Functional renormalization group and bosonization as a solver for 2D fermionic Hubbard models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuetz, Florian; Marston, Brad

2007-03-01

The functional renormalization group (fRG) provides an unbiased framework to analyze competing instabilities in two-dimensional electron systems and has been used extensively over the past decade [1]. In order to obtain an equally unbiased tool to interprete the flow, we investigate the combination of a many-patch, one-loop calculation with higher dimensional bosonization [2] of the resulting low-energy action. Subsequently a semi-classical approximation [3] can be used to describe the resulting phases. The spinless Hubbard model on a square lattice with nearest neighbor repulsion is investigated as a test case. [1] M. Salmhofer and C. Honerkamp, Prog. Theor. Phys. 105, 1 (2001). [2] A. Houghton, H.-J. Kwon, J. B. Marston, Adv.Phys. 49, 141 (2000); P. Kopietz, Bosonization of interacting fermions in arbitrary dimensions, (Springer, Berlin, 1997). [3] H.-H. Lin, L. Balents, M. P. A. Fisher, Phys. Rev. B 56, 6569 6593 (1997); J. O. Fjaerestad, J. B. Marston, U. Schollwoeck, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 321, 894 (2006).

High-informative version of nonlinear transformation of Langmuir waves to electromagnetic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erofeev, Vasily I.; Erofeev

2014-04-01

The concept of informativeness of nonlinear plasma physical scenario is discussed. Basic principles for heightening the informativeness of plasma kinetic models are explained. Former high-informative correlation analysis of plasma kinetics (Erofeev, V. 2011 High-Informative Plasma Theory, Saarbrücken: LAP) is generalized for studies of weakly turbulent plasmas that contain fields of solenoidal plasma waves apart from former potential ones. Respective machinery of plasma kinetic modeling is applied to an analysis of fusion of Langmuir waves with transformation to electromagnetic waves. It is shown that the customary version of this phenomenon (Terashima, Y. and Yajima, N. 1963 Prog. Theor. Phys. 30, 443; Akhiezer, I. A., Danelia, I. A. and Tsintsadze, N. L. 1964 Sov. Phys. JETP 19, 208; Al'tshul', L. M. and Karpman, V. I. 1965 Sov. Phys. JETP 20, 1043) substantially distorts the picture of merging of Langmuir waves with long wavelengths (λ >~ c/ωpe ).

Optical Limiting in Photonic Crystal Fibers

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

Optical Limiting in Photonic Crystal Fibers Mark Bloemer, Michael Scalora , Wayne Davenport, and Evgeni Poliakov(NRC Postdoc) RDECOM, Aviation...Shcherbakov, E. Wintner, M. Scalora , and A. M. Zheltikov, Appl. Opt., in press. 7 21. C. M. de Sterke and J. E. Sipe, Prog. Opt. 33, 203 (1994... Scalora , J..P. Dowling, C.M. Bowden, and M.J. Bloemer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1368 (1994). 26. M.D. Tocci, M.J. Bloemer, M. Scalora , J.P. Dowling

One-loop light-cone QCD, effective action for reggeized gluons and QCD RFT calculus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondarenko, S.; Lipatov, L.; Pozdnyakov, S.; Prygarin, A.

2017-09-01

The effective action for reggeized gluons is based on the gluodynamic Yang-Mills Lagrangian with external current for longitudinal gluons added, see Lipatov (Nucl Phys B 452:369, 1995; Phys Rep 286:131, 1997; Subnucl Ser 49:131, 2013; Int J Mod Phys Conf Ser 39:1560082, 2015; Int J Mod Phys A 31(28/29):1645011, 2016; EPJ Web Conf 125:01010, 2016). On the base of classical solutions, obtained in Bondarenko et al. (Eur Phys J C 77(8):527, 2017), the one-loop corrections to this effective action in light-cone gauge are calculated. The RFT calculus for reggeized gluons similarly to the RFT introduced in Gribov (Sov Phys JETP 26:414, 1968) is proposed and discussed. The correctness of the results is verified by calculation of the propagators of A+ and A- reggeized gluons fields and application of the obtained results is discussed as well.

Reactivity of Metal Nitrates.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-20

02NOCuOH Any mechanism suggested for the nitration of aromatic systems by titanium(IV) nitrate must take into account the observed similarity, in...occurs. -26- References 1. For recent reviews see (a) R. B. Moodie and K. Schofield, Accounts Chem. Res., 1976, 9, 287; (b) G. A. Olah and S. J. Kuhn...Ithaca, N.Y., 1969, Chapter VI; L. M. Stock, Prog. Phys. Org. Chem., 1976, 12, 21; J. G. Hoggett , R. B. Moodie, J. R. Penton, and K. Schofield

Optimal Jet Finder (v1.0 C++)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chumakov, S.; Jankowski, E.; Tkachov, F. V.

2006-10-01

We describe a C++ implementation of the Optimal Jet Definition for identification of jets in hadronic final states of particle collisions. We explain interface subroutines and provide a usage example. The source code is available from http://www.inr.ac.ru/~ftkachov/projects/jets/. Program summaryTitle of program: Optimal Jet Finder (v1.0 C++) Catalogue identifier: ADSB_v2_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADSB_v2_0 Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Computer: any computer with a standard C++ compiler Tested with:GNU gcc 3.4.2, Linux Fedora Core 3, Intel i686; Forte Developer 7 C++ 5.4, SunOS 5.9, UltraSPARC III+; Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 (compiler 13.10.3077, linker 7.10.30777, option /EHsc), Windows XP, Intel i686. Programming language used: C++ Memory required:˜1 MB (or more, depending on the settings) No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 3047 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 17 884 Distribution format: tar.gz Nature of physical problem: Analysis of hadronic final states in high energy particle collision experiments often involves identification of hadronic jets. A large number of hadrons detected in the calorimeter is reduced to a few jets by means of a jet finding algorithm. The jets are used in further analysis which would be difficult or impossible when applied directly to the hadrons. Grigoriev et al. [D.Yu. Grigoriev, E. Jankowski, F.V. Tkachov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 (2003) 061801] provide brief introduction to the subject of jet finding algorithms and a general review of the physics of jets can be found in [R. Barlow, Rep. Prog. Phys. 36 (1993) 1067]. Method of solution: The software we provide is an implementation of the so-called Optimal Jet Definition (OJD). The theory of OJD was developed in [F.V. Tkachov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 73 (1994) 2405; Erratum, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74 (1995) 2618; F.V. Tkachov, Int. J. Modern Phys. A 12 (1997) 5411; F.V. Tkachov, Int. J. Modern Phys. A 17 (2002) 2783]. The desired jet configuration is obtained as the one that minimizes Ω, a certain function of the input particles and jet configuration. A FORTRAN 77 implementation of OJD is described in [D.Yu. Grigoriev, E. Jankowski, F.V. Tkachov, Comput. Phys. Comm. 155 (2003) 42]. Restrictions on the complexity of the program: Memory required by the program is proportional to the number of particles in the input × the number of jets in the output. For example, for 650 particles and 20 jets ˜300 KB memory is required. Typical running time: The running time (in the running mode with a fixed number of jets) is proportional to the number of particles in the input × the number of jets in the output × times the number of different random initial configurations tried ( ntries). For example, for 65 particles in the input and 4 jets in the output, the running time is ˜4ṡ10 s per try (Pentium 4 2.8 GHz).

Instabilities of coupled Cu2O5 ladders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuetz, Florian; Marston, Brad

2008-03-01

The spin-ladder compound Sr14-xCaxCu24O41 has a complex phase diagram including charge-density-wave order as well as unconventional superconductivity under high pressure. Due to its quasi-one-dimensional natureootnotetextS. Lee, J. B. Marston, J. O. Fjaerestad, Phys. Rev. B 72, 075126. fundamental questions about the high-Tc cuprates might be more easily addressed in this context. However, due to the spatial proximity of neighboring ladders inter-ladder Coulomb repulsion as well as hopping between ladders might still be important. Using the functional renormalization groupootnotetextM. Salmhofer and C. Honerkamp, Prog. Theor. Physics 105, 1 (2001). and an analysis of generalized susceptibilities ootnotetextD. Zanchi and H. J. Schulz, Phys. Rev. B 61, 13609 (2000); C. J. Halboth and W. Metzner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 5162 (2000)., we study a model of coupled Cu2O5 ladders ootnotetextK. Wohlfeld, A. M. Oles, and G. A. Sawatzky, Phys. Rev. B 75, 180501(R) (2007).. We investigate instabilities towards charge, spin, and pairing order as a function of hole doping, inter-ladder hopping, and interaction strength starting from experimentally relevant hopping parametersootnotetextT. F. A. Müller, et al., Phys. Rev. B 57, R12655 (1998)..

Erratum for "Symmetry of stochastic non-variational differential equations" [Phys. Rep. 686 (2017) 1-62

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaeta, G.

2017-11-01

In my recent paper [1], due to a regrettable and rather trivial mistake, a mixed derivatives term is missing in the expression (5.3) for the Ito Laplacian - which is essentially a Taylor expansion. The correct formula is, of course

Recent results in relativistic heavy ion collisions: from 'a new state of matter' to 'the perfect fluid'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tannenbaum, M. J.

2006-07-01

Experimental physics with relativistic heavy ions dates from 1992 when a beam of 197Au of energy greater than 10 A GeV/c first became available at the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) soon followed in 1994 by a 208Pb beam of 158A GeV/c at the Super Proton Synchrotron at CERN (European Center for Nuclear Research). Previous pioneering measurements at the Berkeley Bevalac (Gutbrod et al 1989 Rep. Prog. Phys. 52 1267-132) in the late 1970s and early 1980s were at much lower bombarding energies (<~1A GeV/c) where nuclear breakup rather than particle production is the dominant inelastic process in A+A collisions. More recently, starting in 2000, the relativistic heavy ion collider at BNL has produced head-on collisions of two 100 A GeV beams of fully stripped Au ions, corresponding to nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass (cm) energy, \\sqrt{s_NN}=200\\,GeV , total cm energy 200 A GeV. The objective of this research program is to produce nuclear matter with extreme density and temperature, possibly resulting in a state of matter where the quarks and gluons normally confined inside individual nucleons (r < 1 fm) are free to act over distances an order of magnitude larger. Progress from the period 1992 to the present will be reviewed, with reference to previous results from light ion and proton-proton collisions where appropriate. Emphasis will be placed on the measurements which formed the basis for the announcements by the two major laboratories: 'A new state of matter', by CERN on Febraury 10 2000 and 'The perfect fluid' by BNL on April 19 2005.

Rapid Analysis of Energetic and Geo-Materials Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

et al ., Anal Bioanal Chem ( 2006 ) 385, 316. 5. Mohamed, W. T. Y., Prog Phys (2007) 2, 42. 6. Elhassan, A., et al ., Spectrochim Acta B (2008) 63...Anal (2005) 5, 21. 20. Anzano, J. M., et al ., Anal Chim Acta ( 2006 ) 575, 230. 21. Rusak, D. A., et al ., TrAC Trend Anal Chem (1998) 17, 453. 22. Martin...Spectrosc Reviews (2004) 39, 27. 25. Winefordner, J. D., et al ., J Anal Atom Spectrom (2004) 19, 1061. 26. Cremers , D. A., and Radziemski, L. J.,

Path integration of the time-dependent forced oscillator with a two-time quadratic action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tian Rong; Cheng, Bin Kang

1986-03-01

Using the prodistribution theory proposed by DeWitt-Morette [C. DeWitt-Morette, Commun. Math. Phys. 28, 47 (1972); C. DeWitt-Morette, A. Maheshwari, and B. Nelson, Phys. Rep. 50, 257 (1979)], the path integration of a time-dependent forced harmonic oscillator with a two-time quadratic action has been given in terms of the solutions of some integrodifferential equations. We then evaluate explicitly both the classical path and the propagator for the specific kernel introduced by Feynman in the polaron problem. Our results include the previous known results as special cases.

Influence of nuclear basic data on the calculation of production cross sections of superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, X. J.; Gao, Y.; Li, J. Q.; Zhang, H. F.

2015-07-01

The center of the predicted island of stability of superheavy nuclei (SHN) has not yet been observed experimentally. Many theories are being developed to understand the synthesizing mechanism of superheavy nuclei. However, all of them have to use some basic nuclear data. Three data tables, FRDM1995 [P. Möller et al., At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 59, 185 (1995), 10.1006/adnd.1995.1002], KTUY2005 [H. Koura et al., Prog. Theor. Phys. 113, 305 (2005), 10.1143/PTP.113.305], and WS2010 [Ning Wang et al., Phys. Rev. C 82, 044304 (2010), 10.1103/PhysRevC.82.044304], are used to investigate the SHN production. Based on the dinuclear system concept, the evaporation residue cross sections of SHN for Z =112-118 are calculated for the 48Ca -induced hot fusion reactions. It turns out that unlike the predictions made with the KTUY2005 and WS2010 data, the magic numbers Z =114 and N =184 predicted with the FRDM1995 data do not contradict the experimental data obtained so far.

Lagrangian dynamics for classical, Brownian, and quantum mechanical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavon, Michele

1996-07-01

In the framework of Nelson's stochastic mechanics [E. Nelson, Dynamical Theories of Brownian Motion (Princeton University, Princeton, 1967); F. Guerra, Phys. Rep. 77, 263 (1981); E. Nelson, Quantum Fluctuations (Princeton University, Princeton, 1985)] we seek to develop the particle counterpart of the hydrodynamic results of M. Pavon [J. Math. Phys. 36, 6774 (1995); Phys. Lett. A 209, 143 (1995)]. In particular, a first form of Hamilton's principle is established. We show that this variational principle leads to the correct equations of motion for the classical particle, the Brownian particle in thermodynamical equilibrium, and the quantum particle. In the latter case, the critical process q satisfies a stochastic Newton law. We then introduce the momentum process p, and show that the pair (q,p) satisfies canonical-like equations.

Equation of State of Structured Matter at Finite Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maruyama, T.; Yasutake, N.; Tatsumi, T.

We investigate the properties of nuclear matter at the first-order phase transitions such as liquid-gas phase transition and hadron-quark phase transition. As a general feature of the first-order phase transitions of matter consisting of many species of charged particles, there appears a mixed phases with geometrical structures called ``pasta'' due to the balance of the Coulomb repulsion and the surface tension between two phases [G.~D.~Ravenhall, C.~J.~Pethick and J.~R.~Wilson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50 (1983), 2066. M.~Hashimoto, H.~Seki and M.~Yamada, Prog. Theor. Phys. 71 (1984), 320.] The equation of state (EOS) of mixed phase is different from the one obtained by a bulk application of the Gibbs conditions or by the Maxwell construction due to the effects of the non-uniform structure. We show that the charge screening and strong surface tension make the EOS close to that of the Maxwell construction. The thermal effects are elucidated as well as the above finite-size effects.

Vortex formation in a complex plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishihara, Osamu

Complex plasma experiments in ground-based laboratories as well as in microgravity conditions have shown the formation of vortex structures in various conditions (e.g., 1,2,3,4). The vortex structures formed in a complex plasma are visible by naked eyes with the help of irradiating laser and the individual dust particles in the structure give us the opportunity to study detailed physics of the commonly observed natural phenomena known such as tornadoes, typhoons, hurricanes and dust devils. Based on the Navier-Stokes equation with proper complex plasma conditions we analyze as much as possible in a universal way the vortex structure and clarifies the role of the controlling parameters like flow velocity and external magnetic field. 1. G. E. Morfill,H. M. Thomas, U. Konopka,H. Rothermel, M. Zuzic, A. Ivlev, and J. Goree, Phys,. Rev. Lett. 83, 1598 (1999). 2. E. Nebbat and R. Annou, Phys. Plasmas 17, 093702 (2010). 3. Y. Saitou and O. Ishihara, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 185003 (2013). 4. V. N. Tsytovich and N. G. Gusein-zade, Plasma Phys. Rep. 39, 515 (2013).

The 1984 ARI Survey of Army Recruits: Codebook for Summer 84 USAR and ARNG Survey Respondents

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON TV: NBA BASKETBALL . RAW DATA ICARD #I COLS ILENGTHI I _ _ _ I _ _ I _ _ _ I05 0-2-043 20I __ I I SAS...LEAG BASEBALL REG SEAS 249 T259 WATCH TV PROG:MJR LEAG BASEBALL PLAYOFFS 250 T260 WATCH TV PROG:WORLD SERIES 251 V T261 WATCH TV PROG:NBA BASKETBALL 252...T262 WATCH TV PROG:COLLEGE BASKETBALL 253 T263 WATCH TV PROG:NHL HOCKEY 254 T264 WATCH TV PROG:PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING 255 T265 WATCH TV PROG:CAR RACES

Model for Transport and Luminescence in Porous Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

John, George C.; Singh, Vijay A.

1996-03-01

A unified model for explaining the transport and luminescence properties of porous silicon has remained elusive(G.C.John and V.A.Singh, Phys. Rep. (in press)). The conductivity of porous silicon has been reported to increase exponentially with temperature(J.J.Mares et al.), Appl. Phys. Lett. 63, 180 (1993). We report additional observations of such instances. This Berthelot type behavior is ascribed to tunneling of carriers across a vibrating barrier. We hypothesize that the non-radiative recombination in porous silicon is governed by a similar mechanism. Based on this assumption, we show that the temperature and pressure dependence of luminescence in porous silicon can be convincingly explained. We present a unified phenomenological model which can account for a range of observations in porous silicon.

Shock-wave ion acceleration by an ultra-relativistic short laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhidkov, A.; Batishchev, O.; Uesaka, M.

2002-11-01

Research on ion acceleration by intense short laser pulses grows in the last few years [1-9] because of various applications. However, the study is mainly focused on the forward ion acceleration. We study ion inward acceleration, which in contrast to other mechanisms has density of ions per unit energy not decreased with the laser intensity [8]. Magnetic field generated due to a finite size of laser spot can affect electron distribution. In the present work we study the effect of magnetic field on the shock wave formation and ion acceleration in a solid target via 2D PIC and Vlasov simulation. Though the PIC simulation can provide detailed information, in relativistic plasmas it may not calculate B correctly: (i) too many particles are needed to make B disappeared in thermal plasmas, (ii) local scheme [10] does not satisfy curl(Epl)=0. Therefore, two approaches are used in the present study. [1] S. P. Hatchett et al., Phys. Plas. 7, 2076 (2000); [2] A. Maksimchuk et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4108 (2000); [3] E.L. Clark et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1654 (2000); [4] A. Zhidkov et al., Phys. Rev. E60, 3273 (1999); E61, R2224 (2000); [5] Y. Murakami et al, Phys. Plasmas 8,4138 (2001); [6] T.Zh. Esirkepov et al, JETP Lett. 70, 82 (1999); [7] A. Pukhov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3562(2001); [8] A.A. Andreev et al., Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion (2002); [9] O.V. Batishchev et al., Plasma Phys. Rep. 20, 587 (1994); [10] J. Villasenor et al., Comp. Phys. Comm. 69, 306 (1992).

Experimental Studies of Fundamental Problems in Quantum Optics

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-15

from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvol- atom detunings, A, are fixed and equal to + 320, 0, -320, and vimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (Brazil). We...further that atomic gain or loss will affect the spec- Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (Brazil). 1i. D. Cresser, Phys. Rep. 94, 47 (1983...dressed-atom laser. Because the emission of volvimento Cientifico e Tecnol6gico (Brazil). We thank successive photons is correlated in the dressed-atom

Medium-β free-boundary equilibria of a quasi-isodynamic stellarator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhailov, M. I.; Drevlak, M.; Nührenberg, J.; Shafranov, V. D.

2012-06-01

Free-boundary MHD equilibria with magnetic surfaces in the vacuum region surrounding the plasma [E. Strumberger, Nucl. Fusion 37, 19 (1997); M. Drevlak, D. Monticello, and A. Reiman, Nucl. Fusion 45, 731 (2005)] are obtained for a quasi-isodynamic stellarator [A. A. Subbotin, M. I. Mikhailov, V. D. Shafranov et al., Nucl. Fusion 46, 921 (2006); M. I. Mikhailov, J. Nuhrenberg, and V. D. Shafranov, Plasma Phys. Rep. 35, 529 (2009)].

Medium-{beta} free-boundary equilibria of a quasi-isodynamic stellarator

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

Mikhailov, M. I.; Drevlak, M.; Nuehrenberg, J.

Free-boundary MHD equilibria with magnetic surfaces in the vacuum region surrounding the plasma [E. Strumberger, Nucl. Fusion 37, 19 (1997); M. Drevlak, D. Monticello, and A. Reiman, Nucl. Fusion 45, 731 (2005)] are obtained for a quasi-isodynamic stellarator [A. A. Subbotin, M. I. Mikhailov, V. D. Shafranov et al., Nucl. Fusion 46, 921 (2006); M. I. Mikhailov, J. Nuhrenberg, and V. D. Shafranov, Plasma Phys. Rep. 35, 529 (2009)].

Finite-size scaling in the system of coupled oscillators with heterogeneity in coupling strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Hyunsuk

2017-07-01

We consider a mean-field model of coupled phase oscillators with random heterogeneity in the coupling strength. The system that we investigate here is a minimal model that contains randomness in diverse values of the coupling strength, and it is found to return to the original Kuramoto model [Y. Kuramoto, Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl. 79, 223 (1984), 10.1143/PTPS.79.223] when the coupling heterogeneity disappears. According to one recent paper [H. Hong, H. Chaté, L.-H. Tang, and H. Park, Phys. Rev. E 92, 022122 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.022122], when the natural frequency of the oscillator in the system is "deterministically" chosen, with no randomness in it, the system is found to exhibit the finite-size scaling exponent ν ¯=5 /4 . Also, the critical exponent for the dynamic fluctuation of the order parameter is found to be given by γ =1 /4 , which is different from the critical exponents for the Kuramoto model with the natural frequencies randomly chosen. Originally, the unusual finite-size scaling behavior of the Kuramoto model was reported by Hong et al. [H. Hong, H. Chaté, H. Park, and L.-H. Tang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 184101 (2007), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.184101], where the scaling behavior is found to be characterized by the unusual exponent ν ¯=5 /2 . On the other hand, if the randomness in the natural frequency is removed, it is found that the finite-size scaling behavior is characterized by a different exponent, ν ¯=5 /4 [H. Hong, H. Chaté, L.-H. Tang, and H. Park, Phys. Rev. E 92, 022122 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.022122]. Those findings brought about our curiosity and led us to explore the effects of the randomness on the finite-size scaling behavior. In this paper, we pay particular attention to investigating the finite-size scaling and dynamic fluctuation when the randomness in the coupling strength is considered.

Photon Stimulated Ion Desorption.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-03

1978) 1997.(181 T. Shibaguchi, H . Onuki and R. Onaka, J. Phys. Soc. Contract DE.AC04.76-DPO0789. Experiments were Japan 42 (1977) S51. conducted at...University of California and the Naval Weapons Center. Sincerely COPY ovoikoble to DTIC doee 00t pe m i jully legible rep oductC r h Christopher C... H 20 is studied; only hydrogen ions are observed. Desorption of hydrogen ions from amorphous ice 7 is part of an ongoing study of condensed gases

The KP Hierarchy and Aspects of the Painlevé Property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strampp, W.; Langer, C.

1990-12-01

We are concerned with the conjecture that the Painlevé property is a necessary condition for the integrability of nonlinear equations. Following a suggestion by lietratures (1) D. V. Chudnovsky, G. V. Chudnovsky and M. Tabor, Phys. Lett. 97A (1983), 268, and 2) A. K. Pogrebkov, Inverse Problems 5 (1989), L7), our investigations will be based on the Lax-pair which we use in Sato's sense (3) E. Date, M. Jimbo, M. Kashiwara and T. Miwa in Nonlinear Integrable Systems-Classical and Quantum Theory, ed. M. Jimbo and T. Miwa (World Scientific, Singapore, 1983), p. 39, 4) M. Jimbo and T. Miwa, Publ. RIMS, Kyoto Univ. 19 (1983), 943, 5) Y. Ohta, J. Satsuma, D. Takahashi and T. Tokihiro, Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl. No. 94 (1988), 210). Leading orders, branch points and resonances are described for the Zakharov-Shabat equations of the KP-hierarchy. The symbolic manipulation system REDUCE, in particular its factorization algorithm for polynomials, is employed for finding the resonances. It is shown that the Painlevé structures of various nonlinear equations, which have been discussed a lot in the literature, follow from our results.

The 1984 ARI Survey of Army Recruits: Tabular Description of NPS Army Reserve Accessions. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

12 PROB. 0.1867 I 186 T261 — NATCH TV PROG’NBA BASKETBALL NARK ONE LETTER FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON TV: NBA ...Major league baseball — regular seaaon games 105. Major league baaaball playoffs 106. World Series 107. NBA baaketball 106. College basketball 109...BASEBALL PLAYOFFS HATCH TV PROG:WORLD SERIES HATCH TV PROG:NBA BASKETBALL HATCH TV PROG:COLLEGE BASKETBALL HATCH TV PROG:NHL HOCKEY HATCH TV

The 1984 ARI Survey of Army Recruits: Tabular Description of NPS (active) Army Accessions. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

WATCH TV PROG MJR LEAG BASEBALL PLAYOFFS 232-233 WATCH TV PROG WORLD SERIES 23<«-235 WATCH TV PROG NBA BASKETBALL 236-237 WATCH TV PROG COLLEGE...PROG:NBA BASKETBALL DO YOU ’^ATCH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON TV? - NBA BASKETBALL , 1 - REGULARLY TURN ON THE TV TO WATCH...107. NBA basketball 108. College basketball 109. NHL hockey 110. Professional wrestling 111. Car r.ices 112. Golf tournaments 113. Tennis

The shear modulus of metastable amorphous solids with strong central and bond-bending interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaccone, Alessio

2009-07-01

We derive expressions for the shear modulus of deeply quenched, glassy solids, in terms of a Cauchy-Born free energy expansion around a rigid (quenched) reference state, following the approach due to Alexander (1998 Phys. Rep. 296 65). Continuum-limit explicit expressions of the shear modulus are derived starting from the microscopic Hamiltonians of central and bond-bending interactions. The applicability of the expressions to dense covalent glasses as well as colloidal glasses involving strongly attractive or adhesive bonds is discussed.

Chiral Odd Structure Functions in The Nambu--Jona--Lasinio Soliton Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gamberg, Leonard; Reinhardt, Hugo; Weigel, Herbert

1998-10-01

We study unpolarized and polarized nucleon structure functions(H. Weigel, L. Gamberg, and H. Reinhardt, Mod. Phys. Lett. A11) (1996) 3021; Phys. Lett. B399 (1997) 287;Phys. Rev. D55(1997) 6910. within the bosonized Nambu--Jona--Lasinio (NJL) model where the nucleon emerges as a chiral soliton(R. Alkofer, H. Reinhardt and H. Weigel, Phys. Rep. 265) (1996) 139.. These considerations attempt to merge the parton model description of deep inelastic scattering with the phenomenologically successful picture of baryons as chiral solitons. In addition we report on the calculation of the chiral odd quark distributions(L. Gamberg, H. Reinhardt and H. Weigel, "Chiral odd structure functions from a chiral soliton", hep-ph/9801379, Phys. Rev. D. in press.) and the corresponding structure functions h_T(x,Q^2) and h_L(x,Q^2). At the low model scale, Q_0^2, we find that the leading twist effective quark distributions, f_1^(q)(x,Q_0^2), g_1^(q)(x,Q_0^2) and h_T^(q)(x,Q_0^2) satisfy Soffer's inequality for both quark flavors q=u,d. The Q^2 evolution of the twist--2 contributions is performed according to the standard GLAP formalism while the twist--three pieces, \\overlineg_2(x) and \\overlineh_L(x), are evolved according to the large NC scheme.

The 1985 ARI Survey of Army Recruits: Tabular Description of NPS (active) Army Accessions. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-01

T261 -- WATCH TV PROG:NBA BASKETBALL DO YOU WATCH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON REGULAR TV STATIONS? .- NBA BASKETBALL . 1...327𔃻 261 WATCH TV PROG:NBA BASKETBALL 328-329 T262 WATCH TV PROG:COLLEGE BASKETBALL 330-331 T263 WATCH TV PROG:NHL HOCKEY 332-333 T264 WlATCH TV...T262 -- WATCH TV PROG:COLLEGE BASKETBALL DO YOU WATCH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON REGULAR TV STATIONS? - COLLEGE BASKETBALL . 1

Effect of Progesterone on Cerebral Vasospasm and Neurobehavioral Outcomes in a Rodent Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

PubMed

Turan, Nefize; Miller, Brandon A; Huie, J Russell; Heider, Robert A; Wang, Jun; Wali, Bushra; Yousuf, Seema; Ferguson, Adam R; Sayeed, Iqbal; Stein, Donald G; Pradilla, Gustavo

2018-02-01

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induces widespread inflammation leading to cellular injury, vasospasm, and ischemia. Evidence suggests that progesterone (PROG) can improve functional recovery in acute brain injury owing to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which could also be beneficial in SAH. We hypothesized that PROG treatment attenuates inflammation-mediated cerebral vasospasm and microglial activation, improves synaptic connectivity, and ameliorates functional recovery after SAH. We investigated the effect of PROG in a cisternal SAH model in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Neurobehavioral outcomes were evaluated using rotarod latency and grip strength tests. Basilar artery perimeter, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1)/synaptophysin colocalization, and Iba-1 immunoreactivity were quantified histologically. PROG (8 mg/kg) significantly improved rotarod latency at day 6 and grip strength at day 9. PROG-treated mice had significantly reduced basilar artery vasospasm at 24 hours. GluR1/synaptophysin colocalization, indicative of synaptic GluR1, was significantly reduced in the SAH+Vehicle group at 24 hours, and PROG treatment significantly attenuated this reduction. PROG treatment significantly reduced microglial cell activation and proliferation in cerebellum and cortex but not in the brainstem at 10 days. PROG treatment ameliorated cerebral vasospasm, reduced microglial activation, restored synaptic GluR1 localization, and improved neurobehavioral performance in a murine model of SAH. These results provide a rationale for further translational testing of PROG therapy in SAH. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Screening for strains with 11α-hydroxylase activity for 17α-hydroxy progesterone biotransformation.

PubMed

Gao, Qian; Qiao, Yuqian; Shen, Yanbing; Wang, Min; Wang, Xibo; Liu, Yang

2017-08-01

Various corticosteroids are prepared by using 11α,17α-diOH-progesterone (11α,17α-diOH-PROG) as an important intermediate and raw material. Hence, strains that can improve the yields of 11α,17α-diOH-PROG should be screened. Cunninghamella elegans CICC40250 was singled out from five common 11α hydroxylation strains. The reaction parameters of 11α,17α-diOH-PROG production were also investigated. C. elegans CICC40250 could efficiently catalyze the hydroxylation of 17α-hydroxy progesterone (17α-OH-PROG) at C-11α position. This strain could also effectively convert 11α,17α-diOH-PROG at high substrate concentrations (up to 30g/L). After the coenzyme precursor glucose was added, the rate of 11α,17α-diOH-PROG formation reached 84.2%, which was 11.4% higher than that of the control group. Our study established a simple and feasible mechanism to increase 11α,17α-diOH-PROG production levels. This mechanism involves C. elegans CICC40250 that can be efficiently applied to induce the biotransformation of 17α-OH-PROG with a hydroxylation biocatalytic ability. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

FRAUD/SABOTAGE Killing Nuclear-Reactors Need Modeling!!!: "Super"alloys GENERIC ENDEMIC Wigner's-Disease/.../IN-stability: Ethics? SHMETHICS!!!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asphahani, Aziz; Siegel, Sidney; Siegel, Edward

2010-03-01

Carbides solid-state chemistry domination of old/new nuclear- reactors/spent-fuel-casks/refineries/jet/missile/rocket-engines in austenitic/FCC Ni/Fe-based(so miscalled)``super"alloys(182/82; Hastelloy-X,600,304/304L-SSs,...,690!!!) GENERIC ENDEMIC EXTANT detrimental(synonyms): Wigner's-diseas(WD)[J.Appl.Phys.17,857 (1946)]/Ostwald-ripening/spinodal-decomposition/overageing- embrittlement/thermal-leading-to-mechanical(TLTM)-INstability: Mayo[Google:``If Leaks Could Kill"; at flickr.com search on ``Giant-Magnotoresistance"; find: Siegel[J.Mag.Mag.Mtls.7,312 (1978)]<<<``Fert"-"Gruenberg"(1988/89)2007-physics Nobel/Wolf/ Japan-prizes]necessitating NRC-inspections of 40+25 = 65 Westin- ``KLouse PWRs(12/2006)]-Lai[Met.Trans.AIME,9A,827(1978)]-Sabol- Stickler[Phys.Stat.Sol.(1970)]-Ashpahani[Intl.Conf. H in Metals, Paris(1977]-Russell[Prog.Mtls.Sci.(1983)]-Pollard[last UCS rept. (9/1995)]-Lofaro[BNL/DOE/NRC Repts.]-Pringle[Nuclear-Power:From Physics to Politics(1979)]-Hoffman[animatedsoftware.com], what DOE/NRC MISlabels as ``butt-welds" ``stress-corrosion cracking" endpoint's ROOT-CAUSE ULTIMATE-ORIGIN is WD overageing-embritt- lement caused brittle-fracture cracking from early/ongoing AEC/ DOE-n"u"tional-la"v"atories sabotage!!!

FRAUD/SABOTAGE Killing Nuclear-Reactors Need Modeling!!!: ``Super'' alloys GENERIC ENDEMIC Wigner's-Disease/.../IN-stability: Ethics? SHMETHICS!!!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Grady, Joseph; Bument, Arlden; Siegel, Edward

2011-03-01

Carbides solid-state chemistry domination of old/new nuclear-reactors/spent-fuel-casks/refineries/jet/missile/rocket-engines is austenitic/FCC Ni/Fe-based (so miscalled)"super"alloys(182/82;Hastelloy-X,600,304/304L-SSs,...690!!!) GENERIC ENDEMIC EXTANT detrimental(synonyms): Wigner's-disease(WD) [J.Appl.Phys.17,857 (46)]/Ostwald-ripening/spinodal-decomposition/overageing-embrittlement/thermal-leading-to-mechanical(TLTM)-INstability: Mayo[Google: fLeaksCouldKill > ; - Siegel [ J . Mag . Mag . Mtls . 7 , 312 (78) = atflickr . comsearchonGiant - Magnotoresistance [Fert" [PRL(1988)]-"Gruenberg"[PRL(1989)] 2007-Nobel]necessitating NRC inspections on 40+25=65 Westin"KL"ouse PWRs(12/2006)]-Lai [Met.Trans.AIME, 9A,827(78)]-Sabol-Stickler[Phys.Stat.Sol.(70)]-Ashpahani[ Intl.Conf. Hydrogen in Metals, Paris(1977]-Russell [Prog.Mtls.Sci.(1983)]-Pollard [last UCS rept.(9/1995)]-Lofaro [BNL/DOE/NRC Repts.]-Pringle [ Nuclear-Power:From Physics to Politics(1979)]-Hoffman [animatedsoftware.com], what DOE/NRC MISlabels as "butt-welds" "stress-corrosion cracking" endpoint's ROOT-CAUSE ULTIMATE-ORIGIN is WD overageing-embrittlement caused brittle-fracture cracking from early/ongoing AEC/DOE-n"u"tional-la"v"atories sabotage!!!

The LWA1 Low Frequency Sky Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dowell, Jayce; Taylor, Gregory B.; LWA Collaboration

2015-01-01

The LWA1 Low Frequency Sky Survey is a survey of the sky visible from the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA1) across the frequency range of 35 to 80 MHz. The primary motivation behind this effort is to improve our understanding of the sky at these frequencies. In particular, an understanding of the low frequency foreground emission is necessary for work on detecting the epoch of reionization and the cosmic dark ages where the foreground signal dwarfs the expected redshifted HI signal by many orders of magnitude (Pritchard & Loeb 2012, Rep. Prog. Phys., 75, 086901). The leading model for the sky in the frequency range of 20 to 200 MHz is the Global Sky Model (GSM) by de Oliveria-Costas et al. (2008, MNRAS, 288, 247). This model is based upon a principle component analysis of 11 sky maps ranging in frequency from 10 MHz to 94 GHz. Of these 11 maps, only four are below 1 GHz; 10 MHz from Caswell (1976, MNRAS, 177, 601), 22 MHz from Roger et al. (1999, A&AS, 137, 7), 45 MHz from Alvarez et al. (1997, A&AS, 124, 315) and Maeda et al. (1999, A&AS, 140, 145), and 408 MHz from Haslam et al. (1982, A&AS, 47, 1). Thus, within this model, the region of interest to both cosmic dawn and the epoch of reionization is largely unconstrained based on the available survey data, and are also limited in terms of the spatial coverage and calibration. A self-consistent collection of maps is necessary for both our understanding of the sky and the removal of the foregrounds that mask the redshifted 21-cm signal.We present the current state of the survey and discuss the imaging and calibration challenges faced by dipole arrays that are capable of imaging nearly 2π steradians of sky simultaneously over a large fractional bandwidth.Construction of the LWA has been supported by the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-07-C-0147. Support for operations and continuing development of the LWA1 is provided by the National Science Foundation under grants AST-1139963 and AST-1139974 of the University Radio Observatory program.

Detecting signatures of cosmological recombination and reionization in the cosmic radio background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subrahmanyan, Ravi; Shankar Narayana Rao, Udaya; Sathyanarayana Rao, Mayuri; Singh, Saurabh

2015-08-01

Evolution of the baryons during the Epochs of cosmological Recombination and Reionization has left traces in the cosmic radio background in the form of spectral distortions (Sunyaev & Chluba 2008 Astron. Nachrichten, 330, 657; Pritchard & Loeb 2012 Rep Prog Phys 75(8):086901). The spectral signature depends on the evolution in the ionization state in hydrogen and helium and on the spin temperature of hydrogen. These probe the physics of energy release beyond the last scattering surface at redshifts exceeding 1090 and the nature of the first sources and gas evolution down to redshift about 6. The spectral distortions are sensitive to the nature of the first stars, ultra-dwarf galaxies, accreting compact objects, and the evolving ambient radiation field: X-rays and UV from the first sources. Detection of the all-sky or global spectral distortions in the radio background is hence a probe of cosmological recombination and reionization.We present new spectral radiometers that we have purpose designed for precision measurements of spectral distortions at radio wavelengths. New antenna elements include frequency independent and electrically small fat-dipole (Raghunathan et al. 2013 IEEE TAP, 61, 3411) and monopole designs. Receiver configurations have been devised that are self-calibratable (Patra et al. 2013 Expt Astron, 36, 319) so that switching of signal paths and of calibration noise sources provide real time calibration for systematics and receiver noise. Observing strategies (Patra et al. arXiv:1412.7762) and analysis methods (Satyanarayana Rao et al. arXiv:1501.07191) have been evolved that are capable of discriminating between the cosmological signals and the substantially brighter foregrounds. We have also demonstrated the value of system designs that exploit advantages of interferometer detection (Mahesh et al. arXiv:1406.2585) of global spectral distortions.Finally we discuss how the Square Kilometer Array stations may be outfitted with precision spectral radiometer outriggers (Subrahmanyan et al. arXiv:1501.04340) to provide the zero-spacing measurement sets, complement the interferometer visibilities and give the SKA a capability for measurements of cosmic radio background spectral distortions.

On the dynamics of fission of hot nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fröbrich, P.

2007-05-01

In this contribution I take the opportunity to address some points which are in my opinion not in a satisfactory state in the dynamical description of fission of hot nuclei. The focus is on relatively light systems where Bohr's hypothesis on the independence of the fusion and subsequent fission processes is valid, but my remarks are also of relevance to attempts to describe the complete fusion-fission process in a unified way, when quasi-fission channels compete in heavier systems and quantal effects may be of increasing importance in particular when considering low temperatures. There is no doubt that the most adequate dynamical description of the fusion-fission process is obtained by solving multi-dimensional Langevin equations to which a Monte Carlo treatment for the evaporation of light (n, p, α, γ) particles is coupled. However, there is less agreement about the input quantities which enter the description. In the review article [P. Fröbrich, I.I. Gontchar, Phys. Rep. 292, 131 (1998)], we deal mainly with an overdamped Langevin dynamics along the fission coordinate which goes over to an appropriately modified statistical model when a stationary regime with respect to the fission mode is reached. The main ingredient is a phenomenological (deformation-dependent, temperature-independent) friction force, which is invented in such a way that it allows a description of a multitude of experimental data in a universal way (i.e. with the same set of parameters). The main success was a systematic simultaneous description of fission or survival probabilities and prescission neutron multiplicities [P. Fröbrich, I.I. Gontchar, N.D. Mavlitov, Nucl. Phys. A 556, 261 (1993)]. This is not possible in any statistical model. The model describes successfully many other data for systems that develop over a completely equilibrated compound nucleus; see Ref. [P. Fröbrich, I.I. Gontchar, Phys. Rep. 292, 131 (1998)] and references therein. It deals with: fission (survival) probabilities prescission neutron multiplicities and spectra prescission charged particle multiplicities and spectra prescission γ-multiplicities and spectra evaporation residue cross sections fission time distributions temperatures at scission fission fragment angular distributions The results above are obtained with the Ito-discretization of the Langevin equation and might lead to some modifications when using the Klimontovich [Yu.L. Klimontovich, Usp. Fiz. Nauk. 37, 737 (1994)] discretization, which is claimed to be more physical [A.E. Gettinger, I.I. Gontchar, J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 26, 347 (2000)]. A satisfactory description of the measured correlation between the kinetic energy distribution and prescission neutron multiplicities could only be obtained when the mass asymmetry degree of freedom is included in the Langevin theory [P.N. Nadtochy, G.D. Adeev, A.V. Karpov, Phys. Rev. C 65, 064615 (2002)], thus generalizing the two-dimensional not overdamped Langevin models of Refs. [G.R. Tillack, R. Reif, A. Schülcke, P. Fröbrich, H.J. Krappe, H.G. Reusch, Phys. Lett. B 296, 296 (1992)] and [T. Wada, Y. Abe, N. Carjan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 3528 (1993)]. A recent article analysing the mass distribution of fission fragments is [E.G. Ryabov, A.V. Karpov, G.D. Adeev, Nucl. Phys. A 765, 39 (2006)]. The first important point I want to stress is that the driving force of a hot system is not simply the negative gradient of the conservative potential but should contain a thermodynamical correction which is not taken into account in a number of publications.

Symmetry investigations on the incompressible stationary axisymmetric Euler equations with swirl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frewer, M.; Oberlack, M.; Guenther, S.

2007-08-01

We discuss the incompressible stationary axisymmetric Euler equations with swirl, for which we derive via a scalar stream function an equivalent representation, the Bragg-Hawthorne equation [Bragg, S.L., Hawthorne, W.R., 1950. Some exact solutions of the flow through annular cascade actuator discs. J. Aero. Sci. 17, 243]. Despite this obvious equivalence, we will show that under a local Lie point symmetry analysis the Bragg-Hawthorne equation exposes itself as not being fully equivalent to the original Euler equations. This is reflected in the way that it possesses additional symmetries not being admitted by its counterpart. In other words, a symmetry of the Bragg-Hawthorne equation is in general not a symmetry of the Euler equations. Not the differential Euler equations but rather a set of integro-differential equations attains full equivalence to the Bragg-Hawthorne equation. For these intermediate Euler equations, it is interesting to note that local symmetries of the Bragg-Hawthorne equation transform to local as well as to nonlocal symmetries. This behaviour, on the one hand, is in accordance with Zawistowski's result [Zawistowski, Z.J., 2001. Symmetries of integro-differential equations. Rep. Math. Phys. 48, 269; Zawistowski, Z.J., 2004. General criterion of invariance for integro-differential equations. Rep. Math. Phys. 54, 341] that it is possible for integro-differential equations to admit local Lie point symmetries. On the other hand, with this transformation process we collect symmetries which cannot be obtained when carrying out a usual local Lie point symmetry analysis. Finally, the symmetry classification of the Bragg-Hawthorne equation is used to find analytical solutions for the phenomenon of vortex breakdown.

Ab initio many-body calculations of nucleon scattering on ^16O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navratil, Petr; Quaglioni, Sofia; Roth, Robert

2008-10-01

We develop a new ab initio many-body approachootnotetextS. Quaglioni and P. Navratil, arXiv:0804.1560. capable of describing simultaneously both bound and scattering states in light nuclei, by combining the resonating-group methodootnotetextY. C. Tang et al., Phys. Rep. 47, 167 (1978); K. Langanke and H. Friedrich, Advances in Nuclear Physics, Plenum, New York, 1987. with the ab initio no-core shell model (NCSM).ootnotetextP. Navratil, J. P. Vary, and B. R. Barrett, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5728 (2000); Phys. Rev. C 62, 054311 (2000). In this way, we complement a microscopic-cluster technique with the use of realistic interactions, and a microscopic and consistent description of the nucleon clusters, while preserving Pauli principle and translational symmetry. We will present results for low-energy nucleon scattering on ^16O and for A=17 bound states obtained using realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials. The ^16O wave functions are calculated within the importance-truncated NCSMootnotetextR. Roth and P. Navratil, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 092501 (2007). that allows the use of model spaces up to 18φ and ultimately enables to reach convergence of phase-shifts and other observables. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. Support from the U.S. DOE/SC/NP (Work Proposal No. SCW0498), and from the U. S. Department of Energy Grant DE-FC02-07ER41457 is acknowledged.

Transdermal absorption of natural progesterone from alcoholic gel formulations with hydrophilic surfactant.

PubMed

Matsui, Rakan; Ueda, Osamu; Uchida, Shinya; Namiki, Noriyuki

2015-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro skin permeation and in vivo transdermal absorption of natural progesterone (Prog) from alcoholic gel-based transdermal formulations containing Prog dissolved stably at a concentration of 3%. 3% Prog dissolved gel formulations were prepared containing with water, ethanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, carboxyvinylpolymer, diisopropanolamine, polyoxyethylene (2) oleylether and benzyl alcohol. The gel formulations added different hydrophilic surfactants and isopropyl myristate or propylene glycol dicaprylate (PGDC) as oily solvents were applied in vitro permeation study through excised rat skin on unocclusive condition. The gel formulations added polyoxyethylene (20) oleylether (Oleth-20) as hydrophilic surfactant and PGDC were applied in vivo single- and repeated-dose transdermal absorption study of rat on unocclusive condition. The results of evaluation of the gel formulations by an in vitro skin permeation study revealed a high flux of Prog from the formulation containing Oleth-20 and Oleth-20 with PGDC. The results of single and repeated in vivo transdermal absorption studies confirmed that good plasma levels of Prog were achieved and maintained by Oleth-20 and PGDC containing gel formulation. The Oleth-20 and PGDC containing ethanolic gel formulation seemed to have the ability to maintain a high activity of Prog and high diffusivity or solubility of Prog in the epidermis on the practical formulation application.

Geometric phases in electric dipole searches with trapped spin-1/2 particles in general fields and measurement cells of arbitrary shape with smooth or rough walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golub, R.; Kaufman, C.; Müller, G.; Steyerl, A.

2015-12-01

The important role of geometric phases in searches for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron, using Ramsey separated oscillatory field nuclear magnetic resonance, was first noted by Commins [Am. J. Phys. 59, 1077 (1991), 10.1119/1.16616] and investigated in detail by Pendlebury et al. [Phys. Rev. A 70, 032102 (2004), 10.1103/PhysRevA.70.032102]. Their analysis was based on the Bloch equations. In subsequent work using the spin-density matrix, Lamoreaux and Golub [Phys. Rev. A 71, 032104 (2005), 10.1103/PhysRevA.71.032104] showed the relation between the frequency shifts and the correlation functions of the fields seen by trapped particles in general fields (Redfield theory). More recently, we presented a solution of the Schrödinger equation for spin-1 /2 particles in circular cylindrical traps with smooth walls and exposed to arbitrary fields [A. Steyerl et al., Phys. Rev. A 89, 052129 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevA.89.052129]. Here, we extend this work to show how the Redfield theory follows directly from the Schrödinger equation solution. This serves to highlight the conditions of validity of the Redfield theory, a subject of considerable discussion in the literature [e.g., M. P. Nicholas et al., Prog. Nucl. Magn. Reson. Spectrosc. 57, 111 (2010), 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2010.04.003]. Our results can be applied where the Redfield result no longer holds, such as observation times on the order of or shorter than the correlation time and nonstochastic systems, and thus we can illustrate the transient spin dynamics, i.e., the gradual development of the shift with increasing time subsequent to the start of the free precession. We consider systems with rough, diffuse reflecting walls, cylindrical trap geometry with arbitrary cross section, and field perturbations that do not, in the frame of the moving particles, average to zero in time. We show by direct, detailed, calculation the agreement of the results from the Schrödinger equation with the Redfield theory for the cases of a rectangular cell with specular walls and of a circular cell with diffuse reflecting walls.

Microwave fidelity studies by varying antenna coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köber, B.; Kuhl, U.; Stöckmann, H.-J.; Gorin, T.; Savin, D. V.; Seligman, T. H.

2010-09-01

The fidelity decay in a microwave billiard is considered, where the coupling to an attached antenna is varied. The resulting quantity, coupling fidelity, is experimentally studied for three different terminators of the varied antenna: a hard-wall reflection, an open wall reflection, and a 50Ω load, corresponding to a totally open channel. The model description in terms of an effective Hamiltonian with a complex coupling constant is given. Quantitative agreement is found with the theory obtained from a modified VWZ approach [J. J. M. Verbaarschot , Phys. Rep. 129, 367 (1985)10.1016/0370-1573(85)90070-5].

Majorana-Fermions, Their-Own Antiparticles, Following Non-Abelian Anyon/Semion Quantum-Statistics : Solid-State MEETS Particle Physics Neutrinos: Spin-Orbit-Coupled Superconductors and/or Superfluids to Neutrinos; Insulator-Heisenberg-Antiferromagnet MnF2 Majorana-Siegel-Birgenau-Keimer - Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majorana-Fermi-Segre, E.-L.; Antonoff-Overhauser-Salam, Marvin-Albert-Abdus; Siegel, Edward Carl-Ludwig

2013-03-01

Majorana-fermions, being their own antiparticles, following non-Abelian anyon/semion quantum-statistics: in Zhang et.al.-...-Detwiler et.al.-...``Worlds-in-Collision'': solid-state/condensed-matter - physics spin-orbit - coupled topological-excitations in superconductors and/or superfluids -to- particle-physics neutrinos: ``When `Worlds' Collide'', analysis via Siegel[Schrodinger Centenary Symp., Imperial College, London (1987); in The Copenhagen-Interpretation Fifty-Years After the Como-Lecture, Symp. Fdns. Mod.-Phys., Joensu(1987); Symp. on Fractals, MRS Fall-Mtg., Boston(1989)-5-papers!!!] ``complex quantum-statistics in fractal-dimensions'', which explains hidden-dark-matter(HDM) IN Siegel ``Sephirot'' scenario for The Creation, uses Takagi[Prog.Theo.Phys. Suppl.88,1(86)]-Ooguri[PR D33,357(85)] - Picard-Lefschetz-Arnol'd-Vassil'ev[``Principia Read After 300 Years'', Not.AMS(1989); quantum-theory caveats comment-letters(1990); Applied Picard-Lefschetz Theory, AMS(2006)] - theorem quantum-statistics, which via Euler- formula becomes which via de Moivre- -formula further becomes which on unit-circle is only real for only, i.e, for, versus complex with imaginary-damping denominator for, i.e, for, such that Fermi-Dirac quantum-statistics for

Quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensation of lattice bosons in the spin-1/2 XXZ ferromagnet K2CuF4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirata, Satoshi; Kurita, Nobuyuki; Yamada, Motoki; Tanaka, Hidekazu

2017-05-01

K2CuF4 is magnetically described as a spin-1/2 , quasi-two-dimensional (2D), square-lattice XXZ ferromagnet with weak easy-plane anisotropy. The magnetic ordering for an applied magnetic field H parallel to the c axis is equivalent to the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of lattice bosons, as discussed by Matsubara and Matsuda [T. Matsubara and H. Matsuda, Prog. Theor. Phys. 16, 569 (1956), 10.1143/PTP.16.569]. Magnetization and specific-heat measurements were performed to obtain the temperature versus magnetic field phase diagram for H ∥c . The phase boundary between polarized and ordered phases was found to be expressed by the power law Hc(T ) -Hc(0 ) ∝Tϕ with exponent ϕ ≈1.0 in a wide temperature range, in agreement with the theory of quasi-2D BEC.

Acid-Base Electronic Properties in the Gas Phase: Permanent Electric Dipole Moments of a Photoacidic Substrate.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleisher, Adam J.; Morgan, Philip J.; Pratt, David W.

2009-06-01

The permanent electric dipole moments of two conformers of 2-naphthol (2HN) in their ground and electronically excited states have been experimentally determined by Stark-effect measurements in a molecular beam. When in solution, 2HN is a weak base in the S{_0} state and a strong acid in the S{_1} state. Using sequential solvation of the cis-2HN photoacid with the base ammonia, we have begun to approach condensed phase acid-base interactions with gas phase rotational resolution. Our study, void of bulk solvent perturbations, is of importance to the larger community currently describing aromatic biomolecule and "super" photoacid behavior via theoretical modeling and condensed phase solvatochromism. [2] A. Weller. Prog. React. Kinet. 5, 273 (1970). [3] D. F. Plusquellic, X. -Q. Tan, and D. W. Pratt. J. Chem. Phys. 96, 8026 (1992).

Rotational response of superconductors: Magnetorotational isomorphism and rotation-induced vortex lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babaev, Egor; Svistunov, Boris

2014-03-01

The analysis of nonclassical rotational response of superfluids and superconductors was performed by Onsager [Onsager, Nuovo Cimento, Suppl. 6, 279 (1949), 10.1007/BF02780991] and London [Superfluids (Wiley, New York, 1950)] and crucially advanced by Feynman [Prog. Low Temp. Phys. 1, 17 (1955), 10.1016/S0079-6417(08)60077-3]. It was established that, in the thermodynamic limit, neutral superfluids rotate by forming—without any threshold—a vortex lattice. In contrast, the rotation of superconductors at angular frequency Ω—supported by uniform magnetic field BL∝Ω due to surface currents—is of the rigid-body type (London law). Here we show that, neglecting the centrifugal effects, the behavior of a rotating superconductor is identical to that of a superconductor placed in a uniform fictitious external magnetic field H ˜=-BL. In particular, the isomorphism immediately implies the existence of two critical rotational frequencies in type-2 superconductors.

Uncooled EuSbTe3 photodetector highly sensitive from ultraviolet to terahertz frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Ying Y.; Wu, Dong; Su, Yu Q.; Zhu, Hai; Wang, Biao; Wang, Ying X.; Zhao, Zi R.; Zheng, Ping; Niu, Jia S.; Zhou, Hui B.; Wei, Jian; Wang, Nan L.

2018-01-01

Light probe from Uv to THz is critical in photoelectronics and has great applications ranging from imaging, communication to medicine (Woodward et al 2002 Phys. Med. Biol. 47 3853-63 Pospischil et al 2013 Nat. Photon. 7 892-6 Martyniuk and Rogalski 2003 Prog. Quantum Electron. 27 59-210). However, the room temperature ultrabroadband photodetection across visible down to far-infrared is still challenging. The challenging arises mainly from the lack of suitable photoactive materials. Because that conventional semiconductors, such as silicon, have their photosensitive properties cut off by the bandgap and are transparent to spectrum at long-wavelength infrared side (Ciupa and Rogalski 1997 Opto-Electron. Rev. 5 257-66 Tonouchi 2007 Nat. Photon. 1 97-105 Sizov and Rogalski 2010 Prog. Quantum Electron. 34 278-347 Kinch 2000 J. Electron. Mater. 29 809-17). Comparatively, the dielectrics with very narrow band-gap but maintain the semiconductor-like electrical conduction would have priorities for ultrabroadband photodetection. Here we report on EuSbTe3 is highly sensitive from ultraviolet directly to terahertz (THz) at room temperature. High photoresponsivities 1-8 A W-1 reached in our prototype EuSbTe3 detectors with low noise equivalent power (NEP) recorded, for instances ~150 pW · Hz-1/2 (at λ  =  532 nm) and ~0.6 nW · Hz-1/2 (at λ  =  118.8 µm) respectively. Our results demonstrate a promising system with direct photosensitivity extending well into THz regime at room temperature, shed new light on exploring more sophisticated multi-band photoelectronics.

Using Electrically-evoked Compound Action Potentials to Estimate Perceptive Levels in Experienced Adult Cochlear Implant Users.

PubMed

Joly, Charles-Alexandre; Péan, Vincent; Hermann, Ruben; Seldran, Fabien; Thai-Van, Hung; Truy, Eric

2017-10-01

The cochlear implant (CI) fitting level prediction accuracy of electrically-evoked compound action potential (ECAP) should be enhanced by the addition of demographic data in models. No accurate automated fitting of CI based on ECAP has yet been proposed. We recorded ECAP in 45 adults who had been using MED-EL CIs for more than 11 months and collected the most comfortable loudness level (MCL) used for CI fitting (prog-MCL), perception thresholds (meas-THR), and MCL (meas-MCL) measured with the stimulation used for ECAP recording. Linear mixed models taking into account cochlear site factors were computed to explain prog-MCL, meas-MCL, and meas-THR. Cochlear region and ECAP threshold were predictors of the three levels. In addition, significant predictors were the ECAP amplitude for the prog-MCL and the duration of deafness for the prog-MCL and the meas-THR. Estimations were more accurate for the meas-THR, then the meas-MCL, and finally the prog-MCL. These results show that 1) ECAP thresholds are more closely related to perception threshold than to comfort level, 2) predictions are more accurate when the inter-subject and cochlear regions variations are considered, and 3) differences between the stimulations used for ECAP recording and for CI fitting make it difficult to accurately predict the prog-MCL from the ECAP recording. Predicted prog-MCL could be used as bases for fitting but should be used with care to avoid any uncomfortable or painful stimulation.

Correction to the paper “a simple model to determine the interrelation between the integral characteristics of hall thrusters” [Plasma Physics Reports 40, 229 (2014)

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

Shumilin, V. P.; Shumilin, A. V.; Shumilin, N. V., E-mail: vladimirshumilin@yahoo.com

2015-11-15

The paper is devoted to comparison of experimental data with theoretical predictions concerning the dependence of the current of accelerated ions on the operating voltage of a Hall thruster with an anode layer. The error made in the paper published by the authors in Plasma Phys. Rep. 40, 229 (2014) occurred because of a misprint in the Encyclopedia of Low-Temperature Plasma. In the present paper, this error is corrected. It is shown that the simple model proposed in the above-mentioned paper is in qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental results.

Quantum turing machine and brain model represented by Fock space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iriyama, Satoshi; Ohya, Masanori

2016-05-01

The adaptive dynamics is known as a new mathematics to treat with a complex phenomena, for example, chaos, quantum algorithm and psychological phenomena. In this paper, we briefly review the notion of the adaptive dynamics, and explain the definition of the generalized Turing machine (GTM) and recognition process represented by the Fock space. Moreover, we show that there exists the quantum channel which is described by the GKSL master equation to achieve the Chaos Amplifier used in [M. Ohya and I. V. Volovich, J. Opt. B 5(6) (2003) 639., M. Ohya and I. V. Volovich, Rep. Math. Phys. 52(1) (2003) 25.

Gender difference in the effect of progesterone on neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury in mouse.

PubMed

Dong, Shuyu; Zhang, Qian; Kong, Delian; Zhou, Chao; Zhou, Jie; Han, Jingjing; Zhou, Yan; Jin, Guoliang; Hua, Xiaodong; Wang, Jun; Hua, Fang

2018-08-01

This study investigated the effects of progesterone (PROG) on neonatal hypoxic/ischemic (NHI) brain injury, the differences in effects between genders, and the underlying mechanisms. NHI brain injury was established in both male and female neonatal mice induced by occlusion of the left common carotid artery followed by hypoxia. The mice were treated with PROG or vehicle. Fluoro-Jade B staining (F-JB), long term behavior testing, and brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) were applied to evaluate neuronal death, neurological function, and brain damage. The underlying molecular mechanisms were also investigated by Western blots. The results showed that, in the male mice, administration of PROG significantly reduced neuronal death, improved the learning and memory function impaired by cerebral HI, decreased infarct size, and maintained the thickness of the cortex after cerebral HI. PROG treatment, however, did not show significant neuroprotective effects on female mice subjected to HI. In addition, the data demonstrated a gender difference in the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), Fas associated protein with death domain (FADD), and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) between males and females. Our results indicated that treatment with PROG had beneficial effects on NHI injured brain in acute stage and improved the long term cognitive function impaired by cerebral HI in male mice. In addition, the activation of TNF and TRIF mediated signaling in response to cerebral HI and the treatment of PROG varied between genders, which highly suggested that gender differences should be emphasized in evaluating neonatal HI brain injury and PROG effects, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Continuum Vlasov Simulation in Four Phase-space Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, B. I.; Banks, J. W.; Berger, R. L.; Hittinger, J. A.; Brunner, S.

2010-11-01

In the VALHALLA project, we are developing scalable algorithms for the continuum solution of the Vlasov-Maxwell equations in two spatial and two velocity dimensions. We use fourth-order temporal and spatial discretizations of the conservative form of the equations and a finite-volume representation to enable adaptive mesh refinement and nonlinear oscillation control [1]. The code has been implemented with and without adaptive mesh refinement, and with electromagnetic and electrostatic field solvers. A goal is to study the efficacy of continuum Vlasov simulations in four phase-space dimensions for laser-plasma interactions. We have verified the code in examples such as the two-stream instability, the weak beam-plasma instability, Landau damping, electron plasma waves with electron trapping and nonlinear frequency shifts [2]^ extended from 1D to 2D propagation, and light wave propagation.^ We will report progress on code development, computational methods, and physics applications. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE by LLNL under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344. This work was funded by the Lab. Dir. Res. and Dev. Prog. at LLNL under project tracking code 08-ERD-031. [1] J.W. Banks and J.A.F. Hittinger, to appear in IEEE Trans. Plas. Sci. (Sept., 2010). [2] G.J. Morales and T.M. O'Neil, Phys. Rev. Lett. 28,417 (1972); R. L. Dewar, Phys. Fluids 15,712 (1972).

Analytic and computational modelling of super-radiant pulse compression in plasma and comparisons with experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shvets, Gennady; Kalmykov, Serguei; Dreher, Matthias; Meyer-Ter-Vehn, Juergen

2003-10-01

The strongly non-linear regime of Raman backscattering [1,2] holds the promise of compressing long low-intensity laser beams into ultra-short high intensity pulses. As the short pulse is amplified by the long counter-propagating pump via backscattering the pump off the nonlinear plasma wave, its duration shrinks and intensity grows. The increase of the bandwidth of the amplified pulse only occurs in the nonlinear amplification regime, and is its most telling signature. Recent experiments at MPQ carried out in the strongly nonlinear regime reveal two previously unobserved features: (i) bandwidth expansion, and (ii) breakdown of the initially smooth amplified pulse into several spikes. Using semi-analytic model and particle-in-cell simulations, we explain the multiple pulse formation by the synchrotron motion of plasma electrons in the ponderomotive potential. Self-similar solutions consisting of multiple spikes are derived, and their nonlinear frequency shifts evaluated. The nonlinear focusing of the pulse by the pump is predicted and compared with experimental observations. [1] G. Shvets et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 4879 (1998). [2] A. Pukhov, Rep. Progr. Phys. 66, 47 (1998).

Singular perturbations with boundary conditions and the Casimir effect in the half space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albeverio, S.; Cognola, G.; Spreafico, M.; Zerbini, S.

2010-06-01

We study the self-adjoint extensions of a class of nonmaximal multiplication operators with boundary conditions. We show that these extensions correspond to singular rank 1 perturbations (in the sense of Albeverio and Kurasov [Singular Perturbations of Differential Operaters (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000)]) of the Laplace operator, namely, the formal Laplacian with a singular delta potential, on the half space. This construction is the appropriate setting to describe the Casimir effect related to a massless scalar field in the flat space-time with an infinite conducting plate and in the presence of a pointlike "impurity." We use the relative zeta determinant (as defined in the works of Müller ["Relative zeta functions, relative determinants and scattering theory," Commun. Math. Phys. 192, 309 (1998)] and Spreafico and Zerbini ["Finite temperature quantum field theory on noncompact domains and application to delta interactions," Rep. Math. Phys. 63, 163 (2009)]) in order to regularize the partition function of this model. We study the analytic extension of the associated relative zeta function, and we present explicit results for the partition function and for the Casimir force.

Nonstationary magnetosonic wave dynamics in plasmas exhibiting collapse.

PubMed

Chakrabarti, Nikhil; Maity, Chandan; Schamel, Hans

2013-08-01

In a Lagrangian fluid approach, an explicit method has been presented previously to obtain an exact nonstationary magnetosonic-type wave solution in compressible magnetized plasmas of arbitrary resistivity showing competition among hydrodynamic convection, magnetic field diffusion, and dispersion [Chakrabarti et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 145003 (2011)]. The purpose of the present work is twofold: it serves (i) to describe the physical and mathematical background of the involved magnetosonic wave dynamics in more detail, as proposed by our original Letter, and (ii) to present an alternative approach, which utilizes the Lagrangian mass variable as a new spatial coordinate [Schamel, Phys. Rep. 392, 279 (2004)]. The obtained exact nonlinear wave solutions confirm the correctness of our previous results, indicating a collapse of the magnetic field irrespective of the presence of dispersion and resistivity. The mean plasma density, on the other hand, is less singular, showing collapse only when dispersive effects are negligible. These results may contribute to our understanding of the generation of strongly localized magnetic fields (and currents) in plasmas, and they are expected to be of special importance in the astrophysical context of magnetic star formation.

Frequency Dependent Ultrasonic Attenuation in Superfluid ^3He at Ultralow Temperatures.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ihas, G. G.; Granroth, G. E.; Genio, E. B.; Xu, J.-W.; Meisel, M. W.

1996-03-01

Sound attenuation measurements have revealed much about the superfluid states of ^3He, providing quantitative data which is used to motivate and refine theory. Usually, resonant transducers are used, limiting studies to widely spaced harmonics in frequency and requiring temperature sweeps to map attenuation features. Using non-resonant, broadband transducers(P.N. Fraenkel, R. Keolian, and J.D. Reppy, Phys. Rev. Lett. \\underline62) (1989) 1126. in the 9 to 150 MHz regime, frequency sweeps have been performed at nearly-constant-temperature below 250 μ K at about 1 bar. The energies of the squashing mode and 2Δ pair-breaking edge have been measured in this T arrow 0 limit. These measurements, performed as a function of pressure, will be used to test the validity of the weak-coupling-plus model(J.W. Serene and D. Rainer, Phys. Rep. \\underline101) (1983) 211. of the superfluid. *Supported, in part, by the NSF: DMR-9200671 (GEG, JWX, MWM), DMR-9216785 (of N.S. Sullivan for EBG), and DMR 8419267 (UF Microkelvin Research Laboratory).

Reaction patterns in a blinking vortex flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nugent, Carolyn

2005-11-01

We study the patterns formed by the excitable Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction in a blinking vortex flow produced by magnetohydrodynamic forcing. Mixing in this flow is chaotic, as has been documented extensively in previous studies. The reaction is triggered by a silver wire, and the result is a pulse (``trigger wave'') that propagates through the system. We investigate the patterns formed by the propagating pulse and compare them with theoriesootnotetextT. Tel, A. de Moura, C. Grebogi and G. Karolyi, Phys. Rep. 413, 91 (2005). that predict fractal patterns determined by the unstable manifolds of the flow. We also consider ``burn-like'' reaction fronts, and compare the results with previous experiments for patterns of oscillatory reactions in this flow.

Invasion percolation with memory

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

Kharabaf, H.; Yortsos, Y.C.

Motivated by the problem of finding the minimum threshold path (MTP) in a lattice of elements with random thresholds {tau}{sub i}, we propose a new class of invasion processes, in which the front advances by minimizing or maximizing the measure S{sub n}={summation}{sub i}{tau}{sub i}{sup n} for real n. This rule assigns long-time memory to the invasion process. If the rule minimizes S{sub n} (case of minimum penalty), the fronts are stable and connected to invasion percolation in a gradient [J. P. Hulin, E. Clement, C. Baudet, J. F. Gouyet, and M. Rosso, Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 61}, 333 (1988)] butmore » in a correlated lattice, with invasion percolation [D. Wilkinson and J. F. Willemsen, J. Phys. A {bold 16}, 3365 (1983)] recovered in the limit {vert_bar}n{vert_bar}={infinity}. For small n, the MTP is shown to be related to the optimal path of the directed polymer in random media (DPRM) problem [T. Halpin-Healy and Y.-C. Zhang, Phys. Rep. {bold 254}, 215 (1995)]. In the large n limit, however, it reduces to the backbone of a mixed site-bond percolation cluster. The algorithm allows for various properties of the MTP and the DPRM to be studied. In the unstable case (case of maximum gain), the front is a self-avoiding random walk. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

Effects of alpha stopping power modelling on the ignition threshold in a directly-driven inertial confinement fusion capsule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Temporal, Mauro; Canaud, Benoit; Cayzac, Witold; Ramis, Rafael; Singleton, Robert L.

2017-05-01

The alpha-particle energy deposition mechanism modifies the ignition conditions of the thermonuclear Deuterium-Tritium fusion reactions, and constitutes a key issue in achieving high gain in Inertial Confinement Fusion implosions. One-dimensional hydrodynamic calculations have been performed with the code Multi-IFE [R. Ramis, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, Comput. Phys. Commun. 203, 226 (2016)] to simulate the implosion of a capsule directly irradiated by a laser beam. The diffusion approximation for the alpha energy deposition has been used to optimize three laser profiles corresponding to different implosion velocities. A Monte-Carlo package has been included in Multi-IFE to calculate the alpha energy transport, and in this case the energy deposition uses both the LP [C.K. Li, R.D. Petrasso, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 3059 (1993)] and the BPS [L.S. Brown, D.L. Preston, R.L. Singleton Jr., Phys. Rep. 410, 237 (2005)] stopping power models. Homothetic transformations that maintain a constant implosion velocity have been used to map out the transition region between marginally-igniting and high-gain configurations. The results provided by the two models have been compared and it is found that - close to the ignition threshold - in order to produce the same fusion energy, the calculations performed with the BPS model require about 10% more invested energy with respect to the LP model.

Thermodynamic and conformational analysis of the interaction between antibody binding proteins and IgG.

PubMed

Tanwar, Neetu; Munde, Manoj

2018-06-01

Studying interaction of IgG with bacterial proteins such as proA (Protein A) and proG is essential for development in the areas of drug discovery and biotechnology. Some solution studies in the past have hinted at the possibility of variable binding ratios for IgG with proA and proG. Since earlier crystallographic studies focussed mostly on monomeric complexes, the knowledge about the binding interfaces and protein conformational changes involved in multimeric complexes is scarce. In this paper, we observed that single proA molecule was able to bind to three IgG molecules (1:3, proA:IgG) in ITC accentuating the presence of conformational flexibility in proA, corroborated also by CD results. By contrast, proG binds with 1:1 stoichiometry to IgG, which also involves key structural rearrangement within the binding interface of IgG-proG complex, confirmed by fluorescence KI quenching study. It is implicit from CD and fluorescence results that IgG does not undergo any significant conformational changes, which further suggests that proA and proG dictate the phenomenon of recognition in antibody complexes. ANS as a hydrophobic probe helped in revealing the distinctive antibody binding mechanism of proA and proG. Additionally, the binding competition experiments using ITC established that proA and proG cannot bind IgG concurrently. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The 1984 ARI Survey of Army Recruits. Codebook for Summer 84 Active Army Survey Respondents

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

ARMY SURVEY RESPONDENTS T261 - DO YOU HATCH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON TV? - NBA BASKETBALL . RAN DATA ICARD i1 COLS ILENGTHII... BASKETBALL 280 T262 WATCH TV PROG:COLLEGE BASKETBALL 281 T263 WATCH TV PROG:NHL HOCKEY 282 T264 WATCH TV PROG:PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING 283 T265 WATCH TV...SURVEY RESPONDENTS T262 - DO YOU HATCH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMMING TYPES ON TV? - COLLEGE BASKETBALL . RAW DATA ICARD #1 COLS ILENGTHII

FY11 Force Structure Announcement

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

Rep H. Mitchell (D-5) Rep J. Flake (R-6) Rep R. Grijalva (D-7) Rep G. Giffords (D-8) 3 - MESA RegAF Military Reserve AGR Guard AGR Civilians...Edwards (D-17) Rep S. Jackson-Lee (D-18) Rep R. Neugebauer (R-19) Rep C. Gonzalez (D-20) Rep L. Smith (R-21) Rep P. Olson (R-22) Rep C. Rodriguez (D-23...Rep S. Jackson-Lee (D-18) Rep R. Neugebauer (R-19) Rep C. Gonzalez (D-20) Rep L. Smith (R-21) Rep P. Olson (R-22) Rep C. Rodriguez (D-23) Rep K

High-order tail in Schwarzschild spacetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casals, Marc; Ottewill, Adrian

2015-12-01

We present an analysis of the behavior at late times of linear field perturbations of a Schwarzschild black hole spacetime. In particular, we give explicit analytic expressions for the field perturbations (for a specific ℓ-multipole) of general spin up to the first four orders at late times. These expressions are valid at arbitrary radius and include, apart from the well-known power-law tail decay at leading order (˜t-2 ℓ-3), a new logarithmic behavior at third leading order (˜t-2 ℓ-5ln t ). We obtain these late-time results by developing an analytical formalism initially formulated by Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi (MST) [Prog. Theor. Phys. 95, 1079 (1996); 96, 549 (1996)] formalism and by expanding the various MST Fourier-mode quantities for small frequency. While we give explicit expansions up to the first four leading orders (for small frequency for the Fourier modes, for late time for the field perturbation), we give a prescription for obtaining expressions to arbitrary order within a "perturbative regime."

