Steele, A.; Damon, M.; Wells, M.; Williams, S.; Morris, H.;

Real Time GPS- Satellite Clock Estimation Development of a RTIGS Web Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Opitz, M.; Weber, R.; Caissy, M.

2006-12-01

Since 3 years the IGS (International GNSS Service) Real-Time Working Group disseminates via Internet raw observation data of a subset of stations of the IGS network. This observation data can be used to establish a real-time integrity monitoring of the IGS predicted orbits (Ultra Rapid (IGU-) Orbits) and clocks, according to the recommendations of the IGS Workshop 2004 in Bern. The Institute for "Geodesy and Geophysics" of the TU-Vienna develops in cooperation with the IGS Real-Time Working Group the software "RTR- Control", which currently provides a real-time integrity monitoring of predicted IGU Clock Corrections to GPS Time. Our poster presents the results of a prototype version which is in operation since August this year. Besides RTR-Control allows for the comparison of pseudoranges measured at any permanent station in the global network with theoretical pseudoranges calculated on basis of the IGU- orbits. Thus, the programme can diagnose incorrectly predicted satellite orbits and clocks as well as detect multi-path distorted pseudoranges in real- time. RTR- Control calculates every 15 seconds Satellite Clock Corrections with respect to the most recent IGU- clocks (updated in a 6 hours interval). The clock estimations are referenced to a stable station clock (H-maser) with a small offset to GPS- time. This real-time Satellite Clocks are corrected for individual outliers and modelling errors. The most recent GPS- Satellite Clock Corrections (updated every 60 seconds) are published in Real Time via the Internet. The user group interested in a rigorous integrity monitoring comprises on the one hand the components of IGS itself to qualify the issued orbital data and on the other hand all users of the IGS Ultra Rapid Products (e.g. for PPP in Real Time).

Experimental Study on Stress Monitoring of Sand-Filled Steel Tube during Impact Using Piezoceramic Smart Aggregates.

PubMed

Du, Guofeng; Zhang, Juan; Zhang, Jicheng; Song, Gangbing

2017-08-22

The filling of thin-walled steel tubes with quartz sand can help to prevent the premature buckling of the steel tube at a low cost. During an impact, the internal stress of the quartz sand-filled steel tube column is subjected to not only axial force but also lateral confining force, resulting in complicated internal stress. A suitable sensor for monitoring the internal stress of such a structure under an impact is important for structural health monitoring. In this paper, piezoceramic Smart Aggregates (SAs) are embedded into a quartz Sand-Filled Steel Tube Column (SFSTC) to monitor the internal structural stress during impacts. The piezoceramic smart aggregates are first calibrated by an impact hammer. Tests are conducted to study the feasibility of monitoring the internal stress of a structure. The results reflect that the calibration value of the piezoceramic smart aggregate sensitivity test is in good agreement with the theoretical value, and the output voltage value of the piezoceramic smart aggregate has a good linear relationship with external forces. Impact tests are conducted on the sand-filled steel tube with embedded piezoceramic smart aggregates. By analyzing the output signal of the piezoceramic smart aggregates, the internal stress state of the structure can be obtained. Experimental results demonstrated that, under the action of impact loads, the piezoceramic smart aggregates monitor the compressive stress at different locations in the steel tube, which verifies the feasibility of using piezoceramic smart aggregate to monitor the internal stress of a structure.

Optimisation of multi-layer rotationally moulded foamed structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pritchard, A. J.; McCourt, M. P.; Kearns, M. P.; Martin, P. J.; Cunningham, E.

2018-05-01

Multi-layer skin-foam and skin-foam-skin sandwich constructions are of increasing interest in the rotational moulding process for two reasons. Firstly, multi-layer constructions can improve the thermal insulation properties of a part. Secondly, foamed polyethylene sandwiched between solid polyethylene skins can increase the mechanical properties of rotationally moulded structural components, in particular increasing flexural properties and impact strength (IS). The processing of multiple layers of polyethylene and polyethylene foam presents unique challenges such as the control of chemical blowing agent decomposition temperature, and the optimisation of cooling rates to prevent destruction of the foam core; therefore, precise temperature control is paramount to success. Long cooling cycle times are associated with the creation of multi-layer foam parts due to their insulative nature; consequently, often making the costs of production prohibitive. Devices such as Rotocooler®, a rapid internal mould water spray cooling system, have been shown to have the potential to significantly decrease cooling times in rotational moulding. It is essential to monitor and control such devices to minimise the warpage associated with the rapid cooling of a moulding from only one side. The work presented here demonstrates the use of threaded thermocouples to monitor the polymer melt in multi-layer sandwich constructions, in order to analyse the cooling cycle of multi-layer foamed structures. A series of polyethylene skin-foam test mouldings were produced, and the effect of cooling medium on foam characteristics, mechanical properties, and process cycle time were investigated. Cooling cycle time reductions of 45%, 26%, and 29% were found for increasing (1%, 2%, and 3%) chemical blowing agent (CBA) amount when using internal water cooling technology from ˜123°C compared with forced air cooling (FAC). Subsequently, a reduction of IS for the same skin-foam parts was found to be 1%, 4%, and 16% compared with FAC.

Taiwan's Travel and Border Health Measures in Response to Zika

PubMed Central

Ho, Li-Li; Tsai, Yu-Hui; Lee, Wang-Ping; Liao, Szu-Tsai; Wu, Li-Gin

2017-01-01

Zika virus has recently emerged as a worldwide public health concern. Travel and border health measures stand as one of the main strategies and frontline defenses in responding to international epidemics. As of October 31, 2016, Taiwan has reported 13 imported cases, 5 of which were detected through routine entry screening and active monitoring at international airports. This article shares Taiwan's disease surveillance activities at designated points of entry and travel and border health measures in response to Zika. The Taiwan government collaborates with its tourism industry to disseminate information about precautionary measures and encourages tour guides to report suspected individuals or events to activate early response measures. Taiwan also engages in vector control activities at points of entry, including targeting aircraft from countries where vector-borne diseases are endemic, implementing mosquito sweep measures, and collecting vector surveillance data. In future emerging and reemerging disease events, entry surveillance at designated points of entry may enable early detection of diseases of international origin and more rapid activation of public health preparedness activities and international collaboration. Taiwan will continue to maximize border and travel health measures in compliance with IHR (2005) requirements, which rely on continued risk assessment, practical implementation activities, and engagement with all stakeholders. PMID:28418744

Monitoring drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in non-household settings: Priorities for policy and practice.

PubMed

Cronk, Ryan; Slaymaker, Tom; Bartram, Jamie

2015-11-01

Inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) in non-household settings, such as schools, health care facilities, and workplaces impacts the health, education, welfare, and productivity of populations, particularly in low and middle-income countries. There is limited knowledge on the status of WaSH in such settings. To address this gap, we reviewed international standards, international and national actors, and monitoring initiatives; developed the first typology of non-household settings; and assessed the viability of monitoring. Based on setting characteristics, non-household settings include six types: schools, health care facilities, workplaces, temporary use settings, mass gatherings, and dislocated populations. To-date national governments and international actors have focused monitoring of non-household settings on schools and health care facilities with comparatively little attention given to other settings such as workplaces and markets. Nationally representative facility surveys and national management information systems are the primary monitoring mechanisms. Data suggest that WaSH coverage is generally poor and often lower than in corresponding household settings. Definitions, indicators, and data sources are underdeveloped and not always comparable between countries. While not all countries monitor non-household settings, examples are available from countries on most continents suggesting that systematic monitoring is achievable. Monitoring WaSH in schools and health care facilities is most viable. Monitoring WaSH in other non-household settings would be viable with: technical support from local and national actors in addition to international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF; national prioritization through policy and financing; and including WaSH indicators into monitoring initiatives to improve cost-effectiveness. International consultations on targets and indicators for global monitoring of WaSH post-2015 identified non-household settings as a priority. National and international monitoring systems will be important to better understand status, trends, to identify priorities and target resources accordingly, and to improve accountability for progressive improvements in WaSH in non-household settings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chinese air pollution embodied in trade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, S. J.

2014-12-01

Rapid economic development in China has been accompanied by high levels of air pollution in many areas of China. Although researchers have applied a range of methods to monitor and track pollutant emissions in the atmosphere, studies of the underlying economic and technological drivers of this pollution have received considerably less attention. I will present results of a series of studies that have quantified the air pollutants embodied in goods being traded both within China and internationally. The results show that trade is facilitating the concentration of pollution in less economically developed areas, which in turn export pollution-intensive goods to more affluent areas. However, the export-related pollution itself is sometimes transported long distances; for instance, we have quantified the impacts of the Chinese pollution embodied in internationally-exported goods on air quality in the US. These findings important implications for Chinese efforts to curb CO2 emissions and improve air quality. The research to be presented reflects the efforts of a multiple year, ongoing collaboration among interdisciplinary researchers in China, the US and the UK.

A Simple Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism-Based Strategy That Can Distinguish the Internal Genes of Human H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1 Influenza A Viruses

PubMed Central

Cooper, Lynn A.; Subbarao, Kanta

2000-01-01

A simple molecular technique for rapid genotyping was developed to monitor the internal gene composition of currently circulating influenza A viruses. Sequence information from recent H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1 human virus isolates was used to identify conserved regions within each internal gene, and gene-specific PCR primers capable of amplifying all three virus subtypes were designed. Subtyping was based on subtype-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns within the amplified regions. The strategy was tested in a blinded fashion using 10 control viruses of each subtype (total, 30) and was found to be very effective. Once standardized, the genotyping method was used to identify the origin of the internal genes of 51 influenza A viruses isolated from humans in Hong Kong during and immediately following the 1997–1998 H5N1 outbreak. No avian-human or H1-H3 reassortants were detected. Less than 2% (6 of 486) of the RFLP analyses were inconclusive; all were due to point mutations within a restriction site. The technique was also used to characterize the internal genes of two avian H9N2 viruses isolated from children in Hong Kong during 1999. PMID:10878047

Rapid deployable global sensing hazard alert system

DOEpatents

Cordaro, Joseph V; Tibrea, Steven L; Shull, Davis J; Coleman, Jerry T; Shuler, James M

2015-04-28

A rapid deployable global sensing hazard alert system and associated methods of operation are provided. An exemplary system includes a central command, a wireless backhaul network, and a remote monitoring unit. The remote monitoring unit can include a positioning system configured to determine a position of the remote monitoring unit based on one or more signals received from one or more satellites located in Low Earth Orbit. The wireless backhaul network can provide bidirectional communication capability independent of cellular telecommunication networks and the Internet. An exemplary method includes instructing at least one of a plurality of remote monitoring units to provide an alert based at least in part on a location of a hazard and a plurality of positions respectively associated with the plurality of remote monitoring units.

Monitoring on internal temperature of composite insulator with embedding fiber Bragg grating for early diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wen; Tang, Ming

2017-04-01

The abnormal temperature rise is the precursor of the defective composite insulator in power transmission line. However no consolidated techniques or methodologies can on line monitor its internal temperature now. Thus a new method using embedding fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rod is adopted to monitor its internal temperature. To correctly demodulate the internal temperature of FRP rod from the Bragg wavelength shift of FBG, the conversion coefficient between them is deduced theoretically based on comprehensive investigation on the thermal stresses of the metal-composite joint, as well as its material and structural properties. Theoretical model shows that the conversion coefficients of FBG embedded in different positions will be different because of non-uniform thermal stress distribution, which is verified by an experiment. This work lays the theoretical foundation of monitoring the internal temperature of composite insulator with embedding FBG, which is of great importance to its health structural monitoring, especially early diagnosis.

Global Monitoring of Mountain Glaciers Using High-Resolution Spotlight Imaging from the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnellan, A.; Green, J. J.; Bills, B. G.; Goguen, J.; Ansar, A.; Knight, R. L.; Hallet, B.; Scambos, T. A.; Thompson, L. G.; Morin, P. J.

2013-12-01

Mountain glaciers around the world are retreating rapidly, contributing about 20% to present-day sea level rise. Numerous studies have shown that mountain glaciers are sensitive to global environmental change. Temperate-latitude glaciers and snowpack provide water for over 1 billion people. Glaciers are a resource for irrigation and hydroelectric power, but also pose flood and avalanche hazards. Accurate mass balance assessments have been made for only 280 glaciers, yet there are over 130,000 in the World Glacier Inventory. The rate of glacier retreat or advance can be highly variable, is poorly sampled, and inadequately understood. Liquid water from ice front lakes, rain, melt, or sea water and debris from rocks, dust, or pollution interact with glacier ice often leading to an amplification of warming and further melting. Many mountain glaciers undergo rapid and episodic events that greatly change their mass balance or extent but are sparsely documented. Events include calving, outburst floods, opening of crevasses, or iceberg motion. Spaceborne high-resolution spotlight optical imaging provides a means of clarifying the relationship between the health of mountain glaciers and global environmental change. Digital elevation models (DEMs) can be constructed from a series of images from a range of perspectives collected by staring at a target during a satellite overpass. It is possible to collect imagery for 1800 targets per month in the ×56° latitude range, construct high-resolution DEMs, and monitor changes in high detail over time with a high-resolution optical telescope mounted on the International Space Station (ISS). Snow and ice type, age, and maturity can be inferred from different color bands as well as distribution of liquid water. Texture, roughness, albedo, and debris distribution can be estimated by measuring bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) and reflectance intensity as a function of viewing angle. The non-sun-synchronous orbit of the ISS results in varying illumination angles and fix-point spotlight imaging results in varying viewing angles, ideal for viewing steep slopes on glaciers and adjacent areas. Rapid events may be observed in progress by correlating changes in images over a single pass or between passes. We present a working design, data acquisition parameters, science objectives, and data processing strategy for a conceptual instrument, MUIR (Mission to Understand Ice Retreat).

Rapid anti-transglutaminase assay and patient interview for monitoring dietary compliance in celiac disease.

PubMed

Zanchi, Chiara; Ventura, Alessandro; Martelossi, Stefano; Di Leo, Grazia; Di Toro, Nicola; Not, Tarcisio

2013-06-01

The anti-transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG) play an important role in monitoring the celiacs' gluten-free diet (GFD). The authors propose to use the rapid IgA anti-tTG assay based on a whole blood drop to evaluate the compliance to GFD at the clinical ambulatory setting. The rapid test results were compared with those of the conventional ELISA assay and with dietary compliance reported by patients' interview. The authors showed that anti-tTG rapid test is reliable and easy to perform in the ambulatory setting to evaluate dietary compliance. Moreover, they proved that celiacs' interview is more sensitive than serology in identifying patients who transgress.

Generic HPLC platform for automated enzyme reaction monitoring: Advancing the assay toolbox for transaminases and other PLP-dependent enzymes.

PubMed

Börner, Tim; Grey, Carl; Adlercreutz, Patrick

2016-08-01

Methods for rapid and direct quantification of enzyme kinetics independent of the substrate stand in high demand for both fundamental research and bioprocess development. This study addresses the need for a generic method by developing an automated, standardizable HPLC platform monitoring reaction progress in near real-time. The method was applied to amine transaminase (ATA) catalyzed reactions intensifying process development for chiral amine synthesis. Autosampler-assisted pipetting facilitates integrated mixing and sampling under controlled temperature. Crude enzyme formulations in high and low substrate concentrations can be employed. Sequential, small (1 µL) sample injections and immediate detection after separation permits fast reaction monitoring with excellent sensitivity, accuracy and reproducibility. Due to its modular design, different chromatographic techniques, e.g. reverse phase and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) can be employed. A novel assay for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes is presented using SEC for direct monitoring of enzyme-bound and free reaction intermediates. Time-resolved changes of the different cofactor states, e.g. pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate and the internal aldimine were traced in both half reactions. The combination of the automated HPLC platform with SEC offers a method for substrate-independent screening, which renders a missing piece in the assay and screening toolbox for ATAs and other PLP-dependent enzymes. Copyright © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

AE Monitoring of Diamond Turned Rapidly Soldified Aluminium 443

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onwuka, G.; Abou-El-Hossein, K.; Mkoko, Z.

2017-05-01

The fast replacement of conventional aluminium with rapidly solidified aluminium alloys has become a noticeable trend in the current manufacturing industries involved in the production of optics and optical molding inserts. This is as a result of the improved performance and durability of rapidly solidified aluminium alloys when compared to conventional aluminium. Melt spinning process is vital for manufacturing rapidly solidified aluminium alloys like RSA 905, RSA 6061 and RSA 443 which are common in the industries today. RSA 443 is a newly developed alloy with few research findings and huge research potential. There is no available literature focused on monitoring the machining of RSA 443 alloys. In this research, Acoustic Emission sensing technique was applied to monitor the single point diamond turning of RSA 443 on an ultrahigh precision lathe machine. The machining process was carried out after careful selection of feed, speed and depths of cut. The monitoring process was achieved with a high sampling data acquisition system using different tools while concurrent measurement of the surface roughness and tool wear were initiated after covering a total feed distance of 13km. An increasing trend of raw AE spikes and peak to peak signal were observed with an increase in the surface roughness and tool wear values. Hence, acoustic emission sensing technique proves to be an effective monitoring method for the machining of RSA 443 alloy.

Monitoring of rapid blood pH variations by CO detection in breath with tunable diode laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kouznetsov, Andrian I.; Stepanov, Eugene V.; Zyrianov, Pavel V.; Shulagin, Yurii A.; Diachenko, Alexander I.; Gurfinkel, Youri I.

1997-06-01

Detection of endogenous carbon monoxide content in breath with tunable diode lasers (TDL) was proposed for noninvasive monitoring of rapid blood pH variation. Applied approach is based on high sensitivity of the haemoglobin and myoglobin affinity for CO to blood pH value and an ability to detect rapidly small variations of CO content in expired air. Breath CO absorption in 4.7 micrometers spectral region was carefully measured using PbSSe tunable diode laser that can provide 1 ppb CO concentration sensitivity and 10 s time constant. Applied TDL gas analyzer was used to monitor expired air of studied persons in physiological tests including hyperventilation and physical load. Simultaneous blood tests were conducted to demonstrate correlation between blood and breath chemical parameters.

A review of trends in the distribution of vector-borne diseases: is international trade contributing to their spread?

PubMed

de La Rocque, S; Balenghien, T; Halos, L; Dietze, K; Claes, F; Ferrari, G; Guberti, V; Slingenbergh, J

2011-04-01

It is difficult to determine the part that international trade has played in the expansion of vector-borne diseases, because of the multitude of factors that affect the transformation of habitats and the interfaces between vectors and hosts. The introduction of pathogens through trade in live animals or products of animal origin, as well as the arrival of arthropod vectors, is probably quite frequent but the establishment of an efficient transmission system that develops into a disease outbreak remains the exception. In this paper, based on well-documented examples, the authors review the ecological and epidemiological characteristics of vector-borne diseases that may have been affected in their spread and change of distribution by international trade. In addition, they provide a detailed analysis of the risks associated with specific trade routes and recent expansions of vector populations. Finally, the authors highlight the importance, as well as the challenges, of preventive surveillance and regulation. The need for improved monitoring of vector populations and a readiness to face unpredictable epidemiological events are also emphasised, since this will require rapid reaction, not least in the regulatory context.

Elaboration of a global strategy for containing microbial drug resistance.

PubMed

Zabicki, W

2001-01-01

The World Health Organization is engaged in developing the Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance. The preliminary document WHO/CDC/CSR/DRS/2000.I Draft has already been distributed, and remarks have been solicited.
The World Health Assembly Resolution of 1998 urged Member States to encourage the appropriate and cost-effective use of antimicrobials. Member States were requested to implement effective systems of microbial resistance surveillance and to monitor volumes and patterns of antimicrobial drug use.
The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance is rising rapidly and causing growing international concern. Many countries have undertaken their own national plans to address the problem.
The overall aim of the strategy being developed is to find the most effective forms and to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance and resistant microbes. The strategy covers the following topics: patients and general community, prescribers, hospitals, veterinarians, manufacturers and drug dispensers, and international aspects.
The strategy is being developed on the basis of expert opinions, published reports, reviews of specific topics specially commissioned by various international and national bodies, and a large body of literature with a list of publications containing over 100 items.

Quantitative determination of galantamine in human plasma by sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using loratadine as an internal standard.

PubMed

Nirogi, Ramakrishna V S; Kandikere, Vishwottam N; Mudigonda, Koteshwara; Maurya, Santosh

2007-02-01

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is developed and validated for the quantitation of galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in human plasma, using a commercially available compound, loratadine, as the internal standard. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes are separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse-phase C18 column and analyzed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective (M+H)+ ions, m/z 288 to 213 for galantamine and m/z 383 and 337 for the internal standard. The assay exhibit a linear dynamic range of 0.5-100 ng/mL for galantamine in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation is 0.5 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%. Acceptable precision and accuracy are obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. A run time of 2.5 min for each sample makes it possible to analyze more than 400 human plasma samples per day. The validated method is successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability, or bioequivalence studies.

Acidity-Triggered Tumor Retention/Internalization of Chimeric Peptide for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy and Real-Time Monitoring of Therapeutic Effects.

PubMed

Han, Kai; Zhang, Wei-Yun; Ma, Zhao-Yu; Wang, Shi-Bo; Xu, Lu-Ming; Liu, Jia; Zhang, Xian-Zheng; Han, He-You

2017-05-17

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise in tumor treatment. Nevertheless, it remains highly desirable to develop easy-to-fabricated PDT systems with improved tumor accumulation/internalization and timely therapeutic feedback. Here, we report a tumor-acidity-responsive chimeric peptide for enhanced PDT and noninvasive real-time apoptosis imaging. Both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that a tumor mildly acidic microenvironment could trigger rapid protonation of carboxylate anions in chimeric peptide, which led to increased ζ potential, improved hydrophobicity, controlled size enlargement, and precise morphology switching from sphere to spherocylinder shape of the chimeric peptide. All of these factors realized superfast accumulation and prolonged retention in the tumor region, selective cellular internalization, and enhanced PDT against the tumor. Meanwhile, this chimeric peptide could further generate reactive oxygen species and initiate cell apoptosis during PDT. The subsequent formation of caspase-3 enzyme hydrolyzed the chimeric peptide, achieving a high signal/noise ratio and timely fluorescence feedback. Importantly, direct utilization of the acidity responsiveness of a biofunctional Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly (DEVDG, caspase-3 enzyme substrate) peptide sequence dramatically simplified the preparation and increased the performance of the chimeric peptide furthest.

Source monitoring in Korsakoff's syndrome: "Did I touch the toothbrush or did I imagine doing so?"

PubMed

El Haj, Mohamad; Nandrino, Jean Louis; Coello, Yann; Miller, Ralph; Antoine, Pascal

2017-06-01

There is a body of research suggesting compromised ability to distinguish between different external sources of information (i.e., external monitoring) in Korsakoff's syndrome. Here we replicate and extend this literature by assessing the ability of patients with Korsakoff's syndrome to distinguish between different external sources of information (i.e., external monitoring), between internal and external sources of information (i.e., reality monitoring), and between different internal sources of information (i.e., internal monitoring). On the external monitoring assessment, patients with Korsakoff's syndrome and controls watched the experimenter place objects (e.g., a toothbrush) in either a black or white box; afterward, they were asked to remember where the objects had been placed. On the reality monitoring assessment, participants had to either place objects or watch the experimenter place objects in a black box; afterward, they were asked to remember whether the objects had been placed in the box by themselves or by the experimenter. On the internal monitoring assessment, participants had to either place objects or imagine themselves placing objects in a black box; afterward, they were asked to remember whether they had previously placed the objects in the box or imagined doing so. Analyses demonstrated lower external and internal monitoring in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome than in controls, but no significant difference was observed between the two populations on the reality monitoring condition. Our data provide preliminary evidence that the ability to recognize oneself as the author of one's own actions may be relatively preserved in Korsakoff's syndrome. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

50 CFR 300.45 - Vessel Monitoring System.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Vessel Monitoring System. 300.45 Section 300.45 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.45 Vessel Monitoring System. (a) Applicability. Holders of...

50 CFR 300.45 - Vessel Monitoring System.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 9 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Vessel Monitoring System. 300.45 Section 300.45 Wildlife and Fisheries INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS South Pacific Tuna Fisheries § 300.45 Vessel Monitoring System. (a) Applicability. Holders of...

Next-generation air monitoring

EPA Science Inventory

Air pollution measurement technology is advancing rapidly towards smaller-scale and wireless devices, with a potential to significantly change the landscape of air pollution monitoring. EPA is evaluating and developing a range of next-generation air monitoring (NGAM) technologie...

Tumor resistance to vascular disrupting agents: mechanisms, imaging, and solutions

PubMed Central

Liang, Wenjie; Ni, Yicheng; Chen, Feng

2016-01-01

The emergence of vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) is a significant advance in the treatment of solid tumors. VDAs induce rapid and selective shutdown of tumor blood flow resulting in massive necrosis. However, a viable marginal tumor rim always remains after VDA treatment and is a major cause of recurrence. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms involved in the resistance of solid tumors to VDAs. Hypoxia, tumor-associated macrophages, and bone marrow-derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells all may contribute to resistance. Resistance can be monitored using magnetic resonance imaging markers. The various solutions proposed to manage tumor resistance to VDAs emphasize combining these agents with other approaches including antiangiogenic agents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, radioimmunotherapy, and sequential dual-targeting internal radiotherapy. PMID:26812886

The dependence of magnetosphere-ionosphere system on the Earth's magnetic dipole moment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngwira, C. M.; Pulkkinen, A. A.; Sibeck, D. G.; Rastaetter, L.

2017-12-01

Space weather is increasingly recognized as an international problem affecting several different man-made technologies. The ability to understand, monitor and forecast Earth-directed space weather is of paramount importance for our highly technology-dependent society and for the current rapid developments in awareness and exploration within the heliosphere. It is well known that the strength of the Earth's magnetic field changes over long time scales. We use physics-based simulations with the University of Michigan Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) to examine how the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and ground geomagnetic field perturbations respond as the geomagnetic dipole moment changes. We discuss the implication of these results for our community and the end-users of space weather information.

The Tropospheric Products of the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinkelmann, Robert; Schwatke, Christian

2010-01-01

The IVS runs two tropospheric products: The IVS tropospheric parameter rapid combination monitors the zenith wet delay (ZWD) and zenith total delay (ZTD) of the rapid turnaround sessions R1 and R4. Goal of the combination is the identification and the exclusion of outliers by comparison and the assessment of the precision of current VLBI solutions in terms of tropospheric parameters. The rapid combination is done on a weekly basis four weeks after the observation files are released on IVS Data Centers. Since tropospheric and geodetic parameters, such as vertical station components, can significantly correlate, the consistency of the ZTD can be a measure of the consistency of the corresponding TRF as well. The ZWD mainly rely on accurate atmospheric pressure data. Thus, besides estimation techniques, modeling and analyst s noise, ZWD reflects differences in the atmospheric pressure data applied to the VLBI analysis. The second product, called tropospheric parameter long-term combination, aims for an accurate determination of climatological signals, such as trends of the atmospheric water vapor observed by VLBI. Therefore, the long-term homogeneity of atmospheric pressure data plays a crucial role for this product. The paper reviews the methods applied and results achieved so far and describes the new maintenance through DGFI.

Relations of Parenting to Adolescent Externalizing and Internalizing Distress Moderated by Perception of Neighborhood Danger.

PubMed

Goldner, Jonathan S; Quimby, Dakari; Richards, Maryse H; Zakaryan, Arie; Miller, Steve; Dickson, Daniel; Chilson, Jessica

2016-01-01

Parental monitoring and warmth have traditionally been studied in the context of White, middle-class families. This article explores optimal levels of these parenting behaviors in preventing adolescent psychopathology in impoverished, urban high-crime areas while accounting for child perceptions of neighborhood danger. In this study, data were collected longitudinally at 2 time points 1 year apart from a sample of 254 African American young adolescents (T1: M age = 12.6 years, 41% male) and their parents. Parental monitoring and warmth, child perception of neighborhood danger, and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors were measured using questionnaires. Child internalizing behaviors were also measured using a time sampling technique capturing in vivo accounts of daily distress. Findings indicated associations between parental monitoring and children's externalizing behaviors along with linear and quadratic associations between parental monitoring and internalizing behaviors. Monitoring and warmth were differentially related to symptoms depending on neighborhood danger level. When children perceived less danger, more monitoring related to less externalizing. When children perceived more danger, more warmth related to less internalizing. In addition, adolescents' perceptions of neighborhood danger emerged as equally strong as monitoring and warmth in predicting symptoms. This study underscores the influence of carefully considering parenting approaches and which techniques optimally prevent adolescents' externalizing, as well as prevent internalizing difficulties. It also highlights how context affects mental health, specifically how perceptions of danger negatively influence adolescents' psychopathology, emphasizing the importance of initiatives to reduce violence in communities.

Modifiers of the healthy worker effect and expression of the internal healthy worker effect in a female nuclear worker cohort

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baillargeon, Jacques Guy

Though well-documented among numerous cohorts of male workers, little is known about how the healthy worker effect (HWE) and the internal HWE is expressed among cohorts of female workers. This investigation examines characteristics of the HWE and the internal HWE in a cohort of 12,668 female nuclear workers. The HWE, which was estimated by assessing SMRs for all causes of death combined, was found to be modified by race, occupational class and length of follow-up. Smaller variations in the HWE were observed for age at hire, occupational class, length of employment, monitored status, and interruption of monitoring. Examination of SMRs for all cancers combined revealed that the HWE was modified by race, occupational class, monitored status, interruption of monitoring, and length of follow-up. Smaller variations were observed for age at hire and length of employment. Investigators often try to circumvent the HWE by employing internal comparisons; that is, by directly comparing the mortality of subgroups within a defined occupational cohort with one another. However, internal comparisons are not necessarily free from certain biases related to the HWE. If employees are selected on the basis of health into subgroups which serve as the basis for internal comparisons, then a form of internal comparison bias, called the internal healthy worker effect (Stewart et al, 1991; Wilkinson, 1992) may occur. In this investigation, the expression of the internal HWE was examined by estimating the extent to which survival time was modified by the variables under study. Using the Cox PH model, time to death from all causes was found to be modified by occupational class and length of employment but not by race, age at hire, monitored status, or interruption of monitoring. Time to death from all cancers was found to be modified by race and interruption of monitoring but not by age at hire, occupational class, length of employment, or monitored status. These results are important because they may provide leads for other investigators to determine whether the exposure-disease relationships are confounded by characteristics of the employed female populations under study.

Contributions of aircraft arrivals and departures to ultrafine particle counts near Los Angeles International Airport.

PubMed

Hsu, Hsiao-Hsien; Adamkiewicz, Gary; Houseman, E Andres; Zarubiak, Darcy; Spengler, John D; Levy, Jonathan I

2013-02-01

While commercial aircraft are known sources of ultrafine particulate matter (UFP), the relationship between airport activity and local real-time UFP concentrations has not been quantified. Understanding these associations will facilitate interpretation of the exposure and health risk implications of UFP related to aviation emissions. We used time-resolved UFP data along with flight activity and meteorological information to determine the contributions of aircraft departures and arrivals to UFP concentrations. Aircraft flight activity and near-field continuous UFP concentrations (≧ 6 nm) were measured at five monitoring sites over a 42-day field campaign at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). We developed regression models of UFP concentrations as a function of time-lagged landing and take-off operations (LTO) activity, in the form of arrivals or departures weighted by engine-specific estimates of fuel consumption. Our regression models demonstrate a strong association between departures and elevated total UFP concentrations at the end of the departure runway, with diminishing magnitude and time-lagged impacts with distance from the source. LTO activity contributed a median (95th, 99th percentile) UFP concentration of approximately 150,000 particles/cm(3) (2,000,000, 7,100,000) at a monitor at the end of the departure runway, versus 19,000 particles/cm(3) (80,000, 140,000), and 17,000 particles/cm(3) (50,000, 72,000) for monitors 250 m and 500 m further downwind, respectively. We demonstrated significant contributions from aircraft departure activities to UFP concentrations in close proximity to departure runways, with evidence of rapid plume evolution in the near field. Our methods can inform source attribution and interpretation of dispersion modeling outputs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Systematic Analysis of 2 Monoisocentric Techniques for the Treatment of Multiple Brain Metastases.

PubMed

Narayanasamy, Ganesh; Stathakis, Sotirios; Gutierrez, Alonso N; Pappas, Evangelos; Crownover, Richard; Floyd, John R; Papanikolaou, Niko

2017-10-01

In this treatment planning study, we compare the plan quality and delivery parameters for the treatment of multiple brain metastases using 2 monoisocentric techniques: the Multiple Metastases Element from Brainlab and the RapidArc volumetric-modulated arc therapy from Varian Medical Systems. Eight patients who were treated in our institution for multiple metastases (3-7 lesions) were replanned with Multiple Metastases Element using noncoplanar dynamic conformal arcs. The same patients were replanned with the RapidArc technique in Eclipse using 4 noncoplanar arcs. Both techniques were designed using a single isocenter. Plan quality metrics (conformity index, homogeneity index, gradient index, and R 50% ), monitor unit, and the planning time were recorded. Comparison of the Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans was performed using Shapiro-Wilk test, paired Student t test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. A paired Wilcoxon signed rank test between Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc showed comparable plan quality metrics and dose to brain. Mean ± standard deviation values of conformity index were 1.8 ± 0.7 and 1.7 ± 0.6, homogeneity index were 1.3 ± 0.1 and 1.3 ± 0.1, gradient index were 5.0 ± 1.8 and 5.1 ± 1.9, and R 50% were 4.9 ± 1.8 and 5.0 ± 1.9 for Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans, respectively. Mean brain dose was 2.3 and 2.7 Gy for Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans, respectively. The mean value of monitor units in Multiple Metastases Element plan was 7286 ± 1065, which is significantly lower than the RapidArc monitor units of 9966 ± 1533 ( P < .05). For the planning of multiple brain lesions to be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, Multiple Metastases Element planning software produced equivalent conformity, homogeneity, dose falloff, and brain V 12 Gy but required significantly lower monitor units, when compared to RapidArc plans.

A Systematic Analysis of 2 Monoisocentric Techniques for the Treatment of Multiple Brain Metastases

PubMed Central

Stathakis, Sotirios; Gutierrez, Alonso N.; Pappas, Evangelos; Crownover, Richard; Floyd, John R.; Papanikolaou, Niko

2016-01-01

Background: In this treatment planning study, we compare the plan quality and delivery parameters for the treatment of multiple brain metastases using 2 monoisocentric techniques: the Multiple Metastases Element from Brainlab and the RapidArc volumetric-modulated arc therapy from Varian Medical Systems. Methods: Eight patients who were treated in our institution for multiple metastases (3-7 lesions) were replanned with Multiple Metastases Element using noncoplanar dynamic conformal arcs. The same patients were replanned with the RapidArc technique in Eclipse using 4 noncoplanar arcs. Both techniques were designed using a single isocenter. Plan quality metrics (conformity index, homogeneity index, gradient index, and R50%), monitor unit, and the planning time were recorded. Comparison of the Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans was performed using Shapiro-Wilk test, paired Student t test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: A paired Wilcoxon signed rank test between Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc showed comparable plan quality metrics and dose to brain. Mean ± standard deviation values of conformity index were 1.8 ± 0.7 and 1.7 ± 0.6, homogeneity index were 1.3 ± 0.1 and 1.3 ± 0.1, gradient index were 5.0 ± 1.8 and 5.1 ± 1.9, and R50% were 4.9 ± 1.8 and 5.0 ± 1.9 for Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans, respectively. Mean brain dose was 2.3 and 2.7 Gy for Multiple Metastases Element and RapidArc plans, respectively. The mean value of monitor units in Multiple Metastases Element plan was 7286 ± 1065, which is significantly lower than the RapidArc monitor units of 9966 ± 1533 (P < .05). Conclusion: For the planning of multiple brain lesions to be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, Multiple Metastases Element planning software produced equivalent conformity, homogeneity, dose falloff, and brain V12 Gy but required significantly lower monitor units, when compared to RapidArc plans. PMID:27612917

A hydrogen fuel cell for rapid, enzyme-catalysed organic synthesis with continuous monitoring.

PubMed

Wan, Lei; Megarity, Clare F; Siritanaratkul, Bhavin; Armstrong, Fraser A

2018-01-23

A one-pot fuel cell for specific, enzyme-catalysed organic synthesis, with continuous monitoring of rate and reaction progress, combines an electrode catalysing rapid, reversible and diffusion-controlled interconversion of NADP + and NADPH with a Pt electrode catalysing 2H + /H 2 interconversion. This Communication demonstrates its performance and characteristics using the reductive amination of 2-oxoglutarate as a test system.

Internal fetal monitoring (image)

MedlinePlus

Internal fetal monitoring involves placing a electrode directly on the fetal scalp through the cervix. This test is performed to evaluate fetal heart rate and variability between beats, especially ...

Socio-economic Impact Analysis for Near Real-Time Flood Detection in the Lower Mekong River Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oddo, P.; Ahamed, A.; Bolten, J. D.

2017-12-01

Flood events pose a severe threat to communities in the Lower Mekong River Basin. The combination of population growth, urbanization, and economic development exacerbate the impacts of these flood events. Flood damage assessments are frequently used to quantify the economic losses in the wake of storms. These assessments are critical for understanding the effects of flooding on the local population, and for informing decision-makers about future risks. Remote sensing systems provide a valuable tool for monitoring flood conditions and assessing their severity more rapidly than traditional post-event evaluations. The frequency and severity of extreme flood events are projected to increase, further illustrating the need for improved flood monitoring and impact analysis. In this study we implement a socio-economic damage model into a decision support tool with near real-time flood detection capabilities (NASA's Project Mekong). Surface water extent for current and historical floods is found using multispectral Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250-meter imagery and the spectral Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) signatures of permanent water bodies (MOD44W). Direct and indirect damages to populations, infrastructure, and agriculture are assessed using the 2011 Southeast Asian flood as a case study. Improved land cover and flood depth assessments result in a more refined understanding of losses throughout the Mekong River Basin. Results suggest that rapid initial estimates of flood impacts can provide valuable information to governments, international agencies, and disaster responders in the wake of extreme flood events.

Rapid tranquilization: An audit of Irish mental health nursing practice.

PubMed

Nash, Michael; McDonagh, Caitriona; Culhane, Aisling; Noone, Imelda; Higgins, Agnes

2018-02-12

Rapid tranquillization is a pharmacological intervention sometimes employed in mental health care for the management of acute behavioural disturbance. It is a form of restrictive practice, which, along with seclusion and restraint, is a conventional and controversial intervention in the therapeutic management of risk in mental health settings. This study surveyed mental health nurses practice in rapid tranquillization. A self-report questionnaire was utilized which addressed aspects such as definitions of rapid tranquillization, presence of rapid tranquillization policy, types of incidents where it is used and postintervention monitoring. The results demonstrate that rapid tranquillization is an intervention used in the management of acute behavioural disturbance in various mental health settings in Ireland. Respondents showed a basic understanding of rapid tranquillization as an intervention; however, some areas reported not having a specific rapid tranquillization policy. There was some evidence of a variation in postrapid tranquillization monitoring of psychiatric/mental health and physical health. Service user debriefing following rapid tranquillization was reported to be common; however, the content of this was not elaborated on. In the light of variations in practice, specific training and the development of rapid tranquillization policies are recommended. © 2018 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

Non-Destructive and rapid evaluation of staple foods quality by using spectroscopic techniques: A review.

PubMed

Su, Wen-Hao; He, Hong-Ju; Sun, Da-Wen

2017-03-24

Staple foods, including cereals, legumes, and root/tuber crops, dominate the daily diet of humans by providing valuable proteins, starch, oils, minerals, and vitamins. Quality evaluation of staple foods is primarily carried out on sensory (e.g. external defect, color), adulteration (e.g. species, origin), chemical (e.g. starch, proteins), mycotoxin (e.g. Fusarium toxin, aflatoxin), parasitic infection (e.g. weevil, beetle), and internal physiological (e.g. hollow heart, black heart) aspects. Conventional methods for the quality assessment of staple foods are always laborious, destructive, and time-consuming. Requirements for online monitoring of staple foods have been proposed to encourage the development of rapid, reagentless, and noninvasive techniques. Spectroscopic techniques, such as visible-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and spectral imaging, have been introduced as promising analytical tools and applied for the quality evaluation of staple foods. This review summarizes the recent applications and progress of such spectroscopic techniques in determining various qualities of staple foods. Besides, challenges and future trends of these spectroscopic techniques are also presented.

Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol: Volume I: Rapid assessment

Treesearch

Deborah S. Page-Dumroese; Ann M. Abbott; Thomas M. Rice

2009-01-01

This volume of the Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol (FSDMP) describes how to monitor forest sites before and after ground disturbing management activities for physical attributes that could influence site resilience and long-term sustainability. The attributes describe surface conditions that affect site sustainability and hydrologic function. Monitoring the...

Monitoring and modeling very large, rapid infiltration using geophysics during the 2014 Lower Colorado River pulse flow experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kennedy, J.; Macy, J. P.; Callegary, J. B.; Lopez, J. R.

2014-12-01

In March and April 2014, an unprecedented experiment released over 100x106 cubic meters (81,000 acre-feet) of water from Morelos Dam into the normally-dry lower Colorado River below Yuma, Arizona, USA. More than half of the water released from Morelos Dam infiltrated within the limitrophe reach, a 32-km stretch between the Northern U.S.-Mexico International Boundary and the Southern International Boundary, a distance of just 32 river-kilometers. To characterize the spatial and temporal extent of infiltration, scientists from the US Geological Survey, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, and Universidad Autónoma de Baja California carried out several geophysical surveys. Frequency-domain electromagnetic transects throughout the limitrophe reach showed that the subsurface comprised exclusively sandy material, with little finer-grained material to impede or otherwise influence infiltration. Direct current resistivity clearly imaged the rising water table near the stream channel. Both techniques provide valuable parameterization and calibration information for a surface-water/groundwater interaction model currently in development. Time-lapse gravity data were collected at 25 stations to expand the monitoring well network and provide storage-coefficient information for the groundwater model. Despite difficult field conditions, precise measurements of large gravity changes showed that changes in groundwater storage in the upper reach of the study area, where groundwater levels were highest, were constrained to the near vicinity of the river channel. Downstream near the Southern International Boundary, however, groundwater storage increased substantially over a large area, expanding into the regional aquifer that supplies irrigation water to surrounding agriculture.

