Dual-angle technique for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on a surface plasmon resonance sensor.

PubMed

Luo, Wei; Chen, Sheng; Chen, Lei; Li, Hualong; Miao, Pengcheng; Gao, Huiyi; Hu, Zelin; Li, Miao

2017-05-29

We describe a theoretical model to analyze temperature effects on the Kretschmann surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, and describe a new double-incident angle technique to simultaneously measure changes in refractive index (RI) and temperature. The method uses the observation that output signals obtained from two different incident angles each have a linear dependence on RI and temperature, and are independent. A proof-of-concept experiment using different NaCl concentration solutions as analytes demonstrates the ability of the technique. The optical design is as simple and robust as conventional SPR detection, but provides a way to discriminate between RI-induced and temperature-induced SPR changes. This technique facilitates a way for traditional SPR sensors to detect RI in different temperature environments, and may lead to better design and fabrication of SPR sensors against temperature variation.

Low-temperature sensitivity periodically tapered photonic crystal-fiber-based refractometer.

PubMed

Wang, Pengfei; Bo, Lin; Guan, Chunying; Semenova, Yuliya; Wu, Qiang; Brambilla, Gilberto; Farrell, Gerald

2013-10-01

In this Letter, an all-fiber refractometer with a simple configuration of periodical tapers on a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed and investigated experimentally. The proposed fiber refractive index (RI) sensor consists of a PCF sandwiched between two standard single-mode fibers, with tapers periodically fabricated along the PCF using a CO(2) laser beam focused by a ZnSe cylindrical lens. The proposed fiber sensor can be used for RI sensing by measuring the wavelength shift of the multimode interference dip over the transmission spectrum. An average sensitivity of 222 nm/RIU has been experimentally achieved over a RI range from 1.33 to 1.38. The proposed refractometer is also significantly less sensitive to temperature, and an experimental demonstration of this reduced sensitivity is presented. The proposed RI sensor benefits from simplicity and low-cost and achieves a competitive sensitivity compared with other existing fiber-optic sensors.

RiPPAS: A Ring-Based Privacy-Preserving Aggregation Scheme in Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Zhang, Kejia; Han, Qilong; Cai, Zhipeng; Yin, Guisheng

2017-01-01

Recently, data privacy in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has been paid increased attention. The characteristics of WSNs determine that users’ queries are mainly aggregation queries. In this paper, the problem of processing aggregation queries in WSNs with data privacy preservation is investigated. A Ring-based Privacy-Preserving Aggregation Scheme (RiPPAS) is proposed. RiPPAS adopts ring structure to perform aggregation. It uses pseudonym mechanism for anonymous communication and uses homomorphic encryption technique to add noise to the data easily to be disclosed. RiPPAS can handle both sum() queries and min()/max() queries, while the existing privacy-preserving aggregation methods can only deal with sum() queries. For processing sum() queries, compared with the existing methods, RiPPAS has advantages in the aspects of privacy preservation and communication efficiency, which can be proved by theoretical analysis and simulation results. For processing min()/max() queries, RiPPAS provides effective privacy preservation and has low communication overhead. PMID:28178197

High-sensitivity temperature sensor based on highly-birefringent microfiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Li-Peng; Li, Jie; Jin, Long; Gao, Shuai; Tian, Zhuang; Ran, Yang; Guan, Bai-Ou

2013-09-01

We demonstrate an ultrasensitive temperature sensor by sealing a highly-birefringent microfiber into an alcoholinfiltrated copper capillary. With a Sagnac loop configuration, the interferometric spectrum is strongly dependent on the external refractive index (RI) with sensitivity of 36800nm/RIU around RI=1.356. As mainly derived from the ultrahigh RI sensitivity, the temperature response can reach as high as -14.72 nm/°C in the range of 30.9-36.9 °C. The measured response time is ~8s, as determined by the heat-conducting characteristic of the device and the diameter of the copper capillary. Our sensor is featured with low cost, easy fabrication and robustness.

Intensity modulation photonic crystal fiber based refractometer in the visible wavelength range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yun; Chen, Shimeng; Zhang, Xinpu; Gong, Zhenfeng; Peng, Wei

2014-11-01

A novel evanescent field refractometer based on a two-core photonic crystal fiber (TWPCF) sandwiched between multimode fibers(MMFs) is demonstrated. Through splicing a short piece of TWPCF between two MMFs, a simple structure and high sensitivity RI sensor can be constructed. Instead of using wavelength information as sensor signal, we focus more on the light intensity signal different from most PCF based RI sensor. The TWPCF section functions as a tailorable bridge between the excited high order modes and the surrounding refractive index (SRI). With a light filter inserting in the front of white light, the transmission spectrum of the light through the sensing region occurs in a welldefined wavelength bands. As a result, the peak power of the transmission light is tailored with the SRI perturbation via the MMF-TWPCF-MMF structure. The experiment result shows a quadratic relation between the light intensity and samples within RI range of 1.33-1.41 while a linear response can be achieved from the 1.33-1.35 which is a most used RI range for biologically sensing.

[Spectral characteristics of refractive index based on nanocoated optical fiber F-P sensor].

PubMed

Jiang, Ming-Shun; Li, Qiu-Shun; Sui, Qing-Mei; Jia, Lei; Peng, Peng

2013-01-01

An optical fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer end surface was modified using layer-by-layer assembly and chemical covalent cross linking method, and the refractive index (RI) response characteristics of coated optical fiber F-P sensor were experimentally studied. Poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) were chosen as nano-film materials. With the numbers of layers increasing, the reflection spectral contrast of optical fiber F-P sensor presents from high to low, then to high regularity. And the reflection spectral contrast has good temperature stability. The reflection spectra of the optical F-P sensor coated with 20 bilayers for a series of concentration of sucrose and inorganic solution were measured. Experimental results show that the inflection point extends from 1.457 to 1.462 3, and the reflection spectral contrast sensitivity to low RI material and high RI material is 24.53 and 3.60 dB x RI(-1), respectively, with good linearity. The results demonstrate that the functional coated optical F-P sensor provides a new method for biology and chemical material test.

Characterization of fluids and fluid-fluid interaction by fiber optic refractive index sensor measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt-Hattenberger, C.; Weiner, M.; Liebscher, A.; Spangenberg, E.

2009-04-01

A fiber optic refractive index sensor is tested for continuous monitoring of fluid-fluid and fluid-gas interactions within the frame of laboratory investigations of CO2 storage, monitoring and safety technology research (COSMOS project, "Geotechnologien" program). The sensor bases on a Fabry-Perot white light interferometer technique, where the refractive index (RI) of the solution under investigation is measured by variation of the liquid-filled Fabry-Perot optical cavity length. Such sensor system is typically used for measuring and controlling oil composition and also fluid quality. The aim of this study is to test the application of the fiber optic refractive index sensor for monitoring the CO2 dissolution in formation fluids (brine, oil, gas) of CO2 storage sites. Monitoring and knowledge of quantity and especially rate of CO2 dissolution in the formation fluid is important for any assessment of long-term risks of CO2 storage sites. It is also a prerequisite for any precise reservoir modelling. As a first step we performed laboratory experiments in standard autoclaves on a variety of different fluids and fluid mixtures (technical alcohols, pure water, CO2, synthetic brines, natural formation brine from the Ketzin test site). The RI measurements are partly combined with default electrical conductivity and sonic velocity measurements. The fiber optic refractive index sensor system allows for RI measurements within the range 1.0000 to 1.7000 RI with a resolution of approximately 0.0001 RI. For simple binary fluid mixtures first results indicate linear relationships between refractive indices and fluid composition. Within the pressure range investigated (up to 60 bar) the data suggest only minor changes of RI with pressure. Further, planned experiments will focus on the determination of i) the temperature dependency of RI, ii) the combined effects of pressure and temperature on RI, and finally iii) the kinetics of CO2 dissolution in realistic formation fluids.

Sensitive liquid refractive index sensors using tapered optical fiber tips.

PubMed

Tai, Yi-Hsin; Wei, Pei-Kuen

2010-04-01

An optical fiber sensor based on the change of optical confinement in a subwavelength tip is presented. The optical spot is substantially increased when the environmental refractive index (RI) increases from 1.3 to 1.4. By measuring the intensity of low angular spectral components, an intensity sensitivity up to 8000% per RI unit is achieved. The fiber tip sensors take advantage of the small detection volume and real-time responses. We demonstrate the application of the nanofiber sensors for measuring concentrations of acids and evaporation rates of aqueous mixtures.

Photonic molecules for application in silicon-on-insulator optical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barea, Luis A. M.; Souza, Mario C. M. M.; Moras, Andre L.; Catellan, Alvaro R. G.; Cirino, Giuseppe A.; Von Zuben, Antonio A. G.; Bassani, Jose W. M.; Frateschi, Newton C.

2018-02-01

Optical sensors based on integrated photonics have experienced impressive advancements in the past few decades and represent one of the main sensing solutions in many areas including environmental sensing and medical diagnostics. In this context, optical microcavities are extensively employed as refractive index (RI) sensors, providing sharp optical resonances that allow the detection of very small variations in the surrounding RI. With increased sensitivity, however, the device is subjected to environmental perturbations that can also change the RI, such as temperature variations, and therefore compromise their reliability. In this work, we present the concept and experimental realization of a photonic sensor based on coupled microcavities or Photonic Molecules (PM) in which only one cavity is exposed to the sensing solution, allowing a differential measurement of the RI change. The device consists of an exposed 5-μm radius microdisk resonator coupled to an external clad microring resonator fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. This design allows good sensitivity (26 nm/RIU) for transverse electrical mode (TE-mode) in a compact footprint (40 × 40 μm2), representing a good solution for real-life applications in which measurement conditions are not easily controllable.

Graphene-deposited photonic crystal fibers for continuous refractive index sensing applications.

PubMed

Tan, Y C; Tou, Z Q; Chow, K K; Chan, C C

2015-11-30

We present a pilot demonstration of an optical fiber based refractive index (RI) sensor involving the deposition of graphene onto the surface of a segment of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in a fiber-based Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). The fabrication process is relatively simple and only involves the fusion splicing of a PCF between two single mode fibers. The deposition process relies only on the cold transfer of graphene onto the PCF segment, without the need for further physical or chemical treatment. The graphene overlay modified the sensing scheme of the MZI RI sensor, allowing the sensor to overcome limitations to its detectable RI range due to free spectral range issues. This modification also allows for continuous measurements to be obtained without the need for reference values for the range of RIs studied and brings to light the potential for simultaneous dual parameter sensing. The sensor was able to achieve a RI sensitivity of 9.4 dB/RIU for the RIs of 1.33-1.38 and a sensitivity of 17.5 dB/RIU for the RIs of 1.38-1.43. It also displayed good repeatability and the results obtained were consistent with the modeling.

Micro-structured optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of temperature and refractive index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ying-gang; Liu, Xin; Ma, Cheng-ju; Zhou, Yu-min

2018-03-01

Through using micro-machining method for optical fiber sensor, a kind of miniature, compact and composite structural all-fiber sensor is presented. Based on manufacturing two micro-holes with certain distance in ordinary single-mode fiber Bragg grating (FBG) by excimer laser processing technique, we fabricate a dual Fabry-Perot-FBG (FP-FBG) composite fiber interferometric sensor, which can be used in simultaneous measurement for liquid's refractive index (RI) and temperature change. Due to every micro-hole and the dual micro-holes in fiber acting as different Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities, this kind of sensor has not only different RI sensitivities but also different temperature sensitivities, which are corresponding to the wavelength shifts of the fine interference fringes and spectral envelope, respectively. The experimental results show that the spectral wavelength shift keep better linear response for temperature and RI change, so that we can select the higher temperature and RI sensitivities as well as the analyzed sensitivities of FBG to utilize them for constituting a sensitivity coefficients matrix. Finally, the variations of liquid's temperature and RI are detected effectively, and the resolutions can reach to 0.1 °C and 1.0 ×10-5 RIU. These characteristics are what other single-type sensors don't have, so that this kind of all-fiber dual FP-FBG composite fiber interferometric sensor can be used in extremely tiny liquid environment for measuring different physical quantities simultaneously.

Balloon-like singlemode-tapered multimode-singlemode fiber structure for refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Biyao; Niu, Yanxiong; Yang, Bowen; Dai, Lingling; Hu, Yanhui; Yin, Yiheng; Ding, Ming

2017-10-01

A novel high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on balloon-like singlemode-tapered multimode-singlemode (STMS) fiber structure has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Combining the tapering and bending endows the proposed sensor with large evanescent field, resulting in high sensitivity. Experimental results show that the proposed sensor has an average sensitivity of 1104.75 nm/RIU (RI Unit) in the range of 1.33-1.41 and a maximum sensitivity of 3374.50 nm/RIU at RI of 1.41.

Application of holographic sub-wavelength diffraction gratings for monitoring of kinetics of bioprocesses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamulevičius, Tomas; Šeperys, Rimas; Andrulevičius, Mindaugas; Kopustinskas, Vitoldas; Meškinis, Šarūnas; Tamulevičius, Sigitas; Mikalayeva, Valeryia; Daugelavičius, Rimantas

2012-09-01

In this work we present a refractive index (RI) sensor based on a sub-wavelength holographic diffraction grating. The sensor chip was fabricated by dry etching of the finely spaced (d = 428 nm) diffraction grating in SiOx doped diamond like carbon (DLC) film. It is shown that employing a fabricated sensor chip, and using the proposed method of analysis of data, one can inspect kinetics of processes in liquids occurring in the vicinity of the grating surface. The method is based on the spectral composition analysis of polarized polychromatic light reflected from the sub-wavelength diffraction grating. The RI measurement system was tested with different model liquid analytes including 25 wt.%, 50 wt.% sugar water solutions, 10 °C, 50 °C distilled water, also Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis interaction with ion-permeable channels forming antibiotic gramicidin D and a murolytic enzyme lysozyme. Analysis of the data set of specular reflection spectra enabled us to follow the kinetics of the RI changes in the analyte with millisecond resolution. Detectable changes in the effective RI were not worse than Δn = 10-4.

Ultra-high sensitivity Fabry-Perot interferometer gas refractive index fiber sensor based on photonic crystal fiber and Vernier effect.

PubMed

Quan, Mingran; Tian, Jiajun; Yao, Yong

2015-11-01

An ultra-high sensitivity open-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) gas refractive index (RI) sensor based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and Vernier effect is proposed and demonstrated. The sensor is prepared by splicing a section of PCF to a section of fiber tube fused with a section of single mode fiber. The air holes running along the cladding of the PCF enable the gas to enter or leave the cavity freely. The reflection beam from the last end face of the PCF is used to generate the Vernier effect, which significantly improves the sensitivity of the sensor. Experimental results show that the proposed sensor can provide an ultra-high RI sensitivity of 30899 nm/RIU. This sensor has potential applications in fields such as gas concentration analyzing and humidity monitoring.

Spectrum online-tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on step-like tapers and its refractive index sensing characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong; Chen, Mao-qing; Xia, Feng; Hu, Hai-feng

2017-11-01

A novel refractive index (RI) sensor based on an asymmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with two different step-like tapers is proposed. The step-like taper is fabricated by fusion splicing two half tapers with an appropriate offset. By further applying offset and discharging to the last fabricated step-like taper of MZI, influence of taper parameters on interference spectrum is investigated using only one device. This simple technique provides an on-line method to sweep parameters of step-like tapers and speeds up the optimization process of interference spectrum, meanwhile. In RI sensing experiment, the sensor has a high sensitivity of -185.79 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) in the RI range of 1.3333-1.3673.

High-sensitivity refractive index sensor based on large-angle tilted fiber grating with carbon nanotube deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badmos, Abdulyezir A.; Sun, Qizhen; Yan, Zhijun; Arif, Raz N.; Zhang, Junxi; Rozhin, Alex; Zhang, Lin

2016-04-01

This paper presents a highly sensitive ambient refractive index (RI) sensor based on 81° tilted fiber grating (81°-TFG) structure UV-inscribed in standard telecom fiber (62.5μm cladding radius) with carbon nanotube (CNT) overlay deposition. The sensing mechanism is based on the ability of CNT to induce change in transmitted optical power and the high sensitivity of 81°-TFG to ambient refractive index. The thin CNT film with high refractive index enhances the cladding modes of the TFG, resulting in the significant interaction between the propagating light and the surrounding medium. Consequently, the surrounding RI change will induce not only the resonant wavelength shift but also the power intensity change of the attenuation band in the transmission spectrum. Result shows that the change in transmitted optical power produces a corresponding linear reduction in intensity with increment in RI values. The sample shows high sensitivities of 207.38nm/RIU, 241.79nm/RIU at RI range 1.344-1.374 and 113.09nm/RIU, 144.40nm/RIU at RI range 1.374-1.392 (for X-pol and Y-pol respectively). It also shows power intensity sensitivity of 65.728dBm/RIU and 45.898 (for X-pol and Y-pol respectively). The low thermal sensitivity property of the 81°-TFG offers reduction in thermal cross-sensitivity and enhances specificity of the sensor.

Fiber optic refractive index and magnetic field sensors based on microhole-induced inline Mach-Zehnder interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Feifei; Jiang, Yi; Zhang, Liuchao; Jiang, Lan; Wang, Sumei

2018-04-01

A compact microhole-induced fiber optic inline Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is demonstrated for measurements of refractive index (RI) and magnetic field. Inline MZIs with different etched diameters, different interaction lengths and different sizes of microholes are fabricated and assessed. The optical transmission spectra of the inline MZIs immersed into a series of liquids are characterized and analysed. Experimental results show that liquid RI sensitivity as high as 539.8436 nm RIU-1 in the RI range of 1.3352-1.4113 RIU is achieved and also exhibits good linearity with a correlation coefficient  >93%. An inline MZI is also fabricated to be a magnetic field sensor by using magnetic fluid material. The experimental results show that this magnetic field sensor has a high sensitivity of  -275.6 pm Oe-1. The inline MZI-based fiber optic sensors possess many advantages, such as small size, simple fabrication, high sensitivity and good linearity, which has a wide application potential in chemical, biological and environmental sensing fields.

High-sensitive transmission type of gas sensor based on guided-mode resonance in coupled gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, La; Sang, Tian; Li, Junlang; Zhou, Jianyu; Wang, Benxin; Wang, Yueke

2018-07-01

A new type of high-sensitive transmission gas sensor based on the coupled gratings (CGs) and the corresponding Fabry-Pérot-like (FP-like) model for evaluating the resonance peaks are presented. The estimated locations of the FP-like resonance obtained by this theoretical model are well agreed with those of the exact results. It is shown that a narrow FP-like channel with high transmissivity occurs in the opaque background of the CGs, and its location is shifted linearly with the variation of the refractive index (RI) of the gaseous analyte. The transmission peak of the sideband can be selected as a reference, and it remains nearly fixed as the RI of the analyte is varied. Good sensing properties of the CGs sensor can be maintained, regardless of whether the two grating membranes are laterally aligned or not. The sensitivity of the CGs sensor is immune to the variation of the RI of the substrate. By selecting the higher order FP-like mode (m = 4), sensitivity as high as 748 nm/RIU with the figure of merit of 374 can be achieved.

Research Progress on F-P Interference—Based Fiber-Optic Sensors

PubMed Central

Huang, Yi Wen; Tao, Jin; Huang, Xu Guang

2016-01-01

We review our works on Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometric fiber-optic sensors with various applications. We give a general model of F-P interferometric optical fiber sensors including diffraction loss caused by the beam divergence and the Gouy phase shift. Based on different structures of an F-P cavity formed on the end of a single-mode fiber, the F-P interferometric optical sensor has been extended to measurements of the refractive index (RI) of liquids and solids, temperature as well as small displacement. The RI of liquids and solids can be obtained by monitoring the fringe contrast related to Fresnel reflections, while the ambient temperature and small displacement can be obtained by monitoring the wavelength shift of the interference fringes. The F-P interferometric fiber-optic sensors can be used for many scientific and technological applications. PMID:27598173

HCPCF-based in-line fiber Fabry-Perot refractometer and high sensitivity signal processing method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiaohui; Jiang, Mingshun; Sui, Qingmei; Geng, Xiangyi; Song, Furong

2017-12-01

An in-line fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) based on the hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) for refractive index (RI) measurement is proposed in this paper. The FPI is formed by splicing both ends of a short section of the HCPCF to single mode fibers (SMFs) and cleaving the SMF pigtail to a proper length. The RI response of the sensor is analyzed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. The results show that the FPI sensor has linear response to external RI and good repeatability. The sensitivity calculated from the maximum fringe contrast is -136 dB/RIU. A new spectrum differential integration (SDI) method for signal processing is also presented in this study. In this method, the RI is obtained from the integrated intensity of the absolute difference between the interference spectrum and its smoothed spectrum. The results show that the sensitivity obtained from the integrated intensity is about -1.34×105 dB/RIU. Compared with the maximum fringe contrast method, the new SDI method can provide the higher sensitivity, better linearity, improved reliability, and accuracy, and it's also convenient for automatic and fast signal processing in real-time monitoring of RI.

Refracted Acoustic Communications in Wireless Underwater Sensor Networks with Mobility

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

presented in ( Nicolaou et al., 2007). Depth measurement ca- pability is assumed in depth-based routing schemes (Hasannezhad et al., 2014). Awareness of...Ri cosαk )2 = (di j Ri tanαk)2+(Δzi j+Ri)2 R2i cos2αk = d2i j 2di jRi tanαk+R 2 i tan 2αk+ . . . (Δzi j)2+2Δzi jRi+R2i Grouping all R2i terms on the...1754–1757. Lurton, X. (2010). An Introduction to Underwater Acoustics. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2nd edition. Nicolaou , N., See, A., Cui, J., and

Square array photonic crystal fiber-based surface plasmon resonance refractive index sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Min; Yang, Xu; Zhao, Bingyue; Hou, Jingyun; Shum, Ping

2017-12-01

Based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a novel refractive index (RI) sensor comprising a square photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed to realize the detection of the annular analyte. Instead of hexagon structure, four large air-holes in a square array are introduced to enhance the sensitivity by allowing two polarization directions of the core mode to be more sensitive. The gold is used as the only plasmonic material. The design purpose is to reduce the difficulty in gold deposition and enhance the RI sensitivity. The guiding properties and the effects of the parameters on the performance of the sensor are numerically investigated by the Finite Element Method (FEM). By optimizing the structure, the sensor can exhibit remarkable sensitivity up to 7250 nm/RIU and resolution of 1.0638 × 10-5 RIU with only one plasmonic material, which is very competitive compared with the other reported externally coated and single-layer coated PCF-based SPR (PCF-SPR) sensors, to our best knowledge.

Refractive index-based detection of gradient elution liquid chromatography using chip-integrated microring resonator arrays.

PubMed

Wade, James H; Bailey, Ryan C

2014-01-07

Refractive index-based sensors offer attractive characteristics as nondestructive and universal detectors for liquid chromatographic separations, but a small dynamic range and sensitivity to minor thermal perturbations limit the utility of commercial RI detectors for many potential applications, especially those requiring the use of gradient elutions. As such, RI detectors find use almost exclusively in sample abundant, isocratic separations when interfaced with high-performance liquid chromatography. Silicon photonic microring resonators are refractive index-sensitive optical devices that feature good sensitivity and tremendous dynamic range. The large dynamic range of microring resonators allows the sensors to function across a wide spectrum of refractive indices, such as that encountered when moving from an aqueous to organic mobile phase during a gradient elution, a key analytical advantage not supported in commercial RI detectors. Microrings are easily configured into sensor arrays, and chip-integrated control microrings enable real-time corrections of thermal drift. Thermal controls allow for analyses at any temperature and, in the absence of rigorous temperature control, obviates extended detector equilibration wait times. Herein, proof of concept isocratic and gradient elution separations were performed using well-characterized model analytes (e.g., caffeine, ibuprofen) in both neat buffer and more complex sample matrices. These experiments demonstrate the ability of microring arrays to perform isocratic and gradient elutions under ambient conditions, avoiding two major limitations of commercial RI-based detectors and maintaining comparable bulk RI sensitivity. Further benefit may be realized in the future through selective surface functionalization to impart degrees of postcolumn (bio)molecular specificity at the detection phase of a separation. The chip-based and microscale nature of microring resonators also make it an attractive potential detection technology that could be integrated within lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic separation devices.

Etching twin core fiber for the temperature-independent refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chuanbiao; Ning, Tigang; Li, Jing; Zheng, Jingjing; Gao, Xuekai; Lin, Heng; Pei, Li

2018-04-01

We proposed an ultra-compact chemically etched twin core fiber (TCF) based optic refractive index (RI) sensor, in which the etched fiber was fabricated by immersing in an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF) to etch the cladding. Due to the multipath evolutions of light during the TCF, the mode induced interference pattern can be used for measurement. Numerical simulations were performed, demonstrating that only the cladding mode strongly interacts with the surrounding media, and the higher cladding modes will be more sensitive to external medium. In the experiment demonstration, the RI response characteristics of the sensor were investigated, which shows a relatively high RI sensitivity and a much low temperature cross-sensitivity with about 1.06 × 10-6 RIU °C-1. Due to low cost and easy fabrication, the sensor can be a suitable candidate in the biochemical field.

Refractive Index Sensing with D-Shaped Plastic Optical Fibers for Chemical and Biochemical Applications

PubMed Central

Sequeira, Filipa; Duarte, Daniel; Bilro, Lúcia; Rudnitskaya, Alisa; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi; Cennamo, Nunzio

2016-01-01

We report the optimization of the length of a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for refractive index (RI) sensing from a numerical and experimental point of view. The sensing principle is based on total internal reflection (TIR). POFs with 1 mm in diameter were embedded in grooves, realized in planar supports with different lengths, and polished to remove the cladding and part of the core. All D-shaped POF sensors were tested using aqueous medium with different refractive indices (from 1.332 to 1.471) through intensity-based configuration. Results showed two different responses. Considering the refractive index (RI) range (1.33–1.39), the sensitivity and the resolution of the sensor were strongly dependent on the sensing region length. The highest sensitivity (resolution of 6.48 × 10−3 refractive index units, RIU) was obtained with 6 cm sensing length. In the RI range (1.41–1.47), the length of the sensing region was not a critical aspect to obtain the best resolution. These results enable the application of this optical platform for chemical and biochemical evanescent field sensing. The sensor production procedure is very simple, fast, and low-cost. PMID:27983608

Refractive Index Sensing with D-Shaped Plastic Optical Fibers for Chemical and Biochemical Applications.

PubMed

Sequeira, Filipa; Duarte, Daniel; Bilro, Lúcia; Rudnitskaya, Alisa; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi; Cennamo, Nunzio

2016-12-13

We report the optimization of the length of a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for refractive index (RI) sensing from a numerical and experimental point of view. The sensing principle is based on total internal reflection (TIR). POFs with 1 mm in diameter were embedded in grooves, realized in planar supports with different lengths, and polished to remove the cladding and part of the core. All D-shaped POF sensors were tested using aqueous medium with different refractive indices (from 1.332 to 1.471) through intensity-based configuration. Results showed two different responses. Considering the refractive index (RI) range (1.33-1.39), the sensitivity and the resolution of the sensor were strongly dependent on the sensing region length. The highest sensitivity (resolution of 6.48 × 10 -3 refractive index units, RIU) was obtained with 6 cm sensing length. In the RI range (1.41-1.47), the length of the sensing region was not a critical aspect to obtain the best resolution. These results enable the application of this optical platform for chemical and biochemical evanescent field sensing. The sensor production procedure is very simple, fast, and low-cost.

Optical Fiber-Tip Sensors Based on In-Situ µ-Printed Polymer Suspended-Microbeams.

PubMed

Yao, Mian; Ouyang, Xia; Wu, Jushuai; Zhang, A Ping; Tam, Hwa-Yaw; Wai, P K A

2018-06-05

Miniature optical fiber-tip sensors based on directly µ-printed polymer suspended-microbeams are presented. With an in-house optical 3D μ-printing technology, SU-8 suspended-microbeams are fabricated in situ to form Fabry⁻Pérot (FP) micro-interferometers on the end face of standard single-mode optical fiber. Optical reflection spectra of the fabricated FP micro-interferometers are measured and fast Fourier transform is applied to analyze the cavity of micro-interferometers. The applications of the optical fiber-tip sensors for refractive index (RI) sensing and pressure sensing, which showed 917.3 nm/RIU to RI change and 4.29 nm/MPa to pressure change, respectively, are demonstrated in the experiments. The sensors and their optical µ-printing method unveil a new strategy to integrate complicated microcomponents on optical fibers toward 'lab-on-fiber' devices and applications.

Theoretical analysis of microring resonator-based biosensor with high resolution and free of temperature influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jian, Aoqun; Zou, Lu; Tang, Haiquan; Duan, Qianqian; Ji, Jianlong; Zhang, Qianwu; Zhang, Xuming; Sang, Shengbo

2017-06-01

The issue of thermal effects is inevitable for the ultrahigh refractive index (RI) measurement. A biosensor with parallel-coupled dual-microring resonator configuration is proposed to achieve high resolution and free thermal effects measurement. Based on the coupled-resonator-induced transparency effect, the design and principle of the biosensor are introduced in detail, and the performance of the sensor is deduced by simulations. Compared to the biosensor based on a single-ring configuration, the designed biosensor has a 10-fold increased Q value according to the simulation results, thus the sensor is expected to achieve a particularly high resolution. In addition, the output signal of the mathematical model of the proposed sensor can eliminate the thermal influence by adopting an algorithm. This work is expected to have great application potentials in the areas of high-resolution RI measurement, such as biomedical discoveries, virus screening, and drinking water safety.

Hybrid tilted fiber grating based refractive index and liquid level sensing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zhijun; Mou, Chengbo; Sun, Zhongyuan; Zhou, Kaimin; Wang, Hushan; Wang, Yishan; Zhao, Wei; Zhang, Lin

2015-09-01

We report a refractive index (RI) and liquid level sensing system based on a hybrid grating structure comprising of a 45° and an 81° tilted fiber gratings (TFGs) that have been inscribed into a single mode fiber in series. In this structure, the 45°-TFG is used as a polarizer to filter out the transverse electric (TE) component and enable the 81°-TFG operating at single polarization for RI and level sensing. The experiment results show a lower temperature cross-sensitivity, only about 7.33 pm/°C, and a higher RI sensitivity, being around 180 nm/RIU at RI=1.345 and 926 nm/RIU at RI=1.412 region, which are significantly improved in comparison with long period fiber gratings. The hybrid grating structure has also been applied as a liquid level sensor, showing 3.06 dB/mm linear peak ratio sensitivity.

BPM analysis of all-optical fiber interferometric sensor based on a U-shape microcavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Hongbin; Yuan, Lei; Wang, Sumei; Zhao, Longjiang; Cao, Zhitao

2014-02-01

Reflectivity spectrum of beam propagation method (BPM), for the first time to the best of our knowledge, is realized and utilized to model all-optical fiber interferometric sensor formed by a U-shape microcavity embedded in a single mode optical fiber and illustrate the principle of sensor structures varied by the length and the depth of U-shape microcavity. BPM analysis gives a constructive guideline to get a high interferometric fringe visibility which is most important for sensing application. The simulated results are completely in agreement with the interferometric sensor principle of Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) theory. With the conclusion of FPI sensor, refractive index (RI) sensitivity and temperature sensitivity are then simulated and obtained as 1049+/-5.2nm/RIU (refractive index unit) within RI range of solutions and 1.04+/-0.03pm/°C respectively.

Uncladded sensing fiber for refractive index measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, V.; Gangwar, R. K.; Pathak, A. K.; Singh, V. K.

2016-05-01

The formation of chemically etched optical fiber for use in refractive index sensor is addressed. This presented design of a refractive index (RI) sensor is based on recording the power loss exhibited by radiation propagating through an etched multimode fiber (MMF) immersed in the liquid under study. The decreasing diameters of fibers are found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and etchant composition. This experiment was performed for different unclad etched fibers for same sensing length and the RI changes from 1.33 RIU to 1.38 RIU. When the multimode fiber (MMF) is etched for 12 hours the sensitivity of the sensor is approximately 204.25dBm/RIU, which is larger than without etched fiber having sensitivity 127.2dBm/RIU.

Research on dual-parameter optical fiber sensor based on few-mode fiber with two down-tapers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xue; Tong, Zhengrong; Zhang, Weihua; Xue, Lifang

2017-10-01

A dual-parameter optical fiber sensor, which is fabricated by sandwiching a segment of few-mode fiber (FMF) with two down-tapers between two segments of standard single-mode fibers (SMFs), is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The two down-tapers on the FMF can enhance the evanescent field, making the sensor more sensitive to changes in the external environment. The refractive index (RI) and temperature are measured simultaneously using the different sensitivities of the two dips in this experimental interference spectrum. The measured temperature sensitivities are 0.097 and 0.114 nm/°C, and the RI sensitivities are -97.43 and -108.07 nm/RIU, respectively. Meanwhile, the simple SMF-FMF-SMF structure is also measured. By comparing the experimental results of the two structures, the sensitivities of the proposed structure based on the dual-taper FMF are significantly improved. In addition, the sensor is easy to fabricate and cost effective.

Refractive index and strain sensor based on twin-core fiber with a novel T-shaped taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chuanbiao; Ning, Tigang; Li, Jing; Zheng, JingJing; Gao, Xuekai; Pei, Li

2018-06-01

A compact in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on twin-core fiber (TCF) with a novel T-shaped taper is proposed and demonstrated. The taper was firstly fabricated by a short section of TCF, and then spliced with a section of cleaved single mode fiber (SMF). When the light transmit into the TCF, multiple modes will be excited and will propagate within the TCF. In experiment, the proposed device had a maximum interferometric extinction ratio about 17 dB. And the refractive index (RI), strain, and temperature response properties of the sensor have been investigated, which show a relatively high RI, strain sensitivity and low temperature cross sensitivity. Hence, the sensor can be a suitable candidate in the biochemical and physical sensing applications. And due to its easy and controllable fabrication, the novel drawing technology can be applied to more multicore optical fibers.

Refractive index and temperature sensors based on no-core fiber cascaded with long period fiber grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jianming; Pu, Shengli; Rao, Jie; Yao, Tianjun

2018-05-01

A kind of compact fibre-optic sensor based on no-core fibre (NCF) cascaded with a strong coupling long-period fibre grating (LPFG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensing mechanism is based on the Mach-Zehnder-like interference between the core fundamental mode and cladding mode of the fibre structure. The NCF and LPFG are used as the mode exciter and combiner, respectively. Due to the particular properties of the strong coupling LPFG, the measurements of refractive index (RI) and temperature with high sensitivity are realized by monitoring the transmission spectrum with intensity and wavelength interrogation techniques, respectively. The achieved RI sensitivity reaches -580.269 dB/RIU in the range of 1.436-1.454 and the temperature sensitivity reaches 27.2 pm/°C.

Solution immersed silicon (SIS)-based biosensors: a new approach in biosensing.

PubMed

Diware, M S; Cho, H M; Chegal, W; Cho, Y J; Jo, J H; O, S W; Paek, S H; Yoon, Y H; Kim, D

2015-02-07

A novel, solution immersed silicon (SIS)-based sensor has been developed which employs the non-reflecting condition (NRC) for a p-polarized wave. The SIS sensor's response is almost independent of change in the refractive index (RI) of a buffer solution (BS) which makes it capable of measuring low-concentration and/or low-molecular-weight compounds.

Highly sensitive refractive index fiber inline Mach-Zehnder interferometer fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining and chemical etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiao-Yan; Chu, Dong-Kai; Dong, Xin-Ran; Zhou, Chu; Li, Hai-Tao; Luo-Zhi; Hu, You-Wang; Zhou, Jian-Ying; Cong-Wang; Duan, Ji-An

2016-03-01

A High sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) in a conventional single-mode optical fiber is proposed, which is fabricated by femtosecond laser transversal-scanning inscription method and chemical etching. A rectangular cavity structure is formed in part of fiber core and cladding interface. The MZI sensor shows excellent refractive index sensitivity and linearity, which exhibits an extremely high RI sensitivity of -17197 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) with the linearity of 0.9996 within the refractive index range of 1.3371-1.3407. The experimental results are consistent with theoretical analysis.

Label-Free Detection of Cancer Biomarkers Using an In-Line Taper Fiber-Optic Interferometer and a Fiber Bragg Grating

PubMed Central

Sun, Dandan; Wang, Guanjun

2017-01-01

A compact and label-free optical fiber sensor based on a taper interferometer cascaded with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for detection of a breast cancer biomarker (HER2). The tapered fiber-optic interferometer is extremely sensitive to the ambient refractive index (RI). In addition, being insensitive to the RI variation, the FBG can be applied as a temperature thermometer due to its independent response to the temperature. Surface functionalization to the sensor is carried out to achieve specific targeting of the unlabeled biomarkers. The result shows that the proposed sensor presents a low limit-of-detection (LOD) of 2 ng/mL, enabling its potentials of application in early diagnosis on the breast cancer. PMID:29113127

Uncladded sensing fiber for refractive index measurement

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

Bhardwaj, V., E-mail: bhardwajphyism@gmail.com; Gangwar, R. K.; Pathak, A. K.

2016-05-06

The formation of chemically etched optical fiber for use in refractive index sensor is addressed. This presented design of a refractive index (RI) sensor is based on recording the power loss exhibited by radiation propagating through an etched multimode fiber (MMF) immersed in the liquid under study. The decreasing diameters of fibers are found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and etchant composition. This experiment was performed for different unclad etched fibers for same sensing length and the RI changes from 1.33 RIU to 1.38 RIU. When the multimode fiber (MMF) is etched for 12 hours the sensitivity ofmore » the sensor is approximately 204.25dBm/RIU, which is larger than without etched fiber having sensitivity 127.2dBm/RIU.« less

Temperature effect on refractive index sensing performance of a U-shape tapered plastic optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, Chuanxin; Yu, Fangda; Jing, Ning; Zheng, Jie

2016-11-01

The temperature dependence of a refractive index (RI) sensing probe based on a U-shape tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) was investigated experimentally. The changes in light propagation loss in the probe induced by temperature are of the same order of magnitude as those induced by measured RI changes. The temperature dependence loss and temperature dependence RI deviation of the sensing probe were measured (at the wavelength of 635 nm) in temperature of 10-60 °C. By extracting pure temperature dependence of the sensing probe alone, the influence of temperature to the sensor was characterized.

Flexible and disposable plasmonic refractive index sensor using nanoimprint lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohapatra, Saswat; Moirangthem, Rakesh S.

2018-03-01

Nanostructure based plasmonic sensors are highly demanding in various areas due to their label-free and real-time detection capability. In this work, we developed an inexpensive flexible plasmonic sensor using optical disc nanograting via soft UV-nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL). The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp was used to transfer the nanograting structure from digital versatile discs (DVDs) to flexible and transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. Further, the plasmonic sensing substrate was obtained after coating a gold thin film on the top of the imprinted sample. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) modes excited on gold coated nanograting structure appeared as a dip in the reflectance spectra measured at normal incident of white light in ambient air medium. Electromagnetic simulation based on finite element method (FEM) was used to understand and analyze the excited SPR modes and it is a very close agreement with the experimental results. The bulk refractive index (RI) sensing was performed by the sensor chip using water-glycerol mixture with different concentrations. Experimentally, the bulk RI sensitivity was found to be 797+/-17 nm/RIU.

Holographic sol-gel monoliths: optical properties and application for humidity sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilatovskii, Daniil A.; Milichko, Valentin; Vinogradov, Alexander V.; Vinogradov, Vladimir V.

2018-05-01

Sol-gel monoliths based on SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2 with holographic colourful diffraction on their surfaces were obtained via a sol-gel synthesis and soft lithography combined method. The production was carried out without any additional equipment at near room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The accurately replicated wavy structure with nanoscale size of material particles yields holographic effect and its visibility strongly depends on refractive index (RI) of materials. Addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in systems increases their RI and lends absorbing properties due to extremely high light absorption constant. Further prospective and intriguing applications based on the most successful samples, MWCNTs-doped titania, were investigated as reversible optical humidity sensor. Owing to such property as reversible resuspension of TiO2 nanoparticles while interacting with water, it was proved that holographic xerogels can repeatedly act as humidity sensors. Materials which can be applied as humidity sensors in dependence on holographic response were discovered for the first time.

In-Fiber Optic Salinity Sensing: A Potential Application for Offshore Concrete Structure Protection.

PubMed

Luo, Dong; Li, Peng; Yue, Yanchao; Ma, Jianxun; Yang, Hangzhou

2017-05-04

The protection of concrete structures against corrosion in marine environments has always been a challenge due to the presence of a saline solution-A natural corrosive agent to the concrete paste and steel reinforcements. The concentration of salt is a key parameter influencing the rate of corrosion. In this paper, we propose an optical fiber-based salinity sensor based on bundled multimode plastic optical fiber (POF) as a sensor probe and a concave mirror as a reflector in conjunction with an intensity modulation technique. A refractive index (RI) sensing approach is analytically investigated and the findings are in agreement with the experimental results. A maximum sensitivity of 14,847.486/RIU can be achieved at RI = 1.3525. The proposed technique is suitable for in situ measurement and monitoring of salinity in liquid.

Sensitivity Analysis of Different Shapes of a Plastic Optical Fiber-Based Immunosensor for Escherichia coli: Simulation and Experimental Results.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Domingos M C; Lopes, Rafaela N; Franco, Marcos A R; Werneck, Marcelo M; Allil, Regina C S B

2017-12-19

Conventional pathogen detection methods require trained personnel, specialized laboratories and can take days to provide a result. Thus, portable biosensors with rapid detection response are vital for the current needs for in-loco quality assays. In this work the authors analyze the characteristics of an immunosensor based on the evanescent field in plastic optical fibers with macro curvature by comparing experimental with simulated results. The work studies different shapes of evanescent-wave based fiber optic sensors, adopting a computational modeling to evaluate the probes with the best sensitivity. The simulation showed that for a U-Shaped sensor, the best results can be achieved with a sensor of 980 µm diameter by 5.0 mm in curvature for refractive index sensing, whereas the meander-shaped sensor with 250 μm in diameter with radius of curvature of 1.5 mm, showed better sensitivity for either bacteria and refractive index (RI) sensing. Then, an immunosensor was developed, firstly to measure refractive index and after that, functionalized to detect Escherichia coli . Based on the results with the simulation, we conducted studies with a real sensor for RI measurements and for Escherichia coli detection aiming to establish the best diameter and curvature radius in order to obtain an optimized sensor. On comparing the experimental results with predictions made from the modelling, good agreements were obtained. The simulations performed allowed the evaluation of new geometric configurations of biosensors that can be easily constructed and that promise improved sensitivity.

Photonic Crystal Fiber-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor with Selective Analyte Channels and Graphene-Silver Deposited Core

PubMed Central

Rifat, Ahmmed A.; Mahdiraji, G. Amouzad; Chow, Desmond M.; Shee, Yu Gang; Ahmed, Rajib; Adikan, Faisal Rafiq Mahamd

2015-01-01

We propose a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with selectively filled analyte channels. Silver is used as the plasmonic material to accurately detect the analytes and is coated with a thin graphene layer to prevent oxidation. The liquid-filled cores are placed near to the metallic channel for easy excitation of free electrons to produce surface plasmon waves (SPWs). Surface plasmons along the metal surface are excited with a leaky Gaussian-like core guided mode. Numerical investigations of the fiber’s properties and sensing performance are performed using the finite element method (FEM). The proposed sensor shows maximum amplitude sensitivity of 418 Refractive Index Units (RIU−1) with resolution as high as 2.4 × 10−5 RIU. Using the wavelength interrogation method, a maximum refractive index (RI) sensitivity of 3000 nm/RIU in the sensing range of 1.46–1.49 is achieved. The proposed sensor is suitable for detecting various high RI chemicals, biochemical and organic chemical analytes. Additionally, the effects of fiber structural parameters on the properties of plasmonic excitation are investigated and optimized for sensing performance as well as reducing the sensor’s footprint. PMID:25996510

Monitoring change in refractive index of cytosol of animal cells on affinity surface under osmotic stimulus for label-free measurement of viability.

PubMed

Park, Jina; Jin, Sung Il; Kim, Hyung Min; Ahn, Junhyoung; Kim, Yeon-Gu; Lee, Eun Gyo; Kim, Min-Gon; Shin, Yong-Beom

2015-02-15

We demonstrated that a metal-clad waveguide (MCW)-based biosensor can be applied to label-free measurements of viability of adherent animal cells with osmotic stimulation in real time. After Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human embryonic kidney cell 293 (HEK293) cells were attached to a Concanavalin A (Con A)-modified sensor surface, the magnitudes of cell responses to non-isotonic stimulation were compared between live and dead cells. The live cells exhibited a change in the refractive index (RI) of the cytosol caused by a redistribution of water through the cell membrane, which was induced by the osmotic stimulus, but the dead cells did not. Moreover, the normalized change in the RI measured via the MCW sensor was linearly proportional to the viability of attached cells and the resolution in monitoring cell viability was about 0.079%. Therefore, the viability of attached animal cells can be measured without labels by observing the relative differences in the RI of cytosol in isotonic and non-isotonic buffers. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A sensitivity-enhanced refractive index sensor using a single-mode thin-core fiber incorporating an abrupt taper.

PubMed

Shi, Jie; Xiao, Shilin; Yi, Lilin; Bi, Meihua

2012-01-01

A sensitivity-enhanced fiber-optic refractive index (RI) sensor based on a tapered single-mode thin-core diameter fiber is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor head is formed by splicing a section of tapered thin-core diameter fiber (TCF) between two sections of single-mode fibers (SMFs). The cladding modes are excited at the first SMF-TCF interface, and then interfere with the core mode at the second interface, thus forming an inter-modal interferometer (IMI). An abrupt taper (tens of micrometers long) made by the electric-arc-heating method is utilized, and plays an important role in improving sensing sensitivity. The whole manufacture process only involves fiber splicing and tapering, and all the fabrication process can be achieved by a commercial fiber fusion splicer. Using glycerol and water mixture solution as an example, the experimental results show that the refractive index sensitivity is measured to be 0.591 nm for 1% change of surrounding RI. The proposed sensor structure features simple structure, low cost, easy fabrication, and high sensitivity.

Highly sensitive magnetic field sensor based on microfiber coupler with magnetic fluid

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

Luo, Longfeng; Pu, Shengli, E-mail: shlpu@usst.edu.cn; Tang, Jiali

2015-05-11

A kind of magnetic field sensor using a microfiber coupler (MFC) surrounded with magnetic fluid (MF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. As the MFC is strongly sensitive to the surrounding refractive index (RI) and MF's RI is sensitive to magnetic field, the magnetic field sensing function of the proposed structure is realized. Interrogation of magnetic field strength is achieved by measuring the dip wavelength shift and transmission loss change of the transmission spectrum. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of the sensor is wavelength-dependent. The maximum sensitivity of 191.8 pm/Oe is achieved at wavelength of around 1537 nm in this work.more » In addition, a sensitivity of −0.037 dB/Oe is achieved by monitoring variation of the fringe visibility. These suggest the potential applications of the proposed structure in tunable all-in-fiber photonic devices such as magneto-optical modulator, filter, and sensing.« less

Fast response Fabry-Perot interferometer microfluidic refractive index fiber sensor based on concave-core photonic crystal fiber.

PubMed

Tian, Jiajun; Lu, Zejin; Quan, Mingran; Jiao, Yuzhu; Yao, Yong

2016-09-05

We report a fast response microfluidic Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometer refractive index (RI) fiber sensor based on a concave-core photonic crystal fiber (CPCF), which is formed by directly splicing a section CPCF with a section of single mode fiber. The CPCF is made by cleaving a section of multimode photonic crystal fiber with an axial tension. The shallow concave-core of CPCF naturally forms the FP cavity with a very short cavity length. The inherent large air holes in the cladding of CPCF are used as the open channels to let liquid sample come in and out of FP cavity. In order to shorten the liquid channel length and eliminate the harmful reflection from the outside end face of the CPCF, the CPCF is cleaved with a tilted tensile force. Due to the very small cavity capacity, the short length and the large sectional area of the microfluidic channels, the proposed sensor provides an easy-in and easy-out structure for liquids, leading to great decrement of the measuring time. The proposed sensor exhibits fast measuring speed, the measuring time is less than 359 and 23 ms for distilled water and pure ethanol, respectively. We also experimentally study and demonstrate the superior performances of the sensor in terms of high RI sensitivity, good linear response, low temperature cross-sensitivity and easy fabrication.

Development of an instrumentation system for measurement of degradation of lubricating oil using optical fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laskar, S.; Bordoloi, S.

2016-01-01

This paper presents an instrumentation system to measure the degradation in lubricating oil using a bare, tapered and bent multi-mode optical fiber (BTBMOF) sensor probe and a temperature probe. The sensor system consists of (i) a bare, tapered and bent multi-mode optical fiber (BTBMOF) as optical sensor along with a laser source and a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) as detector (ii) a temperature sensor (iii) a ATmega microcontroller based data acquisition system and (iv) a trained ANN for processing and calibration. The BTBMOF sensor and the temperature sensor are used to provide the measure of refractive index (RI) and the temperature of a lubricating oil sample. A microcontroller based instrumentation system with trained ANN algorithm has been developed to determine the degradation of the lubricating oil sample by sampling the readings of the optical fiber sensor, and the temperature sensor.

Photonic crystal fiber refractive-index sensor based on multimode interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Zhenfeng; Zhang, Xinpu; Liu, Yun; Liu, Zigeng; Peng, Wei

2014-11-01

We report a type of multimode fiber interferometers (MMI) formed in photonic crystal fiber (PCF). To excite the cladding modes from the fundamental core mode of a PCF, a coupling point is formed. To form the coupling point, we used the method that is blowing compressed gas into the air-holes and discharging at one point, and the air-holes in this point will expand due to gas expansion in the discharge process. By placing two coupling points in series, a very simple all-fiber MMI can be implemented. The detailed fabrication process is that the one end of the PCF is tightly sealed by a short section of single mode fiber (SMF) spliced to the PCF. The other end of the PCF is sealed into a gas chamber and the opened air holes are pressurized. The PCF is then heated locally by the fusion splicer and the holes with higher gas pressure will expand locally where two bubbles formed. We tested the RI responses of fabricated sensors at room temperature by immersing the sensor into solutions with different NaCl concentration. Experimental results show that as refractive-index (RI) increases, the resonance wavelength of the MMI moves toward longer wavelengths. The sensitivity coefficients are estimated by the linear fitting line, which is 46nm/RIU, 154mn/RIU with the interferometer lengths (IL) of 3mm and 6mm. The interferometer with larger IL has higher RI sensitivity. The temperature cross-sensitivity of the sensor is also tested. The temperature sensitivity can be as low as -16.0pm/°C.

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index, strain and temperature using a tapered structure based on SMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Na; Xu, Wei; You, Shanhong; Yu, Cheungchuen; Yu, Changyuan; Dong, Bo; Li, Kunpu

2018-03-01

A novel fiber-optic sensing structure based on miniaturized modal interferometer (MMI) for simultaneous refractive index (RI), strain and temperature measurement is proposed. It is mainly based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and formed by introducing a down taper between two adjacent up tapers in one single mode fiber (SMF). Experimental results demonstrate a RI sensitivity of 131.93 nm/RIU, a strain sensitivity of 0.0007 nm/ με and a temperature sensitivity of 0.0878 nm/°C respectively. The sensor is merely made of SMF which is cheap and available, and the whole fabrication process contains only cleaving and splicing and can be well controlled by a commercial fiber splicer.

Time-domain fiber loop ringdown sensor and sensor network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Malik

Optical fibers have been mostly used in fiber optic communications, imaging optics, sensing technology, etc. Fiber optic sensors have gained increasing attention for scientific and structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. In this study, fiber loop ringdown (FLRD) sensors were fabricated for scientific, SHM, and sensor networking applications. FLRD biosensors were fabricated for both bulk refractive index (RI)- and surface RI-based DNA sensing and one type of bacteria sensing. Furthermore, the effect of glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilization at the sensor head on sensor performance was evaluated for both glucose and synthetic urine solutions with glucose concentration between 0.1% and 10%. Detection sensitivities of the glucose sensors were achieved as low as 0.05%. For chemical sensing, heavy water, ranging from 97% to 10%, and several elemental solutions were monitored by using the FLRD chemical sensors. Bulk index-based FLRD sensing showed that trace elements can be detected in deionized water. For physical sensing, water and cracking sensors were fabricated and embedded into concrete. A partially-etched single-mode fiber (SMF) was embedded into a concrete bar for water monitoring while a bare SMF without any treatment was directly embedded into another concrete bar for monitoring cracks. Furthermore, detection sensitivities of water and crack sensors were investigated as 10 ml water and 0.5 mm surface crack width, respectively. Additionally fiber loop ringdown-fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors were developed in the laboratory; two sensor units for water, crack, and temperature sensing were deployed into a concrete cube in a US Department of Energy test bed (Miami, FL). Multi-sensor applications in a real concrete structure were accomplished by testing the six FLRD sensors. As a final stage, a sensor network was assembled by multiplexing two or three FLRD sensors in series and parallel. Additionally, two FLRD sensors were combined in series and parallel by using a 2x1 micro-electromechanical system optical switch to control sensors individually. For both configurations, contributions of each sensor to two or three coupled signals were simulated theoretically. Results show that numerous FLRD sensors can be connected in different configurations, and a sensor network can be built up for multi-function sensing applications.

Detection of Hydrofluoric Acid by a SiO2 Sol-Gel Coating Fiber-Optic Probe Based on Reflection-Based Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

PubMed Central

Chen, I-Cherng; Lin, Shiu-Shiung; Lin, Tsao-Jen; Du, Je-Kang

2011-01-01

A novel fiber-optic probe based on reflection-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was developed to quantify the concentration of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in aqueous solutions. The LSPR sensor was constructed with a gold nanoparticle-modified PMMA fiber, integrated with a SiO2 sol-gel coating. This fiber-sensor was utilized to assess the relationship between HF concentration and SiO2 sol-gel layer etching reduction. The results demonstrated the LSPR sensor was capable of detecting HF-related erosion of hydrofluoric acid solutions of concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% using Relative RI Change Rates. The development of the LSPR sensor constitutes the basis of a detector with significant sensitivity for practical use in monitoring HF solution concentrations. PMID:22319388

Fiber ring laser based on SMF-TCF-SMF structure for strain and refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Fen; Xu, Ben; Zhang, Yixin; Wang, Dongning

2017-12-01

An erbium-doped fiber ring laser with embedded Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is constructed and experimentally demonstrated for strain and refractive index (RI) measurement. The MZI consists of a segment of thin-core fiber sandwiched between two single-mode fibers and acts as both the sensing component as well as a bandpass filter to select the lasing wavelength. The strain sensitivity of ˜-0.97 pm/μɛ and RI sensitivity of ˜44.88 nm/RIU are obtained in the range of 0 to 1750 μɛ and 1.3300 to 1.3537, respectively. The high-optical signal-to-noise ratio of >50 dB and narrow 3-dB bandwidth of <0.11 nm obtained indicate that the fiber ring laser sensor is promising for high-precision strain and RI measurement.

Glucose sensor realized with photonic crystal fiber-based Sagnac interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Guowen; Li, Shuguang; An, Yinghong; Wang, Haiyang; Zhang, Xuenan

2017-12-01

A compact glucose sensor is proposed by using a short length of photonic crystal fiber inserted in a Sagnac loop interferometer. Spectrum shift in response to the RI of glucose solution with a high average sensitivity of 22 130 nm/RIU is achieved, equivalent to 0.76 mg/dL of glucose in water, which is lower than 70 mg/dL for efficient detection of hypoglycemia episodes. And the simplicity of the fiber structure makes the sensor production very cost effective. We aimed to provide a potential effective method for glucose detection in patients with hypoglycemia.

Ultrasensitive Mach-Zehnder Interferometric Temperature Sensor Based on Liquid-Filled D-Shaped Fiber Cavity.

PubMed

Zhang, Hui; Gao, Shecheng; Luo, Yunhan; Chen, Zhenshi; Xiong, Songsong; Wan, Lei; Huang, Xincheng; Huang, Bingsen; Feng, Yuanhua; He, Miao; Liu, Weiping; Chen, Zhe; Li, Zhaohui

2018-04-17

A liquid-filled D-shaped fiber (DF) cavity serving as an in-fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated for temperature sensing with ultrahigh sensitivity. The miniature MZI is constructed by splicing a segment of DF between two single-mode fibers (SMFs) to form a microcavity (MC) for filling and replacement of various refractive index (RI) liquids. By adjusting the effective RI difference between the DF and MC (the two interference arms), experimental and calculated results indicate that the interference spectra show different degrees of temperature dependence. As the effective RI of the liquid-filled MC approaches that of the DF, temperature sensitivity up to −84.72 nm/°C with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9953 has been experimentally achieved for a device with the MC length of 456 μm, filled with liquid RI of 1.482. Apart from ultrahigh sensitivity, the proposed MCMZI device possesses additional advantages of its miniature size and simple configuration; these features make it promising and competitive in various temperature sensing applications, such as consumer electronics, biological treatments, and medical diagnosis.

Simple immunoglobulin G sensor based on thin core single-mode fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Yingfang; Lang, Tingting; Shen, Tingting; Shen, Changyu

2018-03-01

In this paper, a simple fiber biosensor (FOB) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection is designed and experimentally verified. The FOB is constructed by a 20 mm long thin core single-mode fiber (TCSMF) sandwiched between two single-mode optical fibers (SMFs). First, the refractive index (RI) sensitivity of the fiber structures is calculated by the beam propagation method. The refractive index sensing experiment is performed using different concentrations of glycerol solutions, and the experimental results are mostly consistent with the simulation predictions. The experimental RI sensitivity increases with the surrounding RI and reaches 82.7 nm/RIU. Then the surface of the FOB is functionalized by APTES for covalent bonding. The human IgG and goat anti-human IgG are chosen as a bioconjugated pair to examine the bio-sensing effectiveness of this FOB. The sensitivity of IgG detection is determined to be 10.4 nm/(mg/ml). And the serum IgG concentration in normal adults lies within the range of 6-16 mg/ml (Worsfold et al., 1985), so the sensor is applicable to human IgG monitoring. The specificity of the FOB is also verified by a contrast experiment conducted using rabbit immunoglobulin G. The proposed FOB is simple, low loss, cost-effective, and can be used for various biological and chemical applications.

Ultra-Sensitive Humidity Sensor Based on Optical Properties of Graphene Oxide and Nano-Anatase TiO2.

PubMed

Ghadiry, Mahdiar; Gholami, Mehrdad; Lai, C K; Ahmad, Harith; Chong, W Y

2016-01-01

Generally, in a waveguide-based humidity sensors, increasing the relative humidity (RH) causes the cladding refractive index (RI) to increase due to cladding water absorption. However, if graphene oxide (GO) is used, a reverse phenomenon is seen due to a gap increase in graphene layers. In this paper, this interesting property is applied in order to fabricate differential humidity sensor using the difference between RI of reduced GO (rGO) and nano-anatase TiO2 in a chip. First, a new approach is proposed to prepare high quality nano-anatase TiO2 in solution form making the fabrication process simple and straightforward. Then, the resulted solutions (TiO2 and GO) are effortlessly drop casted and reduced on SU8 two channels waveguide and extensively examined against several humid conditions. Investigating the sensitivity and performance (response time) of the device, reveals a great linearity in a wide range of RH (35% to 98%) and a variation of more than 30 dB in transmitted optical power with a response time of only ~0.7 sec. The effect of coating concentration and UV treatment are studied on the performance and repeatability of the sensor and the attributed mechanisms explained. In addition, we report that using the current approach, devices with high sensitivity and very low response time of only 0.3 sec can be fabricated. Also, the proposed device was comprehensively compared with other state of the art proposed sensors in the literature and the results were promising. Since high sensitivity ~0.47dB/%RH and high dynamic performances were demonstrated, this sensor is a proper choice for biomedical applications.

Ultra-Sensitive Humidity Sensor Based on Optical Properties of Graphene Oxide and Nano-Anatase TiO2

PubMed Central

Ghadiry, Mahdiar; Gholami, Mehrdad; Lai, C. K.; Ahmad, Harith; Chong, W. Y.

2016-01-01

Generally, in a waveguide-based humidity sensors, increasing the relative humidity (RH) causes the cladding refractive index (RI) to increase due to cladding water absorption. However, if graphene oxide (GO) is used, a reverse phenomenon is seen due to a gap increase in graphene layers. In this paper, this interesting property is applied in order to fabricate differential humidity sensor using the difference between RI of reduced GO (rGO) and nano-anatase TiO2 in a chip. First, a new approach is proposed to prepare high quality nano-anatase TiO2 in solution form making the fabrication process simple and straightforward. Then, the resulted solutions (TiO2 and GO) are effortlessly drop casted and reduced on SU8 two channels waveguide and extensively examined against several humid conditions. Investigating the sensitivity and performance (response time) of the device, reveals a great linearity in a wide range of RH (35% to 98%) and a variation of more than 30 dB in transmitted optical power with a response time of only ~0.7 sec. The effect of coating concentration and UV treatment are studied on the performance and repeatability of the sensor and the attributed mechanisms explained. In addition, we report that using the current approach, devices with high sensitivity and very low response time of only 0.3 sec can be fabricated. Also, the proposed device was comprehensively compared with other state of the art proposed sensors in the literature and the results were promising. Since high sensitivity ~0.47dB/%RH and high dynamic performances were demonstrated, this sensor is a proper choice for biomedical applications. PMID:27101247

Plasmonic Refractive Index Sensor with High Figure of Merit Based on Concentric-Rings Resonator

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhaojian; Yang, Junbo; He, Xin; Zhang, Jingjing; Huang, Jie; Chen, Dingbo; Han, Yunxin

2018-01-01

A plasmonic refractive index (RI) sensor based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide coupled with concentric double rings resonator (CDRR) is proposed and investigated numerically. Utilizing the novel supermodes of the CDRR, the FWHM of the resonant wavelength can be modulated, and a sensitivity of 1060 nm/RIU with high figure of merit (FOM) 203.8 is realized in the near-infrared region. The unordinary modes, as well as the influence of structure parameters on the sensing performance, are also discussed. Such plasmonic sensor with simple framework and high optical resolution could be applied to on-chip sensing systems and integrated optical circuits. Besides, the special cases of bio-sensing and triple rings are also discussed. PMID:29300331

A molecular switch sensor for detection of PRSS1 genotype based on site-specific DNA cleavage of restriction endonuclease.

PubMed

Liu, Qicai; Gao, Feng; Weng, Shaohuang; Peng, Huaping; Lin, Liqing; Zhao, Chengfei; Lin, Xinhua

2015-01-01

PRSS1 mutations or polymorphism in the peripheral blood of patients can be used as susceptible molecular markers to pancreatic cancer. A sensor for selective electrochemical detection of PRSS1 genotypes was developed based on site-specific DNA cleavage of restriction endonuclease EcoRI. A mercapto-modified hairpin probe was immobilized on a gold electrode. The probe's neck can be cleaved by EcoRI in the absence of rs10273639 C/C of PRSS1 genotype, but it cannot be cleaved in the presence of T/T. The difference in quantity of electric charge was monitored by biosensors before and after enzymatic cleavage. Electrochemical signals are generated by differential pulse voltammetry interrogation of methylene blue (MB) that quantitatively binds to surface-confined hairpin probe via electrostatic interactions. The results suggested this method had a good specificity in distinguishing PRSS1 genotypes. There was a good linear relationship between the charge and the logarithmic function of PRSS1 rs10273639 T/T type DNA concentration (current=120.6303+8.8512log C, R=0.9942). The detection limit was estimated at 0.5 fM. The molecular switch sensor has several advantages, and it is possible to qualitatively, quantitatively, and noninvasively detect PRSS1 genotypes in the blood of patients with pancreatic cancer. © 2015 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

A novel U-bent plastic optical fibre local surface plasmon resonance sensor based on a graphene and silver nanoparticle hybrid structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Shouzhen; Li, Zhe; Zhang, Chao; Gao, Saisai; Li, Zhen; Qiu, Hengwei; Li, Chonghui; Yang, Cheng; Liu, Mei; Liu, Yanjun

2017-04-01

In this work, we have presented a novel local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor based on the U-bent plastic optical fibre (U-POF). Firstly, a layer of discontinuous silver (Ag) thin film was deposited on the U-POF and then the Ag film was covered by a layer of cladding synthesized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), graphene and silver nanoparticles forming the PVA/G/AgNPs@Ag film. The normalized transmittance spectrum of the LSPR sensor have been collected in a range of the refractive index (RI) from 1.330 to 1.3657 in ethanol solution, and 700.3 nm/RIU sensitivity of the developed LSPR sensor has been demonstrated. By experiments, we demonstrated that the graphene could improve the sensitivity of the LSPR sensor and delay the oxidation process of the AgNPs effectively to keep the stability of the LSPR sensor. The LSPR sensor also exhibited good sensitivity and linearity in the detection of glucose solutions. This work shows that the developed LSPR sensor may have promising applications in biosensing.