The Minimum-Mass Surface Density of the Solar Nebula using the Disk Evolution Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Sanford S.

2005-01-01

The Hayashi minimum-mass power law representation of the pre-solar nebula (Hayashi 1981, Prog. Theo. Phys.70,35) is revisited using analytic solutions of the disk evolution equation. A new cumulative-planetary-mass-model (an integrated form of the surface density) is shown to predict a smoother surface density compared with methods based on direct estimates of surface density from planetary data. First, a best-fit transcendental function is applied directly to the cumulative planetary mass data with the surface density obtained by direct differentiation. Next a solution to the time-dependent disk evolution equation is parametrically adapted to the planetary data. The latter model indicates a decay rate of r -1/2 in the inner disk followed by a rapid decay which results in a sharper outer boundary than predicted by the minimum mass model. The model is shown to be a good approximation to the finite-size early Solar Nebula and by extension to extra solar protoplanetary disks.

Progesterone neuroprotection in the Wobbler mouse, a genetic model of spinal cord motor neuron disease.

PubMed

Gonzalez Deniselle, María Claudia; López-Costa, Juan José; Saavedra, Jorge Pecci; Pietranera, Luciana; Gonzalez, Susana L; Garay, Laura; Guennoun, Rachida; Schumacher, Michael; De Nicola, Alejandro F

2002-12-01

Motor neuron degeneration characterizes the spinal cord of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the Wobbler mouse mutant. Considering that progesterone (PROG) provides neuroprotection in experimental ischemia and injury, its potential role in neurodegeneration was studied in the murine model. Two-month-old symptomatic Wobbler mice were left untreated or received sc a 20-mg PROG implant for 15 days. Both light and electron microscopy of Wobbler mice spinal cord showed severely affected motor neurons with profuse cytoplasmic vacuolation of the endoplasmic reticulum and/or Golgi apparatus and ruptured mitochondria with damaged cristae, a profile indicative of a type II cytoplasmic form of cell death. In contrast to untreated mice, neuropathology was less severe in Wobbler mice receiving PROG; including a reduction of vacuolation and of the number of vacuolated cells and better conservation of the mitochondrial ultrastructure. In biochemical studies, we determined the mRNA for the alpha3 subunit of Na,K-ATPase, a neuronal enzyme controlling ion fluxes, neurotransmission, membrane potential, and nutrient uptake. In untreated Wobbler mice, mRNA levels in motor neurons were reduced by half compared to controls, whereas PROG treatment of Wobbler mice restored the expression of alpha3 subunit Na,K-ATPase mRNA. Therefore, PROG was able to rescue motor neurons from degeneration, based on recovery of histopathological abnormalities and of mRNA levels of the sodium pump. However, because the gene mutation in Wobbler mice is still unknown, further studies are needed to unveil the action of PROG and the mechanism of neuronal death in this genetic model of neurodegeneration.

Delocalized SYZ mirrors and confronting top-down SU(3)-structure holographic meson masses at finite g and N_c with P(article) D(ata) G(roup) values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Vikas; Misra, Aalok; Sil, Karunava

2017-10-01

Meson spectroscopy at finite gauge coupling - whereat any perturbative QCD computation would break down - and finite number of colors, from a top-down holographic string model, has thus far been entirely missing in the literature. This paper fills this gap. Using the delocalized type IIA SYZ mirror (with SU(3) structure) of the holographic type IIB dual of large- N thermal QCD of Mia et al. (Nucl Phys B 839:187. arXiv:0902.1540 [hep-th], 2010) as constructed in Dhuria and Misra (JHEP 1311:001. arXiv:1306.4339 [hep-th], 2013) at finite coupling and number of colors (N_c = number of D5(\\overline{D5})-branes wrapping a vanishing two-cycle in the top-down holographic construct of Mia et al. (Nucl Phys B 839:187. arXiv:0902.1540 [hep-th], 2010) = O(1) in the IR in the MQGP limit of Dhuria and Misra (JHEP 1311:001. arXiv:1306.4339 [hep-th], 2013) at the end of a Seiberg-duality cascade), we obtain analytical (not just numerical) expressions for the vector and scalar meson spectra and compare our results with previous calculations of Sakai and Sugimoto (Prog Theor Phys 113:843. doi: 10.1143/PTP.113.843 arXiv:hep-th/0412141, 2005) and Dasgupta et al. (JHEP 1507:122. doi: 10.1007/JHEP07(2015)122 arXiv:1409.0559 [hep-th], 2015), and we obtain a closer match with the Particle Data Group (PDG) results of Olive et al. (Particle Data Group) (Chin Phys C 38:090001, 2014). Through explicit computations, we verify that the vector and scalar meson spectra obtained by the gravity dual with a black hole for all temperatures (small and large) are nearly isospectral with the spectra obtained by a thermal gravity dual valid for only low temperatures; the isospectrality is much closer for vector mesons than scalar mesons. The black-hole gravity dual (with a horizon radius smaller than the deconfinement scale) also provides the expected large- N suppressed decrease in vector meson mass with increase of temperature.

Rotation roots and neoclassical viscosity in quasi-symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cole, A. J.; Hegna, C. C.; Callen, J. D.

2009-11-01

In a quasi-symmetric device, there exists a symmetry angle αh= θ-Nζ/M, such that |B| = B0(1 - ɛhM αh ) along a field-line, with several much smaller helical `sidebands.' Provided the departure from symmetry is small, i.e. δBeff/B0ɛh where δBeff/B0 is the effective helical sideband strength, flow damping and thus flow evolution along and `cross' the direction of symmetry in a flux surface decouple [1,2], and can be determined successively. In the context of a fluid-moment approach [3], the momentum equation in the symmetry direction is equivalent to the ambipolarity condition. Steady state rotation solutions of this equation are equivalent to ambipolar radial electric field `roots' in conventional stellarator theory and will be presented for various banana-drift neoclassical flow damping regimes [2].[4pt] [1] J. D. Callen, A. J. Cole, and C. C. Hegna, Tech. Rep. UW-CPTC 08-7, Univ. of Wisconsin, http://www.cptc.wisc.edu (2009).[0pt] [2] A. J. Cole, C. C. Hegna, and J. D. Callen, Tech. Rep. UW-CPTC 08-8, Univ. of Wisconsin, http://www.cptc.wisc.edu (2009).[0pt] [3] K. C. Shaing and J. D. Callen, Phys. Fluids 26, 3315 (1983).

dLocAuth: a dynamic multifactor authentication scheme for mCommerce applications using independent location-based obfuscation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuseler, Torben; Lami, Ihsan A.

2012-06-01

This paper proposes a new technique to obfuscate an authentication-challenge program (named LocProg) using randomly generated data together with a client's current location in real-time. LocProg can be used to enable any handsetapplication on mobile-devices (e.g. mCommerce on Smartphones) that requires authentication with a remote authenticator (e.g. bank). The motivation of this novel technique is to a) enhance the security against replay attacks, which is currently based on using real-time nonce(s), and b) add a new security factor, which is location verified by two independent sources, to challenge / response methods for authentication. To assure a secure-live transaction, thus reducing the possibility of replay and other remote attacks, the authors have devised a novel technique to obtain the client's location from two independent sources of GPS on the client's side and the cellular network on authenticator's side. The algorithm of LocProg is based on obfuscating "random elements plus a client's data" with a location-based key, generated on the bank side. LocProg is then sent to the client and is designed so it will automatically integrate into the target application on the client's handset. The client can then de-obfuscate LocProg if s/he is within a certain range around the location calculated by the bank and if the correct personal data is supplied. LocProg also has features to protect against trial/error attacks. Analysis of LocAuth's security (trust, threat and system models) and trials based on a prototype implementation (on Android platform) prove the viability and novelty of LocAuth.

Cytogenetic and oxidative status of human lymphocytes after exposure to clinically relevant concentrations of antimalarial drugs atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride in vitro.

PubMed

Dinter, Domagoj; Gajski, Goran; Domijan, Ana-Marija; Garaj-Vrhovac, Vera

2015-12-01

Atovaquone (ATO) and proguanil hydrochloride (PROG) is the fixed combination for the prevention and treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. As safe and effective antimalarial drugs are needed in both the treatment and the prophylaxis of malaria, this study was performed to investigate their possible cyto/genotoxic potential towards human lymphocytes and the possible mechanism responsible for it. Two different concentrations of ATO and PROG were used with and without S9 metabolic activation. The concentrations used were those found in human plasma when a fixed-dose combination of ATO and PROG was used: 2950/130 ng/mL after prophylactic treatment and 11 800/520 ng/mL after treatment of malaria, respectively. Possible cellular and DNA-damaging effects were evaluated by cell viability and alkaline comet assays, while oxidative stress potential was evaluated by formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg)-modified comet assay, in addition to measuring malondialdehyde and glutathione levels. According to our results, the ATO/PROG combination displayed only weak cyto/genotoxic potential towards human lymphocytes with no impact on oxidative stress parameters, suggesting that oxidative stress is not implicated in their mechanism of action towards human lymphocytes. Given that the key portion of the damaging effects was induced after S9 metabolic activation, it is to presume that the principal metabolite of PROG, cycloguanil, had the greatest impact. The obtained results indicate that the ATO/PROG combination is relatively safe for the consumption from the aspect of cyto/genotoxicity, especially if used for prophylactic treatment. Nevertheless, further cytogenetic research and regular patient monitoring are needed to minimize the risk of adverse events especially among frequent travellers. © 2015 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Prediction of Nuclear Masses as a function of P and F-spin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teymurazyan, Artur; Aprahamian, Ani; Georgieva, Ana

2001-10-01

Nuclear masses are one of the most important components in nucleosynthesis calculations of elemental abundances for specific stellar scenarios. Proton rich nuclei in the A=80 region are thought to be produced in the rp-process (rapid p and α-capture)involving a large number of unknown nuclei. Schatz et al.(H. Schatz et al., Phys. Rep. 294,167 (1998)) have carried out an extensive comparison of the effects on abundances that result from the use of different mass models. One of these models was a semi-empirical mass model(A. Aprahamian et al., Rev. Mex. Fis. 42, 1 (1996)) based on the relationship of the nuclear structure component of the nuclear mass on the parameter P=N_pN_n/(N_p+N_n) where N-p and Nn are the number of valence protons and neutrons. Davis et al.(E.D. Davis et al., Phys. Rev. C 44, 1655 (1991)) had used another approach involving F-spin (an approximate symmetry under particle-hole Conjugation) to predict binding energies for r-process nuclei in the Z=50-82 and N=82-126 region. In this paper, we combine structure systematics using F-spin(A. Georgieva et al., Int. J. Theor. Phys. 28, 769 (1989)) to show a simple relationship between P and F-spin for this very interesting region and to apply it to the prediction of nuclear masses in the A=80 region of nuclei.

A platelet-to-pyramid shape transition under the influence of the adsorbate substrate interfacial energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Cheng-Hsiao; Tsai, Yan-Chr

2002-07-01

Within the Tersoff approximation, we obtain an analytic expression for the elastic self-energy of a truncated hut which is more general than that of a truncated pyramid [C. Duport, C. Priester, J. Villain, in: Morphological Organization in Epitaxial Growth and Removal, World Scientific Series on Directions in Condensed Matter Physics, 1997, p. 73]. A pyramidal cluster studied previously can be treated as a square-based hut within the present formalism. The previous results [C. Duport, C. Priester, J. Villain, in: Morphological Organization in Epitaxial Growth and Removal, World Scientific Series on Directions in Condensed Matter Physics, 1997, p. 73; C. Duport, Université de Grenoble, Juin 1996; Phys. Rep. 324 (2000) 271] were obtained on the assumptions of neglecting the adsorbate-substrate interfacial energy and the equilibrium cluster forming with a square base. They predicted that when the volume of a cluster is above some critical value, it preferably forms as a pyramid rather than a platelet in the absence of other strained clusters. Instead, in this paper, we take the interfacial energy into account, based on the work by Korutcheva et al. [I. Markov, Crystal Growth for Beginners, Fundamentals of Nucleation, Crystal Growth Epitaxy, World Scientific, Singapore, 1995; Phys. Rev. B 61 (2000) 16890]. Besides, we start with the consideration of a hut cluster probably forming with a rectangular base instead of a square one [C. Duport, C. Priester, J. Villain, in: Morphological Organization in Epitaxial Growth and Removal, World Scientific Series on Directions in Condensed Matter Physics, 1997, p. 73; C. Duport, Université de Grenoble, Juin 1996]. By employing the derived analytic expression of the surface and elastic energies, we find that the two- to three- dimensional (2D-3D) transition with the inclusion of the adsorbate-substrate interfacial energy is quantitatively modified. It should provide more accurate predicted values of the critical volume in 2D-3D transitions. Furthermore, in the absence of other clusters on a substrate, a pyramid forms above the critical volume and calculations also show that at equilibrium a single cluster forms with a square base for a given cluster volume, which justifies the previous assumption [C. Duport, C. Priester, J. Villain, in: Morphological Organization in Epitaxial Growth and Removal, World Scientific Series on Directions in Condensed Matter Physics, 1997, p. 73; C. Duport, Université de Grenoble, Juin 1996; Phys. Rep. 324 (2000) 271].

Adeno-associated virus rep protein synthesis during productive infection

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

Redemann, B.E.; Mendelson, E.; Carter, B.J.

1989-02-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) Rep proteins mediate viral DNA replication and can regulate expression from AAV genes. The authors studied the kinetics of synthesis of the four Rep proteins, Rep78, Rep68, Rep52, and Rep40, during infection of human 293 or KB cells with AAV and helper adenovirus by in vivo labeling with (/sup 35/S)methionine, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting analyses. Rep78 and Rep52 were readily detected concomitantly with detection of viral monomer duplex DNA replicating about 10 to 12 h after infection, and Rep68 and Rep40 were detected 2 h later. Rep78 and Rep52 were more abundant than Rep68 and Rep40 owing tomore » a higher synthesis rate throughout the infectious cycle. In some experiments, very low levels of Rep78 could be detected as early as 4 h after infection. The synthesis rates of Rep proteins were maximal between 14 and 24 h and then decreased later after infection. Isotopic pulse-chase experiments showed that each of the Rep proteins was synthesized independently and was stable for at least 15 h. A slower-migrating, modified form of Rep78 was identified late after infection. AAV capsid protein synthesis was detected at 10 to 12 h after infection and also exhibited synthesis kinetics similar to those of the Rep proteins. AAV DNA replication showed at least two clearly defined stages. Bulk duplex replicating DNA accumulation began around 10 to 12 h and reached a maximum level at about 20 h when Rep and capsid protein synthesis was maximal. Progeny single-stranded DNA accumulation began about 12 to 13 h, but most of this DNA accumulated after 24 h when Rep and capsid protein synthesis had decreased.« less

Frontiers of muon spectroscopy—25 years of muon science at ISIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cottrell, Stephen

2013-12-01

The ISIS muon source developed with support from the European Community (EC) and groups at Grenoble, Parma, Uppsala and Munich in the late 1980s, with a single instrument providing many scientists with their first opportunity to explore the unique capabilities of muon spectroscopy. The timing was opportune, as the muon technique was making an important contribution to the study of the then recently discovered cuprate high T c superconductors. The ISIS user community developed rapidly over subsequent years, with the technique finding a broad range of applications in condensed matter physics, materials science and chemistry. The single instrument was hugely oversubscribed, and the importance of the technique was recognized in 1993 with a further grant from the EC to develop the triple beamline facility that is currently available at ISIS. During 2009 the suite of spectrometers available at the facility received a major upgrade, with the Science and Technology Facilities Council funding the development of a 5 T high field instrument that has enabled entirely new applications of muon spectroscopy to be explored. The facility continues to flourish, with a strong user community exploiting the technique to support research across an increasingly broad range of subject areas. Condensed matter science continues to be a major area of interest, with applications including semiconductors and dielectrics, superconductors, magnetism, interstitial diffusion and charge transport. Recently, however, molecular science and radical chemistry have become prominent in the ISIS programme, applications where the availability of high magnetic fields is frequently vital to the success of the experiments. For ISIS, 23 March 2012 marked a significant milestone, it being 25 years since muons were first produced at the facility for research in condensed matter and molecular science. To celebrate, the ISIS muon group organized a science symposium with the theme 'Frontiers of Muon Spectroscopy' at St Hugh's College, Oxford, UK during the autumn of 2012. While in part a retrospective, the focus of the meeting was on the state of the art, considering how muon techniques continue to contribute across many topical areas of research, with a forward look at new applications of the method. I should take this opportunity to thank the ISIS user community for their support for this meeting, and contributing to the diverse and interesting programme that was enjoyed by those attending. While a short account of the meeting and many of the presentations can be found on the group website at www.isis.stfc.ac.uk/groups/muons/meetings/, I am particularly grateful to Physica Scripta for giving the community the opportunity to publish a series of extended papers developing topics discussed during the meeting. Although many appear within this issue, the Swedish contribution will be published later, in 2014, as part of a series commemorating Swedish neutron and muon research at ISIS. I commend these papers to you; together they provide an excellent account of the technique and its unique role in many topical areas of research. The symposium also marked the recent retirement of Professor Steve Cox. Steve has been involved with the muon technique for over 30 years, contributing to the development of muon science at ISIS throughout the life of the facility. During this time his research interests have embraced most areas of muon spectroscopy with a particular focus on applications in chemical physics, aspects of semiconductor science and muonium chemistry. He developed a keen interest in using muons to investigate elemental materials, publishing a major report looking at muonium as a model for interstitial hydrogen in the semiconducting and semimetallic elements [1], with further work focused on establishing the nature of the elusive muonium centre in sulphur [2]. In parallel, Steve continued to lead work looking at hydrogen defect centres in narrow-gap oxide semiconductors as a model for understanding the role of hydrogen in these materials, work that led to two major publications [3, 4]. References [1] Cox S F J 2009 Rep. Prog. Phys. 72 116501 [2] Cox S F J et al 2011 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23 315801 [3] Cox S F J et al 2006 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 18 1061 [4] Cox S F J et al 2006 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 18 1079

A Geometric Characterization of Certain First Integrals for Nonholonomic Systems with Symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balseiro, Paula; Sansonetto, Nicola

2016-02-01

We study the existence of first integrals in nonholonomic systems with symmetry. First we define the concept of M-cotangent lift of a vector field on a manifold Q in order to unify the works [Balseiro P., Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 214 (2014), 453-501, arXiv:1301.1091], [Fassò F., Ramos A., Sansonetto N., Regul. Chaotic Dyn. 12 (2007), 579-588], and [Fassò F., Giacobbe A., Sansonetto N., Rep. Math. Phys. 62 (2008), 345-367]. Second, we study gauge symmetries and gauge momenta, in the cases in which there are the symmetries that satisfy the so-called vertical symmetry condition. Under such condition we can predict the number of linearly independent first integrals (that are gauge momenta). We illustrate the theory with two examples.

Shear viscosity of a two-dimensional emulsion of drops using a multiple-relaxation-time-step lattice Boltzmann method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halliday, I.; Xu, X.; Burgin, K.

2017-02-01

An extended Benzi-Dellar lattice Boltzmann equation scheme [R. Benzi, S. Succi, and M. Vergassola, Europhys. Lett. 13, 727 (1990), 10.1209/0295-5075/13/8/010; R. Benzi, S. Succi, and M. Vergassola, Phys. Rep. 222, 145 (1992), 10.1016/0370-1573(92)90090-M; P. J. Dellar, Phys. Rev. E 65, 036309 (2002), 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.036309] is developed and applied to the problem of confirming, at low Re and drop fluid concentration, c , the variation of effective shear viscosity, ηeff=η1[1 +f (η1,η2) c ] , with respect to c for a sheared, two-dimensional, initially crystalline emulsion [here η1 (η2) is the fluid (drop fluid) shear viscosity]. Data obtained with our enhanced multicomponent lattice Boltzmann method, using average shear stress and hydrodynamic dissipation, agree well once appropriate corrections to Landau's volume average shear stress [L. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Fluid Mechanics, 6th ed. (Pergamon, London, 1966)] are applied. Simulation results also confirm the expected form for f (ηi,η2) , and they provide a reasonable estimate of its parameters. Most significantly, perhaps, the generality of our data supports the validity of Taylor's disputed simplification [G. I. Taylor, Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 138, 133 (1932), 10.1098/rspa.1932.0175] to reduce the effect of one hydrodynamic boundary condition (on the continuity of the normal contraction of stress) to an assumption that interfacial tension is sufficiently strong to maintain a spherical drop shape.

Nucleon Structure Functions from a Chiral Soliton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigel, Herbert

1998-10-01

In an attempt to merge the parton model description of deep inelastic scattering with the phenomenologically successful picture of baryons as chiral solitons we study nucleon structure functions in the Nambu--Jona--Lasinio (NJL) chiral soliton model(R. Alkofer, H. Reinhardt and H. Weigel, Phys. Rep. 265) (1996) 139.. We compute the unpolarized structure function for electron--nucleon scattering which enters the Gottfried sum rule, S_G. The model calculation not only explains the observed deviation from the historical value S_G=1/3 but also reproduces the gross features of the exerimental data when accounting for projection and Q^2--evolution(H. Weigel, L. Gamberg and H. Reinhardt, Mod. Phys. Lett. A11) (1996) 3021; Phys. Lett. B399 (1997) 287.. The latter operation further serves to determine the low--momentum scale, Q_0^2, of the model. Subsequently we turn to the polarized structure functions g_1(x,Q^2) and g_2(x,Q^2)(H. Weigel, L. Gamberg and H. Reinhardt, Phys. Rev. D55) (1997) 6910.. These are particularly interesting in the present model because chiral soliton models nicely account for the smallness of the first moment of g_1(x,Q^2). In addition we report on the calculation(L. Gamberg, H. Reinhardt and H. Weigel, Phys. Rev. D58) (1998) 054014. of the chiral odd quark distributions and the corresponding structure functions h_T(x,Q^2) and h_L(x,Q^2). At the low model scale, Q_0^2, we find that the leading twist effective quark distributions, f_1^(q)(x,Q_0^2), g_1^(q)(x,Q_0^2) and h_T^(q)(x,Q_0^2) satisfy Soffer's inequality for both quark flavors q=u,d. The Q^2 evolution of the twist--2 contributions is performed according to the standard GLAP formalism while the twist--three pieces, \\overlineg_2(x) and \\overlineh_L(x), are evolved according to the large NC scheme. Finally we explain the generalization of chiral soliton models to three flavors and discuss the strange quark contribution to g1 as an example(box[t]15cm)O. Schröder, H. Reinhardt and H. Weigel, ``Strangeness Contribution to the Polarized Nucleon Structure Function g_1'', hep--ph/9805251, Phys. Lett. B to appear..

77 FR 12792 - Notice of Forest Service Land Management Plans To Be Amended To Incorporate Greater Sage-Grouse...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

... Basin Region: Web site: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/western.html . Email: sagewest...: Lauren Mermejo, Great Basin Region Project Manager, telephone 775-861-6400; address 1340 Financial.../sagegrouse/eastern.html , and for the Great Basin Region at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse...

Influence of the Renner-Teller Coupling in CO+H Collision Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ndengue, Steve Alexandre; Dawes, Richard

2017-06-01

Carbon monoxide is after molecular hydrogen the second most abundant molecule in the universe and an important molecule for processes occurring in the atmosphere, hydrocarbon combustion and the interstellar medium. The rate coefficients of CO in collision with dominant species like H, H_2, He, etc are necessary to understand the CO emission spectrum or to model combustion chemistry processes. The inelastic scattering of CO with H has been intensively studied theoretically in the past decades,^1 mostly using the so-called WKS PES^6 developed by Werner et al. or recently a modified version by Song et al.^2 Though the spectroscopic agreement of the WKS surface with experiment is quite good, so far the studies of scattering dynamics have neglected coupling to an electronic excited state. We present new results on a set of HCO surfaces of the ground and the excited Renner-Teller coupled electronic states^3 with the principal objective of studying the influence of the Renner-Teller coupling on the inelastic scattering of CO+H. Our calculations done using the MCTDH^4 algorithm in the 0-2 eV energy range allow evaluation of the contribution of the Renner-Teller coupling on the rovibrationally inelastic scattering and discuss the relevance and reliability of the calculations. References:} 1. N. Balakrishnan, M. Yan and A. Dalgarno, Astrophys. J. 568, 443 (2002); B.C. Shepler et al, Astron. & Astroph. 475, L15 (2007); L. Song et al, J. Chem. Phys. 142, 204303 (2015); K.M. Walker et al, Astroph. J. 811, 27 (2015). 2. L. Song et al, Astrophys. J. 813, 96 (2015). 3. H.-M. Keller et al, J. Chem. Phys. 105, 4983 (1996). 4. S. Ndengue, R. Dawes and H. Guo, J. Chem. Phys. 144, 244301 (2016). 5. M.H. Beck et al., Phys. Rep. 324, 1 (2000).

Structural and Kinetic Basis of Steroid 17α,20-Lyase Activity in Teleost Fish Cytochrome P450 17A1 and Its Absence in Cytochrome P450 17A2*

PubMed Central

Pallan, Pradeep S.; Nagy, Leslie D.; Lei, Li; Gonzalez, Eric; Kramlinger, Valerie M.; Azumaya, Caleigh M.; Wawrzak, Zdzislaw; Waterman, Michael R.; Guengerich, F. Peter; Egli, Martin

2015-01-01

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 17A enzymes play a critical role in the oxidation of the steroids progesterone (Prog) and pregnenolone (Preg) to glucocorticoids and androgens. In mammals, a single enzyme, P450 17A1, catalyzes both 17α-hydroxylation and a subsequent 17α,20-lyase reaction with both Prog and Preg. Teleost fish contain two 17A P450s; zebrafish P450 17A1 catalyzes both 17α-hydroxylation and lyase reactions with Prog and Preg, and P450 17A2 is more efficient in pregnenolone 17α-hydroxylation but does not catalyze the lyase reaction, even in the presence of cytochrome b5. P450 17A2 binds all substrates and products, although more loosely than P450 17A1. Pulse-chase and kinetic spectral experiments and modeling established that the two-step P450 17A1 Prog oxidation is more distributive than the Preg reaction, i.e. 17α-OH product dissociates more prior to the lyase step. The drug orteronel selectively blocked the lyase reaction of P450 17A1 but only in the case of Prog. X-ray crystal structures of zebrafish P450 17A1 and 17A2 were obtained with the ligand abiraterone and with Prog for P450 17A2. Comparison of the two fish P450 17A-abiraterone structures with human P450 17A1 (DeVore, N. M., and Scott, E. E. (2013) Nature 482, 116–119) showed only a few differences near the active site, despite only ∼50% identity among the three proteins. The P450 17A2 structure differed in four residues near the heme periphery. These residues may allow the proposed alternative ferric peroxide mechanism for the lyase reaction, or residues removed from the active site may allow conformations that lead to the lyase activity. PMID:25533464

Replication initiator protein RepE of mini-F plasmid: functional differentiation between monomers (initiator) and dimers (autogenous repressor).

PubMed Central

Ishiai, M; Wada, C; Kawasaki, Y; Yura, T

1994-01-01

Replication of mini-F plasmid requires the plasmid-encoded RepE initiator protein and several host factors including DnaJ, DnaK, and GrpE, heat shock proteins of Escherichia coli. The RepE protein plays a crucial role in replication and exhibits two major functions: initiation of replication from the origin, ori2, and autogenous repression of repE transcription. One of the mini-F plasmid mutants that can replicate in the dnaJ-defective host produces an altered RepE (RepE54) with a markedly enhanced initiator activity but little or no repressor activity. RepE54 has been purified from cell extracts primarily in monomeric form, unlike the wild-type RepE that is recovered in dimeric form. Gel-retardation assays revealed that RepE54 monomers bind to ori2 (direct repeats) with a very high efficiency but hardly bind to the repE operator (inverted repeat), in accordance with the properties of RepE54 in vivo. Furthermore, the treatment of wild-type RepE dimers with protein denaturants enhanced their binding to ori2 but reduced binding to the operator: RepE dimers were partially converted to monomers, and the ori2 binding activity was uniquely associated with monomers. These results strongly suggest that RepE monomers represent an active form by binding to ori2 to initiate replication, whereas dimers act as an autogenous repressor by binding to the operator. We propose that RepE is structurally and functionally differentiated and that monomerization of RepE dimers, presumably mediated by heat shock protein(s), activates the initiator function and participates in regulation of mini-F DNA replication. Images PMID:8170998

Identification of a cytoplasmic interaction partner of the large regulatory proteins Rep78/Rep68 of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2)

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

Weger, Stefan; Hammer, Eva; Goetz, Anne

2007-05-25

Through yeast two-hybrid analysis and coimmunoprecipitation studies, we have identified a novel cellular AAV-2 Rep78/Rep68 interaction partner located predominantly in the cytoplasm. In public databases, it has been assigned as KCTD5, because of a region of high similarity to the cytoplasmic tetramerization domain of voltage-gated potassium channels. Whereas Rep/KCTD5 interaction relied on the region surrounding the Rep nuclear localization signal, nuclear accumulation of Rep was not required. Wildtype Rep78/Rep68 proteins induced the translocation of large portions of KCTD5 into the nucleus pointing to functional interactions both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. In line with an anticipated functional interference inmore » the cytoplasm, KCTD5 overexpression completely abrogated Rep68-mediated posttranscriptional activation of a HIV-LTR driven luciferase reporter gene. Our study expands the panel of already identified nuclear Rep interaction partners to a cytoplasmic protein, which raises the awareness that important steps in the AAV life cycle may be regulated in this compartment.« less

75 FR 61626 - Hours of Service; Limited Exemption for the Distribution of Anhydrous Ammonia in Agricultural...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-06

... until October 9, 2012 unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas L. Yager... under 49 CFR 1.73(e)(1) and (g) to carry out the functions vested in the Secretary by 49 U.S.C. chapter...; Rep. Lyn Jenkins; Rep. Tim Johnson; Rep. Steve King; Rep. Tom Latham; Rep. Dave Loebsack; Rep. Blaine...

Analysis of flame acceleration in open or vented obstructed pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bychkov, Vitaly; Sadek, Jad; Akkerman, V'yacheslav

2017-01-01

While flame propagation through obstacles is often associated with turbulence and/or shocks, Bychkov et al. [V. Bychkov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 164501 (2008), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.164501] have revealed a shockless, conceptually laminar mechanism of extremely fast flame acceleration in semiopen obstructed pipes (one end of a pipe is closed; a flame is ignited at the closed end and propagates towards the open one). The acceleration is devoted to a powerful jet flow produced by delayed combustion in the spaces between the obstacles, with turbulence playing only a supplementary role in this process. In the present work, this formulation is extended to pipes with both ends open in order to describe the recent experiments and modeling by Yanez et al. [J. Yanez et al., arXiv:1208.6453] as well as the simulations by Middha and Hansen [P. Middha and O. R. Hansen, Process Safety Prog. 27, 192 (2008) 10.1002/prs.10242]. It is demonstrated that flames accelerate strongly in open or vented obstructed pipes and the acceleration mechanism is similar to that in semiopen ones (shockless and laminar), although acceleration is weaker in open pipes. Starting with an inviscid approximation, we subsequently incorporate hydraulic resistance (viscous forces) into the analysis for the sake of comparing its role to that of a jet flow driving acceleration. It is shown that hydraulic resistance is actually not required to drive flame acceleration. In contrast, this is a supplementary effect, which moderates acceleration. On the other hand, viscous forces are nevertheless an important effect because they are responsible for the initial delay occurring before the flame acceleration onset, which is observed in the experiments and simulations. Accounting for this effect provides good agreement between the experiments, modeling, and the present theory.

Higher-order Fermi-liquid corrections for an Anderson impurity away from half filling : Equilibrium properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oguri, Akira; Hewson, A. C.

2018-01-01

We study the low-energy behavior of the vertex function of a single Anderson impurity away from half filling for finite magnetic fields, using the Ward identities with careful consideration of the antisymmetry and analytic properties. The asymptotic form of the vertex function Γσσ';σ'σ(i ω ,i ω';i ω',i ω ) is determined up to terms of linear order with respect to the two frequencies ω and ω', as well as the ω2 contribution for antiparallel spins σ'≠σ at ω'=0 . From these results, we also obtain a series of the Fermi-liquid relations beyond those of Yamada-Yosida [Prog. Theor. Phys. 54, 316 (1975), 10.1143/PTP.54.316]. The ω2 real part of the self-energy Σσ(i ω ) is shown to be expressed in terms of the double derivative ∂2Σσ(0 ) /∂ ɛdσ 2 with respect to the impurity energy level ɛdσ, and agrees with the formula obtained recently by Filippone, Moca, von Delft, and Mora (FMvDM) in the Nozières phenomenological Fermi-liquid theory [Phys. Rev. B 95, 165404 (2017), 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.165404]. We also calculate the T2 correction of the self-energy and find that the real part can be expressed in terms of the three-body correlation function ∂ χ↑↓/∂ ɛd,-σ , where χ↑↓ is the static susceptibility between antiparallel spins. We also provide an alternative derivation of the asymptotic form of the vertex function. Specifically, we calculate the skeleton diagrams for the vertex function Γσσ ;σ σ(i ω ,0 ;0 ,i ω ) for parallel spins up to order U4 in the Coulomb repulsion U . It directly clarifies the fact that the analytic components of order ω vanish as a result of the cancellation of four related Feynman diagrams, which are related to each other through the antisymmetry operation.

Relativistic neutron star merger simulations with non-zero temperature equations of state. I. Variation of binary parameters and equation of state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oechslin, R.; Janka, H.-T.; Marek, A.

2007-05-01

An extended set of binary neutron star (NS) merger simulations is performed with an approximative treatment of general relativity to systematically investigate the influence of the nuclear equation of state (EoS), the NS masses, and the NS spin states prior to merging. The general relativistic hydrodynamics simulations are based on a conformally flat approximation to the Einstein equations and a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics code for the gas treatment. We employ the two non-zero temperature EoSs of Shen et al. (1998a, Nucl. Phys. A, 637, 435; 1998b, Prog. Theor. Phys., 100, 1013) and Lattimer & Swesty (1991, Nucl. Phys. A, 535, 331), which represent a "harder" and a "softer" behavior, respectively, with characteristic differences in the incompressibility at supernuclear densities and in the maximum mass of nonrotating, cold neutron stars. In addition, we use the cold EoS of Akmal et al. (1998, Phys. Rev. C, 58, 1804) with a simple ideal-gas-like extension according to Shibata & Taniguchi (2006, Phys. Rev. D, 73, 064027), in order to compare with their results, and an ideal-gas EoS with parameters fitted to the supernuclear part of the Shen-EoS. We estimate the mass sitting in a dilute "torus" around the future black hole (BH) by requiring the specific angular momentum of the torus matter to be larger than the angular momentum of the ISCO around a Kerr BH with the mass and spin parameter of the compact central remnant. The dynamics and outcome of the models is found to depend strongly on the EoS and on the binary parameters. Larger torus masses are found for asymmetric systems (up to 0.3 M_⊙ for a mass ratio of 0.55), for large initial NSs, and for a NS spin state which corresponds to a larger total angular momentum. We find that the postmerger remnant collapses either immediately or after a short time when employing the soft EoS of Lattimer& Swesty, whereas no sign of post-merging collapse is found within tens of dynamical timescales for all other EoSs used. The typical temperatures in the torus are found to be about 3{-}10 MeV depending on the strength of the shear motion at the collision interface between the NSs and thus depending on the initial NS spins. About 10-3{-}10-2 M_⊙ of NS matter become gravitationally unbound during or right after the merging process. This matter consists of a hot/high-entropy component from the collision interface and (only in case of asymmetric systems) of a cool/low-entropy component from the spiral arm tips. Appendices are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Specific GFP-binding artificial proteins (αRep): a new tool for in vitro to live cell applications

PubMed Central

Chevrel, Anne; Urvoas, Agathe; de la Sierra-Gallay, Ines Li; Aumont-Nicaise, Magali; Moutel, Sandrine; Desmadril, Michel; Perez, Franck; Gautreau, Alexis; van Tilbeurgh, Herman; Minard, Philippe; Valerio-Lepiniec, Marie

2015-01-01

A family of artificial proteins, named αRep, based on a natural family of helical repeat was previously designed. αRep members are efficiently expressed, folded and extremely stable proteins. A large αRep library was constructed creating proteins with a randomized interaction surface. In the present study, we show that the αRep library is an efficient source of tailor-made specific proteins with direct applications in biochemistry and cell biology. From this library, we selected by phage display αRep binders with nanomolar dissociation constants against the GFP. The structures of two independent αRep binders in complex with the GFP target were solved by X-ray crystallography revealing two totally different binding modes. The affinity of the selected αReps for GFP proved sufficient for practically useful applications such as pull-down experiments. αReps are disulfide free proteins and are efficiently and functionally expressed in eukaryotic cells: GFP-specific αReps are clearly sequestrated by their cognate target protein addressed to various cell compartments. These results suggest that αRep proteins with tailor-made specificity can be selected and used in living cells to track, modulate or interfere with intracellular processes. PMID:26182430

Increasing Children’s Physical Activity During School Recess Periods

PubMed Central

Ludwig, David

2013-01-01

Objectives. We examined whether schools’ participation in the Recess Enhancement Program (REP) in the spring of 2011 was associated with higher rates of children’s vigorous physical activity. Methods. In REP, a coach guides children through age-appropriate games aimed at increasing their physical activity. During recess at 25 New York City public elementary schools (15 REP, 10 non-REP), researchers visually scanned predetermined areas (n = 1339 scans), recording the number of sedentary, walking, and very active children. Results. Multivariate statistical analysis found that participation in REP was a significant predictor (P = .027) of the rate of vigorous physical activity (percentage very active in scan area) whose least-squares means were 41% in REP schools and 27% in non-REP schools. A significantly higher rate in REP schools persisted when the coach was not in the scan area, suggesting a change in the recess culture of REP schools. Conclusions. The rate of vigorous physical activity in REP schools was 14 percentage points, or 52%, higher than the rate in non-REP schools. This low-cost intervention might be a valuable addition to the tools for combating childhood obesity and worth replicating elsewhere. PMID:23678902

Sequence variations in RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements reveal intragenomic homologous DNA recombination events in Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

PubMed

Spuesens, Emiel B M; Oduber, Minoushka; Hoogenboezem, Theo; Sluijter, Marcel; Hartwig, Nico G; van Rossum, Annemarie M C; Vink, Cornelis

2009-07-01

The gene encoding major adhesin protein P1 of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, MPN141, contains two DNA sequence stretches, designated RepMP2/3 and RepMP4, which display variation among strains. This variation allows strains to be differentiated into two major P1 genotypes (1 and 2) and several variants. Interestingly, multiple versions of the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements exist at other sites within the bacterial genome. Because these versions are closely related in sequence, but not identical, it has been hypothesized that they have the capacity to recombine with their counterparts within MPN141, and thereby serve as a source of sequence variation of the P1 protein. In order to determine the variation within the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements, both within the bacterial genome and among strains, we analysed the DNA sequences of all RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements within the genomes of 23 M. pneumoniae strains. Our data demonstrate that: (i) recombination is likely to have occurred between two RepMP2/3 elements in four of the strains, and (ii) all previously described P1 genotypes can be explained by inter-RepMP recombination events. Moreover, the difference between the two major P1 genotypes was reflected in all RepMP elements, such that subtype 1 and 2 strains can be differentiated on the basis of sequence variation in each RepMP element. This implies that subtype 1 and subtype 2 strains represent evolutionarily diverged strain lineages. Finally, a classification scheme is proposed in which the P1 genotype of M. pneumoniae isolates can be described in a sequence-based, universal fashion.

Specific functions of the Rep and Rep' proteins of porcine circovirus during copy-release and rolling-circle DNA replication

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The roles of two porcine circovirus replication initiator proteins, Rep and Rep', in generating copy-release and rolling-circle DNA replication intermediates were determined. Rep uses the supercoiled closed-circular genome (ccc) to initiate leading-strand synthesis (identical to copy-release replica...

Congressional Black Caucus meets with NASA

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-01-13

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, space shuttle crew STS-129 and members of the Congressional Black Caucus pose for a group photo at the Capitol Building, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, in Washington. Back row from left to right: U.S. Rep Donna Edwards (D-MD), U.S. Rep Diane Watson (D-CA), NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, astronauts Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher, Barry Wilmore, Randy Breznik, and U.S. Rep Mel Watt (D-NC). Front row from left to right: U.S. Rep Robert Scott (D-VA), U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla), U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI) and U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ). The crew of STS-129 presented the CBC with a montage commemorating their mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson of Florida during medical tests at JSC's Clinic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson of Florida during medical tests at JSC's Clinic. Photos include Rep. Nelson talking to Sharon Briceno (center) and Betty Lord before the tests begin. The congressman's torso bears a number of sensors for the testing (40835); Portrait view of Rep. Nelson with sensors attached to his chest (40836); Rep. Nelson gets some assistance from nurses at the clinic as he prepares to participate in medical tests. Help is provided by Betty Lord, right, and Sharon Briceno (40837); Rep. Nelson is being assisted to don 'halo' device for tests (40838); Rep. Nelson runs in place on a treadmill device (40839).

No need for external orthogonality in subsystem density-functional theory.

PubMed

Unsleber, Jan P; Neugebauer, Johannes; Jacob, Christoph R

2016-08-03

Recent reports on the necessity of using externally orthogonal orbitals in subsystem density-functional theory (SDFT) [Annu. Rep. Comput. Chem., 8, 2012, 53; J. Phys. Chem. A, 118, 2014, 9182] are re-investigated. We show that in the basis-set limit, supermolecular Kohn-Sham-DFT (KS-DFT) densities can exactly be represented as a sum of subsystem densities, even if the subsystem orbitals are not externally orthogonal. This is illustrated using both an analytical example and in basis-set free numerical calculations for an atomic test case. We further show that even with finite basis sets, SDFT calculations using accurate reconstructed potentials can closely approach the supermolecular KS-DFT density, and that the deviations between SDFT and KS-DFT decrease as the basis-set limit is approached. Our results demonstrate that formally, there is no need to enforce external orthogonality in SDFT, even though this might be a useful strategy when developing projection-based DFT embedding schemes.

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

Pustovitov, V. D., E-mail: pustovitov-vd@nrcki.ru

The radial force balance in a tokamak during fast transient events with a duration much shorter than the resistive time of the vacuum vessel wall is analyzed. The aim of the work is to analytically estimate the resulting integral radial force on the wall. In contrast to the preceding study [Plasma Phys. Rep. 41, 952 (2015)], where a similar problem was considered for thermal quench, simultaneous changes in the profiles and values of the pressure and plasma current are allowed here. Thereby, the current quench and various methods of disruption mitigation used in the existing tokamaks and considered for futuremore » applications are also covered. General formulas for the force at an arbitrary sequence or combination of events are derived, and estimates for the standard tokamak model are made. The earlier results and conclusions are confirmed, and it is shown that, in the disruption mitigation scenarios accepted for ITER, the radial forces can be as high as in uncontrolled disruptions.« less

An interacting spin-flip model for one-dimensional proton conduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chou, Tom

2002-05-01

A discrete asymmetric exclusion process (ASEP) is developed to model proton conduction along one-dimensional water wires. Each lattice site represents a water molecule that can be in only one of three states; protonated, left-pointing and right-pointing. Only a right- (left-) pointing water can accept a proton from its left (). Results of asymptotic mean field analysis and Monte Carlo simulations for the three-species, open boundary exclusion model are presented and compared. The mean field results for the steady-state proton current suggest a number of regimes analogous to the low and maximal current phases found in the single-species ASEP (Derrida B 1998 Phys. Rep. 301 65-83). We find that the mean field results are accurate (compared with lattice Monte Carlo simulations) only in certain regimes. Refinements and extensions including more elaborate forces and pore defects are also discussed.

TOPICAL REVIEW: The restaurant at the end of the random walk: recent developments in the description of anomalous transport by fractional dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metzler, Ralf; Klafter, Joseph

2004-08-01

Fractional dynamics has experienced a firm upswing during the past few years, having been forged into a mature framework in the theory of stochastic processes. A large number of research papers developing fractional dynamics further, or applying it to various systems have appeared since our first review article on the fractional Fokker-Planck equation (Metzler R and Klafter J 2000a, Phys. Rep. 339 1-77). It therefore appears timely to put these new works in a cohesive perspective. In this review we cover both the theoretical modelling of sub- and superdiffusive processes, placing emphasis on superdiffusion, and the discussion of applications such as the correct formulation of boundary value problems to obtain the first passage time density function. We also discuss extensively the occurrence of anomalous dynamics in various fields ranging from nanoscale over biological to geophysical and environmental systems.

FRAUD/SABOTAGE Killing Nuclear-Reactors!!! ``Super"alloys GENERIC ENDEMIC Wigner's-Disease IN-stability!!!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asphahani, Aziz; Siegel, Sidney; Siegel, Edward

2010-03-01

Siegel [[J.Mag.Mag.Mtls.7,312(78); PSS(a)11,45(72); Semis.& Insuls.5(79)] (at: ORNL, ANS, Westin``KL"ouse, PSEG, IAEA, ABB) warning of old/new nuclear-reactors/spent-fuel-casks/refineries/ jet/missile/rocket-engines austenitic/FCC Ni/Fe-based (so MIS- called)``super"alloys(182/82;Hastelloy-X; 600;304/304L-SSs; 690 !!!) GENERIC ENDEMIC EXTANT detrimental(synonyms): Wigner's- diseas(WD)[J.Appl.Phys.17,857(46)]; Ostwald-ripening; spinodal- decomposition; overageing-embrittlement; thermomechanical- INstability: Mayo[Google: ``If Leaks Could Kill"; at flickr.com search on ``Giant-Magnotoresistance"; find: [Siegel<<<``Fert"(88) 2007-Nobel/Wolf/Japan-prizes]necessitating NRC inspections on 40+25=65 Westin``KL"ouse PWRs(12/06)]; Lai[Met.Trans.AIME,9A,827 (78)]-Sabol-Stickler[PSS(70)]; Ashpahani[Intl.Conf. H in Metals (77)]; Russell[Prog. Mtls.Sci.(83)]; Pollard[last UCS rept. (9/95)]; Lofaro[BNL/DOE/NRC Repts.]; Pringle[Nuclear-Power:From Physics to Politics(79)]; Hoffman[animatedsoftware.com],...what DOE/NRC MISlabels as ``butt-welds" ``stress-corrosion cracking" endpoint's ROOT-CAUSE ULTIMATE-ORIGIN is WD overageing-embrit- tlement caused brittle-fracture cracking from early/ongoing AEC/DOE-n``u''tional-la``v''atories sabotage!!!

High-speed cylindrical collapse of two perfect fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharif, M.; Ahmad, Zahid

2007-09-01

In this paper, the study of the gravitational collapse of cylindrically distributed two perfect fluid system has been carried out. It is assumed that the collapsing speeds of the two fluids are very large. We explore this condition by using the high-speed approximation scheme. There arise two cases, i.e., bounded and vanishing of the ratios of the pressures with densities of two fluids given by c s , d s . It is shown that the high-speed approximation scheme breaks down by non-zero pressures p 1, p 2 when c s , d s are bounded below by some positive constants. The failure of the high-speed approximation scheme at some particular time of the gravitational collapse suggests the uncertainty on the evolution at and after this time. In the bounded case, the naked singularity formation seems to be impossible for the cylindrical two perfect fluids. For the vanishing case, if a linear equation of state is used, the high-speed collapse does not break down by the effects of the pressures and consequently a naked singularity forms. This work provides the generalisation of the results already given by Nakao and Morisawa (Prog Theor Phys 113:73, 2005) for the perfect fluid.

The structure and ordering of ɛ-MnO 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Chang-Hoon; Akase, Zentaro; Zhang, Lichun; Heuer, Arthur H.; Newman, Aron E.; Hughes, Paula J.

2006-03-01

The presence of ɛ-MnO 2 as a major component of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) has been demonstrated by a combined X-ray diffraction/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. ɛ-MnO 2 usually has a partially ordered defect NiAs structure containing 50% cation vacancies; these vacancies can be fully ordered by a low temperature (200 °C) heat treatment to form a pseudohexagonal but monoclinic superlattice. Numerous fine-scale anti-phase domain boundaries are present in ordered ɛ-MnO 2 and cause extensive peak broadening and a massive shift of a very intense, 0.37 nm superlattice peak. This suggests a radically different explanation of the ubiquitous, very broad ˜0.42 nm peak (˜21-22° 2 θ, Cu Kα radiation) in EMDs, which heretofore has been attributed to Ramsdellite containing numerous planar defects. This work confirms the multi-phase model of equiaxed EMDs proposed by Heuer et al. [ITE Lett. 1(6) (2000) B50; Proc. Seventh Int. Symp. Adv. Phys. Fields 92 (2001)], rather than the defective single-phase model of Chabre and Pannetier [Prog. Solid State Chem. 23 (1995) 1] and Bowden et al. [ITE Lett. 4(1) (2003) B1].

The Casimir effect for parallel plates revisited

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

Kawakami, N. A.; Nemes, M. C.; Wreszinski, Walter F.

2007-10-15

The Casimir effect for a massless scalar field with Dirichlet and periodic boundary conditions (bc's) on infinite parallel plates is revisited in the local quantum field theory (lqft) framework introduced by Kay [Phys. Rev. D 20, 3052 (1979)]. The model displays a number of more realistic features than the ones he treated. In addition to local observables, as the energy density, we propose to consider intensive variables, such as the energy per unit area {epsilon}, as fundamental observables. Adopting this view, lqft rejects Dirichlet (the same result may be proved for Neumann or mixed) bc, and accepts periodic bc: inmore » the former case {epsilon} diverges, in the latter it is finite, as is shown by an expression for the local energy density obtained from lqft through the use of the Poisson summation formula. Another way to see this uses methods from the Euler summation formula: in the proof of regularization independence of the energy per unit area, a regularization-dependent surface term arises upon use of Dirichlet bc, but not periodic bc. For the conformally invariant scalar quantum field, this surface term is absent due to the condition of zero trace of the energy momentum tensor, as remarked by De Witt [Phys. Rep. 19, 295 (1975)]. The latter property does not hold in the application to the dark energy problem in cosmology, in which we argue that periodic bc might play a distinguished role.« less

Why is MP2-Water "Cooler" and "Denser" than DFT-Water?

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

Willow, Soohaeng Y.; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Xantheas, Sotiris S.

To maintain water in the liquid phase at the correct (1 g/cm3) density during first-principles simulations, density-functional theory (DFT) with a dispersionless generalized-gradient-approximation (GGA) functional requires a much higher temperature and pressure than the ambient conditions. Conversely, ab initio second-order many-body perturbation (MP2) calculations of liquid water performed by Del Ben et al. [J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 4, 3753 (2013); J. Chem. Phys. 143, 054506 (2015)] and by us [Willow et al., Sci. Rep. 5, 14358 (2015)] required a lower temperature and a negative pressure than DFT to keep water liquid. Here, we present a unifying explanation of these trendsmore » derived from classical water simulations using a polarizable force field with different sets of parameters. We show that the calculated temperature and pressure of the liquid phase are strongly correlated with the polarizability of water and the dispersion interaction, respectively. In DFT/GGA, the polarizability and thus the induced dipole moments and the hydrogen-bond strength are all overestimated. This hinders the rotational motion of molecules and requires a higher temperature for water to be liquid. In MP2 and DFT/GGA, the dispersion interaction is stronger and weaker (or lacking), respectively. This explains why liquid water contracts uniformly and becomes too dense in MP2, whereas the opposite is the case for dispersionless DFT/GGA.« less

Intracellular route and biological activity of exogenously delivered Rep proteins from the adeno-associated virus type 2

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

Awedikian, Rafi; Francois, Achille; Guilbaud, Mickael

2005-05-10

The two large Rep proteins, Rep78 and Rep68, from the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) are required for AAV-2 DNA replication, site-specific integration, and for the regulation of viral gene expression. The study of their activities is dependent on the ability to deliver these proteins to the cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. We evaluated the ability of a protein transduction domain (PTD) derived from the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) TAT protein to drive the cellular internalization of exogenously delivered PTD-fused Rep68 proteins. This analysis unexpectedly revealed that recombinant Rep68 alone, in the absence of any PTD, couldmore » be endocytosed by the cells. Rep68 as the chimeric TAT-Rep68 proteins were internalized through endocytosis in clathrin-coated vesicles and retained in late endosomes/lysosomes with no detectable nuclear localization. In the presence of adenovirus, the Rep proteins could translocate into the nucleus where they displayed a biological activity. These findings support recent reports on the mechanism of entry of TAT-fused proteins and also revealed a new property of Rep68.« less

Stimulation of the cell cycle and maize transformation by disruption of the plant retinoblastoma pathway

PubMed Central

Gordon-Kamm, William; Dilkes, Brian P.; Lowe, Keith; Hoerster, George; Sun, Xifan; Ross, Margit; Church, Laura; Bunde, Chris; Farrell, Jeff; Hill, Patrea; Maddock, Sheila; Snyder, Jane; Sykes, Louisa; Li, Zhongsen; Woo, Young-min; Bidney, Dennis; Larkins, Brian A.

2002-01-01

The genome of the Mastreviruses encodes a replication-associated protein (RepA) that interacts with members of the plant retinoblastoma-related protein family, which are putative cell cycle regulators. Expression of ZmRb1, a maize retinoblastoma-related gene, and RepA inhibited and stimulated, respectively, cell division in tobacco cell cultures. The effect of RepA was mitigated by over-expression of ZmRb1. RepA increased transformation frequency and callus growth rate of high type II maize germplasm. RepA-containing transgenic maize calli remained embryogenic, were readily regenerable, and produced fertile plants that transmitted transgene expression in a Mendelian fashion. In high type II, transformation frequency increased with the strength of the promoter driving RepA expression. When a construct in which RepA was expressed behind its native LIR promoter was used, primary transformation frequencies did not improve for two elite Pioneer maize inbreds. However, when LIR:RepA-containing transgenic embryos were used in subsequent rounds of transformation, frequencies were higher in the RepA+ embryos. These data demonstrate that RepA can stimulate cell division and callus growth in culture, and improve maize transformation. PMID:12185243

Photovoltaic reciprocity and quasi-Fermi level splitting in nanostructure-based solar cells (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aeberhard, Urs

2017-04-01

The photovoltaic reciprocity theory relates the electroluminescence spectrum of a solar cell under applied bias to the external photovoltaic quantum efficiency of the device as measured at short circuit conditions [1]. So far, the theory has been verified for a wide range of devices and material systems and forms the basis of a growing number of luminesecence imaging techniques used in the characterization of photovoltaic materials, cells and modules [2-5]. However, there are also some examples where the theory fails, such as in the case of amorphous silicon. In our contribution, we critically assess the assumptions made in the derivation of the theory and compare its predictions with rigorous formal relations as well as numerical computations in the framework of a comprehensive quantum-kinetic theory of photovoltaics [6] as applied to ultra-thin absorber architectures [7]. One of the main applications of the photovoltaic reciprocity relation is the determination of quasi-Fermi level splittings (QFLS) in solar cells from the measurement of luminescence. In nanostructure-based photovoltaic architectures, the determination of QFLS is challenging, but instrumental to assess the performance potential of the concepts. Here, we use our quasi-Fermi level-free theory to investigate existence and size of QFLS in quantum well and quantum dot solar cells. [1] Uwe Rau. Reciprocity relation between photovoltaic quantum efficiency and electrolumines- cent emission of solar cells. Phys. Rev. B, 76(8):085303, 2007. [2] Thomas Kirchartz and Uwe Rau. Electroluminescence analysis of high efficiency cu(in,ga)se2 solar cells. J. Appl. Phys., 102(10), 2007. [3] Thomas Kirchartz, Uwe Rau, Martin Hermle, Andreas W. Bett, Anke Helbig, and Jrgen H. Werner. Internal voltages in GaInP-GaInAs-Ge multijunction solar cells determined by electro- luminescence measurements. Appl. Phys. Lett., 92(12), 2008. [4] Thomas Kirchartz, Anke Helbig, Wilfried Reetz, Michael Reuter, Jürgen H. Werner, and Uwe Rau. Reciprocity between electroluminescence and quantum efficiency used for the characterization of silicon solar cells. Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl., 17(6):394-402, 2009. [5] U. Hoyer, M. Wagner, Th. Swonke, J. Bachmann, R. Auer, A. Osvet, and C. J. Brabec. Electroluminescence imaging of organic photovoltaic modules. Appl. Phys. Lett., 97(23), 2010. [6] U. Aeberhard. Theory and simulation of quantum photovoltaic devices based on the non-equilibrium Greens function formalism. J. Comput. Electron., 10:394-413, 2011. [7] U. Aeberhard. Simulation of ultrathin solar cells beyond the limits of the semiclassical bulk picture. IEEE J. Photovolt., 6(3):654-660, 2016.

The Use of HepRep in GLAST

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

Perl, Joseph

2003-07-10

HepRep is a generic, hierarchical format for description of graphics representables that can be augmented by physics information and relational properties. It was developed for high energy physics event display applications and is especially suited to client/server or component frameworks. The GLAST experiment, an international effort led by NASA for a gamma-ray telescope to launch in 2006, chose HepRep to provide a flexible, extensible and maintainable framework for their event display without tying their users to any one graphics application. To support HepRep in their GUADI infrastructure, GLAST developed a HepRep filler and builder architecture. The architecture hides the detailsmore » of XML and CORBA in a set of base and helper classes allowing physics experts to focus on what data they want to represent. GLAST has two GAUDI services: HepRepSvc, which registers HepRep fillers in a global registry and allows the HepRep to be exported to XML, and CorbaSvc, which allows the HepRep to be published through a CORBA interface and which allows the client application to feed commands back to GAUDI (such as start next event, or run some GAUDI algorithm). GLAST's HepRep solution gives users a choice of client applications, WIRED (written in Java) or FRED (written in C++ and Ruby), and leaves them free to move to any future HepRep-compliant event display.« less

Self-replicating Replicon-RNA Delivery to Dendritic Cells by Chitosan-nanoparticles for Translation In Vitro and In Vivo

PubMed Central

McCullough, Kenneth C; Bassi, Isabelle; Milona, Panagiota; Suter, Rolf; Thomann-Harwood, Lisa; Englezou, Pavlos; Démoulins, Thomas; Ruggli, Nicolas

2014-01-01

Self-amplifying replicon RNA (RepRNA) possesses high potential for increasing antigen load within dendritic cells (DCs). The major aim of the present work was to define how RepRNA delivered by biodegradable, chitosan-based nanoparticulate delivery vehicles (nanogel-alginate (NGA)) interacts with DCs, and whether this could lead to translation of the RepRNA in the DCs. Although studies employed virus replicon particles (VRPs), there are no reports on biodegradable, nanoparticulate vehicle delivery of RepRNA. VRP studies employed cytopathogenic agents, contrary to DC requirements—slow processing and antigen retention. We employed noncytopathogenic RepRNA with NGA, demonstrating for the first time the efficiency of RepRNA association with nanoparticles, NGA delivery to DCs, and RepRNA internalization by DCs. RepRNA accumulated in vesicular structures, with patterns typifying cytosolic release. This promoted RepRNA translation, in vitro and in vivo. Delivery and translation were RepRNA concentration-dependent, occurring in a kinetic manner. Including cationic lipids with chitosan during nanoparticle formation enhanced delivery and translation kinetics, but was not required for translation of immunogenic levels in vivo. This work describes for the first time the characteristics associated with chitosan-nanoparticle delivery of self-amplifying RepRNA to DCs, leading to translation of encoded foreign genes, namely influenza virus hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein. PMID:25004099

Specific functions of the Rep and Rep׳ proteins of porcine circovirus during copy-release and rolling-circle DNA replication.

PubMed

Cheung, Andrew K

2015-07-01

The roles of two porcine circovirus replication initiator proteins, Rep and Rep׳, in generating copy-release and rolling-circle DNA replication intermediates were determined. Rep uses the supercoiled closed-circular genome (ccc) to initiate leading-strand synthesis (identical to copy-release replication) and generates the single-stranded circular (ssc) genome from the displaced DNA strand. In the process, a minus-genome primer (MGP) necessary for complementary-strand synthesis, from ssc to ccc, is synthesized. Rep׳ cleaves the growing nascent-strand to regenerate the parent ccc molecule. In the process, a Rep׳-DNA hybrid containing the right palindromic sequence (at the origin of DNA replication) is generated. Analysis of the virus particle showed that it is composed of four components: ssc, MGP, capsid protein and a novel Rep-related protein (designated Protein-3). Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The monoamine-oxidase B inhibitor deprenyl increases selection of high-effort activity in rats tested on a progressive ratio/chow feeding choice procedure: Implications for treating motivational dysfunctions.

PubMed

Yohn, Samantha E; Reynolds, Shanika; Tripodi, Giuseppe; Correa, Merce; Salamone, John D

2018-04-16

Motivated behaviors often are characterized by a high degree of behavioral activation and work output, and organisms frequently make effort-related decisions based upon cost/benefit analyses. Moreover, people with depression and other disorders frequently show effort-related motivational symptoms, such as anergia, psychomotor retardation, and fatigue. Tasks measuring effort-related choice are being used as animal models of these motivational symptoms. The present studies characterized the ability of the monoamine oxidase -B (MAO-B) inhibitor deprenyl (selegiline) to enhance selection of high-effort lever pressing in rats tested on a concurrent progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding choice task. Deprenyl is widely used as an antiparkinsonian drug, but it also has been shown to have antidepressant effects in humans, and to induce antidepressant-like effects in traditional rodent models of depression. Systemic administration of deprenyl (1.5-12.0 mg/kg IP) shifted choice behavior, significantly increasing markers of PROG lever pressing at a moderate dose (6.0 mg/kg), and decreasing chow intake at 6.0 and 12.0 mg/kg. Intracranial injections of deprenyl into nucleus accumbens (2.0 and 4.0 μg) also increased PROG lever pressing and decreased chow intake. Microdialysis studies showed that the dose of deprenyl that was effective at increasing PROG lever pressing (6.0 mg/kg) also significantly elevated extracellular dopamine in nucleus accumbens. Thus, similar to the well-known antidepressant bupropion, deprenyl is capable of increasing selection of high-effort PROG lever pressing at doses that increase extracellular dopamine in nucleus accumbens. These studies have implications for the potential use of MAO-B inhibitors as treatments for the motivational symptoms of depression and Parkinsonism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The VMAT-2 Inhibitor Tetrabenazine Affects Effort-Related Decision Making in a Progressive Ratio/Chow Feeding Choice Task: Reversal with Antidepressant Drugs

PubMed Central

Randall, Patrick A.; Lee, Christie A.; Nunes, Eric J.; Yohn, Samantha E.; Nowak, Victoria; Khan, Bilal; Shah, Priya; Pandit, Saagar; Vemuri, V. Kiran; Makriyannis, Alex; Baqi, Younis; Müller, Christa E.; Correa, Merce; Salamone, John D.

2014-01-01

Behavioral activation is a fundamental feature of motivation, and organisms frequently make effort-related decisions based upon evaluations of reinforcement value and response costs. Furthermore, people with major depression and other disorders often show anergia, psychomotor retardation, fatigue, and alterations in effort-related decision making. Tasks measuring effort-based decision making can be used as animal models of the motivational symptoms of depression, and the present studies characterized the effort-related effects of the vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT-2) inhibitor tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine induces depressive symptoms in humans, and also preferentially depletes dopamine (DA). Rats were assessed using a concurrent progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding task, in which they can either lever press on a PROG schedule for preferred high-carbohydrate food, or approach and consume a less-preferred lab chow that is freely available in the chamber. Previous work has shown that the DA antagonist haloperidol reduced PROG work output on this task, but did not reduce chow intake, effects that differed substantially from those of reinforcer devaluation or appetite suppressant drugs. The present work demonstrated that tetrabenazine produced an effort-related shift in responding on the PROG/chow procedure, reducing lever presses, highest ratio achieved and time spent responding, but not reducing chow intake. Similar effects were produced by administration of the subtype selective DA antagonists ecopipam (D1) and eticlopride (D2), but not by the cannabinoid CB1 receptor neutral antagonist and putative appetite suppressant AM 4413, which suppressed both lever pressing and chow intake. The adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3, the antidepressant and catecholamine uptake inhibitor bupropion, and the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl, all reversed the impairments induced by tetrabenazine. This work demonstrates the potential utility of the PROG/chow procedure as a rodent model of the effort-related deficits observed in depressed patients. PMID:24937131

The VMAT-2 inhibitor tetrabenazine affects effort-related decision making in a progressive ratio/chow feeding choice task: reversal with antidepressant drugs.

PubMed

Randall, Patrick A; Lee, Christie A; Nunes, Eric J; Yohn, Samantha E; Nowak, Victoria; Khan, Bilal; Shah, Priya; Pandit, Saagar; Vemuri, V Kiran; Makriyannis, Alex; Baqi, Younis; Müller, Christa E; Correa, Merce; Salamone, John D

2014-01-01

Behavioral activation is a fundamental feature of motivation, and organisms frequently make effort-related decisions based upon evaluations of reinforcement value and response costs. Furthermore, people with major depression and other disorders often show anergia, psychomotor retardation, fatigue, and alterations in effort-related decision making. Tasks measuring effort-based decision making can be used as animal models of the motivational symptoms of depression, and the present studies characterized the effort-related effects of the vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT-2) inhibitor tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine induces depressive symptoms in humans, and also preferentially depletes dopamine (DA). Rats were assessed using a concurrent progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding task, in which they can either lever press on a PROG schedule for preferred high-carbohydrate food, or approach and consume a less-preferred lab chow that is freely available in the chamber. Previous work has shown that the DA antagonist haloperidol reduced PROG work output on this task, but did not reduce chow intake, effects that differed substantially from those of reinforcer devaluation or appetite suppressant drugs. The present work demonstrated that tetrabenazine produced an effort-related shift in responding on the PROG/chow procedure, reducing lever presses, highest ratio achieved and time spent responding, but not reducing chow intake. Similar effects were produced by administration of the subtype selective DA antagonists ecopipam (D1) and eticlopride (D2), but not by the cannabinoid CB1 receptor neutral antagonist and putative appetite suppressant AM 4413, which suppressed both lever pressing and chow intake. The adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3, the antidepressant and catecholamine uptake inhibitor bupropion, and the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl, all reversed the impairments induced by tetrabenazine. This work demonstrates the potential utility of the PROG/chow procedure as a rodent model of the effort-related deficits observed in depressed patients.

Calculations of Intersection Cross-Slip Activation Energies in FCC Metals Using Nudged Elastic Band Method

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR( S ) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES...AGENCY NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM( S ) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER( S ) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT...References [1] Puschl W. Prog Mater Sci 2002;47:415. [2] Jackson PJ. Prog Mater Sci 1985;29:139. [3] Rao S , Parthasarathy TA, Woodward C. Philos Mag A

Impact of Viral Infection on Absorption and Scattering Properties of Marine Bacteria and Phytoplankton

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-09-30

Opt. Eng. 2963: 260-265. 5 Bratbak, G., J. K. Egge, and M. Heldal. 1993. Viral mortality of the marine alga Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyceae...and termination of algal blooms. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 93: 39-48. Bratbak, G., W. Wilson, and M. Heldal. 1996. Viral control of Emiliania huxleyi...relation to Emiliania huxleyi blooms: a mechanism of DMSP release? Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 128: 133-142. Brussaard, C. P. D., R. S. Kempers, A. J

Marshall N. Rosenbluth Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award Talk: The Ultrafast Nonlinear Response of Air Molecules and its Effect on Femtosecond Laser Plasma Filaments in Atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu-Hsin

2012-10-01

When exceeding the critical power Pcr, an intense laser pulse propagating in a gas collapses into one or multiple ``filaments,'' which can extend meters in length with weakly ionized plasma and local intensity ˜ 10^13 W/cm^2 radially confined in a diameter of < 100 μm [1]. While it has been generally accepted the nonlinear self-focusing of the laser pulse leading to beam collapse is stabilized by plasma generation [2], neither the field-induced nonlinearity nor the plasma generation had been directly measured. This uncertainty has given rise to recent controversy about whether plasma generation does indeed counteract the positive nonlinearity [3, 4]. For even a basic understanding of femtosecond filamentation and for applications, the focusing and defocusing mechanisms---nonlinear self-focusing and ionization---must be understood. By employing a single-shot, time-resolved technique based on spectral interferometry [5] to study the constituents of air, it is found that the rotational responses in O2 and N2 are the dominant nonlinear effect in filamentary propagation when the laser pulse duration is longer than ˜ 100fs. Furthermore, we find that the instantaneous nonlinearity scales linearly up to the ionization threshold [6], eliminating any possibility of an ionization-free negative stabilization [3] of filamentation. This is confirmed by space-resolved electron density measurements in meter-long filaments produced with different pulse durations, using optical interferometry with a grazing-incidence, ps-delayed probe [7].[4pt] [1] A. Braun et al., Opt. Lett. 20, 73 (1995).[0pt] [2] A. Couairon and A. Mysyrowicz, Phys. Rep. 441, 47 (2007).[0pt] [3] V. Loriot et al., Opt. Express 17, 13429 (2009).[0pt] [4] P. B'ejot et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 103903 (2010).[0pt] [5] Y.-H. Chen et al., Opt. Express 15, 7458 (2007); Opt. Express 15, 11341 (2007).[0pt] [6] J. K. Wahlstrand et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 103901 (2011).[0pt] [7] Y.-H. Chen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 215005 (2010).

Structural characterization and antioxidant property of released exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus SRFM-1.

PubMed

Tang, Weizhi; Dong, Mingsheng; Wang, Weilu; Han, Shuo; Rui, Xin; Chen, Xiaohong; Jiang, Mei; Zhang, Qiuqin; Wu, Junjun; Li, Wei

2017-10-01

Three released exopolysaccharide fractions (r-EPS1, r-EPS2 and r-EPS3) were isolated from the fermented milk of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus SRFM-1 and purified by anion exchange chromatography, and characterizations of the structures were conducted. The r-EPS1 and r-EPS2 were homogenous with the average molecular weights of 3.97×10 5 Da and 3.86×10 5 Da, respectively. Three r-EPS fractions were composed of galactose and glucose with a molar ratio of 1.23: 1.00, 1.33: 1.00 and 1.00: 1.34, respectively. Structural characterization indicated that the r-EPS1 contained a backbone of →6-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Galp-(1→6)-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, and had three branching points which existed in terminal with D-Glcp residues with α/β-d-(1→6) linkages. The r-EPS2 was composed of →6-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→6)-α-d-Galp-(1→ as the backbone chain with a branching point which also existed in terminal D-Glcp residue with β-(1→6) linkage. In addition, three r-EPS fractions exhibited strong scavenging activities on superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, DPPH radical and chelating activity on ferrous ion, and their antioxidant activities decreased in the order of r-EPS1>r-EPS2>r-EPS3. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Elastin hydrolysate derived from fish enhances proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and elastin synthesis in human skin fibroblasts and improves the skin conditions.

PubMed

Shiratsuchi, Eri; Nakaba, Misako; Yamada, Michio

2016-03-30

Recent studies have shown that certain peptides significantly improve skin conditions, such as skin elasticity and the moisture content of the skin of healthy woman. This study aimed to investigate the effects of elastin hydrolysate on human skin. Proliferation and elastin synthesis were evaluated in human skin fibroblasts exposed to elastin hydrolysate and proryl-glycine (Pro-Gly), which is present in human blood after elastin hydrolysate ingestion. We also performed an ingestion test with elastin hydrolysate in humans and evaluated skin condition. Elastin hydrolysate and Pro-Gly enhanced the proliferation of fibroblasts and elastin synthesis. Maximal proliferation response was observed at 25 ng mL(-1) Pro-Gly. Ingestion of elastin hydrolysate improved skin condition, such as elasticity, number of wrinkles, and blood flow. Elasticity improved by 4% in the elastin hydrolysate group compared with 2% in the placebo group. Therefore, elastin hydrolysate activates human skin fibroblasts and has beneficial effects on skin conditions. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of a nuclear localization signal in the C-terminus of the adeno-associated virus Rep68/78 proteins

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

Cassell, Geoffrey D.; Weitzman, Matthew D.