Development of an Internal Positive Control for Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus Infections by Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR with Lyophilized Reagents

PubMed Central

Das, Amaresh; Spackman, Erica; Senne, Dennis; Pedersen, Jan; Suarez, David L.

2006-01-01

We developed an internal positive control (IPC) RNA to help ensure the accuracy of the detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) RNA by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and real-time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR). The IPC was designed to have the same binding sites for the forward and reverse primers of the AIV matrix gene as the target amplicon, but it had a unique internal sequence used for the probe site. The amplification of the viral RNA and the IPC by RRT-PCR were monitored with two different fluorescent probes in a multiplex format, one specific for the AIV matrix gene and the other for the IPC. The RRT-PCR test was further simplified with the use of lyophilized bead reagents for the detection of AIV RNA. The RRT-PCR with the bead reagents was more sensitive than the conventional wet reagents for the detection of AIV RNA. The IPC-based RRT-PCR detected inhibitors in blood, kidney, lungs, spleen, intestine, and cloacal swabs, but not allantoic fluid, serum, or tracheal swabs The accuracy of RRT-PCR test results with the lyophilized beads was tested on cloacal and tracheal swabs from experimental birds inoculated with AIV and compared with virus isolation (VI) on embryonating chicken eggs. There was 97 to 100% agreement of the RRT-PCR test results with VI for tracheal swabs and 81% agreement with VI for cloacal swabs, indicating a high level of accuracy of the RRT-PCR assay. The same IPC in the form of armored RNA was also used to monitor the extraction of viral RNA and subsequent detection by RRT-PCR. PMID:16954228

International Environmental Monitoring: A Bellagio Conference, February 16-18, 1977 (Revised Publication).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rockefeller Foundation, New York, NY.

The proceedings of a conference on international environmental monitoring is presented, along with a commentary, reports from activity groups, and appended tabular information. Major objectives of the 25 participants from international organizations, national governments, and research institutions were to review accomplishments in global and…

Development of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometric method for rapid process-monitoring of phthalocyanine compounds.

PubMed

Chen, Yi-Ting; Wang, Fu-Shing; Li, Zhendong; Li, Liang; Ling, Yong-Chien

2012-07-29

Phthalocyanines (PCs), an important class of chemicals widely used in many industrial sectors, are macrocyclic compounds possessing a heteroaromatic π-electron system with optical properties influenced by chemical structures and impurities or by-products introduced during the synthesis process. Analytical tools allowing for rapid monitoring of the synthesis processes are of significance for the development of new PCs with improved performance in many application areas. In this work, we report a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) method for rapid and convenient monitoring of PC synthesis reactions. For this class of compounds, intact molecular ions could be detected by MALDI using retinoic acid as matrix. It was shown that relative quantification results of two PC compounds could be generated by MALDI MS. This method was applied to monitor the bromination reactions of nickel- and copper-containing PCs. It was demonstrated that, compared to the traditional UV-visible method, the MALDI MS method offers the advantage of higher sensitivity while providing chemical species and relative quantification information on the reactants and products, which are crucial to process monitoring. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The New Aphrodite school on Disasters Food and Poverty organized by CIMA Research Foundation and University of Genova

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boni, G.

2009-04-01

CIMA is a Research Foundation which aim is to advance science and engineering in environmentally related fields, focusing on public health and safety, civil protection and the preservation of terrestrial and water-related ecosystems. This aim is accomplished through scientific research, technology transfer and high level training services. Here we present the "New Aphrodite school on Disasters Food and Poverty" jointly managed by CIMA Foundation, and the University of Genova. The school is organized to provide to international students, professionals and government officials, mainly from poor or developing countries, formation for the management, prediction and prevention of natural and man made disasters. The expertise of the teachers, mainly CIMA's researchers, comes from a long term support of CIMA Foundation to the Italian Civil Protection in developing the advanced national system for risk prediction, prevention and management. The school is organized in two levels. The first level includes an international master of science degree in "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable Development and Risk Management", which classes are given in English, and a master for professional and government officials in "Disasters, food and poverty". The second level includes an international Ph.D. programme in "Information sciences and technologies for system monitoring and environmental risk management". Short training courses for international government official are periodically organized. At present the school is organizing short courses for officials of Civil Protections of Venezuela, Barbados and Mozambique. The philosophy underlying the teaching activities is to promote a multi-disciplinary approach to disaster mitigation, prevention and prediction. Special focus is on the potential of high-tech low-cost technologies for rapid communication and disaster monitoring, such as satellite based technologies. Such technologies are seen as the best way to support the development of autonomous capacities in developing countries, with affordable investment costs, and to improve globally the understanding of the phenomena leading to disasters.

A simple approach to the generation of heterologous competitive internal controls for real-time PCR assays on the LightCycler.

PubMed

Stöcher, Markus; Leb, Victoria; Hölzl, Gabriele; Berg, Jörg

2002-12-01

The real-time PCR technology allows convenient detection and quantification of virus derived DNA. This approach is used in many PCR based assays in clinical laboratories. Detection and quantification of virus derived DNA is usually performed against external controls or external standards. Thus, adequacy within a clinical sample is not monitored for. This can be achieved using internal controls that are co-amplified with the specific target within the same reaction vessel. We describe a convenient way to prepare heterologous internal controls as competitors for real-time PCR based assays. The internal controls were devised as competitors in real-time PCR, e.g. LightCycler-PCR. The bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo) was used as source for heterologous DNA. Within the neo gene a box was chosen containing sequences for four differently spaced forward primers, one reverse primer, and a pair of neo specific hybridization probes. Pairs of primers were constructed to compose of virus-specific primer sequences and neo box specific primer sequences. Using those composite primers in conventional preparative PCR four types of internal controls were amplified from the neo box and subsequently cloned. A panel of the four differently sized internal controls was generated and tested by LightCycler PCR using their virus-specific primers. All four different PCR products were detected with the single pair of neo specific FRET-hybridization probes. The presented approach to generate competitive internal controls for use in LightCycler PCR assays proved convenient und rapid. The obtained internal controls match most PCR product sizes used in clinical routine molecular assays and will assist to discriminate true from false negative results.

Straddle carrier radiation portal monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andersen, Eric S.; Samuel, Todd J.; Mullen, O. Dennis

2005-05-01

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary enforcement agency protecting the nation"s ports of entry. CBP is enhancing its capability to interdict the illicit import of nuclear and radiological materials and devices that may be used by terrorists. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is providing scientific and technical support to CBP in their goal to enable rapid deployment of nuclear and radiation detection systems at U. S. ports of entry to monitor 100% of the incoming international traffic and cargo while not adversely impacting the operations or throughput of the ports. The U.S. ports of entry include the following vectors: land border crossings, seaports, airports, rail crossings, and mail and express consignment courier facilities. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determined that a screening solution was needed for Seaport cargo containers being transported by Straddle Carriers (straddle carriers). A stationary Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) for Straddle Carriers (SCRPM) is needed so that cargo containers can be scanned while in transit under a Straddle Carrier. The Straddle Carrier Portal operational impacts were minimized by conducting a time-motion study at the Port, and adaptation of a Remotely Operated RPM (RO-RPM) booth concept that uses logical lighting schemes for traffic control, cameras, Optical Character Recognition, and wireless technology.

Straddle Carrier Radiation Portal Monitoring

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

Andersen, Eric S.; Samuel, Todd J.; Mullen, O Dennis

2005-08-01

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary enforcement agency protecting the nation’s ports of entry. CBP is enhancing its capability to interdict the illicit import of nuclear and radiological materials and devices that may be used by terrorists. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is providing scientific and technical support to CBP in their goal to enable rapid deployment of nuclear and radiation detection systems at U. S. ports of entry to monitor 100% of the incoming international traffic and cargo while not adversely impacting the operations or throughput of the ports. The U.S. ports of entry include themore » following vectors: land border crossings, seaports, airports, rail crossings, and mail and express consignment courier facilities. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determined that a screening solution was needed for Seaport cargo containers being transported by Straddle Carriers (straddle carriers). A stationary Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) for Straddle Carriers (SCRPM) is needed so that cargo containers can be scanned while in transit under a Straddle Carrier. The Straddle Carrier Portal operational impacts were minimized by conducting a time-motion study at the Port, and adaptation of a Remotely Operated RPM (RO-RPM) booth concept that uses logical lighting schemes for traffic control, cameras, Optical Character Recognition, and wireless technology.« less

Monitoring the effects of air-quality on forests: An overview of the Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest ICP-Level II Site

Treesearch

Peter E. Koestner; Karen A. Koestner; Daniel G. Neary

2012-01-01

The Sierra Ancha International Cooperative Program on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests study site or (SAEF-ICP II) is part of an international network of cooperative forest monitoring sites spread throughout Europe and the United States. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe established the ICP II network in 1985 to monitor long...

A framework for the monitoring and evaluation of international surgical initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.

PubMed

Ibrahim, George M; Cadotte, David W; Bernstein, Mark

2015-01-01

An estimated two billion people worldwide lack adequate access to surgical care. To address this humanitarian emergency, an increasing number of international surgical partnerships are emerging between developed and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). At present, there are no clear indicators that may be used to assess the effectiveness of such initiatives. We conducted an international qualitative study of 31 surgeons from developed and LMICs involved in international partnerships across a variety of subspecialties. Thematic analysis and grounded theory were applied in order to develop a practical framework that may be applied to monitor and evaluate global surgical initiatives. Several themes emerged from the study: (i) there is a large unmet need to establish and maintain prospective databases in LMICs to inform the monitoring and evaluation of international surgical partnerships; (ii) assessment of initiatives must occur longitudinally over the span of several years; (ii) the domains of assessment are contextual and encompass cultural, institutional and regional factors; and (iv) evaluation strategies should explore broader impact within the community and country. Based on thematic analysis within the domains of inputs, outputs and outcomes, a framework for the monitoring and evaluation of international surgical initiatives, the Framework for the Assessment of InteRNational Surgical Success (FAIRNeSS) is proposed. In response to the increasing number of surgical partnerships between developed and LMICs, we propose a framework to monitor and evaluate international surgical initiatives.

Proceedings of the international workshop on monitoring forest degradation in Southeast Asia

Treesearch

Leif A. Mortenson; James J. Halperin; Patricia N. Manley; Rich L. Turner

2013-01-01

The international workshop on monitoring forest degradation in Southeast Asia provided a forum for discussion of the technical, social and political challenges and successes that have occurred during recent work in sub-national forest degradation monitoring. The 2012 workshop, held in Bangkok, Thailand, followed recent US Forest Service/LEAF (USAID's Lowering...

THE APPLICATION OF JET REMPI/TOFMS TO REAL-TIME MONITORING OF DIOXINS

EPA Science Inventory

An advanced rapid monitoring technology, Jet Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization, (Jet REMPI) is being applied to the measurement of air toxics, including chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (CDD/CDF), for mechanistic understanding, process monitoring, and regulat...

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of vigabatrin enantiomers in human serum by precolumn derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde-N-acetyl-L-cysteine and fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Vermeij, T A; Edelbroek, P M

1998-09-25

A rapid and simple method is presented for the determination of vigabatrin enantiomers in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum is deproteinized with trichloroacetic acid and aliquots of the supernatant are precolumn derivatized with o-phthaldialdehyde and N-acetyl-L-cysteine, resulting in the formation of diastereomeric isoindoles. Separation was achieved on a Spherisorb 3ODS2 column using a gradient solvent program and the column eluent is monitored using fluorescence detection. L-Homoarginine was used as an internal standard. Within-day precisions (C.V.; n=8) were 2.8 and 1.1%, respectively, for the (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-enantiomer in serum containing 15.4 mg/l (RS)-vigabatrin. The method was linear in the 0-45 mg/l range for both enantiomers and the minimum quantitation limit was 0.20 mg/l for (R)-(-)-vigabatrin and 0.14 mg/l for (S)-(+)-vigabatrin. No interferences were found from commonly co-administered antiepileptic drugs and from endogenous amino acids. The method is suitable for routine therapeutic drug monitoring and for pharmacokinetic studies.

Rapid evaluation technique to differentiate mushroom disease-related moulds by detecting microbial volatile organic compounds using HS-SPME-GC-MS.

PubMed

Radványi, Dalma; Gere, Attila; Jókai, Zsuzsa; Fodor, Péter

2015-01-01

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) of mushroom disease-related microorganisms. Mycogone perniciosa, Lecanicillum fungicola var. fungicola, and Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum species, which are typically harmful in mushroom cultivation, were examined, and Agaricus bisporus (bisporic button mushroom) was also examined as a control. For internal standard, a mixture of alkanes was used; these were introduced as the memory effect of primed septa in the vial seal. Several different marker compounds were found in each sample, which enabled us to distinguish the different moulds and the mushroom mycelium from each other. Monitoring of marker compounds enabled us to investigate the behaviour of moulds. The records of the temporal pattern changes were used to produce partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models that enabled determination of the exact time of contamination (the infection time of the media). Using these evaluation techniques, the presence of mushroom disease-related fungi can be easily detected and monitored via their emitted MVOCs.

Rapid, Long-term Monitoring of CO2 Concentration and δ13CO2 at CCUS Sites Allows Discrimination of Leakage Patterns from Natural Background Values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galfond, B.; Riemer, D. D.; Swart, P. K.

2014-12-01

In order for Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) to gain wide acceptance as a method for mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentrations, schemes must be devised to ensure that potential leakage is detected. New regulations from the US Environmental Protection Agency require monitoring and accounting for Class VI injection wells, which will remain a barrier to wide scale CCUS deployment until effective and efficient monitoring techniques have been developed and proven. Monitoring near-surface CO2 at injection sites to ensure safety and operational success requires high temporal resolution CO2 concentration and carbon isotopic (δ13C) measurements. The only technologies currently capable of this rapid measurement of δ13C are optical techniques such as Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS). We have developed a comprehensive remote monitoring approach using CRDS and a custom manifold system to obtain accurate rapid measurements from a large sample area over an extended study period. Our modified Picarro G1101-i CRDS allows for automated rapid and continuous field measurement of δ13CO2 and concentrations of relevant gas species. At our field site, where preparations have been underway for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) operations, we have been able to measure biogenic effects on a diurnal scale, as well as variation due to precipitation and seasonality. Taking these background trends into account, our statistical treatment of real data has been used to improve signal-to-noise ratios by an order of magnitude over published models. Our system has proven field readiness for the monitoring of sites with even modest CO2 fluxes.

76 FR 13432 - In the Matter of Certain Display Devices, Including Digital Televisions and Monitors II; Notice...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-11

... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Inv. No. 337-TA-765] In the Matter of Certain Display Devices, Including Digital Televisions and Monitors II; Notice of Investigation AGENCY: U.S. International Trade... that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on February 9, 2011, under...

A Multi-Center Space Data System Prototype Based on CCSDS Standards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rich, Thomas M.

2016-01-01

Deep space missions beyond earth orbit will require new methods of data communications in order to compensate for increasing Radio Frequency (RF) propagation delay. The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standard protocols Spacecraft Monitor & Control (SM&C), Asynchronous Message Service (AMS), and Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) provide such a method. However, the maturity level of this protocol stack is insufficient for mission inclusion at this time. This Space Data System prototype is intended to provide experience which will raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of this protocol set. In order to reduce costs, future missions can take advantage of these standard protocols, which will result in increased interoperability between control centers. This prototype demonstrates these capabilities by implementing a realistic space data system in which telemetry is published to control center applications at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Reverse publishing paths for commanding from each control center are also implemented. The target vehicle consists of realistic flight computer hardware running Core Flight Software (CFS) in the integrated Power, Avionics, and Power (iPAS) Pathfinder Lab at JSC. This prototype demonstrates a potential upgrade path for future Deep Space Network (DSN) modification, in which the automatic error recovery and communication gap compensation capabilities of DTN would be exploited. In addition, SM&C provides architectural flexibility by allowing new service providers and consumers to be added efficiently anywhere in the network using the common interface provided by SM&C's Message Abstraction Layer (MAL). In FY 2015, this space data system was enhanced by adding telerobotic operations capability provided by the Robot API Delegate (RAPID) family of protocols developed at NASA. RAPID is one of several candidates for consideration and inclusion in a new international standard being developed by the CCSDS Telerobotic Operations Working Group. Software gateways for the purpose of interfacing RAPID messages with the existing SM&C based infrastructure were developed. Telerobotic monitor, control, and bridge applications were written in the RAPID framework, which were then tailored to the NAO telerobotic test article hardware, a product of Aldebaran Robotics.

Mass spectrometry-based monitoring of millisecond protein–ligand binding dynamics using an automated microfluidic platform

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

Cong, Yongzheng; Katipamula, Shanta; Trader, Cameron D.

2016-01-01

Characterizing protein-ligand binding dynamics is crucial for understanding protein function and developing new therapeutic agents. We have developed a novel microfluidic platform that features rapid mixing of protein and ligand solutions, variable incubation times, and on-chip electrospray ionization to perform label-free, solution-based monitoring of protein-ligand binding dynamics. This platform offers many advantages including automated processing, rapid mixing, and low sample consumption.

Very High Resolution Panoramic Photography to Improve Conventional Rangeland Monitoring 1994

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rangeland monitoring often includes repeat photographs as a basis for documentation and although photographic equipment and electronics have been evolving rapidly, basic rangeland photo monitoring methods have changed little over time. Ground based digital photography is underutilized, especially s...

From molecules to management: adopting DNA-based methods for monitoring biological invasions in aquatic environments

EPA Science Inventory

Recent technological advances have driven rapid development of DNA-based methods designed to facilitate detection and monitoring of invasive species in aquatic environments. These tools promise to significantly alleviate difficulties associated with traditional monitoring approac...

Strategies for the conservation monitoring of resident landbirds and wintering neotropical migrants in the Americas

Treesearch

Steven C. Latta; C. John Ralph; Geoffrey R. Geupel

2005-01-01

Many international, regional, and local partner organizations have agreed in the need to establish long-term bird monitoring and research programs in the Americas. However, the challenge of developing national or international monitoring programs is difficult often because of the lack of qualified biologists or other resources in key regions. More fundamentally,...

Welcome to NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. Version 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

There are strong scientific indications that natural change in the Earth system is being accelerated by human intervention. As a result, planet Earth faces the possibility of rapid environmental changes that would have a profound impact on all nations. However, we do not fully understand either the short-term effects of our activities, or their long-term implications - many important scientific questions remain unanswered. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working with the national and international scientific communities to establish a sound scientific basis for addressing these critical issues through research efforts coordinated under the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program, and the World Climate Research Program. The Earth Science Enterprise is NASA's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. NASA's Earth Science Enterprise will use space- and surface-based measurement systems to provide the scientific basis for understanding global change. The space-based components will provide a constellation of satellites to monitor the Earth from space. A major component of the Earth Science Enterprise is the Earth Observing System (EOS). The overall objective of the EOS Program is to determine the extent, causes, and regional consequences of global climate change. EOS will provide sustained space-based observations that will allow researchers to monitor climate variables over time to determine trends. A constellation of EOS satellites will acquire global data, beginning in 1998 and extending well into the 21st century.

Optoacoustic monitoring of central and peripheral venous oxygenation during simulated hemorrhage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrov, Andrey; Kinsky, Michael; Prough, Donald S.; Petrov, Yuriy; Petrov, Irene Y.; Henkel, S. Nan; Seeton, Roger; Salter, Michael G.; Khan, Muzna N.; Esenaliev, Rinat O.

2014-03-01

Circulatory shock may be fatal unless promptly recognized and treated. The most commonly used indicators of shock (hypotension and tachycardia) lack sensitivity and specificity. In the initial stages of shock, the body compensates by reducing blood flow to the peripheral (skin, muscle, etc.) circulation in order to preserve vital organ (brain, heart, liver) perfusion. Characteristically, this can be observed by a greater reduction in peripheral venous oxygenation (for instance, the axillary vein) compared to central venous oxygenation (the internal jugular vein). While invasive measurements of oxygenation are accurate, they lack practicality and are not without complications. We have developed a novel optoacoustic system that noninvasively determines oxygenation in specific veins. In order to test this application, we used lower body negative pressure (LBNP) system, which simulates hemorrhage by exerting a variable amount of suction on the lower body, thereby reducing the volume of blood available for central circulation. Restoration of normal blood flow occurs promptly upon cessation of LBNP. Using two optoacoustic probes, guided by ultrasound imaging, we simultaneously monitored oxygenation in the axillary and internal jugular veins (IJV). LBNP began at -20 mmHg, thereafter was reduced in a step-wise fashion (up to 30 min). The optoacoustically measured axillary oxygenation decreased with LBNP, whereas IJV oxygenation remained relatively constant. These results indicate that our optoacoustic system may provide safe and rapid measurement of peripheral and central venous oxygenation and diagnosis of shock with high specificity and sensitivity.

Lead - nutritional considerations

MedlinePlus

... and brains are growing rapidly. Many federal agencies study and monitor lead exposure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors lead in food, beverages, food containers, and tableware. The Environmental Protection Agency ( ...

Outbursts of H2O in Comet P/Halley

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, H. P.; Hu, H.-Y.; Mumma, M. J.; Weaver, H. A.

1990-07-01

Comet Halley gas-production monitoring efforts in March 1986 with the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory's Fourier transform spectrometer have indicated rapid temporal variations in H2O emissions; a continuous record of an H2O outburst was thus obtained. The event, in which H2O brightness increased by a factor of 2.2 in less than 10 min, is ascribable to an energetic process in the nucleus whose character may have been that of amorphous H2O ice crystallization, chemical explosion, thermal stress, or a compressed gas pocket. The timing and energy of the event appear to require an internal energy source; amorphous ice crystallization is held to be most consistent with compositional and thermal models of cometary nuclei as well as the observations.

[Healthy Cities projects].

PubMed

Takano, Takehito

2002-05-01

This is a review article on "Healthy Cities". The Healthy Cities programme has been developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to tackle urban health and environmental issues in a broad way. It is a kind of comprehensive policy package to carry out individual projects and activities effectively and efficiently. Its key aspects include healthy public policy, vision sharing, high political commitment, establishment of structural organization, strategic health planning, intersectoral collaboration, community participation, setting approach, development of supportive environment for health, formation of city health profile, national and international networking, participatory research, periodic monitoring and evaluation, and mechanisms for sustainability of projects. The present paper covered the Healthy Cities concept and approaches, rapid urbanization in the world, developments of WHO Healthy Cities, Healthy Cities developments in the Western Pacific Region, the health promotion viewpoint, and roles of research.

The simultaneous quantitation of ten amino acids in soil extracts by mass fragmentography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pereira, W. E.; Hoyano, Y.; Reynolds, W. E.; Summons, R. E.; Duffield, A. M.

1972-01-01

A specific and sensitive method for the identification and simultaneous quantitation by mass fragmentography of ten of the amino acids present in soil was developed. The technique uses a computer driven quadrupole mass spectrometer and a commercial preparation of deuterated amino acids is used as internal standards for purposes of quantitation. The results obtained are comparable with those from an amino acid analyzer. In the quadrupole mass spectrometer-computer system up to 25 pre-selected ions may be monitored sequentially. This allows a maximum of 12 different amino acids (one specific ion in each of the undeuterated and deuterated amino acid spectra) to be quantitated. The method is relatively rapid (analysis time of approximately one hour) and is capable of the quantitation of nanogram quantities of amino acids.

Monitoring the Galaxy - Highlights from the MAXI mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihara, Tatehiro

Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) is an X-ray all-sky monitor on the International Space Station. It is equipped with Gas Slit Camera (GSC) and Solid-state Slit Camera (SSC). Since it was mounted to the Japanese experimental module in 2009, it has been scanning the whole sky in every 92 minutes with ISS rotation. The data are processed automatically and distributed through http://maxi.riken.jp homepage. MAXI issued 136 to Astronomers Telegram and 47 to Gamma-ray burst Coordinated Network so far. There are many transient X-ray sources in our galaxy. The most remarkable one is a new source. MAXI discovered 12 MAXI sources, 6 of which are blackhole binaries. MAXI J0158-744 was a source in a new category (Morii et al. 2013). It was a very bright (10(40) erg s(-1) ) and very rapid (< 1 hour) nova consisting of a unusual pair of binary, which was a Ne-white dwarf and a Be star. The monitoring results are published as the 37-month catalog (Hiroi et al. 2012) which contains 500 sources above 0.6 mCrab in 4-10 keV in high Galactic-latitude (|b| > 10 deg). SSC with X-ray CCD has detected diffuse soft X-rays in the all-sky, such as Cygnus super bubble (Kimura et al. 2013) and north polar spur, as well as it found Ne line from the rapid soft X-ray nova MAXI J0158-744. Be X-ray binary pulsars (BeXBP) are also transients. They have outbursts at the periastron passage. However, the outburst does not occur in every orbit. Some sources stay in quiescence for tens of years, then suddenly start outbursts repeating for several years. All-sky monitor is then essential to study such kinds of sources. For example, cyclotron feature is often seen in the high energy X-ray band of BeXBP, from which magnetic fields of the poles are measured. MAXI detection of outburst and following SUZAKU pointing observation are very effective. We observed two BeXBP, GX 304-1 in 2010 and GRO J1008-57 in 2012 in MAXI-Suzaku collaboration and succeeded to catch them at the outburst peaks (600mCrab and 450mCrab) to detect cyclotron feature at 54 keV (Yamamoto et al. 2011) and 76 keV (Yamamoto et al. 2014), respectively. Those are top 1 and 3 of the highest magnetic fields among XBP. Transient low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB), containing a neutron star or a black hole are also transients. The instability of the acretion disks are proposed to explain the random appearance. The long-term monitoring is also essential to study super orbital modulations of such as supergiant XBP (SMC X-1, LMC X-4 etc.) and LMXB (4U 1820-30 etc.). Monitoring is also useful to detect a rare state, such as a quenched-radio state of Cyg X-3 and rapid end of outburst of Cir X-1.

Research on the ride comfort of elevator monitoring using smartphone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yang; Sun, Xiaowei; Xie, Zhao; Su, Wensheng; Xue, Zhigang; Zhao, Xuefeng

2017-04-01

With the rapid development of high-rise buildings, the requirement of the elevator's speed is growing higher. And the vibration amplitude of elevator will also increasing with the improvement of running speed. The vibration problems of elevator have become the important factors that affect the comfort feeling of elevator. At the same time, the strong vibration will affect the normal work of elevator, and even cause accidents. So it's necessary to study the vibration characteristics of the elevator. In recent years, smartphone has developed rapidly, with a variety of sophisticated sensors; it has the powerful data processing and transmission capacity. In this paper, the author has presented an elevator comfort monitoring method based on smartphone. This method using Monitoring App can monitor the acceleration and inclination information using MEMS sensors embedded in smartphone. Then a confirmatory test for an elevator was designed, experimental results show that elevator comfort monitoring method based on smartphone is stable and reliable.

Tools for rabies serology to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccination in domestic and wild carnivores.

PubMed

Servat, A; Wasniewski, M; Cliquet, F

2006-01-01

Serology remains the only way to monitor the effectiveness of vaccination of humans and animals against rabies. Many techniques for determining the level of rabies antibodies have been described, including seroneutralisation techniques such as tests for fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation (FAVN) and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition (RFFIT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and in-vivo tests (the mouse neutralisation test, MNT). The need to verify the effectiveness of rabies vaccination has become widespread, particularly in the context of international trading of domestic carnivores from infected to rabies-free territories. The standardisation of serological techniques, approval of laboratories and proficiency tests are key concepts to ensure the practicability of such systems. Serological tests for rabies are also often used by laboratories in infected territories to assess the efficacy of campaigns aimed at the eradication of the disease via oral vaccination of wildlife. The adaptation of these methods should provide the means to titrate specific antibodies in dogs during mass parenteral vaccination in countries infected by canine rabies. However, in most cases these serological tests are carried without any standardised procedure. On the basis of our experience in rabies serology and its harmonisation throughout laboratories worldwide, we propose here an adapted standard technique for the serological monitoring for rabies in wildlife at the European level. Such harmonisation would allow the monitoring of vaccination campaigns to be enhanced by increasing the exchange of epidemiological data, with the ultimate goal being the eradication of rabies in Europe.

Asia Rice Crop Estimation and Monitoring (Asia-RiCE) for GEOGLAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyoshi, K.; Tomiyama, N.; Okumura, T.; Sobue, S.

2013-12-01

Food security is a critical issue for the international community because of rapid population and economic growth, and climate change. In June 2011, the meeting of G20 agriculture ministers was held to discuss food security and food price volatility, and they agreed on an 'Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture'. This plan includes a GEO Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) initiative. The aim of GEOGLAM is to reinforce the international community's ability to produce and disseminate relevant, timely, and accurate forecasts of agricultural production on regional, national, and global scales by utilizing remote sensing technology. GEOGLAM focused on four major grain crops, wheat, maize, soybeans and rice. In particular, Asian countries are responsible for approximately 90% of the world rice production and consumption, rice is the most significant cereal crop in Asian region. Hence, Asian space and agricultural agencies with an interest in the development of rice crop monitoring technology launched an Asia-Rice Crop Estimation & Monitoring (Asia-RiCE) component for the GEOGLAM initiative. In Asian region, rice is mainly cultivated in rainy season, and a large amount of cloud limits rice crop monitoring with optical sensors. But, Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) is all-weather sensor and can observe land surface even if the area is covered by cloud. Therefore, SAR technology would be powerful tool to monitor rice crop in Asian region. Asia-RiCE team required mainly SAR observation data including ALOS-2, RISAT-1, Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT, TerraSAR-X, COSMO-SkyMed for Asia-RiCE GEOGLAM Phase 1 implementation (2013-2015) to the Committee on Earth Observations (CEOS) in the GEOGLAM-CEOS Global Agricultural Monitoring Co-community Meeting held in June 2013. And also, rice crop has complicated cropping systems such as rein-fed or irrigated cultivation, single, double or sometimes triple cropping. In addition, each agricultural field is smaller than that of other regions. The methodology for rice crop monitoring is different from that for other crops, and these characteristics make rice crop monitoring by Earth observation data more difficult and complicated. Now, Asian-RiCE team has selected four technical demonstration sites, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam (North and South) for Phase1A implementation (June 2013 to November 2014) to verify methodologies that estimate multi-season crop calendar, rice planted area, yield and production by the blending of Earth observation data including satellite data from SAR or optical sensor and in-situ data. We already developed some prototype systems for rice planed area mapping by SAR and agro-weather monitoring including soil moisture or drought index by microwave and optical data. These technologies would be contribute to the development of rice crop monitoring framework for Asia-RiCE. In this presentation, we introduce the framework and ongoing activities of Asia-RiCE component for GEOGLAM and developed systems for rice crop and agro-weather monitoring.

An inexpensive open-source ultrasonic sensing system for monitoring fluid levels

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fluid levels are measured in a variety of agricultural applications, and are often measured manually, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Rapid advances in electronic technologies have made a variety of inexpensive sensing, monitoring, and control capabilities available. A monitoring ...

International research to monitor sustainable forest spatial patterns: proceedings of the 2005 IUFRO World Congress symposium

Treesearch

Kurt Riitters; Christine Estreguil

2007-01-01

Presentations from the symposium "International Research to Monitor Sustainable Forest Spatial Patterns," which was organized as part of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress in August 2005, are summarized in this report. The overall theme of the World Congress was "Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and...

Insulin receptors internalize by a rapid, saturable pathway requiring receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region

PubMed Central

1991-01-01

The effect of receptor occupancy on insulin receptor endocytosis was examined in CHO cells expressing normal human insulin receptors (CHO/IR), autophosphorylation- and internalization-deficient receptors (CHO/IRA1018), and receptors which undergo autophosphorylation but lack a sequence required for internalization (CHO/IR delta 960). The rate of [125I]insulin internalization in CHO/IR cells at 37 degrees C was rapid at physiological concentrations, but decreased markedly in the presence of increasing unlabeled insulin (ED50 = 1-3 nM insulin, or 75,000 occupied receptors/cell). In contrast, [125I]insulin internalization by CHO/IRA1018 and CHO/IR delta 960 cells was slow and was not inhibited by unlabeled insulin. At saturating insulin concentrations, the rate of internalization by wild-type and mutant receptors was similar. Moreover, depletion of intracellular potassium, which has been shown to disrupt coated pit formation, inhibited the rapid internalization of [125I]insulin at physiological insulin concentrations by CHO/IR cells, but had little or no effect on [125I]insulin uptake by CHO/IR delta 960 and CHO/IRA1018 cells or wild-type cells at high insulin concentrations. These data suggest that the insulin-stimulated entry of the insulin receptor into a rapid, coated pit-mediated internalization pathway is saturable and requires receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region. Furthermore, CHO cells also contain a constitutive nonsaturable pathway which does not require receptor autophosphorylation or an intact juxtamembrane region; this second pathway is unaffected by depletion of intracellular potassium, and therefore may be independent of coated pits. Our data suggest that the ligand-stimulated internalization of the insulin receptor may require specific saturable interactions between the receptor and components of the endocytic system. PMID:1757462

Determination of tiropramide in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Lee, Hye Won; Ji, Hye Young; Kim, Hee Hyun; Cho, Hea-Young; Lee, Yong-Bok; Lee, Hye Suk

2003-11-05

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method for the determination of tiropramide in human plasma was developed. Tiropramide and internal standard, cisapride were extracted from human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed on a Luna C8 column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium formate (10mM, pH 4.5) (50:50, v/v). The analytes was detected using an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction-monitoring mode. The standard curve was linear (r=0.998) over the concentration range of 2.0-200 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 2.8 to 7.8 and 6.7 to 8.9%, respectively. The recoveries of tiropramide ranged from 50.2 to 53.1%, with that of cisapride (internal standard) being 60.9+/-5.3%. The lower limit of quantification for tiropramide was 2.0 ng/ml using 100 microl plasma sample. This method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of tiropramide in human.

Monitoring and managing mental health in the wake of Ebola. Commentary.

PubMed

Bitanihirwe, Byron Kiiza Yafesi

2016-01-01

Infectious disease continues to have dramatic effects on morbidity and mortality around the world. Few events could cause such loss of life and damage to livelihoods. As witnessed with the recent West African Ebola outbreak, raising alerts and identifying the outbreak in the community took too long. As a consequence local health systems were quickly overwhelmed. In addition, response at the international level proved slow and poorly coordinated. Rapid diagnostics, effective therapeutics, protective equipment, and a vaccine were all lacking. The crisis was however ultimately halted, thanks to a massive deployment of international resources in combination with the bravery and compassion of the medical staff, scientists, healthcare and aid workers on the ground. Despite this triumph, the lingering psychological sequalae of Ebola remain a significant public health challenge. The importance of mental health service delivery and policy implementation in addition to public health funding resources will prove integral in tackling this issue in the long run. With this in mind, adopting a political ecology approach towards health and disease will be crucial in order to depathologize the clinically significant mental distress related to Ebola.

How much is too much? (Part 1) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on load in sport and risk of injury.

PubMed

Soligard, Torbjørn; Schwellnus, Martin; Alonso, Juan-Manuel; Bahr, Roald; Clarsen, Ben; Dijkstra, H Paul; Gabbett, Tim; Gleeson, Michael; Hägglund, Martin; Hutchinson, Mark R; Janse van Rensburg, Christa; Khan, Karim M; Meeusen, Romain; Orchard, John W; Pluim, Babette M; Raftery, Martin; Budgett, Richard; Engebretsen, Lars

2016-09-01

Athletes participating in elite sports are exposed to high training loads and increasingly saturated competition calendars. Emerging evidence indicates that poor load management is a major risk factor for injury. The International Olympic Committee convened an expert group to review the scientific evidence for the relationship of load (defined broadly to include rapid changes in training and competition load, competition calendar congestion, psychological load and travel) and health outcomes in sport. We summarise the results linking load to risk of injury in athletes, and provide athletes, coaches and support staff with practical guidelines to manage load in sport. This consensus statement includes guidelines for (1) prescription of training and competition load, as well as for (2) monitoring of training, competition and psychological load, athlete well-being and injury. In the process, we identified research priorities. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Responsive Feeding: Implications for Policy and Program Implementation12

PubMed Central

Engle, Patrice L.; Pelto, Gretel H.

2011-01-01

In this article, we examine responsive feeding as a nutrition intervention, with an emphasis on the development and incorporation of responsive feeding into policies and programs over the last 2 decades and recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of responsive feeding interventions. A review of policy documents from international agencies and high-income countries reveals that responsive feeding has been incorporated into nutrition policies. Official guidelines from international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and professional organizations often include best practice recommendations for responsive feeding. Four potential explanations are offered for the rapid development of policies related to responsive feeding that have occurred despite the relatively recent recognition that responsive feeding plays a critical role in child nutrition and growth and the paucity of effectiveness trials to determine strategies to promote responsive feeding. Looking to the future, 3 issues related to program implementation are highlighted: 1) improving intervention specificity relative to responsive feeding; 2) developing protocols that facilitate efficient adaptation of generic guidelines to national contexts and local conditions; and 3) development of program support materials, including training, monitoring, and operational evaluation. PMID:21270361

Analysis of vitamin K1 in fruits and vegetables using accelerated solvent extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.

PubMed

Jäpelt, Rie Bak; Jakobsen, Jette

2016-02-01

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific analytical method to study vitamin K1 in fruits and vegetables. Accelerated solvent extraction and solid phase extraction was used for sample preparation. Quantification was done by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in selected reaction monitoring mode with deuterium-labeled vitamin K1 as an internal standard. The precision was estimated as the pooled estimate of three replicates performed on three different days for spinach, peas, apples, banana, and beetroot. The repeatability was 5.2% and the internal reproducibility was 6.2%. Recovery was in the range 90-120%. No significant difference was observed between the results obtained by the present method and by a method using the same principle as the CEN-standard i.e. liquid-liquid extraction and post-column zinc reduction with fluorescence detection. Limit of quantification was estimated to 0.05 μg/100g fresh weight. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conflict monitoring in speech processing: An fMRI study of error detection in speech production and perception.

PubMed

Gauvin, Hanna S; De Baene, Wouter; Brass, Marcel; Hartsuiker, Robert J

2016-02-01

To minimize the number of errors in speech, and thereby facilitate communication, speech is monitored before articulation. It is, however, unclear at which level during speech production monitoring takes place, and what mechanisms are used to detect and correct errors. The present study investigated whether internal verbal monitoring takes place through the speech perception system, as proposed by perception-based theories of speech monitoring, or whether mechanisms independent of perception are applied, as proposed by production-based theories of speech monitoring. With the use of fMRI during a tongue twister task we observed that error detection in internal speech during noise-masked overt speech production and error detection in speech perception both recruit the same neural network, which includes pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), anterior insula (AI), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Although production and perception recruit similar areas, as proposed by perception-based accounts, we did not find activation in superior temporal areas (which are typically associated with speech perception) during internal speech monitoring in speech production as hypothesized by these accounts. On the contrary, results are highly compatible with a domain general approach to speech monitoring, by which internal speech monitoring takes place through detection of conflict between response options, which is subsequently resolved by a domain general executive center (e.g., the ACC). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapidly progressive internal root resorption: a case report.

PubMed

Keinan, David; Heling, Ilana; Stabholtz, Adam; Moshonov, Joshua

2008-10-01

The etiology of internal root resorption is not fully understandable, trauma and chronic pulpitis are considered the main risk factors. Usually the process is asymptomatic and diagnosed upon routine radiographic examination. This case report presents a rapid progression of internal resorption related directly to traumatic injury. A 16-year-old female arrived at the emergency room after a mild extrusion of the mandibular incisors. The initial treatment included repositioning and splinting of the teeth. Radiographs performed at repositioning and splinting demonstrated normal configuration of the incisor's roots. Ten months later progressive internal resorption of the left mandibular first incisor was diagnosed. While treating this tooth similar process was detected in the right mandibular second incisor and in the mandibular left second incisor. The lower right first incisor reacted inconsistently to vitality test. As a result of the severe and rapidly progressive nature of the process, root canal treatments were performed in all lower incisors. The follow-up radiographs demonstrate arrest of the internal resorption process.

Amplatzer vascular plug for rapid vessel occlusion in interventional neuroradiology

PubMed Central

Banfield, Jillian C

2016-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to report different uses of endovascular Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) treatment for rapid vessel occlusion in the field of interventional neuroradiology. We retrospectively reviewed our interventional neuroradiology database from November 2010 to July 2015 and found nine patients who were treated with endovascular AVP. AVP was used for rapid vessel occlusion of common carotid artery (1 patient), internal carotid artery (5 patients), vertebral artery (2 patients), and internal jugular vein (1 patient). A median of three AVPs were used with almost immediate occlusion and no thromboembolic complications. Use of AVP is feasible, safe, rapid, and potentially cost-effective method for rapid occlusion of larger size vessels in the head and neck region for different indications. PMID:26515699

Population dynamics of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik: 1966-2012.

PubMed

Miquelle, Dale G; Smirnov, Evgeny N; Zaumyslova, Olga Yu; Soutyrina, Svetlana V; Johnson, Douglas H

2015-07-01

In 2010, the world's tiger (Panthera tigris) range countries agreed to the goal of doubling tiger numbers over 12 years, but whether such an increase is biologically feasible has not been assessed. Long-term monitoring of tigers in Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik (SABZ), Russia provided an opportunity to determine growth rates of a recovering population. A 41-year growth phase was followed by a rapid decline in tiger numbers. Annual growth rates during the growth phase averaged 4.6%, beginning near 10% in the earliest years but quickly dropping below 5%. Sex ratio (females per male) mirrored growth rates, declining as population size increased. The rapid decline from 2009 to 2012 appeared to be tied to multiple factors, including poaching, severe winters and disease. Reproductive indicators of this population are similar to those of Bengal tiger populations, suggesting that growth rates may be similar. These results suggest that, first, tiger populations likely in general grow slowly: 3-5% yearly increases are realistic and larger growth rates are likely only when populations are highly depressed, mortality rates are low and prey populations are high relative to numbers of adult females. Second, while more research is needed, it should not be assumed that tiger populations with high prey densities will necessarily grow more quickly than populations with low prey densities. Third, while growth is slow, decline can be rapid. Fourth, because declines can happen so quickly, there is a constant need to monitor populations and be ready to respond with appropriate and timely conservation interventions if tiger populations are to remain secure. Finally, an average annual growth rate across all tiger populations of 6%, required to reach the Global Tiger Initiative's goal of doubling tiger numbers in 12 years, is a noble but unlikely scenario. © 2015 International Society of Zoological Sciences, Institute of Zoology/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

The Use of Remote Sensing Satellites for Verification in International Law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hettling, J. K.