Ultrasensitive Mach-Zehnder Interferometric Temperature Sensor Based on Liquid-Filled D-Shaped Fiber Cavity

PubMed Central

Zhang, Hui; Gao, Shecheng; Luo, Yunhan; Xiong, Songsong; Wan, Lei; Huang, Xincheng; Huang, Bingsen; Feng, Yuanhua; He, Miao; Liu, Weiping; Chen, Zhe; Li, Zhaohui

2018-01-01

A liquid-filled D-shaped fiber (DF) cavity serving as an in-fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated for temperature sensing with ultrahigh sensitivity. The miniature MZI is constructed by splicing a segment of DF between two single-mode fibers (SMFs) to form a microcavity (MC) for filling and replacement of various refractive index (RI) liquids. By adjusting the effective RI difference between the DF and MC (the two interference arms), experimental and calculated results indicate that the interference spectra show different degrees of temperature dependence. As the effective RI of the liquid-filled MC approaches that of the DF, temperature sensitivity up to −84.72 nm/°C with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9953 has been experimentally achieved for a device with the MC length of 456 μm, filled with liquid RI of 1.482. Apart from ultrahigh sensitivity, the proposed MCMZI device possesses additional advantages of its miniature size and simple configuration; these features make it promising and competitive in various temperature sensing applications, such as consumer electronics, biological treatments, and medical diagnosis. PMID:29673220

A fiber-optic sensor for neurotransmitters with ultralow concentration: near-infrared plasmonic electromagnetic field enhancement using raspberry-like meso-SiO2 nanospheres.

PubMed

Huang, Yunyun; Ding, Mingfei; Guo, Tuan; Hu, Dejiao; Cao, Yaoyu; Jin, Long; Guan, Bai-Ou

2017-10-12

The feasibility of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhanced sensor based on raspberry-like nanosphere functionalized silica microfibers has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The extinction of single Ag (or Au) nanoparticles usually occurs at visible wavelengths. Nevertheless, a LSPR enhancement at near infrared wavelengths has been achieved by constructing raspberry-like meso-SiO 2 nanospheres with noble metal nanoparticle cluster coating. The nanosphere coating captures γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) targets through size selectivity and enhances the sensitivity by the LSPR effect. The gathering of GABA on the sensor surface translates the concentration signal to the information of refractive index (RI). Silica microfiber perceives the RI change and translates it to optical signal. The LSPR effect enhances the optical sensitivity by enhancing the evanescent field on the microfiber surface. This combination presents the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 10 -15 M (three orders lower than that without LSPR enhancement). It could fully afford the detection of ultra-low GABA concentration fluctuation (which is important for determining a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders). The inherent advantages of the proposed sensors, including their ultra-sensitivity, low cost, light weight, small size and remote operation ability, provide the potential to fully incorporate them into various biomedical applications.

Erbium-doped fiber ring laser based on few-mode-singlemode-few-mode fiber structure for refractive index measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jingxuan; Wang, Muguang; Liang, Xiao; Dong, Yue; Xiao, Han; Jian, Shuisheng

2017-08-01

A novel Erbium-doped fiber ring cavity laser sensor for refractive index (RI) measurement based on a special designed few-mode-singlemode-few-mode structure is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The few-mode fiber is a home-made concentric ring core fiber (CRCF) which can only support two scalar modes. Thus a stable mode interference occurs which functions as a sensing head and band-pass filter to select the lasing wavelength simultaneously. A sensitivity of -45.429 nm/RIU is obtained in the range of 1.333-1.363. High optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) of ∼45 dB and narrow 3-dB bandwidth of ∼0.1 nm indicate that the fiber ring laser sensing system has a high resolution and accuracy RI measurement.

Determination of dynamic variations in the optical properties of graphene oxide in response to gas exposure based on thin-film interference.

PubMed

Tabassum, Shawana; Dong, Liang; Kumar, Ratnesh

2018-03-05

We present an effective yet simple approach to study the dynamic variations in optical properties (such as the refractive index (RI)) of graphene oxide (GO) when exposed to gases in the visible spectral region, using the thin-film interference method. The dynamic variations in the complex refractive index of GO in response to exposure to a gas is an important factor affecting the performance of GO-based gas sensors. In contrast to the conventional ellipsometry, this method alleviates the need of selecting a dispersion model from among a list of model choices, which is limiting if an applicable model is not known a priori. In addition, the method used is computationally simpler, and does not need to employ any functional approximations. Further advantage over ellipsometry is that no bulky optics is required, and as a result it can be easily integrated into the sensing system, thereby allowing the reliable, simple, and dynamic evaluation of the optical performance of any GO-based gas sensor. In addition, the derived values of the dynamically changing RI values of the GO layer obtained from the method we have employed are corroborated by comparing with the values obtained from ellipsometry.

Spectrum interrogation of fiber acoustic sensor based on self-fitting and differential method.

PubMed

Fu, Xin; Lu, Ping; Ni, Wenjun; Liao, Hao; Wang, Shun; Liu, Deming; Zhang, Jiangshan

2017-02-20

In this article, we propose an interrogation method of fiber acoustic sensor to recover the time-domain signal from the sensor spectrum. The optical spectrum of the sensor will show a ripple waveform when responding to acoustic signal due to the scanning process in a certain wavelength range. The reason behind this phenomenon is the dynamic variation of the sensor spectrum while the intensity of different wavelength is acquired at different time in a scanning period. The frequency components can be extracted from the ripple spectrum assisted by the wavelength scanning speed. The signal is able to be recovered by differential between the ripple spectrum and its self-fitted curve. The differential process can eliminate the interference caused by environmental perturbations such as temperature or refractive index (RI), etc. The proposed method is appropriate for fiber acoustic sensors based on gratings or interferometers. A long period grating (LPG) is adopted as an acoustic sensor head to prove the feasibility of the interrogation method in experiment. The ability to compensate the environmental fluctuations is also demonstrated.

[The experiment research on solution refractive index sensor based on tilted fiber Bragg grating].

PubMed

Jiang, Qi; Lü, Dan-Dan; Yu, Ming-Hao; Kang, Li-Min; Ouyang, Jun

2013-12-01

The present paper analyzes the sensor's basic principle of the bare tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) and surface plasmon resonance sensor (SPR) that deposited nanoscale gold-coating on the surface of the cladding. We simulated the transmission spectrums and some order cladding mode of TFBG in different concentration solutions by Integration and optical fiber grating software OptiGrating. So by the graphic observation and data analysis, a preliminary conclusion was got that in a certain sensing scope, the cladding modes of TFBG shift slightly to right with the increasing the solution refractive index(SRI),and the relation between resonance peak caused by the coupling of core mode and a certain cladding mode and the SRI was linear. Then the 45 nm thick gold coating was deposited on the surface of the TFBG cladding in a small-scale sputtering chamber KYKY SBC-12, and thermal field scanning electron microscopy presents that the effect of gold-coating was satisfactory to a certain extent in terms of microscopic level. The refractive index(RI) sensing experiments of different concentration solutions of NaCI, MgCI2, CaCI2 were carried out using bare and gold deposited TFBG. The RI sensing characteristics of both bare and gold deposited TFBGs respectively were studied by experiments. Meanwhile, it proved the conclusion that the cladding modes of TFBG drifted to right gradually when the SRI was increasing and the relations between resonance peak caused by the coupling of core mode and a certain cladding mode and the SRI were linear. And by quantitative analysis, we know that SPR sensor with the deposited namoscale gold layer on the surface of cladding enhanced the RI sensitivity dramatically by 2 to 500 nm RIU-1 which is 200 to 300 times larger than that of the bare tilted fiber Bragg grating approximately. The degrees of linear fittings of resonance peak caused by the coupling of core mode and a certain cladding mode and SRI of bare and gold-coating deposited SPR sensor are very good and both of them reach up to more than 0. 99.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Ethylene Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene Hollow Fiber.

PubMed

Chen, Pan; He, Yu-Jing; Zhu, Xiao-Song; Shi, Yi-Wei

2015-11-03

A new kind of hollow fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor (HF-SPRS) based on the silver-coated ethylene tetra-fluoro-ethylene (ETFE) hollow fiber (HF) is presented. The ETFE HF-SPRS is fabricated, and its performance is investigated experimentally by measuring the transmission spectra of the sensor when filled by liquid sensed media with different refractive indices (RIs). Theoretical analysis based on the ray transmission model is also taken to evaluate the sensor. Because the RI of ETFE is much lower than that of fused silica (FSG), the ETFE HF-SPRS can extend the lower limit of the detection range of the early reported FSG HF-SPRS from 1.5 to 1.42 approximately. This could greatly enhance the application potential of HF-SPRS. Moreover, the joint use of both ETFE and FSG HF-SPRSs can cover a wide detection range from 1.42 to 1.69 approximately with high sensitivities larger than 1000 nm/RIU.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Ethylene Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene Hollow Fiber

PubMed Central

Chen, Pan; He, Yu-Jing; Zhu, Xiao-Song; Shi, Yi-Wei

2015-01-01

A new kind of hollow fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor (HF-SPRS) based on the silver-coated ethylene tetra-fluoro-ethylene (ETFE) hollow fiber (HF) is presented. The ETFE HF-SPRS is fabricated, and its performance is investigated experimentally by measuring the transmission spectra of the sensor when filled by liquid sensed media with different refractive indices (RIs). Theoretical analysis based on the ray transmission model is also taken to evaluate the sensor. Because the RI of ETFE is much lower than that of fused silica (FSG), the ETFE HF-SPRS can extend the lower limit of the detection range of the early reported FSG HF-SPRS from 1.5 to 1.42 approximately. This could greatly enhance the application potential of HF-SPRS. Moreover, the joint use of both ETFE and FSG HF-SPRSs can cover a wide detection range from 1.42 to 1.69 approximately with high sensitivities larger than 1000 nm/RIU. PMID:26540062

Gasohol Quality Control for Real Time Applications by Means of a Multimode Interference Fiber Sensor

PubMed Central

Rodríguez Rodríguez, Adolfo J.; Baldovino-Pantaleón, Oscar; Domínguez Cruz, Rene F.; Zamarreño, Carlos R.; Matías, Ignacio R.; May-Arrioja, Daniel A.

2014-01-01

In this work we demonstrate efficient quality control of a variety of gasoline and ethanol (gasohol) blends using a multimode interference (MMI) fiber sensor. The operational principle relies on the fact that the addition of ethanol to the gasohol blend reduces the refractive index (RI) of the gasoline. Since MMI sensors are capable of detecting small RI changes, the ethanol content of the gasohol blend is easily determined by tracking the MMI peak wavelength response. Gasohol blends with ethanol contents ranging from 0% to 50% has been clearly identified using this device, which provides a linear response with a maximum sensitivity of 0.270 nm/% EtOH. The sensor can also distinguish when water incorporated in the blend has exceeded the maximum volume tolerated by the gasohol blend, which is responsible for phase separation of the ethanol and gasoline and could cause serious engine failures. Since the MMI sensor is straightforward to fabricate and does not require any special coating it is a cost effective solution for real time and in-situ monitoring of the quality of gasohol blends. PMID:25256111

Hybrid Fabry-Perot interferometer for simultaneous liquid refractive index and temperature measurement.

PubMed

Xu, Ben; Yang, Yi; Jia, Zhenbao; Wang, D N

2017-06-26

A compact and high sensitivity sensor with a fiber-tip structure is proposed and demonstrated for simultaneously liquid refractive index (RI) and temperature sensing. The device is fabricated by inserting a tiny segment of capillary tube between single-mode fibers (SMFs) to form two cascaded Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs). The theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that the ambient liquid RI and temperature can be simultaneously determined by the intensity and shift of the resonant wavelength in the reflection spectrum. Our proposed device has the highest RI sensitivity of ~216.37 dB/RIU at the RI value of 1.30; a high spatial resolution owing to its compact size (with dimension <400 μm) makes it promising for high precision bio/chemical sensing applications.

Homogeneous localized surface plasmon resonance inflection points for enhanced sensitivity and tracking plasmon damping in single gold bipyramids.

PubMed

Tsalu, Philippe Vuka; Kim, Geun Wan; Hong, Jong Wook; Ha, Ji Won

2018-06-22

The most polarizable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) longitudinal mode of anisotropic metallic nanoparticles, such as gold bipyramids (AuBPs), is of high prominence. This optical response has tremendous applications from spectroscopy to photonics and energy devices to sensing. In conventional LSPR-based sensing, broadening and asymmetry in peaks due to chemical and instrument noise hinder obtaining a precise insight on shift positions, accordingly limiting the effectiveness and impact of LSPR sensors. Further, when investigating LSPR properties, utilizing more simplistic frequency dependent dielectric-type models can aberrantly impact the reliability of fundamental properties used for designing and fabricating efficient optical devices. For instance, more approximations can effectively limit screening intra-band and inter-band (IB) electronic transition contributions and other related optical properties. With an aim to find alternative methods to further improve their efficiency, as a first report, we devoted a particular focus on LSPR scattering inflection points (IFs) of single AuBPs. The findings reveal that tracking LSPR IFs exhibit high sensitivity over their counterpart LSPR peak shift locations. In addition, we newly detected IB transition contributions near the resonance energy in the range (1.50 eV-2.00 eV) dominated by intra-band transitions. A small increase in the local RI effectively enhances the LSPR quality factor due to IB transitions. Therefore, while neglecting IB transitions in the range below 2.4 eV can work for local air refractive index (RI), in high local RI media it can be aberrantly underestimated. Demonstrated by the use of the dielectric function based on Kramers-Kronig consistent Lorentz oscillators, our findings are in good agreement with the enhancing RI sensitivity effect. The results of this investigation support the idea that tracking curvature changes of an optical signal can be effectively used for LSPR longitudinal peak RI sensing as well as damping in the local RI environment of a single AuBP.

Etched FBG coated with polyimide for simultaneous detection the salinity and temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Dong; Ma, Jianxun; Ibrahim, Zainah; Ismail, Zubaidah

2017-06-01

In marine environment, concrete structures can corrode because of the PH alkalinity of concrete paste; and the salinity PH is heavily related with the concentration of salt in aqueous solutions. In this study, an optical fiber salinity sensor is proposed on the basis of an etched FBG (EFBG) coated with a layer of polyimide. Chemical etching is employed to reduce the diameter of FBG and to excite Cladding Mode Resonance Wavelengths (CMRWs). CMRW and Fundamental Mode Resonance Wavelength (FMRW) can be used to measure the Refractive index (RI) and temperature of salinity. The proposed sensor is then characterized with a matrix equation. Experimental results show that FMRW and 5th CMRW have the detection sensitivities of 15.407 and 125.92 nm/RIU for RI and 0.0312 and 0.0435 nm/°C for temperature, respectively. The proposed sensor can measure salinity and temperature simultaneously.

Design and Simulation of Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors for Environmental Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmood, Aseel I.; Ibrahim, Rawa Kh; Mahmood, Aml I.; Ibrahim, Zainab Kh

2018-05-01

In this work a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor based on Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) infiltrated with water samples has been proposed. To accurate detection of the sample properties, gold is used as plasmonic material. The air holes of PCF has been infiltrated with water samples, the optical properties of these samples has been taken from samples collected from Al-Qadisiya and Wathba lab. (east Tigris, Wathba, and Al-Rasheed) water projects at Baghdad- Iraq. Finite Element Method (FEM) has been used to study the sensor performance and fiber properties. From the numerical investigation we get maximum sensitivity circa 164.3 nm/RIU in the sensing range of 1.33 (of STD water) to 1.3431 (of river sample). The proposed sensor could be developed to detect f various high refractive index (RI) chemicals like the heavy metals in water.

Polymer microfiber bridging Bi-tapered refractive index sensor based on evanescent field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Ri-Qing; Wang, Qi; Wang, Bo-Tao; Liu, Yu; Kong, Lingxin

2018-05-01

A PDMS/graphene enhanced PMMA micro optical waveguide sensor is reported in terms of fabrication method and optical characteristics. The micro optical waveguide with a diameter of 6 μm and a length of 800 μm is used as the sensing probe to realize refractive index (RI) measurement suspended in NaCl solutions with different concentrations. Experimental results show that the refractive index sensing sensitivity can reach 2027.97 nm/RIU within the refractive index ranging from 1.3333-1.3426. Research results show that PMMA/graphene micro optical waveguide doped with PDMS is an excellent high sensitive sensing technology in refractive index detection field.

A Low-Cost and Portable Dual-Channel Fiber Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance System.

PubMed

Liu, Qiang; Liu, Yun; Chen, Shimeng; Wang, Fang; Peng, Wei

2017-12-04

A miniaturization and integration dual-channel fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system was proposed and demonstrated in this paper. We used a yellow light-emitting diode (LED, peak wavelength 595 nm) and built-in web camera as a light source and detector, respectively. Except for the detection channel, one of the sensors was used as a reference channel to compensate nonspecific binding and physical absorption. We packaged the LED and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors together, which are flexible enough to be applied to mobile devices as a compact and portable system. Experimental results show that the normalized intensity shift and refractive index (RI) of the sample have a good linear relationship in the RI range from 1.328 to 1.348. We used this sensor to monitor the reversible, specific interaction between lectin concanavalin A (Con A) and glycoprotein ribonuclease B (RNase B), which demonstrate its capabilities of specific identification and biochemical samples concentration detection. This sensor system has potential applications in various fields, such as medical diagnosis, public health, food safety, and environment monitoring.

Temperature sensitivity of silicon nitride nanocoated long-period gratings working in various surrounding media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smietana, M.; Bock, W. J.; Mikulic, P.

2011-11-01

This paper presents the temperature sensing properties of a silicon nitride (SiNx) nanocoated long-period grating (LPG). A high-temperature, radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposited SiNx nanocoating was applied to tune the external refractive index (RI) sensitivity of LPGs written with UV and electric arc techniques in boron co-doped and standard germanium doped fibers, respectively. The technique allows for deposition of good quality, hard and wear-resistant nanofilms as are required for optical sensors. Thanks to the high-RI SiNx nanocoating, which is less than 90 nm thick, it is possible to reduce RI sensitivity over a wide range (from nD = 1.333 to 1.479), simultaneously decreasing its cross-sensitivity to temperature. For the presented nanocoated LPGs, the temperature effect on resonance wavelength is linear and slightly dependent on the thermo-optic coefficient of the surrounding liquid. The other advantage of the nanocoating is that it makes the resonance clearly visible in the whole investigated external RI range. To the best of our knowledge, this work presents for the first time a nanocoating able to simultaneously tune the RI sensitivity and enable temperature measurements in high-RI liquids applied to LPGs.

An optical sensing approach for the noninvasive transdermal monitoring of cortisol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Yongsoon; Gupta, Niraj K.; Ojha, Yagya R.; Cameron, Brent D.

2016-03-01

Cortisol, a biomarker of stress, has recently been shown to have potential in evaluating the physiological state of individuals diagnosed with stress-related conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome. Noninvasive techniques to extract biomarkers from the body are a topic of considerable interest. One such technique to achieve this is known as reverse iontophoresis (RI) which is capable of extracting biomolecules through the skin. Unfortunately, however, the extracted levels are often considerably lower in concentration than those found in blood, thereby requiring a very sensitive analytical method with a low limit of detection. A promising sensing approach, which is well suited to handle such samples, is Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. When coupled with aptamer modified surfaces, such sensors can achieve both selectivity and the required sensitivity. In this study, fabrication and characterization of a RIbased SPR biosensor for the measurement of cortisol has been developed. The optical mount and diffusion cell were both fabricated through the use of 3D printing techniques. The SPR sensor was configured to employ a prism couplerbased arrangement with a laser generation module and CCD line sensor. Cortisol-specific DNA aptamers were immobilized onto a gold surface to achieve the necessary selectivity. For demonstration purposes, cortisol was extracted by the RI system using a skin phantom flow system capable of generating time dependent concentration profiles. The captured sample was then transported using a micro-fluidic platform from the RI collection site to the SPR sensor for real-time monitoring. Analysis and system control was accomplished within a developed LabVIEW® program.

Guided-Mode-Leaky-Mode-Guided-Mode Fiber Interferometer and Its High Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensing Technology.

PubMed

Wang, Qi; Li, Chunyue; Zhao, Chengwu; Li, Weizheng

2016-06-01

A cascaded symmetrical dual-taper Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure based on guided-mode and leaky-mode interference is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the interference spectrum characteristics of interferometer has been analyzed by the Finite Difference-Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM). When the diameter of taper waist is 20 μm-30 μm, dual-taper length is 1 mm and taper distance is 4 cm-6 cm, the spectral contrast is higher, which is suitable for sensing. Secondly, experimental research on refractive index sensitivity is carried out. A refractive index sensitivity of 62.78 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) can achieved in the RI range of 1.3333-1.3792 (0%~25% NaCl solution), when the sensor structure parameters meet the following conditions: diameter of taper waist is 24 μm, dual-taper length is 837 μm and taper distance is 5.5 cm. The spectrum contrast is 0.8 and measurement resolution is 1.6 × 10(-5) RIU. The simulation analysis is highly consistent with experimental results. Research shows that the sensor has promising application in low RI fields where high-precision measurement is required due to its high sensitivity and stability.

Multi-Stage Maximum Likelihood Target Estimator

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-31

Compute the range at ti with respect to 19 the sensor associated with the ith 20 measurement (Ri): 23 1 R, = VRx ’+ Ryl’ (3 2 2.) Compute the range...the ith measurement 12 ii. Compute the range at tj with respect tothe 13 sensor associated with the ith measurement (R4) 14 = VRx + Ry (323) 15 iii

A microfluidic laser scattering sensor for label-free detection of waterborne pathogens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Huang; Yang, Limei; Li, Feng

2016-10-01

A microfluidic-based multi-angle laser scattering (MALS) sensor capable of acquiring scattering pattern of single particle is demonstrated. The size and relative refractive index (RI) of polystyrene (PS) microspheres were deduced with accuracies of 60 nm and 0.001 by analyzing the scattering patterns. We measured scattering patterns of waterborne parasites i.e., cryptosporidium parvum (c.parvum) and giardia lamblia (g.lamblia), and some other representative species in 1 L water within 1 hour, and the waterborne parasites were identified with accuracy better than 96% by classification of distinctive scattering patterns with a support-vector-machine (SVM) algorithm. The system provides a promising tool for label-free and rapid detection of waterborne parasites.

Enhancing sensitivity of biconical tapered fiber sensors with multiple passes through the taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohoon, Gregory; Boyter, Chris; Errico, Michael; Vandervoort, Kurt; Salik, Ertan

2010-03-01

A single biconical fiber taper is a simple and low-cost yet powerful sensor. With a distinct strength in refractive index (RI) sensing, biconical tapered fiber sensors can find their place in handheld sensor platforms, especially as biosensors that are greatly needed in health care, environmental protection, food safety, and biodefense. We report doubling of sensitivity for these sensors with two passes through the tapered region, which becomes possible through the use of sensitive and high-dynamic-range photodetectors. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we measured transmission through the taper when it was immersed in isopropyl alcohol-water mixtures of varying concentrations, in which a thin gold layer at the tip of the fiber acted as a mirror enabling two passes through the tapered region. This improved the sensitivity from 0.43 dB/vol % in the single-pass case to 0.78 dB/vol % with two passes through the taper. The refractive index detection limit was estimated to be ~1.2×10-5 RI units (RIU) and ~0.6×10-5 RIU in the single- and double-pass schemes, respectively. We predict that further enhancement of sensitivity may be achieved with a higher number of passes through the taper.

Using the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance of Gold Nanoparticles to Monitor Lipid Membrane Assembly and Protein Binding.

PubMed

Messersmith, Reid E; Nusz, Greg J; Reed, Scott M

2013-12-19

Gold nanoparticles provide a template for preparing supported lipid layers with well-defined curvature. Here, we utilize the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles as a sensor for monitoring the preparation of lipid layers on nanoparticles. The LSPR is very sensitive to the immediate surroundings of the nanoparticle surface and it is used to monitor the coating of lipids and subsequent conversion of a supported bilayer to a hybrid membrane with an outer lipid leaflet and an inner leaflet containing hydrophobic alkanethiol. We demonstrate that both decanethiol and propanethiol are able to form hybrid membranes and that the membrane created over the shorter thiol can be stripped from the gold along with the lipid leaflet using β-mercaptoethanol. The sensitivity of the nanoparticle LSPR to the refractive index (RI) of its surroundings is greater when the shorter thiol is used (37.8 ± 1.5 nm per RI unit) than when the longer thiol is used (27.5 ± 0.5 nm per RI unit). Finally, C-reactive protein binding to the membrane is measured using this sensor allowing observation of both protein-membrane and nanoparticle-nanoparticle interactions without chemical labeling of protein or lipids.

In-line open-cavity Fabry-Pérot interferometer formed by C-shaped fiber fortemperature-insensitive refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Wu, Chuang; Liu, Zhengyong; Zhang, A Ping; Guan, Bai-Ou; Tam, Hwa-Yaw

2014-09-08

We report an open-cavity optical fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) capable of measuring refractive index with very low temperature cross-sensitivity. The FPI was constructed by splicing a thin piece of C-shaped fiber between two standard single-mode fibers. The refractive index (RI) response of the FPI was characterized using water-ethanol mixtures with RI in the range of 1.33 to 1.36. The RI sensitivity was measured to be 1368 nm/RIU at the wavelength of 1600 nm with good linearity. Thanks to its all-glass structure, the FPI exhibits very low temperature cross-sensitivity of 3.04 × 10⁻⁷ RIU/°C. The effects of cavity length on the performance of the sensor were also studied. A shorter cavity gives rise to broader measurement range while offering larger detection limit, and vice versa. What's more, the effect of material dispersion of analyte on the sensitivity of open-cavity FPIs was identified for the first time. The sensor is compact in size and easy to fabricate. It is potentially useful for label-free optical sensing of chemical and biological samples.

Research on High Sensitive D-Shaped FBG Hydrogen Sensors in Power Transformer Oil

PubMed Central

Luo, Ying-Ting; Wang, Hong-Bin; Ma, Guo-Ming; Song, Hong-Tu; Li, Chengrong; Jiang, Jun

2016-01-01

Dissolved hydrogen is a symbol gas decomposed by power transformer oil for electrical faults such as overheat or partial discharges. A novel D-shaped fiber Bragg grating (D-FBG) sensor is herein proposed and was fabricated with magnetron sputtering to measure the dissolved hydrogen concentration in power transformer oil in this paper. Different from the RI (refractive index)-based effect, D-FBG in this case is sensitive to curvature caused by stress from sensing coating, leading to Bragg wavelength shifts accordingly. The relationship between the D-FBG wavelength shift and dissolved hydrogen concentration in oil was measured experimentally in the laboratory. The detected sensitivity could be as high as 1.96 μL/L at every 1-pm wavelength shift. The results proved that a simple, polished FBG-based hydrogen sensor provides a linear measuring characteristic in the range of low hydrogen concentrations in transformer oil. Moreover, the stable hydrogen sensing performance was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. PMID:27782034

Research on High Sensitive D-Shaped FBG Hydrogen Sensors in Power Transformer Oil.

PubMed

Luo, Ying-Ting; Wang, Hong-Bin; Ma, Guo-Ming; Song, Hong-Tu; Li, Chengrong; Jiang, Jun

2016-10-04

Dissolved hydrogen is a symbol gas decomposed by power transformer oil for electrical faults such as overheat or partial discharges. A novel D-shaped fiber Bragg grating (D-FBG) sensor is herein proposed and was fabricated with magnetron sputtering to measure the dissolved hydrogen concentration in power transformer oil in this paper. Different from the RI (refractive index)-based effect, D-FBG in this case is sensitive to curvature caused by stress from sensing coating, leading to Bragg wavelength shifts accordingly. The relationship between the D-FBG wavelength shift and dissolved hydrogen concentration in oil was measured experimentally in the laboratory. The detected sensitivity could be as high as 1.96 μL/L at every 1-pm wavelength shift. The results proved that a simple, polished FBG-based hydrogen sensor provides a linear measuring characteristic in the range of low hydrogen concentrations in transformer oil. Moreover, the stable hydrogen sensing performance was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Addressing Uncertainty in Signal Propagation and Sensor Performance Predictions

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-11-01

Army Engineer Research and Develop- ment Center (ERDC) AT42 work package Environmental Awareness for Sensor Employment (EASE). M. S. Lewis is an Oak...L. Pettit, Sean Mackay, Matthew S. Lewis , and Peter M. Seman November 2008 C ol d R eg io n s R es ea rc h an d E n gi n ee ri n g La b...Propagation and Sensor Performance Predictions D. Keith Wilson, Matthew S. Lewis , and Peter M. Seman Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Intensity-modulated refractive index sensor with anti-light source fluctuation based on no-core fiber filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Cheng; Xu, Shan; Zhao, Junfa; Li, Hongqiang; Bai, Hua; Miao, Changyun

2017-12-01

A differential intensity-modulated refractive index (RI) sensor consisting of a no-core fiber (NCF) filter, a circulator and two fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is proposed and demonstrated. A section of the NCF is sandwiched between two parts of single mode fibers (SMFs) to form a band-pass filter. The Bragg wavelengths of the FBGs are chosen at the two edges of the filter, respectively. The peak wavelength of the NCF filter has a red-shift with the increase of the surrounding refractive index (SRI) while the Bragg wavelengths have no change, which results in the variation of the difference of the two FBGs reflective intensities, thus the differential intensity modulation to the SRI can be accomplished. Compared with directly connecting the NCF filter and the FBGs, this sensing structure can increase the output power so as to improve the measuring resolution. The experimental results show that the RI sensitivities are -99.191 dB/RIU and -139.958 dB/RIU at the range of 1.3329-1.3781 and 1.3781-1.401, respectively. In addition, the disturbance from the light source fluctuation and temperature cross sensitivity can be minimized effectively, which has great potential in actual applications.

Guided-Mode-Leaky-Mode-Guided-Mode Fiber Interferometer and Its High Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensing Technology

PubMed Central

Wang, Qi; Li, Chunyue; Zhao, Chengwu; Li, Weizheng

2016-01-01

A cascaded symmetrical dual-taper Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure based on guided-mode and leaky-mode interference is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the interference spectrum characteristics of interferometer has been analyzed by the Finite Difference-Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM). When the diameter of taper waist is 20 μm–30 μm, dual-taper length is 1 mm and taper distance is 4 cm–6 cm, the spectral contrast is higher, which is suitable for sensing. Secondly, experimental research on refractive index sensitivity is carried out. A refractive index sensitivity of 62.78 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) can achieved in the RI range of 1.3333–1.3792 (0%~25% NaCl solution), when the sensor structure parameters meet the following conditions: diameter of taper waist is 24 μm, dual-taper length is 837 μm and taper distance is 5.5 cm. The spectrum contrast is 0.8 and measurement resolution is 1.6 × 10−5 RIU. The simulation analysis is highly consistent with experimental results. Research shows that the sensor has promising application in low RI fields where high-precision measurement is required due to its high sensitivity and stability. PMID:27258281

Terahertz microfluidic sensing using a parallel-plate waveguide sensor.

PubMed

Astley, Victoria; Reichel, Kimberly; Mendis, Rajind; Mittleman, Daniel M

2012-08-30

Refractive index (RI) sensing is a powerful noninvasive and label-free sensing technique for the identification, detection and monitoring of microfluidic samples with a wide range of possible sensor designs such as interferometers and resonators. Most of the existing RI sensing applications focus on biological materials in aqueous solutions in visible and IR frequencies, such as DNA hybridization and genome sequencing. At terahertz frequencies, applications include quality control, monitoring of industrial processes and sensing and detection applications involving nonpolar materials. Several potential designs for refractive index sensors in the terahertz regime exist, including photonic crystal waveguides, asymmetric split-ring resonators, and photonic band gap structures integrated into parallel-plate waveguides. Many of these designs are based on optical resonators such as rings or cavities. The resonant frequencies of these structures are dependent on the refractive index of the material in or around the resonator. By monitoring the shifts in resonant frequency the refractive index of a sample can be accurately measured and this in turn can be used to identify a material, monitor contamination or dilution, etc. The sensor design we use here is based on a simple parallel-plate waveguide. A rectangular groove machined into one face acts as a resonant cavity (Figures 1 and 2). When terahertz radiation is coupled into the waveguide and propagates in the lowest-order transverse-electric (TE1) mode, the result is a single strong resonant feature with a tunable resonant frequency that is dependent on the geometry of the groove. This groove can be filled with nonpolar liquid microfluidic samples which cause a shift in the observed resonant frequency that depends on the amount of liquid in the groove and its refractive index. Our technique has an advantage over other terahertz techniques in its simplicity, both in fabrication and implementation, since the procedure can be accomplished with standard laboratory equipment without the need for a clean room or any special fabrication or experimental techniques. It can also be easily expanded to multichannel operation by the incorporation of multiple grooves. In this video we will describe our complete experimental procedure, from the design of the sensor to the data analysis and determination of the sample refractive index.

Optical fiber LPG biosensor integrated microfluidic chip for ultrasensitive glucose detection

PubMed Central

Yin, Ming-jie; Huang, Bobo; Gao, Shaorui; Zhang, A. Ping; Ye, Xuesong

2016-01-01

An optical fiber sensor integrated microfluidic chip is presented for ultrasensitive detection of glucose. A long-period grating (LPG) inscribed in a small-diameter single-mode fiber (SDSMF) is employed as an optical refractive-index (RI) sensor. With the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique, poly (ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) multilayer film is deposited on the SDSMF-LPG sensor for both supporting and signal enhancement, and then a glucose oxidase (GOD) layer is immobilized on the outer layer for glucose sensing. A microfluidic chip for glucose detection is fabricated after embedding the SDSMF-LPG biosensor into the microchannel of the chip. Experimental results reveal that the SDSMF-LPG biosensor based on such a hybrid sensing film can ultrasensitively detect glucose concentration as low as 1 nM. After integration into the microfluidic chip, the detection range of the sensor is extended from 2 µM to 10 µM, and the response time is remarkablely shortened from 6 minutes to 70 seconds. PMID:27231643

Change in refractive index of muscle tissue during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy.

PubMed

Chen, Na; Chen, Meimei; Liu, Shupeng; Guo, Qiang; Chen, Zhenyi; Wang, Tingyun

2014-01-01

This paper presents a long-period fiber-grating (LPG) based Michelson interferometric refractometry to monitor the change in refractive index of porcine muscle during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT). As the wavelength of RI interferometer alters with the change in refractive index around the probe, the LPG based refractometry is combined with LITT system to measure the change in refractive index of porcine muscle when irradiated by laser. The experimental results show the denaturation of tissue alters the refractive index significantly and the LPG sensor can be applied to monitor the tissue state during the LITT.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2013-12-01

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

Capability for Fine Tuning of the Refractive Index Sensing Properties of Long-Period Gratings by Atomic Layer Deposited Al2O3 Overlays

PubMed Central

Śmietana, Mateusz; Myśliwiec, Marcin; Mikulic, Predrag; Witkowski, Bartłomiej S.; Bock, Wojtek J.

2013-01-01

This work presents an application of thin aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films obtained using atomic layer deposition (ALD) for fine tuning the spectral response and refractive-index (RI) sensitivity of long-period gratings (LPGs) induced in optical fibers. The technique allows for an efficient and well controlled deposition at monolayer level (resolution ∼ 0.12 nm) of excellent quality nano-films as required for optical sensors. The effect of Al2O3 deposition on the spectral properties of the LPGs is demonstrated experimentally and numerically. We correlated both the increase in Al2O3 thickness and changes in optical properties of the film with the shift of the LPG resonance wavelength and proved that similar films are deposited on fibers and oxidized silicon reference samples in the same process run. Since the thin overlay effectively changes the distribution of the cladding modes and thus also tunes the device's RI sensitivity, the tuning can be simply realized by varying number of cycles, which is proportional to thickness of the high-refractive-index (n > 1.6 in infrared spectral range) Al2O3 film. The advantage of this approach is the precision in determining the film properties resulting in RI sensitivity of the LPGs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an ultra-precise method for overlay deposition has been applied on LPGs for RI tuning purposes and the results have been compared with numerical simulations based on LP mode approximation.

Long range surface plasmon resonance with ultra-high penetration depth for self-referenced sensing and ultra-low detection limit using diverging beam approach

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

Isaacs, Sivan, E-mail: sivan.isaacs@gmail.com; Abdulhalim, Ibrahim; NEW CREATE Programme, School of Materials Science and Engineering, 1 CREATE Way, Research Wing, #02-06/08, Singapore 138602

2015-05-11

Using an insulator-metal-insulator structure with dielectric having refractive index (RI) larger than the analyte, long range surface plasmon (SP) resonance exhibiting ultra-high penetration depth is demonstrated for sensing applications of large bioentities at wavelengths in the visible range. Based on the diverging beam approach in Kretschmann-Raether configuration, one of the SP resonances is shown to shift in response to changes in the analyte RI while the other is fixed; thus, it can be used as a built in reference. The combination of the high sensitivity, high penetration depth and self-reference using the diverging beam approach in which a dark linemore » is detected of the high sensitivity, high penetration depth, self-reference, and the diverging beam approach in which a dark line is detected using large number of camera pixels with a smart algorithm for sub-pixel resolution, a sensor with ultra-low detection limit is demonstrated suitable for large bioentities.« less

Sol-Gel-Based Titania-Silica Thin Film Overlay for Long Period Fiber Grating-Based Biosensors.

PubMed

Chiavaioli, Francesco; Biswas, Palas; Trono, Cosimo; Jana, Sunirmal; Bandyopadhyay, Somnath; Basumallick, Nandini; Giannetti, Ambra; Tombelli, Sara; Bera, Susanta; Mallick, Aparajita; Baldini, Francesco

2015-12-15

An evanescent wave optical fiber biosensor based on titania-silica-coated long period grating (LPG) is presented. The chemical overlay, which increases the refractive index (RI) sensitivity of the sensor, consists of a sol-gel-based titania-silica thin film, deposited along the sensing portion of the fiber by means of the dip-coating technique. Changing both the sol viscosity and the withdrawal speed during the dip-coating made it possible to adjust the thickness of the film overlay, which is a crucial parameter for the sensor performance. After the functionalization of the fiber surface using a methacrylic acid/methacrylate copolymer, an antibody/antigen (IgG/anti-IgG) assay was carried out to assess the performance of sol-gel based titania-silica-coated LPGs as biosensors. The analyte concentration was determined from the wavelength shift at the end of the binding process and from the initial binding rate. This is the first time that a sol-gel based titania-silica-coated LPG is proposed as an effective and feasible label-free biosensor. The specificity of the sensor was validated by performing the same model assay after spiking anti-IgG into human serum. With this structured LPG, detection limits of the order of tens of micrograms per liter (10(-11) M) are attained.

Development of advanced magnetic resonance sensor for industrial applications. Final report

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

De Los Santos, A.

1997-06-01

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and various subcontractors, in a cooperative agreement with the DOE, have developed and tested an advanced magnetic resonance (MR) sensor for several industrial applications and made various market surveys. The original goal of the program was to develop an advanced moisture sensor to allow more precise and rapid control of drying processes so that energy and/or product would not be wasted. Over the course of the program, it was shown that energy savings were achievable but in many processes the return in investment did not justify the cost of a magnetic resonance sensor. However, in manymore » processes, particularly chemical, petrochemical, paper and others, the return in investment can be very high as to easily justify the cost of a magnetic resonance sensor. In these industries, substantial improvements in product yield, quality, and efficiency in production can cause substantial energy savings and reductions in product wastage with substantial environmental effects. The initial applications selected for this program included measurement of corn gluten at three different points and corn germ at one point in an American Maize corn processing plant. During the initial phases (I and II) of this program, SwRI developed a prototype advanced moisture sensor utilizing NMR technology capable of accurately and reliably measuring moisture in industrial applications and tested the sensor in the laboratory under conditions simulating on-line products in the corn wet milling industry. The objective of Phase III was to test the prototype sensor in the plant environment to determine robustness, reliability and long term stability. Meeting these objectives would permit extended field testing to improve the statistical database used to calibrate the sensor and subject the sensor to true variations in operating conditions encountered in the process rather than those which could only be simulated in the laboratory.« less

A study of the effect of nasal modes of ventilation on the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm neonates.

PubMed

Mathai, Ss; Datta, Karuna; Adhikari, Km

2012-01-01

Nasal modes of respiratory support cause variable amounts of gastric dilatation which may increase gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) in preterms. To compare the incidence of GER in nasally ventilated, preterm babies with controls (babies not on ventilation). A prospective, observational comparative study. Twenty-three preterm babies of gestational age 28-36 weeks and weight ranging between 1,000 g and < 2,500 g on either nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive pressure venti-lation (nIPPV) were assessed for GER. They were compared with controls not on ventilation some of who were test babies when off ventilation (subgroup A) and some were unrelated babies not on ventilator but matched for gestational age and weight with test babies (subgroup B). All babies were subjected to continuous, oesophageal pH monitoring with dual sensor (upper and lower oesophageal) catheters. Reflux index (RI) was calculated as the percentage of study time the lower oesophageal pH was < 4. Primary outcome was the RI in the test and controls groups. Secondary outcome was the temporal relation of the reflux with symptoms if any. Numerical data were shown as mean with standard deviation and statistical comparisons were done using the χ(2)-test, Fischer test, and t-test wherever applicable. The RI was higher in ventilated babies as compared to the control group, particularly in the subgroup A, where test babies formed their own controls. Grade IV reflux (7 cases) was seen only in the ventilated babies. There was no difference in the incidence of GER in babies on nCPAP as compared with nIPPV. Grade IV reflux could not be reliably predicted by RI alone. No definite temporal relation between episodes of reflux and symptoms could be determined in this study. There is an increase in GER in preterms on nasal modes of ventilation. A combination of upper (pharyngeal) and lower oesophageal sensors are preferred to a single lower oesophageal sensor when assessing GER by oesophageal pHmetry in neonates.

Gallium arsenide based surface plasmon resonance for glucose monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Harshada; Sane, Vani; Sriram, G.; Indumathi, T. S; Sharan, Preeta

2015-07-01

The recent trends in the semiconductor and microwave industries has enabled the development of scalable microfabrication technology which produces a superior set of performance as against its counterparts. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) based biosensors are a special class of optical sensors that become affected by electromagnetic waves. It is found that bio-molecular recognition element immobilized on the SPR sensor surface layer reveals a characteristic interaction with various sample solutions during the passage of light. The present work revolves around developing painless glucose monitoring systems using fluids containing glucose like saliva, urine, sweat or tears instead of blood samples. Non-invasive glucose monitoring has long been simulated using label free detection mechanisms and the same concept is adapted. In label-free detection, target molecules are not labeled or altered, and are detected in their natural forms. Label-free detection mechanisms involves the measurement of refractive index (RI) change induced by molecular interactions. These interactions relates the sample concentration or surface density, instead of total sample mass. After simulation it has been observed that the result obtained is highly accurate and sensitive. The structure used here is SPR sensor based on channel waveguide. The tools used for simulation are RSOFT FULLWAVE, MEEP and MATLAB etc.

Quasi-D-shaped optical fiber plasmonic refractive index sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Guowen; Li, Shuguang; Wang, Haiyang; Zhang, Xuenan; Yan, Xin

2018-03-01

A quasi-D-shaped photonic crystal fiber plasmonic sensor with a rectangular lattice is proposed by using Au as a plasmonic layer and graphene to enhance the sensing performance. By moving the core to the edge of the fiber, a shorter polishing depth is achieved, which makes the fiber proposed have a greater mechanical strength than other common D-shaped fibers. Benefiting from the natural advantage of the rectangular lattice, the dual sensing channels make the proposed sensor show a maximum wavelength interrogation sensitivity of 3877 nm/RIU with the dynamic refractive index range from 1.33 to 1.42 and a maximum amplitude sensitivity of 1236 RIU-1 with the analyte RI = 1.41 in the visible region. The corresponding resolutions are 2.58 × 10-5 and 8.1 × 10-6 with the methods of the wavelength interrogation method and amplitude- or phase-based method. These advantages make the proposed sensor a competitive candidate for biosensing in the field of refractive index detection, such as water quality analysis, clinical medicine detection, and pharmaceutical testing.

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

PubMed Central

Astley, Victoria; Reichel, Kimberly; Mendis, Rajind; Mittleman, Daniel M.

2012-01-01

Refractive index (RI) sensing is a powerful noninvasive and label-free sensing technique for the identification, detection and monitoring of microfluidic samples with a wide range of possible sensor designs such as interferometers and resonators 1,2. Most of the existing RI sensing applications focus on biological materials in aqueous solutions in visible and IR frequencies, such as DNA hybridization and genome sequencing. At terahertz frequencies, applications include quality control, monitoring of industrial processes and sensing and detection applications involving nonpolar materials. Several potential designs for refractive index sensors in the terahertz regime exist, including photonic crystal waveguides 3, asymmetric split-ring resonators 4, and photonic band gap structures integrated into parallel-plate waveguides 5. Many of these designs are based on optical resonators such as rings or cavities. The resonant frequencies of these structures are dependent on the refractive index of the material in or around the resonator. By monitoring the shifts in resonant frequency the refractive index of a sample can be accurately measured and this in turn can be used to identify a material, monitor contamination or dilution, etc. The sensor design we use here is based on a simple parallel-plate waveguide 6,7. A rectangular groove machined into one face acts as a resonant cavity (Figures 1 and 2). When terahertz radiation is coupled into the waveguide and propagates in the lowest-order transverse-electric (TE1) mode, the result is a single strong resonant feature with a tunable resonant frequency that is dependent on the geometry of the groove 6,8. This groove can be filled with nonpolar liquid microfluidic samples which cause a shift in the observed resonant frequency that depends on the amount of liquid in the groove and its refractive index 9. Our technique has an advantage over other terahertz techniques in its simplicity, both in fabrication and implementation, since the procedure can be accomplished with standard laboratory equipment without the need for a clean room or any special fabrication or experimental techniques. It can also be easily expanded to multichannel operation by the incorporation of multiple grooves 10. In this video we will describe our complete experimental procedure, from the design of the sensor to the data analysis and determination of the sample refractive index. PMID:22951593

Experimental study on rotating instability mode characteristics of axial compressor tip flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Jie; Yao, Dan; Wu, Yadong; Ouyang, Hua

2018-04-01

This paper investigates the rotating instabilities that occurred on the single-stage axial compressor designed for aerodynamic performance validation, which was tested with two sets of circumferential measuring points in combination. Circumferential mode characteristics of compressors are usually too high to be captured experimentally, and aliasing of the circumferential mode order occurs when not enough sensors are used. A calibration and prediction method to capture the higher circumferential mode of unsteady flow in a compressor was proposed. Unsteady pressure fluctuations near the tip region in an axial compressor were studied, and high circumferential mode characteristics were captured on both the blade passing frequency (BPF) and the rotational instability frequency (RIF) under different flow rate conditions based on this novel method. The characteristic RI spectrum with a broadband hump was present in a large range of flow conditions. Both the frequency range and the dominant circumferential mode order decreased as the flow rate decreased. Based on the calibrated mode characteristics, a rotating aerodynamic source model is used to explain the side-by-side peak of RIF spectrum and rotating characteristics of RI. The calibration and prediction method of the high circumferential mode is beneficial for the research of unsteady flow in an axial compressor.

[INVITED] Highly sensitive LSPR based photonic crystal fiber sensor with embodiment of nanospheres in different material domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, D.; Biswas, R.

2018-05-01

We report a highly sensitive Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensor by embedding an array of gold nanospheres into the first layer of air-holes of PCF. We present a comprehensive analysis on the basis of progressive variation of refractive indices of analytes as well as sizes of the nanospheres. In the proposed sensing scheme, refractive indices of the analytes have been changed from 1 to 1.41(RIU), accompanied by alteration of the sizes of nanospheres ranging 40-70 nm. The entire study has been executed in the context of different material based PCFs (viz. phosphate and crown) and the corresponding results have been analyzed and compared. We observe a declining trend in modal loss in each set of PCFs with increment of RI of the analyte. Lower loss has been observed in case of crown based PCF. The sensor shows highest sensitivity ∼27,000 nm/RIU for crown based PCF for nanosphere of 70 nm with average wavelength interrogation sensitivity ∼5333.53 nm/RIU. In case of phosphate based PCF, highest sensitivity is found to be ∼18,000 nm/RIU with an average interrogation sensitivity ∼4555.56 nm/RIU for 40 nm of Au nanosphere. Moreover, the additional sensing parameters have been observed to highlight the better design of the modelled LSPR based photonic crystal fiber sensor. As such, the resolution (R), limit of detection (LOD) and sensitivity (S) of the proposed sensor in each case (viz. phosphate and crown PCF) have been discussed by using wavelength interrogation technique. The proposed study provides a basis for detailed investigation of LSPR phenomenon for PCF utilizing noble metal nanospheres (AuNPs).

High figure of merit ultra-compact 3-channel parallel-connected photonic crystal mini-hexagonal-H1 defect microcavity sensor array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunhong; Sun, Fujun; Fu, Zhongyuan; Ding, Zhaoxiang; Wang, Chao; Zhou, Jian; Wang, Jiawen; Tian, Huiping

2017-08-01

In this paper, a photonic crystal (PhC) butt-coupled mini-hexagonal-H1 defect (MHHD) microcavity sensor is proposed. The MHHD microcavity is designed by introducing six mini-holes into the initial H1 defect region. Further, based on a well-designed 1 ×3 PhC Beam Splitter and three optimal MHHD microcavity sensors with different lattice constants (a), a 3-channel parallel-connected PhC sensor array on monolithic silicon on insulator (SOI) is proposed. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations method is performed to demonstrate the high performance of our structures. As statistics show, the quality factor (Q) of our optimal MHHD microcavity attains higher than 7×104, while the sensitivity (S) reaches up to 233 nm/RIU(RIU = refractive index unit). Thus, the figure of merit (FOM) >104 of the sensor is obtained, which is enhanced by two orders of magnitude compared to the previous butt-coupled sensors [1-4]. As for the 3-channel parallel-connected PhC MHHD microcavity sensor array, the FOMs of three independent MHHD microcavity sensors are 8071, 8250 and 8250, respectively. In addition, the total footprint of the proposed 3-channel parallel-connected PhC sensor array is ultra-compactness of 12.5 μm ×31 μm (width × length). Therefore, the proposed high FOM sensor array is an ideal platform for realizing ultra-compact highly parallel refractive index (RI) sensing.

Adaptive Residual Interpolation for Color and Multispectral Image Demosaicking †

PubMed Central

Kiku, Daisuke; Okutomi, Masatoshi

2017-01-01

Color image demosaicking for the Bayer color filter array is an essential image processing operation for acquiring high-quality color images. Recently, residual interpolation (RI)-based algorithms have demonstrated superior demosaicking performance over conventional color difference interpolation-based algorithms. In this paper, we propose adaptive residual interpolation (ARI) that improves existing RI-based algorithms by adaptively combining two RI-based algorithms and selecting a suitable iteration number at each pixel. These are performed based on a unified criterion that evaluates the validity of an RI-based algorithm. Experimental comparisons using standard color image datasets demonstrate that ARI can improve existing RI-based algorithms by more than 0.6 dB in the color peak signal-to-noise ratio and can outperform state-of-the-art algorithms based on training images. We further extend ARI for a multispectral filter array, in which more than three spectral bands are arrayed, and demonstrate that ARI can achieve state-of-the-art performance also for the task of multispectral image demosaicking. PMID:29194407

Adaptive Residual Interpolation for Color and Multispectral Image Demosaicking.

PubMed

Monno, Yusuke; Kiku, Daisuke; Tanaka, Masayuki; Okutomi, Masatoshi

2017-12-01

Color image demosaicking for the Bayer color filter array is an essential image processing operation for acquiring high-quality color images. Recently, residual interpolation (RI)-based algorithms have demonstrated superior demosaicking performance over conventional color difference interpolation-based algorithms. In this paper, we propose adaptive residual interpolation (ARI) that improves existing RI-based algorithms by adaptively combining two RI-based algorithms and selecting a suitable iteration number at each pixel. These are performed based on a unified criterion that evaluates the validity of an RI-based algorithm. Experimental comparisons using standard color image datasets demonstrate that ARI can improve existing RI-based algorithms by more than 0.6 dB in the color peak signal-to-noise ratio and can outperform state-of-the-art algorithms based on training images. We further extend ARI for a multispectral filter array, in which more than three spectral bands are arrayed, and demonstrate that ARI can achieve state-of-the-art performance also for the task of multispectral image demosaicking.

Periscopic Spine Surgery

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

and H. Seraji , “Kinematic analysis of 7 DOF manipulators,” Int. Journal of Robotics Research, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 469–481, 1992. [9] D. Lawrence...Force/torque Sensor Read joint Angle Forward kinematics Impedance controller Patient Fe Fs ix∆ Xd Xc diθ ciθ riθ P&O Proc. of SPIE Vol

In-line photonic microcells based on the elliptical microfibers for refractive index sensors applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Wa; Liu, Xuejing; Jin, Wei

2017-10-01

We report the fabrication of in-line photonic microcells (PMCs) by encapsulating tapered elliptical microfibers (MFs) inside glass tubes. The encapsulation does not change the optical property of the MF but protects the elliptical MF from external disturbance and contamination and makes the micro-laboratory robust. Such micro-laboratory can be easily integrated into standard fiber-optic circuits with low loss, making the elliptical MF-based devices more practical for real-world applications. Evanescent field sensing is realized by fabricating micro-channel on the PMC for ingress/egress of sample liquids/gas. Based on the encapsulated elliptical MF PMCs, we demonstrated RI sensitivity of 2024 nm per refractive index unit (nm/RIU) in gaseous environment and 21231 nm/RIU in water.

Enlarged-taper tailored Fiber Bragg grating with polyvinyl alcohol coating for humidity sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yanhong; Yan, Guofeng; He, Sailing

2015-08-01

In this paper, a novel optical fiber sensor based on an enlarged-taper tailored fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for the measurement of relative humidity. The enlarged-taper works as a multifunctional joint that not only excites cladding modes but also recouples the cladding modes reflected by the FBG back into the leading single mode fiber. Due to the fact that cladding modes have a strong evanescent field penetrating into the ambient medium, the intensity of the reflected cladding modes is greatly influenced by the refractive index (RI) of the ambient medium. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film is plated on the fiber surface by dip-coating technique, as a humidity-to-refractive index transducer, whose RI variance from 1.49 to 1.34 when the ambient humidity increases from 20%RH to 95%RH. The relative humidity response of the sensing structure is investigated in our home-made humidity chamber with a commercial hygrometer. By monitoring the intensity of the reflected cladding modes, the RH variance can be demodulated. Experimental results show that RH sensitivity depends on the RH value, and a sensitivity up to 1.2 dB/%RH can be achieved within the RH range of 30-90%. A fast and reversible time response has also been investigated. Such a probe-type and reusable fiber-optic RH sensor is a very promising technology for biochemical sensing applications, e.g., breath analysis, chemical reaction monitoring.

Defects in Vascular Mechanics Due to Aging in Rats: Studies on Arterial Wave Properties from a Single Aortic Pressure Pulse.

PubMed

Chang, Chun-Yi; Chang, Ru-Wen; Hsu, Shu-Hsien; Wu, Ming-Shiou; Cheng, Ya-Jung; Kao, Hsien-Li; Lai, Liang-Chuan; Wang, Chih-Hsien; Chang, Kuo-Chu

2017-01-01

Changes in vascular mechanics due to aging include elevated vascular impedance, diminished aorta distensibility, and an accelerated return of pulse wave reflection, which may increase the systolic workload on the heart. Classically, the accurate measurement of vascular mechanics requires the simultaneous recording of aortic pressure and flow signals. In practice, it is feasible to estimate arterial wave properties in terms of wave transit time (τ w ) and wave reflection index (RI) by using aortic pressure signal alone. In this study, we determined the τ w and magnitudes of the forward (∣ P f ∣) and backward (∣ P b ∣) pressure waves in Long-Evans male rats aged 4 ( n = 14), 6 ( n = 17), 12 ( n = 17), and 18 ( n = 24) months, based on the measured aortic pressure and an assumed triangular flow ( Q tri ). The pulsatile pressure wave was the only signal recorded in the ascending aorta by using a high-fidelity pressure sensor. The base of the unknown Q tri was constructed using a duration, which equals to the ejection time. The timing at the peak of the triangle was derived using the fourth-order derivative of the aortic pressure waveform. In the 18-month-old rats, the ratio of τ w to left ventricular ejection time (LVET) decreased, indicating a decline in the distensibility of the aorta. The increased ∣ P b ∣ associated with unaltered ∣ P f ∣ enhanced the RI in the older rats. The augmentation index (AI) also increased significantly with age. A significant negative correlation between the AI and τ w /LVET was observed: AI = -0.7424 - 0.9026 × (τ w /LVET) ( r = 0.4901; P < 0.0001). By contrast, RI was positively linearly correlated with the AI as follows: AI = -0.4844 + 2.3634 × RI ( r = 0.8423; P < 0.0001). Both the decreased τ w /LVET and increased RI suggested that the aging process may increase the AI, thereby increasing the systolic hydraulic load on the heart. The novelty of the study is that Q tri is constructed using the measured aortic pressure wave to approximate its corresponding flow signal, and that calibration of Q tri is not essential in the analysis.

Defects in Vascular Mechanics Due to Aging in Rats: Studies on Arterial Wave Properties from a Single Aortic Pressure Pulse

PubMed Central

Chang, Chun-Yi; Chang, Ru-Wen; Hsu, Shu-Hsien; Wu, Ming-Shiou; Cheng, Ya-Jung; Kao, Hsien-Li; Lai, Liang-Chuan; Wang, Chih-Hsien; Chang, Kuo-Chu

2017-01-01

Changes in vascular mechanics due to aging include elevated vascular impedance, diminished aorta distensibility, and an accelerated return of pulse wave reflection, which may increase the systolic workload on the heart. Classically, the accurate measurement of vascular mechanics requires the simultaneous recording of aortic pressure and flow signals. In practice, it is feasible to estimate arterial wave properties in terms of wave transit time (τw) and wave reflection index (RI) by using aortic pressure signal alone. In this study, we determined the τw and magnitudes of the forward (∣Pf∣) and backward (∣Pb∣) pressure waves in Long–Evans male rats aged 4 (n = 14), 6 (n = 17), 12 (n = 17), and 18 (n = 24) months, based on the measured aortic pressure and an assumed triangular flow (Qtri). The pulsatile pressure wave was the only signal recorded in the ascending aorta by using a high-fidelity pressure sensor. The base of the unknown Qtri was constructed using a duration, which equals to the ejection time. The timing at the peak of the triangle was derived using the fourth-order derivative of the aortic pressure waveform. In the 18-month-old rats, the ratio of τw to left ventricular ejection time (LVET) decreased, indicating a decline in the distensibility of the aorta. The increased ∣Pb∣ associated with unaltered ∣Pf∣ enhanced the RI in the older rats. The augmentation index (AI) also increased significantly with age. A significant negative correlation between the AI and τw/LVET was observed: AI = −0.7424 − 0.9026 × (τw/LVET) (r = 0.4901; P < 0.0001). By contrast, RI was positively linearly correlated with the AI as follows: AI = −0.4844 + 2.3634 × RI (r = 0.8423; P < 0.0001). Both the decreased τw/LVET and increased RI suggested that the aging process may increase the AI, thereby increasing the systolic hydraulic load on the heart. The novelty of the study is that Qtri is constructed using the measured aortic pressure wave to approximate its corresponding flow signal, and that calibration of Qtri is not essential in the analysis. PMID:28751867

Measurement of 3D refractive index distribution by optical diffraction tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Weining; Wang, Dayong; Wang, Yunxin; Zhao, Jie; Rong, Lu; Yuan, Yuanyuan

2018-01-01

Optical Diffraction Tomography (ODT), as a novel 3D imaging technique, can obtain a 3D refractive index (RI) distribution to reveal the important optical properties of transparent samples. According to the theory of ODT, an optical diffraction tomography setup is built based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The propagation direction of object beam is controlled by a 2D translation stage, and 121 holograms based on different illumination angles are recorded by a Charge-coupled Device (CCD). In order to prove the validity and accuracy of the ODT, the 3D RI profile of microsphere with a known RI is firstly measured. An iterative constraint algorithm is employed to improve the imaging accuracy effectively. The 3D morphology and average RI of the microsphere are consistent with that of the actual situation, and the RI error is less than 0.0033. Then, an optical element fabricated by laser with a non-uniform RI is taken as the sample. Its 3D RI profile is obtained by the optical diffraction tomography system.

Acoustic waves in tilted fiber Bragg gratings for sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, Carlos A. F.; Alberto, Nélia J.; Domingues, Fátima; Leitão, Cátia; Antunes, Paulo; Pinto, João. L.; André, Paulo

2017-05-01

Tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) are one of the most attractive kind of optical fiber sensor technology due to their intrinsic properties. On the other hand, the acousto-optic effect is an important, fast and accurate mechanism that can be used to change and control several properties of fiber gratings in silica and polymer optical fiber. Several all-optical devices for optical communications and sensing have been successfully designed and constructed using this effect. In this work, we present the recent results regarding the production of optical sensors, through the acousto-optic effect in TFBGs. The cladding and core modes amplitude of a TFBG can be controlled by means of the power levels from acoustic wave source. Also, the cladding modes of a TFBG can be coupled back to the core mode by launching acoustic waves. Induced bands are created on the left side of the original Bragg wavelength due to phase matching to be satisfied. The refractive index (RI) is analyzed in detail when acoustic waves are turned on using saccharose solutions with different RI from 1.33 to 1.43.

Environmental Research Infrastructures providing shared solutions for science and society (ENVRIplus)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kutsch, Werner Leo; Asmi, Ari; Laj, Paolo; Brus, Magdalena; Sorvari, Sanna

2016-04-01

ENVRIplus is a Horizon 2020 project bringing together Environmental and Earth System Research Infrastructures, projects and networks together with technical specialist partners to create a more coherent, interdisciplinary and interoperable cluster of Environmental Research Infrastructures (RIs) across Europe. The objective of ENVRIplus is to provide common solutions to shared challenges for these RIs in their efforts to deliver new services for science and society. To reach this overall goal, ENVRIplus brings together the current ESFRI roadmap environmental and associate fields RIs, leading I3 projects, key developing RI networks and specific technical specialist partners to build common synergic solutions for pressing issues in RI construction and implementation. ENVRIplus will be organized along 6 main objectives, further on called "Themes": 1) Improve the RI's abilities to observe the Earth System, particularly in developing and testing new sensor technologies, harmonizing observation methodologies and developing methods to overcome common problems associated with distributed remote observation networks; 2) Generate common solutions for shared information technology and data related challenges of the environmental RIs in data and service discovery and use, workflow documentation, data citations methodologies, service virtualization, and user characterization and interaction; 3) Develop harmonized policies for access (physical and virtual) for the environmental RIs, including access services for the multidisciplinary users; 4) Investigate the interactions between RIs and society: Find common approaches and methodologies how to assess the RIs' ability to answer the economical and societal challenges, develop ethics guidelines for RIs and investigate the possibility to enhance the use Citizen Science approaches in RI products and services; 5) Ensure the cross-fertilisation and knowledge transfer of new technologies, best practices, approaches and policies of the RIs by generating training material for RI personnel to use the new observational, technological and computational tools and facilitate inter-RI knowledge transfer via a staff exchange program; 6) Create RI communication and cooperation framework to coordinate activities of the environmental RIs towards common strategic development, improved user interaction and interdisciplinary cross-RI products and services. The produced solutions, services, systems and other project results are made available to all environmental research infrastructure initiatives.

The wavelength-tunable tapered surface plasmon resonance fiber sensor based on separated input-output channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shimeng; Liu, Yun; Gao, Xiaotong; Liu, Xiuxin; Peng, Wei

2014-11-01

We present a wavelength-tunable tapered optics fiber surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor by polishing the end faces of multimode fibers(MMF).Two hard plastic clad optical fibers joint closely and are used as the light input and output channels. Their end faces are polished to produce two oblique planes, which are coated with gold film to be the sensing surface and the front mirror. The presence of the tapered geometry formed by the two oblique planes in the orthogonal directions makes it possible to adjust incident angle through changing the tilt angles of the two end faces, so as to achieve tuning the SPR coupling wavelength-angle pair. Compared with previous researches based a tapered optic fiber probe, we report the approach theoretically increase the signal noise ratio (SNR) by separating incident and emergent light propagating in the different coordinate fiber. Since fabricating the sensing surface and the front mirror on the two fibers to replace one single fiber tip, there is more incident light can reach the sensing surface and satisfy SPR effective. In addition, this improvement in structure has advantages of large grinding and sensing area, which can lead to high sensitivity and simple manufacture process of the sensor. Experimental measurement demonstrates the sensor has a favorable SPR resonanceabsorption and the ability of measuring refractive index (RI) of aqueous solution. This novel tapered SPR sensor has the potential to be applied to the biological sensing field.

Localization with Sparse Acoustic Sensor Network Using UAVs as Information-Seeking Data Mules

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

technique to differentiate among several sources. 2.2. AoA Estimation AoA Models. The kth of NAOA AoA sensors produces an angular measurement modeled...squares sense. θ̂ = arg min φ 3∑ i=1 ( ̂τi0 − eTφ ri )2 (9) The minimization was done by gridding the one-dimensional angular space and finding the optimum...Latitude E5500 laptop running FreeBSD and custom Java applications to process and store the raw audio signals. Power Source: The laptop was powered for an

Normalization of relative and incomplete temporal expressions in clinical narratives.