2004-10-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) replicates in the nucleus of infected cells, and therefore multiple nuclear import events are required for productive infection. We analyzed nuclear import of the viral Rep proteins and characterized a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the C-terminus. We demonstrate that basic residues in this region constitute an NLS that is transferable and mediates interaction with the nuclear import receptor importin {alpha} in vitro. Mutant Rep proteins are predominantly cytoplasmic and are severely compromised for interactions with importin {alpha}, but retain their enzymatic functions in vitro. Interestingly, mutations of the NLS had significantly less effect on importin {alpha}more » interaction and replication in the context of Rep78 than when incorporated into the Rep68 protein. Together, our results demonstrate that a bipartite NLS exists in the shared part of Rep68 and Rep78, and suggest that an alternate entry mechanism may also contribute to nuclear localization of the Rep78 protein.« less

Complex topological structures of frustrated liquid crystals with potential for optics and photonics (Presentation Recording)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Žumer, Slobodan; Čančula, Miha; Čopar, Simon; Ravnik, Miha

2015-10-01

Geometrical constrains and intrinsic chirality in nematic mesophases enable formation of stable and metastable complex defect structures. Recently selected knotted and linked disclinations have been formed using laser manipulation of nematic braids entangling colloidal particles in nematic colloids [Tkalec et al., Science 2011; Copar et al., PNAS 2015]. In unwinded chiral nematic phases stable and metastable toron and hopfion defects have been implemented by laser tweezers [Smalyukh et al., Nature Materials 2010; Chen et al., PRL2013] and in chiral nematic colloids particles dressed by solitonic deformations [Porenta et al., Sci. Rep. 2014]. Modelling studies based on the numerical minimisation of the phenomenological free energy, supported with the adapted topological theory [Copar and Zumer, PRL 2011; Copar, Phys. Rep. 2014] allow describing the observed nematic defect structures and also predicting numerous structures in confined blue phases [Fukuda and Zumer, Nature Comms 2011 and PRL 2011] and stable knotted disclinations in cholesteric droplets with homeotropic boundary [Sec et al., Nature Comms 2014]. Coupling the modeling with finite difference time domain light field computation enables understanding of light propagation and light induced restructuring in these mesophases. The method was recently demonstrated for the description of low intensity light beam changes during the propagation along disclination lines [Brasselet et al., PRL 2009; Cancula et al., PRE 2014]. Allowing also high intensity light an order restructuring is induced [Porenta et al., Soft Matter 2012; Cancula et al., 2015]. These approaches help to uncover the potential of topological structures for beyond-display optical and photonic applications.

THE DEPRESSANT EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS COBALT-60 RADIATION ON THE SECONDARY TETANUS ANTITOXIN RESPONSE IN MICE

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

Stoner, R.D.; Hale, W.M.

1958-05-01

The radiosensitivity of the secondary tetanus antitoxin response in mice was demonstrated after rather low doses of continuous gamma -radiation given at a dose rate of 4 rep/hr. Accumulated doses of 48 to 288 rep depressed antitoxin formation. Comparable doses of acute gamma radiation did not depress antitoxin production. Acute doses of 350 to 650 rep sharply depressed the secondary antibody response, however. Extended periods of continuous gamma -radiation from 10 to 28 days to accumulated doses of 960 to 2688 rep markedly depressed the secondary antibody response. An accumulated dose of 2688 rep was needed to depress antitoxin formationmore » to the level observed after an acute dose of 650 rep. When the secondary stimulus of fluid tetanus toxoid was given prior to 10 days of continuous exposure to an accumulated dose of 860 rep, the secondary antibody respense was not depressed. Irradiated mice recovered the ability to produce a normal secondary antitoxin response during the second week after an accumulated dose of 1248 rep. The secondary antitoxin response was depressed in mice given long-continued gamma -radiation at a dose rate of 1 rep/hr. (auth)« less

Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Plasmids in Biofilms

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

from a particular file #e.g. here everything from “data1.xls” will have identifier of “Rep1” r1<-collate(ls( patt ="*rep1"),TRUE,lastVal="Rep1") r2...collate(ls( patt ="*rep2"),TRUE,lastVal="Rep2") #merge the data from the two files allOutput<-rbind(r1,r2) #at this point allOutput can be used

76 FR 18224 - Announcement of Award

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-01

... Improvement Center on the Representation of Children in the Child Welfare System (QIC-ChildRep). CFDA Number... of Children in the Child Welfare System (QIC-ChildRep), to support additional and enhanced evaluation...-ChildRep. The purpose of the QIC-ChildRep is to improve the quality of legal representation for children...

Expression, purification and antibody preparation of PCV2 Rep and ORF3 proteins.

PubMed

Peng, Zhiyuan; Ma, Teng; Pang, Daxin; Su, Dan; Chen, Fuwang; Chen, Xinrong; Guo, Ning; Ouyang, Ting; Ouyang, Hongsheng; Ren, Linzhu

2016-05-01

Rep and ORF3 proteins are important functional proteins of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). Here, Rep and ORF3 genes were cloned, expressed and used to raise polyclonal antibodies. The result showed the recombinant plasmids of Rep and ORF3 genes constructed in this study were expressed efficiently in the prokaryotic system, and the recombinant proteins had antigenicity and immunogenicity. Furthermore, reactivity and specificity of the antiserums were characterized by western blot and indirect immunofluorescent assays. The results elucidated that polyclonal antiserum prepared with Rep or ORF3 had good reactivity and specificity against PCV2, or the Rep and ORF3 expressed in PK-15 cells, respectively. The Rep protein is promising for PCV2 antibody and vaccine development. These results will be helpful for further studies focusing on pathogenesis of PCV2 and serology diagnostic test or vaccine development against PCV2. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cromoglycate, not ketotifen, ameliorated the injured effect of warm ischemia/reperfusion in rat liver: role of mast cell degranulation, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokine, and inducible nitric oxide synthase

PubMed Central

El-Shitany, Nagla A; El-Desoky, Karema

2015-01-01

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (ISCH/REP) is a major clinical problem that is considered to be the most common cause of postoperative liver failure. Recently, mast cells have been proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of ISCH/REP in many organs. In contrast, the role played by mast cells during ISCH/REP-induced liver damage has remained an issue of debate. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of mast cells in order to search for an effective therapeutic agent that could protect against fatal ISCH/REP-induced liver damage. A model of warm ISCH/REP was induced in the liver of rats. Four groups of rats were used in this study: Group I: SHAM (normal saline, intravenously [iv]); Group II: ISCH/REP; Group III: sodium cromoglycate + ISCH/REP (CROM + ISCH/REP), and Group IV: ketotifen (KET) + ISCH/REP (KET + ISCH/REP). Liver damage was assessed both histopathologically and biochemically. Mast cell degranulation was assessed histochemically. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]) as well as the levels of glutathione (GSH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), the formation of nitric oxide (NO), and the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were determined. The results of this study revealed increased mast cell degranulation in the liver during the acute phase of ISCH/REP. Moreover, CROM, but not KET, decreased the activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactic dehydrogenase and maintained normal liver tissue histology. Both CROM and KET protected against mast cell degranulation in the liver. In addition, both CROM and KET decreased IL-6 and TNF-α. However, CROM, but not KET, decreased MDA formation and increased GSH. Furthermore, KET, but not CROM, increased both NO formation and iNOS expression. In conclusion, this study clearly demonstrated mast cell degranulation in warm ISCH/REP in the liver of rats. More importantly, CROM, but not KET, ameliorated the effect of ISCH/REP-induced injury in rat liver. CROM may protect the liver through mast cell stabilization, inhibition of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, and iNOS and increased GSH. KET may maintain ISCH/REP-induced liver injury through the NO/iNOS pathway. PMID:26396497

Nanosystems in ultrafast and superstrong fields: attosecond phenomena (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stockman, Mark I.

2017-02-01

We present our latest results for a new class of phenomena in condensed matter nanooptics when a strong optical field ˜1-3 V/Å changes a solid within optical cycle [1-8]. Such a pulse drives ampere-scale currents in dielectrics and adiabatically controls their properties, including optical absorption and reflection, extreme UV absorption, and generation of high harmonics [9] in a non-perturbative manner on a 100-as temporal scale. Applied to a metal, such a pulse causes an instantaneous and, potentially, reversible change from the metallic to semimetallic properties. We will also discuss our latest theoretical results on graphene that in a strong ultrashort pulse field exhibits unique behavior [10-12]. New phenomena are predicted for buckled two-dimensional solids, silicene and germanene [13]. These are fastest phenomena in optics unfolding within half period of light. They offer potential for petahertz-bandwidth signal processing, generation of high harmonics on a nanometer spatial scale, etc. References 1. M. Durach, A. Rusina, M. F. Kling, and M. I. Stockman, Metallization of Nanofilms in Strong Adiabatic Electric Fields, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 086803-1-4 (2010). 2. M. Durach, A. Rusina, M. F. Kling, and M. I. Stockman, Predicted Ultrafast Dynamic Metallization of Dielectric Nanofilms by Strong Single-Cycle Optical Fields, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 086602-1-5 (2011). 3. A. Schiffrin, T. Paasch-Colberg, N. Karpowicz, V. Apalkov, D. Gerster, S. Muhlbrandt, M. Korbman, J. Reichert, M. Schultze, S. Holzner, J. V. Barth, R. Kienberger, R. Ernstorfer, V. S. Yakovlev, M. I. Stockman, and F. Krausz, Optical-Field-Induced Current in Dielectrics, Nature 493, 70-74 (2013). 4. M. Schultze, E. M. Bothschafter, A. Sommer, S. Holzner, W. Schweinberger, M. Fiess, M. Hofstetter, R. Kienberger, V. Apalkov, V. S. Yakovlev, M. I. Stockman, and F. Krausz, Controlling Dielectrics with the Electric Field of Light, Nature 493, 75-78 (2013). 5. V. Apalkov and M. I. Stockman, Metal Nanofilm in Strong Ultrafast Optical Fields, Phys. Rev. B 88, 245438-1-7 (2013). 6. V. Apalkov and M. I. Stockman, Theory of Dielectric Nanofilms in Strong Ultrafast Optical Fields, Phys. Rev. B 86, 165118-1-13 (2012). 7. F. Krausz and M. I. Stockman, Attosecond Metrology: From Electron Capture to Future Signal Processing, Nat. Phot. 8, 205-213 (2014). 8. O. Kwon, T. Paasch-Colberg, V. Apalkov, B.-K. Kim, J.-J. Kim, M. I. Stockman, and D. E. Kim, Semimetallization of Dielectrics in Strong Optical Fields, Sci. Rep, 6, 21272-1-9 (2016). 9. T. Higuchi, M. I. Stockman, and P. Hommelhoff, Strong-Field Perspective on High-Harmonic Radiation from Bulk Solids, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 213901-1-5 (2014). 10. H. K. Kelardeh, V. Apalkov, and M. I. Stockman, Wannier-Stark States of Graphene in Strong Electric Field, Phys. Rev. B 90, 085313-1-11 (2014). 11. H. K. Kelardeh, V. Apalkov, and M. I. Stockman, Graphene in Ultrafast and Superstrong Laser Fields, Phys. Rev. B 91, 0454391-8 (2015). 12. H. K. Kelardeh, V. Apalkov, and M. I. Stockman, Attosecond Strong-Field Interferometry in Graphene: Chirality, Singularity, and Berry Phase, Phys. Rev. B 93, 155434-1-7 (2016). 13. H. K. Kelardeh, V. Apalkov, and M. I. Stockman, Ultrafast Field Control of Symmetry, Reciprocity, and Reversibility in Buckled Graphene-Like Materials, Phys. Rev. B 92, 045413-1-9 (2015).

75 FR 27840 - NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supplement 3, Guidance for Protective Action Recommendations for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-18

... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2010-0080] NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supplement 3...: ``NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supplement 3, Guidance for Protective Action Recommendations for General... the existing guidance contained in Supplement 3 to NUREG- 0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, ``Criteria for...

Irreducible projective representations and their physical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jian; Liu, Zheng-Xin

2018-01-01

An eigenfunction method is applied to reduce the regular projective representations (Reps) of finite groups to obtain their irreducible projective Reps. Anti-unitary groups are treated specially, where the decoupled factor systems and modified Schur’s lemma are introduced. We discuss the applications of irreducible Reps in many-body physics. It is shown that in symmetry protected topological phases, geometric defects or symmetry defects may carry projective Rep of the symmetry group; while in symmetry enriched topological phases, intrinsic excitations (such as spinons or visons) may carry projective Rep of the symmetry group. We also discuss the applications of projective Reps in problems related to spectrum degeneracy, such as in search of models without sign problem in quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

MiR-29b affects the secretion of PROG and promotes the proliferation of bovine corpus luteum cells

PubMed Central

Zhang, Li-Qun; Sun, Xu-Lei; Luo, Dan; Fu, Yao; Gao, Yan; Zhang, Jia-Bao

2018-01-01

The regulatory role of miRNAs has been explored in ovarian cells, and their effects on gonadal development, apoptosis, ovulation, steroid production and corpus luteum (CL) development have been revealed. In this study, we analyzed the expression of miR-29b at different stages of bovine CL development and predicted the target genes of miR-29b. We confirmed that miR-29b reduces the expression of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), affects progesterone (PROG) secretion and regulates the function of the CL. RT-PCR showed that the expression of miR-29b was significantly higher in functional CL phases than in the regressed CL phase. Immunohistochemistry showed that OXTR was expressed in both large and small CL cells and was mainly located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of these cells. We analyzed the expression levels of OXTR and found that transfection with a miR-29b mimic decreased OXTR expression, but transfection with the inhibitor had a limited effect on the expression of the OXTR protein. At the same time, the secretion of PROG was significantly increased in the miR-29b mimic-transfected group. We also analyzed the effect of miR-29b on the apoptosis of CL cells. Finally, we found that miR-29b could promote the proliferation of bovine CL cells. In conclusion, we found that miR-29b reduces the expression of OXTR and can promote PROG secretion and the proliferation of CL cells via OXTR. PMID:29617446

Rice endosperm protein slows progression of fatty liver and diabetic nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

PubMed

Kubota, Masatoshi; Watanabe, Reiko; Yamaguchi, Miki; Hosojima, Michihiro; Saito, Akihiko; Fujii, Mikio; Fujimura, Shinobu; Kadowaki, Motoni

2016-10-01

We previously reported that rice endosperm protein (REP) has renoprotective effects in Goto-Kakizaki rats, a non-obese diabetic model. However, whether these effects occur in obese diabetes remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the effects of REP on obese diabetes, especially on fatty liver and diabetic nephropathy, using the obese diabetic model Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. In total, 7-week-old male ZDF rats were fed diets containing 20 % REP or casein (C) for 8 weeks. Changes in fasting blood glucose levels and urinary markers were monitored during the experimental period. Hepatic lipids and metabolites were measured and renal glomeruli were observed morphologically. HbA1c levels were significantly lower in rats fed REP, compared with C (P<0·05). Compared with C in the liver, REP prevented lipid accumulation (total lipid, TAG and total cholesterol, P<0·01). Liver metabolome analysis indicated that levels of metabolites associated with glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway and carnitine metabolism were significantly greater in the REP group than in the C group (P<0·05), suggesting activation of both glucose catabolism and fatty acid oxidation. The metabolite increases promoted by REP may contribute to suppression of liver lipid accumulation. Urinary excretion of albumin and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was significantly reduced in rats fed REP for 8 weeks (P<0·01). In addition, there was a distinct suppression of mesangial matrix expansion and glomerular hypertrophy in response to REP (P<0·01). Thus, REP had preventive effects on obese diabetes, fatty liver and diabetic nephropathy.

Polyethylenimine-based polyplex delivery of self-replicating RNA vaccines.

PubMed

Démoulins, Thomas; Milona, Panagiota; Englezou, Pavlos C; Ebensen, Thomas; Schulze, Kai; Suter, Rolf; Pichon, Chantal; Midoux, Patrick; Guzmán, Carlos A; Ruggli, Nicolas; McCullough, Kenneth C

2016-04-01

Self-amplifying replicon RNA (RepRNA) are large molecules (12-14 kb); their self-replication amplifies mRNA template numbers, affording several rounds of antigen production, effectively increasing vaccine antigen payloads. Their sensitivity to RNase-sensitivity and inefficient uptake by dendritic cells (DCs) - absolute requirements for vaccine design - were tackled by condensing RepRNA into synthetic, nanoparticulate, polyethylenimine (PEI)-polyplex delivery vehicles. Polyplex-delivery formulations for small RNA molecules cannot be transferred to RepRNA due to its greater size and complexity; the N:P charge ratio and impact of RepRNA folding would influence polyplex condensation, post-delivery decompaction and the cytosolic release essential for RepRNA translation. Polyplex-formulations proved successful for delivery of RepRNA encoding influenza virus hemagglutinin and nucleocapsid to DCs. Cytosolic translocation was facilitated, leading to RepRNA translation. This efficacy was confirmed in vivo, inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses. Accordingly, this paper describes the first PEI-polyplexes providing efficient delivery of the complex and large, self-amplifying RepRNA vaccines. The use of self-amplifying replicon RNA (RepRNA) to increase vaccine antigen payloads can potentially be useful in effective vaccine design. Nonetheless, its use is limited by the degradation during the uptake process. Here, the authors attempted to solve this problem by packaging RepRNA using polyethylenimine (PEI)-polyplex delivery vehicles. The efficacy was confirmed in vivo by the appropriate humoral and cellular immune responses. This novel delivery method may prove to be very useful for future vaccine design. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oligomeric Properties of Adeno-Associated Virus Rep68 Reflect Its Multifunctionality

PubMed Central

Zarate-Perez, Francisco; Mansilla-Soto, Jorge; Bardelli, Martino; Burgner, John W.; Villamil-Jarauta, Maria; Kekilli, Demet; Samso, Monserrat

2013-01-01

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) encodes four regulatory proteins called Rep. The large AAV Rep proteins Rep68 and Rep78 are essential factors required in almost every step of the viral life cycle. Structurally, they share two domains: a modified version of the AAA+ domain that characterizes the SF3 family of helicases and an N-terminal domain that binds DNA specifically. The combination of these two domains imparts extraordinary multifunctionality to work as initiators of DNA replication and regulators of transcription, in addition to their essential role during site-specific integration. Although most members of the SF3 family form hexameric rings in vitro, the oligomeric nature of Rep68 is unclear due to its propensity to aggregate in solution. We report here a comprehensive study to determine the oligomeric character of Rep68 using a combination of methods that includes sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation, electron microscopy, and hydrodynamic modeling. We have determined that residue Cys151 induces Rep68 to aggregate in vitro. We show that Rep68 displays a concentration-dependent dynamic oligomeric behavior characterized by the presence of two populations: one with monomers and dimers in slow equilibrium and a second one consisting of a mixture of multiple-ring structures of seven and eight members. The presence of either ATP or ADP induces formation of larger complexes formed by the stacking of multiple rings. Taken together, our results support the idea of a Rep68 molecule that exhibits the flexible oligomeric behavior needed to perform the wide range of functions occurring during the AAV life cycle. PMID:23152528

Discrimination of probiotic Lactobacillus strains for poultry by repetitive sequenced-based PCR fingerprinting.

PubMed

Lee, Chin Mei; Sieo, Chin Chin; Cheah, Yoke-Kqueen; Abdullah, Norhani; Ho, Yin Wan

2012-02-01

Four repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) methods, namely repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), polytrinucleotide (GTG)₅ -PCR and BOX-PCR, were evaluated for the molecular differentiation of 12 probiotic Lactobacillus strains previously isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens and used as a multistrain probiotic. This study represents the first analysis of the comparative efficacy of these four rep-PCR methods and their combination (composite rep-PCR) in the molecular typing of Lactobacillus strains based on a discriminatory index (D). Species-specific and strain-specific profiles were observed from rep-PCR. From the numerical analysis of composite rep-PCR, BOX-PCR, (GTG)₅ -PCR, REP-PCR and ERIC-PCR, D values of 0.9118, 0.9044, 0.8897, 0.8750 and 0.8529 respectively were obtained. Composite rep-PCR analysis was the most discriminative method, with eight Lactobacillus strains, namely L. brevis ATCC 14869(T) , L. reuteri C 10, L. reuteri ATCC 23272(T) , L. gallinarum ATCC 33199(T) , L. salivarius ATCC 11741(T) , L. salivarius I 24, L. panis JCM 11053(T) and L. panis C 17, being differentiated at the strain level. Composite rep-PCR analysis is potentially a useful fingerprinting method to discriminate probiotic Lactobacillus strains isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

78 FR 53774 - Guide for the Evaluation of Alert and Notification Systems for Nuclear Power Plants, FEMA-REP-10...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-30

...] Guide for the Evaluation of Alert and Notification Systems for Nuclear Power Plants, FEMA-REP-10, Rev. 1... the Guide for the Evaluation of Alert and Notification Systems for Nuclear Power Plants, FEMA-REP-10... Agency (FEMA) issued FEMA-REP-10, Guide for the Evaluation of Alert and Notification Systems for Nuclear...

Hydrogen-bond symmetrization in methane and hydrogen hydrates in the Mbar range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bove, L. E.; Ranieri, U.; Gaal, R.; Finocchi, F.; Kuhs, W. F.; Falenty, A.; Klotz, S.; Gillet, P.

2016-12-01

Ice-VII and ice-X phases are the most stable forms of ice at high temperature and extreme pressures, typical of the interiors of satellites and planets. The phase transition between them is a prototypical case of quantum-driven phenomenon, as it can be described as a quantum delocalization of protons in the middle of O-O distances. Recent studies on LiCl- and NaCl-doped ice 1-3 have shown that the presence of salt inclusions in the ice lattice suppresses the quantum behavior of protons, hindering the appearance of the symmetric phase, and possibly suppressing the predicted high temperature superionic phase. This finding stimulated the investigation of similar effects in other water-based compounds, which are thought to be present in icy bodies, namely hydrogen and methane high pressure hydrates. Few experiments have been performed in the past to identify signatures of the hydrogen-bond symmetrization in methane and hydrogen hydrates without reaching conclusive results4,5. Here we present new results on the hydrogen-bond symmetrization of methane and hydrogen hydrates using Raman scattering in the Mbar range and semiclassical simulations including nuclear quantum effects. 1 Bove L. E. et al., E_ect of salt on the H-bond symmetrization in ice, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 112, 8216, 2015 ; 2. Bronstein Y. et al., Quantum versus classical protons in pure and salty ice under pressure, Phys. Rev. B 93, 024104, 2016. 3. Klotz S. et al., Ice VII from aqueous salt solutions: From a glass to a crystal with broken H-bonds, Nature Sci. Rep. , in press. 4. Tanaka T. et al., Phase changes of _lled ice Ih methane hydrate under low temperature and high pressure, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 104701, 2013 5. Hirai H. et al., Structural changes of _lled ice Ic hydrogen hydrate under low temperatures and high pressures from 5 to 50 GPa, J. Chem. Phys. 137, 074505, 2012

Real-Time Flight Test PCM Data Acquisition Monitor.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

REP) BY A NIGH LEVEL , ZERO IS REP BY A LOU LEVEL a.a a a aNR2-MARK NRZ-N N aGa LEVE a a a I a a i a I l a ai a a a a a NRZ-SPACE NRZ-S aA ZERO IS...REP BY NO LEVEL CHANGE a a aA ONE IS REP BY A CHANGE IN LEVEL ", a.i* aIa ’ -’ RZ ! A ONE IS REP BY A HALF BIT WIDE PULSE 0 , , , A ZERO IS REP BY NO...PULSE I I, "a a i a a a ’-i".[TRANtITIO14 AT CENTER OF EVERY BIT PERIOD 81B -PHA-L : N S TASTO R MHG OLUI E .;,.. ,.. . ZERO IS TRAtNSITION FROMH LOY TO

On the time-reversal symmetry in pseudo-Hermitian systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choutri, B.; Cherbal, O.; Ighezou, F. Z.; Trifonov, D. A.

2014-11-01

In a recent paper [M. Sato, K. Hasebe, K. Esaki, and M. Kohmoto, Prog. Theor. Phys. 127, 937 (2012)] Sato and his collaborators established a generalization of the Kramers degeneracy structure to pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems, admitting even time-reversal symmetry, T2=1. This extension is achieved using the mathematical structure of split-quaternions instead of quaternions, usually adopted in the case of Hermitian Hamiltonians with odd time-reversal symmetry, T2=-1. Here we find that the metric operator for the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian H that allows the realization of the generalized Kramers degeneracy is necessarily indefinite. We show that such H with real spectrum also possesses odd antilinear symmetry induced from the existing odd time-reversal symmetry of its Hermitian counterpart h, so that the generalized Kramers degeneracy of H is in fact crypto-Hermitian Kramers degeneracy. We study in greater detail a new example of the pseudo-Hermitian split-quaternionic four-level Hamiltonian system, which admits an indefinite metric operator and time-reversal symmetry and, as a consequence, a generalized Kramers degeneracy structure. We provide a complete solution of the eigenvalue problem, construct pseudo-Hermitian ladder operators closing the normal and abnormal pseudo-fermionic algebras, and show that this system fulfills a crypto-Hermitian degeneracy.

Short-range correlation in high-momentum antisymmetrized molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myo, Takayuki

2018-03-01

We propose a new variational method for treating short-range repulsion of bare nuclear force for nuclei in antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD). In AMD, the short-range correlation is described in terms of large imaginary centroids of Gaussian wave packets of nucleon pairs in opposite signs, causing high-momentum components in the nucleon pairs. We superpose these AMD basis states and call this method "high-momentum AMD" (HM-AMD), which is capable of describing the strong tensor correlation [T. Myo et al., Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys., 2017, 111D01 (2017)]. In this letter, we extend HM-AMD by including up to two kinds of nucleon pairs in each AMD basis state utilizing the cluster expansion, which produces many-body correlations involving high-momentum components. We investigate how well HM-AMD describes the short-range correlation by showing the results for ^3H using the Argonne V4^' central potential. It is found that HM-AMD reproduces the results of few-body calculations and also the tensor-optimized AMD. This means that HM-AMD is a powerful approach to describe the short-range correlation in nuclei. In HM-AMD, the momentum directions of nucleon pairs isotropically contribute to the short-range correlation, which is different from the tensor correlation.

PREFACE: Classical density functional theory methods in soft and hard matter Classical density functional theory methods in soft and hard matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haataja, Mikko; Gránásy, László; Löwen, Hartmut

2010-08-01

Herein we provide a brief summary of the background, events and results/outcome of the CECAM workshop 'Classical density functional theory methods in soft and hard matter held in Lausanne between October 21 and October 23 2009, which brought together two largely separately working communities, both of whom employ classical density functional techniques: the soft-matter community and the theoretical materials science community with interests in phase transformations and evolving microstructures in engineering materials. After outlining the motivation for the workshop, we first provide a brief overview of the articles submitted by the invited speakers for this special issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, followed by a collection of outstanding problems identified and discussed during the workshop. 1. Introduction Classical density functional theory (DFT) is a theoretical framework, which has been extensively employed in the past to study inhomogeneous complex fluids (CF) [1-4] and freezing transitions for simple fluids, amongst other things. Furthermore, classical DFT has been extended to include dynamics of the density field, thereby opening a new avenue to study phase transformation kinetics in colloidal systems via dynamical DFT (DDFT) [5]. While DDFT is highly accurate, the computations are numerically rather demanding, and cannot easily access the mesoscopic temporal and spatial scales where diffusional instabilities lead to complex solidification morphologies. Adaptation of more efficient numerical methods would extend the domain of DDFT towards this regime of particular interest to materials scientists. In recent years, DFT has re-emerged in the form of the so-called 'phase-field crystal' (PFC) method for solid-state systems [6, 7], and it has been successfully employed to study a broad variety of interesting materials phenomena in both atomic and colloidal systems, including elastic and plastic deformations, grain growth, thin film growth, solid-liquid interface properties, glassy dynamics, nucleation and growth, and diffusive phase transformations at the nano- and mesoscales [8-16]. The appealing feature of DDFT (as applied to solid-state systems) is that it automatically incorporates diffusive dynamics with atomic scale spatial resolution, and it naturally incorporates multiple components, elastic strains, dislocations, free surfaces, and multiple crystalline orientations; all of these features are critical in modeling the behavior of solid-state systems. Similarities between the problems of interest to the two communities and the complementary nature of the methods they apply suggest that a direct interaction between them should be highly beneficial for both parties. Here we summarize some of the discussions during a three-day CECAM workshop in Lausanne (21-23 October 2009) which was organized in order to bring together researchers from the complex fluids and materials science communities and to foster the exchange of ideas between these two communities. During the course of the workshop, several open problems relevant to both fields (DFT and PFC) were identified, including developing better microscopically-informed density functionals, incorporating stochastic fluctuations, and accounting for hydrodynamic interactions. The goal of this special issue is to highlight recent progress in DFT and PFC approaches, and discuss key outstanding problems for future work. The rest of this introductory paper is organized as follows. In section 2, we give a brief overview of the current research topics addressed in this special issue. Then, in section 3, we present a collection of outstanding problems, which have been identified as important for further developments of the two fields and intensely debated at the CECAM workshop. Finally, we close the paper with a few concluding remarks. 2. Research topics addressed in this special issue This special issue consists of research papers that cover a broad range of interesting subjects, about a half of which are related to the theoretical materials science community and the other half came from the soft-matter community. We begin by discussing papers related to PFC. Diverse subjects related to the phase-field crystal model include exciting topics such as predicting/controlling the equilibrium phase behavior [19, 18, 17] and kinetics of epitaxial island formation on nano-membranes [20]. Moreover, phase-field crystal modeling has proved to be very successful in simulating homogeneous and heterogeneous crystal nucleation and growth, and several aspects of these phenomena are discussed in this issue [18, 21]. Finally, it is shown how to incorporate additional orientational degrees of freedom within the PFC approach to model liquid crystals [22]. On the DFT side, the other papers in this special issue deal with problems associated with advanced DFT techniques and applications. The existence of a structural instability in sub-critical crystalline fluctuations in a supercooled liquid within a square-gradient theory is discussed in [23]. Fundamental measure theory for hard-body systems is improved by discussing a correction term in detail, as discussed in [24]. A mean-field-like density functional for charges is applied to the effective interaction between charged colloids obtained within a cell model [25]. The remaining articles provide fundamental insight into how to supplement DDFT-type methods with hydrodynamics [26, 27], highlight the role of the projection operator technique in deriving dynamical density functional theories [28], and demonstrate how perturbation methods can be employed to compute the properties of solid-liquid interfaces [29]. This particular collection of papers demonstrates rather convincingly the significant potential that classical density functional techniques possess in modeling complex systems built of either soft or hard matter (or combinations thereof). While the PFC approach offers a simple and appealing means to simulate evolving microstructures in spatially extended system with atomic scale spatial resolution over diffusive time scales, DFT provides both its theoretical underpinning and (hopefully) the means to construct microscopically more quantitative density functionals for use in engineering materials. Outstanding issues within the PFC and DFT approaches, discussed next, will provide further opportunities for interactions between the PFC and DFT communities. 3. Important open issues and exciting avenues for further research In the following we summarize some of the exciting topics for future research, which were discussed during the CECAM workshop. They concern both fundamental problems and applications, all within the framework of DFT and PFC. Addressing these issues will provide a framework for future work in these two overlapping fields. (a) How to construct a reliable density functional (DF) for soft repulsions? Most of the recent developments in classical density functional theory were focussed on hard-sphere-like interactions in the framework of fundamental-measure-theory (FMT) [30-33]. While this approach can be extended to additive and nonadditive mixtures [34, 35] and to non-spherical hard objects [36, 37], it is much more difficult to include soft-core interactions, such as inverse-power-law pair-potentials. There have been attempts to include those, mainly using the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff [38] or the weighted-density [39-41] approximation, or other modifications (see e.g., [42, 43]), but the accuracy of these functionals are inferior to that of FMT for hard spheres. Clearly the FMT of Rosenfeld needs an extension for the hard-core Coulomb system. A complementary approach is to start from a density functional for hard orientable objects [36] and to integrate out the orientational degrees of freedom. This would lead to a softened effective repulsion between spherical objects. We mention finally that in the extreme limit of ultrasoft pair potentials, which are penetrable, the mean-field approximation provides a reliable functional [44]. (b) How to construct a reliable DF beyond perturbation theory? This is the key to developing accurate, predictive functionals for use in materials science problems. Typically an attractive tail in the interparticle interaction is treated within thermodynamic hard-sphere perturbation theory [45, 46], in most cases at the mean-field level. As this perturbative approach is only justified for weak attraction strengths, there is a great need to go beyond this perturbation theory. A general non-perturbative route, which could be helpful here, is to consider a functional for a mixture and reducing it to an effective one-component system. Following this idea, for example effective depletion attractions can be modeled for a one-component system by starting from the binary Asakura-Oosawa functional [34, 35]. This idea still needs to be exploited in a more general sense, i.e. for more general cross-interactions in the mixture. It could also be combined with the idea of using non-spherical hard objects and integrating out the orientational degrees of freedom. (c) How to apply the fundamental measure theory to the full phase diagram of lyotropic liquid crystals? There are already density-functional investigations of liquid-crystal phases of hard spherocylinders [47, 48], but the novel fundamental-measure-theory which was recently proposed for non-spherical objects[36] has never been applied to this problem. In fact, this new functional now needs numerical evaluation for liquid-crystal phases different from isotropic and nematic ones, such as smectic, columnar, plastic crystalline and full orientational ordered crystalline phases [49, 50]. This is mainly a pure numerical resolution problem since the density fields are sharply peaked in the solid phases and need enough grid points, which is at the moment a rather formidable challenge in three spatial dimensions. However, if only orientational degrees of freedoms are considered, the computational effort is greatly reduced; see, e.g., [36, 51, 52]. (d) The role of fluctuations in DDFT and PFC. There is a continuing debate about the role of noise in the dynamical density functional theory (see e.g. [53]) and correspondingly also in the phase-field crystal models. Derivations of DDFT from the Smoluchowski level [54] and also within the projection operator technique [5] quite naturally lead to a deterministic equation without any noise. Clearly this is an approximation, which becomes problematic in the vicinity of a critical point or in the case of nucleation problems, where the system has to leave a metastable minimum of the free energy; in the former case, fluctuations are required in order to capture the correct critical behavior (i.e., critical exponents), while in the latter case, fluctuations are needed to establish an escape route of the system from a metastable phase. Other approaches add noise on a more phenomenological level. However, the actual strength of the noise, though fundamentally correlated with the thermal energy, is not known exactly and is treated in most applications as a phenomenological fit parameter; see, e.g., [55, 56]. This problem is a very fundamental one, and, of course, shared by the DDFT and PFC approaches. In more general terms, the addition of noise to the equation of motion in continuum models is not without conceptual difficulties (see [57]), even if noise is properly discretized in the course of the numerical integration. With the noise added, the equilibrium physical properties of the system change. Furthermore, transformation kinetics generally depend on the spatial and temporal steps, and in the limit of infinitely small steps an ultraviolet 'catastrophe' (divergence of the free energy) may occur. Evidently, an 'ultraviolet cut-off', i.e. filtering out the highest frequencies, is required to regularize the unphysical singularity. In the PFC case, a straightforward choice for the cut-off length is the interparticle distance, which is expected to remove the unphysical, small wavelength fluctuations [58, 16, 59, 18]. Perhaps a more elegant way to handle this problem is via renormalizing the model parameters so that with noise one recovers the 'bare' physical properties (see the application of this approach for the Swift-Hohenberg model in [60]). However, further systematic investigations are needed in order to settle this issue. (e) The need to clarify the role of the adiabatic approximation. While DDFT can be derived from more microscopic equations, such as the Smoluchowski equation [54] or the Langevin equations [61] for the individual particles, a major approximation is invoked in the derivation, namely the so-called 'adiabatic approximation'. This approximation assumes that all other observables relax much faster than the one-particle density field [5]. Therefore, the nonequilibrium correlations are replaced by equilibrium ones corresponding to an inhomogeneous reference one-particle density [54]. This enables one to formulate the theory in terms of the time-dependent one-particle density field alone. What is still needed here is a more general theory which provides the next-leading order beyond the adiabatic approximation. This improved theory would not only provide more fundamental insight into the DDFT itself; it would also pave the way to many applications where the simpleDDFT fails. (f) How to apply and exploit DDFT for active matter? The collective behavior of self-propelled particles with internal driving motors is a topic of active research [62, 62]. Given that the particle dynamics can be described in terms of driven Brownian motion, a dynamical density functional theory can be derived in a straightforward manner. In a first application, DDFT was employed to describe aggregation phenomena near system boundaries for driven rod-like colloidal particles [64]. The potential of DDFT for 'active' particles should be exploited more in the future, as it provides a microscopic approach to investigate nonequilibrium effects, such as swarming and jamming. (g) How to construct a PFC model for inhomogeneous liquid crystals? The traditional PFC model [6, 7] describes a two-dimensional one-component solid phase by a single inhomogeneous sinusoidal density field. The PFC approach has been generalized to mixtures by including more than a single density field [11] and to anisotropic particles with a fixed orientation [65]. However, it has never been applied to liquid crystals which are made by particles with intrinsic orientational degrees of freedom. Based on discussion during the CECAM workshop, a link towards the PFC model has been elaborated and the corresponding PFC model for liquid crystals was derived, see article [22] in this special issue. The extended PFC model contains both the translational density and the local orientational degree of ordering as well as a local director field. The model exhibits stable isotropic, nematic, smectic A, columnar, plastic crystalline and orientationally ordered crystalline phases and bears therefore much richer phases than the original PFC. A large-scale numerical exploration of this PFC model still needs to be performed. The derivation exploits the connection between DDFT and PFC, which was highlighted in [66] for spherical particles, and is based on recent generalizations of DDFT to rod-like Brownian particles [67, 64]. (h) How to incorporate hydrodynamic interactions between particles in dense driven systems of colloids? In dense colloidal dispersions, hydrodynamic interactions between the particles play a major role in their collective behavior. While these interactions affect neither structural correlations nor the equilibrium phase behavior, they have a profound effect on the dynamics both in equilibrium and non-equilibrium [68]. Recently, DDFT was extended to include hydrodynamic interactions on the pairwise level of the mobility tensors [69]. This kind of DDFT needs more applications as well as a fundamental development towards higher-order mobility tensors beyond the pairwise level or to a description, which includes lubrication forces between colloidal particles at small interparticle separations. (i) How to systematically construct effective, low-frequency representations from DFT/DDFT? Given an accurate and predictive density functional, which incorporates interaction potentials between the constituent species in a multi-component system, building an effective description would be highly desirable as it would provide an alternative to purely atomistic approaches (e.g., molecular dynamics simulations) and enable the simulation of quantitative, microscopically-informed, continuum systems across diffusive time scales. The first challenge, of course, is the development of such functionals, as already discussed in item (b) above. Once this challenge has been overcome, the next step would be to project out the dynamics of the relevant degrees of freedom from the full DDFT description. Physically, one would expect that the shape of a single peak in the density would relax much faster than, say, the distance between peak centers. Therefore, it should be possible to `slave' the high-frequency modes associated with the peak shapes to the more slowly evolving modes with low spatial frequencies. (j) How to build numerically efficient, quantitative PFC models for a broad spectrum of metallic materials? Viewed as an extension of the traditional phase-field method (see, e.g., [70-74]. for comprehensive reviews), PFC incorporates microscopic physics (crystal symmetry, grain orientation, topological defects) in a phenomenological manner. A practical issue in numerically integrating the dynamic PFC equation is that the grid spacing is constrained to be a fraction of the lattice spacing (typically Δ x ~ a/8), making large-scale simulations challenging in three spatial dimensions. It is thus highly desirable to develop a methodology that would allow one to tune important materials parameters such as crystal symmetry, lattice spacing, elastic constants, surface energies and stresses, dislocation core energy, and dislocation mobility, without sacrificing numerical efficiency. The issue of constructing PFC free energies, which give rise to a given crystal symmetry, has been addressed very recently; see, e.g., [17-19]. Going beyond the question of crystal symmetry, an appealing possibility is to further develop the so-called amplitude equation approach [75-77]., in which the density field is essentially expressed in terms of slowly-varying envelope functions (i.e., amplitudes), modulated by the fundamental spatial periodicity of the density. In fact, it has been demonstrated recently that such an approach provides a truly multi-scale approach to studying phase transformations in solid-liquid systems [78]. The goal is to construct amplitude equations, which accurately incorporate, e.g., surface tension anisotropies for simulations of solid-solid, solid-liquid, and solid-vapor systems. Alternatively, one can work directly with the PFC density field and introduce additional model parameters which can be fitted so that a required set of physical properties is recovered, such as the properties of the solid-liquid interface in pure iron [79]. (k) How to simulate electronic materials with PFC? Ferroelectrics comprise an interesting class of materials, which undergo a structural phase transformation (typically cubic-to-tetragonal) below a Curie temperature and acquire a non-zero electric polarization. It has been suggested that the manipulation of these polarization domains by means of an external field can be exploited in novel non-volatile memory devices [80, 81]. The PFC approach would present an appealing means to study ferroelectrics exhibiting one or more (ferroic) order parameters, provided that the crystal lattice can be coupled to the local order parameter(s) in a physically-based manner. 4. Concluding remarks The workshop 'Classical density functional theory methods in soft and hard matter' has established the first contact between the soft-matter community working with advanced classical density functional techniques and a theoretical materials science community working with engineering materials and armed with a simple but numerically very efficient dynamical density functional technique, the phase-field crystal method. A large number of common problems have been identified, which represent challenges for both communities during the coming years. This has been borne out by the lively discussions and some of the provocative talks. The organizers think that the workshop proved to be a truly successful event, matching to the high standards of the CECAM workshops, and hope that the workshop will indeed catalyze a long-term interaction between the two communities. As a final note, we would like to emphasize that progress in the areas highlighted in this special issue will positively impact both fields, and we expect that these issues will provide the natural link for collaborations and intellectual exchanges between these traditionally separate-yet-allied fields. In particular, such activities would lead to significant improvements in the applicability and versatility of classical DFT methods in both soft and hard matter systems, for the common benefit of physicists, chemists, and materials scientists. References [1] Evans R 1979 Adv. Phys. 28 143 [2] Oxtoby D W 1991 Liquids, Freezing and the Glass Transition (Session LI (1989) of Les Houches Summer Schools of Theoretical Physics) (Amsterdam: North Holland) p 147 [3] Singh Y 1991 Phys. Rep. 207 351 [4] Löwen H 1994 Phys. Rep. 237 249 [5] Español P and Löwen H 2009 J. Chem. Phys. 131 244101 [6] Elder K R, Katakowski M, Haataja M and Grant M 2002 Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 245701 [7] Elder K R and Grant M 2004 Phys. Rev. E 70 051605 [8] Berry J, Grant M and Elder K R 2006 Phys. Rev. E 73 031609 [9] Stefanovic P, Haataja M and Provatas N 2006 Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 225504 [10] Wu K-A and Karma A 2007 Phys. Rev. B 76 184107 [11] Elder K R, Provatas N, Berry J, Stefanovic P and Grant M 2007 Phys. Rev. B 75 064107 [12] Berry J, Elder K R and Grant M 2008 Phys. Rev. E 77 061506 [13] Huang Z-F and Elder K R 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 158701 [14] Wu K-A and Voorhees P W 2009 Phys. Rev. B 80 125408 [15] Stefanovic P, Haataja M and Provatas N 2009 Phys. Rev. E 80 046107 [16] Tegze G, Gránásy L, Tóth G I, Podmaniczky F, Jaatinen A, Ala-Nissial T and Pusztai T 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 035702 [17] Jaatinen A and Ala-Nissila T 2010 Extended phase diagram of the three-dimensional phase field crystal model J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 205402 [18] Tóth G I, Tegze G, Pusztai T, Tóth G and Gránásy L 2010 Polymorphism, crystal nucleation and growth in the phase-field crystal model in 2D and 3D J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364101 [19] Wu K-A, Plapp M and Voorhees P 2010 Controlling crystal symmetries in phase-field crystal models J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364102 [20] Elder K R and Huang Z-F 2010 A phase field crystal study of epitaxial island formation on nanomembranes J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364103 [21] Backofen R and Voigt A 2010 A phase-field-crystal approach to critical nuclei J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364104 [22] Löwen H 2010 A phase-field-crystal model for liquid crystals J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364105 [23] Harrowell P 2010 On the existence of a structural instability in sub-critical crystalline fluctuations in a supercooled liquid J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364106 [24] Hansen-Goos H and Mecke K 2010 Tensorial density functional theory for non-spherical hard-body fluids J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364107 [25] Denton A R 2010 Poisson-Boltzmann theory of charged colloids: limits of the cell model for salty suspensions J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364108 [26] Rauscher M 2010 DDFT for Brownian particles and hydrodynamics J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364109 [27] Marini Bettolo Marconi U and Melchionna S 2010 Dynamic density functional theory versus kinetic theory of simple fluids J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364110 [28] Majaniemi S, Provatas N and Nonomura M 2010 Effective model hierarchies for dynamic and static classical density functional theories J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364111 [29] Warshavsky V B and Song X 2010 Perturbation theory for solid-liquid interfacial free energies J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 364112 [30] Rosenfeld Y, Schmidt M, Löwen H and Tarazona P 1997 Phys. Rev. E 55 4245 [31] Roth R, Evans R, Lang A and Kahl G 2002 J. Phys: Condens. Matter 14 12063 [32] Tarazona P, Cuesta J A and Martinez-Raton Y 2008 Density Functional Theories of Hard Particle Systems (Springer Lecture Notes in Physics vol 753) (Berlin: Springer) p 247 [33] Roth R 2010 J. Phys: Condens. Matter 22 063102 [34] Schmidt M, Löwen H, Brader J M and Evans R 2000 Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 1934 [35] Schmidt M, Löwen H, Brader J M and Evans R 2002 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 14 9353 [36] Hansen-Goos H and Mecke K 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 018302 [37] Esztermann A, Reich H and Schmidt M 2006 Phys. Rev. E 73 011409 [38] Ramakrishnan T V and Yussouff M 1979 Phys. Rev. B 19 2775 [39] Denton A R and Ashcroft N W 1989 Phys. Rev. A 39 4701 [40] Hasegawa M 1994 J. Phys. Soc. Japan 63 2215 [41] Kol A and Laird B B 1997 Mol. Phys. 90 951 [42] van Teeffelen S, Löwen H and Likos C N 2008 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 20 404217 [43] van Teeffelen S, Hoffmann N, Likos C N and Löwen H 2006 Europhys. Lett. 75 583 [44] Likos C N, Hoffmann N, Löwen H and Louis A A 2002 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 14 7681 [45] Curtin W A and Ashcroft N W 1986 Phys. Rev. Lett. 56 2775 [46] Likos C N, Németh Z T and Löwen H 1994 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 6 10965 [47] Poniewierski A and Holyst R 1988 Phys. Rev. Lett. 61 2461 [48] Graf H and Löwen H 1999 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 11 1435 [49] Bolhuis P and Frenkel D 1997 J. Chem. Phys. 106 666 [50] Frenkel D, Mulder B M and McTague J P 1984 Phys. Rev. Lett. 52 287 [51] Härtel A and Löwen H 2010 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22 104112 [52] Härtel A, Blaak R and Löwen H 2010 Towing, breathing, splitting, and overtaking in driven colloidal liquid crystals Phys. Rev. E 81 051703 [53] Archer A J and Rauscher M 2004 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 37 9325 [54] Archer A J and Evans R 2004 J. Chem. Phys. 121 4246 [55] Ramos J A P, Granato E, Achim C V, Ying S C, Elder K R and Ala-Nissila T 2008 Phys. Rev. E 78 031109 [56] Hubert J, Cheng M and Emmerich H 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 464108 [57] Plapp M 2010 Philos. Mag. submitted [58] Pusztai T, Tegze G, Tóth G I, Környei L, Bansel G, Fan Z and Gránásy L 2008 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 20 404205 [59] Tegze G, Bansel G, Tóth G I, Pusztai T, Fan Z and Gránásy L 2009 J. Comput. Phys. 228 1612 [60] Gross N A, Ignatiev M and Chakraborty B 2000 Phys. Rev. E 62 6116 [61] Marconi V M B and Tarazona P 2000 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 12 A413 [62] Toner J, Tu Y and Ramaswamy S 2005 Ann. Phys. 318 170 [63] Lauga E and Powers T R 2009 Rep. Prog. Phys. 72 096601 [64] Wensink H H and Löwen H 2008 Phys. Rev. E 78 031409 [65] Prieler R, Hubert J, Li D, Verleye B, Haberkern R and Emmerich H 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 464110 [66] van Teeffelen S, Backofen R, Voigt A and Löwen H 2009 Phys. Rev. E 79 051404 [67] Rex M, Wensink H H and Löwen H 2007 Phys. Rev. E 76 021403 [68] Dhont J K G 1996 An Introduction to Dynamics of Colloids (Amsterdam: Elsevier) [69] Rex M and Löwen H 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 148302 [70] Elder K R, Grant M, Provatas N and Kosterlitz J M 2001 Phys. Rev. E 64 021604 [71] Chen L Q 2002 Annu. Rev. Mat. Res. 32 113 [72] Boettinger W J, Warren J A, Beckermann C and Karma A 2002 Annu. Rev. Mat. Res. 32 163 [73] Gránásy L, Pusztai T and Warren J A 2004 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 16 R1205 [74] Singer-Loginova I and Singer H M 2008 Rep. Prog. Phys. 71 106501 [75] Goldenfeld N, Athreya B P and Dantzig J A 2005 Phys. Rev. E 72 020601 [76] Yeon D-H, Huang Z-F, Elder K R and Thornton K 2010 Phil. Mag. 90 237 [77] Elder K R, Huang Z-F and Provatas N 2010 Phys. Rev. E 81 011602 [78] Athreya B P, Goldenfeld N, Dantzig J A, Greenwood M and Provatas N 2007 Phys. Rev. E 76 056706 [79] Jaatinen A, Achim C V, Elder K R and Ala-Nissila T 2009 Phys. Rev. E 80 031602 [80] Chu M-W et al 2004 Nat. Mater. 3 87 [81] Rudiger A and Waser J 2008 J. Alloy Compounds 449 2

GEMINI RENDEZVOUS EVALUATION POD (REP) - ARTIST CONCEPT

NASA Image and Video Library

1965-08-01

S65-28653 (August 1965) --- Rendezvous Evaluation Pod (REP) in orbit is approached by Gemini spacecraft as seen in this artist's concept using an actual photograph taken on the Gemini-4 mission. The REP is superimposed over a Gemini-4 Earth-sky picture of cloud formations over an ocean. The REP will be used by the crew of the Gemini-5 spacecraft to practice rendezvous techniques.

Differential cross sections for electron impact excitation of the Herzberg pseudocontinuum of molecular oxygen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, M. A.; Maddern, T.; Brunger, M. J.; Campbell, L.; Cartwright, D. C.; Newell, W. R.; Teubner, P. J. O.

2002-09-01

We report differential cross sections (DCSs) for electron impact excitation of the sum (c1Σ u- + A'3 Δ u + A3 Σ u+) of the three states that constitute the Herzberg pseudocontinuum in O2. These DCSs were measured at seven incident electron energies in the range 9-20 eV and over the scattered electron angular range 10-90°. We note that this represents a far more detailed study than has hitherto previously been reported. In their review on electron-diatomic molecule scattering systems, Brunger and Buckman (Brunger M J and Buckman S J 2002 Phys. Rep. 357 215) clearly identified gaps in our knowledge for electron impact excitation of the Herzberg electronic states. The present study rectifies this situation and, additionally, seeks to stimulate theoreticians to extend their existing integral cross section calculations, for the c1 Σ u-, A'3 Δ u and A3 Σ u+ states, to the DCS-level.

β-Decay Study of the rp-Process Nucleus ^96Cd

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becerril, Ana; Amthor, A.; Baumann, T.; Bazin, D.; Crawford, H.; Estrade, A.; Gade, A.; Ginter, T.; Guess, C.; Hausmann, M.; Hitt, G.; Lorusso, G.; Mantica, P.; Matos, M.; Meharchand, R.; Minamisono, K.; Montes, F.; Pereira, J.; Perdikakis, G.; Pinter, J.; Portillo, M.; Schatz, H.; Smith, K.; Stoker, J.; Zegers, R.

2008-10-01

The half-life of ^96Cd, one of the major waiting points along the reaction path of the rp-process [1] has been measured at NSCL. Nuclei of interest were produced by fragmentation of a 120 MeV/u ^112Sn primary beam on a Be target and selected with the A1900 fragment separator in conjunction with the RF Fragment Separator [2]. The experimental setup, which consisted on the NSCL β-Counting System [3] and the Segmented Germanium Array [4], permitted the correlation of implants and decays as well as the detection of both prompt and β-delayed γ-rays from implanted ions. Details of the experiment and results will be presented and their implications discussed. [1] H. Schatz et al., Phys. Rep. 294, 167 1998 [2] D. Gorelov et al. PAC 2005, Knoxville, TN, May 16-20 [3] J. Prisciandaro et al., NIM A 505, 140 2003 [4] W. Mueller et al., NIM A 466, 492 2001

Influence of the electron density on the characteristics of terahertz waves generated under laser–cluster interaction

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

Frolov, A. A., E-mail: frolov@ihed.ras.ru

2016-12-15

A theory of generation of terahertz radiation under laser–cluster interaction, developed earlier for an overdense cluster plasma [A. A. Frolov, Plasma Phys. Rep. 42. 637 (2016)], is generalized for the case of arbitrary electron density. The spectral composition of radiation is shown to substantially depend on the density of free electrons in the cluster. For an underdense cluster plasma, there is a sharp peak in the terahertz spectrum at the frequency of the quadrupole mode of a plasma sphere. As the electron density increases to supercritical values, this spectral line vanishes and a broad maximum at the frequency comparable withmore » the reciprocal of the laser pulse duration appears in the spectrum. The dependence of the total energy of terahertz radiation on the density of free electrons is analyzed. The radiation yield is shown to increase significantly under resonance conditions, when the laser frequency is close to the eigenfrequency of the dipole or quadrupole mode of a plasma sphere.« less

Geometric phase topology in weak measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samlan, C. T.; Viswanathan, Nirmal K.

2017-12-01

The geometric phase visualization proposed by Bhandari (R Bhandari 1997 Phys. Rep. 281 1-64) in the ellipticity-ellipse orientation basis of the polarization ellipse of light is implemented to understand the geometric aspects of weak measurement. The weak interaction of a pre-selected state, acheived via spin-Hall effect of light (SHEL), results in a spread in the polarization ellipticity (η) or ellipse orientation (χ) depending on the resulting spatial or angular shift, respectively. The post-selection leads to the projection of the η spread in the complementary χ basis results in the appearance of a geometric phase with helical phase topology in the η - χ parameter space. By representing the weak measurement on the Poincaré sphere and using Jones calculus, the complex weak value and the geometric phase topology are obtained. This deeper understanding of the weak measurement process enabled us to explore the techniques’ capabilities maximally, as demonstrated via SHEL in two examples—external reflection at glass-air interface and transmission through a tilted half-wave plate.

Consideration of formation process for the nuclei on precursor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagata, J.; Okamoto, M.

2003-12-01

The very isotropic microwave background and the Hubble expansion indicate that the universe has evolved from an earlier state of high temperature and density that can be reasonably well described by Friedman-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmological models. The nuclear evolution of non-degenerate matter expanding from very high temperature was studied in detail for various values of the expansion rate and of the proton-neutron abundance difference and baryon density[1,2,3]. In this calculation, many nuclear reactions were included, and its results suggested important reaction process for the evolution of nuclear abundances. 3He and 4He are very important elements in these nuclear reactions as the primordial nucleosynthesis. Microscopic study for few body system is one main topic in nuclear theoretical physics. In this field, very accurate calculations are available by using the Faddeev equations[4]. Recently, many data for pd, p-3He and d-3He have been obtained including polarized observables. Model calculations for systems including 3He and 4He (for example, d + 3He -> p + 4He) are carried out using the Faddeev equations based on the meson exchange models[4]. This model reproduces well the empirical phase shifts which are determined by so-called phase-shift analyses using all of available scattering data measured at various laboratories around the world[5,6,7]. Constructions of models for the nuclear reactions including 3He and 4He will give important information for calculations of the primordial nucleosynthesis after big-ban. The calculations are carried out until the sum of the abundances at each mass number ceases to change. Various different set of initial conditions for the baryon mass density, the expansion rate and the neutron-proton ratio are used. Dusts kept in precursor asteroid nebular form precursor asteroid, then, formations of planet start [8]. Possible values of parameters in the initial conditions for theoretical calculations will be searched considering an information from precursor asteroid References: {[1]} R. V. Wagoner, W. A. Fowler and F. Hoyle (1967), Astrophys. J. 148, 3. {[2]} R. V. Wagoner. (1969), Astrophys. J. 162, 247. [3] R. V. Wagoner (1973), Astrophys. J. 179, 343. [4] For example, S. Gojyuki and S. Oryu (2003), Mod. Phys. Lett. A18, 302. [5] Y. Yoshino, V. Limkaisang, J. Nagata, H. Yoshino and M. Matsuda (2000), Prog. Theor. Phys. 103, 107. [6] H. Yoshino, J. Nagata, V. Limkaisang, Y. Yoshino, M. Matsuda (2001), Nucl. Phys. A684, 615c. [7] H. Yoshino, H. Kazuo, M. Matsuda, J. Nagata, (2003), Mod. Phys. Lett. A18, 444. [8] Hayashi, C. et. al., 1985, Protostars and Planets, Univ. of Arizona Press, pp. 1100.

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart II of... - Summary of Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements abc

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... abc Requirement All Opts. Rec Rep Option 1 Rec Rep Option 2 Rec Rep Option 3 Rec Rep Notification (§ 63.9(a)-(d)) X X Implementation plan (§ 63.787(b)) d X X Volume of coating applied at unaffected major sources (§ 63.781(b)) X Volume of each low-usage-exempt coating applied at affected sources (§ 63...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart II of... - Summary of Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements abc

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... abc Requirement All Opts. Rec Rep Option 1 Rec Rep Option 2 Rec Rep Option 3 Rec Rep Notification (§ 63.9(a)-(d)) X X Implementation plan (§ 63.787(b)) d X X Volume of coating applied at unaffected major sources (§ 63.781(b)) X Volume of each low-usage-exempt coating applied at affected sources (§ 63...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart II of... - Summary of Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements abc

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... abc Requirement All Opts. Rec Rep Option 1 Rec Rep Option 2 Rec Rep Option 3 Rec Rep Notification (§ 63.9(a)-(d)) X X Implementation plan (§ 63.787(b)) d X X Volume of coating applied at unaffected major sources (§ 63.781(b)) X Volume of each low-usage-exempt coating applied at affected sources (§ 63...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart II of... - Summary of Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements abc

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... abc Requirement All Opts. Rec Rep Option 1 Rec Rep Option 2 Rec Rep Option 3 Rec Rep Notification (§ 63.9(a)-(d)) X X Implementation plan (§ 63.787(b)) d X X Volume of coating applied at unaffected major sources (§ 63.781(b)) X Volume of each low-usage-exempt coating applied at affected sources (§ 63...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart II of... - Summary of Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements abc

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... abc Requirement All Opts. Rec Rep Option 1 Rec Rep Option 2 Rec Rep Option 3 Rec Rep Notification (§ 63.9(a)-(d)) X X Implementation plan (§ 63.787(b)) d X X Volume of coating applied at unaffected major sources (§ 63.781(b)) X Volume of each low-usage-exempt coating applied at affected sources (§ 63...

Use of Reference Ear Plug to improve accuracy of lateral cephalograms generated from cone-beam computed tomography scans

PubMed Central

Lee, Kyung-Min; Uhm, Gi-Soo; Cho, Jin-Hyoung; McNamara, James A.

2013-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Reference Ear Plug (REP) during cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan for the generation of lateral cephalograms from CBCT scan data. Methods Two CBCT scans were obtained from 33 adults. One CBCT scan was acquired using conventional methods, and the other scan was acquired with the use of REP. Virtual lateral cephalograms created from each CBCT image were traced and compared with tracings of the real cephalograms obtained from the same subject. Results CBCT scan with REP resulted in a smaller discrepancy between real and virtual cephalograms. In comparing the real and virtual cephalograms, no measurements significantly differed from real cephalogram values in case of CBCT scan with REP, whereas many measurements significantly differed in the case of CBCT scan without REP. Conclusion Measurements from CBCT-generated cephalograms are more similar to those from real cephalograms when REP are used during CBCT scan. Thus, the use of REP is suggested during CBCT scan to generate accurate virtual cephalograms from CBCT scan data. PMID:23671830

Covering the Plane with Rep-Tiles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fosnaugh, Linda S.; Harrell, Marvin E.

1996-01-01

Presents an activity in which students use geometric figures, rep-tiles, to design a tile floor. Rep-tiles are geometric figures of which copies can fit together to form a larger similar figure. Includes reproducible student worksheet. (MKR)

THz imaging of majolica tiles and biological attached marble fragments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catapano, Ilaria; Soldovieri, Francesco

2016-04-01

Devices exploiting waves in the frequency range from 0.1 THz to 10 THz (corresponding to a free-space wavelength ranging from 30 μm to 3 mm) deserve attention as diagnostic technologies for cultural heritage. THz waves are, indeed, non-ionizing radiations capable of penetrating into non-metallic materials, which are opaque to both visible and infrared waves, without implying long term risks to the molecular stability of the exposed objects and humans. Moreover, THz surveys involve low poewr probing waves, are performed without contact with the object and, thanks to the recent developments, which have allowed the commercialization of compact, flexible and portable systems, maybe performed in loco (i.e. in the place where the artworks are usually located). On the other hand, THz devices can be considered as the youngest among the sensing and imaging electromagnetic techniques and their actual potentialities in terms of characterization of artworks is an ongoing research activity. As a contribution within this context, we have performed time of flight THz imaging [1,2] on ceramic and marble objects. In particular, we surveyed majolica tiles produced by Neapolitan ceramists in the 18th and 19th centuries with the aim to gather information on their structure, constructive technique and conservation state. Moreover, we investigated a Marmo di Candoglia fragment in order to characterize the biological attach affecting it. All the surveys were carried out by using the Fiber-Coupled Terahertz Time Domain System (FICO) developed by Z-Omega and available at the Institute of Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA). This system is equipped with fiber optic coupled transmitting and receiving probes and with an automatic positioning system enabling to scan a 150 mm x 150 mm area under a reflection measurement configuration. Based on the obtained results we can state that the use of THz waves allows: - the reconstruction of the object topography; - the geometrical characterization of defects; - the imaging of layered structures and inner features. Specifically, as far as majolica tiles are concerned, we obtained cross-section images pointing out the presence of clay body, glaze and pigment layer. Moreover, pigment and glaze losses affecting the integrity of the surveyed objects were imaged, the depth extension of the losses was estimated and clay body inhomogeneities were observed. Finally, by taking into account the retrieved features of the topography and the spatial distribution of the detected clay body inhomogeneities, hypothesis on the clay shaping modalities were inferred. In addition, with reference to the marble fragment, the zones mainly affected by the biological attach were identified. A detailed presentation of the surveys and obtained results will be provided at the conferences. REFERENCES [1] W.L. Chan, J. Deibel, D.M. Mittleman, "Imaging with terahertz radiation" Rep. Prog. Phys., vol.70, pp.1325-1379, 2007. [2] I. Catapano, F. Soldovieri, "THz imaging and spectroscopy: First experiments and preliminary results", Proceeding of 8th Int. Workshop on Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (IWAGPR 2015), 4pp., 2015.

NASA Stennis hosts 2010 NASA Day at the Capitol.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2010-01-01

Astronaut Danny Olivas (center) speaks to members of the Mississippi House of Representatives in chambers during NASA Day at the Capitol in Jackson on Jan. 6. Olivas was joined at the podium by (l to r): Rep. Dirk Dedeaux, D-Perkinston; Rep. Greg Cromer, R-Slidell, La.; Rep. Jessica Upshaw, R-Diamondhead; Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune; Stennis Deputy Director Patrick Scheuermann; and Rep. J.P. Compretta, D-Bay St. Louis. Compretta, Dedeaux, Formby and Upshaw all are members of the Mississippi House of Representatives Gulf Coast delegation. Cromer participated in the Mississippi activities because of the positive impact Stennis has on surrounding communities, including his home district of St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana.

Novel cis-acting replication element in the adeno-associated virus type 2 genome is involved in amplification of integrated rep-cap sequences.

PubMed

Nony, P; Tessier, J; Chadeuf, G; Ward, P; Giraud, A; Dugast, M; Linden, R M; Moullier, P; Salvetti, A

2001-10-01

This study identifies a region of the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) rep gene (nucleotides 190 to 540 of wild-type AAV-2) as a cis-acting Rep-dependent element able to promote the replication of transiently transfected plasmids. This viral element is also shown to be involved in the amplification of integrated sequences in the presence of adenovirus and Rep proteins.

Enhancing outreach for persons with serious mental illness: 12-month results from a cluster randomized trial of an adaptive implementation strategy.

PubMed

Kilbourne, Amy M; Almirall, Daniel; Goodrich, David E; Lai, Zongshan; Abraham, Kristen M; Nord, Kristina M; Bowersox, Nicholas W

2014-12-28

Few implementation strategies have been empirically tested for their effectiveness in improving uptake of evidence-based treatments or programs. This study compared the effectiveness of an immediate versus delayed enhanced implementation strategy (Enhanced Replicating Effective Programs (REP)) for providers at Veterans Health Administration (VA) outpatient facilities (sites) on improved uptake of an outreach program (Re-Engage) among sites not initially responding to a standard implementation strategy. One mental health provider from each U.S. VA site (N = 158) was initially given a REP-based package and training program in Re-Engage. The Re-Engage program involved giving each site provider a list of patients with serious mental illness who had not been seen at their facility for at least a year, requesting that providers contact these patients, assessing patient clinical status, and where appropriate, facilitating appointments to VA health services. At month 6, sites considered non-responsive (N = 89, total of 3,075 patients), defined as providers updating documentation for less than <80% of patients on their list, were randomized to two adaptive implementation interventions: Enhanced REP (provider coaching; N = 40 sites) for 6 months followed by Standard REP for 6 months; versus continued Standard REP (N = 49 sites) for 6 months followed by 6 months of Enhanced REP for sites still not responding. Outcomes included patient-level Re-Engage implementation and utilization. Patients from sites that were randomized to receive Enhanced REP immediately compared to Standard REP were more likely to have a completed contact (adjusted OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.09-4.19, P = 0.02). There were no differences in patient-level utilization between Enhanced and Standard REP sites. Enhanced REP was associated with greater Re-Engage program uptake (completed contacts) among sites not responding to a standard implementation strategy. Further research is needed to determine whether national implementation of Facilitation results in tangible changes in patient-level outcomes. ISRCTN21059161.

Rapidly expanding genetic diversity and host range of the Circoviridae viral family and other Rep encoding small circular ssDNA genomes.

PubMed

Delwart, Eric; Li, Linlin

2012-03-01

The genomes of numerous circoviruses and distantly related circular ssDNA viruses encoding a rolling circle replication initiator protein (Rep) have been characterized from the tissues of mammals, fish, insects, plants (geminivirus and nanovirus), in human and animal feces, in an algae cell, and in diverse environmental samples. We review the genome organization, phylogenetic relationships and initial prevalence studies of cycloviruses, a proposed new genus in the Circoviridae family. Viral fossil rep sequences were also recently identified integrated on the chromosomes of mammals, frogs, lancelets, crustaceans, mites, gastropods, roundworms, placozoans, hydrozoans, protozoans, land plants, fungi, algae, and phytoplasma bacterias and their plasmids, reflecting the very wide past host range of rep bearing viruses. An ancient origin for viruses with Rep-encoding small circular ssDNA genomes, predating the diversification of eukaryotes, is discussed. The cellular hosts and pathogenicity of many recently described rep-containing circular ssDNA genomes remain to be determined. Future studies of the virome of single cell and multi-cellular eukaryotes are likely to further extend the known diversity and host-range of small rep-containing circular ssDNA viral genomes. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Chemical, REP, and SEP missions to the Trojan asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonfiglio, Eugene P.; Oh, David; Yen, Chen-Wan

2005-01-01

Recent studies suggest significant benefits from using 1st and 2nd generation Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) as a power source for electric propulsion (EP) missions to the outer planets. This study focuses on trajectories to the Trojan asteroids. A high level analysis is performed with chemical trajectories to determine potential canidates for REP trajectory optimization. Extensive analysis of direct trajectories using REP is performed on these candidates. Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) trajectories are also considered for comparison against REP trajectories.

Variation in a surface-exposed region of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae P40 protein as a consequence of homologous DNA recombination between RepMP5 elements.

PubMed

Spuesens, Emiel B M; van de Kreeke, Nick; Estevão, Silvia; Hoogenboezem, Theo; Sluijter, Marcel; Hartwig, Nico G; van Rossum, Annemarie M C; Vink, Cornelis

2011-02-01

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a human pathogen that causes a range of respiratory tract infections. The first step in infection is adherence of the bacteria to the respiratory epithelium. This step is mediated by a specialized organelle, which contains several proteins (cytadhesins) that have an important function in adherence. Two of these cytadhesins, P40 and P90, represent the proteolytic products from a single 130 kDa protein precursor, which is encoded by the MPN142 gene. Interestingly, MPN142 contains a repetitive DNA element, termed RepMP5, of which homologues are found at seven other loci within the M. pneumoniae genome. It has been hypothesized that these RepMP5 elements, which are similar but not identical in sequence, recombine with their counterpart within MPN142 and thereby provide a source of sequence variation for this gene. As this variation may give rise to amino acid changes within P40 and P90, the recombination between RepMP5 elements may constitute the basis of antigenic variation and, possibly, immune evasion by M. pneumoniae. To investigate the sequence variation of MPN142 in relation to inter-RepMP5 recombination, we determined the sequences of all RepMP5 elements in a collection of 25 strains. The results indicate that: (i) inter-RepMP5 recombination events have occurred in seven of the strains, and (ii) putative RepMP5 recombination events involving MPN142 have induced amino acid changes in a surface-exposed part of the P40 protein in two of the strains. We conclude that recombination between RepMP5 elements is a common phenomenon that may lead to sequence variation of MPN142-encoded proteins.

Expression, purification, characterization and subcellular localization of the goose parvovirus rep1 protein.

PubMed

Chen, Zongyan; Li, Chuanfeng; Peng, Gaojing; Liu, Guangqing

2013-07-01

The goose parvovirus (GPV) Rep1 protein is both essential for viral replication and a potential target for GPV diagnosis, but its protein characterization and intracellular localization is not clear. We constructed a recombinant plasmid, pET28a/GPV-Rep1, and expressed the Rep1 gene in BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli. A protein approximately 75 kDa in size was obtained from lysates of E. coli cells expressing the recombinant plasmid. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that after induction with 0.6 mM isopropyl β-D-thiogalactosidase (IPTG) at 30°C for 5 h, the Rep1 protein was highly overexpressed. Two methods used to purify proteins, a salinity-gradient elution and Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, were performed. The amount of Rep1 protein obtained by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was 41.23 mg, while 119.9 mg of Rep1 protein was obtained by a salinity-gradient elution from a 1 L E. coli BL21 (DE3) culture. An immunogenicity analysis showed that the protein could significantly elicit a specific antibody response in immunized goslings compared to control groups. Antibody titers peaked to 1:5120 (optical density (OD) 450 = 3.9) on day 28 after immunization but had mean titers of 1:10,240 (OD450 = 4.2) in gosling groups immunized with a commercially available GPV-attenuated vaccine strain. Experiments examining subcellular localization showed that the Rep1 protein appeared to associate predominantly with the nuclear membrane, especially during later times of infection. This work provides a basis for biochemical and structural studies on the GPV Rep1 protein.

COMPASS Final Report: Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) Centaur Orbiter New Frontiers Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oleson, Steven R.; McGuire, Melissa L.

2011-01-01

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) has been shown in past studies to enable missions to outer planetary bodies including the orbiting of Centaur asteroids. Key to the feasibility for REP missions are long life, low power electric propulsion (EP) devices, low mass Radioisotope Power System (RPS) and light spacecraft (S/C) components. In order to determine the key parameters for EP devices to perform these REP missions a design study was completed to design an REP S/C to orbit a Centaur in a New Frontiers (NF) cost cap. The design shows that an orbiter using several long lived (approx.200 kg xenon (Xe) throughput), low power (approx.700 W) Hall thrusters teamed with six (150 W each) Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRG) can deliver 60 kg of science instruments to a Centaur in 10 yr within the NF cost cap. Optimal specific impulses (Isp) for the Hall thrusters were found to be around 2000 s with thruster efficiencies over 40 percent. Not only can the REP S/C enable orbiting a Centaur (when compared to an all chemical mission only capable of flybys) but the additional power from the REP system can be used to enhance science and simplify communications. The mission design detailed in this report is a Radioisotope Power System (RPS) powered EP science orbiter to the Centaur Thereus with arrival 10 yr after launch, ending in a 1 yr science mapping mission. Along the trajectory, approximately 1.5 yr into the mission, the REP S/C does a flyby of the Trojan asteroid Tlepolemus. The total (Delta)V of the trajectory is 8.9 km/s. The REP S/C is delivered to orbit on an Atlas 551 class launch vehicle with a Star 48 B solid rocket stage

The 2002 PhRMA Code and Pharmaceutical Marketing: did anybody bother to ask the reps?

PubMed

Sillup, George P; Trombetta, Bill; Klimberg, Ronald

2010-10-01

After marketing tactics resulted in $1.2 billion fines, the 2002 PhRMA Code attempted to standardize marketing and sales practices. Self-regulation had varied success by other industries and by pharmaceutical industries in other countries. Similarly, the Code addressed negative responses about pharmaceutical's practices but had no provisions for monitoring violations. Representative's (reps) perspectives were assessed using an 18-item instrument with 72 reps from 25 companies. Analyses indicated that reps from bigger companies, PhRMA and non-PhRMA, adhered better. The way reps adhered was split between adhering reluctantly and following faithfully. Two thirds felt it was more difficult to do their jobs, resulting from prior entertainment-based relationships with physicians.