The contribution is a very sensitive topic which is currently about to gain significance and importance in the international community. It implies questions of international law as well as the contemplation of new developments and decisions in international politics. The paper will begin with the meaning and current status of verification in international law as well as the legal basis of satellite remote sensing in international treaties and resolutions. For the verification part, this implies giving a definition of verification and naming its fields of application and the different means of verification. For the remote sensing part, it involves the identification of relevant provisions in the Outer Space Treaty and the United Nations General Assembly Principles on Remote Sensing. Furthermore it shall be looked at practical examples: in how far have remote sensing satellites been used to verify international obligations? Are there treaties which would considerably profit from the use of remote sensing satellites? In this respect, there are various examples which can be contemplated, such as the ABM Treaty (even though out of force now), the SALT and START Agreements, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Conventional Test Ban Treaty. It will be mentioned also that NGOs have started to verify international conventions, e.g. Landmine Monitor is verifying the Mine-Ban Convention. Apart from verifying arms control and disarmament treaties, satellites can also strengthen the negotiation of peace agreements (such as the Dayton Peace Talks) and the prevention of international conflicts from arising. Verification has played an increasingly prominent role in high-profile UN operations. Verification and monitoring can be applied to the whole range of elements that constitute a peace implementation process, ranging from the military aspects through electoral monitoring and human rights monitoring, from negotiating an accord to finally monitoring it. Last but not least the problem of enforcing international obligations needs to be addressed, especially the dependence of international law on the will of political leaders and their respective national interests.

Global Monitoring of Water Supply and Sanitation: History, Methods and Future Challenges

PubMed Central

Bartram, Jamie; Brocklehurst, Clarissa; Fisher, Michael B.; Luyendijk, Rolf; Hossain, Rifat; Wardlaw, Tessa; Gordon, Bruce

2014-01-01

International monitoring of drinking water and sanitation shapes awareness of countries’ needs and informs policy, implementation and research efforts to extend and improve services. The Millennium Development Goals established global targets for drinking water and sanitation access; progress towards these targets, facilitated by international monitoring, has contributed to reducing the global disease burden and increasing quality of life. The experiences of the MDG period generated important lessons about the strengths and limitations of current approaches to defining and monitoring access to drinking water and sanitation. The methods by which the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of WHO and UNICEF tracks access and progress are based on analysis of data from household surveys and linear regression modelling of these results over time. These methods provide nationally-representative and internationally-comparable insights into the drinking water and sanitation facilities used by populations worldwide, but also have substantial limitations: current methods do not address water quality, equity of access, or extra-household services. Improved statistical methods are needed to better model temporal trends. This article describes and critically reviews JMP methods in detail for the first time. It also explores the impact of, and future directions for, international monitoring of drinking water and sanitation. PMID:25116635

Hanford Internal Dosimetry Project manual. Revision 1

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

Carbaugh, E.H.; Bihl, D.E.; MacLellan, J.A.

1994-07-01

This document describes the Hanford Internal Dosimetry Project, as it is administered by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) in support of the US Department of Energy and its Hanford contractors. Project services include administrating the bioassay monitoring program, evaluating and documenting assessment of potential intakes and internal dose, ensuring that analytical laboratories conform to requirements, selecting and applying appropriate models and procedures for evaluating radionuclide deposition and the resulting dose, and technically guiding and supporting Hanford contractors in matters regarding internal dosimetry. Specific chapters deal with the following subjects: practices of the project, including interpretation of applicable DOE Orders, regulations, andmore » guidance into criteria for assessment, documentation, and reporting of doses; assessment of internal dose, including summary explanations of when and how assessments are performed; recording and reporting practices for internal dose; selection of workers for bioassay monitoring and establishment of type and frequency of bioassay measurements; capability and scheduling of bioassay monitoring services; recommended dosimetry response to potential internal exposure incidents; quality control and quality assurance provisions of the program.« less

Sleep/wake dependent changes in cortical glucose concentrations.

PubMed

Dash, Michael B; Bellesi, Michele; Tononi, Giulio; Cirelli, Chiara

2013-01-01

Most of the energy in the brain comes from glucose and supports glutamatergic activity. The firing rate of cortical glutamatergic neurons, as well as cortical extracellular glutamate levels, increase with time spent awake and decline throughout non rapid eye movement sleep, raising the question whether glucose levels reflect behavioral state and sleep/wake history. Here chronic (2-3 days) electroencephalographic recordings in the rat cerebral cortex were coupled with fixed-potential amperometry to monitor the extracellular concentration of glucose ([gluc]) on a second-by-second basis across the spontaneous sleep-wake cycle and in response to 3 h of sleep deprivation. [Gluc] progressively increased during non rapid eye movement sleep and declined during rapid eye movement sleep, while during wake an early decline in [gluc] was followed by an increase 8-15 min after awakening. There was a significant time of day effect during the dark phase, when rats are mostly awake, with [gluc] being significantly lower during the last 3-4 h of the night relative to the first 3-4 h. Moreover, the duration of the early phase of [gluc] decline during wake was longer after prolonged wake than after consolidated sleep. Thus, the sleep/wake history may affect the levels of glucose available to the brain upon awakening. © 2012 The Authors Journal of Neurochemistry © 2012 International Society for Neurochemistry.

The FACT-G7: a rapid version of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) for monitoring symptoms and concerns in oncology practice and research.

PubMed

Yanez, B; Pearman, T; Lis, C G; Beaumont, J L; Cella, D

2013-04-01

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) assessments in research and clinical oncology settings are increasingly important. HRQOL instruments need to be rapid and still maintain the ability to capture the most relevant patient issues in a valid and reliable manner. The current study develops and validates the FACT-G7, a rapid version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Oncology patients with advanced cancer (N = 533) from 11 diseases sites ranked the symptoms and concerns they viewed as 'the very most important' when undergoing cancer treatment, completed the FACT-G, and additional HRQOL measures. Oncology patients' scores were referenced across a general US population sample (N = 2000). We selected the highest priority cancer-related symptoms and concerns endorsed by patients for inclusion in the FACT-G7. Fatigue and ability to enjoy life were ranked the most highly. The results provide preliminary support for the FACT-G7's internal consistency reliability (α = 0.74) and validity as evidenced by moderate-to-strong relationships with expected criteria. The references for the general population are summarized. The FACT-G7 can be used to assess top-rated symptoms and concerns for a broad spectrum of advanced cancers in clinical practice and research.

Enzyme-Based Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Biosensors for Rapid Assessment of Nitrite Toxicity: Recent Advances and Perspectives.

PubMed

Gahlaut, Anjum; Hooda, Vinita; Gothwal, Ashish; Hooda, Vikas

2018-05-14

In the present era of rapid international globalization and industrialization, intensive use of nitrite as a fertilizing agent in agriculture, preservative, dyeing agent, food additive and as corrosion inhibitor in industrial sectors is adversely effecting environment, natural habitats and human health. The issue of toxicity and carcinogenicity due to excessive ingestion of nitrites via the dietary intake has led to an imminent need for its efficient real-time monitoring in situ. Nitrite detection employing electrochemical biosensors has been gaining high credibility in the field of clinical research. Nitrite biosensors have emerged as an outstanding choice for portable point of care testing of nitrite quantification owing to the excellent properties, such as rapidity, miniaturization, ultra-low limits of detection, multiplexing and enhanced detection sensitivity. The article is enclosed with an interesting outlook on latest emerging trends in the development of nitrite biosensors utilizing nanomaterials, such as metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocomposites, polymers and biomaterials. The present review embarks on the highlights relevant to the nitrite quantification in real samples, then proceeds with a meticulous description of the most pertinent electrochemical nitrite biosensors, which have been proposed by adopting diverse materials and strategies of fabrication and finally end with the achievements and future outlook signifying the application of these nanoengineered biosensors for environmental surveillance and human safety.

Control strategies for highly pathogenic avian influenza: a global perspective.

PubMed

Lubroth, J

2007-01-01

Comprehensive programmes for the prevention, detection and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) require a national dimension and relevant national legislation in which veterinary services can conduct surveillance, competent diagnosis and rapid response. Avian influenza was controlled and prevented by vaccination long before the current H5N1 crisis. The use of vaccine cannot be separated from other essential elements of a vaccination campaign, which include education in poultry production practices, such as hygiene, all in-all out production concepts, separation of species, biosecurity (bio-exclusion to keep the disease out and biocontainment to keep the disease from spreading once suspected or detected), competence in giving the vaccine and the role of vaccination teams, post-vaccination monitoring to ensure efficacy and to detect the circulation of wild-type virus, surveillance and buffer zones in outbreak areas, and performance indicators to determine when vaccination can cease. Reporting of disease can be improved through well-structured, adequately financed veterinary services and also by fair compensation for producers who suffer financial loss. A rapid response to suspected cases of HPAI should be ensured in simulation exercises involving various sectors of the food production and marketing chain, policy-makers, official veterinary structures and other government personnel. As for other transboundary animal diseases, national approaches must be part of a regional strategy and regional networks for cooperation and information sharing, which in turn reflect global policies and international standards, such as the quality of vaccines, reporting obligations, humane interventions, cleaning and disinfection methods, restocking times, monitoring and safe trade.

An Improved LC-ESI-MS/MS Method to Quantify Pregabalin in Human Plasma and Dry Plasma Spot for Therapeutic Monitoring and Pharmacokinetic Applications.

PubMed

Dwivedi, Jaya; Namdev, Kuldeep K; Chilkoti, Deepak C; Verma, Surajpal; Sharma, Swapnil

2018-06-06

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of anti-epileptic drugs provides a valid clinical tool in optimization of overall therapy. However, TDM is challenging due to the high biological samples (plasma/blood) storage/shipment costs and the limited availability of laboratories providing TDM services. Sampling in the form of dry plasma spot (DPS) or dry blood spot (DBS) is a suitable alternative to overcome these issues. An improved, simple, rapid, and stability indicating method for quantification of pregabalin in human plasma and DPS has been developed and validated. Analyses were performed on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer under positive ionization mode of electrospray interface. Pregabain-d4 was used as internal standard, and the chromatographic separations were performed on Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column using an isocratic mobile phase flow rate of 1 mL/min. Stability of pregabalin in DPS was evaluated under simulated real-time conditions. Extraction procedures from plasma and DPS samples were compared using statistical tests. The method was validated considering the FDA method validation guideline. The method was linear over the concentration range of 20-16000 ng/mL and 100-10000 ng/mL in plasma and DPS, respectively. DPS samples were found stable for only one week upon storage at room temperature and for at least four weeks at freezing temperature (-20 ± 5 °C). Method was applied for quantification of pregabalin in over 600 samples of a clinical study. Statistical analyses revealed that two extraction procedures in plasma and DPS samples showed statistically insignificant difference and can be used interchangeably without any bias. Proposed method involves simple and rapid steps of sample processing that do not require a pre- or post-column derivatization procedure. The method is suitable for routine pharmacokinetic analysis and therapeutic monitoring of pregabalin.

Validated UPLC/MS/MS assay for quantitative bioanalysis of elbasvir in rat plasma and application to pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Liu, Haiyan; Xu, Hongjiang; Song, Wei; Zhang, Yinsheng; Yu, Sen; Huang, Xin

2016-03-15

Rapid, sensitive, selective and accurate ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of elbasvir (ELB) in rat plasma with deuterated elbasvir (ELB-D6) as internal standard (IS).Sample preparation was done by protein precipitation using acetonitrile containing 50 ng/mL IS. Chromatographic separation was achieved by an UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (containing 5.0mM ammonium acetate with 0.01% acetic acid, pH 4.5) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min for 3 min. ELB was monitored using positive electrospray triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters Xevo TQ-S) via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The monitored transitions were set at m/z 882.51→656.42 and m/z 888.49→662.43 for ELB and ELB-D6, respectively. The achieved lower limit of quantification was 1.0 ng/mL. The validated method had an excellent linearity in the range of 1.0-2000 ng/mL (r(2)>0.996). Recovery efficiency at three levels QC concentrations of 2.0 (low), 160 (medium) and 1600 (high) ng/mLwas in the range of 98.29-106.40% for ELB. Matrix effect was found to be minimal. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 7.01%. The intra- and inter-day accuracies were determined to be within ±6.23% for all accuracy measurements. The validated simple and rapid UPLC-MS/MS method was successfully used to the pharmacokinetics study of ELB in rats, providing its applicability in relevant preclinical studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanomaterial-enabled Rapid Detection of Water Contaminants.

PubMed

Mao, Shun; Chang, Jingbo; Zhou, Guihua; Chen, Junhong

2015-10-28

Water contaminants, e.g., inorganic chemicals and microorganisms, are critical metrics for water quality monitoring and have significant impacts on human health and plants/organisms living in water. The scope and focus of this review is nanomaterial-based optical, electronic, and electrochemical sensors for rapid detection of water contaminants, e.g., heavy metals, anions, and bacteria. These contaminants are commonly found in different water systems. The importance of water quality monitoring and control demands significant advancement in the detection of contaminants in water because current sensing technologies for water contaminants have limitations. The advantages of nanomaterial-based sensing technologies are highlighted and recent progress on nanomaterial-based sensors for rapid water contaminant detection is discussed. An outlook for future research into this rapidly growing field is also provided. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Polymerization Kinetics: Monitoring Monomer Conversion Using an Internal Standard and the Key Role of Sample "t[subscript 0]"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colombani, Olivier; Langelier, Ophelie; Martwong, Ekkachai; Castignolles, Patrice

2011-01-01

The use of an internal standard is a conventional and convenient way to monitor the conversion of one or several monomers during a controlled radical polymerization. However, the validity of this technique relies on an accurate determination of the initial monomer-to-internal standard ratio, A[subscript 0], because all subsequent calculations of…

40 CFR 60.4237 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? 60.4237 Section... Internal Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4237 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? (a...

40 CFR 60.4237 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? 60.4237 Section... Internal Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4237 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? (a...

40 CFR 60.4237 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? 60.4237 Section... Internal Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4237 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? (a...

40 CFR 60.4237 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? 60.4237 Section... Internal Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4237 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? (a...

40 CFR 60.4237 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? 60.4237 Section... Internal Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4237 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of an emergency stationary SI internal combustion engine? (a...

PIMACS (Polarimeter and improved modular anti-coincidence system): an effective instrument concept for x-, gamma-ray monitoring, and polarimetry measurements on the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuffler, Timo; Graue, Roland; Bird, Antony J.; Dean, Antony; Staubert, Rüdiger

2018-04-01

This paper, "PIMACS (Polarimeter and improved modular anti-coincidence system): an effective instrument concept for x-, gamma-ray monitoring, and polarimetry measurements on the International Space Station," was presented as part of International Conference on Space Optics—ICSO 1997, held in Toulouse, France.

Statistical quality control for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery by using the machine's log data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheong, Kwang-Ho; Lee, Me-Yeon; Kang, Sei-Kwon; Yoon, Jai-Woong; Park, Soah; Hwang, Taejin; Kim, Haeyoung; Kim, Kyoung Ju; Han, Tae Jin; Bae, Hoonsik

2015-07-01

The aim of this study is to set up statistical quality control for monitoring the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery error by using the machine's log data. Eclipse and a Clinac iX linac with the RapidArc system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA) are used for delivery of the VMAT plan. During the delivery of the RapidArc fields, the machine determines the delivered monitor units (MUs) and the gantry angle's position accuracy and the standard deviations of the MU ( σMU: dosimetric error) and the gantry angle ( σGA: geometric error) are displayed on the console monitor after completion of the RapidArc delivery. In the present study, first, the log data were analyzed to confirm its validity and usability; then, statistical process control (SPC) was applied to monitor the σMU and the σGA in a timely manner for all RapidArc fields: a total of 195 arc fields for 99 patients. The MU and the GA were determined twice for all fields, that is, first during the patient-specific plan QA and then again during the first treatment. The sMU and the σGA time series were quite stable irrespective of the treatment site; however, the sGA strongly depended on the gantry's rotation speed. The σGA of the RapidArc delivery for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was smaller than that for the typical VMAT. Therefore, SPC was applied for SBRT cases and general cases respectively. Moreover, the accuracy of the potential meter of the gantry rotation is important because the σGA can change dramatically due to its condition. By applying SPC to the σMU and σGA, we could monitor the delivery error efficiently. However, the upper and the lower limits of SPC need to be determined carefully with full knowledge of the machine and log data.

Application of GNSS-RTK derived topographical maps for rapid environmental monitoring: a case study of Jack Finnery Lake (Perth, Australia).

PubMed

Schloderer, Glen; Bingham, Matthew; Awange, Joseph L; Fleming, Kevin M

2011-09-01

In environmental monitoring, environmental impact assessments and environmental audits, topographical maps play an essential role in providing a means by which the locations of sampling sites may be selected, in assisting with the interpretation of physical features, and in indicating the impact or potential impact on an area due to changes in the system being monitored (e.g., spatially changing features such as wetlands). Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are hereby presented as a rapid method for monitoring spatial changes to support environmental monitoring decisions and policies. To validate the GNSS-based method, a comparison is made of results from a small-scale topographic survey using radio-based real-time kinematic GNSS (GNSS-RTK) and total station survey methods at Jack Finnery Lake, Perth, Australia. The accuracies achieved by the total station in this study were 2 cm horizontally and 6 cm vertically, while the GNSS-RTK also achieved an accuracy of 2 cm horizontally, but only 28 cm vertically. While the GNSS-RTK measurements were less accurate in the height component compared to those from the total station method, it is still capable of achieving accuracies sufficient for a topographic map at a scale of 1:1,750 that could support environmental monitoring tasks such as identifying spatial changes in small water bodies or wetlands. The time taken to perform the survey using GNSS-RTK, however, was much shorter compared to the total station method, thereby making it quite suitable for monitoring spatial changes within an environmental context, e.g., dynamic mining activities that require rapid surveys and the updating of the monitored data at regular intervals.

Air Pollution Monitoring and Use of Nanotechnology Based Solid State Gas Sensors in Greater Cairo Area, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramadan, A. B. A.

Air pollution is a serious problem in thickly populated and industrialized areas in Egypt, especially in greater Cairo area. Economic growth and industrialization are proceeding at a rapid pace, accompanied by increasing emissions of air polluting sources. Furthermore, though the variety and quantities of polluting sources have increased dramatically, the development of a suitable method for monitoring the pollution causing sources has not followed at the same pace. Environmental impacts of air pollutants have impact on public health, vegetation, material deterioration etc. To prevent or minimize the damage caused by atmospheric pollution, suitable monitoring systems are urgently needed that can rapidly and reliably detect and quantify polluting sources for monitoring by regulating authorities in order to prevent further deterioration of the current pollution levels. Consequently, it is important that the current real-time air quality monitoring system, controlled by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), should be adapted or extended to aid in alleviating this problem. Nanotechnology has been applied to several industrial and domestic fields, for example, applications for gas monitoring systems, gas leak detectors in factories, fire and toxic gas detectors, ventilation control, breath alcohol detectors, and the like. Here we report an application example of studying air quality monitoring based on nanotechnology `solid state gas sensors'. So as to carry out air pollution monitoring over an extensive area, a combination of ground measurements through inexpensive sensors and wireless GIS will be used for this purpose. This portable device, comprising solid state gas sensors integrated to a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) linked through Bluetooth communication tools and Global Positioning System (GPS), will allow rapid dissemination of information on pollution levels at multiple sites simultaneously.

Monitoring as a Means to Focus Research and Conservation - The Grassland Bird Monitoring Example

Treesearch

Brenda Dale; Michael Norton; Constance Downes; Brian Collins

2005-01-01

One recommendation of the Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy of Partners in Flight-Canada is to improve monitoring capability for rapidly declining grassland birds. In Canada, we lack statistical power for many grassland species because they are detected in small numbers, on a low number of routes, or show high year-to-year variability. In developing a Grassland...

Source Monitoring in Alzheimer's Disease

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El Haj, Mohamad; Fasotti, Luciano; Allain, Philippe

2012-01-01

Source monitoring is the process of making judgments about the origin of memories. There are three categories of source monitoring: reality monitoring (discrimination between self- versus other-generated sources), external monitoring (discrimination between several external sources), and internal monitoring (discrimination between two types of…

NREL Patents Method for Continuous Monitoring of Materials During

Science.gov Websites

Manufacturing | News | NREL NREL Patents Method for Continuous Monitoring of Materials During Manufacturing News Release: NREL Patents Method for Continuous Monitoring of Materials During Manufacturing patent for a novel method that rapidly characterizes specialized materials during the manufacturing

Forest Landscape Assessment Tool (FLAT): rapid assessment for land management

Treesearch

Lisa Ciecko; David Kimmett; Jesse Saunders; Rachael Katz; Kathleen L. Wolf; Oliver Bazinet; Jeffrey Richardson; Weston Brinkley; Dale J. Blahna

2016-01-01

The Forest Landscape Assessment Tool (FLAT) is a set of procedures and tools used to rapidly determine forest ecological conditions and potential threats. FLAT enables planners and managers to understand baseline conditions, determine and prioritize restoration needs across a landscape system, and conduct ongoing monitoring to achieve land management goals. The rapid...

Early Identification and Prevention of the Spread of Ebola - United States.

PubMed

Van Beneden, Chris A; Pietz, Harald; Kirkcaldy, Robert D; Koonin, Lisa M; Uyeki, Timothy M; Oster, Alexandra M; Levy, Deborah A; Glover, Maleeka; Arduino, Matthew J; Merlin, Toby L; Kuhar, David T; Kosmos, Christine; Bell, Beth P

2016-07-08

In response to the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic in West Africa, CDC prepared for the potential introduction of Ebola into the United States. The immediate goals were to rapidly identify and isolate any cases of Ebola, prevent transmission, and promote timely treatment of affected patients. CDC's technical expertise and the collaboration of multiple partners in state, local, and municipal public health departments; health care facilities; emergency medical services; and U.S. government agencies were essential to the domestic preparedness and response to the Ebola epidemic and relied on longstanding partnerships. CDC established a comprehensive response that included two new strategies: 1) active monitoring of travelers arriving from countries affected by Ebola and other persons at risk for Ebola and 2) a tiered system of hospital facility preparedness that enabled prioritization of training. CDC rapidly deployed a diagnostic assay for Ebola virus (EBOV) to public health laboratories. Guidance was developed to assist in evaluation of patients possibly infected with EBOV, for appropriate infection control, to support emergency responders, and for handling of infectious waste. CDC rapid response teams were formed to provide assistance within 24 hours to a health care facility managing a patient with Ebola. As a result of the collaborations to rapidly identify, isolate, and manage Ebola patients and the extensive preparations to prevent spread of EBOV, the United States is now better prepared to address the next global infectious disease threat.The activities summarized in this report would not have been possible without collaboration with many U.S. and international partners (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/partners.html).

3. Main Control Switchboard (front), view to the southwest, with ...

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

3. Main Control Switchboard (front), view to the southwest, with item 1 (the synchronization monitor) on the far left of the photograph and item 14 (the Libby transmission line panel) on the far right of the photograph. The operator's desk, with telephone and computer monitors, is also visible in left foreground of the photograph. - Washington Water Power Clark Fork River Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric Development, Powerhouse, South bank of Clark Fork River at Noxon Rapids, Noxon, Sanders County, MT

Polythiophene biosensor for rapid detection of microbial particles in water.

PubMed

Plante, Marie-Pier; Bérubé, Eve; Bissonnette, Luc; Bergeron, Michel G; Leclerc, Mario

2013-06-12

Most microbial particles have a negatively charged surface and in this work, we describe a water quality monitoring application of a cationic polythiophene derivative (AH-35) for the rapid assessment of microbial contamination of water. Using E. coli as a prototype microbial particle, we demonstrate that the AH-35 polymer can provide a qualitative assessment of water if exposed to more than 500 CFU/mL, thereby paving the way to a new family of biosensors potentially useful for monitoring drinking water distribution systems.

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan.

PubMed

Nomura, Shuhei; Tsubokura, Masaharu; Ozaki, Akihiko; Murakami, Michio; Hodgson, Susan; Blangiardo, Marta; Nishikawa, Yoshitaka; Morita, Tomohiro; Oikawa, Tomoyoshi

2017-04-09

Following Japan's 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident, we assessed voluntary-based monitoring behavior in Minamisoma City-located 10-40 km from the Fukushima nuclear plant-to inform future monitoring strategies. The monitoring in Minamisoma included occasional free of charge internal-radiation-exposure measurements. Out of around 70,000 individuals residing in the city before the incident, a total of 45,788 residents (female: 52.1%) aged ≥21 were evaluated. The monitoring prevalence in 2011-2012 was only 30.2%, and this decreased to 17.9% in 2013-2014. Regression analyses were performed to estimate factors associated with the monitoring prevalence and participation behavior. The results show that, in comparison with the age cohort of 21-30 years, the cohort of 71-80 and ≥81 years demonstrated significantly lower monitoring prevalence; female residents had higher monitoring prevalence than male residents; those who were living in evacuation zones at the time of the incident had higher monitoring prevalence than those who lived outside any of the evacuation zones; for those living outside Fukushima and neighboring Prefectures post-incident monitoring prevalence decreased significantly in 2013-2014. Our findings inform the discussion on the concepts of radiation risk perception and accessibility to monitoring and societal decision-making regarding the maintenance of the monitoring program with low monitoring prevalence. We also stress the possibility that the monitoring can work both to check that internal contamination levels are within acceptable limits, and as a risk communication tool, alleviating individuals' concern and anxiety over radiation contamination.

Subliminal repetition primes help detection of phonemes in a picture: Evidence for a phonological level of the priming effects.

PubMed

Manoiloff, Laura; Segui, Juan; Hallé, Pierre

2016-01-01

In this research, we combine a cross-form word-picture visual masked priming procedure with an internal phoneme monitoring task to examine repetition priming effects. In this paradigm, participants have to respond to pictures whose names begin with a prespecified target phoneme. This task unambiguously requires retrieving the word-form of the target picture's name and implicitly orients participants' attention towards a phonological level of representation. The experiments were conducted within Spanish, whose highly transparent orthography presumably promotes fast and automatic phonological recoding of subliminal, masked visual word primes. Experiments 1 and 2 show that repetition primes speed up internal phoneme monitoring in the target, compared to primes beginning with a different phoneme from the target, or sharing only their first phoneme with the target. This suggests that repetition primes preactivate the phonological code of the entire target picture's name, hereby speeding up internal monitoring, which is necessarily based on such a code. To further qualify the nature of the phonological code underlying internal phoneme monitoring, a concurrent articulation task was used in Experiment 3. This task did not affect the repetition priming effect. We propose that internal phoneme monitoring is based on an abstract phonological code, prior to its translation into articulation.

Use of rapid sampling microdialysis for intraoperative monitoring of bowel ischemia.

PubMed

Deeba, S; Corcoles, E P; Hanna, G B; Hanna, B G; Pareskevas, P; Aziz, O; Boutelle, M G; Darzi, A

2008-09-01

Intestinal ischemia is a major cause of anastomotic leak and death and remains a clinical challenge as the physician relies on several nonspecific signs, biologic markers, and radiologic studies to make the diagnosis. This study used rapid sampling online microdialysis to evaluate the biochemical changes occurring in a segment of human bowel during and after resection, and assessed for the feasibility and reproducibility of this technique in monitoring intestinal ischemia. A custom made, rapid sampling online microdialysis analyzer was used to monitor the changes in the bowel wall of specimens being resected intraoperatively. Two patients were recruited for the pilot study to optimize the analyzer and seven patients undergoing colonic resections were recruited for the data collection and analysis. The concentration of glucose in the extracellular bowel wall fluid decreased transiently after division of individual feeding arteries followed by a rebound increase in the concentration back to baseline concentrations. After completion of resection, glucose concentrations continued to decrease while lactate concentrations increased constantly. Rapid sampling microdialysis was feasible in the clinical environment. These results suggest that tissue responds to ischemic insult by mobilizing glucose stores which later decrease again, whereas lactate concentrations constantly increased.

Form Overrides Meaning When Bilinguals Monitor for Errors

PubMed Central

Ivanova, Iva; Ferreira, Victor S.; Gollan, Tamar H.

2016-01-01

Bilinguals rarely produce unintended language switches, which may in part be because switches are detected and corrected by an internal monitor. But are language switches easier or harder to detect than within-language semantic errors? To approximate internal monitoring, bilinguals listened (Experiment 1) or read aloud (Experiment 2) stories, and detected language switches (translation equivalents or semantically unrelated to expected words) and within-language errors (semantically related or unrelated to expected words). Bilinguals detected semantically related within-language errors most slowly and least accurately, language switches more quickly and accurately than within-language errors, and (in Experiment 2), translation equivalents as quickly and accurately as unrelated language switches. These results suggest that internal monitoring of form (which can detect mismatches in language membership) completes earlier than, and is independent of, monitoring of meaning. However, analysis of reading times prior to error detection revealed meaning violations to be more disruptive for processing than language violations. PMID:28649169

GEOGLAM Crop Monitor Assessment Tool: Developing Monthly Crop Condition Assessments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGaughey, K.; Becker Reshef, I.; Barker, B.; Humber, M. L.; Nordling, J.; Justice, C. O.; Deshayes, M.

2014-12-01

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) developed the Global Agricultural Monitoring initiative (GEOGLAM) to improve existing agricultural information through a network of international partnerships, data sharing, and operational research. This presentation will discuss the Crop Monitor component of GEOGLAM, which provides the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) with an international, multi-source, and transparent consensus assessment of crop growing conditions, status, and agro-climatic conditions likely to impact global production. This activity covers the four primary crop types (wheat, maize, rice, and soybean) within the main agricultural producing regions of the AMIS countries. These assessments have been produced operationally since September 2013 and are published in the AMIS Market Monitor Bulletin. The Crop Monitor reports provide cartographic and textual summaries of crop conditions as of the 28th of each month, according to crop type. This presentation will focus on the building of international networks, data collection, and data dissemination.

Bridge monitoring--applications for Alabama.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-12-01

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is continuously : searching for ways to improve the efficiency and safety of Alabamas : transportation system. With the rapid growth of electronics and monitoring : technology it is important to ask whe...

Surface-enhanced Raman for monitoring toxins in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spencer, Kevin M.; Sylvia, James M.; Clauson, Susan L.; Bertone, Jane F.; Christesen, Steven D.

2004-02-01

Protection of the drinking water supply from a terrorist attack is of critical importance. Since the water supply is vast, contamination prevention is difficult. Therefore, rapid detection of contaminants, whether a military chemical/biological threat, a hazardous chemical spill, naturally occurring toxins, or bacterial build-up is a priority. The development of rapid environmentally portable and stable monitors that allow continuous monitoring of the water supply is ideal. EIC Laboratories has been developing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to detect chemical agents, toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), viruses, cyanotoxins and bacterial agents. SERS is an ideal technique for the Joint Service Agent Water Monitor (JSAWM). SERS uses the enhanced Raman signals observed when an analyte adsorbs to a roughened metal substrate to enable trace detection. Proper development of the metal substrate will optimize the sensitivity and selectivity towards the analytes of interest.

40 CFR 60.4209 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? 60.4209 Section 60.4209... Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4209 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? If you are an owner or...

40 CFR 60.4209 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? 60.4209 Section 60.4209... Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4209 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? If you are an owner or...

40 CFR 60.4209 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? 60.4209 Section 60.4209... Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4209 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? If you are an owner or...

40 CFR 60.4209 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? 60.4209 Section 60.4209... Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4209 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? If you are an owner or...

40 CFR 60.4209 - What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? 60.4209 Section 60.4209... Combustion Engines Other Requirements for Owners and Operators § 60.4209 What are the monitoring requirements if I am an owner or operator of a stationary CI internal combustion engine? If you are an owner or...

Active Monitoring of Travelers Arriving from Ebola-Affected Countries - New York City, October 2014-April 2015.

PubMed

Millman, Alexander J; Chamany, Shadi; Guthartz, Seth; Thihalolipavan, Sayone; Porter, Michael; Schroeder, Andrew; Vora, Neil M; Varma, Jay K; Starr, David

2016-01-29

The Ebola virus disease (Ebola) outbreak in West Africa has claimed approximately 11,300 lives (1), and the magnitude and course of the epidemic prompted many nonaffected countries to prepare for Ebola cases imported from affected countries. In October 2014, CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented enhanced entry risk assessment and management at five U.S. airports: John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York City (NYC), O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, and Dulles International Airport in Virginia (2). Enhanced entry risk assessment began at JFK on October 11, 2014, and at the remaining airports on October 16 (3). On October 21, DHS exercised its authority to direct all travelers flying into the United States from an Ebola-affected country to arrive at one of the five participating airports. At the time, the Ebola-affected countries included Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Sierra Leone. On October 27, CDC issued updated guidance for monitoring persons with potential Ebola virus exposure (4), including recommending daily monitoring of such persons to ascertain the presence of fever or symptoms for a period of 21 days (the maximum incubation period of Ebola virus) after the last potential exposure; this was termed "active monitoring." CDC also recommended "direct active monitoring" of persons with a higher risk for Ebola virus exposure, including health care workers who had provided direct patient care in Ebola-affected countries. Direct active monitoring required direct observation of the person being monitored by the local health authority at least once daily (5). This report describes the operational structure of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) active monitoring program during its first 6 months (October 2014-April 2015) of operation. Data collected on persons who required direct active monitoring are not included in this report.

Small Active Radiation Monitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Badhwar, Gautam D.

2004-01-01

A device, named small active radiation monitor, allows on-orbit evaluations during periods of increased radiation, after extravehicular activities, or at predesignated times for crews on such long-duration space missions as on the International Space Station. It also permits direct evaluation of biological doses, a task now performed using a combination of measurements and potentially inaccurate simulations. Indeed the new monitor can measure a full array of radiation levels, from soft x-rays to hard galactic cosmic-ray particles. With refinement, it will benefit commercial (nuclear power-plant workers, airline pilots, medical technicians, physicians/dentists, and others) and military personnel as well as the astronauts for whom thermoluminescent dosimeters are inadequate. Civilian and military personnel have long since graduated from film badges to thermoluminescent dosimeters. Once used, most dosimeters must be returned to a central facility for processing, a step that can take days or even weeks. While this suffices for radiation workers for whom exposure levels are typically very low and of brief duration, it does not work for astronauts. Even in emergencies and using express mail, the results can often be delayed by as much as 24 hours. Electronic dosimeters, which are the size of electronic oral thermometers, and tattlers, small electronic dosimeters that sound an alarm when the dose/dose rate exceeds preset values, are also used but suffer disadvantages similar to those of thermoluminescent dosimeters. None of these devices fully answers the need of rapid monitoring during the space missions. Instead, radiation is monitored by passive detectors, which are read out after the missions. Unfortunately, these detectors measure only the absorbed dose and not the biologically relevant dose equivalent. The new monitor provides a real-time readout, a time history of radiation exposures (both absorbed dose and biologically relevant dose equivalent), and a count of the number of particles passing through a unit area. Better still, the monitor can be used anywhere.

Microbiological Characterization and Concerns of the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roman, Monsi C.; Wieland, Paul O.

2005-01-01

Since January 1999, the chemical the International Space Station Thermal Control System (IATCS) and microbial state of (ISS) Internal Active fluid has been monitored by analysis of samples returned to Earth. Key chemical parameters have changed over time, including a drop in pH from the specified 9.5 +/- 0.5 ta = 58.4, an increase in the level of total inorganic carbon (TIC), total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved nickel (Ni) in the fluid, and a decrease in the phosphate (PO,) level. In addition, silver (AS) ion levels in the fluid decreased rapidly as Ag deposited on internal metallic surfaces of the system. The lack of available Ag ions coupled with changes in the fluid chemistry has resulted in a favorable environment for microbial growth. Counts of heterotrophic bacteria have increased from less than 10 colony-forming units (CFUs)/l00 mL to l0(exp 6) to l0(exp 7) CFUs/100 mL. The increase of the microbial population is of concern because uncontrolled microbiological growth in the IATCS can contribute to deterioration in the performance of critical components within the system and potentially impact human health if opportunistic pathogens become established and escape into the cabin atmosphere. Micro-organisms can potentially degrade the coolant chemistry; attach to surfaces and form biofilms; lead to biofouling of filters, tubing, and pumps; decrease flow rates; reduce heat transfer; initiate and accelerate corrosion; and enhance mineral scale formation. The micro- biological data from the ISS IATCS fluid, and approaches to addressing the concerns, are summarized in this paper.

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy

PubMed Central

Nikolaus, Joerg; Karatekin, Erdem

2016-01-01

In the ubiquitous process of membrane fusion the opening of a fusion pore establishes the first connection between two formerly separate compartments. During neurotransmitter or hormone release via exocytosis, the fusion pore can transiently open and close repeatedly, regulating cargo release kinetics. Pore dynamics also determine the mode of vesicle recycling; irreversible resealing results in transient, "kiss-and-run" fusion, whereas dilation leads to full fusion. To better understand what factors govern pore dynamics, we developed an assay to monitor membrane fusion using polarized total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy with single molecule sensitivity and ~15 msec time resolution in a biochemically well-defined in vitro system. Fusion of fluorescently labeled small unilamellar vesicles containing v-SNARE proteins (v-SUVs) with a planar bilayer bearing t-SNAREs, supported on a soft polymer cushion (t-SBL, t-supported bilayer), is monitored. The assay uses microfluidic flow channels that ensure minimal sample consumption while supplying a constant density of SUVs. Exploiting the rapid signal enhancement upon transfer of lipid labels from the SUV to the SBL during fusion, kinetics of lipid dye transfer is monitored. The sensitivity of TIRF microscopy allows tracking single fluorescent lipid labels, from which lipid diffusivity and SUV size can be deduced for every fusion event. Lipid dye release times can be much longer than expected for unimpeded passage through permanently open pores. Using a model that assumes retardation of lipid release is due to pore flickering, a pore "openness", the fraction of time the pore remains open during fusion, can be estimated. A soluble marker can be encapsulated in the SUVs for simultaneous monitoring of lipid and soluble cargo release. Such measurements indicate some pores may reseal after losing a fraction of the soluble cargo. PMID:27585113

Results of a Long-Term Demonstration of an Optical Multi-Gas Monitor on ISS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mudgett, Paul; Pilgrim, Jeffrey S.

2015-01-01

Previously at SAMAP we reported on the development of tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS) based instruments for measuring small gas molecules in real time. TDLS technology has matured rapidly over the last 5 years as a result of advances in low power diode lasers as well as better detection schemes. In collaboration with two small businesses Vista Photonics, Inc. and Nanoracks LLC, NASA developed a 4 gas TDLS based monitor for an experimental demonstration of the technology on the International Space Station (ISS). Vista invented and constructed the core TDLS sensor. Nanoracks designed and built the enclosure, and certified the integrated monitor as a payload. The device, which measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and water vapor, is called the Multi-Gas Monitor (MGM). MGM measures the 4 gases every few seconds and records a 30 second moving average of the concentrations. The relatively small unit draws only 2.5W. MGM was calibrated at NASA-Johnson Space Center in July 2013 and launched to ISS on a Soyuz vehicle in November 2013. Installation and activation of MGM occurred in February 2014, and the unit has been operating nearly continuously ever since in the Japanese Experiment Module. Data is downlinked from ISS about once per week. Oxygen and carbon dioxide data is compared with that from the central Major Constituents Analyzer. Water vapor data is compared with dew point measurements made by sensors in the Columbus module. The ammonia channel was tested by the crew using a commercial ammonia inhalant. MGM is remarkably stable to date. Results of 18 months of operation are presented and future applications including combustion product monitoring are discussed.

Rapid underway profiling of water quality in Queensland estuaries.

PubMed

Hodge, Jonathan; Longstaff, Ben; Steven, Andy; Thornton, Phillip; Ellis, Peter; McKelvie, Ian

2005-01-01

We present an overview of a portable underway water quality monitoring system (RUM-Rapid Underway Monitoring), developed by integrating several off-the-shelf water quality instruments to provide rapid, comprehensive, and spatially referenced 'snapshots' of water quality conditions. We demonstrate the utility of the system from studies in the Northern Great Barrier Reef (Daintree River) and the Moreton Bay region. The Brisbane dataset highlights RUM's utility in characterising plumes as well as its ability to identify the smaller scale structure of large areas. RUM is shown to be particularly useful when measuring indicators with large small-scale variability such as turbidity and chlorophyll-a. Additionally, the Daintree dataset shows the ability to integrate other technologies, resulting in a more comprehensive analysis, whilst sampling offshore highlights some of the analytical issues required for sampling low concentration data. RUM is a low cost, highly flexible solution that can be modified for use in any water type, on most vessels and is only limited by the available monitoring technologies.

A detector for monitoring the onset of cavitation during therapy-level measurements of ultrasonic power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodnett, M.; Zeqiri, B.

2004-01-01

Acoustic cavitation occurring in the water path between a transducer and the target of a radiation force balance can provide a significant source of error during measurements of ultrasonic power. These problems can be particularly acute at physiotherapy levels (>1 W), and low frequencies (leq 1 MHz). The cavitating bubbles can absorb and scatter incident ultrasound, leading to an underestimate in the measured power. For these reasons, International Specification standards demand the use of degassed water. This imposes requirements that may actually be difficult to meet, for example, in the case of hospitals. Also, initially degassed water will rapidly re-gas, increasing the likelihood of cavitation occurring. For these reasons, NPL has developed a device that monitors acoustic emissions generated by bubble activity, for detecting the onset of cavitation during power measurements. A commercially available needle hydrophone is used to detect these emissions. The acoustic signals are then monitored using a Cavitation Detector (CD) unit, comprising an analogue electrical filter that may be tuned to detect frequency components generated by cavitating bubbles, and which provides an indication of when the measured level exceeds a pre-defined threshold. This paper describes studies to establish a suitable detection scheme, the principles of operation of the CD unit, and the performance tests carried out with a range of propagation media.