PubMed

Sun, Weiyi; Rumshisky, Anna; Uzuner, Ozlem

2015-09-01

To improve the normalization of relative and incomplete temporal expressions (RI-TIMEXes) in clinical narratives. We analyzed the RI-TIMEXes in temporally annotated corpora and propose two hypotheses regarding the normalization of RI-TIMEXes in the clinical narrative domain: the anchor point hypothesis and the anchor relation hypothesis. We annotated the RI-TIMEXes in three corpora to study the characteristics of RI-TMEXes in different domains. This informed the design of our RI-TIMEX normalization system for the clinical domain, which consists of an anchor point classifier, an anchor relation classifier, and a rule-based RI-TIMEX text span parser. We experimented with different feature sets and performed an error analysis for each system component. The annotation confirmed the hypotheses that we can simplify the RI-TIMEXes normalization task using two multi-label classifiers. Our system achieves anchor point classification, anchor relation classification, and rule-based parsing accuracy of 74.68%, 87.71%, and 57.2% (82.09% under relaxed matching criteria), respectively, on the held-out test set of the 2012 i2b2 temporal relation challenge. Experiments with feature sets reveal some interesting findings, such as: the verbal tense feature does not inform the anchor relation classification in clinical narratives as much as the tokens near the RI-TIMEX. Error analysis showed that underrepresented anchor point and anchor relation classes are difficult to detect. We formulate the RI-TIMEX normalization problem as a pair of multi-label classification problems. Considering only RI-TIMEX extraction and normalization, the system achieves statistically significant improvement over the RI-TIMEX results of the best systems in the 2012 i2b2 challenge. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Flow-through nanohole array based sensor implemented on analogue smartphone components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomez-Cruz, Juan; Nair, Srijit; Ascanio, Gabriel; Escobedo, Carlos

2017-08-01

Mobile communications have massively populated the consumer electronics market over the past few years and it is now ubiquitous, providing a timeless opportunity for the development of smartphone-based technologies as point-of-care (POC) diagnosis tools1 . The expectation for a fully integrated smartphone-based sensor that enables applications such as environmental monitoring, explosive detection and biomedical analysis has increased among the scientific community in the past few years2,3. The commercialization forecast for smartphone-based sensing technologies is very promising, but reliable, miniature and cost-effective sensing platforms that can adapt to portable electronics in still under development. In this work, we present an integrated sensing platform based on flow-through metallic nanohole arrays. The nanohole arrays are 260 nm in diameter and 520 nm in pitch, fabricated using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) lithography. A white LED resembling a smartphone flash LED serves as light source to excite surface plasmons and the signal is recorded via a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) module. The sensing abilities of the integrated sensing platform is demonstrated for the detection of (i) changes in bulk refractive index (RI), (ii) real-time monitoring of surface modification by receptor-analyte system of streptavidin-biotin.

Biosensing with optical fiber gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiavaioli, Francesco; Baldini, Francesco; Tombelli, Sara; Trono, Cosimo; Giannetti, Ambra

2017-06-01

Optical fiber gratings (OFGs), especially long-period gratings (LPGs) and etched or tilted fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), are playing an increasing role in the chemical and biochemical sensing based on the measurement of a surface refractive index (RI) change through a label-free configuration. In these devices, the electric field evanescent wave at the fiber/surrounding medium interface changes its optical properties (i.e. intensity and wavelength) as a result of the RI variation due to the interaction between a biological recognition layer deposited over the fiber and the analyte under investigation. The use of OFG-based technology platforms takes the advantages of optical fiber peculiarities, which are hardly offered by the other sensing systems, such as compactness, lightness, high compatibility with optoelectronic devices (both sources and detectors), and multiplexing and remote measurement capability as the signal is spectrally modulated. During the last decade, the growing request in practical applications pushed the technology behind the OFG-based sensors over its limits by means of the deposition of thin film overlays, nanocoatings, and nanostructures, in general. Here, we review efforts toward utilizing these nanomaterials as coatings for high-performance and low-detection limit devices. Moreover, we review the recent development in OFG-based biosensing and identify some of the key challenges for practical applications. While high-performance metrics are starting to be achieved experimentally, there are still open questions pertaining to an effective and reliable detection of small molecules, possibly up to single molecule, sensing in vivo and multi-target detection using OFG-based technology platforms.

Dosimetric comparisons of carbon ion treatment plans for 1D and 2D ripple filters with variable thicknesses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Printz Ringbæk, Toke; Weber, Uli; Santiago, Alina; Simeonov, Yuri; Fritz, Peter; Krämer, Michael; Wittig, Andrea; Bassler, Niels; Engenhart-Cabillic, Rita; Zink, Klemens

2016-06-01

A ripple filter (RiFi)—also called mini-ridge filter—is a passive energy modulator used in particle beam treatments that broadens the Bragg peak (BP) as a function of its maximum thickness. The number of different energies requested from the accelerator can thus be reduced, which significantly reduces the treatment time. A new second generation RiFi with 2D groove shapes was developed using rapid prototyping, which optimizes the beam-modulating material and enables RiFi thicknesses of up to 6 mm. Carbon ion treatment plans were calculated using the standard 1D 3 mm thick RiFi and the new 4 and 6 mm 2D RiFis for spherical planning target volumes (PTVs) in water, eight stage I non-small cell lung cancer cases, four skull base chordoma cases and three prostate cancer cases. TRiP98 was used for treatment planning with facility-specific base data calculated with the Monte Carlo code SHIELD-HIT12A. Dose-volume-histograms, spatial dose distributions and dosimetric indexes were used for plan evaluation. Plan homogeneity and conformity of thinner RiFis were slightly superior to thicker RiFis but satisfactory results were obtained for all RiFis investigated. For the 6 mm RiFi, fine structures in the dose distribution caused by the larger energy steps were observed at the PTV edges, in particular for superficial and/or very small PTVs but performances for all RiFis increased with penetration depth due to straggling and scattering effects. Plans with the new RiFi design yielded for the studied cases comparable dosimetric results to the standard RiFi while the 4 and 6 mm RiFis lowered the irradiation time by 25-30% and 45-49%, respectively.

LSPR and Interferometric Sensor Modalities Combined Using a Double-Clad Optical Fiber.

PubMed

Muri, Harald Ian; Bano, Andon; Hjelme, Dag Roar

2018-01-11

We report on characterization of an optical fiber-based multi-parameter sensor concept combining localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) signal and interferometric sensing using a double-clad optical fiber. The sensor consists of a micro-Fabry-Perot in the form of a hemispherical stimuli-responsive hydrogel with immobilized gold nanorods on the facet of a cleaved double-clad optical fiber. The swelling degree of the hydrogel is measured interferometrically using the single-mode inner core, while the LSPR signal is measured using the multi-mode inner cladding. The quality of the interferometric signal is comparable to previous work on hydrogel micro-Fabry-Perot sensors despite having gold nanorods immobilized in the hydrogel. We characterize the effect of hydrogel swelling and variation of bulk solution refractive index on the LSPR peak wavelength. The results show that pH-induced hydrogel swelling causes only weak redshifts of the longitudinal LSPR mode, while increased bulk refractive index using glycerol and sucrose causes large blueshifts. The redshifts are likely due to reduced plasmon coupling of the side-by-side configuration as the interparticle distance increases with increasing swelling. The blueshifts with increasing bulk refractive index are likely due to alteration of the surface electronic structure of the gold nanorods donated by the anionic polymer network and glycerol or sucrose solutions. The recombination of biotin-streptavidin on gold nanorods in hydrogel showed a 7.6 nm redshift of the longitudinal LSPR. The LSPR response of biotin-streptavidin recombination is due to the change in local refractive index (RI), which is possible to discriminate from the LSPR response due to changes in bulk RI. In spite of the large LSPR shifts due to bulk refractive index, we show, using biotin-functionalized gold nanorods binding to streptavidin, that LSPR signal from gold nanorods embedded in the anionic hydrogel can be used for label-free biosensing. These results demonstrate the utility of immobilizing gold nanorods in a hydrogel on a double-clad optical fiber-end facet to obtain multi-parameter sensing.

Optimization of SPR signals: Monitoring the physical structures and refractive indices of prisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maisarah Mukhtar, Wan; Halim, Razman Mohd; Hassan, Hazirah

2017-11-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) can only be achieved if sufficient energy is provided at the boundary between metal and dielectric. An employment of prism as a light coupler by using Kretschmann configuration is one of the alternative for the production of adequate energy to be generated as surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). This work is carried out to investigate the effect of physical structure of the prism and its refractive index to the excitation of SPPs. A 50nm gold thin metal film with dielectric constant of ɛ=-12.45i+1.3 was deposited on the hypotenuse surface of the prisms. The physical structures of the prisms were varied such as triangular, conical, hemispherical and half cylindrical. These prisms were classified into two types of refractive indices (RI), namely n=1.51(type BK7) and n=1.77(type SF11). Based on SPR curve analyses, we discovered that strong SPR signals which consist of 82.98% photons were excited as SPPs can be obtained by using type-BK7 prism with physical structures of hemispherical or half cylindrical. From the view of selectivity ability as sensors, the usage of type-SF11 prisms (half cylindrical and hemispherical) able to enhance this impressive feature in which sharp SPR curves with small FWHM values were obtained. In conclusion, apart from properties of thin film materials, the physical structure of prisms and their RI values play crucial roles to obtain optimum SPR signal. High sensitivity SPR sensor can be established with the appointment of type-BK7 prisms (hemispherical or half cylindrical shape) as light couplers.

Escherichia coli Fiber Sensors Using Concentrated Dielectrophoretic Force with Optical Defocusing Method.

PubMed

Tai, Yi-Hsin; Lee, Chia-Wei; Chang, Dao-Ming; Lai, Yu-Sheng; Huang, Ding-Wei; Wei, Pei-Kuen

2018-05-25

A sensitive tapered optical fiber tip combined with dielectrophoretic (DEP) trapping was used for rapid and label-free detection of bacteria in water. The angular spectrum of the optical field at the fiber tip was changed with the surrounding refractive index (RI). By measuring far-field intensity change at the defocus plane, the intensity sensitivity was up to 95 200%/RIU (RI unit), and the detection limit was 5.2 × 10 -6 RIU at 0.5% intensity stability. By applying an AC voltage to a Ti/Al coated fiber tip and an indium-tin-oxide glass, the DEP force effectively trapped the Escherichia coli ( E. coli) near the fiber tip. Those bacteria can be directly measured from optical intensity change due to the increase of surrounding RI. By immobilizing the antibody on the Ti/Al fiber tip, the tests for specific K12 bacteria and nonspecific BL21 bacteria verified the specificity. The antibody-immobilized Ti/Al coated fiber tip with DEP trapping can detect bacteria at a concentration about 100 CFU/mL.

Development of Ultrasensitive Plasmonic Nanosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Gayatribahen K.

Nanostructures (NSs) based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensors have brought a transformation in development of sensing devices due to their ability to detect extremely small changes in surrounding refractive index (R.I.). NS-based LSPR sensing approaches have been employed to enhance the sensitivity for a variety of applications, such as diagnosis of disease, food and environmental analysis, and chemical and biological threat detection. Generally in LSPR spectroscopy, absorption and scattering of light is greatly enhanced at a frequency that excites the NS's LSPR and results in well-defined LSPR extinction peak (lambdaLSPR). This lambdaLSPR is highly dependent on the size, shape, and surrounding R.I. of NSs. Compositional and confirmational change within the surrounding R.I. near the NS could be detected by monitoring the shifts in lambdaLSPR. This thesis specifically focuses on the rational development of the plasmonic nanosensors for various sensing applications by utilizing the LSPR properties of Au NS with prismatic shape. First the chemical synthetic approach that can produce Au nanoprisms, which displayed lambdaLSPR in 650-850 nm range corresponding to 20-50 nm edge lengths has been developed. The chemically synthesized Au nanoprisms were attached to silanized glass substrate and employed as a solid-state sensing platform for the development of label-free plasmonic nanosensors. The size, shape, and surface of nanoprisms were characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV-visible spectroscopy. Further, the influence of the structure, size and surface ligand chemistry onto the lambda LSPR of nanoprisms were investigated in detail. Both bulk and local R.I. sensitivity, and the electromagnetic-field (EM-field) decay length were derived for various edge lengths of nanoprisms through measuring the lambda LSPR shifts by UV-visible spectroscopy. Finally, nanoprisms-based LSPR nanosensors ("plasmonic nanosensors") have been developed for different sensing applications. Specifically, these plasmonic nanosensors displayed capacity to detect streptavidine, glucose, microRNA (cancer biomarker), as well as molecular and stimuli-responsive polymers conformational changes. In this study we found that the plasmonic nanosensors are exceptionally sensitive compared to other NSs and the sensitivity is highly edge length dependent. An ultrasensitive plasmonic nanosensor has been developed for the detection of microRNAs in crude plasma collected from pancreatic cancer patients. It shows that the LSPR-based nanosensor has the ability to detect and quantify the microRNA concentrations in clinical samples without any purification. The results presented here show potential for patients to commence treatment in early stage cancer diagnosis. The effect of various physiological medias and edge length of nanoprisms on the sensitivity of this nanosensor has been discussed. Second, molecular sensors have been developed by functionalization of azobenzene molecule contain alkanethiols onto the nanoprisms surface. Molecular conformational changes basis on a very less dielectric thickness changes have been detected through lambdaLSPR shift of nanoprisms and confirmed through surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In this study, the influence of resonance energy transfer between the molecule and nanoprisms onto the lambda LSPR shift and Raman intensity has been investigated by changing the distance between them. Finally, utilization of stimuli-responsive polymers structural change in the development of stimuli-responsive such as pH and temperature-responsive plasmonic nanosensors has been demonstrated. It was found that the stimuli-responsive nanosensors were able to detect very small R.I. change due to the polymers structural change. The enzymatic reaction between glucose and glucose oxidase has been used to detect glucose in bovine plasma using pH-responsive nanosensor. Results of this work displays potential of replacing finger prick methodology in glucose self-monitoring for diabetes patients with use of plasma/urine samples. Overall, the research work demonstrated here provides a significant progress in the development of LSPR-based plasmonic nanosensors and addresses the resolution of many scientific complications, fundamental, chemical, and biological.

Combining first-principles and data modeling for the accurate prediction of the refractive index of organic polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afzal, Mohammad Atif Faiz; Cheng, Chong; Hachmann, Johannes

2018-06-01

Organic materials with a high index of refraction (RI) are attracting considerable interest due to their potential application in optic and optoelectronic devices. However, most of these applications require an RI value of 1.7 or larger, while typical carbon-based polymers only exhibit values in the range of 1.3-1.5. This paper introduces an efficient computational protocol for the accurate prediction of RI values in polymers to facilitate in silico studies that can guide the discovery and design of next-generation high-RI materials. Our protocol is based on the Lorentz-Lorenz equation and is parametrized by the polarizability and number density values of a given candidate compound. In the proposed scheme, we compute the former using first-principles electronic structure theory and the latter using an approximation based on van der Waals volumes. The critical parameter in the number density approximation is the packing fraction of the bulk polymer, for which we have devised a machine learning model. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed RI protocol by testing its predictions against the experimentally known RI values of 112 optical polymers. Our approach to combine first-principles and data modeling emerges as both a successful and a highly economical path to determining the RI values for a wide range of organic polymers.

Patient Preferences and Urologist Judgments on Prostate Cancer Therapy in Japan.

PubMed

Nakayama, Masahiko; Kobayashi, Hisanori; Okazaki, Masateru; Imanaka, Keiichiro; Yoshizawa, Kazutake; Mahlich, Jörg

2018-05-01

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the concordance of treatment preferences between patients and physicians in prostate cancer (PCa) in Japan. An internet-based discrete choice experiment was conducted. Patients and physicians were asked to select their preferred treatment from a pair of hypothetical treatments consisting of four attributes: quality of life (QOL), treatment effectiveness, side effects, and accessibility of treatment. The data were analyzed using a conditional logistic regression model to calculate coefficients and the relative importance (RI) of each attribute. A total of 103 PCa patients and 127 physicians responded. The study looked at 37 patients considered as advanced PCa and 66 who were non-advanced PCa. All of the physicians were urologists. Advanced PCa patients ranked the attributes as follows: treatment effectiveness (RI: 32%), accessibility of treatment (RI: 26%), QOL (RI: 23%), and side effects (RI: 19%). For physicians, the RI ranking was the same as for advanced PCa patients; treatment effectiveness (RI: 29%), accessibility of treatment (RI: 27%), QOL (RI: 26%), and side effects (RI: 18%). For non-advanced PCa patients, accessibility of treatment ranked the highest RI (27%) and treatment effectiveness ranked as the lowest RI (14%). Our study suggests that the ranking of the attributes was consistent between advanced PCa patients and physicians. The most influential attribute was treatment effectiveness. Treatment preferences also vary by disease stage.

Earthquake forecasts for the CSEP Japan experiment based on the RI algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanjo, K. Z.

2011-03-01

An earthquake forecast testing experiment for Japan, the first of its kind, is underway within the framework of the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP) under a controlled environment. Here we give an overview of the earthquake forecast models, based on the RI algorithm, which we have submitted to the CSEP Japan experiment. Models have been submitted to a total of 9 categories, corresponding to 3 testing classes (3 years, 1 year, and 3 months) and 3 testing regions. The RI algorithm is originally a binary forecast system based on the working assumption that large earthquakes are more likely to occur in the future at locations of higher seismicity in the past. It is based on simple counts of the number of past earthquakes, which is called the Relative Intensity (RI) of seismicity. To improve its forecast performance, we first expand the RI algorithm by introducing spatial smoothing. We then convert the RI representation from a binary system to a CSEP-testable model that produces forecasts for the number of earthquakes of predefined magnitudes. We use information on past seismicity to tune the parameters. The final submittal consists of 36 executable computer codes: 4 variants corresponding to different smoothing parameters for each of the 9 categories. They will help to elucidate which categories and which smoothing parameters are the most meaningful for the RI hypothesis. The main purpose of our participation in the experiment is to better understand the significance of the relative intensity of seismicity for earthquake forecastability in Japan.

High-sensitivity and large-dynamic-range refractive index sensors employing weak composite Fabry-Perot cavities.

PubMed

Chen, Pengcheng; Shu, Xuewen; Cao, Haoran; Sugden, Kate

2017-08-15

Most sensors face a common trade-off between high sensitivity and a large dynamic range. We demonstrate here an all-fiber refractometer based on a dual-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) that possesses the advantage of both high sensitivity and a large dynamic range. Since the two composite cavities have a large cavity length difference, one can observe both fine and coarse fringes, which correspond to the long cavity and the short cavity, respectively. The short-cavity FPI and the use of an intensity demodulation method mean that the individual fine fringe dips correspond to a series of quasi-continuous highly sensitive zones for refractive index measurement. By calculating the parameters of the composite FPI, we find that the range of the ultra-sensitive zones can be considerably adjusted to suit the end requirements. The experimental trends are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The co-existence of high sensitivity and a large dynamic range in a composite FPI is of great significance to practical RI measurements.

How subvisible particles become invisible-relevance of the refractive index for protein particle analysis.

PubMed

Zölls, Sarah; Gregoritza, Manuel; Tantipolphan, Ruedeeporn; Wiggenhorn, Michael; Winter, Gerhard; Friess, Wolfgang; Hawe, Andrea

2013-05-01

The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess the relevance of transparency and refractive index (RI) on protein particle analysis by the light-based techniques light obscuration (LO) and Micro-Flow Imaging (MFI). A novel method for determining the RI of protein particles was developed and provided an RI of 1.41 for protein particles from two different proteins. An increased RI of the formulation by high protein concentration and/or sugars at pharmaceutically relevant levels was shown to lead to a significant underestimation of the subvisible particle concentration determined by LO and MFI. An RI match even caused particles to become "invisible" for the system, that is, not detectable anymore by LO and MFI. To determine the influence of formulation RI on particle measurements, we suggest the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles to test a specific formulation for RI effects. In case of RI influences, we recommend also using a light-independent technique such as resonant mass measurement (RMM) (Archimedes) for subvisible particle analysis in protein formulations. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Measurement of the refractive index of solutions based on digital holographic microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Sujuan; Wang, Weiping; Zeng, Junzhang; Yan, Cheng; Lin, Yunyi; Wang, Tingyun

2018-01-01

A new approach for the refractive index (RI) measurement of solutions is proposed based on digital holographic microscopy. The experimental system consists of a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer and related lab-developed analysis software. The high quality digital hologram of the tested solution is obtained by the real-time analysis software, which is firstly encapsulated into a capillary tube, and then the capillary tube is inserted in a matching fluid. An angular spectrum algorithm is adopted to extract the phase distribution from the hologram recorded by a CCD. Based on a capillary multi-layer calculation model, the RI of the tested solution is obtained at high accuracy. The results of transparent glycerol solution measured by the proposed method are more accurate than those measured by the Abbe refractometer. We also measure the RI of translucent magnetic fluid, which is not suitable to be measured by the Abbe refractometer. The relationship between the RI and the concentration of magnetic fluid is experimentally studied, and the results show that the RI is linearly related to the concentration of dilute magnetic fluid.

Utilization of Forward Error Correction (FEC) Techniques With Extensible Markup Language (XML) Schema-Based Binary Compression (XSBC) Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

NY 7. Erik Chaum NUWC Newport, RI 8. David Bellino NPRI Newport, RI 9. Dick Nadolink NUWC Newport, RI 10. VADM Roger Bacon (Ret...Science Advisor Pearl Harbor, HI 16. LT Andrew Hurvitz, USN FNMOC Monterey, CA 17. ENS Darin Keeter, USN FNMOC Monterey, CA 18. CAPT David

JPRS Report Science & Technology Japan Space Artificial Intelligence/Robotics/Automation Symposium.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-28

Kazuya Kaku, et al. ] 28 Spacecraft Automatic Monitoring System [Kazuya Kaku, et al. ] 36 Autonomous Space Robot, Related Computer ...type space vehicle Space station , orbital sup - lport systems Transport systems Ground Systems 1 et»*:«..,..... ri,(rn™ Communciations ...axis torque sensor. Motorola’s VME-10 is used as the computer . 5. Experimental Results To investigate the state of separation between the external

Regeneration of titanium oxide nano-coated long-period grating biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dominik, M.; Niedziółka-Jönsson, J.; Roźniecka, E.; Wachnicki, Ł.; Godlewski, M.; Mikulic, P.; Bock, Wojtek J.; Śmietana, M.

2016-05-01

This work presents an application of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as an effective method for regeneration of titanium oxide (TiOx) nano-coated long-period grating (LPG) biosensor. Below 100 nm in thickness TiOx coating was deposited with atomic layer deposition (ALD) method on LPGs for enhancing their refractive index sensitivity up to 2912 nm/RIU in RI range 1.33-1.36 RIU. Next, the sensors were biofunctionalized in order to immobilize receptor (biotin) on their surface and used for selective avidin detection. After successful biofunctionalization process and avidin detection the sensors were washed in NaOH and biofunctionalized again. The proposed method for recovering the sensor does not cause decrease in its functional properties. As a result of the applied procedure the biosensor was fully regenerated.

Sensitivity enhancement of a surface plasmon resonance sensor using porous metamaterial layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherifi, Abdellatif; Bouhafs, Benamar

2017-12-01

In this work, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) device with two porous left handed metamaterial (LHM) layers separated by an insulator gap, is investigated. The effect of the insulator gap thickness and its refractive index (RI) on the angular response of the device is analyzed. The results show that the sensitivity of the SPR sensor is enhanced compared to the standard SPR sensors. Here, the multilayer structure is probed with 738 nm-wavelength, and electromagnetic properties of active porous LHM layers are described from the effective medium theory (EMT). Furthermore, in the increase of the porosity from 0 to 0.6, the designed nanocavity exhibits a fundamental SPR mode long-range (LR) type and it can be of interest in high-performance SPR sensing.

Temperature-independent refractometer based on fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiacheng; Qiao, Xueguang; Wang, Ruohui; Rong, Qiangzhou; Bao, Weijia; Shao, Zhihua; Yang, Tingting

2016-04-01

A miniature fiber-optic refractometer based on Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensing head consists of a short section of photonics crystal fiber (PCF) spliced to a single mode fiber (SMF), in which the end-face of the PCF is etched to remove holey structure with hydrofluoric (HF) acid. A Fabry-Perot interference spectrum is achieved based on the reflections from the fusion splicing interface and the end-face of the core of PCF. The interference fringe is sensitive to the external refractive index (RI) with an intensity-referenced sensitivity of 358.27 dB/RIU ranging from 1.33 to 1.38. The sensor has also been implemented for the concentration measurement of λ-phage DNA solution. In addition, the dip intensity is insensitive to the ambient temperature variation, making it a good candidate for temperature-independent bio-sensing area.

Real-time motion compensated patient positioning and non-rigid deformation estimation using 4-D shape priors.

PubMed

Wasza, Jakob; Bauer, Sebastian; Hornegger, Joachim

2012-01-01

Over the last years, range imaging (RI) techniques have been proposed for patient positioning and respiration analysis in motion compensation. Yet, current RI based approaches for patient positioning employ rigid-body transformations, thus neglecting free-form deformations induced by respiratory motion. Furthermore, RI based respiration analysis relies on non-rigid registration techniques with run-times of several seconds. In this paper we propose a real-time framework based on RI to perform respiratory motion compensated positioning and non-rigid surface deformation estimation in a joint manner. The core of our method are pre-procedurally obtained 4-D shape priors that drive the intra-procedural alignment of the patient to the reference state, simultaneously yielding a rigid-body table transformation and a free-form deformation accounting for respiratory motion. We show that our method outperforms conventional alignment strategies by a factor of 3.0 and 2.3 in the rotation and translation accuracy, respectively. Using a GPU based implementation, we achieve run-times of 40 ms.

Gas exchange and lactate anaerobic thresholds: inter- and intraevaluator agreement.

PubMed

Gladden, L B; Yates, J W; Stremel, R W; Stamford, B A

1985-06-01

Twenty-four coded graph sets of gas exchange variables and blood lactate concentration (LA) plotted against time at 15-s intervals were analyzed by nine evaluators who determined the gas exchange (ATGE) and LA (ATLA) anaerobic thresholds. In addition, ATGE and ATLA were determined by a linear regression computer program. Agreement between ATGE and ATLA was poor; the median intraclass correlation coefficient (ri) was 0.53. Among evaluators, ATLA agreement (median ri = 0.81) was better than ATGE agreement (median ri = 0.70). In general, the ability of any evaluator to choose similar values from duplicate plots for either ATGE (median ri = 0.97) or ATLA (median ri = 0.995) was good. There was better agreement between the mean ATLA of the evaluators and the computer ATLA (ComLA) (ri = 0.88) than between the mean ATGE of the evaluators and the computer ATGE (ComVE), (ri = 0.58). Agreement between ComVE and ComLA was poor (ri = 0.29). These results suggest that ATGE does not accurately predict ATLA and that different evaluators choose different thresholds from the same data. Further assessment of the validity and precision of ATGE based on breath-by-breath and minute-by-minute data is needed.

A Planar, Chip-Based, Dual-Beam Refractometer Using an Integrated Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Light Source and Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Detectors

PubMed Central

Ratcliff, Erin L.; Veneman, P. Alex; Simmonds, Adam; Zacher, Brian; Huebner, Daniel

2010-01-01

We present a simple chip-based refractometer with a central organic light emitting diode (OLED) light source and two opposed organic photovoltaic (OPV) detectors on an internal reflection element (IRE) substrate, creating a true dual-beam sensor platform. For first-generation platforms, we demonstrate the use of a single heterojunction OLED based on electroluminescence emission from an Alq3/TPD heterojunction (tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum/N,N′-Bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine) and light detection with planar heterojunction pentacene/C60 OPVs. The sensor utilizes the considerable fraction of emitted light from conventional thin film OLEDs that is coupled into guided modes in the IRE instead of into the forward (display) direction. A ray-optics description is used to describe light throughput and efficiency-limiting factors for light coupling from the OLED into the substrate modes, light traversing through the IRE substrate, and light coupling into the OPV detectors. The arrangement of the OLED at the center of the chip provides for two sensing regions, a “sample” and “reference” channel, with detection of light by independent OPV detectors. This configuration allows for normalization of the sensor response against fluctuations in OLED light output, stability, and local fluctuations (temperature) which might influence sensor response. The dual beam configuration permits significantly enhanced sensitivity to refractive index changes relative to single-beam protocols, and is easily integrated into a field-portable instrumentation package. Changes in refractive index (ΔR.I.) between 10−2 and 10−3 R.I. units could be detected for single channel operation, with sensitivity increased to ΔR.I. ≈ 10−4 units when the dual beam configuration is employed. PMID:20218580

[INVITED] Design of turn around point long period fiber grating sensor with Au-nanoparticle self monolayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandyopadhyay, Sankhyabrata; Basumallick, Nandini; Bysakh, Sandip; Dey, Tanoy Kumar; Biswas, Palas; Bandyopadhyay, Somnath

2018-06-01

In this paper studies on the design and fabrication of a long period fiber grating (LPFG) with a self mono layer of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has been presented. Refractive index (RI) sensitivity of a dispersed cladding mode (DCM) near turn around point (TAP) of its phase matching curve (PMC) has been investigated with and also without AuNP coated LPFG. The typical role played by the intermediate layer of AuNP on the effective index and thus on the sensitivity of the cladding mode to the surrounding RI has also been explored by carrying out coupled mode analysis of the requisite multilayer waveguide. Deposition of AuNP enhanced the sensitivity by more than a factor of 2. Measured sensitivity was found to be ∼3928 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) in the range of 1.3333-1.3428.

How do Brazilian consumers perceive a non-traditional and innovative fruit juice? An approach looking at the packaging.

PubMed

Romano, Karen R; Rosenthal, Amauri; Deliza, Rosires

2015-08-01

Consumer interest in nutritious and innovative foods encourages the development of products based on raw materials with nutraceutical potential. The health benefits provided by pomegranate have been recognized; therefore, the development of pomegranate juice may match consumer expectations regarding this goal. However, the concept has to first be accepted by the consumer. The aim of the study was to utilize a rating based conjoint analysis to investigate how Brazilian consumers perceive pomegranate juice by identifying the role of packaging attributes relevant to the consumer's intention to purchase. Five factors were considered in the study: technology used in the juice production (high hydrostatic pressure - HHP - a technology that preserves nutritional and sensory properties), antioxidants, price, preservatives, and colorant. Eight hypothetical pomegranate juice packages were created following an incomplete block design and evaluated by 150 fruit juice consumers. Three clusters were identified. The average results revealed that antioxidants were the attribute of greatest relative importance to cluster 1 (RI: 36%), followed by HHP (RI: 25%) and colorants (14%). Consumers in cluster 2 considered price as the most important attribute (RI: 41%), followed by antioxidants (RI: 21%) and HHP (RI: 18%). Cluster 3, as well as cluster 2, considered price the most important attribute (RI: 28%), followed by antioxidants (RI: 26%) and HHP (RI: 22%). The results showed that consumers valued information on the health benefits of antioxidants as well as on the technology, suggesting that both types of information may be relevant tools to increase the intention to purchase the product. The application of HHP for pomegranate juice processing was positively perceived by consumers, suggesting a potential commercial application in the Brazilian industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface shear stress dependence of gas transfer velocity parameterizations using DNS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fredriksson, S. T.; Arneborg, L.; Nilsson, H.; Handler, R. A.

2016-10-01

Air-water gas-exchange is studied in direct numerical simulations (DNS) of free-surface flows driven by natural convection and weak winds. The wind is modeled as a constant surface-shear-stress and the gas-transfer is modeled via a passive scalar. The simulations are characterized via a Richardson number Ri=Bν/u*4 where B, ν, and u* are the buoyancy flux, kinematic viscosity, and friction velocity respectively. The simulations comprise 0Ric or kg=AShearu*Sc-n, Ri

Isoschizomers and amplified fragment length polymorphism for the detection of specific cytosine methylation changes.

PubMed

Ruiz-García, Leonor; Cabezas, Jose Antonio; de María, Nuria; Cervera, María-Teresa

2010-01-01

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is a modification of the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique that has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plant and animal species. The main variation of this technique is based on the use of isoschizomers with different methylation sensitivity (such as HpaII and MspI) as a frequent cutter restriction enzyme. For each sample, AFLP analysis is performed using both EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI digested samples. Comparative analysis between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI fragment patterns allows the identification of two types of polymorphisms: (1) "Methylation-insensitive polymorphisms" that show common EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns but are detected as polymorphic amplified fragments among samples; and (2) "Methylation-sensitive polymorphisms" that are associated with amplified fragments differing in their presence or absence or in their intensity between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns. This chapter describes a detailed protocol of this technique and discusses modifications that can be applied to adjust the technology to different species of interest.

MaRiMba: a software application for spectral library-based MRM transition list assembly.

PubMed

Sherwood, Carly A; Eastham, Ashley; Lee, Lik Wee; Peterson, Amelia; Eng, Jimmy K; Shteynberg, David; Mendoza, Luis; Deutsch, Eric W; Risler, Jenni; Tasman, Natalie; Aebersold, Ruedi; Lam, Henry; Martin, Daniel B

2009-10-01

Multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) is a targeted analysis method that has been increasingly viewed as an avenue to explore proteomes with unprecedented sensitivity and throughput. We have developed a software tool, called MaRiMba, to automate the creation of explicitly defined MRM transition lists required to program triple quadrupole mass spectrometers in such analyses. MaRiMba creates MRM transition lists from downloaded or custom-built spectral libraries, restricts output to specified proteins or peptides, and filters based on precursor peptide and product ion properties. MaRiMba can also create MRM lists containing corresponding transitions for isotopically heavy peptides, for which the precursor and product ions are adjusted according to user specifications. This open-source application is operated through a graphical user interface incorporated into the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline, and it outputs the final MRM list to a text file for upload to MS instruments. To illustrate the use of MaRiMba, we used the tool to design and execute an MRM-MS experiment in which we targeted the proteins of a well-defined and previously published standard mixture.

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma patients with renal insufficiency: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Analysis

PubMed Central

Mahindra, Anuj; Hari, Parameswaran; Fraser, Raphael; Fei, Mingwei; Huang, Jiaxing; Berdeja, Jesus; Callander, Natalie; Costa, Luciano; Diaz, Miguel Angel; Freytes, Cesar; Gale, Robert Peter; Girnius, Saulius; Holmberg, Leona; Kharfan-Dabaja, Mohamad; Kumar, Shaji; Kyle, Robert; Lazarus, Hillard; Lee, Cindy; Maiolino, Angelo; Moreb, Jan; Nishihori, Taiga; Pawarode, Attaphol; Saad, Ayman; Savani, Bipin N.; Schriber, Jeffrey; William, Basem; Wirk, Baldeep M.; Krishnan, Amrita; Nieto, Yago; D’Souza, Anita

2017-01-01

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with renal insufficiency (RI) is controversial. Patients who underwent AHCT for MM between 2008-2013 were identified (N =1492) and grouped as normal/mild (≥60 ml/min), N=1240, moderate (30-59), N=185 and severe RI (<30), N=67 based on MDRD. Multivariate analysis of non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed. Of the 67 patients with severe RI, 35 were on dialysis prior to AHCT. Patients received melphalan 200 mg/m2 (Mel200) in 92% (normal/mild), 75% (moderate) and 33% (severe) RI; remainder received 140 mg/m2 (Mel140). Thirty four of 35 patients with severe RI achieved post-AHCT dialysis independence. The 5-year PFS for normal, moderate and severe RI was 35 (95% CI, 31-38)%, 40 (31-49)% and 27 (15-40)% respectively, (p=0·42); 5-year OS for normal, mod and severe RI was 68 (65-71)%, 68 (60-76)% and 60 (46-74)% respectively, (p=0·69). With moderate RI, 5-year PFS for HDM 140 mg/m2 was 18 (6-35)% and for Mel200 was 46 (36-57)% (p=0·009). With severe RI, 5-year PFS Mel140 was 25 (11-41) % and for Mel200 was 32 (11-58)% (p=0·37). We conclude that AHCT is safe and effective in patients with MM with RI. PMID:28920949

Volatile Organic Compounds Sensing Using Optical Fibre Long Period Grating with Mesoporous Nano-Scale Coating

PubMed Central

Hromadka, Jiri; Korposh, Sergiy; Partridge, Matthew; James, Stephen W.; Davis, Frank; Crump, Derrick; Tatam, Ralph P.

2017-01-01

A long period grating (LPG) modified with a mesoporous film infused with a calixarene as a functional compound was employed for the detection of individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their mixtures. The mesoporous film consisted of an inorganic part, SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), along with an organic moiety of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) polycation PAH, which was finally infused with the functional compound, p-sulphanato calix[4]arene (CA[4]) or p-sulphanato calix[8]arene (CA[8]). The LPG sensor was designed to operate at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index (RI) change induced by a complex of the VOCs with calixarene. The LPG, modified with a coating of 5 cycles of (SiO2 NPs/PAH) and infused with CA[4] or CA[8], was exposed to chloroform, benzene, toluene and acetone vapours. The British Standards test of the VOCs emissions from material (BS EN ISO 16000-9:2006) was used to test the LPG sensor performance. PMID:28208691

A study on optical properties of poly (ethylene oxide) based polymer electrolyte with different alkali metal iodides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, B. Narasimha; Suvarna, R. Padma

2016-05-01

Polymer electrolytes were prepared by adding poly (ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDME), TiO2 (nano filler), different alkali metal iodide salts RI (R+=Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) and I2 into Acetonitrile gelated with Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO). Optical properties of poly (ethylene oxide) based polymer electrolytes were studied by FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. FTIR spectrum reveals that the alkali metal cations were coordinated to ether oxygen of PEO. The optical absorption studies were made in the wavelength range 200-800 nm. It is observed that the optical absorption increases with increase in the radius of alkali metal cation. The optical band gap for allowed direct transitions was evaluated using Urbach-edges method. The optical properties such as optical band gap, refractive index and extinction coefficient were determined. The studied polymer materials are useful for solar cells, super capacitors, fuel cells, gas sensors etc.

Residential Racial Isolation and Spatial Patterning of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Durham, North Carolina.

PubMed

Bravo, Mercedes A; Anthopolos, Rebecca; Kimbro, Rachel T; Miranda, Marie Lynn

2018-05-14

Neighborhood characteristics such as racial segregation may be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but studies have not examined these relationships using spatial models appropriate for geographically patterned health outcomes. We construct a local, spatial index of racial isolation (RI) for blacks, which measures the extent to which blacks are exposed to only one another, to estimate associations of diabetes with RI and examine how RI relates to spatial patterning in diabetes. We obtained 2007-2011 electronic health records from the Duke Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse. Patient data were linked to RI based on census block of residence. We use aspatial and spatial Bayesian models to assess spatial variation in diabetes and relationships with RI. Compared to spatial models with patient age and sex, residual geographic heterogeneity in diabetes in spatial models that also included RI was 29% and 24% lower for non-Hispanic whites and blacks, respectively. A 0.20 unit increase in RI was associated with 1.24 (95% credible interval: 1.17, 1.31) and 1.07 (1.05, 1.10) increased risk of diabetes for whites and blacks, respectively. Improved understanding of neighborhood characteristics associated with diabetes can inform development of policy interventions.

Flow behaviour of negatively buoyant jets in immiscible ambient fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geyer, A.; Phillips, J. C.; Mier-Torrecilla, M.; Idelsohn, S. R.; Oñate, E.

2012-01-01

In this paper we investigate experimentally the injection of a negatively buoyant jet into a homogenous immiscible ambient fluid. Experiments are carried out by injecting a jet of dyed fresh water through a nozzle in the base of a cylindrical tank containing rapeseed oil. The fountain inlet flow rate and nozzle diameter were varied to cover a wide range of Richardson Ri (8 × 10-4 < Ri < 1.98), Reynolds Re (467 < Re < 5,928) and Weber We (2.40 < We < 308.56) numbers. Based on the Re, Ri and We values for the experiments, we have determined a regime map to define how these values may control the occurrence of the observed flow types. Whereas Ri plays a stronger role when determining the maximum penetration height, the effect of the Reynolds number is stronger predicting the flow behaviour for a specific nozzle diameter and injection velocity.

Translations on North Korea No. 487

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-10-19

where the great Ch’ongsan-ri Spirit and the Ch’ongsan-ri Method originally started. Ch’ongsan-ri—a land of ecstasies —shone in the burning glow of the...base and make complete combat prepara- tions so as to be able to repulse all the enemy attacks in a single stroke . The people in the guerrilla base

The pharmacokinetics of peginterferon lambda-1a following single dose administration to subjects with impaired renal function.

PubMed

Hruska, Matthew W; Adamczyk, Robert; Colston, Elizabeth; Hesney, Michael; Stonier, Michele; Myler, Heather; Bertz, Richard

2015-09-01

This open label study was conducted to assess the effect of renal impairment (RI) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of peginterferon lambda-1a (Lambda). Subjects (age 18-75 years, BMI 18-35 kg m(-2) ) were enrolled into one of five renal function groups: normal (n = 12), mild RI (n = 8), moderate RI (n = 8), severe RI (n = 7), end-stage renal disease (ESRD, n = 8) based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Subjects received a single dose of Lambda (180 µg) subcutaneously on day 1 followed by PK serum sample collections through day 29. Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data were collected through day 43. PK parameters were estimated and summarized by group. Geometric mean ratios (GMR) and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated between normal and RI groups. With decreasing eGFR, Lambda exposure (Cmax , AUC) increased while apparent clearance (CL/F) and apparent volume of distribution (V/F) decreased. Relative to subjects with normal renal function (geometric mean AUC = 99.5 ng ml(-1) h), Lambda exposure estimates (AUC) were slightly increased in the mild RI group (geometric mean [90% CI]: 1.20 [0.82, 1.77]) and greater in the moderate (1.95 [1.35, 2.83]), severe RI (1.95 [1.30, 2.93]) and ESRD (1.88 [1.30, 2.73]) groups. Lambda was generally well tolerated. The results demonstrated that RI reduces the clearance of Lambda and suggests that dose modifications may not be required in patients with mild RI but may be required in patients with moderate to severe RI or ESRD. © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society.

Resistive index for kidney evaluation in normal and diseased cats.

PubMed

Tipisca, Vlad; Murino, Carla; Cortese, Laura; Mennonna, Giuseppina; Auletta, Luigi; Vulpe, Vasile; Meomartino, Leonardo

2016-06-01

The objectives were to determine the resistive index (RI) in normal cats and in cats with various renal diseases, and to evaluate the effect of age on RI. The subjects were cats that had ultrasonography (US) of the urinary tract and RI measurement at our centre between January 2003 and April 2014. Based on clinical evaluation, biochemical and haematological tests, urinalysis and US, the cats were classified as healthy or diseased. RI measurements were made from the interlobar or arcuate arteries. Data were analysed for differences between the right and the left kidney, the two sexes, different age groups in healthy cats, and between healthy and diseased cats. A total of 116 cats (68 males, 48 females) were included: 24 healthy and 92 diseased. In the healthy cats, RI (mean ± SD) differed significantly (P = 0.02) between the right kidney (0.54 ± 0.07) and the left kidney (0.59 ± 0.08). For the left kidney, RI was significantly higher in cats with chronic kidney disease (0.73 ± 0.12) and acute kidney injury (0.72 ± 0.08) (P = 0.0008). For the right kidney, RI was significantly higher in cats with chronic kidney disease (0.72 ± 0.11), acute kidney injury (0.74 ± 0.08), polycystic kidney disease (0.77 ± 0.11) and renal tumour (0.74 ± 0.001) (P <0.0001). There was no significant effect on RI value in either kidney in terms of age or sex. RI could be considered a valuable diagnostic tool in cats, useful in the differential diagnosis of diffuse renal diseases. While it does not change with the age of the cat, ultrasonographers should be aware that RI may differ between the two kidneys. © ISFM and AAFP 2015.

[Hypoglycemic treatment in type 2 diabetes patients suffering from moderate to severe renal failure in France. Aim of the study].

PubMed

Bouée, Stéphane; Gaudin, Anne-Françoise; Amelineau, Elisabeth; Bonnet, Fabrice

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to describe the hypoglycemic agents prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) with renal impairment (RI). Data were extracted from the database LPD-CEGEDIM, based on a sample of 1200 general practitioners. The analysis focused on T2D patients with RI, defined by a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m², estimated by the MDRD formula. Of the 36 255 patients identified with T2D, a GFR was calculated for 8 647 patients (23.9%), 1 472 (22%) with a moderate RI (GFR=[30mL/min/1.73 m²-60mL/min/1.73 m²]) and 86 (1.0%) with a severe RI (GFR=[15mL/min/1.73 m-30mL/min/1.73 m²]); 47,6% of T2D patients with a moderate RI and 52,3% of T2D patients with a severe RI were treated with at least one drug contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe RI. These findings suggest better informing doctors of these contraindications and show the value of having new hypoglycemic drugs that can be used in case of RI. © 2013 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Proceedings of the Workshop on Directional Acoustic Sensors Held in Newport, Rhode Island on 17-18 April 2001

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-04-18

representation of the acoustic field, the first three terms of which represent the scalar, vector, and tensor (or dyadic ) components of the field, referred to by...encouragement and financial support. We also thank Ms. Kathy Stark of America House Communications , Newport, RI, for the planning and administration of this...Connectivity between warfighter and technical community • Technical competency for integrity of total warfighting system • Full access to our

Susceptibility to anthrax lethal toxin-induced rat death is controlled by a single chromosome 10 locus that includes rNlrp1.

PubMed

Newman, Zachary L; Printz, Morton P; Liu, Shihui; Crown, Devorah; Breen, Laura; Miller-Randolph, Sharmina; Flodman, Pamela; Leppla, Stephen H; Moayeri, Mahtab

2010-05-20

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) is a bipartite protease-containing toxin and a key virulence determinant of Bacillus anthracis. In mice, LT causes the rapid lysis of macrophages isolated from certain inbred strains, but the correlation between murine macrophage sensitivity and mouse strain susceptibility to toxin challenge is poor. In rats, LT induces a rapid death in as little as 37 minutes through unknown mechanisms. We used a recombinant inbred (RI) rat panel of 19 strains generated from LT-sensitive and LT-resistant progenitors to map LT sensitivity in rats to a locus on chromosome 10 that includes the inflammasome NOD-like receptor (NLR) sensor, Nlrp1. This gene is the closest rat homolog of mouse Nlrp1b, which was previously shown to control murine macrophage sensitivity to LT. An absolute correlation between in vitro macrophage sensitivity to LT-induced lysis and animal susceptibility to the toxin was found for the 19 RI strains and 12 additional rat strains. Sequencing Nlrp1 from these strains identified five polymorphic alleles. Polymorphisms within the N-terminal 100 amino acids of the Nlrp1 protein were perfectly correlated with LT sensitivity. These data suggest that toxin-mediated lethality in rats as well as macrophage sensitivity in this animal model are controlled by a single locus on chromosome 10 that is likely to be the inflammasome NLR sensor, Nlrp1.

MaRiMba: A Software Application for Spectral Library-Based MRM Transition List Assembly

PubMed Central

Sherwood, Carly A.; Eastham, Ashley; Lee, Lik Wee; Peterson, Amelia; Eng, Jimmy K.; Shteynberg, David; Mendoza, Luis; Deutsch, Eric W.; Risler, Jenni; Tasman, Natalie; Aebersold, Ruedi; Lam, Henry; Martin, Daniel B.

2009-01-01

Multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) is a targeted analysis method that has been increasingly viewed as an avenue to explore proteomes with unprecedented sensitivity and throughput. We have developed a software tool, called MaRiMba, to automate the creation of explicitly defined MRM transition lists required to program triple quadrupole mass spectrometers in such analyses. MaRiMba creates MRM transition lists from downloaded or custom-built spectral libraries, restricts output to specified proteins or peptides, and filters based on precursor peptide and product ion properties. MaRiMba can also create MRM lists containing corresponding transitions for isotopically heavy peptides, for which the precursor and product ions are adjusted according to user specifications. This open-source application is operated through a graphical user interface incorporated into the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline, and it outputs the final MRM list to a text file for upload to MS instruments. To illustrate the use of MaRiMba, we used the tool to design and execute an MRM-MS experiment in which we targeted the proteins of a well-defined and previously published standard mixture. PMID:19603829

Agarose coated spherical micro resonator for humidity measurements.

PubMed

Mallik, Arun Kumar; Liu, Dejun; Kavungal, Vishnu; Wu, Qiang; Farrell, Gerald; Semenova, Yuliya

2016-09-19

A new type of fiber optic relative humidity (RH) sensor based on an agarose coated silica microsphere resonator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in the micro resonator are excited by evanescent coupling using a tapered fiber with ~3.3 µm waist diameter. A change in the relative humidity of the surrounding the resonator air induces changes in the refractive index (RI) and thickness of the Agarose coating layer. These changes in turn lead to a spectral shift of the WGM resonances, which can be related to the RH value after a suitable calibration. Studies of the repeatability, long-term stability, measurement accuracy and temperature dependence of the proposed sensor are carried out. The RH sensitivity of the proposed sensor depends on the concentration of the agarose gel which determines the initial thickness of the deposited coating layer. Studies of the micro- resonators with coating layers fabricated from gels with three different Agarose concentrations of 0.5%, 1.125% and 2.25 wt./vol.% showed that an increase in the initial thickness of the coating material results in an increase in sensitivity but also leads to a decrease of quality factor (Q) of the micro resonator. The highest sensitivity achieved in our experiments was 518 pm/%RH in the RH range from 30% to 70%. The proposed sensor offers the advantages of a very compact form factor, low hysteresis, good repeatability, and low cross sensitivity to temperature.

Analogous on-axis interference topographic phase microscopy (AOITPM).

PubMed

Xiu, P; Liu, Q; Zhou, X; Xu, Y; Kuang, C; Liu, X

2018-05-01

The refractive index (RI) of a sample as an endogenous contrast agent plays an important role in transparent live cell imaging. In tomographic phase microscopy (TPM), 3D quantitative RI maps can be reconstructed based on the measured projections of the RI in multiple directions. The resolution of the RI maps not only depends on the numerical aperture of the employed objective lens, but also is determined by the accuracy of the quantitative phase of the sample measured at multiple scanning illumination angles. This paper reports an analogous on-axis interference TPM, where the interference angle between the sample and reference beams is kept constant for projections in multiple directions to improve the accuracy of the phase maps and the resolution of RI tomograms. The system has been validated with both silica beads and red blood cells. Compared with conventional TPM, the proposed system acquires quantitative RI maps with higher resolution (420 nm @λ = 633 nm) and signal-to-noise ratio that can be beneficial for live cell imaging in biomedical applications. © 2018 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2018 Royal Microscopical Society.

Automated analysis of electronic medical record data reflects the pathophysiology of operative complications.

PubMed

Tepas, Joseph J; Rimar, Joan M; Hsiao, Allen L; Nussbaum, Michael S

2013-10-01

We hypothesized that a novel algorithm that uses data from the electronic medical record (EMR) from multiple clinical and biometric sources could provide early warning of organ dysfunction in patients with high risk for postoperative complications and sepsis. Operative patients undergoing colorectal procedures were evaluated. The Rothman Index (RI) is a predictive model based on heuristic equations derived from 26 variables related to inpatient care. The RI integrates clinical nursing observations, bedside biometrics, and laboratory data into a continuously updated, numeric physiologic assessment, ranging from 100 (unimpaired) to -91. The RI can be displayed within the EMR as a graphic trend, with a decreasing trend reflecting physiologic dysfunction. Patients undergoing colorectal procedures between June and October 2011 were evaluated to determine correlation of initial RI, average inpatient RI, and lowest RI to incidence of complications and/or postoperative sepsis. Patients were stratified by color-coded RI risk group (100-65, blue; 64-40, yellow; <40 red). One-way or repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare groups by age, number of complications, and presence of sepsis defined by discharge International Classification of Diseases, 9(th) Revision, codes. Mean direct cost of care and duration of stay also was calculated for each group. The overall incidence of perioperative complications in the 124 patient cohort was 51% (n = 64 patients). The 261 complications sustained by this group represented 82 distinct diagnoses. The 10 patients with sepsis (8%) experienced a 40% mortality. Analysis of initial RI for the population stratified by number of complications and/or sepsis demonstrated a risk-related difference. With progressive onset of complications, the RI decreased, suggesting worsening physiologic dysfunction and linear increase in direct cost of care. These findings demonstrate that EMR data can be automatically compiled into an objective metric that reflects patient risk and changing physiologic state. The automated process of continuous update reflects a physiologic trajectory associated with evolving organ system dysfunction indicative of postoperative complications. Early intervention based on these trends may guide preoperative counseling, enhance pre-emptive management of adverse occurrences, and improve cost-efficiency of care. Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Study on the refractive index matching effect of ultrasound on optical clearing of bio-tissues based on the derivative total reflection method.

PubMed

Zeng, Huanhuan; Wang, Jin; Ye, Qing; Deng, Zhichao; Mei, Jianchun; Zhou, Wenyuan; Zhang, Chunping; Tian, Jianguo

2014-10-01

In recent years, the tissue optical clearing (OC) technique in the biomedicine field has drawn lots of attention. Various physical and chemical methods have been introduced to improve the efficacy of OC. In this study, the effect of the combination of glycerol and ultrasound treatment on OC of in vitro porcine muscle tissues has been investigated. The refractive index (RI) matching mechanism of OC was directly observed based on the derivative total reflection method. A theoretical model was used to simulate the proportion of tissue fluid in the illuminated area. Moreover, the total transmittance spectra have been obtained by a spectrometer over the range from 450 nm to 700 nm. The administration of glycerol and ultrasound has led to an increase of the RI of background medium and a more RI matching environment was achieved. The experimental results support the validity of the ultrasound treatment for OC. The RI matching mechanism has been firstly quantitatively analyzed based on the derivative total reflection method.

Baseline-free damage detection in composite plates based on the reciprocity principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Liping; Zeng, Liang; Lin, Jing

2018-01-01

Lamb wave based damage detection techniques have been widely used in composite structures. In particular, these techniques usually rely on reference signals, which are significantly influenced by the operational and environmental conditions. To solve this issue, this paper presents a baseline-free damage inspection method based on the reciprocity principle. If a localized nonlinear scatterer exists along the wave path, the reciprocity breaks down. Through estimating the loss of reciprocity, the delamination could be detected. A reciprocity index (RI), which compares the discrepancy between the signal received in transducer B when emitting from transducer A and the signal received in A when the same source is located in B, is established to quantitatively analyze the reciprocity. Experimental results show that the RI value of a damaged path is much higher than that of a healthy path. In addition, the effects of the parameters of excitation signal (i.e., central frequency and bandwidth) and the position of delamination on the RI value are discussed. Furthermore, a RI based probabilistic imaging algorithm is proposed for detecting delamination damage of composite plates without reference signals. Finally, the effectiveness of this baseline-free damage detection method is validated by an experimental example.

Internalization of targeted quantum dots by brain capillary endothelial cells in vivo.

PubMed

Paris-Robidas, Sarah; Brouard, Danny; Emond, Vincent; Parent, Martin; Calon, Frédéric

2016-04-01

Receptors located on brain capillary endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier are the target of most brain drug delivery approaches. Yet, direct subcellular evidence of vectorized transport of nanoformulations into the brain is lacking. To resolve this question, quantum dots were conjugated to monoclonal antibodies (Ri7) targeting the murine transferrin receptor. Specific transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis of Ri7-quantum dots was first confirmed in N2A and bEnd5 cells. After intravenous injection in mice, Ri7-quantum dots exhibited a fourfold higher volume of distribution in brain tissues, compared to controls. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that Ri7-quantum dots were sequestered throughout the cerebral vasculature 30 min, 1 h, and 4 h post injection, with a decline of signal intensity after 24 h. Transmission electron microscopic studies confirmed that Ri7-quantum dots were massively internalized by brain capillary endothelial cells, averaging 37 ± 4 Ri7-quantum dots/cell 1 h after injection. Most quantum dots within brain capillary endothelial cells were observed in small vesicles (58%), with a smaller proportion detected in tubular structures or in multivesicular bodies. Parenchymal penetration of Ri7-quantum dots was extremely low and comparable to control IgG. Our results show that systemically administered Ri7-quantum dots complexes undergo extensive endocytosis by brain capillary endothelial cells and open the door for novel therapeutic approaches based on brain endothelial cell drug delivery. © The Author(s) 2015.

Europlanet-RI IDIS - A Data Network in Support of Planetary Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Walter; Capria, Maria Teresa; Chanteur, Gérard

2010-05-01

The "Europlanet Research Infrastructure - Europlanet RI", supported by the European Commission's Framework Program 7, aims at integrating major parts of the distributed European Planetary Research infrastructure with as diverse components as space exploration, ground-based observations, laboratory experiments and numerical modeling teams. A central part of Europlanet RI is the "Integrated and Distributed Information Service" (IDIS), a network of data and information access facilities in Europe via which information relevant for planetary research can be easily found and retrieved. This covers the wide range from contact addresses of possible research partners, laboratories and test facilities to the access of data collected with space missions or during laboratory or simulation tests and to model software useful for their interpretation. During the following three years the capabilities of the network will be extended to allow the combination of many different data sources for comperative studies including the results of modeling calculations and simulations of instrument observations. Together with the access to complex databases for spectra of atmospheric molecules and planetary surface material IDIS will offer a versatile working environment for making the scientific exploitation of the resources put into planetary research in the past and future more effective. Many of the mentioned capabilities are already available now. List of contact web-sites: Technical node for support and management aspects: http://www.idis.europlanet-ri.eu/ Planetary Surfaces and Interiors node: http://www.idis-interiors.europlanet-ri.eu/ Planetary Plasma node: http://www.idis-plasma.europlanet-ri.eu/ Planetary Atmospheres node: http://www.idis-atmos.europlanet-ri.eu/ Small Bodies and Dust node: http://www.idis-sbdn.europlanet-ri.eu/ Planetary Dynamics and Extraterrestrial Matter node: http://www.idis-dyn.europlanet-ri.eu/

Virtual Collaboration: Advantages and Disadvantages in the Planning and Execution of Operations in the Information Age

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-09

FINAL 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE VIRTUAL COLLABORATION: 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN THE PLANNING AND...warfare is not one system; it is a system of systems from sensors to information flow. In analyzing the specific advantages and disadvantages of one of...Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) NAVAL WAR COLLEGE Newport, R.I. VIRTUAL COLLABORATION: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF OPERATIONS

A Cognitive Framework for Resource-Aware Sensor Net Organizations

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-01

The AFRL/RI team had procured and were experimenting with several Sony AIBO R © “dog” platforms as low-cost mobility robots that could potentially...available. 14 a cycle, it keeps its radio turned on for that long to hear if any agent (including console and regional nodes) wants to communicate. If...08), Estoril, Portugal, May 2008. To appear. [10] Daniel D. Corkill and Victor R . Lesser. The use of meta-level control for coordination in a dis

Enhancement of fiber-optic low-coherence Fabry-Pérot interferometer with ZnO ALD films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, Marzena; Listewnik, Paulina; Jedrzejewska-Szczerska, Małgorzata

2018-04-01

In this paper investigation of the enhanced fiber-optic low coherence Fabry-Pérot interferometer with zinc oxide (ZnO) film deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was presented. Model of the interferometer, which was constructed of single-mode optical fiber with applied ZnO ALD films, was built. The interferometer was also examined by means of experiment. Measurements were performed for both reflective and transmission modes, using wavelengths of 1300 nm and 1500 nm. The measurements with the air cavity showed the best performance in terms of a visibility of the interference signal can be achieved for small cavity lengths ( 50μm) in both configurations. Combined with the enhancement of reflectance of the interferometer mirrors due to the ALD film, proposed construction could be successfully applied in refractive index (RI) sensor that can operate with improved visibility of the signal even in 1.3-1.5 RI range as well as with small volume samples, as shown by the modeling.

Stability Control of Grasping Objects with Different Locations of Center of Mass and Rotational Inertia

PubMed Central

Slota, Gregory P.; Suh, Moon Suk; Latash, Mark L.; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M.

2012-01-01

The objective of this study was to observe how the digits of the hand adjust to varying location of the center of mass (CoM) above/below the grasp and rotational inertia (RI) of a hand held object. Such manipulations do not immediately affect the equilibrium equations while stability control is affected. Participants were instructed to hold a handle, instrumented with five force/torque transducers and a 3-D rotational tilt sensor, while either the location of the CoM or the RI values were adjusted. On the whole, people use two mechanisms to adjust to the changed stability requirements; they increase the grip force and redistribute the total moment between the normal and tangential forces offsetting internal torques. The increase in grip force, an internal force, and offsetting internal torques allows for increases in joint and hand rotational apparent stiffness while not creating external forces/torques which would unbalance the equations of equilibrium. PMID:22456054

Common solutions for power, communication and robustness in operations of large measurement networks within Research Infrastructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, Robert; Beranzoli, Laura; Fiebig, Markus; Gilbert, Olivier; Laj, Paolo; Mazzola, Mauro; Paris, Jean-Daniel; Pedersen, Helle; Stocker, Markus; Vitale, Vito; Waldmann, Christoph

2017-04-01

European Environmental Research Infrastructures (RI) frequently comprise in situ observatories from large-scale networks of platforms or sites to local networks of various sensors. Network operation is usually a cumbersome aspect of these RIs facing specific technological problems related to operations in remote areas, maintenance of the network, transmission of observation values, etc.. Robust inter-connection within and across these networks is still at infancy level and the burden increases with remoteness of the station, harshness of environmental conditions, and unavailability of classic communication systems, which is a common feature here. Despite existing RIs having developed ad-hoc solutions to overcome specific problems and innovative technologies becoming available, no common approach yet exists. Within the European project ENVRIplus, a dedicated work package aims to stimulate common network operation technologies and approaches in terms of power supply and storage, robustness, and data transmission. Major objectives of this task are to review existing technologies and RI requirements, propose innovative solutions and evaluate the standardization potential prior to wider deployment across networks. Focus areas within these efforts are: improving energy production and storage units, testing robustness of RI equipment towards extreme conditions as well as methodologies for robust data transmission. We will introduce current project activities which are coordinated at various levels including the engineering as well as the data management perspective, and explain how environmental RIs can benefit from the developments.

An International, Multi-Specialty Validation Study of the IgG4-Related Disease Responder Index.

PubMed

Wallace, Zachary S; Khosroshahi, Arezou; Carruthers, Mollie D; Perugino, Cory A; Choi, Hyon; Campochiaro, Corrado; Culver, Emma L; Cortazar, Frank; Della-Torre, Emanuel; Ebbo, Mikael; Fernandes, Ana; Frulloni, Luca; Hart, Philip; Karadag, Omer; Kawa, Shigeyuki; Kawano, Mitsuhiro; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Lanzillotta, Marco; Matsui, Shoko; Okazaki, Kazuichi; Ryu, Jay H; Saeki, Takako; Schleinitz, Nicolas; Tanasa, Paula; Umehara, Hisanori; Webster, George; Zhang, Wen; Stone, John H

2018-02-18

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) can cause fibro-inflammatory lesions in nearly any organ, leading to organ dysfunction and failure. The IgG4-RD Responder Index (RI) was developed to help investigators assess the efficacy of treatment in a structured manner. We sought to validate the RI in a multi-national investigation. The RI guides investigators through assessments of disease activity and damage in 25 domains, incorporating higher weights for disease manifestations that require treatment urgently or that worsen despite treatment. After a training exercise, investigators reviewed 12 written IgG4-RD vignettes (mean length: 279 words, range: 76-511 words) based upon real patients. Investigators calculated both an RI score as well as a physician global assessment (PGA) for each vignette. Three investigators used the RI on fifteen patients followed over serial visits after treatment. We assessed inter- and intra-rater reliability, precision, validity, and responsiveness. Twenty-six physician-investigators included representatives from 6 specialties and 9 countries. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities of the RI were strong (0.88 and 0.69, respectively) and superior to those of the PGA. Correlations (construct validity) between the RI and PGA were high (Spearman's r=0.9, P<0.0001). The RI was sensitive to change (discriminant validity). Following treatment, there was significant improvement in the RI (mean change 10.5 (95% CI 5.4-12), P<0.001) which correlated with the change in the PGA. Urgent disease and damage were captured effectively. In this international, multi-specialty study, we found that the RI is a valid, and reliable disease activity assessment tool that can be used to measure response to therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

76 FR 50770 - Submission for Review: Financial Resources Questionnaire (RI 34-1, RI 34-17, and RI 34-18) and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-16

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Financial Resources Questionnaire (RI 34- 1, RI 34-17, and RI 34-18) and Notice of Amount Due Because of Annuity Overpayment (RI 34-3, RI 34-19...), and Financial Resources Questionnaire--Federal Employees Health Benefits Premiums Underpaid (RI 34-18...

Face mask use by patients in primary care.

PubMed

Tischendorf, Jessica S; Temte, Jonathan L

2012-02-01

Face masks are recommended for patients with respiratory symptoms to reduce influenza transmission. Little knowledge exists regarding actual utilization and acceptance of face masks in primary care. Compare distribution of face masks to clinic and community trends in respiratory infection (RI) and influenza-like illness (ILI); estimate the annual need for face masks in primary care. Retrospective observational study of practice data from a 31-week period starting in October 2009. Family practice clinic in Madison, Wis. Patients with fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms as evaluated by reception staff. Age, sex, and weekly counts of individuals receiving a face mask, as well as counts of RI and ILI patients based on ICD-9 coding from 27 statewide clinics. Face mask counts were 80% of RI counts for the clinic and reflected the demographics of the clinic population. Distribution was correlated to prevalence of RI (R = 0.783, P < 0.001) and ILI (R = 0.632, P < 0.001). Annually, 8% of clinic visits were for RI. The high percentage of face mask use among RI patients reflects the feasibility of this intervention to help control influenza transmission in a primary care setting. Using the present data, clinics can estimate the annual need for face masks.