75 FR 78694 - Proposed Residential Exchange Program Settlement Agreement Proceeding (REP-12); Public Hearing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-16

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration [BPA File No.: REP-12] Proposed Residential... Review and Comment AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of Residential Exchange Program Settlement Agreement Proceeding (REP-12). SUMMARY: BPA is...

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion Missions Utilizing a Common Spacecraft Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fiehler, Douglas; Oleson, Steven

2004-01-01

A study was conducted that shows how a single Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) spacecraft design could be used for various missions throughout the solar system. This spacecraft design is based on a REP feasibility design from a study performed by NASA Glenn Research Center and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The study also identifies technologies that need development to enable these missions. The mission baseline for the REP feasibility design study is a Trojan asteroid orbiter. This mission sends an REP spacecraft to Jupiter s leading Lagrange point where it would orbit and examine several Trojan asteroids. The spacecraft design from the REP feasibility study would also be applicable to missions to the Centaurs, and through some change of payload configuration, could accommodate a comet sample-return mission. Missions to small bodies throughout the outer solar system are also within reach of this spacecraft design. This set of missions, utilizing the common REP spacecraft design, is examined and required design modifications for specific missions are outlined.

Development of low-cost open source 3D gel printer "RepRap SWIM-ER"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Kei; Basher, Samiul; Ota, Takafumi; Tase, Taishi; Takamatsu, Kyuichiro; Saito, Azusa; Khosla, Ajit; Kawakami, Masaru; Furuawa, Hidemitsu

2017-04-01

Gels are soft and wet materials having low friction, good biocompatibility, and material permeability. It is expected that gel materials will be used as new kinds of industrial materials in the engineering and medical applications. But it cannot build a complicated shape. Soft & Wet Matter Engineering Laboratory developed a 3D gel Printer "SWIM-ER", has enabled modeling of complex shapes of the gel. However, this is expensive. Therefore not all of the gel researchers and the companies have such a device. To solve this problem, we manufacture a low-cost open-source 3D gel printer "RepRap SWIM-ER" from the RepRap. We made the components required to manufacture the "RepRap SWIM-ER" from the 3D printer and chose a light source. In addition, we produced the P-DN gel for RepRap SWIM-ER and conducted the molding test to confirm whether RepRap SWIM-ER can used it.

A methodology for extending domain coverage in SemRep.

PubMed

Rosemblat, Graciela; Shin, Dongwook; Kilicoglu, Halil; Sneiderman, Charles; Rindflesch, Thomas C

2013-12-01

We describe a domain-independent methodology to extend SemRep coverage beyond the biomedical domain. SemRep, a natural language processing application originally designed for biomedical texts, uses the knowledge sources provided by the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS©). Ontological and terminological extensions to the system are needed in order to support other areas of knowledge. We extended SemRep's application by developing a semantic representation of a previously unsupported domain. This was achieved by adapting well-known ontology engineering phases and integrating them with the UMLS knowledge sources on which SemRep crucially depends. While the process to extend SemRep coverage has been successfully applied in earlier projects, this paper presents in detail the step-wise approach we followed and the mechanisms implemented. A case study in the field of medical informatics illustrates how the ontology engineering phases have been adapted for optimal integration with the UMLS. We provide qualitative and quantitative results, which indicate the validity and usefulness of our methodology. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Imaging quantum transport using scanning gate microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackens, Benoit

2014-03-01

Quantum transport in nanodevices is usually probed thanks to measurements of the electrical resistance or conductance, which lack the spatial resolution necessary to probe electron behaviour inside the devices. In this talk, we will show that scanning gate microscopy (SGM) yields real-space images of quantum transport phenomena inside archetypal mesoscopic devices such as quantum point contacts and quantum rings. We will first discuss the SGM technique, which is based on mapping the electrical conductance of a device as an electrically-biased sharp metallic tip scans in its vicinity. With SGM, we demonstrated low temperature imaging of the electron probability density and interferences in embedded mesoscopic quantum rings [B. Hackens et al., Nat. Phys. 2, 826 (2006)]. At high magnetic field, thanks to the SGM conductance maps, one can decrypt complex transport phenomena such as tunneling between quantum Hall edge state, either direct or through localized states [B. Hackens et al., Nat. Comm. 1, 39 (2010)]. Moreover, the technique also allows to perform local spectroscopy of electron transport through selected localized states [F. Martins et al., New J. of Phys. 15, 013049 (2013); F. Martins et al., Sci. Rep. 3, 1416 (2013)]. Overall, these examples show that scanning gate microscopy is a powerful tool for imaging charge carrier behavior inside devices fabricated from a variety of materials, and opens the way towards a more intimate manipulation of charge and quasiparticle transport. This work was performed in collaboration with F. Martins, S. Faniel, B. Brun, M. Pala, X. Wallart, L. Desplanque, B. Rosenow, T. Ouisse, H. Sellier, S. Huant and V. Bayot.

Critical de Broglie wavelength in superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talantsev, E. F.

2018-03-01

There are growing numbers of experimental evidences that the self-field critical currents, Jc(sf,T), are a new instructive tool to investigate fundamental properties of superconductors ranging from atomically thin films [M. Liao et al., Nat. Phys. 6 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-017-0031-6; E. F. Talantsev et al., 2D Mater. 4 (2017) 025072; A. Fete et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 109 (2016) 192601] to millimeter-scale samples [E. F. Talantsev et al., Sci. Rep. 7 (2017) 10010]. The basic empirical equation which quantitatively accurately described experimental Jc(sf,T) was proposed by Talantsev and Tallon [Nat. Commun. 6 (2015) 7820] and it was the relevant critical field (i.e. thermodynamic field, Bc, for type-I and lower critical field, Bc1, for type-II superconductors) divided by the London penetration depth, λL. In this paper, we report new findings relating to this empirical equation. It is that the critical wavelength of the de Broglie wave, λdB,c, of the superconducting charge carrier which within a numerical pre-factor is equal to the largest of two characteristic lengths of Ginzburg-Landau theory, i.e. the coherence length, ξ, for type-I superconductors or the London penetration depth, λL, for type-II superconductors. We also formulate a microscopic criterion for the onset of dissipative transport current flow: ps ṡ 2ṡλL ln(1+2ṡ(λL ξ )) ≥ 1 2 ṡ ( h 2π), where ps is the charge carrier momentum, h is Planck’s constant and the inequality sign “ <” is reserved for the dissipation-free flow.

76 FR 16859 - Proposed Information Collection (Certification of School Attendance-REPS); Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-25

... (Certification of School Attendance--REPS); Comment Request AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department... approved school. DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information.... Title: Certification of School Attendance--REPS, VA Form 21-8926. OMB Control Number: 2900-0394. Type of...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a press conference, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney responds to a question from a reporter about the new mission for NASA outlined by President George W. Bush Jan. 14. Present with Feeney are Center Director Jim Kennedy (left) and U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon (right).

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-01-16

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a press conference, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney responds to a question from a reporter about the new mission for NASA outlined by President George W. Bush Jan. 14. Present with Feeney are Center Director Jim Kennedy (left) and U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon (right).

Characteristics of a velvet cathode under high repetition rate pulse operation

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

Xun Tao; Zhang Jiande; Yang Hanwu

2009-10-15

As commonly used material for cold cathodes, velvet works well in single shot and low repetition rate (rep-rate) high-power microwave (HPM) sources. In order to determine the feasibility of velvet cathodes under high rep-rate operation, a series of experiments are carried out on a high-power diode, driven by a {approx}300 kV, {approx}6 ns, {approx}100 {omega}, and 1-300 Hz rep-rate pulser, Torch 02. Characteristics of vacuum compatibility and cathode lifetime under different pulse rep-rate are focused on in this paper. Results of time-resolved pressure history, diode performance, shot-to-shot reproducibility, and velvet microstructure changes are presented. As the rep-rate increases, the equilibriummore » pressure grows hyperlinearly and the velvet lifetime decreases sharply. At 300 Hz, the pressure in the given diode exceeded 1 Pa, and the utility shots decreased to 2000 pulses for nonstop mode. While, until the velvet begins to degrade, the pulse-to-pulse instability of diode voltage and current is quite small, even under high rep-rate conditions. Possible reasons for the operation limits are discussed, and methods to improve the performance of a rep-rate velvet cathode are also suggested. These results may be of interest to the repetitive HPM systems with cold cathodes.« less

Identification and molecular epidemiology of dermatophyte isolates by repetitive-sequence-PCR-based DNA fingerprinting using the DiversiLab system in Turkey.

PubMed

Koc, A Nedret; Atalay, Mustafa A; Inci, Melek; Sariguzel, Fatma M; Sav, Hafize

2017-05-01

Dermatophyte species, isolation and identification in clinical samples are still difficult and take a long time. The identification and molecular epidemiology of dermatophytes commonly isolated in a clinical laboratory in Turkey by repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) were assessed by comparing the results with those of reference identification. A total of 44 dermatophytes isolated from various clinical specimens of 20 patients with superficial mycoses in Kayseri and 24 patients in Hatay were studied. The identification of dermatophyte isolates was based on the reference identification and rep-PCR using the DiversiLab System (BioMerieux). The genotyping of dermatophyte isolates from different patients was determined by rep-PCR. In the identification of dermatophyte isolates, agreement between rep-PCR and conventional methods was 87.8 % ( 36 of 41). The dermatophyte strains belonged to four clones (A -D) which were determined by the use of rep-PCR. The dermatophyte strains in Clone B, D showed identical patterns with respect to the region. In conclusion, rep-PCR appears to be useful for evaluation of the identification and clonal relationships between Trichophyton rubrum species complex and Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex isolates. The similarity and diversity of these isolates may be assessed according to different regions by rep-PCR. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Metal-Induced Stabilization and Activation of Plasmid Replication Initiator RepB

PubMed Central

Ruiz-Masó, José A.; Bordanaba-Ruiseco, Lorena; Sanz, Marta; Menéndez, Margarita; del Solar, Gloria

2016-01-01

Initiation of plasmid rolling circle replication (RCR) is catalyzed by a plasmid-encoded Rep protein that performs a Tyr- and metal-dependent site-specific cleavage of one DNA strand within the double-strand origin (dso) of replication. The crystal structure of RepB, the initiator protein of the streptococcal plasmid pMV158, constitutes the first example of a Rep protein structure from RCR plasmids. It forms a toroidal homohexameric ring where each RepB protomer consists of two domains: the C-terminal domain involved in oligomerization and the N-terminal domain containing the DNA-binding and endonuclease activities. Binding of Mn2+ to the active site is essential for the catalytic activity of RepB. In this work, we have studied the effects of metal binding on the structure and thermostability of full-length hexameric RepB and each of its separate domains by using different biophysical approaches. The analysis of the temperature-induced changes in RepB shows that the first thermal transition, which occurs at a range of temperatures physiologically relevant for the pMV158 pneumococcal host, represents an irreversible conformational change that affects the secondary and tertiary structure of the protein, which becomes prone to self-associate. This transition, which is also shown to result in loss of DNA binding capacity and catalytic activity of RepB, is confined to its N-terminal domain. Mn2+ protects the protein from undergoing this detrimental conformational change and the observed protection correlates well with the high-affinity binding of the cation to the active site, as substituting one of the metal-ligands at this site impairs both the protein affinity for Mn2+and the Mn2+-driven thermostabilization effect. The level of catalytic activity of the protein, especially in the case of full-length RepB, cannot be explained based only on the high-affinity binding of Mn2+ at the active site and suggests the existence of additional, lower-affinity metal binding site(s), missing in the separate catalytic domain, that must also be saturated for maximal activity. The molecular bases of the thermostabilizing effect of Mn2+ on the N-terminal domain of the protein as well as the potential location of additional metal binding sites in the entire RepB are discussed. PMID:27709114

Validation of use of whole-cell repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) for typing strains belonging to the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex and application of the method to the investigation of a hospital outbreak.

PubMed Central

Snelling, A M; Gerner-Smidt, P; Hawkey, P M; Heritage, J; Parnell, P; Porter, C; Bodenham, A R; Inglis, T

1996-01-01

Acinetobacter spp. are being reported with increasing frequency as causes of nosocomial infection. In order to identify reservoirs of infection as quickly as possible, a rapid typing method that can differentiate epidemic strains from environmental and nonepidemic strains is needed. In 1993, a cluster of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from five patients in the adult intensive therapy unit of our tertiary-care teaching hospital led us to develop and optimize a rapid repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) typing protocol for members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex that uses boiled colonies and consensus primers aimed at repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences. Four of the five patient isolates gave the same REP-PCR typing pattern as isolates of A. baumannii obtained from the temperature probe of a Bennett humidifier; the fifth isolate had a unique profile. Disinfection of the probe with 70% ethanol, as recommended by the manufacturer, proved ineffective, as A. baumannii with the same REP-PCR pattern was isolated from it 10 days after cleaning, necessitating a change in our decontamination procedure. Results obtained with REP-PCR were subsequently confirmed by ribotyping. To evaluate the discriminatory power (D) of REP-PCR for typing members of the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex, compared with that of ribotyping, we have applied both methods to a collection of 85 strains that included representatives of six DNA groups within the complex. Ribotyping using EcoRI digests yielded 53 patterns (D = 0.98), whereas 68 different REP-PCR patterns were observed (D = 0.99). By computer-assisted analysis of gel images, 74 patterns were observed with REP-PCR (D = 1.0). Overall, REP-PCR typing proved to be slightly more discriminatory than ribotyping. Our results indicate that REP-PCR typing used boiled colonies is a simple, rapid, and effective means of typing members of the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex. PMID:8727902

Integrin-binding elastin-like polypeptide as an in situ gelling delivery matrix enhances the therapeutic efficacy of adipose stem cells in healing full-thickness cutaneous wounds.

PubMed

Choi, Seong-Kyoon; Park, Jin-Kyu; Kim, Jung-Hee; Lee, Kyeong-Min; Kim, Enjoo; Jeong, Kyu-Shik; Jeon, Won Bae

2016-09-10

One crucial issue in stem cell therapy used for tissue repair is often the lack of selective carriers to deliver stem cells to the site of injury where the native extracellular matrix is pathologically damaged or lost. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a biomaterial that is permissive to stem cells and is suitable to replace injured or missing matrix. The major aim of this study is to investigate the potential of an RGD-containing elastin-like polypeptide (REP) with the structure TGPG[VGRGD(VGVPG)6]20WPC to engraft adipose stem cells (ASC) to full-thickness excisional wounds in mice. We implanted REP into the wound defects via body temperature-induced in situ aggregation. Engrafted REP exhibited a half-life of 2.6days in the wounds and did not elicit any pathological immune responses. REP itself significantly accelerated wound closure and reepithelialization and upregulated the expression of dermal tissue components. A combined administration of REP and ASC formed a hydrogel-like ASC/REP composite, which provided better neovascularization than the use of ASCs alone and increased the viability of transplanted ASC, improving overall wound healing. In vitro and in vivo mechanistic investigations suggested that REP enhances ASC survival at least in part via the Fak/Src adhesion-induced upregulation of Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt survival pathways. We conclude that REP is a promising therapeutic agent for the improvement of stem cell-based therapy for enhanced tissue regeneration and repair. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Model-Averaging Approach to Replication : The Case of "p[subscript rep]"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iverson, Geoffrey J.; Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan; Lee, Michael D.

2010-01-01

The purpose of the recently proposed "p[subscript rep]" statistic is to estimate the probability of concurrence, that is, the probability that a replicate experiment yields an effect of the same sign (Killeen, 2005a). The influential journal "Psychological Science" endorses "p[subscript rep]" and recommends its use…

Modified UMS, Modified SemRep and SemMedDB-UTH | Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR)

Cancer.gov

Modified UMLS, modified SemRep and SemMedDB-UTH – these are resources (UMLS, SemMedDB-UT) and tools (SemRep) created and maintained by National Library of Medicine that we have modified for personalized cancer therapy and returned to the NLM.

76 FR 20806 - Aviation Proceedings, Agreements Filed the Week Ending March 19, 2011

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-13

... North & Central Pacific (except between USA and Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia) Minutes (Memo 518). (b) TC31 North and Central Pacific (except between Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia and USA) Mail Vote 667--Resolution.... Subject: (a) TC31 North & Central Pacific Between Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia and USA Flex Fares Resolutions...

Neptune Orbiters Utilizing Solar and Radioisotope Electric Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fiehler, Douglas I.; Oleson, Steven R.

2004-01-01

In certain cases, Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP), used in conjunction with other propulsion systems, could be used to reduce the trip times for outer planetary orbiter spacecraft. It also has the potential to improve the maneuverability and power capabilities of the spacecraft when the target body is reached as compared with non-electric propulsion spacecraft. Current missions under study baseline aerocapture systems to capture into a science orbit after a Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) stage is jettisoned. Other options under study would use all REP transfers with small payloads. Compared to the SEP stage/Aerocapture scenario, adding REP to the science spacecraft as well as a chemical capture system can replace the aerocapture system but with a trip time penalty. Eliminating both the SEP stage and the aerocapture system and utilizing a slightly larger launch vehicle, Star 48 upper stage, and a combined REP/Chemical capture system, the trip time can nearly be matched while providing over a kilowatt of science power reused from the REP maneuver. A Neptune Orbiter mission is examined utilizing single propulsion systems and combinations of SEP, REP, and chemical systems to compare concepts.

Evaluation of repetitive element polymerase chain reaction for surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a large academic medical center and community hospitals.

PubMed

Wang, Shu-Hua; Stevenson, Kurt B; Hines, Lisa; Mediavilla, José R; Khan, Yosef; Soni, Ruchi; Dutch, Wendy; Brandt, Eric; Bannerman, Tammy; Kreiswirth, Barry N; Pancholi, Preeti

2015-01-01

Repetitive element polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) typing has been used for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain characterization. The goal of this study was to determine if a rapid commercial rep-PCR system, DiversiLab™ (DL; bioMérieux, Durham, NC, USA), could be used for MRSA surveillance at a large medical center and community hospitals. A total of 1286 MRSA isolates genotyped by the DL system were distributed into 84 distinct rep-PCR patterns: 737/1286 (57%) were clustered into 6 major rep-PCR patterns. A subset of 220 isolates was further typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), spa typing, and SCCmec typing. The 220 isolates were distributed into 80 rep-PCR patterns, 94 PFGE pulsotypes, 27 spa, and 3 SCCmec types. The DL rep-PCR system is sufficient for surveillance, but the DL system alone cannot be used to compare data to other institutions until a standardized nomenclature is established and the DL MRSA reference library is expanded. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapidly expanding genetic diversity and host range of the Circoviridae viral family and other Rep encoding small circular ssDNA genomes

PubMed Central

Delwart, Eric; Li, Linlin

2011-01-01

The genomes of numerous circoviruses and distantly related circular DNA viruses encoding a rolling circle replication initiator protein (Rep) have been characterized from the tissues of mammals, fish, insects, and plants (geminivirus and nanovirus), human and animal feces, in an algae cell, and in diverse environmental samples. We review the genome organization, phylogenetic relationships and initial prevalence studies of cycloviruses, a proposed new genus in the Circoviridae family. Viral fossil rep sequences were also identified integrated on the chromosomes of mammals, frogs, lancelets, crustaceans, mites, gastropods, roundworms, placozoans, hydrozoans, protozoans, land plants, fungi, algae, and phytoplasma bacterias and their plasmids, reflecting their past host range. An ancient origin for viruses with rep-encoding single stranded small circular genomes, predating the diversification of eukaryotes, is discussed. The cellular hosts and pathogenicity of many recently described rep-containing circular genomes remain to be determined. Future studies of the virome of single cell and multi-cellular eukaryotes are likely to further extend the known diversity and host-range of small rep-containing circular viral genomes. PMID:22155583

Laser-induced forward transfer for improving fine-line metallization in photovoltaic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez-Aniorte, M. I.; Mouhamadou, B.; Alloncle, A. P.; Sarnet, T.; Delaporte, P.

2016-06-01

Grand challenges to create new front metallization techniques in photovoltaic focus considerable attention on laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) approach. This alternative method aims to overcome the limitations of the well-established and mature screen-printing (SP) technique. Such limitations are for instance restrictions in the grid pattern design, high-temperature steps, and limited aspect ratio of the line contact (Poulain et al. in Appl Surf Sci 257:5241-5244, 2011). Although different new front contact metallization concepts have been studied, most of them require a second print step to increase the volume of the contact (Gao et al. in Proceedings of 25th EU PVSEC conference, 2010; Beaucarne and Schubert in Energy Proc 67:2-12, 2015; Lossen and Matusovsky in Energy Proc 67:156-162, 2015; Green in Phys E 14:65-70, 2002; Lennon et al. in Prog Photovolt Res Appl V21:1454-1468, 2012). As a result, it is desirable to find innovative metallization techniques to improve the cell efficiency without significantly increasing the cost. Although many challenges remain before to obtain high-quality, robust, and high-performance LIFT contact formation, it required a fully theoretical and experimental assessment. This paper presents the results of a study of the LIFT technique in picosecond regime and thick silver pastes to create high-quality conductive lines for photovoltaic applications.

A quasiparticle-based multi-reference coupled-cluster method.

PubMed

Rolik, Zoltán; Kállay, Mihály

2014-10-07

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a quasiparticle-based multi-reference coupled-cluster (MRCC) approach. The quasiparticles are introduced via a unitary transformation which allows us to represent a complete active space reference function and other elements of an orthonormal multi-reference (MR) basis in a determinant-like form. The quasiparticle creation and annihilation operators satisfy the fermion anti-commutation relations. On the basis of these quasiparticles, a generalization of the normal-ordered operator products for the MR case can be introduced as an alternative to the approach of Mukherjee and Kutzelnigg [Recent Prog. Many-Body Theor. 4, 127 (1995); Mukherjee and Kutzelnigg, J. Chem. Phys. 107, 432 (1997)]. Based on the new normal ordering any quasiparticle-based theory can be formulated using the well-known diagram techniques. Beyond the general quasiparticle framework we also present a possible realization of the unitary transformation. The suggested transformation has an exponential form where the parameters, holding exclusively active indices, are defined in a form similar to the wave operator of the unitary coupled-cluster approach. The definition of our quasiparticle-based MRCC approach strictly follows the form of the single-reference coupled-cluster method and retains several of its beneficial properties. Test results for small systems are presented using a pilot implementation of the new approach and compared to those obtained by other MR methods.

Recent advances in the multimodel hydrologic ensemble forecasting using the HydroProg system in the Nysa Klodzka river basin (southwestern Poland)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niedzielski, Tomasz; Mizinski, Bartlomiej; Swierczynska-Chlasciak, Malgorzata

2017-04-01

The HydroProg system, the real-time multimodel hydrologic ensemble system elaborated at the University of Wroclaw (Poland) in frame of the research grant no. 2011/01/D/ST10/04171 financed by National Science Centre of Poland, has been experimentally launched in 2013 in the Nysa Klodzka river basin (southwestern Poland). Since that time the system has been working operationally to provide water level predictions in real time. At present, depending on a hydrologic gauge, up to eight hydrologic models are run. They are data- and physically-based solutions, with the majority of them being the data-based ones. The paper aims to report on the performance of the implementation of the HydroProg system for the basin in question. We focus on several high flows episodes and discuss the skills of the individual models in forecasting them. In addition, we present the performance of the multimodel ensemble solution. We also introduce a new prognosis which is determined in the following way: for a given lead time we select the most skillful prediction (from the set of all individual models running at a given gauge and their multimodel ensemble) using the performance statistics computed operationally in real time as a function of lead time.

Theory and High-Energy-Density Laser Experiments Relevant to Accretion Processes in Cataclysmic Variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krauland, Christine; Drake, R.; Loupias, B.; Falize, E.; Busschaert, C.; Ravasio, A.; Yurchak, R.; Pelka, A.; Koenig, M.; Kuranz, C. C.; Plewa, T.; Huntington, C. M.; Kaczala, D. N.; Klein, S.; Sweeney, R.; Villete, B.; Young, R.; Keiter, P. A.

2012-05-01

We present results from high-energy-density (HED) laboratory experiments that explore the contribution of radiative shock waves to the evolving dynamics of the cataclysmic variable (CV) systems in which they reside. CVs can be classified under two main categories, non-magnetic and magnetic. In the process of accretion, both types involve strongly radiating shocks that provide the main source of radiation in the binary systems. This radiation can cause varying structure to develop depending on the optical properties of the material on either side of the shock. The ability of high-intensity lasers to create large energy densities in targets of millimeter-scale volume makes it feasible to create similar radiative shocks in the laboratory. We provide an overview of both CV systems and their connection to the designed and executed laboratory experiments preformed on two laser facilities. Available data and accompanying simulations will likewise be shown. Funded by the NNSA-DS and SC-OFES Joint Prog. in High-Energy-Density Lab. Plasmas, by the Nat. Laser User Facility Prog. in NNSA-DS and by the Predictive Sci. Acad. Alliances Prog. in NNSA-ASC, under grant numbers are DE-FG52-09NA29548, DE-FG52-09NA29034, and DE-FC52-08NA28616.

Reverse Radiative Shock Experiments Relevant to Accreting Stream-Disk Impact in Interacting Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krauland, Christine; Drake, R. P.; Kuranz, C. K.; Huntington, C. M.; Grosskopf, M. J.; Marion, D. C.; Young, R.; Plewa, T.

2011-05-01

In many Cataclysmic Binary systems, mass onto an accretion disk produces a `hot spot’ where the infalling supersonic flow obliquely strikes the rotating accretion disk. This collision region has many ambiguities as a radiation hydrodynamic system, but shock development in the infalling flow can be modeled. Depending upon conditions, it has been argued (Armitage & Livio, ApJ 493, 898) that the shocked region may be optically thin, thick, or intermediate, which has the potential to significantly alter the hot spot's structure and emissions. We report the first experimental attempt to produce colliding flows that create a radiative reverse shock at the Omega-60 laser facility. Obtaining a radiative reverse shock in the laboratory requires producing a sufficiently fast flow (> 100 km/s) within a material whose opacity is large enough to produce energetically significant emission from experimentally achievable layers. We will discuss the experimental design, the available data, and our astrophysical context. Funded by the NNSA-DS and SC-OFES Joint Prog. in High-Energy-Density Lab. Plasmas, by the Nat. Laser User Facility Prog. in NNSA-DS and by the Predictive Sci. Acad. Alliances Prog. in NNSA-ASC, under grant numbers are DE-FG52-09NA29548, DE-FG52-09NA29034, and DE-FC52-08NA28616.

Binding of sulphonated indigo derivatives to RepA-WH1 inhibits DNA-induced protein amyloidogenesis

PubMed Central

Gasset-Rosa, Fátima; Maté, María Jesús; Dávila-Fajardo, Cristina; Bravo, Jerónimo; Giraldo, Rafael

2008-01-01

The quest for inducers and inhibitors of protein amyloidogenesis is of utmost interest, since they are key tools to understand the molecular bases of proteinopathies such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington and Creutzfeldt–Jakob diseases. It is also expected that such molecules could lead to valid therapeutic agents. In common with the mammalian prion protein (PrP), the N-terminal Winged-Helix (WH1) domain of the pPS10 plasmid replication protein (RepA) assembles in vitro into a variety of amyloid nanostructures upon binding to different specific dsDNA sequences. Here we show that di- (S2) and tetra-sulphonated (S4) derivatives of indigo stain dock at the DNA recognition interface in the RepA-WH1 dimer. They compete binding of RepA to its natural target dsDNA repeats, found at the repA operator and at the origin of replication of the plasmid. Calorimetry points to the existence of a major site, with micromolar affinity, for S4-indigo in RepA-WH1 dimers. As revealed by electron microscopy, in the presence of inducer dsDNA, both S2/S4 stains inhibit the assembly of RepA-WH1 into fibres. These results validate the concept that DNA can promote protein assembly into amyloids and reveal that the binding sites of effector molecules can be targeted to inhibit amyloidogenesis. PMID:18285361

Within-genome evolution of REPINs: a new family of miniature mobile DNA in bacteria.

PubMed

Bertels, Frederic; Rainey, Paul B

2011-06-01

Repetitive sequences are a conserved feature of many bacterial genomes. While first reported almost thirty years ago, and frequently exploited for genotyping purposes, little is known about their origin, maintenance, or processes affecting the dynamics of within-genome evolution. Here, beginning with analysis of the diversity and abundance of short oligonucleotide sequences in the genome of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, we show that over-represented short sequences define three distinct groups (GI, GII, and GIII) of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences. Patterns of REP distribution suggest that closely linked REP sequences form a functional replicative unit: REP doublets are over-represented, randomly distributed in extragenic space, and more highly conserved than singlets. In addition, doublets are organized as inverted repeats, which together with intervening spacer sequences are predicted to form hairpin structures in ssDNA or mRNA. We refer to these newly defined entities as REPINs (REP doublets forming hairpins) and identify short reads from population sequencing that reveal putative transposition intermediates. The proximal relationship between GI, GII, and GIII REPINs and specific REP-associated tyrosine transposases (RAYTs), combined with features of the putative transposition intermediate, suggests a mechanism for within-genome dissemination. Analysis of the distribution of REPs in a range of RAYT-containing bacterial genomes, including Escherichia coli K-12 and Nostoc punctiforme, show that REPINs are a widely distributed, but hitherto unrecognized, family of miniature non-autonomous mobile DNA.

Geminivirus vectors for high-level expression of foreign proteins in plant cells.

PubMed

Mor, Tsafrir S; Moon, Yong-Sun; Palmer, Kenneth E; Mason, Hugh S

2003-02-20

Bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV) is a monopartite geminivirus that can infect dicotyledonous plants. We have developed a high-level expression system that utilizes elements of the replication machinery of this single-stranded DNA virus. The replication initiator protein (Rep) mediates release and replication of a replicon from a DNA construct ("LSL vector") that contains an expression cassette for a gene of interest flanked by cis-acting elements of the virus. We used tobacco NT1 cells and biolistic delivery of plasmid DNA for evaluation of replication and expression of reporter genes contained within an LSL vector. By codelivery of a GUS reporter-LSL vector and a Rep-supplying vector, we obtained up to 40-fold increase in expression levels compared to delivery of the reporter-LSL vectors alone. High-copy replication of the LSL vector was correlated with enhanced expression of GUS. Rep expression using a whole BeYDV clone, a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter driving either genomic rep or an intron-deleted rep gene, or 35S-rep contained in the LSL vector all achieved efficient replication and enhancement of GUS expression. We anticipate that this system can be adapted for use in transgenic plants or plant cell cultures with appropriately regulated expression of Rep, with the potential to greatly increase yield of recombinant proteins. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 430-437, 2003.

RESISTANCE PRODUCED IN MICE BY EXPOSURE TO IRRADIATED SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI CERCARIAE

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

Radke, M.G.; Sadun, E.H.

1963-04-01

Studies were undertaken to determine whether gamma irradiation of cercariae might provide a means of investigating some of the mechanisms involved in the acquired resistance to schistosomiasis. Control mice received 200 nonirradiated cercariae, and other groups received the same number of cercariae that had been exposed to 6 different doses of Co/sup 60/ gamma irradiation varying from 1000--20000 rep. Eight weeks later the worms recovered were counted. Doses of 4000 rep or higher completely inhibited the development of schistosomes. A few stunted and underdeveloped worms were found in some of the mice receiving cercariae irradiated at 2500 and 3000 rep.more » Some adult schistosomes were observed in the groups receiving 1500 and 2000 rep and eggs were found in the liver but not in the stools of some mice. However, all of the mice exposed to cercariae irradiated with 1000 rep had eggs in liver and stools. The worm burden decreased regularly with increasing dosages up to 3000 rep, beyond which no worms were found at necropsy. The decrease in the number of worms mice acquired was linear only when cercariae were exposed from 1000to 2000 rep, however, even beyond such dosages, it followed a straight line when the logarithm of irradiation dose was plotied. Acquired resistance to S. mansoni was observed in mice following a previous exposure to irradiated cercariae. (TCO)« less

Replicative intermediates of porcine circovirus in animal tissue cultured cells or in bacteria undergoing copy-release replication

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Porcine circovirus (PCV) has been assumed to replicate its genome via the rolling-circle replication (RCR) mechanism because it encodes a Rep protein that contains several amino acid motifs commonly found in other RCR biological systems. Two proteins, Rep and Rep', are essential for PCV DNA replicat...

Building to be Named for Former Rep. Dan Schaefer

Science.gov Websites

Building to be Named for Former Rep. Dan Schaefer For more information contact: e:mail: Public Renewable Energy Laboratory will be renamed to honor retired U.S. Rep. Dan Schaefer on Monday, Jan. 11. In ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m., the center formally will become the Dan Schaefer Federal Building. Congress

The electron-phonon interaction with forward scattering peak is dominant in high T c superconductors of FeSe films on {{\\rm{SrTiO}}}_{3} (TiO2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulić, M. L.; Dolgov, O. V.

2017-01-01

The theory of the electron-phonon interaction (EPI) with strong forward scattering peak (FSP) in an extreme delta-peak limit (Kulić and Zeyher 1994 Phys. Rev. B 49 4395; Kulić 2000 Phys. Rep. 38 1-264 Kulić and Dolgov 2005 Phys. Status Solidi b 242 151; Danylenko et al 1999 Eur. Phys. J. B 9 201) is recently applied in (Lee et al 2014 Nature 515 245; Rademaker et al 2016 New J. Phys. 18 022001; Wang et al 2016 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 29 054009) for the explanation of high {T}{{c}}(˜ 100 {{K}}) in a monolayer FeSe grown on {{{SrTiO}}}3 (Lee et al 2014 Nature 515 245) and TiO2 (Rebec et al 2016 arXiv:1606.09358v1) substrates. The EPI is due to a long-range dipolar electric field created by high-energy oxygen vibrations ({{Ω }}˜ 90 meV) at the interface (Lee et al 2014 Nature 515 245; Rademaker et al 2016 New J. Phys. 18 022001; Wang et al 2016 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 29 054009). In leading order (with respect to {T}{{c}0}/{{Ω }}) the mean-field critical temperature {T}{{c}0}={< {V}{{epi}}(q)> }q/4) ˜ {({{aq}}{{c}})}2{V}{{epi}}(0) and the gap {{{Δ }}}0=2{T}{{c}0\\text{}} are due to an interplay between the maximal EPI pairing potential {V}{{epi}}(0) and the FSP-width q c. For {T}{{c}0}˜ 100 K one has {{{Δ }}}0˜ 16 meV in a satisfactory agreement with ARPES experiments. In leading order T c0 is mass-independent and a very small oxygen isotope effect is expected in next to leading order. In clean systems T c0 for s-wave and d-wave pairing is degenerate but both are affected by non-magnetic impurities, which are pair-weakening in the s-channel and pair-breaking in the d-channel. The self-energy and replica bands at T = 0 and at the Fermi surface are calculated and compared with experimental results at T> 0 ( Rademaker et al 2016 New J. Phys. 18 022001; Wang et al 2016 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 29 054009). The EPI coupling constant {λ }{{m}}={< {V}{{epi}}(q)> }q/2{{Ω }} is mass-dependent ({M}1/2) and at ω (\\ll {{Ω }}) makes the slope of the self-energy {{Σ }}(k,ω )(≈ -{λ }{{m}}ω ) and the replica intensities {A}i(˜ {λ }{{m}}) mass-dependent. This result, overlooked in the literature, is contrary to the prediction of the standard Migdal-Eliashberg theory for EPI. The small oxygen isotope effect in {T}{{c}0} and pronounced isotope effect in {{Σ }}(k,ω ) and ARPES spectra A i of the replica bands in FeSe films on SrTiO3 and TiO2 is a smoking-gun experiment for validity of the EPI-FSP theory to these systems. The EPI-FSP theory predicts a large number of low-laying pairing states, thus causing internal pair fluctuations. The latter reduce T c0 additionally, by creating a pseudogap state for {T}{{c}}< T< {T}{{c}0}. Possibilities to increase T c0, by designing novel structures are discussed in the framework of the EPI-FSP theory.

Valve repair in aortic regurgitation without root dilatation--aortic valve repair.

PubMed

Lausberg, H F; Aicher, D; Kissinger, A; Langer, F; Fries, R; Schäfers, H-J

2006-02-01

Aortic valve repair was established in the context of aortic root remodeling. Variable results have been reported for isolated valve repair. We analyzed our experience with isolated valve repair and compared the results with those of aortic root remodeling. Between October 1995 and August 2003, isolated repair of the aortic valve was performed in 83 patients (REP), remodeling of the aortic valve in 175 patients (REMO). The demographics of the two groups were comparable (REP: mean age 54.4 +/- 20.7 yrs, male-female ratio 2.1 : 1; REMO: mean age 60.8 +/- 13.6 yrs, male-female ratio 2.4 : 1; p = ns). In both groups the number of bicuspid valves was comparable (REP: 41 %, REMO: 32 %; p = ns). All patients were followed by echocardiography for a cumulative follow-up of 8204 patient months (mean 32 +/- 23 months). Overall in-hospital mortality was 2.4 % in REP and 4.6 % in REMO ( p = 0.62). Systolic gradients were comparable in both groups (REP: 5.8 +/- 2.2, REMO: 6.5 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, p = 0.09). The mean degree of aortic regurgitation 12 months postoperatively was 0.8 +/- 0.7 after REP and 0.7 +/- 0.7 after REMO ( p = 0.29). Freedom from significant regurgitation (> or = II degrees ) after 5 years was 86 % in REP and 89 % in REMO ( p = 0.17). Freedom from re-operation after 5 years was 94.4 % in REP and 98.2 % in REMO ( p = 0.33). Aortic regurgitation without concomitant root dilatation can be treated effectively by aortic valve repair. The functional results are equivalent to those obtained with valve-preserving root replacement. Aortic valve repair appears to be an alternative to valve replacement in aortic regurgitation.

A 10-Year Retrospective Comparison of Two Target Sequences, REP-529 and B1, for Toxoplasma gondii Detection by Quantitative PCR

PubMed Central

Belaz, Sorya; Gangneux, Jean-Pierre; Dupretz, Peggy; Guiguen, Claude

2015-01-01

This study aimed to evaluate the repeated sequence REP-529 compared to that of the B1 gene in the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in routine diagnosis. Over a 10-year period (2003 to 2013), all patients prospectively diagnosed with a positive REP-529 qPCR result for toxoplasmosis were included. All DNA samples (76 samples from 56 patients) were simultaneously tested using the two qPCR methods (REP-529 and B1). The mean cycle threshold (CT) obtained with the B1 qPCR was significantly higher (+4.71 cycles) than that obtained with REP-529 qPCR (P < 0.0001). Thirty-one out of 69 extracts (45.6%) positive with REP-529 qPCR were not amplified with the B1 qPCR (relative sensitivity of 54.4% compared to that with REP-529), yielding false-negative results with 15/28 placenta, 5 cord blood, 2 amniotic fluid, 4 cerebrospinal fluid, 1 aqueous humor, 2 lymph node puncture, and 1 abortion product sample. This defect in sensitivity would have left 20/56 patients undiagnosed, distributed as follows: 12/40 congenital toxoplasmosis, 4/5 cerebral toxoplasmosis, 2/8 patients with retinochoroiditis, and 2 patients with chronic lymphadenopathy. This poor performance of B1 qPCR might be related to low parasite loads, since the mean Toxoplasma quantification in extracts with B1 false-negative results was 0.4 parasite/reaction. These results clearly show the superiority of the REP-529 sequence in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by PCR and suggest that this target should be adopted as part of the standardization of the PCR assay. PMID:25653416

A 10-year retrospective comparison of two target sequences, REP-529 and B1, for Toxoplasma gondii detection by quantitative PCR.

PubMed

Belaz, Sorya; Gangneux, Jean-Pierre; Dupretz, Peggy; Guiguen, Claude; Robert-Gangneux, Florence

2015-04-01

This study aimed to evaluate the repeated sequence REP-529 compared to that of the B1 gene in the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in routine diagnosis. Over a 10-year period (2003 to 2013), all patients prospectively diagnosed with a positive REP-529 qPCR result for toxoplasmosis were included. All DNA samples (76 samples from 56 patients) were simultaneously tested using the two qPCR methods (REP-529 and B1). The mean cycle threshold (CT) obtained with the B1 qPCR was significantly higher (+4.71 cycles) than that obtained with REP-529 qPCR (P<0.0001). Thirty-one out of 69 extracts (45.6%) positive with REP-529 qPCR were not amplified with the B1 qPCR (relative sensitivity of 54.4% compared to that with REP-529), yielding false-negative results with 15/28 placenta, 5 cord blood, 2 amniotic fluid, 4 cerebrospinal fluid, 1 aqueous humor, 2 lymph node puncture, and 1 abortion product sample. This defect in sensitivity would have left 20/56 patients undiagnosed, distributed as follows: 12/40 congenital toxoplasmosis, 4/5 cerebral toxoplasmosis, 2/8 patients with retinochoroiditis, and 2 patients with chronic lymphadenopathy. This poor performance of B1 qPCR might be related to low parasite loads, since the mean Toxoplasma quantification in extracts with B1 false-negative results was 0.4 parasite/reaction. These results clearly show the superiority of the REP-529 sequence in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by PCR and suggest that this target should be adopted as part of the standardization of the PCR assay. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Optimization of analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from repetitive-element PCR by maximizing correspondence with multilocus sequence typing data.

PubMed

Goldberg, Tony L; Gillespie, Thomas R; Singer, Randall S

2006-09-01

Repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) is a method for genotyping bacteria based on the selective amplification of repetitive genetic elements dispersed throughout bacterial chromosomes. The method has great potential for large-scale epidemiological studies because of its speed and simplicity; however, objective guidelines for inferring relationships among bacterial isolates from rep-PCR data are lacking. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as a "gold standard" to optimize the analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from rep-PCR data. We chose 12 isolates from a large database to represent a wide range of pairwise genetic distances, based on the initial evaluation of their rep-PCR fingerprints. We conducted MLST with these same isolates and systematically varied the analytical parameters to maximize the correspondence between the relationships inferred from rep-PCR and those inferred from MLST. Methods that compared the shapes of densitometric profiles ("curve-based" methods) yielded consistently higher correspondence values between data types than did methods that calculated indices of similarity based on shared and different bands (maximum correspondences of 84.5% and 80.3%, respectively). Curve-based methods were also markedly more robust in accommodating variations in user-specified analytical parameter values than were "band-sharing coefficient" methods, and they enhanced the reproducibility of rep-PCR. Phylogenetic analyses of rep-PCR data yielded trees with high topological correspondence to trees based on MLST and high statistical support for major clades. These results indicate that rep-PCR yields accurate information for inferring relationships among E. coli isolates and that accuracy can be enhanced with the use of analytical methods that consider the shapes of densitometric profiles.

Adeno-associated virus type 2 rep gene-mediated inhibition of basal gene expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 involves its negative regulatory functions.

PubMed Central

Oelze, I; Rittner, K; Sczakiel, G

1994-01-01

Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2), a human parvovirus which is apathogenic in adults, inhibits replication and gene expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in human cells. The rep gene of AAV-2, which was shown earlier to be sufficient for this negative interference, also down-regulated the expression of heterologous sequences driven by the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV-1. This effect was observed in the absence of the HIV-1 transactivator Tat, i.e., at basal levels of LTR-driven transcription. In this work, we studied the involvement of functional subsequences of the HIV-1 LTR in rep-mediated inhibition in the absence of Tat. Mutated LTRs driving an indicator gene (cat) were cointroduced into human SW480 cells together with rep alone or with double-stranded DNA fragments or RNA containing sequences of the HIV-1 LTR. The results indicate that rep strongly enhances the function of negative regulatory elements of the LTR. In addition, the experiments revealed a transcribed sequence element located within the TAR-coding sequence termed AHHH (AAV-HIV homology element derived from HIV-1) which is involved in rep-mediated inhibition. The AHHH element is also involved in down-regulation of basal expression levels in the absence of rep, suggesting that AHHH also contributes to negative regulatory functions of the LTR of HIV-1. In contrast, positive regulatory elements of the HIV-1 LTR such as the NF kappa B and SP1 binding sites have no significant influence on the rep-mediated inhibition. Images PMID:8289357

Nonlinear screening of dust grains and structurization of dusty plasma: II. formation and stability of dust structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsytovich, V. N.; Gusein-zade, N. G.; Ignatov, A. M.

2017-10-01

The second part of the review on dust structures (the first part was published in Plasma Phys. Rep. 39, 515 (2013)) is devoted to experimental and theoretical studies on the stability of structures and their formation from the initially uniform dusty plasma components. The applicability limits of theoretical results and the role played by nonlinearity in the screening of dust grains are considered. The importance of nonlinearity is demonstrated by using numerous laboratory observations of planar clusters and volumetric dust structures. The simplest compact agglomerates of dust grains in the form of stable planar clusters are discussed. The universal character of instability resulting in the structurization of an initially uniform dusty plasma is shown. The fundamental correlations described in the first part of the review, supplemented with effects of dust inertia and dust friction by the neutral gas, are use to analyze structurization instability. The history of the development of theoretical ideas on the physics of the cluster formation for different types of interaction between dust grains is described.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, was briefed by X-43A engineer Laurie Grindle during his tour of Dryden

NASA Image and Video Library

2005-06-02

Rep. Ken Calvert, (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, received an update on the mission of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center during a visit on June 2, 2005. Rep. Calvert, accompanied by several staff members, was briefed by center management on the Dryden's role as a flight research institution, and then reviewed some of the center's recent, current and upcoming flight research projects during a tour of the facility. During the afternoon, Rep. Calvert received similar briefings on a variety of projects at several aerospace development firms at the Civilian Flight Test Center in Mojave. Rep. Calvert's tour of NASA Dryden was the second in a series of visits to all 10 NASA field centers to better acquaint him with the roles and responsibilities of each center.

[Attitudes of general practitioners to pharmaceutical sales representatives in Sousse].

PubMed

Ben Abdelaziz, A; Harrabi, I; Rahmani, S; Ghedira, A; Gaha, K; Ghannem, H

2003-01-01

The therapeutic knowledge of physicians is the corner stone to the rational use of medicines; however information about medicines is generally obtained from the pharmaceutical industry via their sales representatives (reps). We aimed to identify general practitioners' (GPs) attitudes to pharmaceutical reps and the information they provide. We surveyed 140 GPs using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 78% (72 GPs from the public sector and 68 from the private sector). About 10% of the GPs said they received daily visits from pharmaceutical reps; 84% of GPs considered them an efficient source of information and 31% said they might change their therapeutic prescribing following visits from these reps. Because of their positive perception of pharmaceutical reps, GPs are susceptible to the information they provide. Controlling the validity of the therapeutic information imparted by the pharmaceutical industry is thus a fundamental component of the programme for the rational use of medicines.

Data on publications, structural analyses, and queries used to build and utilize the AlloRep database.

PubMed

Sousa, Filipa L; Parente, Daniel J; Hessman, Jacob A; Chazelle, Allen; Teichmann, Sarah A; Swint-Kruse, Liskin

2016-09-01

The AlloRep database (www.AlloRep.org) (Sousa et al., 2016) [1] compiles extensive sequence, mutagenesis, and structural information for the LacI/GalR family of transcription regulators. Sequence alignments are presented for >3000 proteins in 45 paralog subfamilies and as a subsampled alignment of the whole family. Phenotypic and biochemical data on almost 6000 mutants have been compiled from an exhaustive search of the literature; citations for these data are included herein. These data include information about oligomerization state, stability, DNA binding and allosteric regulation. Protein structural data for 65 proteins are presented as easily-accessible, residue-contact networks. Finally, this article includes example queries to enable the use of the AlloRep database. See the related article, "AlloRep: a repository of sequence, structural and mutagenesis data for the LacI/GalR transcription regulators" (Sousa et al., 2016) [1].

Crystal structure of the SF3 helicase from adeno-associated virus type 2.

PubMed

James, J Anson; Escalante, Carlos R; Yoon-Robarts, Miran; Edwards, Thomas A; Linden, R Michael; Aggarwal, Aneel K

2003-08-01

We report here the crystal structure of an SF3 DNA helicase, Rep40, from adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2). We show that AAV2 Rep40 is structurally more similar to the AAA(+) class of cellular proteins than to DNA helicases from other superfamilies. The structure delineates the expected Walker A and B motifs, but also reveals an unexpected "arginine finger" that directly implies the requirement of Rep40 oligomerization for ATP hydrolysis and helicase activity. Further, the Rep40 AAA(+) domain is novel in that it is unimodular as opposed to bimodular. Altogether, the structural connection to AAA(+) proteins defines the general architecture of SF3 DNA helicases, a family that includes simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen, as well as provides a conceptual framework for understanding the role of Rep proteins during AAV DNA replication, packaging, and site-specific integration.

Regulation of adeno-associated virus gene expression in 293 cells: control of mRNA abundance and translation

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

Trempe, J.P.; Carter, B.J.

1988-01-01

The authors studied the effects of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) rep gene on the control of gene expression from the AAV p/sub 40/ promoter in 293 cells in the absence of an adenovirus coinfection. AAV vectors containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene were used to measure the levels of cat expression and steady-state mRNA from p/sub 40/. When the rep gene was present in cis or in trans, cat expression from p/sub 40/ was decreased 3- to 10-fold, but there was a 2- to 10-fold increase in the level of p/sub 40/ mRNA. Conversely, cat expression increased and the p/submore » 40/ mRNA level decreased in the absence of the rep gene. Both wild-type and carboxyl-terminal truncated Rep proteins were capable of eliciting both effects. These data suggest two roles for the pleiotropic AAV rep gene: as a translational inhibitor and as a positive regulator of p/sub 40/ mRNA levels. They also provide additional evidence for a cis-acting negative regulatory region which decreases RNA from the AAV p/sub 5/ promoter in a fashion independent of rep.« less

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion Centaur Orbiter Spacecraft Design Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oleson, Steve; McGuire, Melissa; Sarver-Verhey, Tim; Juergens, Jeff; Parkey, Tom; Dankanich, John; Fiehler, Doug; Gyekenyesi, John; Hemminger, Joseph; Gilland, Jim;

rep-PCR-Mediated Genomic Fingerprinting: A Rapid and Effective Method to Identify Clavibacter michiganensis.

PubMed

Louws, F J; Bell, J; Medina-Mora, C M; Smart, C D; Opgenorth, D; Ishimaru, C A; Hausbeck, M K; de Bruijn, F J; Fulbright, D W

1998-08-01

ABSTRACT The genomic DNA fingerprinting technique known as repetitive-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) was evaluated as a tool to differentiate subspecies of Clavibacter michiganensis, with special emphasis on C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, the pathogen responsible for bacterial canker of tomato. DNA primers (REP, ERIC, and BOX), corresponding to conserved repetitive element motifs in the genomes of diverse bacterial species, were used to generate genomic fingerprints of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis, C. michiganensis subsp. tessellarius, and C. michiganensis subsp. insidiosum. The rep-PCR-generated patterns of DNA fragments observed after agarose gel electrophoresis support the current division of C. michiganensis into five subspecies. In addition, the rep-PCR fingerprints identified at least four types (A, B, C, and D) within C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis based on limited DNA polymorphisms; the ability to differentiate individual strains may be of potential use in studies on the epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions of this organism. In addition, we have recovered from diseased tomato plants a relatively large number of naturally occurring avirulent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains with rep-PCR fingerprints identical to those of virulent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains.

Evaluation of automated repetitive-sequence-based PCR (DiversiLab) compared to PCR ribotyping for rapid molecular typing of community- and nosocomial-acquired Clostridium difficile.

PubMed

Church, Deirdre L; Chow, Barbara L; Lloyd, Tracie; Gregson, Daniel B

2011-06-01

Automated repetitive PCR (rep-PCR; DiversiLab) was compared to PCR ribotyping of the 16S-23S RNA intergenic spacer of Clostridium difficile (CD) as the "gold standard" method for CD typing. PCR products were separated on DiversiLab LabChips (bioMérieux, St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada) utilizing a 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) operating the DiversiLab v1.4 assay. Bioanalyzer data were exported to a secure DiversiLab website and analyzed with DiversiLab v3.4 software. Replicability of each method was verified by confirming that the 5 CD reference strains (RS) formed distinct clusters (CD4, CD6, VL0047, VL0013 [ribotype 027], VL0018 [ribotype 001]) by both typing methods. Ninety randomly selected clinical isolates (CS) were analyzed by both methods: 49 from community-acquired and 41 from hospital-acquired cases. A similarity index (SI) of ≥90% was used to define clusters when comparing the known RS cluster to the PCR ribotyping and rep-PCR patterns of CS. Fourteen different PCR-ribotype clusters were identified, but most CS formed 4 major clusters (i.e., CD4 [15/90; 17%], CD6 [17%], 027 [12%], and 001 [9%]). A total of 7 rep-PCR types were identified, but most CS formed 2 major rep-PCR clusters (i.e., CD4 [29/90; 32%] and CD6 [23%]); several PCR ribotypes occurred within a single rep-PCR cluster. Rep-PCR did not distinguish 027 or 001 isolates; i) 027 RS strain did not cluster, ii) eleven 027 CS strains clustered as CD4, iii) no 027 CS strains clustered with the 027 RS, and iv) only 2 001 CS clustered with the RS. Agreement between the PCR-ribotype and rep-PCR clusters only occurred for 35/90 (39%) of the CS using a rep-PCR SI of ≥90%. Rep-PCR time to results was similar, but the annual costs of routinely using this method are 32% higher than PCR ribotyping. Routine use of rep-PCR for CD typing is limited by its lack of definitive separation of the hypertoxigenic 027 or 001 outbreak CD strains. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Best Protocol for the Sit-to-Stand Test in Subjects With COPD.

PubMed

Morita, Andrea A; Bisca, Gianna W; Machado, Felipe V C; Hernandes, Nidia A; Pitta, Fabio; Probst, Vanessa S

2018-05-22

Different protocols for the sit-to-stand test (STS) are available for assessing functional capacity in COPD. We sought to correlate each protocol of the STS (ie, the 5-repetition [5-rep STS], the 30-s STS, and the 1-min STS) with clinical outcomes in subjects with COPD. We also aimed to compare the 3 protocols of the STS, to verify their association and agreement, and to verify whether the 3 protocols are able to predict functional exercise capacity and physical activity in daily life (PADL). 23 subjects with COPD (11 men; FEV 1 53 ± 15% predicted) performed 3 protocols of the STS. Subjects also underwent the following assessments: incremental shuttle walking test, 6-min walk test (6MWT), 4-m gait speed test (4MGS), 1-repetition maximum of quadriceps muscle, assessment of PADL, and questionnaires on health-related quality of life and functional status. The 1-min STS showed significant correlations with the 6MWT (r = 0.40), 4MGS (r = 0.64), and PADL (0.40 ≤ r ≤ 0.52), and the 5-rep STS and 30-s STS were associated with the 4MGS (r = 0.54 and r = 0.52, respectively). The speed differed for each protocol (5-rep STS 0.53 ± 0.16 rep/s, 30-s STS 0.48 ± 0.13 rep/s, 1-min STS 0.45 ± 0.11 rep/s, P = .01). However, they presented good agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.73 for all) and correlated well with each other (r ≥ 0.68 for all). More marked changes in peripheral oxygen saturation ( P = .004), heart rate ( P < .001), blood pressure ( P < .001), dyspnea ( P < .001), and leg fatigue ( P < .001) were found after the 1-min STS protocol. Furthermore, the 3 protocols were equally able to identify subjects with low exercise capacity or preserved exercise capacity. The 1-min STS generated higher hemodynamic demands and correlated better with clinical outcomes in subjects with COPD. Despite the difference in speed performance and physiological demands between the 5-rep STS and 1-min STS, there was a good level of agreement among the 3 protocols. In addition, all 3 tests were able to identify subjects with low exercise capacity or preserved exercise capacity. Copyright © 2018 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Within-Genome Evolution of REPINs: a New Family of Miniature Mobile DNA in Bacteria

PubMed Central

Bertels, Frederic; Rainey, Paul B.

2011-01-01

Repetitive sequences are a conserved feature of many bacterial genomes. While first reported almost thirty years ago, and frequently exploited for genotyping purposes, little is known about their origin, maintenance, or processes affecting the dynamics of within-genome evolution. Here, beginning with analysis of the diversity and abundance of short oligonucleotide sequences in the genome of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, we show that over-represented short sequences define three distinct groups (GI, GII, and GIII) of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences. Patterns of REP distribution suggest that closely linked REP sequences form a functional replicative unit: REP doublets are over-represented, randomly distributed in extragenic space, and more highly conserved than singlets. In addition, doublets are organized as inverted repeats, which together with intervening spacer sequences are predicted to form hairpin structures in ssDNA or mRNA. We refer to these newly defined entities as REPINs (REP doublets forming hairpins) and identify short reads from population sequencing that reveal putative transposition intermediates. The proximal relationship between GI, GII, and GIII REPINs and specific REP-associated tyrosine transposases (RAYTs), combined with features of the putative transposition intermediate, suggests a mechanism for within-genome dissemination. Analysis of the distribution of REPs in a range of RAYT–containing bacterial genomes, including Escherichia coli K-12 and Nostoc punctiforme, show that REPINs are a widely distributed, but hitherto unrecognized, family of miniature non-autonomous mobile DNA. PMID:21698139

Comparison of semi-automated commercial rep-PCR fingerprinting, spoligotyping, 12-locus MIRU-VNTR typing and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of the embB gene as molecular typing tools for Mycobacterium bovis.

PubMed

Armas, Federica; Camperio, Cristina; Coltella, Luana; Selvaggini, Serena; Boniotti, Maria Beatrice; Pacciarini, Maria Lodovica; Di Marco Lo Presti, Vincenzo; Marianelli, Cinzia

2017-08-04

Highly discriminatory genotyping strategies are essential in molecular epidemiological studies of tuberculosis. In this study we evaluated, for the first time, the efficacy of the repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) DiversiLab Mycobacterium typing kit over spoligotyping, 12-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing and embB single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis for Mycobacterium bovis typing. A total of 49 M. bovis animal isolates were used. DNA was extracted and genomic DNA was amplified using the DiversiLab Mycobacterium typing kit. The amplified fragments were separated and detected using a microfluidics chip with Agilent 2100. The resulting rep-PCR-based DNA fingerprints were uploaded to and analysed using web-based DiversiLab software through Pearson's correlation coefficient. Rep-PCR DiversiLab grouped M. bovis isolates into ten different clusters. Most isolates sharing identical spoligotype, MIRU-VNTR profile or embB gene polymorphism were grouped into different rep-PCR clusters. Rep-PCR DiversiLab displayed greater discriminatory power than spoligotyping and embB SNP analysis but a lower resolution power than the 12-locus MIRU-VNTR analysis. MIRU-VNTR confirmed that it is superior to the other PCR-based methods tested here. In combination with spoligotyping and 12-locus MIRU-VNTR analysis, rep-PCR improved the discriminatory power for M. bovis typing.

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Yang, Man; Cidan, Lamu; Zhang, Dan

2017-10-16

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy (REP) is an extremely rare type of ectopic pregnancy, with a total of less than 20 cases reported in the English literature. However, failure to recognize REP may result in severe consequences. We report a case of 32-year-old woman with REP. She had amenorrhea, left lower abdominal pain, but no vaginal bleeding. Her urine human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test was positive and blood HCG level was 1880 m-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL). Transvaginal ultrasound sonography showed a left adnexal mass. Laparoscopy found an enlarged uterus, normal right uterine tube and ovary, and normal left uterine tube. The left ovary was partly covered by a blood clot, but appeared normal after removing the clot. There was a 10-mm circular peritoneal defect located lateral to the left sacrocervical ligament, anterior to the left ovarian fossa, and next to the lower edge of the left broad ligament. The patient was diagnosed of having REP with the gestational tissues covered by the peritoneum. The REP was removed by laparoscopic surgery. Bleeding was stopped by bipolar coagulation and absorbable hemostatic cellulose. The patient recovered smoothly and was discharged on the next day after surgery. Her blood HCG returned to normal range 29 days after surgery. REP is very rare, but in any suspected case of ectopic pregnancy, caution must be paid to find signs of REP when the common sites of ectopic pregnancy do not have any positive findings.

The RXL motif of the African cassava mosaic virus Rep protein is necessary for rereplication of yeast DNA and viral infection in plants

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

Hipp, Katharina; Rau, Peter; Schäfer, Benjamin

Geminiviruses, single-stranded DNA plant viruses, encode a replication-initiator protein (Rep) that is indispensable for virus replication. A potential cyclin interaction motif (RXL) in the sequence of African cassava mosaic virus Rep may be an alternative link to cell cycle controls to the known interaction with plant homologs of retinoblastoma protein (pRBR). Mutation of this motif abrogated rereplication in fission yeast induced by expression of wildtype Rep suggesting that Rep interacts via its RXL motif with one or several yeast proteins. The RXL motif is essential for viral infection of Nicotiana benthamiana plants, since mutation of this motif in infectious clonesmore » prevented any symptomatic infection. The cell-cycle link (Clink) protein of a nanovirus (faba bean necrotic yellows virus) was investigated that activates the cell cycle by binding via its LXCXE motif to pRBR. Expression of wildtype Clink and a Clink mutant deficient in pRBR-binding did not trigger rereplication in fission yeast. - Highlights: • A potential cyclin interaction motif is conserved in geminivirus Rep proteins. • In ACMV Rep, this motif (RXL) is essential for rereplication of fission yeast DNA. • Mutating RXL abrogated viral infection completely in Nicotiana benthamiana. • Expression of a nanovirus Clink protein in yeast did not induce rereplication. • Plant viruses may have evolved multiple routes to exploit host DNA synthesis.« less

Functional Characterization of a Strong Bi-directional Constitutive Plant Promoter Isolated from Cotton Leaf Curl Burewala Virus

PubMed Central

Khan, Zainul A.; Abdin, Malik Z.; Khan, Jawaid A.

2015-01-01

Cotton leaf curl Burewala virus (CLCuBuV), belonging to the genus Begomovirus, possesses single-stranded monopartite DNA genome. The bidirectional promoters representing Rep and coat protein (CP) genes of CLCuBuV were characterized and their efficacy was assayed. Rep and CP promoters of CLCuBuV and 35S promoter of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) were fused with β-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes. GUS activity in individual plant cells driven by Rep, CP and 35S promoters was estimated using real-time PCR and fluorometric GUS assay. Histochemical staining of GUS in transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) leaves showed highest expression driven by Rep promoter followed by 35S promoter and CP promoter. The expression level of GUS driven by Rep promoter in transformed tobacco plants was shown to be two to four-fold higher than that of 35S promoter, while the expression by CP promoter was slightly lower. Further, the expression of GFP was monitored in agroinfiltrated leaves of N. benthamiana, N. tabacum and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) plants using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Rep promoter showed strong consistent transient expression in tobacco and cotton leaves as compared to 35S promoter. The strong constitutive CLCuBuV Rep promoter developed in this study could be very useful for high level expression of transgenes in a wide variety of plant cells. PMID:25799504

Joint Radioisotope Electric Propulsion Studies - Neptune System Explorer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khan, M. Omair; Amini, Rashied; Ervin, Joan; Lang, Jared; Landau, Damon; Oleson, Steven; Spilker, Thomas; Strange, Nathan

2011-01-01

The Neptune System Explorer (NSE) mission concept study assessed opportunities to conduct Cassini-like science at Neptune with a radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) based spacecraft. REP is based on powering an electric propulsion (EP) engine with a radioisotope power source (RPS). The NSE study was commissioned under the Joint Radioisotope Electric Propulsion Studies (JREPS) project, which sought to determine the technical feasibility of flagship class REP applications. Within JREPS, special emphasis was given toward identifying tall technology tent poles, as well as recommending any new RPS technology developments that would be required for complicated REP missions. Based on the goals of JREPS, multiple RPS (e.g. thermoelectric and Stirling based RPS) and EP (e.g. Hall and ion engines) technology combinations were traded during the NSE study to determine the most favorable REP design architecture. Among the findings from the study was the need for >400We RPS systems, which was driven by EP operating powers and the requirement for a long-lived mission in the deep solar system. Additionally multiple development and implementation risks were identified for the NSE concept, as well as REP missions in general. Among the strengths of the NSE mission would be the benefits associated with RPS and EP use, such as long-term power (approx. 2-3kW) at Neptune and flexible trajectory options for achieving orbit or tours of the Neptune system. Although there are still multiple issues to mitigate, the NSE concept demonstrated distinct advantages associated with using REP for deep space flagship-class missions.

Functional characterization of a strong bi-directional constitutive plant promoter isolated from cotton leaf curl Burewala virus.

PubMed

Khan, Zainul A; Abdin, Malik Z; Khan, Jawaid A

2015-01-01

Cotton leaf curl Burewala virus (CLCuBuV), belonging to the genus Begomovirus, possesses single-stranded monopartite DNA genome. The bidirectional promoters representing Rep and coat protein (CP) genes of CLCuBuV were characterized and their efficacy was assayed. Rep and CP promoters of CLCuBuV and 35S promoter of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) were fused with β-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes. GUS activity in individual plant cells driven by Rep, CP and 35S promoters was estimated using real-time PCR and fluorometric GUS assay. Histochemical staining of GUS in transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) leaves showed highest expression driven by Rep promoter followed by 35S promoter and CP promoter. The expression level of GUS driven by Rep promoter in transformed tobacco plants was shown to be two to four-fold higher than that of 35S promoter, while the expression by CP promoter was slightly lower. Further, the expression of GFP was monitored in agroinfiltrated leaves of N. benthamiana, N. tabacum and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) plants using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Rep promoter showed strong consistent transient expression in tobacco and cotton leaves as compared to 35S promoter. The strong constitutive CLCuBuV Rep promoter developed in this study could be very useful for high level expression of transgenes in a wide variety of plant cells.

Host control of plasmid replication: requirement for the sigma factor sigma 32 in transcription of mini-F replication initiator gene.

PubMed Central

Wada, C; Imai, M; Yura, T

1987-01-01

Replication of F factor or mini-F plasmid is strongly inhibited in the rpoH (htpR) mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in the sigma factor (sigma 32) known to be required for heat shock gene expression. Transcription of the mini-F repE gene encoding a replication initiator protein (E protein) was examined by operon fusion and by direct determination of repE mRNA. The synthesis rate and the level of repE mRNA were found to increase transiently upon temperature upshift (30 degrees C to 42 degrees C) in wild-type cells but to decrease rapidly in the rpoH mutants. Thus sigma 32 appeared to be directly involved in transcription of repE whose product, E protein, in turn activates DNA replication from the mini-F ori2 region. This scheme of host-controlled plasmid replication is further supported by the analysis of transcription in vitro: RNA synthesis can be initiated from the repE promoter by a minor form of RNA polymerase containing sigma 32 but not by the major polymerase containing the normal sigma factor sigma 70. The sigma 32-mediated transcription from the repE promoter is strongly inhibited by the E protein. We conclude that transcription of the mini-F repE gene is mediated by the host transcription factor sigma 32 and is negatively controlled by its own product. Images PMID:2447584

EDITORIAL: Colloidal dispersions in external fields Colloidal dispersions in external fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Löwen, Hartmut

2012-11-01

Colloidal dispersions have long been proven as pivotal model systems for equilibrium phase transition such as crystallization, melting and liquid-gas phase transition. The last decades have revealed that this is also true for nonequilibrium phenomena. In fact, the fascinating possibility to track the individual trajectories of colloidal particles has greatly advanced our understanding of collective behaviour in classical many-body systems and has helped to reveal the underlying physical principles of glass transition, crystal nucleation, and interfacial dynamics (to name just a few typical nonequilibrium effects). External fields can be used to bring colloids out of equilibrium in a controlled way. Different kinds of external fields can be applied to colloidal dispersions, namely shear flow, electric, magnetic and laser-optical fields, and confinement. Typical research areas can be sketched with the by now traditional complexity diagram (figure 1). The complexity of the colloidal system itself as embodied in statistical degrees of freedom is shown on the x-axis while the complexity of the problem posed, namely bulk, an inhomogeneity in equilibrium, steady state nonequilibrium and full time-dependent nonequilibrium are shown on the y-axis. The different external fields which can be imposed are indicated by the different hatched areas. figure1 Figure 1. Diagram of complexity for colloidal dispersions in external fields: while the x-axis shows the complexity of the system, the y-axis shows the complexity of the problem. Regions which can be accessed by different kinds of external fields are indicated. The arrows indicate recent research directions. Active particles are also indicated with a special complexity of internal degrees of freedom [1]. This collection of papers reflects the scientific programme of the International Conference on Colloidal Dispersions in External Fields III (CODEF III) which took place in Bonn-Bad Godesberg from 20-23 March 2012. This was the third conference in a series that began in 2004 [2] and was continued in 2008 [3]. The CODEF meeting series is held in conjunction with the German Dutch Transregional Collaborative Research Centre SFB TR6 with the title Physics of Colloidal Dispersions in External Fields. Papers from scientists working within this network as well as those from further invited contributors are summarized in this issue. They are organized according to the type of field applied, namely: shear flow electric field laser-optical and magnetic field confinement other fields and active particles To summarize the highlights of this special issue as regards shear fields, the response of depletion-induced colloidal clusters to shear is explored in [4]. Soft particles deform under shear and their structural and dynamical behaviour is studied both by experiment [5] and theory [6]. Transient dynamics after switching on shear is described by a joint venture of theory, simulation and experiment in [7]. Colloids provide the fascinating possibility to drag single particles through the suspension, which gives access to microrheology (as opposed to macrorheology, where macroscopic boundaries are moved). Several theoretical aspects of microrheology are discussed in this issue [8-10]. Moreover, a microscopic theory for shear viscosity is presented [11]. Various aspects of colloids in electric fields are also included in this issue. Electrokinetic phenomena for charged suspensions couple flow and electric phenomena in an intricate way and are intensely discussed both by experiment and simulation in contributions [12-14]. Dielectric phenomena are also influenced by electric fields [15]. Electric fields can induce effective dipolar forces between colloids leading to string formation [16]. Finally, binary mixtures in an electric driving field exhibit laning [17]. Simulation [18] and theoretical [19] studies of this nonequilibrium phenomenon are also discussed in this issue. Laser-optical fields can be used to tailor a random substrate potential for colloids [20] or to bind colloids optically [21]. External magnetic fields are typically used to create dipolar repulsions of colloids pending at an air-water interface. This provides an avenue to two-dimensional systems, where the freezing transition [22] and various transport phenomena through channels are the focus of recent research [23, 24]. Confinement typically leads to interfaces. The classical problem of the Tolman length for a fluid-fluid interface is reviewed in detail in [25]. In fact, colloid-polymer mixtures constitute ideal model systems for liquid-gas interfaces in various geometries [26] and are also suitable for measuring the Tolman length experimentally. Crystalline phases in confinement [27] and crystal-fluid interfaces [28] are even more complex due to the inhomogeneity of the solid phase. Also in the confined fluid phase, there are still open issues in slit-pore geometry. These include how to scale the interparticle distance [29] and how to measure hydrodynamic interactions between colloidal particles [30]. Other external fields which can be applied to colloids are gravity [31] and temperature [32]. An important field of recently emerging research is active colloidal particles (so-called microswimmers) which possess fascinating nonequilibrium properties; for recent reviews see [33-35]. Two examples are also included in this issue: an active deformable particle [36] moving in gravity and the collective turbulent swarming behaviour of dense self-propelled colloidal rod suspensions [37]. References [1]Löwen H 2001 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 13 R415 [2]Löwen H and Likos C N (ed) 2004 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 16 (special issue) [3]Löwen H 1976 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 20 404201 [4]Guu D, Dhont J K G, Vliegenthart G A and Lettinga M P 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464101 [5]Gupta S, Kundu S, Stellbrink J, Willner L, Allgaier J and Richter D 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464102 [6]Singh S P, Fedosov D A, Chatterji A, Winkler R G, Gompper G 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464103 [7]Laurati M et al 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464104 [8]Harrer C J, Winter D, Horbach J, Fuchs M and Voigtmann T 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464105 [9]De Puit R J and Squires T M 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464106 [10]De Puit R J and Squires T M 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464107 [11]Contreras-Aburto C and Nägele G 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464108 [12]Palberg T, Köller T, Sieber B, Schweinfurth H, Reiber H and Nägele G 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464109 [13]Papadopoulos P, Deng X and Vollmer D 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464110 [14]Schmitz R and Dünweg B 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464111 [15]Zhou J and Schmid F 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464112 [16]Smallenburg F, Vutukuri H R, Imhof A, van Blaaderen A and Dijkstra M 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464113 [17]Vissers T, Wysocki A, Rex M, Löwen H, Royall C P, Imhof A and van Blaaderen A 2011 Soft Matter 7 2352 [18]Glanz T and Löwen H 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464114 [19]Kohl M, Ivlev A, Brand P, Morfill G E and Löwen H 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464115 [20]Hanes R D L and Egelhaaf S U 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464116 [21]Mazilu M, Rudhall A, Wright E M and Dholakia K 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464117 [22]Dillmann P, Maret G and Keim P 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464118 [23]Wilms D et al 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464119 [24]Kreuter C, Siems U, Henseler P, Nielaba P, Leiderer P and Erbe A 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464120 [25]Malijevsky A and Jackson G 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464121 [26]Statt A, Winkler A, Virnau P and Binder K 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464122 [27]Oğuz E C, Löwen H, Reinmüller A, Schöpe H J, Palberg T and Messina R 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464123 [28]Oettel M 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464124 [29]Zeng Y and van Klitzing R 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464125 [30]Bonilla-Capilla B, Ramirez-Saito A, Ojeda-Lopez M A and Arauz-Lara J L 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464126 [31]Leferink op Reinink A B G M, van den Pol E, Byelov D V, Petukhov A V and Vroege G J 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464127 [32]Taylor S L, Evans R and Royall C P 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464128 [33]Toner J, Tu Y H and Ramaswamy S 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464110 [34]Schmitz R and Dünweg B 2005 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 318 170 [35]Cates M E 2012 Rep. Prog. Phys. 75 042601 [36]Tarama M and Ohta T 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464129 [37]Wensink H H and Löwen H 2012 J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24 464130 Colloidal dispersions in external fields contents Colloidal dispersions in external fieldsHartmut Löwen Depletion induced clustering in mixtures of colloidal spheres and fd-virusD Guu, J K G Dhont, G A Vliegenthart and M P Lettinga Advanced rheological characterization of soft colloidal model systemsS Gupta, S K Kundu, J Stellbrink, L Willner, J Allgaier and D Richter Conformational and dynamical properties of ultra-soft colloids in semi-dilute solutions under shear flowSunil P Singh, Dmitry A Fedosov, Apratim Chatterji, Roland G Winkler and Gerhard Gompper Transient dynamics in dense colloidal suspensions under shear: shear rate dependenceM Laurati, K J Mutch, N Koumakis, J Zausch, C P Amann, A B Schofield, G Petekidis, J F Brady, J Horbach, M Fuchs and S U Egelhaaf Force-induced diffusion in microrheologyCh J Harrer, D Winter, J Horbach, M Fuchs and Th Voigtmann Micro-macro-discrepancies in nonlinear microrheology: I. Quantifying mechanisms in a suspension of Brownian ellipsoidsRyan J DePuit and Todd M Squires Micro-macro discrepancies in nonlinear microrheology: II. Effect of probe shapeRyan J DePuit and Todd M Squires Viscosity of electrolyte solutions: a mode-coupling theoryClaudio Contreras-Aburto and Gerhard Nägele Electro-kinetics of charged-sphere suspensions explored by integral low-angle super-heterodyne laser Doppler velocimetryThomas Palberg, Tetyana Köller, Bastian Sieber, Holger Schweinfurth, Holger Reiber and Gerhard Nägele Electrokinetics on superhydrophobic surfacesPeriklis Papadopoulos, Xu Deng, Doris Vollmer and Hans-Jürgen Butt Numerical electrokineticsR Schmitz and B Dünweg Dielectric response of nanoscopic spherical colloids in alternating electric fields: a dissipative particle dynamics simulationJiajia Zhou and Friederike Schmid Self-assembly of colloidal particles into strings in a homogeneous external electric or magnetic fieldFrank Smallenburg, Hanumantha Rao Vutukuri, Arnout Imhof, Alfons van Blaaderen and Marjolein Dijkstra The nature of the laning transition in two dimensionsT Glanz and H Löwen Microscopic theory for anisotropic pair correlations in driven binary mixturesMatthias Kohl, Alexei V Ivlev, Philip Brandt, Gregor E Morfill and Hartmut Löwen Dynamics of individual colloidal particles in one-dimensional random potentials: a simulation studyRichard D L Hanes and Stefan U Egelhaaf An interacting dipole model to explore broadband transverse optical bindingMichael Mazilu, Andrew Rudhall, Ewan M Wright and Kishan Dholakia Comparison of 2D melting criteria in a colloidal systemPatrick Dillmann, Georg Maret and Peter Keim Effects of confinement and external fields on structure and transport in colloidal dispersions in reduced dimensionalityD Wilms, S Deutschländer, U Siems, K Franzrahe, P Henseler, P Keim, N Schwierz, P Virnau, K Binder, G Maret and P Nielaba Stochastic transport of particles across single barriersChristian Kreuter, Ullrich Siems, Peter Henseler, Peter Nielaba, Paul Leiderer and Artur Erbe A perspective on the interfacial properties of nanoscopic liquid dropsAlexandr Malijevský and George Jackson Controlling the wetting properties of the Asakura-Oosawa model and applications to spherical confinementA Statt, A Winkler, P Virnau and K Binder Crystalline multilayers of charged colloids in soft confinement: experiment versus theoryE C Oğuz, A Reinmüller, H J Schöpe, T Palberg, R Messina and H Löwen Mode expansion for the density profiles of crystal-fluid interfaces: hard spheres as a test caseM Oettel Scaling of layer spacing of charged particles under slit-pore confinement: an effect of concentration or of effective particle diameter?Yan Zeng and Regine von Klitzing Hydrodynamic interactions between colloidal particles in a planar poreB Bonilla-Capilla, A Ramírez-Saito, M A Ojeda-López and J L Arauz-Lara Ageing in a system of polydisperse goethite boardlike particles showing rich phase behaviourA B G M Leferink op Reinink, E van den Pol, D V Byelov, A V Petukhov and G J Vroege Temperature as an external field for colloid-polymer mixtures: 'quenching' by heating and 'melting' by coolingShelley L Taylor, Robert Evans and C Patrick Royall Spinning motion of a deformable self-propelled particle in two dimensionsMitsusuke Tarama and Takao Ohta Emergent states in dense systems of active rods: from swarming to turbulenceH H Wensink and H Löwen

Spatial and Time Dynamics of Non-Linear Vortices in Plasma Lens for High-Current Ion Beam Focusing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goncharov, Alexei A.; Maslov, Vasyl I.; Onishchenko, Ivan N.; Tretyakov, Vitalij N.