The 'global health' education framework: a conceptual guide for monitoring, evaluation and practice

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background In the past decades, the increasing importance of and rapid changes in the global health arena have provoked discussions on the implications for the education of health professionals. In the case of Germany, it remains yet unclear whether international or global aspects are sufficiently addressed within medical education. Evaluation challenges exist in Germany and elsewhere due to a lack of conceptual guides to develop, evaluate or assess education in this field. Objective To propose a framework conceptualising 'global health' education (GHE) in practice, to guide the evaluation and monitoring of educational interventions and reforms through a set of key indicators that characterise GHE. Methods Literature review; deduction. Results and Conclusion Currently, 'new' health challenges and educational needs as a result of the globalisation process are discussed and linked to the evolving term 'global health'. The lack of a common definition of this term complicates attempts to analyse global health in the field of education. The proposed GHE framework addresses these problems and presents a set of key characteristics of education in this field. The framework builds on the models of 'social determinants of health' and 'globalisation and health' and is oriented towards 'health for all' and 'health equity'. It provides an action-oriented construct for a bottom-up engagement with global health by the health workforce. Ten indicators are deduced for use in monitoring and evaluation. PMID:21501519

Rapid quantitative analysis of methylphenidate and ritalinic acid in oral fluid by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-MS).

PubMed

Mulet, Carmen T; Arroyo-Mora, Luis E; Leon, Lorena A; Gnagy, Elizabeth; DeCaprio, Anthony P

2018-06-20

Methylphenidate (MPH), which is metabolized into ritalinic acid (RA), is an amphetamine derivative largely used in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a neurological condition commonly diagnosed in early childhood. Ensuring that patients comply with clinical treatment is crucial and compliance is generally monitored in blood or urine specimens which, especially in the case of children, can be challenging to obtain on a repetitive basis. Here we report validation of a specific, non-invasive, and rapid dilute-and-shoot analytical method for the detection and quantitation of MPH and RA in oral fluid (OF). The method is based on liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole MS with electrospray ionization utilizing dynamic MRM mode. Subject OF specimens were collected using a Quantisal™ device, processed, and diluted for analysis with seven-point quadratic calibration curves (weighting of 1/x) using MPH-d 9 and (±)-threo-RA-d 10 as internal standards. QC samples and diluted specimens showed intra- and inter-day bias and imprecision values no greater than ±12%. The LOD and LOQ for MPH were 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively, and 0.2 ng/mL and 0.5 ng/mL for RA, respectively, indicating the validity of the method for identification and confirmation at low concentrations. Selectivity was specific for the analytes of interest and matrix effects were minimized through the use of internal standard based quantitation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and validation of a rapid and simple LC-MS/MS method for quantification of vemurafenib in human plasma: application to a human pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Bihan, Kevin; Sauzay, Chloé; Goldwirt, Lauriane; Charbonnier-Beaupel, Fanny; Hulot, Jean-Sebastien; Funck-Brentano, Christian; Zahr, Noël

2015-02-01

Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) is a new tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets activated BRAF V600E gene and is indicated for the treatment of advanced BRAF mutation-positive melanoma. We developed a simple method for vemurafenib quantification using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A stability study of vemurafenib in human plasma was also performed. (13)C(6)-vemurafenib was used as the internal standard. A single-step protein precipitation was used for plasma sample preparation. Chromatography was performed on an Acquity UPLC system (Waters) with chromatographic separation by the use of an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7-mm particle size; Waters). Quantification was performed using the monitoring of multiple reactions of following transitions: m/z 488.2 → 381.0 for vemurafenib and m/z 494.2 → 387.0 for internal standard. This method was linear over the range from 1.0 to 100.0 mcg/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 mcg/mL for vemurafenib in plasma. Vemurafenib remained stable for 1 month at all levels tested, when stored indifferently at room temperature (20 °C), at +4 °C, or at -20 °C. This method was used successfully to perform a plasma pharmacokinetic study of vemurafenib in a patient after oral administration at a steady state. This liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for vemurafenib quantification in human plasma is simple, rapid, specific, sensitive, accurate, precise, and reliable.

Rapid separation and purification of uranium and plutonium from dilute-matrix samples

DOE PAGES

Armstrong, Christopher R.; Ticknor, Brian W.; Hall, Gregory; ...

2014-03-11

This work presents a streamlined separation and purification approach for trace uranium and plutonium from dilute (carrier-free) matrices. The method, effective for nanogram quantities of U and femtogram to picogram quantities of Pu, is ideally suited for environmental swipe samples that contain a small amount of collected bulk material. As such, it may be applicable for processing swipe samples such as those collected in IAEA inspection activities as well as swipes that are loaded with unknown analytes, such as those implemented in interlaboratory round-robin or proficiency tests. Additionally, the simplified actinide separation could find use in internal laboratory monitoring ofmore » clean room conditions prior to or following more extensive chemical processing. We describe key modifications to conventional techniques that result in a relatively rapid, cost-effective, and efficient U and Pu separation process. We demonstrate the efficacy of implementing anion exchange chromatography in a single column approach. We also show that hydrobromic acid is an effective substitute in lieu of hydroiodoic acid for eluting Pu. Lastly, we show that nitric acid is an effective digestion agent in lieu of perchloric acid and/or hydrofluoric acid. A step by step procedure of this process is detailed.« less

Rapid and precise measurement of serum branched-chain and aromatic amino acids by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Yang, Ruiyue; Dong, Jun; Guo, Hanbang; Li, Hongxia; Wang, Shu; Zhao, Haijian; Zhou, Weiyan; Yu, Songlin; Wang, Mo; Chen, Wenxiang

2013-01-01

Serum branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (BCAAs and AAAs) have emerged as predictors for the future development of diabetes and may aid in diabetes risk assessment. However, the current methods for the analysis of such amino acids in biological samples are time consuming. An isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS) method for serum BCAAs and AAAs was developed. The serum was mixed with isotope-labeled BCAA and AAA internal standards and the amino acids were extracted with acetonitrile, followed by analysis using LC/MS/MS. The LC separation was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column, and the MS/MS detection was performed via the positive electronic spray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Specific analysis of the amino acids was achieved within 2 min. Intra-run and total CVs for the amino acids were less than 2% and 4%, respectively, and the analytical recoveries ranged from 99.6 to 103.6%. A rapid and precise method for the measurement of serum BCAAs and AAAs was developed and may serve as a quick tool for screening serum BCAAs and AAAs in studies assessing diabetes risk.

Monitoring sea lamprey pheromones and their degradation using rapid stream-side extraction coupled with UPLC-MS/MS

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wang, Huiyong; Johnson, Nicholas; Bernardy, Jeffrey; Hubert, Terry; Li, Weiming

2013-01-01

Pheromones guide adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to suitable spawning streams and mates, and therefore, when quantified, can be used to assess population size and guide management. Here, we present an efficient sample preparation method where 100 mL of river water was spiked with deuterated pheromone as an internal standard and underwent rapid field-based SPE and elution in the field. The combination of field extraction with laboratory UPLC-MS/MS reduced the sample consumption from 1 to 0.1 L, decreased the sample process time from more than 1 h to 10 min, and increased the precision and accuracy. The sensitivity was improved more than one order of magnitude compared with the previous method. The influences of experimental conditions were assessed to optimize the separation and peak shapes. The analytical method has been validated by studies of stability, selectivity, precision, and linearity and by the determination of the limits of detection and quantification. The method was used to quantify pheromone concentration from five streams tributary to Lake Ontario and to estimate that the environmental half-life of 3kPZS is about 26 h.

Fast changes in chemical composition and size distribution of fine particles during the near-field transport of industrial plumes.

PubMed

Marris, Hélène; Deboudt, Karine; Augustin, Patrick; Flament, Pascal; Blond, François; Fiani, Emmanuel; Fourmentin, Marc; Delbarre, Hervé

2012-06-15

Aerosol sampling was performed inside the chimneys and in the close environment of a FeMn alloys manufacturing plant. The number size distributions show a higher abundance of ultrafine aerosols (10-100 nm) inside the plume than upwind of the plant, indicating the emissions of nanoparticles by the industrial process. Individual analysis of particles collected inside the plume shows a high proportion of metal bearing particles (Mn-/Fe-) consisting essentially of internally mixed aluminosilicate and metallic compounds. These particles evolve rapidly (in a few minutes) after emission by adsorption of VOC gas and sulfuric acid emitted by the plant but also by agglomeration with pre-existing particles. At the moment, municipalities require a monitoring of industrial emissions inside the chimneys from manufacturers. However those measures are insufficient to report such rapid changes in chemical composition and thus to evaluate the real impact of industrial plumes in the close environment of plants (when those particles leave the industrial site). Consequently, environmental authorities will have to consider such fast evolutions and then to adapt future regulations on air pollution sources. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

International AGN Watch: Continuous Monitoring of NGC 4151

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crenshaw, D. M.

1995-01-01

The nucleus of NGC 4151 was observed continuously with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) for 9.3 days, yielding a pair of LWP and SWP spectra every 70 minutes, and during four-hour periods for 4 days prior to and 5 days after the continuous monitoring period. The sampling frequency of the observations is an order of magnitude higher than that of any previous UV monitoring campaign on a Seyfert galaxy.

Deducing Electronic Unit Internal Response During a Vibration Test Using a Lumped Parameter Modeling Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Van Dyke, Michael B.

2014-01-01

During random vibration testing of electronic boxes there is often a desire to know the dynamic response of certain internal printed wiring boards (PWBs) for the purpose of monitoring the response of sensitive hardware or for post-test forensic analysis in support of anomaly investigation. Due to restrictions on internally mounted accelerometers for most flight hardware there is usually no means to empirically observe the internal dynamics of the unit, so one must resort to crude and highly uncertain approximations. One common practice is to apply Miles Equation, which does not account for the coupled response of the board in the chassis, resulting in significant over- or under-prediction. This paper explores the application of simple multiple-degree-of-freedom lumped parameter modeling to predict the coupled random vibration response of the PWBs in their fundamental modes of vibration. A simple tool using this approach could be used during or following a random vibration test to interpret vibration test data from a single external chassis measurement to deduce internal board dynamics by means of a rapid correlation analysis. Such a tool might also be useful in early design stages as a supplemental analysis to a more detailed finite element analysis to quickly prototype and analyze the dynamics of various design iterations. After developing the theoretical basis, a lumped parameter modeling approach is applied to an electronic unit for which both external and internal test vibration response measurements are available for direct comparison. Reasonable correlation of the results demonstrates the potential viability of such an approach. Further development of the preliminary approach presented in this paper will involve correlation with detailed finite element models and additional relevant test data.

Adapting a standardised international 24 h dietary recall methodology (GloboDiet software) for research and dietary surveillance in Korea.

PubMed

Park, Min Kyung; Park, Jin Young; Nicolas, Geneviève; Paik, Hee Young; Kim, Jeongseon; Slimani, Nadia

2015-06-14

During the past decades, a rapid nutritional transition has been observed along with economic growth in the Republic of Korea. Since this dramatic change in diet has been frequently associated with cancer and other non-communicable diseases, dietary monitoring is essential to understand the association. Benefiting from pre-existing standardised dietary methodologies, the present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and describe the development of a Korean version of the international computerised 24 h dietary recall method (GloboDiet software) and its complementary tools, developed at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO. Following established international Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines, about seventy common and country-specific databases on foods, recipes, dietary supplements, quantification methods and coefficients were customised and translated. The main results of the present study highlight the specific adaptations made to adapt the GloboDiet software for research and dietary surveillance in Korea. New (sub-) subgroups were added into the existing common food classification, and new descriptors were added to the facets to classify and describe specific Korean foods. Quantification methods were critically evaluated and adapted considering the foods and food packages available in the Korean market. Furthermore, a picture book of foods/dishes was prepared including new pictures and food portion sizes relevant to Korean diet. The development of the Korean version of GloboDiet demonstrated that it was possible to adapt the IARC-WHO international dietary tool to an Asian context without compromising its concept of standardisation and software structure. It, thus, confirms that this international dietary methodology, used so far only in Europe, is flexible and robust enough to be customised for other regions worldwide.

Fostering International Collaboration in Birth Defects Research and Prevention: A Perspective From the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research

PubMed Central

Botto, Lorenzo D.; Robert-Gnansia, Elisabeth; Siffel, Csaba; Harris, John; Borman, Barry; Mastroiacovo, Pierpaolo

2006-01-01

The International Clearing-house for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research, formerly known as International Clearinghouse of Birth Defects Monitoring Systems, consists of 40 registries worldwide that collaborate in monitoring 40 types of birth defects. Clearinghouse activities include the sharing and joint monitoring of birth defect data, epidemiologic and public health research, and capacity building, with the goal of reducing disease and promoting healthy birth outcomes through primary prevention. We discuss 3 of these activities: the collaborative assessment of the potential teratogenicity of first-trimester use of medications (the MADRE project), an example of the intersection of surveillance and research; the international databases of people with orofacial clefts, an example of the evolution from surveillance to outcome research; and the study of genetic polymorphisms, an example of collaboration in public health genetics. PMID:16571708

Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol: Volume II: Supplementary methods, statistics, and data collection

Treesearch

Deborah S. Page-Dumroese; Ann M. Abbott; Thomas M. Rice

2009-01-01

Volume I and volume II of the Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol (FSDMP) provide information for a wide range of users, including technicians, field crew leaders, private landowners, land managers, forest professionals, and researchers. Volume I: Rapid Assessment includes the basic methods for establishing forest soil monitoring transects and consistently...

How is FIA helping other countries monitor their forests?

Treesearch

Charles T. Scott

2012-01-01

The demand for forest monitoring is growing rapidly with emphasis on carbon dynamics, due in part by incentives being negotiated under the United Nation's Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDO+) process. While much of the temperate and boreal forest in developed countries is being monitored as part of national forest inventories,...

Guidelines for collecting and maintaining archives for genetic monitoring

Treesearch

Jennifer A. Jackson; Linda Laikre; C. Scott Baker; Katherine C. Kendall; F. W. Allendorf; M. K. Schwartz

2011-01-01

Rapid advances in molecular genetic techniques and the statistical analysis of genetic data have revolutionized the way that populations of animals, plants and microorganisms can be monitored. Genetic monitoring is the practice of using molecular genetic markers to track changes in the abundance, diversity or distribution of populations, species or ecosystems over time...

Next-generation air monitoring – an overview of EPA research to develop real-time instrumentation packages for stationary and mobile monitoring

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract. Air pollution measurement technology is advancing rapidly towards small-scale, real-time, wireless detectors, with a potential to significantly change the landscape of air pollution monitoring. The U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development is evaluating and developi...

Which blood oxygen can sensitively indicate shock severity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Boan; Li, Kai; Gao, Yuan; Ruan, Zhengshang; Li, Ting

2016-03-01

Clinical shock-monitoring mainly depends on measuring oxygen saturations from SVC blood samples invasively. The golden standard indicator is the central internal jugular vein oxygenation (SjvO2). Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) also can monitor shock in some papers published, but there is no discussion about which oxygen saturation (cerebral venous oxygen saturation, ScvO2; tissue oxygen saturation of internal jugular area; tissue oxygen saturation of extremities areas) can monitor shock patient more sensitively and accurately. The purpose of this paper is to examine which one is most effective. In order to discuss the problem, we continuously detected 56 critical patients who may be into shock state using NIRS oximeter at prefrontal, internal jugular vein area and forearm, and chose 24 patients who were into shock and then out of shock from the 56 critical patients. Combined with the patients' condition, the pulse oxygen saturation is most sensitively to monitoring shock than the others, and the internal jugular vein area oxygen saturation is most effective.

THE CHALLENGE OF CIEMAT INTERNAL DOSIMETRY SERVICE FOR ACCREDITATION ACCORDING TO ISO/IEC 17025 STANDARD, FOR IN VIVO AND IN VITRO MONITORING AND DOSE ASSESSMENT OF INTERNAL EXPOSURES.

PubMed

Lopez, M A; Martin, R; Hernandez, C; Navarro, J F; Navarro, T; Perez, B; Sierra, I

2016-09-01

The accreditation of an Internal Dosimetry Service (IDS) according to ISO/IEC 17025 Standard is a challenge. The aim of this process is to guarantee the technical competence for the monitoring of radionuclides incorporated in the body and for the evaluation of the associated committed effective dose E(50). This publication describes the main accreditation issues addressed by CIEMAT IDS regarding all the procedures involving good practice in internal dosimetry, focussing in the difficulties to ensure the traceability in the whole process, the appropriate calculation of detection limit of measurement techniques, the validation of methods (monitoring and dose assessments), the description of all the uncertainty sources and the interpretation of monitoring data to evaluate the intake and the committed effective dose. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

WFC3 UVIS Pixel-to-Pixel QE Variations via Internal Flats Monitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bajaj, Varun

2016-10-01

The UVIS detector has a population of pixels that exhibit anomalous QE variations between anneals, characterized by a sensitivity loss that is greater in the blue than in the red. This population is randomly distributed, with evidence of clustering behavior in the UV, and is seemingly unique for each anneal cycle. This program, a continuation of cycle 23 program 14389, will aim to constrain the maximum low-sensitivity population existing before an anneal in both the UV and Visible filters. To monitor the UV behavior, internal flats with the D2 lamp will be taken through F225W and F336W. To monitor the behavior in the Visible filters, internal flats with the tungsten lamp will be taken a week before the anneal, when the population of anomalous pixels is the greatest. Internal flats with the Tungsten lamp will be taken to monitor the population in the visible filters, with data taken the week before the anneal to sample the maximum population of anomalous pixels.

A Comparison of Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, W. c.; Atkinson, G. M.

2009-01-01

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed. This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method a first order model, and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices.

Data Acquisition System for Russian Arctic Magnetometer Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janzhura, A.; Troshichev, O. A.; Takahashi, K.

2010-12-01

Monitoring of magnetic activity in the auroral zone is very essential for space weather problem. The big part of northern auroral zone lies in the Russian sector of Arctica. The Russian auroral zone stations are located far from the proper infrastructure and communications, and getting the data from the stations is complicated and nontrivial task. To resolve this problem a new acquisition system for magnetometers was implemented and developed in last few years, with the magnetic data transmission in real time that is important for many forecasting purpose. The system, based on microprocessor modules, is very reliable in hush climatic conditions. The information from the magnetic sensors transmits to AARI data center by satellite communication system and is presented at AARI web pages. This equipment upgrading of Russian polar magnetometer network is supported by the international RapidMag program.

Development of an UPLC-MS/MS micromethod for quantitation of cinitapride in plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic interaction trial.

PubMed

Marcelín-Jiménez, Gabriel; Contreras, Leticia; Esquivel, Javier; Ávila, Óscar; Batista, Dany; Ángeles, Alionka P; García-González, Alberto

2017-03-01

Cinitapride (CIN) is a benzamide-derived molecule used for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux and dyspepsia. Its pharmacokinetics are controversial due to the use of supratherapeutic doses and the lack of sensitive methodology. Therefore, a sensitive and accurate micromethod was developed for its quantitation in human plasma. CIN was extracted from 300 µl of heparinized plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using cisapride as internal standard, and analyzed with an ultra performance liquid chromatograph employing positive multiple-reaction monitoring-MS. The method proved to be rapid, accurate and stable within a range between 50 and 2000 pg/ml and was successfully validated and applied in a pharmacokinetic interaction trial, where it was demonstrated that oral co-administration of simethicone does not modify the bioavailability of CIN.

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

Thomas, Gregory S.; Nickless, William K.; Thiede, David R.

Enterprise level cyber security requires the deployment, operation, and monitoring of many sensors across geographically dispersed sites. Communicating with the sensors to gather data and control behavior is a challenging task when the number of sensors is rapidly growing. This paper describes the system requirements, design, and implementation of T3, the third generation of our transport software that performs this task. T3 relies on open source software and open Internet standards. Data is encoded in MIME format messages and transported via NNTP, which provides scalability. OpenSSL and public key cryptography are used to secure the data. Robustness and ease ofmore » development are increased by defining an internal cryptographic API, implemented by modules in C, Perl, and Python. We are currently using T3 in a production environment. It is freely available to download and use for other projects.« less

Specimen block counter-staining for localization of GUS expression in transgenic arabidopsis and tobacco

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, M. K.; Choi, J-W; Jeon, J-H; Franceschi, V. R.; Davin, L. B.; Lewis, N. G.

2002-01-01

A simple counter-staining procedure has been developed for comparative beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression and anatomical localization in transgenic herbaceous arabidopsis and tobacco. This protocol provides good anatomical visualization for monitoring chimeric gene expression at both the organ and tissue levels. It can be used with different histochemical stains and can be extended to the study of woody species. The specimens are paraffin-embedded, the block is trimmed to reveal internal structure, safranin-O staining solution is briefly applied to the surface of the block, then washed off and, after drying, a drop of immersion oil is placed on the stained surface for subsequent photographic work. This gives tissue counter-staining with good structural preservation without loss of GUS staining product; moreover, sample observation is rapid and efficient compared to existing procedures.

Relationship between Discordance in Parental Monitoring and Behavioral Problems among Chilean Adolescents

PubMed Central

Han, Yoonsun; Grogan-Kaylor, Andrew; Bares, Cristina; Ma, Julie; Castillo, Marcela; Delva, Jorge

2012-01-01

This study investigated the role of discrepancies between parent and youth reports of perceived parental monitoring in adolescent problem behaviors with a Chilean sample (N= 850). Higher levels of discordance concerning parental monitoring predicted greater levels of maladaptive youth behaviors. A positive association between parent-youth discordance and externalizing problems indicated that large adult-youth disagreement in parental monitoring may impose a great risk, despite protective efforts of parental monitoring. Although the direct relationship between parental monitoring and youth internalizing behaviors was not significant, parent-youth incongruence in monitoring was associated with greater levels of internalizing behaviors. Therefore, differing assessments of parental behaviors, as an indicator of less optimal family functioning, may provide important information about youth maladjustment and may potentially provide a beginning point for family-focused intervention. PMID:23097593

Development of an automated on-line pepsin digestion-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry configuration for the rapid analysis of protein adducts of chemical warfare agents.

PubMed

Carol-Visser, Jeroen; van der Schans, Marcel; Fidder, Alex; Hulst, Albert G; van Baar, Ben L M; Irth, Hubertus; Noort, Daan

2008-07-01

Rapid monitoring and retrospective verification are key issues in protection against and non-proliferation of chemical warfare agents (CWA). Such monitoring and verification are adequately accomplished by the analysis of persistent protein adducts of these agents. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the tool of choice in the analysis of such protein adducts, but the overall experimental procedure is quite elaborate. Therefore, an automated on-line pepsin digestion-LC-MS configuration has been developed for the rapid determination of CWA protein adducts. The utility of this configuration is demonstrated by the analysis of specific adducts of sarin and sulfur mustard to human butyryl cholinesterase and human serum albumin, respectively.

Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan

PubMed Central

Nomura, Shuhei; Tsubokura, Masaharu; Ozaki, Akihiko; Murakami, Michio; Hodgson, Susan; Blangiardo, Marta; Nishikawa, Yoshitaka; Morita, Tomohiro; Oikawa, Tomoyoshi

2017-01-01

Following Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident, we assessed voluntary-based monitoring behavior in Minamisoma City—located 10–40 km from the Fukushima nuclear plant—to inform future monitoring strategies. The monitoring in Minamisoma included occasional free of charge internal-radiation-exposure measurements. Out of around 70,000 individuals residing in the city before the incident, a total of 45,788 residents (female: 52.1%) aged ≥21 were evaluated. The monitoring prevalence in 2011–2012 was only 30.2%, and this decreased to 17.9% in 2013–2014. Regression analyses were performed to estimate factors associated with the monitoring prevalence and participation behavior. The results show that, in comparison with the age cohort of 21–30 years, the cohort of 71–80 and ≥81 years demonstrated significantly lower monitoring prevalence; female residents had higher monitoring prevalence than male residents; those who were living in evacuation zones at the time of the incident had higher monitoring prevalence than those who lived outside any of the evacuation zones; for those living outside Fukushima and neighboring Prefectures post-incident monitoring prevalence decreased significantly in 2013–2014. Our findings inform the discussion on the concepts of radiation risk perception and accessibility to monitoring and societal decision-making regarding the maintenance of the monitoring program with low monitoring prevalence. We also stress the possibility that the monitoring can work both to check that internal contamination levels are within acceptable limits, and as a risk communication tool, alleviating individuals’ concern and anxiety over radiation contamination. PMID:28397769

Piezometer completion report for borehole cluster sites DC-19, DC-20, and DC-22

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

Jackson, R.L.; Diediker, L.D.; Ledgerwood, R.K.

1984-07-01

This report describes the design and installation of multi-level piezometers at borehole cluster sites DC-19, DC-20 and DC-22. The network of borehole cluster sites will provide facilities for multi-level water-level monitoring across the RRL for piezometer baseline monitoring and for large-scale hydraulic stress testing. These groundwater-monitoring facilities were installed between August 1983 and March 1984. Three series of piezometer nests (A-, C- and D-series) were installed in nine hydrogeologic units (monitoring horizons) within the Columbia River Basalt Group at each borehole cluster site. In addition to the piezometer facilities, a B-series pumping well was installed at borehole cluster sites DC-20more » and DC-22. The A-series piezometer nest monitors the basal Ringold sediments and the Rattlesnake Ridge interbed. The C-series piezometer nests monitors the six deepest horizons, which are in increasing depth, the Priest Rapids interflow, Sentinel Gap flow top, Ginkgo flow top, Rocky Coulee flow top, Cohassett flow top and Umtanum flow top. The D-series piezometer monitors the Mabton interbed. The B-series pumping well was completed in the Priest Rapids interflow. 21 refs., 6 figs., 6 tabs.« less

Rapid detection of bacteria in foods and biological fluids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fealey, R. D.; Renner, W.

1973-01-01

Simple and inexpensive apparatus, called "redox monitoring cell," rapidly detects presence of bacteria. Bacteria is detected by measuring drop in oxygen content in test solution. Apparatus consists of vial with two specially designed electrodes connected to sensitive voltmeter.

Next Generation Air Monitoring

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract. Air pollution measurement technology is advancing rapidly towards smaller-scale and wireless devices, with a potential to significantly change the landscape of air pollution monitoring. The U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development is evaluating and developing a rang...

An Intelligent System for Monitoring the Microgravity Environment Quality On-Board the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Paul P.; Jules, Kenol

2002-01-01

An intelligent system for monitoring the microgravity environment quality on-board the International Space Station is presented. The monitoring system uses a new approach combining Kohonen's self-organizing feature map, learning vector quantization, and back propagation neural network to recognize and classify the known and unknown patterns. Finally, fuzzy logic is used to assess the level of confidence associated with each vibrating source activation detected by the system.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for rapid screening and live-cell monitoring: application to nanotoxicology.

PubMed

Sundaram, S K; Sacksteder, Colette A; Weber, Thomas J; Riley, Brian J; Addleman, R Shane; Harrer, Bruce J; Peterman, John W

2013-01-01

A significant challenge to realize the full potential of nanotechnology for therapeutic and diagnostic applications is to understand and evaluate how live cells interact with an external stimulus, such as a nanosized particle, and the toxicity and broad risk associated with these stimuli. It is difficult to capture the complexity and dynamics of these interactions by following omics-based approaches exclusively, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is well suited to provide noninvasive live-cell monitoring of cellular responses to potentially toxic nanosized particles or other stimuli. This alternative approach provides the ability to carry out rapid toxicity screenings and nondisruptive monitoring of live-cell cultures. We review the technical basis of the approach, the instrument configuration and interface with the biological media, the various effects that impact the data, subsequent data analysis and toxicity, and present some preliminary results on live-cell monitoring.

Application of ISO standard 27048: dose assessment for the monitoring of workers for internal radiation exposure.

PubMed

Henrichs, K

2011-03-01

Besides ongoing developments in the dosimetry of incorporated radionuclides, there are various efforts to improve the monitoring of workers for potential or real intakes of radionuclides. The disillusioning experience with numerous intercomparison projects identified substantial differences between national regulations, concepts, applied programmes and methods, and dose assessment procedures. Measured activities were not directly comparable because of significant differences between measuring frequencies and methods, but also results of case studies for dose assessments revealed differences of orders of magnitude. Besides the general common interest in reliable monitoring results, at least the cross-border activities of workers (e.g. nuclear power plant services) require consistent approaches and comparable results. The International Standardization Organization therefore initiated projects to standardise programmes for the monitoring of workers, the requirements for measuring laboratories and the processes for the quantitative evaluation of monitoring results in terms of internal assessed doses. The strength of the concepts applied by the international working group consists in a unified approach defining the requirements, databases and processes. This paper is intended to give a short introduction into the standardization project followed by a more detailed description of the dose assessment standard, which will be published in the very near future.

49 CFR 192.477 - Internal corrosion control: Monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. 192.477 Section 192.477 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PIPELINE SAFETY TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELIN...

49 CFR 192.477 - Internal corrosion control: Monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. 192.477 Section 192.477 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PIPELINE SAFETY TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELIN...

49 CFR 192.477 - Internal corrosion control: Monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Internal corrosion control: Monitoring. 192.477 Section 192.477 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PIPELINE SAFETY TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELIN...

Geoelectrical Tomography for landslide monitoring: state-of-the-art and future challenges.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapenna, V.; Perrone, A.; Piscitelli, S.

2011-12-01

Recently, novel algorithms for tomographic data inversion, robust models for describing the hydrogeophysical processes and new sensor networks for the field data acquisition have rapidly transformed the geoelectrical methods in a powerful and cost-effective tool for geo-hazard monitoring. These technological and methodological improvements disclose the way for a wide spectra of interesting and challenging applications in geo-hazards monitoring: reconstruction of landslide geometry; identification of fluid and gas uprising in volcanic areas; electrical imaging of seismic faults etc.. We briefly resume the current state-of-the-art of the geoelectrical methods in landslide monitoring and introduce new and emerging applications of the geoelectrical tomographic methods. An overview of the more interesting results obtained in different areas of Italian territory affected by wide and diffuse hydrogeological instability phenomena will be presented and discussed. We will focus the attention to some recent results obtained in the frame of national and international projects (Morfeo, Eurorisk/Preview, DORIS). One of the key challenges for the future will be the integration of active (Resistivity) and passive (Self-Potential) measurements for obtaining 2D, 3D and 4D (time-lapse) electrical tomographies able to follow the spatial and temporal dynamics of electrical parameters (i.e. resistivity, self-potential) inside the landslide body. The resistivity imaging can be applied for illuminating the sliding surfaces and for mapping the time-dependent changes of water content in vadose zones, while the Self Potential imaging could give a significant contribute for delineating the groundwater circulation patterns and to the early identification of triggering factors.

An automated SO2 camera system for continuous, real-time monitoring of gas emissions from Kīlauea Volcano's summit Overlook Crater

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kern, Christoph; Sutton, Jeff; Elias, Tamar; Lee, Robert Lopaka; Kamibayashi, Kevan P.; Antolik, Loren; Werner, Cynthia A.

2015-01-01

SO2 camera systems allow rapid two-dimensional imaging of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitted from volcanic vents. Here, we describe the development of an SO2 camera system specifically designed for semi-permanent field installation and continuous use. The integration of innovative but largely “off-the-shelf” components allowed us to assemble a robust and highly customizable instrument capable of continuous, long-term deployment at Kīlauea Volcano's summit Overlook Crater. Recorded imagery is telemetered to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) where a novel automatic retrieval algorithm derives SO2 column densities and emission rates in real-time. Imagery and corresponding emission rates displayed in the HVO operations center and on the internal observatory website provide HVO staff with useful information for assessing the volcano's current activity. The ever-growing archive of continuous imagery and high-resolution emission rates in combination with continuous data from other monitoring techniques provides insight into shallow volcanic processes occurring at the Overlook Crater. An exemplary dataset from September 2013 is discussed in which a variation in the efficiency of shallow circulation and convection, the processes that transport volatile-rich magma to the surface of the summit lava lake, appears to have caused two distinctly different phases of lake activity and degassing. This first successful deployment of an SO2 camera for continuous, real-time volcano monitoring shows how this versatile technique might soon be adapted and applied to monitor SO2 degassing at other volcanoes around the world.

An automated SO2 camera system for continuous, real-time monitoring of gas emissions from Kīlauea Volcano's summit Overlook Crater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kern, Christoph; Sutton, Jeff; Elias, Tamar; Lee, Lopaka; Kamibayashi, Kevan; Antolik, Loren; Werner, Cynthia

2015-07-01

SO2 camera systems allow rapid two-dimensional imaging of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitted from volcanic vents. Here, we describe the development of an SO2 camera system specifically designed for semi-permanent field installation and continuous use. The integration of innovative but largely ;off-the-shelf; components allowed us to assemble a robust and highly customizable instrument capable of continuous, long-term deployment at Kīlauea Volcano's summit Overlook Crater. Recorded imagery is telemetered to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) where a novel automatic retrieval algorithm derives SO2 column densities and emission rates in real-time. Imagery and corresponding emission rates displayed in the HVO operations center and on the internal observatory website provide HVO staff with useful information for assessing the volcano's current activity. The ever-growing archive of continuous imagery and high-resolution emission rates in combination with continuous data from other monitoring techniques provides insight into shallow volcanic processes occurring at the Overlook Crater. An exemplary dataset from September 2013 is discussed in which a variation in the efficiency of shallow circulation and convection, the processes that transport volatile-rich magma to the surface of the summit lava lake, appears to have caused two distinctly different phases of lake activity and degassing. This first successful deployment of an SO2 camera for continuous, real-time volcano monitoring shows how this versatile technique might soon be adapted and applied to monitor SO2 degassing at other volcanoes around the world.

Automated segmentation reveals silent radiographic progression in adult-onset vanishing white-matter disease.

PubMed

Huber, Thomas; Herwerth, Marina; Alberts, Esther; Kirschke, Jan S; Zimmer, Claus; Ilg, Ruediger

2017-02-01

Adult-onset vanishing white-matter disease (VWM) is a rare autosomal recessive disease with neurological symptoms such as ataxia and paraparesis, showing extensive white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Besides symptom-specific scores like the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), there is no established tool to monitor disease progression. Because of extensive WMH, visual comparison of MR images is challenging. Here, we report the results of an automated method of segmentation to detect alterations in T2-weighted fluid-attenuated-inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences in a one-year follow-up study of a clinically stable patient with genetically diagnosed VWM. Signal alterations in MR imaging were quantified with a recently published WMH segmentation method by means of extreme value distribution (EVD). Our analysis revealed progressive FLAIR alterations of 5.84% in the course of one year, whereas no significant WMH change could be detected in a stable multiple sclerosis (MS) control group. This result demonstrates that automated EVD-based segmentation allows a precise and rapid quantification of extensive FLAIR alterations like in VWM and might be a powerful tool for the clinical and scientific monitoring of degenerative white-matter diseases and potential therapeutic interventions.

Interstitial Glucose and Physical Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes: Integrative Physiology, Technology, and the Gap In-Between

PubMed Central

Moser, Othmar; Yardley, Jane E.; Bracken, Richard M.

2018-01-01

Continuous and flash glucose monitoring systems measure interstitial fluid glucose concentrations within a body compartment that is dramatically altered by posture and is responsive to the physiological and metabolic changes that enable exercise performance in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Body fluid redistribution within the interstitial compartment, alterations in interstitial fluid volume, changes in rate and direction of fluid flow between the vasculature, interstitium and lymphatics, as well as alterations in the rate of glucose production and uptake by exercising tissues, make for caution when interpreting device read-outs in a rapidly changing internal environment during acute exercise. We present an understanding of the physiological and metabolic changes taking place with acute exercise and detail the blood and interstitial glucose responses with different forms of exercise, namely sustained endurance, high-intensity, and strength exercises in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Further, we detail novel technical information on currently available patient devices. As more health services and insurance companies advocate their use, understanding continuous and flash glucose monitoring for its strengths and limitations may offer more confidence for patients aiming to manage glycemia around exercise. PMID:29342932

Infrasonic waves from volcanic eruptions on the Kamchatka peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordeev, E. I.; Firstov, P. P.; Kulichkov, S. N.; Makhmudov, E. R.

2013-07-01

The IS44 station operates at the observation point of Nachiki on the Kamchatka peninsula, which is part of the International Monitoring System (IMS), and it helps verify compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Kamchatka Branch, Geophysical Service, Russian Academy of Sciences (KB GS RAS), has a station operating in the village of Paratunka. Both of these stations allow one to monitor strong explosive eruptions of andesitic volcanoes.1 Both kinematic and dynamic parameters of acoustic signals accompanying the eruptions of the Bezymyannyi volcano (at a distance of 361 km from Nachiki) in 2009-2010 and the Kizimen volcano (at a distance of 275 km) on December 31, 2011, are considered. A low-frequency rarefaction phase 60 s in length has been revealed in the initial portion of the record of acoustic signals accompanying such strong eruptions. It is shown that the rarefaction phase occurs due to the rapid condensation of superheated juvenile vapor2 that enters the atmosphere during such explosions.3 The amount of volcanic ash emitted into the atmosphere has been estimated within (3.2-7.3) 106 m3 on the basis of acoustic signals recorded during the eruptions under consideration.

Intrinsic Astrocyte Heterogeneity Influences Tumor Growth in Glioma Mouse Models.

PubMed

Irvin, David M; McNeill, Robert S; Bash, Ryan E; Miller, C Ryan

2017-01-01

The influence of cellular origin on glioma pathogenesis remains elusive. We previously showed that mutations inactivating Rb and Pten and activating Kras transform astrocytes and induce tumorigenesis throughout the adult mouse brain. However, it remained unclear whether astrocyte subpopulations were susceptible to these mutations. We therefore used genetic lineage tracing and fate mapping in adult conditional, inducible genetically engineered mice to monitor transformation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) astrocytes and immunofluorescence to monitor cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment over time. Because considerable regional heterogeneity exists among astrocytes, we also examined the influence of brain region on tumor growth. GFAP astrocyte transformation induced uniformly rapid, regionally independent tumor growth, but transformation of GLAST astrocytes induced slowly growing tumors with significant regional bias. Transformed GLAST astrocytes had reduced proliferative response in culture and in vivo and malignant progression was delayed in these tumors. Recruited glial cells, including proliferating astrocytes, oligodendrocyte progenitors and microglia, were the majority of GLAST, but not GFAP astrocyte-derived tumors and their abundance dynamically changed over time. These results suggest that intrinsic astrocyte heterogeneity, and perhaps regional brain microenvironment, significantly contributes to glioma pathogenesis. © 2016 International Society of Neuropathology.

A PCR Based Microbial Monitoring Alternative Method of Detection and Identification of Microbes Aboard ISS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khodadad, Christina; Oubre, Cherie; Castro, Victoria; Flint, Stephanie; Ott, Mark; Roman, Monserrate; Wheeler, Ray; Melendez, Orlando

2017-01-01

Previous research has shown that microorganisms and potential human pathogens have been detected on the International Space Station (ISS) with additional introduction of new microflora occurring with every exchange of crew or addition of equipment and supplies. These microbes are readily transferred between crew and subsystems (i.e. ECLSS, environmental control and life support systems). As this can be detrimental to astronaut health and optimal performance of ISS systems, monitoring of systems such as ECLSS to include identification of microbial contaminants could prevent adverse effects on human health and life support systems. Current monitoring on ISS is laborious and utilizes culture based methods followed by sample return to Earth for complete analysis. Future, long-distance spaceflight missions will require real-time monitoring capabilities that enable efficient and rapid assessments of the microbial environment allowing for expedited decisions and more targeted response to cope with anomalies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular microbial monitoring method was chosen and numerous PCR instruments investigated for their potential to perform in microgravity conditions. Using ISS as a test bed for PCR verification in microgravity will enable NASA to assess whether molecular based microbiological sensors may be components of reliable, closed-loop life support and habitation systems in spacecraft, enhancing infrastructure capabilities through increased efficiency, reliability, and time savings by enabling sample analysis on orbit. NASA selected the Water Monitoring Suite as one of the rapid spaceflight hardware demonstration activities utilizing a streamlined process to minimize the time required to fly experimental flight hardware. The RAZOR EX (BioFire Defense, Salt Lake City, UT) system was part of the water monitoring suite and is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) real-time PCR instrument designed for field work. The RAZOR EX was originally designed for Department of Defense (DoD) under a small business innovative research (SBIR) grant and is ruggedized, compact and provides a rapid, sample to answer in less than an hour. PCR assays using a fluorescent probe were optimized and spiked with known concentrations of DNA (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) ranging from 0.002 to 20 ng. PCR reagents were lyophilized and configured in customized pouches and tested for flight readiness. Three types of water were used to rehydrate the reagents and demonstrate the fidelity of the PCR reaction in microgravity. Molecular grade deionized water served as a control while filtered and unfiltered ISS potable water served to test for chemical or biological inhibitors. All three types were compared to parallel ground test results. Nine tests were run on ISS (3 of each water type) and the critical threshold cycle (Ct) was compared to parallel ground tests completed at Kennedy Space Center, FL and Johnson Space Center, TX. All concentrations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa DNA were detected. A comparison of the Ct produced in real time PCR indicated similarity between flight and ground samples. There appeared to be no significant difference between flight or ground PCR reactions or between any of the three water types. This testing demonstrated the ability to perform molecular testing during spaceflight operations with similar sensitivity. It will allow for future ground development of molecular protocols and minimize the need for spaceflight testing. Future testing will include development of additional targets including environmental and health related organisms.

Improved but unsustainable: accounting for sachet water in post-2015 goals for global safe water.