A critical overview of definitions and determination techniques of the internal resistance using lithium-ion, lead-acid, nickel metal-hydride batteries and electrochemical double-layer capacitors as examples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piłatowicz, Grzegorz; Marongiu, Andrea; Drillkens, Julia; Sinhuber, Philipp; Sauer, Dirk Uwe

2015-11-01

The internal resistance (Ri) is one of the key parameters that determine the current state of electrochemical storage systems (ESS). It is crucial for estimating cranking capability in conventional cars, available power in modern hybrid and electric vehicles and for determining commonly used factors such as state-of-health (SoH) and state-of-function (SoF). However, ESS are complex and non-linear systems. Their Ri depends on many parameters such as current rate, temperature, SoH and state-of-charge (SoC). It is also a fact that no standardized methodologies exist and many different definitions and ways of Ri determination are being used. Nevertheless, in many cases authors are not aware of the consequences that occur when different Ri definitions are being used, such as possible misinterpretations, doubtful comparisons and false figures of merit. This paper focuses on an application-oriented separation between various Ri definitions and highlights the differences between them. The investigation was based on the following technologies: lead-acid, lithium-ion and nickel metal-hydride batteries as well as electrochemical double-layer capacitors. It is not the target of this paper to provide a standardized definition of Ri but to give researchers, engineers and manufacturers a possibility to understand what the term Ri means in their own work.

Rizatriptan versus rizatriptan plus rofecoxib versus rizatriptan plus tolfenamic acid in the acute treatment of migraine

PubMed Central

Krymchantowski, Abouch Valenty; Bigal, Marcelo Eduardo

2004-01-01

Background Rizatriptan is an effective and fast acting drug for the acute treatment of migraine. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have also demonstrated efficacy in treating migraine attacks. There is evidence that the combination of a triptan and a NSAID decreases migraine recurrence in clinical practice. The primary aim of this randomized open label study was to assess the recurrence rates in migraine sufferers acutely treated with rizatriptan (RI) alone vs. rizatriptan plus a COX-2 enzyme inhibitor (rofecoxib, RO) vs. rizatriptan plus a traditional NSAID (tolfenamic acid, TO). We were also interested in comparing the efficacy rates within these three groups. Methods We assessed 45 patients from a headache clinic in Rio de Janeiro (35 women and 10 men, ages 18 to 65 years, mean 37 years). Patients with IHS migraine were randomized to one out of 3 groups, where they had to treat 6 consecutive moderate or severe attacks in counterbalanced order. In group 1, patients treated the first two attacks with 10 mg RI, the third and fourth attacks with RI + 50 mg RO and the last attacks with RI + 200 mg of TA. In group 2, we began with RI + TA, followed by RI, and RI + RO. Group 3 treated in the following order: RI + RO, RI + TA, RI alone. The presence of headache, nausea and photophobia at 1, 2 and 4 hours, as well as recurrence and side effects were compared. Results A total of 33 patients finished the study, treating 184 attacks. The pain-free rates at 1 hour were: RI: 15.5%; RI + RO: 22.6%; RI + TA: 20.3%(NS). Pain-free rates at 2 h were: RI: 37.9%; RI + RO: 62.9%, and RI + TA: 40.6% (p = 0.008 for RI vs. RI + RO; p = 0.007 for RI + RO vs. RI + TA, NS for RI vs RI + TA). At 4 h, pain-free rates were: RI: 69%; RI + RO: 82.3%; RI + TA: 78.1% (NS for all comparisons). The combination of RI + RO was superior to RI and to RI + TA in regard of the absense of nausea and photophobia at 4 hours. Recurrence (after being pain-free at 2 h) was observed in 50% of patients treated with RI, in 15,4% of those treated with RI + RO, and in 7,7% of those treated with RI + TA. Conclusions Despite the methodological limitations of this study, the combination of RI and RO revealed a higher response rate at 2 hours. Recurrence was also clearly decreased with both combinations in relation to the use of RI alone. Controlled studies are necessary to provide additional evidence. PMID:15222892

A gas circulation and purification system for gas-cell-based low-energy RI-beam production.

PubMed

Sonoda, T; Tsubota, T; Wada, M; Katayama, I; Kojima, T M; Reponen, M

2016-06-01

A gas circulation and purification system was developed at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory that can be used for gas-cell-based low-energy RI-beam production. A high-flow-rate gas cell filled with one atmosphere of buffer gas (argon or helium) is used for the deceleration and thermalization of high-energy RI-beams. The exhausted buffer gas is efficiently collected using a compact dry pump and returned to the gas cell with a recovery efficiency of >97%. The buffer gas is efficiently purified using two gas purifiers as well as collision cleaning, which eliminates impurities in the gas. An impurity level of one part per billion is achieved with this method.

A gas circulation and purification system for gas-cell-based low-energy RI-beam production

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

Sonoda, T.; Wada, M.; Katayama, I.

A gas circulation and purification system was developed at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory that can be used for gas-cell-based low-energy RI-beam production. A high-flow-rate gas cell filled with one atmosphere of buffer gas (argon or helium) is used for the deceleration and thermalization of high-energy RI-beams. The exhausted buffer gas is efficiently collected using a compact dry pump and returned to the gas cell with a recovery efficiency of >97%. The buffer gas is efficiently purified using two gas purifiers as well as collision cleaning, which eliminates impurities in the gas. An impurity level of one part permore » billion is achieved with this method.« less

DNA Nucleotide Sequence Restricted by the RI Endonuclease

PubMed Central

Hedgpeth, Joe; Goodman, Howard M.; Boyer, Herbert W.

1972-01-01

The sequence of DNA base pairs adjacent to the phosphodiester bonds cleaved by the RI restriction endonuclease in unmodified DNA from coliphage λ has been determined. The 5′-terminal nucleotide labeled with 32P and oligonucleotides up to the heptamer were analyzed from a pancreatic DNase digest. The following sequence of nucleotides adjacent to the RI break made in λ DNA was deduced from these data and from the 3′-dinucleotide sequence and nearest-neighbor analysis obtained from repair synthesis with the DNA polymerase of Rous sarcoma virus [Formula: see text] The RI endonuclease cleavage of the phosphodiester bonds (indicated by arrows) generates 5′-phosphoryls and short cohesive termini of four nucleotides, pApApTpT. The most striking feature of the sequence is its symmetry. PMID:4343974

Some Challenges of an “Upside Down” Nitrogen Budget – Science and Management in Greenwich Bay, RI (USA)

EPA Science Inventory

When nutrients impact estuarine water quality, scientists and managers instinctively focus on quantifying and controlling land-based sources. However, in Greenwich Bay, RI, the estuary opens onto a larger and more intensively fertilized coastal water body (Narragansett Bay). Prev...

Analysis of Fc(epsilon)RI-mediated mast cell stimulation by surface-carried antigens.

PubMed Central

Schweitzer-Stenner, R; Tamir, I; Pecht, I

1997-01-01

Clustering of the type I receptor for IgE (Fc[epsilon]RI) on mast cells initiates a cascade of biochemical processes that result in secretion of inflammatory mediators. To determine the Fc(epsilon)RI proximity, cluster size, and mobility requirements for initiating the Fc(epsilon)RI cascade, a novel experimental protocol has been developed in which mast cells are reacted with glass surfaces carrying different densities of both antigen and bound IgE, and the cell's secretory response to these stimuli is measured. The results have been analyzed in terms of a model based on the following assumptions: 1) the glass surface antigen distribution and consequently that of the bound IgE are random; 2) Fc(epsilon)RI binding to these surface-bound IgEs immobilizes the former and saturates the latter; 3) the cell surface is formally divided into small elements, which function as a secretory stimulus unit when occupied by two or more immobilized IgE-Fc(epsilon)RI complexes; 4) alternatively, similar stimulatory units can be formed by binding of surface-carried IgE dimers to two Fc(epsilon)RI. This model yielded a satisfactory and self-consistent fitting of all of the different experimental data sets. Hence the present results establish the essential role of Fc(epsilon)RI immobilization for initiating its signaling cascade. Moreover, it provides independent support for the notion that as few as two Fc(epsilon)RIs immobilized at van der Waals contact constitute an "elementary stimulatory unit" leading to mast cell (RBL-2H3 line) secretory response. PMID:9168023

Characterization of Three New Glutaredoxin Genes in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis: Putative Role of RiGRX4 and RiGRX5 in Iron Homeostasis.

PubMed

Tamayo, Elisabeth; Benabdellah, Karim; Ferrol, Nuria

2016-01-01

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are small ubiquitous oxidoreductases involved in the regulation of the redox state in living cells. In an attempt to identify the full complement of GRXs in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, three additional GRX homologs, besides the formerly characterized GintGRX1 (renamed here as RiGRX1), were identified. The three new GRXs (RiGRX4, RiGRX5 and RiGRX6) contain the CXXS domain of monothiol GRXs, but whereas RiGRX4 and RiGRX5 belong to class II GRXs, RiGRX6 belongs to class I together with RiGRX1. By using a yeast expression system, we observed that the newly identified homologs partially reverted sensitivity of the GRX deletion yeast strains to external oxidants. Furthermore, our results indicated that RiGRX4 and RiGRX5 play a role in iron homeostasis in yeast. Gene expression analyses revealed that RiGRX1 and RiGRX6 were more highly expressed in the intraradical (IRM) than in the extraradical mycelium (ERM). Exposure of the ERM to hydrogen peroxide induced up-regulation of RiGRX1, RiGRX4 and RiGRX5 gene expression. RiGRX4 expression was also up-regulated in the ERM when the fungus was grown in media supplemented with a high iron concentration. These data indicate the two monothiol class II GRXs, RiGRX4 and RiGRX5, might be involved in oxidative stress protection and in the regulation of fungal iron homeostasis. Increased expression of RiGRX1 and RiGRX6 in the IRM suggests that these GRXs should play a key role in oxidative stress protection of R. irregularis during its in planta phase.

Nature-Based Solutions in the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges.

PubMed

Faivre, Nicolas; Fritz, Marco; Freitas, Tiago; de Boissezon, Birgit; Vandewoestijne, Sofie

2017-11-01

Contemporary societies are facing a broad range of challenges, from pressures on human health and well-being to natural capital depletion, and the security of food, water and energy. These challenges are deeply intertwined with global processes, such as climate change and with local events such as natural disasters. The EU's research & innovation (R&I) policy is now seeking to address these challenges from a new perspective, with Nature-Based Solutions, and turn them into innovation opportunities that optimise the synergies between nature, society and the economy. Nature-Based Solutions can be an opportunity for innovation, and are here promoted by both policymakers and practitioners as a cost-effective way of creating a greener, more sustainable, and more competitive economy. Since 2013, the European Commission has devoted particular attention to Nature-Based Solutions through consultations and dialogues that sought to make the concept of these solutions more concrete and to define the concept's place within the spectrum of ecosystem-based approaches. In 2014, the Commission launched an expert group, which conducted further analysis, and made recommendations to help increase the use of Nature-Based Solutions and bring nature back into cities. In 2015, a survey was conducted on citizens' views and perceptions of 'Nature in Cities' to provide further insight for future work. Based on these elements and on results from running EU projects, the Commission has developed an R&I agenda for Nature-Based Solutions and has published targeted calls for proposals for large-scale demonstration projects in this field in 2016 and 2017. Additional R&I actions at EU level that promote systemic Nature-Based Solutions and their benefits to cities and territories are planned with the aim to improve the implementation capacity and evidence base for deploying Nature-Based Solutions and developing corresponding future markets. They are also expected to foster an interdisciplinary R&I and stakeholder community and the exchange of good practices in this field, as well as help shaping and implementing international R&I agendas on Nature-Based Solutions. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Increasing the Knowledge of Stratification in Shallow Coastal Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojo, T.; Bonner, J.; Hodges, B.; Maidment, D.; Montagna, P.; Minsker, B.

2006-12-01

A testbed has been established using Corpus Christi Bay as an environmental field facility to study the phenomenon of hypoxia that has been observed to develop at certain periods during the year. Stratification affects vertical turbulent mixing of heat, momentum and mass (or constituents) within the water column, in turn influencing the transport of material. The mixing threshold is dependent on the value of the Richardson Number, Ri with inhibition due to stratification occurring at low values (< 0.25) and complete vertical mixing occurring at high values (> 0.25) of Ri. Corpus Christi Bay with average depth of ~3 m is the largest among a system of five bays has been known to stratify due to inflows of hypersaline water (up to 50 psu) from adjoining bays, the Laguna Madre and Oso Bay. Laguna Madre is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a barrier island and becomes hypersaline because of the imbalance between inflow of freshwater and bay evaporation. Hypersalinity also occurs in Oso Bay due to anthropogenic forcing from a power plant that draws 400 MGD of cooling water from the upper Laguna Madre, discharging waste water into Oso Bay. Several wastewater treatment plants also discharge directly into Oso Bay or its tributary streams. The objective of this study is to develop a methodology for prescribing a set of parameters required for modeling and characterization of hypoxia in this shallow wind-driven bay. The extent to which Ri is dependent on external forcing at the surface boundary was measured using our fully instrumented sensor platforms. Each sensor platform includes sensors for synchronic near-surface meteorological (wind velocity, barometric pressure, air temperature) and water column oceanographic (current, water temperature, conductivity, particle size distribution, particulate concentration, dissolved oxygen, nutrient) variables. These were measured using fixed and mobile vertical profiling sensor platforms. A 2D hydrodynamic model was initially developed for the bay and results indicate that water mass is conserved through a strong vortex spawning from the ~ 20 m deep ship channel that runs east-west along the northernmost portion of the bay. HF radar "observations" however does not indicate this vortical structure suggesting that water conservation is maintained through vertical eddies, captured by 3D current measurements using Acoustic Doppler profilers. This is an example of where advanced sensors indicate needs for more advanced modeling, leading us toward the development of 3D hydrodynamic model for the bay. The geomorphology of the bay (shallow with respect to the deep ship channel) poses a challenge in this model development. Knowledge of stratification in this system of bays has been increased through this study. Measurements taken using the instrument suite deployed by our research facility was coupled with (observed and predicted) hydrodynamic and meteorological data, providing new insight into stratification in Corpus Christi Bay. The bay was observed as cycling through quiescent and well-mixed periods under strong wind influence with the onset of hypoxia during the summer months (June through August). Quiescent periods, when combined with tidal cycling and inland horizontal gradient propagation (from adjoining water bodies as described) lead to conditions favorable to stratification.

Cost utility analysis of reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescence and young adult with severe thalassemia compared to hypertransfusion and iron chelation program.

PubMed

Sruamsiri, Rosarin; Chaiyakunapruk, Nathorn; Pakakasama, Samart; Sirireung, Somtawin; Sripaiboonkij, Nintita; Bunworasate, Udomsak; Hongeng, Suradej

2013-02-05

Hematopoieticic stem cell transplantation is the only therapeutic option that can cure thalassemia disease. Reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RI-HSCT) has demonstrated a high cure rate with minimal complications compared to other options. Because RI-HSCT is very costly, economic justification for its value is needed. This study aimed to estimate the cost-utility of RI-HSCT compared with blood transfusions combined with iron chelating therapy (BT-ICT) for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand. A Markov model was used to estimate the relevant costs and health outcomes over the patients' lifetimes using a societal perspective. All future costs and outcomes were discounted at a rate of 3% per annum. The efficacy of RI-HSCT was based a clinical trial including a total of 18 thalassemia patients. Utility values were derived directly from all patients using EQ-5D and SF-6D. Primary outcomes of interest were lifetime costs, quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in US ($) per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were conducted to investigate the effect of parameter uncertainty. In base case analysis, the RI-HSCT group had a better clinical outcomes and higher lifetime costs. The incremental cost per QALY gained was US $3,236 per QALY. The acceptability curve showed that the probability of RI-HSCT being cost-effective was 71% at the willingness to pay of 1 time of Thai Gross domestic product per capita (GDP per capita), approximately US $4,210 per QALY gained. The most sensitive parameter was utility of severe thalassemia patients without cardiac complication patients. At a societal willingness to pay of 1 GDP per capita, RI-HSCT was a cost-effective treatment for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand compared to BT-ICT.

Cost utility analysis of reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescence and young adult with severe thalassemia compared to hypertransfusion and iron chelation program

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Hematopoieticic stem cell transplantation is the only therapeutic option that can cure thalassemia disease. Reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RI-HSCT) has demonstrated a high cure rate with minimal complications compared to other options. Because RI-HSCT is very costly, economic justification for its value is needed. This study aimed to estimate the cost-utility of RI-HSCT compared with blood transfusions combined with iron chelating therapy (BT-ICT) for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand. Methods A Markov model was used to estimate the relevant costs and health outcomes over the patients’ lifetimes using a societal perspective. All future costs and outcomes were discounted at a rate of 3% per annum. The efficacy of RI-HSCT was based a clinical trial including a total of 18 thalassemia patients. Utility values were derived directly from all patients using EQ-5D and SF-6D. Primary outcomes of interest were lifetime costs, quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in US ($) per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were conducted to investigate the effect of parameter uncertainty. Results In base case analysis, the RI-HSCT group had a better clinical outcomes and higher lifetime costs. The incremental cost per QALY gained was US $ 3,236 per QALY. The acceptability curve showed that the probability of RI-HSCT being cost-effective was 71% at the willingness to pay of 1 time of Thai Gross domestic product per capita (GDP per capita), approximately US $ 4,210 per QALY gained. The most sensitive parameter was utility of severe thalassemia patients without cardiac complication patients. Conclusion At a societal willingness to pay of 1 GDP per capita, RI-HSCT was a cost-effective treatment for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand compared to BT-ICT. PMID:23379888

Dual-point reflective refractometer based on parallel no-core fiber/FBG structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Cuijuan; Niu, Panpan; Wang, Juan; Zhao, Junfa; Zhang, Cheng

2018-01-01

A novel dual-point reflective fiber-optic refractometer based on multimode interference (MMI) effect and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) reflection is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which adopts parallel structure. Each point of the refractometer consists of a single mode-no core-single mode fiber (SNS) structure cascaded with a FBG. Assisted by the reflection of FBG, refractive index (RI) measurement can be achieved by monitoring the peak power variation of the reflected FBG spectrum. By selecting different length of the no core fiber and center wavelength of the FBG, independent dual-point refractometer is easily realized. Experiment results show that the refractometer has a nonlinear relationship between the surrounding refractive index (SRI) and the peak power of the reflected FBG spectrum in the RI range of 1.3330-1.4086. Linear relationship can be approximately obtained by dividing the measuring range into 1.3330-1.3611 and 1.3764-1.4086. In the RI range of 1.3764-1.4086, the two sensing points have higher RI sensitivities of 319.34 dB/RIU and 211.84 dB/RIU, respectively.

Reproductive isolation between populations of Iris atropurpurea is associated with ecological differentiation

PubMed Central

Yardeni, Gil; Tessler, Naama; Imbert, Eric; Sapir, Yuval

2016-01-01

Background and Aims Speciation is often described as a continuous dynamic process, expressed by different magnitudes of reproductive isolation (RI) among groups in different levels of divergence. Studying intraspecific partial RI can shed light on mechanisms underlying processes of population divergence. Intraspecific divergence can be driven by spatially stochastic accumulation of genetic differences following reduced gene flow, resulting in increased RI with increased geographical distance, or by local adaptation, resulting in increased RI with environmental difference. Methods We tested for RI as a function of both geographical distance and ecological differentiation in Iris atropurpurea, an endemic Israeli coastal plant. We crossed plants in the Netanya Iris Reserve population with plants from 14 populations across the species’ full distribution, and calculated RI and reproductive success based on fruit set, seed set and fraction of seed viability. Key Results We found that total RI was not significantly associated with geographical distance, but significantly increased with ecological distance. Similarly, reproductive success of the crosses, estimated while controlling for the dependency of each component on the previous stage, significantly reduced with increased ecological distance. Conclusions Our results indicate that the rise of post-pollination reproductive barriers in I. atropurpurea is more affected by ecological differentiation between populations than by geographical distance, supporting the hypothesis that ecological differentiation is predominant over isolation by distance and by reduced gene flow in this species. These findings also affect conservation management, such as genetic rescue, in the highly fragmented and endangered I. atropurpurea. PMID:27436798

Functional characterization of Rorippa indica defensin and its efficacy against Lipaphis erysimi.

PubMed

Sarkar, Poulami; Jana, Jagannath; Chatterjee, Subhrangshu; Sikdar, Samir Ranjan

2016-01-01

Rorippa indica, a wild crucifer, has been previously reported as the first identified plant in the germplasm of Brassicaceae known to be tolerant towards the mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi Kaltenbach. We herein report the full-length cloning, expression, purification and characterization of a novel R. indica defensin (RiD) and its efficacy against L. erysimi. Structural analysis through homology modeling of RiD showed longer α-helix and 3rd β-sheet as compared to Brassica juncea defensin (BjD). Recombinant RiD and BjD was purified for studying its efficacy against L. erysimi. In the artificial diet based insect bioassay, the LC50 value of RiD against L. erysimi was found to be 9.099 ± 0.621 µg/mL which is far lower than that of BjD (43.51 ± 0.526 µg/mL). This indicates the possibility of RiD having different interacting partner and having better efficacy against L. erysimi over BjD. In the transient localization studies, RiD signal peptide directed the RiD: yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fusion protein to the apoplastic regions which indicates that it might play a very important role in inhibiting nutrient uptake by aphids which follow mainly extracellular route to pierce through the cells. Hence, the present study has a significant implication for the future pest management program of B. juncea through the development of aphid tolerant transgenic plants.

REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT FOR THE 200-CW-5 U POND & Z DITCHES & 200-CW-2 S POND & 200-SCW-R T POND & 200-SC-1 STEAM CONDENSATE GROUP OU

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

BAUER, R.G.

2004-08-05

The purpose of this remedial investigation (RI) report is to evaluate the data generated during the RI and other characterization activities at the 200-CW-5 Operable Unit (OU) to (1) determine if sufficient data have been collected to support risk assessment and remedial decision making, (2) estimate risk at the representative sites based on data collected during the RI and on other existing data, (3) determine the need to proceed with a feasibility study (FS), and (4) determine which constituents and site-specific considerations need to be addressed in the FS. This RI report also provides data to support the evaluation ofmore » alternatives in the FS with regard to meeting potential applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, risk reduction, and potentially significant data gaps (if any). This RI report includes an evaluation of the baseline risk using characterization data generated during the RI and significant data from other investigations (e.g., historical data from the 216-U-10 Pond and the 216-Z-1D, 216-Z-11, 216-U-14, and 216-Z-19 Ditches). Data generated during the RI will support the closeout of waste sites in the 200-CW-5 OU, as well as the waste sites in the 200-CW-2,200-CW-4, and 200-SC-1 consolidated OUs.« less

Regulation by CD45 of the tyrosine phosphorylation of high affinity IgE receptor beta- and gamma-chains.

PubMed

Adamczewski, M; Numerof, R P; Koretzky, G A; Kinet, J P

1995-04-01

Previous studies using tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the signal transduction pathway initiated by aggregation of Fc epsilon RI, the high affinity receptor for IgE. To define more precisely a role for the tyrosine phosphatase CD45 in Fc epsilon RI-mediated signaling, we have transfected the three subunits of Fc epsilon RI into wild-type Jurkat and a CD45-deficient Jurkat derivative. Here we demonstrate that CD45 is necessary for the initiation of calcium flux through the transfected Fc epsilon RI. In contrast to the effect of phosphatase inhibitors, the tyrosine phosphorylation levels of beta and gamma after aggregation of Fc epsilon RI are surprisingly reduced, relative to wild-type Jurkat, in the CD45-deficient cells. After reconstitution of the CD45-deficient cells with a chimeric molecule containing the cytoplasmic phosphatase domains of CD45, both the base line and activation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation levels are increased. By examining Lck autophosphorylation, we find that Fc epsilon RI aggregation induces an increase in Lck enzymatic activity only in wild-type Jurkat and the CD45-deficient Jurkat reconstituted with chimeric CD45. This regulation of src-family tyrosine kinase activity may be the means by which CD45 controls aggregation-induced receptor phosphorylation.

Liquid level and temperature sensing by using dual-wavelength fiber laser based on multimode interferometer and FBG in parallel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Chunran; Dong, Yue; Wang, Muguang; Jian, Shuisheng

2018-03-01

The detection of liquid level and temperature based on a fiber ring cavity laser sensing configuration is presented and demonstrated experimentally. The sensing head contains a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a single-mode-cladding-less-single-mode multimode interferometer, which also functions as wavelength-selective components of the fiber laser. When the liquid level or temperature is applied on the sensing head, the pass-band peaks of both multimode interference (MMI) filter and FBG filter vary and the two output wavelengths of the laser shift correspondingly. In the experiment, the corresponding sensitivities of the liquid level with four different refractive indices (RI) in the deep range from 0 mm to 40 mm are obtained and the sensitivity enhances with the RI of the liquid being measured. The maximum sensitivity of interferometer is 106.3 pm/mm with the RI of 1.391. For the temperature measurement, a sensitivity of 10.3 pm/°C and 13.8 pm/°C are achieved with the temperature ranging from 0 °C to 90 °C corresponding to the two lasing wavelengths selective by the MMI filter and FBG, respectively. In addition, the average RI sensitivity of 155.77 pm/mm/RIU is also obtained in the RI range of 1.333-1.391.

Assessment of statistic analysis in non-radioisotopic local lymph node assay (non-RI-LLNA) with alpha-hexylcinnamic aldehyde as an example.

PubMed

Takeyoshi, Masahiro; Sawaki, Masakuni; Yamasaki, Kanji; Kimber, Ian

2003-09-30

The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is used for the identification of chemicals that have the potential to cause skin sensitization. However, it requires specific facility and handling procedures to accommodate a radioisotopic (RI) endpoint. We have developed non-radioisotopic (non-RI) endpoint of LLNA based on BrdU incorporation to avoid a use of RI. Although this alternative method appears viable in principle, it is somewhat less sensitive than the standard assay. In this study, we report investigations to determine the use of statistical analysis to improve the sensitivity of a non-RI LLNA procedure with alpha-hexylcinnamic aldehyde (HCA) in two separate experiments. Consequently, the alternative non-RI method required HCA concentrations of greater than 25% to elicit a positive response based on the criterion for classification as a skin sensitizer in the standard LLNA. Nevertheless, dose responses to HCA in the alternative method were consistent in both experiments and we examined whether the use of an endpoint based upon the statistical significance of induced changes in LNC turnover, rather than an SI of 3 or greater, might provide for additional sensitivity. The results reported here demonstrate that with HCA at least significant responses were, in each of two experiments, recorded following exposure of mice to 25% of HCA. These data suggest that this approach may be more satisfactory-at least when BrdU incorporation is measured. However, this modification of the LLNA is rather less sensitive than the standard method if employing statistical endpoint. Taken together the data reported here suggest that a modified LLNA in which BrdU is used in place of radioisotope incorporation shows some promise, but that in its present form, even with the use of a statistical endpoint, lacks some of the sensitivity of the standard method. The challenge is to develop strategies for further refinement of this approach.

Development of Miniaturized Optimized Smart Sensors (MOSS) for space plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, D. T.

1993-01-01

The cost of space plasma sensors is high for several reasons: (1) Most are one-of-a-kind and state-of-the-art, (2) the cost of launch to orbit is high, (3) ruggedness and reliability requirements lead to costly development and test programs, and (4) overhead is added by overly elaborate or generalized spacecraft interface requirements. Possible approaches to reducing costs include development of small 'sensors' (defined as including all necessary optics, detectors, and related electronics) that will ultimately lead to cheaper missions by reducing (2), improving (3), and, through work with spacecraft designers, reducing (4). Despite this logical approach, there is no guarantee that smaller sensors are necessarily either better or cheaper. We have previously advocated applying analytical 'quality factors' to plasma sensors (and spacecraft) and have begun to develop miniaturized particle optical systems by applying quantitative optimization criteria. We are currently designing a Miniaturized Optimized Smart Sensor (MOSS) in which miniaturized electronics (e.g., employing new power supply topology and extensive us of gate arrays and hybrid circuits) are fully integrated with newly developed particle optics to give significant savings in volume and mass. The goal of the SwRI MOSS program is development of a fully self-contained and functional plasma sensor weighing 1 lb and requiring 1 W. MOSS will require only a typical spacecraft DC power source (e.g., 30 V) and command/data interfaces in order to be fully functional, and will provide measurement capabilities comparable in most ways to current sensors.

Patients’ and rheumatologists’ preferences for the attributes of biological agents used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases in Spain

PubMed Central

Nolla, Joan M; Rodríguez, Manuel; Martin-Mola, Emilio; Raya, Enrique; Ibero, Isabel; Nocea, Gonzalo; Aragon, Belén; Lizán, Luis; Prades, Miriam

2016-01-01

Purpose To define importance values assigned to attributes of biological agents (BAs) by Spanish patients with rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis) and rheumatologists. Patients and methods This was an observational, cross-sectional design based upon a rank-based full-profile conjoint analysis. A literature review and four focus groups were undertaken to identify attributes and levels. An orthogonal matrix, combining the selected levels of attributes, was used to define scenarios. Participants ranked eight scenarios from 1 (most preferred) to 8 (least preferred). The relative importance (RI) of attributes was calculated. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the characteristics that influenced the values of RI. A total of 488 patients (male 50.9%, mean age 50.6 [standard deviation {SD} 12.06] years, rheumatoid arthritis 33.8%, ankylosing spondylitis 32.4%, psoriatic arthritis 33.8%; mean time since diagnosis 12.6 [SD 8.2] years) and 136 rheumatologists (male 50.4%, mean age 46.4 [SD 9.1] years, mean time of practice 16.7 [SD 8.8] years) participated. Results The ideal BAs for patients and physicians, respectively, should allow pain relief and improvement of functional capacity (RI 39% and 44.7%), with low risk of adverse events (RI 24.9% and 30.5%), a long time prior to perceiving the need for a new dose (RI 16.4% and 12.4%), and self-administration at home (RI 19.7% and 12.5%), as identified through their preferences. Conclusion Although efficacy and safety are paramount for patients and rheumatologists to make a choice regarding BAs, the need for a low frequency of administration and the administration method also play a role as preference attributes for BAs. PMID:27382258

A path to in-space welding and to other in-space metal processing technologies using Space Shuttle small payloads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tamir, David

1992-01-01

As we venture into space, it becomes necessary to assemble, expand, and repair space-based structures for our housing, research, and manufacturing. The zero gravity-vacuum of space challenges us to employ construction options which are commonplace on Earth. Rockwell International (RI) has begun to undertake the challenge of space-based construction via numerous options, of which one is welding. As of today, RI divisions have developed appropriate resources and technologies to bring space-based welding within our grasp. Further work, specifically in the area of developing space experiments to test RI technology, is required. RI Space Welding Project's achievements to date, from research and development (R&E) efforts in the areas of microgravity, vacuum, intra- / extra- vehicular activity and spinoff technologies, are reviewed. Special emphasis is given to results for G-169's (Get Away Special) microgravity flights aboard a NASA KC-135. Based on these achievements, a path to actual development of a space welding system is proposed with options to explore spinoff in-space metal processing technologies. This path is constructed by following a series of milestone experiments, of which several are to utilize NASA's Shuttle Small Payload Programs. Conceptual designs of the proposed shuttle payload experiments are discussed with application of lessons learned from G-169's design, development, integration, testing, safety approval process, and KC-135 flights.

A Study of Gaps in Network Knowledge Synthesis

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-18

several authorizations is present. PPSI has an additional nm computational overhead beyond the complexity of PSI itself, where n is the maximum number of...devices are black boxes M L 5 Sensors require collection across multiple layers M L D at a C ol le ct io n 1 Collection at line speed is very hard H H 2...Requires manual effort to specify what data to collect M L 10 Cannot work on encoded/compressed data M L D at a F il te ri n g 1 Trade-off between

75 FR 15343 - Regulated Navigation Area: Narragansett Bay, RI and Mount Hope Bay, RI and MA, Including the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-29

... the transit, and a requirement to maintain a minimum underkeel clearance to prevent groundings. Based...' at Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), and a minimum channel width of 600'. While most shoaling was removed... number of small entities. The term ``small entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit...

78 FR 55766 - Submission for Review: Civil Service Retirement System Survivor Annuitant Express Pay Application...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-11

... Annuitant Express Pay Application for Death Benefits, RI 25-51 AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management... Service Retirement System Survivor Annuitant Express Pay Application for Death Benefits, RI 25-51. As... widower, based on the report of death, when our records show the decedent elected to provide benefits for...

Modeling Explosive Cladding of Metallic Liners to Gun Tubes

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

a Jones Wilkins Lee ( JWL ) equation of state was parameterized using nonlinear optimization (ref. 8) and scaling the empirical v2£ for other volume...expansions based on TNT. The JWL equation of state is ( ,. A i -RiV* , GJE RiV* V IS./K v f +7~* (2) where P is pressure, V is

Detecting reactive islands using Lagrangian descriptors and the relevance to transition path sampling.

PubMed

Patra, Sarbani; Keshavamurthy, Srihari

2018-02-14

It has been known for sometime now that isomerization reactions, classically, are mediated by phase space structures called reactive islands (RI). RIs provide one possible route to correct for the nonstatistical effects in the reaction dynamics. In this work, we map out the reactive islands for the two dimensional Müller-Brown model potential and show that the reactive islands are intimately linked to the issue of rare event sampling. In particular, we establish the sensitivity of the so called committor probabilities, useful quantities in the transition path sampling technique, to the hierarchical RI structures. Mapping out the RI structure for high dimensional systems, however, is a challenging task. Here, we show that the technique of Lagrangian descriptors is able to effectively identify the RI hierarchy in the model system. Based on our results, we suggest that the Lagrangian descriptors can be useful for detecting RIs in high dimensional systems.

A biosensor based on photonic crystal surface waves with an independent registration of the liquid refractive index.

PubMed

Konopsky, Valery N; Alieva, Elena V

2010-01-15

A high-precision optical biosensor technique capable of independently determining the refractive index (RI) of liquids is presented. Photonic crystal surface waves were used to detect surface binding events, while an independent registration of the critical angle was used for accurate determination of the liquid RI. This technique was tested using binding of biotin molecules to a streptavidin monolayer at low and high biotin concentrations. The attained baseline noise is 5x10(-13) m/Hz(1/2) for adlayer thickness changes and 9x10(-8) RIU/Hz(1/2) for RI changes. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transcriptional "silencer" element in rat repetitive sequences associated with the rat insulin 1 gene locus.

PubMed Central

Laimins, L; Holmgren-König, M; Khoury, G

1986-01-01

The enhancer elements from either simian virus 40 or murine sarcoma virus activate the expression of a transfected rat insulin 1 (rI1) gene when placed within 2.0 kilobases or less of the rI1 gene cap site. Inclusion of 4.0 kilobases of upstream rI1 sequence, however, results in a substantial reduction in the enhancer-dependent insulin gene expression. These observations suggested that a negative transcriptional regulatory element was present between 2.0 and 4.0 kilobases of the rI1 sequence. To test this notion, we employed a heterologous enhancer-dependent transcription assay in which the simian virus 40 72-base-pair repeat is linked to a human beta-globin gene. Addition of the upstream rI1 element to this system decreased the level of enhancer-dependent beta-globin transcription by a factor of 5 to 15. This rI1 "silencer" element functions in a manner relatively independent of position and orientation and requires a cis-dependent relationship to the transcription unit on which it acts. Thus, the silencer sequence seems to have a number of the characteristics of enhancer elements, and we suggest that it may function by the converse of the enhancer mechanism. The rI1 silencer sequence was identified as a member of a long interspersed rat repetitive family. Thus, a potential role for certain repetitive sequences interspersed throughout the eukaryotic genome may be to regulate gene expression by retaining transcriptional activity within defined domains. Images PMID:3010279

Screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes in the United Kingdom.

PubMed

Stephenson, H M; Fonfara, S; López-Alvarez, J; Cripps, P; Dukes-McEwan, J

2012-01-01

Great Danes (GD) are predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but little is known about progression, clinical manifestations, or inheritance in dogs in the UK. For echocardiographic screening, breed-specific reference intervals (RI) are required. To document the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and inheritance of DCM in UK GD. To establish RI for Doppler echocardiography (ECHO) in GD. One hundred and seven client-owned GDs. Echocardiographic screening study. Dogs were scored on ECHO and ECG variables and classified as normal (NORM), equivocal (EQUIV), or affected (AFX). Forty NORM dogs were used to determine RI for ECHO. Pedigrees from all dogs were examined for mode of inheritance. The prevalence of DCM in this population, based on score, was 35.6%. Significant differences in M mode left ventricular dimensions (MMLVD) were identified between male and female dogs (P < .011). RI for MMLVD and transformed MMLVD (allometric scaling) were lower than previously suggested. When dogs were reclassified using amended RI for MMLVD, prevalence increased to 47%. End-systolic volume index more reliably identified AFX dogs than other systolic function indices. Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) were commonly identified, with the highest prevalence in AFX dogs (54%). Pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The prevalence of DCM in UK GD is higher than previously reported and autosomal dominant inheritance is likely. Sex or body weight-dependent RI should be used for ECHO in GD and current RI might underestimate ESVI in GD. VA might play an important role in GD with DCM. Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

EXAMINING SOCIOECONOMIC HEALTH DISPARITIES USING A RANK-DEPENDENT RÉNYI INDEX.

PubMed

Talih, Makram

2015-06-01

The Rényi index (RI) is a one-parameter class of indices that summarize health disparities among population groups by measuring divergence between the distributions of disease burden and population shares of these groups. The rank-dependent RI introduced in this paper is a two-parameter class of health disparity indices that also accounts for the association between socioeconomic rank and health; it may be derived from a rank-dependent social welfare function. Two competing classes are discussed and the rank-dependent RI is shown to be more robust to changes in the distribution of either socioeconomic rank or health. The standard error and sampling distribution of the rank-dependent RI are evaluated using linearization and re-sampling techniques, and the methodology is illustrated using health survey data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and registry data from the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. Such data underlie many population-based objectives within the U.S. Healthy People 2020 initiative. The rank-dependent RI provides a unified mathematical framework for eliciting various societal positions with regards to the policies that are tied to such wide-reaching public health initiatives. For example, if population groups with lower socioeconomic position were ascertained to be more likely to utilize costly public programs, then the parameters of the RI could be selected to reflect prioritizing those population groups for intervention or treatment.

EXAMINING SOCIOECONOMIC HEALTH DISPARITIES USING A RANK-DEPENDENT RÉNYI INDEX

PubMed Central

Talih, Makram

2015-01-01

The Rényi index (RI) is a one-parameter class of indices that summarize health disparities among population groups by measuring divergence between the distributions of disease burden and population shares of these groups. The rank-dependent RI introduced in this paper is a two-parameter class of health disparity indices that also accounts for the association between socioeconomic rank and health; it may be derived from a rank-dependent social welfare function. Two competing classes are discussed and the rank-dependent RI is shown to be more robust to changes in the distribution of either socioeconomic rank or health. The standard error and sampling distribution of the rank-dependent RI are evaluated using linearization and re-sampling techniques, and the methodology is illustrated using health survey data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and registry data from the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. Such data underlie many population-based objectives within the U.S. Healthy People 2020 initiative. The rank-dependent RI provides a unified mathematical framework for eliciting various societal positions with regards to the policies that are tied to such wide-reaching public health initiatives. For example, if population groups with lower socioeconomic position were ascertained to be more likely to utilize costly public programs, then the parameters of the RI could be selected to reflect prioritizing those population groups for intervention or treatment. PMID:26566419

Defense Environmental Restoration Program Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 1986

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-03-16

LF 01 LANDFILL $3 AND HAROFILL RUFS C SITE LF 02 LANDFILL I RI C SITE LF 03 LANDFILL 2 RI C SITE LU 01 BLDG 2017 -BEA ABANDONED UST FS C SITE tU 02 BLDG...Army Amiunition Plant, Texarkana Hill Air force Base, Ogden Ogden Defense Depot, Ogden Toele Army Depot, Tooele VIFIOIA Defense General Supply Center

Improving Forecast Skill by Assimilation of AIRS Cloud Cleared Radiances RiCC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Susskind, Joel; Rosenberg, Robert I.; Iredell, Lena

2015-01-01

ECMWF, NCEP, and GMAO routinely assimilate radiosonde and other in-situ observations along with satellite IR and MW Sounder radiance observations. NCEP and GMAO use the NCEP GSI Data Assimilation System (DAS).GSI DAS assimilates AIRS, CrIS, IASI channel radiances Ri on a channel-by-channel, case-by-case basis, only for those channels i thought to be unaffected by cloud cover. This test excludes Ri for most tropospheric sounding channels under partial cloud cover conditions. AIRS Version-6 RiCC is a derived quantity representative of what AIRS channel i would have seen if the AIRS FOR were cloud free. All values of RiCC have case-by-case error estimates RiCC associated with them. Our experiments present to the GSI QCd values of AIRS RiCC in place of AIRS Ri observations. GSI DAS assimilates only those values of RiCC it thinks are cloud free. This potentially allows for better coverage of assimilated QCd values of RiCC as compared to Ri.

77 FR 71200 - Submission for Review: 3206-0140, Representative Payee Application (RI 20-7) and Information...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-29

... (RI 20-7) and Information Necessary for a Competency Determination (RI 30-3) AGENCY: U.S. Office of... Application (RI 20-7) and Information Necessary for a Competency Determination (RI 30-3). As required by the... for minor children. RI 30-3, Information Necessary for a Competency Determination, collects medical...

Development of Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border, Muara Tami District, Jayapura City through agropolitan concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subagiyo, A.; Dwiproborini, F.; Sari, N.

2017-06-01

The border of RI-PNG Muara Tami district is located on the eastern part of Jayapura city, which has agricultural potential. The past paradigm put the border as the backyard caused underdevelopment in border RI-PNG Muara Tami district, so that needed acceleration development through agropolitan concept. The purpose of the research is to define the aspect of physical, social, economic and border security to support agropolitan concept in border RI-PNG Muara Tami district. The analytical research method are border interactionan analysis, border security analysis, land capability analysis, land availability analysis, schallogram analysis, institutional analysis, leading comodity analysis (LQ and Growth Share), agribusiness linkage system analysis, accessibility analysis and A’WOT analysis. The result shown that mobilization from PNG to Muara Tami district could increase the economic opportunities with agricultural based. Border security of RI-PNG Muara Tami district is vulnerable, yet still condusive to mobilization. There is 12.977,94 Ha potensial land for agricultural (20,93%). There are six leading commodities to developed are rice, watermelon, banana, coconut, areca nut and cocoa. The border of RI-PNG Muara Tami district is ready enough to support agropolitan concept, but still have problems in social and economy aspect.

Measurement of the refractive index of microquantity liquid filled in a capillary and a capillary wall without destruction.

PubMed

Li, Qiang; Pu, Xiaoyun

2013-07-20

A method for measuring the refractive index (RI) of a small volume of liquid and a capillary wall is presented in this paper. A transparent capillary filled with liquid is used as a cylindrical positive lens; subsequently, the focal length of the lens is derived through the base of paraxial approximation, which is recorded as a function of the RIs of the liquid and capillary wall. With the RI of a capillary wall known, the RI of the liquid can be obtained by measuring the focal length of the lens, which is characterized by a microquantity liquid, spatial resolution, and easy operation. The RI of the capillary wall can be calculated without ruining the capillary if the capillary is filled with a standard liquid (RI is known), the deviation of which is less than 0.003 RIU. The factors affecting accuracy of the measurement, for instance, the depth of a field (DOF) in a reading microscope system and the outer and inner diameters of a capillary are analyzed, while illustrating that the effective DOF plays an essential role in accurate measurement.

Similar Survival for Patients Undergoing Reduced-Intensity Total Body Irradiation (TBI) Versus Myeloablative TBI as Conditioning for Allogeneic Transplant in Acute Leukemia

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

Mikell, John L., E-mail: jmikell@emory.edu; Waller, Edmund K.; Switchenko, Jeffrey M.

Purpose: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the mainstay of treatment for adults with acute leukemia. Total body irradiation (TBI) remains an important part of the conditioning regimen for HCST. For those patients unable to tolerate myeloablative TBI (mTBI), reduced intensity TBI (riTBI) is commonly used. In this study we compared outcomes of patients undergoing mTBI with those of patients undergoing riTBI in our institution. Methods and Materials: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with acute leukemia who underwent TBI-based conditioning, using a prospectively acquired database of HSCT patients treated at our institution. Patient data including details ofmore » the transplantation procedure, disease status, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), response rates, toxicity, survival time, and time to progression were extracted. Patient outcomes for various radiation therapy regimens were examined. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: Between June 1985 and July 2012, 226 patients with acute leukemia underwent TBI as conditioning for HSCT. Of those patients, 180 had full radiation therapy data available; 83 had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 94 had acute myelogenous leukemia; 45 patients received riTBI, and 135 received mTBI. Median overall survival (OS) was 13.7 months. Median relapse-free survival (RFS) for all patients was 10.2 months. Controlling for age, sex, KPS, disease status, and diagnosis, there were no significant differences in OS or RFS between patients who underwent riTBI and those who underwent mTBI (P=.402, P=.499, respectively). Median length of hospital stay was shorter for patients who received riTBI than for those who received mTBI (16 days vs 23 days, respectively; P<.001), and intensive care unit admissions were less frequent following riTBI than mTBI (2.22% vs 12.69%, respectively, P=.043). Nonrelapse survival rates were also similar (P=.186). Conclusions: No differences in OS or RFS were seen between all patients undergoing riTBI and those undergoing mTBI, despite older age and potential increased comorbidity of riTBI patients. riTBI regimens were associated with shorter length of hospital stay, fewer intensive care unit admissions, and similar rates of nonrelapse survival, which may reflect reduced toxicity. Prospective trials comparing riTBI and mTBI are warranted.« less

Accelerated dissociation of IgE:FcεRI complexes by disruptive inhibitors actively desensitizes allergic effector cells

PubMed Central

Eggel, Alexander; Baravalle, Günther; Hobi, Gabriel; Kim, Beomkyu; Buschor, Patrick; Forrer, Patrik; Shin, Jeoung-Sook; Vogel, Monique; Stadler, Beda M.; Dahinden, Clemens A.; Jardetzky, Theodore S.

2014-01-01

Background The remarkably stable interaction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) with its high-affinity receptor FcεRI on basophils and mast cells is critical for the induction of allergic hypersensitivity reactions. Due to the exceptionally slow dissociation rate of IgE:FcεRI complexes such allergic effector cells permanently display allergen-specific IgE on their surface and immediately respond to allergen challenge by releasing inflammatory mediators. We have recently described a novel macromolecular inhibitor that actively promotes the dissociation of IgE from FcεRI through a molecular mechanism termed facilitated dissociation. Objective Here, we assessed the therapeutic potential of this non-immunoglobulin based IgE inhibitor DARPin E2_79 as well as a novel engineered biparatopic DARPin bi53_79 and directly compared them to the established anti-IgE antibody omalizumab. Methods: IgE:FcεRI complex dissociation was analyzed in vitro using recombinant proteins in ELISA and surface plasmon resonance, ex vivo using human primary basophils with flow cytometry and in vivo using human FcεRI transgenic mice in a functional passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test. Results We show that E2_79 mediated removal of IgE from primary human basophils fully abrogates IgE-dependent cell activation and release of pro-inflammatory mediators ex vivo. Furthermore, we report that omalizumab also accelerates the dissociation of IgE from FcεRI albeit much less efficiently than E2_79. Using the biparatopic IgE targeting approach we further improved the disruptive potency of E2_79 by ~100 fold and show that disruptive IgE inhibitors efficiently prevent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice expressing the human FcεRI alpha chain. Conclusion Our findings highlight the potential of such novel IgE inhibitors as important diagnostic and therapeutic tools to managing allergic diseases. PMID:24642143

Relative role of different radii in the dynamics of 8B+58Ni reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Amandeep; Sandhu, Kirandeep; Sharma, Manoj K.

2018-05-01

In the present work, we intend to analyze the significance of three different radius terms in the framework of dynamical cluster-decay model (DCM) based calculations. In the majority of DCM based calculations the impact of mass- dependent radius R(A) is extensively analyzed. The other two factors on which the radius term may depend are, the neutron- proton asymmetry and the charge of the decaying fragments. Hence, the asymmetry dependent radius term R(I) and charge dependent radius term R(Z) are incorporated in DCM based calculations to investigate their effect on the reaction dynamics involved. Here, we present an extension of an earlier work based on the decay of 66As* compound nucleus by including R(I) and R(Z) radii in addition to the R(A) term. The effect of replacement of R(A) with R(I) and R(Z) is analyzed via fragmentation structure, tunneling probabilities (P) and other barrier characteristics like barrier height (VB), barrier position (RB), barrier turning point Ra etc. The role of temperature, deformations and angular momentum is duly incorporated in the present calculations.

Comparative Analysis of Red-Edge Hyperspectral Indices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, R.; Vijayan, D.; Prasad, T.

The spectrally continuous observations of 3 nm bandwidth in 680 to 800 nm range over the growth cycle of wheat were subjected to first order differentiation to identify the point of inflection in red to near-IR transition zone. During 40 to 84 days after sowing (DAS), the point of inflection was observed in 723 to 735 nm region with peak response at 729 nm for 64 DAS . For differentiated curve pertaining to 25 DAS (initial vegetative) and 90 DAS (initial senescence) phenological stages, the point of inflection was in 690-693 and 744-747 nm spectral region, respectively. The ratios corresponding to 1dB (RI1dB = R 735 /R720), 2dB (RI 2dB = R738/R 720), 3dB (RI3dB = R741 /R 717) down signal levels and half signal level (RIhalf = R747/R 708 ) were computed. For nomenclature point of view, R41 refers to reflectance for 3 nm7 bandwidth centered at 741 nm. Correlations for these developed RIs were studied with reference to indices given by Vogelmann i.e., VOG a = R 740 /R720 , VOG b = [(R 734-R747)/(R715+R720)] and red edge spectral parameter (RESP) = R750 /R 710. VOG a and RESP conceptually resemble with developed RI 2dB and RIhalf , respectively. All RIs were found correlated with VOGa , VOG b and RESP with r2 in the range of 0.96 to 0.99; r2 was 0.998 for RI2dB and VOG a pair and 0.996 for RI half and RESP pair; the slope factor of regression relationship improved by about 50% from RI dB to2 RI3dB and by about 125% from RI3dB to RIhalf with r2 in 0.97-0.99 range. Thus, theoretical basis for VOG a and RESP in terms of dB based indices has been provided. The wavelengths used in VOGb are noticed in dB based indices ; to provide stability to small magnitude R720, the sum of R720 and R715 has been used in VOGb. Based on regression analysis of these indices with LAI in its growth and decline phases separately, the slope value for VOG b, RI 2dB, VOG a, RIhalf, RESP and area under 680 to 760 nm for first order derivative curve (area) were in 0.08-0.11, 0.24 - 0.34, 0.27-0.38, 0.86-1.18, 0.89-1.27 and 7.6-13.87 range, respectively. Here, the first value in the range refers to slope value for the growth phase of LAI while the second value in the range refers to that for the decline phase of LAI. To judge the sensitivity for the rate of change in red - edge, the change in area for ratio indices and normalized indices in 680 to 760 nm (red-near IR transition region) with 673 nm were analysed. The rate of change for area under the red edge as a function of DAS was more for ratio indices as compared to that for normalized indices.

Development Model for Research Infrastructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wächter, Joachim; Hammitzsch, Martin; Kerschke, Dorit; Lauterjung, Jörn

2015-04-01

Research infrastructures (RIs) are platforms integrating facilities, resources and services used by the research communities to conduct research and foster innovation. RIs include scientific equipment, e.g., sensor platforms, satellites or other instruments, but also scientific data, sample repositories or archives. E-infrastructures on the other hand provide the technological substratum and middleware to interlink distributed RI components with computing systems and communication networks. The resulting platforms provide the foundation for the design and implementation of RIs and play an increasing role in the advancement and exploitation of knowledge and technology. RIs are regarded as essential to achieve and maintain excellence in research and innovation crucial for the European Research Area (ERA). The implementation of RIs has to be considered as a long-term, complex development process often over a period of 10 or more years. The ongoing construction of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) provides a good example for the general complexity of infrastructure development processes especially in system-of-systems environments. A set of directives issued by the European Commission provided a framework of guidelines for the implementation processes addressing the relevant content and the encoding of data as well as the standards for service interfaces and the integration of these services into networks. Additionally, a time schedule for the overall construction process has been specified. As a result this process advances with a strong participation of member states and responsible organisations. Today, SDIs provide the operational basis for new digital business processes in both national and local authorities. Currently, the development of integrated RIs in Earth and Environmental Sciences is characterised by the following properties: • A high number of parallel activities on European and national levels with numerous institutes and organisations participating. The maturity of individual scientific domains differs considerably. • Technologically and organisationally many different RI components have to be integrated. Individual systems are often complex and have a long-term history. Existing approaches are on different maturity levels, e.g. in relation to the standardisation of interfaces. • The concrete implementation process consists of independent and often parallel development activities. In many cases no detailed architectural blue-print for the envisioned system exists. • Most of the funding currently available for RI implementation is provided on a project basis. To increase the synergies in infrastructure development the authors propose a specific RI Maturity Model (RIMM) that is specifically qualified for open system-of-system environments. RIMM is based on the concepts of Capability Maturity Models for organisational development, concretely the Levels of Conceptual Interoperability Model (LCIM) specifying the technical, syntactical, semantic, pragmatic, dynamic, and conceptual layers of interoperation [1]. The model is complemented by the identification and integration of growth factors (according to the Nolan Stages Theory [2]). These factors include supply and demand factors. Supply factors comprise available resources, e.g., data, services and IT-management capabilities including organisations and IT-personal. Demand factors are the overall application portfolio for RIs but also the skills and requirements of scientists and communities using the infrastructure. RIMM thus enables a balanced development process of RI and RI components by evaluating the status of the supply and demand factors in relation to specific levels of interoperability. [1] Tolk, A., Diallo, A., Turnitsa, C. (2007): Applying the Levels of Conceptual Interoperability Model in Support of Integratability, Interoperability, and Composability for System-of-Systems Engineering. Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, Volume 5 - Number 5. [2] Mutsaers, E.-J., van der Zee, H., and Giertz, H. (1998): The evolution of information technology. Information Management & Computer Security, Volume 6 - Issue 3.

Structure of RiVax: a recombinant ricin vaccine

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

Legler, Patricia M.; Brey, Robert N.; Smallshaw, Joan E.

The X-ray crystal structure (at 2.1 Å resolution) of an immunogen under development as part of a ricin vaccine for humans is presented and structure-based analysis of the results was conducted with respect to related proteins and the known determinants for inducing or suppressing the protective immune response. RiVax is a recombinant protein that is currently under clinical development as part of a human vaccine to protect against ricin poisoning. RiVax includes ricin A-chain (RTA) residues 1–267 with two intentional amino-acid substitutions, V76M and Y80A, aimed at reducing toxicity. Here, the crystal structure of RiVax was solved to 2.1 Åmore » resolution and it was shown that it is superposable with that of the ricin toxin A-chain from Ricinus communis with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.6 Å over 258 C{sup α} atoms. The RiVax structure is also compared with the recently determined structure of another potential ricin-vaccine immunogen, RTA 1–33/44–198 R48C/T77C. Finally, the locations and solvent-exposure of two toxin-neutralizing B-cell epitopes were examined and it was found that these epitopes are within or near regions predicted to be involved in catalysis. The results demonstrate the composition of the RiVax clinical material and will guide ongoing protein-engineering strategies to develop improved immunogens.« less

Comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the RsrI and EcoRI restriction endonucleases.

PubMed

Stephenson, F H; Ballard, B T; Boyer, H W; Rosenberg, J M; Greene, P J

1989-12-21

The RsrI endonuclease, a type-II restriction endonuclease (ENase) found in Rhodobacter sphaeroides, is an isoschizomer of the EcoRI ENase. A clone containing an 11-kb BamHI fragment was isolated from an R. sphaeroides genomic DNA library by hybridization with synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes based on the N-terminal amino acid (aa) sequence of RsrI. Extracts of E. coli containing a subclone of the 11-kb fragment display RsrI activity. Nucleotide sequence analysis reveals an 831-bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 277 aa. A 50% identity exists within a 266-aa overlap between the deduced aa sequences of RsrI and EcoRI. Regions of 75-100% aa sequence identity correspond to key structural and functional regions of EcoRI. The type-II ENases have many common properties, and a common origin might have been expected. Nevertheless, this is the first demonstration of aa sequence similarity between ENases produced by different organisms.

Electron-beam-driven RI separator for SCRIT (ERIS) at RIKEN RI beam factory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohnishi, T.; Ichikawa, S.; Koizumi, K.; Kurita, K.; Miyashita, Y.; Ogawara, R.; Tamaki, S.; Togasaki, M.; Wakasugi, M.

2013-12-01

We constructed a radioactive isotope (RI) separator named ERIS (electron-beam-driven RI separator for SCRIT) for the SCRIT (Self-Confinement RI Target) electron scattering facility at RIKEN RI Beam Factory (RIBF). In ERIS, production rate of fission products in the photofission of uranium is estimated to be 2.2 ×1011 fissions/s with 30 g of uranium and a 1-kW electron beam. During the commissioning of ERIS, the mass resolution and overall efficiency, including ionization, extraction, and transmission, were found to be 1660 and 21%, respectively, using natural xenon gas. The preparation of uranium carbide (UC2) RI production targets is described from which a 132Sn beam was successfully separated in our first attempt at RI production.

Type I interleukin-1 receptor is required for pulmonary responses to subacute ozone exposure in mice.

PubMed

Johnston, Richard A; Mizgerd, Joseph P; Flynt, Lesley; Quinton, Lee J; Williams, Erin S; Shore, Stephanie A

2007-10-01

Interleukin (IL)-1, a proinflammatory cytokine, is expressed in the lung after ozone (O(3)) exposure. IL-1 mediates its effects through the type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI), the only signaling receptor for both IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of IL-1RI in pulmonary responses to O(3.) To that end, wild-type, C57BL/6 (IL-1RI(+/+)) mice and IL-1RI-deficient (IL-1RI(-/-)) mice were exposed to O(3) either subacutely (0.3 ppm for 72 h) or acutely (2 ppm for 3 h). Subacute O(3) exposure increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, interferon-gamma-inducible protein (IP)-10, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1), and neutrophils in IL-1RI(+/+) and IL-1RI(-/-) mice. With the exception of IP-10, all outcome indicators were reduced in IL-1RI(-/-) mice. Furthermore, subacute O(3) exposure increased IL-6 mRNA expression in IL-1RI(+/+), but not IL-1RI(-/-) mice. Acute (2 ppm) O(3) exposure increased BALF protein, IL-6, eotaxin, KC, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, IP-10, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, sTNFR1, neutrophils, and epithelial cells in IL-1RI(+/+) and IL-1RI(-/-) mice. For IL-6, eotaxin, MIP-2, and sTNFR1, there were small but significant reductions of these outcome indicators in IL-1RI(-/-) versus IL-1RI(+/+) mice at 6 hours after exposure, but not at other time points, whereas other outcome indicators were unaffected by IL-1RI deficiency. These results suggest that IL-1RI is required for O(3)-induced pulmonary inflammation during subacute O(3) exposure, but plays a more minor role during acute O(3) exposure. In addition, these results suggest that the induction of IL-6 via IL-1RI may be important in mediating the effects of O(3) during subacute exposure.

Regulation of the steady state level of Fc gamma RI mRNA by IFN-gamma and dexamethasone in human monocytes, neutrophils, and U-937 cells.

PubMed

Pan, L Y; Mendel, D B; Zurlo, J; Guyre, P M

1990-07-01

The high affinity IgG FcR Fc gamma RI, CD64, plays important roles in the immune response. Fc gamma RI is predominantly expressed on monocytes and macrophages, and barely detectable on neutrophils. rIFN-gamma markedly increases the expression of Fc gamma RI on neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and myeloid cell lines such as U-937, HL-60, and THP-1. Glucocorticoids inhibit the augmentation of Fc gamma RI expression by rIFN-gamma on neutrophils and myeloid cell lines, but enhance the augmentation of Fc gamma RI expression by rIFN-gamma on monocytes. In this study, we examined the effect of rIFN-gamma and dexamethasone (Dex) on the steady state level of Fc gamma RI mRNA in U-937 cells, neutrophils, and monocytes by hybridizing total RNA with the Fc gamma RI cDNA probe, p135. We found that the amount of Fc gamma RI mRNA increased within 1 h of treatment with rIFN-gamma in all three cell types. This initial induction of Fc gamma RI mRNA by rIFN-gamma was completely blocked by an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, actinomycin D, suggesting that the rIFN-gamma-mediated induction of Fc gamma RI mRNA is dependent on gene transcription. Dex, used in combination with rIFN-gamma, partially blocked the induction of Fc gamma RI mRNA by rIFN-gamma in U-937 cells and neutrophils, but caused a synergistic increase in Fc gamma RI mRNA levels in monocytes. The inhibitory effect of Dex on the steady state level of Fc gamma RI mRNA in U-937 cells was blocked by an inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide, suggesting that Dex-induced proteins were involved in the regulation of Fc gamma RI expression. This study indicates that the regulation of Fc gamma RI expression on U-937 cells, neutrophils, and monocytes by rIFN-gamma and Dex occurs, at least in part, at the mRNA level. rIFN-gamma increases the steady state level of Fc gamma RI mRNA through a common pathway among U-937 cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, whereas the effect of Dex on rIFN-gamma-induced Fc gamma RI mRNA is cell-type specific.

Corneal refractive index-hydration relationship by objective refractometry.

PubMed

Patel, Sudi; Alió, Jorge L

2012-11-01

To compare an objective (VCH-1) with a manual subjective Abbé refractometer (MSAR) and evaluate the refractive index (RI)-hydration (H) relationship for the corneal stroma. Epithelial and endothelial layers were removed from a fresh postmortem ovine corneal buttons. RI was measured at both surfaces using (i) MSAR then (ii) VCH-1. The sample was weighed, slowly dehydrated under controlled conditions (2 h), and RI measures were repeated. Sample was oven dried (90°C) for 3 d to obtain dry weight and hydration at each episode of RI measurement. Average difference between individual pairs of measurements obtained using the two refractometers (ΔRI) was 0.00071 (standard deviation ± 0.0029, 95% confidence interval ± 0.0058). Root mean square difference between measurements obtained by the refractometers was 0.0024. There was no relationship between ΔRI and the mean of each measurement pair (r = 0.201, n = 40, p = 0.214). Linear regression revealed a significant relationship between RI and reciprocal of H at both surfaces as follows: anterior (i) RI = 1.355 + 0.111/H (r = -0.852, n = 20, p = <0.001), (ii) RI = 1.357 + 0.105/H (r = -0.849, n = 20, p = <0.001) and posterior (i) RI = 1.353 + 0.085/H (r = -0.882, n = 20, p = <0.001), (ii) RI = 1.350 + 0.088/H (r = -0.813, n = 20, p = <0.001). VCH-1 measurements are in good agreement with MSAR. RI at the anterior stroma was consistently higher suggesting hydration is lower by 1.10 units (6%) compared with the posterior stroma. Dehydration increased RI at both surfaces by similar rates. Current hypothetical models are useful for predicting RI from H for the posterior, but not the anterior, stroma.

IgA Fc receptors.

PubMed

Monteiro, Renato C; Van De Winkel, Jan G J

2003-01-01

The IgA receptor family comprises a number of surface receptors including the polymeric Ig receptor involved in epithelial transport of IgA/IgM, the myeloid specific IgA Fc receptor (FcalphaRI or CD89), the Fcalpha/muR, and at least two alternative IgA receptors. These are the asialoglycoprotein receptor and the transferrin receptor, which have been implicated in IgA catabolism, and tissue IgA deposition. In this review we focus on the biology of FcalphaRI (CD89). FcalphaRI is expressed on neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, and Kupffer cells. This receptor represents a heterogeneously glycosylated transmembrane protein that binds both IgA subclasses with low affinity. A single gene encoding FcalphaRI has been isolated, which is located within the leukocyte receptor cluster on chromosome 19. The FcalphaRI alpha chain lacks canonical signal transduction domains but can associate with the FcR gamma-chain that bears an activation motif (ITAM) in the cytoplasmic domain, allowing activatory functions. FcalphaRI expressed alone mediates endocytosis and recyling of IgA. No FcalphaRI homologue has been defined in the mouse, and progress in defining the in vivo role of FcalphaRI has been made using human FcalphaRI transgenic (Tg) mice. FcalphaRI-Tg mice demonstrated FcalphaRI expression on Kupffer cells and so defined a key role for the receptor in mucosal defense. The receptor functions as a second line of antibacterial defense involving serum IgA rather than secretory IgA. Studies in FcalphaRI-Tg mice, furthermore, defined an essential role for soluble FcalphaRI in the development of IgA nephropathy by formation of circulating IgA-FcalphaRI complexes. Finally, recent work points out a role for human IgA in treatment of infectious and neoplastic diseases.

A mathematical method for precisely calculating the radiographic angles of the cup after total hip arthroplasty.