2002-11-01

It is known from numerical simulation (see, for example, [1]) and from experiments (see, for example, [2]), that an electron density bunches as discrete vortices are long - living structures in vacuum. However, in laboratory experiments [2] it has been shown that the vortices are changed faster, when they are submersed in electrons, distributed around them. The charged plasma lens intended for a focussing of high-current ion beams, has the same crossed configuration of a radial electrical and longitudinal magnetic field [3], as only electron plasma. In this lens the vortical turbulence is excited [3]. The vortex - bunch and vortex - hole are rotated in the inverse directions in system of their rest. The instability development in initially homogeneous plasma causes that the vortices are excited by pairs. Namely, if the vortex - bunch of electrons is generated, near the vortex - hole of electrons is also generated. It is shown, that in nonuniform plasma the vortices behave is various in time. Namely, the vortex - bunch goes to area of larger electron density, and the vortex - hole goes to area of smaller electron density. The speed of the vortex - hole is less than speed of the vortex - bunch. It is shown, that the electron vortices, generated in the plasma lens, can result in to formation of spiral distribution of electron density. The physical mechanism of coalescence of electron vortices - bunches is proposed. 1.Driscoll C.F. et al. Plasma Phys. Contr. Fus. Res. 3 (1989) 507. 2.Kiwamoto Y. et al. Non-neutral plasma physics. Princeton. 1999. P. 99-105. 3.Goncharov A. et al. Plasma Phys. Rep. 20 (1994) 499.

First principles study of iron-bearing MgO under ultrahigh pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umemoto, K.; Hsu, H.

2017-12-01

Understanding of minerals under ultrahigh pressure is essential to model interiors of super-Earths. Chemical compositions of the super-Earths are expected to be similar to those of the Earth. Computational studies on Mg-Si-O ternary systems under ultrahigh pressures, which are difficult to be achieved by diamond-anvil-cell experiments, have been intensively performed (e.g., [1] for MgO, [2,3] for SiO2, and [4,5] for MgSiO3). However, as far as we know, these studies have been restricted to pure Mg-Si-O systems. In the mantles of super-Earths, we expect that there should be impurities as in the Earth's mantle. Among candidates of impurities, iron is especially important to model interiors of super-Earths. Here, we investigate iron-bearing MgO under ultrahigh pressures by first principles. We clarify effects of iron on the phase transition of MgO and thermodynamic quantities by first principles. The role of the 3d electrons will be elucidated. [1] Z. Wu, R. M. Wentzcovitch, K. Umemoto, B. Li, K. Hirose, and J. C. Zheng, J. Geophys. Res. 113, B06204 (2008). [2] S. Q. Wu, K. Umemoto, M. Ji, C. Z. Wang, K. M. Ho, and R. M. Wentzcovitch, Phys. Rev. B 83, 184102 (2011). [3] T. Tsuchiya and J. Tsuchiya, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 108, 1252 (2011) [4] S. Q. Wu, M. Ji, C. Z. Wang, M. C. Nguye, X. Zhao, K. Umemoto, R. M. Wentzcovitch, and K. M. Ho, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 26, 035402 (2014). [5] H. Niu, A. R. Oganov, X.-C. Chen, and D. Li, Sci. Rep. 5, 18347 (2015).

Relative effect potency estimates of dioxin-like activity for dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs in adults based on cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1B1 gene expression in blood.

PubMed

Wimmerová, Soňa; van den Berg, Martin; Chovancová, Jana; Patayová, Henrieta; Jusko, Todd A; van Duursen, Majorie B M; Palkovičová Murínová, Ľubica; Canton, Rocio F; van Ede, Karin I; Trnovec, Tomáš

2016-11-01

In the risk assessment of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like (DL) PCBs, regulatory authorities support the use of the toxic equivalency factor (TEF)-scheme derived from a heterogeneous data set of the relative effect potency (REPs) estimates. We sought to determine REPs for dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) using expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1 mRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells representing two different pathways. We used a sex and age adjusted regression-based approach comparing the strength of association between each DLC and the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1 mRNA expression in 320 adults residing in an organochlorine-polluted area of eastern Slovakia. We calculated REPs based on CYP1A1 expression for 4 PCDDs, 8 PCDFs, and 1 PCB congener, and based on CYP1B1 expression for 5 PCDFs and 11 PCB congeners. REPs from CYP1A1 correlated with REPs previously derived from thyroid volume (ρ=0.85; p<0.001) and serum FT4 (ρ=0.77; p=0.009). The 13 log REPs from CYP1A1 correlated with log WHO-TEFs (r=0.63; p=0.015) and 11 log PCB REPs with PCB consensus toxicity factors (CTFs) for compounds with WHO-TEFs (r=0.80; p=0.003). The complete set of derived 56 log REPs correlated with the log CTFs (r=0.77; p=0.001) and log WHO-TEFs (r=0.81; p<0.001). REPs calculated from thyroid and cytochrome P450 endpoints realistically reflect human exposure scenarios because they are based on human chronic and low-dose exposures. While the CYP 1A1 seems more suitable for toxicity evaluation of PCDD/Fs, the CYP 1B1 is more apt for PCDFs and PCBs and reflects different pathways. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tissue Response to Subcutaneously Implanted Recombinant Spider Silk: An in Vivo Study

PubMed Central

Fredriksson, Camilla; Hedhammar, My; Feinstein, Ricardo; Nordling, Kerstin; Kratz, Gunnar; Johansson, Jan; Huss, Fredrik; Rising, Anna

2009-01-01

Spider silk is an interesting biomaterial for medical applications. Recently, a method for production of recombinant spider silk protein (4RepCT) that forms macroscopic fibres in physiological solution was developed. Herein, 4RepCT and MersilkTM (control) fibres were implanted subcutaneously in rats for seven days, without any negative systemic or local reactions. The tissue response, characterised by infiltration of macrophages and multinucleated cells, was similar with both fibres, while only the 4RepCT-fibres supported ingrowth of fibroblasts and newly formed capillaries. This in vivo study indicates that 4RepCT-fibres are well tolerated and could be used for medical applications, e.g., tissue engineering.

Effectiveness of a Releasing Exercise Program on Anxiety and Self-Efficacy Among Nurses.

PubMed

Chen, Huei-Mein; Wang, Hsiu-Hung; Chiu, Min-Hui

2016-02-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a releasing exercise program (REP) on anxiety and exercise self-efficacy among nurses. The REP consisted of warm-up and tension-releasing exercises and mood adjustment. Ninety-nine nurses (age = 33.38 ± 7.38 years) experiencing anxiety (average Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety [VASA] score of 5.63 ± 1.44 at baseline) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 50) that received 50-min REP sessions 3 times a week or a control group (n = 49) that did not attend REP sessions. The outcome measures were VASA, the Chinese Version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale scores. At Weeks 12 and 24, the experimental group had significantly lower anxiety levels and higher exercise self-efficacy scores than the control group. Therefore, the REP effectively reduces anxiety and enhances self-confidence in exercise capability. © The Author(s) 2014.

Theoretical investigation on iodine oxides formation and their role in the production of atmospheric aerosols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galvez, Óscar; Gomez, Pedro C.; Gomez-Martin, Juan C.; Saiz-Lopez, Alfonso; Pacios, Luis F.

2013-04-01

Atmospheric iodine has received considerable attention in the past two decades due to both its potential role in the catalytic destruction of ozone (1) and its contribution to the formation of ultrafine particles (2). Seaweeds, marine phytoplankton, and abiotic processes release iodocarbons and I2 to the atmosphere, which are photo-oxidized giving iodine oxides that polymerize to finally form iodine oxide particles (IOPs). In the last years, some laboratory studies have been carried out to investigate this process (see e.g. (3)), however the complete mechanism of formation of such particles and the role of water, and other condensable vapors, in this process have not yet been elucidated. In this context, quantum calculations could help to unravel essential steps of these processes and to evaluate relevant physicochemical properties that can be incorporated into atmospheric models. In this contribution, we show results of a theoretical study on different reactions that iodine oxides, in the presence of water, can undergo to form IOPs. Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of these reactions have been obtained at high level ab initio correlated calculations that included relativistic corrections. In these calculations, we have used a relativistic effective potential (REP) and REP-optimized basis sets for iodine atom developed in our group, which have previously been employed in a theoretical study about several iodinated species (4). (1) Saiz-Lopez, A.; Mahajan, A.S.; Salmon, R.A.; Bauguitte, J.B.; Jones, A.E.; Roscoe, H.K.; Plane, J.M.C. Science 2007, 317, 348-351 (2) O'Dowd, C.D.; Jimenez, J.L.; Bahreini, R.; Flagan, R.C.; Seinfeld, J.H.; Hämeri, K.; Pirjola, L.; Kulmala, M.; Jennings, S.G.; Hoffmann, T. Nature, 2002, 417, 632-636. (3) Saunders, R.W.; Kumar, R.; Gómez Martin, J.C.; Mahajan, A.S.; Murray, B.J.; Plane, J.M.C. Z. Phys. Chem. 2010, 224, 1095-1117. (4) Pacios, L.F.; Gálvez, O. J. Chem. Theory Comput., 2010, 6, 1738-1752.

Discrimination of Scedosporium prolificans against Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium apiospermum by semiautomated repetitive sequence-based PCR.

PubMed

Steinmann, J; Schmidt, D; Buer, J; Rath, P-M

2011-07-01

The laboratory identification of Pseudallescheria and Scedosporium isolates at the species level is important for clinical and epidemiological purposes. This study used semiautomated repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) to identify Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium. Reference strains of Pseudallescheria boydii (n = 12), Scedosporium prolificans (n = 8), Scedosporium apiospermum (n = 9), and clinical/environmental isolates (P. boydii, 7; S. prolificans, 7; S. apiospermum, 7) were analyzed by rep-PCR. All clinical isolates were identified by morphological and phenotypic characteristics and by sequence analysis. Species identification of reference strains was based on the results of available databases. Rep-PCR studies were also conducted with various molds to differentiate Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium spp. from other commonly encountered filamentous fungi. All tested Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium isolates were distinguishable from the other filamentous fungi. All Scedosporium prolificans strains clustered within the cutoff of 85%, and species identification by rep-PCR showed an agreement of 100% with sequence analysis. However, several isolates of P. boydii and S. apiospermum did not cluster within the 85% cutoff with the same species by rep-PCR. Although the identification of P. boydii and S. apiospermum was not correct, the semiautomated rep-PCR system is a promising tool for the identification of S. prolificans isolates.

RepSox improves viability and regulates gene expression in rhesus monkey-pig interspecies cloned embryos.

PubMed

Zhu, Hai-Ying; Jin, Long; Guo, Qing; Luo, Zhao-Bo; Li, Xiao-Chen; Zhang, Yu-Chen; Xing, Xiao-Xu; Xuan, Mei-Fu; Zhang, Guang-Lei; Luo, Qi-Rong; Wang, Jun-Xia; Cui, Cheng-Du; Li, Wen-Xue; Cui, Zheng-Yun; Yin, Xi-Jun; Kang, Jin-Dan

2017-05-01

To investigate the effect of the small molecule, RepSox, on the expression of developmentally important genes and the pre-implantation development of rhesus monkey-pig interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) embryos. Rhesus monkey cells expressing the monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 which have a normal (42) chromosome complement, were used as donor cells to generate iSCNT embryos. RepSox increased the expression levels of the pluripotency-related genes, Oct4 and Nanog (p < 0.05), but not of Sox2 compared with untreated embryos at the 2-4-cell stage. Expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl2, and the pro-apoptotic gene Bax was also affected at the 2-4-cell stage. RepSox treatment also increased the immunostaining intensity of Oct4 at the blastocyst stage (p < 0.05). Although the blastocyst developmental rate was higher in the group treated with 25 µM RepSox for 24 h than in the untreated control group (2.4 vs. 1.2%, p > 0.05), this was not significant. RepSox can improve the developmental potential of rhesus monkey-pig iSCNT embryos by regulating the expression of pluripotency-related genes.

Repeated evaluative pairings and evaluative statements: How effectively do they shift implicit attitudes?

PubMed

Kurdi, Benedek; Banaji, Mahzarin R

2017-02-01

Six experiments, involving a total of 6,492 participants, were conducted to investigate the relative effectiveness of repeated evaluative pairings (REP; exposure to category members paired with pleasant or unpleasant images), evaluative statements (ES; verbally signaling upcoming pairings without actual exposure), and their combination (ES + REP) in shifting implicit social and nonsocial attitudes. Learning modality (REP, ES, and ES + REP) was varied between participants and implicit attitudes were assessed using an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Study 1 (N = 675) used fictitious social groups (NIFFs and LAAPs), Study 2 (N = 1,034) used novel social groups (humans with long vs. square faces), Study 3 (N = 1,072) used nonsocial stimuli (squares vs. rectangles), and Study 4 (N = 848) and Study 5 (N = 958) used known social groups (young vs. elderly; American vs. foreign). ES were more effective than REP and no less superior than ES + REP in producing implicit attitude change. Results were robust across social and nonsocial domains and for known and novel groups. Study 6 (N = 1,905) eliminated time on intervention, levels of construal, and expectancy effects as possible explanations for these findings. Associative theories of implicit evaluation posit that implicit attitudes should shift piecemeal over time; yet, in these experiments, one-shot language-based learning led to larger shifts in implicit attitude than exposure to stimulus pairings. Moreover, the redundancy observed in REP + ES suggests that attitude acquisition from repeated pairings and evaluative instructions may rely on shared mental representations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Salespeople in the Surgical Suite: Relationships between Surgeons and Medical Device Representatives.

PubMed

O'Connor, Bonnie; Pollner, Fran; Fugh-Berman, Adriane

2016-01-01

Industry payments to surgeons have received public attention, but little is known about the relationships between surgeons and medical device representatives. Medical device representatives ("device reps") have become an integral part of operating room personnel. The effect of their presence on patient care deserves discussion. We conducted a qualitative, ethnographic study to explore relationships between surgeons and medical device representatives, and characterize industry involvement in the training of surgeons. We used group and individual open-ended interviews to gain insight into the beliefs, values, and perspectives of surgeons and device reps. We conducted two focus groups, one with ear, nose, and throat surgeons, and one with hospital-based attending orthopedic surgeons. We also conducted individual interviews with three former or current medical device representatives, a director of a surgical residency program at an academic medical center, and a medical assistant for a multi-physician orthopedic practice. While surgeons view themselves as indisputably in charge, device reps work hard to make themselves unobtrusively indispensable in order to establish and maintain influence, and to imbue the products they provide with personalized services that foster a surgeon's loyalty to the reps and their companies. Surgeons view industry-funded training opportunities as a necessary service. Device reps and some surgeons believe that reps benefit patient care, by increasing efficiency and mitigating deficiencies among operating room personnel (including the surgeons themselves). Our study raises ethical questions about the reliance of surgeons on device reps and device companies for education and surgical assistance and practical concerns regarding existing levels of competence among OR personnel.

Molecular typing of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines by PCR-based methods.

PubMed

Maluping, R P; Ravelo, C; Lavilla-Pitogo, C R; Krovacek, K; Romalde, J L

2005-01-01

The main aim of the present study was to use three PCR-based techniques for the analysis of genetic variability among Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines. Seventeen strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from shrimps (Penaeus monodon) and from the environments where these shrimps are being cultivated were analysed by random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD-PCR), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR). The results of this work have demonstrated genetic variability within the V. parahaemolyticus strains that were isolated from the Philippines. In addition, RAPD, ERIC and REP-PCR are suitable rapid typing methods for V. parahaemolyticus. All three methods have good discriminative ability and can be used as a rapid means of comparing V. parahaemolyticus strains for epidemiological investigation. Based on the results of this study, we could say that REP-PCR is inferior to RAPD and ERIC-PCR owing to the fact that it is less reproducible. Moreover, the REP-PCR analysis yielded a relatively small number of products. This may suggests that the REP sequences may not be widely distributed in the V. parahaemolyticus genome. Genetic variability within V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated in the Philippines has been demonstrated. The presence of ERIC and REP sequences in the genome of this bacterial species was confirmed. The RAPD, ERIC and REP-PCR techniques are useful methods for molecular typing of V. parahaemolyticus strains. To our knowledge this is the first study of this kind carried out on V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines.

The REP2 Repeats of the Genome of Neisseria meningitidis Are Associated with Genes Coordinately Regulated during Bacterial Cell Interaction

PubMed Central

Morelle, Sandrine; Carbonnelle, Etienne; Nassif, Xavier

2003-01-01

Interaction with host cells is essential in meningococcal pathogenesis especially at the blood-brain barrier. This step is likely to involve a common regulatory pathway allowing coordinate regulation of genes necessary for the interaction with endothelial cells. The analysis of the genomic sequence of Neisseria meningitidis Z2491 revealed the presence of many repeats. One of these, designated REP2, contains a −24/−12 type promoter and a ribosome binding site 5 to 13 bp before an ATG. In addition most of these REP2 sequences are located immediately upstream of an ORF. Among these REP2-associated genes are pilC1 and crgA, described as being involved in steps essential for the interaction of N. meningitidis with host cells. Furthermore, the REP2 sequences located upstream of pilC1 and crgA correspond to the previously identified promoters known to be induced during the initial localized adhesion of N. meningitidis with human cells. This characteristic led us to hypothesize that at least some of the REP2-associated genes were upregulated under the same circumstances as pilC1 and crgA. Quantitative PCR in real time demonstrated that the expression of 14 out of 16 REP2-associated genes were upregulated during the initial localized adhesion of N. meningitidis. Taken together, these data suggest that these repeats control a set of genes necessary for the efficient interaction of this pathogen with host cells. Subsequent mutational analysis was performed to address the role of these genes during meningococcus-cell interaction. PMID:12670987

Salespeople in the Surgical Suite: Relationships between Surgeons and Medical Device Representatives

PubMed Central

O’Connor, Bonnie; Pollner, Fran; Fugh-Berman, Adriane

2016-01-01

Background Industry payments to surgeons have received public attention, but little is known about the relationships between surgeons and medical device representatives. Medical device representatives ("device reps") have become an integral part of operating room personnel. The effect of their presence on patient care deserves discussion. Study Design We conducted a qualitative, ethnographic study to explore relationships between surgeons and medical device representatives, and characterize industry involvement in the training of surgeons. We used group and individual open-ended interviews to gain insight into the beliefs, values, and perspectives of surgeons and device reps. We conducted two focus groups, one with ear, nose, and throat surgeons, and one with hospital-based attending orthopedic surgeons. We also conducted individual interviews with three former or current medical device representatives, a director of a surgical residency program at an academic medical center, and a medical assistant for a multi-physician orthopedic practice. Results While surgeons view themselves as indisputably in charge, device reps work hard to make themselves unobtrusively indispensable in order to establish and maintain influence, and to imbue the products they provide with personalized services that foster a surgeon's loyalty to the reps and their companies. Surgeons view industry-funded training opportunities as a necessary service. Device reps and some surgeons believe that reps benefit patient care, by increasing efficiency and mitigating deficiencies among operating room personnel (including the surgeons themselves). Conclusions Our study raises ethical questions about the reliance of surgeons on device reps and device companies for education and surgical assistance and practical concerns regarding existing levels of competence among OR personnel. PMID:27486992

Ubiquiter circovirus sequences raise challenges in laboratory diagnosis: the case of honey bee and bee mite, reptiles, and free living amoebae.

PubMed

Marton, Szilvia; Ihász, Katalin; Lengyel, György; Farkas, Szilvia L; Dán, Ádám; Paulus, Petra; Bányai, Krisztián; Fehér, Enikő

2015-03-01

Circoviruses of pigs and birds are established pathogens, however, the exact role of other, recently described circoviruses and circovirus-like viruses remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was the detection of circoviruses in neglected host species, including honey bees, exotic reptiles and free-living amoebae by widely used broad-spectrum polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays specific for the replication initiation protein coding gene of these viruses. The majority of sequences obtained from honey bees were highly similar to canine and porcine circoviruses, or, were distantly related to dragonfly cycloviruses. Other rep sequences detected in some honey bees, reptiles and amoebae showed similarities to various rep sequences deposited in the GenBank. Back-to-back PCR primers designed for the amplification of whole viral genomes failed to work that suggested the existence of integrated rep-like elements in many samples. Rolling circle amplification and exonuclease treatment confirmed the absence of small circular DNA genomes in the specimens analysed. In case of honey bees Varroa mite DNA contamination might be a source of the identified endogenous rep-like elements. The reptile and amoebae rep-like sequences were nearly identical with each other and with sequences detected in chimpanzee feces raising the possibility that detection of novel or unusual rep-like elements in some host species might originate from the microbial community of the host. Our results indicate that attention is needed when broad-spectrum rep gene specific polymerase chain reaction is chosen for laboratory diagnosis of circovirus infections.

Investigating the mobilome in clinically important lineages of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis.

PubMed

Mikalsen, Theresa; Pedersen, Torunn; Willems, Rob; Coque, Teresa M; Werner, Guido; Sadowy, Ewa; van Schaik, Willem; Jensen, Lars Bogø; Sundsfjord, Arnfinn; Hegstad, Kristin

2015-04-10

The success of Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis evolving as multi-resistant nosocomial pathogens is associated with their ability to acquire and share adaptive traits, including antimicrobial resistance genes encoded by mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Here, we investigate this mobilome in successful hospital associated genetic lineages, E. faecium sequence type (ST)17 (n=10) and ST78 (n=10), E. faecalis ST6 (n=10) and ST40 (n=10) by DNA microarray analyses. The hybridization patterns of 272 representative targets including plasmid backbones (n=85), transposable elements (n=85), resistance determinants (n=67), prophages (n=29) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-cas sequences (n=6) separated the strains according to species, and for E. faecalis also according to STs. RCR-, Rep_3-, RepA_N- and Inc18-family plasmids were highly prevalent and with the exception of Rep_3, evenly distributed between the species. There was a considerable difference in the replicon profile, with rep 17/pRUM , rep 2/pRE25 , rep 14/EFNP1 and rep 20/pLG1 dominating in E. faecium and rep 9/pCF10 , rep 2/pRE25 and rep 7 in E. faecalis strains. We observed an overall high correlation between the presence and absence of genes coding for resistance towards antibiotics, metals, biocides and their corresponding MGEs as well as their phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Although most IS families were represented in both E. faecalis and E. faecium, specific IS elements within these families were distributed in only one species. The prevalence of IS256-, IS3-, ISL3-, IS200/IS605-, IS110-, IS982- and IS4-transposases was significantly higher in E. faecium than E. faecalis, and that of IS110-, IS982- and IS1182-transposases in E. faecalis ST6 compared to ST40. Notably, the transposases of IS981, ISEfm1 and IS1678 that have only been reported in few enterococcal isolates were well represented in the E. faecium strains. E. faecalis ST40 strains harboured possible functional CRISPR-Cas systems, and still resistance and prophage sequences were generally well represented. The targeted MGEs were highly prevalent among the selected STs, underlining their potential importance in the evolution of hospital-adapted lineages of enterococci. Although the propensity of inter-species horizontal gene transfer (HGT) must be emphasized, the considerable species-specificity of these MGEs indicates a separate vertical evolution of MGEs within each species, and for E. faecalis within each ST.

Study of the Generation of Intense Pulsed Electron Beams Using Glow Discharges

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

de Investigaciones Opticas, Rep. Argentina. (2) On leave from PROFET (UNCPBA) Programa de Fisica Experimental Tandil, Rep. Argentina. (3) Edwards... de Investigaciones Opticas, (CIC-BA) Rep. Argentina. Section III-D. Measurements of the plasma density andB. T. Szapiro is on leave from Programa de ...discussed. The radial profiles Szapiro was supported by a fellowship from the Universidad Nacional de show the presence of a high-current-density

Identification of three extra-chromosomal replicons in Leptospira pathogenic strain and development of new shuttle vectors.

PubMed

Zhu, Weinan; Wang, Jin; Zhu, Yongzhang; Tang, Biao; Zhang, Yunyi; He, Ping; Zhang, Yan; Liu, Boyu; Guo, Xiaokui; Zhao, Guoping; Qin, Jinhong

2015-02-15

The genome of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans contains two chromosomes. Plasmids and prophages are known to play specific roles in gene transfer in bacteria and can potentially serve as efficient genetic tools in these organisms. Although plasmids and prophage remnants have recently been reported in Leptospira species, their characteristics and potential applications in leptospiral genetic transformation systems have not been fully evaluated. Three extrachromosomal replicons designated lcp1 (65,732 bp), lcp2 (56,757 bp), and lcp3 (54,986 bp) in the L. interrogans serovar Linhai strain 56609 were identified through whole genome sequencing. All three replicons were stable outside of the bacterial chromosomes. Phage particles were observed in the culture supernatant of 56609 after mitomycin C induction, and lcp3, which contained phage-related genes, was considered to be an inducible prophage. L. interrogans-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors, constructed with the predicted replication elements of single rep or rep combined with parAB loci from the three plasmids were shown to successfully transform into both saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira species, suggesting an essential function for rep genes in supporting auto-replication of the plasmids. Additionally, a wide distribution of homologs of the three rep genes was identified in L. interrogans isolates, and correlation tests showed that the transformability of the shuttle vectors in L. interrogans isolates depended, to certain extent, on genetic compatibility between the rep sequences of both plasmid and host. Three extrachromosomal replicons co-exist in L. interrogans, one of which we consider to be an inducible prophage. The vectors constructed with the rep genes of the three replicons successfully transformed into saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira species alike, but this was partly dependent on genetic compatibility between the rep sequences of both plasmid and host.

Relative effect potency estimates of dioxin-like activity for dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs in adults based on two thyroid outcomes.

PubMed

Trnovec, Tomáš; Jusko, Todd A; Šovčíková, Eva; Lancz, Kinga; Chovancová, Jana; Patayová, Henrieta; Palkovičová, L'ubica; Drobná, Beata; Langer, Pavel; Van den Berg, Martin; Dedik, Ladislav; Wimmerová, Soňa

2013-08-01

Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) are an important component in the risk assessment of dioxin-like human exposures. At present, this concept is based mainly on in vivo animal experiments using oral dosage. Consequently, the current human TEFs derived from mammalian experiments are applicable only for exposure situations in which oral ingestion occurs. Nevertheless, these "intake" TEFs are commonly-but incorrectly-used by regulatory authorities to calculate "systemic" toxic equivalents (TEQs) based on human blood and tissue concentrations, which are used as biomarkers for either exposure or effect. We sought to determine relative effect potencies (REPs) for systemic human concentrations of dioxin-like mixture components using thyroid volume or serum free thyroxine (FT4) concentration as the outcomes of interest. We used a benchmark concentration and a regression-based approach to compare the strength of association between each dioxin-like compound and the thyroid end points in 320 adults residing in an organochlorine-polluted area of eastern Slovakia. REPs calculated from thyroid volume and FT4 were similar. The regression coefficient (β)-derived REP data from thyroid volume and FT4 level were correlated with the World Health Organization (WHO) TEF values (Spearman r = 0.69, p = 0.01 and r = 0.62, p = 0.03, respectively). The calculated REPs were mostly within the minimum and maximum values for in vivo REPs derived by other investigators. Our REPs calculated from thyroid end points realistically reflect human exposure scenarios because they are based on chronic, low-dose human exposures and on biomarkers reflecting body burden. Compared with previous results, our REPs suggest higher sensitivity to the effects of dioxin-like compounds.

Rochester Epidemiology Project Data Exploration Portal

PubMed Central

Grossardt, Brandon R.; Finney Rutten, Lila J.; Roger, Veronique L.; Majerus, Michelle; Jensen, Daniel W.; Brue, Scott M.; Bock-Goodner, Cynthia M.; Rocca, Walter A.

2018-01-01

Introduction The goal of this project was to develop an interactive, web-based tool to explore patterns of prevalence and co-occurrence of diseases using data from the expanded Rochester Epidemiology Project (E-REP) medical records-linkage system. Methods We designed the REP Data Exploration Portal (REP DEP) to include summary information for people who lived in a 27-county region of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on January 1, 2014 (n = 694,506; 61% of the entire population). We obtained diagnostic codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, from the medical records-linkage system in 2009 through 2013 (5 years) and grouped them into 717 disease categories. For each condition or combination of 2 conditions (dyad), we calculated prevalence by dividing the number of persons with a specified condition (numerator) by the total number of persons in the population (denominator). We calculated observed-to-expected ratios (OERs) to test whether 2 conditions co-occur more frequently than would co-occur as a result of chance alone. Results We launched the first version of the REP DEP in May 2017. The REP DEP can be accessed at http://rochesterproject.org/portal/. Users can select 2 conditions of interest, and the REP DEP displays the overall prevalence, age-specific prevalence, and sex-specific prevalence for each condition and dyad. Also displayed are OERs overall and by age and sex and maps of county-specific prevalence of each condition and OER. Conclusion The REP DEP draws upon a medical records-linkage system to provide an innovative, rapid, interactive, free-of-charge method to examine the prevalence and co-occurrence of 717 diseases and conditions in a geographically defined population. PMID:29654640

Molecular diagnosis of symptomatic toxoplasmosis: a 9-year retrospective and prospective study in a referral laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil.

PubMed

Camilo, Lilian Muniz; Pereira-Chioccola, Vera Lucia; Gava, Ricardo; Meira-Strejevitch, Cristina da Silva; Vidal, Jose Ernesto; Brandão de Mattos, Cinara Cássia; Frederico, Fábio Batista; De Mattos, Luiz Carlos; Spegiorin, Lígia Cosentino Junqueira Franco

Symptomatic forms of toxoplasmosis are a serious public health problem and occur in around 10-20% of the infected people. Aiming to improve the molecular diagnosis of symptomatic toxoplasmosis in Brazilian patients, this study evaluated the performance of real time PCR testing two primer sets (B1 and REP-529) in detecting Toxoplasma gondii DNA. The methodology was assayed in 807 clinical samples with known clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR results in a 9-year period. All samples were from patients with clinical suspicion of several features of toxoplasmosis. According to the minimum detection limit curve (in C T ), REP-529 had greater sensitivity to detect T. gondii DNA than B1. Both primer sets were retrospectively evaluated using 515 DNA from different clinical samples. The 122 patients without toxoplasmosis provided high specificity (REP-529, 99.2% and B1, 100%). From the 393 samples with positive ELISA, 146 had clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and positive conventional PCR. REP-529 and B1 sensitivities were 95.9% and 83.6%, respectively. Comparison of REP-529 and B1 performances was further analyzed prospectively in 292 samples. Thus, from a total of 807 DNA analyzed, 217 (26.89%) had positive PCR with, at least one primer set and symptomatic toxoplasmosis confirmed by clinical diagnosis. REP-529 was positive in 97.23%, whereas B1 amplified only 78.80%. After comparing several samples in a Brazilian referral laboratory, this study concluded that REP-529 primer set had better performance than B1 one. These observations were based after using cases with defined clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR. Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Prostaglandin E2 modulates dendritic cell function via EP2 and EP4 receptor subtypes.

PubMed

Harizi, Hedi; Grosset, Christophe; Gualde, Norbert

2003-06-01

We have reported previously that PGE(2) inhibits dendritic cells (DC) functions. Because E prostanoid receptor (EPR) subtypes involved in this action are unknown, expression and functions of these receptors were examined in DC. Western blot and flow cytometry analyses showed that all EPRs were coexpressed in DC. In a dose-dependent manner, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced EP(2)R/EP(4)R but not EP(1)R/EP(3)R expressions. NS-398, a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-selective inhibitor, suppressed LPS-enhanced EP(2)R/EP(4)R expression, suggesting that COX-2-issued prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) modulates DC function through stimulation of specific EPR subtypes. Using selective agonists, we found that butaprost, an EP(2)R agonist, and PGE(1) alcohol, an EP(2)R and EP(2)R/EP(4)R agonist, inhibited major histocompatibility complex class II expression and enhanced interleukin-10 production from DC. However, no effect was observed with sulprostone and 17-phenyl-omega-trinor-PGE(2), selective agonists for EP(1)R and EP(1)R/EP(3)R, respectively. Treatment of DC with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an analog of cAMP, mimics PGE(2)-induced, inhibitory effects. Taken together, our data demonstrate that EP(2)R/EP(4)R are efficient for mediating PGE(2)-induced modulation of DC functions.

Geovisualization in the HydroProg web map service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spallek, Waldemar; Wieczorek, Malgorzata; Szymanowski, Mariusz; Niedzielski, Tomasz; Swierczynska, Malgorzata

2016-04-01

The HydroProg system, built at the University of Wroclaw (Poland) in frame of the research project no. 2011/01/D/ST10/04171 financed by the National Science Centre of Poland, has been designed for computing predictions of river stages in real time on a basis of multimodelling. This experimental system works on the upper Nysa Klodzka basin (SW Poland) above the gauge in the town of Bardo, with the catchment area of 1744 square kilometres. The system operates in association with the Local System for Flood Monitoring of Klodzko County (LSOP), and produces hydrograph prognoses as well as inundation predictions. For presenting the up-to-date predictions and their statistics in the online mode, the dedicated real-time web map service has been designed. Geovisualisation in the HydroProg map service concerns: interactive maps of study area, interactive spaghetti hydrograms of water level forecasts along with observed river stages, animated images of inundation. The LSOP network offers a high spatial and temporal resolution of observations, as the length of the sampling interval is equal to 15 minutes. The main environmental elements related to hydrological modelling are shown on the main map. This includes elevation data (hillshading and hypsometric tints), rivers and reservoirs as well as catchment boundaries. Furthermore, we added main towns, roads as well as political and administrative boundaries for better map understanding. The web map was designed as a multi-scale representation, with levels of detail and zooming according to scales: 1:100 000, 1:250 000 and 1:500 000. Observations of water level in LSOP are shown on interactive hydrographs for each gauge. Additionally, predictions and some of their statistical characteristics (like prediction errors and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency) are shown for selected gauges. Finally, predictions of inundation are presented on animated maps which have been added for four experimental sites. The HydroProg system is a strictly scientific project, but the web map service has been designed for all web users. The main objective of the paper is to present the design process of the web map service, following the cartographic and graphic principles.

The Onsala Twin Telescope Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haas, R.

2013-08-01

This paper described the Onsala Twin Telescope project. The project aims at the construction of two new radio telescopes at the Onsala Space Observatory, following the VLBI2010 concept. The project starts in 2013 and is expected to be finalized within 4 years. Z% O. Rydbeck. Chalmers Tekniska Högskola, Göteborg, ISBN 91-7032-621-5, 407-823, 1991. B. Petrachenko, A. Niell, D. Behrend, B. Corey, J. Böhm, P. Charlot, A. Collioud, J. Gipson, R. Haas, Th. Hobiger, Y. Koyama, D. MacMillan, Z. Malkin, T. Nilsson, A. Pany, G. Tuccari, A. Whitney, and J. Wresnik. Design Aspects of the VLBI2010 System. NASA/TM-2009-214180, 58 pp., 2009. R. Haas, G. Elgered, J. Löfgren, T. Ning, and H.-G. Scherneck. Onsala Space Observatory - IVS Network Station. In K. D. Baver and D. Behrend, editors, International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry 2011 Annual Report, NASA/TP-2012-217505, 88-91, 2012. H.-G. Scherneck, G. Elgered, J. M. Johansson, and B. O. Rönnäng. Phys. Chem. Earth, Vol. 23, No. 7-8, 811-823, 1998. A. R. Whitney. Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Electrical engineering, MIT Cambridge, MA., 1974. B. A. Harper, J. D. Kepert, and J. D. Ginger. Guidelines for converting between various wind averaging periods in tropical cyclone conditions. WMO/TD-No. 1555, 64 pp., 2010 (available at \\url{http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/WMO_TD_1555_en.pdf})

Scalable and expressive medical terminologies.

PubMed

Mays, E; Weida, R; Dionne, R; Laker, M; White, B; Liang, C; Oles, F J

1996-01-01

The K-Rep system, based on description logic, is used to represent and reason with large and expressive controlled medical terminologies. Expressive concept descriptions incorporate semantically precise definitions composed using logical operators, together with important non-semantic information such as synonyms and codes. Examples are drawn from our experience with K-Rep in modeling the InterMed laboratory terminology and also developing a large clinical terminology now in production use at Kaiser-Permanente. System-level scalability of performance is achieved through an object-oriented database system which efficiently maps persistent memory to virtual memory. Equally important is conceptual scalability-the ability to support collaborative development, organization, and visualization of a substantial terminology as it evolves over time. K-Rep addresses this need by logically completing concept definitions and automatically classifying concepts in a taxonomy via subsumption inferences. The K-Rep system includes a general-purpose GUI environment for terminology development and browsing, a custom interface for formulary term maintenance, a C+2 application program interface, and a distributed client-server mode which provides lightweight clients with efficient run-time access to K-Rep by means of a scripting language.

Applications of the rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting technique to study microbial diversity, ecology and evolution.

PubMed

Ishii, Satoshi; Sadowsky, Michael J

2009-04-01

A large number of repetitive DNA sequences are found in multiple sites in the genomes of numerous bacteria, archaea and eukarya. While the functions of many of these repetitive sequence elements are unknown, they have proven to be useful as the basis of several powerful tools for use in molecular diagnostics, medical microbiology, epidemiological analyses and environmental microbiology. The repetitive sequence-based PCR or rep-PCR DNA fingerprint technique uses primers targeting several of these repetitive elements and PCR to generate unique DNA profiles or 'fingerprints' of individual microbial strains. Although this technique has been extensively used to examine diversity among variety of prokaryotic microorganisms, rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting can also be applied to microbial ecology and microbial evolution studies since it has the power to distinguish microbes at the strain or isolate level. Recent advancement in rep-PCR methodology has resulted in increased accuracy, reproducibility and throughput. In this minireview, we summarize recent improvements in rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting methodology, and discuss its applications to address fundamentally important questions in microbial ecology and evolution.

Integration of gel-based proteome data with pProRep.

PubMed

Laukens, Kris; Matthiesen, Rune; Lemière, Filip; Esmans, Eddy; Onckelen, Harry Van; Jensen, Ole Nørregaard; Witters, Erwin

2006-11-15

pProRep is a web application integrating electrophoretic and mass spectral data from proteome analyses into a relational database. The graphical web-interface allows users to upload, analyse and share experimental proteome data. It offers researchers the possibility to query all previously analysed datasets and can visualize selected features, such as the presence of a certain set of ions in a peptide mass spectrum, on the level of the two-dimensional gel. The pProRep package and instructions for its use can be downloaded from http://www.ptools.ua.ac.be/pProRep. The application requires a web server that runs PHP 5 (http://www.php.net) and MySQL. Some (non-essential) extensions need additional freely available libraries: details are described in the installation instructions.

Sediment and erosion control laboratory facility expansion.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

The Sediment and Erosion Control Laboratory (SEC Lab), formerly the Hydraulics, Sedimentation, and : Erosion Control Laboratory, is operated by the Texas A&M Transportation Institutes Environment and : Planning Program. Performance evaluation prog...

PCR Methods for Rapid Identification and Characterization of Actinobacillus seminis Strains

PubMed Central

Appuhamy, S.; Coote, J. G.; Low, J. C.; Parton, R.

1998-01-01

Twenty-four isolates of Actinobacillus seminis were typed by PCR ribotyping, repetitive extragenic palindromic element (REP)-based PCR, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-based PCR. Five types were distinguished by REP-PCR, and nine types were distinguished by ERIC-PCR. PCR ribotyping produced the simplest pattern and could be useful for identification of A. seminis and for its differentiation from related species. REP- and ERIC-PCR could be used for strain differentiation in epidemiological studies of A. seminis. PMID:9508320

Child restraint device loaner programs

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-06-01

The child restraint device (CRD) loaner programs in Tennessee were evaluated. In-Lerviews were conducted with loaner program clients in Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Administrators of programs in all three sites also were interviewed. The prog...

Quantitative determination of testosterone levels with biolayer interferometry.

PubMed

Zhang, Hao; Li, Wei; Luo, Hong; Xiong, Guangming; Yu, Yuanhua

2017-10-01

Natural and synthetic steroid hormones are widely spread in the environment and are considered as pollutants due to their endocrine activities, even at low concentrations, which are harmful to human health. To detect steroid hormones in the environment, a novel biosensor system was developed based on the principle of biolayer interferometry. Detection is based on changes in the interference pattern of white light reflected from the surface of an optical fiber with bound biomolecules. Monitoring interactions between molecules does not require radioactive, enzymatic, or fluorescent labels. Here, 2 double-stranded DNA fragments of operator 1 (OP1) and OP2 containing 10-bp palindromic sequences in chromosomal Comamonas testosteroni DNA (ATCC11996) were surface-immobilized to streptavidin sensors. Interference changes were detected when repressor protein RepA bound the DNA sequences. DNA-protein interactions were characterized and kinetic parameters were obtained. The dissociation constants between the OP1 and OP2 DNA sequences and RepA were 9.865 × 10 -9  M and 2.750 × 10 -8  M, respectively. The reactions showed high specifically and affinity. Because binding of the 10-bp palindromic sequence and RepA was affected by RepA-testosterone binding, the steroid could be quantitatively determined rapidly using the biosensor system. The mechanism of the binding assay was as follows. RepA could bind both OP1 and testosterone. RepA binding to testosterone changed the protein conformation, which influenced the binding between RepA and OP1. The percentage of the signal detected negative correlation with the testosterone concentration. A standard curve was obtained, and the correlation coefficient value was approximately 0.97. We could quantitatively determine testosterone levels between 2.13 and 136.63 ng/ml. Each sample could be quantitatively detected in 17 min. These results suggested that the specific interaction between double-stranded OP1 DNA and the RepA protein could be used to rapidly and quantitatively determine environmental testosterone levels by the biolayer interferometry technique. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Unsteady forces on a spherical particle accelerating or decelerating in an initially stagnant fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keshav, Yashas Mudlapur Phaneesh

Flows with particles play an important role in a number of engineering applications. These include trajectories of droplets in sprays in fuel-injected-reciprocating-piston and gas-turbine engines, erosion of materials due to particle impact on a surface, and deposition of materials on surfaces by impinging droplets or particles that could solidify or bond on impact. For these applications, it is important to understand the forces that act on the particles so that their trajectories could be predicted. Considerable work has been done on understanding the forces acting on spherical particles, where the Reynolds numbers (Rep) based on the particle diameter and the relative speed between the particle and the fluid is less than unity. When Rep is larger than unity and when the particle is accelerating or decelerating, the added-mass effect and the Basset forces are not well understood. In this study, time-accurate numerical simulations were performed to study laminar incompressible flow induced by a single non-rotating rigid spherical particle that is accelerated or decelerated at a constant rate in an initially stagnant fluid, where the unsteady flow about the spherical particle is resolved. The Rep studied range from 0.01 to 100, and the acceleration number (Ac), where A c is the square of the relative velocity between the particle and the fluid divided by the acceleration times the particle diameter studied was in the range 2.13x-7 < |Ac |< 21337. Results obtained show the added mass effect for Rep up to 100 has the same functional form as those based on potential theory where the Rep is infinite and creeping flow where Rep is less than unity. The Basset force, however, differs considerably from those under creeping flow conditions and depends on Rep and the acceleration number (Ac). A model was developed to provide the magnitude of the added-mass effect and the Basset force in the range of Rep and Ac studied. Results obtained also show the effect of unsteadiness to become negligible when Ac reaches 80.

Assessing the role of a medication-indication resource in the treatment relation extraction from clinical text

PubMed Central

Bejan, Cosmin Adrian; Wei, Wei-Qi; Denny, Joshua C

2015-01-01

Objective To evaluate the contribution of the MEDication Indication (MEDI) resource and SemRep for identifying treatment relations in clinical text. Materials and methods We first processed clinical documents with SemRep to extract the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concepts and the treatment relations between them. Then, we incorporated MEDI into a simple algorithm that identifies treatment relations between two concepts if they match a medication-indication pair in this resource. For a better coverage, we expanded MEDI using ontology relationships from RxNorm and UMLS Metathesaurus. We also developed two ensemble methods, which combined the predictions of SemRep and the MEDI algorithm. We evaluated our selected methods on two datasets, a Vanderbilt corpus of 6864 discharge summaries and the 2010 Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2)/Veteran's Affairs (VA) challenge dataset. Results The Vanderbilt dataset included 958 manually annotated treatment relations. A double annotation was performed on 25% of relations with high agreement (Cohen's κ = 0.86). The evaluation consisted of comparing the manual annotated relations with the relations identified by SemRep, the MEDI algorithm, and the two ensemble methods. On the first dataset, the best F1-measure results achieved by the MEDI algorithm and the union of the two resources (78.7 and 80, respectively) were significantly higher than the SemRep results (72.3). On the second dataset, the MEDI algorithm achieved better precision and significantly lower recall values than the best system in the i2b2 challenge. The two systems obtained comparable F1-measure values on the subset of i2b2 relations with both arguments in MEDI. Conclusions Both SemRep and MEDI can be used to extract treatment relations from clinical text. Knowledge-based extraction with MEDI outperformed use of SemRep alone, but superior performance was achieved by integrating both systems. The integration of knowledge-based resources such as MEDI into information extraction systems such as SemRep and the i2b2 relation extractors may improve treatment relation extraction from clinical text. PMID:25336593

15 CFR 2013.1 - Designations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

.... Afr. Rep. Chad Congo Côte d'Ivoire Dem. Rep. of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea... Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines South Africa St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent...

15 CFR 2013.1 - Designations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

.... Afr. Rep. Chad Congo Côte d'Ivoire Dem. Rep. of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea... Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines South Africa St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent...

15 CFR 2013.1 - Designations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

.... Afr. Rep. Chad Congo Côte d'Ivoire Dem. Rep. of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea... Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines South Africa St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent...

Tennessee Representative Chuck Fleischmann Visit to MSFC

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-06-11

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tn) being briefed on additive manufacturing at MSFC during a tour of Marshall facilities. Rep. Fleischmann was accompanied by Darrell Akins, Executive Manager of the Tennessee Valley corridor.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Vibrio vulnificus in raw seafood and seawater in Malaysia.

PubMed

Paydar, Mohammadjavad; Thong, Kwai Lin

2013-10-01

Vibrio vulnificus is a highly invasive human pathogen that exists naturally in estuarine environment and coastal waters. In this study, we used different PCR assays to detect V. vulnificus in 260 seafood and 80 seawater samples. V. vulnificus was present in about 34 (13%) of the 260 seafood samples and 18 (23%) of the 80 seawater samples. Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) were applied to subtype the V. vulnificus isolates. Twenty-five REP profiles and 45 ERIC profiles were observed, and the isolates were categorized into 9 and 10 distinct clusters at the similarity of 80%, by REP-PCR and ERIC-PCR, respectively. ERIC-PCR is more discriminative than REP-PCR in subtyping V. vulnificus, demonstrating high genetic diversity among the isolates.

MetaRep, an extended CMAS 3D program to visualize mafic (CMAS, ACF-S, ACF-N) and pelitic (AFM-K, AFM-S, AKF-S) projections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

France, Lydéric; Nicollet, Christian

2010-06-01

MetaRep is a program based on our earlier program CMAS 3D. It is developed in MATLAB ® script. MetaRep objectives are to visualize and project major element compositions of mafic and pelitic rocks and their minerals in the pseudo-quaternary projections of the ACF-S, ACF-N, CMAS, AFM-K, AFM-S and AKF-S systems. These six systems are commonly used to describe metamorphic mineral assemblages and magmatic evolutions. Each system, made of four apices, can be represented in a tetrahedron that can be visualized in three dimensions with MetaRep; the four tetrahedron apices represent oxides or combination of oxides that define the composition of the projected rock or mineral. The three-dimensional representation allows one to obtain a better understanding of the topology of the relationships between the rocks and minerals and relations. From these systems, MetaRep can also project data in ternary plots (for example, the ACF, AFM and AKF ternary projections can be generated). A functional interface makes it easy to use and does not require any knowledge of MATLAB ® programming. To facilitate the use, MetaRep loads, from the main interface, data compiled in a Microsoft Excel ™ spreadsheet. Although useful for scientific research, the program is also a powerful tool for teaching. We propose an application example that, by using two combined systems (ACF-S and ACF-N), provides strong confirmation in the petrological interpretation.

History of the Rochester Epidemiology Project: Half a Century of Medical Records Linkage in a US Population

PubMed Central

Rocca, Walter A.; Yawn, Barbara P.; St. Sauver, Jennifer L.; Grossardt, Brandon R.; Melton, L. Joseph

2012-01-01

The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) has maintained a comprehensive medical records linkage system for nearly half a century for almost all persons residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Herein, we provide a brief history of the REP before and after 1966, the year in which the REP was officially established. The key protagonists before 1966 were Henry Plummer, Mabel Root, and Joseph Berkson, who developed a medical records linkage system at Mayo Clinic. In 1966, Leonard Kurland established collaborative agreements with other local health care providers (hospitals, physician groups, and clinics [primarily Olmsted Medical Center]) to develop a medical records linkage system that covered the entire population of Olmsted County, and he obtained funding from the National Institutes of Health to support the new system. In 1997, L. Joseph Melton III addressed emerging concerns about the confidentiality of medical record information by introducing a broad patient research authorization as per Minnesota state law. We describe how the key protagonists of the REP have responded to challenges posed by evolving medical knowledge, information technology, and public expectation and policy. In addition, we provide a general description of the system; discuss issues of data quality, reliability, and validity; describe the research team structure; provide information about funding; and compare the REP with other medical information systems. The REP can serve as a model for the development of similar research infrastructures in the United States and worldwide. PMID:23199802

Centrifugally Driven Rayleigh-Taylor Instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scase, Matthew; Hill, Richard

2017-11-01

The instability that develops at the interface between two fluids of differing density due to the rapid rotation of the system may be considered as a limit of high-rotation rate Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Previously the authors have considered the effect of rotation on a gravitationally dominated Rayleigh-Taylor instability and have shown that some growth modes of instability may be suppressed completely by the stabilizing effect of rotation (Phys. Rev. Fluids 2:024801, Sci. Rep. 5:11706). Here we consider the case of very high rotation rates and a negligible gravitational field. The initial condition is of a dense inner cylinder of fluid surrounded by a lighter layer of fluid. As the system is rotated about the generating axis of the cylinder, the dense inner fluid moves away from the axis and the familiar bubbles and spikes of Rayleigh-Taylor instability develop at the interface. The system may be thought of as a ``fluid-fluid centrifuge''. By developing a model based on an Orr-Sommerfeld equation, we consider the effects of viscosity, surface tension and interface diffusion on the growth rate and modes of instability. We show that under particular circumstances some modes may be stabilized. School of Mathematical Sciences.

Statistical evaluation of blood alcohol measurements

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-10-01

The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has instituted a voluntary program to evaluate the proficiency of laboratories measuring the amount of alcohol in blood. In this report, data from that prog...

repRNA: a web server for generating various feature vectors of RNA sequences.

PubMed

Liu, Bin; Liu, Fule; Fang, Longyun; Wang, Xiaolong; Chou, Kuo-Chen

2016-02-01

With the rapid growth of RNA sequences generated in the postgenomic age, it is highly desired to develop a flexible method that can generate various kinds of vectors to represent these sequences by focusing on their different features. This is because nearly all the existing machine-learning methods, such as SVM (support vector machine) and KNN (k-nearest neighbor), can only handle vectors but not sequences. To meet the increasing demands and speed up the genome analyses, we have developed a new web server, called "representations of RNA sequences" (repRNA). Compared with the existing methods, repRNA is much more comprehensive, flexible and powerful, as reflected by the following facts: (1) it can generate 11 different modes of feature vectors for users to choose according to their investigation purposes; (2) it allows users to select the features from 22 built-in physicochemical properties and even those defined by users' own; (3) the resultant feature vectors and the secondary structures of the corresponding RNA sequences can be visualized. The repRNA web server is freely accessible to the public at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/repRNA/ .

New Opportunities for Outer Solar System Science using Radioisotope Electric Propulsion

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

Noble, Robert J.; /SLAC; Amini, Rashied

Today, our questions and hypotheses about the Solar System's origin have surpassed our ability to deliver scientific instruments to deep space. The moons of the outer planets, the Trojan and Centaur minor planets, the trans-Neptunian objects (TNO), and distant Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) hold a wealth of information about the primordial conditions that led to the formation of our Solar System. Robotic missions to these objects are needed to make the discoveries, but the lack of deep-space propulsion is impeding this science. Radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) will revolutionize the way we do deep-space planetary science with robotic vehicles, giving themmore » unprecedented mobility. Radioisotope electric generators and lightweight ion thrusters are being developed today which will make possible REP systems with specific power in the range of 5 to 10 W/kg. Studies have shown that this specific power range is sufficient to perform fast rendezvous missions from Earth to the outer Solar System and fast sample return missions. This whitepaper discusses how mobility provided by REP opens up entirely new science opportunities for robotic missions to distant primitive bodies. We also give an overview of REP technology developments and the required next steps to realize REP.« less

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) for Selected Interplanetary Science Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oh, David; Bonfiglio, Eugene; Cupples, Mike; Belcher, Jeremy; Witzberger, Kevin; Fiehler, Douglas; Artis, Gwen

2005-01-01

This viewgraph presentation analyzes small body targets (Trojan Asteroids), Medium Outer Planet Class (Jupiter Polar Orbiter with Probes), and Main Belt Asteroids and Comets (Comet Surface Sample Return), for Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP).

Therapeutic Antiviral Effect of the Nucleic Acid Polymer REP 2055 against Persistent Duck Hepatitis B Virus Infection

PubMed Central

Noordeen, Faseeha; Scougall, Catherine A.; Grosse, Arend; Qiao, Qiao; Ajilian, Behzad B.; Reaiche-Miller, Georget; Finnie, John; Werner, Melanie; Broering, Ruth; Schlaak, Joerg F.; Vaillant, Andrew; Jilbert, Allison R.

2015-01-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that nucleic acid polymers (NAPs) have both entry and post-entry inhibitory activity against duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection. The inhibitory activity exhibited by NAPs prevented DHBV infection of primary duck hepatocytes in vitro and protected ducks from DHBV infection in vivo and did not result from direct activation of the immune response. In the current study treatment of primary human hepatocytes with NAP REP 2055 did not induce expression of the TNF, IL6, IL10, IFNA4 or IFNB1 genes, confirming the lack of direct immunostimulation by REP 2055. Ducks with persistent DHBV infection were treated with NAP 2055 to determine if the post-entry inhibitory activity exhibited by NAPs could provide a therapeutic effect against established DHBV infection in vivo. In all REP 2055-treated ducks, 28 days of treatment lead to initial rapid reductions in serum DHBsAg and DHBV DNA and increases in anti-DHBs antibodies. After treatment, 6/11 ducks experienced a sustained virologic response: DHBsAg and DHBV DNA remained at low or undetectable levels in the serum and no DHBsAg or DHBV core antigen positive hepatocytes and only trace amounts of DHBV total and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) were detected in the liver at 9 or 16 weeks of follow-up. In the remaining 5/11 REP 2055-treated ducks, all markers of DHBV infection rapidly rebounded after treatment withdrawal: At 9 and 16 weeks of follow-up, levels of DHBsAg and DHBcAg and DHBV total and cccDNA in the liver had rebounded and matched levels observed in the control ducks treated with normal saline which remained persistently infected with DHBV. These data demonstrate that treatment with the NAP REP 2055 can lead to sustained control of persistent DHBV infection. These effects may be related to the unique ability of REP 2055 to block release of DHBsAg from infected hepatocytes. PMID:26560490

Deformable M-Reps for 3D Medical Image Segmentation.

PubMed

Pizer, Stephen M; Fletcher, P Thomas; Joshi, Sarang; Thall, Andrew; Chen, James Z; Fridman, Yonatan; Fritsch, Daniel S; Gash, Graham; Glotzer, John M; Jiroutek, Michael R; Lu, Conglin; Muller, Keith E; Tracton, Gregg; Yushkevich, Paul; Chaney, Edward L

2003-11-01

M-reps (formerly called DSLs) are a multiscale medial means for modeling and rendering 3D solid geometry. They are particularly well suited to model anatomic objects and in particular to capture prior geometric information effectively in deformable models segmentation approaches. The representation is based on figural models , which define objects at coarse scale by a hierarchy of figures - each figure generally a slab representing a solid region and its boundary simultaneously. This paper focuses on the use of single figure models to segment objects of relatively simple structure. A single figure is a sheet of medial atoms, which is interpolated from the model formed by a net, i.e., a mesh or chain, of medial atoms (hence the name m-reps ), each atom modeling a solid region via not only a position and a width but also a local figural frame giving figural directions and an object angle between opposing, corresponding positions on the boundary implied by the m-rep. The special capability of an m-rep is to provide spatial and orientational correspondence between an object in two different states of deformation. This ability is central to effective measurement of both geometric typicality and geometry to image match, the two terms of the objective function optimized in segmentation by deformable models. The other ability of m-reps central to effective segmentation is their ability to support segmentation at multiple levels of scale, with successively finer precision. Objects modeled by single figures are segmented first by a similarity transform augmented by object elongation, then by adjustment of each medial atom, and finally by displacing a dense sampling of the m-rep implied boundary. While these models and approaches also exist in 2D, we focus on 3D objects. The segmentation of the kidney from CT and the hippocampus from MRI serve as the major examples in this paper. The accuracy of segmentation as compared to manual, slice-by-slice segmentation is reported.

Co-Stimulation through 4-1BB/CD137 Improves the Expansion and Function of CD8+ Melanoma Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Adoptive T-Cell Therapy

PubMed Central

Chacon, Jessica Ann; Wu, Richard C.; Sukhumalchandra, Pariya; Molldrem, Jeffrey J.; Sarnaik, Amod; Pilon-Thomas, Shari; Weber, Jeffrey; Hwu, Patrick; Radvanyi, Laszlo

2013-01-01

Adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can induce tumor regression in up to 50% or more of patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma. However, current methods to expand melanoma TIL, especially the “rapid expansion protocol” (REP) were not designed to enhance the generation of optimal effector-memory CD8+ T cells for infusion. One approach to this problem is to manipulate specific co-stimulatory signaling pathways to enhance CD8+ effector-memory T-cell expansion. In this study, we determined the effects of activating the TNF-R family member 4-1BB/CD137, specifically induced in activated CD8+ T cells, on the yield, phenotype, and functional activity of expanded CD8+ T cells during the REP. We found that CD8+ TIL up-regulate 4-1BB expression early during the REP after initial TCR stimulation, but neither the PBMC feeder cells in the REP or the activated TIL expressed 4-1BB ligand. However, addition of an exogenous agonistic anti-4-1BB IgG4 (BMS 663513) to the REP significantly enhanced the frequency and total yield of CD8+ T cells as well as their maintenance of CD28 and increased their anti-tumor CTL activity. Gene expression analysis found an increase in bcl-2 and survivin expression induced by 4-1BB that was associated with an enhanced survival capability of CD8+ post-REP TIL when re-cultured in the absence or presence of cytokines. Our findings suggest that adding an agonistic anti-4-1BB antibody during the time of TIL REP initiation produces a CD8+ T cell population capable of improved effector function and survival. This may greatly improve TIL persistence and anti-tumor activity in vivo after adoptive transfer into patients. PMID:23560068

Deformable M-Reps for 3D Medical Image Segmentation

PubMed Central

Pizer, Stephen M.; Fletcher, P. Thomas; Joshi, Sarang; Thall, Andrew; Chen, James Z.; Fridman, Yonatan; Fritsch, Daniel S.; Gash, Graham; Glotzer, John M.; Jiroutek, Michael R.; Lu, Conglin; Muller, Keith E.; Tracton, Gregg; Yushkevich, Paul; Chaney, Edward L.

2013-01-01

M-reps (formerly called DSLs) are a multiscale medial means for modeling and rendering 3D solid geometry. They are particularly well suited to model anatomic objects and in particular to capture prior geometric information effectively in deformable models segmentation approaches. The representation is based on figural models, which define objects at coarse scale by a hierarchy of figures – each figure generally a slab representing a solid region and its boundary simultaneously. This paper focuses on the use of single figure models to segment objects of relatively simple structure. A single figure is a sheet of medial atoms, which is interpolated from the model formed by a net, i.e., a mesh or chain, of medial atoms (hence the name m-reps), each atom modeling a solid region via not only a position and a width but also a local figural frame giving figural directions and an object angle between opposing, corresponding positions on the boundary implied by the m-rep. The special capability of an m-rep is to provide spatial and orientational correspondence between an object in two different states of deformation. This ability is central to effective measurement of both geometric typicality and geometry to image match, the two terms of the objective function optimized in segmentation by deformable models. The other ability of m-reps central to effective segmentation is their ability to support segmentation at multiple levels of scale, with successively finer precision. Objects modeled by single figures are segmented first by a similarity transform augmented by object elongation, then by adjustment of each medial atom, and finally by displacing a dense sampling of the m-rep implied boundary. While these models and approaches also exist in 2D, we focus on 3D objects. The segmentation of the kidney from CT and the hippocampus from MRI serve as the major examples in this paper. The accuracy of segmentation as compared to manual, slice-by-slice segmentation is reported. PMID:23825898

44 CFR 354.5 - Description of site-specific, plume pathway EPZ biennial exercise-related component services and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Control Program Directors, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. (21) Implement and coordinate REP Program... from our REP Program Strategic Review implementation and oversight working group activities. (24) Costs...

44 CFR 354.5 - Description of site-specific, plume pathway EPZ biennial exercise-related component services and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Control Program Directors, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. (21) Implement and coordinate REP Program... from our REP Program Strategic Review implementation and oversight working group activities. (24) Costs...

44 CFR 354.5 - Description of site-specific, plume pathway EPZ biennial exercise-related component services and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Control Program Directors, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. (21) Implement and coordinate REP Program... from our REP Program Strategic Review implementation and oversight working group activities. (24) Costs...

44 CFR 354.5 - Description of site-specific, plume pathway EPZ biennial exercise-related component services and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Control Program Directors, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. (21) Implement and coordinate REP Program... from our REP Program Strategic Review implementation and oversight working group activities. (24) Costs...

Attachment and Jealousy: Understanding the Dynamic Experience of Jealousy Using the Response Escalation Paradigm.

PubMed

Huelsnitz, Chloe O; Farrell, Allison K; Simpson, Jeffry A; Griskevicius, Vladas; Szepsenwol, Ohad

2018-04-01

Jealousy is a complex, dynamic experience that unfolds over time in relationship-threatening situations. Prior research has used retrospective reports that cannot disentangle initial levels and change in jealousy in response to escalating threat. In three studies, we examined responses to the Response Escalation Paradigm (REP)-a 5-stage hypothetical scenario in which individuals are exposed to increasing levels of relationship threat-as a function of attachment orientations. Highly anxious individuals exhibited hypervigilant, slow escalation response patterns, interfered earlier in the REP, felt more jealousy, sadness, and worry when they interfered, and wanted to engage in more vigilant, destructive, and passive behaviors aimed at their partner. Highly avoidant individuals felt more anger when they interfered in the REP and wanted to engage in more partner-focused, destructive behaviors. The REP offers a dynamic method for inducing and examining jealousy and introduces a novel approach to studying other emotional experiences.

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP): A Near-Term Approach to Nuclear Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, George R.; Manzella, David H.; Kamhawi, Hani; Kremic, Tibor; Oleson, Steven R.; Dankanich, John W.; Dudzinski, Leonard A.

2009-01-01

Studies over the last decade have shown radioisotope-based nuclear electric propulsion to be enhancing and, in some cases, enabling for many potential robotic science missions. Also known as radioisotope electric propulsion (REP), the technology offers the performance advantages of traditional reactor-powered electric propulsion (i.e., high specific impulse propulsion at large distances from the Sun), but with much smaller, affordable spacecraft. Future use of REP requires development of radioisotope power sources with system specific powers well above that of current systems. The US Department of Energy and NASA have developed an advanced Stirling radioisotope generator (ASRG) engineering unit, which was subjected to rigorous flight qualification-level tests in 2008, and began extended lifetime testing later that year. This advancement, along with recent work on small ion thrusters and life extension technology for Hall thrusters, could enable missions using REP sometime during the next decade.

Evaluation of the Oregon DMV driver improvement program.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-04-01

This report provides an evaluation of the Oregon Department of Transportation-Driver and Motor Vehicle : (DMV) Services Driver Improvement Program (DIP), which was substantially changed in 2002. Prior to 2002, : the DIP was organized around four prog...

Effectiveness of Oregon's teen licensing program.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-01

Significant changes in Oregons teen licensing laws went into effect on March 1, 2000. The new laws expanded the provisional driving license program which had been in effect since October 1989 and established a graduated driver licensing (GDL) prog...

MODELING TREE LEVEL PROCESSES

EPA Science Inventory

An overview of three main types of simulation approach (explanatory, abstraction, and estimation) is presented, along with a discussion of their capabilities limitations, and the steps required for their validation. A process model being developed through the Forest Response Prog...

Iran Sanctions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-18

Manufacturing Group (Iran, missile prog.) Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) (Iran) September 2007 Korea Mining and Development Corp. ( N . Korea... Vitaly Sokolenko (general manager of Ferland) April 29, 2014 (for connections to deceptive oil dealings for Iran) Saeed Al Aqili (co-owner of Al

NCORP Gets Underway

Cancer.gov

NCI has awarded 53 new 5-year grants to researchers across the country to conduct multi-site cancer clinical trials and cancer care delivery research studies in their communities. The grants are being awarded under the NCI Community Oncology Research Prog

Accuracy Of LTPP Traffic Loading Estimates

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-07-01

The accuracy and reliability of traffic load estimates are key to determining a pavement's life expectancy. To better understand the variability of traffic loading rates and its effect on the accuracy of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) prog...

A novel begomovirus isolated from sida contains putative cis- and trans-acting replication specificity determinants that have evolved independently in several geographical lineages.

PubMed

Mauricio-Castillo, J A; Torres-Herrera, S I; Cárdenas-Conejo, Y; Pastor-Palacios, G; Méndez-Lozano, J; Argüello-Astorga, G R

2014-09-01

A novel begomovirus isolated from a Sida rhombifolia plant collected in Sinaloa, Mexico, was characterized. The genomic components of sida mosaic Sinaloa virus (SiMSinV) shared highest sequence identity with DNA-A and DNA-B components of chino del tomate virus (CdTV), suggesting a vertical evolutionary relationship between these viruses. However, recombination analysis indicated that a short segment of SiMSinV DNA-A encompassing the plus-strand replication origin and the 5´-proximal 43 codons of the Rep gene was derived from tomato mottle Taino virus (ToMoTV). Accordingly, the putative cis- and trans-acting replication specificity determinants of SiMSinV were identical to those of ToMoTV but differed from those of CdTV. Modeling of the SiMSinV and CdTV Rep proteins revealed significant differences in the region comprising the small β1/β5 sheet element, where five putative DNA-binding specificity determinants (SPDs) of Rep (i.e., amino acid residues 5, 8, 10, 69 and 71) were previously identified. Computer-assisted searches of public databases led to identification of 33 begomoviruses from three continents encoding proteins with SPDs identical to those of the Rep encoded by SiMSinV. Sequence analysis of the replication origins demonstrated that all 33 begomoviruses harbor potential Rep-binding sites identical to those of SiMSinV. These data support the hypothesis that the Rep β1/β5 sheet region determines specificity of this protein for DNA replication origin sequences.

Relativistic Electron Precipitation Events Observed at Low Altitude During Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Wave Activities Identified Near The Equator.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, D. K.; Lee, D. Y.; Noh, S. J.; Cho, J.; Choi, C.; Hwang, J.; Lee, J.