PubMed

Stoler, Justin

2012-12-01

The advent and rapid spread of sachet drinking water in West Africa presents a new challenge for providing sustainable access to global safe water. Sachet water has expanded drinking water access and is often of sufficient quality to serve as an improved water source for Millennium Development Goals (MDG) monitoring purposes, yet sachets are an unsustainable water delivery vehicle due to their overwhelming plastic waste burden. Monitoring of primary drinking water sources in West Africa generally ignores sachet water, despite its growing ubiquity. Sub-Saharan Africa as a region is unlikely to meet the MDG Target for drinking water provision, and post-2015 monitoring activities may depend upon rapid adaptability to local drinking water trends. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aircraft Engine-Monitoring System And Display

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Terence S.; Person, Lee H., Jr.

1992-01-01

Proposed Engine Health Monitoring System and Display (EHMSD) provides enhanced means for pilot to control and monitor performances of engines. Processes raw sensor data into information meaningful to pilot. Provides graphical information about performance capabilities, current performance, and operational conditions in components or subsystems of engines. Provides means to control engine thrust directly and innovative means to monitor performance of engine system rapidly and reliably. Features reduce pilot workload and increase operational safety.

Reusable Rapid Prototyped Blunt Impact Simulator

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-01

for a nonclassical gun experimental application. 15. SUBJECT TERMS rapid prototype, additive manufacturing, reusable projectile, 3-axis accelerometer... gun -launched applications.1,2 SLS technology uses a bed of powdered material that is introduced to a laser. The laser is controlled by a computer to...in creating internal gun -hardened electronics for a variety of high-g applications, GTB developed an internal electronics package containing a COTS

Policy-Research Linkage: What We Have Learned from Providing a Rapid Response Facility for International Healthcare Comparisons to the Department of Health in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ettelt, Stefanie; Mays, Nicholas; Nolte, Ellen

2013-01-01

In this paper we reflect on our experience of providing a rapid response facility for international healthcare policy comparisons to the English Department of Health. We examine the challenges of developing sustained relationships with policy officials while providing an "on-demand" service in an environment with high turnover of…

Experience and lessons from surveillance and studies of the 2009 pandemic in Europe.

PubMed

Nicoll, A; Ammon, A; Amato Gauci, A; Amato, A; Ciancio, B; Zucs, P; Devaux, I; Plata, F; Mazick, A; Mølbak, K; Asikainen, T; Kramarz, P

2010-01-01

Surveillance and studies in a pandemic is a complex topic including four distinct components: (1) early detection and investigation; (2) comprehensive early assessment; (3) monitoring; and (4) rapid investigation of the effectiveness and impact of countermeasures, including monitoring the safety of pharmaceutical countermeasures. In the 2009 pandemic, the prime early detection and investigation took place in the Americas, but Europe needed to undertake the other three components while remaining vigilant to new phenomenon such as the emergence of antiviral resistance and important viral mutation. Laboratory-based surveillance was essential and also integral to epidemiological and clinical surveillance. Early assessment was especially vital because of the many important strategic parameters of the pandemic that could not be anticipated (the 'known unknowns'). Such assessment did not need to be undertaken in every country, and was done by the earliest affected European countries, particularly those with stronger surveillance. This was more successful than requiring countries to forward primary data for central analysis. However, it sometimes proved difficult to get even those analyses from European counties, and information from Southern hemisphere countries and North America proved equally valuable. These analyses informed which public health and clinical measures were most likely to be successful, and were summarized in a European risk assessment that was updated repeatedly. The estimate of the severity of the pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and more detailed description by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in the risk assessment along with revised planning assumptions were essential, as most national European plans envisaged triggering more disruptive interventions in the event of a severe pandemic. Setting up new surveillance systems in the midst of the pandemic and getting information from them was generally less successful. All European countries needed to perform monitoring (Component 3) for the proper management of their own healthcare systems and other services. The information that central authorities might like to have for monitoring was legion, and some countries found it difficult to limit this to what was essential for decisions and key communications. Monitoring should have been tested for feasibility in influenza seasons, but also needed to consider what surveillance systems will change or cease to deliver during a pandemic. International monitoring (reporting upwards to WHO and European authorities) had to be kept simple as many countries found it difficult to provide routine information to international bodies as well as undertaking internal processes. Investigation of the effectiveness of countermeasures (and the safety of pharmaceutical countermeasures) (Component 4) is another process that only needs to be undertaken in some countries. Safety monitoring proved especially important because of concerns over the safety of vaccines and antivirals. It is unlikely that it will become clear whether and which public health measures have been successful during the pandemic itself. Piloting of methods of estimating influenza vaccine effectiveness (part of Component 4) in Europe was underway in 2008. It was concluded that for future pandemics, authorities should plan how they will undertake Components 2-4, resourcing them realistically and devising new ways of sharing analyses. Crown Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Satellite snowcover and runoff monitoring in central Arizona. [Salt River Project: Salt-Verde Watershed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schumann, H. H.; Kirdar, E.; Warskow, W. L. (Principal Investigator)

1980-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Although the very high resolution experimental LANDSAT imagery permits rapid snow cover mapping at low cost, only one observation is available very 9 days. In contrast, low resolution operational imagery acquired by the ITOS and SMS/GOES satellites provide the daily synoptic observations necessary to monitor the rapid changes in snow covered areas in the entire Salt-Verde watershed. Geometric distortions in meteorological satellite imagery require specialized optical equipment or digital image processing for snow cover mapping.

The Significance of Forest Monitoring Programmes: the Finnish Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merila, P.; Derome, J.; Lindgren, M.

2007-12-01

Finland has been participating in the ICP Forests programme (the International Co-operative Programme on the Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests) based on international agreements on the long- range transportation of air pollutants (LRTAP) and other associated monitoring programmes (e.g. Forest Focus, ICP Integrated Monitoring, ICP Vegetation) since 1985. The knowledge gained during the years has greatly increased our understanding of the overall condition of our forests and the factors affecting forest condition, the processes underlying forest ecosystem functioning, and the potential threats to our forests posed by human activities, both at home and abroad. The success of the monitoring activities in Finland is largely based on the experience gained during the early 1980's with our own national acidification project and, during the late 1980's and early 1990"s, in a number of regional monitoring projects. Finland's membership of the European Union (entry in 1996) has enabled us to further develop the infrastructure and coverage of both our extensive and intensive level networks. This broadening of our ecological understanding and development of international collaboration are now providing us with an invaluable basis for addressing the new monitoring challenges (biodiversity, climate change). The results gained in our monitoring activities clearly demonstrate the value of long-term monitoring programmes. The main results have been regularly reported both at the European (e.g. http://www.icp- forests.org/Reports.htm) and national level (e.g. http://www.metla.fi/julkaisut/workingpapers/2007/mwp045- en.htm). However, the datasets have not been intensively explored and exploited, and few of the important methodological and ecological findings have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This has, understandably, not been the first priority of the international monitoring programmes. A number of the intensive forest monitoring plots in Finland have recently been included in LTER platforms, thus potentially increasing scientific collaboration between researchers across different governmental institutes and education bodies.

A novel modality for intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring.

PubMed

Ashwal, Eran; Shinar, Shiri; Aviram, Amir; Orbach, Sharon; Yogev, Yariv; Hiersch, Liran

2017-11-02

Intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring is well recommended during labor to assess fetal wellbeing. Though commonly used, the external Doppler and fetal scalp electrode monitor have significant shortcomings. Lately, non-invasive technologies were developed as possible alternatives. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of FHR trace using novel Electronic Uterine Monitoring (EUM) to that of external Doppler and fetal scalp electrode monitor. A comparative study conducted in a single tertiary medical center. Intrapartum FHR trace was recorded simultaneously using three different methods: internal fetal scalp electrode, external Doppler, and EUM. The latter, a multichannel electromyogram (EMG) device acquires a uterine signal and maternal and fetal electrocardiograms. FHR traces obtained from all devices during the first and second stages of labor were analyzed. Positive percent of agreement (PPA) and accuracy (by measuring root means square error between observed and predicted values) of EUM and external Doppler were both compared to internal scalp electrode monitoring. A Bland-Altman agreement plot was used to compare the differences in FHR trace between all modalities. For momentary recordings of fetal heart rate <110 bpm or >160 bpm level of agreement, sensitivity, and specificity were also evaluated. Overall, 712,800 FHR momentary recordings were obtained from 33 parturients. Although both EUM and external Doppler highly correlated with internal scalp electrode monitoring (r 2  = 0.98, p < .001 for both methods), the accuracy of EUM was significantly higher than external Doppler (99.0% versus 96.6%, p < .001). In addition, for fetal heart rate <110 bpm or >160 bpm, the PPA, sensitivity, and specificity of EUM as compared with internal fetal scalp electrode, were significantly greater than those of external Doppler (p < .001). Intrapartum FHR using EUM is both valid and accurate, yielding higher correlations with internal scalp electrode monitoring than external Doppler. As such, it may provide a good framework for non-invasive evaluation of intrapartum FHR.

Sequential injection analysis with chemiluminescence detection for rapid monitoring of commercial Calendula officinalis extractions.

PubMed

Hughes, Rachel R; Scown, David; Lenehan, Claire E

2015-01-01

Plant extracts containing high levels of antioxidants are desirable due to their reported health benefits. Most techniques capable of determining the antioxidant activity of plant extracts are unsuitable for rapid at-line analysis as they require extensive sample preparation and/or long analysis times. Therefore, analytical techniques capable of real-time or pseudo real-time at-line monitoring of plant extractions, and determination of extraction endpoints, would be useful to manufacturers of antioxidant-rich plant extracts. To develop a reliable method for the rapid at-line extraction monitoring of antioxidants in plant extracts. Calendula officinalis extracts were prepared from dried flowers and analysed for antioxidant activity using sequential injection analysis (SIA) with chemiluminescence (CL) detection. The intensity of CL emission from the reaction of acidic potassium permanganate with antioxidants within the extract was used as the analytical signal. The SIA-CL method was applied to monitor the extraction of C. officinalis over the course of a batch extraction to determine the extraction endpoint. Results were compared with those from ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Pseudo real-time, at-line monitoring showed the level of antioxidants in a batch extract of Calendula officinalis plateaued after 100 min of extraction. These results correlated well with those of an offline UHPLC study. SIA-CL was found to be a suitable method for pseudo real-time monitoring of plant extractions and determination of extraction endpoints with respect to antioxidant concentrations. The method was applied at-line in the manufacturing industry. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Detecting cell lysis using viscosity monitoring in E. coli fermentation to prevent product loss

PubMed Central

Newton, Joseph M.; Schofield, Desmond; Vlahopoulou, Joanna

2016-01-01

Monitoring the physical or chemical properties of cell broths to infer cell status is often challenging due to the complex nature of the broth. Key factors indicative of cell status include cell density, cell viability, product leakage, and DNA release to the fermentation broth. The rapid and accurate prediction of cell status for hosts with intracellular protein products can minimise product loss due to leakage at the onset of cell lysis in fermentation. This article reports the rheological examination of an industrially relevant E. coli fermentation producing antibody fragments (Fab'). Viscosity monitoring showed an increase in viscosity during the exponential phase in relation to the cell density increase, a relatively flat profile in the stationary phase, followed by a rapid increase which correlated well with product loss, DNA release and loss of cell viability. This phenomenon was observed over several fermentations that a 25% increase in broth viscosity (using induction‐point viscosity as a reference) indicated 10% product loss. Our results suggest that viscosity can accurately detect cell lysis and product leakage in postinduction cell cultures, and can identify cell lysis earlier than several other common fermentation monitoring techniques. This work demonstrates the utility of rapidly monitoring the physical properties of fermentation broths, and that viscosity monitoring has the potential to be a tool for process development to determine the optimal harvest time and minimise product loss. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology Progress published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 32:1069–1076, 2016 PMID:27111912

Conceptual frameworks for monitoring of high-altitude Andean ecosystems

Treesearch

David E. Busch; Xavier Silva

2006-01-01

The Ecuadorian government and its partner organizations in the international conservation community share an interest in developing monitoring programs for Andean protected areas to help support management for recreation, education, and ecological sustainability. To accomplish this goal, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of the Interior...

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation--A Prototype Internal Learning System for Livelihood and Micro-Credit Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noponen, Helzi

1997-01-01

An internal learning system (ILS), created for a development organization operating savings/credit programs with poor women, is used for data collection, monitoring, and evaluation. The ILS is participatory, pictorial, decentralized, and flexible; it documents socioeconomic impact and supports action planning. (SK)

Historical Radiological Event Monitoring

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

During and after radiological events EPA's RadNet monitors the environment for radiation. EPA monitored environmental radiation levels during and after Chernobyl, Fukushima and other international and domestic radiological incidents.

Evaluation of the Ciba Corning Biotrack 512 coagulation monitor for the control of oral anticoagulation.

PubMed Central

Jennings, I; Luddington, R J; Baglin, T

1991-01-01

The Ciba Corning Biotrack 512 coagulation monitor requires a minimal degree of technical expertise to operate, and is already in use for near-patient testing. This study evaluated the monitor for possible use in decentralised control of oral anticoagulant treatment. The monitor compared well with Manchester Reagent, suggesting that it could be used in areas where this thromboplastin is used for centralised control. The inability of the monitor to allow for locally determined geometric mean normal prothrombin times in the calculation of the International Normalised Ratio (INR), and possibly the high International Sensitivity Index (ISI) of the thromboplastin used with the monitor, resulted in poor comparability with some other thromboplastins, particularly Thrombotest. These problems need to be addressed if the monitor is to be used for decentralised anticoagulant control. PMID:1752987

Rapid response systems.

PubMed

Lyons, Patrick G; Edelson, Dana P; Churpek, Matthew M

2018-07-01

Rapid response systems are commonly employed by hospitals to identify and respond to deteriorating patients outside of the intensive care unit. Controversy exists about the benefits of rapid response systems. We aimed to review the current state of the rapid response literature, including evolving aspects of afferent (risk detection) and efferent (intervention) arms, outcome measurement, process improvement, and implementation. Articles written in English and published in PubMed. Rapid response systems are heterogeneous, with important differences among afferent and efferent arms. Clinically meaningful outcomes may include unexpected mortality, in-hospital cardiac arrest, length of stay, cost, and processes of care at end of life. Both positive and negative interventional studies have been published, although the two largest randomized trials involving rapid response systems - the Medical Early Response and Intervention Trial (MERIT) and the Effect of a Pediatric Early Warning System on All-Cause Mortality in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients (EPOCH) trial - did not find a mortality benefit with these systems, albeit with important limitations. Advances in monitoring technologies, risk assessment strategies, and behavioral ergonomics may offer opportunities for improvement. Rapid responses may improve some meaningful outcomes, although these findings remain controversial. These systems may also improve care for patients at the end of life. Rapid response systems are expected to continue evolving with novel developments in monitoring technologies, risk prediction informatics, and work in human factors. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The ASTER emergency scheduling system: A new project linking near-real-time satellite monitoring of disasters to the acquisition of high-resolution remote sensing data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramsey, M.; Dehn, J.; Wessels, R.; Byrnes, J.; Duda, K.; Maldonado, L.; Dwyer, J.

2004-12-01

Numerous government agencies and university partnerships are currently utilizing orbital instruments with high-temporal/low-spatial resolution (e.g. MODIS, AVHRR) to monitor hazards. These hazards are varied and include both natural (volcanic eruptions, severe weather, wildfires, earthquake damage) and anthropogenic (environmental damage, urban terrorism). Although monitoring a hazardous situation is critical, a key strategy of NASA's Earth science program is to develop a scientific understanding of the Earth system and its responses to changes, as well as to improve prediction of hazard onset. In order to develop a quantitative scientific basis from which to model transient geological and climatological hazards, much higher spatial/spectral resolution datasets are required. Such datasets are sparse, currently available from certain government (e.g. ASTER, Hyperion) and commercial (e.g. IKONOS, QuickBird) instruments. However, only ASTER has the capability to acquire high spatial resolution data from the visible to thermal infrared (TIR) wavelength region in conjunction with digital elevation models (DEM) generation. These capabilities are particularly useful for numerous aspects of volcanic remote sensing. For example, multispectral TIR data are critical for monitoring low temperature anomalies and mapping both chemical and textural variations on volcanic surfaces. Because ASTER data are scheduled in advance and the raw data are sent to Japan for calibration processing, rapid acquisition of hazards becomes problematic. However, a "rapid response" mode does exist for ASTER data scheduling and processing, but its availability is limited and requires significant human interaction. A newly-funded NASA ASTER science team project seeks to link this ASTER rapid response pathway to larger-scale monitoring alerts, which are already in-place and in-use by other organizations. By refining the initial event detection criteria and improving interfaces between these organizations and the ASTER project, we expect to minimize lag time and use existing monitoring tools as triggers for the emergency response of ASTER. The first phase of this project will be integrated into the Alaska Volcano Observatory's current near-real-time volcanic monitoring system, which relies on high temporal/low spatial resolution orbital data. This synergy will allow small-scale activity to be targeted for science and response, and a calibration baseline between each sensor to be established. If successful, this will be the first time that high spatial resolution, multispectral satellite data will be routinely scheduled, acquired, and analyzed in a "rapid response" mode within an existing hazard monitoring framework. Initial testing of this system is now underway using data from previous eruptions in the north Pacific region, and modifications to the rapid data flow procedure within the ASTER science and support structure has begun.

Near Real-Time Flood Monitoring and Impact Assessment Systems. Chapter 6; [Case Study: 2011 Flooding in Southeast Asia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahamed, Aakash; Bolten, John; Doyle, Colin; Fayne, Jessica

2016-01-01

Floods are the costliest natural disaster, causing approximately 6.8 million deaths in the twentieth century alone. Worldwide economic flood damage estimates in 2012 exceed $19 Billion USD. Extended duration floods also pose longer term threats to food security, water, sanitation, hygiene, and community livelihoods, particularly in developing countries. Projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest that precipitation extremes, rainfall intensity, storm intensity, and variability are increasing due to climate change. Increasing hydrologic uncertainty will likely lead to unprecedented extreme flood events. As such, there is a vital need to enhance and further develop traditional techniques used to rapidly assess flooding and extend analytical methods to estimate impacted population and infrastructure. Measuring flood extent in situ is generally impractical, time consuming, and can be inaccurate. Remotely sensed imagery acquired from space-borne and airborne sensors provides a viable platform for consistent and rapid wall-to-wall monitoring of large flood events through time. Terabytes of freely available satellite imagery are made available online each day by NASA, ESA, and other international space research institutions. Advances in cloud computing and data storage technologies allow researchers to leverage these satellite data and apply analytical methods at scale. Repeat-survey earth observations help provide insight about how natural phenomena change through time, including the progression and recession of floodwaters. In recent years, cloud-penetrating radar remote sensing techniques (e.g., Synthetic Aperture Radar) and high temporal resolution imagery platforms (e.g., MODIS and its 1-day return period), along with high performance computing infrastructure, have enabled significant advances in software systems that provide flood warning, assessments, and hazard reduction potential. By incorporating social and economic data, researchers can develop systems that automatically quantify the socioeconomic impacts resulting from flood disaster events.

UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005-accredited method for the determination of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetable samples by LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Camino-Sánchez, F J; Zafra-Gómez, A; Oliver-Rodríguez, B; Ballesteros, O; Navalón, A; Crovetto, G; Vílchez, J L

2010-11-01

A rapid, simple and sensitive multi-residue method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of 69 pesticides in fruit and vegetables using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The samples were extracted following the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method known as QuEChERS. Mass spectrometric conditions were individually optimised for each analyte in order to achieve maximum sensitivity in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Using the developed chromatographic conditions, 69 pesticides can be separated in less than 17 min. Two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) assays were used for each pesticide to obtain simultaneous quantification and identification in one run. With this method in SRM mode, more than 150 pesticides can be analysed and quantified, but their confirmation is not possible in all cases according to the European regulations on pesticide residues. Nine common representative matrices (zucchini, melon, cucumber, watermelon, tomato, garlic, eggplant, lettuce and pepper) were selected to investigate the effect of different matrices on recovery and precision. Mean recoveries ranged from 70% to 120%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 20% for all the pesticides. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of more than 2000 vegetable samples from the extensive greenhouse cultivation in the province of Almeria, Spain, during one year. The methodology combines the advantages of both QuEChERS and LC-MS/MS producing a very rapid, sensitive, accurate and reliable procedure that can be applied in routine analytical laboratories. The method was validated and accredited according to UNE-EN-ISO/IEC 17025:2005 international standard (accreditation number 278/LE1027).

Correlation of ISS Electric Potential Variations with Mission Operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willis, Emily M.; Minow, Joseph I.; Parker, Linda Neergaard

2014-01-01

Spacecraft charging on the International Space Station (ISS) is caused by a complex combination of the low Earth orbit plasma environment, space weather events, operations of the high voltage solar arrays, and changes in the ISS configuration and orbit parameters. Measurements of the ionospheric electron density and temperature along the ISS orbit and variations in the ISS electric potential are obtained from the Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) suite of four plasma instruments (two Langmuir probes, a Floating Potential Probe, and a Plasma Impedance Probe) on the ISS. These instruments provide a unique capability for monitoring the response of the ISS electric potential to variations in the space environment, changes in vehicle configuration, and operational solar array power manipulation. In particular, rapid variations in ISS potential during solar array operations on time scales of tens of milliseconds can be monitored due to the 128 Hz sample rate of the Floating Potential Probe providing an interesting insight into high voltage solar array interaction with the space plasma environment. Comparing the FPMU data with the ISS operations timeline and solar array data provides a means for correlating some of the more complex and interesting ISS electric potential variations with mission operations. In addition, recent extensions and improvements to the ISS data downlink capabilities have allowed more operating time for the FPMU than ever before. The FPMU was operated for over 200 days in 2013 resulting in the largest data set ever recorded in a single year for the ISS. In this paper we provide examples of a number of the more interesting ISS charging events observed during the 2013 operations including examples of rapid charging events due to solar array power operations, auroral charging events, and other charging behavior related to ISS mission operations.

Correlation of ISS Electric Potential Variations with Mission Operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willis, Emily M.; Minow, Joseph I.; Parker, Linda Neergaard

2014-01-01

Spacecraft charging on the International Space Station (ISS) is caused by a complex mix of the low Earth orbit plasma environment, space weather events, operations of the high voltage solar arrays, and changes in the ISS configuration and orbit parameters. Measurements of the ionospheric electron density and temperature along the ISS orbit and variations in the ISS electric potential are obtained from the Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) suite of four plasma instruments (two Langmuir probes, a Floating Potential Probe, and a Plasma Impedance Probe) on the ISS. These instruments provide a unique capability for monitoring the response of the ISS electric potential to variations in the space environment, changes in vehicle configuration, and operational solar array power manipulation. In particular, rapid variations in ISS potential during solar array operations on time scales of tens of milliseconds can be monitored due to the 128 Hz sample rate of the Floating Potential Probe providing an interesting insight into high voltage solar array interaction with the space plasma environment. Comparing the FPMU data with the ISS operations timeline and solar array data provides a means for correlating some of the more complex and interesting ISS electric potential variations with mission operations. In addition, recent extensions and improvements to the ISS data downlink capabilities have allowed more operating time for the FPMU than ever before. The FPMU was operated for over 200 days in 2013 resulting in the largest data set ever recorded in a single year for the ISS. This presentation will provide examples of a number of the more interesting ISS charging events observed during the 2013 operations including examples of rapid charging events due to solar array power operations, auroral charging events, and other charging behavior related to ISS mission operations.

Development of an ATP assay for rapid onboard testing to detect living microorganisms in ballast water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyun, Bonggil; Cha, Hyung-Gon; Lee, Nayoung; Yum, Seungshic; Baek, Seung Ho; Shin, Kyoungsoon

2018-03-01

Ballast water is a principal pathway for the introduction of pathogens and non-indigenous species to ports worldwide. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have adopted ballast water management regulations that require, e.g., the installation of shipboard ballast water management systems (BWMS). Rapid and simple analytical methods are needed to monitor whether ballast water disinfection ensures compliance with the discharge standards. In this study laboratory and full scale land-based testing was used to investigate the suitability of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay for quantifying living organisms (≥ 10 and < 50 μm minimum dimension) in ballast water. In laboratory experiments the ATP assay was highly sensitive, with a detection limit of < 5 cells 0.1 mL- 1. Diatom species (Chaetoceros simplex and Skeletonema costatum) had low ATP concentrations compared with dinoflagellate, Raphidophyceae, and Chrysophyceae species. This was because of differences in cell volume, as the ATP concentration increased exponentially with increasing cell volume. Using a regression model between ATP concentration and cell volume, an estimated the pass and fail ATP concentration in this study (788-98,610 pg mL- 1) was developed for the discharge of ballast water. In land-based testing the ATP assay also showed a good correlation with the presence of living natural plankton cells in control samples, but the ATP concentration (137 pg mL- 1) was much lower than the ATP guideline. The low ATP concentration in natural plankton cells may reflect a decline in their biological activity because of extended exposure to dark conditions. Although our results need further validation, the ATP assay is a suitable tool for monitoring compliance of ballast water treatment.

Improved prediction and tracking of volcanic ash clouds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mastin, Larry G.; Webley, Peter

2009-01-01

During the past 30??years, more than 100 airplanes have inadvertently flown through clouds of volcanic ash from erupting volcanoes. Such encounters have caused millions of dollars in damage to the aircraft and have endangered the lives of tens of thousands of passengers. In a few severe cases, total engine failure resulted when ash was ingested into turbines and coating turbine blades. These incidents have prompted the establishment of cooperative efforts by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the volcanological community to provide rapid notification of eruptive activity, and to monitor and forecast the trajectories of ash clouds so that they can be avoided by air traffic. Ash-cloud properties such as plume height, ash concentration, and three-dimensional ash distribution have been monitored through non-conventional remote sensing techniques that are under active development. Forecasting the trajectories of ash clouds has required the development of volcanic ash transport and dispersion models that can calculate the path of an ash cloud over the scale of a continent or a hemisphere. Volcanological inputs to these models, such as plume height, mass eruption rate, eruption duration, ash distribution with altitude, and grain-size distribution, must be assigned in real time during an event, often with limited observations. Databases and protocols are currently being developed that allow for rapid assignment of such source parameters. In this paper, we summarize how an interdisciplinary working group on eruption source parameters has been instigating research to improve upon the current understanding of volcanic ash cloud characterization and predictions. Improved predictions of ash cloud movement and air fall will aid in making better hazard assessments for aviation and for public health and air quality. ?? 2008 Elsevier B.V.

Endothelin Induces Rapid, Dynamin-mediated Budding of Endothelial Caveolae Rich in ET-B*

PubMed Central

Oh, Phil; Horner, Thierry; Witkiewicz, Halina; Schnitzer, Jan E.

2012-01-01

Clathrin-independent trafficking pathways for internalizing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain undefined. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis of receptors including ligand-engaged GPCRs can be very rapid and comprehensive (<10 min). Caveolae-mediated endocytosis of ligands and antibodies has been reported to be much slower in cell culture (≫10 min). Little is known about the role of physiological ligands and specific GPCRs in regulating caveolae trafficking. Here, we find that one receptor for endothelin, ET-B but not ET-A, resides on endothelial cell surfaces in both tissue and cell culture primarily concentrated within caveolae. Reconstituted cell-free budding assays show that endothelins (ETs) induce the fission of caveolae from endothelial plasma membranes purified from rat lungs. Electron microcopy of lung tissue sections and tissue subcellular fractionation both show that endothelin administered intravascularly in rats also induces a significant loss of caveolae at the luminal surface of lung vascular endothelium. Endothelial cells in culture show that ET stimulates very rapid internalization of caveolae and cargo including caveolin, caveolae-targeting antibody, and itself. The ET-B inhibitor BQ788, but not the ET-A inhibitor BQ123, blocks the ET-induced budding of caveolae. Both the pharmacological inhibitor Dynasore and the genetic dominant negative K44A mutant of dynamin prevent this induced budding and internalization of caveolae. Also shRNA lentivirus knockdown of caveolin-1 expression prevents rapid internalization of ET and ET-B. It appears that endothelin can engage ET-B already highly concentrated in caveolae of endothelial cells to induce very rapid caveolae fission and endocytosis. This transport requires active dynamin function. Caveolae trafficking may occur more rapidly than previously documented when it is stimulated by a specific ligand to signaling receptors already located in caveolae before ligand engagement. PMID:22457360

Technical basis for internal dosimetry at Hanford

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

Sula, M.J.; Carbaugh, E.H.; Bihl, D.E.

1991-07-01

The Hanford Internal Dosimetry Program, administered by Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the US Department of Energy, provides routine bioassay monitoring for employees who are potentially exposed to radionuclides in the workplace. This report presents the technical basis for routine bioassay monitoring and the assessment of internal dose at Hanford. The radionuclides of concern include tritium, corrosion products ({sup 58}Co, {sup 60}Co, {sup 54}Mn, and {sup 59}Fe), strontium, cesium, iodine, europium, uranium, plutonium, and americium,. Sections on each of these radionuclides discuss the sources and characteristics; dosimetry; bioassay measurements and monitoring; dose measurement, assessment, and mitigation and bioassay follow-up treatment. 78more » refs., 35 figs., 115 tabs.« less

Technical basis for internal dosimetry at Hanford

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

Sula, M.J.; Carbaugh, E.H.; Bihl, D.E.

1989-04-01

The Hanford Internal Dosimetry Program, administered by Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the US Department of Energy, provides routine bioassay monitoring for employees who are potentially exposed to radionuclides in the workplace. This report presents the technical basis for routine bioassay monitoring and the assessment of internal dose at Hanford. The radionuclides of concern include tritium, corrosion products (/sup 58/Co, /sup 60/Co, /sup 54/Mn, and /sup 59/Fe), strontium, cesium, iodine, europium, uranium, plutonium, and americium. Sections on each of these radionuclides discuss the sources and characteristics; dosimetry; bioassay measurements and monitoring; dose measurement, assessment, and mitigation; and bioassay follow-up treatment. 64more » refs., 42 figs., 118 tabs.« less

INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support): overview and key principles.

PubMed

Swinburn, B; Sacks, G; Vandevijvere, S; Kumanyika, S; Lobstein, T; Neal, B; Barquera, S; Friel, S; Hawkes, C; Kelly, B; L'abbé, M; Lee, A; Ma, J; Macmullan, J; Mohan, S; Monteiro, C; Rayner, M; Sanders, D; Snowdon, W; Walker, C

2013-10-01

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) dominate disease burdens globally and poor nutrition increasingly contributes to this global burden. Comprehensive monitoring of food environments, and evaluation of the impact of public and private sector policies on food environments is needed to strengthen accountability systems to reduce NCDs. The International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) is a global network of public-interest organizations and researchers that aims to monitor, benchmark and support public and private sector actions to create healthy food environments and reduce obesity, NCDs and their related inequalities. The INFORMAS framework includes two 'process' modules, that monitor the policies and actions of the public and private sectors, seven 'impact' modules that monitor the key characteristics of food environments and three 'outcome' modules that monitor dietary quality, risk factors and NCD morbidity and mortality. Monitoring frameworks and indicators have been developed for 10 modules to provide consistency, but allowing for stepwise approaches ('minimal', 'expanded', 'optimal') to data collection and analysis. INFORMAS data will enable benchmarking of food environments between countries, and monitoring of progress over time within countries. Through monitoring and benchmarking, INFORMAS will strengthen the accountability systems needed to help reduce the burden of obesity, NCDs and their related inequalities. © 2013 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Rapid extraction of virus-contaminated hemocytes from oysters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rapid viral detection methods are necessary to employ diagnostic testing for viral contamination in shellfish to prevent and control foodborne illness. Current shellfish viral RNA extraction methods, which are time-consuming and not applicable for routine monitoring, require the testing of whole or ...

Microbial Monitoring of Pathogens by Comparing Multiple Real-Time PCR Platforms for Potential Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birmele, Michele

2012-01-01

The International Space Station (ISS) is a closed environment wih rotations of crew and equipment each introducing their own microbial flora making it necessary to monitor the air, surfaces, and water for microbial contamination. Current microbial monitoring includes labor and time intensive methods to enumerate total bacterial and fungal cells with limited characterization during in-flight testing. Although this culture-based method has been sufficient for monitoring the ISS, future long duration missions will need to perform more comprehensive characterization in-flight, since sample return and ground characterization may not be available. A workshop was held in 2011 at the Johnson Space Center to discuss alternative methodologies and technologies suitable for microbial monitoring for these longterm exploration missions where molecular-based methodologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were recommended. In response, a multi-center (Marshall Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Kennedy Space Center) collaborative research effort was initiated to explore novel commercial-off-the-shelf hardware options for spaceflight environmental monitoring. The goal was to evaluate quantitative/semi-quantitative PCR approaches to space applications for low cost in-flight rapid identification of microorganisms affecting crew safety. The initial phase of this project identified commercially available platforms that could be minimally modified to perform nominally in microgravity followed by proof-of-concept testing on the highest qualifying candidates with a universally available test organism, Salmonella enterica. The platforms evaluated during proof-of-concept testing included the iCubate 2.0(TradeMark) (iCubate, Huntsville, AL), RAZOR EX (BioFire Diagnostics; Salt Lake City, Utah) and SmartCycler(TradeMark) (Cepheid; Sunnyvale, CA). The analysis identified two potential technologies (iCubate 2.0 and RAZOR EX) that were able to perform sample-to-answer testing with cell sample concentrations between SO to 400 cells. In addition, the commercial systems were evaluated for initial flight safety and readiness, sample concentration needs were reviewed, and a competitive procurement of commercially available platforms was initiated.

Loran Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System, Phase I : Volume 2. Appendices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-08-01

Presents results of the evaluation phase of a two phase program to develop an Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system for the Southern California Rapid Transit District in Los Angeles, California. Tests were previously conducted on a Loran based lo...

Monitoring Bloom Dynamics of a Common Coastal Bioluminescent Ctenophore

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-30

photodiodes. IMPACT/APPLICATIONS More frequent and more rapidly developing jellyfish blooms, especially Mnemiopsis leidyi as well as Harmful Algal...To meet the need for a bioluminescent jellyfish monitoring and forecasting system, predictive models will depend upon dense networks of sensor

A spiral-based volumetric acquisition for MR temperature imaging.

PubMed

Fielden, Samuel W; Feng, Xue; Zhao, Li; Miller, G Wilson; Geeslin, Matthew; Dallapiazza, Robert F; Elias, W Jeffrey; Wintermark, Max; Butts Pauly, Kim; Meyer, Craig H

2018-06-01

To develop a rapid pulse sequence for volumetric MR thermometry. Simulations were carried out to assess temperature deviation, focal spot distortion/blurring, and focal spot shift across a range of readout durations and maximum temperatures for Cartesian, spiral-out, and retraced spiral-in/out (RIO) trajectories. The RIO trajectory was applied for stack-of-spirals 3D imaging on a real-time imaging platform and preliminary evaluation was carried out compared to a standard 2D sequence in vivo using a swine brain model, comparing maximum and mean temperatures measured between the two methods, as well as the temporal standard deviation measured by the two methods. In simulations, low-bandwidth Cartesian trajectories showed substantial shift of the focal spot, whereas both spiral trajectories showed no shift while maintaining focal spot geometry. In vivo, the 3D sequence achieved real-time 4D monitoring of thermometry, with an update time of 2.9-3.3 s. Spiral imaging, and RIO imaging in particular, is an effective way to speed up volumetric MR thermometry. Magn Reson Med 79:3122-3127, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Quantification of seven β-lactam antibiotics and two β-lactamase inhibitors in human plasma using a validated UPLC-MS/MS method.

PubMed

Carlier, Mieke; Stove, Veronique; Roberts, Jason A; Van de Velde, Eric; De Waele, Jan J; Verstraete, Alain G

2012-11-01

There is an increasing interest in monitoring plasma concentrations of β-lactam antibiotics. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatographic method with tandem mass spectrometric detection (UPLC-MS/MS) for simultaneous quantification of amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefazolin, ceftazidime, meropenem, piperacillin, clavulanic acid and tazobactam. Sample clean-up included protein precipitation with acetonitrile and back-extraction of acetonitrile with dichloromethane. Six deuterated β-lactam antibiotics were used as internal standards. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system using a BEH C(18) column (1.7 μm, 100 mm×2.1 mm) applying a binary gradient elution of water and acetonitrile both containing 0.1% formic acid. The total run time was 5.5 min. The developed method was validated in terms of precision, accuracy, linearity, matrix effect and recovery. The assay has now been successfully used to determine concentrations of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime and meropenem in plasma samples from intensive care patients. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Use of Capillaries for Macromolecular Crystallization in a Cryogenic Dewar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ciszak, Ewa; Hammons, Aaron S.; Hong, Young Soo

2002-01-01

The enhanced gaseous nitrogen (EGN) dewar is a cryogenic dry shipper with a sealed cylinder inserted inside along with a temperature monitoring device, and is intended for macromolecular crystallization experiments on the International Space Station. Within the dewar, each crystallization experiment is contained as a solution within a plastic capillary tube. The standard procedure for loading samples in these tubes has involved rapid freezing of the precipitant and biomolecular solution, e.g., protein, directly in liquid nitrogen; this method, however, often resulted in uncontrolled formation of air voids, These air pockets, or bubbles, can lead to irreproducible crystallization results. A novel protocol has been developed to prevent formation of bubbles, and this has been tested in the laboratory as well as aboard the International Space Station during a 42-day long mission of July/August 2001. The gain or loss of mass from solutions within the plastic capillaries revealed that mass transport occurred among separated tubes, and that this mass transport was dependent upon the hygroscopic character of the solution contained in any given tube. The surface area of the plastic capillary tube also related to the observed mass transport. Furthermore, the decreased mass of solutions of-protein correlated to observed formation of protein crystals.

Analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) for E-commerce and Internet marketing of elderly products: a review.

PubMed

Tsai, Yuan-Cheng; Cheng, Yu-Tien

2012-01-01

With the transformation of its population structure and economic environment, Taiwan is rapidly becoming an aging society. There is a growing need for elderly products, and therefore the operation of web shops that sell elderly products is important. In an era which values performance management, searching for key performance indicators (KPIs) helps to reveal, if the goals of a web shop are achieved. In the current study, researchers adopted the constructs of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to evaluate web shop performance. Additionally, the Delphi method, along with questionnaires, was used to develop 29 indicators. Finally, the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method assisted in identifying the level of importance of the constructs, in which "internal process" ranked top, followed by "learning and growth", "customer", and "financial". "Internal process" was the key construct that impacted other factors, while "customer" was an important construct affected by other factors. By understanding the influences and relationships among the constructs, enterprises can conduct additional monitoring and management to achieve functions of prevention, continuous improvement, and innovation in order to shape their core competence. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of sensor performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waldmann, C.; Tamburri, M.; Prien, R. D.; Fietzek, P.

2010-02-01

There is an international commitment to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained ocean observation system. However, a foundation for any observing, monitoring or research effort is effective and reliable in situ sensor technologies that accurately measure key environmental parameters. Ultimately, the data used for modelling efforts, management decisions and rapid responses to ocean hazards are only as good as the instruments that collect them. There is also a compelling need to develop and incorporate new or novel technologies to improve all aspects of existing observing systems and meet various emerging challenges. Assessment of Sensor Performance was a cross-cutting issues session at the international OceanSensors08 workshop in Warnemünde, Germany, which also has penetrated some of the papers published as a result of the workshop (Denuault, 2009; Kröger et al., 2009; Zielinski et al., 2009). The discussions were focused on how best to classify and validate the instruments required for effective and reliable ocean observations and research. The following is a summary of the discussions and conclusions drawn from this workshop, which specifically addresses the characterisation of sensor systems, technology readiness levels, verification of sensor performance and quality management of sensor systems.

Determination of limonin in dog plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Liu, Shi-jia; Zhou, Ling; Zhang, Jun; Yu, Bo-yang; Li, Chang-yin; Liu, Zi-xiu; Ju, Wen-zheng

2013-04-01

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of limonin in beagle dog plasma using nimodipine as internal standard. The analyte and internal standard (IS) were extracted with ether followed by a rapid isocratic elution with 10 mm ammonium acetate buffer-methanol (26:74, v/v) on a C18 column (150 × 2.1 mm i.d.) and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 469.4 → 229.3 and m/z 417.2 → 122.0 were used to measure the analyte and the IS. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.625-100 ng/mL for limonin in dog plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.312 ng/mL and the extraction recovery was >90.4% for limonin. The inter- and intra-day precision of the method at three concentrations was less than 9.9%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of limonin in dogs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

10 CFR 60.143 - Monitoring and testing waste packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... package monitoring program shall include laboratory experiments which focus on the internal condition of... the laboratory experiments. (d) The waste package monitoring program shall continue as long as...

10 CFR 60.143 - Monitoring and testing waste packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... package monitoring program shall include laboratory experiments which focus on the internal condition of... the laboratory experiments. (d) The waste package monitoring program shall continue as long as...

10 CFR 60.143 - Monitoring and testing waste packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... package monitoring program shall include laboratory experiments which focus on the internal condition of... the laboratory experiments. (d) The waste package monitoring program shall continue as long as...

10 CFR 60.143 - Monitoring and testing waste packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... package monitoring program shall include laboratory experiments which focus on the internal condition of... the laboratory experiments. (d) The waste package monitoring program shall continue as long as...

10 CFR 60.143 - Monitoring and testing waste packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... package monitoring program shall include laboratory experiments which focus on the internal condition of... the laboratory experiments. (d) The waste package monitoring program shall continue as long as...

Older drivers and rapid deceleration events: Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study.