PubMed

Zhao, Jing-Xin; Su, Xiu-Yun; Xiao, Ruo-Xiu; Zhao, Zhe; Zhang, Li-Hai; Zhang, Li-Cheng; Tang, Pei-Fu

2016-11-01

We established a mathematical method to precisely calculate the radiographic anteversion (RA) and radiographic inclination (RI) angles of the acetabular cup based on anterior-posterior (AP) pelvic radiographs after total hip arthroplasty. Using Mathematica software, a mathematical model for an oblique cone was established to simulate how AP pelvic radiographs are obtained and to address the relationship between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry of the opening circle of the cup. In this model, the vertex was the X-ray beam source, and the generatrix was the ellipse in radiographs projected from the opening circle of the acetabular cup. Using this model, we established a series of mathematical formulas to reveal the differences between the true RA and RI cup angles and the measurements results achieved using traditional methods and AP pelvic radiographs and to precisely calculate the RA and RI cup angles based on post-operative AP pelvic radiographs. Statistical analysis indicated that traditional methods should be used with caution if traditional measurements methods are used to calculate the RA and RI cup angles with AP pelvic radiograph. The entire calculation process could be performed by an orthopedic surgeon with mathematical knowledge of basic matrix and vector equations. Copyright © 2016 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mueller matrix approach for probing multifractality in the underlying anisotropic connective tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Nandan Kumar; Dey, Rajib; Ghosh, Nirmalya

2016-09-01

Spatial variation of refractive index (RI) in connective tissues exhibits multifractality, which encodes useful morphological and ultrastructural information about the disease. We present a spectral Mueller matrix (MM)-based approach in combination with multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to exclusively pick out the signature of the underlying connective tissue multifractality through the superficial epithelium layer. The method is based on inverse analysis on selected spectral scattering MM elements encoding the birefringence information on the anisotropic connective tissue. The light scattering spectra corresponding to the birefringence carrying MM elements are then subjected to the Born approximation-based Fourier domain preprocessing to extract ultrastructural RI fluctuations of anisotropic tissue. The extracted RI fluctuations are subsequently analyzed via MFDFA to yield the multifractal tissue parameters. The approach was experimentally validated on a simple tissue model comprising of TiO2 as scatterers of the superficial isotropic layer and rat tail collagen as an underlying anisotropic layer. Finally, the method enabled probing of precancer-related subtle alterations in underlying connective tissue ultrastructural multifractality from intact tissues.

Impact of an Intervention to Use a Measles, Rubella, and Polio Mass Vaccination Campaign to Strengthen Routine Immunization Services in Nepal.

PubMed

Wallace, Aaron S; Bohara, Rajendra; Stewart, Steven; Subedi, Giri; Anand, Abhijeet; Burnett, Eleanor; Giri, Jagat; Shrestha, Jagat; Gurau, Suraj; Dixit, Sameer; Rajbhandari, Rajesh; Schluter, W William

2017-07-01

The potential to strengthen routine immunization (RI) services through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) is an important benefit of global measles and rubella elimination and polio eradication strategies. However, little evidence exists on how best to use SIAs to strengthen RI. As part the 2012 Nepal measles-rubella and polio SIA, we developed an intervention package designed to improve RI processes and evaluated its effect on specific RI process measures. The intervention package was incorporated into existing SIA activities and materials to improve healthcare providers' RI knowledge and practices throughout Nepal. In 1 region (Central Region) we surveyed the same 100 randomly selected health facilities before and after the SIA and evaluated the following RI process measures: vaccine safety, RI planning, RI service delivery, vaccine supply chain, and RI data recording practices. Data collection included observations of vaccination sessions, interviews with the primary healthcare provider who administered vaccines at each facility, and administrative record reviews. Pair-matched analytical methods were used to determine whether statistically significant changes in the selected RI process measures occurred over time. After the SIA, significant positive changes were measured in healthcare provider knowledge of adverse events following immunization (11% increase), availability of RI microplans (+17%) and maps (+12%), and awareness of how long a reconstituted measles vial can be used before it must be discarded (+14%). For the SIA, 42% of providers created an SIA high-risk villages list, and >50% incorporated this information into RI outreach session site planning. Significant negative changes occurred in correct knowledge of measles vaccination contraindications (-11%), correct definition for a measles outbreak (-21%), and how to treat a child with a severe adverse event following immunization (-10%). Twenty percent of providers reported cancelling ≥1 RI sessions during the SIA. Many RI process measures were at high proportions (>90%) before the SIA and remained high afterward, including proper vaccine administration techniques, proper vaccine waste management, and availability of vaccine carriers and vaccine registers. Focusing on activities that are easily linked between SIAs and RI services, such as using SIA high-risk village list to strengthen RI microplanning and examining ways to minimize the impact of an SIA on RI session scheduling, should be prioritized when implementing SIAs. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Calculating the refractive index for pediatric parenteral nutrient solutions.

PubMed

Nelson, Scott; Barrows, Jason; Haftmann, Richard; Helm, Michael; MacKay, Mark

2013-02-15

The utility of refractometric analysis for calculating the refractive index (RI) of compounded parenteral nutrient solutions for pediatric patients was examined. An equation for calculating the RI of parenteral nutrient solutions was developed by chemical and linear regression analysis of 154 pediatric parenteral nutrient solutions. This equation was then validated by analyzing 1057 pediatric parenteral nutrition samples. The RI for the parenteral nutrient solutions could be calculated by summing the RI contribution for each ingredient and then adding the RI of water. The RI contribution for each ingredient was determined by multiplying the RI of the manufacturer's concentrate by the volume of the manufacturer's concentrate mixed into the parenteral nutrient solution divided by the total volume of the parenteral nutrient solution. The calculated RI was highly correlated with the measured RI (R(2) = 0.94, p < 0.0001). Using a range of two standard deviations (±0.0045), 99.8% of the samples fell into the comparative range. RIs of electrolytes, vitamins, and trace elements in the concentrations used did not affect the RI, similar to the findings of other studies. There was no statistical difference between the calculated RI and the measured RI in the final product of a pediatric parenteral nutrient solution. This method of quality control can be used by personnel compounding parenteral nutrient solutions to confirm the compounding accuracy of dextrose and amino acid concentrations in the final product, and a sample can be sent to the hospital laboratory for electrolyte verification.

Predicting Reactive Intermediate Quantum Yields from Dissolved Organic Matter Photolysis Using Optical Properties and Antioxidant Capacity.

PubMed

Mckay, Garrett; Huang, Wenxi; Romera-Castillo, Cristina; Crouch, Jenna E; Rosario-Ortiz, Fernando L; Jaffé, Rudolf

2017-05-16

The antioxidant capacity and formation of photochemically produced reactive intermediates (RI) was studied for water samples collected from the Florida Everglades with different spatial (marsh versus estuarine) and temporal (wet versus dry season) characteristics. Measured RI included triplet excited states of dissolved organic matter ( 3 DOM*), singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), and the hydroxyl radical ( • OH). Single and multiple linear regression modeling were performed using a broad range of extrinsic (to predict RI formation rates, R RI ) and intrinsic (to predict RI quantum yields, Φ RI ) parameters. Multiple linear regression models consistently led to better predictions of R RI and Φ RI for our data set but poor prediction of Φ RI for a previously published data set,1 probably because the predictors are intercorrelated (Pearson's r > 0.5). Single linear regression models were built with data compiled from previously published studies (n ≈ 120) in which E2:E3, S, and Φ RI values were measured, which revealed a high degree of similarity between RI-optical property relationships across DOM samples of diverse sources. This study reveals that • OH formation is, in general, decoupled from 3 DOM* and 1 O 2 formation, providing supporting evidence that 3 DOM* is not a • OH precursor. Finally, Φ RI for 1 O 2 and 3 DOM* correlated negatively with antioxidant activity (a surrogate for electron donating capacity) for the collected samples, which is consistent with intramolecular oxidation of DOM moieties by 3 DOM*.

Best fit refractive index of matching liquid for 3D NIPAM gel dosimeters using optical CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chin-Hsing; Wu, Jay; Hsieh, Bor-Tsung; Chen, De-Shiou; Wang, Tzu-Hwei; Chien, Sou-Hsin; Chang, Yuan-Jen

2014-11-01

The accuracy of an optical computed tomography (CT)-based dosimeter is significantly affected by the refractive index (RI) of the matching liquid. Mismatched RI induces reflection and refraction as the laser beam passes through the gel phantom. Moreover, the unwanted light rays collected by the photodetector produce image artifacts after image reconstruction from the collected data. To obtain the best image quality, this study investigates the best-fit RI of the matching liquid for a 3D NIPAM gel dosimeter. The three recipes of NIPAM polymer gel used in this study consisted of 5% gelatin, 5% NIPAM and 3% N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide, which were combined with three compositions (5, 10, and 20 mM) of Tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride. Results were evaluated using a quantitative evaluation method of the gamma evaluation technique. Results showed that the best-fit RI for the non-irradiated NIPAM gel ranges from 1.340 to 1.346 for various NIPAM recipes with sensitivities ranging from 0.0113 to 0.0227. The greatest pass rate of 88.00% is achieved using best-fit RI=1.346 of the matching liquid. The adoption of mismatching RI decreases the gamma pass rate by 2.63% to 16.75% for all three recipes of NIPAM gel dosimeters. In addition, the maximum average deviation is less than 0.1% for the red and transparent matching liquids. Thus, the color of the matching liquid does not affect the measurement accuracy of the NIPAM gel dosimeter, as measured by optical CT.

Changes in solvation during DNA binding and cleavage are critical to altered specificity of the EcoRI endonuclease

PubMed Central

Robinson, Clifford R.; Sligar, Stephen G.

1998-01-01

Restriction endonucleases such as EcoRI bind and cleave DNA with great specificity and represent a paradigm for protein–DNA interactions and molecular recognition. Using osmotic pressure to induce water release, we demonstrate the participation of bound waters in the sequence discrimination of substrate DNA by EcoRI. Changes in solvation can play a critical role in directing sequence-specific DNA binding by EcoRI and are also crucial in assisting site discrimination during catalysis. By measuring the volume change for complex formation, we show that at the cognate sequence (GAATTC) EcoRI binding releases about 70 fewer water molecules than binding at an alternate DNA sequence (TAATTC), which differs by a single base pair. EcoRI complexation with nonspecific DNA releases substantially less water than either of these specific complexes. In cognate substrates (GAATTC) kcat decreases as osmotic pressure is increased, indicating the binding of about 30 water molecules accompanies the cleavage reaction. For the alternate substrate (TAATTC), release of about 40 water molecules accompanies the reaction, indicated by a dramatic acceleration of the rate when osmotic pressure is raised. These large differences in solvation effects demonstrate that water molecules can be key players in the molecular recognition process during both association and catalytic phases of the EcoRI reaction, acting to change the specificity of the enzyme. For both the protein–DNA complex and the transition state, there may be substantial conformational differences between cognate and alternate sites, accompanied by significant alterations in hydration and solvent accessibility. PMID:9482860

Operable Unit D Remedial Investigation Report. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-06-06

Bert Ellsworth 8455 Jackson Road, Suite 120 Sacramento CA 95826 Sacramento County Environ.cjital Management Department Hazardous Materials Division...Remedial Investigation (RI) activities within Operable Unit D at MicClellan Air Force Base (McClellan AFB ) in California. This "I is a primary document, as...Moss-RI Report Graphics CH2M HILl. would like to acknowledge the cooperation .f the McClellai; AFB Office oe 1. • ,;oninentai Management for their

Dynamic spatial filtering using a digital micromirror device for high-speed optical diffraction tomography.

PubMed

Jin, Di; Zhou, Renjie; Yaqoob, Zahid; So, Peter T C

2018-01-08

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) is an emerging microscopy technique for three-dimensional (3D) refractive index (RI) mapping of transparent specimens. Recently, the digital micromirror device (DMD) based scheme for angle-controlled plane wave illumination has been proposed to improve the imaging speed and stability of ODT. However, undesired diffraction noise always exists in the reported DMD-based illumination scheme, which leads to a limited contrast ratio of the measurement fringe and hence inaccurate RI mapping. Here we present a novel spatial filtering method, based on a second DMD, to dynamically remove the diffraction noise. The reported results illustrate significantly enhanced image quality of the obtained interferograms and the subsequently derived phase maps. And moreover, with this method, we demonstrate mapping of 3D RI distribution of polystyrene beads as well as biological cells with high accuracy. Importantly, with the proper hardware configuration, our method does not compromise the 3D imaging speed advantage promised by the DMD-based illumination scheme. Specifically, we have been able to successfully obtain interferograms at over 1 kHz speed, which is critical for potential high-throughput label-free 3D image cytometry applications.

Patient-specific quantification of image quality: An automated method for measuring spatial resolution in clinical CT images

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

Sanders, Jeremiah, E-mail: jeremiah.sanders@duke.e

Purpose: To develop and validate an automated technique for evaluating the spatial resolution characteristics of clinical computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: Twenty one chest and abdominopelvic clinical CT datasets were examined in this study. An algorithm was developed to extract a CT resolution index (RI) analogous to the modulation transfer function from clinical CT images by measuring the edge-spread function (ESF) across the patient’s skin. A polygon mesh of the air-skin boundary was created. The faces of the mesh were then used to measure the ESF across the air-skin interface. The ESF was differentiated to obtain the line-spread function (LSF),more » and the LSF was Fourier transformed to obtain the RI. The algorithm’s ability to detect the radial dependence of the RI was investigated. RIs measured with the proposed method were compared with a conventional phantom-based method across two reconstruction algorithms (FBP and iterative) using the spatial frequency at 50% RI, f{sub 50}, as the metric for comparison. Three reconstruction kernels were investigated for each reconstruction algorithm. Finally, an observer study was conducted to determine if observers could visually perceive the differences in the measured blurriness of images reconstructed with a given reconstruction method. Results: RI measurements performed with the proposed technique exhibited the expected dependencies on the image reconstruction. The measured f{sub 50} values increased with harder kernels for both FBP and iterative reconstruction. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm was able to detect the radial dependence of the RI. Patient-specific measurements of the RI were comparable to the phantom-based technique, but the patient data exhibited a large spread in the measured f{sub 50}, indicating that some datasets were blurrier than others even when the projection data were reconstructed with the same reconstruction algorithm and kernel. Results from the observer study substantiated this finding. Conclusions: Clinically informed, patient-specific spatial resolution can be measured from clinical datasets. The method is sufficiently sensitive to reflect changes in spatial resolution due to different reconstruction parameters. The method can be applied to automatically assess the spatial resolution of patient images and quantify dependencies that may not be captured in phantom data.« less

FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA inhibits the antigen-induced activation of mast cells.

PubMed

Safaralizadeh, Reza; Soheili, Zahra-Soheila; Deezagi, Abdolkhaleg; Pourpak, Zahra; Samiei, Shahram; Moin, Mostafa

2009-12-01

FcepsilonRI, The high affinity receptor for IgE plays a critical role in triggering the allergic reactions. It is responsible for inducing mast cell degranulation and deliberation of allergy mediators when it is aggregated by allergen and IgE complexes. FcepsilonRI on the mast cells consists of three subunits; alpha chain directly binds IgE, beta chain and dimmer of gamma chains together mediate intracellular signaling. Cross-linking of IgE-bound FcepsilonRI on the surface of mast cells and basophils by the multivalent antigen induces release of chemical mediators. The present in vitro study was designed to investigate the effect of synthetic FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA on the antigen-induced activation of MC/9 cells. MC/9 cells which are murine mast cells were transfected by FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA and negative control siRNA. After 6 h, anti-DNP (Dinitrophenyl) IgE was used for the cells sensitization. Then the cells were challenged with Dinitrophenyl-Human Serum Albumin (DNP-HSA) for mast cell degranulation induction before collection of supernatants. The amount of mRNA and protein expression was measured by Real Time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Determination of the expression rate of FcepsilonRI-alpha on cell surface was achieved by flow cytometry. ELISA and spectrophotometry methods were used subsequently for measuring the effects of FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA on antigen-induced histamine and beta-hexosaminidase release. FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA treated cells showed significant decrease in FcepsilonRI-alpha mRNA and protein expression in comparison to control cells. FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell release of beta-hexosaminidase and histamine were also inhibited. In this study it was shown that FcepsilonRI-alpha siRNA could suppress FcepsilonRI-alpha expression and inhibited degranulation and histamine release in antigen-stimulated MC/9 cells. In conclusion, knock-down of FcepsilonRI-alpha by siRNA could be a promising method for inhibition of the mast cell-mediated allergic reactions.

The Influence of Prior Choices on Current Choice

PubMed Central

de la Piedad, Xochitl; Field, Douglas; Rachlin, Howard

2006-01-01

Three pigeons chose between random-interval (RI) and tandem, continuous-reinforcement, fixed-interval (crf-FI) reinforcement schedules by pecking either of two keys. As long as a pigeon pecked on the RI key, both keys remained available. If a pigeon pecked on the crf-FI key, then the RI key became unavailable and the crf-FI timer began to time out. With this procedure, once the RI key was initially pecked, the prospective value of both alternatives remained constant regardless of time spent pecking on the RI key without reinforcement (RI waiting time). Despite this constancy, the rate at which pigeons switched from the RI to the crf-FI decreased sharply as RI waiting time increased. That is, prior choices influenced current choice—an exercise effect. It is argued that such influence (independent of reinforcement contingencies) may serve as a sunk-cost commitment device in self-control situations. In a second experiment, extinction was programmed if RI waiting time exceeded a certain value. Rate of switching to the crf-FI first decreased and then increased as the extinction point approached, showing sensitivity to both prior choices and reinforcement contingencies. In a third experiment, crf-FI availability was limited to a brief window during the RI waiting time. When constrained in this way, switching occurred at a high rate regardless of when, during the RI waiting time, the crf-FI became available. PMID:16602373

Transfontanellar duplex brain ultrasonography resistive indices as a prognostic tool in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy before and after treatment with therapeutic hypothermia.

PubMed

Gerner, G J; Burton, V J; Poretti, A; Bosemani, T; Cristofalo, E; Tekes, A; Seyfert, D; Parkinson, C; Leppert, M; Allen, M; Huisman, T A G M; Northington, F J; Johnston, M V

2016-03-01

Prior to therapeutic hypothermia (that is, cooling), transfontanellar duplex brain sonography resistive indices (RI) were studied as a bedside non-invasive measures of cerebral hemodynamics in neonates who suffered from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We compared pre- and post-cooling RI values and examined the relationships between RI values and specific long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Transfontanellar duplex brain sonography, including RI, were obtained for 28 neonates prior to cooling and for 20 neonates following cooling. All RI values were sampled in the anterior cerebral artery at the beginning of each ultrasound study. Neurodevelopmental assessment was conducted between ages 20-32 months with the Mullen Scale of Early Learning. The relationships between pre- and post-cooling RI and cognitive and motor outcomes were studied. Neonates with RI values <0.60 prior to and following cooling were more likely to die or have severe neurodevelopmental disability by ages 20-32 months than those with RI>0.60. Lower RI values were associated with specific neurodevelopmental deficits in motor skill attainment. Pre- and post-cooling transfontanellar duplex brain sonography RI values may be a useful prognostic tool, in conjunction with other clinical information, for neonates diagnosed with HIE. The results of this study suggest that further study of the prognostic value of RI values for short- and long-term outcomes is warranted.

The Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene Family in Raspberry. Structure, Expression, and Evolution1

PubMed Central

Kumar, Amrita; Ellis, Brian E.

2001-01-01

In raspberry (Rubus idaeus), development of fruit color and flavor are critically dependent on products of the phenylpropanoid pathway. To determine how these metabolic functions are integrated with the fruit ripening program, we are examining the properties and expression of key genes in the pathway. Here, we report that l- phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is encoded in raspberry by a family of two genes (RiPAL1 and RiPAL2). RiPAL1 shares 88% amino acid sequence similarity to RiPAL2, but phylogenetic analysis places RiPAL1 and RiPAL2 in different clusters within the plant PAL gene family. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of the two genes were investigated in various vegetative and floral tissues using the reverse transcriptase competitor polymerase chain reaction assay. Although expression of both genes was detected in all tissues examined, RiPAL1 was associated with early fruit ripening events, whereas expression of RiPAL2 correlated more with later stages of flower and fruit development. Determination of the absolute levels of the two transcripts in various tissues showed that RiPAL1 transcripts were 3- to 10-fold more abundant than those of RiPAL2 in leaves, shoots, roots, young fruits, and ripe fruits. The two RiPAL genes therefore appear to be controlled by different regulatory mechanisms. PMID:11553751

In-line microfluidic refractometer based on C-shaped fiber assisted photonic crystal fiber Sagnac interferometer.

PubMed

Wu, Chuang; Tse, Ming-Leung Vincent; Liu, Zhengyong; Guan, Bai-Ou; Lu, Chao; Tam, Hwa-Yaw

2013-09-01

We propose and demonstrate a highly sensitive in-line photonic crystal fiber (PCF) microfluidic refractometer. Ultrathin C-shaped fibers are spliced in-between the PCF and standard single-mode fibers. The C-shaped fibers provide openings for liquid to flow in and out of the PCF. Based on a Sagnac interferometer, the refractive index (RI) response of the device is investigated theoretically and experimentally. A high sensitivity of 6621 nm/RIU for liquid RI from 1.330 to 1.333 is achieved in the experiment, which agrees well with the theoretical analysis.

Characterizing depth-dependent refractive index of articular cartilage subjected to mechanical wear or enzymic degeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kuyu; Wu, Jianping; Day, Robert; Kirk, Thomas Brett; Hu, Xiaozhi

2016-09-01

Utilizing a laser scanning confocal microscope system, the refractive indices of articular cartilage (AC) with mechanical or biochemical degenerations were characterized to investigate whether potential correlations exist between refractive index (RI) and cartilage degeneration. The cartilage samples collected from the medial femoral condyles of kangaroo knees were mechanically degenerated under different loading patterns or digested in trypsin solution with different concentrations. The sequences of RI were then measured from cartilage surface to deep region and the fluctuations of RI were quantified considering combined effects of fluctuating frequency and amplitude. The compositional and microstructural alterations of cartilage samples were assessed with histological methods. Along with the loss of proteoglycans, the average RI of cartilage increased and the local fluctuation of RI became stronger. Short-term high-speed test induced little influence to both the depth fluctuation and overall level of RI. Long-term low-speed test increased the fluctuation of RI but the average RI was barely changed. The results substantially demonstrate that RI of AC varies with both compositional and structural alterations and is potentially an indicator for the degeneration of AC.

Response to Comment on "Cell nuclei have lower refractive index and mass density than cytoplasm": A Comment on "How a phase image of a cell with nucleus refractive index smaller than that of the cytoplasm should look like?", e201800033.

PubMed

Müller, Paul; Guck, Jochen

2018-05-02

In a recent study entitled "Cell nuclei have lower refractive index and mass density than cytoplasm," we provided strong evidence indicating that the nuclear refractive index (RI) is lower than the RI of the cytoplasm for several cell lines. In a complementary study in 2017, entitled "Is the nuclear refractive index lower than cytoplasm? Validation of phase measurements and implications for light scattering technologies," Steelman et al. observed a lower nuclear RI also for other cell lines and ruled out methodological error sources such as phase wrapping and scattering effects. Recently, Yurkin composed a comment on these 2 publications, entitled "How a phase image of a cell with nucleus refractive index smaller than that of the cytoplasm should look like?," putting into question the methods used for measuring the cellular and nuclear RI in the aforementioned publications by suggesting that a lower nuclear RI would produce a characteristic dip in the measured phase profile in situ. We point out the difficulty of identifying this dip in the presence of other cell organelles, noise, or blurring due to the imaging point spread function. Furthermore, we mitigate Yurkin's concerns regarding the ability of the simple-transmission approximation to compare cellular and nuclear RI by analyzing a set of phase images with a novel, scattering-based approach. We conclude that the absence of a characteristic dip in the measured phase profiles does not contradict the usage of the simple-transmission approximation for the determination of the average cellular or nuclear RI. Our response can be regarded as an addition to the response by Steelman, Eldridge and Wax. We kindly ask the reader to attend to their thorough ascertainment prior to reading our response. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Refractive index investigation of poly(vinyl alcohol) films with TiO2 nanoparticle inclusions.

PubMed

Yovcheva, Temenuzhka; Vlaeva, Ivanka; Bodurov, Ivan; Dragostinova, Violeta; Sainov, Simeon

2012-11-10

The refractive index (RI) of polymer nanocomposite of poly(vinyl alcohol) films with TiO(2) nanoparticle inclusions with low concentration up to 1.2 wt. % was investigated. Accurate refractometric measurements, by a specially designed laser microrefractometer, were performed at wavelengths 532 and 632.8 nm. The influence of TiO(2) concentration on the RI dispersion curves was predicted based on the well-known Sellmeier model. The theoretical analysis, in a small filling factor approximation, was performed, and a relation between the effective RI of the nanocomposite and weight concentrations of the TiO(2) nanofiller was derived. The experimental values were approximated by two different functions (linear and a quadratic polynom). The polynomial approximation yields better result, where R(2)=0.90.

An optical biosensor using MEMS-based V-grooves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Ye; Ma, Xiaodong; Zou, Xiaotian; Wu, Nan; Wang, Xingwei

2011-05-01

An optical fiber biosensor featuring miniaturization, electromagnetic interference (EMI)-immunity, and flexibility is presented. The sensor was fabricated by aligning two gold-deposited optical single-mode fiber facets inside V-grooves on a silicon chip to form a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. The mirrors on the fiber facets were made of deposited gold (Au) films, which provided a high finesse to produce a highly sensitivity. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques were used to precisely control the profile and angle of the V-grooves on the silicon. The biotin-terminated thiol molecule was firstly immobilized on the gold surface. Subsequently, the molecules of Neutravidin were specifically bound to the biotin-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The induced changes of cavity length and refractive index (RI) upon the gold surface lead to an optical path difference (OPD) of the FP cavity, which was detected by demodulating the transmission spectrum phase shift. By taking advantage of MEMS techniques, multiple biosensors can be integrated into one small silicon chip for detecting various biomolecule targets simultaneously.

Handbook to Support the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) statements of Work. Volume 1. Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies (RI/FS)

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-01

FEASIBILITY STUDIES (RI/FS) ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION DIV STAFF MAY 1991 (REPRINT) - Distribution is unlimited; approved for public release ENVIRONMENTAL ...RESTORATION DIVISION (ESR) ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OFFICE AIR FORCE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE (AFCEE) BROOKS AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS S(4 93-05296...Human Systems Division’s Human Systems Program Office, IRP Divisicn (HSD/YAQ) was transferred to the newly formed Air Force Center for Environmental

TRU Waste Management Program. Cost/schedule optimization analysis

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

Detamore, J.A.; Raudenbush, M.H.; Wolaver, R.W.

This Current Year Work Plan presents in detail a description of the activities to be performed by the Joint Integration Office Rockwell International (JIO/RI) during FY86. It breaks down the activities into two major work areas: Program Management and Program Analysis. Program Management is performed by the JIO/RI by providing technical planning and guidance for the development of advanced TRU waste management capabilities. This includes equipment/facility design, engineering, construction, and operations. These functions are integrated to allow transition from interim storage to final disposition. JIO/RI tasks include program requirements identification, long-range technical planning, budget development, program planning document preparation, taskmore » guidance development, task monitoring, task progress information gathering and reporting to DOE, interfacing with other agencies and DOE lead programs, integrating public involvement with program efforts, and preparation of reports for DOE detailing program status. Program Analysis is performed by the JIO/RI to support identification and assessment of alternatives, and development of long-term TRU waste program capabilities. These analyses include short-term analyses in response to DOE information requests, along with performing an RH Cost/Schedule Optimization report. Systems models will be developed, updated, and upgraded as needed to enhance JIO/RI's capability to evaluate the adequacy of program efforts in various fields. A TRU program data base will be maintained and updated to provide DOE with timely responses to inventory related questions.« less

FY 1986 current fiscal year work plan

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

Not Available

This Current Year Work Plan presents in detail a description of the activities to be performed by the Joint Integration Office/RI during FY86. It breaks down the activities into two major work areas: Program Management and Program Analysis. Program Management is performed by the JIO/RI by providing technical planning and guidance for the development of advanced TRU waste management capabilities. This includes equipment/facility design, engineering, construction, and operations. These functions are integrated to allow transition from interim storage to final disposition. JIO/RI tasks include program requirements identification, long-range technical planning, budget development, program planning document preparation, task guidance development, taskmore » monitoring, task progress information gathering and reporting to DOE, interfacing with other agencies and DOE lead programs, integrating public involvement with program efforts, and preparation of reports for DOE detailing program status. Program Analysis is performed by the JIO/RI to support identification and assessment of alternatives, and development of long-term TRU waste program capabilities. These analyses include short term analyses in response to DOE information requests, along with performing an RH Cost/Schedule Optimization report. System models will be developed, updated, and upgraded as needed to enhance JIO/RI's capability to evaluate the adequacy of program efforts in various fields. A TRU program data base will be maintained and updated to provide DOE with timely responses to inventory related questions.« less

Learning Rotation-Invariant Local Binary Descriptor.

PubMed

Duan, Yueqi; Lu, Jiwen; Feng, Jianjiang; Zhou, Jie

2017-08-01

In this paper, we propose a rotation-invariant local binary descriptor (RI-LBD) learning method for visual recognition. Compared with hand-crafted local binary descriptors, such as local binary pattern and its variants, which require strong prior knowledge, local binary feature learning methods are more efficient and data-adaptive. Unlike existing learning-based local binary descriptors, such as compact binary face descriptor and simultaneous local binary feature learning and encoding, which are susceptible to rotations, our RI-LBD first categorizes each local patch into a rotational binary pattern (RBP), and then jointly learns the orientation for each pattern and the projection matrix to obtain RI-LBDs. As all the rotation variants of a patch belong to the same RBP, they are rotated into the same orientation and projected into the same binary descriptor. Then, we construct a codebook by a clustering method on the learned binary codes, and obtain a histogram feature for each image as the final representation. In order to exploit higher order statistical information, we extend our RI-LBD to the triple rotation-invariant co-occurrence local binary descriptor (TRICo-LBD) learning method, which learns a triple co-occurrence binary code for each local patch. Extensive experimental results on four different visual recognition tasks, including image patch matching, texture classification, face recognition, and scene classification, show that our RI-LBD and TRICo-LBD outperform most existing local descriptors.

Accurate analysis and visualization of cardiac (11)C-PIB uptake in amyloidosis with semiautomatic software.

PubMed

Kero, Tanja; Lindsjö, Lars; Sörensen, Jens; Lubberink, Mark

2016-08-01

(11)C-PIB PET is a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for cardiac amyloidosis. Semiautomatic analysis of PET data is now available but it is not known how accurate these methods are for amyloid imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of one semiautomatic software tool for analysis and visualization of (11)C-PIB left ventricular retention index (RI) in cardiac amyloidosis. Patients with systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 5) were investigated with dynamic (11)C-PIB PET. Two observers analyzed the PET studies with semiautomatic software to calculate the left ventricular RI of (11)C-PIB and to create parametric images. The mean RI at 15-25 min from the semiautomatic analysis was compared with RI based on manual analysis and showed comparable values (0.056 vs 0.054 min(-1) for amyloidosis patients and 0.024 vs 0.025 min(-1) in healthy controls; P = .78) and the correlation was excellent (r = 0.98). Inter-reader reproducibility also was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC > 0.98). Parametric polarmaps and histograms made visual separation of amyloidosis patients and healthy controls fast and simple. Accurate semiautomatic analysis of cardiac (11)C-PIB RI in amyloidosis patients is feasible. Parametric polarmaps and histograms make visual interpretation fast and simple.

Accelerated Discovery of High-Refractive-Index Polymers Using First-Principles Modeling, Virtual High-Throughput Screening, and Data Mining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afzal, Mohammad Atif Faiz; Cheng, Chong; Hachmann, Johannes

Organic materials with refractive index (RI) values higher than 1.7 have attracted considerable interest in recent years due to the tremendous potential for their application in optical, optometric, and optoelectronic devices, and thus for shaping technological innovation in numerous related areas. Our work is concerned with creating predictive models for the optical properties of organic polymers, which will guide our experimentalist partners and allow them to target the most promising candidates. The RI model is developed based on a synergistic combination of first-principles electronic structure theory and machine learning techniques. The RI values predicted for common polymers using this model are in very good agreement with the experimental values. We also benchmark different DFT approximations along with various basis sets for their predictive performance in this model. We demonstrate that this combination of first-principles and data modeling is both successful and highly economical in determining the RI values of a wide range of organic polymers. To accelerate the development process, we cast this modeling approach into the high-throughput screening, materials informatics, and rational design framework that is developed in the group. This framework is a powerful tool and has shown to be highly promising for rapidly identifying polymer candidates with exceptional RI values as well as discovering design rules for advanced materials.

Sensitivity of a global climate model to the critical Richardson number in the boundary layer parameterization

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Ning; Liu, Yangang; Gao, Zhiqiu; ...

2015-04-27

The critical bulk Richardson number (Ri cr) is an important parameter in planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes used in many climate models. This paper examines the sensitivity of a Global Climate Model, the Beijing Climate Center Atmospheric General Circulation Model, BCC_AGCM to Ri cr. The results show that the simulated global average of PBL height increases nearly linearly with Ri cr, with a change of about 114 m for a change of 0.5 in Ri cr. The surface sensible (latent) heat flux decreases (increases) as Ri cr increases. The influence of Ri cr on surface air temperature and specificmore » humidity is not significant. The increasing Ri cr may affect the location of the Westerly Belt in the Southern Hemisphere. Further diagnosis reveals that changes in Ri cr affect stratiform and convective precipitations differently. Increasing Ri cr leads to an increase in the stratiform precipitation but a decrease in the convective precipitation. Significant changes of convective precipitation occur over the inter-tropical convergence zone, while changes of stratiform precipitation mostly appear over arid land such as North Africa and Middle East.« less

Microvascular resistance in response to iodinated contrast media in normal and functionally impaired kidneys.

PubMed

Kurihara, Osamu; Takano, Masamichi; Uchiyama, Saori; Fukuizumi, Isamu; Shimura, Tetsuro; Matsushita, Masato; Komiyama, Hidenori; Inami, Toru; Murakami, Daisuke; Munakata, Ryo; Ohba, Takayoshi; Hata, Noritake; Seino, Yoshihiko; Shimizu, Wataru

2015-12-01

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is considered to result from intrarenal vasoconstriction, and occurs more frequently in impaired than in normal kidneys. It was hypothesized that iodinated contrast media would markedly change renal blood flow and vascular resistance in functionally impaired kidneys. Thirty-six patients were enrolled (32 men; mean age, 75.3 ± 7.6 years) undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography and were divided into two groups based on the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) (CKD and non-CKD groups, n = 18 in both). Average peak velocity (APV) and renal artery resistance index (RI) were measured by Doppler flow wire before and after administration of the iodinated contrast media. The APV and the RI were positively and inversely correlated with the eGFR at baseline, respectively (APV, R = 0.545, P = 0.001; RI, R = -0.627, P < 0.001). Mean RI was significantly higher (P = 0.015) and APV was significantly lower (P = 0.026) in the CKD than in the non-CKD group. Both APV (P < 0.001) and RI (P = 0.002) were significantly changed following contrast media administration in the non-CKD group, but not in the CKD group (APV, P = 0.258; RI, P = 0.707). Although renal arterial resistance was higher in patients with CKD, it was not affected by contrast media administration, suggesting that patients with CKD could have an attenuated response to contrast media. © 2015 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology Published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Rectal intussusception: can high resolution three-dimensional ano-rectal manometry compete with conventional defecography?

PubMed

Benezech, A; Cappiello, M; Baumstarck, K; Grimaud, J-C; Bouvier, M; Vitton, V

2017-04-01

Three-dimensional high-resolution anorectal manometry (3DHRAM), used for exploring anorectal disorders, was recently developed, providing interesting topographic data for the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders such as excessive perineal descent. The aim of our study was to define a diagnostic strategy based on selected 3DHRAM parameters to identify rectal intussusceptions (RI), considering conventional defecography (CD) as the gold standard. All patients referred to our center in the previous 6 months for 3DHRAM to explore fecal incontinence or constipation, and who previously achieved CD, were eligible. 3DHRAM results were obtained for all classical parameters and the presence of a narrow band of high pressure in the anal canal during attempted defecation, which was recently found to be associated with RI in some studies. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for various 3DHRAM criterion in order to propose a diagnostic strategy for RI. Twenty-six patients (66%) presented with RI on CD. On 3DHRAM, according to our diagnostic strategy, the most relevant manometric criterion for the diagnosis of RI was the association of an anterior additional high-pressure area and an excessive perineal descent, with a positive predictive value of 100% [81.5-100], a specificity of 100% [75.3-100] and a sensibility of 69.2% [48.2-85.7]. In this study, 3DHRAM was used to diagnose RI, and we confirmed its use in the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders. Further studies will be necessary to define classifications for these new anatomic data from 3DHRAM. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

T-cell receptor excision circle levels and safety of paediatric immunization: A population-based self-controlled case series analysis.

PubMed

Wilson, Kumanan; Duque, Daniel Rodriguez; Murphy, Malia Sq; Hawken, Steven; Pham-Huy, Anne; Kwong, Jeffrey; Deeks, Shelley L; Potter, Beth K; Crowcroft, Natasha S; Bulman, Dennis E; Chakraborty, Pranesh; Little, Julian

2018-02-08

T-cell receptor excision circle levels are a surrogate marker of T-cell production and immune system function. We sought to determine whether non-pathological levels of infant T-cell receptor excision circles were associated with adverse events following immunization. A self-controlled case series design was applied on a sample of 231,693 children who completed newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency in Ontario, Canada between August 2013 and December 2015. Exposures included routinely administered pediatric vaccines up to 15 months of age. Main outcomes were combined health services utilization for recognized adverse events following immunization. 1,406,981 vaccination events were included in the final dataset. 103,007 children received the Pneu-C-13 or Men-C-C vaccine and 97,998 received the MMR vaccine at 12 months of age. 67,725 children received the varicella immunization at 15 months. Our analysis identified no association between newborn T-cell receptor excision circle levels and subsequent health services utilization events following DTa-IPV-Hib, Pneu-C-13, and Men-C-C vaccinations at 2-month (RI 0.94[95%CI 0.87-1.02]), 4-month (RI 0.82[95%CI 0.75-0.9]), 6-month (RI 0.63[95%CI 0.57-0.7]) and 12-month (RI 0.49[95%CI 0.44-0.55]). We also found no trends in health services utilization following MMR (RI 1.43[95%1.34-1.52]) or varicella (RI 1.14[95%CI 1.05-1.23]) vaccination. Our findings provide further support for the safety of pediatric vaccinations.

Grain shape of basaltic ash populations: implications for fragmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmith, Johanne; Höskuldsson, Ármann; Holm, Paul Martin

2017-02-01

Here, we introduce a new quantitative method to produce grain shape data of bulk samples of volcanic ash, and we correlate the bulk average grain shape with magma fragmentation mechanisms. The method is based on automatic shape analysis of 2D projection ash grains in the size range 125-63 μm. Loose bulk samples from the deposits of six different basaltic eruptions were analyzed, and 20,000 shape measurements for each were obtained within 45 min using the Particle Insight™ dynamic shape analyzer (PIdsa). We used principal component analysis on a reference grain dataset to show that circularity, rectangularity, form factor, and elongation best discriminate between the grain shapes when combined. The grain population data show that the studied eruptive environments produce nearly the same range of grain shapes, although to different extents. Our new shape index (the regularity index (RI)) places an eruption on a spectrum between phreatomagmatic and dry magmatic fragmentation. Almost vesicle-free Surtseyan ash has an RI of 0.207 ± 0.002 (2σ), whereas vesiculated Hawaiian ash has an RI of 0.134 ± 0.001 (2σ). These two samples define the end-member RI, while two subglacial, one lacustrine, and another submarine ash sample show intermediate RIs of 0.168 ± 0.002 (2σ), 0.175 ± 0.002 (2σ), 0.187 ± 0.002 (2σ), and 0.191 ± 0.002 (2σ), respectively. The systematic change in RI between wet and dry eruptions suggests that the RI can be used to assess the relative roles of magmatic vs. phreatomagmatic fragmentation. We infer that both magmatic and phreatomagmatic fragmentation processes played a role in the subglacial eruptions.

Association of Serum Vaspin and Adiponectin Levels with Renal Function in Patients with or without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PubMed Central

Yan, Meiyu; Su, Bin; Peng, Wenhui; Li, Liang; Li, Hailing; Zhuang, Jianhui; Lu, Yuyan; Jian, Weixia; Wei, Yidong; Li, Weiming; Qu, Shen; Xu, Yawei

2014-01-01

Vaspin and adiponectin are two adipocytokines with antidiabetic effects. Some studies reported that levels of adiponectin and vaspin were correlated with decreased glomerular filtration rate (FGR) and increased albuminuria. We therefore evaluated the vaspin and adiponectin levels in renal insufficiency (RI) patients with or without T2DM. Serum vaspin, adiponectin levels were measured in 416 subjects with or without T2DM. Analysis was made between groups divided by these subjects presence or absence of RI. We found that serum adiponectin level was significantly higher in nondiabetic patients with RI than in nondiabetic subjects without RI; however, there were no statistical differences between the diabetic patients with RI and without RI. In all the subjects, the serum adiponectin level was also higher in 50 individuals with RI than that in 366 subjects without RI. The serum vaspin levels showed no significant differences between the diabetic patients or nondiabetics subjects with RI and without RI. Contrary to adiponectin, the serum vaspin level was lower in 169 patients with T2DM than in 247 individuals without T2DM. Our data suggested that both of T2DM and renal insufficiency were correlated with the serum level of adiponectin. However, the serum vaspin levels showed no significant difference between the individuals with renal insufficiency and without renal insufficiency. PMID:25133192

Purification and characterization of the restriction endonuclease RsrI, an isoschizomer of EcoRI.

PubMed

Greene, P J; Ballard, B T; Stephenson, F; Kohr, W J; Rodriguez, H; Rosenberg, J M; Boyer, H W

1988-08-15

Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain 630 produces restriction enzyme RsrI which is an isoschizomer of EcoRI. We have purified this enzyme and initiated a comparison with the EcoRI endonuclease. The properties of RsrI are consistent with a reaction mechanism similar to that of EcoRI: the position of cleavage within the -GAATTC-site is identical, the MgCl2 optimum for the cleavage is identical, and the pH profile is similar. Methylation of the substrate sequence by the EcoRI methylase protects the site from cleavage by the RsrI endonuclease. RsrI cross-reacts strongly with anti-EcoRI serum indicating three-dimensional structural similarities. We have determined the sequence of 34 N terminal amino acids for RsrI and this sequence possesses significant similarity to the EcoRI N terminus.

Design of ultra-compact composite plasmonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer for chemical vapor sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Souvik; Rahman, B. M. A.

2018-02-01

Following the Industrial advancements in the last few decades, highly flammable chemicals, such as ethanol (CH3CH2OH) and methanol (CH3OH) are widely being used in daily life. Ethanol have some degrees of carcinogenic effects in human whereas acute and chronic exposer of methanol results blurred vision and nausea. Therefore, accurate and efficient sensing of these two vapors in industrial environment are of high priorities. We have designed a novel, ultra-compact chemical vapor sensor based on composite plasmonic horizontal slot waveguide (CPHSW) where a low-index porous-ZnO (P-ZnO) layer is sandwiched in between top silver metal and lower silicon layers. Different P-ZnO templates, such as nano-spheres, nano-sheets and nanoplates could be used for high-selectivity of ethanol and methanol at different temperatures. The Lorentz-Lorenz model is used to determine the variation of P-ZnO refractive index (RI) with porosity and equivalent RI of P-ZnO layer for capillary condensation of different percentage of absorbed vapor. An in-house, new divergence modified finite element method is used to calculate effective index and attenuation sensitivity. Plasmonic modal analyses of dominant quasi-TM mode shows a high 42% power confinement in the slot. Next, an ultra-compact MZI incorporating a few micrometres long CPHSW is designed and analysed as a transducer device for accurate detection of effective index change. The device performance has been studied for different percentage of ethanol into P-ZnO with different porosity and a maximum phase sensitivity of >0.35 a.u. is achieved for both the chemical vapors at a mid-IR operating wavelength of 1550 nm.

77 FR 33007 - Submission for Review: Rollover Election (RI 38-117), Rollover Information (RI 38-118), and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-04

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77 FR 66187 - Submission for Review: Rollover Election (RI 38-117), Rollover Information (RI 38-118), and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-02

... Rollovers, provides more detailed information. Analysis Agency: Retirement Operations, Retirement Services... Information (RI 38-118), and Special Tax Notice Regarding Rollovers (RI 37-22) AGENCY: Office of Personnel... on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection request (ICR) 3206...

Spectral refractive index assessment of turbid samples by combining spatial frequency near-infrared spectroscopy with Kramers-Kronig analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meitav, Omri; Shaul, Oren; Abookasis, David

2018-03-01

A practical algorithm for estimating the wavelength-dependent refractive index (RI) of a turbid sample in the spatial frequency domain with the aid of Kramers-Kronig (KK) relations is presented. In it, phase-shifted sinusoidal patterns (structured illumination) are serially projected at a high spatial frequency onto the sample surface (mouse scalp) at different near-infrared wavelengths while a camera mounted normally to the sample surface captures the reflected diffuse light. In the offline analysis pipeline, recorded images at each wavelength are converted to spatial absorption maps by logarithmic function, and once the absorption coefficient information is obtained, the imaginary part (k) of the complex RI (CRI), based on Maxell's equations, can be calculated. Using the data represented by k, the real part of the CRI (n) is then resolved by KK analysis. The wavelength dependence of n ( λ ) is then fitted separately using four standard dispersion models: Cornu, Cauchy, Conrady, and Sellmeier. In addition, three-dimensional surface-profile distribution of n is provided based on phase profilometry principles and a phase-unwrapping-based phase-derivative-variance algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate the capability of the proposed idea for sample's determination of a biological sample's RI value.

Development of Predictive Equations Based on Pavement Condition Index Data

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-01

WA 90 4 82 8 6. OLYMPIA, WA (R2) 89 8 85 11 7. PULLMAN, WA (R2) 70 18 48 21 8. HOOD RIVER , OR (R1) 96 1 92 5 9. HOOD RIVER (R2) 95 1 90 5 Notes: Where...90- 1991 38 PACKWOODAP Ri 1975 94 - 1988 90 - 1991 1.33 3 9 PANGBORN FIELD ( WENATCHEE ) Ri 1947 63 - 1988 N/A R2 1947 66 - 1988 N/A R4 1947 55 - 1988

Investigation of light scattering characteristics of individual leukocytes using three-dimensional refractive index maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Kung-Bin; Lin, Yang-Hsien; Lin, Fong-jheng; Hsieh, Chao-Mao; Wu, Shang-Ju

2017-04-01

Three-dimensional (3D) refractive-index (RI) microscopy is an emerging technique suitable for live-cell imaging due to its label-free and fast 3D imaging capabilities. We have developed a common-path system to acquire 3D RI microscopic images of cells with excellent speed and stability. After obtaining 3D RI distributions of individual leukocytes, we used a 3D finite-difference time-domain tool to study light scattering properties. Backscattering spectra of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils are different from each other. Backscattering spectra of lymphocytes matched well with those of homogeneous spheres as predicted by Mie theory while backscattering spectra of neutrophils are significantly more intense than those of the other two types. This suggests the possibility of classifying the three types of leukocytes based on backscattering.

Vanishing-Overhead Linear-Scaling Random Phase Approximation by Cholesky Decomposition and an Attenuated Coulomb-Metric.

PubMed

Luenser, Arne; Schurkus, Henry F; Ochsenfeld, Christian

2017-04-11

A reformulation of the random phase approximation within the resolution-of-the-identity (RI) scheme is presented, that is competitive to canonical molecular orbital RI-RPA already for small- to medium-sized molecules. For electronically sparse systems drastic speedups due to the reduced scaling behavior compared to the molecular orbital formulation are demonstrated. Our reformulation is based on two ideas, which are independently useful: First, a Cholesky decomposition of density matrices that reduces the scaling with basis set size for a fixed-size molecule by one order, leading to massive performance improvements. Second, replacement of the overlap RI metric used in the original AO-RPA by an attenuated Coulomb metric. Accuracy is significantly improved compared to the overlap metric, while locality and sparsity of the integrals are retained, as is the effective linear scaling behavior.

RI/MOM and RI/SMOM renormalization of overlap quark bilinears on domain wall fermion configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bi, Yujiang; Cai, Hao; Chen, Ying; Gong, Ming; Liu, Keh-Fei; Liu, Zhaofeng; Yang, Yi-Bo; χ QCD Collaboration

2018-05-01

Renormalization constants (RCs) of overlap quark bilinear operators on 2 +1 -flavor domain wall fermion configurations are calculated by using the RI/MOM and RI/SMOM schemes. The scale independent RC for the axial vector current is computed by using a Ward identity. Then the RCs for the quark field and the vector, tensor, scalar, and pseudoscalar operators are calculated in both the RI/MOM and RI/SMOM schemes. The RCs are converted to the MS ¯ scheme and we compare the numerical results from using the two intermediate schemes. The lattice size is 4 83×96 and the inverse spacing 1 /a =1.730 (4 ) GeV .

Changes in intrarenal resistive index following electromagnetic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

PubMed

Mohseni, Mohammad Ghasem; H Khazaeli, Mahziar; Aghamir, Seyed Mohammad Kazem; Biniaz, Farzad

2007-01-01

Our aim was to study the changes in resistive index (RI) of the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys following electromagnetic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) of the kidney calculi. Using color Doppler ultrasonography, the RI was determined in 21 patients with unilateral caliceal and pelvic kidney calculi. The RI of the interlobar renal arteries were measured for the regions near and far from the calculi (distance, less and more than 2 cm), before, 30 minutes after, and 1 week after SWL. The same measurements were carried out for the contralateral kidney. Changes in the RI values and their relation with age were evaluated. The RI near the calculi increased 30 minutes after SWL from 0.594 +/- 0.062 to 0.620 +/- 0.048 (P = .003; 95% confidence interval, 0.020 to 0.073), but returned to the pre-SWL values 1 week later. The RI values of the region remote from the calculus and in the contralateral kidney did not change significantly. There was a weak correlation between age and the RI far from the calculus before and 1 week after SWL. There were no relationships between the RI and age, sex, weight, blood pressure, and smoking. The results suggest that SWL of the kidney calculi changes the RI only near the calculus which is immediate, transient, and not age-related.

Transplantation of autologously derived mitochondria protects the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury

PubMed Central

Masuzawa, Akihiro; Black, Kendra M.; Pacak, Christina A.; Ericsson, Maria; Barnett, Reanne J.; Drumm, Ciara; Seth, Pankaj; Bloch, Donald B.; Levitsky, Sidney; Cowan, Douglas B.

2013-01-01

Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction occur during ischemia and modulate cardiac function and cell survival significantly during reperfusion. We hypothesized that transplantation of autologously derived mitochondria immediately prior to reperfusion would ameliorate these effects. New Zealand White rabbits were used for regional ischemia (RI), which was achieved by temporarily snaring the left anterior descending artery for 30 min. Following 29 min of RI, autologously derived mitochondria (RI-mitochondria; 9.7 ± 1.7 × 106/ml) or vehicle alone (RI-vehicle) were injected directly into the RI zone, and the hearts were allowed to recover for 4 wk. Mitochondrial transplantation decreased (P < 0.05) creatine kinase MB, cardiac troponin-I, and apoptosis significantly in the RI zone. Infarct size following 4 wk of recovery was decreased significantly in RI-mitochondria (7.9 ± 2.9%) compared with RI-vehicle (34.2 ± 3.3%, P < 0.05). Serial echocardiograms showed that RI-mitochondria hearts returned to normal contraction within 10 min after reperfusion was started; however, RI-vehicle hearts showed persistent hypokinesia in the RI zone at 4 wk of recovery. Electrocardiogram and optical mapping studies showed that no arrhythmia was associated with autologously derived mitochondrial transplantation. In vivo and in vitro studies show that the transplanted mitochondria are evident in the interstitial spaces and are internalized by cardiomyocytes 2–8 h after transplantation. The transplanted mitochondria enhanced oxygen consumption, high-energy phosphate synthesis, and the induction of cytokine mediators and proteomic pathways that are important in preserving myocardial energetics, cell viability, and enhanced post-infarct cardiac function. Transplantation of autologously derived mitochondria provides a novel technique to protect the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury. PMID:23355340

Exposure to reactive intermediate-inducing drugs during pregnancy and the incident use of psychotropic medications among children.

PubMed

Tran, Yen-Hao; Groen, Henk; Bergman, Jorieke E H; Hak, Eelko; Wilffert, Bob

2017-03-01

Our study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to reactive intermediate (RI)-inducing drugs and the initiation of psychotropic medications among children. We designed a cohort study using a pharmacy prescription database. Pregnant women were considered exposed when they received a prescription of RI-inducing drugs. These drugs could be either used alone (RI+/FAA-) or combined with drugs exhibiting folic acid antagonism (FAA, RI+/FAA+). The reference group included pregnant women who did not receive any RI-inducing drugs or FAA drugs. We analyzed 4116 exposed and 30 422 reference pregnancies. The hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.27 (95%CI 1.15-1.41) for pregnancies exposed to RI-inducing drugs as a whole. Considering subgroups of RI-inducing drugs, prenatal exposure to both RI+/FAA+ and RI+/FAA- was associated with the children's initiation of psychotropic medications, HRs being 1.35 (95%CI 1.10-1.66) and 1.26 (1.13-1.41), respectively. The HRs were increased with prolonged exposure to RI-inducing drugs, especially in the first and second trimesters. In a detailed examination of the psychotropics, the incidences of receiving antimigraine preparations and psychostimulants were significantly increased for the exposed children, compared with the reference children. The incidences of receiving antipsychotics and hypnotics were also higher for the exposed children; however, the HRs did not reach significance after adjustment. We found a significantly increased incident use of psychotropic medications among children prenatally exposed to RI-inducing drugs, especially during the first and second trimesters. This suggests a detrimental effect during critical periods of brain development. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Scientific Considerations for Evaluating Cancer Bioassays Conducted by the Ramazzini Institute

PubMed Central

Caldwell, Jane C.; Jinot, Jennifer; Evans, Marina V.; Cote, Ila; Vandenberg, John J.

2013-01-01

Background: The Ramazzini Institute (RI) has completed nearly 400 cancer bioassays on > 200 compounds. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and others have suggested that study design and protocol differences between the RI and other laboratories by may contribute to controversy regarding cancer hazard findings, principally findings on lymphoma/leukemia diagnoses. Objective: We aimed to evaluate RI study design, protocol differences, and accuracy of tumor diagnoses for their impact on carcinogenic hazard characterization. Methods: We analyzed the findings from a recent Pathology Working Group (PWG) review of RI procedures and tumor diagnoses, evaluated consistency of RI and other laboratory findings for chemicals identified by the RI as positive for lymphoma/leukemia, and examined evidence for a number of other issues raised regarding RI bioassays. The RI cancer bioassay design and protocols were evaluated in the context of relevant risk assessment guidance from international authorities. Discussion: Although the PWG identified close agreement with RI diagnoses for most tumor types, it did not find close agreement for lymphoma/leukemia of the respiratory tract or for neoplasms of the inner ear and cranium. Here we discuss a) the implications of the PWG findings, particularly lymphoma diagnostic issues; b) differences between RI studies and those from other laboratories that are relevant to evaluating RI cancer bioassays; and c) future work that may help resolve some concerns. Conclusions: We concluded that a) issues related to respiratory tract infections have complicated diagnoses at that site (i.e., lymphoma/leukemia), as well as for neoplasms of the inner ear and cranium, and b) there is consistency and value in RI studies for identification of other chemical-related neoplasia. Citation: Gift JS, Caldwell JC, Jinot J, Evans MV, Cote I, Vandenberg JJ. 2013. Scientific considerations for evaluating cancer bioassays conducted by the Ramazzini Institute. Environ Health Perspect 121:1253–1263; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306661 PMID:24045135

Variability of tropical cyclone rapid intensification in the North Atlantic and its relationship with climate variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunzai; Wang, Xidong; Weisberg, Robert H.; Black, Michael L.

2017-12-01

The paper uses observational data from 1950 to 2014 to investigate rapid intensification (RI) variability of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the North Atlantic and its relationships with large-scale climate variations. RI is defined as a TC intensity increase of at least 15.4 m/s (30 knots) in 24 h. The seasonal RI distribution follows the seasonal TC distribution, with the highest number in September. Although an RI event can occur anywhere over the tropical North Atlantic (TNA), there are three regions of maximum RI occurrence: (1) the western TNA of 12°N-18°N and 60°W-45°W, (2) the Gulf of Mexico and the western Caribbean Sea, and (3) the open ocean southeast and east of Florida. RI events also show a minimum value in the eastern Caribbean Sea north of South America—a place called a hurricane graveyard due to atmospheric divergence and subsidence. On longer time scales, RI displays both interannual and multidecadal variability, but RI does not show a long-term trend due to global warming. The top three climate indices showing high correlations with RI are the June-November ENSO and Atlantic warm pool indices, and the January-March North Atlantic oscillation index. It is found that variabilities of vertical wind shear and TC heat potential are important for TC RI in the hurricane main development region, whereas relative humidity at 500 hPa is the main factor responsible for TC RI in the eastern TNA. However, the large-scale oceanic and atmospheric variables analyzed in this study do not show an important role in TC RI in the Gulf of Mexico and the open ocean southeast and east of Florida. This suggests that other factors such as small-scale changes of oceanic and atmospheric variables or TC internal processes may be responsible for TC RI in these two regions. Additionally, the analyses indicate that large-scale atmospheric and oceanic variables are not critical to TC genesis and formation; however, once a tropical depression forms, large-scale climate variations play a role in TC intensification.

Effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of exenatide

PubMed Central

Linnebjerg, Helle; Kothare, Prajakti A; Park, Soomin; Mace, Kenneth; Reddy, Shobha; Mitchell, Malcolm; Lins, Robert

2007-01-01

What is already known about this subject Nonclinical studies have shown that exenatide is primarily cleared by the renal system. It was not known to what degree the clinical pharmacokinetics and tolerability would be affected by increasing renal impairment (RI). What this study adds Patients with mild to moderate RI adequately tolerate current therapeutic doses of exenatide.However, exenatide is not recommended in patients with severe RI or end-stage renal disease. Aims To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and tolerability of a single exenatide dose in patients with renal impairment (RI). Methods Exenatide (5 or 10 µg) was injected subcutaneously in 31 subjects (one with Type 2 diabetes) stratified by renal function [Cockcroft–Gault creatinine clearance (CrCL), number of subjects]: normal (>80 ml min−1, n = 8), mild RI (51–80 ml min−1, n = 8), moderate RI (31–50 ml min−1, n = 7) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring haemodialysis (n = 8). PK data were combined with four previous single-dose studies in patients with Type 2 diabetes to explore the relationship of exenatide clearance (CLp/F) and CrCL. Results Mean half-life for healthy, mild RI, moderate RI and ESRD groups were 1.5, 2.1, 3.2 and 6.0 h, respectively. After combining data from multiple studies, least squares geometric means for CLp/F in subjects with normal renal function, mild RI, moderate RI and ESRD were 8.14, 5.19, 7.11 and 1.3 l h−1, respectively. Exenatide was generally well tolerated in the mild and moderate RI groups, but not in subjects with ESRD due to nausea and vomiting. Simulations of exenatide plasma concentrations also suggest patients with ESRD should have a propensity for poor tolerability at the lowest available therapeutic dosage (5 µg q.d.). Conclusions Since tolerability and PK changes were considered clinically acceptable in patients with mild to moderate RI, it would be appropriate to administer exenatide to these patients without dosage adjustment. However, poor tolerability and significant changes in PK make the currently available therapeutic doses (5 and 10 µg) unsuitable in severe RI or ESRD. PMID:17425627

Fluence inhomogeneities due to a ripple filter induced Moiré effect.

PubMed

Ringbæk, Toke Printz; Brons, Stephan; Naumann, Jakob; Ackermann, Benjamin; Horn, Julian; Latzel, Harald; Scheloske, Stefan; Galonska, Michael; Bassler, Niels; Zink, Klemens; Weber, Uli

2015-02-07

At particle therapy facilities with pencil beam scanning, the implementation of a ripple filter (RiFi) broadens the Bragg peak, so fewer energy steps from the accelerator are required for a homogeneous dose coverage of the planning target volume (PTV). However, sharply focusing the scanned pencil beams at the RiFi plane by ion optical settings can lead to a Moiré effect, causing fluence inhomogeneities at the isocenter. This has been experimentally proven at the Heidelberg Ionenstrahl-Therapiezentrum (HIT), Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Germany. 150 MeV u(-1) carbon-12 ions are used for irradiation with a 3 mm thick RiFi. The beam is focused in front of and as close to the RiFi plane as possible. The pencil beam width is estimated to be 0.78 mm at a 93 mm distance from the RiFi. Radiographic films are used to obtain the fluence profile 30 mm in front of the isocenter, 930 mm from the RiFi. The Monte Carlo (MC) code SHIELD-HIT12A is used to determine the RiFi-induced inhomogeneities in the fluence distribution at the isocenter for a similar setup, pencil beam widths at the RiFi plane ranging from σχ(RiFi to 1.2 mm and for scanning step sizes ranging from 1.5 to 3.7 mm. The beam application and monitoring system (BAMS) used at HIT is modelled and simulated. When the width of the pencil beams at the RiFi plane is much smaller than the scanning step size, the resulting inhomogeneous fluence distribution at the RiFi plane interfers with the inhomogeneous RiFi mass distribution and fluence inhomogeneity can be observed at the isocenter as large as an 8% deviation from the mean fluence. The inverse of the fluence ripple period at the isocenter is found to be the difference between the inverse of the RiFi period and the inverse of the scanning step size. We have been able to use MC simulations to reproduce the spacing of the ripple stripes seen in films irradiated at HIT. Our findings clearly indicate that pencil beams sharply focused near the RiFi plane result in fluence inhomogeneity at the isocenter. In the normal clinical application, such a setting should generally be avoided.

Fire Safety Tests for Spherical Resorcinol Formaldehyde Resin: Data Summary Report

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

Kim, Dong-Sang; Peterson, Reid A.; Schweiger, Michael J.

2012-07-30

A draft safety evaluation of the scenario for spherical resorcinol-formaldehyde (SRF) resin fire inside the ion exchange column was performed by the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Fire Safety organization. The result of this draft evaluation suggested a potential change of the fire safety classification for the Cesium Ion Exchange Process System (CXP) emergency elution vessels, equipment, and piping, which may be overly bounding based on the fire performance data from the manufacturer of the ion exchange resin selected for use at the WTP. To resolve this question, the fire properties of the SRF resin were measuredmore » by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), following the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard procedures, through a subcontract managed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). For some tests, the ASTM standard procedures were not entirely appropriate or practical for the SRF resin material, so the procedures were modified and deviations from the ASTM standard procedures were noted. This report summarizes the results of fire safety tests performed and reported by SwRI. The efforts by PNNL were limited to summarizing the test results provided by SwRI into one consolidated data report. All as-received SwRI reports are attached to this report in the Appendix. Where applicable, the precision and bias of each test method, as given by each ASTM standard procedure, are included and compared with the SwRI test results of the SRF resin.« less

Micrometric precision of prosthetic dental crowns obtained by optical scanning and computer-aided designing/computer-aided manufacturing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

das Neves, Flávio Domingues; de Almeida Prado Naves Carneiro, Thiago; do Prado, Célio Jesus; Prudente, Marcel Santana; Zancopé, Karla; Davi, Letícia Resende; Mendonça, Gustavo; Soares, Carlos José

2014-08-01

The current study evaluated prosthetic dental crowns obtained by optical scanning and a computer-aided designing/computer-aided manufacturing system using micro-computed tomography to compare the marginal fit. The virtual models were obtained with four different scanning surfaces: typodont (T), regular impressions (RI), master casts (MC), and powdered master casts (PMC). Five virtual models were obtained for each group. For each model, a crown was designed on the software and milled from feldspathic ceramic blocks. Micro-CT images were obtained for marginal gap measurements and the data were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test. The mean vertical misfit was T=62.6±65.2 μm; MC=60.4±38.4 μm; PMC=58.1±38.0 μm, and RI=89.8±62.8 μm. Considering a percentage of vertical marginal gap of up to 75 μm, the results were T=71.5%, RI=49.2%, MC=69.6%, and PMC=71.2%. The percentages of horizontal overextension were T=8.5%, RI=0%, MC=0.8%, and PMC=3.8%. Based on the results, virtual model acquisition by scanning the typodont (simulated mouth) or MC, with or without powder, showed acceptable values for the marginal gap. The higher result of marginal gap of the RI group suggests that it is preferable to scan this directly from the mouth or from MC.

Study for determination of industrial water corrosivity in Kashan Fajre Sepahan Galvanizing Mills during 2005-2006 Iran.

PubMed

Rabbani, D; Miranzadeh, M B; Motlagh, A Ahmadi

2008-01-01

This research was carried out in Kashan Fajre Sepahan Galvanizing mills (KFSGM) for evaluation of water corrosivity during 2005-2006. A total of 18 samples were taken from various points of the water supply system for testing the specific parameters and calculation Langelier Index (LI), Ryznar Index (RI) and Pukorious Index (PI). This research showed that in raw water (sand filter effluent) LI were positive as well as RI and PI were lower than 7 which means that mentioned water is not corrosive. Also LI in treated water by reverse osmosis process was negative and RI and PI were higher than 7, so, this water has corrosive properties. Finally, calculated indexes indicate that according to LI, conditioned water is not corrosive but based on RI and P. this water tend to corrosivity which this findings is compatible with literature review statement. So it is recommended that, for water conditioning addition of preservative chemicals to be continued but at the same time another alternatives such as pH adjustment, air stripping and deoxygenating, control of carbonate concentration and split flow treatment should be studied.

The oncoprotein c-ski functions as a direct antagonist of the transforming growth factor-{beta} type I receptor.

PubMed

Ferrand, Nathalie; Atfi, Azeddine; Prunier, Céline

2010-11-01

The oncoprotein c-Ski has been implicated in the negative regulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling owing to its ability to repress Smad transcriptional activity via recruitment of a transcriptional corepressor complex containing histone deacetylases. However, c-Ski has also been shown to localize to the cytoplasm, raising the interesting possibility that it might disable TGF-β signaling through alternative mechanisms. Here, we provide evidence that c-Ski can restrict TGF-β signaling by interacting directly with the activated TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI). We explored the physiologic relevance of the c-Ski/TβRI interaction and found that it can culminate in a constitutive association of TβRI with a nonfunctional R-Smad/Smad4 complex. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the interaction between c-Ski and TβRI might interfere with nuclear translocation of the R-Smad/Smad4 complex, thereby attenuating TGF-β signaling. Such a mechanism may play a crucial role in tumor progression, because many tumors that express high levels of c-Ski also display impaired nuclear accumulation of Smads. ©2010 AACR.