2017-12-01

Statistical significance of the efficiency of electron loss into the atmosphere by EMIC waves has yet not been quantified through observations. To better understand the dynamics of the radiation belt particle, its quantification through observations is indispensable. In this study, we used a large number of the EMIC wave events identified near the equator for which we determined relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events using the observations at low earth orbit satellites (POES satellite series).We focused on the difference between the wave properties, geomagnetic conditions and background states during the EMIC waves between the event group (EMIC wave with REP) and non-event group (EMIC wave without REP). First, for 11.5 % of the EMIC wave events we were able to identify the REP events within an hour of MLT separation from the EMIC wave location. The majority ( 80 %) of the precipitation-inducing EMIC waves were found in 11 - 17 MLT. Second, geomagnetic conditions (most notably AE) are more often stronger for the event group than non-event group. Third, the EMIC waves of a stronger power and/or a longer duration are on average preferred for event group. Lastly, the majority of the EMIC waves with REP lie outside the plasmapause, most often at L being higher by 2 than the plasmapause locations. In conclusion, this is the first time report on a statistical assessment about the extent to which the EMIC waves directly measured in the equator can be responsible for REP and about their distinguishing features.

History of the Rochester Epidemiology Project: half a century of medical records linkage in a US population.

PubMed

Rocca, Walter A; Yawn, Barbara P; St Sauver, Jennifer L; Grossardt, Brandon R; Melton, L Joseph

2012-12-01

The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) has maintained a comprehensive medical records linkage system for nearly half a century for almost all persons residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Herein, we provide a brief history of the REP before and after 1966, the year in which the REP was officially established. The key protagonists before 1966 were Henry Plummer, Mabel Root, and Joseph Berkson, who developed a medical records linkage system at Mayo Clinic. In 1966, Leonard Kurland established collaborative agreements with other local health care providers (hospitals, physician groups, and clinics [primarily Olmsted Medical Center]) to develop a medical records linkage system that covered the entire population of Olmsted County, and he obtained funding from the National Institutes of Health to support the new system. In 1997, L. Joseph Melton III addressed emerging concerns about the confidentiality of medical record information by introducing a broad patient research authorization as per Minnesota state law. We describe how the key protagonists of the REP have responded to challenges posed by evolving medical knowledge, information technology, and public expectation and policy. In addition, we provide a general description of the system; discuss issues of data quality, reliability, and validity; describe the research team structure; provide information about funding; and compare the REP with other medical information systems. The REP can serve as a model for the development of similar research infrastructures in the United States and worldwide. Copyright © 2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

THE EFFECTS OF HIGH VOLTAGE CATHODE RAY IONIZING RADIATION ON SOME OF THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WHEAT FLOUR PROTEIN

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

Alsup, E.B.

1959-01-01

The effect of irradiation on some of the physical and chemical properties of wheat flour protein was determined. A study of the baking quality and palatability of an irradiated flour product, yields of crude gluten from irradiated flour, and electrophoretic analyses of some of the protein fractions of irradiated flour were studied. Triangle taste tests indicated that 50000 rep was the dosage level at which the irradiation treatment of flour could be detected in baking powder biscuits. Taste panel scores for color, odor, and baking characteristics of biscuits made with flour treated with 100000 rep or less of ionizing radiation,more » however, were not significantly different from the scores for the control biscuits. An off-odor and darkening in color of the biscuits were readily apparent at a dosage of 500000 rep. The weight of crude gluten extracted from flour was greater from flour exposed to dosages of 1000000 rep or less than from the control flour, but no differences were found in the volumes of the baked balls of crude gluten. This indicates a greater water retention with the irradiated flour. Very small yields of crude gluten at dosages of 3000000 rep or more indicated that definite changes had occurred in the protein structure. Electrophoretic analyses by the moving boundary method were performed on acetic acid extracts of whole flour in a citric acid-disodium phos, phate buffer pH 2.2, ionic strength 0.024. Electrophoretic patterns obtained from the non-irradiated flour indicated that there were at least six separate protein components present, including one which was fast-moving and high in relative concentration, one which was slow-moving and medium high in relative concentration, and four relatively small components. Irradiation of the flour with 300000 rep produced no apparent changes in the electrophoretic patterns obtained, but it 1000000 rep or more, the relative concentrations of the two largest components were changed (the slow-moving one becoming larger and the fastermoving one smaller with each increase in dosage). Also with increased radiation dosages, the peaks of the smaller components became less distinct until only the two main peaks were distinguishable at 10000000 rep. (Dissertition Abstr., 23: No. 4, 1962)« less

[Comparison of red edge parameters of winter wheat canopy under late frost stress].

PubMed

Wu, Yong-feng; Hu, Xin; Lü, Guo-hua; Ren, De-chao; Jiang, Wei-guo; Song, Ji-qing

2014-08-01

In the present study, late frost experiments were implemented under a range of subfreezing temperatures (-1 - -9 degrees C) by using a field movable climate chamber (FMCC) and a cold climate chamber, respectively. Based on the spectra of winter wheat canopy measured at noon on the first day after the frost experiments, red edge parameters REP, Dr, SDr, Dr(min), Dr/Dr(min) and Dr/SDr were extracted using maximum first derivative spectrum method (FD), linear four-point interpolation method (FPI), polynomial fitting method (POLY), inverted Gaussian fitting method (IG) and linear extrapolation technique (LE), respectively. The capacity of the red edge parameters to detect late frost stress was explicated from the aspects of the early, sensitivity and stability through correlation analysis, linear regression modeling and fluctuation analysis. The result indicates that except for REP calculated from FPI and IG method in Experiment 1, REP from the other methods was correlated with frost temperatures (P < 0.05). Thereinto, significant levels (P) of POLY and LE methods all reached 0.01. Except for POLY method in Experiment 2, Dr/SDr from the other methods were all significantly correlated with frost temperatures (P < 0.01). REP showed a trend to shift to short-wave band with decreasing temperatures. The lower the temperature, the more obvious the trend is. Of all the REP, REP calculated by LE method had the highest correlation with frost temperatures which indicated that LE method is the best for REP extraction. In Experiment 1 and 2, only Dr(min) and Dr/Dr(min), calculated by FD method simultaneously achieved the requirements for the early (their correlations with frost temperatures showed a significant level P < 0.01), sensitivity (abso- lute value of the slope of fluctuation coefficient is greater than 2.0) and stability (their correlations with frost temperatures al- ways keep a consistent direction). Dr/SDr calculated from FD and IG methods always had a low sensitivity in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, the sensitivity of Dr/SDr from FD was moderate and IG was high. REP calculated from LE method had a lowest sensitivity in the two experiments. Totally, Dr(min) and Dr/Dr(min) calculated by FD method have the strongest detection capacity for frost temperature, which will be helpful to conducting the research on early diagnosis of late frost injury to winter wheat.

Effect of Sex Differences on Brain Mitochondrial Function and Its Suppression by Ovariectomy and in Aged Mice.

PubMed

Gaignard, Pauline; Savouroux, Stéphane; Liere, Philippe; Pianos, Antoine; Thérond, Patrice; Schumacher, Michael; Slama, Abdelhamid; Guennoun, Rachida

2015-08-01

Sex steroids regulate brain function in both normal and pathological states. Mitochondria are an essential target of steroids, as demonstrated by the experimental administration of 17β-estradiol or progesterone (PROG) to ovariectomized female rodents, but the influence of endogenous sex steroids remains understudied. To address this issue, mitochondrial oxidative stress, the oxidative phosphorylation system, and brain steroid levels were analyzed under 3 different experimental sets of endocrine conditions. The first set was designed to study steroid-mediated sex differences in young male and female mice, intact and after gonadectomy. The second set concerned young female mice at 3 time points of the estrous cycle in order to analyze the influence of transient variations in steroid levels. The third set involved the evaluation of the effects of a permanent decrease in gonadal steroids in aged male and female mice. Our results show that young adult females have lower oxidative stress and a higher reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-linked respiration rate, which is related to a higher pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity as compared with young adult males. This sex difference did not depend on phases of the estrous cycle, was suppressed by ovariectomy but not by orchidectomy, and no longer existed in aged mice. Concomitant analysis of brain steroids showed that pregnenolone and PROG brain levels were higher in females during the reproductive period than in males and decreased with aging in females. These findings suggest that the major male/female differences in brain pregnenolone and PROG levels may contribute to the sex differences observed in brain mitochondrial function.

76 FR 55932 - National Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-09

... Preparedness, the Strategic Foresight Initiative (SFI), the Emergency Management Institute, and the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. Additionally, members appointed on June 15, 2011, will be... radiological emergency preparedness. More information on the REP Program can be found online at http://www.fema...

Effectiveness of Oregon's teen licensing program : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-01

Significant changes in Oregons teen licensing laws went into effect on March 1, 2000. The new laws expanded the provisional driving license program which had been in effect since October 1989 and established a graduated driver licensing (GDL) prog...

Siletz River nutrients: Effects of biosolids application

EPA Science Inventory

Stream water nutrients were measured in the Siletz River, Oregon, with the goal of comparing dissolved nutrient concentrations, primarily the nitrogenous nutrients nitrate and ammonium, with previously collected data for the Yaquina and Alsea Rivers for the nutrient criteria prog...

SITE-SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

EPA Science Inventory

US EPA's Office of Water is proposing Combined Assessment and Listing Methods (CALM) to
meet reporting requirements under both Sections 305b and 303d for chemical and nonchemical
stressors in the nation's waterbodies. Current Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Prog...

Satellite Remote Sensing for Monitoring and Assessment

EPA Science Inventory

Remote sensing technology has the potential to enhance the engagement of communities and managers in the implementation and performance of best management practices. This presentation will use examples from U.S. numeric criteria development and state water quality monitoring prog...

Optical Limiting Materials Based on Gold Nanoparticles

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-30

of the electromagnetic spectrum. 2. Functionalization of the surface of the gold nanoparticles with selected organic and inorganic materials, with...F. A Review of Optical Limiting Mechanisms and Devices Using Organics, Fullerenes , Semiconductors and Other Materials. Prog. Quant. Electr. 1993

Viscoelastic Thin Polymer Films under Transient Residual Stresses: Two-Stage Dewetting on Soft Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al Akhrass, S.; Reiter, G.; Hou, S. Y.; Yang, M. H.; Chang, Y. L.; Chang, F. C.; Wang, C. F.; Yang, A. C.-M.

2008-05-01

A nonmonotonic, two-stage dewetting behavior was observed for spin coated thin viscoelastic polymer films on soft elastic substrates. At times shorter than the relaxation time of the polymer (t<τrep), dewetting generated deep trenches in the soft rubbery substrate which, in turn, almost stopped dewetting. At later stages (t≫τrep), dewetting accelerated, accompanied by an unstable rim. However, holes nucleated at t<τrep showed only this second-stage behavior. Our observations are attributed to large elastic deformations in the substrate caused by transient residual stresses within the film.

One Size Does Not Fit All: The Effect of Chain Length and Charge Density of Poly(ethylene imine) Based Copolymers on Delivery of pDNA, mRNA, and RepRNA Polyplexes.

PubMed

Blakney, Anna K; Yilmaz, Gokhan; McKay, Paul F; Becer, C Remzi; Shattock, Robin J

2018-05-03

Nucleic acid delivery systems are commonly translated between different modalities, such as DNA and RNA of varying length and structure, despite physical differences in these molecules that yield disparate delivery efficiency with the same system. Here, we synthesized a library of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)/poly(ethylene imine) copolymers with varying molar mass and charge densities in order to probe how pDNA, mRNA, and RepRNA polyplex characteristics affect transfection efficiency. The library was utilized in a full factorial design of experiment (DoE) screening, with outputs of luciferase expression, particle size, surface charge, and particle concentration. The optimal copolymer molar mass and charge density was found as 83 kDa/100%, 72 kDa/100%, and 45 kDa/80% for pDNA, RepRNA, and mRNA, respectively. While 10 of the synthesized copolymers enhanced the transfection efficiency of pDNA and mRNA, only 2 copolymers enhanced RepRNA transfection efficiency, indicating a narrow and more stringent design space for RepRNA. These findings suggest that there is not a "one size fits all" polymer for different nucleic acid species.

αRep A3: A Versatile Artificial Scaffold for Metalloenzyme Design.

PubMed

Di Meo, Thibault; Ghattas, Wadih; Herrero, Christian; Velours, Christophe; Minard, Philippe; Mahy, Jean-Pierre; Ricoux, Rémy; Urvoas, Agathe

2017-07-26

αRep refers to a new family of artificial proteins based on a thermostable α-helical repeated motif. One of its members, αRep A3, forms a stable homo-dimer with a wide cleft that is able to accommodate metal complexes and thus appears to be suitable for generating new artificial biocatalysts. Based on the crystal structure of αRep A3, two positions (F119 and Y26) were chosen, and independently changed into cysteine residues. A phenanthroline ligand was covalently attached to the unique cysteine residue of each protein variant, and the corresponding biohybrids were purified and characterized. Once mutated and coupled to phenanthroline, the protein remained folded and dimeric. Copper(II) was specifically bound by the two biohybrids with two different binding modes. Furthermore, the holo-biohybrid A3F119NPH was found to be capable of enantioselectively catalyzing Diels-Alder (D-A) cycloadditions with up to 62 % ee. This study validates the choice of the αRep A3 dimer as a protein scaffold and provides a promising new route for the design and production of new enantioselective biohybrids based on entirely artificial proteins obtained from a highly diverse library. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Selection of specific protein binders for pre-defined targets from an optimized library of artificial helicoidal repeat proteins (alphaRep).

PubMed

Guellouz, Asma; Valerio-Lepiniec, Marie; Urvoas, Agathe; Chevrel, Anne; Graille, Marc; Fourati-Kammoun, Zaineb; Desmadril, Michel; van Tilbeurgh, Herman; Minard, Philippe

2013-01-01

We previously designed a new family of artificial proteins named αRep based on a subgroup of thermostable helicoidal HEAT-like repeats. We have now assembled a large optimized αRep library. In this library, the side chains at each variable position are not fully randomized but instead encoded by a distribution of codons based on the natural frequency of side chains of the natural repeats family. The library construction is based on a polymerization of micro-genes and therefore results in a distribution of proteins with a variable number of repeats. We improved the library construction process using a "filtration" procedure to retain only fully coding modules that were recombined to recreate sequence diversity. The final library named Lib2.1 contains 1.7×10(9) independent clones. Here, we used phage display to select, from the previously described library or from the new library, new specific αRep proteins binding to four different non-related predefined protein targets. Specific binders were selected in each case. The results show that binders with various sizes are selected including relatively long sequences, with up to 7 repeats. ITC-measured affinities vary with Kd values ranging from micromolar to nanomolar ranges. The formation of complexes is associated with a significant thermal stabilization of the bound target protein. The crystal structures of two complexes between αRep and their cognate targets were solved and show that the new interfaces are established by the variable surfaces of the repeated modules, as well by the variable N-cap residues. These results suggest that αRep library is a new and versatile source of tight and specific binding proteins with favorable biophysical properties.

Genetic Diversity and Evidence for Transmission of Streptococcus mutans by DiversiLab rep-PCR.

PubMed

Momeni, Stephanie S; Whiddon, Jennifer; Cheon, Kyounga; Ghazal, Tariq; Moser, Stephen A; Childers, Noel K

2016-09-01

This two-part study investigated the genetic diversity and transmission of Streptococcus mutans using the DiversiLab repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) approach. For children with S. mutans and participating household members, analysis for evidence of unrelated child-to-child as well as intra-familial transmission was evaluated based on commonality of genotypes. A total of 169 index children and 425 household family members from Uniontown, Alabama were evaluated for genetic diversity using rep-PCR. Thirty-four unique rep-PCR genotypes were observed for 13,906 S. mutans isolates. For transmission, 117 child and household isolates were evaluated for shared genotype (by child and by genotype cases, multiple matches possible for each child). Overall, children had 1-9 genotypes and those with multiple genotypes were 2.3 times more likely to have caries experience (decayed, missing and filled teeth/surfaces>0). Only 28% of children shared all genotypes within the household, while 72% had at least 1 genotype not shared with anyone in the household. Children had genotype(s) not shared with any household members in 157 cases. In 158 cases children and household members shared a genotype in which 55% (87/158 cases) were shared with more than one family member. Children most frequently shared genotypes with their mothers (54%; 85/158), siblings (46%; 72/158) and cousins (23%; 37/158). A reference library for S. mutans for epidemiological surveillance using the DiversiLab rep-PCR approach is detailed. The genetic diversity of S. mutans in this population demonstrated frequent commonality of genotypes. Evidence for both child-to-child and intra-familial transmission of S. mutans was observed by rep-PCR. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic Diversity and Evidence for Transmission of Streptococcus mutans by DiversiLab rep-PCR

PubMed Central

Momeni, Stephanie S.; Whiddon, Jennifer; Cheon, Kyounga; Ghazal, Tariq; Moser, Stephen A.; Childers, Noel K.

2016-01-01

This two-part study investigated the genetic diversity and transmission of Streptococcus mutans using the DiversiLab repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) approach. For children with S. mutans and participating household members, analysis for evidence of unrelated child-to-child as well as intra-familial transmission was evaluated based on commonality of genotypes. A total of 169 index children and 425 household family members from Uniontown, Alabama were evaluated for genetic diversity using rep-PCR. Thirty-four unique rep-PCR genotypes were observed for 13,906 S. mutans isolates. For transmission, 117 child and household isolates were evaluated for shared genotype (by child and by genotype cases, multiple matches possible for each child). Overall, children had 1–9 genotypes and those with multiple genotypes were 2.3 times more likely to have caries experience (decayed, missing and filled teeth/surfaces>0). Only 28% of children shared all genotypes within the household, while 72% had at least 1 genotype not shared with anyone in the household. Children had genotype(s) not shared with any household members in 155 cases. In 158 cases children and household members shared a genotype in which 55% (87/158 cases) were shared with more than one family member. Children most frequently shared genotypes with their mothers (54%; 85/158), siblings (46%; 72/158) and cousins (23%; 37/158). A reference library for S. mutans for epidemiological surveillance using the DiversiLab rep-PCR approach is detailed. The genetic diversity of S. mutans in this population demonstrated frequent commonality of genotypes. Evidence for both child-to-child and intra-familial transmission of S. mutans was observed by rep-PCR. PMID:27432341

Swimmers' compliance with training prescription.

PubMed

Stewart, A M; Hopkins, W G

1997-10-01

The purpose of this study was to determine how closely competitive swimmers complied with their coaches' prescriptions when training in squads. A training session early in the buildup phase of the season was observed for each of 24 coaches who had been randomized to two groups: an experimental, high-intensity, low-distance program (E) and a control (usual) program (C). Swim distances, rest durations, and swim durations for at least one set of prescribed repetitions (reps) were recorded for each of 47 swimmers (87 sets, 429 reps) in E and for 49 swimmers (79 sets, 402 reps) in C. The pace of each rep, expressed as percent of the swimmer's current personal best pace for the distance of the rep, represented observed intensity. There was almost perfect agreement between the prescribed and observed swim distances for the set of reps (Spearman r = 0.99 in both groups). Prescribed and observed rest intervals were also closely matched in E and C (Spearman r = 0.87 and 0.77 respectively). Four coaches in E and 10 coaches in C prescribed intensity subjectively as easy, moderate, hard, or race-pace; mean +/- SD observed intensities (%) for their swimmers were 79 +/- 6, 81 +/- 3, 91 +/- 2, and 93 +/- 5, respectively. The relationship between these coaches' subjective training prescription and individual swimmers' interpretations of these intensities was poor (Cohen's kappa = 0.39). Nine coaches in E prescribed intensity as percent of personal best pace. Although the mean prescribed and observed intensities for their swimmers were similar (89 +/- 4 and 90 +/- 7, respectively), the relationship between individual values was poor (Pearson r = 0.30). We conclude that swimmers complied with prescribed distances and rest intervals but were less effective in judging the intensity of swim training. We recommend that coaches monitor training intensity more closely.

Possibility of reconstruction of dental plaster cast from 3D digital study models

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Objectives To compare traditional plaster casts, digital models and 3D printed copies of dental plaster casts based on various criteria. To determine whether 3D printed copies obtained using open source system RepRap can replace traditional plaster casts in dental practice. To compare and contrast the qualities of two possible 3D printing options – open source system RepRap and commercially available 3D printing. Design and settings A method comparison study on 10 dental plaster casts from the Orthodontic department, Department of Stomatology, 2nd medical Faulty, Charles University Prague, Czech Republic. Material and methods Each of 10 plaster casts were scanned by inEos Blue scanner and the printed on 3D printer RepRap [10 models] and ProJet HD3000 3D printer [1 model]. Linear measurements between selected points on the dental arches of upper and lower jaws on plaster casts and its 3D copy were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results 3D printed copies have many advantages over traditional plaster casts. The precision and accuracy of the RepRap 3D printed copies of plaster casts were confirmed based on the statistical analysis. Although the commercially available 3D printing enables to print more details than the RepRap system, it is expensive and for the purpose of clinical use can be replaced by the cheaper prints obtained from RepRap printed copies. Conclusions Scanning of the traditional plaster casts to obtain a digital model offers a pragmatic approach. The scans can subsequently be used as a template to print the plaster casts as required. Using 3D printers can replace traditional plaster casts primarily due to their accuracy and price. PMID:23721330

Long-term changes in the Northwestern Atlantic and Mediterranean SST from 1982 to 2016: A contribution of the Operational Oceanography to the determination of the present day Climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artale, Vincenzo; Buongiorno Nardelli, Bruno; Marullo, Salvatore; Pisano, Andrea; Santoleri, Rosalia; Tronconi, Cristina

2017-04-01

Estimating long-term SST changes is crucial to evaluate global warming impact at regional scales. Here, we analyze the Mediterranean (MED) and the Northwestern Atlantic Box (NWA) SST changes over the last 34 years (1982 - 2016) by combining reprocessed (REP) and near-real-time (NRT) data. Actually, the Italian National Research Council (CNR) has recently produced daily (nighttime), 4 km resolution REP MED level 4 datasets (REP L4), also covering the adjacent Atlantic region, based on the latest Pathfinder v5.2 AVHRR dataset (1982-2012). These data represent the longest satellite MED SST L4 time series and are freely distributed through the European Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS). However, as Pathfinder has not yet released an update of its product, the REP data end in 2012. To fill in the gap between 2013 and 2016, we investigated the possibility to extend the time series by using the Mediterranean near real time (NRT), multi-sensor L4 SST data at Ultra-High spatial Resolution (UHR) produced by CNR, which are distributed through CMEMS and now mirrored at GHRSST. Since this product is available since 2008, the consistency with the REP has been assessed. Combining the REP L4 data (1982-2012) and a bias-corrected version of the NRT L4 data (2013-2016), we built the SST time series and provided updated estimates of the MED and NWA SST trends. The analysis shows that The Atlantic Box and The Mediterranean Sea have similar trend behavior until 2008. Afterward the Mediterranean Sea SST continued to increase while the Atlantic Box persisted in its warming pause.

Selection of Specific Protein Binders for Pre-Defined Targets from an Optimized Library of Artificial Helicoidal Repeat Proteins (alphaRep)

PubMed Central

Chevrel, Anne; Graille, Marc; Fourati-Kammoun, Zaineb; Desmadril, Michel; van Tilbeurgh, Herman; Minard, Philippe

2013-01-01

We previously designed a new family of artificial proteins named αRep based on a subgroup of thermostable helicoidal HEAT-like repeats. We have now assembled a large optimized αRep library. In this library, the side chains at each variable position are not fully randomized but instead encoded by a distribution of codons based on the natural frequency of side chains of the natural repeats family. The library construction is based on a polymerization of micro-genes and therefore results in a distribution of proteins with a variable number of repeats. We improved the library construction process using a “filtration” procedure to retain only fully coding modules that were recombined to recreate sequence diversity. The final library named Lib2.1 contains 1.7×109 independent clones. Here, we used phage display to select, from the previously described library or from the new library, new specific αRep proteins binding to four different non-related predefined protein targets. Specific binders were selected in each case. The results show that binders with various sizes are selected including relatively long sequences, with up to 7 repeats. ITC-measured affinities vary with Kd values ranging from micromolar to nanomolar ranges. The formation of complexes is associated with a significant thermal stabilization of the bound target protein. The crystal structures of two complexes between αRep and their cognate targets were solved and show that the new interfaces are established by the variable surfaces of the repeated modules, as well by the variable N-cap residues. These results suggest that αRep library is a new and versatile source of tight and specific binding proteins with favorable biophysical properties. PMID:24014183

Theory of K-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering and its application for La0.5Sr1.5MnO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seman, T. F.; Liu, X.; Hill, J. P.; van Veenendaal, M.; Ahn, K. H.

2013-03-01

We present a formula based on tight-binding approach for the calculation of K-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectrum for transition metal oxides, by extending the previous result [K. H. Ahn, A. J. Fedro, and M. van Veenendaal, Phys. Rev. B 79, 045103 (2009).] to include explicit momentum dependence and a basis with multiple core hole sites. We apply this formula to layered charge, orbital, and spin ordered manganites, La0.5Sr1.5MnO4. The K-edge RIXS spectrum is found not periodic with respect to the actual reciprocal lattice, but approximately periodic with respect to the reciprocal lattice for the hypothetical unit cell with one core hole site. With experimental strcuture and reasonable tight-binding parameters, we obtain good agreement with experimental data, in particular, with regards to the large variation of the intensity with momentum. We find that the screening in La0.5Sr1.5MnO4 is highly localized around the core hole site and demonstrate the potential of K-edge RIXS as a probe for the screening dynamics in materials. Work supported by US.DOE Contr. DE-AC02-98CH10886 (X.L.,J.H.), US.DOE Award DE-FG02-03ER46097 (M.v.V.), CMCSN under Grants DE-FG02-08ER46540 & DE-SC0007091 (T.S.,K.A.,M.v.V.), Argonne XSD Visitor Prog.(K.A.), US.DOE Contr. DE-AC02-06CH11357 (X.L.,J.H).

us9805_dni

Science.gov Websites

STYLE="text-align:Left;">

MTBE REMOVAL FROM DRINKING WATER - PHASE I

EPA Science Inventory

The 1990 Federal Clean Air Act mandated the incorporation of oxygenates into gasoline in ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is the oxygenate of choice due to economic and supply considerations. Despite federal and state prog...

Transportation improvement program : Richland, Ohio : fiscal year 1997-2000

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-06-01

As part of the Urban Transportation Planning Process, under the Federal Planning regulations (Title 23 U.S.C. and Title 49 U.S.C.), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is required to develop and keep current a Transportation Improvement Prog...

Comparative Analysis Of River Conservation In The United States And South Africa

EPA Science Inventory

Both the United States and South Africa are recognized for their strong and innovative approaches to the conservation of river ecosystems. These national programs possess similar driving legislation and ecoregional classification schemes supported by comprehensive monitoring prog...

LASP-01: Distribution of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Expressing MicroRNAs | Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

The Laboratory Animal Sciences Program manages the expansion, processing, and distribution of1,501 genetically engineered mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) linesharboring conditional microRNA transgenes. The Laboratory Animal Sciences Prog

Minnesota urban partnership agreement national evaluation : surveys, interviews, and focus groups test plan.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-11-17

This report presents the test plan for developing, conducting, and analyzing surveys, interviews, and focus groups for evaluating the Minnesota Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) under the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) UPA Prog...

Random Matrix Theory and Econophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenow, Bernd

2000-03-01

Random Matrix Theory (RMT) [1] is used in many branches of physics as a ``zero information hypothesis''. It describes generic behavior of different classes of systems, while deviations from its universal predictions allow to identify system specific properties. We use methods of RMT to analyze the cross-correlation matrix C of stock price changes [2] of the largest 1000 US companies. In addition to its scientific interest, the study of correlations between the returns of different stocks is also of practical relevance in quantifying the risk of a given stock portfolio. We find [3,4] that the statistics of most of the eigenvalues of the spectrum of C agree with the predictions of RMT, while there are deviations for some of the largest eigenvalues. We interpret these deviations as a system specific property, e.g. containing genuine information about correlations in the stock market. We demonstrate that C shares universal properties with the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble of random matrices. Furthermore, we analyze the eigenvectors of C through their inverse participation ratio and find eigenvectors with large ratios at both edges of the eigenvalue spectrum - a situation reminiscent of localization theory results. This work was done in collaboration with V. Plerou, P. Gopikrishnan, T. Guhr, L.A.N. Amaral, and H.E Stanley and is related to recent work of Laloux et al.. 1. T. Guhr, A. Müller Groeling, and H.A. Weidenmüller, ``Random Matrix Theories in Quantum Physics: Common Concepts'', Phys. Rep. 299, 190 (1998). 2. See, e.g. R.N. Mantegna and H.E. Stanley, Econophysics: Correlations and Complexity in Finance (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 1999). 3. V. Plerou, P. Gopikrishnan, B. Rosenow, L.A.N. Amaral, and H.E. Stanley, ``Universal and Nonuniversal Properties of Cross Correlations in Financial Time Series'', Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 1471 (1999). 4. V. Plerou, P. Gopikrishnan, T. Guhr, B. Rosenow, L.A.N. Amaral, and H.E. Stanley, ``Random Matrix Theory Analysis of Diffusion in Stock Price Dynamics, preprint

Enhancing Effect of Continuous Cobalt-60 Gamma-Radiation on Susceptibility to Anaphylactic Shock in Mice

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

Hale, William M.; Stoner, Richard D.

1958-05-01

Continuous exposure to gamma -radiation at a dose rate of 4 rep/hr enhanced the severity of anaphylactnic shock ln mice sensitized with tetanus toxoid and challenged 1 hour or 7 days postradiation with fluid tetanus toxoid. A sharp increase in susceptibility to fatal anaphylaxis was observed as the accumulated dose was increased from 192 to 288 rep. Recovery from the enhancing effect of continuous gamma -radiation began during the second week postradiation; complete recovery occurred during the third week after an accumulated dose of 672 rep. Anaphylactic shock was demonstrable in mice sensitized 6 months before challenge with the specificmore » antigen. An enhanced susceptibility to fatal anaphylaxis was obtained when these animals were given an accumulated dose of 288 rep and challenged 1 hour postradiation. Passive anaphylaxis was more severe in irradiated mice sensitized with homopogous antitoxin 1 hour postradiation and challenged the following day with tetanus toxoid. The antihistaminic agent Thephorin afforded complete protection from fatal anaphypaxis in irradiated mice. (auth)« less

Semi-automated repetitive sequence-based PCR amplification for species of the Scedosporium apiospermum complex.

PubMed

Matray, Olivier; Mouhajir, Abdelmounaim; Giraud, Sandrine; Godon, Charlotte; Gargala, Gilles; Labbé, Franck; Rougeron, Amandine; Ballet, Jean-Jacques; Zouhair, Rachid; Bouchara, Jean-Philippe; Favennec, Loïc

2016-05-01

The Scedosporium apiospermum species complex usually ranks second among the filamentous fungi colonizing the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), but little is known about the molecular epidemiology of the airway colonization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of repetitive sequences (rep-PCR) was applied to the retrospective analysis of a panel of isolates already studied by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and comprising 63 isolates recovered from sputa from 9 CF patients. Results were compared to those obtained previously by RAPD, and herein by beta-tubulin (TUB) gene sequencing and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Within the panel of isolates studied,S. apiospermum sensu stricto and Scedosporium boydii, as expected, were the predominant species with 21 and 36 isolates, respectively. Four isolates from one patient were identified as Scedosporium aurantiacum, whereas two isolates belonged to the Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea subgroup of S. boydii rep-PCR analysis of these isolates clearly differentiated the three species and P. ellipsoidea isolates, whatever the rep-PCR kit used, and also permitted strain differentiation. When using the mold primer kit, results from rep-PCR were in close agreement with those obtained by MLST. For both S. apiospermum and S. boydii, 8 genotypes were differentiated by rep-PCR and MLST compared to 10 by RAPD. All S. aurantiacum isolates shared the same RAPD genotype and exhibited the same rep-PCR profile and sequence type. These results illustrate the efficacy of rep-PCR for both species identification within the S. apiospermum complex and genotyping for the two major species of this complex.Abstract presentation: Part of this work was presented during the 18th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, Berlin (Germany), June 2012.S. Giraud, C. Godon, A. Rougeron, J.P. Bouchara and L. Favennec are members of the ECMM/ISHAM working group on Fungal respiratory infections in Cystic Fibrosis(Fri-CF). © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Prime Contract Awards by Service Category and Federal Supply Classification, Fiscal Years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

SERVICE/VALVES 77 0 0 0 11349 INSPECTION SERVICE’MAINTENANCE SHOP EQ 0 855 0 131 11352 INSPECTIONf SERVICE’IMEASURING TOOLS 0 0 00 H354 INPECTION...INST-RADIO-TV 46 226 254 06 J307: MAINTr-REPAIR OF EQ/RECREATIONAL EQUIP ISO 434 302 347 J3076 MAINY-REPAI OF EQ/ CL EANING EQUIP 106 44 111 62 .1060...VALVES 0 0 40 0 LO4 TECH REP SERVICES /MAINTENANCE SHOP EO 2,294 300 1,212 ISO LO52 TECH REP SERVICES /MEASURING TOOLS NA 161 ,695 3.264 LO3 TECH REP

U.S. Rep. William Nelson drinking tea from shuttle beverage container

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

U.S. Rep. William Nelson of Florida tries drinking tea from a straw-equipped beverage dispenser in JSC's life sciences laboratory during a space food orientation session. The congressman is in early stages of training for a position on the STS 61-C mission.

Discriminatory Indices of Typing Methods for Epidemiologic Analysis of Contemporary Staphylococcus aureus Strains.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Marcela; Hogan, Patrick G; Satola, Sarah W; Crispell, Emily; Wylie, Todd; Gao, Hongyu; Sodergren, Erica; Weinstock, George M; Burnham, Carey-Ann D; Fritz, Stephanie A

2015-09-01

Historically, a number of typing methods have been evaluated for Staphylococcus aureus strain characterization. The emergence of contemporary strains of community-associated S. aureus, and the ensuing epidemic with a predominant strain type (USA300), necessitates re-evaluation of the discriminatory power of these typing methods for discerning molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics, essential to investigations of hospital and community outbreaks. We compared the discriminatory index of 5 typing methods for contemporary S. aureus strain characterization. Children presenting to St. Louis Children's Hospital and community pediatric practices in St. Louis, Missouri (MO), with community-associated S. aureus infections were enrolled. Repetitive sequence-based PCR (repPCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), staphylococcal protein A (spa), and staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing were performed on 200 S. aureus isolates. The discriminatory index of each method was calculated using the standard formula for this metric, where a value of 1 is highly discriminatory and a value of 0 is not discriminatory. Overall, we identified 26 distinct strain types by repPCR, 17 strain types by PFGE, 30 strain types by MLST, 68 strain types by spa typing, and 5 strain types by SCCmec typing. RepPCR had the highest discriminatory index (D) of all methods (D = 0.88), followed by spa typing (D = 0.87), MLST (D = 0.84), PFGE (D = 0.76), and SCCmec typing (D = 0.60). The method with the highest D among MRSA isolates was repPCR (D = 0.64) followed by spa typing (D = 0.45) and MLST (D = 0.44). The method with the highest D among MSSA isolates was spa typing (D = 0.98), followed by MLST (D = 0.93), repPCR (D = 0.92), and PFGE (D = 0.89). Among isolates designated USA300 by PFGE, repPCR was most discriminatory, with 10 distinct strain types identified (D = 0.63). We identified 45 MRSA isolates which were classified as identical by PFGE, MLST, spa typing, and SCCmec typing (USA300, ST8, t008, SCCmec IV, respectively); within this collection, there were 5 distinct strain types identified by repPCR. The typing methods yielded comparable discriminatory power for S. aureus characterization overall; when discriminating among USA300 isolates, repPCR retained the highest discriminatory power. This property is advantageous for investigations conducted in the era of contemporary S. aureus infections.

Discriminatory Indices of Typing Methods for Epidemiologic Analysis of Contemporary Staphylococcus aureus Strains

PubMed Central

Rodriguez, Marcela; Hogan, Patrick G.; Satola, Sarah W.; Crispell, Emily; Wylie, Todd; Gao, Hongyu; Sodergren, Erica; Weinstock, George M.; Burnham, Carey-Ann D.; Fritz, Stephanie A.

2015-01-01

Abstract Historically, a number of typing methods have been evaluated for Staphylococcus aureus strain characterization. The emergence of contemporary strains of community-associated S. aureus, and the ensuing epidemic with a predominant strain type (USA300), necessitates re-evaluation of the discriminatory power of these typing methods for discerning molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics, essential to investigations of hospital and community outbreaks. We compared the discriminatory index of 5 typing methods for contemporary S. aureus strain characterization. Children presenting to St. Louis Children's Hospital and community pediatric practices in St. Louis, Missouri (MO), with community-associated S. aureus infections were enrolled. Repetitive sequence-based PCR (repPCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), staphylococcal protein A (spa), and staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing were performed on 200 S. aureus isolates. The discriminatory index of each method was calculated using the standard formula for this metric, where a value of 1 is highly discriminatory and a value of 0 is not discriminatory. Overall, we identified 26 distinct strain types by repPCR, 17 strain types by PFGE, 30 strain types by MLST, 68 strain types by spa typing, and 5 strain types by SCCmec typing. RepPCR had the highest discriminatory index (D) of all methods (D = 0.88), followed by spa typing (D = 0.87), MLST (D = 0.84), PFGE (D = 0.76), and SCCmec typing (D = 0.60). The method with the highest D among MRSA isolates was repPCR (D = 0.64) followed by spa typing (D = 0.45) and MLST (D = 0.44). The method with the highest D among MSSA isolates was spa typing (D = 0.98), followed by MLST (D = 0.93), repPCR (D = 0.92), and PFGE (D = 0.89). Among isolates designated USA300 by PFGE, repPCR was most discriminatory, with 10 distinct strain types identified (D = 0.63). We identified 45 MRSA isolates which were classified as identical by PFGE, MLST, spa typing, and SCCmec typing (USA300, ST8, t008, SCCmec IV, respectively); within this collection, there were 5 distinct strain types identified by repPCR. The typing methods yielded comparable discriminatory power for S. aureus characterization overall; when discriminating among USA300 isolates, repPCR retained the highest discriminatory power. This property is advantageous for investigations conducted in the era of contemporary S. aureus infections. PMID:26376402

Comparative evaluation of an automated repetitive-sequence-based PCR instrument versus pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in the setting of a Serratia marcescens nosocomial infection outbreak.

PubMed

Ligozzi, Marco; Fontana, Roberta; Aldegheri, Marco; Scalet, Giovanna; Lo Cascio, Giuliana

2010-05-01

A semiautomated, repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) instrument (DiversiLab system) was evaluated in comparison with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to investigate an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A selection of 36 epidemiologically related and 8 epidemiologically unrelated isolates was analyzed. Among the epidemiologically related isolates, PFGE identified five genetically unrelated patterns. Thirty-two isolates from patients and wet nurses showed the same PFGE profile (pattern A). Genetically unrelated PFGE patterns were found in one patient (pattern B), in two wet nurses (patterns C and D), and in an environmental isolate from the NICU (pattern G). Rep-PCR identified seven different patterns, three of which included the 32 isolates of PFGE type A. One or two band differences in isolates of these three types allowed isolates to be categorized as similar and included in a unique cluster. Isolates of different PFGE types were also of unrelated rep-PCR types. All of the epidemiologically unrelated isolates were of different PFGE and rep-PCR types. The level of discrimination exhibited by rep-PCR with the DiversiLab system allowed us to conclude that this method was able to identify genetic similarity in a spatio-temporal cluster of S. marcescens isolates.

Catch-up validation study of an in vitro skin irritation test method based on an open source reconstructed epidermis (phase II).

PubMed

Groeber, F; Schober, L; Schmid, F F; Traube, A; Kolbus-Hernandez, S; Daton, K; Hoffmann, S; Petersohn, D; Schäfer-Korting, M; Walles, H; Mewes, K R

2016-10-01

To replace the Draize skin irritation assay (OECD guideline 404) several test methods based on reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) have been developed and were adopted in the OECD test guideline 439. However, all validated test methods in the guideline are linked to RHE provided by only three companies. Thus, the availability of these test models is dependent on the commercial interest of the producer. To overcome this limitation and thus to increase the accessibility of in vitro skin irritation testing, an open source reconstructed epidermis (OS-REp) was introduced. To demonstrate the capacity of the OS-REp in regulatory risk assessment, a catch-up validation study was performed. The participating laboratories used in-house generated OS-REp to assess the set of 20 reference substances according to the performance standards amending the OECD test guideline 439. Testing was performed under blinded conditions. The within-laboratory reproducibility of 87% and the inter-laboratory reproducibility of 85% prove a high reliability of irritancy testing using the OS-REp protocol. In addition, the prediction capacity was with an accuracy of 80% comparable to previous published RHE based test protocols. Taken together the results indicate that the OS-REp test method can be used as a standalone alternative skin irritation test replacing the OECD test guideline 404. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Rab15 Effector Protein: A Novel Protein for Receptor Recycling from the Endocytic Recycling CompartmentD⃞

PubMed Central

Strick, David J.; Elferink, Lisa A.

2005-01-01

Sorting endosomes and the endocytic recycling compartment are critical intracellular stores for the rapid recycling of internalized membrane receptors to the cell surface in multiple cell types. However, the molecular mechanisms distinguishing fast receptor recycling from sorting endosomes and slow receptor recycling from the endocytic recycling compartment remain poorly understood. We previously reported that Rab15 differentially regulates transferrin receptor trafficking through sorting endosomes and the endocytic recycling compartment, suggesting a role for distinct Rab15-effector interactions at these endocytic compartments. In this study, we identified the novel protein Rab15 effector protein (REP15) as a binding partner for Rab15-GTP. REP15 is compartment specific, colocalizing with Rab15 and Rab11 on the endocytic recycling compartment but not with Rab15, Rab4, or early endosome antigen 1 on sorting endosomes. REP15 interacts directly with Rab15-GTP but not with Rab5 or Rab11. Consistent with its localization, REP15 overexpression and small interfering RNA-mediated depletion inhibited transferrin receptor recycling from the endocytic recycling compartment, without affecting receptor entry into or recycling from sorting endosomes. Our data identify REP15 as a compartment-specific protein for receptor recycling from the endocytic recycling compartment, highlighting that the rapid and slow modes of transferrin receptor recycling are mechanistically distinct pathways. PMID:16195351

Open-Source Wax RepRap 3-D Printer for Rapid Prototyping Paper-Based Microfluidics.

PubMed

Pearce, J M; Anzalone, N C; Heldt, C L

2016-08-01

The open-source release of self-replicating rapid prototypers (RepRaps) has created a rich opportunity for low-cost distributed digital fabrication of complex 3-D objects such as scientific equipment. For example, 3-D printable reactionware devices offer the opportunity to combine open hardware microfluidic handling with lab-on-a-chip reactionware to radically reduce costs and increase the number and complexity of microfluidic applications. To further drive down the cost while improving the performance of lab-on-a-chip paper-based microfluidic prototyping, this study reports on the development of a RepRap upgrade capable of converting a Prusa Mendel RepRap into a wax 3-D printer for paper-based microfluidic applications. An open-source hardware approach is used to demonstrate a 3-D printable upgrade for the 3-D printer, which combines a heated syringe pump with the RepRap/Arduino 3-D control. The bill of materials, designs, basic assembly, and use instructions are provided, along with a completely free and open-source software tool chain. The open-source hardware device described here accelerates the potential of the nascent field of electrochemical detection combined with paper-based microfluidics by dropping the marginal cost of prototyping to nearly zero while accelerating the turnover between paper-based microfluidic designs. © 2016 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

REPETITIVE SEQUENCE BASED-PCR PROFILING OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 STRAINS FROM BEEF IN SOUTHERN THAILAND.

PubMed

Sukhumungoon, Pharanai; Tantadapan, Rujira; Rattanachuay, Pattamarat

2016-01-01

Beef and its products are potential vehicles of Escherichia coli O157, the most important serotype implicated in many large outbreaks of diarrheal infection in humans worldwide. There is a need for rapid detection of contaminated food in order to implement appropriate and effective control measures. In this study, repetitive sequence (rep)-PCR, using three different primers, BOXA1R, ERIC2 and (GTG)5, singly and in combinations, were employed to compare the genetic relatedness among E. coli O157 group with other diarrheagenic E. coli strains as controls. Although a combination of BOXA1R + ERIC2 + (GTG)5 primers generated a rep-PCR profile containing the highest number of amplicon bands among the DEC strains tested, dendrogram (at 80% similarity) exhibited the lowest DEC classification of 5 clusters, whereas that from BOXA1R or BOXA1R+ (GTG)5 rep-PCR profiling produced 8 clusters. Nevertheless, focusing E. coli O157 strains were grouped into 4 clusters irrespective of the rep-PCR profiles analyzed, and all 14 but two, PSU60 and PSU132, E. coli O157 strains isolated from beef in southern Thailand during 2012 to 2014 fell into a single cluster. Thus, rep-PCR profiling generated with BOXA1R or BOXA1R + (GTG)5 is sufficient for distinguishing among DEC strains, including E. coli O157 in southern Thailand.

Translocation pathway of protein substrates in ClpAP protease

PubMed Central

Ishikawa, Takashi; Beuron, Fabienne; Kessel, Martin; Wickner, Sue; Maurizi, Michael R.; Steven, Alasdair C.

2001-01-01

Intracellular protein degradation, which must be tightly controlled to protect normal proteins, is carried out by ATP-dependent proteases. These multicomponent enzymes have chaperone-like ATPases that recognize and unfold protein substrates and deliver them to the proteinase components for digestion. In ClpAP, hexameric rings of the ClpA ATPase stack axially on either face of the ClpP proteinase, which consists of two apposed heptameric rings. We have used cryoelectron microscopy to characterize interactions of ClpAP with the model substrate, bacteriophage P1 protein, RepA. In complexes stabilized by ATPγS, which bind but do not process substrate, RepA dimers are seen at near-axial sites on the distal surface of ClpA. On ATP addition, RepA is translocated through ≈150 Å into the digestion chamber inside ClpP. Little change is observed in ClpAP, implying that translocation proceeds without major reorganization of the ClpA hexamer. When translocation is observed in complexes containing a ClpP mutant whose digestion chamber is already occupied by unprocessed propeptides, a small increase in density is observed within ClpP, and RepA-associated density is also seen at other axial sites. These sites appear to represent intermediate points on the translocation pathway, at which segments of unfolded RepA subunits transiently accumulate en route to the digestion chamber. PMID:11287666

Experimental use of geogrids as an alternative to gravel placement : fourth year interim and final report, October 2006.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-10-01

With the ongoing demand for improved infrastructure, the Maine Department of Transportation : (MaineDOT) continues to identify and evaluate new and innovative construction methods and materials. : The Departments Collector Highway Improvement Prog...

GLOBAL TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Global transition to sustainable development is possible but many obstacles lie in the way and it will require acts of political will on the part of both the developed and developing nations to become a reality. In this paper, sustainable development is defined as continuous prog...

An Open Letter to the Cancer Community Regarding Community Clinical Trials

Cancer.gov

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is in the process of combining its two community-based research networks to create a single network that builds on the strengths of the Community Clinical Oncology Program/Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Prog

SMALL DRINKING WATER SYSTEM PEER REVIEW PROGRAM

EPA Science Inventory

The United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., which is made up of twenty-four (24) tribes, ranging in location, geographically, from Maine to Texas, AND three (3) states, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia, participated in a program, "The Small Drinking Water System Peer Review Prog...

Results of Special Accident Study Teams/ASAP Coordination Conference

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1974-07-01

The second Special Accident Study Teams / ASAP Coordination Conference was held in Washington, D.C. on June 12-13, 1974 to continue coordination of activities and to report recent findings. The objectives of the conference were: (1) To report on prog...

In vitro and in silico derived relative effect potencies of ah-receptor-mediated effects by PCDD/Fs and PCBs in rat, mouse, and guinea pig CALUX cell lines.

PubMed

Ghorbanzadeh, Mehdi; van Ede, Karin I; Larsson, Malin; van Duursen, Majorie B M; Poellinger, Lorenz; Lücke-Johansson, Sandra; Machala, Miroslav; Pěnčíková, Kateřina; Vondráček, Jan; van den Berg, Martin; Denison, Michael S; Ringsted, Tine; Andersson, Patrik L

2014-07-21

For a better understanding of species-specific relative effect potencies (REPs), responses of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) were assessed. REPs were calculated using chemical-activated luciferase gene expression assays (CALUX) derived from guinea pig, rat, and mouse cell lines. Almost all 20 congeners tested in the rodent cell lines were partial agonists and less efficacious than 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). For this reason, REPs were calculated for each congener using concentrations at which 20% of the maximal TCDD response was reached (REP20TCDD). REP20TCDD values obtained for PCDD/Fs were comparable with their toxic equivalency factors assigned by the World Health Organization (WHO-TEF), while those for PCBs were in general lower than the WHO-TEF values. Moreover, the guinea pig cell line was the most sensitive as indicated by the 20% effect concentrations of TCDD of 1.5, 5.6, and 11.0 pM for guinea pig, rat, and mouse cells, respectively. A similar response pattern was observed using multivariate statistical analysis between the three CALUX assays and the WHO-TEFs. The mouse assay showed minor deviation due to higher relative induction potential for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran and lower for 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126). 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran was more than two times more potent in the mouse assay as compared with that of rat and guinea pig cells, while measured REP20TCDD for PCB126 was lower in mouse cells (0.05) as compared with that of the guinea pig (0.2) and rat (0.07). In order to provide REP20TCDD values for all WHO-TEF assigned compounds, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed. The QSAR models showed that specific electronic properties and molecular surface characteristics play important roles in the AhR-mediated response. In silico derived REP20TCDD values were generally consistent with the WHO-TEFs with a few exceptions. The QSAR models indicated that, e.g., 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzofuran were more potent than given by their assigned WHO-TEF values, and the non-ortho PCB 81 was predicted, based on the guinea-pig model, to be 1 order of magnitude above its WHO-TEF value. By combining in vitro and in silico approaches, REPs were established for all WHO-TEF assigned compounds (except OCDD), which will provide future guidance in testing AhR-mediated responses of DLCs and to increase our understanding of species variation in AhR-mediated effects.

Anticipation and consumption of food each increase the concentration of neuroactive steroids in rat brain and plasma.

PubMed

Pisu, Maria Giuseppina; Floris, Ivan; Maciocco, Elisabetta; Serra, Mariangela; Biggio, Giovanni

2006-09-01

Stressful stimuli and anxiogenic drugs increase the plasma and brain concentrations of neuroactive steroids. Moreover, in rats trained to consume their daily meal during a fixed period, the anticipation of food is associated with changes in the function of various neurotransmitter systems. We have now evaluated the effects of anticipation and consumption of food in such trained rats on the plasma and brain concentrations of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG) and 3alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC), two potent endogenous positive modulators of type A receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The abundance of these neuroactive steroids was increased in both the cerebral cortex and plasma of the rats during both food anticipation and consumption. In contrast, the concentration of their precursor, progesterone, was increased in the brain only during food consumption, whereas it was increased in plasma only during food anticipation. Intraperitoneal administration of the selective agonist abecarnil (0.1 mg/kg) 40 min before food presentation prevented the increase in the brain levels of 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC during food anticipation but not that associated with consumption. The change in emotional state associated with food anticipation may thus result in an increase in the plasma and brain levels of 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC in a manner sensitive to the activation of GABA(A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission. A different mechanism, insensitive to activation of such transmission, may underlie the changes in the concentrations of these neuroactive steroids during food consumption.

Dopaminergic modulation of effort-related choice behavior as assessed by a progressive ratio chow feeding choice task: pharmacological studies and the role of individual differences.

PubMed

Randall, Patrick A; Pardo, Marta; Nunes, Eric J; López Cruz, Laura; Vemuri, V Kiran; Makriyannis, Alex; Baqi, Younis; Müller, Christa E; Correa, Mercè; Salamone, John D

2012-01-01

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is involved in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Rats with impaired DA transmission reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks with high response requirements, and instead select less effortful food-seeking behaviors. In the present study, the effects of several drug treatments were assessed using a progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding concurrent choice task. With this task, rats can lever press on a PROG schedule reinforced by a preferred high-carbohydrate food pellet, or alternatively approach and consume the less-preferred but concurrently available laboratory chow. Rats pass through each ratio level 15 times, after which the ratio requirement is incremented by one additional response. The DA D(2) antagonist haloperidol (0.025-0.1 mg/kg) reduced number of lever presses and highest ratio achieved but did not reduce chow intake. In contrast, the adenosine A(2A) antagonist MSX-3 increased lever presses and highest ratio achieved, but decreased chow consumption. The cannabinoid CB1 inverse agonist and putative appetite suppressant AM251 decreased lever presses, highest ratio achieved, and chow intake; this effect was similar to that produced by pre-feeding. Furthermore, DA-related signal transduction activity (pDARPP-32(Thr34) expression) was greater in nucleus accumbens core of high responders (rats with high lever pressing output) compared to low responders. Thus, the effects of DA antagonism differed greatly from those produced by pre-feeding or reduced CB1 transmission, and it appears unlikely that haloperidol reduces PROG responding because of a general reduction in primary food motivation or the unconditioned reinforcing properties of food. Furthermore, accumbens core signal transduction activity is related to individual differences in work output.

Identification of a novel circular DNA virus in pig feces

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Metagenomic analysis of fecal samples collected from a swine with diarrhea detected sequences encoding a replicase (Rep) protein typically found in small circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses. The complete 3,062 nucleotide genome was generated and found to encode two bi-directionally trans...

Rep. Delaney Learns about Breast Cancer Research at NCI at Frederick | Poster

Cancer.gov

By Andrea Frydl, Contributing Writer Rep. John Delaney (D-Md., 6th District) visited the NCI Campus at Frederick on October 21 to learn more about the research that scientists at NCI at Frederick are doing on breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Stability of the IMEX Methods, CNLF and BDF2-AB2, for Uncoupling Systems of Evolution Equations

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-01

Implicit-Explicit linear multistep methods, Tech. rep., Centrum Wiskunde and Informatica (CWI) (1996). [14] W. Hundsdorfer, J. Verwer, Numerical...component splitting for the Crank-Nicolson Leap- Frog integration method, Tech. rep., Centrum Wiskunde and Informatica (CWI) (2009). [23] J. Verwer

Development of Weighted Distributions of REPs for Dioxin-Like Compounds: Implications for Risk Assessment

EPA Science Inventory

In their recent reevaluation of the TEF methodology, the WHO expert panel indicated that consideration should be given to developing weighted distributions of REP values to establish TEFs for each dioxin-like compound (DLC). As such, we developed a consensus-based weighting frame...

Rehabilitation Education Program for Stroke (REPS): Learning and Practice Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McEwen, Sara; Szurek, Kristina; Polatajko, Helene J.; Rappolt, Susan

2005-01-01

Introduction: New research knowledge acquired from Web-based sources may have a better chance of being translated into practice when accompanied by additional educational strategies. This study was undertaken to investigate that hypothesis. Methods: The Rehabilitation Education Program for Stroke (REPS) combines a self-directed online learning…

The Rouge Education Project: Challenges of Implementation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Talsma, Valerie

2001-01-01

Describes a program evaluation of the Rouge Education Project (REP), a school-based environmental education program that uses water monitoring, telecommunications, and student actions to improve water quality. Reports that results indicated that the REP met its goals of increasing awareness and concern about the Rouge River and developing a…

Tile Patterns with LOGO--Part II: Tile Patterns from Rep Tiles Using LOGO.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clason, Robert G.

1991-01-01

Described is a recursive LOGO method for dissecting polygons into congruent parts (rep tiles) similar to the original polygon, thereby producing unexpected patterns. A list of descriptions for such dissections is included along with suggestions for modifications that allow extended student explorations into tile patterns. (JJK)

h -AlN-Mg(OH)2 van der Waals bilayer heterostructure: Tuning the excitonic characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacaksiz, C.; Dominguez, A.; Rubio, A.; Senger, R. T.; Sahin, H.

2017-02-01

Motivated by recent studies that reported the successful synthesis of monolayer Mg (OH) 2 [Suslu et al., Sci. Rep. 6, 20525 (2016), 10.1038/srep20525] and hexagonal (h -)AlN [Tsipas et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 103, 251605 (2013), 10.1063/1.4851239], we investigate structural, electronic, and optical properties of vertically stacked h -AlN and Mg (OH) 2 , through ab initio density-functional theory (DFT), many-body quasiparticle calculations within the GW approximation and the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE). It is obtained that the bilayer heterostructure prefers the A B' stacking having direct band gap at the Γ with Type-II band alignment in which the valance band maximum and conduction band minimum originate from different layer. Regarding the optical properties, the imaginary part of the dielectric function of the individual layers and heterobilayer are investigated. The heterobilayer possesses excitonic peaks, which appear only after the construction of the heterobilayer. The lowest three exciton peaks are analyzed in detail by means of band decomposed charge density and the oscillator strength. Furthermore, the wave function calculation shows that the first peak of the heterobilayer originates from spatially indirect exciton where the electron and hole localized at h -AlN and Mg (OH) 2 , respectively, which is important for the light harvesting applications.

A fashion model with social interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakayama, Shoichiro; Nakamura, Yasuyuki

2004-06-01

In general, it is difficult to investigate social phenomena mathematically or quantitatively due to non-linear interactions. Statistical physics can provide powerful methods for studying social phenomena with interactions, and could be very useful for them. In this study, we take a focus on fashion as a social phenomenon with interaction. The social interaction considered here are “bandwagon effect” and “snob effect.” In the bandwagon effect, the correlation between one's behavior and others is positive. People feel fashion weary or boring when it is overly popular. This is the snob effect. It is assumed that the fashion phenomenon is formed by the aggregation of individual's binary choice, that is, the fashion is adopted or not. We formulate the fashion phenomenon as the logit model, which is based on the random utility theory in social science, especially economics. The model derived here basically has the similarity with the pioneering model by Weidlich (Phys. Rep. 204 (1991) 1), which was derived from the master equation, the Langevin equation, or the Fokker-Planck equation. This study seems to give the behavioral or behaviormetrical foundation to his model. As a result of dynamical analysis, it is found that in the case that both the bandwagon effect and the snob effect work, periodic or chaotic behavior of fashion occurs under certain conditions.

Photometric Analysis of the Jovian Ring System and Modeling of Ring Origin and Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Esposito, L. W.

2003-01-01

We have successfully completed the work described in our proposal. The work supported by this grant resulted in the publication of the following paper: Brooks, S. M., L. W. Esposito, M. R. Showalter, and H. B. Throop. 2002. The size distribution of Jupiter's main ring from Galileo imaging and spectroscopy. Icarus, in press. This was also the major part of Dr. Shawn Brooks PhD dissertation. Dr. Brooks gave oral presentations on this work at the Lunar and Planetary Conference, the annual meetings of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, the annual meetings of the European Geophysical Society, the international Jupiter Conference in Boulder, the Jupiter after Galileo and Cassini Conference in Lisbon and to the Working Group in Non-Linear Dynamics in Potsdam, Germany. This work was reviewed in: Esposito, L. W. 2002. Planetary rings. Rep. hog. Phys. 65, 1741-1783. Planetary rings. LASP reprint 874. Online at http://stacks.iop.org/RoPP/65/1741. Dr. Esposito gave presentations at schools and over the internet on the results of this work. Dr. Brooks lectured in undergraduate and graduate classes on Jupiter's rings, and on the meaning of his research. In August 2003, Dr. Shawn Brooks received the Phd degree from the University of Colorado in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences.

Modeling Aftershocks and Foreshocks by Time-Dependent Friction Laws

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lippiello, E.; Landes, F.

2017-12-01

The transition with depth from rate-weakening to rate-strengthening rheology represents a viable mechanism to explain both afterslip and the temporal and spatial organization of aftershocks(Avouac, Annu. Rev. Eart Planet Sci. 2015).On the other hand, elastic models for seismic faults, as the Burridge-Knopoff model, are able to reproduce the Gutenberg-Richter (GR) law (de Arcangelis et al., Phys. Rep. 2016). Here we show that the two approaches can be combined in a minimal model containing only a parameter controlling the heterogeneities of the friction force. The key ingredient is the presence of a time-dependent friction on a temporal scale intermediate between the instantaneous scale of fracture propagation and the very slow one of the driving rate. Several features of aftershocks as the GR law, the productivity law, the spatial clustering and the temporal decay of the aftershock number, appear universal properties independent of details of model parameters and friction law. Quantitative agreement with the Omori law constraints the friction law according to a velocity strengthening rheology. The model also provides agreement with recent experimental results on the statistical properties of foreshock occurrence (Lippiello et al. , Pageoph, 2017). We then obtain insights on the nucleation phase preceding mainshocks which we compare with existing models (Ohnaka, Tectonophysics 1992).

Hormone Metabolism During Potato Tuber Dormancy

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

At harvest and for an indeterminate period thereafter potato tubers will not sprout and are physiologically dormant. The length of tuber dormancy is dependent on cultivar and pre- and postharvest environmental conditions. Plant hormones have been shown to be involved in all phases of dormancy prog...

IMPACT OF LEAD ACID BATTERIES AND CADMIUM STABILIZERS ON INCINERATOR EMISSIONS

EPA Science Inventory

The Waste Analysis Sampling, Testing and Evaluation (WASTE) Program is a multi-year, multi-disciplinary program designed to elicit the source and fate of environmentally significant trace materials as a solid waste progresses through management processes. s part of the WASTE Prog...

Assessing genomic selection prediction accuracy in a dynamic barley breeding

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Genomic selection is a method to improve quantitative traits in crops and livestock by estimating breeding values of selection candidates using phenotype and genome-wide marker data sets. Prediction accuracy has been evaluated through simulation and cross-validation, however validation based on prog...

Efficient Computations and Representations of Visible Surfaces.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

position as stated. The smooth contour generator may lie along a sharp ridge, for instance. Richards & Stevens -28- 6m lace contout s ?S ,.......... ceoonec...From understanding computation to understanding neural circuitry. Neurosci. Res. Prog. Bull. 13. 470-488. Metelli, F. 1970 An algebraic development of

Relativistic electron precipitation at International Space Station: Space weather monitoring by Calorimetric Electron Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kataoka, Ryuho; Asaoka, Yoichi; Torii, Shoji; Terasawa, Toshio; Ozawa, Shunsuke; Tamura, Tadahisa; Shimizu, Yuki; Akaike, Yosui; Mori, Masaki

2016-05-01

The charge detector (CHD) of the Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on board the International Space Station (ISS) has a huge geometric factor for detecting MeV electrons and is sensitive to relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events. During the first 4 months, CALET CHD observed REP events mainly at the dusk to midnight sector near the plasmapause, where the trapped radiation belt electrons can be efficiently scattered by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves. Here we show that interesting 5-20 s periodicity regularly exists during the REP events at ISS, which is useful to diagnose the wave-particle interactions associated with the nonlinear wave growth of EMIC-triggered emissions.

Use of a rep-PCR system to predict species in the Aspergillus section Nigri

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Aspergillus niger aggregate within the A. section Nigri, is a group of black-spored aspergilli which taxonomy has been elusive. REP-PCR has become a rapid and cost-effective method for genotyping fungi and bacteria. In the present study, we evaluated the discriminatory power of a semi-automate...

How Often Is p[subscript rep] Close to the True Replication Probability?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trafimow, David; MacDonald, Justin A.; Rice, Stephen; Clason, Dennis L.

2010-01-01

Largely due to dissatisfaction with the standard null hypothesis significance testing procedure, researchers have begun to consider alternatives. For example, Killeen (2005a) has argued that researchers should calculate p[subscript rep] that is purported to indicate the probability that, if the experiment in question were replicated, the obtained…

Homologous recombination within the capsid gene of porcine circovirus type 2 subgroup viruses via natural co-infection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Several studies had reported homologous recombination between porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-group 1 (Gp1) and -group 2 (Gp2) viruses. Interestingly, the recombination events described thus far mapped either within the Rep gene sequences or the sequences flanking the Rep gene region. Previously, ...

Birmingham Rep, Youth and Community, and the Products and Possibilities of Precarity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cochrane, Claire

2017-01-01

Birmingham Rep, a leading producing theatre based in the UK's "second city", has historically had a complex relationship with the cultural priorities of its home city. In recent years, Birmingham City Council has faced multiple challenges represented by debt burden, government-imposed cuts in public funding, scandals linked to failing…

Developing a Model for Assigning Senior Officers in the Brazilian Air Force

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

Federativa do Brasil 2014)................................................... 3 Figure 2. Distribution of senior officers by specialty (after Presidente da...República Federativa do Brasil 2014)................................................... 4 Figure 3. Simplified layout of the Brazilian Air Force...Specialties and ranks in the Brazilian Air Force (after Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil 2014

Intrusive Images in Psychological Disorders

PubMed Central

Brewin, Chris R.; Gregory, James D.; Lipton, Michelle; Burgess, Neil

2010-01-01

Involuntary images and visual memories are prominent in many types of psychopathology. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and psychosis frequently report repeated visual intrusions corresponding to a small number of real or imaginary events, usually extremely vivid, detailed, and with highly distressing content. Both memory and imagery appear to rely on common networks involving medial prefrontal regions, posterior regions in the medial and lateral parietal cortices, the lateral temporal cortex, and the medial temporal lobe. Evidence from cognitive psychology and neuroscience implies distinct neural bases to abstract, flexible, contextualized representations (C-reps) and to inflexible, sensory-bound representations (S-reps). We revise our previous dual representation theory of posttraumatic stress disorder to place it within a neural systems model of healthy memory and imagery. The revised model is used to explain how the different types of distressing visual intrusions associated with clinical disorders arise, in terms of the need for correct interaction between the neural systems supporting S-reps and C-reps via visuospatial working memory. Finally, we discuss the treatment implications of the new model and relate it to existing forms of psychological therapy. PMID:20063969

Advanced Orion Optimized Laser System Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

Contractor shall perform a complete analysis of the potential of the solid state laser in the very long pulse mode (100 ns pulse width, 10-30 hz rep-rate) and in the very short pulse mode (100 ps pulse width 10-30 hz rep rate) concentrating on the operation of the device in the 'hot-rod' mode, where no active cooling the laser operation is attempted. Contractor's calculations shall be made of the phase aberrations which develop during the repped-pulse train, and the results shall feed into the adaptive optics analyses. The contractor shall devise solutions to work around ORION track issues. A final report shall be furnished to the MSFC COTR including all calculations and analysis of estimates of bulk phase and intensity aberration distribution in the laser output beam as a function of time during the repped-pulse train for both wave forms (high-energy/long-pulse, as well as low-energy/short-pulse). Recommendations shall be made for mitigating the aberrations by laser re-design and/or changes in operating parameters of optical pump sources and/or designs.

Pseudo-polyprotein translated from the full-length ORF1 of capillovirus is important for pathogenicity, but a truncated ORF1 protein without variable and CP regions is sufficient for replication.

PubMed

Hirata, Hisae; Yamaji, Yasuyuki; Komatsu, Ken; Kagiwada, Satoshi; Oshima, Kenro; Okano, Yukari; Takahashi, Shuichiro; Ugaki, Masashi; Namba, Shigetou

2010-09-01

The first open-reading frame (ORF) of the genus Capillovirus encodes an apparently chimeric polyprotein containing conserved regions for replicase (Rep) and coat protein (CP), while other viruses in the family Flexiviridae have separate ORFs encoding these proteins. To investigate the role of the full-length ORF1 polyprotein of capillovirus, we generated truncation mutants of ORF1 of apple stem grooving virus by inserting a termination codon into the variable region located between the putative Rep- and CP-coding regions. These mutants were capable of systemic infection, although their pathogenicity was attenuated. In vitro translation of ORF1 produced both the full-length polyprotein and the smaller Rep protein. The results of in vivo reporter assays suggested that the mechanism of this early termination is a ribosomal -1 frame-shift occurring downstream from the conserved Rep domains. The mechanism of capillovirus gene expression and the very close evolutionary relationship between the genera Capillovirus and Trichovirus are discussed. Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V.

An N-terminal region of a Myb-like protein is involved in its intracellular localization and activation of a gibberellin-inducible proteinase gene in germinated rice seeds.

PubMed

Sutoh, Keita; Washio, Kenji; Imai, Ryozo; Wada, Masamitsu; Nakai, Tomonori; Yamauchi, Daisuke

2015-01-01

The expression of the gene for a proteinase (Rep1) is upregulated by gibberellins. The CAACTC regulatory element (CARE) of the Rep1 promoter is involved in the gibberellin response. We isolated a cDNA for a CARE-binding protein containing a Myb domain in its carboxyl-terminal region and designated the gene Carboxyl-terminal Myb1 (CTMyb1). This gene encodes two polypeptides of two distinctive lengths, CTMyb1L and CTMyb1S, which include or exclude 213 N-terminal amino acid residues, respectively. CTMyb1S transactivated the Rep1 promoter in the presence of OsGAMyb, but not CTMyb1L. We observed an interaction between CTMyb1S and the rice prolamin box-binding factor (RPBF). A bimolecular fluorescence complex analysis detected the CTMyb1S and RPBF complex in the nucleus, but not the CTMyb1L and RPBF complex. The results suggest that the arrangement of the transfactors is involved in gibberellin-inducible expression of Rep1.

Utilisation of Rep-PCR to track microbes in aerosols collected adjacent to their source, a saline lake in Victoria, Australia.

PubMed

Munday, Chris I; O'Loingsigh, Tadhg; Tapper, Nigel J; De Deckker, Patrick; Allison, Gwen E

2013-04-15

Dust storms are a major source of aerosolized bacteria, especially in the drought conditions experienced in Australia in the decade to 2009. The major aims of this project were to identify the culturable bacteria in environmental samples and to genetically fingerprint all isolates using repetitive element PCR (Rep-PCR) to investigate the possibility of tracking isolates from their source into the atmosphere. Four field trips were conducted to a dry lake in western Victoria, Australia to sample aerosols and sediments. Aerosols were collected at heights up to 150 m using vacuum pumps with filters attached to a tethered helium balloon, while corresponding sediments were collected in sterile polypropylene tubes. Isolates were cultivated on Tryptic Soy Agar, R2 Agar and Marine Agar, and grown in dark conditions at ambient temperature. By sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of 270 isolates, fifteen different bacterial families were identified, with both the aerosols and sediments dominated by the Bacillaceae family. Four sets of Rep-PCR primers were tested, with the ERIC and (GTG)5 primers proving to be the most suitable for fingerprinting the cultured taxa. Rep-PCR revealed very high strain diversity in the samples collected, however some strains were still able to be tracked from sediments up to 150 m in height. This shows the potential of Rep-PCR, however very large reference databases would be required for the technique to be more useful. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct Application of Rep-PCR on Type I Sourdough Matrix to Monitor the Dominance and Persistence of a Lactobacillus plantarum Starter Throughout Back-Slopping.

PubMed

Dolci, Paola; Cocolin, Luca

2017-08-01

This study describes the optimization and application of repetitive element-PCR (rep-PCR) technique directly on microbial DNA extracted from type I sourdoughs for fast monitoring of a Lb. plantarum starter strain (P1FMC) throughout daily back-slopping. The challenge was to follow and study the performance of a starter culture directly in sourdoughs without cultivation on selective media. The extraction of good quality microbial DNA suitable for amplification from a complex matrix such as dough was the first target. In addition, the objective to obtain a clear rep-PCR profile referable to a specific starter strain among a microbial community was pursued. Co-inoculum trials, in flour matrix, with Lb. plantarum P1FMC and L. lactis LC71 strains and, subsequently, type I sourdough back-slopping trials were performed. The rep-PCR amplification profiles obtained were clearly referable to that of Lb. plantarum P1FMC starter in both co-inoculum trials (also when it was present with one order of magnitude less with respect to L. lactis LC71) and back-slopping trials where it dominated the fermentation process with loads of 10 8 cfu g -1 and prevailed on the autochthonous microbiota. Thus, the approach proposed in this paper could be considered a methodological advancement, based on a culture-independent one-step rep-PCR, suitable for fast monitoring of starter performance. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Structural Insights into the Assembly of the Adeno-associated Virus Type 2 Rep68 Protein on the Integration Site AAVS1*

PubMed Central

Musayev, Faik N.; Zarate-Perez, Francisco; Bishop, Clayton; Burgner, John W.; Escalante, Carlos R.

2015-01-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the only eukaryotic virus with the property of establishing latency by integrating site-specifically into the human genome. The integration site known as AAVS1 is located in chromosome 19 and contains multiple GCTC repeats that are recognized by the AAV non-structural Rep proteins. These proteins are multifunctional, with an N-terminal origin-binding domain (OBD) and a helicase domain joined together by a short linker. As a first step to understand the process of site-specific integration, we proceeded to characterize the recognition and assembly of Rep68 onto the AAVS1 site. We first determined the x-ray structure of AAV-2 Rep68 OBD in complex with the AAVS1 DNA site. Specificity is achieved through the interaction of a glycine-rich loop that binds the major groove and an α-helix that interacts with a downstream minor groove on the same face of the DNA. Although the structure shows a complex with three OBD molecules bound to the AAVS1 site, we show by using analytical centrifugation and electron microscopy that the full-length Rep68 forms a heptameric complex. Moreover, we determined that a minimum of two direct repeats is required to form a stable complex and to melt DNA. Finally, we show that although the individual domains bind DNA poorly, complex assembly requires oligomerization and cooperation between its OBD, helicase, and the linker domains. PMID:26370092

A comparison of PCR assays for beak and feather disease virus and high resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis of replicase associated protein and capsid genes.