PubMed

Keay, Lisa; Munoz, Beatriz; Duncan, Donald D; Hahn, Daniel; Baldwin, Kevin; Turano, Kathleen A; Munro, Cynthia A; Bandeen-Roche, Karen; West, Sheila K

2013-09-01

Drivers who rapidly change speed while driving may be more at risk for a crash. We sought to determine the relationship of demographic, vision, and cognitive variables with episodes of rapid decelerations during five days of normal driving in a cohort of older drivers. In the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study, 1425 older drivers aged 67-87 were recruited from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration's rolls for licensees in Salisbury, Maryland. Participants had several measures of vision tested: visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and the attentional visual field. Participants were also tested for various domains of cognitive function including executive function, attention, psychomotor speed, and visual search. A custom created driving monitoring system (DMS) was used to capture rapid deceleration events (RDEs), defined as at least 350 milli-g deceleration, during a five day period of monitoring. The rate of RDE per mile driven was modeled using a negative binomial regression model with an offset of the logarithm of the number of miles driven. We found that 30% of older drivers had one or more RDE during a five day period, and of those, about 1/3 had four or more. The rate of RDE per mile driven was highest for those drivers driving<59 miles during the 5-day period of monitoring. However, older drivers with RDE's were more likely to have better scores in cognitive tests of psychomotor speed and visual search, and have faster brake reaction time. Further, greater average speed and maximum speed per driving segment was protective against RDE events. In conclusion, contrary to our hypothesis, older drivers who perform rapid decelerations tend to be more "fit", with better measures of vision and cognition compared to those who do not have events of rapid deceleration. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Older Drivers and Rapid Deceleration Events: Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study

PubMed Central

Keay, Lisa; Munoz, Beatriz; Duncan, Donald D; Hahn, Daniel; Baldwin, Kevin; Turano, Kathleen A; Munro, Cynthia A; Bandeen-Roche, Karen; West, Sheila K

2012-01-01

Drivers who rapidly change speed while driving may be more at risk for a crash. We sought to determine the relationship of demographic, vision, and cognitive variables with episodes of rapid decelerations during five days of normal driving in a cohort of older drivers. In the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study, 1425 older drivers ages 67 to 87 were recruited from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s rolls for licensees in Salisbury, Maryland. Participants had several measures of vision tested: visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and the attentional visual field. Participants were also tested for various domains of cognitive function including executive function, attention, psychomotor speed, and visual search. A custom created Driving Monitor System (DMS) was used to capture rapid deceleration events (RDE), defined as at least 350 milli-g deceleration, during a five day period of monitoring. The rate of RDE per mile driven was modeled using a negative binomial regression model with an offset of the logarithm of the number of miles driven. We found that 30% of older drivers had one or more RDE during a five day period, and of those, about 1/3 had four or more. The rate of RDE per mile driven was highest for those drivers driving <59 miles during the 5-day period of monitoring. However, older drivers with RDE’s were more likely to have better scores in cognitive tests of psychomotor speed and visual search, and have faster brake reaction time. Further, greater average speed and maximum speed per driving segment was protective against RDE events. In conclusion, contrary to our hypothesis, older drivers who perform rapid decelerations tend to be more “fit”, with better measures of vision and cognition compared to those who do not have events of rapid deceleration. PMID:22742775

The Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM)

Treesearch

Jonathan Bart; Brad Andres; Stephen Brown; Garry Donaldson; Brian Harrington; Vicky Johnston; Stephanie Jones; Guy Morrison; Susan Skagen

2005-01-01

This report describes the “Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring” (PRISM). PRISM is being implemented by a Canada-United States Shorebird Monitoring and Assessment Committee formed in 2001 by the Canadian Shorebird Working Group and the U.S. Shorebird Council. PRISM provides a single blueprint for implementing the shorebird...

Satellites, tweets, forecasts: the future of flood disaster management?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dottori, Francesco; Kalas, Milan; Lorini, Valerio; Wania, Annett; Pappenberger, Florian; Salamon, Peter; Ramos, Maria Helena; Cloke, Hannah; Castillo, Carlos

2017-04-01

Floods have devastating effects on lives and livelihoods around the world. Structural flood defence measures such as dikes and dams can help protect people. However, it is the emerging science and technologies for flood disaster management and preparedness, such as increasingly accurate flood forecasting systems, high-resolution satellite monitoring, rapid risk mapping, and the unique strength of social media information and crowdsourcing, that are most promising for reducing the impacts of flooding. Here, we describe an innovative framework which integrates in real-time two components of the Copernicus Emergency mapping services, namely the European Flood Awareness System and the satellite-based Rapid Mapping, with new procedures for rapid risk assessment and social media and news monitoring. The integrated framework enables improved flood impact forecast, thanks to the real-time integration of forecasting and monitoring components, and increases the timeliness and efficiency of satellite mapping, with the aim of capturing flood peaks and following the evolution of flooding processes. Thanks to the proposed framework, emergency responders will have access to a broad range of timely and accurate information for more effective and robust planning, decision-making, and resource allocation.

Why count trees? Volunteer motivations and experiences with tree monitoring in New York City

Treesearch

Michelle L. Johnson; Lindsay K. Campbell; Erika S. Svendsen; Philip Silva

2018-01-01

Volunteer programs can benefit from a deeper understanding of the motivations and experiences of people engaged in citizen science. Research to date has studied motivations of citizen scientists and tree-planting volunteers. Less work has focused on tree-monitoring volunteers, a role that is rapidly increasing as more cities involve the public in monitoring the urban...

Testing an innovative framework for flood forecasting, monitoring and mapping in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dottori, Francesco; Kalas, Milan; Lorini, Valerio; Wania, Annett; Pappenberger, Florian; Salamon, Peter; Ramos, Maria Helena; Cloke, Hannah; Castillo, Carlos

2017-04-01

Between May and June 2016, France was hit by severe floods, particularly in the Loire and Seine river basins. In this work, we use this case study to test an innovative framework for flood forecasting, mapping and monitoring. More in detail, the system integrates in real-time two components of the Copernicus Emergency mapping services, namely the European Flood Awareness System and the satellite-based Rapid Mapping, with new procedures for rapid risk assessment and social media and news monitoring. We explore in detail the performance of each component of the system, demonstrating the improvements in respect to stand-alone flood forecasting and monitoring systems. We show how the performances of the forecasting component can be refined using the real-time feedback from social media monitoring to identify which areas were flooded, to evaluate the flood intensity, and therefore to correct impact estimations. Moreover, we show how the integration with impact forecast and social media monitoring can improve the timeliness and efficiency of satellite based emergency mapping, and reduce the chances of missing areas where flooding is already happening. These results illustrate how the new integrated approach leads to a better and earlier decision making and a timely evaluation of impacts.

10 CFR 835.703 - Other monitoring records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

....1102(d); (b) Results of monitoring used to determine individual occupational dose from external and internal sources; (c) Results of monitoring for the release and control of material and equipment as...

Highlights from two years of geoelectrical monitoring of permafrost at the Magnetköpfl/Kitzsteinhorn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jochum, Birgit; Ottowitz, David; Pfeiler, Stefan; Supper, Robert; Keuschnig, Markus; Hartmeyer, Ingo; Kim, Jung-Ho

2014-05-01

Changes of climate parameters due to global warming generate increased permafrost warming and deglaciation in alpine regions. The area of interest is the Magnetköpfl, a peak below the Kitzsteinhorn (3203 m), where scientists observe increasing rock instability due to the probable degradation of permafrost and the rapid lowering of the glacier surfaces adjacent to the rock faces (loss of natural abutment, exposure of rock to atmospheric influences). Geoelectric measurements are an adequate method to measure permafrost, since the underground electric resistivity is highly dependent on temperature and the amount of unfrozen pore water. In October 2011 a geoelectrical monitoring profile with the GEOMON4D was installed on the north facing ridge of the Magnetköpfl. Measurements of soil temperature on the profile support the interpretation of geoelectric data. Maximum active layer depth at the Magnetköpfl is approximately 3 m. Seasonal variations of ground temperature can be observed up to a depth of 8-10 m below surface. The two year period of data collection allows us to analyse time series of average apparent resistivities compared with the climatic seasons. It can be seen that different temperature periods have a direct correlation to average apparent resistivity. Inversion results of geoelectrical monitoring data are derived from an innovative 4D resistivity inversion approach (Kim et al, 2013). In three selected events (thawing and freezing in spring, thawing in summer, freezing in fall) difference images of the 4D inversion show the depth range of the temperature influence. The temperature sensors at the profile only reach 0.8 m below ground level.The geoelectrical monitoring data is able to deliver far more (thermal) information than single point temperature measurements since the underground electric resistivity is highly dependent on temperature. The geoelectrical monitoring is supported by the project "TEMPEL", funded by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation & Technology (BMVIT) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): TRP 175-N21 and internal funds of the Geological Survey of Austria. The recording of the ground temperature is conducted within MOREXPERT administered by alpS - Centre for Climate Change Adaptation and the University of Salzburg. Kim J.-H., Supper R., Tsourlos P. and Yi M.-J. 2013. Four-dimensional inversion of resistivity monitoring data through Lp norm minimizations. Geophysical Journal International, 2013-11-21 Supper R., Ottowitz D., Jochum B., Römer A., Pfeiler S., Kauer S., Keuschnig M. and Ita A. Geoelectrical monitoring of frozen ground and permafrost in alpine areas: field studies and considerations towards an improved measuring technology. Near Surface Geophysics, 2014, 12, 93-115

Crossing borders -- the global dimension of rust monitoring

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rust pathogens are highly mobile trans-boundary organisms capable of rapid, long distance movements, either by wind-assisted or accidental human-mediated transmission. Emergence of new virulent races in one country can very rapidly have implications for other countries or regions. Detection of stem ...

The use of multi-channel ground penetrating radar and stream monitoring to investigate the seasonal evolution of englacial and subglacial drainage systems at the terminus of Exit Glacier, Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilgore, Susan Marlena

Concerns regarding the issue of climate change and, in particular, the rapid retreat of glaciers around the world, have placed great importance on glacial monitoring. Some of the methods most commonly used to observe glacial change---direct mass balance measurements and remote sensing---provide valuable information about glacier change. However, these methods do not address the englacial and subglacial environments. Surface meltwater that enters englacial and subglacial hydrological networks can contribute to acceleration of ice flow, increased calving on marine-terminating glaciers, surges or outburst floods, and greater overall ablation rates. Because subsurface drainage systems often freeze during the winter and re-form each summer, examining the seasonal evolution of these networks is crucial for assessing the impact that internal drainage may have on the behavior of a glacier each year. The goal of this study is to determine the role englacial and subglacial drainage system evolution plays in influencing summer ablation and discharge at the terminus of Exit Glacier, a small valley glacier located in South-central Alaska. During the summers of 2010 and 2011, we used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate internal drainage features on the lower 100 meters of the glacier. GPR surveys were conducted in June and August of each year in an effort to observe the evolution of the drainage systems over the course of an ablation season. Three antenna frequencies---250, 500, and 800 MHz---were used on a dual frequency GPR so that various resolutions and depths in the ice could be viewed simultaneously. Stream monitoring was conducted to document discharge in the proglacial stream throughout the 2011 season. These data were compared with weather records to differentiate noticeable meltwater releases from precipitation events. Additionally, morphological changes in the glacier were observed through photographic documentation. Throughout the observation period, significant subglacial tunnels appeared, followed by the collapse of terminal ice above the tunnels. This phenomenon was most noticeable in 2011. These observations indicate that the internal drainage systems near the terminus of Exit Glacier became very well-developed each summer, and contributed approximately 75 meters of ice loss between June, 2010 and August, 2011.

A new technique for rapid assessment of eutrophication status of coastal waters using a support vector machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Xianyu; Che, Xiaowei; Su, Rongguo; Zhang, Chuansong; Yao, Qingzhen; Shi, Xiaoyong

2017-05-01

There is an urgent need to develop efficient evaluation tools that use easily measured variables to make rapid and timely eutrophication assessments, which are important for marine health management, and to implement eutrophication monitoring programs. In this study, an approach for rapidly assessing the eutrophication status of coastal waters with three easily measured parameters (turbidity, chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen) was developed by the grid search (GS) optimized support vector machine (SVM), with trophic index TRIX classification results as the reference. With the optimized penalty parameter C =64 and the kernel parameter γ =1, the classification accuracy rates reached 89.3% for the training data, 88.3% for the cross-validation, and 88.5% for the validation dataset. Because the developed approach only used three easy-to-measure variables, its application could facilitate the rapid assessment of the eutrophication status of coastal waters, resulting in potential cost savings in marine monitoring programs and assisting in the provision of timely advice for marine management.

Synthesizing International Understanding of Changes in the Arctic Hydrological System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pundsack, J. W.; Vorosmarty, C. J.; Hinzman, L. D.

2009-12-01

There are several notable gaps in our current level of understanding of Arctic hydrological systems. At the same time, rapidly emerging data sets, technologies, and modeling resources provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to move substantially forward. The Arctic Community-Wide Hydrological Analysis and Monitoring Program (Arctic-CHAMP), funded by NSF/ARCSS, was established to initiate a major effort to improve our current monitoring of water cycle variables, and to foster collaboration with the many relevant U.S. and international arctic research initiatives. These projects, funded under ARCSS through the ‘Freshwater Integration (FWI) study’, links CHAMP, the Arctic/Subarctic Ocean Fluxes (ASOF) Programme, and SEARCH. As part of the overall synthesis and integration efforts of the NSF-ARCSS Freshwater Integration (FWI) study, the program carried-out a major International Synthesis Capstone Workshop in Fall 2009 as an International Polar Year (IPY) affiliated meeting. The workshop, "Synthesizing International Understanding of Changes in the Arctic Hydrological System,” was held 30 September to 4 October 2009 in Stockholm at the Beijer Auditorium of the Royal Swedish Academy. The workshop was sponsored by the NSF-ARCSS Arctic-CHAMP Science Management Office (City College of New York / Univ. of New Hampshire), the International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC), and the International Arctic Research Center (IARC; Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks). The overarching goals of the meeting were to stage a post-IPY lessons-learned workshop with co-equal numbers of FWI, IPY, and ICARP-II researchers, using insights from recent scientific findings, data, and strategies to afford synthesis. The workshop aimed to: (1) take stock of recent advances in our understanding of changes in the Arctic hydrological system; (2) identify key remaining research gaps / unanswered questions; and (3) gather insight on where to focus future research efforts/initiatives (nationally and internationally). The workshop brought together approximately 40 participants, with roughly equal numbers from North America and Europe/Scandinavia, and included representatives from Canada, Russia, Germany, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark/Greenland, and the US. This talk will focus on findings of the workshop, highlighting advances in Arctic research that have taken flight over the last decade, specifically stimulated by considering the hydrologic cycle as an integrating force and fundamental building block uniting atmospheric, oceanic, cryospheric and terrestrial domains of the pan-Arctic system. The authors will present a future vision for systems-level science of Arctic hydrology and affiliated energy and carbon cycles. A scientific roadmap will be introduced, outlining the main research priorities, robust global and regional geo-information data products, improved models and effective data assimilation systems to forward the science of water in the Arctic.

Advanced Monitoring Technology: Opportunities and Challenges - A Path Forward for EPA and States

EPA Science Inventory

Rapid changes in monitoring technology have the potential to dramatically improve environmental protection by providing industry, government, and the public with more complete and real-time information on pollution releases and environmental conditions. With more real-time monito...

Loran Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System, Phase I : Volume 1. Test Results.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-08-01

Presents results of the evaluation phase of a two phase program to develop an Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system for the Southern California Rapid Transit District in Los Angeles, California. Tests were previously conducted on a Loran based lo...

Rapid deployment of internet-connected environmental monitoring devices

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Advances in electronic sensing and monitoring systems and the growth of the communications infrastructure have enabled users to gain immediate access to information and interaction with physical devices. To facilitate the uploading, viewing, and sharing of data via the internet, while avoiding the ...

An international survey and modified Delphi approach revealed numerous rapid review methods.

PubMed

Tricco, Andrea C; Zarin, Wasifa; Antony, Jesmin; Hutton, Brian; Moher, David; Sherifali, Diana; Straus, Sharon E

2016-02-01

To solicit experiences with and perceptions of rapid reviews from stakeholders, including researchers, policy makers, industry, journal editors, and health care providers. An international survey of rapid review producers and modified Delphi. Forty rapid review producers responded on our survey (63% response rate). Eighty-eight rapid reviews with 31 different names were reported. Rapid review commissioning organizations were predominantly government (78%) and health care (58%) organizations. Several rapid review approaches were identified, including updating the literature search of previous reviews (92%); limiting the search strategy by date of publication (88%); and having only one reviewer screen (85%), abstract data (84%), and assess the quality of studies (86%). The modified Delphi included input from 113 stakeholders on the rapid review approaches from the survey. Approach 1 (search limited by date and language; study selection by one reviewer only, and data abstraction and quality appraisal conducted by one reviewer and one verifier) was ranked the most feasible (72%, 81/113 responses), with the lowest perceived risk of bias (12%, 12/103); it also ranked second in timeliness (37%, 38/102) and fifth in comprehensiveness (5%, 5/100). Rapid reviews have many names and approaches, and some methods might be more desirable than others. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Transmission Line Methods for Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William; Atkinson, Gary

2009-01-01

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed. This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method (a first order model), and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices. Keywords: Surface Acoustic Wave, SAW, transmission line models, Impulse Response Method.

Impact of public health emergencies on modern disaster taxonomy, planning, and response.

PubMed

Burkle, Frederick M; Greenough, P Gregg

2008-10-01

Current disaster taxonomy describes diversity, distinguishing characteristics, and common relations in disaster event classifications. The impact of compromised public health infrastructure and systems on health consequences defines and greatly influences the manner in which disasters are observed, planned for, and managed, especially those that are geographically widespread, population dense, and prolonged. What may first result in direct injuries and death may rapidly change to excess indirect illness and subsequent death as essential public health resources are destroyed, deteriorate, or are systematically denied to vulnerable populations. Public health and public health infrastructure and systems in developed and developing countries must be seen as strategic and security issues that deserve international public health resource monitoring attention from disaster managers, urban planners, the global humanitarian community, World Health Organization authorities, and participating parties to war and conflict. We posit here that disaster frameworks be reformed to emphasize and clarify the relation of public health emergencies and modern disasters.

Management of venomous snakebite injury to the extremities.

PubMed

Anz, Adam W; Schweppe, Mark; Halvorson, Jason; Bushnell, Brandon; Sternberg, Michael; Andrew Koman, L

2010-12-01

Pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) are responsible for most venomous snakebites in the United States. The mixture of proteins with cytotoxic, proteolytic, and/or neurotoxic enzymes in snake venom varies by species. Treatment in the field consists of safe identification of the species of snake and rapid transport of the patient to the nearest health care facility. Swelling, bruising, and systemic symptoms are seen following snakebite. Most patients respond to elevation of the affected extremity and observation. Some require the administration of antivenin. Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (CroFab, BTG International, West Conshohocken, PA) antivenin is safe and effective for the management of local and systemic effects of envenomation. Rarely, compartment syndrome may develop in the affected limb because of edema and tissue necrosis. Close monitoring of the extremity via serial physical examination and measurement of compartment pressure is a reliable method of determining whether surgical intervention is required.

UPLC/MS-MS assay development for estimation of mozavaptan in plasma and its pharmacokinetic study in rats.

PubMed

Ezzeldin, Essam; Mostafa, Gamal Ae; Iqbal, Muzaffar; Al-Rashood, Khalid A; Asiri, Yousef; El-Nahhas, Toqa

2018-05-10

Mozavaptan is a nonpeptide vasopressin receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of ectopic antidiuretic hormone secretion syndrome. A simple, rapid and fully validated UPLC/MS-MS method was developed for the quantitation of mozavaptan in rat plasma. The chromatographic separation was conducted on an Acquity UPLC BEH™ C 18 column with an optimum mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (30:70 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The multiple reaction monitoring transitions were performed at m/z 428.16→119.03 for mozavaptan and m/z 237.06→179.10 for carbamazepine (internal standard). The method was effectively applied for the determination of mozavaptan pharmacokinetic parameters after the oral administration of 3 mg/kg mozavaptan in rats.

Hunger-driven motivational state competition

PubMed Central

Burnett, C. Joseph; Li, Chia; Webber, Emily; Tsaousidou, Eva; Xue, Stephen Y.; Brüning, Jens C.; Krashes, Michael J.

2016-01-01

Summary Behavioral choice is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and is central to goal-oriented behavior. Hypothalamic Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are critical regulators of appetite. Hungry animals, bombarded by multiple sensory stimuli, are known to modify their behavior during times of caloric need, rapidly adapting to a consistently changing environment. Utilizing ARCAgRP neurons as an entry point, we analyzed the hierarchical position of hunger related to rival drive states. Employing a battery of behavioral assays we found that hunger significantly increases its capacity to suppress competing motivational systems such as thirst, anxiety-related behavior, innate fear and social interactions often only when food is accessible. Furthermore, real-time monitoring of ARCAgRP activity revealed time-locked responses to conspecific investigation in addition to food presentation, further establishing that even at the level of ARCAgRP neurons choices are remarkably flexible computations integrating internal state, external factors and anticipated yield. PMID:27693254

Worldwide legislative challenges related to psychoactive drugs.

PubMed

Negrei, Carolina; Galateanu, Bianca; Stan, Miriana; Balalau, Cristian; Dumitru, Mircea Lucian Bogdan; Ozcagli, Eren; Fenga, Concettina; Kovatsi, Leda; Fragou, Domniki; Tsatsakis, Aristidis

2017-06-02

The discovery of a "new" psychoactive substance is a relatively exceptional event, while the regulatory response usually involved the assessment of risks to public health and inclusion of the novel substance in the national list of controlled substances. However, in recent years we have witnessed the rapid emergence of new chemical substances, which elude international control and pose a challenge to existing processes and a threat to the credibility of control systems. We currently review and present characteristics of these legal and illegal new substances and issues regarding their global monitoring and regulatory measures already taken, or in the process of being taken, for their control. The concept of prohibition applied in active substance-related legislation is rather hazard ridden as balance is required between the ban on substances of potential therapeutic use and the access on the market of high-risk substances. Current and future laws regarding psychoactive compounds.

Determination of albendazole sulfoxide in human plasma by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Saraner, Nihal; Özkan, Güler Yağmur; Güney, Berrak; Alkan, Erkin; Burul-Bozkurt, Nihan; Sağlam, Onursal; Fikirdeşici, Ezgi; Yıldırım, Mevlüt

2016-06-01

A rapid, simple and sensitive method was developed and validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for determination of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZOX) in human plasma. The plasma samples were extracted by protein precipitation using albendazole sulfoxide-d3 as internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation was performed on Waters Xbridge C18Column (100×4.6mm, 3.5μm) with a mobile phase consisting of ammonia solution, water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.70mL/min. ABZOX was detected and identified by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive ion and multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was linear in the range of 3-1500ng/mL for ABZOX. This method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence study in human plasma samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Childhood obesity in Asia: the value of accurate body composition methodology.

PubMed

Hills, Andrew P; Mokhtar, Najat; Brownie, Sharon; Byrne, Nuala M

2014-01-01

Childhood obesity, a significant global public health problem, affects an increasing number of low- and middle-income countries, including in Asia. The obesity epidemic has been fuelled by the rapid nutrition and physical activity transition with the availability of more energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and lifestyles of many children dominated by physical inactivity. During the growing years the pace and quality of grow this best quantified by a combination of anthropometric and body composition measures. However, where normative data are available, this has typically been collected on Caucasian children. To better define and characterise overweight and obesity in Asian children, and to monitor nutrition and physical activity interventions, there is a need to increase the use of standardized anthropometric and body composition methodologies. The current paper reports on initiatives facilitated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and outlines future research needs for the prevention and management of childhood obesity in Asia.

Molecular detection and point-of-care testing in Ebola virus disease and other threats: a new global public health framework to stop outbreaks.

PubMed

Kost, Gerald J; Ferguson, William; Truong, Anh-Thu; Hoe, Jackie; Prom, Daisy; Banpavichit, Arirat; Kongpila, Surin

2015-01-01

Ultrahigh sensitivity and specificity assays that detect Ebola virus disease or other highly contagious and deadly diseases quickly and successfully upstream in Spatial Care Paths™ can stop outbreaks from escalating into devastating epidemics ravaging communities locally and countries globally. Even had the WHO and CDC responded more quickly and not misjudged the dissemination of Ebola in West Africa and other world regions, mobile rapid diagnostics were, and still are, not readily available for immediate and definitive diagnosis, a stunning strategic flaw that needs correcting worldwide. This article strategizes point-of-care testing for diagnosis, triage, monitoring, recovery and stopping outbreaks in the USA and other countries; reviews Ebola molecular diagnostics, summarizes USA FDA emergency use authorizations and documents why they should not be stop-gaps; and reduces community risk from internal and external infectious disease threats by enabling public health at points of need.

Research the Mechanism of Land Subsidence in Typical Area, Beijing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, H.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, R.; Gu, Z.

2014-12-01

In recently years, the subsidence develop rapidly in Beijing. It can not be ignored the influence of the security of major project. Beijing Singapore city is located at the junction of Daxing and Hebei. The per captia water resources is 190m3.,far below the internationally safety limit 1000m3. The region is the dryland water resource and continued extraction groundwater caused land subsidence issue become increasingly prominent. With the Beijing Singapore city put into use, the amount of water shortages must further seriously and land subsidence subsidence area must be further increased. Therefore, monitor the land subsidence of Beijing Singapore city area and research its settlement mechanism, it is so important to ensure the safe operation of Beijing Singapore city . Explore the soil and water coupling mechanism of Beijing Singapore citya during land subsidence process, and optimize groundwater extraction program to ensure the safe operation of Beijing's second largest airport.

An international randomized study of a home-based self-management program for severe COPD: the COMET.

PubMed

Bourbeau, Jean; Casan, Pere; Tognella, Silvia; Haidl, Peter; Texereau, Joëlle B; Kessler, Romain

2016-01-01

Most hospitalizations and costs related to COPD are due to exacerbations and insufficient disease management. The COPD patient Management European Trial (COMET) is investigating a home-based multicomponent COPD self-management program designed to reduce exacerbations and hospital admissions. Multicenter parallel randomized controlled, open-label superiority trial. Thirty-three hospitals in four European countries. A total of 345 patients with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease III/IV COPD. The program includes extensive patient coaching by health care professionals to improve self-management (eg, develop skills to better manage their disease), an e-health platform for reporting frequent health status updates, rapid intervention when necessary, and oxygen therapy monitoring. Comparator is the usual management as per the center's routine practice. Yearly number of hospital days for acute care, exacerbation number, quality of life, deaths, and costs.

Spatial and Temporal Control of T Cell Activation Using a Photoactivatable Agonist.

PubMed

Sanchez, Elisa; Huse, Morgan

2018-04-25

T lymphocytes engage in rapid, polarized signaling, occurring within minutes following TCR activation. This induces formation of the immunological synapse, a stereotyped cell-cell junction that regulates T cell activation and directionally targets effector responses. To study these processes effectively, an imaging approach that is tailored to capturing fast, polarized responses is necessary. This protocol describes such a system, which is based on a photoactivatable peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that is non-stimulatory until it is exposed to ultraviolet light. Targeted decaging of this reagent during videomicroscopy experiments enables precise spatiotemporal control of TCR activation and high-resolution monitoring of subsequent cellular responses by total internal reflection (TIRF) imaging. This approach is also compatible with genetic and pharmacological perturbation strategies. This allows for the assembly of well-defined molecular pathways that link TCR signaling to the formation of the polarized cytoskeletal structures that underlie the immunological synapse.

Adherence to oral cancer therapy in older adults: The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) taskforce recommendations.

PubMed

Mislang, Anna Rachelle; Wildes, Tanya M; Kanesvaran, Ravindran; Baldini, Capucine; Holmes, Holly M; Nightingale, Ginah; Coolbrandt, Annemarie; Biganzoli, Laura

2017-06-01

There is an increasing trend towards using oral systemic therapy in patients with cancer. Compared to parenteral therapy, oral cancer agents offer convenience, have similar efficacy, and are preferred by patients, consequently making its use appealing in older adults. However, adherence is required to ensure its efficacy and to avoid compromising treatment outcomes, especially when the treatment goal is curative, or in case of symptomatic/rapidly progressing disease, where dose-intensity is important. This opens a new challenge for clinicians, as optimizing patient adherence is challenging, particularly due to lack of consensus and scarcity of available clinical evidence. This manuscript aims to review the impact of age-related factors on adherence, summarize the evidence on adherence, recommend methods for selecting patients suitable for oral cancer agents, and advise monitoring interventions to promote adherence to treatment. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Timing control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiker, Gordon A. (Inventor); Wells, Jr., George H. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A timing control system is disclosed which is particularly useful in connection with simulated mortar shells. Special circuitry is provided to assure that the shell does not overshoot, but rather detonates early in case of an improper condition; this ensures that ground personnel will not be harmed by a delayed detonation. The system responds to an externally applied frequency control code which is configured to avoid any confusion between different control modes. A premature detonation routine is entered in case an improper time-setting signal is entered, or if the shell is launched before completion of the time-setting sequence. Special provisions are also made for very early launch situations and improper detonator connections. An alternate abort mode is provided to discharge the internal power supply without a detonation in a manner that can be externally monitored, thereby providing a mechanism for non-destructive testing. The abort mode also accelerates the timing function for rapid testing.

Timing Control System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiker, Gordon A. (Inventor); Wells, George H., Jr. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

A timing control system is disclosed which is particularly useful in connection with simulated mortar shells. Special circuitry is provided to assure that the shell does not over shoot, but rather detonates early in case of an improper condition; this ensures that ground personnel will not be harmed by a delayed detonation. The system responds to an externally applied frequency control code which is configured to avoid any confusion between different control modes. A premature detonation routine is entered in case an improper time-setting signal is entered, or if the shell is launched before completion of the time-setting sequence. Special provisions are also made for very early launch situations and improper detonator connections. An alternate abort mode is provided to discharge the internal power supply without a detonation in a manner that can be externally monitored, thereby providing a mechanism for non-destructive testing. The abort mode also accelerates the timing function for rapid testing.

Development of high through-put Sr isotope analysis for monitoring reservoir integrity for CO{sub 2} storage.

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

Wall, Andy; Jain, Jinesh; Stewart, Brian

2012-01-01

Recent innovations in multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) have allowed for rapid and precise measurements of isotope ratios in geological samples. Naturally occurring Sr isotopes has the potential for use in Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting (MVA) associated with geologic CO2 storage. Sr isotopes can be useful for: Sensitive tracking of brine migration; Determining seal rock leakage; Studying fluid/rock reactions. We have optimized separation chemistry procedures that will allow operators to prepare samples for Sr isotope analysis off site using rapid, low cost methods.

Use of Synthetic Antibodies Targeted to the Jak/Stat Pathway in Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

substance P ( SP ), a neuropeptide that is rapidly internalized upon interaction with the neurokinin-1 receptor ( NK1R ). Cargos in the form of...based on substance P ( SP ), an 11 amino acid neuropeptide that is rapidly internalized through specific interaction with the neurokinin-1 receptor...EM IS TR Y Results Engineering a Delivery Vehicle Based on Substance P . Substance P ( SP ) is an 11 amino acid neuropeptide that is

Domestic water service delivery indicators and frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, policy and planning: a review.

PubMed

Kayser, Georgia L; Moriarty, Patrick; Fonseca, Catarina; Bartram, Jamie

2013-10-11

Monitoring of water services informs policy and planning for national governments and the international community. Currently, the international monitoring system measures the type of drinking water source that households use. There have been calls for improved monitoring systems over several decades, some advocating use of multiple indicators. We review the literature on water service indicators and frameworks with a view to informing debate on their relevance to national and international monitoring. We describe the evidence concerning the relevance of each identified indicator to public health, economic development and human rights. We analyze the benefits and challenges of using these indicators separately and combined in an index as tools for planning, monitoring, and evaluating water services. We find substantial evidence on the importance of each commonly recommended indicator--service type, safety, quantity, accessibility, reliability or continuity of service, equity, and affordability. Several frameworks have been proposed that give structure to the relationships among individual indicators and some combine multiple indicator scores into a single index but few have been rigorously tested. More research is needed to understand if employing a composite metric of indicators is advantageous and how each indicator might be scored and scaled.

Domestic Water Service Delivery Indicators and Frameworks for Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy and Planning: A Review

PubMed Central

Kayser, Georgia L.; Moriarty, Patrick; Fonseca, Catarina; Bartram, Jamie

2013-01-01

Monitoring of water services informs policy and planning for national governments and the international community. Currently, the international monitoring system measures the type of drinking water source that households use. There have been calls for improved monitoring systems over several decades, some advocating use of multiple indicators. We review the literature on water service indicators and frameworks with a view to informing debate on their relevance to national and international monitoring. We describe the evidence concerning the relevance of each identified indicator to public health, economic development and human rights. We analyze the benefits and challenges of using these indicators separately and combined in an index as tools for planning, monitoring, and evaluating water services. We find substantial evidence on the importance of each commonly recommended indicator—service type, safety, quantity, accessibility, reliability or continuity of service, equity, and affordability. Several frameworks have been proposed that give structure to the relationships among individual indicators and some combine multiple indicator scores into a single index but few have been rigorously tested. More research is needed to understand if employing a composite metric of indicators is advantageous and how each indicator might be scored and scaled. PMID:24157507

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

Goke, Sarah Hayes; Elliott, Nathan Ryan

The Sandia National Laboratories’ Internal Dosimetry Technical Basis Manual is intended to provide extended technical discussion and justification of the internal dosimetry program at SNL. It serves to record the approach to evaluating internal doses from radiobioassay data, and where appropriate, from workplace monitoring data per the Department of Energy Internal Dosimetry Program Guide DOE G 441.1C. The discussion contained herein is directed primarily to current and future SNL internal dosimetrists. In an effort to conserve space in the TBM and avoid duplication, it contains numerous references providing an entry point into the internal dosimetry literature relevant to this program.more » The TBM is not intended to act as a policy or procedure statement, but will supplement the information normally found in procedures or policy documents. The internal dosimetry program outlined in this manual is intended to meet the requirements of Federal Rule 10CFR835 for monitoring the workplace and for assessing internal radiation doses to workers.« less

Detecting cell lysis using viscosity monitoring in E. coli fermentation to prevent product loss.

PubMed

Newton, Joseph M; Schofield, Desmond; Vlahopoulou, Joanna; Zhou, Yuhong

2016-07-08

Monitoring the physical or chemical properties of cell broths to infer cell status is often challenging due to the complex nature of the broth. Key factors indicative of cell status include cell density, cell viability, product leakage, and DNA release to the fermentation broth. The rapid and accurate prediction of cell status for hosts with intracellular protein products can minimise product loss due to leakage at the onset of cell lysis in fermentation. This article reports the rheological examination of an industrially relevant E. coli fermentation producing antibody fragments (Fab'). Viscosity monitoring showed an increase in viscosity during the exponential phase in relation to the cell density increase, a relatively flat profile in the stationary phase, followed by a rapid increase which correlated well with product loss, DNA release and loss of cell viability. This phenomenon was observed over several fermentations that a 25% increase in broth viscosity (using induction-point viscosity as a reference) indicated 10% product loss. Our results suggest that viscosity can accurately detect cell lysis and product leakage in postinduction cell cultures, and can identify cell lysis earlier than several other common fermentation monitoring techniques. This work demonstrates the utility of rapidly monitoring the physical properties of fermentation broths, and that viscosity monitoring has the potential to be a tool for process development to determine the optimal harvest time and minimise product loss. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology Progress published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 32:1069-1076, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology Progress published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Report from the NOAA workshops to standardize protocols for monitoring toxic Pfiesteria species and associated environmental conditions.

PubMed

Luttenberg, D; Turgeon, D; Higgins, J

2001-10-01

Long-term monitoring of water quality, fish health, and plankton communities in susceptible bodies of water is crucial to identify the environmental factors that contribute to outbreaks of toxic Pfiesteria complex (TPC) species. In the aftermath of the 1997 toxic Pfiesteria outbreaks in North Carolina and Maryland, federal and several state agencies agreed that there was a need to standardize monitoring protocols. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration convened two workshops that brought together state, federal, and academic resource managers and scientific experts to a) seek consensus on responding to and monitoring potential toxic Pfiesteria outbreaks; b) recommend standard parameters and protocols to characterize water quality, fish health, and plankton at historical event sites and potentially susceptible sites; and c) discuss options for integrating monitoring data sets from different states into regional and national assessments. Workshop recommendations included the development of a three-tiered TPC monitoring strategy: Tier 1, rapid event response; Tier 2, comprehensive assessment; and Tier 3, routine monitoring. These tiers correspond to varying levels of water quality, fish health, and plankton monitoring frequency and intensity. Under the strategy, sites are prioritized, depending upon their history and susceptibility to TPC events, and assigned an appropriate level of monitoring activity. Participants also agreed upon a suite of water quality parameters that should be monitored. These recommendations provide guidance to state and federal agencies conducting rapid-response and assessment activities at sites of suspected toxic Pfiesteria outbreaks, as well as to states that are developing such monitoring programs for the first time.

Nonlinear and threshold-dominated runoff generation controls DOC export in a small peat catchment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birkel, C.; Broder, T.; Biester, H.

2017-03-01

We used a relatively simple two-layer, coupled hydrology-biogeochemistry model to simultaneously simulate streamflow and stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in a small lead and arsenic contaminated upland peat catchment in northwestern Germany. The model procedure was informed by an initial data mining analysis, in combination with regression relationships of discharge, DOC, and element export. We assessed the internal model DOC processing based on stream DOC hysteresis patterns and 3-hourly time step groundwater level and soil DOC data for two consecutive summer periods in 2013 and 2014. The parsimonious model (i.e., few calibrated parameters) showed the importance of nonlinear and rapid near-surface runoff generation mechanisms that caused around 60% of simulated DOC load. The total load was high even though these pathways were only activated during storm events on average 30% of the monitoring time—as also shown by the experimental data. Overall, the drier period 2013 resulted in increased nonlinearity but exported less DOC (115 kg C ha-1 yr-1 ± 11 kg C ha-1 yr-1) compared to the equivalent but wetter period in 2014 (189 kg C ha-1 yr-1 ± 38 kg C ha-1 yr-1). The exceedance of a critical water table threshold (-10 cm) triggered a rapid near-surface runoff response with associated higher DOC transport connecting all available DOC pools and subsequent dilution. We conclude that the combination of detailed experimental work with relatively simple, coupled hydrology-biogeochemistry models not only allowed the model to be internally constrained but also provided important insight into how DOC and tightly coupled pollutants or trace elements are mobilized.

Advances in volcano monitoring and risk reduction in Latin America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCausland, W. A.; White, R. A.; Lockhart, A. B.; Marso, J. N.; Assitance Program, V. D.; Volcano Observatories, L. A.

2014-12-01

We describe results of cooperative work that advanced volcanic monitoring and risk reduction. The USGS-USAID Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) was initiated in 1986 after disastrous lahars during the 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz dramatizedthe need to advance international capabilities in volcanic monitoring, eruption forecasting and hazard communication. For the past 28 years, VDAP has worked with our partners to improve observatories, strengthen monitoring networks, and train observatory personnel. We highlight a few of the many accomplishments by Latin American volcano observatories. Advances in monitoring, assessment and communication, and lessons learned from the lahars of the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption and the 1994 Paez earthquake enabled the Servicio Geológico Colombiano to issue timely, life-saving warnings for 3 large syn-eruptive lahars at Nevado del Huila in 2007 and 2008. In Chile, the 2008 eruption of Chaitén prompted SERNAGEOMIN to complete a national volcanic vulnerability assessment that led to a major increase in volcano monitoring. Throughout Latin America improved seismic networks now telemeter data to observatories where the decades-long background rates and types of seismicity have been characterized at over 50 volcanoes. Standardization of the Earthworm data acquisition system has enabled data sharing across international boundaries, of paramount importance during both regional tectonic earthquakes and during volcanic crises when vulnerabilities cross international borders. Sharing of seismic forecasting methods led to the formation of the international organization of Latin American Volcano Seismologists (LAVAS). LAVAS courses and other VDAP training sessions have led to international sharing of methods to forecast eruptions through recognition of precursors and to reduce vulnerabilities from all volcano hazards (flows, falls, surges, gas) through hazard assessment, mapping and modeling. Satellite remote sensing data-sharing facilitatescross-border identification and warnings of ash plumes for aviation. Overall, long-term strategies of data collection and experience-sharing have helped Latin American observatories improve their monitoring and create informed communities cognizant of vulnerabilities inherent in living near volcanoes.

Migration monitoring in shorebirds and landbirds: commonalities and differences

Treesearch

Susan K. Skagen; Jonathan Bart

2005-01-01

Several aspects of a developing program to monitor shorebirds in the western hemisphere are pertinent to migration monitoring of landbirds. Goals of the Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM) include estimating population size and population trends of 74 species, sub-species and distinct populations of North American shorebirds, monitoring...

Internal hive temperature as a means of monitoring honey bee colony health in a migratory beekeeping operation before and during winter

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Internal temperatures of honey bee hives kept at different sites in North Dakota were monitored before and during winter to evaluate the effects of treatment, in the form of exposure to commercial pollination, and location on colony health. In October, hives exposed to commercial pollination durin...

Hyperspectral imaging using near infrared spectroscopy to monitor coat thickness uniformity in the manufacture of a transdermal drug delivery system.

PubMed

Pavurala, Naresh; Xu, Xiaoming; Krishnaiah, Yellela S R

2017-05-15

Hyperspectral imaging using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) integrates spectroscopy and conventional imaging to obtain both spectral and spatial information of materials. The non-invasive and rapid nature of hyperspectral imaging using NIRS makes it a valuable process analytical technology (PAT) tool for in-process monitoring and control of the manufacturing process for transdermal drug delivery systems (TDS). The focus of this investigation was to develop and validate the use of Near Infra-red (NIR) hyperspectral imaging to monitor coat thickness uniformity, a critical quality attribute (CQA) for TDS. Chemometric analysis was used to process the hyperspectral image and a partial least square (PLS) model was developed to predict the coat thickness of the TDS. The goodness of model fit and prediction were 0.9933 and 0.9933, respectively, indicating an excellent fit to the training data and also good predictability. The % Prediction Error (%PE) for internal and external validation samples was less than 5% confirming the accuracy of the PLS model developed in the present study. The feasibility of the hyperspectral imaging as a real-time process analytical tool for continuous processing was also investigated. When the PLS model was applied to detect deliberate variation in coating thickness, it was able to predict both the small and large variations as well as identify coating defects such as non-uniform regions and presence of air bubbles. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Glycoprotein D actively induces rapid internalization of two nectin-1 isoforms during herpes simplex virus entry

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

Stiles, Katie M., E-mail: stileskm@mail.med.upenn.ed; Krummenacher, Claude

2010-03-30

Entry of herpes simplex virus (HSV) occurs either by fusion at the plasma membrane or by endocytosis and fusion with an endosome. Binding of glycoprotein D (gD) to a receptor such as nectin-1 is essential in both cases. We show that virion gD triggered the rapid down-regulation of nectin-1 with kinetics similar to those of virus entry. In contrast, nectin-1 was not constitutively recycled from the surface of uninfected cells. Both the nectin-1alpha and beta isoforms were internalized in response to gD despite having different cytoplasmic tails. However, deletion of the nectin-1 cytoplasmic tail slowed down-regulation of nectin-1 and internalizationmore » of virions. These data suggest that nectin-1 interaction with a cytoplasmic protein is not required for its down-regulation. Overall, this study shows that gD binding actively induces the rapid internalization of various forms of nectin-1. We suggest that HSV activates a nectin-1 internalization pathway to use for endocytic entry.« less

Production and deactivation of biosurfactant by Bacillus licheniformis JF-2

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

Lin, Sungchyr; Sharma, M.M.; Georgiou, G.