Comparing Change in Anterior Curvature after Corneal Cross-Linking Using Scanning-Slit and Scheimpflug Technology.

PubMed

Lang, Paul Z; Thulasi, Praneetha; Khandelwal, Sumitra S; Hafezi, Farhad; Randleman, J Bradley

2018-05-02

To evaluate the correlation between anterior axial curvature difference maps following corneal cross-linking (CXL) for progressive keratoconus obtained from Scheimpflug-based tomography and Placido-based topography. Between-devices reliability analysis of randomized clinical trial data METHODS: Corneal imaging was collected at a single center institution pre-operatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively using Scheimpflug-based tomography (Pentacam, Oculus Inc., Lynnwood, WA) and Scanning-slit, Placido-based topography (Orbscan II, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) in patients with progressive keratoconus receiving standard protocol CXL (3mW/cm 2 for 30 minutes). Regularization index (RI), absolute maximum keratometry (K Max), and change in (ΔK Max) were compared between the two devices at each time point. 51 eyes from 36 patients were evaluated at all time points. values were significantly different at all time points [56.01±5.3D Scheimpflug vs. 55.04±5.1D scanning-slit pre-operatively (p=0.003); 54.58±5.3D Scheimpflug vs. 53.12±4.9D scanning-slit at 12 months (p<0.0001)] but strongly correlated between devices (r=0.90-0.93) at all time points. The devices were not significantly different at any time point for either ΔK Max or RI but were poorly correlated at all time points (r=0.41-0.53 for ΔK Max, r=0.29-0.48 for RI). At 12 months, 95% LOA was 7.51D for absolute, 8.61D for ΔK Max, and 19.86D for RI. Measurements using Scheimpflug and scanning-slit Placido-based technology are correlated but not interchangeable. Both devices appear reasonable for separately monitoring the cornea's response to CXL; however, caution should be used when comparing results obtained with one measuring technology to the other. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 44051 - Submission for Review: Verification of Who Is Getting Payments, RI 38-107 and RI 38-147

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-22

.... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RI 38-107, Verification of Who is Getting Payments, is designed for use by the... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Verification of Who Is Getting Payments, RI... currently approved information collection request (ICR) 3206-0197, Verification of Who is Getting Payments...

Downscaling of Remotely Sensed Land Surface Temperature with multi-sensor based products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, J.; Baik, J.; Choi, M.

2016-12-01

Remotely sensed satellite data provides a bird's eye view, which allows us to understand spatiotemporal behavior of hydrologic variables at global scale. Especially, geostationary satellite continuously observing specific regions is useful to monitor the fluctuations of hydrologic variables as well as meteorological factors. However, there are still problems regarding spatial resolution whether the fine scale land cover can be represented with the spatial resolution of the satellite sensor, especially in the area of complex topography. To solve these problems, many researchers have been trying to establish the relationship among various hydrological factors and combine images from multi-sensor to downscale land surface products. One of geostationary satellite, Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), has Meteorological Imager (MI) and Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI). MI performing the meteorological mission produce Rainfall Intensity (RI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), and many others every 15 minutes. Even though it has high temporal resolution, low spatial resolution of MI data is treated as major research problem in many studies. This study suggests a methodology to downscale 4 km LST datasets derived from MI in finer resolution (500m) by using GOCI datasets in Northeast Asia. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) recognized as variable which has significant relationship with LST are chosen to estimate LST in finer resolution. Each pixels of NDVI and LST are separated according to land cover provided from MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to achieve more accurate relationship. Downscaled LST are compared with LST observed from Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) for assessing its accuracy. The downscaled LST results of this study, coupled with advantage of geostationary satellite, can be applied to observe hydrologic process efficiently.

Most Important Factors for the Implementation of Shared Decision Making in Sciatica Care: Ranking among Professionals and Patients

PubMed Central

Hofstede, Stefanie N.; van Bodegom-Vos, Leti; Wentink, Manon M.; Vleggeert-Lankamp, Carmen L. A.; Vliet Vlieland, Thea P. M.; de Mheen, Perla J. Marang-van

2014-01-01

Introduction Due to the increasing specialization of medical professionals, patients are treated by multiple disciplines. To ensure that delivered care is patient-centered, it is crucial that professionals and the patient together decide on treatment (shared decision making (SDM)). However, it is not known how SDM should be integrated in multidisciplinary practice. This study determines the most important factors for SDM implementation in sciatica care, as it is known that a prior inventory of factors is crucial to develop a successful implementation strategy. Methods 246 professionals (general practitioners, physical therapists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons) (30% response) and 155 patients (96% response) responded to an internet-based survey. Respondents ranked barriers and facilitators identified in previous interviews, on their importance using Maximum Difference Scaling. Feeding back the personal top 5 most important factors, each respondent indicated whether these factors were barriers or facilitators. Hierarchical Bayes estimation was used to estimate the relative importance (RI) of each factor. Results Professionals assigned the highest importance to: quality of professional-patient relationship (RI 4.87; CI 4.75–4.99); importance of quick recovery of patient (RI 4.83; CI 4.69–4.97); and knowledge about treatment options (RI 6.64; CI 4.53–4.74), which were reported as barrier and facilitator. Professionals working in primary care had a different ranking than those working in hospital care. Patients assigned the highest importance to: correct diagnosis by professionals (barrier, RI 8.19; CI 7.99–8.38); information provision about treatment options and potential harm and benefits (RI 7.87; CI 7.65–8.08); and explanation of the professional about the care trajectory (RI 7.16; CI 6.94–7.38), which were reported as barrier and facilitator. Conclusions Knowledge, information provision and a good relationship are the most important conditions for SDM perceived by both patients and professionals. These conditions are not restricted to one specific disease or health care system, because they are mostly professional or patient dependent and require healthcare professional training. PMID:24710328

Live Cells as Dynamic Laboratories: Time Lapse Raman Spectral Microscopy of Nanoparticles with Both IgE Targeting and pH-Sensing Functions

DOE PAGES

Nowak-Lovato, Kristy L.; Rector, Kirk D.

2012-01-01

Tmore » his review captures the use of live cells as dynamic microlaboratories through implementation of labeled nanoparticles (nanosensors) that have both sensing and targeting functions. he addition of 2,4-ε-dinitrophenol-L-lysine (DNP) as a FcεRI targeting ligand and 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPy) as a pH-sensing ligand enables spatial and temporal monitoring of FcεRI receptors and their pH environment within the endocytic pathway. o ensure reliability, the sensor is calibrated in vivo using the ionophore nigericin and standard buffer solutions to equilibrate the external [ H + ] concentration with that of the cell compartments. his review highlights the nanosensors, ability to traffic and respond to pH of receptor-bound nanosensors (1) at physiological temperature ( 37 ° C ) versus room temperature ( 25 ° C ) , (2) after pharmacological treatment with bafilomycin, an H + APase pump inhibitor, or amiloride, an inhibitor of Na + / H + exchange, and (3) in response to both temperature and pharmacological treatment. Whole-cell, time lapse images are demonstrated to show the ability to transform live cells into dynamic laboratories to monitor temporal and spatial endosomal pH. he versatility of these probes shows promise for future applications relevant to intracellular trafficking and intelligent drug design.« less

A multivariate and stochastic approach to identify key variables to rank dairy farms on profitability.

PubMed

Atzori, A S; Tedeschi, L O; Cannas, A

2013-05-01

The economic efficiency of dairy farms is the main goal of farmers. The objective of this work was to use routinely available information at the dairy farm level to develop an index of profitability to rank dairy farms and to assist the decision-making process of farmers to increase the economic efficiency of the entire system. A stochastic modeling approach was used to study the relationships between inputs and profitability (i.e., income over feed cost; IOFC) of dairy cattle farms. The IOFC was calculated as: milk revenue + value of male calves + culling revenue - herd feed costs. Two databases were created. The first one was a development database, which was created from technical and economic variables collected in 135 dairy farms. The second one was a synthetic database (sDB) created from 5,000 synthetic dairy farms using the Monte Carlo technique and based on the characteristics of the development database data. The sDB was used to develop a ranking index as follows: (1) principal component analysis (PCA), excluding IOFC, was used to identify principal components (sPC); and (2) coefficient estimates of a multiple regression of the IOFC on the sPC were obtained. Then, the eigenvectors of the sPC were used to compute the principal component values for the original 135 dairy farms that were used with the multiple regression coefficient estimates to predict IOFC (dRI; ranking index from development database). The dRI was used to rank the original 135 dairy farms. The PCA explained 77.6% of the sDB variability and 4 sPC were selected. The sPC were associated with herd profile, milk quality and payment, poor management, and reproduction based on the significant variables of the sPC. The mean IOFC in the sDB was 0.1377 ± 0.0162 euros per liter of milk (€/L). The dRI explained 81% of the variability of the IOFC calculated for the 135 original farms. When the number of farms below and above 1 standard deviation (SD) of the dRI were calculated, we found that 21 farms had dRI<-1 SD, 32 farms were between -1 SD and 0, 67 farms were between 0 and +1 SD, and 15 farms had dRI>+1 SD. The top 10% of the farms had a dRI greater than 0.170 €/L, whereas the bottom 10% farms had a dRI lower than 0.116 €/L. This stochastic approach allowed us to understand the relationships among the inputs of the studied dairy farms and to develop a ranking index for comparison purposes. The developed methodology may be improved by using more inputs at the dairy farm level and considering the actual cost to measure profitability. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

78 FR 55121 - Submission for Review: Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance for the School Year, RI...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-09

... Attendance for the School Year, RI 25-14 and Information; and Instructions for Completing the Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance for the School Year, RI 25-14A AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel...-0032, Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance For The School Year, RI 25-14; and Information...

Real part of refractive index measurement approach for absorbing liquid.

PubMed

Liu, Hao; Ye, Junwei; Yang, Kecheng; Xia, Min; Guo, Wenping; Li, Wei

2015-07-01

An algorithm based on use of a reflected refractometer to measure the real part of the refractive index (RI) for an absorbing liquid is presented. The absorption of liquid will blur the division between bright and dark regions on a Fresnel reflective curve. However, the reflective ratio at some incident angles that are less than the critical angle have little sensitivity to absorbability. Unlike common methods that extract RI from reflectivity in critical angle vicinity, the presented method acquires the real RI from reflective ratio at a subcritical angle. Supported by the theoretical analysis and experimental results on a reflected refractometer, we have achieved accuracy better than 3×10(-4) RIU on ink samples with absorption coefficient around 300  cm(-1). Additional tests on Alizarin yellow GG solutions prove that the subcritical algorithm is feasible and of high accuracy.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Tenofovir Alafenamide in HIV-Uninfected Subjects with Severe Renal Impairment

PubMed Central

Fordyce, Marshall; Garner, William; Vimal, Mona; Ling, Kah Hiing J.; Kearney, Brian P.; Ramanathan, Srinivasan

2016-01-01

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is an oral prodrug of tenofovir (TFV) that has greater stability in plasma than TFV disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and circulates as intact TAF, resulting in the direct and higher lymphatic loading of and exposure to TFV diphosphate, the active moiety. Unlike TFV, TAF is minimally eliminated in urine. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of TAF and TFV in HIV-uninfected subjects with severe renal impairment and matched healthy controls were evaluated. Subjects with severe renal impairment (RI; estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], 15 to 29 ml/min) and controls (eGFR, ≥90 ml/min) matched for age, gender, and body mass index received a single dose of TAF at 25 mg. Blood and urine samples for TAF and TFV PK determinations were collected over 7 days postdosing, and subjects were followed up at 14 days. A total of 14 renally impaired subjects and 13 control subjects enrolled and completed the study. The TAF maximum observed concentration in plasma (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) extrapolated to infinite time (AUCinf) were 79% and 92% higher, respectively, in subjects with severe RI than the controls, primarily due to higher absorption. The TFV Cmax and AUCinf were 2.8-fold and 5.7-fold higher, respectively, in subjects with severe RI than the controls. In subjects with severe RI, TAF at 25 mg provided a TFV AUC 10 to 40% lower than that from historical TDF-based TFV exposures in subjects with normal renal function. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events. In subjects with severe RI receiving TAF at 25 mg, TAF exposures were higher than those for the controls; these differences are unlikely to be clinically meaningful. TFV exposures were higher than those for the controls but lower than the exposures in nonrenally impaired subjects on TDF-based regimens. PMID:27216057

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Tenofovir Alafenamide in HIV-Uninfected Subjects with Severe Renal Impairment.

PubMed

Custodio, Joseph M; Fordyce, Marshall; Garner, William; Vimal, Mona; Ling, Kah Hiing J; Kearney, Brian P; Ramanathan, Srinivasan

2016-09-01

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is an oral prodrug of tenofovir (TFV) that has greater stability in plasma than TFV disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and circulates as intact TAF, resulting in the direct and higher lymphatic loading of and exposure to TFV diphosphate, the active moiety. Unlike TFV, TAF is minimally eliminated in urine. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of TAF and TFV in HIV-uninfected subjects with severe renal impairment and matched healthy controls were evaluated. Subjects with severe renal impairment (RI; estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], 15 to 29 ml/min) and controls (eGFR, ≥90 ml/min) matched for age, gender, and body mass index received a single dose of TAF at 25 mg. Blood and urine samples for TAF and TFV PK determinations were collected over 7 days postdosing, and subjects were followed up at 14 days. A total of 14 renally impaired subjects and 13 control subjects enrolled and completed the study. The TAF maximum observed concentration in plasma (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) extrapolated to infinite time (AUCinf) were 79% and 92% higher, respectively, in subjects with severe RI than the controls, primarily due to higher absorption. The TFV Cmax and AUCinf were 2.8-fold and 5.7-fold higher, respectively, in subjects with severe RI than the controls. In subjects with severe RI, TAF at 25 mg provided a TFV AUC 10 to 40% lower than that from historical TDF-based TFV exposures in subjects with normal renal function. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events. In subjects with severe RI receiving TAF at 25 mg, TAF exposures were higher than those for the controls; these differences are unlikely to be clinically meaningful. TFV exposures were higher than those for the controls but lower than the exposures in nonrenally impaired subjects on TDF-based regimens. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Comparison of Expressed Candidate Secreted Proteins from Two Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Unravels Common and Specific Molecular Tools to Invade Different Host Plants

PubMed Central

Kamel, Laurent; Tang, Nianwu; Malbreil, Mathilde; San Clemente, Hélène; Le Marquer, Morgane; Roux, Christophe; Frei dit Frey, Nicolas

2017-01-01

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), belonging to the fungal phylum Glomeromycota, form mutualistic symbioses with roots of almost 80% of land plants. The release of genomic data from the ubiquitous AMF Rhizophagus irregularis revealed that this species possesses a large set of putative secreted proteins (RiSPs) that could be of major importance for establishing the symbiosis. In the present study, we aimed to identify SPs involved in the establishment of AM symbiosis based on comparative gene expression analyses. We first curated the secretome of the R. irregularis DAOM 197198 strain based on two available genomic assemblies. Then we analyzed the expression patterns of the putative RiSPs obtained from the fungus in symbiotic association with three phylogenetically distant host plants—a monocot, a dicot and a liverwort—in comparison with non-symbiotic stages. We found that 33 out of 84 RiSPs induced in planta were commonly up-regulated in these three hosts. Most of these common RiSPs are small proteins of unknown function that may represent putative host non-specific effector proteins. We further investigated the expressed secretome of Gigaspora rosea, an AM fungal species phylogenetically distant from R. irregularis. G. rosea also presents original symbiotic features, a narrower host spectrum and a restrictive geographic distribution compared to R. irregularis. Interestingly, when analyzing up-regulated G. rosea SPs (GrSPs) in different hosts, a higher ratio of host-specific GrSPs was found compared to RiSPs. Such difference of expression patterns may mirror the restrained host spectrum of G. rosea compared to R. irregularis. Finally, we identified a set of conserved SPs, commonly up-regulated by both fungi in all hosts tested, that could correspond to common keys of AMF to colonize host plants. Our data thus highlight the specificities of two distant AM fungi and help in understanding their conserved and specific strategies to invade different hosts. PMID:28223991

A Three-Stage Colonel Blotto Game with Applications to Cyber-Physical Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-15

joint measure over the space Ri. Let µi ∈ ℘(Ri) be the strategy of Player i. Then, we let Prk #µi denote the marginal of µi on the k th battlefield. A...solely on the marginal distributions ( Prk #µ1,Pr k #µ2). The resources available to the players and the number of battlefields are common knowledge...Ri) → 2℘(Ri) denote a set-valued map (correspon- dence), defined as Ψi(µi) := { µ̃i ∈ ℘(Ri) : supp(µ̃i) = supp(µi) and Prk #µ̃i = Pr k #µi for all k

Symmetry of oculomotor burst neuron coordinates about Listing's plane.

PubMed

Crawford, J D; Vilis, T

1992-08-01

1. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the axes of eye rotation generated by oculomotor burst neuron populations and the coordinate system that they collectively define. In particular, we asked if such coordinates might be related to constraints in the emergent behavior, i.e., Listing's law for saccades. 2. The mesencephalic rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF) was identified in four monkeys with the use of single-unit recording, and then explored with the use of electrical microstimulation and pharmacological inactivation with the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist muscimol. Three-dimensional (3-D) eye positions and velocities were recorded in one or both eyes while alert animals made eye movements in response to visual stimuli and head rotation. 3. Unilateral stimulation of the riMLF (20 microA, 200 Hz, 300-600 ms) produced conjugate, constant velocity eye rotations, which then stopped abruptly and held their final positions. This is expected if the riMLF produces phasic signals upstream from the oculomotor integrator. 4. Units that burst before upward or downward saccades were recorded intermingled in each side of the riMLF. Unilateral stimulation of the same riMLF sites produced eye rotations about primarily torsional axes, clockwise (CW) during right riMLF stimulation and counterclockwise (CCW) during left stimulation. Only small and inconsistent vertical components were observed, supporting the view that the riMLF carries intermingled up and down signals. 5. The torsional axes of eye rotation produced by riMLF stimulation did not correlate to external anatomic landmarks. Instead, stimulation axes from both riMLF sides aligned with the primary gaze direction orthogonal to Listing's plane of eye positions recorded during saccades. 6. Injection of muscimol into one side of the riMLF produced a conjugate deficit in saccades and quick phases, including a 50% reduction in all vertical velocities and complete loss of one torsional direction. CW was lost after right riMLF inactivation, and CCW was lost after left inactivation. 7. The plane that separated the intact torsional axes from the missing axes correlated with the orientation of Listing's plane. Thus, during left or right riMLF inactivation, the vertical axes of intact horizontal saccades were abnormally aligned with Listing's plane. The orientation of these axes was not correlated with external anatomic landmarks. 8. As suggested by their alignment with Listing's plane, the intact vertical axes of horizontal saccades following riMLF inactivation were orthogonal to torsional riMLF stimulation axes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A Novel Locomotion-based Validation Assay for Candidate Drugs Using Drosophila DYT1 Disease Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

rescue the locomotion defects of Drosophila larvae caused by the expression of human torsinAΔE. These results demonstrated that human torsinA can... Drosophila dtorsin∆D transgenic lines dtorsin∆E and dtorsin∆D cDNA constructs were made from the wild type dtorsin cDNA using QuikChange II XL Site...After confirming mutated sequences , the insert was again cut out with EcoRI and NotI and inserted between EcoRI and NotI sites of pUAST [2] to produce

U.S. Army Base Closure Program, Final Decision Document, Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-11-01

POTENTIAL CONCERN AT THE CAMERON STATION SITE TABLE 2-7 CHEMICALS CONTRIBUTING TO EXCESS CANCER RISK AT A PATHWAY LEVEL OF 1E-6 OR GREATER TABLE 2-8...CANCER RISK AT A PATHWAY LEVEL OF 1E-6 OR GREATER TABLE 2-8 SUMMARY OF DETAILED ANALYSIS OU-1 PCB TRANSFORMER SERVICE, STORAGE AND SPILL AREAS TABLE 2-9...Restrictions MCL Maximum Contaminant Level mg milligram 3001riOOh:bfsrod~acronyms.Ri November 18, 1993 v LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS, CONTINUED O&M

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Endothelial Cells Overexpressing Interleukin‐8 Receptors A/B and/or C‐C Chemokine Receptors 2/5 Inhibit Vascular Injury Response

PubMed Central

Giordano, Samantha; Zhao, Xiangmin; Chen, Yiu‐Fai; Litovsky, Silvio H.; Hage, Fadi G.; Townes, Tim M.; Sun, Chiao‐Wang; Wu, Li‐Chen; Oparil, Suzanne

2017-01-01

Abstract Recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages to the site of vascular injury is mediated by binding of chemoattractants to interleukin (IL) 8 receptors RA and RB (IL8RA/B) C‐C chemokine receptors (CCR) 2 and 5 expressed on neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage membranes. Endothelial cells (ECs) derived from rat‐induced pluripotent stem cells (RiPS) were transduced with adenovirus containing cDNA of IL8RA/B and/or CCR2/5. We hypothesized that RiPS‐ECs overexpressing IL8RA/B (RiPS‐IL8RA/B‐ECs), CCR2/5 (RiPS‐CCR2/5‐ECs), or both receptors (RiPS‐IL8RA/B+CCR2/5‐ECs) will inhibit inflammatory responses and neointima formation in balloon‐injured rat carotid artery. Twelve‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent balloon injury of the right carotid artery and intravenous infusion of (a) saline vehicle, (b) control RiPS‐Null‐ECs (ECs transduced with empty virus), (c) RiPS‐IL8RA/B‐ECs, (d) RiPS‐CCR2/5‐ECs, or (e) RiPS‐IL8RA/B+CCR2/5‐ECs. Inflammatory mediator expression and leukocyte infiltration were measured in injured and uninjured arteries at 24 hours postinjury by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Neointima formation was assessed at 14 days postinjury. RiPS‐ECs expressing the IL8RA/B or CCR2/5 homing device targeted the injured arteries and decreased injury‐induced inflammatory cytokine expression, neutrophil/macrophage infiltration, and neointima formation. Transfused RiPS‐ECs overexpressing IL8RA/B and/or CCR2/5 prevented inflammatory responses and neointima formation after vascular injury. Targeted delivery of iPS‐ECs with a homing device to inflammatory mediators in injured arteries provides a novel strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1168–1177 PMID:28233474

ENVRIplus - European collaborative development of environmental infrastructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asmi, A.; Brus, M.; Kutsch, W. L.; Laj, P.

2016-12-01

European Research Infrastructures (RI) are built using ESFRI process, which dictates the steps towards a common European RIs. Building each RI separately creates unnessary barriers towards service users (e.g. on differing standards) and is not effiicient in e.g. e-science tool or data system development. To answer these inter-RI issues, the European Commission has funded several large scale cluster projectsto bring these RIs together already in planning and development phases to develop common tools, standards and methodologies, as well as learn from the exisiting systems. ENVRIplus is the cluster project for the environmental RIs in Europe, and provides platform for common development and sharing within the RI community. The project is organized around different themes, each having several workpackages with specific tasks. Major themesof the ENVRIplus are: Technical innovation, including tasks such as RI technology transfer, new observation techniques, autonomous operation, etc.; Data for science, with tasks such as RI reference model development, data discovery and citation, data publication, processing, etc.; Access to RIs, with specific tasks on interdicplinary and transnational access to RI services, and common access governance; Societal relevance and understanding, tackling on ethical issues on RI operations and understanding on human-environmental system and citizen science approaches, among others; Knowledge transfer, particularly between the RIs, and with developing RI organizations, organizing training and staff exchange; and Communication and dissemination, working towards a common environmental RI community (ENVRI community platform), and creating an own advisory RI discussion board (BEERi), and disseminating the ENVRIplus products globally. Importantly, all ENVRIplus results are open to any users from any country. Also, collaboration with international RIs and user communities are crucial to the success of the ENVRI initiatives. Overall goal is to do science globally, to answer global and regional critical challenges. The presentation will not only present the project, its state after nearly 2 years of operation, but will alsop present ideas towards building international and even more interdiciplinary collaboration on research infrastructures and their users.

A Numerical Study of the Rapid Intensification of Typhoon Bopha (2012)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Y.; Wang, Y.

2014-12-01

Typhoon Bopha (2012) originated unusually close to the equator and underwent three periods of rapid intensification (RI) during its lifetime. It made landfall on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao as a Category 5 super typhoon and caused widespread destruction and over 600 deaths. In this study, the first 24-h RI process was reproduced reasonably well using the Advanced Research and Weather Forecasting model (ARW-WRF) with large-scale spectral nudging to ensure a good track simulation. Processes responsible for the RI were analyzed. On the large scale, environmental vertical wind shear (VWS) stays below 6ms-1 throughout RI. On the storm scale, the simulated Bopha eyewall starts to contract rapidly 18 h before RI; and the radius of maximum wind (RMW) has shrunk from 40km to 20km by the end of RI. During RI, near the RMW, azimuthal mean tangential wind, radial wind and inertial stability increase rapidly, indicating a positive feedback between primary and secondary circulation. On the convective scale, in the presence of low shear, the rapid growth of the convective bursts (CBs) at the onset and early stages of RI is most likely buoyantly driven. It is suggested that as inflows continue to penetrate into the core, the supergradient winds start to transport high θe air from the eye to the eyewall, increasing the buoyancy and supporting the CBs. The high θ air detrained from the lower stratosphere surrounding the tall CBs can possibly contribute to the upper tropospheric warming and the RI onset. Trajectory analysis is currently being performed to further demonstrate this eye-eyewall exchange that leads to the onset of RI.

Identify Structural Flaw Location and Type with an Inverse Algorithm of Resonance Inspection

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

Xu, Wei; Lai, Canhai; Sun, Xin

To evaluate the fitness-for-service of a structural component and to quantify its remaining useful life, aging and service-induced structural flaws must be quantitatively determined in service or during scheduled maintenance shutdowns. Resonance inspection (RI), a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique, distinguishes the anomalous parts from the good parts based on changes in the natural frequency spectra. Known for its numerous advantages, i.e., low inspection cost, high testing speed, and broad applicability to complex structures, RI has been widely used in the automobile industry for quality inspection. However, compared to other contemporary direct visualization-based NDE methods, a more widespread application of RImore » faces a fundamental challenge because such technology is unable to quantify the flaw details, e.g. location, dimensions, and types. In this study, the applicability of a maximum correlation-based inverse RI algorithm developed by the authors is further studied for various flaw cases. It is demonstrated that a variety of common structural flaws, i.e. stiffness degradation, voids, and cracks, can be accurately retrieved by this algorithm even when multiple different types of flaws coexist. The quantitative relations between the damage identification results and the flaw characteristics are also developed to assist the evaluation of the actual state of health of the engineering structures.« less

RiArsB and RiMT-11: Two novel genes induced by arsenate in arbuscular mycorrhiza.

PubMed

Maldonado-Mendoza, Ignacio E; Harrison, Maria J

Plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase their tolerance to arsenic-polluted soils. This study aims to investigate the genes involved in the AMF molecular response to arsenic pollution. Genes encoding proteins involved in arsenic metabolism were identified and their expression assessed by PCR or RT-qPCR. The As-inducible gene GiArsA (R. irregularis ABC ATPase component of the ArsAB arsenite efflux pump) and two new genes, an arsenate/arsenite permease component of ArsAB (RiArsB) and a methyltransferase type 11 (RiMT-11) were induced when arsenate was added to two-compartment in vitro monoxenic cultures of R. irregularis-transformed carrot roots. RiArsB and RiMT-11 expression in extraradical hyphae in response to arsenate displayed maximum induction 4-6 h after addition of 350 μM arsenate. Their expression was also detected in colonized root tissues grown in pots, or in the root-fungus compartment of two-compartment in vitro systems. We used a Medicago truncatula double mutant (mtpt4/mtpt8) to demonstrate that RiMT-11 and RiArsB transcripts accumulate in response to the addition of arsenate but not in response to phosphate. These results suggest that these genes respond to arsenate addition regardless of non-functional Pi symbiotic transport, and that RiMT-11 may be involved in arsenate detoxification by methylation in AMF-colonized tissues. Copyright © 2017 British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.

Effects of Renal Ischemic Postconditioning on Myocardial Ultrastructural Organization and Myocardial Expression of Bcl-2/Bax in Rabbits

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wen-zhong; Li, Rong; Liu, Song; Ning, Xian-feng; Cai, Shang-lang

2016-01-01

We investigated the cardioprotective effect of renal ischemic postconditioning (RI-PostC) and its mechanisms in a rabbit model. Rabbits underwent 60 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion (LADO) and 6 h of reperfusion. The ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group underwent LADO and reperfusion only. In the RI-PostC group, the left renal artery underwent 3 cycles of occlusion for 30 seconds and release for 30 seconds, before the coronary artery was reperfused. In the RI-PostC + GF109203X group, the rabbits received 0.05 mg/kg GF109203X (protein kinase C inhibitor) intravenously for 10 min followed by RI-PostC. Light microscopy and electron microscopy demonstrated that the RI-PostC group showed less pronounced changes, a smaller infarct region, and less apoptosis than the other two groups. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression did not differ between the IR and RI-PostC + GF109203X groups. However, in the RI-PostC group, Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly higher and Bax protein expression was significantly lower than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Changes in heart rate and mean arterial pressure were also smaller in the RI-PostC group than in the other two groups. These results indicate that RI-PostC can ameliorate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio through a mechanism involving protein kinase C. PMID:28097153

The challenge of developing ethical guidelines for a research infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kutsch, Werner Leo

2016-04-01

The mission of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS RI) is to enable research to understand the greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets and perturbations. The ICOS RI provides the long-term observations required to understand the present state and predict future behaviour of the global carbon cycle and GHG emissions. Technological developments and implementations, related to GHGs, will be promoted by the linking of research, education and innovation. In order to provide this data ICOS RI is a distributed research infrastructure. The backbones of ICOS RI are the national measurement stations such as ICOS atmosphere, ecosystem and ocean stations. ICOS Central Facilities are the European level ICOS RI Centres, which have the specific tasks in collecting and processing the data and samples received from the national measurement networks. During the establishment of ICOS RI ethical guidelines were developed. These guidelines describe principles of ethics in the research activities that should be applied within ICOS RI. They should be acknowledged and followed by all researchers affiliated to ICOS RI and should be supported by all participating institutions. The presentation describes (1) the general challenge to develop ethical guidelines in a complex international infrastructure and (2) gives an overview about the content that includes different kinds of conflicts of interests, data ethics and social responsibility.

Analysis of DNA Cytosine Methylation Patterns Using Methylation-Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP).

PubMed

Guevara, María Ángeles; de María, Nuria; Sáez-Laguna, Enrique; Vélez, María Dolores; Cervera, María Teresa; Cabezas, José Antonio

2017-01-01

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technique (MSAP) which is a modification of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). It has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plants, and animal species. The main variation of this technique resides on the use of isoschizomers with different methylation sensitivity (such as HpaII and MspI) as a frequent-cutter restriction enzyme. For each sample, MSAP analysis is performed using both EcoRI/HpaII- and EcoRI/MspI-digested samples. A comparative analysis between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI fragment patterns allows the identification of two types of polymorphisms: (1) methylation-insensitive polymorphisms that show common EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns but are detected as polymorphic amplified fragments among samples and (2) methylation-sensitive polymorphisms which are associated with the amplified fragments that differ in their presence or absence or in their intensity between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns. This chapter describes a detailed protocol of this technique and discusses the modifications that can be applied to adjust the technology to different species of interest.

Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans.

PubMed

Youssef, Nagy A; Boswell, Elizabeth; Fiedler, Shashana; Jump, Rebecca; Lee, Elizabeth; Yassa, Mark; Khan, Fazal; Pathiraja, Ananda; Rizk, David; Pearce, Michelle; O'Garo, Keisha; Currier, Joseph M; Koenig, Harold G

2018-05-01

Traumatic experiences can cause ethical conflicts. "Moral injury" (MI) has been used to describe this emotional/cognitive state, and could contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or block its recovery. We examine the relationship between MI and PTSD, and the impact of religious involvement (RI) on that relationship. We conducted a study of 120 veterans enrolled at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Standard measures of PTSD symptoms, MI, and RI were administered. Regression models were used to examine correlates of PTSD symptoms and the moderating or mediating effects of RI. A strong relationship was found between MI and PTSD symptoms (r = 0.54, P ≤ .0001), and between MI and RI (r = -.41, P ≤ .0001), but only a weak relationship was found between RI and PTSD symptoms (r = -.17, P = .058). RI did not mediate or moderate the relationship between MI and PTSD symptoms in the overall sample. However, among non-Middle Eastern war theater veterans, a significant buffering effect of religiosity was found. MI has a strong positive relationship with PTSD symptoms and an inverse relationship with RI. RI did not mediate or moderate the relationship between MI and PTSD in the overall sample, but it moderated this relationship in non-Middle Eastern war theater veterans.

Young Engineers & Scientists (YES) - Engaging Teachers in Space Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boice, D. C.; Reiff, P. H.

2011-12-01

The Young Engineers and Scientists (YES) Program is a community partnership between Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and local high schools in San Antonio. It provides talented high school juniors and seniors a bridge between classroom instruction and real world, research experiences in physical sciences, information sciences, and engineering. YES consists of two parts: 1) An intensive three-week summer workshop held at SwRI where students experience the research environment first-hand; develop skills and acquire tools for solving scientific problems, attend mini-courses and seminars on electronics, C++ programming, the Internet, careers, science ethics, social impact of technology, and other topics; and select their individual research project with their mentor (SwRI staff member) to be completed during the academic year; and 2) A collegial mentorship where students complete individual research projects under the guidance of their mentors and teachers during the academic year and earn honors credit. At the end of the school year, students publicly present and display their work, acknowledging their accomplishments and spreading career awareness to other students and teachers. YES has been highly successful during the past nineteen (19) years. A total of 258 students have completed or are currently enrolled in YES. Of these students, 38% are females and 57% are ethnic minorities, reflecting the local diversity of the San Antonio area. All YES graduates have entered college, several work or have worked for SwRI, two businesses have formed, and three scientific publications have resulted. Sixteen (16) teacher participants have attended the YES workshop and have developed classroom materials based on their experiences in research at SwRI in the past three (3) years. In recognition of its excellence, YES received the Celebrate Success in 1996 and the Outstanding Campus Partner-of-the-Year Award in 2005, both from Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, Texas). Acknowledgments: We are grateful for support from the NASA MMS Mission E/PO Grant, SwRI, Northside Independent School District, and local charitable foundations.

The Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC): Linking Climate Literacy, Resilience Thinking and Service Learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Branco, B. F.; Fano, E.; Adams, J.; Shon, L.; Zimmermann, A.; Sioux, H.; Gillis, A.

2017-12-01

Public schools and youth voices are largely absent from climate resilience planning and projects in New York City. Additionally, research shows that U.S. science teachers' understanding of climate science is lacking, hence there is not only an urgent need to train and support teachers on both the science and pedagogy of climate change, but to link climate literacy, resilience thinking and service learning in K-12 education. However, research on participation of students and teachers in authentic, civic-oriented experiences points to increased engagement and learning outcomes in science. The Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC) Project will address all these needs through an afterschool program in six coastal Brooklyn schools that engages teachers and urban youth (grades 6-12), in school and community climate resilience assessment and project design. The RiSC climate curriculum, co-designed by New York City school teachers with Brooklyn College, the National Wildlife Federation, New York Sea Grant and the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, will begin by helping students to understand the difference between climate and weather. The curriculum makes extensive use of existing resources such as NOAA's Digital Coast and the Coastal Resilience Mapping Portal. Through a series of four modules over two school years, the six RiSC teams will; 1. explore and understand the human-induced drivers of climate change and, particularly, the significant climate and extreme weather related risks to their schools and surrounding communities; 2. complete a climate vulnerability assessment within the school and the community that is aligned to OneNYC - the city's resilience planning document; 3. design and execute a school-based resilience project; and 4. propose resilience guidelines for NYC Department of Education schools. At the end of each school year, the six RiSC teams will convene a RiSC summit with city officials and resilience practitioners to share ideas and experiences.

A record of large earthquakes on the southern Hayward fault for the past 1800 years

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lienkaemper, J.J.; Williams, P.L.

2007-01-01

This is the second article presenting evidence of the occurrence and timing of paleoearthquakes on the southern Hayward fault as interpreted from trenches excavated within a sag pond at the Tyson's Lagoon site in Fremont, California. We use the information to estimate the mean value and aperiodicity of the fault's recurrence interval (RI): two fundamental parameters for estimation of regional seismic hazard. An earlier article documented the four most recent earthquakes, including the historic 1868 earthquake. In this article we present evidence for at least seven earlier paleoruptures since about A.D. 170. We document these events with evidence for ground rupture, such as the presence of blocky colluvium at the base of the main trace fault scarp, and by corroborating evidence such as simultaneous liquefaction or an increase in deformation immediately below event horizons. The mean RI is 170 ?? 82 yr (1??, standard deviation of the sample), aperiodicity is 0.48, and individual intervals may be expected to range from 30 to 370 yr (95.4% confidence). The mean RI is consistent with the recurrence model of the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (2003) (mean, 161 yr; range, 99 yr [2.5%]; 283 yr [97.5%]). We note that the mean RI for the five most recent events may have been only 138 ?? 58 yr (1??). Hypothesis tests for the shorter RI do not demonstrate that any recent acceleration has occurred compared to the earlier period or the entire 1800-yr record, principally because of inherent uncertainties of the event ages.

Combinations of Quality and Frequency of Immunization Activities to Stop and Prevent Poliovirus Transmission in the High-Risk Area of Northwest Nigeria

PubMed Central

Duintjer Tebbens, Radboud J.; Pallansch, Mark A.; Wassilak, Steven G. F.; Cochi, Stephen L.; Thompson, Kimberly M.

2015-01-01

Background Frequent supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) with the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) represent the primary strategy to interrupt poliovirus transmission in the last endemic areas. Materials and Methods Using a differential-equation based poliovirus transmission model tailored to high-risk areas in Nigeria, we perform one-way and multi-way sensitivity analyses to demonstrate the impact of different assumptions about routine immunization (RI) and the frequency and quality of SIAs on population immunity to transmission and persistence or emergence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) after OPV cessation. Results More trivalent OPV use remains critical to avoid serotype 2 cVDPVs. RI schedules with or without inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) could significantly improve population immunity if coverage increases well above current levels in under-vaccinated subpopulations. Similarly, the impact of SIAs on overall population immunity and cVDPV risks depends on their ability to reach under-vaccinated groups (i.e., SIA quality). Lower SIA coverage in the under-vaccinated subpopulation results in a higher frequency of SIAs needed to maintain high enough population immunity to avoid cVDPVs after OPV cessation. Conclusions National immunization program managers in northwest Nigeria should recognize the benefits of increasing RI and SIA quality. Sufficiently improving RI coverage and improving SIA quality will reduce the frequency of SIAs required to stop and prevent future poliovirus transmission. Better information about the incremental costs to identify and reach under-vaccinated children would help determine the optimal balance between spending to increase SIA and RI quality and spending to increase SIA frequency. PMID:26068928

Combinations of Quality and Frequency of Immunization Activities to Stop and Prevent Poliovirus Transmission in the High-Risk Area of Northwest Nigeria.

PubMed

Duintjer Tebbens, Radboud J; Pallansch, Mark A; Wassilak, Steven G F; Cochi, Stephen L; Thompson, Kimberly M

2015-01-01

Frequent supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) with the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) represent the primary strategy to interrupt poliovirus transmission in the last endemic areas. Using a differential-equation based poliovirus transmission model tailored to high-risk areas in Nigeria, we perform one-way and multi-way sensitivity analyses to demonstrate the impact of different assumptions about routine immunization (RI) and the frequency and quality of SIAs on population immunity to transmission and persistence or emergence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) after OPV cessation. More trivalent OPV use remains critical to avoid serotype 2 cVDPVs. RI schedules with or without inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) could significantly improve population immunity if coverage increases well above current levels in under-vaccinated subpopulations. Similarly, the impact of SIAs on overall population immunity and cVDPV risks depends on their ability to reach under-vaccinated groups (i.e., SIA quality). Lower SIA coverage in the under-vaccinated subpopulation results in a higher frequency of SIAs needed to maintain high enough population immunity to avoid cVDPVs after OPV cessation. National immunization program managers in northwest Nigeria should recognize the benefits of increasing RI and SIA quality. Sufficiently improving RI coverage and improving SIA quality will reduce the frequency of SIAs required to stop and prevent future poliovirus transmission. Better information about the incremental costs to identify and reach under-vaccinated children would help determine the optimal balance between spending to increase SIA and RI quality and spending to increase SIA frequency.

Routine Immunization Consultant Program in Nigeria: A Qualitative Review of a Country-Driven Management Approach for Health Systems Strengthening.

PubMed

O'Connell, Meghan; Wonodi, Chizoba

2016-03-01

Since 2002, the Nigerian government has deployed consultants to states to provide technical assistance for routine immunization (RI). RI consultants are expected to play a role in supportive supervision of health facility staff, capacity building, advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation. We conducted a retrospective review of the RI consultant program's strengths and weaknesses in 7 states and at the national level from June to September 2014 using semi-structured interviews and online surveys. Participants included RI consultants, RI program leaders, and implementers purposively drawn from national, state, and local government levels. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from the interviews, which were triangulated with results from the quantitative surveys. At the time of data collection, 23 of 36 states and the federal capital territory had an RI consultant. Of the 7 states visited during the study, only 3 states had present and visibly working consultants. We conducted 84 interviews with 101 participants across the 7 states and conducted data analysis on 70 interviews (with 82 individuals) that had complete data. Among the full sample of interview respondents (N = 101), most (66%) were men with an average age of 49 years (±5.6), and the majority were technical officers (63%) but a range of other roles were also represented, including consultants (22%), directors (13%), and health workers (2%). Fifteen consultants and 44 program leaders completed the online surveys. Interview data from the 3 states with active RI consultants indicated that the consultants' main contribution was supportive supervision at the local level, particularly for collecting and using RI data for decision making. They also acted as effective advocates for RI funding. In states without an RI consultant, gaps were highlighted in data management capacity and in monitoring of RI funds. Program design strengths: the broad terms of reference and autonomy of the consultants allowed work to be tailored to the local context; consultants were often integrated into state RI teams but could also work independently when necessary; and recruitment of experienced consultants with strong professional networks, familiarity with the local context, and ability to speak the local language facilitated advocacy efforts. Key programmatic challenges were related to inadequate and inconsistent inputs (salaries, transportation means, and dedicated office space) and gaps in communication between consultants and national leadership and in management of consultants, including lack of performance feedback, lack of formal orientation at inception, and no clear job performance targets. While weaknesses in managerial and material inputs affect current performance of RI consultants in Nigeria, the design of the RI consultant program employs a unique problem-focused, locally led model of development assistance that could prove valuable in strengthening the capacity of the government to implement such technical assistance on its own. Despite the lack of uniform deployment and implementation of RI consultants across the country, some consultants appear to have contributed to improved RI services through supportive supervision, capacity building, and advocacy. © O’Connell and Wonodi.

Routine Immunization Consultant Program in Nigeria: A Qualitative Review of a Country-Driven Management Approach for Health Systems Strengthening

PubMed Central

O’Connell, Meghan; Wonodi, Chizoba

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Since 2002, the Nigerian government has deployed consultants to states to provide technical assistance for routine immunization (RI). RI consultants are expected to play a role in supportive supervision of health facility staff, capacity building, advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the RI consultant program’s strengths and weaknesses in 7 states and at the national level from June to September 2014 using semi-structured interviews and online surveys. Participants included RI consultants, RI program leaders, and implementers purposively drawn from national, state, and local government levels. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from the interviews, which were triangulated with results from the quantitative surveys. Findings: At the time of data collection, 23 of 36 states and the federal capital territory had an RI consultant. Of the 7 states visited during the study, only 3 states had present and visibly working consultants. We conducted 84 interviews with 101 participants across the 7 states and conducted data analysis on 70 interviews (with 82 individuals) that had complete data. Among the full sample of interview respondents (N = 101), most (66%) were men with an average age of 49 years (±5.6), and the majority were technical officers (63%) but a range of other roles were also represented, including consultants (22%), directors (13%), and health workers (2%). Fifteen consultants and 44 program leaders completed the online surveys. Interview data from the 3 states with active RI consultants indicated that the consultants’ main contribution was supportive supervision at the local level, particularly for collecting and using RI data for decision making. They also acted as effective advocates for RI funding. In states without an RI consultant, gaps were highlighted in data management capacity and in monitoring of RI funds. Program design strengths: the broad terms of reference and autonomy of the consultants allowed work to be tailored to the local context; consultants were often integrated into state RI teams but could also work independently when necessary; and recruitment of experienced consultants with strong professional networks, familiarity with the local context, and ability to speak the local language facilitated advocacy efforts. Key programmatic challenges were related to inadequate and inconsistent inputs (salaries, transportation means, and dedicated office space) and gaps in communication between consultants and national leadership and in management of consultants, including lack of performance feedback, lack of formal orientation at inception, and no clear job performance targets. Conclusions: While weaknesses in managerial and material inputs affect current performance of RI consultants in Nigeria, the design of the RI consultant program employs a unique problem-focused, locally led model of development assistance that could prove valuable in strengthening the capacity of the government to implement such technical assistance on its own. Despite the lack of uniform deployment and implementation of RI consultants across the country, some consultants appear to have contributed to improved RI services through supportive supervision, capacity building, and advocacy. PMID:27016542

Spectral Doppler Waveforms for Diagnosis of Appendicitis: Potential Utility of Point Peak Systolic Velocity and Resistive Index Values.

PubMed

Shin, Lewis K; Jeffrey, R Brooke; Berry, Gerald J; Olcott, Eric W

2017-12-01

Purpose To test the hypothesis that appendiceal spectral Doppler waveforms can distinguish patients with and patients without appendicitis. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, Doppler waveforms were obtained from intramural appendiceal arteries identified with color Doppler imaging in 60% (93 of 155) of consecutive patients whose appendices were visualized at graded compression ultrasonography (US) performed for suspected appendicitis (53 male and 40 female; age, 1-56 years; mean, 14.5 years) over the 5-month period from November 2015 through March 2016. Point, non-angle-corrected peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistive index (RI) values were compared between patients with and patients without appendicitis by utilizing histopathologically proven appendicitis and 6-week clinical follow-up as diagnostic reference standards. Data were assessed by using the Student t test, exact binomial distribution, two-sample test of proportions, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results Among the 93 patients, 36 (38.7%) had proven appendicitis (mean PSV, 19.7 cm/sec; mean RI, 0.69) and 57 patients (61.2%) did not (mean PSV, 7.1 cm/sec, P < .0001; mean RI, 0.50, P < .0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnosis of appendicitis was 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95, 1.00) for PSV and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.95; P = .011) for RI. Chosen discriminatory criteria of PSV greater than 10 cm/sec and RI greater than 0.65 yielded specificity for appendicitis of 94.7% and 96.5% with sensitivity of 88.9% and 63.9% (P = .013) and negative predictive value of 93.1% and 80.9% (P = .045), respectively. Original clinical graded compression US interpretations based on established US findings demonstrated specificity of 96.2% and sensitivity of 100.0%. Considering the subset of 20 patients whose maximum outer diameter measured 6-8 mm, the discriminatory criteria of PSV greater than 10 cm/sec and RI greater than 0.65 yielded specificity for appendicitis of 88.9% each, with sensitivity of 100.0% and 63.6% and negative predictive value of 100.0% and 66.6%, respectively. Conclusion In patients with visualized appendices at US, those with appendicitis exhibit significantly higher point PSV and point RI values than do patients without appendicitis and are distinguishable with high specificity by using a PSV greater than 10 cm/sec and an RI greater than 0.65 as diagnostic criteria. © RSNA, 2017.

Development of a Bayesian Belief Network Runway Incursion Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Lawrence L.

2014-01-01

In a previous paper, a statistical analysis of runway incursion (RI) events was conducted to ascertain their relevance to the top ten Technical Challenges (TC) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Program (AvSP). The study revealed connections to perhaps several of the AvSP top ten TC. That data also identified several primary causes and contributing factors for RI events that served as the basis for developing a system-level Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model for RI events. The system-level BBN model will allow NASA to generically model the causes of RI events and to assess the effectiveness of technology products being developed under NASA funding. These products are intended to reduce the frequency of RI events in particular, and to improve runway safety in general. The development, structure and assessment of that BBN for RI events by a Subject Matter Expert panel are documented in this paper.

Demodulation method for tilted fiber Bragg grating refractometer with high sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pham, Xuantung; Si, Jinhai; Chen, Tao; Wang, Ruize; Yan, Lihe; Cao, Houjun; Hou, Xun

2018-05-01

In this paper, we propose a demodulation method for refractive index (RI) sensing with tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs). It operates by monitoring the TFBG cladding mode resonance "cut-off wavelengths." The idea of a "cut-off wavelength" and its determination method are introduced. The RI sensitivities of TFBGs are significantly enhanced in certain RI ranges by using our demodulation method. The temperature-induced cross sensitivity is eliminated. We also demonstrate a parallel-double-angle TFBG (PDTFBG), in which two individual TFBGs are inscribed in the fiber core in parallel using a femtosecond laser and a phase mask. The RI sensing range of the PDTFBG is significantly broader than that of a conventional single-angle TFBG. In addition, its RI sensitivity can reach 1023.1 nm/refractive index unit in the 1.4401-1.4570 RI range when our proposed demodulation method is used.

Experimental Studies of Light-Ion Nuclear Reactions Using Low-Energy RI Beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaguchi, H.; Kahl, D.; Hayakawa, S.; Sakaguchi, Y.; Abe, K.; Shimuzu, H.; Wakabayashi, Y.; Hashimoto, T.; Cherubini, S.; Gulino, M.; Spitaleri, C.; Rapisarda, G. G.; La Cognata, M.; Lamia, L.; Romano, S.; Kubono, S.; Iwasa, N.; Teranishi, T.; Kawabata, T.; Kwon, Y. K.; Binh, D. N.; Khiem, L. H.; Duy, N. N.; Kato, S.; Komatsubara, T.; Coc, A.; de Sereville, N.; Hammache, F.; Kiss, G.; Bishop, S.

CRIB (CNS Radio-Isotope Beam separator) is a low-energy RI beam separator of Center for Nuclear Study (CNS), the University of Tokyo. Studies on nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and other interests have been performed using the RI beams at CRIB, forming international collaborations. A striking method to study astrophyiscal reactions involving radioactive nuclei is the thick-target method in inverse kinematics. Several astrophysical alpha-induced reactions have been be studied with that method at CRIB. A recent example is on the α resonant scattering with a radioactive 7Be beam. This study is related to the astrophysical 7Be(α , γ ) reactions, important at hot p-p chain and ν p-process in supernovae. There have been measurements based on several indirect methods, such as the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) and Trojan horse method (THM). The first THM measurement using an RI beam has been performed at CRIB, to study the 18F(p, α )15O reaction at astrophysical energies via the three body reaction 2H(18F, α 15O)n. The 18F(p, α )15O reaction rate is crucial to understand the 511-keV γ -ray production in nova explosion phenomena, and we successfully evaluated the reaction cross section at novae temperature and below experimentally for the first time.

Indirect studies on astrophysical reactions at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaguchi, H.; Kahl, D.; Hayakawa, S.; Yang, L.; Shimizu, H.; Sakaguchi, Y.; Abe, K.; Wakabayashi, Y.; Hashimoto, T.; Nakao, T.; Kubono, S.; Suhara, T.; Iwasa, N.; Kim, A.; Kim, D. H.; Cha, S. M.; Kwag, M. S.; Lee, J. H.; Lee, E. J.; Chae, K. Y.; Imai, N.; Kitamura, N.; Lee, P.; Moon, J. Y.; Lee, K. B.; Akers, C.; Jung, H. S.; Duy, N. N.; Khiem, L. H.; Lee, C. S.; Cherubini, S.; Gulino, M.; Spitaleri, C.; Rapisarda, G. G.; Cognata, M. La; Lamia, L.; Romano, S.; Coc, A.; de Sereville, N.; Hammache, F.; Kiss, G.; Bishop, S.; Teranishi, T.; Kawabata, T.; Kwon, Y. K.; Binh, D. N.

2018-04-01

Studies on nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and other interests have been performed using the radioactive-isotope (RI) beams at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB, operated by Center for Nuclear Study (CNS), the University of Tokyo. A type of measurement to study astophysical reactions at CRIB is by the elastic resonant scattering with the thick-target method in inverse kinematics. An example is the α resonant scattering with 7Be beam, related to the astrophysical 7Be(α,γ) reactions, which is relevant in the hot p-p chain and νp-process in supernovae. Other α resonant scattering measurements with 30S, 10Be, 15O, and 18Ne beams have been performed at CRIB, using the thick-target method. There have also been measurements based on other experimental methods. The first Trojan horse method (THM) measurement using an RI beam has been performed at CRIB, to study the 18F(p, α)15O reaction at astrophysical energies via the three body reaction 2H(18F, α15O)n. The 18F(p, α)15O reaction rate is crucial to understand the 511-keV γ-ray production in nova explosion phenomena, and we successfully evaluated the reaction cross section at novae temperature and below experimentally for the first time.

Ethnobotanical Study of Latex Plants in the Maritime Region of Togo.

PubMed

Hoekou, Yao Patrick; Tchacondo, Tchadjobo; Karou, Simplice Damintoti; Koudouvo, Koffi; Atakpama, Wouyo; Pissang, Passimna; Gbogbo, Apeti Koffi; Woegan, Agbelessessi Yawo; Batawila, Komlan; Akpagana, Koffi; Gbeassor, Messanvi

2016-01-01

In Togo, a little is known about latex plants of the flora used for medicinal purposes. The aim of this study was to identify the latex plant species and their medicinal uses in the Maritime Region of Togo. The methodology was based on ethnobotanical semi-structural individual interviews of 220 informants. Quantitative ethnobotanical index was used to analyze the data. A total of 33 latex plants species were recorded, from 12 botanical families and 24 genera. The most represented families were Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae with eight species each. The relative importance (RI) value of each species and the informant consensus factor (ICF) of the ailments categories showed that Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. (RI = 2.00) and Euphorbia hirta L. (RI = 1.91) were the most versatile in relation to their uses, and infectious diseases (ICF = 0.922) were the category with the greatest consensus among 17 categories. These latex plants of Togolese flora are variously used in traditional medicine and it would be important to undertake further investigations in phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology to validate their uses. Abbreviations Used: UV: use value ICF: informant consensus factor RI: relative importance PP: pharmacological properties attributed to a species for a specific ailments AC: ailment categories treated by a given species.

Ethnobotanical Study of Latex Plants in the Maritime Region of Togo

PubMed Central

Hoekou, Yao Patrick; Tchacondo, Tchadjobo; Karou, Simplice Damintoti; Koudouvo, Koffi; Atakpama, Wouyo; Pissang, Passimna; Gbogbo, Apeti Koffi; Woegan, Agbelessessi Yawo; Batawila, Komlan; Akpagana, Koffi; Gbeassor, Messanvi

2016-01-01

Background: In Togo, a little is known about latex plants of the flora used for medicinal purposes. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the latex plant species and their medicinal uses in the Maritime Region of Togo. Materials and Methods: The methodology was based on ethnobotanical semi-structural individual interviews of 220 informants. Quantitative ethnobotanical index was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 33 latex plants species were recorded, from 12 botanical families and 24 genera. The most represented families were Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae with eight species each. The relative importance (RI) value of each species and the informant consensus factor (ICF) of the ailments categories showed that Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. (RI = 2.00) and Euphorbia hirta L. (RI = 1.91) were the most versatile in relation to their uses, and infectious diseases (ICF = 0.922) were the category with the greatest consensus among 17 categories. Conclusion: These latex plants of Togolese flora are variously used in traditional medicine and it would be important to undertake further investigations in phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology to validate their uses. Abbreviations Used: UV: use value ICF: informant consensus factor RI: relative importance PP: pharmacological properties attributed to a species for a specific ailments AC: ailment categories treated by a given species PMID:27034604

Current Status of Human Resource Training Program for Fostering RIBiomics Professionals

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

Lee, Dong-Eun; Jang, Beom-Su; Choi, Dae Seong

RI-Biomics is a state-of-the-art radiation fusion technology for evaluating in-vivo dynamics such as absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of new drug candidates and biomaterials using radioisotope (RI), and quantitative evaluation of their efficacy via molecular imaging techniques and animal models. The RI-Biomics center is the sole comprehensive research and experiment complex in Korea that can simultaneously perform the radio-synthesis of drug candidate with radioisotope, analysis, and molecular imaging evaluation with animal model. Molecular imaging techniques, including nuclear imaging (SPECT and PET), near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are the cutting-edge technologies for evaluating drug candidates. Sincemore » they allow in vivo real-time imaging of the diseased site, monitoring the biodistribution of drug and determining the optimal therapeutic efficacy following treatments, we have integrated RI-ADME and molecular imaging to provide useful information for drug evaluation and to accelerate the development of new drugs and biomaterials. The RI-Biomics center was established with total investment of 18 million $ during four years from 2009 to 2012 in order to develop a comprehensive analyzing system using RI for new drug development as an axis for national growth in the next generation. The RI-Biomics center has labeling synthesis facility for the radiosynthesis of drug candidate with radioisotope such as Tc-99m, I-125, I-131, F-18, H-3 and C-14 using hot cell. It also includes RI-general analysis facilities, such as Radio-HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, gamma counter that can analyzing the radio-synthesized materials, and animal image analysis facilities that developed small animal imaging equipment such as SPECT/PET/CT, 7 T MRI, in-vivo optical imaging system and others. In order to achieve the system to verify safety and effectiveness of the new drugs using RI, it is necessary to establish a human resource training program for fostering RI-Biomics professionals in the following key fields; (1) Radio-pharmaceuticals synthesis and labeled compound development, (2) Development of RI-ADME in the living object and image assessment technology. Personnel training program that carries out theoretical education and practical training in the field related to RI-Biomics in parallel is being conducted. Internship training for university students has been administered twice already while educational program for the existing professionals in the RI-Biomics field will be carried out during the summer of 2014. The human resource training program for combination of RIADME and different molecular imaging techniques can offer synergistic advantages to facilitate understanding RIADME and fostering RI-ADME professionals. (authors)« less

The Effects of Normal Metal Stripes on TES Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wakeham, Nick; Adams, J. S.; Bandler, S. R.; Chervenak, J. A.; Datesman, A. M.; Eckart, M. E.; Finkbeiner, F. M.; Kelley, R. L.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Miniussi, A. R.;

Testing for reproductive interference in the population dynamics of two congeneric species of herbivorous mites.

PubMed

Sato, Y; Alba, J M; Sabelis, M W

2014-12-01

When phylogenetically close, two competing species may reproductively interfere, and thereby affect their population dynamics. We tested for reproductive interference (RI) between two congeneric haplo-diploid spider mites, Tetranychus evansi and Tetranychus urticae, by investigating their interspecific mating and their population dynamics when they competed on the same plants. They are both pests of tomato, but differ in the host plant defences that they suppress or induce. To reduce the effect of plant-mediated interaction, we used a mutant tomato plant lacking jasmonate-mediated anti-herbivore defences in the competition experiment. In addition, to manipulate the effect of RI, we introduced founder females already mated with conspecific males in mild RI treatments or founder, virgin females in strong RI treatments (in either case together with heterospecific and conspecific males). As females show first-male sperm precedence, RI should occur especially in the founder generation under strong RI treatments. We found that T. urticae outcompeted T. evansi in mild, but not in strong RI treatments. Thus, T. evansi interfered reproductively with T. urticae. This result was supported by crossing experiments showing frequent interspecific copulations, strong postmating reproductive isolation and a preference of T. evansi males to mate with T. urticae (instead of conspecific) females, whereas T. urticae males preferred conspecific females. We conclude that interspecific mating comes at a cost due to asymmetric mate preferences of males. Because RI by T. evansi can improve its competitiveness to T. urticae, we propose that RI partly explains why T. evansi became invasive in Europe where T. urticae is endemic.

Testing for reproductive interference in the population dynamics of two congeneric species of herbivorous mites

PubMed Central

Sato, Y; Alba, J M; Sabelis, M W

2014-01-01

When phylogenetically close, two competing species may reproductively interfere, and thereby affect their population dynamics. We tested for reproductive interference (RI) between two congeneric haplo-diploid spider mites, Tetranychus evansi and Tetranychus urticae, by investigating their interspecific mating and their population dynamics when they competed on the same plants. They are both pests of tomato, but differ in the host plant defences that they suppress or induce. To reduce the effect of plant-mediated interaction, we used a mutant tomato plant lacking jasmonate-mediated anti-herbivore defences in the competition experiment. In addition, to manipulate the effect of RI, we introduced founder females already mated with conspecific males in mild RI treatments or founder, virgin females in strong RI treatments (in either case together with heterospecific and conspecific males). As females show first-male sperm precedence, RI should occur especially in the founder generation under strong RI treatments. We found that T. urticae outcompeted T. evansi in mild, but not in strong RI treatments. Thus, T. evansi interfered reproductively with T. urticae. This result was supported by crossing experiments showing frequent interspecific copulations, strong postmating reproductive isolation and a preference of T. evansi males to mate with T. urticae (instead of conspecific) females, whereas T. urticae males preferred conspecific females. We conclude that interspecific mating comes at a cost due to asymmetric mate preferences of males. Because RI by T. evansi can improve its competitiveness to T. urticae, we propose that RI partly explains why T. evansi became invasive in Europe where T. urticae is endemic. PMID:24865602

United States Air Force 611th Air Support Group Civil Engineering Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Remedial investigation and feasibility study Point Lay Radar Installation, Alaska. Final report

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

Karmi, S.

1996-03-04

The United States Air Force (Air Force) has prepared this Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) report to present the results of RI/FS activities at four sites located at the Point Lay radar installation. The remedial investigation (RI) field activities were conducted at the Point Lay radar installation during the summer of 1993. The four sites at Point Lay were investigated because they were suspected of being contaminated with hazardous substances. RI activities were conducted using methods and procedures specified in the RI/FS Work Plan, Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP), and Health and Safety Plan.

The International Scoring System (ISS) for multiple myeloma remains a robust prognostic tool independently of patients' renal function.

PubMed

Dimopoulos, M A; Kastritis, E; Michalis, E; Tsatalas, C; Michael, M; Pouli, A; Kartasis, Z; Delimpasi, S; Gika, D; Zomas, A; Roussou, M; Konstantopoulos, K; Parcharidou, A; Zervas, K; Terpos, E

2012-03-01

The International Staging System (ISS) is the most widely used staging system for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, serum β2-microglobulin increases in renal impairment (RI) and there have been concerns that ISS-3 stage may include 'up-staged' MM patients in whom elevated β2-microglobulin reflects the degree of renal dysfunction rather than tumor load. In order to assess the impact of RI on the prognostic value of ISS, we analyzed 1516 patients with symptomatic MM and the degree of RI was classified according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative-Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) criteria. Forty-eight percent patients had stages 3-5 CKD while 29% of patients had ISS-1, 38% had ISS-2 and 33% ISS-3. The frequency and severity of RI were more common in ISS-3 patients. RI was associated with inferior survival in univariate but not in multivariate analysis. When analyzed separately, ISS-1 and ISS-2 patients with RI had inferior survival in univariate but not in multivariate analysis. In ISS-3 MM patients, RI had no prognostic impact either in univariate or multivariate analysis. Results were similar, when we analyzed only patients with Bence-Jones >200 mg/day. ISS remains unaffected by the degree of RI, even in patients with ISS-3, which includes most patients with renal dysfunction.