PubMed

Das, Shubhagata; Sarker, Subir; Ghorashi, Seyed Ali; Forwood, Jade K; Raidal, Shane R

2016-11-01

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) threatens a wide range of endangered psittacine birds worldwide. In this study, we assessed a novel PCR assay and genetic screening method using high-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis for BFDV targeting the capsid (Cap) gene (HRM-Cap) alongside conventional PCR detection as well as a PCR method that targets a much smaller fragment of the virus genome in the replicase initiator protein (Rep) gene (HRM-Rep). Limits of detection, sensitivity, specificity and discriminatory power for differentiating BFDV sequences were compared. HRM-Cap had a high positive predictive value and could readily differentiate between a reference genotype and 17 other diverse BFDV genomes with more discriminatory power (genotype confidence percentage) than HRM-Rep. Melt curve profiles generated by HRM-Cap correlated with unique DNA sequence profiles for each individual test genome. The limit of detection of HRM-Cap was lower (2×10 -5 ng/reaction or 48 viral copies) than that for both HRM-Rep and conventional BFDV PCR which had similar sensitivity (2×10 -6 ng or 13 viral copies/reaction). However, when used in a diagnostic setting with 348 clinical samples there was strong agreement between HRM-Cap and conventional PCR (kappa=0.87, P<0.01, 98% specificity) and HRM-Cap demonstrated higher specificity (99.9%) than HRM-Rep (80.3%). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Serum microRNA biomarker identification in a residential cohort with elevated polychlorinated biphenyl exposures.

EPA Science Inventory

Toxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH) is a form of liver disease associated with both industrial [1] and environmental [2] chemical exposures. Like other forms of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), TASH can contribute to systemic metabolic disease states and may prog...

us9805_latilt

Science.gov Websites

;meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name /dublin_core"> <meta name=dc.title content="Alaska Solar Resource: Flat Plate Collector, Facing

EVALUATION OF USFILTER CORPORATION'S RETEC® MODEL SCP-6 SEPARATED CELL PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR CHROMIC ACID ANODIZE BATH SOLUTION

EPA Science Inventory

The USEPA has created the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information. The ETV P2 Metal Finishing Technologies (ETV-MF) Prog...

Genotype variation and genetic relationship among Escherichia coli from nursery pigs located in different pens in the same farm.

PubMed

Herrero-Fresno, Ana; Ahmed, Shahana; Hansen, Monica Hegstad; Denwood, Matthew; Zachariasen, Camilla; Olsen, John Elmerdahl

2017-01-05

So far, little is known about the genetic diversity and relatedness among Escherichia coli (E. coli) populations in the gut of swine. Information on this is required to improve modeling studies on antimicrobial resistance aiming to fight its occurrence and development. This work evaluated the genotype variation of E. coli isolated from swine fecal samples at the single pig and pen level, as well as between pens using repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) PCR fingerprinting and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The genetic diversity of strains collected from media supplemented with ampicillin or tetracycline was also investigated. Besides, the genetic relationship of strains within each pen, between pens, as well as among strains within each group isolated from media with or without antibiotic, was assessed. REP-PCR patterns (N = 75) were generated for all the isolates (N = 720). Two profiles (REP_2 and REP_5) dominated, accounting for 23.7 and 23.3% of all isolates, respectively. At the pig and at the pen level, the number of different strains ranged from two to eight, and from 27 to 31, respectively, and multiple isolates from a single pen were found to be identical; however, in some of the pens, additional strains occurred at a lower frequency. E. coli isolates yielding different REP profiles were subjected to PFGE and led to 41 different genotypes which were also compared. Despite the presence of dominant strains, our results suggest a high genetic diversity of E. coli strains exist at the pen level and between pens. Selection with antibiotic seems to not affect the genetic diversity. The dominant REP profiles were the same found in a previous study in Denmark, which highlights that the same predominant strains are circulating in pigs of this country and might represent the archetypal E.coli commensal in pigs.

The 5′-tail of antisense RNAII of pMV158 plays a critical role in binding to the target mRNA and in translation inhibition of repB

PubMed Central

López-Aguilar, Celeste; Romero-López, Cristina; Espinosa, Manuel; Berzal-Herranz, Alfredo; del Solar, Gloria

2015-01-01

Rolling-circle replication of streptococcal plasmid pMV158 is controlled by the concerted action of two trans-acting elements, namely transcriptional repressor CopG and antisense RNAII, which inhibit expression of the repB gene encoding the replication initiator protein. The pMV158-encoded antisense RNAII exerts its activity of replication control by inhibiting translation of the essential repB gene. RNAII is the smallest and simplest among the characterized antisense RNAs involved in control of plasmid replication. Structure analysis of RNAII revealed that it folds into an 8-bp-long stem containing a 1-nt bulge and closed by a 6-nt apical loop. This hairpin is flanked by a 17-nt-long single-stranded 5′-tail and an 8-nt-long 3′-terminal U-rich stretch. Here, the 3′ and 5′ regions of the 5′-tail of RNAII are shown to play a critical role in the binding to the target mRNA and in the inhibition of repB translation, respectively. In contrast, the apical loop of the single hairpin of RNAII plays a rather secondary role and the upper stem region hardly contributes to the binding or inhibition processes. The entire 5′-tail is required for efficient inhibition of repB translation, though only the 8-nt-long region adjacent to the hairpin seems to be essential for rapid binding to the mRNA. These results show that a “kissing” interaction involving base-pairing between complementary hairpin loops in RNAII and mRNA is not critical for efficient RNA/RNA binding or repB translation inhibition. A singular binding mechanism is envisaged whereby initial pairing between complementary single-stranded regions in the antisense and sense RNAs progresses upwards into the corresponding hairpin stems to form the intermolecular duplex. PMID:26175752

Multibody correlations in the hydrophobic solvation of glycine peptides

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

Harris, Robert C.; Drake, Justin A.; Pettitt, B. Montgomery, E-mail: mpettitt@utmb.edu

2014-12-14

Protein collapse during folding is often assumed to be driven by a hydrophobic solvation energy (ΔG{sub vdw}) that scales linearly with solvent-accessible surface area (A). In a previous study, we argued that ΔG{sub vdw}, as well as its attractive (ΔG{sub att}) and repulsive (ΔG{sub rep}) components, was not simply a linear function of A. We found that the surface tensions, γ{sub rep}, γ{sub att}, and γ{sub vdw}, gotten from ΔG{sub rep}, ΔG{sub att}, and ΔG{sub vdw} against A for four configurations of deca-alanine differed from those obtained for a set of alkanes. In the present study, we extend our analysismore » to fifty decaglycine structures and atomic decompositions. We find that different configurations of decaglycine generate different estimates of γ{sub rep}. Additionally, we considered the reconstruction of the solvation free energy from scaling the free energy of solvation of each atom type, free in solution. The free energy of the isolated atoms, scaled by the inverse surface area the atom would expose in the molecule does not reproduce the γ{sub rep} for the intact decaglycines. Finally, γ{sub att} for the decaglycine conformations is much larger in magnitude than those for deca-alanine or the alkanes, leading to large negative values of γ{sub vdw} (−74 and −56 cal/mol/Å{sup 2} for CHARMM27 and AMBER ff12sb force fields, respectively). These findings imply that ΔG{sub vdw} favors extended rather than compact structures for decaglycine. We find that ΔG{sub rep} and ΔG{sub vdw} have complicated dependencies on multibody correlations between solute atoms, on the geometry of the molecular surface, and on the chemical identities of the atoms.« less

Recombination hot spot in 3.2-kb region of the Charcot-Marie Tooth type 1A repeat sequences: New tools for molecular diagnosis of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies and of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A

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

Lopes, J.; LeGuern, E.; Gouider, R.

1996-06-01

Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) disease and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) are autosomal dominant neuropathies, associated, respectively, with duplications and deletions of the same 1.5-Mb region on 17p11.2-p12. These two rearrangements are the reciprocal products of an unequal meiotic crossover between the two chromosome 17 homologues, caused by the misalignment of the CMT1A repeat sequences (CMT1A-REPs), the homologous sequences flanking the 1.5-Mb CMT1A/HNPP monomer unit. In order to map recombination breakpoints within the CMT1A-REPs, a 12.9-kb restriction map was constructed from cloned EcoRI fragments of the proximal and distal CMT1A-REPs. Only 3 of the 17 tested restrictionmore » sites were present in the proximal CMT1A-REP but absent in the distal CMT1A-REP, indicating a high degree of homology between these sequences. The rearrangements were mapped in four regions of the CMT1A-REPs by analysis of 76 CMT1A index cases and 38 HNPP patients, who were unrelated. A hot spot of crossover breakpoints located in a 3.2-kb region accounted for three-quarters of the rearrangements, detected after EcoRI/SacI digestion, by the presence of 3.2-kb and 7.8-kb junction fragments in CMT1A and HNPP patients, respectively. These junction fragments, which can be detected on classical Southern blots, permit molecular diagnosis. Other rearrangements can also be detected by gene dosage on the same Southern blots. 25 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

HD gas purification for polarized HDice targets production at Jefferson Lab

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

Whisnant, Charles; D'Angelo, Annalisa; Colaneri, Luca

2014-06-01

Solid, frozen-spin targets of molecular HD were rst developed for nuclear physics by a collaboration between Syracuse University and Brookhaven National Lab. They have been successfully used in measurements with photon beams, rst at the Laser-Electron-Gamma-Source [1] and most recently at Je erson Lab during the running of the E06-101 (g14) experiment [2]. Preparations are underway to utilize the targets in future electron experiments after the completion of the 12 GeV JLab upgrade [3]. HD is an attractive target since all of the material is polarizable, of low Z, and requires only modest holding elds. At the same time, themore » small contributions from the target cell can be subtracted from direct measurements. Reaching the frozen-spin state with both high polarization and a signi cant spin relaxation time requires careful control of H2 and D2 impurities. Commercially available HD contains 0.5 - 2% concentrations of H2 and D2. Low-temperature distillation is required to reduce these concentrations to the 104 level to enable useful target production. This distillation is done using a column lled with heli-pack C [4] to give good separation e ciency. Approximately 12 moles of commercial HD is condensed into the mechanically refrigerated system at the base temperature of 11K. The system is then isolated and the temperature stabilized at 18K producing liquid HD, which is boiled by a resistive heater. The circulation established by the boil-o condensing throughout the column then ltering back down produces a steady-state isotopic separation permitting the extraction of HD gas with very low H2 and D2 content. A residual gas analyzer initially monitors distillation. Once the H2 concentration falls below its useful operating range, samples are periodically collected for analysis using gas chromatography [5] and Raman scattering. Where the measurement techniques overlap, good agreement is obtained. The operation of the distillery and results of gas analysis will be discussed. References [1] Phy. Rev. Lett. 101 (2009) 172002. [2] www.jlab.org/exp_prog/proposals/06/PR-06-101.pdf [3] www.jlab.org/exp_prog/proposals/12/PR12-12-009.pdf, www.jlab.org/exp_prog/proposals/12/PR12-12-010.pdf, and www.jlab.org/exp_prog/proposals/11/PR12-11-111.pdf [4] Nucl. Inst. Meth. 664 (2012) 347, www.wilmad-labglass.com/Products/LG-6730-104/ [5] Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 024101 (2011).« less

Semi-automatic handling of meteorological ground measurements using WeatherProg: prospects and practical implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langella, Giuliano; Basile, Angelo; Bonfante, Antonello; De Mascellis, Roberto; Manna, Piero; Terribile, Fabio

2016-04-01

WeatherProg is a computer program for the semi-automatic handling of data measured at ground stations within a climatic network. The program performs a set of tasks ranging from gathering raw point-based sensors measurements to the production of digital climatic maps. Originally the program was developed as the baseline asynchronous engine for the weather records management within the SOILCONSWEB Project (LIFE08 ENV/IT/000408), in which daily and hourly data where used to run water balance in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum or pest simulation models. WeatherProg can be configured to automatically perform the following main operations: 1) data retrieval; 2) data decoding and ingestion into a database (e.g. SQL based); 3) data checking to recognize missing and anomalous values (using a set of differently combined checks including logical, climatological, spatial, temporal and persistence checks); 4) infilling of data flagged as missing or anomalous (deterministic or statistical methods); 5) spatial interpolation based on alternative/comparative methods such as inverse distance weighting, iterative regression kriging, and a weighted least squares regression (based on physiography), using an approach similar to PRISM. 6) data ingestion into a geodatabase (e.g. PostgreSQL+PostGIS or rasdaman). There is an increasing demand for digital climatic maps both for research and development (there is a gap between the major of scientific modelling approaches that requires digital climate maps and the gauged measurements) and for practical applications (e.g. the need to improve the management of weather records which in turn raises the support provided to farmers). The demand is particularly burdensome considering the requirement to handle climatic data at the daily (e.g. in the soil hydrological modelling) or even at the hourly time step (e.g. risk modelling in phytopathology). The key advantage of WeatherProg is the ability to perform all the required operations and calculations in an automatic fashion, except the need of a human interaction upon specific issues (such as the decision whether a measurement is an anomaly or not according to the detected temporal and spatial variations with contiguous points). The presented computer program runs from command line and shows peculiar characteristics in the cascade modelling within different contexts belonging to agriculture, phytopathology and environment. In particular, it can be a powerful tool to set up cutting-edge regional web services based on weather information. Indeed, it can support territorial agencies in charge of meteorological and phytopathological bulletins.

Treatment of Mature Permanent Teeth with Necrotic Pulps and Apical Periodontitis Using Regenerative Endodontic Procedures: A Case Series.

PubMed

Saoud, Tarek Mohamed; Martin, Gabriela; Chen, Yea-Huey M; Chen, Kuang-Liang; Chen, Chao-An; Songtrakul, Kamolthip; Malek, Matthew; Sigurdsson, Asgeir; Lin, Louis M

2016-01-01

Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) are usually used to treat human immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps and/or apical periodontitis. Successful REPs result in the elimination of clinical signs/symptoms, the resolution of apical periodontitis, and, in some cases, thickening of the canal walls and/or continued root development with or without apical closure. REPs can restore the vitality of tissue in the canals of immature permanent teeth previously destroyed by infection or trauma. Vital tissue is inherited with immune defense mechanisms to protect itself from foreign invaders. Recently, REPs have also been used to successfully treat human mature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis. The purpose of this case series was to present the potential of using REPs for mature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis. This case series consisted of 6 patients, 4 females and 2 males. The patients' ages ranged from 8-21 years old. Seven permanent teeth, 4 anterior and 3 molar teeth, with necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis were treated using REP. Radiographically, the root development of all teeth was almost completed except the apices of 2 molars, which showed slightly open. Complete chemomechanical debridement of the canals of the teeth was performed, and the canals were dressed with Metapaste (Meta Biomed Co, Ltd, Chungbuk, Korea) during treatment visits. Periapical bleeding into the canals was induced at the last treatment visit by placing a hand #20 or #25 K-file with the tip slightly bent through the apical foramina into the periapical tissues. A 3-mm thickness of mineral trioxide aggregate was placed into the coronal canals over semicoagulated blood. The access cavities were restored with either composite resin or amalgam. Follow-ups of the 7 teeth ranged from 8 to 26 months. The periapical lesions of 2 teeth were considered healed, and 5 teeth revealed healing. Clinical signs/symptoms were absent in all teeth at follow-up visits at different time points. None of the treated teeth responded to cold and electric pulp tests. This case series shows the potential of using REPs for mature teeth with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mitochondrial role in ischemia-reperfusion of rat hearts exposed to high-K+ cardioplegia and clonazepam: energetic and contractile consequences.

PubMed

Consolini, A E; Ragone, M I; Conforti, P; Volonté, M G

2007-05-01

The role of the mitochondrial Na/Ca-exchanger (mNCX) in hearts exposed to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and pretreated with cardioplegia (CPG) was studied from a mechano-calorimetric approach. No-flow ischemia (ISCH) and reperfusion (REP) were developed in isolated rat hearts pretreated with 10 micromol/L clonazepam (CLZP), an inhibitor of the mNCX, and (or) a high K+ - low Ca2+ solution (CPG). Left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), pressure development during beats (P), and the steady heat release (Ht) were continuously measured and muscle contents of ATP and PCr were analyzed at the end of REP. During REP, Ht increased more than P, reducing muscle economy (P/Ht) and the ATP content. CPG induced an increase in P recovery during REP (to 90% +/- 10% of preISCH) with respect to nonpretreated hearts (control, C, to 64% +/- 10%, p < 0.05). In contrast, CLZP reduced P recovery of CPG-hearts (50% +/- 6.4%, p < 0.05) and increased LVEDP in C hearts. To evaluate effects on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function, ischemic hearts were reperfused with 10 mmol/L caffeine -36 mmol/L Na (C - caff - low Na). It increased LVEDP, which afterwards slowly relaxed, whereas Ht increased (by about 6.5 mW/g). CLZP sped up the relaxation with higher DeltaHt, C - caff - low Na produced higher contracture and lower Ht in perfused than in ischemic hearts. Values of DeltaHt were compared with reported fluxes of Ca2+-transporters, suggesting that mitochondria may be in part responsible for the DeltaHt during C - caff - low Na REP. Results suggest that ISCH-REP reduced the SR store for the recovery of contractility, but induced Ca2+ movement from the mitochondria to the SR stores. Also, mitochondria and SR are able to remove cytosolic Ca2+ during overloads (as under caffeine), through the mNCX and the uniporter. CPG increases Ca2+ cycling from mitochondria to the SR, which contributes to the higher recovery of P. In contrast, CLZP produces a deleterious effect on ISCH-REP associated with higher heat release and reduced resynthesis of high energy phosphates, which suggests the induction of mitochondrial Ca cycling and uncoupling.

CLUTO - A Clustering Toolkit

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-23

poach m ine disast ti earthquak alum...center energi batteri qtag frnew lin am end pjg volcano itag x insur loss ban cn tp eleph satellit electr m ount gentlem an leo rep ash m ine disast ti...relief speaker pre center energi batteri qtag frnewlin amend pjg volcano itag x insur loss ban cn tp eleph satellit electr mount gentleman leo rep

Improvement of the Cramer classification for oral exposure using the database TTC RepDose - A strategy description

EPA Science Inventory

The present report describes a strategy to refine the current Cramer classification of the TTC concept using a broad database (DB) termed TTC RepDose. Cramer classes 1-3 overlap to some extent, indicating a need for a better separation of structural classes likely to be toxic, mo...

Joint Interagency Coordination Group - Cyber: Empowering the Combatant Commanders against the no-borders threat

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-04

inconvenience and denial of Internet service, CNAs pose a threat to national security, if the right computer is hacked , to every day operations, if baking...expert J3: Current Operations Rep Private Sector/Civilian: cyber/CNA SME J5 Future Operations Rep Private Sector/Civilian: cyber/CND SME Table 2

Project Work Assignment | Sustainable Stormwater Funding Project

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2010-11-30

... J'l.wroprl 8OOljJf!'l fOI 8..... n """ Nwo I.1n DCN N. e_ e_ prog~;"':x~~ment ObI~~Cl~·· unt I ICents) SI:~~~O:t COSI~~od. Max6 Mo•• Ma:t6 ,,",7 1 ...

CARRY-OVER EFFECTS OF OZONE ON ROOT GROWTH AND CARBOHYDRATE CONCENTRATIONS OF PONDEROSA PINE SEEDLINGS

EPA Science Inventory

Ozone exposure decreases belowground carbon allocation and root growth of plants;however,the extent to which these effects persist and the cumulative impact of ozone stress on plant growth are poorly understood.To evaluate the potential for plant compensation,we followed the prog...

The Physiology of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) in Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-06-01

production of growth hormone-releasing factor by carcinoid and pancreatic islet tumors associated with acromegaly . Prog Clin Biol Res 1981; 74:259-271. (16...promotion of apop- cause of acromegaly . More recently, expression has been tosis. These results indicate that disruption of enaog- demonstrated in tumors

Highway concrete pavement technology development and testing : volume III, field evaluation of Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) C-205 test sites (high-performance concrete).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-05-01

This research study, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, summarizes the field performance of eight high-early-strength (HES) : concrete patches between 1994 and 1998. The patches were constructed under the Strategic Highway Research Prog...

THE WORKSHOP ON THE SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF PM HEALTH EFFECTS: INTER-COMPARISON OF RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

While the association between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter mass (PM2.5) and human mortality is well established, the most responsible particle types/sources are not yet certain. In May 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Particulate Matter Centers Prog...

Performance Characteristics of Automotive Engines in the United States : Third Series - Report No. 14 - 1978 Buick 196 CID (3.2L)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-02-01

Experimental data were obtained in dynamometer tests of a 1978 Buick 231 CID turbocharged to determine fuel consumption and emissions (hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen) at steady-state engine operating modes. The objective of the prog...

Determination of 2p Excitation Transfer Rate Coefficient in Neon Gas Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, D. J.; Stewart, R. S.

2001-10-01

We will discuss our theoretical modelling and application of an array of four complementary optical diagnostic techniques for low-temperature plasmas. These are cw laser collisionally-induced fluorescence (LCIF), cw optogalvanic effect (OGE), optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS). We will briefly present an overview of our investigation of neon positive column plasmas for reduced axial electric fields ranging from 3x10-17 Vcm2 to 2x10-16 Vcm2 (3-20 Td), detailing our determination of five sets of important collisional rate coefficients involving the fifteen lowest levels, the 1S0 ground state and the 1s and 2p excited states (in Paschen notation), hence information on several energy regions of the electron distribution function (EDF). The discussion will be extended to show the new results obtained from analysis of the argon positive column over similar reduced fields. Future work includes application of our multi-diagnostic technique to more complex systems, including the addition of molecules for EDF determination. array of four complementary optical diagnostic techniques OGE LCIF determination of five sets of important collisional rate coefficients

repDNA: a Python package to generate various modes of feature vectors for DNA sequences by incorporating user-defined physicochemical properties and sequence-order effects.

PubMed

Liu, Bin; Liu, Fule; Fang, Longyun; Wang, Xiaolong; Chou, Kuo-Chen

2015-04-15

In order to develop powerful computational predictors for identifying the biological features or attributes of DNAs, one of the most challenging problems is to find a suitable approach to effectively represent the DNA sequences. To facilitate the studies of DNAs and nucleotides, we developed a Python package called representations of DNAs (repDNA) for generating the widely used features reflecting the physicochemical properties and sequence-order effects of DNAs and nucleotides. There are three feature groups composed of 15 features. The first group calculates three nucleic acid composition features describing the local sequence information by means of kmers; the second group calculates six autocorrelation features describing the level of correlation between two oligonucleotides along a DNA sequence in terms of their specific physicochemical properties; the third group calculates six pseudo nucleotide composition features, which can be used to represent a DNA sequence with a discrete model or vector yet still keep considerable sequence-order information via the physicochemical properties of its constituent oligonucleotides. In addition, these features can be easily calculated based on both the built-in and user-defined properties via using repDNA. The repDNA Python package is freely accessible to the public at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/repDNA/. bliu@insun.hit.edu.cn or kcchou@gordonlifescience.org Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A comparison of two waterfowl brood survey techniques

Treesearch

Mark A. Rumble; Lester D. Flake

1982-01-01

Aerial surveys, brood beat outs, road surveys, and brood observations have been used to estimate numbers of waterfowl broods (M. E. Anderson, unpubl. reps., South Dakota Dep. Game, Fish, and Parks Fed. Aid Proj. W-17-R-7 and 8,1953, 1955; Bennett 1967). M. C. Hammond (unpubl. rep., U.S. Bur. Sport Fish and Wildl., 1970) summarized several brood survey techniques and...

KSC-04PD-0038

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Mike Rein (at left), division chief of KSC External Affairs, moderates the press conference featuring (second from left to right) U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, Center Director Jim Kennedy and U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon. The media were interested in hearing Kennedys and the congressmens reactions to the new mission for NASA outlined by President George W. Bush Jan. 14.

Softening the Blow: Toward a Fairer Allocation of Title I Funds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Raegen

2011-01-01

The All Children Are Equal Act introduced by Rep. Glenn Thomson (R-PA) in the House of Representatives last week tackles a flaw in the way Title I, the largest program authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA, allocates funds to school districts. The bill, which enjoys bipartisan sponsorship of Rep. G.K. Butterfield…

Interactive X-ray and proton therapy training and simulation.

PubMed

Hamza-Lup, Felix G; Farrar, Shane; Leon, Erik

2015-10-01

External beam X-ray therapy (XRT) and proton therapy (PT) are effective and widely accepted forms of treatment for many types of cancer. However, the procedures require extensive computerized planning. Current planning systems for both XRT and PT have insufficient visual aid to combine real patient data with the treatment device geometry to account for unforeseen collisions among system components and the patient. The 3D surface representation (S-rep) is a widely used scheme to create 3D models of physical objects. 3D S-reps have been successfully used in CAD/CAM and, in conjunction with texture mapping, in the modern gaming industry to customize avatars and improve the gaming realism and sense of presence. We are proposing a cost-effective method to extract patient-specific S-reps in real time and combine them with the treatment system geometry to provide a comprehensive simulation of the XRT/PT treatment room. The X3D standard is used to implement and deploy the simulator on the web, enabling its use not only for remote specialists' collaboration, simulation, and training, but also for patient education. An objective assessment of the accuracy of the S-reps obtained proves the potential of the simulator for clinical use.

Plasmid replication initiator RepB forms a hexamer reminiscent of ring helicases and has mobile nuclease domains

PubMed Central

Boer, D Roeland; Ruíz-Masó, José A; López-Blanco, José R; Blanco, Alexander G; Vives-Llàcer, Mireia; Chacón, Pablo; Usón, Isabel; Gomis-Rüth, F Xavier; Espinosa, Manuel; Llorca, Oscar; del Solar, Gloria; Coll, Miquel

2009-01-01

RepB initiates plasmid rolling-circle replication by binding to a triple 11-bp direct repeat (bind locus) and cleaving the DNA at a specific distant site located in a hairpin loop within the nic locus of the origin. The structure of native full-length RepB reveals a hexameric ring molecule, where each protomer has two domains. The origin-binding and catalytic domains show a three-layer α–β–α sandwich fold. The active site is positioned at one of the faces of the β-sheet and coordinates a Mn2+ ion at short distance from the essential nucleophilic Y99. The oligomerization domains (ODs), each consisting of four α-helices, together define a compact ring with a central channel, a feature found in ring helicases. The toroidal arrangement of RepB suggests that, similar to ring helicases, it encircles one of the DNA strands during replication to confer processivity to the replisome complex. The catalytic domains appear to be highly mobile with respect to ODs. This mobility may account for the adaptation of the protein to two distinct DNA recognition sites. PMID:19440202

Effectiveness of Nateglinide on In Vitro Insulin Secretion from Rat Pancreatic Islets Desensitized to Sulfonylureas

PubMed Central

Wang, Shuya; Dunning, Beth E.

2001-01-01

Chronic exposure of pancreatic islets to sulfonylureas (SUs) is known to impair the ability of islets to respond to subsequent acute stimulation by SUs or glucose. Nateglinide (NAT) is a novel insulinotropic agent with a primarily site of action at β-cell KATP channels, which is common to the structurally diverse drugs like repaglinide (REP) and the SUs. Earlier studies on the kinetics, glucosedependence and sensitivity to metabolic inhibitors of the interaction between NAT and KATP channels suggested a distinct signaling pathways with NAT compared to REP, glyburide (GLY) or glimepiride (GLI). To obtain further evidence for this concept, the present study compared the insulin secretion in vitro from rat islets stimulated acutely by NAT, GLY, GLI or REP at equipotent concentrations during 1-hr static incubation following overnight treatment with GLY or tolbutamide (TOL). The islets fully retained the responsiveness to NAT stimulation after prolonged pretreatment with both SUs, while their acute response to REP, GLY, and GLI was markedly attenuated, confirming the desensitization of islets. The insulinotropic efficacy of NAT in islets desensitized to SUs may result from a distinct receptor/effector mechanism, which contributes to the unique pharmacological profile of NAT. PMID:12369729

Physics in one dimension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Houselt, A.; Schäfer, J.; Zandvliet, H. J. W.; Claessen, R.

2013-01-01

With modern microelectronics moving towards smaller and smaller length scales on the (sub-) nm scale, quantum effects (apart from band structure and band gaps) have begun to play an increasingly important role. This especially concerns dimensional confinement to 2D (high electron mobility transistors and integer/fractional quantum Hall effect physics, graphene and topological insulators) and 1D (with electrical connections eventually reaching the quantum limit). Recent developments in the above-mentioned areas have revealed that the properties of electron systems become increasingly exotic as one progresses from the 3D case into lower dimensions. As compared to 2D electron systems, much less experimental progress has been achieved in the field of 1D electron systems. The main reason for the lack of experimental results in this field is related to the difficulty of realizing 1D electron systems. Atom chains created in quantum mechanical break junction set-ups are too short to exhibit the typically 1D signatures. As an alternative, atomic chains can be produced on crystal surfaces, either via assembling them one-by-one using a scanning tunnelling microscope or via self-assembly. The drawback of the latter systems is that the atomic chains are not truly 1D since they are coupled to the underlying crystal and sometimes even to the neighbouring chains. In retrospect, this coupling turns out to be an absolute necessity in the experiment since true 1D systems are disordered at any non-zero temperature [1]. The coupling to the crystal and/or neighbouring chains shifts the phase transition, for example, a Peierls instability, to a non-zero temperature and thus allows experiments to be performed in the ordered state. Here, we want to emphasize that the electronic properties of the 1D electron system are fundamentally different from its 2D and 3D counterparts. The Fermi liquid theory, which is applicable to 2D and 3D electron systems, breaks down spectacularly in the 1D case and should be replaced by the Luttinger liquid theory [2, 3]. In 1D electron systems electron-electron interactions play a very prominent role, and one of the most exciting predictions is that the electron loses its identity and separates into two collective excitations of the quantum mechanical many body system: a spinon that carries spin without charge, and a holon that carries the positive charge of a hole without its spin. In this special section, we have attempted to collect a series of papers that gives an impression of the current status of this rapidly evolving field. The first article is a comprehensive review by Kurt Schönhammer that provides the reader with an introduction into the exciting theory of the 1D electron system as well as its mathematical formalism. Acknowledgments We would like to thank the editorial staff of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter for their help in producing this special section. We hope that it conveys some of the excitement and significance of this rapidly emerging field. References [1]Mermin N D and Wagner H 1966 Phys. Rev. Lett. 17 1133 [2]Haldane F D M 1981 J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 14 2585 [3]Voit J 1995 Rep. Prog. Phys. 58 977 Physics in one dimension contents Physics in one dimensionA van Houselt, J Schäfer, H J W Zandvliet and R Claessen Physics in one dimension: theoretical concepts for quantum many-body systemsK Schönhammer Local density of states of the one-dimensional spinless fermion modelE Jeckelmann Local spectral properties of Luttinger liquids: scaling versus nonuniversal energy scalesD Schuricht, S Andergassen and V Meden Spin ladders and quantum simulators for Tomonaga-Luttinger liquidsS Ward, P Bouillot, H Ryll, K Kiefer, K W Krämer, Ch Rüegg, C Kollath and T Giamarchi Peierls to superfluid crossover in the one-dimensional, quarter-filled Holstein modelM Hohenadler and F F Assaad Pressure-dependent structural and electronic properties of quasi-one-dimensional (TMTTF)2PF6E Rose, C Loose, J Kortus, A Pashkin, C A Kuntscher, S G Ebbinghaus, M Hanfland, F Lissner, Th Schleid and M Dressel Photoemission spectroscopy and the unusually robust one-dimensional physics of lithium purple bronzeL Dudy, J D Denlinger, J W Allen, F Wang, J He, D Hitchcock, A Sekiyama and S Suga Luttinger liquid behaviour of Li0.9Mo6O17 studied by scanning tunnelling microscopyT Podlich, M Klinke, B Nansseu, M Waelsch, R Bienert, J He, R Jin, D Mandrus and R Matzdorf Mn-silicide nanostructures aligned on massively parallel silicon nano-ribbonsPaola De Padova, Carlo Ottaviani, Fabio Ronci, Stefano Colonna, Bruno Olivieri, Claudio Quaresima, Antonio Cricenti, Maria E Dávila, Franz Hennies, Annette Pietzsch, Nina Shariati and Guy Le Lay Iridium silicide nanowires on Si(001) surfacesNuri Oncel and Dylan Nicholls Structure and growth of quasi-one-dimensional YSi2 nanophases on Si(100)V Iancu, P R C Kent, S Hus, H Hu, C G Zeng and H H Weitering Metallic rare-earth silicide nanowires on silicon surfacesMario Dähne and Martina Wanke One-dimensional collective excitations in Ag atomic wires grown on Si(557)U Krieg, C Brand, C Tegenkamp and H Pfnür Interfering Bloch waves in a 1D electron systemR Heimbuch, A van Houselt, M Farmanbar, G Brocks and H J W Zandvliet Au-induced quantum chains on Ge(001)—symmetries, long-range order and the conduction pathC Blumenstein, S Meyer, S Mietke, J Schäfer, A Bostwick, E Rotenberg, R Matzdorf and R Claessen

Liberation of a pinned spiral wave by a rotating electric pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jiang-Xing; Peng, Liang; Ma, Jun; Ying, He-Ping

2014-08-01

Spiral waves may be pinned to anatomical heterogeneities in the cardiac tissue, which leads to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. Wave emission from heterogeneities (WEH) induced by electric pulses in one direction (EP) is a promising method for liberating such waves by using heterogeneities as internal virtual pacing sites. Here, based on the WEH effect, a new mechanism of liberation by means of a rotating electric pulse (REP) is proposed in a generic model of excitable media. Compared with the EP, the REP has the advantage of opening wider time window to liberate pinned spiral. The influences of rotating direction and frequency of the REP, and the radius of the obstacles on this new mechanism are studied. We believe this strategy may improve manipulations with pinned spiral waves in heart experiments.

Importance of eccentric actions in performance adaptations to resistance training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dudley, Gary A.; Miller, Bruce J.; Buchanan, Paul; Tesch, Per A.

1991-01-01

The importance of eccentric (ecc) muscle actions in resistance training for the maintenance of muscle strength and mass in hypogravity was investigated in experiments in which human subjects, divided into three groups, were asked to perform four-five sets of 6 to 12 repetitions (rep) per set of three leg press and leg extension exercises, 2 days each weeks for 19 weeks. One group, labeled 'con', performed each rep with only concentric (con) actions, while group con/ecc with performed each rep with only ecc actions; the third group, con/con, performed twice as many sets with only con actions. Control subjects did not train. It was found that resistance training wih both con and ecc actions induced greater increases in muscle strength than did training with only con actions.

First and Second Order Stokes Generation by SRS in Methane: Influence of Rep-Rate, Beam Quality and Astigmatism (Opwekking van Eerste en Tweede Orde Stokes d.m.v. SRS in Methaan: Invloed van de Pulsfrequentie, de Bundelkwaliteit en Astigmatisme)

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-09-01

omzettings rendementen van circa 75% gehaad bij een ingangs- energie van 280 mJ. De mogelijkheden tot bet halen van een hoger rendement lijken...of rep-rate, beam quality and astigmatism DImi-Thu-B~mO ITA1EiM-tT-h lF I~~ ~~’ IAPR2 8 1993~ I ~Xtbai Uiitdw FJ.M. van Putten J.C. van den Heuvel RJ.L...Influence of rep-rate. beam quality and astigmatism author(s) : F.J.M. van Putten, I.C. van den Heuvel, R.J.L. Lerou institute : TNO Physics and

Patterns of Genetic Variation among Populations of the Asian Longhorned Beetle in China and Korea

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Central to the study of invasive species is identifying source populations in their native ranges. Source populations of invasive species can provide important information about species life cycles, host use and species-specific predators and parasites which could be deployed in a pest control prog...

Dirk Jordan | NREL

Science.gov Websites

quantify module degradation rates. Statistical analysis of reported degradation rates of PV modules degradation rates," Prog. in PV 24(7), 2016, DOI: 10.1002/pip.2744 Jordan D.C., Silverman T.J PV, 2017, DOI: 10.1002/pip.2866 Jordan D.C., Silverman T.J., Sekulic B., Kurtz S.R., "PV

hawaii_9805_latilt

Science.gov Websites

;meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in

An Assessment of Decision-Making Processes: Evaluation of Where Land Protection Planning Can Incorporate Climate Change Information (Final Report)

EPA Science Inventory

EPA announced the availability of the final report, An Assessment of Decision-Making Processes: Evaluation of Where Land Protection Planning Can Incorporate Climate Change Information. This report is a review of decision-making processes of selected land protection prog...

Statistical basis and outputs of stable isotope mixing models: Comment on Fry (2013)

EPA Science Inventory

A recent article by Fry (2013; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 472:1−13) reviewed approaches to solving underdetermined stable isotope mixing systems, and presented a new graphical approach and set of summary statistics for the analysis of such systems. In his review, Fry (2013) mis-characteri...

Juvenile Survival in Common Loons Gavia Immer: Effects of Natal Lake Size and pH

EPA Science Inventory

Survival is a vexing parameter to measure in many young birds because of dispersal and delayed impacts of natal rearing conditions on fitness. Drawing upon marking and resighting records from an 18-year study of territorial behavior, we used Cormack-Jolly-Seber analysis with Prog...

Risk of Pore Water Hydrogen Sulfide Toxicity in Dredged Material Bioassays

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-11-01

Prog. Ser. 101, 147-155. Moore, D. W., and Dillon, T. M. (1993). “Chronic sublethal effects of San Francisco Bay sediments on Neris (Neanthes...metabolism of Arctica isfandica L. (Bivalvia),” J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 170, 213-226. Oritz, J. A., Rueda, A., Carbonell, G., Camargo , J. A., Nieto, F

Performance Characteristics of Automotive Engines in the United States, Third Series, Report No. 8, 1978 Buick, 231 CID (3.8 Liters), 4V, Turbocharge

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-02-01

Experimental data were obtained in dynamometer tests of a 1978 Buick 231 CID turbocharged to determine fuel consumption and emissions (hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen) at steady-state engine operating modes. The objective of the prog...

Hampton Roads, Virginia eight-hour ozone maintenance area transportation conformity analysis : 2030 long range transportation plan and FY 09-12 transportation improvement program, draft executive summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-05-01

This report presents the regional conformity analysis and recommendation for a finding of conformity for the Hampton Roads 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP, or "Plan") and associated Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-2012 Transportation Improvement Prog...

My life in the watershed: then, now, and beyond

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

"My Life in the Watershed" tells the first-hand account of a young girl growing up in southwestern Oklahoma, the impact growing up in a watershed had on her life, and the vision she sees for her children and her children's children, so they will continue to benefit from the USDA Small Watershed Prog...

A Review of Water Mist Technology for Fire Suppression

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-30

Smith, D.P., and Ball, D.N. (1993), "New Applications of Aqueous Agents for Fire Suppression," Halen Alternatives Technical Working Conference...Flows," Prog. Energy, Combust. ScL, 14, 1988, pp. 171-194. Dabros, T., and Van de Ven, T.G.M. (1992), "Hydrodynamic Interactions between Two Spheres Near

Quantifying long-term risks to sea otters from the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill: reply to Harwell & Gentile (2013)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ballachey, Brenda E.; Bodkin, James L.; Monson, Daniel H.

2013-01-01

Recovery of sea otter populations in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, has been delayed for more than 2 decades following the 1989 ‘Exxon Valdez’ oil spill. Harwell & Gentile (2013; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 488:291–296) question our conclusions in Bodkin et al. (2012; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 447:273-287) regarding adverse effects that oil lingering in the environment may have on sea otters. They agree that exposure may continue, but disagree that it constitutes a significant risk to sea otters. In Bodkin et al. (2012), we suggested that subtle effects of chronic exposure were the most reasonable explanation for delayed recovery of the sea otter population in areas of western PWS, where shorelines were most heavily oiled. Here, we provide additional information on the ecology of sea otters that clarifies why the toxicological effects of oral ingestion of oil do not reflect all effects of chronic exposure. The full range of energetic, behavioral, and toxicological concerns must be considered to appraise how chronic exposure to residual oil may constrain recovery of sea otter populations.

Antioxidant and ACE-inhibitory activities of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein hydrolysates produced by the proteases AFP, HT, Pro-G, actinidin and zingibain.

PubMed

Teh, Sue-Siang; Bekhit, Alaa El-Din A; Carne, Alan; Birch, John

2016-07-15

Hemp protein isolates (HPIs) were hydrolysed by proteases (AFP, HT, ProG, actinidin and zingibain). The enzymatic hydrolysis of HPIs was evaluated through the degree of hydrolysis and SDS-PAGE profiles. The bioactive properties of the resultant hydrolysates (HPHs) were accessed through ORAC, DPPḢ scavenging and ACE-inhibitory activities. The physical properties of the resultant HPHs were evaluated for their particle sizes, zeta potential and surface hydrophobicity. HT had the highest rate of caseinolytic activity at the lowest concentration (0.1 mg mL(-1)) compared to other proteases that required concentration of 100 mg mL(-1) to achieve their maximum rate of caseinolytic activity. This led to the highest degree of hydrolysis of HPIs by HT in the SDS-PAGE profiles. Among all proteases and substrates, HT resulted in the highest bioactivities (ORAC, DPPḢ scavenging and ACE-inhibitory activities) generated from alkali extracted HPI in the shortest time (2 h) compared to the other protease preparations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Material Modeling for Terminal Ballistic Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-09-01

DYNA-3D-a nonlinear, explicit, three-dimensional finite element code for solid and structural mechanics- user manual. Technical Report UCRL -MA...Rep. UCRL -50108, Rev. 1, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, 1977. [34] S. P. Marsh. LASL Shock Hugoniot Data. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA...Steinberg. Equation of state and strength properties of selected ma- teriaJs. Tech. Rep. UCRL -MA-106439, Lawrence Livermore National Labo- ratory, 1991. [371

The Shock and Vibration Digest, Volume 17, Number 9

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

Hannover, Fed. Rep. Germany , pendent vehicle- bridge interaction forces Vol. II, pp 379-398, 6 figs, 17 refs (In has been developed in the present The...79 STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS............. 44 Ducts......................... 80 Bridges ........................ 44 Building Components........... 81...Werkzeugmaschinen, Stuttgart T. Shimura, K. Kamijo Univ., Fed. Rep. Germany National Aerospace Lab., Tokyo, Japan Rept. No. BMFT-FB-HA-183-21, 100 pp Rept. No

The new science of sales force productivity.

PubMed

Ledingham, Dianne; Kovac, Mark; Simon, Heidi Locke

2006-09-01

For years, sales managers at many companies have relied on top performers and sheer numbers of sales reps to stay competitive. But while they may have squeaked by on this wing-and-a-prayer technique, their sales teams haven't thrived the way they once did. Today's most successful sales leaders are taking a more scientific approach. Savvy managers are reshaping their tactics in response to changing markets. They are reaching out to new customers in innovative ways. And they are increasing productivity by helping the reps they already have make the most of their skills and resources. Leaders who take a scientific approach to sales force effectiveness have learned to use four levers to boost their reps' productivity in a predictable and manageable way. First, they systematically target their firms' offerings, matching the right products with the right customers. Second, they optimize the automation, tools, and procedures at their disposal, providing reps with the support they need to boost sales.Third, they analyze and manage their reps' performance, measuring both internal processes and results to determine where their teams' strengths and weaknesses are. Fourth, they pay close attention to sales force deployment--how well sales, support, marketing, and delivery resources are matched to customers. These four levers can help sales leaders increase productivity across the board, the authors say, though they have the greatest impact on lower-ranked performers. The overall effect of increasing the average sales per employee can be exponential; it means a company won't have to rely on just a few talented individuals to stay competitive. This is especially important because finding and keeping star salespeople is more difficult than ever. What's more, managers who optimize the sales forces they already have can see returns they never thought possible.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Impact of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii Complex in a Belgian Burn Wound Center

PubMed Central

Bilocq, Florence; Jennes, Serge; Verbeken, Gilbert; Rose, Thomas; Keersebilck, Elkana; Bosmans, Petra; Pieters, Thierry; Hing, Mony; Heuninckx, Walter; De Pauw, Frank; Soentjens, Patrick; Merabishvili, Maia; Deschaght, Pieter; Vaneechoutte, Mario; Bogaerts, Pierre; Glupczynski, Youri; Pot, Bruno; van der Reijden, Tanny J.; Dijkshoorn, Lenie

2016-01-01

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and its closely related species A. pittii and A. nosocomialis, all members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (Acb) complex, are a major cause of hospital acquired infection. In the burn wound center of the Queen Astrid military hospital in Brussels, 48 patients were colonized or infected with Acb complex over a 52-month period. We report the molecular epidemiology of these organisms, their clinical impact and infection control measures taken. A representative set of 157 Acb complex isolates was analyzed using repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) (DiversiLab) and a multiplex PCR targeting OXA-51-like and OXA-23-like genes. We identified 31 rep-PCR genotypes (strains). Representatives of each rep-type were identified to species by rpoB sequence analysis: 13 types to A. baumannii, 10 to A. pittii, and 3 to A. nosocomialis. It was assumed that isolates that belonged to the same rep-type also belonged to the same species. Thus, 83.4% of all isolates were identified to A. baumannii, 9.6% to A. pittii and 4.5% to A. nosocomialis. We observed 12 extensively drug resistant Acb strains (10 A. baumannii and 2 A. nosocomialis), all carbapenem-non-susceptible/colistin-susceptible and imported into the burn wound center through patients injured in North Africa. The two most prevalent rep-types 12 and 13 harbored an OXA-23-like gene. Multilocus sequence typing allocated them to clonal complex 1 corresponding to EU (international) clone I. Both strains caused consecutive outbreaks, interspersed with periods of apparent eradication. Patients infected with carbapenem resistant A. baumannii were successfully treated with colistin/rifampicin. Extensive infection control measures were required to eradicate the organisms. Acinetobacter infection and colonization was not associated with increased attributable mortality. PMID:27223476

Identification of bacteria in pasteurized zucchini purées stored at different temperatures and comparison with those found in other pasteurized vegetable purées.

PubMed

Guinebretiere, M H; Berge, O; Normand, P; Morris, C; Carlin, F; Nguyen-The, C

2001-10-01

One hundred nineteen isolates from a commercial zucchini purée stored at 4, 10, and 20 to 25 degrees C were fingerprinted using repetitive sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) and classified into 35 REP types. One representative isolate of each REP type was subsequently identified by API50CHB/20E profile and partial rrs gene sequence analysis. Nine REP types were misidentified by the API system. Strains were misidentified as being in the Bacillus circulans (group 2) API taxon or in taxa with a low number of positive API characters such as Brevibacillus brevis. A phylogenetic analysis pointed to one new species of Bacillus and three new species of Paenibacillus among the misidentified REP types. Bacterial components in zucchini purée were compared phenotypically with those obtained in previous work on broccoli, carrot, leek, potato, and split pea purées, based on simple matching coefficient and unweighted pair group method with averages cluster analysis. Out of 254 strains, 69 strains previously identified as B. circulans (group 2) or B. circulans/B. macerans/B. polymyxa were assigned to a new Paenibacillus taxon phylogenetically related to P. azotofixans. Storage conditions at 4 degrees C favored the development of "B. macroides/B. maroccanus" and Paenibacillus spp. in zucchini purées and Paenibacillus spp. in other purées. Storage conditions at 20 to 25 degrees C favored the development of B. subtilis group (B. licheniformis and B. subtilis) and B. cereus group strains. At 10 degrees C, Paenibacillus spp. were always present at high frequencies, whereas the occurrence of B. macroides/B. maroccanus (in zucchini purées), B. cereus, and B. pumilus varied with the experiment.

Identification of Bacteria in Pasteurized Zucchini Purées Stored at Different Temperatures and Comparison with Those Found in Other Pasteurized Vegetable Purées

PubMed Central

Guinebretiere, Marie-Hélène; Berge, Odile; Normand, Philippe; Morris, Cindy; Carlin, Frédéric; Nguyen-The, Christophe

2001-01-01

One hundred nineteen isolates from a commercial zucchini purée stored at 4, 10, and 20 to 25°C were fingerprinted using repetitive sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) and classified into 35 REP types. One representative isolate of each REP type was subsequently identified by API50CHB/20E profile and partial rrs gene sequence analysis. Nine REP types were misidentified by the API system. Strains were misidentified as being in the Bacillus circulans (group 2) API taxon or in taxa with a low number of positive API characters such as Brevibacillus brevis. A phylogenetic analysis pointed to one new species of Bacillus and three new species of Paenibacillus among the misidentified REP types. Bacterial components in zucchini purée were compared phenotypically with those obtained in previous work on broccoli, carrot, leek, potato, and split pea purées, based on simple matching coefficient and unweighted pair group method with averages cluster analysis. Out of 254 strains, 69 strains previously identified as B. circulans (group 2) or B. circulans/B. macerans/B. polymyxa were assigned to a new Paenibacillus taxon phylogenetically related to P. azotofixans. Storage conditions at 4°C favored the development of “B. macroides/B. maroccanus” and Paenibacillus spp. in zucchini purées and Paenibacillus spp. in other purées. Storage conditions at 20 to 25°C favored the development of B. subtilis group (B. licheniformis and B. subtilis) and B. cereus group strains. At 10°C, Paenibacillus spp. were always present at high frequencies, whereas the occurrence of B. macroides/B. maroccanus (in zucchini purées), B. cereus, and B. pumilus varied with the experiment. PMID:11571151

Evolutionary Origin of OwlRep, a Megasatellite DNA Associated with Adaptation of Owl Monkeys to Nocturnal Lifestyle

PubMed Central

Nishihara, Hidenori; Stanyon, Roscoe; Kusumi, Junko; Hirai, Hirohisa

2018-01-01

Abstract Rod cells of many nocturnal mammals have a “non-standard” nuclear architecture, which is called the inverted nuclear architecture. Heterochromatin localizes to the central region of the nucleus. This leads to an efficient light transmission to the outer segments of photoreceptors. Rod cells of diurnal mammals have the conventional nuclear architecture. Owl monkeys (genus Aotus) are the only taxon of simian primates that has a nocturnal or cathemeral lifestyle, and this adaptation is widely thought to be secondary. Their rod cells were shown to exhibit an intermediate chromatin distribution: a spherical heterochromatin block was found in the central region of the nucleus although it was less complete than that of typical nocturnal mammals. We recently demonstrated that the primary DNA component of this heterochromatin block was OwlRep, a megasatellite DNA consisting of 187-bp-long repeat units. However, the origin of OwlRep was not known. Here we show that OwlRep was derived from HSAT6, a simple repeat sequence found in the centromere regions of human chromosomes. HSAT6 occurs widely in primates, suggesting that it was already present in the last common ancestor of extant primates. Notably, Strepsirrhini and Tarsiformes apparently carry a single HSAT6 copy, whereas many species of Simiiformes contain multiple copies. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of these copies revealed the entire process of the OwlRep formation. HSAT6, with or without flanking sequences, was segmentally duplicated in New World monkeys. Then, in the owl monkey linage after its divergence from other New World monkeys, a copy of HSAT6 was tandemly amplified, eventually forming a megasatellite DNA. PMID:29294004

Automated analysis of high-throughput B-cell sequencing data reveals a high frequency of novel immunoglobulin V gene segment alleles.

PubMed

Gadala-Maria, Daniel; Yaari, Gur; Uduman, Mohamed; Kleinstein, Steven H

2015-02-24

Individual variation in germline and expressed B-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoires has been associated with aging, disease susceptibility, and differential response to infection and vaccination. Repertoire properties can now be studied at large-scale through next-generation sequencing of rearranged Ig genes. Accurate analysis of these repertoire-sequencing (Rep-Seq) data requires identifying the germline variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments used by each Ig sequence. Current V(D)J assignment methods work by aligning sequences to a database of known germline V(D)J segment alleles. However, existing databases are likely to be incomplete and novel polymorphisms are hard to differentiate from the frequent occurrence of somatic hypermutations in Ig sequences. Here we develop a Tool for Ig Genotype Elucidation via Rep-Seq (TIgGER). TIgGER analyzes mutation patterns in Rep-Seq data to identify novel V segment alleles, and also constructs a personalized germline database containing the specific set of alleles carried by a subject. This information is then used to improve the initial V segment assignments from existing tools, like IMGT/HighV-QUEST. The application of TIgGER to Rep-Seq data from seven subjects identified 11 novel V segment alleles, including at least one in every subject examined. These novel alleles constituted 13% of the total number of unique alleles in these subjects, and impacted 3% of V(D)J segment assignments. These results reinforce the highly polymorphic nature of human Ig V genes, and suggest that many novel alleles remain to be discovered. The integration of TIgGER into Rep-Seq processing pipelines will increase the accuracy of V segment assignments, thus improving B-cell repertoire analyses.

The repABC plasmids with quorum-regulated transfer systems in members of the Rhizobiales divide into two structurally and separately evolving groups

DOE PAGES

Wetzel, Margaret E.; Olsen, Gary J.; Chakravartty, Vandana; ...

2015-11-19

The large repABC plasmids of the order Rhizobiales with Class I quorum-regulated conjugative transfer systems often define the nature of the bacterium that harbors them. These otherwise diverse plasmids contain a core of highly conserved genes for replication and conjugation raising the question of their evolutionary relationships. In an analysis of 18 such plasmids these elements fall into two organizational classes, Group I and Group II, based on the sites at which cargo DNA is located. Cladograms constructed from proteins of the transfer and quorum-sensing components indicated that those of the Group I plasmids, while coevolving, have diverged from thosemore » coevolving proteins of the Group II plasmids. Moreover, within these groups the phylogenies of the proteins usually occupy similar, if not identical, tree topologies. Remarkably, such relationships were not seen among proteins of the replication system; although RepA and RepB coevolve, RepC does not. Nor do the replication proteins coevolve with the proteins of the transfer and quorum-sensing systems. Functional analysis was mostly consistent with phylogenies. TraR activated promoters from plasmids within its group, but not between groups and dimerized with TraR proteins from within but not between groups. However, oriT sequences, which are highly conserved, were processed by the transfer system of plasmids regardless of group. Here, we conclude that these plasmids diverged into two classes based on the locations at which cargo DNA is inserted, that the quorum-sensing and transfer functions are coevolving within but not between the two groups, and that this divergent evolution extends to function.« less

The Composite 259-kb Plasmid of Martelella mediterranea DSM 17316T–A Natural Replicon with Functional RepABC Modules from Rhodobacteraceae and Rhizobiaceae

PubMed Central

Bartling, Pascal; Brinkmann, Henner; Bunk, Boyke; Overmann, Jörg; Göker, Markus; Petersen, Jörn

2017-01-01

A multipartite genome organization with a chromosome and many extrachromosomal replicons (ECRs) is characteristic for Alphaproteobacteria. The best investigated ECRs of terrestrial rhizobia are the symbiotic plasmids for legume root nodulation and the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. RepABC plasmids represent the most abundant alphaproteobacterial replicon type. The currently known homologous replication modules of rhizobia and Rhodobacteraceae are phylogenetically distinct. In this study, we surveyed type-strain genomes from the One Thousand Microbial Genomes (KMG-I) project and identified a roseobacter-specific RepABC-type operon in the draft genome of the marine rhizobium Martelella mediterranea DSM 17316T. PacBio genome sequencing demonstrated the presence of three circular ECRs with sizes of 593, 259, and 170-kb. The rhodobacteral RepABC module is located together with a rhizobial equivalent on the intermediate sized plasmid pMM259, which likely originated in the fusion of a pre-existing rhizobial ECR with a conjugated roseobacter plasmid. Further evidence for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is given by the presence of a roseobacter-specific type IV secretion system on the 259-kb plasmid and the rhodobacteracean origin of 62% of the genes on this plasmid. Functionality tests documented that the genuine rhizobial RepABC module from the Martelella 259-kb plasmid is only maintained in A. tumefaciens C58 (Rhizobiaceae) but not in Phaeobacter inhibens DSM 17395 (Rhodobacteraceae). Unexpectedly, the roseobacter-like replication system is functional and stably maintained in both host strains, thus providing evidence for a broader host range than previously proposed. In conclusion, pMM259 is the first example of a natural plasmid that likely mediates genetic exchange between roseobacters and rhizobia. PMID:28983283

Bacterial rep- mutations that block development of small DNA bacteriophages late in infection.

PubMed Central

Tessman, E S; Peterson, P K

1976-01-01

Several related mutants of Escherichia coli C have been isolated that block the growth of the small icosahedral DNA phages phiX174 and S13 late in infection. Phage G6 is also blocked, at a stage not yet known. Growth of the filamentous phage M13, though not blocked, is affected in these strains. These host mutations co-transduce with ilv at high frequency, as do rep- mutations. However, the new mutants, designated groL-, differ from previously studied rep- mutants in that they permit synthesis of progeny replicative-form DNA. The groL- mutants are blocked in synthesis of stable single-stranded DNA of phiX174 and related phages. They are gro+ for P2. Evidence that groL- mutations and rep- mutations are in the same gene is presented. Spontaneous mutants (ogr) of phiX174, S13, and the G phages can grow on groL- strains. The ogr mutations are located in the phage's major capsid gene, F, as determined by complementation tests. There are numerous sites for mutation to ogr. Some mutations in genes A and F interfere with the ogr property when combined with an ogr mutation on the same genome. The ogr mutations are cis acting in a groL- cell; i.e., an ogr mutant gives very poor rescue of a non-ogr mutant. The wild-type form of each G phage appears to be naturally in the ogr mutant state for one or more groL- strains. It is suggested that a complex between F and rep proteins is involved in phage maturation. The A protein appears to interact with this complex. PMID:789914

Simplified Method of the Growth of Human Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) in Gas-Permeable Flasks to Numbers Needed for Patient Treatment

PubMed Central

Jin, Jianjian; Sabatino, Marianna; Somerville, Robert; Wilson, John R.; Dudley, Mark E.; Stroncek, David F.; Rosenberg, Steven A.

2012-01-01

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) of metastatic melanoma with autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is clinically effective, but TIL production can be challenging. Here we describe a simplified method for initial TIL culture and rapid expansion in gas-permeable flasks. TIL were initially cultured from tumor digests and fragments in 40 mL capacity flasks with a 10 cm2 gas-permeable silicone bottom, G-Rex10. A TIL rapid expansion protocol (REP) was developed using 500 mL capacity flasks with a 100 cm2 gas-permeable silicone bottom, G-Rex100. TIL growth was successfully initiated in G-Rex10 flasks from tumor digests from 13 of 14 patients and from tumor fragments in all 11 tumor samples tested. TIL could then be expanded to 8–10×109 cells in a two-step REP which began by seeding 5 × 106 TIL into a G-Rex100 flask, followed by expansion at day 7 into 3 G-Rex100 flasks. To obtain the 30 to 60 × 109 cells used for patient treatment we seeded 6 G-Rex100 flasks with 5×106 cells and expanded into 18 G-Rex100 flasks. Large scale TIL REP in gas-permeable flasks requires approximately 9 to 10 liters of media, about 3 to 4 times less than other methods. In conclusion, TIL initiation and REP in gas-permeable G-Rex flasks require fewer total vessels, less media, less incubator space and less labor than initiation and REP in 24-well plates, tissue culture flasks and bags. TIL culture in G-Rex flasks will facilitate the production of TIL at the numbers required for patient treatment at most cell processing laboratories. PMID:22421946

The use of the replication region of plasmid pRS7 from Oenococcus oeni as a putative tool to generate cloning vectors for lactic acid bacteria.

PubMed

Rodríguez, M Carmen; Alegre, M Teresa; Martín, M Cruz; Mesas, Juan M

2015-01-01

A chimeric plasmid, pRS7Rep (6.1 kb), was constructed using the replication region of pRS7, a large plasmid from Oenococcus oeni, and pEM64, a plasmid derived from pIJ2925 and containing a gene for resistance to chloramphenicol. pRS7Rep is a shuttle vector that replicates in Escherichia coli using its pIJ2925 component and in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) using the replication region of pRS7. High levels of transformants per µg of DNA were obtained by electroporation of pRS7Rep into Pediococcus acidilactici (1.5 × 10(7)), Lactobacillus plantarum (5.7 × 10(5)), Lactobacillus casei (2.3 × 10(5)), Leuconostoc citreum (2.7 × 10(5)), and Enterococcus faecalis (2.4 × 10(5)). A preliminary optimisation of the technical conditions of electrotransformation showed that P. acidilactici and L. plantarum are better transformed at a later exponential phase of growth, whereas L. casei requires the early exponential phase for better electrotransformation efficiency. pRS7Rep contains single restriction sites useful for cloning purposes, BamHI, XbaI, SalI, HincII, SphI and PstI, and was maintained at an acceptable rate (>50%) over 100 generations without selective pressure in L. plantarum, but was less stable in L. casei and P. acidilactici. The ability of pRS7Rep to accept and express other genes was assessed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the replication region of a plasmid from O. oeni has been used to generate a cloning vector. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Identification of rep-associated factors in herpes simplex virus type 1-induced adeno-associated virus type 2 replication compartments.

PubMed

Nicolas, Armel; Alazard-Dany, Nathalie; Biollay, Coline; Arata, Loredana; Jolinon, Nelly; Kuhn, Lauriane; Ferro, Myriam; Weller, Sandra K; Epstein, Alberto L; Salvetti, Anna; Greco, Anna

2010-09-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a human parvovirus that replicates only in cells coinfected with a helper virus, such as adenovirus or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We previously showed that nine HSV-1 factors are able to support AAV rep gene expression and genome replication. To elucidate the strategy of AAV replication in the presence of HSV-1, we undertook a proteomic analysis of cellular and HSV-1 factors associated with Rep proteins and thus potentially recruited within AAV replication compartments (AAV RCs). This study resulted in the identification of approximately 60 cellular proteins, among which factors involved in DNA and RNA metabolism represented the largest functional categories. Validation analyses indicated that the cellular DNA replication enzymes RPA, RFC, and PCNA were recruited within HSV-1-induced AAV RCs. Polymerase delta was not identified but subsequently was shown to colocalize with Rep within AAV RCs even in the presence of the HSV-1 polymerase complex. In addition, we found that AAV replication is associated with the recruitment of components of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex, Ku70 and -86, and the mismatch repair proteins MSH2, -3, and -6. Finally, several HSV-1 factors were also found to be associated with Rep, including UL12. We demonstrated for the first time that this protein plays a role during AAV replication by enhancing the resolution of AAV replicative forms and AAV particle production. Altogether, these analyses provide the basis to understand how AAV adapts its replication strategy to the nuclear environment induced by the helper virus.

A test of the transcription model for biased inheritance of yeast mitochondrial DNA.

PubMed

Lorimer, H E; Brewer, B J; Fangman, W L

1995-09-01

Two strand-specific origins of replication appear to be required for mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. Structural equivalents of these origins are found in the rep sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mtDNA. These striking similarities have contributed to a universal model for the initiation of mtDNA replication in which a primer is created by cleavage of an origin region transcript. Consistent with this model are the properties of deletion mutants of yeast mtDNA ([rho-]) with a high density of reps (HS [rho-]). These mutant mtDNAs are preferentially inherited by the progeny resulting from the mating of HS [rho-] cells with cells containing wild-type mtDNA ([rho+]). This bias is presumed to result from a replication advantage conferred on HS [rho-] mtDNA by the high density of rep sequences acting as origins. To test whether transcription is indeed required for the preferential inheritance of HS [rho-] mtDNA, we deleted the nuclear gene (RPO41) for the mitochondrial RNA polymerase, reducing transcripts by at least 1000-fold. Since [rho-] genomes, but not [rho+] genomes, are stable when RPO41 is deleted, we examined matings between HS [rho-] and neutral [rho-] cells. Neutral [rho-] mtDNAs lack rep sequences and are not preferentially inherited in [rho-] x [rho+] crosses. In HS [rho-] x neutral [rho-] matings, the HS [rho-] mtDNA was preferentially inherited whether both parents were wild type or both were deleted for RPO41. Thus, transcription from the rep promoter does not appear to be necessary for biased inheritance. Our results, and analysis of the literature, suggest that priming by transcription is not a universal mechanism for mtDNA replication initiation.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Impact of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii Complex in a Belgian Burn Wound Center.

PubMed

De Vos, Daniel; Pirnay, Jean-Paul; Bilocq, Florence; Jennes, Serge; Verbeken, Gilbert; Rose, Thomas; Keersebilck, Elkana; Bosmans, Petra; Pieters, Thierry; Hing, Mony; Heuninckx, Walter; De Pauw, Frank; Soentjens, Patrick; Merabishvili, Maia; Deschaght, Pieter; Vaneechoutte, Mario; Bogaerts, Pierre; Glupczynski, Youri; Pot, Bruno; van der Reijden, Tanny J; Dijkshoorn, Lenie

2016-01-01

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and its closely related species A. pittii and A. nosocomialis, all members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (Acb) complex, are a major cause of hospital acquired infection. In the burn wound center of the Queen Astrid military hospital in Brussels, 48 patients were colonized or infected with Acb complex over a 52-month period. We report the molecular epidemiology of these organisms, their clinical impact and infection control measures taken. A representative set of 157 Acb complex isolates was analyzed using repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) (DiversiLab) and a multiplex PCR targeting OXA-51-like and OXA-23-like genes. We identified 31 rep-PCR genotypes (strains). Representatives of each rep-type were identified to species by rpoB sequence analysis: 13 types to A. baumannii, 10 to A. pittii, and 3 to A. nosocomialis. It was assumed that isolates that belonged to the same rep-type also belonged to the same species. Thus, 83.4% of all isolates were identified to A. baumannii, 9.6% to A. pittii and 4.5% to A. nosocomialis. We observed 12 extensively drug resistant Acb strains (10 A. baumannii and 2 A. nosocomialis), all carbapenem-non-susceptible/colistin-susceptible and imported into the burn wound center through patients injured in North Africa. The two most prevalent rep-types 12 and 13 harbored an OXA-23-like gene. Multilocus sequence typing allocated them to clonal complex 1 corresponding to EU (international) clone I. Both strains caused consecutive outbreaks, interspersed with periods of apparent eradication. Patients infected with carbapenem resistant A. baumannii were successfully treated with colistin/rifampicin. Extensive infection control measures were required to eradicate the organisms. Acinetobacter infection and colonization was not associated with increased attributable mortality.

The impact of a Role Emerging Placement while a student occupational therapist, on subsequent qualified employability, practice and career path.

PubMed

Thew, Miranda; Thomas, Yvonne; Briggs, Michelle

2018-06-01

Although Role Emerging Placements (REP) are now a common feature in pre-registration occupational therapy curricula, there is a need to expand the understanding of the impact of this experience on employability, practice and career path of qualified occupational therapists. A case finding online survey was used to create a purposive sample for Thematic Analysis of semi-structured interviews with practising occupational therapists from one UK Masters' level pre-registration occupational therapy program. The case finding survey (n = 19) led to recruitment of six participants to be interviewed. The qualitative findings reflected the impact of a REP experience on occupational therapists' employability, practice and career path. The complementary features of the more traditional placement and the role emergent type of placement were considered as being useful and beneficial to qualified practice regardless of setting. However, the REP additionally, had an internal and outward impact. Internally, the therapist gains a passion for occupation-focussed practice and builds confidence to promote both self and the profession. Outwardly, the therapist can offer extra skills in qualified practice, particularly in innovative service development and delivery, thereby offering added value for employability. A REP experience as an occupational therapy student, can develop additional skills for qualified professional practice than traditional practice placements alone. The impact of such a placement matches with the 'Generation Y' traits of young adults who are now starting to emerge into training and the work place, translates well into a variety of working environments and lasts into career development. The placement model of occupation-focussed project development and the less apprentice style learning of a REP may be influential, and could be a suitable model within traditional placements. © 2018 Occupational Therapy Australia.

Linking medical and dental health record data: a partnership with the Rochester Epidemiology Project

PubMed Central

St. Sauver, Jennifer L; Carr, Alan B; Yawn, Barbara P; Grossardt, Brandon R; Bock-Goodner, Cynthia M; Klein, Lori L; Pankratz, Joshua J; Finney Rutten, Lila J

2017-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this project was to expand the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) medical records linkage infrastructure to include data from oral healthcare providers. The goal of this linkage is to facilitate research studies examining the role of oral health in overall health and quality of life. Participants Eight dental practices joined the REP between 2011 and 2015. The REP study team has linked oral healthcare information with medical record information from local healthcare providers for 31 750 participants who have resided in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Overall, 17 718 (56%) participants are women, 14 318 (45%) are 40 years of age or older and 26 090 (82%) are white. Findings to date A first study using this new information was recently completed. This resource was used to determine whether the 2007 guidelines from the American Heart Association affected prescription rates of antibiotics to patients with moderate-risk cardiac conditions prior to dental procedures. The REP infrastructure was used to identify a series of patients diagnosed with moderate-risk cardiac conditions by the local healthcare providers (n=1351), and to abstract antibiotic prescriptions from dental records both pre-2007 and post-2007. Antibiotic prescriptions prior to dental procedures declined from 62% to 7% following the change in guidelines. Future plans Dental data from participating practitioners will be updated on an annual basis, and new dental data will be linked to patient medical records. In addition, we will continue to invite new dental practices to participate in the REP. Finally, we will continue to use this research infrastructure to investigate associations between oral and medical health, and will present findings at conferences and in the scientific literature. PMID:28360234

Conditional ablation of the choroideremia gene causes age-related changes in mouse retinal pigment epithelium.

PubMed

Wavre-Shapton, Silène T; Tolmachova, Tanya; Lopes da Silva, Mafalda; da Silva, Mafalda Lopes; Futter, Clare E; Seabra, Miguel C

2013-01-01

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a pigmented monolayer of cells lying between the photoreceptors and a layer of fenestrated capillaries, the choriocapillaris. Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked progressive degeneration of these three layers caused by the loss of function of Rab Escort protein-1 (REP1). REP1 is involved in the prenylation of Rab proteins, key regulators of membrane trafficking. To study the pathological consequences of chronic disruption of membrane traffic in the RPE we used a cell type-specific knock-out mouse model of the disease, where the Chm/Rep1 gene is deleted only in pigmented cells (Chm(Flox), Tyr-Cre+). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to quantitate the melanosome distribution in the RPE and immunofluorescent staining of rhodopsin was used to quantitate phagocytosed rod outer segments in retinal sections. The ultrastructure of the RPE and Bruch's membrane at different ages was characterised by TEM to analyse age-related changes occurring as a result of defects in membrane traffic pathways. Chm/Rep1 gene knockout in RPE cells resulted in reduced numbers of melanosomes in the apical processes and delayed phagosome degradation. In addition, the RPE accumulated pathological changes at 5-6 months of age similar to those observed in 2-year old controls. These included the intracellular accumulation of lipofuscin-containing deposits, disorganised basal infoldings and the extracellular accumulation of basal laminar and basal linear deposits. The phenotype of the Chm(Flox), Tyr-Cre+ mice suggests that loss of the Chm/Rep1 gene causes premature accumulation of features of aging in the RPE. Furthermore, the striking similarities between the present observations and some of the phenotypes reported in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) suggest that membrane traffic defects may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD.

The repABC plasmids with quorum-regulated transfer systems in members of the Rhizobiales divide into two structurally and separately evolving groups

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

Wetzel, Margaret E.; Olsen, Gary J.; Chakravartty, Vandana

The large repABC plasmids of the order Rhizobiales with Class I quorum-regulated conjugative transfer systems often define the nature of the bacterium that harbors them. These otherwise diverse plasmids contain a core of highly conserved genes for replication and conjugation raising the question of their evolutionary relationships. In an analysis of 18 such plasmids these elements fall into two organizational classes, Group I and Group II, based on the sites at which cargo DNA is located. Cladograms constructed from proteins of the transfer and quorum-sensing components indicated that those of the Group I plasmids, while coevolving, have diverged from thosemore » coevolving proteins of the Group II plasmids. Moreover, within these groups the phylogenies of the proteins usually occupy similar, if not identical, tree topologies. Remarkably, such relationships were not seen among proteins of the replication system; although RepA and RepB coevolve, RepC does not. Nor do the replication proteins coevolve with the proteins of the transfer and quorum-sensing systems. Functional analysis was mostly consistent with phylogenies. TraR activated promoters from plasmids within its group, but not between groups and dimerized with TraR proteins from within but not between groups. However, oriT sequences, which are highly conserved, were processed by the transfer system of plasmids regardless of group. Here, we conclude that these plasmids diverged into two classes based on the locations at which cargo DNA is inserted, that the quorum-sensing and transfer functions are coevolving within but not between the two groups, and that this divergent evolution extends to function.« less

Detailed genetic characteristics of an international large cohort of patients with Stargardt disease: ProgStar study report 8.