Bacillus licheniformis JF-2 produces a lipopeptide surfactant with excellent interfacial properties (Lin et al., 1990, 1992). An HPLC assay was developed to monitor the concentration of the lipopeptide in the fermentation broth and was employed to determine the effect of the composition of the growth medium on biosurfactant production. A maximum concentration of 110 mg/L lipopeptide was obtained in optimized media with 1.0% (w/v) glucose as the carbon source. The maximum amount of surfactant was obtained in early stationary-phase cultures, but subsequently decreased rapidly and disappeared completely from the fermentation broth within 8 h. It was shown that the surfactantmore » is chemically stable in the culture supernatant but becomes internalized by stationary-phase cells. The apparent rate of surfactant internalization was not inhibited by carbonyl cyanide (m-chlorophenyl)hydrazone (CCCP), an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting that it is not dependent on the availability of ATP and/or a charged membrane. A variety of physical and chemical treatments failed to release the surfactant from the cells. In minimal media the rate of surfactant internalization could be reduced by optimizing the concentration of phosphate and by increasing the amount of magnesium, whereas the nitrogen source, calcium, and trace salts had no effect. Since a related lipopeptide has been shown to be responsible for DNA transformation competence in certain Bacillus subtilis strains, it is possible that the internalization of the B. licheniformis JF-2 surfactant may be a developmentally important process related to the ability of the cells to take up extraneous DNA. 21 refs., 8 figs.« less

Real-time seismic monitoring needs of a building owner - And the solution: A cooperative effort

USGS Publications Warehouse

Celebi, M.; Sanli, A.; Sinclair, M.; Gallant, S.; Radulescu, D.

2004-01-01

A recently implemented advanced seismic monitoring system for a 24-story building facilitates recording of accelerations and computing displacements and drift ratios in near-real time to measure the earthquake performance of the building. The drift ratio is related to the damage condition of the specific building. This system meets the owner's needs for rapid quantitative input to assessments and decisions on post-earthquake occupancy. The system is now successfully working and, in absence of strong shaking to date, is producing low-amplitude data in real time for routine analyses and assessment. Studies of such data to date indicate that the configured monitoring system with its building specific software can be a useful tool in rapid assessment of buildings and other structures following an earthquake. Such systems can be used for health monitoring of a building, for assessing performance-based design and analyses procedures, for long-term assessment of structural characteristics, and for long-term damage detection.

A UAV-Mounted Whole Cell Biosensor System for Environmental Monitoring Applications

PubMed Central

Lu, Yi; Macias, Dominique; Dean, Zachary S.; Kreger, Nicole R.; Wong, Pak Kin

2016-01-01

This study reports the development of a portable whole cell biosensor system for environmental monitoring applications, such as air quality control, water pollution monitoring and radiation leakage detection. The system consists of a lightweight mechanical housing, a temperature regulating system, and a microfluidic bacterial inoculation channel. The overall system, which is less than 200 g, serves as a portable incubator for cell inoculation and can be mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle for monitoring remote and unreachable locations. The feedback control system maintains the inoculation temperature within 0.05 degree Celsius. The large surface-to-volume ratio of the polydimethylsiloxane microchannel facilitates effective gas exchange for rapid bacterial growth. Molecular dynamic simulation shows effective diffusion of major gas pollutants in PDMS toward gas sensing applications. By optimizing the design, we demonstrate the operation of the system in ambient temperatures from 5°C to 32°C and rapid bacterial growth in microchannels compared to standard bacterial culture techniques. PMID:26584498

[Allocation of attentional resource and monitoring processes under rapid serial visual presentation].

PubMed

Nishiura, K

1998-08-01

With the use of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), the present study investigated the cause of target intrusion errors and functioning of monitoring processes. Eighteen students participated in Experiment 1, and 24 in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, different target intrusion errors were found depending on different kinds of letters --romaji, hiragana, and kanji. In Experiment 2, stimulus set size and context information were manipulated in an attempt to explore the cause of post-target intrusion errors. Results showed that as stimulus set size increased, the post-target intrusion errors also increased, but contextual information did not affect the errors. Results concerning mean report probability indicated that increased allocation of attentional resource to response-defining dimension was the cause of the errors. In addition, results concerning confidence rating showed that monitoring of temporal and contextual information was extremely accurate, but it was not so for stimulus information. These results suggest that attentional resource is different from monitoring resource.

Miniaturized Planar Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Electrochemical Gas Sensor for Rapid Multiple Gas Pollutants Monitoring.

PubMed

Wan, Hao; Yin, Heyu; Lin, Lu; Zeng, Xiangqun; Mason, Andrew J

2018-02-01

The growing impact of airborne pollutants and explosive gases on human health and occupational safety has escalated the demand of sensors to monitor hazardous gases. This paper presents a new miniaturized planar electrochemical gas sensor for rapid measurement of multiple gaseous hazards. The gas sensor features a porous polytetrafluoroethylene substrate that enables fast gas diffusion and room temperature ionic liquid as the electrolyte. Metal sputtering was utilized for platinum electrodes fabrication to enhance adhesion between the electrodes and the substrate. Together with carefully selected electrochemical methods, the miniaturized gas sensor is capable of measuring multiple gases including oxygen, methane, ozone and sulfur dioxide that are important to human health and safety. Compared to its manually-assembled Clark-cell predecessor, this sensor provides better sensitivity, linearity and repeatability, as validated for oxygen monitoring. With solid performance, fast response and miniaturized size, this sensor is promising for deployment in wearable devices for real-time point-of-exposure gas pollutant monitoring.

Substance abuse prevention infrastructure: a survey-based study of the organizational structure and function of the D.A.R.E. program

PubMed Central

Merrill, Jeffrey C; Pinsky, Ilana; Killeya-Jones, Ley A; Sloboda, Zili; Dilascio, Tracey

2006-01-01

Background The only national drug abuse prevention delivery system that supports the rapid diffusion of new prevention strategies and includes uniform training and credentialing of instructors who are monitored for quality implementation of prevention programming is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education network (D.A.R.E.) linking community law enforcement to schools. Analysis of the organizational structure and function of D.A.R.E. provides an understanding of the essential parameters of this successful delivery system that can be used in the development of other types of national infrastructures for community-based prevention services. Information regarding organizational structure and function around funding issues, training, quality control and community relationships was gathered through telephone surveys with 50 state D.A.R.E. coordinators (including two major cities), focus groups with local D.A.R.E. officers and mentors, and interviews with national D.A.R.E. office staff. Results The surveys helped identify several strengths inherent in the D.A.R.E. program necessary for building a prevention infrastructure, including a well-defined organizational focus (D.A.R.E. America), uniform training and means for rapid dissemination (through its organized training structure), continuing education mechanisms (through the state and national conference and website), mechanisms for program monitoring and fidelity of implementation (formal and informal), branding and, for several states, predictable and consistent financing. Weaknesses of the program as currently structured include unstable funding and the failure to incorporate components for the continual upgrading of curricula reflecting research evidence and "principles of prevention". Conclusion The D.A.R.E. organization and service delivery network provides a framework for the rapid dissemination of evidence-based prevention strategies. The major strength of D.A.R.E. is its natural affiliation to local law enforcement agencies through state coordinators. Through these affiliations, it has been possible for D.A.R.E. to become established nationally within a few years and internationally within a decade. Understanding how this structure developed and currently functions provides insights into how other such delivery systems could be developed. PMID:16956400

Development and single-laboratory validation of a UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in natural water, cyanobacteria, shellfish and algal supplement tablet powders.

PubMed

Turner, Andrew D; Waack, Julia; Lewis, Adam; Edwards, Christine; Lawton, Linda

2018-02-01

A simple, rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and optimised for the quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in wide variety of sample matrices. Microcystin analogues targeted were MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-LA, MC-LY, MC-LF, LC-LW, MC-YR, MC-WR, [Asp3] MC-LR, [Dha7] MC-LR, MC-HilR and MC-HtyR. Optimisation studies were conducted to develop a simple, quick and efficient extraction protocol without the need for complex pre-analysis concentration procedures, together with a rapid sub 5min chromatographic separation of toxins in shellfish and algal supplement tablet powders, as well as water and cyanobacterial bloom samples. Validation studies were undertaken on each matrix-analyte combination to the full method performance characteristics following international guidelines. The method was found to be specific and linear over the full calibration range. Method sensitivity in terms of limits of detection, quantitation and reporting were found to be significantly improved in comparison to LC-UV methods and applicable to the analysis of each of the four matrices. Overall, acceptable recoveries were determined for each of the matrices studied, with associated precision and within-laboratory reproducibility well within expected guidance limits. Results from the formalised ruggedness analysis of all available cyanotoxins, showed that the method was robust for all parameters investigated. The results presented here show that the optimised LC-MS/MS method for cyanotoxins is fit for the purpose of detection and quantitation of a range of microcystins and nodularin in shellfish, algal supplement tablet powder, water and cyanobacteria. The method provides a valuable early warning tool for the rapid, routine extraction and analysis of natural waters, cyanobacterial blooms, algal powders, food supplements and shellfish tissues, enabling monitoring labs to supplement traditional microscopy techniques and report toxicity results within a short timeframe of sample receipt. The new method, now accredited to ISO17025 standard, is simple, quick, applicable to multiple matrices and is highly suitable for use as a routine, high-throughout, fast turnaround regulatory monitoring tool. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Substance abuse prevention infrastructure: a survey-based study of the organizational structure and function of the D.A.R.E. program.

PubMed

Merrill, Jeffrey C; Pinsky, Ilana; Killeya-Jones, Ley A; Sloboda, Zili; Dilascio, Tracey

2006-09-06

The only national drug abuse prevention delivery system that supports the rapid diffusion of new prevention strategies and includes uniform training and credentialing of instructors who are monitored for quality implementation of prevention programming is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education network (D.A.R.E.) linking community law enforcement to schools. Analysis of the organizational structure and function of D.A.R.E. provides an understanding of the essential parameters of this successful delivery system that can be used in the development of other types of national infrastructures for community-based prevention services. Information regarding organizational structure and function around funding issues, training, quality control and community relationships was gathered through telephone surveys with 50 state D.A.R.E. coordinators (including two major cities), focus groups with local D.A.R.E. officers and mentors, and interviews with national D.A.R.E. office staff. The surveys helped identify several strengths inherent in the D.A.R.E. program necessary for building a prevention infrastructure, including a well-defined organizational focus (D.A.R.E. America), uniform training and means for rapid dissemination (through its organized training structure), continuing education mechanisms (through the state and national conference and website), mechanisms for program monitoring and fidelity of implementation (formal and informal), branding and, for several states, predictable and consistent financing. Weaknesses of the program as currently structured include unstable funding and the failure to incorporate components for the continual upgrading of curricula reflecting research evidence and "principles of prevention". The D.A.R.E. organization and service delivery network provides a framework for the rapid dissemination of evidence-based prevention strategies. The major strength of D.A.R.E. is its natural affiliation to local law enforcement agencies through state coordinators. Through these affiliations, it has been possible for D.A.R.E. to become established nationally within a few years and internationally within a decade. Understanding how this structure developed and currently functions provides insights into how other such delivery systems could be developed.

Applications systems verification and transfer project. Volume 2: Operational applications of satellite snow-cover observations and data-collection systems in the Arizona test site

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schumann, H. H.

1981-01-01

Ground surveys and aerial observations were used to monitor rapidly changing moisture conditions in the Salt-Verde watershed. Repetitive satellite snow cover observations greatly reduce the necessity for routine aerial snow reconnaissance flights over the mountains. High resolution, multispectral imagery provided by LANDSAT satellite series enabled rapid and accurate mapping of snow-cover distributions for small- to medium-sized subwatersheds; however, the imagery provided only one observation every 9 days of about a third of the watershed. Low resolution imagery acquired by the ITOSa dn SMS/GOES meteorological satellite series provides the daily synoptic observation necessary to monitor the rapid changes in snow-covered area in the entire watershed. Short term runoff volumes can be predicted from daily sequential snow cover observations.

Sources and summaries of water-quality information for the Rapid Creek basin, western South Dakota

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zogorski, John S.; Zogorski, E.M.; McKallip, T.E.

1990-01-01

This report provides a compilation of water quality information for the Rapid Creek basin in western South Dakota. Two types of information are included: First, past and current water quality monitoring data collected by the South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and others are described. Second, a summary is included for all past water quality reports, publications, and theses that could be located during this study. A total of 62 documents were abstracted and included journal articles, abstracts, Federal agency reports and publications, university and State agency reports, local agency reports, and graduate theses. The report should be valuable to water resources managers, regulators, and others contemplating water quality research, monitoring, and regulatory programs in the Rapid Creek basin. (USGS)

From B. F. Skinner to Spiderman to Martha Stewart: The Past, Present and Future of Electronic Monitoring of Offenders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burrell, William D.; Gable, Robert S.

2008-01-01

Electronic monitoring was originally designed as a system to facilitate the rehabilitation of young adult offenders. The concept was not well-received, and the first judicially sanctioned program was not initiated until 20 years later. Adoption of the technology then spread rapidly. The primary use of monitoring has evolved from being an adjunct…

Home monitoring and decision support for international liver transplant children.

PubMed

Song, Bianying; Schulze, Mareike; Goldschmidt, Imeke; Haux, Reinhold; Baumann, Ulrich; Marschollek, Michael

2013-01-01

Complications may occur after a liver transplantation, therefore proper monitoring and care in the post-operation phase plays a very important role. Sometimes, monitoring and care for patients from abroad is difficult due to a variety of reasons, e.g., different care facilities. The objective of our research for this paper is to design, implement and evaluate a home monitoring and decision support infrastructure for international children who underwent liver transplant operation. A point-of-care device and the PedsQL questionnaire were used in patients' home environment for measuring the blood parameters and assessing quality of life. By using a tablet PC and a specially developed software, the measured results were able to be transmitted to the health care providers via internet. So far, the developed infrastructure has been evaluated with four international patients/families transferring 38 records of blood test. The evaluation showed that the home monitoring and decision support infrastructure is technically feasible and is able to give timely alarm in case of abnormal situation as well as may increase parent's feeling of safety for their children.

Monitoring and Reporting Tools of the International Data Centre and International Monitoring System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lastowka, L.; Anichenko, A.; Galindo, M.; Villagran Herrera, M.; Mori, S.; Malakhova, M.; Daly, T.; Otsuka, R.; Stangel, H.

2007-05-01

The Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) which prohibits all nuclear explosions was opened for signature in 1996. Since then, the Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organization has been working towards the establishment of a global verification regime to monitor compliance with the ban on nuclear testing. The International Monitoring System (IMS) comprises facilities for seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide monitoring, and the means of communication. This system is supported by the International Data Centre (IDC), which provides objective products and services necessary for effective global monitoring. Upon completion of the IMS, 321 stations will be contributing to both near real-time and reviewed data products. Currently there are 194 facilities in IDC operations. This number is expected to increase by about 40% over the next few years, necessitating methods and tools to effectively handle the expansion. The requirements of high data availability as well as operational transparency are fundamental principals of IMS network operations, therefore, a suite of tools for monitoring and reporting have been developed. These include applications for monitoring Global Communication Infrastructure (GCI) links, detecting outages in continuous and segmented data, monitoring the status of data processing and forwarding to member states, and for systematic electronic communication and problem ticketing. The operation of the IMS network requires the help of local specialists whose cooperation is in some cases ensured by contracts or other agreements. The PTS (Provisional Technical Secretariat) strives to make the monitoring of the IMS as standardized and efficient as possible, and has therefore created the Operations Centre in which the use of most the tools are centralized. Recently the tasks of operations across all technologies, including the GCI, have been centralized within a single section of the organization. To harmonize the operations, an ongoing State of Health monitoring project will provide an integrated view of network, station and GCI performance and will provide system metrics. Comprehensive procedures will be developed to utilize this tool. However, as the IMS network expands, easier access to more information will cause additional challenges, mainly with human resources, to analyze and manage these metrics.

Sociology of International Education--An Emerging Field of Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Resnik, Julia

2012-01-01

This article points to international education in elementary and post-elementary schools as an emerging and promising field of enquiry. It describes the state of art of this new field and sets out the nature of the research. The rapid development of international networks in recent decades; the contribution of international education policies to…

Participating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Developing International Mindedness and Engagement with Local Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belal, Susie

2017-01-01

Although the rapidly expanding International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a well-recognized program perceived to offer best practices in education, including developing international mindedness in students and engaging with the local communities, there is little empirical evidence to support these outcomes. This mixed methods case…

Internal curing of high performance concrete using lightweight aggregates and other techniques.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-02-01

Internally cured concrete has been rapidly emerging over the last decade as an effective way to improve the : performance of concrete. Internal curing (IC) holds promise for producing concrete with an increased : resistance to early-age cracking and ...

19 CFR 360.104 - Steel import monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 3 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Steel import monitoring. 360.104 Section 360.104 Customs Duties INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM § 360.104 Steel import monitoring. (a) Throughout the duration of the licensing requirement...

19 CFR 360.104 - Steel import monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Steel import monitoring. 360.104 Section 360.104 Customs Duties INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM § 360.104 Steel import monitoring. (a) Throughout the duration of the licensing requirement...

19 CFR 360.104 - Steel import monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Steel import monitoring. 360.104 Section 360.104 Customs Duties INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM § 360.104 Steel import monitoring. (a) Throughout the duration of the licensing requirement...

19 CFR 360.104 - Steel import monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Steel import monitoring. 360.104 Section 360.104 Customs Duties INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM § 360.104 Steel import monitoring. (a) Throughout the duration of the licensing requirement...

19 CFR 360.104 - Steel import monitoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Steel import monitoring. 360.104 Section 360.104 Customs Duties INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM § 360.104 Steel import monitoring. (a) Throughout the duration of the licensing requirement...

A molecular approach for the rapid, selective and sensitive detection of Exophiala jeanselmei in environmental samples: development and performance assessment of a real-time PCR assay.

PubMed

Libert, X; Chasseur, C; Packeu, A; Bureau, F; Roosens, N H; De Keersmaecker, S J C

2016-02-01

Exophiala jeanselmei is an opportunistic pathogenic black yeast growing in humid environments such as water reservoirs of air-conditioning systems. Because this fungal contaminant could be vaporized into the air and subsequently cause health problems, its monitoring is recommended. Currently, this monitoring is based on culture and microscopic identification which are complex, sometimes ambiguous and time-demanding, i.e., up to 21 days. Therefore, molecular, culture-independent methods could be more advantageous for the monitoring of E. jeanselmei. In this study, we developed a SYBR®green real-time PCR assay based on the internal transcribed spacer 2 from the 18S ribosomal DNA complex for the specific detection of E. jeanselmei. The selectivity (100 %), PCR efficiency (95.5 %), dynamic range and repeatability of this qPCR assay were subsequently evaluated. The limit of detection for this qPCR assay was determined to be 1 copy of genomic DNA of E. jeanselmei. Finally, water samples collected from cooling reservoirs were analyzed using this qPCR assay to deliver a proof of concept for the molecular detection of E. jeanselmei in environmental samples. The results obtained by molecular analysis were compared with those of classical methods (i.e., culture and microscopic identification) used in routine analysis and were 100 % matching. This comparison demonstrated that this SYBR®green qPCR assay can be used as a molecular alternative for monitoring and routine investigation of samples contaminated by E. jeanselmei, while eliminating the need for culturing and thereby considerably decreasing the required analysis time to 2 days.

Nuclear Explosion Monitoring History and Research and Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, W. L.; Zucca, J. J.

2008-12-01

Within a year after the nuclear detonations over Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Baruch Plan was presented to the newly formed United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (June 14, 1946) to establish nuclear disarmament and international control over all nuclear activities. These controls would allow only the peaceful use of atomic energy. The plan was rejected through a Security Council veto primarily because of the resistance to unlimited inspections. Since that time there have been many multilateral, and bilateral agreements, and unilateral declarations to limit or eliminate nuclear detonations. Almost all of theses agreements (i.e. treaties) call for some type of monitoring. We will review a timeline showing the history of nuclear testing and the more important treaties. We will also describe testing operations, containment, phenomenology, and observations. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which has been signed by 179 countries (ratified by 144) established the International Monitoring System global verification regime which employs seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic and radionuclide monitoring techniques. The CTBT also includes on-site inspection to clarify whether a nuclear explosion has been carried out in violation of the Treaty. The US Department of Energy (DOE) through its National Nuclear Security Agency's Ground-Based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring R&D Program supports research by US National Laboratories, and universities and industry internationally to detect, locate, and identify nuclear detonations. This research program builds on the broad base of monitoring expertise developed over several decades. Annually the DOE and the US Department of Defense jointly solicit monitoring research proposals. Areas of research include: seismic regional characterization and wave propagation, seismic event detection and location, seismic identification and source characterization, hydroacoustic monitoring, radionuclide monitoring, infrasound monitoring, and data processing and analysis. Reports from the selected research projects are published in the proceedings of the annual Monitoring Research Review conference.

A simple and rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to determine plasma biotin in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Yagi, Shigeaki; Nishizawa, Manabu; Ando, Itiro; Oguma, Shiro; Sato, Emiko; Imai, Yutaka; Fujiwara, Masako

2016-08-01

A simple, rapid, and selective method for determination of plasma biotin was developed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). After single-step protein precipitation with methanol, biotin and stable isotope-labeled biotin as an internal standard (IS) were chromatographed on a pentafluorophenyl stationary-phase column (2.1 × 100 mm, 2.7 μm) under isocratic conditions using 10 mm ammonium formate-acetonitrile (93:7, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The total chromatographic runtime was 5 min for each injection. Detection was performed in a positive electrospray ionization mode by monitoring selected ion transitions at m/z 245.1/227.0 and 249.1/231.0 for biotin and the IS, respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.05-2 ng/mL using 300 μL of plasma. The intra- and inter-day precisions were all <7.1%. The accuracy varied from -0.7 to 8.2%. The developed UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to determine plasma biotin concentrations in hemodialysis patients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of ricinine in cooking oil.

PubMed

Cai, Meiqiang; Chen, Xiaohong; Wei, Xiaoqing; Pan, Shengdong; Zhao, Yonggang; Jin, Micong

2014-09-01

A rapid and accurate method by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using positive electrospray was established for the determination of ricinine in cooking oils. The homogenized samples, spiked with (13)C6-labelled ricinine as an internal standard, were extracted using ethanol/water (20:80, v/v) and purified by dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) using primary-secondary amine (PSA) and C18 as adsorbents. The extract was separated in a short C18 reversed-phase column using methanol/water (25:75, v/v) as the mobile phase and detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the absolute matrix effect of 93.2-102.2%. The alkali-metal adduct ions were discussed and the mass/mass fragmentation pathway was explained. Ricinine showed good linearity in the range of 0.5-50.0 μg/kg with the limit of quantitation 0.5 μg/kg. The recoveries were between 86.0% and 98.3% with the intra- and inter-day RSDs of 2.6-7.0%, 5.5-10.8%, respectively. This method could be applied to the rapid quantification of ricinine in cooking oils. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lidar Monitoring of Mexico City's Atmosphere During High Air Pollution Episodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quick, C. R., Jr.; Archuleta, F. L.; Hof, D. E.; Karl, R. R., Jr.; Tiee, J. J., Jr.; Eichinger, W. E.; Holtkamp, D. B.; Tellier, L.

1992-01-01

Over the last two decades, Mexico City, like many large industrial and populous urban areas, has developed a serious air pollution problem, especially during the winter months when there are frequent temperature inversions and weak winds. The deteriorating air quality is the result of several factors. The basin within which Mexico City lies in Mexico's center of political, administrative and economic activity, generating 34 percent of the gross domestic product and 42 percent of the industrial revenue, and supporting a population which is rapidly approaching the 20 million mark. The basin is surrounded by mountains on three sides which end up preventing rapid dispersal of pollutants. Emissions from the transportation fleet (more than 3 million vehicles) are one of the primary pollution sources, and most are uncontrolled. Catalytic converters are just now working their way into the fleet. The Mexico City Air Quality Research Initiative in an international collaboration project between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Mexican Petroleum Institute are dedicated to the investigation of the air quality problem in Mexico City. The main objective of the project is to identify and assess the cost and benefits of major options being proposed to improve the air quality. The project is organized into three main activity areas: (1) modeling and simulation; (2) characterization and measurements; and (3) strategic evaluation.

Rapid and Sensitive Reverse-phase High-performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Estimation of Ketorolac in Pharmaceuticals Using Weighted Regression

PubMed Central

Dubey, S. K.; Duddelly, S.; Jangala, H.; Saha, R. N.

2013-01-01

A reliable, rapid and sensitive isocratic reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed and validated for assay of ketorolac tromethamine in tablets and ophthalmic dosage forms using diclofenac sodium as an internal standard. An isocratic separation of ketorolac tromethamine was achieved on Oyster BDS (150×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) column using mobile phase of methanol:acetonitrile:sodium dihydrogen phosphate (20 mM; pH 5.5) (50:10:40, %v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The eluents were monitored at 322 nm for ketorolac and at 282 nm for diclofenac sodium with a photodiode array detector. The retention times of ketorolac and diclofenac sodium were found to be 1.9 min and 4.6 min, respectively. Response was a linear function of drug concentration in the range of 0.01-15 μg/ml (R2=0.994; linear regression model using weighing factor 1/x2) with a limit of detection and quantification of 0.002 μg/ml and 0.007 μg/ml, respectively. The % recovery and % relative standard deviation values indicated the method was accurate and precise. PMID:23901166

The conservation and population status of the world's waders at the turn of the millennium

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stroud, David A.; Baker, Andy; Blanco, D.E.; Davidson, Nick C.; Ganter, B.; Gill, Robert E.; Gonzalez, P.M.; Haanstra, L.; Morrison, R.I.G.; Piersma, Theunis; Scott, D.; Thorup, O.; West, R.; Wilson, J.L.; Zöckler, Christoph; Boere, Gerard C.; Galbraith, Colin A.; Stroud, David A.

2006-01-01

Using information from many sources, but especially data collated for the third edition of Wetlands International’s Waterbird Population Estimates, we review the status of the world’s waders in the late 1990s. There are widespread declines in most regions and biotopes caused principally by loss and degradation of wetland (and other) habitats. On different flyways, between 33%and 68% of populations are in decline, compared with only 0% to 29% increasing. Non-migratory, island species have especially poor status, with about half of all island waders being globally threatened with extinction. Of particular conservation concern is the declining environmental status of several key staging areas,which provide energetic ‘spring-boards’ for long-distance migrants. The degradation of these areas compromises the status of many migrant waders. The rapid collapse of populations, forced below threshold levels, has been predicted theoretically, and now appears to be occurring in a number of rapidly declining populations. Conservation responses must urgently address causes of wetland loss and degradation, as well as enhancing monitoring and research so as better to inform appropriate conservation policies. National and international strategies and conservation instruments have scope to help, but need to be much more strategic in their implementation so as to address root causes.

Flight Planning for the International Space Station-Levitation Observation of Dendrite Evolution in Steel Ternary Alloy Rapid Solidification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flemings, M. C.; Matson, D. M.; Loser, W.; Hyers, R. W.; Rogers, J. R.; Curreri, Peter A. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The paper is an overview of the status and science for the LODESTARS (Levitation Observation of Dendrite Evolution in Steel Ternary Alloy Rapid Solidification) research project. The program is aimed at understanding how melt convection influences phase selection and the evolution of rapid solidification microstructures.

A Rapidly Prototyped Vegetation Dryness Index Developed for Wildfire Risk Assessment at Stennis Space Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, Kenton; Graham, William D.; Prados, Donald; Spruce, Joseph

2006-01-01

A remote sensing index was developed to allow improved monitoring of vegetation dryness conditions on a regional basis. This remote sensing index was rapidly prototyped at Stennis Space Center in response to drought conditions in the local area in spring 2006.

Rapid and Complete Enzyme Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Nanofibrils

Treesearch

Raquel Martin-Sampedro; Ilari Filpponen; Ingrid C. Hoeger; J.Y. Zhu; Janne Laine; Orlando J. Rojas

2012-01-01

Rapid enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic nanofibrils (LCNF) was investigated by monitoring nanoscale changes in mass via quartz crystal microgravimetry and also by measuring reducing sugar yields. In only a few minutes LCNF thin films were completely hydrolyzed upon incubation in multicomponent enzyme systems. Conversion to sugars and oligosaccharides of...

RAPID PCR-BASED MONITORING OF INFECTIOUS ENTEROVIRUSES IN DRINKING WATER. (R824756)

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract

Currently, the standard method for the detection of enteroviruses and hepatitis A virus in water involves cell culture assay which is expensive and time consuming. Direct RT-PCR offers a rapid and sensitive alternative to virus detection but sensitivity is oft...

Measurement of 224Ra and 226Ra activities in natural waters using a radon-in-air monitor

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kim, G.; Burnett, W.C.; Dulaiova, H.; Swarzenski, P.W.; Moore, W.S.

2001-01-01

We report a simple new technique for measuring low-level radium isotopes (224Ra and 226Ra) in natural waters. The radium present in natural waters is first preconcentrated onto MnO2-coated acrylic fiber (Mn fiber) in a column mode. The radon produced from the adsorbed radium is then circulated through a closed air-loop connected to a commercial radon-in-air monitor. The monitor counts alpha decays of radon daughters (polonium isotopes) which are electrostatically collected onto a silicon semiconductor detector. Count data are collected in energy-specific windows, which eliminate interference and maintain very low backgrounds. Radium-224 is measured immediately after sampling via 220Rn (216Po), and 226Ra is measured via 222Rn (218Po) after a few days of ingrowth of 222Rn. This technique is rapid, simple, and accurate for measurements of low-level 224Ra and 226Ra activities without requiring any wet chemistry. Rapid measurements of short-lived 222Rn and 224Ra, along with long-lived 226Ra, may thus be made in natural waters using a single portable system for environmental monitoring of radioactivity as well as tracing of various geochemical and geophysical processes. The technique could be especially useful for the on-site rapid determination of 224Ra which has recently been found to occur at elevated activities in some groundwater wells.

Plates and Mantle Convection: A Far-From Equilibrium Self-Organized System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, S. D.; Lowman, J. P.; Gable, C. W.

2001-12-01

A common observation of plate tectonics is that plate velocities change over short time scales. Some have speculated that these reorganization events are triggered by evolving plate boundaries. This work presents an alternative mechanism, due to the interaction of mobil plates and internally heated convection. We present numerical models of 3D Cartesian convection in an internally-heated fluid with mobile plates that exhibit rapid changes in plate motion. A persistent feature of these calculations is that plate motion is relatively uniform punctuated by rapid reorganization events where plate speed and direction change over a short time period. The rapid changes in plate motion result solely from the interaction of internally-heated convection and the mobile plates. Without plates, the convective planform of an internally-heated fluid evolves into a pattern with a larger number of small cells. When plates are included, the fluid is dominated by plate-scale structures; however, isolated regions develop where heat builds up. These isolated regions are near the location of mature slabs where the plates are older and thicker. As the system evolves, the temperature (and buoyancy) in these isolated regions increases, they become unstable and, as they rise, the net force on the plate is no longer dominated by `slab pull' from the mature slab. The plate reorganization allows the system to transfer heat from the short-wavelength, internal-heating scale, to the longer-wavelength, plate-cooling scale. As we will demonstrate, the interaction between plate motions and the mantle is sufficiently dynamic that evolving plate boundaries are not necessary to achieve rapid changes in plate motion.

Effectiveness of travel restrictions in the rapid containment of human influenza: a systematic review.

PubMed

Mateus, Ana L P; Otete, Harmony E; Beck, Charles R; Dolan, Gayle P; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S

2014-12-01

To assess the effectiveness of internal and international travel restrictions in the rapid containment of influenza. We conducted a systematic review according to the requirements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Health-care databases and grey literature were searched and screened for records published before May 2014. Data extraction and assessments of risk of bias were undertaken by two researchers independently. Results were synthesized in a narrative form. The overall risk of bias in the 23 included studies was low to moderate. Internal travel restrictions and international border restrictions delayed the spread of influenza epidemics by one week and two months, respectively. International travel restrictions delayed the spread and peak of epidemics by periods varying between a few days and four months. Travel restrictions reduced the incidence of new cases by less than 3%. Impact was reduced when restrictions were implemented more than six weeks after the notification of epidemics or when the level of transmissibility was high. Travel restrictions would have minimal impact in urban centres with dense populations and travel networks. We found no evidence that travel restrictions would contain influenza within a defined geographical area. Extensive travel restrictions may delay the dissemination of influenza but cannot prevent it. The evidence does not support travel restrictions as an isolated intervention for the rapid containment of influenza. Travel restrictions would make an extremely limited contribution to any policy for rapid containment of influenza at source during the first emergence of a pandemic virus.

Effectiveness of travel restrictions in the rapid containment of human influenza: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Mateus, Ana LP; Otete, Harmony E; Beck, Charles R; Dolan, Gayle P; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S

2014-01-01

Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of internal and international travel restrictions in the rapid containment of influenza. Methods We conducted a systematic review according to the requirements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Health-care databases and grey literature were searched and screened for records published before May 2014. Data extraction and assessments of risk of bias were undertaken by two researchers independently. Results were synthesized in a narrative form. Findings The overall risk of bias in the 23 included studies was low to moderate. Internal travel restrictions and international border restrictions delayed the spread of influenza epidemics by one week and two months, respectively. International travel restrictions delayed the spread and peak of epidemics by periods varying between a few days and four months. Travel restrictions reduced the incidence of new cases by less than 3%. Impact was reduced when restrictions were implemented more than six weeks after the notification of epidemics or when the level of transmissibility was high. Travel restrictions would have minimal impact in urban centres with dense populations and travel networks. We found no evidence that travel restrictions would contain influenza within a defined geographical area. Conclusion Extensive travel restrictions may delay the dissemination of influenza but cannot prevent it. The evidence does not support travel restrictions as an isolated intervention for the rapid containment of influenza. Travel restrictions would make an extremely limited contribution to any policy for rapid containment of influenza at source during the first emergence of a pandemic virus. PMID:25552771

Monitoring of patients treated with lithium for bipolar disorder: an international survey.

PubMed

Nederlof, M; Heerdink, E R; Egberts, A C G; Wilting, I; Stoker, L J; Hoekstra, R; Kupka, R W

2018-04-14

Adequate monitoring of patients using lithium is needed for optimal dosing and for early identification of patients with (potential) ADEs. The objective was to internationally assess how health care professionals monitor patients treated with lithium for bipolar disorder. Using networks of various professional organizations, an anonymous online survey was conducted among health care professionals prescribing lithium. Target lithium serum levels and frequency of monitoring was assessed together with monitoring of physical and laboratory parameters. Reasons to and not to monitor and use of guidelines and institutional protocols, and local monitoring systems were investigated. The survey was completed by 117 health care professionals incorporating responses from twenty-four countries. All prescribers reported to monitor lithium serum levels on a regular basis, with varying target ranges. Almost all (> 97%) monitored thyroid and renal function before start and during maintenance treatment. Reported monitoring of other laboratory and physical parameters was variable. The majority of respondents (74%) used guidelines or institutional protocols for monitoring. In general, the prescriber was responsible for monitoring, had to request every monitoring parameter separately and only a minority of patients was automatically invited. Lithium serum levels, renal and thyroid function were monitored by (almost) all physicians. However, there was considerable variation in other monitoring parameters. Our results help to understand why prescribers of lithium monitor patients and what their main reasons are not to monitor patients using lithium.

Health Management Applications for International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alena, Richard; Duncavage, Dan

2005-01-01

Traditional mission and vehicle management involves teams of highly trained specialists monitoring vehicle status and crew activities, responding rapidly to any anomalies encountered during operations. These teams work from the Mission Control Center and have access to engineering support teams with specialized expertise in International Space Station (ISS) subsystems. Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) applications can significantly augment these capabilities by providing enhanced monitoring, prognostic and diagnostic tools for critical decision support and mission management. The Intelligent Systems Division of NASA Ames Research Center is developing many prototype applications using model-based reasoning, data mining and simulation, working with Mission Control through the ISHM Testbed and Prototypes Project. This paper will briefly describe information technology that supports current mission management practice, and will extend this to a vision for future mission control workflow incorporating new ISHM applications. It will describe ISHM applications currently under development at NASA and will define technical approaches for implementing our vision of future human exploration mission management incorporating artificial intelligence and distributed web service architectures using specific examples. Several prototypes are under development, each highlighting a different computational approach. The ISStrider application allows in-depth analysis of Caution and Warning (C&W) events by correlating real-time telemetry with the logical fault trees used to define off-nominal events. The application uses live telemetry data and the Livingstone diagnostic inference engine to display the specific parameters and fault trees that generated the C&W event, allowing a flight controller to identify the root cause of the event from thousands of possibilities by simply navigating animated fault tree models on their workstation. SimStation models the functional power flow for the ISS Electrical Power System and can predict power balance for nominal and off-nominal conditions. SimStation uses realtime telemetry data to keep detailed computational physics models synchronized with actual ISS power system state. In the event of failure, the application can then rapidly diagnose root cause, predict future resource levels and even correlate technical documents relevant to the specific failure. These advanced computational models will allow better insight and more precise control of ISS subsystems, increasing safety margins by speeding up anomaly resolution and reducing,engineering team effort and cost. This technology will make operating ISS more efficient and is directly applicable to next-generation exploration missions and Crew Exploration Vehicles.

Ground-based Space Weather Monitoring with LOFAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wise, Michael; van Haarlem, Michiel; Lawrence, Gareth; Reid, Simon; Bos, Andre; Rawlings, Steve; Salvini, Stef; Mitchell, Cathryn; Soleimani, Manuch; Amado, Sergio; Teresa, Vital

As one of the first of a new generation of radio instruments, the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) will provide a number of unique and novel capabilities for the astronomical community. These include remote configuration and operation, dynamic real-time processing and system response, and the ability to provide multiple simultaneous streams of data to a community whose scientific interests run the gamut from lighting in the atmospheres of distant planets to the origins of the universe itself. The LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) system is optimized for a frequency range from 30-240 MHz and consists of multiple antenna fields spread across Europe. In the Netherlands, a total 36 LOFAR stations are nearing completion with an initial 8 international stations currently being deployed in Germany, France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR has the potential to achieve unparalleled sensitivity and spatial resolution in the low frequency radio regime. LOFAR will also be one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. As we discuss in this presentation, the same capabilities that make LOFAR a powerful tool for radio astronomy also provide an excellent platform upon which to build a ground-based monitoring system for space weather events. For example, the ability to monitor Solar activity in near real-time is one of the key scientific capabilities being developed for LOFAR. With only a fraction of its total observing capacity, LOFAR will be able to provide continuous monitoring of the Solar spectrum over the entire 10-240 MHz band down to microsecond timescales. Autonomous routines will scan these incoming spectral data for evidence of Solar flares and be capable of generating various responses including alerting external observatories or reallocating internal observing capacity to create short cadence (1-10 sec) images of the Sun. More uniquely, the core development, already invested by LOFAR to produce astronomical images of the sky, makes an excellent framework on which to build a near real-time ionospheric monitor and thereby study the effects of space weather events on our atmosphere. One of the key technical challenges to producing high quality scientific images in the low frequency radio regime are the effects of the active ionosphere over the detector array on signal propagation through the earth's atmosphere. To correct for these effects, the current LOFAR system includes an adaptive calibration employing both single and multi-layer phase screen models for the ionosphere. The output of this calibration automatically produces continuous ionospheric measurements with a data cadence in seconds. Although limited to the sky over the array, the resulting TEC maps can have vertical and horizontal resolutions down to 2m and relative accuracies of 0.001 TECU. The intent is to publish both Solar and ionospheric data-streams to the space weather community providing an excellent complement to existing space-based monitoring assets. In this presentation, we will describe the current and planned capabilities of the LOFAR system as well as show some first examples of the potential data products taken during the ongoing commissioning phase. We will also discuss plans to build upon the current LOFAR infrastructure and provide a source of near real-time monitoring data to the space weather community.

Current trends in satellite based emergency mapping - the need for harmonisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voigt, Stefan

2013-04-01

During the past years, the availability and use of satellite image data to support disaster management and humanitarian relief organisations has largely increased. The automation and data processing techniques are greatly improving as well as the capacity in accessing and processing satellite imagery in getting better globally. More and more global activities via the internet and through global organisations like the United Nations or the International Charter Space and Major Disaster engage in the topic, while at the same time, more and more national or local centres engage rapid mapping operations and activities. In order to make even more effective use of this very positive increase of capacity, for the sake of operational provision of analysis results, for fast validation of satellite derived damage assessments, for better cooperation in the joint inter agency generation of rapid mapping products and for general scientific use, rapid mapping results in general need to be better harmonized, if not even standardized. In this presentation, experiences from various years of rapid mapping gained by the DLR Center for satellite based Crisis Information (ZKI) within the context of the national activities, the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, GMES/Copernicus etc. are reported. Furthermore, an overview on how automation, quality assurance and optimization can be achieved through standard operation procedures within a rapid mapping workflow is given. Building on this long term rapid mapping experience, and building on the DLR initiative to set in pace an "International Working Group on Satellite Based Emergency Mapping" current trends in rapid mapping are discussed and thoughts on how the sharing of rapid mapping information can be optimized by harmonizing analysis results and data structures are presented. Such an harmonization of analysis procedures, nomenclatures and representations of data as well as meta data are the basis to better cooperate within the global rapid mapping community throughout local/national, regional/supranational and global scales

Preparation of regional shorebird monitoring plans

Treesearch

Jonathan Bart; Ann Manning; Susan Thomas; Catherine Wightman

2005-01-01

Shorebird monitoring programs in Canada and the United States are being developed under the auspices of PRISM, the Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring. PRISM provides a single blueprint for implementing the monitoring proposals in the shorebird conservation plans prepared recently in Canada and the United States. It includes four segments:...