Cyclic AMP Enhances TGFβ Responses of Breast Cancer Cells by Upregulating TGFβ Receptor I Expression

PubMed Central

Oerlecke, Ilka; Bauer, Elke; Dittmer, Angela; Leyh, Benjamin; Dittmer, Jürgen

2013-01-01

Cellular functions are regulated by complex networks of many different signaling pathways. The TGFβ and cAMP pathways are of particular importance in tumor progression. We analyzed the cross-talk between these pathways in breast cancer cells in 2D and 3D cultures. We found that cAMP potentiated TGFβ-dependent gene expression by enhancing Smad3 phosphorylation. Higher levels of total Smad3, as observed in 3D-cultured cells, blocked this effect. Two Smad3 regulating proteins, YAP (Yes-associated protein) and TβRI (TGFβ receptor 1), were responsive to cAMP. While YAP had little effect on TGFβ-dependent expression and Smad3 phosphorylation, a constitutively active form of TβRI mimicked the cAMP effect on TGFβ signaling. In 3D-cultured cells, which show much higher levels of TβRI and cAMP, TβRI was unresponsive to cAMP. Upregulation of TβRI expression by cAMP was dependent on transcription. A proximal TβRI promoter fragment was moderately, but significantly activated by cAMP suggesting that cAMP increases TβRI expression at least partially by activating TβRI transcription. Neither the cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) nor the TβRI-regulating transcription factor Six1 was required for the cAMP effect. An inhibitor of histone deacetylases alone or together with cAMP increased TβRI expression by a similar extent as cAMP alone suggesting that cAMP may exert its effect by interfering with histone acetylation. Along with an additive stimulatory effect of cAMP and TGFβ on p21 expression an additive inhibitory effect of these agents on proliferation was observed. Finally, we show that mesenchymal stem cells that interact with breast cancer cells can simultaneously activate the cAMP and TGFβ pathways. In summary, these data suggest that combined effects of cAMP and TGFβ, as e.g. induced by mesenchymal stem cells, involve the upregulation of TβRI expression on the transcriptional level, likely due to changes in histone acetylation. As a consequence, cancer cell functions such as proliferation are affected. PMID:23349840

Changes in interleukin-1 signal modulators induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): regulation by CB2 receptors and implications for neurotoxicity

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a neuroinflammatory reaction in rat brain characterized by an increase in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and microglial activation. The CB2 receptor agonist JWH-015 reduces both these changes and partially protects against MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. We have examined MDMA-induced changes in IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) levels and IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI) expression and the effects of JWH-015. The cellular location of IL-1β and IL-1RI was also examined. MDMA-treated animals were given the soluble form of IL-1RI (sIL-1RI) and neurotoxic effects examined. Methods Dark Agouti rats received MDMA (12.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and levels of IL-1ra and expression of IL-1RI measured 1 h, 3 h or 6 h later. JWH-015 (2.4 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected 48 h, 24 h and 0.5 h before MDMA and IL-1ra and IL-1RI measured. For localization studies, animals were sacrificed 1 h or 3 h following MDMA and stained for IL-1β or IL-1RI in combination with neuronal and microglial markers. sIL-1RI (3 μg/animal; i.c.v.) was administered 5 min before MDMA and 3 h later. 5-HT transporter density was determined 7 days after MDMA injection. Results MDMA produced an increase in IL-ra levels and a decrease in IL-1RI expression in hypothalamus which was prevented by CB2 receptor activation. IL-1RI expression was localized on neuronal cell bodies while IL-1β expression was observed in microglial cells following MDMA. sIL-1RI potentiated MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. MDMA also increased IgG immunostaining indicating that blood brain-barrier permeability was compromised. Conclusions In summary, MDMA produces changes in IL-1 signal modulators which are modified by CB2 receptor activation. These results indicate that IL-1β may play a partial role in MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. PMID:21595923

Military Base Realignments and Closures: Impact of Terminating, Relocating, or Outsourcing the Services of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

sexes , all races/ethnicities, all ages, as well... Tenn . 2 Ala. 88 Fla. 820 Ga. 1,220 S.C. 291 N.C. 1,371 Va. 1,476 Ohio 467 N.H. 0 Mass. 6 R.I. 0Mich. 1 Calif. 1,974 Wash. 671 Wis. 13 N.Y. 1,614 Maine...809 Tenn . 205 Ala. 102 Fla. 1,109 Ga. 376 S.C. 396 N.C. 769 Va. 331 Ohio 731 N.H. 40 Mass. 97 R.I. 38Mich. 189 Calif. 801 Wash. 59 Wis. 68 N.Y.

Recurrent ischemia across the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes: prevalence and prognostic significance of (re-)infarction and ST-segment changes in a large contemporary registry.

PubMed

Yan, Andrew T; Steg, Philippe Gabriel; Fitzgerald, Gordon; Feldman, Laurent J; Eagle, Kim A; Gore, Joel M; Anderson, Frederick A; López-Sendón, Jose; Gurfinkel, Enrique P; Brieger, David; Goodman, Shaun G

2010-11-05

There are limited recent data on the prevalence and potentially different adverse impact of the various types of recurrent ischemia (RI) in unselected patients with acute coronary syndromes(ACS). We examined the clinical features and treatment associated with, and the differential prognostic impact of, the various types of RI in unselected patients across the broad spectrum of ACS in the contemporary era. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) was a prospective, multinational registry of patients hospitalized for ACS. Data were collected on standardized case report forms. Of the 29,400 ACS patients enrolled in May 2000-March 2007, 21% developed RI; 2.4%, 4.9%, and 16% had myocardial (re-)infarction [(re-)MI], RI with ST-segment changes, and RI without ST-segment changes (not mutually exclusive), respectively. Rates of in-hospital mortality and complications, and 6-month mortality were significantly higher among patients with RI compared to those without; the rates were highest for patients who developed (re-)MI, followed by those with RI and ST-segment changes. After adjusting for other validated prognosticators in the GRACE risk score, all three types of RI retained an independent association with both higher in-hospital and post-discharge 6-month mortality. Early revascularization was associated with lower in-hospital mortality only in the group with (re-)MI (P for interaction=0.003). Despite the current use of intensive medical therapies, RI remains a common and serious consequence across the spectrum of ACS. Different types of RI confer a variable adverse prognostic impact. Re-MI is associated with the worst outcome, which appears to be mitigated by early revascularization. Our findings underscore the persistent need to improve the treatment of ACS. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Resistance of uterine radial artery blood flow was correlated with peripheral blood NK cell fraction and improved with low molecular weight heparin therapy in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Koo, Hwa Seon; Kwak-Kim, Joanne; Yi, Hyun Jeong; Ahn, Hyun Kyong; Park, Chan Woo; Cha, Sun Hwa; Kang, Inn Soo; Yang, Kwang Moon

2015-02-01

To investigate whether peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cell levels are associated with uterine blood flow, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment is effective to improve uterine blood flow in women with decreased uterine blood flow and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This was a prospective controlled study. Study population included 33 pregnant women (between 5 and 7 weeks gestation) with ≥ 2 RPL and controls were 47 healthy pregnant women. pbNK cell fractions (CD3(-)/56(+)/16(+)) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by flow cytometry. Uterine color-pulsed Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate uterine radial artery resistance index (URa-RI). In RPL women with elevated URa-RI (≥ 0.5), LMWH (ranges 40-60 mg/day) was administered subcutaneously daily and URa-RI was reassessed 1 week later. Pregnancy outcome was analyzed at 12 weeks gestation. URa-RI was significantly higher in pregnant women with RPL than controls (0.60 ± 0.14 versus 0.54 ± 0.12, P = 0.039). In pregnant women with RPL, pbNK cell fractions displayed a positive correlation with URa-RI (Pearson's r = 0.429, P = 0.013). URa-RI was significantly decreased 1 week after LMWH treatment as compared to that of pretreatment (pretreatment RI: 0.65 ± 0.11 versus post-treatment RI: 0.56 ± 0.13, P = 0.011). Pregnancy outcome of RPL women with LMWH treatment was not different from that of pregnant controls (73.3% versus 85.0%, P = NS). Increased pbNK cells are associated with decreased uterine radial artery blood flow. LMWH treatment effectively decreases URa-RI with improved pregnancy outcome in women with RPLs and elevated URa-RI. A larger scale study is needed to verify these findings. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Immunostaining and transcriptional enhancement of interleukin-1 receptor type I in the rat dental follicle.

PubMed

Wise, G E; Zhao, L

1997-05-01

Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) enhances the gene expression of colony-stimulating factor-one (CSF-1) in dental follicle cells. In turn, CSF-1 appears to be a critical molecule in stimulating the cellular events of eruption that require the presence of the follicle. Chronologically, the maximal transcription and translation of CSF-1 in the follicle occurs early postnatally, followed by a decline later. Thus, in this study, immunostaining for the interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI) was used to determine if it paralleled the CSF-1 localization and chronology. The results showed that IL-1RI is primarily localized in the dental follicle, with maximal immunostaining early postnatally and a greatly reduced staining by day 10. In conjunction with this, molecules that enhance the gene expression of IL-1alpha epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were also shown to enhance the expression of IL-1RI, but IL-1alpha did not increase the gene expression of IL-1RI. After injections of EGF at different times postnatally the mRNA of IL-1RI increased over comparable controls. Between days 2 and 5 the IL-1RI mRNA in the follicle decreased. In combination the results suggest that, as the expression of IL-1alpha is enhanced in the stellate reticulum either by EGF or TGF-beta1, these two molecules could also enhance the expression of IL-1RI in the dental follicle such that more receptors would be available to respond to the increased IL-1alpha secreted. The maximal presence of the receptors (IL-1RI) in the dental follicle early postnatally, followed by their subsequent decline, parallels the rise and fall of CSF-1 in the follicle. Thus, regulation of the IL-1RI and IL-1RI gene expression might be a means of regulating changes in CSF-1 in the follicle.

IGF-1R inhibition induces schedule-dependent sensitization of human melanoma to temozolomide

PubMed Central

Ramcharan, Roger; Aleksic, Tamara; Kamdoum, Wilfride Petnga; Gao, Shan; Pfister, Sophia X.; Tanner, Jordan; Bridges, Esther; Asher, Ruth; Watson, Amanda J.; Margison, Geoffrey P.; Woodcock, Mick; Repapi, Emmanouela; Li, Ji-Liang; Middleton, Mark R.; Macaulay, Valentine M.

2015-01-01

Prior studies implicate type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) in mediating chemo-resistance. Here, we investigated whether IGF-1R influences response to temozolomide (TMZ), which generates DNA adducts that are removed by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), or persist causing replication-associated double-strand breaks (DSBs). Initial assessment in 10 melanoma cell lines revealed that TMZ resistance correlated with MGMT expression (r = 0.79, p = 0.009), and in MGMT-proficient cell lines, with phospho-IGF-1R (r = 0.81, p = 0.038), suggesting that TMZ resistance associates with IGF-1R activation. Next, effects of IGF-1R inhibitors (IGF-1Ri) AZ3801 and linsitinib (OSI-906) were tested on TMZ-sensitivity, cell cycle progression and DSB induction. IGF-1Ri sensitized BRAF wild-type and mutant melanoma cells to TMZ in vitro, an effect that was independent of MGMT. Cells harboring wild-type p53 were more sensitive to IGF-1Ri, and showed schedule-dependent chemo-sensitization that was most effective when IGF-1Ri followed TMZ. This sequence sensitized to clinically-achievable TMZ concentrations and enhanced TMZ-induced apoptosis. Simultaneous or prior IGF-1Ri caused less effective chemo-sensitization, associated with increased G1 population and reduced accumulation of TMZ-induced DSBs. Clinically relevant sequential (TMZ → IGF-1Ri) treatment was tested in mice bearing A375M (V600E BRAF, wild-type p53) melanoma xenografts, achieving peak plasma/tumor IGF-1Ri levels comparable to clinical Cmax, and inducing extensive intratumoral apoptosis. TMZ or IGF-1Ri caused minor inhibition of tumor growth (gradient reduction 13%, 25% respectively), while combination treatment caused supra-additive growth delay (72%) that was significantly different from control (p < 0.01), TMZ (p < 0.01) and IGF-1Ri (p < 0.05) groups. These data highlight the importance of scheduling when combining IGF-1Ri and other targeted agents with drugs that induce replication-associated DNA damage. PMID:26497996

Variability of recurrence interval for New Zealand surface-rupturing paleoearthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicol, A., , Prof; Robinson, R., Jr.; Van Dissen, R. J.; Harvison, A.

2015-12-01

Recurrence interval (RI) for successive earthquakes on individual faults is recorded by paleoseismic datasets for surface-rupturing earthquakes which, in New Zealand, have magnitudes of >Mw ~6 to 7.2 depending on the thickness of the brittle crust. New Zealand faults examined have mean RI of ~130 to 8500 yrs, with an upper bound censored by the sample duration (<30 kyr) and an inverse relationship to fault slip rate. Frequency histograms, probability density functions (PDFs) and coefficient of variation (CoV= standard deviation/arithmetic mean) values have been used to quantify RI variability for geological and simulated earthquakes on >100 New Zealand active faults. RI for individual faults can vary by more than an order of magnitude. CoV of RI for paleoearthquake data comprising 4-10 events ranges from ~0.2 to 1 with a mean of 0.6±0.2. These values are generally comparable to simulated earthquakes (>100 events per fault) and suggest that RI ranges from quasi periodic (e.g., ~0.2-0.5) to random (e.g., ~1.0). Comparison of earthquake simulation and paleoearthquake data indicates that the mean and CoV of RI can be strongly influenced by sampling artefacts including; the magnitude of completeness, the dimensionality of spatial sampling and the duration of the sample period. Despite these sampling issues RI for the best of the geological data (i.e. >6 events) and earthquake simulations are described by log-normal or Weibull distributions with long recurrence tails (~3 times the mean) and provide a basis for quantifying real RI variability (rather than sampling artefacts). Our analysis indicates that CoV of RI is negatively related to fault slip rate. These data are consistent with the notion that fault interaction and associated stress perturbations arising from slip on larger faults are more likely to advance or retard future slip on smaller faults than visa versa.

Ethanol Inhibits High-Affinity Immunoglobulin E Receptor (FcεRI) Signaling in Mast Cells by Suppressing the Function of FcεRI-Cholesterol Signalosome

PubMed Central

Draberova, Lubica; Paulenda, Tomas; Halova, Ivana; Potuckova, Lucie; Bugajev, Viktor; Bambouskova, Monika; Tumova, Magda; Draber, Petr

2015-01-01

Ethanol has multiple effects on biochemical events in a variety of cell types, including the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (FcεRI) signaling in antigen-activated mast cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. To get better understanding of the effect of ethanol on FcεRI-mediated signaling we examined the effect of short-term treatment with non-toxic concentrations of ethanol on FcεRI signaling events in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. We found that 15 min exposure to ethanol inhibited antigen-induced degranulation, calcium mobilization, expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-13), and formation of reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner. Removal of cellular cholesterol with methyl-β-cyclodextrin had a similar effect and potentiated some of the inhibitory effects of ethanol. In contrast, exposure of the cells to cholesterol-saturated methyl-β-cyclodextrin abolished in part the inhibitory effect of ethanol on calcium response and production of reactive oxygen species, supporting lipid-centric theories of ethanol action on the earliest stages of mast cell signaling. Further studies showed that exposure to ethanol and/or removal of cholesterol inhibited early FcεRI activation events, including tyrosine phosphorylation of the FcεRI β and γ subunits, SYK kinases, LAT adaptor protein, phospholipase Cγ, STAT5, and AKT and internalization of aggregated FcεRI. Interestingly, ethanol alone, and particularly in combination with methyl-β-cyclodextrin, enhanced phosphorylation of negative regulatory tyrosine 507 of LYN kinase. Finally, we found that ethanol reduced passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction in mice, suggesting that ethanol also inhibits FcεRI signaling under in vivo conditions. The combined data indicate that ethanol interferes with early antigen-induced signaling events in mast cells by suppressing the function of FcεRI-cholesterol signalosomes at the plasma membrane. PMID:26658290

Development of a Bayesian Belief Network Runway Incursion and Excursion Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Lawrence L.

2014-01-01

In a previous work, a statistical analysis of runway incursion (RI) event data was conducted to ascertain the relevance of this data to the top ten Technical Challenges (TC) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Program (AvSP). The study revealed connections to several of the AvSP top ten TC and identified numerous primary causes and contributing factors of RI events. The statistical analysis served as the basis for developing a system-level Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model for RI events, also previously reported. Through literature searches and data analysis, this RI event network has now been extended to also model runway excursion (RE) events. These RI and RE event networks have been further modified and vetted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. The combined system-level BBN model will allow NASA to generically model the causes of RI and RE events and to assess the effectiveness of technology products being developed under NASA funding. These products are intended to reduce the frequency of runway safety incidents/accidents, and to improve runway safety in general. The development and structure of the BBN for both RI and RE events are documented in this paper.

The molecular gradient using the divide-expand-consolidate resolution of the identity second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory: The DEC-RI-MP2 gradient

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

Bykov, Dmytro; Kristensen, Kasper; Kjærgaard, Thomas

We report an implementation of the molecular gradient using the divide-expand-consolidate resolution of the identity second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (DEC-RI-MP2). The new DEC-RI-MP2 gradient method combines the precision control as well as the linear-scaling and massively parallel features of the DEC scheme with efficient evaluations of the gradient contributions using the RI approximation. We further demonstrate that the DEC-RI-MP2 gradient method is capable of calculating molecular gradients for very large molecular systems. A test set of supramolecular complexes containing up to 158 atoms and 1960 contracted basis functions has been employed to demonstrate the general applicability of the DEC-RI-MP2 methodmore » and to analyze the errors of the DEC approximation. Moreover, the test set contains molecules of complicated electronic structures and is thus deliberately chosen to stress test the DEC-RI-MP2 gradient implementation. Additionally, as a showcase example the full molecular gradient for insulin (787 atoms and 7604 contracted basis functions) has been evaluated.« less

33 CFR 80.150 - Block Island, RI.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Block Island, RI. 80.150 Section... NAVIGATION RULES COLREGS DEMARCATION LINES Atlantic Coast § 80.150 Block Island, RI. The 72 COLREGS shall apply on the harbors of Block Island. ...

Impairment of skin blood flow during post-occlusive reactive hyperhemy assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry correlates with renal resistive index.

PubMed

Coulon, P; Constans, J; Gosse, P

2012-01-01

We lack non-invasive tools for evaluating the coronary and renal microcirculations. Since cutaneous Doppler laser exploration has evidenced impaired cutaneous microvascular responses in coronary artery disease and in impaired renal function, we wanted to find out if there was a link between the impairments in the cutaneous and renal microcirculations. To specify the significance of the rise in the renal resistive index (RI), which is still unclear, we also sought relations between RI and arterial stiffness. We conducted a cross-sectional controlled study in a heterogeneous population including hypertensive patients of various ages with or without a history of cardiovascular disease along with a healthy control group. The cutaneous microcirculation was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry of the post-occlusive reactive hyperhemy (PORH) and of the hyperhemy to heat. The renal microcirculation was evaluated by measurement of the RI. Arterial stiffness was evaluated from an ambulatory measurement of the corrected QKD(100-60) interval. We included 22 hypertensives and 11 controls of mean age 60.6 vs 40.8 years. In this population, there was a correlation between RI and basal zero to peak flow variation (BZ-PF) (r=-0.42; P=0.02) and a correlation between RI and rest flow to peak flow variation (RF-PF) (r=-0.44; P=0.01). There was also a significant correlation between RI and the corrected QKD(100-60) (r=-0.47; P=0.01). The significant correlation between PORH parameters and RI indicates that the functional modifications of the renal and cutaneous microcirculations tend to evolve in parallel during ageing or hypertension. The relation between RI and arterial stiffness shows that RI is a compound index of both renal microvascular impairment and the deterioration of macrovascular mechanics.

Resistive index and chronic allograft nephropathy evaluated in protocol biopsies as predictors of graft outcome.

PubMed

Vallejos, Augusto; Alperovich, Gabriela; Moreso, Francesc; Cañas, Concepcion; de Lama, M Eugenia; Gomà, Montserrat; Fulladosa, Xavier; Carrera, Marta; Hueso, Miguel; Grinyó, Josep M; Serón, Daniel

2005-11-01

The presence of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in protocol biopsies is negatively associated with graft survival. Although recent studies have indicated that the resistive index (RI) is a predictor of graft failure, it does not correlate with CAN in stable grafts. We therefore studied the relationship between RI and CAN and examined the predictive value of both parameters on graft outcome. Included were patients transplanted between 1997 and 2002 and who had protocol biopsies and RI determinations. Renal lesions were blindly evaluated according to Banff 97 criteria. Mean glomerular volume, cortical interstitial volume fraction and intimal arterial volume fraction were estimated using a point counting technique. RI was determined before biopsy in at least two different renal locations. The outcome variable was defined as graft failure or a 30% serum creatinine increase between protocol biopsy and last follow-up. Eighty-seven patients were included. RI correlated with recipient age (R = 0.52, P < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (R = -0.36, P = 0.0006), pulse pressure index (R = 0.27, P = 0.009) and g-score for histological glomerulitis (rho = 0.30, P = 0.0054), but there were no correlations between RI and chronic Banff scores or any morphometric parameter. The presence of CAN (relative risk, 3.5; 95% confidence interval 1.2-10.2; P = 0.02) but not RI was associated with the outcome variable. RI was associated with surrogate measures of vascular compliance such as recipient age and pulse pressure index but not with chronic allograft damage, even when it was evaluated by histomorphometry. Our results indicate that histology may be superior to RI in predicting graft function deterioration, at least in patients with stable renal function.

Aspartame, a bittersweet pill.

PubMed

Paolini, Moreno; Vivarelli, Fabio; Sapone, Andrea; Canistro, Donatella

2017-12-07

For the first time, the aspartame case shows how a corporation decided to ban an artificial ingredient in the wake of public opinion notwithstanding the regulatory assurance claims that it is safe. PepsiCo Inc. made an unprecedented decision most likely based on life-span carcinogenicity bioassay studies from the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the Ramazzini Institute (CMCRC/RI), which provide consistent evidence of aspartame's carcinogenicity in rodents. Although CMCRC/RI experiments have been criticized for not complying with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines, the newly launched aspartame-free soft drink may not be an isolated case. In the light of vinyl chloride-, formaldehyde- or benzene-associated carcinogenicity discovered for the first time by CMCRC/RI in the same way, it seems the guidelines need to be re-evaluated to avoid the credibility of international regulatory agencies being compromised by consumer opinion. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Advanced manned space flight simulation and training: An investigation of simulation host computer system concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montag, Bruce C.; Bishop, Alfred M.; Redfield, Joe B.

1989-01-01

The findings of a preliminary investigation by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in simulation host computer concepts is presented. It is designed to aid NASA in evaluating simulation technologies for use in spaceflight training. The focus of the investigation is on the next generation of space simulation systems that will be utilized in training personnel for Space Station Freedom operations. SwRI concludes that NASA should pursue a distributed simulation host computer system architecture for the Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) rather than a centralized mainframe based arrangement. A distributed system offers many advantages and is seen by SwRI as the only architecture that will allow NASA to achieve established functional goals and operational objectives over the life of the Space Station Freedom program. Several distributed, parallel computing systems are available today that offer real-time capabilities for time critical, man-in-the-loop simulation. These systems are flexible in terms of connectivity and configurability, and are easily scaled to meet increasing demands for more computing power.

Mannan-Binding Lectin Is Involved in the Protection against Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Dietary Restriction

PubMed Central

Shushimita, Shushimita; van der Pol, Pieter; W.F. de Bruin, Ron; N. M. Ijzermans, Jan; van Kooten, Cees; Dor, Frank J. M. F.

2015-01-01

Preoperative fasting and dietary restriction offer robust protection against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI) in mice. We recently showed that Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), the initiator of the lectin pathway of complement activation, plays a pivotal role in renal I/RI. Based on these findings, we investigated the effect of short-term DR (30% reduction of total food intake) or three days of water only fasting on MBL in 10–12 weeks old male C57/Bl6 mice. Both dietary regimens significantly reduce the circulating levels of MBL as well as its mRNA expression in liver, the sole production site of MBL. Reconstitution of MBL abolished the protection afforded by dietary restriction, whereas in the fasting group the protection persisted. These data show that modulation of MBL is involved in the protection against renal I/RI induced by dietary restriction, and suggest that the mechanisms of protection induced by dietary restriction and fasting may be different. PMID:26367533

Appraisal of different ultrasonography indices in patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis

PubMed Central

Rafati, Mehravar; Havaee, Elham; Moladoust, Hassan; Sehhati, Mohammadreza

2017-01-01

In this study a semi-automated image-processing based method was designed in which the parameters such as intima-media thickness (IMT), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), dicrotic notch index (DNI), and mean wavelet entropy (MWE) were evaluated in B-mode and Doppler ultrasound in patients presenting with carotid artery atherosclerosis. In a cross-sectional design, 144 men were divided into four groups of control, mild, moderate and severe stenosis subjects. In all individuals, far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI, and MWE of the left common carotid artery (CCA) were extracted using the proposed method. Our findings showed that the maximum far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI in the CCA were significantly different in the patients with mild, moderate, and severe stenosis compared to control group (p-value < 0.05), however, there were no significant differences in MWE among the four groups (p-value > 0.05). The proposed method can help physicians to better identify patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases. PMID:28827988

A design procedure for the phase-controlled parallel-loaded resonant inverter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

King, Roger J.

1989-01-01

High-frequency-link power conversion and distribution based on a resonant inverter (RI) has been recently proposed. The design of several topologies is reviewed, and a simple approximate design procedure is developed for the phase-controlled parallel-loaded RI. This design procedure seeks to ensure the benefits of resonant conversion and is verified by data from a laboratory 2.5 kVA, 20-kHz converter. A simple phasor analysis is introduced as a useful approximation for design purposes. The load is considered to be a linear impedance (or an ac current sink). The design procedure is verified using a 2.5-kVA 20-kHz RI. Also obtained are predictable worst-case ratings for each component of the resonant tank circuit and the inverter switches. For a given load VA requirement, below-resonance operation is found to result in a significantly lower tank VA requirement. Under transient conditions such as load short-circuit, a reversal of the expected commutation sequence is possible.

Characterization of proviruses cloned from mink cell focus-forming virus-infected cellular DNA.

PubMed Central

Khan, A S; Repaske, R; Garon, C F; Chan, H W; Rowe, W P; Martin, M A

1982-01-01

Two proviruses were cloned from EcoRI-digested DNA extracted from mink cells chronically infected with AKR mink cell focus-forming (MCF) 247 murine leukemia virus (MuLV), using a lambda phage host vector system. One cloned MuLV DNA fragment (designated MCF 1) contained sequences extending 6.8 kilobases from an EcoRI restriction site in the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) to an EcoRI site located in the envelope (env) region and was indistinguishable by restriction endonuclease mapping for 5.1 kilobases (except for the EcoRI site in the LTR) from the 5' end of AKR ecotropic proviral DNA. The DNA segment extending from 5.1 to 6.8 kilobases contained several restriction sites that were not present in the AKR ecotropic provirus. A 0.5-kilobase DNA segment located at the 3' end of MCF 1 DNA contained sequences which hybridized to a xenotropic env-specific DNA probe but not to labeled ecotropic env-specific DNA. This dual character of MCF 1 proviral DNA was also confirmed by analyzing heteroduplex molecules by electron microscopy. The second cloned proviral DNA (designated MCF 2) was a 6.9-kilobase EcoRI DNA fragment which contained LTR sequences at each end and a 2.0-kilobase deletion encompassing most of the env region. The MCF 2 proviral DNA proved to be a useful reagent for detecting LTRs electron microscopically due to the presence of nonoverlapping, terminally located LTR sequences which effected its circularization with DNAs containing homologous LTR sequences. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated the presence of a 104-base-pair direct repeat in the LTR of MCF 2 DNA. In contrast, only a single copy of the reiterated component of the direct repeat was present in MCF 1 DNA. Images PMID:6281459

Genetic Network Programming with Reconstructed Individuals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Fengming; Mabu, Shingo; Wang, Lutao; Eto, Shinji; Hirasawa, Kotaro

A lot of research on evolutionary computation has been done and some significant classical methods such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Genetic Programming (GP), Evolutionary Programming (EP), and Evolution Strategies (ES) have been studied. Recently, a new approach named Genetic Network Programming (GNP) has been proposed. GNP can evolve itself and find the optimal solution. It is based on the idea of Genetic Algorithm and uses the data structure of directed graphs. Many papers have demonstrated that GNP can deal with complex problems in the dynamic environments very efficiently and effectively. As a result, recently, GNP is getting more and more attentions and is used in many different areas such as data mining, extracting trading rules of stock markets, elevator supervised control systems, etc., and GNP has obtained some outstanding results. Focusing on the GNP's distinguished expression ability of the graph structure, this paper proposes a method named Genetic Network Programming with Reconstructed Individuals (GNP-RI). The aim of GNP-RI is to balance the exploitation and exploration of GNP, that is, to strengthen the exploitation ability by using the exploited information extensively during the evolution process of GNP and finally obtain better performances than that of GNP. In the proposed method, the worse individuals are reconstructed and enhanced by the elite information before undergoing genetic operations (mutation and crossover). The enhancement of worse individuals mimics the maturing phenomenon in nature, where bad individuals can become smarter after receiving a good education. In this paper, GNP-RI is applied to the tile-world problem which is an excellent bench mark for evaluating the proposed architecture. The performance of GNP-RI is compared with that of the conventional GNP. The simulation results show some advantages of GNP-RI demonstrating its superiority over the conventional GNPs.

Study on oligomerization of glutamate decarboxylase from Lactobacillus brevis using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with light scattering techniques.

PubMed

Choi, Jaeyeong; Lee, Seungho; Linares-Pastén, Javier A; Nilsson, Lars

2018-01-01

In this work, asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with UV/Vis, multi-angle light scattering (MALS), and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors (AF4-UV-MALS-dRI) was employed for analysis of glutamate decarboxylase (LbGadB) from Lactobacillus brevis (L. brevis). AF4 provided molecular weight (MW) (or size)-based separation of dimer, hexamer, and aggregates of LbGadB. The effect of pH on oligomerization of LbGadB was investigated, and then AF4 results were compared to those from molecular modeling. The MWs measured by AF4-UV-MALS-dRI for dimeric and hexameric forms of LbGadB were 110 and 350 kDa, respectively, which are in good agreements with those theoretically calculated (110 and 330 kDa). The molecular sizes determined by AF4-UV-MALS-dRI were also in good agreement with those obtained from molecular modeling (6 and 10 nm, respectively, for dimeric and hexameric from AF4-UV-MALS-dRI and 6.4 × 7.6 and 7.6 × 13.1 nm from molecular modeling). The effects of temperature, salt type, and salt concentration on oligomerization of LbGadB were also investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found that the hexameric form of LbGadB was most stable at pH 6 and in presence of NaCl or KCl. The results indicate that AF4, in combination of various online detectors mentioned above, provides an effective tool for monitoring of oligomerization of LbGadB under different conditions, such as temperature, pH, type of salts, and salt concentrations.

Predicting Older Driver On-Road Performance by Means of the Useful Field of View and Trail Making Test Part B

PubMed Central

Wang, Yanning; Crizzle, Alexander M.; Winter, Sandra M.; Lanford, Desiree N.

2013-01-01

The Useful Field of View® (UFOV) and Trail Making Test Part B (Trails B) are measures of divided attention. We determined which measure was more accurate in predicting on-road outcomes among drivers (N = 198, mean age = 73.86, standard deviation = 6.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves for the UFOV (Risk Index [RI] and Subtests 1–3) and Trails B significantly predicted on-road outcomes. Contrasting Trails B with the UFOV RI and subtests, the only difference was found between the UFOV RI and Trails B, indicating the UFOV RI was the best predictor of on-road outcomes. Misclassifications of drivers totaled 28 for the UFOV RI, 62 for Trails B, and 58 for UFOV Subtest 2. The UFOV RI is a superior test in predicting on-road outcomes, but the Trails B has acceptable accuracy and is comparable to the other UFOV subtests. PMID:23968796

Black Silicon for Next-Generation Infrared Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

8217 l.i 1\\e n c :\\1 0 F Ne l ,oh"n ~nl lotn ......... n rto " v ... .,.... ’ "’h"’ ~)""’"’ ’ "" i: .’>-11 ’/.!11.!1 :>2 J(!.~l t 11-’o " ’ H.{ooj...nu~· 55 56 57 !2 7J 74 i S ඔ 77 ’JK 79 K(l ~ I 82 ~· ,> R5 R6 Cs Ra T.a H f Ta \\\\’ Re Os Tr 1𔃻 Au Hg Tl Pb Ri Po At Rn r.-:., .. n:o...Local dopant environment • Absorption vs . wavelength • Depth profile • Modeling • Carrier sign, concentration, mobility, lifetime • Hall

Disruption of SLP-76 interaction with Gads inhibits dynamic clustering of SLP-76 and FcepsilonRI signaling in mast cells.

PubMed

Silverman, Michael A; Shoag, Jonathan; Wu, Jennifer; Koretzky, Gary A

2006-03-01

We developed a confocal real-time imaging approach that allows direct observation of the subcellular localization pattern of proteins involved in proximal FcepsilonRI signaling in RBL cells and primary bone marrow-derived mast cells. The adaptor protein Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing leukocyte phosphoprotein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) is critical for FcepsilonRI-induced calcium flux, degranulation, and cytokine secretion. In this study, we imaged SLP-76 and found it in the cytosol of unstimulated cells. Upon FcepsilonRI cross-linking, SLP-76 translocates to the cell membrane, forming clusters that colocalize with the FcepsilonRI, the tyrosine kinase Syk, the adaptor LAT, and phosphotyrosine. The disruption of the SLP-76 interaction with its constitutive binding partner, Gads, through the mutation of SLP-76 or the expression of the Gads-binding region of SLP-76, inhibits the translocation and clustering of SLP-76, suggesting that the interaction of SLP-76 with Gads is critical for appropriate subcellular localization of SLP-76. We further demonstrated that the expression of the Gads-binding region of SLP-76 in bone marrow-derived mast cells inhibits FcepsilonRI-induced calcium flux, degranulation, and cytokine secretion. These studies revealed, for the first time, that SLP-76 forms signaling clusters following FcepsilonRI stimulation and demonstrated that the Gads-binding region of SLP-76 regulates clustering of SLP-76 and FcepsilonRI-induced mast cell responses.

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) process, elements and techniques guidance

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

Not Available

This manual provides detailed guidance on Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies (RI/FSs) conducted pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. The purpose of the RI/FS, to assess the risk posed by a hazardous waste site and to determine the best way to reduce that risk, and its structure (site characterization, risk assessment, screening and detailed analysis of alternatives, etc.) is defined in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) and further explained in the Environmental Protection Agency`s (EPA`s) Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA (Interimmore » Final) 540/G-89/004, OSWER Directive 9355.3-01, October 1988. Though issued in 1988, the EPA guidance remains an excellent source of information on the conduct and structure of an RI/FS. This document makes use of supplemental RI/FS-related guidance that EPA has developed since its initial document was issued in 1988, incorporates practical lessons learned in more than 12 years of experience in CERCLA hazardous site remediation, and drawing on those lessons, introduces the Streamlined Approach For Environmental Restoration (SAFER), developed by DOE as a way to proceed quickly and efficiently through the RI/FS process at DOE facilities. Thus as its title implies, this guidance is intended to describe in detail the process and component elements of an RI/FS, as well as techniques to manage the RI/FS effectively.« less

78 FR 55124 - Submission for Review: Death Benefit Payment Rollover Election, RI 94-7

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-09

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Death Benefit Payment Rollover Election, RI... information collection request (ICR) 3206-0218, Death Benefit Payment Rollover Election, RI 94-7. As required... Operations, Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management. Title: Death Benefit Payment Rollover...

Interplay between intergrin-linked kinase and ribonuclease inhibitor affects growth and metastasis of bladder cancer through signaling ILK pathways.

PubMed

Zhuang, Xiang; Lv, Mengxin; Zhong, Zhenyu; Zhang, Luyu; Jiang, Rong; Chen, Junxia

2016-08-30

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a multifunctional adaptor protein which is involved with protein signalling within cells to modulate malignant (cancer) cell movement, cell cycle, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our previous experiment demonstrated that ILK siRNA inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of bladder cancer cells as well as increased the expression of Ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), an important cytoplasmic protein with many functions. We also reported that RI overexpression inhibited ILK and phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β. ILK and RI gene both locate on chromosome 11p15 and the two genes are always at the adjacent position of same chromosome during evolution, which suggest that ILK and RI could have some relationship. However, underlying interacting mechanisms remain unclear between them. Here, we postulate that RI might regulate ILK signaling pathway via interacting with ILK. Co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down and co-localization under laser confocal microscope assay were used to determine the interaction between ILK and RI exogenously and endogenously. Furthermore, we further verified that there is a direct binding between the two proteins by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in cells. Next, The effects of interplay between ILK and RI on the key target protein expressions of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were determined by western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assay in vivo and in vitro. Finally, the interaction was assessed using nude mice xenograft model. We first found that ILK could combine with RI both in vivo and in vitro by GST pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and FRET. The protein levels of ILK and RI revealed a significant inverse correlation in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, The results showed that up-regulating ILK could increase cell proliferation, change cell morphology and regulate cell cycle. We also demonstrated that the overexpression of ILK remarkably promoted EMT and expressions of target molecules of ILK signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we found that ILK overexpression significantly enhanced growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of xenograft tumor; Whereas, RI has a contrary role compared to ILK in vivo and in vitro. Our findings, for the first time, directly proved that the interplay between ILK and RI regulated EMT via ILK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways for bladder cancer, which highlights the possibilities that ILK/RI could be valuable markers together for the therapy and diagnosis of human carcinoma of urinary bladder.

Ropivacaine alters the mechanical properties of hamstring tendons: In vitro controlled mechanical testing of tendons from living donors.

PubMed

Ollivier, M; Sbihi, J; Sbihi, A; Pithioux, M; Parratte, S; Argenson, J-N

2017-11-01

Intraarticular or periarticular injection of ropivacaine (RI) is an element of current knee surgery practices. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of RI on the mechanical properties of hamstring tendons. We hypothesized that RI would have a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of periarticular soft tissues METHODS: A tensile test to failure was performed on 120 hamstring tendon segments harvested during ACL reconstruction surgery in 120 patients. Two sets of tensile tests were done. The first evaluated the effect of RI itself on the mechanical properties of tendons: 30 samples were soaked for 1hour in a 2% RI solution and compared to 30 samples soaked in a saline solution (control group). The second evaluated the effect of RI concentration on the mechanical properties of hamstring tendons: 30 samples were soaked for 1hour in a 2% RI solution and 30 samples were soaked in a 7.5% RI solution. In the first test, 29 samples from each group were analyzed as two samples (one in each group) failed at the grip interface. The specimens exposed to 2% RI had lower ultimate tensile strength (Δ=4.4MPa, P=0.001), strain energy (Δ=13MPa, P=0.001) and Young's modulus (Δ=1.6MPa, P=0.02) than the specimens in the control group. There was no significant difference in the strain at failure between groups (Δ=5%, P=0.3). In the second test, one specimen from the 7.5% RI group failed during the preloading and was excluded. There was no significant difference in terms of the load at failure and ultimate tensile stress (Δ=0.45MPa, P=0.6) and strain energy (Δ=0.49MPa, P=0.49) between the two groups. There were significant differences in terms of elongation at failure (Δ=28%, P=0.0003) and Young's modulus (Δ=2.6MPa, P=0.005), with the specimens exposed to 7.5% RI undergoing greater deformation and having a lower Young's modulus. While local RI injections are widely performed in clinical practice, the results of this in vitro study point to short-term alterations of the mechanical properties of hamstring tendons. If these results hold in vivo, this could lead to weakness of the soft tissues exposed to this product, particularly the tendons and ligaments around the injection area. Experimental study. Level 1. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Application of STORMTOOLS's simplified flood inundation model with sea level rise to assess impacts to RI coastal areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spaulding, M. L.

2015-12-01

The vision for STORMTOOLS is to provide access to a suite of coastal planning tools (numerical models et al), available as a web service, that allows wide spread accessibly and applicability at high resolution for user selected coastal areas of interest. The first product developed under this framework were flood inundation maps, with and without sea level rise, for varying return periods for RI coastal waters. The flood mapping methodology is based on using the water level vs return periods at a primary NOAA water level gauging station and then spatially scaling the values, based on the predictions of high resolution, storm and wave simulations performed by Army Corp of Engineers, North Atlantic Comprehensive Coastal Study (NACCS) for tropical and extratropical storms on an unstructured grid, to estimate inundation levels for varying return periods. The scaling for the RI application used Newport, RI water levels as the reference point. Predictions are provided for once in 25, 50, and 100 yr return periods (at the upper 95% confidence level), with sea level rises of 1, 2, 3, and 5 ft. Simulations have also been performed for historical hurricane events including 1938, Carol (1954), Bob (1991), and Sandy (2012) and nuisance flooding events with return periods of 1, 3, 5, and 10 yr. Access to the flooding maps is via a web based, map viewer that seamlessly covers all coastal waters of the state at one meter resolution. The GIS structure of the map viewer allows overlays of additional relevant data sets (roads and highways, wastewater treatment facilities, schools, hospitals, emergency evacuation routes, etc.) as desired by the user. The simplified flooding maps are publically available and are now being implemented for state and community resilience planning and vulnerability assessment activities in response to climate change impacts.

Reconfigurable Image Generator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Archdeacon, John L. (Inventor); Iwai, Nelson H. (Inventor); Kato, Kenji H. (Inventor); Sweet, Barbara T. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A RiG may simulate visual conditions of a real world environment, and generate the necessary amount of pixels in a visual simulation at rates up to 120 frames per second. RiG may also include a database generation system capable of producing visual databases suitable to drive the visual fidelity required by the RiG.

76 FR 18812 - Submission for Review: RI 30-10, Disabled Dependent Questionnaire

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-05

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: RI 30-10, Disabled Dependent Questionnaire... Dependent Questionnaire. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C... (202) 606-0910. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RI 30-10, Disabled Dependent Questionnaire, is used to...

76 FR 36582 - Submission for Review: Disabled Dependent Questionnaire, RI 30-10

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-22

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Disabled Dependent Questionnaire, RI 30-10... Dependent Questionnaire. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C.... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RI 30-10, Disabled Dependent Questionnaire, is used to collect sufficient information...

33 CFR 100.119 - Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI 100.119 Section 100.119 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT...-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI (a) Regulated area. The regulated area includes all waters...

33 CFR 100.119 - Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI 100.119 Section 100.119 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT...-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI (a) Regulated area. The regulated area includes all waters...

33 CFR 100.119 - Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI 100.119 Section 100.119 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT...-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI (a) Regulated area. The regulated area includes all waters...

33 CFR 100.119 - Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Newport-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI 100.119 Section 100.119 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT...-Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI (a) Regulated area. The regulated area includes all waters...

Measurement and analysis of time-domain characteristics of corona-generated radio interference from a single positive corona source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuebao; Li, Dayong; Chen, Bo; Cui, Xiang; Lu, Tiebing; Li, Yinfei

2018-04-01

The corona-generated electromagnetic interference commonly known as radio interference (RI) has become a limiting factor for the design of high voltage direct current transmission lines. In this paper, a time-domain measurement system is developed to measure the time-domain characteristics of corona-generated RI from a single corona source under a positive corona source. In the experiments, the corona current pulses are synchronously measured through coupling capacitors. The one-to-one relationship between the corona current pulse and measured RI voltage pulse is observed. The statistical characteristics of pulse parameters are analyzed, and the correlations between the corona current pulse and RI voltage pulse in the time-domain and frequency-domain are analyzed. Depending on the measured corona current pulses, the time-domain waveform of corona-generated RI is calculated on the basis of the propagation model of corona current on the conductor, the dipolar model for electric field calculation, and the antenna model for inducing voltage calculation. The well matched results between measured and simulated waveforms of RI voltage can show the validity of the measurement and calculation method presented in this paper, which also further show the close correlation between corona current and corona-generated RI.

Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce Cd uptake and alleviate Cd toxicity of Lonicera japonica grown in Cd-added soils?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Qiu-Yun; Zhuo, Feng; Long, Shi-Hui; Zhao, Hai-Di; Yang, Dan-Jing; Ye, Zhi-Hong; Li, Shao-Shan; Jing, Yuan-Xiao

2016-02-01

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on the growth, Cd uptake, antioxidant indices [glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate (ASA), glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] and phytochelatins (PCs) production of Lonicera japonica in Cd-amended soils. Gv and Ri significantly increased P acquisition, biomass of shoots and roots at all Cd treatments. Gv significantly decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and roots, and Ri also obviously reduced Cd concentrations in shoots but increased Cd concentrations in roots. Meanwhile, activities of CAT, APX and GR, and contents of ASA and PCs were remarkably higher in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants than those of uninoculated plants, but lower MDA and GSH contents in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants were found. In conclusion, Gv and Ri symbiosis alleviated Cd toxicity of L. japonica through the decline of shoot Cd concentrations and the improvement of P nutrition, PCs content and activities of GR, CAT, APX in inoculated plants, and then improved plant growth. The decrease of shoot Cd concentrations in L. japonica inoculated with Gv/Ri would provide a clue for safe production of this plant from Cd-contaminated soils.

Effectiveness of Prompts on Fourth-Grade Children's Dietary Recall Accuracy Depends on Retention Interval and Varies by Gender.

PubMed

Baxter, Suzanne D; Smith, Albert F; Hitchcock, David B; Guinn, Caroline H; Royer, Julie A; Collins, Kathleen L; Smith, Alyssa L; Puryear, Megan P; Vaadi, Kate K; Finney, Christopher J; Miller, Patricia H

2015-09-01

Dietary recall accuracy is related to retention interval (RI) (i.e., time between to-be-reported meals and the interview), and possibly to prompts. To the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated their combined effect. The combined influence of RI and prompts on children's recall accuracy was investigated in this study. Two RIs [short (prior-24-h recall obtained in afternoon) and long (previous-day recall obtained in morning)] were crossed with 4 prompts [forward (distant-to-recent), meal-name (breakfast, lunch, etc.), open (no instructions), and reverse (recent-to-distant)], creating 8 conditions. Fourth-grade children (n = 480; 50% girls) were randomly selected from consenting children at 10 schools in 4 districts in a southern state during 3 school years (2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014). Each child was observed eating school-provided breakfast and lunch, and interviewed one time under 1 of the 8 conditions. Condition assignment was constrained so that each had 60 children (30 girls). Accuracy measures were food-item omission and intrusion rates, and energy correspondence rate and inflation ratio. For each measure, linear models determined effects of RI, prompt, gender, and interactions (2-way, 3-way); race/ethnicity, school year, and district were control variables. RI (P values < 0.015) and prompt (P values < 0.005) were significant for all 4 accuracy measures. RI × prompt (P values < 0.001) was significant for 3 accuracy measures (not intrusion rate). Prompt × gender (P = 0.005) was significant for omission rate. RI × prompt × gender was significant for intrusion rate and inflation ratio (P values < 0.001). For the short vs. long RI across prompts and genders, accuracy was better by 33-50% for each accuracy measure. To obtain the most accurate recalls possible from children, studies should be designed to use a short rather than long RI. Prompts affect children's recall accuracy, although the effectiveness of different prompts depends on RI and varies by gender: at a short RI, the choice of prompts has little systematic effect on accuracy, whereas at a long RI, reverse prompts may elicit the most accurate recalls. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

The effect of short-term treatment with lithium carbonate on the outcome of radioiodine therapy in patients with long-lasting Graves' hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Sekulić, Vladan; Rajić, Milena; Vlajković, Marina; Ilić, Slobodan; Stević, Miloš; Kojić, Marko

2017-12-01

The outcome of radioiodine therapy (RIT) in Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) mainly depends on radioiodine ( 131 I) uptake and the effective half-life of 131 I in the gland. Studies have shown that lithium carbonate (LiCO 3 ) enhances the 131 I half-life and increases the applied thyroid radiation dose without affecting the thyroid 131 I uptake. We investigated the effect of short-term treatment with LiCO 3 on the outcome of RIT in patients with long-lasting GH, its influence on the thyroid hormones levels 7 days after RIT, and possible side effects. Study prospectively included 30 patients treated with LiCO 3 and 131 I (RI-Li group) and 30 patients only with 131 I (RI group). Treatment with LiCO 3 (900 mg/day) started 1 day before RIT and continued 6 days after. Anti-thyroid drugs withdrawal was 7 days before RIT. Patients were followed up for 12 months. We defined a success of RIT as euthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and a failure as persistent hyperthyroidism. In RI-Li group, a serum level of Li was 0.571 ± 0.156 mmol/l before RIT. Serum levels of TT 4 and FT 4 increased while TSH decreased only in RI group 7 days after RIT. No toxic effects were noticed during LiCO 3 treatment. After 12 months, a success of RIT was 73.3% in RI and 90.0% in RI-Li group (P < 0.01). Hypothyroidism was achieved faster in RI-Li (1st month) than in RI group (3rd month). Euthyroidism slowly decreased in RI-Li group, and not all patients became hypothyroid for 12 months. In contrast, euthyroidism rapidly declined in RI group, and all cured patients became hypothyroid after 6 months. The short-term treatment with LiCO 3 as an adjunct to 131 I improves efficacy of RIT in patients with long-lasting GH. A success of RIT achieves faster in lithium-treated than in RI group. Treatment with LiCO 3 for 7 days prevents transient worsening of hyperthyroidism after RIT. Short-term use of LiCO 3 shows no toxic side effects.

Pretreatment with low-energy shock waves induces renal vasoconstriction during standard shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): a treatment protocol known to reduce SWL-induced renal injury.

PubMed

Handa, Rajash K; Bailey, Michael R; Paun, Marla; Gao, Sujuan; Connors, Bret A; Willis, Lynn R; Evan, Andrew P

2009-05-01

To test the hypothesis that the pretreatment of the kidney with low-energy shock waves (SWs) will induce renal vasoconstriction sooner than a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs, thus providing a potential mechanism by which the pretreatment SW lithotripsy (SWL) protocol reduces tissue injury. Female farm pigs (6-weeks-old) were anaesthetized with isoflurane and the lower pole of the right kidney treated with SWs using a conventional electrohydraulic lithotripter (HM3, Dornier GmbH, Germany). Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure renal resistive index (RI) in blood vessels as a measure of resistance/impedance to blood flow. RI was recorded from one intralobar artery located in the targeted pole of the kidney, and measurements taken from pigs given sham SW treatment (Group 1; no SWs, four pigs), a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs (Group 2; 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, seven pigs), low-energy SW pretreatment followed by high-energy SWL (Group 3; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min + 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, eight pigs) and low-energy SW pretreatment alone (Group 4; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min, six pigs). Baseline RI (approximately 0.61) was similar for all groups. Pigs receiving sham SW treatment (Group 1) had no significant change in RI. A standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs (Group 2) did not significantly alter RI during treatment, but did increase RI at 45 min after SWL. Low-energy SWs did not alter RI in Group 3 pigs, but subsequent treatment with a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs resulted in a significantly earlier (at 1000 SWs) and greater (two-fold) rise in RI than that in Group 2 pigs. This rise in RI during the low/high-energy SWL protocol was not due to a delayed vasoconstrictor response of pretreatment, as low-energy SW treatment alone (Group 4) did not increase RI until 65 min after SWL. The pretreatment protocol induces renal vasoconstriction during the period of SW application whereas the standard protocol shows vasoconstriction occurring after SWL. Thus, the earlier and greater rise in RI during the pretreatment protocol may be causally associated with a reduction in tissue injury.

Effects of polymer-nanoparticle interactions on the viscosity of unentangled polymers under extreme nanoconfinement during capillary rise infiltration.

PubMed

Hor, Jyo Lyn; Wang, Haonan; Fakhraai, Zahra; Lee, Daeyeon

2018-03-28

We explore the effect of confinement and polymer-nanoparticle interactions on the viscosity of unentangled polymers undergoing capillary rise infiltration (CaRI) in dense packings of nanoparticles. In CaRI, a polymer is thermally induced to wick into the dense packings of nanoparticles, leading to the formation of polymer-infiltrated nanoparticle films, a new class of thin film nanocomposites with extremely high concentrations of nanoparticles. To understand the effect of this extreme nanoconfinement, as well as polymer-nanoparticle interactions on the polymer viscosity in CaRI films, we use two polymers that are known to have very different interactions with SiO2 nanoparticles. Using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry, we monitor the polymer infiltration process, from which we infer the polymer viscosity based on the Lucas-Washburn model. Our results suggest that physical confinement increases the viscosity by approximately two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, confinement also increases the glass transition temperature of both polymers. Thus, under extreme nanoconfinement, the physical confinement has a more significant impact than the polymer-nanoparticle interactions on the viscosity of unentangled polymers, measured through infiltration dynamics, as well as the glass transition temperature. These findings will provide fundamental frameworks for designing processes to enable the fabrication of CaRI nanocomposite films with a wide range of nanoparticles and polymers.

Accurate prediction of the refractive index of polymers using first principles and data modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afzal, Mohammad Atif Faiz; Cheng, Chong; Hachmann, Johannes

Organic polymers with a high refractive index (RI) have recently attracted considerable interest due to their potential application in optical and optoelectronic devices. The ability to tailor the molecular structure of polymers is the key to increasing the accessible RI values. Our work concerns the creation of predictive in silico models for the optical properties of organic polymers, the screening of large-scale candidate libraries, and the mining of the resulting data to extract the underlying design principles that govern their performance. This work was set up to guide our experimentalist partners and allow them to target the most promising candidates. Our model is based on the Lorentz-Lorenz equation and thus includes the polarizability and number density values for each candidate. For the former, we performed a detailed benchmark study of different density functionals, basis sets, and the extrapolation scheme towards the polymer limit. For the number density we devised an exceedingly efficient machine learning approach to correlate the polymer structure and the packing fraction in the bulk material. We validated the proposed RI model against the experimentally known RI values of 112 polymers. We could show that the proposed combination of physical and data modeling is both successful and highly economical to characterize a wide range of organic polymers, which is a prerequisite for virtual high-throughput screening.

GRP78 enabled micelle-based glioma targeted drug delivery.

PubMed

Ran, Danni; Mao, Jiani; Shen, Qing; Xie, Cao; Zhan, Changyou; Wang, Ruifeng; Lu, Weiyue

2017-06-10

GRP78, a specific cancer cell-surface marker, is implicated in cancer cells proliferation, apoptosis resistance, metastasis and drug resistance. l-VAP (SNTRVAP) is a tumor homing peptide exhibiting high binding affinity in vitro to GRP78 protein overexpressed on glioma, glioma stem cells, vasculogenic mimicry and neovasculature. Even though short peptides are often non-immunogenic and demonstrate high affinity to tumor cells, their targeting efficacy is always undermined by rapid blood clearance and enzymatic degradation. In the present study, two d peptides RI-VAP (retro inverso isomer of l-VAP) and d-VAP (retro isomer of l-VAP) were developed by structure-guided peptide design and retro-inverso isomerization technique for glioma targeting. RI-VAP and d-VAP were predicted to bind their receptor GRP78 protein with similar binding affinity, which was experimentally confirmed. The results of in vivo imaging demonstrated that RI-VAP and d-VAP had remarkably advantage over l-VAP for tumor accumulation. In addition, RI-VAP and d-VAP modified paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelle had better anti-tumor efficacy in comparison to taxol, paclitaxel-loaded plain micelles and l-VAP modified micelles. Overall, the VAP modified micelles suggested in the present study could effectively achieve glioma-targeted drug delivery, validating the potential of the stable VAP peptides in improving the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel for glioma. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a novel label-free photonic-crystal biosensor imaging system for the detection of prostate cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeLuna, Frank; Ding, XiaoFie; Sun, Lu-Zhe; Ye, Jing Yong

2017-02-01

Biomarker screening for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the current clinical standard for detection of prostate cancer. However this method has shown many limitations, mainly in its specificity, which can lead to a high false positive rate. Thus, there is a growing need in developing a more specific detection system for prostate cancer. Using a Photonic- Crystal-based biosensor in a Total-Internal-Reflection (PC-TIR) configuration, we demonstrate the use of refractive index (RI) to accomplish label-free detection of prostate cancer cells against non-cancerous prostate epithelial cells. The PC-TIR biosensor possesses an open microcavity, which in contrast to traditional closed microcavities, allows for easier access of analyte molecules or cells to interact with its sensing surface. In this study, an imaging system was designed using the PC-TIR biosensor to quantify cell RI as the contrast parameter for prostate cancer detection. Non-cancerous BPH-1 prostate epithelial cells and prostate cancer PC-3 cells were placed on a single biosensor and measured concurrently. Recorded image data was then analyzed through a home-built MatLab program. Results demonstrate that RI is a suitable variable for differentiation between prostate cancer cells and non-cancerous prostate epithelial cells. Our study shows clinical potential in utilizing RI test for the detection of prostate cancer.

A Novel Field-Based Approach for Analysing Bar Reworking: Trialled in the Tongariro River, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid, H. E.; Williams, R. D.; Coleman, S.; Brierley, G. J.

2012-04-01

Bars are key morphological units within river systems, fashioning the sediment regime and bedload transport processes within a reach. Reworking of these features underpins channel adjustment at larger scales, thereby acting as a key determinant of channel stability. Yet, despite their fundamental importance to channel evolution, few investigations have acquired spatially continuous data on bar morphology and sediment particle size to facilitate detailed investigations on bar reworking. To this end, four bars along a 10 km reach of wandering gravel bed river were surveyed, capturing downstream changes in slope, bed material size and channel planform. High resolution surveys of bar topography and grain-size roughness were acquired using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS). The resulting point clouds were then filtered to a quasi-uniform point spacing of 0.05 m and statistical attributes were extracted at a 1 m resolution. The detrended standard deviations from the TLS data were then correlated to the underlying median grain size (D50), which was measured using the Wolman transect method. The resulting linear regression model had a strong relationship (R2 = 0.92) and was used to map median sediment size across each bar. Representative cross-sections were used to interpolate water surfaces across each bar, for flood events with recurrence intervals (RI) of 2.33, 10, 20, 50 and 100 years, enabling flow depth to be calculated. The ratio of dimensionless shear stress (from the depth raster and slope) over critical shear stress (from the D50 raster) was used to map entrainment across each bar at 1 m resolution for each flood event. This is referred to as 'relative erodibility'. The two downstream bars, which are characterised by low slope and smaller bed material, underwent greater entrainment during the more frequent 2.33 RI flood than the higher energy upstream bars which required floods with a RI of 10 or greater. Reworking was also assessed for within-bar geomorphic units. This work demonstrated that floods with a 2.33 year RI flush material on the bar tail, while 10 year RI floods rework the supra-platform and back channel deposits and only the largest flows (RI of > = 50) are able to entrain the bar head materials. Interestingly, despite dramatic differences between slope, grain-size and planform, all bar heads were found to undergo minimal entrainment (between 10 - 20 %) during the frequent 2.33 RI flood. This indicates that resistance at the bar head during frequent floods promotes the deposition of finer-grained, more transient units in their lee. This process-based appraisal explains channel adjustment at the reach-scale, whereby the proportion of the bar made out of more frequently entrained units (tail, backchannel, supra-platform) relative to more static units at the bar head exerts a direct influence upon the extent of adjustment of the bar and the reach as a whole.

Development and application of an innovative expert decision support system to manage sediments and to assess environmental risk in freshwater ecosystems.

PubMed

Dagnino, Alessandro; Bo, Tiziano; Copetta, Andrea; Fenoglio, Stefano; Oliveri, Caterina; Bencivenga, Mauro; Felli, Angelo; Viarengo, Aldo

2013-10-01

With the aim of supporting decision makers to manage contamination in freshwater environments, an innovative expert decision support system (EDSS) was developed. The EDSS was applied in a sediment quality assessment along the Bormida river (NW, Italy) which has been heavily contaminated by an upstream industrial site for more than a century. Sampling sites were classified by means of comparing chemical concentrations with effect-based target values (threshold and probable effect concentrations). The level of each contaminant and the combined toxic pressure were used to rank sites into three categories: (i) uncontaminated (8 sites), (ii) mildly contaminated (4) and (iii) heavily contaminated (19). In heavily contaminated sediments, an environmental risk index (EnvRI) was determined by means of integrating chemical data with ecotoxicological and ecological parameters (triad approach). In addition a sediment risk index (SedRI) was computed from combining chemical and ecotoxicological data. Eight sites exhibited EnvRI values ≥0.25, the safety threshold level (range of EnvRI values: 0.14-0.31) whereas SedRI exceeded the safety threshold level at 6 sites (range of SedRI values: 0.16-0.36). At sites classified as mildly contaminated, sublethal biomarkers were integrated with chemical data into a biological vulnerability index (BVI), which exceeded the safety threshold level at one site (BVI value: 0.28). Finally, potential human risk was assessed in selected stations (11 sites) by integrating genotoxicity biomarkers (GTI index falling in the range 0.00-0.53). General conclusions drawn from the EDSS data include: (i) in sites classified as heavily contaminated, only a few exhibited some significant, yet limited, effects on biodiversity; (ii) restrictions in re-using sediments from heavily contaminated sites found little support in ecotoxicological data; (iii) in the majority of the sites classified as mildly contaminated, tested organisms exhibited low response levels; (iv) preliminary results on genotoxicity biomarkers indicate possible negative consequences for humans if exposed to river sediments from target areas. © 2013.

14. Bottom floor, tower interior showing base of stairway to ...

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

14. Bottom floor, tower interior showing base of stairway to lantern; details shown of iron castings for newel post, railing, and stair treads and risers. - Block Island Southeast Light, Spring Street & Mohegan Trail at Mohegan Bluffs, New Shoreham, Washington County, RI

Serum cystatin C is an independent biomarker associated with the renal resistive index in patients with chronic kidney disease.

PubMed

Ogawa-Akiyama, Ayu; Sugiyama, Hitoshi; Kitagawa, Masashi; Tanaka, Keiko; Onishi, Akifumi; Yamanari, Toshio; Morinaga, Hiroshi; Uchida, Haruhito Adam; Nakamura, Kazufumi; Ito, Hiroshi; Wada, Jun

2018-01-01

Cystatin C is a cysteine protease inhibitor that is produced by nearly all human cells. The serum level of cystatin C is a stronger predictor of the renal outcome and the risk of cardiovascular events than the creatinine level. The resistive index (RI) on renal Doppler ultrasonography is a good indicator of vascular resistance as well as the renal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is unclear whether serum cystatin C is associated with signs of vascular dysfunction, such as the renal RI. We measured the serum cystatin C levels in 101 CKD patients and investigated the relationships between cystatin C and markers of vascular dysfunction, including the renal RI, ankle-brachial pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), and cardiac function. The renal RI was significantly correlated with the serum cystatin C level (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6920). The serum cystatin C level was found to be a significant determinant of the renal RI (p < 0.0001), but not the baPWV, in a multivariate regression analysis. The multivariate odds ratio of the serum cystatin C level for a renal RI of more than 0.66 was statistically significant (2.92, p = 0.0106). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve comparing the sensitivity and specificity of cystatin C for predicting an RI of more than 0.66 was 0.882 (cutoff value: 2.04 mg/L). In conclusion, the serum cystatin C level is an independent biomarker associated with the renal RI in patients with CKD.

Variation in the strength of reproductive interference from an alien congener to a native species in Taraxacum.

PubMed

Nishida, Sachiko; Hashimoto, Keisuke; Kanaoka, Masahiro M; Takakura, Ko-Ichi; Nishida, Takayoshi

2017-01-01

Reproductive interference (RI) may be a contributing factor to the displacement of native species by an alien congener, and RI strength has been shown theoretically to affect distributional relationships between species. Thus, variations in RI strength from alien to native species result in different consequences of invasions and efforts to conserve native species, but the variations have seldom been examined empirically. We therefore investigated RI strength variations from the alien species Taraxacum officinale and its hybrids to eight populations of native dandelions, four T. japonicum populations and two populations each of two subspecies of T. platycarpum. We examined the association between alien relative abundance and native seed set in field surveys, and we also performed hand-pollination experiments to investigate directly the sensitivity of native flowers to alien pollen. We found that the effect of alien relative abundance on native seed set of even the same native species could differ greatly in different regions, and that the sensitivity of native flowers to alien pollen was also dependent on region. Our results, together with those of previous studies, show that RI from the alien to the native species is strong in regions where the alien species outnumbers the native species and marginal where it does not; this result suggests that alien RI can critically affect distributional relationships between native and alien species. Our study highlights the importance of performing additional empirical investigations of RI strength variation and of giving due attention to alien RI in efforts to conserve regional native biodiversity.

Dynamic response due to behind helmet blunt trauma measured with a human head surrogate.

PubMed

Freitas, Christopher J; Mathis, James T; Scott, Nikki; Bigger, Rory P; Mackiewicz, James

2014-01-01

A Human Head Surrogate has been developed for use in behind helmet blunt trauma experiments. This human head surrogate fills the void between Post-Mortem Human Subject testing (with biofidelity but handling restrictions) and commercial ballistic head forms (with no biofidelity but ease of use). This unique human head surrogate is based on refreshed human craniums and surrogate materials representing human head soft tissues such as the skin, dura, and brain. A methodology for refreshing the craniums is developed and verified through material testing. A test methodology utilizing these unique human head surrogates is also developed and then demonstrated in a series of experiments in which non-perforating ballistic impact of combat helmets is performed with and without supplemental ceramic appliques for protecting against larger caliber threats. Sensors embedded in the human head surrogates allow for direct measurement of intracranial pressure, cranial strain, and head and helmet acceleration. Over seventy (70) fully instrumented experiments have been executed using this unique surrogate. Examples of the data collected are presented. Based on these series of tests, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Human Head Surrogate has demonstrated great potential for providing insights in to injury mechanics resulting from non-perforating ballistic impact on combat helmets, and directly supports behind helmet blunt trauma studies.

Dynamic Response Due to Behind Helmet Blunt Trauma Measured with a Human Head Surrogate

PubMed Central

Freitas, Christopher J.; Mathis, James T.; Scott, Nikki; Bigger, Rory P.; MacKiewicz, James

2014-01-01

A Human Head Surrogate has been developed for use in behind helmet blunt trauma experiments. This human head surrogate fills the void between Post-Mortem Human Subject testing (with biofidelity but handling restrictions) and commercial ballistic head forms (with no biofidelity but ease of use). This unique human head surrogate is based on refreshed human craniums and surrogate materials representing human head soft tissues such as the skin, dura, and brain. A methodology for refreshing the craniums is developed and verified through material testing. A test methodology utilizing these unique human head surrogates is also developed and then demonstrated in a series of experiments in which non-perforating ballistic impact of combat helmets is performed with and without supplemental ceramic appliques for protecting against larger caliber threats. Sensors embedded in the human head surrogates allow for direct measurement of intracranial pressure, cranial strain, and head and helmet acceleration. Over seventy (70) fully instrumented experiments have been executed using this unique surrogate. Examples of the data collected are presented. Based on these series of tests, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Human Head Surrogate has demonstrated great potential for providing insights in to injury mechanics resulting from non-perforating ballistic impact on combat helmets, and directly supports behind helmet blunt trauma studies. PMID:24688303

All-dielectric three-dimensional broadband Eaton lens with large refractive index range

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

Yin, Ming; Yong Tian, Xiao, E-mail: leoxyt@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Ling Wu, Ling

2014-03-03

We proposed a method to realize three-dimensional (3D) gradient index (GRIN) devices requiring large refractive index (RI) range with broadband performance. By combining non-resonant GRIN woodpile photonic crystals structure in the metamaterial regime with a compound liquid medium, a wide RI range (1–6.32) was fulfilled flexibly. As a proof-of-principle for the low-loss and non-dispersive method, a 3D Eaton lens was designed and fabricated based on 3D printing process. Full-wave simulation and experiment validated its omnidirectional wave bending effects in a broad bandwidth covering Ku band (12 GHz–18 GHz)

New Bedford, PCB Data Management System: Phase 1 Report: August 1982

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2012-04-22

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-03

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2012-07-03

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2012-06-11

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77 FR 7025 - Safety Zones; America's Cup World Series, East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-10

...-AA00 Safety Zones; America's Cup World Series, East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI AGENCY: Coast Guard... the America's Cup World Series sailing vessel racing event. This safety zone is intended to safeguard... participants and spectators involved with the America's Cup World Series in the vicinity of Newport, RI...