PubMed

Fujinami, Kaoru; Strauss, Rupert W; Chiang, John Pei-Wen; Audo, Isabelle S; Bernstein, Paul S; Birch, David G; Bomotti, Samantha M; Cideciyan, Artur V; Ervin, Ann-Margret; Marino, Meghan J; Sahel, José-Alain; Mohand-Said, Saddek; Sunness, Janet S; Traboulsi, Elias I; West, Sheila; Wojciechowski, Robert; Zrenner, Eberhart; Michaelides, Michel; Scholl, Hendrik P N

2018-06-20

To describe the genetic characteristics of the cohort enrolled in the international multicentre progression of Stargardt disease 1 (STGD1) studies (ProgStar) and to determine geographic differences based on the allele frequency. 345 participants with a clinical diagnosis of STGD1 and harbouring at least one disease-causing ABCA4 variant were enrolled from 9 centres in the USA and Europe. All variants were reviewed and in silico analysis was performed including allele frequency in public databases and pathogenicity predictions. Participants with multiple likely pathogenic variants were classified into four national subgroups (USA, UK, France, Germany), with subsequent comparison analysis of the allele frequency for each prevalent allele. 211 likely pathogenic variants were identified in the total cohort, including missense (63%), splice site alteration (18%), stop (9%) and others. 50 variants were novel. Exclusively missense variants were detected in 139 (50%) of 279 patients with multiple pathogenic variants. The three most prevalent variants of these patients with multiple pathogenic variants were p.G1961E (15%), p.G863A (7%) and c.5461-10 T>C (5%). Subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the four recruiting nations in the allele frequency of nine variants. There is a large spectrum of ABCA4 sequence variants, including 50 novel variants, in a well-characterised cohort thereby further adding to the unique allelic heterogeneity in STGD1. Approximately half of the cohort harbours missense variants only, indicating a relatively mild phenotype of the ProgStar cohort. There are significant differences in allele frequencies between nations, although the three most prevalent variants are shared as frequent variants. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Impact of thyroid function abnormalities on reproductive hormones during menstrual cycle in premenopausal HIV infected females at NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria

PubMed Central

Emelumadu, Obiageli Fidelia; Igwegbe, Anthony Osita; Monago, Ifeoma Nwamaka; Ilika, Amobi Linus

2017-01-01

Background This was a prospective study designed to evaluate the impact of thyroid function abnormalities on reproductive hormones during menstrual cycle in HIV infected females at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, South-East Nigeria. Methods The study randomly recruited 35 Symptomatic HIV infected females and 35 Symptomatic HIV infected females on antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for not less than six weeks from an HIV clinic and 40 apparently heathy control females among the hospital staff of NAUTH Nnewi. They were all premenopausal females with regular menstrual cycle and aged between 15–45 years. Blood samples were collected at follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycle for assay of Thyroid indices (FT3, FT4 and TSH) and Reproductive indices (FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progesterone, Prolactin and Testosterone) using ELISA method. Results The result showed significantly higher FSH and LH but significantly lower progesterone (prog) and estrogen (E2) in the test females compared to control females at both phases of menstrual cycle (P<0.05). There was significantly lower FT3 but significantly higher TSH value in Symptomatic HIV females (P<0.05). FSH, LH and TSH values were significantly lowered while prog and FT3 were significantly higher in Symptomatic HIV on ART compared to Symptomatic HIV females (P<0.05). FT3, FT4, Prog and E2 were inversely correlated while FSH and LH were positively correlated with duration of HIV infection in HIV females (P<0.05 respectively). There was a direct correlation between CD4+ count and FT3 while inverse correlation was found between CD4+ count and TSH levels (P<0.05). Discussion The present study demonstrated hypothyroidism with a significant degree of primary hypogonadism in Symptomatic HIV infected females at both follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle which tends to normalize on treatments. PMID:28723963

Extracting Forest Canopy Characteristics from Remote Sensing Imagery: Implications for Sentinel-2 Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholizadeh, Asa; Kopaekova, Veronika; Rogass, Christian; Mielke, Christian; Misurec, Jan

2016-08-01

Systematic quantification and monitoring of forest biophysical and biochemical variables is required to assess the response of ecosystems to climate change. Remote sensing has been introduced as a time and cost- efficient way to carry out large scale monitoring of vegetation parameters. Red-Edge Position (REP) is a hyperspectrally detectable parameter which is sensitive to vegetation Chl. In the current study, REP was modelled for the Norway spruce forest canopy resampled to HyMap and Sentinel-2 spectral resolution as well as calculated from the real HyMap and Sentinel-2 simulated data. Different REP extraction methods (4PLI, PF, LE, 4PLIH and 4PLIS) were assessed. The study showed the way for effective utilization of the forthcoming hyper and superspectral remote sensing sensors from orbit to monitor vegetation attributes.

Nonequilibrium ferroelectric-ferroelastic 10 nm nanodomains: wrinkles, period-doubling, and power-law relaxation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, James F.; Evans, Donald M.; Katiyar, Ram S.; McQuaid, Raymond G. P.; Gregg, J. Marty

2017-08-01

Since the 1935 work of Landau-Lifshitz and of Kittel in 1946 all ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, and ferroelastic domains have been thought to be straight-sided with domain widths proportional to the square root of the sample thickness. We show in the present work that this is not true. We also discover period doubling domains predicted by Metaxas et al (2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 217208) and modeled by Wang and Zhao (2015 Sci. Rep. 5 8887). We examine non-equilibrium ferroic domain structures in perovskite oxides with respect to folding, wrinkling, and relaxation and suggest that structures are kinetically limited and in the viscous flow regime predicted by Metaxas et al in 2008 but never observed experimentally. Comparisons are made with liquid crystals and hydrodynamic instabilities, including chevrons, and fractional power-law relaxation. As Shin et al (2016 Soft Matter 12 3502) recently emphasized: ‘An understanding of how these folds initiate, propagate, and interact with each other is still lacking’. Inside each ferroelastic domain are ferroelectric 90° nano-domains with 10 nm widths and periodicity in agreement with the 10 nm theoretical minima predicted by Feigl et al (2014 Nat. Commun. 5 4677). Evidence is presented for domain-width period doubling, which is common in polymer films but unknown in ferroic domains. A discussion of the folding-to-period doubling phase transition model of Wang and Zhao is included.

Evaluation of Upland Disposal of Richmond Harbor, California, Sediment from Santa Fe Channel

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-07-01

15 concern were salt, metals, tributyltin ( TBT ), pesticides (particularly DDT and its derivatives), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Test...Battelle Northwest for tetrabutyltin (TETBT), tributyltin ( TBT ), dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene...RANK TBT D1-1 t Richmond, Anaerobic, Kinetic, Tributyltin , day 1, Rep 1 RANS PAN D5-3 : Richmond, Anaerobic, Sequential, PAHs, day 5, Rep 3. RO-14-5

Coalescing neutron stars - gravitational waves from polytropic models.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruffert, M.; Rampp, M.; Janka, H.-T.

1997-05-01

The dynamics, time evolution of the mass distribution, and gravitational wave signature of coalescing neutron stars described by polytropes are compared with three simulations published previously: (a) "Run 2" of Zhuge et al. (1994PhRvD..50.6247Z), (b) "Model III" of Shibata et al. (1992, Prog, Theor. Phys. 88, 1079), and (c) "Model A64" of Ruffert et al. (1996A&A...311..532R). We aim at studying the differences due to the use of different numerical methods, different implementations of the gravitational wave backreaction, and different equations of state. We integrate the three-dimensional Newtonian equations of hydrodynamics by the Riemann-solver based "Piecewise Parabolic Method" on an equidistant Cartesian grid. Comparison (a) confronts the results of our grid-based PPM scheme with those from an SPH code. We find that due to the lower numerical viscosity of the PPM code, the post-merging oscillations and pulsations can be followed for a longer time and lead to larger secondary and tertiary maxima of the gravitational wave luminosity and to a stronger peak of the gravitational wave spectrum at a frequency of about f=~1.8KHz when compared to the results of Zhuge et al. (1994PhRvD..50.6247Z). In case (b) two grid based codes with the same backreaction formalism but differing hydrodynamic integrators and slightly different initial conditions are compared. Instead of rotationally deformed initial neutron stars we use spherically shaped stars. Satisfactory agreement of the amplitude of the gravitational wave luminosity is established, although due to the different initial conditions a small time delay develops in the onset of the dynamical instability setting in when the two stars come very close. In (c) we find that using a polytropic equation of state instead of the high-density equation of state of Lattimer & Swesty (1991, Nucl. Phys. A535, 331) employed by Ruffert et al. (1996A&A...311..532R) does not change the overall dynamical evolution of the merger and yields agreement of the gravitational wave signature to within 20% accuracy. Whereas the polytropic law describes the dynamical behaviour of the bulk of the matter at and above nuclear density sufficiently well, we, however, find clear differences of the structure and evolution of the outer layers of the neutron stars where the stiffness of the equation of state is largely overestimated. This has important implications for questions like mass loss and disk formation during the merging of binary neutron stars.

Regenerative endodontics: A way forward.

PubMed

Diogenes, Anibal; Ruparel, Nikita B; Shiloah, Yoav; Hargreaves, Kenneth M

2016-05-01

Immature teeth are susceptible to infections due to trauma, anatomic anomalies, and caries. Traditional endodontic therapies for immature teeth, such as apexification procedures, promote resolution of the disease and prevent future infections. However, these procedures fail to promote continued root development, leaving teeth susceptible to fractures. Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) have evolved in the past decade, being incorporated into endodontic practice and becoming a viable treatment alternative for immature teeth. The authors have summarized the status of regenerative endodontics on the basis of the available published studies and provide insight into the different levels of clinical outcomes expected from these procedures. Substantial advances in regenerative endodontics are allowing a better understanding of a multitude of factors that govern stem cell-mediated regeneration and repair of the damaged pulp-dentin complex. REPs promote healing of apical periodontitis, continued radiographic root development, and, in certain cases, vitality responses. Despite the clinical success of these procedures, they appear to promote a guided endodontic repair process rather than a true regeneration of physiological-like tissue. Immature teeth with pulpal necrosis with otherwise poor prognosis can be treated with REPs. These procedures do not preclude the possibility of apexification procedures if attempts are unsuccessful. Therefore, REPs may be considered first treatment options for immature teeth with pulpal necrosis. Copyright © 2016 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Microbial Succession and Nitrogen Cycling in Cultured Biofilms as Affected by the Inorganic Nitrogen Availability.

PubMed

Li, Shuangshuang; Peng, Chengrong; Wang, Chun; Zheng, Jiaoli; Hu, Yao; Li, Dunhai

2017-01-01

Biofilms play important roles in nutrients and energy cycling in aquatic ecosystems. We hypothesized that as eutrophication could change phytoplankton community and decrease phytoplankton diversity, ambient inorganic nitrogen level will affect the microbial community and diversity of biofilms and the roles of biofilms in nutrient cycling. Biofilms were cultured using a flow incubator either with replete inorganic nitrogen (N-rep) or without exogenous inorganic nitrogen supply (N-def). The results showed that the biomass and nitrogen and phosphorous accumulation of biofilms were limited by N deficiency; however, as expected, the N-def biofilms had significantly higher microbial diversity than that of N-rep biofilms. The microbial community of biofilms shifted in composition and abundance in response to ambient inorganic nitrogen level. For example, as compared between the N-def and the N-rep biofilms, the former consisted of more diazotrophs, while the latter consisted of more denitrifying bacteria. As a result of the shift of the functional microbial community, the N concentration of N-rep medium kept decreasing, while that of N-def medium showed an increasing trend in the late stage. This indicates that biofilms can serve as the source or the sink of nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems, and it depends on the inorganic nitrogen availability.

Evaluation of repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR for discrimination of fecal Escherichia coli from humans, and different domestic- and wild-animals.

PubMed

Mohapatra, Bidyut R; Broersma, Klaas; Nordin, Rick; Mazumder, Asit

2007-01-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of repetitive extragenic palindromic anchored polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) in differentiating fecal Escherichia coli isolates of human, domestic- and wild-animal origin that might be used as a molecular tool to identify the possible source(s) of fecal pollution of source water. A total of 625 fecal E. coli isolates of human, 3 domestic- (cow, dog and horse) and 7 wild-animal (black bear, coyote, elk, marmot, mule deer, raccoon and wolf) species were characterized by rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting technique coupled with BOX A1R primer and discriminant analysis. Discriminant analysis of rep-PCR DNA fingerprints of fecal E. coli isolates from 11 host sources revealed an average rate of correct classification of 79.89%, and 84.6%, 83.8%, 83.3%, 82.5%, 81.6%, 80.8%, 79.8%, 79.3%, 77.4%, 73.2% and 63.6% of elk, human, marmot, mule deer, cow, coyote, raccoon, horse, dog, wolf and black bear fecal E. coli isolates were assigned to the correct host source. These results suggest that rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting procedures can be used as a source tracking tool for detection of human- as well as animal-derived fecal contamination of water.

Regulation of adeno-associated virus DNA replication by the cellular TAF-I/set complex.

PubMed

Pegoraro, Gianluca; Marcello, Alessandro; Myers, Michael P; Giacca, Mauro

2006-07-01

The Rep proteins of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) are required for viral replication in the presence of adenovirus helper functions and as yet poorly characterized cellular factors. In an attempt to identify such factors, we purified Flag-Rep68-interacting proteins from human cell lysates. Several polypeptides were identified by mass spectrometry, among which was ANP32B, a member of the acidic nuclear protein 32 family which takes part in the formation of the template-activating factor I/Set oncoprotein (TAF-I/Set) complex. The N terminus of Rep was found to specifically bind the acidic domain of ANP32B; through this interaction, Rep was also able to recruit other members of the TAF-I/Set complex, including the ANP32A protein and the histone chaperone TAF-I/Set. Further experiments revealed that silencing of ANP32A and ANP32B inhibited AAV replication, while overexpression of all of the components of the TAF-I/Set complex increased de novo AAV DNA synthesis in permissive cells. Besides being the first indication that the TAF-I/Set complex participates in wild-type AAV replication, these findings have important implications for the generation of recombinant AAV vectors since overexpression of the TAF-I/Set components was found to markedly increase viral vector production.

78 FR 76319 - Notice of Invitation-Coal Exploration License Application MTM 106757, Montana

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

...] Notice of Invitation--Coal Exploration License Application MTM 106757, Montana AGENCY: Bureau of Land... Signal Peak Energy, LLC on a pro rata cost sharing basis in a program for the exploration of coal... Office coal Web site at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/prog/energy/coal.html . A written notice to...

Photodynamic Molecular Beacons: An Image-Guided Therapeutic Approach to Breast Cancer Vertebral Metastases

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

uptake. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1984;; 170: 629-­36. 14. Wilson BC, Firnau G, Jeeves WP, Brown KL, Burns-­McCormick DM . Chromatographic analysis and...Photosensitizer-­conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles for effective photodynamic therapy. Theranostics. 2011;; 1: 230-­9. 24. Ferreira CL, Yapp DT, Crisp

Modeling of Stability of Electrostatic and Magnetostatic Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

unlimited. 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT Electromagnetic systems undergo a variety of different instabilities. A broad class of those...15. SUBJECT TERMS electromagnetism , morphological instabilities, computational algorithm, gradient minimization, morphology patterns, motion by mean...Nordmark AB. Magnetic field and current are zero inside ideal conductors. Prog Electromagn Res B. 2011(27):187–212. 4. Stratton JA. Electromagnetic theory

78 FR 34403 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, AZ

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-07

...: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/solar/quartzsite_solar_energy.html . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION... . Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay.... You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quartzsite Solar...

Effects of Synthetic Versus Natural Colloid Resuscitation on Inducing Dilutional Coagulopathy and Increasing Hemorrhage in Rabbits

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

hemostasis, and plasma expanders: a quarter century enigma. Fed Proc. 1975;34:1429–1440. 23. Bergqvist D. Dextran and haemostasis. a review. Acta Chir ...eds. Blood Substitutes and Plasma Expanders. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1978;19:293–298. 57. Kovalik SG, Ledgewood AM, Lucas CE, Higgins RF. The cardiac

Towards Direct Simulations of Counterflow Flames with Consistent Numerical Differential-Algebraic Boundary Conditions

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-18

First, the gov - erning equations of the problem are presented. A detailed discussion on the construction of the initial profile of the flow follows...time from the DoD HPCMP Open Research Systems and JPL/ NASA is gratefully acknowledged. References [1] H. Tsuji, Prog. Energ. Combust.8(2) (1982) 93-119

Prevention of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in Balb/c mice by feeding probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NP-51

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to examine effects of feeding Lactobacillus acidophilus strain NP51 to mice challenged with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne’s disease. We hypothesized that feeding NP51 would increase Th-1 responses and decrease prog...

Prevention of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) Infection in Balb/c Mice by Feeding Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NP-51

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to examine effects of feeding Lactobacillus acidophilus strain NP51 to mice challenged with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne’s disease. We hypothesized that feeding NP51 would increase Th-1 responses and decrease prog...

Numerical Sensitivity of Trajectories Across Conformational Energy Hypersurfaces from Geometry Optimized Molecular Orbital Calculations: AM1, MNDO, and MINDO/3

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

relationship studies, it became corn- surfaces are being traversed, the molecule monly believed that compounds with higher h can go along different paths on...1975). AMPAC, and consanguineous programs 15. W. Thiel, Quantum Chem. Prog. Exchange Cata- should be done with the tightest available log, 11, 353

Report: State of Utah Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Financial Statements with Independent Auditor’s Report, June 30, 2002

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #2003-1-00110, June 3, 2003.Audit of the net assets statement of the Utah Dept of Env Quality Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Prog as of June 30, 2002, and the statements of revenues, expenses and changes in fund net assets, and 2002 cash flows.

Ultra Fast, High Rep Rate, High Voltage Spark Gap Pulser

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-07-01

current rise time. The spark gap was designed to have a coaxial geometry reducing its inductance. Provisions were made to pass flowing gas between the...ULTRA FAST, HIGH REP RATE, HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK GAP PULSER Robert A. Pastore Jr., Lawrence E. Kingsley, Kevin Fonda, Erik Lenzing Electrophysics and...Modeling Branch AMSRL-PS-EA Tel.: (908)-532-0271 FAX: (908)-542-3348 U.S. Army Research Laboratory Physical Sciences Directorate Ft. Monmouth

Computerized Vocational Guidance (CVG) Systems: Evaluation for Use in Military Recruiting.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-02-01

how to relate the two, and how to explore, project, and choose. Whether Rogerian or more directive in nature, the essential counseling ingredient is to...Conference, Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service, 1974, 43-69. Katz, M. R., & Shatkin, L. Computer-assisted guidance: Concepts and practices (Res. Rep...Canadian Forces Personnel Applied Research Unit, 1980. Katz, M. R., & Shatkin, L. Computer-assisted guidance: Concepts and practices (Res. Rep. RR-80-1

THE TREATMENT OF CHILDRENS' HEMANGIOMA AND NEVUS FLAMMEUS WITH Sr$sup 90$ AND Y$sup 9$$sup 0$ (in German)

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

Lossl, H.; Jakob, A.

The authors report the excellent results obtained in the radiotherapy of the hemangioma of the child and of the nevus flammeus by means of strontium-90 and yttrium-90. The method is preferred to others as it reduces the charge of rays on the growing skeleton of the child ami on the gonads. In case of smaller lesions the application of strontium-90 (total dose 3000 to 5000 rep) and surface irradiation by means of yttrium-90 foils (total dose 3000 to 4000 rep) produce good results. The single dose should be around 1OOO rep. The dosage has to be fixed according to themore » erythema which appears with medium intensity. To judge from the gathered experiences the results of this therapy are equivalent to those of radium treatment or Chaoul's close irradiation. (auth)« less

Efficacy of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis and Repetitive Element Sequence-Based PCR in Typing of Salmonella Isolates from Assam, India.

PubMed

Gogoi, Purnima; Borah, Probodh; Hussain, Iftikar; Das, Leena; Hazarika, Girin; Tamuly, Shantanu; Barkalita, Luit Moni

2018-05-01

A total of 12 Salmonella isolates belonging to different serovars, viz , Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis ( n = 4), Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden ( n = 4), Salmonella enterica serovar Newport ( n = 1), Salmonella enterica serovar Litchifield ( n = 1), and untypeable strains ( n = 2) were isolated from 332 diarrheic fecal samples collected from animals, birds, and humans. Of the two molecular typing methods applied, viz , repetitive element sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), PFGE could clearly differentiate the strains belonging to different serovars as well as differentiate between strains of the same serovar with respect to their source of isolation, whereas REP-PCR could not differentiate between strains of the same serovar. Thus, it can be suggested that PFGE is more useful and appropriate for molecular typing of Salmonella isolates during epidemiological investigations than REP-PCR. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Effectiveness of a Navy remedial exercise intervention.

PubMed

Croteau, K A; Young, C J

2000-10-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Navy remedial exercise program (REP) in improving the physical fitness levels of its participants. Subjects were 27 Navy personnel assigned to a Northeast naval air station who had failed to pass either the body composition (circumference measures) or aerobic fitness (1.5-mile run/walk) portion of the semiannual physical readiness test. The REP consisted of three 1-hour supervised exercise sessions per week for 16 weeks, with primary emphasis on running and walking. Paired t tests revealed that the REP was effective in reducing body weight (-3.1%) and body fat (mean absolute loss of 2.7%) and in improving 1.5-mile run/walk time (-6.2%). No changes were seen in muscular endurance measures (2-minute push-ups, 2-minute curl-ups). Findings from this study indicate that improvements in PF can be attained through a 16-week Navy remedial exercise program.

KSC-2011-3740

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-05-16

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, staff for U.S. Congresswoman Gabielle Giffords brief media after the successful launch of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-134 mission. From left are, Pia Carusone Chief of Staff, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Office, Mark Kimble Press Advisor, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Office and Ashley Nash-Hahn, New Media Strategist, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Office. Giffords was on hand to watch her husband, STS-135 Commander Mark Kelly and his crew liftoff from Launch Pad 39A on Endeavour's final spaceflight. Endeavour lifted off May 16 at 8:56 a.m. EDT. Endeavour and its crew will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper to the station. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

Strong minor groove base conservation in sequence logos implies DNA distortion or base flipping during replication and transcription initiation.

PubMed

Schneider, T D

2001-12-01

The sequence logo for DNA binding sites of the bacteriophage P1 replication protein RepA shows unusually high sequence conservation ( approximately 2 bits) at a minor groove that faces RepA. However, B-form DNA can support only 1 bit of sequence conservation via contacts into the minor groove. The high conservation in RepA sites therefore implies a distorted DNA helix with direct or indirect contacts to the protein. Here I show that a high minor groove conservation signature also appears in sequence logos of sites for other replication origin binding proteins (Rts1, DnaA, P4 alpha, EBNA1, ORC) and promoter binding proteins (sigma(70), sigma(D) factors). This finding implies that DNA binding proteins generally use non-B-form DNA distortion such as base flipping to initiate replication and transcription.

Preface: Proceedings of the ESF Exploratory Workshop on Glassy Liquids under Pressure: Fundamentals and Applications (Ustroń, Poland, 10-12 October 2007) Proceedings of the ESF Exploratory Workshop on Glassy Liquids under Pressure: Fundamentals and Applications (Ustroń, Poland, 10-12 October 2007)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drozd-Rzoska, Aleksandra; Rzoska, Sylwester J.; Tamarit, Josep Ll

2008-06-01

This preface focuses on the importance of pressure studies for explaining the glass transitions puzzle. Subsequently, some issues related to the European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop (ESF EW) Glassy Liquids under Pressure: Fundamentals and Applications (Ustroń, Poland, 10-12 October 2007) are recalled. Most liquids crystallize on 'normal' cooling at the melting temperature Tm. However, some liquids can skip crystallization and undergo supercooling down to glass temperature Tg. Turnbull 1 proposed an empirical link between these temperatures indicating good glass forming ability (GFA) for Tg/Tm « 2/3. Values of the GFA factor Tg/Tm → 1/2 were suggested for 'poor' glass formers, where crystallization is difficult to avoid. Recently, the significance of the pressure dependence of the GFA factor was also noted 2. Reaching the glass transition is associated with a series of phenomena, namely 3: (i) the thermal expansion coefficient at constant pressure changes smoothly from values common for a liquid to those of a crystal, showing anomalous behaviour near Tg, (ii) viscosity reaches a value of η = 1013 P and the structural relaxation time τ ≈ 100 s, (iii) the specific heat drop occurs, giving rise to the famous Kauzmann paradox. On cooling towards glass transition, the 'pretransitional' behaviour can be observed for dynamic properties even well above Tg + 100 K 3. This includes the non-Arrhenius evolution of such magnitudes as viscosity, primary (structural-, α-) relaxation time, electric conductivity or diffusion coefficient associated with increasingly non-Debye distribution of relaxation times 3. Such behaviour is associated with short-time scale relaxation processes. The most characteristic is the secondary (β-) relaxation 4, 5 which merges with the 'structural' dynamics near τ(TB) = 10-7+/-1s, the hypothetically universal (magic) time-scale 6. Below TB the split in the evolution of the translation and orientation related properties occurs 4, 5. It is worth stressing that these features seem to be universal, shared by various systems, despite their fundamentally different microscopic basis 3-6. It is probable that the latter fact caused the long-standing interest in glass transition phenomenon. It can be said that the puzzling artifacts matched with the intuitive hypothetical universality of the given phenomenon have always attracted the attention of researchers. The modern concept of critical phenomena, developed three to four decades ago, serves as an excellent example 7, 8 Society-relevant applications of the knowledge gained from studies on the vitrification phenomenon are of great significance for material engineering such as rewritable data storage, pharmacy industry, geophysics, biotechnology, etc 3, 9-13. Glass transition physics also constitutes one of the reference points for the novel category of complex liquids/soft matter systems 13. One of the basic hallmarks of the hypothetically universal dynamics on approaching glass transition is the Angell plot 14, 15, log10τ or log10η versus Tg/T collecting 'dynamic' data for different systems with the so called fragility as a classifying metric. The latter was introduced as the slope at Tg/T = 1 in the Angell plot. Fragile liquids (large values of m) are linked to the strongly nonlinear dependence in this plot. The so called strong liquids (glassy systems) are characterized by small values of m. For the latter the most linear, Arrhenius-type behaviour takes place. In subsequent years several other measures of fragility were proposed. Fragility became one of the key concepts for glass transition physics 3, 16-20. Despite extensive experimental findings, numerical results and theoretical concepts 3, 16-20, a breakthrough in explaining the glass transition mystery has not yet been reached. The ultimate model ought to describe vitrification with the use of well defined physical parameters and yield output relations enabling simple and unambiguous experimental tests. Such a model should describe all puzzling dynamical, thermodynamic and structural features as well as identify the origins and the range of the hypothetical universality. Therefore, why are pressure studies so important? Compressing is another way of vitrifying a system without the necessity of changing the temperature. In temperature studies on glass transition both density and thermal effects are involved 3. Comprehensive temperature and pressure studies make it possible to separate these contributions and consequently to understand their role 3, 16, 20. Pressure dependences of various relaxation processes (α-, β-, etc) differ significantly. Hence, pressurization can separate these processes 17. This is hardly possible in temperature investigations under atmospheric pressure. Dynamic 'equation of states' employing data from the pressure-temperature plane may also offer a qualitatively new tool for testing the validity of the existing theoretical models. This has already been used for the study of free volume models, Adam-Gibbs model or mode coupling theory 16-18. Let's present some further possible problems associated with pressure and glass transition: (i) the origin of universal phenomena (ii) the ultimate description of the relaxation time or viscosity versus P and T (iii) the proper description of Tg(P), T0(P), TCMCT(P), evolution (iv) explaining the possible role of the negative pressures domain (v) the mystery of the pre-vitrification behaviour for systems characterized by dTg(P)/dP > 0 and dTg(P)/dP < 0 (vi) the answer to the question 'does fragility depend on pressure?' (vii) understanding the role of volume in vitrification (viii) β- process related questions (ix) the mode-coupling theory predictions for the pressure path: this includes the 'universality' or 'non-universality' of the power exponent describing the evolution of τ(T) or η(T) (x) the appearance of dynamic hetergeneities on pressuirization, (xi) the decoupling between rotational and translational degrees of freedom (xii) the vitrification-related behaviour at extreme pressures in the multi-GPa domain. All these problems show that pressure studies on supercooled liquids and glassy systems can shed new light on properties observed under atmospheric pressure. In our opinion comprehensive pressure and temperature research, supported by PVT measurements and matched with sophisticated state-of-the-art modern techniques, may deliver qualitatively new input data for numerical analysis as well as for verification and construction of theoretical models. All these can form a milestone for reaching a long expected breakthrough in glass transition physics. We would like to stress the interdisciplinary significance of high pressure studies on glass forming materials. They are important not only for condensed matter and soft matter physics but also for tailoring new materials, for biotechnological issues or for deep Earth and planetary sciences 3, 9-13, 16-18. This poses an additional challenge for glassy liquids under pressure studies. This issue contains the majority of results presented at the European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop (ESF EW) 'Glassy Liquids Under Pressure', Ustroń, Poland, 10-12 October, 2007 (convenors: Aleksandra Drozd-Rzoska (Poland) and Josep Ll Tamarit (Spain)). Aleksandra Drozd-Rzoska belongs to the group (together with Sylwester J Rzoska, Marian Paluch Paluch, Jerzy Zioło, Sebastian Pawlus, Michał Mierzwa and the staff of PhD students) from the Department of Biophysics and Molecular Physics, Institute of Physics, Silesian University, Katowice, Poland), which began pressure studies in liquids almost three decades ago. First, these investigations focused on critical mixtures and liquid crystals 21-24. On the basis of experimental solutions developed in that period, pressure studies of dielectric relaxation in supercooled, vitrifying systems began a decade ago 18, 25-27 Results associated with these studies are recalled in some of the papers presented in this issue. Josep Ll Tamarit is the coordinator of the Group of Characterization of Materials at the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona. Over the last 20 years the group has conducted thermodynamic and structural studies on several series of compounds and on their mixed crystals 28-33. They invariably involve orientationally disordered phases. For such materials, also known as plastic crystals, the average positions of the centers of mass of the molecules form a regular high-symmetry lattice while the orientations are dynamically disordered. It is well known that the dynamics of (canonical) glasses is almost completely controlled by orientational degrees of freedom 34 and thus, vitrifying orientationally disordered crystals can yield materials with a reduction of complexity. This can be important for reaching a better insight into the glass state and vitrification in general. The European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop (ESF EW) is a brainstorming panel for the best specialists in the given field of science. Participants of the ESF EW 'Glassy Liquids Under Pressure' arrived at the Institute of Physics, the Silesian University, Katowice, Poland on 10 October 2007. Katowice is the capital of Upper Silesia and of the metropolitan area of Silesia (population ≈ 4 000 000)—the most industrial area of Poland. The conference coach took participants to the Jaskółka Hotel in Ustroń, a tourist resort situated in the beautiful valley at the foot of the Beskidy mountains (a part of West Carpaty), 80 km south from Katowice. The picturesque surroundings together with the delicious local cuisine created a stimulating atmosphere for the three days of lectures and discussions. References [1] Turnbull D 1969 Under what criterion the glass can be formed Contemp. Phys.10 3473 [2] Drozd-Rzoska A, Rzoska S J and Imre A R 2007 On the pressure evolution of the melting temperature and the glass transition temperature J. Non-Cryst. Solids 353 3915 [3]Donth E 1998 The Glass Transition. Relaxation Dynamics in Liquids and Disordered Materials(Springer Series in Materials Science II vol 48) (Berlin: Springer) [4] Johari G P and Goldstein M 1971 Viscous liquids and the glass transition in aliphatic alcohols and other norigid molecules J. Chem. Phys. 55 4245 [5] Roland C M and Casalini R 2004 Viscosity crossover in 0-therphenyl and salol under high pressure Phys. Rev. Lett.92 245702 [6] Novikov V N and Sokolov A P 2003 Universality of the dynamic crossover in glass-forming liquids: A 'magic' relaxation time Phys. Rev. E 67 031507 [7] Stanley H E 1971/1987 Introduction to Critical Phenomena (New York: Oxford University Press) [8] Anisimov M A 1993 Critical Phenomena in Liquids and in Liquid Crystals (Reading: Gordon and Breach) [9] McMillan P F 2003 New materials from high pressure experiments: challenges and opportunities High Press. Res. 67 031507 [10] Craig D Q M, Royall P G, Kett V L and Hopton M L 1999 The relevance of the amorphous state to pharmaceutical dosage forms: glass drugs and freeze dried systems Int. J. Pharm. 179 179 [11] Poirier J P 2000 Introduction to the physics of the earth's interior (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) [12] Mezzega E, Shurtenberger P, Burbridge A and Michel M 2005 Understanding food as soft materials Nature Mater. 4 729 [13] Jones R A L 2002 Soft Condensed Matter Physics (New York: Oxford University Press) [14] Angell C A 1985 Strong and fragile liquids Relaxations in Complex Systems Ngai K L and Wright (ed) (Springfield: National Technical Information Service, US Department of Commerce) 1 [15] Böhmer R, Ngai K L, Angell C A and Plazek D J 1993 Nonexponential relaxations in strong and fragile glass formers J. Chem. Phys. 99 4201 [16] Floudas G 2004 Effects of pressure on systems with intristic orientational order Prog. Polym. Sci. 29 1143 [17] Roland C M, Hensel-Bielowka S, Paluch M and Casalini R 2005 Supercooled dynamics of glass-forming liquids and polymers under hydrostatic pressure Rep. Prog. Phys. 68 1405 [18] Rzoska S J and Mazur V (ed) 2007 Soft Matter Under Exogenic Impacts(NATO Science Series II vol 242) (Berlin: Springer) [19] Sastry S, Debenedetti P G and Stillinger F H 1998 Signatures of distinct dynamical regimes in the energy landscape of a glass-forming liquid Nature 393 54 [20] Niss K, Alba-Simionesco Ch 2006 Effect of density and temperature on correlations between fragility and glassy properties Phys. Rev. B 74 54 024205 [21] Charpeć J, Rzoska S J and Zioło J 1985 The influence of pressure and temperature on the critical properties of a nitrobenzene - hexane solution by the NDE method Phase Transit.5 49 [22] Drozd-Rzoska A, Rzoska S J and Zioło J 1997 High pressure studies of the low-frequency nonlinear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of octyl- and dodecyl-cyanobiphenyl Phys. Rev. E 55 2888 [23] DRzoska S J, Zioło J, Drozd-Rzoska A 1997 Stretched-relaxation after switching-off a strong electric field in a critical solution under high pressure Phys. Rev. E 56 2578 [24] Rzoska S J, Urbanowicz P, Drozd-Rzoska A, Paluch M and Habdas P 1999 Pressure behaviour of dielectric permittivity on approaching the critical consolute point Europhys. Lett. 45 334 [25] Paluch M, Zioło J and Rzoska S J 1997 Dielectric relaxation of glass-forming epoxy-resin under high pressure Phys. Rev. E 56 5764 [26] Paluch M, Rzoska S J and Zioło J 1998 On the pressure behaviour of dielectric relaxation times in supercooled, glassforming liquids J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 10 4131 [27] Drozd-Rzoska A, Rzoska S J, Paluch M, Imre A R and Roland C M 2007 On the glass temperature under extreme pressures J. Chem. Phys. 126 164504 [28] Reuter J, Büsing D, Tamarit J Ll and Wüflinger A 1996 J. Mater. Chem. 7 41 [29] Rute M A, Salud J, Negrier Ph, López D O, Tamarit J Ll, Puertas R, Barrio M and Mondieig D 2003 The two-component system cycloheptanol (C7) + cyclooctanol (C8): an extraordinary system J. Phys. Chem. B 107 5914 [30] Pardo L C, Veglio N, Bermejo F J, Tamarit J Li and Cuello G J 2005 Orientational short-range-order in disordered phases of methylhalogenomethanes Phys. Rev. B 72 014206 [31] Tamarit J Ll, Pérez-Jubindo M A and de la Fuente M R 1997 Dielectric studies on orientationally disordered phases of neopentylglycol ((CH3)2C(CH2OH)2) and tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (NH2C(CH2OH)3) J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 9 5469 [32] Jenau M, Reuter J, WüflingerA and Tamarit J Ll 1996 Crystal and pvT data and thermodynamics if the phase transitions on 2-methyl-2-nitro-propane J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. E 92 1899 [33] Drozd-Rzoska A, Rzoska S J, Pawlus S and Tamarit J Ll 2006 Dielectric relaxation in compressed glassy and orietationally disordered mixed crystals Phys. Rev. B 56 5764 [34] Talon C, Ramos M A, Vieira S, Cuello G J, Bermejo F J, Criado A, Senent M L, Bennington S M, Fischer H E and Schober H 1998 Low-temperature specific heat and glassy dynamics of a polymorphic molecular solid Phys. Rev. B 58 745

f1: a code to compute Appell's F1 hypergeometric function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colavecchia, F. D.; Gasaneo, G.

2004-02-01

In this work we present the FORTRAN code to compute the hypergeometric function F1( α, β1, β2, γ, x, y) of Appell. The program can compute the F1 function for real values of the variables { x, y}, and complex values of the parameters { α, β1, β2, γ}. The code uses different strategies to calculate the function according to the ideas outlined in [F.D. Colavecchia et al., Comput. Phys. Comm. 138 (1) (2001) 29]. Program summaryTitle of the program: f1 Catalogue identifier: ADSJ Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADSJ Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: none Computers: PC compatibles, SGI Origin2∗ Operating system under which the program has been tested: Linux, IRIX Programming language used: Fortran 90 Memory required to execute with typical data: 4 kbytes No. of bits in a word: 32 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 52 325 Distribution format: tar gzip file External subprograms used: Numerical Recipes hypgeo [W.H. Press et al., Numerical Recipes in Fortran 77, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996] or chyp routine of R.C. Forrey [J. Comput. Phys. 137 (1997) 79], rkf45 [L.F. Shampine and H.H. Watts, Rep. SAND76-0585, 1976]. Keywords: Numerical methods, special functions, hypergeometric functions, Appell functions, Gauss function Nature of the physical problem: Computing the Appell F1 function is relevant in atomic collisions and elementary particle physics. It is usually the result of multidimensional integrals involving Coulomb continuum states. Method of solution: The F1 function has a convergent-series definition for | x|<1 and | y|<1, and several analytic continuations for other regions of the variable space. The code tests the values of the variables and selects one of the precedent cases. In the convergence region the program uses the series definition near the origin of coordinates, and a numerical integration of the third-order differential parametric equation for the F1 function. Also detects several special cases according to the values of the parameters. Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: The code is restricted to real values of the variables { x, y}. Also, there are some parameter domains that are not covered. These usually imply differences between integer parameters that lead to negative integer arguments of Gamma functions. Typical running time: Depends basically on the variables. The computation of Table 4 of [F.D. Colavecchia et al., Comput. Phys. Comm. 138 (1) (2001) 29] (64 functions) requires approximately 0.33 s in a Athlon 900 MHz processor.

Characterization of a minimal pKW2124 replicon from Weissella cibaria KLC140 and its application for the construction of the Weissella expression vector pKUCm1

PubMed Central

Ku, Hye-Jin; Park, Myeong Soo; Lee, Ju-Hoon

2015-01-01

A 2.1-kb plasmid was previously isolated from Weissella cibaria KLC140 in kimchi and cloned into pUC19 along with the slpA and gfp genes, resulting in an 8.6-kb pKWCSLGFP construct for use as a novel surface display vector. To reduce the size of the vector, the minimal replicon of pKW2124 was determined. The pKW2124 plasmid contains a putative origin of replication (ori), a potential ribosomal binding site (RBS), and the repA gene encoding a plasmid replication protein. To conduct the minimal replicon experiment, four different PCR products (MR1, ori+RBS+repA; MR2, RBS+repA; MR2’, repA; MR3, fragment of repA) were obtained and cloned into pUC19 (pKUCm1, pKUCm2, pKUCm2’, and pKUCm3, respectively) containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. These constructed vectors were electroporated into W. confusa ATCC 10881 with different transformation efficiencies of 1.5 × 105 CFU/μg, 1.3 × 101 CFU/μg, and no transformation, respectively, suggesting that the putative ori, RBS, and repA gene are essential for optimum plasmid replication. Subsequent segregational plasmid stability testing of pKUCm1 and pKUCm2 showed that the vector pKUCm1 is highly stable up to 100 generations but pKUCm2 was completely lost after 60 generations, suggesting that the putative ori may be important for plasmid stability in the host strain. In addition, a host range test of pKUCm1 revealed that it has a broad host range spectrum including Weissella, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and even Lactobacillus. To verify the application of pKUCm1, the β-galactosidase gene and its promoter region from W. cibaria KSD1 were cloned in the vector, resulting in pKUGal. Expression of the β-galactosidase gene was confirmed using blue-white screening after IPTG induction. The small and stable pKUGal vector will be useful for gene transfer, expression, and manipulation in the Weissella genome and in other lactic acid bacteria. PMID:25691882

WREP: A wavelet-based technique for extracting the red edge position from reflectance spectra for estimating leaf and canopy chlorophyll contents of cereal crops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dong; Cheng, Tao; Zhou, Kai; Zheng, Hengbiao; Yao, Xia; Tian, Yongchao; Zhu, Yan; Cao, Weixing

2017-07-01

Red edge position (REP), defined as the wavelength of the inflexion point in the red edge region (680-760 nm) of the reflectance spectrum, has been widely used to estimate foliar chlorophyll content from reflectance spectra. A number of techniques have been developed for REP extraction in the past three decades, but most of them require data-specific parameterization and the consistence of their performance from leaf to canopy levels remains poorly understood. In this study, we propose a new technique (WREP) to extract REPs based on the application of continuous wavelet transform to reflectance spectra. The REP is determined by the zero-crossing wavelength in the red edge region of a wavelet transformed spectrum for a number of scales of wavelet decomposition. The new technique is simple to implement and requires no parameterization from the user as long as continuous wavelet transforms are applied to reflectance spectra. Its performance was evaluated for estimating leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) of cereal crops (i.e. rice and wheat) and compared with traditional techniques including linear interpolation, linear extrapolation, polynomial fitting and inverted Gaussian. Our results demonstrated that WREP obtained the best estimation accuracy for both LCC and CCC as compared to traditional techniques. High scales of wavelet decomposition were favorable for the estimation of CCC and low scales for the estimation of LCC. The difference in optimal scale reveals the underlying mechanism of signature transfer from leaf to canopy levels. In addition, crop-specific models were required for the estimation of CCC over the full range. However, a common model could be built with the REPs extracted with Scale 5 of the WREP technique for wheat and rice crops when CCC was less than 2 g/m2 (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 0.26 g/m2). This insensitivity of WREP to crop type indicates the potential for aerial mapping of chlorophyll content between growth seasons of cereal crops. The new REP extraction technique provides us a new insight for understanding the spectral changes in the red edge region in response to chlorophyll variation from leaf to canopy levels.

Sub-Committee on Advanced Technology and Technology Transfer

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-11-01

TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER Mr. Lohar IBRLJGGER (Fed. Rep. of Germany ) Rapporteur In aauwdmnce uWWIA t&ic 3G4 fanzgph 3, ’of Ath Rules O’Prw... Germany , SPO) Members : Mr. Joao Ferraz de Abreu (Portugal, PS) Mr. Robert Aumont (France, PS) Mr. Ton van Deemelen (Netherlands, VVD) Mr. Jos van...Rep,. of, Germany , CU Mr. Jorgen Sonstebo (Norway, Christian People’s Party) International Secretariat I’...’ Mr. David Hobbs, Director, Scientific

75 FR 43551 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mohave County Wind...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-26

... Dam. The project will consist of up to 335 wind turbine generators (WTGs). Construction may consist of... County Wind Farm Project, Mohave County, AZ AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice....gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.html . In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments...

78 FR 57877 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maricopa Solar...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-20

... Park Project, a photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant with a planned generating capacity of up to 300...; AZA35927] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maricopa Solar... site at http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/solar/maricopa-solar.html . In order to be included in...

INDUCTION OF 6-THIOGUANINE RESISTANCE IN SYNTHRONIZED HUMAN FIBROBLAST CELLS TREATED WITH METHYL METHANESULFONATE, N-ACETOXY-2-ACETHYLAMINOFLUORENE AND N-METHYL-N'-NITRO-N-NITROSOGUANIDINE

EPA Science Inventory

Chemical induction of 6-thioguanine resistance was studied in synchronized human fibroblast cells. Cells initially grown in a medium lacking arginine and glutamine for 24 h ceased DNA synthesis and failed to enter the S phase. After introduction of complete medium, the cells prog...

76 FR 66747 - Notice of Availability of the Northern Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final Environmental Impact...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-27

... on the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/mining/timeout.html . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION... million acres of Federal locatable minerals in northern Arizona from location and entry under the Mining Law of 1872, (30 U.S.C. 22-54) (Mining Law), subject to valid existing rights, by the Secretary of the...

A Theory of Electromagnetic Shielding with Applications to MIL-STD-285, IEEE-299, and EMP Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-02-01

in a building sized enclosure slot-like discontinuities may not all be small compar- ed to all wavelengths in the incident field, and slot resonan ...OFFICE OF RESEARCH/ NPP US AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND ATTN STATE & LOCAL PROG SUPPORT O ATTN KKO 500 C STREET, SW ATTN KRQ WASHINGTON, DC 20472 ATTN XPOW

77 FR 2317 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Northern Arizona Proposed Withdrawal

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-17

... Plan for the Arizona Strip Field Office and Forest plans for the Kaibab National Forest would be... Internet at http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/mining/timeout/rod.html . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT... General Mining Law 1,006,545 acres of Federal land and interests in land in the vicinity of the Grand...

USAF/SCEEE Summer Faculty Research Program (1979). Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

Summer Faculty Research Program participants. The program designed to stimulate ’Ilk scientific and engineering interaction between university faculty...Prog., Dept. of Industrial Engineering Facility design and location theory University of Oklahoma and routing and distribution systems 202 W. Boyd...Theory & Assistant Professor of Management Adninistration, 1975 University of Akron S.ec aIty: Organization Design Akron, OH 44325 Assigned: AFBRMC

Effect of feeding flax or linseed meal on progesterone clearance rate in ovariectomized ewes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ovariectomized ewes (n = 22; 68.76 ± 2.34 kg initial body weight; 2.9 ± 0.1 initial body condition score) were individually fed one of three diets: 1) Control (phytoestrogen-free; n = 7), 2) Flax containing diet (n = 8), or 3) linseed meal (LSM) containing diet (n =7) to investigate the rate of prog...

Site-Specific Dynamics of β-Sheet Peptides with (D) Pro-Gly Turns Probed by Laser-Excited Temperature-Jump Infrared Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Popp, Alexander; Scheerer, David; Chi, Heng; Keiderling, Timothy A; Hauser, Karin

2016-05-04

Turn residues and side-chain interactions play an important role for the folding of β-sheets. We investigated the conformational dynamics of a three-stranded β-sheet peptide ((D) P(D) P) and a two-stranded β-hairpin (WVYY-(D) P) by time-resolved temperature-jump (T-jump) infrared spectroscopy. Both peptide sequences contain (D) Pro-Gly residues that favor a tight β-turn. The three-stranded β-sheet (Ac-VFITS(D) PGKTYTEV(D) PGOKILQ-NH2 ) is stabilized by the turn sequences, whereas the β-hairpin (SWTVE(D) PGKYTYK-NH2 ) folding is assisted by both the turn sequence and hydrophobic cross-strand interactions. Relaxation times after the T-jump were monitored as a function of temperature and occur on a sub-microsecond time scale, (D) P(D) P being faster than WVYY-(D) P. The Xxx-(D) Pro tertiary amide provides a detectable IR band, allowing us to probe the dynamics site-specifically. The relative importance of the turn versus the intrastrand stability in β-sheet formation is discussed. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Comparative analysis of operational forecasts versus actual weather conditions in airline flight planning, volume 4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keitz, J. F.

1982-01-01

The impact of more timely and accurate weather data on airline flight planning with the emphasis on fuel savings is studied. This volume of the report discusses the results of Task 4 of the four major tasks included in the study. Task 4 uses flight plan segment wind and temperature differences as indicators of dates and geographic areas for which significant forecast errors may have occurred. An in-depth analysis is then conducted for the days identified. The analysis show that significant errors occur in the operational forecast on 15 of the 33 arbitrarily selected days included in the study. Wind speeds in an area of maximum winds are underestimated by at least 20 to 25 kts. on 14 of these days. The analysis also show that there is a tendency to repeat the same forecast errors from prog to prog. Also, some perceived forecast errors from the flight plan comparisons could not be verified by visual inspection of the corresponding National Meteorological Center forecast and analyses charts, and it is likely that they are the result of weather data interpolation techniques or some other data processing procedure in the airlines' flight planning systems.

[Effect of progesterone on the expression of GLUT in the brain following hypoxic-ischemia in newborn rats].

PubMed

Li, Dong-Liang; Han, Hua

2008-08-01

To investigate the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in the hippocampus after cerebral hypoxic-ischemia (HI) in newborn rats and the effect of progesterone (PROG) on them. Forty newborn SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, sham-operated group, hypoxic-ischemic group and progesterone group. Model of hypoxic-ischemia encephalopathy (HIE) was established in the 7-day-old newborn SD rats. Immunohistochemical method was applied to detect the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in hippocampus. GLUT1 and GLUT3 were slightly seen in normal and sham operation group, there was no obviously difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in hypoxic-ischemia group were all higher than that in sham operated group (P < 0.05). Not only the expression of GLUT in progesterone group were significantly higher than that in sham operated group (P < 0.01), but also than that in hypoxic-ischemia group (P < 0.05). PROG could increase the tolerance of neuron to hypoxic-ischemia with maintaining the energy supply in the brain by up-regulating GLUT expression.

Sample size, library composition, and genotypic diversity among natural populations of Escherichia coli from different animals influence accuracy of determining sources of fecal pollution.

PubMed

Johnson, LeeAnn K; Brown, Mary B; Carruthers, Ethan A; Ferguson, John A; Dombek, Priscilla E; Sadowsky, Michael J

2004-08-01

A horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced, repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (rep-PCR) DNA fingerprinting technique (HFERP) was developed and evaluated as a means to differentiate human from animal sources of Escherichia coli. Box A1R primers and PCR were used to generate 2,466 rep-PCR and 1,531 HFERP DNA fingerprints from E. coli strains isolated from fecal material from known human and 12 animal sources: dogs, cats, horses, deer, geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. HFERP DNA fingerprinting reduced within-gel grouping of DNA fingerprints and improved alignment of DNA fingerprints between gels, relative to that achieved using rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting. Jackknife analysis of the complete rep-PCR DNA fingerprint library, done using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, indicated that animal and human isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with an 82.2% average rate of correct classification. However, when only unique isolates were examined, isolates from a single animal having a unique DNA fingerprint, Jackknife analysis showed that isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with a 60.5% average rate of correct classification. The percentages of correctly classified isolates were about 15 and 17% greater for rep-PCR and HFERP, respectively, when analyses were done using the curve-based Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, rather than the band-based Jaccard algorithm. Rarefaction analysis indicated that, despite the relatively large size of the known-source database, genetic diversity in E. coli was very great and is most likely accounting for our inability to correctly classify many environmental E. coli isolates. Our data indicate that removal of duplicate genotypes within DNA fingerprint libraries, increased database size, proper methods of statistical analysis, and correct alignment of band data within and between gels improve the accuracy of microbial source tracking methods.

Molecular Characterization of Vibrio cholerae Isolated From Clinical Samples in Kurdistan Province, Iran.

PubMed

Ramazanzadeh, Rashid; Rouhi, Samaneh; Shakib, Pegah; Shahbazi, Babak; Bidarpour, Farzam; Karimi, Mohammad

2015-05-01

Vibrio cholerae causes diarrhoeal disease that afflicts thousands of people annually. V. cholerae is classified on the basis of somatic antigens into serovars or serogroups and there are at least 200 known serogroup. Two serogroups, O1 and O139 have been associated with epidemic diseases. Virulence genes of these bacteria are OmpW, ctxA and tcpA. Due to the importance of V. cholerae infection and developing molecular diagnostics of this organism in medical and microbiology sciences, this study aimed to describe molecular characterization of V. cholerae isolated from clinical samples using a molecular method. In this study, 48 samples were provided during summer 2013 (late August and early September) by reference laboratory. Samples were assessed using biochemical tests initially. The primer of OmpW, ctxA and tcpA genes was used in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) protocols. Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR and Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic (REP)-PCR methods were used to subtype V. cholerae. In this study, from a total of 48 clinical stool samples 39 (81.2 %) were positive for V. cholerae in biochemical tests and bacteria culture tests. The PCR results showed that of 39 positive isolates 35 (89.7%), 34 (87.1%) and 37 (94.8%) were positive for ctxA, tcpA and OmpW gene, respectively. Also, in the REP-PCR method with ERIC primer strains were divided into 10 groups. In the REP-PCR method with REP primer, strains were divided into 13 groups. Polymerase chain reaction has specificity and accuracy for identification of the organism and is able to differentiate biotypes. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence is one of the informative and discriminative methods for the analysis of V. cholerae diversity. The REP-PCR is a less informative and discriminative method compared to other methods for the analysis of V. cholerae diversity.

AAVS1-Targeted Plasmid Integration in AAV Producer Cell Lines.

PubMed

Luo, Yuxia; Frederick, Amy; Martin, John M; Scaria, Abraham; Cheng, Seng H; Armentano, Donna; Wadsworth, Samuel C; Vincent, Karen A

2017-06-01

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) producer cell lines are created via transfection of HeLaS3 cells with a single plasmid containing three components (the vector sequence, the AAV rep and cap genes, and a selectable marker gene). As this plasmid contains both the cis (Rep binding sites) and trans (Rep protein encoded by the rep gene) elements required for site-specific integration, it was predicted that plasmid integration might occur within the AAVS1 locus on human chromosome 19 (chr19). The objective of this study was to investigate whether integration in AAVS1 might be correlated with vector yield. Plasmid integration sites within several independent cell lines were assessed via Southern, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and PCR analyses. In the Southern analyses, the presence of fragments detected by both rep- and AAVS1-specific probes suggested that for several mid- and high-producing lines, plasmid DNA had integrated into the AAVS1 locus. Analysis with puroR and AAVS1-specific probes suggested that integration in AAVS1 was a more widespread phenomenon. High-producing AAV2-secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) lines (masterwell 82 [MW82] and MW278) were evaluated via FISH using probes specific for the plasmid, AAVS1, and a chr19 marker. FISH analysis detected two plasmid integration sites in MW278 (neither in AAVS1), while a total of three sites were identified in MW82 (two in AAVS1). An inverse PCR assay confirmed integration within AAVS1 for several mid- and high-producing lines. In summary, the FISH, Southern, and PCR data provide evidence of site-specific integration of the plasmid within AAVS1 in several AAV producer cell lines. The data also suggest that integration in AAVS1 is a general phenomenon that is not necessarily restricted to high producers. The results also suggest that plasmid integration within the AAVS1 locus is not an absolute requirement for a high vector yield.

The HIP1 initiator element plays a role in determining the in vitro requirement of the dihydrofolate reductase gene promoter for the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II.

PubMed

Buermeyer, A B; Thompson, N E; Strasheim, L A; Burgess, R R; Farnham, P J

1992-05-01

We examined the ability of purified RNA polymerase (RNAP) II lacking the carboxy-terminal heptapeptide repeat domain (CTD), called RNAP IIB, to transcribe a variety of promoters in HeLa extracts in which endogenous RNAP II activity was inhibited with anti-CTD monoclonal antibodies. Not all promoters were efficiently transcribed by RNAP IIB, and transcription did not correlate with the in vitro strength of the promoter or with the presence of a consensus TATA box. This was best illustrated by the GC-rich, non-TATA box promoters of the bidirectional dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-REP-encoding locus. Whereas the REP promoter was transcribed by RNAP IIB, the DHFR promoter remained inactive after addition of RNAP IIB to the antibody-inhibited reactions. However, both promoters were efficiently transcribed when purified RNAP with an intact CTD was added. We analyzed a series of promoter deletions to identify which cis elements determine the requirement for the CTD of RNAP II. All of the promoter deletions of both DHFR and REP retained the characteristics of their respective full-length promoters, suggesting that the information necessary to specify the requirement for the CTD is contained within approximately 65 bp near the initiation site. Furthermore, a synthetic minimal promoter of DHFR, consisting of a single binding site for Sp1 and a binding site for the HIP1 initiator cloned into a bacterial vector sequence, required RNAP II with an intact CTD for activity in vitro. Since the synthetic minimal promoter of DHFR and the smallest REP promoter deletion are both activated by Sp1, the differential response in this assay does not result from upstream activators. However, the sequences around the start sites of DHFR and REP are not similar and our data suggest that they bind different proteins. Therefore, we propose that specific initiator elements are important for determination of the requirement of some promoters for the CTD.

Molecular analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated in Lebanon using four different typing methods.

PubMed

Rafei, Rayane; Dabboussi, Fouad; Hamze, Monzer; Eveillard, Matthieu; Lemarié, Carole; Gaultier, Marie-Pierre; Mallat, Hassan; Moghnieh, Rima; Husni-Samaha, Rola; Joly-Guillou, Marie-Laure; Kempf, Marie

2014-01-01

This study analyzed 42 Acinetobacter baumannii strains collected between 2009-2012 from different hospitals in Beyrouth and North Lebanon to better understand the epidemiology and carbapenem resistance mechanisms in our collection and to compare the robustness of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and blaOXA-51 sequence-based typing (SBT). Among 31 carbapenem resistant strains, we have detected three carbapenem resistance genes: 28 carried the blaOXA-23 gene, 1 the blaOXA-24 gene and 2 strains the blaOXA-58 gene. This is the first detection of blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-24 in Lebanon. PFGE identified 11 types and was the most discriminating technique followed by rep-PCR (9 types), blaOXA-51 SBT (8 types) and MLST (7 types). The PFGE type A'/ST2 was the dominant genotype in our collection present in Beyrouth and North Lebanon. The clustering agreement between all techniques was measured by adjust Wallace coefficient. An overall agreement has been demonstrated. High values of adjust Wallace coefficient were found with followed combinations: PFGE to predict MLST types  = 100%, PFGE to predict blaOXA-51 SBT = 100%, blaOXA-51 SBT to predict MLST = 100%, MLST to predict blaOXA-51 SBT = 84.7%, rep-PCR to predict MLST = 81.5%, PFGE to predict rep-PCR = 69% and rep-PCR to predict blaOXA-51 SBT = 67.2%. PFGE and MLST are gold standard methods for outbreaks investigation and population structure studies respectively. Otherwise, these two techniques are technically, time and cost demanding. We recommend the use of blaOXA-51 SBT as first typing method to screen isolates and assign them to their corresponding clonal lineages. Repetitive sequence-based PCR is a rapid tool to access outbreaks but careful interpretation of results must be always performed.

Genetic Factors that Affect Tumorigenesis in NF1

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-11-01

Genetica Medica, Universita di Padova, Padova, Italy, 4Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14... conditions as described. We do not know the frequency of false results in a 1.5 Mb rearrangement, yet the NF1REP is over positives nor how it might be...affected by minor alterations in twice the length of the CMT1A-REP. Both rearrangements assay conditions . It is possible that this recombination is a low

Conversations with Rep. Ken Calvert. Interview by Frank Sietzen Jr.

PubMed

Calvert, Ken

2005-07-01

Rep. Calvert, chair of the House aeronautics and space subcommittee of the Science Committee, answers questions related to priorities for space in the current congressional session: the Vision for Space Exploration, development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and other heavy-lift launch vehicles, entrepreneurial alliances in the space transportation industry, the U.S. aerospace industry, space tourism, entrepreneurs and NASA, U.S. aeronautics research, a service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, and priority military space programs.

The Effects of US Army Chemical Protective Clothing on Speech Intelligibility, Visual Field, Body Mobility and Psychomotor Coordination of Men

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

soldiers wearing NBC clothing in hot/humid and hot/dry climates (Report MRL-R-826).Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia : Materials Research Laboratories...Development and Engineering Center. 47. White, R.M. and Churchill, E. (1971). The body size of soldier-: U.S. Army anthropometry - 1966 (Tech. Rep. 72... Anthropometry of U.S. Army aviators - 1970 (Tech. Rep. 72-52-CE). Natick, MA: US Army Natick Laboratories. (AD 743 528) 112 ,7 r4 r

Interactions of Ultracold Impurity Particles with Bose-Einstein Condensates

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-23

Lukin et al ., Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 037901 (2001). [2] D. Jaksch et al ., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2208 (2000). [3] L. Isenhower et al ., Phys. Rev. Lett...104, 010503 (2010). [4] T. Wilk et al ., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 010502 (2010). [5] I. Mourachko et al ., Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 253 (1998). [6] W. R...Phys. 12, 103044 (2010). [12] R. M. W. van Bijnen et al ., J. Phys. B 44, 184008 (2011). [13] I. Lesanovsky, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 025301 (2011). [14] E

Evaluation of anthropometric, physiological, and skill-related tests for talent identification in female field hockey.

PubMed

Keogh, Justin W L; Weber, Clare L; Dalton, Carl T

2003-06-01

The purpose of the present study was to develop an effective testing battery for female field hockey by using anthropometric, physiological, and skill-related tests to distinguish between regional representative (Rep, n = 35) and local club level (Club, n = 39) female field hockey players. Rep players were significantly leaner and recorded faster times for the 10-m and 40-m sprints as well as the Illinois Agility Run (with and without dribbling a hockey ball). Rep players also had greater aerobic and lower body muscular power and were more accurate in the shooting accuracy test, p < 0.05. No significant differences between groups were evident for height, body mass, speed decrement in 6 x 40-m repeated sprints, handgrip strength, or pushing speed. These results indicate that %BF, sprinting speed, agility, dribbling control, aerobic and muscular power, and shooting accuracy can distinguish between female field hockey players of varying standards. Therefore talent identification programs for female field hockey should include assessments of these physical parameters.

Novel RepA-MCM proteins encoded in plasmids pTAU4, pORA1 and pTIK4 from Sulfolobus neozealandicus

PubMed Central

Greve, Bo; Jensen, Susanne; Phan, Hoa; Brügger, Kim; Zillig, Wolfram; She, Qunxin; Garrett, Roger A.

2005-01-01

Three plasmids isolated from the crenarchaeal thermoacidophile Sulfolobus neozealandicus were characterized. Plasmids pTAU4 (7,192 bp), pORA1 (9,689 bp) and pTIK4 (13,638 bp) show unusual properties that distinguish them from previously characterized cryptic plasmids of the genus Sulfolobus. Plasmids pORA1 and pTIK4 encode RepA proteins, only the former of which carries the novel polymerase–primase domain of other known Sulfolobus plasmids. Plasmid pTAU4 encodes a mini-chromosome maintenance protein homolog and no RepA protein; the implications for DNA replication are considered. Plasmid pORA1 is the first Sulfolobus plasmid to be characterized that does not encode the otherwise highly conserved DNA-binding PlrA protein. Another encoded protein appears to be specific for the New Zealand plasmids. The three plasmids should provide useful model systems for functional studies of these important crenarchaeal proteins. PMID:15876565

Drug reps and the academic medical center: a case for management rather than prohibition.

PubMed

Huddle, Thomas S

2008-01-01

Abstract:Academic physicians and bioethicists are increasingly voicing objections to "drug rep" detailing. Leaders in academic medical centers are considering proposals to ban the small gifts of detailing within their walls. Such bans would be a mistake, as the small gifts are unlikely to act as bribes and do not create unacceptable conflicts of interest for physicians. Drug rep detailing does influence physician behavior, but this influence has not been shown to be harmful. Calls for a ban are premised on empirical evidence for harm that is inconclusive at best, and emerging literature in economics suggests that detailing may well be socially beneficial. A preponderance of harm over benefit is not, however, the primary source of the animus against detailing, which stems from moral considerations that are independent of its social consequences. However, pharmaceutical advertising, including detailing, is a morally legitimate aspect of the world of medical practice that we in academic medicine ought to be preparing our trainees to encounter and properly sift.

Robotic extended pyelolithotomy for treatment of renal calculi: a feasibility study.

PubMed

Badani, Ketan K; Hemal, Ashok K; Fumo, Michael; Kaul, Sanjeev; Shrivastava, Alok; Rajendram, Arumuga Kumar; Yusoff, Noor Ashani; Sundram, Murali; Woo, Susan; Peabody, James O; Mohamed, Sahabudin Raja; Menon, Mani

2006-06-01

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the treatment of choice for staghorn renal calculi. Many reports suggest that laparoscopy can be an alternative treatment for large renal stones. We wished to evaluate the role and feasibility of laparoscopic extended pyelolithotomy (REP) for treatment of staghorn calculi. Thirteen patients underwent REP for treatment of staghorn calculi over a 12-day period. Twelve patients had partial staghorn stones and one had a complete staghorn stone. All patients had pre-operative and post-operative imaging including KUB and computed tomography. All procedures were completed robotically without conversion to laparoscopy or open surgery. Mean operative time was 158 min and mean robotic console time was 108 min. Complete stone removal was accomplished in all patients except the one with a complete staghorn calculus. Estimated blood loss was 100 cc, and no patient required post-operative transfusion. REP is an effective treatment alternative to PCNL in some patients with staghorn calculi. However, patients with complete staghorn stones are not suitable candidates for this particular technique.

Structure-guided mutagenesis reveals a hierarchical mechanism of Parkin activation

PubMed Central

Tang, Matthew Y.; Vranas, Marta; Krahn, Andrea I.; Pundlik, Shayal; Trempe, Jean- François; Fon, Edward A.

2017-01-01

Parkin and PINK1 function in a common pathway to clear damaged mitochondria. Parkin exists in an auto-inhibited conformation stabilized by multiple interdomain interactions. The binding of PINK1-generated phospho-ubiquitin and the phosphorylation of the ubiquitin-like (Ubl) domain of Parkin at Ser65 release its auto-inhibition, but how and when these events take place in cells remain to be defined. Here we show that mutations that we designed to activate Parkin by releasing the Repressor Element of Parkin (REP) domain, or by disrupting the interface between the RING0:RING2 domains, can completely rescue mutations in the Parkin Ubl that are defective in mitochondrial autophagy. Using a FRET reporter assay we show that Parkin undergoes a conformational change upon phosphorylation that can be mimicked by mutating Trp403 in the REP. We propose a hierarchical model whereby pUb binding on mitochondria enables Parkin phosphorylation, which, in turn, leads to REP removal, E3 ligase activation and mitophagy. PMID:28276439

Structure-guided mutagenesis reveals a hierarchical mechanism of Parkin activation.

PubMed

Tang, Matthew Y; Vranas, Marta; Krahn, Andrea I; Pundlik, Shayal; Trempe, Jean-François; Fon, Edward A

2017-03-09

Parkin and PINK1 function in a common pathway to clear damaged mitochondria. Parkin exists in an auto-inhibited conformation stabilized by multiple interdomain interactions. The binding of PINK1-generated phospho-ubiquitin and the phosphorylation of the ubiquitin-like (Ubl) domain of Parkin at Ser65 release its auto-inhibition, but how and when these events take place in cells remain to be defined. Here we show that mutations that we designed to activate Parkin by releasing the Repressor Element of Parkin (REP) domain, or by disrupting the interface between the RING0:RING2 domains, can completely rescue mutations in the Parkin Ubl that are defective in mitochondrial autophagy. Using a FRET reporter assay we show that Parkin undergoes a conformational change upon phosphorylation that can be mimicked by mutating Trp403 in the REP. We propose a hierarchical model whereby pUb binding on mitochondria enables Parkin phosphorylation, which, in turn, leads to REP removal, E3 ligase activation and mitophagy.

Microsatellite diversity of isolates of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus.

PubMed

Otsen, M; Plas, M E; Lenstra, J A; Roos, M H; Hoekstra, R

2000-09-01

The alarming development of anthelmintic resistance in important gastrointestinal nematode parasites of man and live-stock is caused by selection for specific genotypes. In order to provide genetic tools to study the nematode populations and the consequences of anthelmintic treatment, we isolated and sequenced 59 microsatellites of the sheep and goat parasite Haemonchus contortus. These microsatellites consist typically of 2-10 tandems CA/GT repeats that are interrupted by sequences of 1-10 bp. A predominant cause of the imperfect structure of the microsatellites appeared mutations of G/C bp in the tandem repeat. About 44% of the microsatellites were associated with the HcREP1 direct repeat, and it was demonstrated that a generic HcREP1 primer could be used to amplify HcREP1-associated microsatellites. Thirty microsatellites could be typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of which 27 were polymorphic. A number of these markers were used to detect genetic contamination of an experimental inbred population. The microsatellites may also contribute to the genetic mapping of drug resistance genes.

Bean Yellow Dwarf Virus replicons for high-level transgene expression in transgenic plants and cell cultures.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiuren; Mason, Hugh

2006-02-05

A novel stable transgenic plant expression system was developed using elements of the replication machinery of Bean Yellow Dwarf Virus (BeYDV). The system contains two transgenes: 1) The BeYDV replicon vector with an expression cassette flanked by cis-acting DNA elements of BeYDV, and 2) The viral replication initiator protein (Rep) controlled by an alcohol-inducible promoter. When Rep expression was triggered by treatment with ethanol, it induced release of the BeYDV replicon from stably integrated T-DNA and episomal replication to high copy number. Replicon amplification resulted in substantially increased transgene mRNA levels (up to 80-fold) and translation products (up to 10-fold) after induction of Rep expression by ethanol treatment in tobacco NT1 cells and leaves of whole potato plants. Thus, the BeYDV stable transformant replicon system is a powerful tool for plant-based production of recombinant proteins. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Heterologous Protein Secretion in Lactobacilli with Modified pSIP Vectors

PubMed Central

Karlskås, Ingrid Lea; Maudal, Kristina; Axelsson, Lars; Rud, Ida; Eijsink, Vincent G. H.; Mathiesen, Geir

2014-01-01

We describe new variants of the modular pSIP-vectors for inducible gene expression and protein secretion in lactobacilli. The basic functionality of the pSIP system was tested in Lactobacillus strains representing 14 species using pSIP411, which harbors the broad-host-range Lactococcus lactis SH71rep replicon and a β-glucuronidase encoding reporter gene. In 10 species, the inducible gene expression system was functional. Based on these results, three pSIP vectors with different signal peptides were modified by replacing their narrow-host-range L. plantarum 256rep replicon with SH71rep and transformed into strains of five different species of Lactobacillus. All recombinant strains secreted the target protein NucA, albeit with varying production levels and secretion efficiencies. The Lp_3050 derived signal peptide generally resulted in the highest levels of secreted NucA. These modified pSIP vectors are useful tools for engineering a wide variety of Lactobacillus species. PMID:24614815

Novel, non-symbiotic isolates of Neorhizobium from a dryland agricultural soil.

PubMed

Soenens, Amalia; Imperial, Juan

2018-01-01

Semi-selective enrichment, followed by PCR screening, resulted in the successful direct isolation of fast-growing Rhizobia from a dryland agricultural soil. Over 50% of these isolates belong to the genus Neorhizobium , as concluded from partial rpoB and near-complete 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Further genotypic and genomic analysis of five representative isolates confirmed that they form a coherent group within Neorhizobium , closer to N. galegae than to the remaining Neorhizobium species, but clearly differentiated from the former, and constituting at least one new genomospecies within Neorhizobium. All the isolates lacked nod and nif symbiotic genes but contained a repABC replication/maintenance region, characteristic of rhizobial plasmids, within large contigs from their draft genome sequences. These repABC sequences were related, but not identical, to repABC sequences found in symbiotic plasmids from N. galegae , suggesting that the non-symbiotic isolates have the potential to harbor symbiotic plasmids. This is the first report of non-symbiotic members of Neorhizobium from soil.

Characterization of a cryptic plasmid from an alpha-proteobacterial endosymbiont of Amoeba proteus.

PubMed

Park, Miey; Kim, Min-Soo; Lee, Kyung-Min; Hwang, Sue-Yun; Ahn, Tae In

2009-01-01

A new cryptic plasmid pAP3.9 was discovered in symbiotic alpha-proteobacteria present in the cytoplasm of Amoeba proteus. The plasmid is 3869bp with a GC content of 34.66% and contains replication origins for both double-strand (dso) and single-strand (sso). It has three putative ORFs encoding Mob, Rep and phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGPase). The pAP3.9 plasmid appears to propagate by the conjugative rolling-circle replication (RCR), since it contains all required factors such as Rep, sso and dso. Mob and Rep showed highest similarities to those of the cryptic plasmid pBMYdx in Bacillus mycoides. The PGPase was homologous to that of Bacillus cereus and formed a clade with those of Bacillus sp. in molecular phylogeny. These results imply that the pAP3.9 plasmid evolved by the passage through Bacillus species. We hypothesize that the plasmid-encoded PGPase may have contributed to the establishment of bacterial symbiosis within the hostile environment of amoeba cytoplasm.

A sequence of basic residues in the porcine circovirus type 2 capsid protein is crucial for its co-expression and co-localization with the replication protein.

PubMed

Huang, Liping; Van Renne, Nicolaas; Liu, Changming; Nauwynck, Hans J

2015-12-01

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) encodes two major proteins: the replication protein (Rep) and the capsid protein (Cap). Cap displays a conserved stretch of basic residues situated on the inside of the capsid, whose role is so far unknown. We used a reverse-genetics approach to investigate its function and found that mutations in these amino acids hindered Cap mRNA translation and hampered Cap/Rep co-localization, yielding unfit viruses. Intriguingly, co-transfection with a WT PCV2 of a different genotype partially rescued mutant Cap expression, showing the importance of this basic pattern for efficient translation of Cap mRNA into protein. Our results show that Cap and Rep are expressed independently of each other, and that this amino acid sequence of Cap is vital for virus propagation. This study provides a method for studying unfit PCV2 virions and offers new insights into the intracellular modus vivendi of PCV2.