International Global Crop Condition Assessments in the framework of GEOGLAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker-Reshef, I.; Justice, C. O.; Vermote, E.; Whitcraft, A. K.; Claverie, M.

2013-12-01

The Group on Earth Observations (partnership of governments and international organizations) developed the Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) initiative in response to the growing calls for improved agricultural information. The goal of GEOGLAM is to strengthen the international community's capacity to produce and disseminate relevant, timely and accurate forecasts of agricultural production at national, regional and global scales through the use of Earth observations. This initiative is designed to build on existing agricultural monitoring initiatives at national, regional and global levels and to enhance and strengthen them through international networking, operationally focused research, and data/method sharing. GEOGLAM was adopted by the G20 as part of the action plan on food price volatility and agriculture and is being implemented through building on the extensive GEO Agricultural Community of Practice (CoP) that was initiated in 2007 and includes key national and international agencies, organizations, and universities involved in agricultural monitoring. One of the early GEOGLAM activities is to provide harmonized global crop outlooks that offer timely qualitative consensus information on crop status and prospects. This activity is being developed in response to a request from the G-20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and is implemented within the global monitoring systems component of GEOGLAM. The goal is to develop a transparent, international, multi-source, consensus assessment of crop growing conditions, status, and agro-climatic conditions, likely to impact global production. These assessments are focused on the four primary crop types (corn, wheat, soy and rice) within the main agricultural producing regions of the world. The GEOGLAM approach is to bring together international experts from global, regional and national monitoring systems that can share and discuss information from a variety of independent complementary sources in order to reach a convergence of evidence based assessment. Information types include earth observations (EO) data and products, agro-meteorological data, crop models and field reports. To date, representatives from close to 20 different agencies have participated in these outlook assessments, which are submitted to AMIS on a monthly basis as well as shared with the international community. This talk will discuss the process, operational R&D, and progress towards developing these harmonized global crop assessments.

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

Chen, X; Wang, J; Hu, W

Purpose: The Varian RapidPlan™ is a commercial knowledge-based optimization process which uses a set of clinically used treatment plans to train a model that can predict individualized dose-volume objectives. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of RapidPlan to generate intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans for cervical cancer. Methods: Totally 70 IMRT plans for cervical cancer with varying clinical and physiological indications were enrolled in this study. These patients were all previously treated in our institution. There were two prescription levels usually used in our institution: 45Gy/25 fractions and 50.4Gy/28 fractions. 50 of these plans weremore » selected to train the RapidPlan model for predicting dose-volume constraints. After model training, this model was validated with 10 plans from training pool(internal validation) and additional other 20 new plans(external validation). All plans used for the validation were re-optimized with the original beam configuration and the generated priorities from RapidPlan were manually adjusted to ensure that re-optimized DVH located in the range of the model prediction. DVH quantitative analysis was performed to compare the RapidPlan generated and the original manual optimized plans. Results: For all the validation cases, RapidPlan based plans (RapidPlan) showed similar or superior results compared to the manual optimized ones. RapidPlan increased the result of D98% and homogeneity in both two validations. For organs at risk, the RapidPlan decreased mean doses of bladder by 1.25Gy/1.13Gy (internal/external validation) on average, with p=0.12/p<0.01. The mean dose of rectum and bowel were also decreased by an average of 2.64Gy/0.83Gy and 0.66Gy/1.05Gy,with p<0.01/ p<0.01and p=0.04/<0.01 for the internal/external validation, respectively. Conclusion: The RapidPlan model based cervical cancer plans shows ability to systematically improve the IMRT plan quality. It suggests that RapidPlan has great potential to make the treatment planning process more efficient.« less

International Radiation Monitoring and Information System (IRMIS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukhopadhyay, Sanjoy; Baciu, Florian; Stowisek, Jan; Saluja, Gurdeep; Kenny, Patrick; Albinet, Franck

2017-09-01

This article describes the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS) which was developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the goal to provide Competent Authorities, the IAEA and other international organizations with a client server based web application to share and visualize large quantities of radiation monitoring data. The data maps the areas of potential impact that can assist countries to take appropriate protective actions in an emergency. Ever since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in April of 19861 European Community (EC) has worked towards collecting routine environmental radiological monitoring data from national networked monitoring systems. European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP) was created in 19952 to that end - to provide radiation monitoring data from most European countries reported in nearly real-time. During the response operations for the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident (March 2011) the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) managed, harmonized and shared the large amount of data that was being generated from different organizations. This task underscored the need for a system which allows sharing large volumes of radiation monitoring data in an emergency. In 2014 EURDEP started the submission of the European radiological data to the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS) as a European Regional HUB for IRMIS. IRMIS supports the implementation of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident by providing a web application for the reporting, sharing, visualizing and analysing of large quantities of environmental radiation monitoring data during nuclear or radiological emergencies. IRMIS is not an early warning system that automatically reports when there are significant deviations in radiation levels or when values are detected above certain levels. However, the configuration of the visualization features offered by IRMIS may help Member States to determine where elevated gamma dose rate measurements during a radiological or nuclear emergency indicate that actions to protect the public are necessary. The data can be used to assist emergency responders determine where and when to take necessary actions to protect the public. This new web online tool supports the IAEA's Unified System for Information Exchange in Incidents and Emergencies (USIE)3, an online tool where competent authorities can access information about all emergency situations, ranging from a lost radioactive source to a full-scale nuclear emergency.

A Non-Invasive Deep Tissue PH Monitor.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-08-11

disturbances in acid-base regulation may have serious effects on metabolic activity, circulation, and the central nervous system. Currently, acid-base...to tissue ischemia than is arterial pH. Consequently, a non-invasive deep tissue pH monitor has enormous value as a mechanism for rapid and effective ...achieved, and improve our understanding of what physical effects are important to successful non-invasive deep tissue pH monitoring. This last statement

A simple assay system to monitor the potential for contamination during different stages of cryopreservation.

PubMed

Morris, G J

2009-01-01

A simple assay to monitor the potential for contamination during different steps of cryopreservation is described. The assay is based on the contamination of liquid nitrogen using crystals of sucrose hemi-heptahydrate, these are stable in liquid nitrogen, nitrogen vapour and ambient air and can be monitored by a simple assay which allows contamination risks to be evaluated in a direct, rapid manner.

Faster Array Training and Rapid Analysis for a Sensor Array Intended for an Event Monitor in Air

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Homer, Margie L.; Shevade, A. V.; Fonollosa, J.; Huerta, R.

2013-01-01

Environmental monitoring, in particular, air monitoring, is a critical need for human space flight. Both monitoring and life support systems have needs for closed loop process feedback and quality control for environmental factors. Monitoring protects the air environment and water supply for the astronaut crew and different sensors help ensure that the habitat falls within acceptable limits, and that the life support system is functioning properly and efficiently. The longer the flight duration and the farther the destination, the more critical it becomes to have carefully monitored and automated control systems for life support. There is an acknowledged need for an event monitor which samples the air continuously and provides near real-time information on changes in the air. Past experiments with the JPL ENose have demonstrated a lifetime of the sensor array, with the software, of around 18 months. We are working on a sensor array and new algorithms that will incorporate transient sensor responses in the analysis. Preliminary work has already showed more rapid quantification and identification of analytes and the potential for faster training time of the array. We will look at some of the factors that contribute to demonstrating faster training time for the array. Faster training will decrease the integrated sensor exposure to training analytes, which will also help extend sensor lifetime.

Pan-Arctic river discharge: Prioritizing monitoring of future climate change hot spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bring, Arvid; Shiklomanov, Alexander; Lammers, Richard B.

2017-01-01

The Arctic freshwater cycle is changing rapidly, which will require adequate monitoring of river flows to detect, observe, and understand changes and provide adaptation information. There has, however, been little detail about where the greatest flow changes are projected, and where monitoring therefore may need to be strengthened. In this study, we used a set of recent climate model runs and an advanced macro-scale hydrological model to analyze how flows across the continental pan-Arctic are projected to change and where the climate models agree on significant changes. We also developed a method to identify where monitoring stations should be placed to observe these significant changes, and compared this set of suggested locations with the existing network of monitoring stations. Overall, our results reinforce earlier indications of large increases in flow over much of the Arctic, but we also identify some areas where projections agree on significant changes but disagree on the sign of change. For monitoring, central and eastern Siberia, Alaska, and central Canada are hot spots for the highest changes. To take advantage of existing networks, a number of stations across central Canada and western and central Siberia could form a prioritized set. Further development of model representation of high-latitude hydrology would improve confidence in the areas we identify here. Nevertheless, ongoing observation programs may consider these suggested locations in efforts to improve monitoring of the rapidly changing Arctic freshwater cycle.

Pan-Arctic River Discharge: Where Can We Improve Monitoring of Future Change?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bring, A.; Shiklomanov, A. I.; Lammers, R. B.

2016-12-01

The Arctic freshwater cycle is changing rapidly, which will require adequate monitoring of river flow to detect, observe and understand changes and provide adaptation information. There has however been little detail about where the greatest flow changes are projected, and where monitoring therefore may need to be strengthened. In this study, we used a set of recent climate model runs and an advanced macro-scale hydrological model to analyze how flows across the continental pan-Arctic are projected to change, and where the climate models agree on significant changes. We also developed a method to identify where monitoring stations should be placed to observe these significant changes, and compared this set of suggested locations with the existing network of monitoring stations. Overall, our results reinforce earlier indications of large increases in flow over much of the Arctic, but we also identify some areas where projections agree on significant changes but disagree on the sign of change. For monitoring, central and eastern Siberia, Alaska and central Canada are hot spots for the highest changes. To take advantage of existing networks, a number of stations across central Canada and western and central Siberia could form a prioritized set. Further development of model representation of high-latitude hydrology would improve confidence in the areas we identify here. Nevertheless, ongoing observation programs may consider these suggested locations in efforts to improve monitoring of the rapidly changing Arctic freshwater cycle.

Speckle-correlation monitoring of the microhemodynamics of internal organs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimnyakov, D. A.; Khmara, M. B.; Vilensky, M. A.; Kozlov, V. V.; Sadovoĭ, A. V.; Gorfinkel, I. V.; Zdrajevsky, R. A.; Isaeva, A. A.

2009-12-01

The results of preliminary experimental studies of the possibility of monitoring blood microcirculation in surface layers of internal organs of laboratory animals in the course of laparotomy using full-field speckle correlometry are presented. The transmission of laser radiation to the probed part of the organ and the delivery of scattered speckle-modulated radiation to the detector (a CMOS camera) are performed using a fiberoptic endoscopic system. In the course of experiments, the microhemodynamics of the intestine, liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas in rat in a normal state and under induced ischemia and peritonitis, as well as under the action of drugs with clearly pronounced vasodilative effects (lidocaine, papaverine), is studied. The problems and prospects of speckle-correlation monitoring of the microhemodynamics of internal organs under laboratory and clinical conditions are discussed.

Sex, Status, and Sand: California Academy of Sciences' Teen Interns Examine Trends of the Pacific Mole Crab (Emerita analoga) at Ocean Beach, San Francisco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, J. B.; Conrad-Saydah, A.; Cohen, S.; Tom, R.; Robins-Moloney, M.; Masters, D.; Mason, K.; Alfaro, F.

2003-12-01

Student interns from the California Academy of Sciences' Careers in Sciences program monitored the Pacific mole crab (Emerita analoga), or sand crabs, in collaboration with the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association. These small crustaceans live in the swash zone of the sandy beach habitat. Sand crabs are important in the food web, and therefore their status can help indicate the health of the larger environment. The interns helped the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary by monitoring the abundance and distribution of sand crabs at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. Students set up transects perpendicular to the shoreline, collected 10 samples along the transect, measured the carapace length, determined the sex of each crab, and checked for the presence of eggs. Students monitored June through September, 2003. Trends examined included differences in the gender ratio, size frequency, and distribution along the beach. Students also compared their data to other student data taken from other sites in San Francisco and Marin counties during 2001-2003 from the online database at http://www.sandcrabs.org. Using comparisons, interns were able to better understand the processes and significance of studying marine species. Implementation of the project was invaluable in aiding the interns in their understanding of the natural sciences and the role of monitoring habitats in environmental health.

Embedded fiber-optic sensing for accurate internal monitoring of cell state in advanced battery management systems part 2: Internal cell signals and utility for state estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganguli, Anurag; Saha, Bhaskar; Raghavan, Ajay; Kiesel, Peter; Arakaki, Kyle; Schuh, Andreas; Schwartz, Julian; Hegyi, Alex; Sommer, Lars Wilko; Lochbaum, Alexander; Sahu, Saroj; Alamgir, Mohamed

2017-02-01

A key challenge hindering the mass adoption of Lithium-ion and other next-gen chemistries in advanced battery applications such as hybrid/electric vehicles (xEVs) has been management of their functional performance for more effective battery utilization and control over their life. Contemporary battery management systems (BMS) reliant on monitoring external parameters such as voltage and current to ensure safe battery operation with the required performance usually result in overdesign and inefficient use of capacity. More informative embedded sensors are desirable for internal cell state monitoring, which could provide accurate state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) estimates and early failure indicators. Here we present a promising new embedded sensing option developed by our team for cell monitoring, fiber-optic (FO) sensors. High-performance large-format pouch cells with embedded FO sensors were fabricated. This second part of the paper focuses on the internal signals obtained from these FO sensors. The details of the method to isolate intercalation strain and temperature signals are discussed. Data collected under various xEV operational conditions are presented. An algorithm employing dynamic time warping and Kalman filtering was used to estimate state-of-charge with high accuracy from these internal FO signals. Their utility for high-accuracy, predictive state-of-health estimation is also explored.

What Is International about International Schools? An Institutional Legitimacy Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bunnell, Tristan; Fertig, Michael; James, Chris

2016-01-01

In recent years, the number of International Schools around the world has increased rapidly largely as a result of growth of new forms of International Schools, which differ markedly from the traditional forms. These new forms: are often operated on a for-profit commercial basis; are usually for children from the local (indigenous), wealthy…

NGAM webinar materials for talk by C. Serest on May 2012 Market Technology Symposium, fenceline monitoring session

EPA Science Inventory

This talk supports the NGAM workshop and webinar seires and prepares for NGAM 2 The Next Generation Air Monitoring (NGAM) webinar and workshop series captures the revolution in air pollution measurement science enabled by rapid advances in sensors, communication...

Calibration of the Delaware Rapid Assessment Protocol to a Comprehensive Measure of Wetland Condition

EPA Science Inventory

The importance of monitoring and assessment to the management and protection of wetlands has been recognized, and research in recent years has made progress in the development of wetland monitoring and assessment tools. Wetland assessments are made at multiple levels of intensit...

MONITORING ASPERGILLUS SPECIES BY QUANTITATIVE PCR DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-STORY HOSPITAL BUILDING

EPA Science Inventory

Noscomial fungal infections represent a persistent threat in hospitals. One of the major issues in fungal control has been monitoring these fungi in a timely manner. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) allows for the rapid (2 to 4 h), sensitive (often down to a single...

INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support): summary and future directions.

PubMed

Kumanyika, S

2013-10-01

This supplement presents the foundational elements for INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support). As explained in the overview article by Swinburn and colleagues, INFORMAS has a compelling rationale and has set forth clear objectives, outcomes, principles and frameworks for monitoring and benchmarking key aspects of food environments and the policies and actions that influence the healthiness of food environments. This summary highlights the proposed monitoring approaches for the 10 interrelated INFORMAS modules: public and private sector policies and actions; key aspects of food environments (food composition, labelling, promotion, provision, retail, prices, and trade and investment) and population outcomes (diet quality). This ambitious effort should be feasible when approached in a step-wise manner, taking into account existing monitoring efforts, data sources, country contexts and capacity, and when adequately resourced. After protocol development and pilot testing of the modules, INFORMAS aims to be a sustainable, low-cost monitoring framework. Future directions relate to institutionalization, implementation and, ultimately, to leveraging INFORMAS data in ways that will bring key drivers of food environments into alignment with public health goals. © 2013 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Levels-of-processing effect on internal source monitoring in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

RAGLAND, J. DANIEL; McCARTHY, ERIN; BILKER, WARREN B.; RENSINGER, COLLEEN M. B; VALDEZ, JEFFREY; KOHLER, CHRISTIAN; GUR, RAQUEL E.; GUR, RUBEN C.

2015-01-01

Background Recognition can be normalized in schizophrenia by providing patients with semantic organizational strategies through a levels-of-processing (LOP) framework. However, patients may rely primarily on familiarity effects, making recognition less sensitive than source monitoring to the strength of the episodic memory trace. The current study investigates whether providing semantic organizational strategies can also normalize patients’ internal source-monitoring performance. Method Sixteen clinically stable medicated patients with schizophrenia and 15 demographically matched healthy controls were asked to identify the source of remembered words following an LOP-encoding paradigm in which they alternated between processing words on a ‘shallow’ perceptual versus a ‘deep’ semantic level. A multinomial analysis provided orthogonal measures of item recognition and source discrimination, and bootstrapping generated variance to allow for parametric analyses. LOP and group effects were tested by contrasting recognition and source-monitoring parameters for words that had been encoded during deep versus shallow processing conditions. Results As in a previous study there were no group differences in LOP effects on recognition performance, with patients and controls benefiting equally from deep versus shallow processing. Although there were no group differences in internal source monitoring, only controls had significantly better performance for words processed during the deep encoding condition. Patient performance did not correlate with clinical symptoms or medication dose. Conclusions Providing a deep processing semantic encoding strategy significantly improved patients’ recognition performance only. The lack of a significant LOP effect on internal source monitoring in patients may reffect subtle problems in the relational binding of semantic information that are independent of strategic memory processes. PMID:16608558

ACS Internal CTE Monitor and Short Darks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogaz, Sara

2013-10-01

This is a continuation of Program 13156 and is to be executed once a cycle for internal CTE and short darks, respectively.INTERNAL CTE MONITOR:The charge transfer efficiency {CTE} of the ACS CCD detectors will decline as damage due to on-orbit radiation exposure accumulates. This degradation will be monitored once a cycle to determine the useful lifetime of the CCDs. All the data for this program is acquired using internal targets {lamps} only, so all of the exposures should be taken during Earth occultation time {but not during SAA passages}. This program emulates the ACS pre-flight ground calibration and post-launch SMOV testing {program 8948}, so that results from each epoch can be directly compared. Extended Pixel Edge Response {EPER} data will be obtained over a range of signal levels for the Wide Field Channel {WFC}. The signal levels are 125, 500, 1620, 5000, 10000, and 60000 electrons at gain 2.Since Cycle 18, this monitoring program was reduced {compared to 11881} considering that there is also an external CTE monitoring program.SHORT DARKS:To improve the pixel-based CTE model at signals below 10 DN, short dark frames are needed to obtain a statistically useful sample of clean, warm pixel trails. This program obtains a set of dark frames for each of the following exposure times: 66 s {60 s for some subarrays} and 339 s. These short darks and the 1040 s darks obtained from the CCD Daily Monitor will sample warm and hot pixels over logarithmically increasing brightness. Subarray short darks were added in Cycle 19 to study CTE tails in different subarray readout modes.

Levels-of-processing effect on internal source monitoring in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Ragland, J Daniel; McCarthy, Erin; Bilker, Warren B; Brensinger, Colleen M; Valdez, Jeffrey; Kohler, Christian; Gur, Raquel E; Gur, Ruben C

2006-05-01

Recognition can be normalized in schizophrenia by providing patients with semantic organizational strategies through a levels-of-processing (LOP) framework. However, patients may rely primarily on familiarity effects, making recognition less sensitive than source monitoring to the strength of the episodic memory trace. The current study investigates whether providing semantic organizational strategies can also normalize patients' internal source-monitoring performance. Sixteen clinically stable medicated patients with schizophrenia and 15 demographically matched healthy controls were asked to identify the source of remembered words following an LOP-encoding paradigm in which they alternated between processing words on a 'shallow' perceptual versus a 'deep' semantic level. A multinomial analysis provided orthogonal measures of item recognition and source discrimination, and bootstrapping generated variance to allow for parametric analyses. LOP and group effects were tested by contrasting recognition and source-monitoring parameters for words that had been encoded during deep versus shallow processing conditions. As in a previous study there were no group differences in LOP effects on recognition performance, with patients and controls benefiting equally from deep versus shallow processing. Although there were no group differences in internal source monitoring, only controls had significantly better performance for words processed during the deep encoding condition. Patient performance did not correlate with clinical symptoms or medication dose. Providing a deep processing semantic encoding strategy significantly improved patients' recognition performance only. The lack of a significant LOP effect on internal source monitoring in patients may reflect subtle problems in the relational binding of semantic information that are independent of strategic memory processes.

A rapid method for quantification of 242Pu in urine using extraction chromatography and ICP-MS

DOE PAGES

Gallardo, Athena Marie; Than, Chit; Wong, Carolyn; ...

2017-01-01

Occupational exposure to plutonium is generally monitored through analysis of urine samples. Typically, plutonium is separated from the sample and other actinides, and the concentration is determined using alpha spectroscopy. Current methods for separations and analysis are lengthy and require long count times. A new method for monitoring occupational exposure levels of plutonium has been developed, which requires fewer steps and overall less time than the alpha spectroscopy method. In this method, the urine is acidified, and a 239Pu internal standard is added. The urine is digested in a microwave oven, and plutonium is separated using an Eichrom TRU Resinmore » column. The plutonium is eluted, and the eluant is injected directly into the Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Compared to a direct “dilute and shoot” method, a 30-fold improvement in sensitivity is achieved. This method was validated by analyzing several batches of spiked samples. Based on these analyses, a combined standard uncertainty plot, which relates uncertainty to concentration, was produced. As a result, the MDA 95 was calculated to be 7.0 × 10 –7 μg L –1, and the Lc95 was calculated to be 3.5 × 10 –7 μg L –1 for this method.« less

Dip-strip method for monitoring environmental contamination of aflatoxin in food and feed: use of a portable aflatoxin detection kit.

PubMed

Sashidhar, R B

1993-10-01

Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed have gained global significance due to its deleterious effect on human and animal health and its importance in the international trade. The potential of aflatoxin as a carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen, and immunosuppressive agent is well documented. The problem of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed has led to the enactment of various legislation. However, meaningful strategies for implementation of this legislation is limited by nonavailability of simple, cost-effective method for screening and detection of aflatoxin under field conditions. Keeping in mind the analytical constraints in developing countries, a simple-to-operate, rapid, reliable, and cost-effective portable aflatoxin detection kit has been developed. The important components of the kit include a hand-held UV lamp (365 nm, 4 W output), a solvent blender (12,000 rpm) for toxin extraction, and adsorbent-coated dip-strips (polyester film) for detecting and quantifying aflatoxin. Analysis of variance indicates that there were no significant differences between various batches of dip-strips (p > 0.05). The minimum detection limit for aflatoxin B1 was 10 ppb per spot. The kit may find wide application as a research tool in public health laboratories, environmental monitoring agencies, and in the poultry industry.

Dip-strip method for monitoring environmental contamination of aflatoxin in food and feed: use of a portable aflatoxin detection kit.

PubMed Central

Sashidhar, R B

1993-01-01

Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed have gained global significance due to its deleterious effect on human and animal health and its importance in the international trade. The potential of aflatoxin as a carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen, and immunosuppressive agent is well documented. The problem of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed has led to the enactment of various legislation. However, meaningful strategies for implementation of this legislation is limited by nonavailability of simple, cost-effective method for screening and detection of aflatoxin under field conditions. Keeping in mind the analytical constraints in developing countries, a simple-to-operate, rapid, reliable, and cost-effective portable aflatoxin detection kit has been developed. The important components of the kit include a hand-held UV lamp (365 nm, 4 W output), a solvent blender (12,000 rpm) for toxin extraction, and adsorbent-coated dip-strips (polyester film) for detecting and quantifying aflatoxin. Analysis of variance indicates that there were no significant differences between various batches of dip-strips (p > 0.05). The minimum detection limit for aflatoxin B1 was 10 ppb per spot. The kit may find wide application as a research tool in public health laboratories, environmental monitoring agencies, and in the poultry industry. Images FIGURE 1. PMID:8143644

A clinical assay for the measurement of milrinone in plasma by HPLC mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Chihoho, B; Sage, A B; Smolenski, R T; Vazir, A; Rose, M L; Banner, N R; Leaver, N V

2012-05-01

Milrinone is a bipyridine phosphodiesterase inhibitor with positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects. As interest in longer term use of intravenous therapy increases, it becomes essential to monitor its plasma concentration owing to a narrow therapeutic range, an increased half-life in renal failure and toxicity associated with high levels. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with mass (MS) detection using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer is presented. The method was compared with the UV/HPLC method and validated according to current international guidelines. Coefficients of variation of less than 7.5% were obtained across the therapeutic range and 18.3% at 2.4 ng/mL, the lower limit of quantitation. Plasma from 13 cardiac surgery patients receiving standard intravenous doses of milrinone were measured. Eight patients achieved therapeutic milrinone levels within 3-4 h post start of infusion, one was borderline sub-therapeutic and four patients achieved levels that were above the upper limit of the therapeutic range and potentially toxic. This method offers high sensitivity, is rapid, easy to use and requires minimal amount of sample. We believe this method could become the reference procedure for clinical monitoring of milrinone and help to improve the safety of the use of this drug in patients with cardiac failure. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The point-of-care colorimetric detection of the biomarker of phenylamine in the human urine based on Tb3+ functionalized metal-organic framework.

PubMed

Qin, Si-Jia; Yan, Bing

2018-07-05

Phenylamine has been recognized as one of the most important industrially relevant ingredient and a crucial intermediate in chemical products. Yet, its internal exposure detection in human remains largely elusive due to the lack of potent monitoring method. Hereby this issue is addressed with a probe based on lanthanide functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid material Al(OH)(bpydc) (1) through post-synthetically modified metal-organic framework. The as-synthesized Tb 3+ @1 exhibits the strong luminescence of Tb 3+ originated from efficient energy transfer from the ligand, which can sense the biological metabolite p-aminophenol (PAP) of the phenylamine in the human urine. Linear correlation between the integrated fluorescence intensity and the concentration of PAP was investigated, enabling quantitative analysis of PAP in physiologically ranges (0.005-5 mg mL -1 ) with low detection limit (5 μg mL -1 ). This probe demonstrates excellent sensitivity, high selectivity, good reusability and quick response to PAP. Furthermore, a simple and rapid smartphone-based medical portable test paper was developed, whose quantitative color change can be easily distinguished visually. Hence, the PAP sensing platform can serve as a potential diagnostic tool for home monitoring of PAP. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

What is in a beer? Proteomic characterization and relative quantification of hordein (gluten) in beer.

PubMed

Colgrave, Michelle L; Goswami, Hareshwar; Howitt, Crispin A; Tanner, Gregory J

2012-01-01

The suite of prolamin proteins present in barley flour was characterized in this study, in which we provide spectral evidence for 3 previously characterized prolamins, 8 prolamins with only transcript evidence, and 19 genome-derived predicted prolamins. An additional 9 prolamins were identified by searching the complete spectral set against an unannotated translated EST database. Analyses of wort, the liquid extracted from the mashing process during beer production, and beer were undertaken and a similar suite of prolamins were identified. We have demonstrated by using tandem mass spectrometry that hordeins are indeed present in beer despite speculation to the contrary. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry was used for the rapid analyses of hordein in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) beer. A selection of international beers were analyzed and compared to the results obtained with hordein deletion beers. The hordein deletion beers were brewed from grains carrying mutations that prevented the accumulation of either B-hordeins (Risø 56) or C-hordeins (Risø 1508). No intact C-hordeins were detected in beer, although fragments of C-hordeins were present in wort. Multiple reaction monitoring analysis of non-barley based gluten (hordein)-free beers targeting the major hordein protein families was performed and confirmed the absence of hordein in several gluten-free commercial beers.

International health research monitoring: exploring a scientific and a cooperative approach using participatory action research

PubMed Central

Chantler, Tracey; Cheah, Phaik Yeong; Miiro, George; Hantrakum, Viriya; Nanvubya, Annet; Ayuo, Elizabeth; Kivaya, Esther; Kidola, Jeremiah; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Parker, Michael; Njuguna, Patricia; Ashley, Elizabeth; Guerin, Philippe J; Lang, Trudie

2014-01-01

Objectives To evaluate and determine the value of monitoring models developed by the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Research Unit and the East African Consortium for Clinical Research, consider how this can be measured and explore monitors’ and investigators’ experiences of and views about the nature, purpose and practice of monitoring. Research design A case study approach was used within the context of participatory action research because one of the aims was to guide and improve practice. 34 interviews, five focus groups and observations of monitoring practice were conducted. Setting and participants Fieldwork occurred in the places where the monitoring models are coordinated and applied in Thailand, Cambodia, Uganda and Kenya. Participants included those coordinating the monitoring schemes, monitors, senior investigators and research staff. Analysis Transcribed textual data from field notes, interviews and focus groups was imported into a qualitative data software program (NVIVO V. 10) and analysed inductively and thematically by a qualitative researcher. The initial coding framework was reviewed internally and two main categories emerged from the subsequent interrogation of the data. Results The categories that were identified related to the conceptual framing and nature of monitoring, and the practice of monitoring, including relational factors. Particular emphasis was given to the value of a scientific and cooperative style of monitoring as a means of enhancing data quality, trust and transparency. In terms of practice the primary purpose of monitoring was defined as improving the conduct of health research and increasing the capacity of researchers and trial sites. Conclusions The models studied utilise internal and network wide expertise to improve the ethics and quality of clinical research. They demonstrate how monitoring can be a scientific and constructive exercise rather than a threatening process. The value of cooperative relations needs to be given more emphasis in monitoring activities, which seek to ensure that research protects human rights and produces reliable data. PMID:24534257

Active and passive seismic methods for characterization and monitoring of unstable rock masses: field surveys, laboratory tests and modeling.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colombero, Chiara; Baillet, Laurent; Comina, Cesare; Jongmans, Denis; Vinciguerra, Sergio

2016-04-01

Appropriate characterization and monitoring of potentially unstable rock masses may provide a better knowledge of the active processes and help to forecast the evolution to failure. Among the available geophysical methods, active seismic surveys are often suitable to infer the internal structure and the fracturing conditions of the unstable body. For monitoring purposes, although remote-sensing techniques and in-situ geotechnical measurements are successfully tested on landslides, they may not be suitable to early forecast sudden rapid rockslides. Passive seismic monitoring can help for this purpose. Detection, classification and localization of microseismic events within the prone-to-fall rock mass can provide information about the incipient failure of internal rock bridges. Acceleration to failure can be detected from an increasing microseismic event rate. The latter can be compared with meteorological data to understand the external factors controlling stability. On the other hand, seismic noise recorded on prone-to-fall rock slopes shows that the temporal variations in spectral content and correlation of ambient vibrations can be related to both reversible and irreversible changes within the rock mass. We present the results of the active and passive seismic data acquired at the potentially unstable granitic cliff of Madonna del Sasso (NW Italy). Down-hole tests, surface refraction and cross-hole tomography were carried out for the characterization of the fracturing state of the site. Field surveys were implemented with laboratory determination of physico-mechanical properties on rock samples and measurements of the ultrasonic pulse velocity. This multi-scale approach led to a lithological interpretation of the seismic velocity field obtained at the site and to a systematic correlation of the measured velocities with physical properties (density and porosity) and macroscopic features of the granitic cliff (fracturing, weathering and anisotropy). Continuous passive seismic monitoring at the site, from October 2013 to present, systematically highlighted clear energy peaks in the spectral content of seismic noise on the unstable sector, interpreted as resonant frequencies of the investigated volume. Both spectral analysis and cross-correlation of seismic noise showed seasonal reversible variation trends related to air temperature fluctuations. No irreversible changes, resulting from serious damage processes within the rock mass, were detected so far. Modal analysis and geomechanical modeling of the unstable cliff are currently under investigation to better understand the vibration modes that could explain the measured amplitude and orientation of ground motion at the first resonant frequencies. Classification and location of microseismic events still remains the most challenging task, due to the complex structural and morphological setting of the site.

Teaching Techniques and Course Content for International Finance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esemuede, Samuel I.

Noting the rapid and large changes in international finance over the past 2 decades, this paper offers suggestions for teaching business education courses on international finance. The paper recommends a combination of computer-assisted instruction and electronic classroom, discussion group, independent study, and lecture. Computer-assisted…

[The purpose of clinical laboratory accreditation in transplantation medicine].

PubMed

Flegar-Mestrić, Zlata; Nazor, Aida; Perkov, Sonja; Surina, Branka; Siftar, Zoran; Ozvald, Ivan; Vidas, Zeljko

2011-09-01

Although transplantation of solid organs has become a more standardized method of treatment, liver transplantation represents an exceptional multidisciplinary clinical procedure requiring understanding of specific pathophysiological changes that occur in the end stage of liver disease. Liver transplantation has been performed at Merkur University Hospital since 1998, with 360 transplantations performed to date. The most common indications are alcohol liver disease, cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B and C virus, hepatocellular carcinoma and cryptogenetic liver cirrhosis. Laboratory tests required for liver transplantation are performed at Department of Clinical Chemistry, Merkur University Hospital, accredited according to ISO 15189 in 2007 for the areas of clinical chemistry, laboratory hematology and coagulation, laboratory immunology-cell immunophenotyping, and molecular diagnosis. The complexity of liver transplant patients requires constant interaction between the anesthesiologist team and clinical laboratory, which has to ensure fast and efficient intraoperative monitoring of biochemical and liver profile: electrolytes and acid-base status, complete blood count, coagulation profile and monitoring of graft function according to the individual patient's health status. Dynamics of intraoperative changes is measured in whole arterial blood samples on a Nova Biomedical Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress mobile acid-base analyzer. Frequent monitoring of ionized calcium and magnesium levels is very important because of citrated blood transfusion and for appropriate therapeutic procedure. During anhepatic stage, there is a progressive increase in lactate level concentration. After reperfusion, a rapid increase in lactate clearance is an excellent indicator of stable graft initial function and its adequate size. During the transplantation procedure, there is usually a biphasic acid-base disturbance characterized by metabolic acidosis and then by metabolic alkalosis. The loss of base equivalents starts during the dissection stage and accelerates during the anhepatic stage. Fast and efficient intraoperative monitoring of hematological tests and coagulation status is of great help in detecting the cause of possible hemorrhage and consequential complications during transplantation procedure. The possibility of organ and tissue transplantation mostly depends on well regulated international cooperation in the areas of donating, transplanting and exchange of required organs and tissues, while laboratory test results must be comparable regardless of their geographical area, methodology employed or analytical equipment used, which is mainly warranted through accreditation according to the international ISO 15189 standard.

Using spatial information technologies as monitoring devices in international watershed conservation along the Senegal River Basin of West Africa.

PubMed

Merem, Edmund C; Twumasi, Yaw A

2008-12-01

In this paper, we present the applications of spatial technologies-Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing-in the international monitoring of river basins particularly analyzing the ecological, hydrological, and socio-economic issues along the Senegal River. The literature on multinational water crisis has for decades focused on mediation aspects of trans-boundary watershed management resulting in limited emphasis placed on the application of advances in geo-spatial information technologies in multinational watershed conservation in the arid areas of the West African sub-region within the Senegal River Basin for decision-making and monitoring. While the basin offers life support in a complex ecosystem that stretches across different nations in a mostly desert region characterized by water scarcity and subsistence economies, there exists recurrent environmental stress induced by both socio-economic and physical factors. Part of the problems consists of flooding, drought and limited access to sufficient quantities of water. These remain particularly sensitive issues that are crucial for the health of a rapidly growing population and the economy. The problems are further compounded due to the threats of climate change and the resultant degradation of almost the region's entire natural resources base. While the pace at which the institutional framework for managing the waters offers opportunities for hydro electricity and irrigated agriculture through the proliferation of dams, it has raised other serious concerns in the region. Even where data exists for confronting these issues, some of them are incompatible and dispersed among different agencies. This not only widens the geo-spatial data gaps, but it hinders the ability to monitor water problems along the basin. This study will fill that gap in research through mix scale methods built on descriptive statistics, GIS and remote sensing techniques by generating spatially referenced data to supplement the existing ones for the management of the Senegal River Basin. The results show the incidence of change predicated on pressures from demography, natural forces and the proliferation of river basin development which resulted in more irrigated areas to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the basin. With the substantial increase in bare surface areas, the basin faces growing exposure to the threats of desertification.

Using Spatial Information Technologies as Monitoring Devices in International Watershed Conservation along the Senegal River Basin of West Africa

PubMed Central

Merem, Edmund C.; Twumasi, Yaw A.

2008-01-01

In this paper, we present the applications of spatial technologies—Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing—in the international monitoring of river basins particularly analyzing the ecological, hydrological, and socio-economic issues along the Senegal River. The literature on multinational water crisis has for decades focused on mediation aspects of trans-boundary watershed management resulting in limited emphasis placed on the application of advances in geo-spatial information technologies in multinational watershed conservation in the arid areas of the West African sub-region within the Senegal River Basin for decision-making and monitoring. While the basin offers life support in a complex ecosystem that stretches across different nations in a mostly desert region characterized by water scarcity and subsistence economies, there exists recurrent environmental stress induced by both socio-economic and physical factors. Part of the problems consists of flooding, drought and limited access to sufficient quantities of water. These remain particularly sensitive issues that are crucial for the health of a rapidly growing population and the economy. The problems are further compounded due to the threats of climate change and the resultant degradation of almost the region’s entire natural resources base. While the pace at which the institutional framework for managing the waters offers opportunities for hydro electricity and irrigated agriculture through the proliferation of dams, it has raised other serious concerns in the region. Even where data exists for confronting these issues, some of them are incompatible and dispersed among different agencies. This not only widens the geo-spatial data gaps, but it hinders the ability to monitor water problems along the basin. This study will fill that gap in research through mix scale methods built on descriptive statistics, GIS and remote sensing techniques by generating spatially referenced data to supplement the existing ones for the management of the Senegal River Basin. The results show the incidence of change predicated on pressures from demography, natural forces and the proliferation of river basin development which resulted in more irrigated areas to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the basin. With the substantial increase in bare surface areas, the basin faces growing exposure to the threats of desertification. PMID:19151444

A rapid monitoring method for inorganic arsenic in rice flour using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Narukawa, Tomohiro; Chiba, Koichi; Sinaviwat, Savarin; Feldmann, Jörg

2017-01-06

A new rapid monitoring method by means of high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) following the heat-assisted extraction was developed for measurement of total inorganic arsenic species in rice flour. As(III) and As(V) eluted at the same retention time and completely separated from organoarsenic species by an isocratic elution program on a reversed phase column. Therefore, neither ambiguous oxidation of arsenite to arsenate nor the integration of two peaks were necessary to determine directly the target analyte inorganic arsenic. Rapid injection allowed measuring 3 replicates within 6min and this combined with a quantitative extraction of all arsenic species from rice flour by a 15min HNO 3 -H 2 O 2 extraction makes this the fastest laboratory based method for inorganic arsenic in rice flour. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The role of citzens in detecting and responding to a rapid marine invasion

USGS Publications Warehouse

Scyphers, Stephen B.; Powers, Sean P.; Akins, J. Lad; Drymon, J. Marcus; Martin, Charles M.; Schobernd, Zeb H.; Schofield, Pamela J.; Shipp, Robert L.; Switzer, Theodore S.

2015-01-01

Documenting and responding to species invasions requires innovative strategies that account for ecological and societal complexities. We used the recent expansion of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) throughout northern Gulf of Mexico coastal waters to evaluate the role of stakeholders in documenting and responding to a rapid marine invasion. We coupled an online survey of spearfishers and citizen science monitoring programs with traditional fishery-independent data sources and found that citizen observations documented lionfish 1–2 years earlier and more frequently than traditional reef fish monitoring programs. Citizen observations first documented lionfish in 2010 followed by rapid expansion and proliferation in 2011 (+367%). From the survey of spearfishers, we determined that diving experience and personal observations of lionfish strongly influenced perceived impacts, and these perceptions were powerful predictors of support for initiatives. Our study demonstrates the value of engaging citizens for assessing and responding to large-scale and time-sensitive conservation problems.

A rapid UFLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of formononetin, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA and emodin in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study of Bu Shen Huo Xue formula.

PubMed

Xu, Yuping; Huang, Kexin; Pan, Yu; Wang, Xianqin; Yan, Pengcheng; Ren, Yiping; Xiang, Zheng

2013-08-01

Bu Shen Huo Xue formula (BSHX) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for clinical treatment of chronic kidney diseases. A rapid and selective Ultra fast liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of four bioactive components of BSHX including formononetin, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, and emodin in control and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model rat plasma for the first time. Atorvastatin was used as the internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Shim-pack XR-ODS III column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid. The detection was performed on a triple-quad tandem mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) via electrospray ionization (ESI) source with positive ionization mode for formononetin, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, and negative mode for emodin. The method was linear for four analytes over the range of investigated concentration with all coefficients of determination (R(2)) greater than 0.9938. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) for formononetin, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, and emodin were defined as 0.3, 0.5, 1.5, and 0.3ng/mL, respectively. The rapid and sensitive method was fully validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of formononetin, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA and emodin in rats following oral administration of Bu Shen Huo Xue formula. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.