77 FR 28253 - Safety Zone; America's Cup World Series, East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-14

...-AA00 Safety Zone; America's Cup World Series, East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI AGENCY: Coast Guard... navigable waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, during the America's Cup World Series... rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Safety Zones; America's Cup World Series, East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI...

Down-regulation of FcepsilonRI expression by Houttuynia cordata Thunb extract in human basophilic KU812F cells.

PubMed

Shim, Sun-Yup; Seo, Young-Kook; Park, Jeong-Ro

2009-04-01

Human basophilic KU812F cells express a high-affinity immunoglobulin (Ig) E receptor, FcepsilonRI, which plays an important role in IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Family Saururaceae), which is rich in polyphenols, has been shown to have various physiological properties, including antiviral, antioxidative, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. The effect of H. cordata extract on the expression of FcepsilonRI in human KU812F cells was examined. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the FcepsilonRI expression and the IgE binding activity were suppressed when the cells were cultured with H. cordata extract. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that levels of the mRNAs for FcepsilonRI alpha- and gamma-chains were decreased by the treatment of H. cordata extract. Addition of H. cordata extract to culture medium was also observed to result in a reduction in the release of histamine from the cells. These results suggest that H. cordata extract may exert its anti-allergic activity through down-regulation of FcepsilonRI expression and a subsequent decrease in histamine release.

RI in central retinal artery as assessed by CDI does not correspond to retinal vascular resistance.

PubMed

Polska, E; Kircher, K; Ehrlich, P; Vecsei, P V; Schmetterer, L

2001-04-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between ultrasound Doppler measurements of resistive index (RI) in the central retinal artery and retinal vascular resistance (R) assessed with laser Doppler velocimetry, vessel size measurement, and calculation of ocular perfusion pressure (PP) in healthy subjects. An increase in vascular resistance was induced by inhalation of 100% O(2). During hyperoxia no significant changes in PP were observed. Mean flow velocity in main retinal veins was reduced by -27.5 +/- 2.0%. The average decrease in diameter was -11.5 +/- 1.0%. R, which was calculated as the ratio of PP to flow rate, increased by 97.6 +/- 7.7%. RI increased as well, but the effect was much smaller (6.6 +/- 2.2%). In addition, a negative correlation was found between baseline values of R and RI (r = -0.83). During hyperoxia R and RI were not associated. In conclusion, our data indicate that RI as assessed with color Doppler imaging in the central retinal artery is not an adequate measure of R.

G-index: A new metric to describe dynamic refractive index effects in HPLC absorbance detection.

PubMed

Kraiczek, Karsten G; Rozing, Gerard P; Zengerle, Roland

2018-09-01

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a solvent gradient and absorbance detection is one of the most widely used methods in analytical chemistry. The observed absorbance baseline is affected by the changes in the refractive index (RI) of the mobile phase. Near the limited of detection, this complicates peak quantitation. The general aspects of these RI-induced apparent absorbance effects are discussed. Two different detectors with fundamentally different optics and flow cell concepts, a variable-wavelength detector equipped with a conventional flow cell and a diode-array detector equipped with a liquid core waveguide flow cell, are compared with respect to their RI behavior. A simple method to separate static - partly unavoidable - RI effects from dynamic RI effects is presented. It is shown that the dynamic RI behavior of an absorbance detector can be well described using a single, relatively easy-to-determine metric called the G-index. The G-index is typically in the order of a few seconds and its sign depends on the optical flow cell concept. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and Physical Basis for Anti-IgE Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Jon D.; Chu, Hsing-Mao; Huang, Chun-Hsiang; Ma, Che; Wen Chang, Tse; Lim, Carmay

2015-06-01

Omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody, used to treat severe allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria, binds to IgE in blood or membrane-bound on B lymphocytes but not to IgE bound to its high (FcɛRI) or low (CD23) affinity receptor. Mutagenesis studies indicate overlapping FcɛRI and omalizumab-binding sites in the Cɛ3 domain, but crystallographic studies show FcɛRI and CD23-binding sites that are far apart, so how can omalizumab block IgE from binding both receptors? We report a 2.42-Å omalizumab-Fab structure, a docked IgE-Fc/omalizumab-Fab structure consistent with available experimental data, and the free energy contributions of IgE residues to binding omalizumab, CD23, and FcɛRI. These results provide a structural and physical basis as to why omalizumab cannot bind receptor-bound IgE and why omalizumab-bound IgE cannot bind to CD23/FcɛRI. They reveal the key IgE residues and their roles in binding omalizumab, CD23, and FcɛRI.

In-line optofluidic refractive index sensing in a side-channel photonic crystal fiber.

PubMed

Zhang, Nan; Humbert, Georges; Wu, Zhifang; Li, Kaiwei; Shum, Perry Ping; Zhang, Nancy Meng Ying; Cui, Ying; Auguste, Jean-Louis; Dinh, Xuan Quyen; Wei, Lei

2016-11-28

An in-line optofluidic refractive index (RI) sensing platform is constructed by splicing a side-channel photonic crystal fiber (SC-PCF) with side-polished single mode fibers. A long-period grating (LPG) combined with an intermodal interference between LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ core modes is used for sensing the RI of the liquid in the side channel. The resonant dip shows a nonlinear wavelength shift with increasing RI over the measured range from 1.3330 to 1.3961. The RI response of this sensing platform for a low RI range of 1.3330-1.3780 is approximately linear, and exhibits a sensitivity of 1145 nm/RIU. Besides, the detection limit of our sensing scheme is improved by around one order of magnitude by introducing the intermodal interference.

Speciation genes in plants

PubMed Central

Rieseberg, Loren H.; Blackman, Benjamin K.

2010-01-01

Background Analyses of speciation genes – genes that contribute to the cessation of gene flow between populations – can offer clues regarding the ecological settings, evolutionary forces and molecular mechanisms that drive the divergence of populations and species. This review discusses the identities and attributes of genes that contribute to reproductive isolation (RI) in plants, compares them with animal speciation genes and investigates what these genes can tell us about speciation. Scope Forty-one candidate speciation genes were identified in the plant literature. Of these, seven contributed to pre-pollination RI, one to post-pollination, prezygotic RI, eight to hybrid inviability, and 25 to hybrid sterility. Genes, gene families and genetic pathways that were frequently found to underlie the evolution of RI in different plant groups include the anthocyanin pathway and its regulators (pollinator isolation), S RNase-SI genes (unilateral incompatibility), disease resistance genes (hybrid necrosis), chimeric mitochondrial genes (cytoplasmic male sterility), and pentatricopeptide repeat family genes (cytoplasmic male sterility). Conclusions The most surprising conclusion from this review is that identities of genes underlying both prezygotic and postzygotic RI are often predictable in a broad sense from the phenotype of the reproductive barrier. Regulatory changes (both cis and trans) dominate the evolution of pre-pollination RI in plants, whereas a mix of regulatory mutations and changes in protein-coding genes underlie intrinsic postzygotic barriers. Also, loss-of-function mutations and copy number variation frequently contribute to RI. Although direct evidence of positive selection on speciation genes is surprisingly scarce in plants, analyses of gene family evolution, along with theoretical considerations, imply an important role for diversifying selection and genetic conflict in the evolution of RI. Unlike in animals, however, most candidate speciation genes in plants exhibit intraspecific polymorphism, consistent with an important role for stochastic forces and/or balancing selection in development of RI in plants. PMID:20576737

Measurement of the refractive index of soft contact lenses during wear.

PubMed

Varikooty, Jalaiah; Keir, Nancy; Woods, Craig A; Fonn, Desmond

2010-01-01

To determine whether the refractive index (RI) of a soft contact lens can be evaluated using refractometry while the lens remains on the eye and to compare this with more traditional ex vivo RI measurements. A slitlamp apparatus was modified to incorporate a customized Atago hand refractometer. With a double-masked study design, nine adapted symptomatic soft contact lens wearers wore a contact lens in each eye (lotrafilcon B and etafilcon A) in a randomized order. In vivo RI was determined from the relative Brix scale measurements immediately after lens insertion and after 1 and 10 hr of lens wear. Ex vivo refractometry was performed after 10 hr of lens wear for comparison. Means +/- standard errors of the means are reported. In vivo RI values at baseline were 1.422 +/- 0.0004 (lotrafilcon B) and 1.405 +/- 0.0021 (etafilcon A); after 1 hr of lens wear, values were 1.423 +/- 0.0006 and 1.408 +/- 0.0007, respectively; and after 10 hr of lens wear, values were 1.424 +/- 0.0004 and 1.411 +/- 0.0010, respectively. Ex vivo RI values at the end of the 10 hr wearing period were 1.424 +/- 0.0003 (lotrafilcon B) and 1.412 +/- 0.0017 (etafilcon A). The change in in vivo RI across the day was statistically significant for the etafilcon A lens (repeated-measures analysis of variance, P<0.01) but not for the lotrafilcon B lens (P>0.05). This novel adaptation of refractometry was able to measure the RI of soft contact lenses during wear (without lens removal). End of day RI measurements using in vivo and ex vivo refractometry were comparable with each other. Future work is required to determine whether this in vivo method can improve our understanding of the relationships between soft contact lens RI, hydration, on-eye lens performance, and symptomology.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 protects against renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating mitochondrial damage and proinflammatory signalling.

PubMed

Tan, Xiao-Hua; Zheng, Xiao-Meng; Yu, Li-Xia; He, Jian; Zhu, Hong-Mei; Ge, Xiu-Ping; Ren, Xiao-Li; Ye, Fa-Qing; Bellusci, Saverio; Xiao, Jian; Li, Xiao-Kun; Zhang, Jin-San

2017-11-01

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The molecular basis underlying I/RI-induced renal pathogenesis and measures to prevent or reverse this pathologic process remains to be resolved. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is reported to have protective roles of myocardial infarction as well as in several other I/R related disorders. Herein we present evidence that FGF2 exhibits robust protective effect against renal histological and functional damages in a rat I/RI model. FGF2 treatment greatly alleviated I/R-induced acute renal dysfunction and largely blunted I/R-induced elevation in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and also the number of TUNEL-positive tubular cells in the kidney. Mechanistically, FGF2 substantially ameliorated renal I/RI by mitigating several mitochondria damaging parameters including pro-apoptotic alteration of Bcl2/Bax expression, caspase-3 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and K ATP channel integrity. Of note, the protective effect of FGF2 was significantly compromised by the K ATP channel blocker 5-HD. Interestingly, I/RI alone resulted in mild activation of FGFR, whereas FGF2 treatment led to more robust receptor activation. More significantly, post-I/RI administration of FGF2 also exhibited robust protection against I/RI by reducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting the release of damage-associated molecular pattern molecule HMBG1 and activation of its downstream inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF α. Taken together, our data suggest that FGF2 offers effective protection against I/RI and improves animal survival by attenuating mitochondrial damage and HMGB1-mediated inflammatory response. Therefore, FGF2 has the potential to be used for the prevention and treatment of I/RI-induced AKI. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Absence of Fc epsilonRI alpha chain results in upregulation of Fc gammaRIII-dependent mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis. Evidence of competition between Fc epsilonRI and Fc gammaRIII for limiting amounts of FcR beta and gamma chains.

PubMed Central

Dombrowicz, D; Flamand, V; Miyajima, I; Ravetch, J V; Galli, S J; Kinet, J P

1997-01-01

In mouse mast cells, both Fc epsilonRI and Fc gammaRIII are alpha beta gamma2 tetrameric complexes in which different alpha chains confer IgE or IgG ligand recognition while the signaling FcR beta and gamma chains are identical. We used primarily noninvasive techniques (changes in body temperature, dye extravasation) to assess systemic anaphylactic responses in nonanesthetized wild-type, Fc epsilonRI alpha chain -/- and FcR gamma chain -/- mice. We confirm that systemic anaphylaxis in mice can be mediated largely through IgG1 and Fc gammaRIII and we provide direct evidence that these responses reflect activation of Fc gammaRIII rather than Fc gammaRI. Furthermore, we show that Fc gammaRIII-dependent responses are more intense in normal than in congenic mast cell-deficient KitW/KitW-v mice, indicating that Fc gammaRIII responses have mast cell-dependent and -independent components. Finally, we demonstrate that the upregulation of cell surface expression of Fc gammaRIII seen in Fc epsilonRI alpha chain -/- mice corresponds to an increased association of Fc gammaRIII alpha chains with FcR beta and gamma chains and is associated with enhanced Fc gammaRIII-dependent mast cell degranulation and systemic anaphylactic responses. Therefore, the phenotype of the Fc epsilonRI alpha chain -/- mice suggests that expression of Fc epsilonRI and Fc gammaRIII is limited by availability of the FcR beta and gamma chains and that, in normal mice, changes in the expression of one receptor (Fc epsilonRI) may influence the expression of functional responses dependent on the other (Fc gammaRIII). PMID:9062349

The RiSE climbing robot: body and leg design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saunders, A.; Goldman, D. I.; Full, R. J.; Buehler, M.

2006-05-01

The RiSE robot is a biologically inspired, six legged climbing robot, designed for general mobility in scansorial (vertical walls, horizontal ledges, ground level) environments. It exhibits ground reaction forces that are similar to animal climbers and does not rely on suction, magnets or other surface-dependent specializations to achieve adhesion and shear force. We describe RiSE's body and leg design as well as its electromechanical, communications and computational infrastructure. We review design iterations that enable RiSE to climb 90° carpeted, cork covered and (a growing range of) stucco surfaces in the quasi-static regime.

Renal arterial resistive index is associated with severe histological changes and poor renal outcome during chronic kidney disease

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem and end stage renal disease (ESRD) represents a large human and economic burden. It is important to identify patients at high risk of ESRD. In order to determine whether renal Doppler resistive index (RI) may discriminate those patients, we analyzed whether RI was associated with identified prognosis factors of CKD, in particular histological findings, and with renal outcome. Methods RI was measured in the 48 hours before renal biopsy in 58 CKD patients. Clinical and biological data were collected prospectively at inclusion. Arteriosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis were quantitatively assessed on renal biopsy in a blinded fashion. MDRD eGFR at 18 months was collected for 35 (60%) patients. Renal function decline was defined as a decrease in eGFR from baseline of at least 5 mL/min/ 1.73 m2/year or need for chronic renal replacement therapy. Pearson’s correlation, Mann–Whitney and Chi-square tests were used for analysis of quantitative and qualitative variables respectively. Kaplan Meier analysis was realized to determine renal survival according to RI value using the log-rank test. Multiple logistic regression was performed including variables with p < 0.20 in univariate analysis. Results Most patients had glomerulonephritis (82%). Median age was 46 years [21–87], eGFR 59 mL/min/ 1.73m2 [5–130], percentage of interstitial fibrosis 10% [0–90], glomerulosclerosis 13% [0–96] and RI 0.63 [0.31-1.00]. RI increased with age (r = 0.435, p = 0.0063), pulse pressure (r = 0.303, p = 0.022), renal atrophy (r = −0.275, p = 0.038) and renal dysfunction (r = −0.402, p = 0.0018). Patients with arterial intima/media ratio ≥ 1 (p = 0.032), interstitial fibrosis > 20% (p = 0.014) and renal function decline (p = 0.0023) had higher RI. Patients with baseline RI ≥ 0.65 had a poorer renal outcome than those with baseline RI < 0.65 (p = 0.0005). In multiple logistic regression, RI≥0.65 was associated with accelerated renal function decline independently of baseline eGFR and proteinuria/creatininuria ratio (OR=13.04 [1.984-85.727], p = 0.0075). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive and predictive negative values of RI ≥ 0.65 for renal function decline at 18 months were respectively 77%, 86%, 71% and 82%. Conclusions Our results suggest that RI ≥ 0.65 is associated with severe interstitial fibrosis and arteriosclerosis and renal function decline. Thus, RI may contribute to identify patients at high risk of ESRD who may benefit from nephroprotective treatments. PMID:23098365

On the radiated EMI current extraction of dc transmission line based on corona current statistical measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Yong; Chen, Zhengying; Wang, Liming

2018-05-01

Corona-originated discharge of DC transmission lines is the main reason for the radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI) field in the vicinity of transmission lines. A joint time-frequency analysis technique was proposed to extract the radiated EMI current (excitation current) of DC corona based on corona current statistical measurements. A reduced-scale experimental platform was setup to measure the statistical distributions of current waveform parameters of aluminum conductor steel reinforced. Based on the measured results, the peak value, root-mean-square value and average value with 9 kHz and 200 Hz band-with of 0.5 MHz radiated EMI current were calculated by the technique proposed and validated with conventional excitation function method. Radio interference (RI) was calculated based on the radiated EMI current and a wire-to-plate platform was built for the validity of the RI computation results. The reason for the certain deviation between the computations and measurements was detailed analyzed.

The EPSRC's Policy of Responsible Innovation from a Trading Zones Perspective.

PubMed

Murphy, Joseph; Parry, Sarah; Walls, John

Responsible innovation (RI) is gathering momentum as an academic and policy debate linking science and society. Advocates of RI in research policy argue that scientific research should be opened up at an early stage so that many actors and issues can steer innovation trajectories. If this is done, they suggest, new technologies will be more responsible in different ways, better aligned with what society wants, and mistakes of the past will be avoided. This paper analyses the dynamics of RI in policy and practice and makes recommendations for future development. More specifically, we draw on the theory of 'trading zones' developed by Peter Galison and use it to analyse two related processes: (i) the development and inclusion of RI in research policy at the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); (ii) the implementation of RI in relation to the Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering (SPICE) project. Our analysis reveals an RI trading zone comprised of three quasi-autonomous traditions of the research domain - applied science, social science and research policy. It also shows how language and expertise are linking and coordinating these traditions in ways shaped by local conditions and the wider context of research. Building on such insights, we argue that a sensible goal for RI policy and practice at this stage is better local coordination of those involved and we suggest ways how this might be achieved.

Coated Pit-mediated Endocytosis of the Type I Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) Receptor Depends on a Di-leucine Family Signal and Is Not Required for Signaling*

PubMed Central

Shapira, Keren E.; Gross, Avner; Ehrlich, Marcelo; Henis, Yoav I.

2012-01-01

The roles of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor endocytosis in signaling have been investigated in numerous studies, mainly through the use of endocytosis inhibitory treatments, yielding conflicting results. Two potential sources for these discrepancies were the pleiotropic effects of a general blockade of specific internalization pathways and the scarce information on the regulation of the endocytosis of the signal-transducing type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI). Here, we employed extracellularly tagged myc-TβRI (wild type, truncation mutants, and a series of endocytosis-defective and endocytosis-enhanced mutants) to directly investigate the relationship between TβRI endocytosis and signaling. Our findings indicate that TβRI is targeted for constitutive clathrin-mediated endocytosis via a di-leucine (Leu180-Ile181) signal and an acidic cluster motif. Using Smad-dependent transcriptional activation assays and following Smad2/3 nuclear translocation in response to TGF-β stimulation, we show that TβRI endocytosis is dispensable for TGF-β signaling and may play a role in signal termination. Alanine replacement of Leu180-Ile181 led to partial constitutive activation of TβRI, resulting in part from its retention at the plasma membrane and in part from potential alterations of TβRI regulatory interactions in the vicinity of the mutated residues. PMID:22707720

Three-dimensional orientation and location-dependent varying rules of radiographic angles of the acetabular cup.

PubMed

Zhao, Jing-Xin; Su, Xiu-Yun; Zhao, Zhe; Xiao, Ruo-Xiu; Zhang, Li-Cheng; Tang, Pei-Fu

2018-02-17

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the varying rules of radiographic angles following varying three-dimensional (3D) orientations and locations of cup using an accurate mathematical model. A cone model is established to address the quantitative relationship between the opening circle of cup and its ellipse projection on radiograph. The varying rules of two-dimensional (2D) radiographic anteversion (RA) and inclination (RI) angles can be analyzed. When the centre of cup is located above X-ray source, with proper 3D RI/RA angles, 2D RA angle can be equal to its 3D counterpart, and 2D RI angle is usually greater than its 3D counterpart. Except for the original point on hip-centered anterior-posterior radiograph, there is no area on radiograph where both 2D RA and RI angles are equal to their 3D counterparts simultaneously. This study proposes an innovative model for accurately explaining how 2D RA/RI angles of cup are varying following different 3D RA/RI angles and location of cup. The analysis results provide clinicians an intuitive grasp of knowledge about 2D RA/RI angles greater or smaller than their 3D counterparts post-operatively. The established model may allow determining the effects of pelvic rotations on 2D radiographic angles of cup.

The use of the term 'radiosensitivity' through history of radiation: from clarity to confusion.

PubMed

Britel, Manon; Bourguignon, Michel; Foray, Nicolas

2018-05-01

The term 'radiosensitivity' appeared for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century, few years after the discovery of X-rays. Initially used by French and German radiologists, it illustrated the risk of radiation-induced (RI) skin reactions. From the 1950s, 'radiosensitivity' was progressively found to describe other features of RI response such as RI cancers or cataracts. To date, such confusion may raise legal issues and complexify the message addressed to general public. Here, through an historical review, we aimed to better understand how this confusion appeared. To support our historical review, a quantitative and qualitative wording analysis of the 'radiosensitivity' occurrences and its derived terms was performed with Google books, Pubmed, Web of Science™ databases, and in all the ICRP publications. While 'radiosensitivity' was historically related to RI adverse tissue events attributable to cell death, the first efforts to quantify the RI risk specific to each organ/tissue revealed some different semantic fields that are not necessarily compatible together (e.g. adverse tissue events for skin, cataracts for eyes, RI cancer for breast or thyroid). To avoid such confusion, we propose to keep the historical definition of 'radiosensitivity' to any clinical and cellular consequences of radiation attributable to cell death and to introduce the term 'radiosusceptibility' to describe the RI cancers or any feature that is attributable to cell transformation.

The Infant with Aortic Arch Hypoplasia and Small Left Heart Structures: Echocardiographic Indices of Mitral and Aortic Hypoplasia Predicting Successful Biventricular Repair.

PubMed

Plymale, Jennifer M; Frommelt, Peter C; Nugent, Melodee; Simpson, Pippa; Tweddell, James S; Shillingford, Amanda J

2017-08-01

In infants with aortic arch hypoplasia and small left-sided cardiac structures, successful biventricular repair is dependent on the adequacy of the left-sided structures. Defining accurate thresholds of echocardiographic indices predictive of successful biventricular repair is paramount to achieving optimal outcomes. We sought to identify pre-operative echocardiographic indices of left heart size that predict intervention-free survival in infants with small left heart structures undergoing primary aortic arch repair to establish biventricular circulation (BVC). Infants ≤2 months undergoing aortic arch repair from 1999 to 2010 with aortic and/or mitral valve hypoplasia, (Z-score ≤-2) were included. Pre-operative and follow-up echocardiograms were reviewed. Primary outcome was successful biventricular circulation (BVC), defined as freedom from death, transplant, or single ventricular conversion at 1 year. Need for catheter based or surgical re-intervention (RI), valve annular growth, and significant late aortic or mitral valve obstruction were additional outcomes. Fifty one of 73 subjects (79%) had successful BVC and were free of RI at 1 year. Seven subjects failed BVC; four of those died. The overall 1 year survival for the cohort was 95%. Fifteen subjects underwent a RI but maintained BVC. In univariate analysis, larger transverse aorta (p = 0.006) and aortic valve (p = 0.02) predicted successful BVC without RI. In CART analysis, the combination of mitral valve (MV) to tricuspid valve (TV) ratio ≤0.66 with an aortic valve (AV) annulus Z-score ≤-3 had the greatest power to predict BVC failure (sensitivity 71%, specificity 94%). In those with successful BVC, the combination of both AV and MV Z-score ≤-2.5 increased the odds of RI (OR 3.8; CI 1.3-11.4). Follow-up of non-RI subjects revealed improvement in AV and MV Z-score (median AV annulus changed over time from -2.34 to 0.04 (p < 0.001) and MV changed from -2.88 to -1.41 (p < 0.001), but residual mitral valve stenosis and aortic arch obstruction were present in one-third of subjects. In this cohort of infants requiring initial aortic arch repair with concomitant small left heart structures, successful BVC can be predicted from combined echocardiographic indices. In this complex population, 1 year survival is high, but the need for RI and the presence of residual lesions are common.

33 CFR 167.101 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. 167.101 Section 167.101 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. (a) A precautionary...

33 CFR 167.101 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. 167.101 Section 167.101 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. (a) A precautionary...

33 CFR 167.101 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. 167.101 Section 167.101 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. (a) A precautionary...

33 CFR 167.101 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. 167.101 Section 167.101 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Precautionary areas. (a) A precautionary...

Laboratory performance of wicking fabric H2Ri in silty gravel, sand and organic silt.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-05-01

The use of wicking fabric, H2Ri, is growing in its use to remove water from roadway and airport embankments. Past research has shown H2Ri to be effective in sands : and fine grained materials in roadways up to 32 feet in width. However, there is a de...

75 FR 70710 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Review of a Revised Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-18

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT [OMB Control No. 3206-0235; Forms RI 20-64, RI 20-64A and RI 20-64B... Personnel Management. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM...

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-11

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-30

... Information Collection: (OMB Control No. 3206-0179; Form RI 30- 10) AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management... information collection, ``Disabled Dependent Questionnaire'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0179; Form RI 30-10), is... Employees Retirement System. Approximately 2,500 RI 30-10 forms are completed annually. The form takes...

78 FR 13914 - Submission for Review: Survivor Annuity Election for a Spouse, RI 20-63; Cover Letter Giving...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-01

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78 FR 42986 - Submission for Review: Survivor Annuity Election for a Spouse, RI 20-63; Cover Letter Giving...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-18

.... This letter may be used to ask for more information. Analysis Agency: Retirement Operations, Retirement... 20-63; Cover Letter Giving Information About The Cost To Elect Less Than the Maximum Survivor Annuity, RI 20-116; Cover Letter Giving Information About The Cost To Elect the Maximum Survivor Annuity, RI...

Short rest interval lengths between sets optimally enhance body composition and performance with 8 weeks of strength resistance training in older men.

PubMed

Villanueva, Matthew G; Lane, Christianne Joy; Schroeder, E Todd

2015-02-01

To determine if 8 weeks of periodized strength resistance training (RT) utilizing relatively short rest interval lengths (RI) in between sets (SS) would induce greater improvements in body composition and muscular performance, compared to the same RT program utilizing extended RI (SL). 22 male volunteers (SS: n = 11, 65.6 ± 3.4 years; SL: n = 11, 70.3 ± 4.9 years) were assigned to one of two strength RT groups, following 4 weeks of periodized hypertrophic RT (PHRT): strength RT with 60-s RI (SS) or strength RT with 4-min RI (SL). Prior to randomization, all 22 study participants trained 3 days/week, for 4 weeks, targeting hypertrophy; from week 4 to week 12, SS and SL followed the same periodized strength RT program for 8 weeks, with RI the only difference in their RT prescription. Following PHRT, all study participants experienced increases in lean body mass (LBM) (p < 0.01), upper and lower body strength (p < 0.001), and dynamic power (p < 0.001), as well as decreases in percentage body fat (p < 0.05). Across the 8-week strength RT phase, SS experienced significantly greater increases in LBM (p = 0.001), flat machine bench press 1-RM (p < 0.001), bilateral leg press 1-RM (p < 0.001), narrow/neutral grip lat pulldown (p < 0.01), and Margaria stair-climbing power (p < 0.001), compared to SL. This study suggests 8 weeks of periodized high-intensity strength RT with shortened RI induces significantly greater enhancements in body composition, muscular performance, and functional performance, compared to the same RT prescription with extended RI, in older men. Applied professionals may optimize certain RT-induced adaptations, by incorporating shortened RI.

Increasing magnitude of Hurricane Rapid Intensification in the central-eastern Atlantic over the past 30 years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, L. R.; Balaguru, K.; Foltz, G. R.

2017-12-01

During the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, several hurricanes underwent rapid intensification (RI) in the central-eastern Atlantic. This motivates an analysis of trends in the strength of hurricane RI during the 30-year post-satellite period of 1986-2015. Our results show that in the eastern tropical Atlantic, to the east of 60W, the mean RI magnitude averaged during 2001-2015 was 3.8 kt per 24 hr higher than during 1986-2000. However, in the western tropical Atlantic, to the west of 60W, changes in RI magnitude over the same period were not statistically significant. We examined the large-scale environment to understand the causes behind these changes in RI magnitude and found that various oceanic and atmospheric parameters that play an important role in RI changed favorably in the eastern tropical Atlantic. More specifically, changes in SST, Potential Intensity, upper-ocean heat content, wind shear, relative humidity and upper-level divergence enhanced the ability for hurricanes to undergo RI in the eastern tropical Atlantic. In contrast, changes in the same factors are inconsistent in the western tropical Atlantic. While changes in SST and Potential Intensity were positive, changes in upper-ocean heat content, wind shear and upper-level divergence were either insignificant or unfavorable for RI. Finally, we examined the potential role of various climate phenomena, which are well-known to impact Atlantic hurricane activity, in causing the changes in the large-scale environment. Our analysis reveals that changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation over the 30-year period are predominantly responsible. These results provide important aspects of the large-scale context to understand the Atlantic hurricane season of 2017.

Diatoms as an indicator for tile drainage flow in a German lowland catchment.

PubMed

Wu, Naicheng; Faber, Claas; Ulrich, Uta; Fohrer, Nicola

2018-01-01

The separation of runoff components within a model simulation is of great importance for a successful implementation of management measures. Diatoms could be a promising indicator for tile drainage flow due to their diverse preferences to different aquatic habitats. In this study, we collected diatom samples of 9 sites (4 tile drainage, TD, and 5 river sites, Ri) in a German lowland catchment at a weekly or biweekly time step from March to July 2013 with the aim of testing the suitability of diatoms for tile drainage flow, which is typical for lowland catchment. Planothidium lanceolatum , Ulnaria biceps , and Navicula gregaria dominated in TD sites with relative abundances of 22.2, 21.5, and 10.9%, respectively. For Ri sites, the most abundant species was Navicula lanceolata (20.5%), followed by Ulnaria biceps (12.9%), Cyclotella meneghiniana (9.5%), and Planothidium lanceolatum (9.3%). Compared with Ri sites, TD had a lower diatom density, biomass, species richness, and percentage of Aquatic/Riparian diatoms (AqRi%). However, the proportion of Riparian diatoms (RiZo%) increased at TD. Indicator value method (IndVal) revealed that the two groups (Ri and TD) were characterized by different indicator species. Fifteen taxa, including Cocconeis placentula , Cyclotella meneghiniana , N. lanceolata , and U. biceps , were significant indicators for Ri sites. Planothidium lanceolatum , Achnanthidium minutissimum , and Navicula gregaria were significant indicators for TD sites. A pronounced variation was found in the species lists of diatom community between Ri and TD water body types associated with different indicator species. With respect to hydrograph separation, these findings highlight the suitability of diatoms as an indicator for tile drainage flow. However, spatial and temporal variations of diatoms should be considered in future surveys.

Overexpression of biologically safe Rorippa indica defensin enhances aphid tolerance in Brassica juncea.

PubMed

Sarkar, Poulami; Jana, Kuladip; Sikdar, Samir Ranjan

2017-11-01

Transgenic mustard plants ( Brassica juncea ) expressing non-allergenic and biologically safe RiD peptide show higher tolerance against Lipaphis erysimi. Rorippa indica defensin (RiD) has previously been reported as a novel insecticidal protein derived from a wild crucifer Rorippa indica. RiD was found to have an effective insecticidal property against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi. In the present study, RiD was highly upregulated in R. indica during aphid infestation initiating a defense system mediated by jasmonic acid (JA), but not by salicylic acid (SA)/abscisic acid (ABA). RiD has also been assessed for biosafety according to the FAO/WHO guideline (allergenicity of genetically modified foods; Food And Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2001) and Codex Alimentarius Guideline (Guidelines for the design and implementation of national regulatory food safety assurance programme associated with the use of veterinary drugs in food producing animals. Codex Alimentarius Commission. GL, pp 71-2009, 2009). The purified protein was used to sensitize BALB/c mice and they showed normal histopathology of lung and no elevated IgE level in their sera. As the protein was found to be biologically safe and non-allergenic, it was used to develop transgenic Brassica juncea plants with enhanced aphid tolerance, which is one of the most important oilseed crops and is mostly affected by the devastating pest-L. erysimi. The transgene integration was monitored by Southern hybridization, and the positive B. juncea lines were further analyzed by Western blot, ELISA, immunohistolocalization assays and in planta insect bioassay. Transgenic plants expressing RiD conferred a higher level of tolerance against L. erysimi. All these results demonstrated that RiD is a novel, biologically safe, effective insecticidal agent and B. juncea plants expressing RiD are important components of integrated pest management.

Racial Identification, Racial Discrimination, and Substance Use Vulnerability Among African American Young Adults

PubMed Central

Stock, Michelle L.; Gibbons, Frederick X.; Walsh, Laura A.; Gerrard, Meg

2016-01-01

Two studies examined racial identity (RI) as a protective factor against substance use cognitions among African American young adults who either envisioned or experienced racial discrimination. In Study 1, participants envisioned a discrimination or nondiscrimination scenario, and then their willingness to use drugs and an indirect measure of substance use were assessed. Discrimination was associated with higher levels of use cognitions among participants with low levels of RI. In Study 2, participants were excluded or included in an online game (Cyberball) by White peers and then engaged in an RI-affirmation or control writing task. Participants attributed this exclusion to racial discrimination. Excluded participants who did not affirm their RI reported the highest levels of substance use cognitions, especially if they had engaged in higher levels of previous substance use. These findings highlight the importance of RI among Black young adults and the impact of discrimination on health behaviors. PMID:21628598

Effects of rest interval length on Smith machine bench press performance and perceived exertion in trained men.

PubMed

Tibana, Ramires A; Vieira, Denis C L; Tajra, Vitor; Bottaro, Martim; de Salles, Belmiro F; Willardson, Jeffrey M; Prestes, Jonato

2013-12-01

This study compared two different rest intervals (RI) between sets of resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men (M age = 24.3, SD = 3.5 yr.; M weigh t= 80.0 kg, SD = 15.3; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.04) performed five sets of Smith machine bench presses at 60% of one repetition maximum, either with 1.5 min. or 3 min. RI between sets. Their repetition performance, total training volume, velocity, fatigue, rating of perceived exertion, and muscular power were measured. All of these measures indicated that performance was significantly better and fatigue was significantly lower in the 3 min. RI as compared with the 1.5 min. RI, except the rating of perceived exertion which did not show a significant difference. A longer RI between sets promotes superior performance for the bench press.

Refractive-Index Tuning of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Dots.

PubMed

Kumar, Vijay Bhooshan; Sahu, Amit Kumar; Mohsin, Abu S M; Li, Xiangping; Gedanken, Aharon

2017-08-30

In this manuscript, we report the refractive-index (RI) modulation of various concentrations of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N@C-dots) embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer. The dispersion and size distribution of N@C-dots embedded within PVA have been investigated using electron microscopy. The RI of PVA-N@C-dots can be enhanced by increasing the doping concentration of highly fluorescent C-dots (quantum yield 44%). This is demonstrated using ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible), photoluminscence, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements. The Mie scattering of light on N@C-dots was applied for developing the relationship between RI tuning and absorption cross section of N@C-dots. The extinction cross section of N@C-dot thin films can be rapidly enhanced by either tuning the RI or increasing the concentration of N@C-dots. The developed method can be used as effective RI contrast for various applications such as holography creation and bioimaging.

Chapiniella variabilis (Nematoda) parasitizing Chelonoidis carbonarius and C. denticulatus (Testudinidae) in the state of Piauí.

PubMed

Freire, Simone Mousinho; Leal, Anangela Ravena da Silva; Knoff, Marcelo; Gomes, Delir Corrêa; Santos, Jeannie Nascimento Dos; Giese, Elane Guerreiro; Silva, Reinaldo José da; Mendonça, Ivete Lopes

2017-01-01

Chapiniella variabilis (Chapin, 1924), a strongylid nematode, was collected parasitizing the large intestine of the tortoises Chelonoidis carbonarius (Spix, 1824) (Cc) and C. denticulatus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Cd) in the Zoobotanical Park of the municipality of Teresina, state of Piauí, Brazil. The taxonomic identification was based on morphological and morphometric features, using bright-field and scanning electron microscopy. The present study adds new observations on the morphology, mainly relating to the mouth papillae, external and internal leaf-crown elements, excretory pore, deirids and male and female posterior end. The parasitic indices of prevalence (P), mean intensity (MI), mean abundance (MA) and range of infection (RI) of C. variabilis in these two tortoise species were: P = 100%, MI = 833.3, MA = 833.3, RI = 500-1,500 (Cc); P = 100%, MI = 472.2, MA = 472.2, RI = 333-500 (Cd). This record expands occurrences of C. variabilis to a new host, C. carbonarius, and to another state in Brazil, in the Neotropical region of South America. Adjustment to host management with the aim of improving hygiene and health conditions is suggested.

Development of an Inverse Algorithm for Resonance Inspection

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

Lai, Canhai; Xu, Wei; Sun, Xin

2012-10-01

Resonance inspection (RI), which employs the natural frequency spectra shift between the good and the anomalous part populations to detect defects, is a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique with many advantages such as low inspection cost, high testing speed, and broad applicability to structures with complex geometry compared to other contemporary NDE methods. It has already been widely used in the automobile industry for quality inspections of safety critical parts. Unlike some conventionally used NDE methods, the current RI technology is unable to provide details, i.e. location, dimension, or types, of the flaws for the discrepant parts. Such limitation severely hindersmore » its wide spread applications and further development. In this study, an inverse RI algorithm based on maximum correlation function is proposed to quantify the location and size of flaws for a discrepant part. A dog-bone shaped stainless steel sample with and without controlled flaws are used for algorithm development and validation. The results show that multiple flaws can be accurately pinpointed back using the algorithms developed, and the prediction accuracy decreases with increasing flaw numbers and decreasing distance between flaws.« less

A technique for measuring the quality of an elliptically bent pentaerythritol [PET(002)] crystal

DOE PAGES

Haugh, M. J.; Jacoby, K. D.; Barrios, M. A.; ...

2016-08-23

Here, we present a technique for determining the X-ray spectral quality from each region of an elliptically curved PET(002) crystal. The investigative technique utilizes the shape of the crystal rocking curve which changes significantly as the radius of curvature changes. This unique quality information enables the spectroscopist to verify where in the spectral range that the spectrometer performance is satisfactory and where there are regions that would show spectral distortion. A collection of rocking curve measurements for elliptically curved PET(002) has been built up in our X-ray laboratory. The multi-lamellar model from the XOP software has been used as amore » guide and corrections were applied to the model based upon measurements. But, the measurement of RI at small radius of curvature shows an anomalous behavior; the multi-lamellar model fails to show this behavior. The effect of this anomalous RI behavior on an X-ray spectrometer calibration is calculated. It is compared to the multi-lamellar model calculation which is completely inadequate for predicting RI for this range of curvature and spectral energies.« less

Near-Membrane Refractometry Using Supercritical Angle Fluorescence.

PubMed

Brunstein, Maia; Roy, Lopamudra; Oheim, Martin

2017-05-09

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and its variants are key technologies for visualizing the dynamics of single molecules or organelles in live cells. Yet truly quantitative TIRF remains problematic. One unknown hampering the interpretation of evanescent-wave excited fluorescence intensities is the undetermined cell refractive index (RI). Here, we use a combination of TIRF excitation and supercritical angle fluorescence emission detection to directly measure the average RI in the "footprint" region of the cell during image acquisition. Our RI measurement is based on the determination on a back-focal plane image of the critical angle separating evanescent and far-field fluorescence emission components. We validate our method by imaging mouse embryonic fibroblasts and BON cells. By targeting various dyes and fluorescent-protein chimeras to vesicles, the plasma membrane, as well as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, we demonstrate local RI measurements with subcellular resolution on a standard TIRF microscope, with a removable Bertrand lens as the only modification. Our technique has important applications for imaging axial vesicle dynamics and the mitochondrial energy state or detecting metabolically more active cancer cells. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

A technique for measuring the quality of an elliptically bent pentaerythritol [PET(002)] crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haugh, M. J.; Jacoby, K. D.; Barrios, M. A.; Thorn, D.; Emig, J. A.; Schneider, M. B.

2016-11-01

We present a technique for determining the X-ray spectral quality from each region of an elliptically curved PET(002) crystal. The investigative technique utilizes the shape of the crystal rocking curve which changes significantly as the radius of curvature changes. This unique quality information enables the spectroscopist to verify where in the spectral range that the spectrometer performance is satisfactory and where there are regions that would show spectral distortion. A collection of rocking curve measurements for elliptically curved PET(002) has been built up in our X-ray laboratory. The multi-lamellar model from the XOP software has been used as a guide and corrections were applied to the model based upon measurements. But, the measurement of RI at small radius of curvature shows an anomalous behavior; the multi-lamellar model fails to show this behavior. The effect of this anomalous RI behavior on an X-ray spectrometer calibration is calculated. It is compared to the multi-lamellar model calculation which is completely inadequate for predicting RI for this range of curvature and spectral energies.

33 CFR 167.103 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. 167.103 Section 167.103 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. (a) A separation...

33 CFR 167.102 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. 167.102 Section 167.102 Navigation and....102 In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. (a) A...

33 CFR 167.103 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. 167.103 Section 167.103 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. (a) A separation...

33 CFR 167.103 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. 167.103 Section 167.103 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. (a) A separation...

33 CFR 167.102 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. 167.102 Section 167.102 Navigation and....102 In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. (a) A...

33 CFR 167.102 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. 167.102 Section 167.102 Navigation and....102 In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. (a) A...

33 CFR 167.103 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. 167.103 Section 167.103 Navigation and Navigable... the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Buzzards Bay approach. (a) A separation...

33 CFR 167.102 - In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. 167.102 Section 167.102 Navigation and....102 In the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI, and Buzzards Bay, MA: Narragansett Bay approach. (a) A...

The Design and Implementation of a Parallel Persistent Object System

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-01

Semantica JilP L Add descriptor (FP.L) to active pool JMPF r L If Frames, FP+r.O-0 Add descriptor (FP,L) to active pool Else Add descriptor (FP, IP+l...Syntax Semantica STARTO rl r2 Let FP’ = Frames[FP+rl] Let IP’ - Frames[FP+r2] Add (FP.IP+I) to active pool Add (FP I, P’ ) to active pool STARTI rl r2 r3...deadlock. 119 Syntaz Semantica ALLOCFRANE ri rj Let CallerFP - Frames [FP+ri] Let ResultIP - Frames [FP+ri+1] Let SignalIP = Frames [FP+ri+2] Let ResSlot

Simultaneous refractive index and temperature measurements using a tapered bend-resistant fiber interferometer.

PubMed

Lu, Ping; Harris, Jeremie; Xu, Yanping; Lu, Yuangang; Chen, Liang; Bao, Xiaoyi

2012-11-15

Simultaneous measurements of refractive index (RI) and temperature are proposed and experimentally demonstrated by using a tapered bend-resistant fiber interferometer. Different phase shifts of an inner and outer cladding mode of the fiber interferometer are measured to determine the temperature compensated RI of a glycerol solution. The temperature coefficients of the inner and outer cladding modes are -0.0253 rad/°C and -0.0523 rad/°C, and the RI coefficients are 4.0403 rad/RIU and 44.823 rad/RIU, respectively. The minimum errors of temperature and RI are 0.6°C and 0.001 RIU, respectively.

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

Not Available

This Remedial Investigation (RI) Work Plan has been developed as part of the US Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) investigation of the Groundwater Operable Unit (GWOU) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) located near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The first iteration of the GWOU RI Work Plan is intended to serve as a strategy document to guide the ORNL GWOU RI. The Work Plan provides a rationale and organization for groundwater data acquisition, monitoring, and remedial actions to be performed during implementation of environmental restoration activities associated with the ORNL GWOU. It Is important to note that the RI Work Plan formore » the ORNL GWOU is not a prototypical work plan. The RI will be conducted using annual work plans to manage the work activities, and task reports will be used to document the results of the investigations. Sampling and analysis results will be compiled and reported annually with a review of data relative to risk (screening level risk assessment review) for groundwater. This Work Plan outlines the overall strategy for the RI and defines tasks which are to be conducted during the initial phase of investigation. This plan is presented with the understanding that more specific addenda to the plan will follow.« less

Do Clark's nutcrackers demonstrate what-where-when memory on a cache-recovery task?

PubMed

Gould, Kristy L; Ort, Amy J; Kamil, Alan C

2012-01-01

What-where-when (WWW) memory during cache recovery was investigated in six Clark's nutcrackers. During caching, both red- and blue-colored pine seeds were cached by the birds in holes filled with sand. Either a short (3 day) retention interval (RI) or a long (9 day) RI was followed by a recovery session during which caches were replaced with either a single seed or wooden bead depending upon the color of the cache and length of the retention interval. Knowledge of what was in the cache (seed or bead), where it was located, and when the cache had been made (3 or 9 days ago) were the three WWW memory components under investigation. Birds recovered items (bead or seed) at above chance levels, demonstrating accurate spatial memory. They also recovered seeds more than beads after the long RI, but not after the short RI, when they recovered seeds and beads equally often. The differential recovery after the long RI demonstrates that nutcrackers may have the capacity for WWW memory during this task, but it is not clear why it was influenced by RI duration.

Sudan ebolavirus long recovered survivors produce GP-specific Abs that are of the IgG1 subclass and preferentially bind FcγRI.

PubMed

Radinsky, Olga; Edri, Avishay; Brusilovsky, Michael; Fedida-Metula, Shlomit; Sobarzo, Ariel; Gershoni-Yahalom, Orly; Lutwama, Julius; Dye, John; Lobel, Leslie; Porgador, Angel

2017-07-20

Ebolavirus is a highly lethal pathogen, causing a severe hemorrhagic disease with a high fatality rate. To better understand immune correlates of protection by virus specific IgG, we investigated the evolution of the Fcγ receptors (FcγRs)-activating capabilities of antiviral IgG in serum samples of long recovered survivors. To this end, longitudinal serum samples from survivors of Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) infection, studied over years, were examined for the presence of Ebola-GP specific IgG subclasses, and for their binding to FcγRs. We developed a cell-based reporter system to quantitate pathogen-specific antibody binding to FcγRIIIA, FcγRIIA, FcγRIIB and FcγRI. With this system, we demonstrate that anti-GP-specific stimulation of the FcγRI reporter by survivors' sera was substantially high one year after acute infection, with a slight reduction in activity over a decade post infection. We further demonstrate that GP-specific IgG1 is by far the seroprevalent subclass that retained and even enhanced its presence in the sera, over ten years post infection; the prevalence of other GP-specific IgG subclasses was considerably reduced over time. In accordance, GP-specific FcγRI reporter response and GP-specific total IgG1 subclass correlated in the studied group of Ebola survivors. These observations are important for further informing Ebola vaccine and therapeutic development.

Tracer injection sites and combinations for sentinel lymph node detection in patients with endometrial cancer.

PubMed

Niikura, Hitoshi; Kaiho-Sakuma, Michiko; Tokunaga, Hideki; Toyoshima, Masafumi; Utsunomiya, Hiroki; Nagase, Satoru; Takano, Tadao; Watanabe, Mika; Ito, Kiyoshi; Yaegashi, Nobuo

2013-11-01

The aim of the present study was to clarify the most effective combination of injected tracer types and injection sites in order to detect sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in early endometrial cancer. The study included 100 consecutive patients with endometrial cancer treated at Tohoku University Hospital between June 2001 and December 2012. The procedure for SLN identification entailed either radioisotope (RI) injection into the endometrium during hysteroscopy (55 cases) or direct RI injection into the uterine cervix (45 cases). A combination of blue dye injected into the uterine cervix or uterine body intraoperatively in addition to preoperative RI injection occurred in 69 of 100 cases. All detected SLNs were recorded according to the individual tracer and the resultant staging from this method was compared to the final pathology of lymph node metastases including para-aortic nodes. SLN detection rate was highest (96%) by cervical RI injection; however, no SLNs were detected in para-aortic area. Para-aortic SLNs were detected only by hysteroscopic RI injection (56%). All cases with pelvic lymph node metastases were detected by pelvic SLN biopsy. Isolated positive para-aortic lymph nodes were detected in 3 patients. Bilateral SLN detection rate was high (96%; 26 of 27 cases) by cervical RI injection combined with dye. RI injection into the uterine cervix is highly sensitive in detection of SLN metastasis in early stage endometrial cancer. It is a useful and safe modality when combined with blue dye injection into the uterine body. © 2013.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-PEST (PTP-PEST) regulates mast cell-activating signals in PTP activity-dependent and -independent manners.

PubMed

Motohashi, Satoru; Koizumi, Karen; Honda, Reika; Maruyama, Atsuko; Palmer, Helen E F; Mashima, Keisuke

2014-01-01

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) in mast cells leads to degranulation and production of numerous cytokines and lipid mediators that promote allergic inflammation. Tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in response to FcεRI aggregation has been implicated in mast cell activation. Here, we determined the role of PTP-PEST (encoded by PTPN12) in the regulation of mast cell activation using the RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cell line as a model. PTP-PEST expression was significantly induced upon FcεRI-crosslinking, and aggregation of FcεRI induced the phosphorylation of PTP-PEST at Ser39, thus resulting in the suppression of PTP activity. By overexpressing a phosphatase-dead mutant (PTP-PEST CS) and a constitutively active mutant (PTP-PEST SA) in RBL-2H3 cells, we showed that PTP-PEST decreased degranulation and enhanced IL-4 and IL-13 transcription in FcεRI-crosslinked RBL-2H3 cells, but PTP activity of PTP-PEST was not necessary for this regulation. However, FcεRI-induced TNF-α transcription was increased by the overexpression of PTP-PEST SA and suppressed by the overexpression of PTP-PEST CS. Taken together, these results suggest that PTP-PEST is involved in the regulation of FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation through at least two different processes represented by PTP activity-dependent and -independent pathways. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation between ocular pulse amplitude measured by dynamic contour tonometer and colour Doppler flow imaging of the arteric retrobulbar vessels.

PubMed

Marjanović, Ivan; Mijajlović, Milija; Covicković-Sternić, Nadezda; Kontić, Djordje; Hentova-Senćanić, Paraskeva; Marković, Vujica; Bozić, Marija

2011-01-01

An altered perfusion of the optic nerve head has been proposed as a pathogenic factor in glaucoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), measured by Dynamic contour tonometer (DCT) and colour Doppler imaging (CDI) of the arteric retrobulbar vessels. Twenty patients older than 50 years were examined, and divided into two equal groups. The first group comprised of patients with normal tension glaucoma treated with topical antiglaucomatous therapy, and the second group included patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma suspicious without any antiglaucomatous therapy. Ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) was measured with DCT. CDI was also performed. We measured haemodynamic parameters of the internal carotid artery (ICA), ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary arteries (PCA). Peak systolic (PSV), end-diastolic (EDV) velocities were measured, and resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated. Correlation with OPA showed indirect servitude in the RI of the ICA, RI and PI of the CRA, in the first group; and in the PSV and EDV of the ICA, in the RI and PI of the OA, EDV and RI of the CRA, and RI of the PCA, in the second group Increase of OPA was mostly followed by the increase of the parameters (PSV, EDV, RI, and PI) of the arteric retrobulbar vessels in the first group; in the second group, increase of OPA was in almost 50% of parameters followed by their decrease.

Mast cells and company.

PubMed

Jönsson, Friederike; Daëron, Marc

2012-01-01

Classically, allergy depends on IgE antibodies and on high-affinity IgE receptors expressed by mast cells and basophils. This long accepted IgE/FcεRI/mast cell paradigm, on which the definition of immediate hypersensitivity was based in the Gell and Coomb's classification, appears too reductionist. Recently accumulated evidence indeed requires that not only IgE but also IgG antibodies, that not only FcεRI but also FcγR of the different types, that not only mast cells and basophils but also neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and other myeloid cells be considered as important players in allergy. This view markedly changes our understanding of allergic diseases and, possibly, their treatment.

Code inspection instructional validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orr, Kay; Stancil, Shirley

1992-01-01

The Shuttle Data Systems Branch (SDSB) of the Flight Data Systems Division (FDSD) at Johnson Space Center contracted with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to validate the effectiveness of an interactive video course on the code inspection process. The purpose of this project was to determine if this course could be effective for teaching NASA analysts the process of code inspection. In addition, NASA was interested in the effectiveness of this unique type of instruction (Digital Video Interactive), for providing training on software processes. This study found the Carnegie Mellon course, 'A Cure for the Common Code', effective for teaching the process of code inspection. In addition, analysts prefer learning with this method of instruction, or this method in combination with other methods. As is, the course is definitely better than no course at all; however, findings indicate changes are needed. Following are conclusions of this study. (1) The course is instructionally effective. (2) The simulation has a positive effect on student's confidence in his ability to apply new knowledge. (3) Analysts like the course and prefer this method of training, or this method in combination with current methods of training in code inspection, over the way training is currently being conducted. (4) Analysts responded favorably to information presented through scenarios incorporating full motion video. (5) Some course content needs to be changed. (6) Some content needs to be added to the course. SwRI believes this study indicates interactive video instruction combined with simulation is effective for teaching software processes. Based on the conclusions of this study, SwRI has outlined seven options for NASA to consider. SwRI recommends the option which involves creation of new source code and data files, but uses much of the existing content and design from the current course. Although this option involves a significant software development effort, SwRI believes this option will produce the most effective results.

Grave's Eye disease developing following radioiodine treatment for toxic nodular goitre.

PubMed

Tahrani, A A; Rangan, S; Moulik, P

2007-07-01

The development of Grave's ophthalmopathy (GO) following radioiodine (RI) treatment for Grave's thyrotoxicosis, though controversial, is well described. The development of ophthalmopathy following RI treatment for toxic nodular goitre is much less recognised. We report a 49 year-old female patient who developed thyrotoxicosis and GO after receiving RI treatment for toxic nodular goitre and we also review the relevant literature.

Integrating Research-Informed Teaching within an Undergraduate Level 4 (Year 1) Diagnostic Radiography Curriculum: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higgins, Robert; Hogg, Peter; Robinson, Leslie

2013-01-01

This article discusses the piloting and evaluation of the Research-informed Teaching experience (RiTe) project. The aim of RiTe was to link teaching and learning with research within an undergraduate diagnostic radiography curriculum. A preliminary pilot study of RiTe was undertaken with a group of level 4 (year 1) volunteer BSc (Hons) diagnostic…

Publications - RI 2014-4 | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical

Science.gov Websites

Surveys Skip to content State of Alaska myAlaska My Government Resident Business in Alaska content DGGS RI 2014-4 RI 2014-4 thumbnail Publication Details Title: Geologic map of the south-central ., Wartes, M.A., Loveland, A.M., and Hubbard, T.D., 2014, Geologic map of the south-central Sagavanirktok

76 FR 53072 - Certification; Importation of Vehicles and Equipment Subject to Federal Safety, Bumper, and Theft...

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2011-08-25

... used as a basis for the non-automatic suspension of an RI registration, deletes redundant text from... Part 592 as a Basis for the Non-Automatic Suspension or Revocation of an RI Registration B. Deletion of... violations of the regulations in part 592 as a basis for the non-automatic suspension or revocation of an RI...

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal 14-3-3 Proteins Are Involved in Arbuscule Formation and Responses to Abiotic Stresses During AM Symbiosis

PubMed Central

Sun, Zhongfeng; Song, Jiabin; Xin, Xi’an; Xie, Xianan; Zhao, Bin

2018-01-01

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are soil-borne fungi belonging to the ancient phylum Glomeromycota and are important symbionts of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to various abiotic stresses. In contrast to their significant physiological implications, the molecular basis involved is poorly understood, largely due to their obligate biotrophism and complicated genetics. Here, we identify and characterize three genes termed Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 that encode 14-3-3-like proteins in the AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis, respectively. The transcriptional levels of Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 are strongly induced in the pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases, including germinating spores, intraradical hyphae- and arbuscules-enriched roots. To functionally characterize the Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 genes, we took advantage of a yeast heterologous system owing to the lack of AM fungal transformation systems. Our data suggest that all three genes can restore the lethal Saccharomyces cerevisiae bmh1 bmh2 double mutant on galactose-containing media. Importantly, yeast one-hybrid analysis suggests that the transcription factor RiMsn2 is able to recognize the STRE (CCCCT/AGGGG) element present in the promoter region of Fm201 gene. More importantly, Host-Induced Gene Silencing of both Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 in Rhizophagus irregularis impairs the arbuscule formation in AM symbiosis and inhibits the expression of symbiotic PT4 and MST2 genes from plant and fungal partners, respectively. We further subjected the AM fungus-Medicago truncatula association system to drought or salinity stress. Accordingly, the expression profiles in both mycorrhizal roots and extraradical hyphae reveal that these three 14-3-3-like genes are involved in response to drought or salinity stress. Collectively, our results provide new insights into molecular functions of the AM fungal 14-3-3 proteins in abiotic stress responses and arbuscule formation during AM symbiosis. PMID:29556216

A pilot study of routine immunization data quality in Bunza Local Government area: causes and possible remedies.

PubMed

Omoleke, Semeeh Akinwale; Tadesse, Menberu Getachew

2017-01-01

As a result of poor quality administrative data for routine immunisation (RI) in Nigeria, the real coverage of RI remains unknown, constituting a setback in curtailing vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). Consequently, the purpose of this pilot study is to identify source(s) and evaluate the magnitude of poor data quality as well as propose recommendations to address the problem. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in which 5 out of the 22 health facilities providing routine immunization services in Bunza Local Government Area (LGA), Kebbi State, Nigeria, were selected for data quality assessment. The reported coverage of RI in August and September, 2016 was the primary element of evaluation in the selected Health Facilities (HFs). Administered questionnaires were adapted from WHO Data Quality Assurance and RI monitoring tools to generate data from the HFs, as well as standardised community survey tool for household surveys. Data inconsistency was detected in 100% of the selected HFs. Maximum difference between HF monthly summary and RI registration book for penta 3 data quality report analysis was 820% and 767% in MCH Bunza and PHC Balu respectively. However, a minimum difference of 3% was observed at Loko Dispensary. Maximum difference between HF summary and RI registration for measles was 614% at MCH Bunza and 43% minimum difference at Loko. In contrast to the administrative coverage, 60-80% of the children sampled from households were either not immunised or partially immunised. Further, the main sources of poor data quality include heavy workload on RI providers, over-reliance on administrative coverage report, and lack of understanding of the significance of high data quality by RI providers. Substantial data discrepancies were observed in RI reports from all the Health Facilities which is indicative of poor data quality at the LGA level. Community surveys also revealed an over-reporting from administrative coverage data. Consequently, efforts should be geared towards achieving good data quality by immunisation stakeholders as it has implication on disease prevention and control efforts.

Validation of the French version of the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index: psychometric properties in French speaking school-aged children.

PubMed

Olliac, Bertrand; Birmes, Philippe; Bui, Eric; Allenou, Charlotte; Brunet, Alain; Claudet, Isabelle; Sales de Gauzy, Jérôme; Grandjean, Hélène; Raynaud, Jean-Philippe

2014-01-01

Although the reliable and valid Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI) is a widely used measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children, it has not been validated in French-speaking populations. The present study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the CPTS-RI in three samples of French-speaking school-children. Data was obtained from three samples. Sample 1 was composed of 106 children (mean (SD) age = 11.7(0.7), 50% females) victims of an industrial disaster. Sample 2 was composed of 50 children (mean (SD) age = 10.8(2.6), 44% females) who had received an orthopaedic surgical procedure after an accident. Sample 3 was composed of 106 children (mean (SD) age = 11.7(2.2), 44% females) admitted to an emergency department after a road traffic accident. We tested internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. We examined test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient. In order to assess the convergent validity of the French version of the CPTS-RI and the Clinician Administered PTS Scale-Child and Adolescent (CAPS-CA), spearman-correlation coefficient was computed. To verify the validity of the cut-off scores, a ROC curve was constructed which evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of each score compared to the diagnosis with the CAPS-CA. We also used principal components analysis with varimax rotation to study the structure of the French version of the CPTS-RI. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.87 for the French version of the CPTS-RI. Two-week test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (n = 30) was 0.67. The French version of the CPTS-RI was well correlated with the CAPS-CA (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Taking the CAPS-CA as the diagnostic reference, with a diagnostic cut-off of >24 for the CPTS-RI, the sensitivity and specificities were 100% and 62.6%, respectively. The French version of the CPTS-RI demonstrated a three-factor structure. The CPTS-RI is reliable and valid in French-speaking children.

Autocrine hemokinin-1 functions as endogenous adjuvant for IgE-mediated mast cell inflammatory responses

PubMed Central

Sumpter, Tina L.; Ho, Chin H.; Pleet, Anna R.; Tkacheva, Olga A.; Shufesky, William J.; Rojas-Canales, Darling M.; Morelli, Adrian E.; Larregina, Adriana T.

2014-01-01

Background Efficient development of atopic diseases requires interaction between allergen and adjuvant to initiate and amplify underlying inflammatory responses. Substance P (SP) and hemokinin-1 (HK-1) are neuropeptides that signal via the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) to promote inflammation. Mast cells initiate the symptoms and tissue effects of atopic disorders, secreting TNF and IL-6 following FcεRI crosslinking by Ag-IgE complexes, (FcεRI-MCs). Additionally, MCs express the NK1R suggesting an adjuvant role of NK1R agonists for FcεRI-MC mediated pathologies, however in depth research addressing this relevant aspect of MC biology is lacking. Objective To investigate the effect of NK1R-signaling and the individual roles of SP and HK-1 as potential adjuvants for FcεRI-MC mediated allergic disorders. Methods Bone marrow (BM) MCs derived from C57BL/6-wild type (WT) or NK1R−/− mice were used to investigate the effects of NK1R signaling of FcεRI-activated MCs. BMMCs generated from Tac1−/− mice or following culture with Tac4 siRNA were used to address the adjuvancy of SP and HK-1. WT, NK1R−/− and c-KitW-sh/W-sh mice reconstituted with WT or NK1R−/− BMMCs were utilized to evaluate NK1R signaling on FcεRI-MC-mediated passive local and systemic anaphylaxis and airway inflammation. Results FcεRI-activated MCs up-regulated NK1R and HK-1 transcripts and protein synthesis, without modifying SP. In a positive signaling loop, HK-1 promoted TNF and IL6 secretion by MC degranulation and protein synthesis the later via the PI3K/Akt/NFκB pathways. In vivo, NK1R signaling was necessary for development of passive local and systemic anaphylaxis and chronic airway inflammation. Conclusions FcεRI-stimulation of MCs promotes autocrine secretion of HK-1 which signals via NK1R to provide adjuvancy for efficient development of FcεRI-MC-mediated disorders. PMID:25201259

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal 14-3-3 Proteins Are Involved in Arbuscule Formation and Responses to Abiotic Stresses During AM Symbiosis.

PubMed

Sun, Zhongfeng; Song, Jiabin; Xin, Xi'an; Xie, Xianan; Zhao, Bin

2018-01-01

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are soil-borne fungi belonging to the ancient phylum Glomeromycota and are important symbionts of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to various abiotic stresses. In contrast to their significant physiological implications, the molecular basis involved is poorly understood, largely due to their obligate biotrophism and complicated genetics. Here, we identify and characterize three genes termed Fm201 , Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 that encode 14-3-3-like proteins in the AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis , respectively. The transcriptional levels of Fm201 , Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 are strongly induced in the pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases, including germinating spores, intraradical hyphae- and arbuscules-enriched roots. To functionally characterize the Fm201 , Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 genes, we took advantage of a yeast heterologous system owing to the lack of AM fungal transformation systems. Our data suggest that all three genes can restore the lethal Saccharomyces cerevisiae bmh1 bmh2 double mutant on galactose-containing media. Importantly, yeast one-hybrid analysis suggests that the transcription factor RiMsn2 is able to recognize the STRE (CCCCT/AGGGG) element present in the promoter region of Fm201 gene. More importantly, Host-Induced Gene Silencing of both Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 in Rhizophagus irregularis impairs the arbuscule formation in AM symbiosis and inhibits the expression of symbiotic PT4 and MST2 genes from plant and fungal partners, respectively. We further subjected the AM fungus- Medicago truncatula association system to drought or salinity stress. Accordingly, the expression profiles in both mycorrhizal roots and extraradical hyphae reveal that these three 14-3-3-like genes are involved in response to drought or salinity stress. Collectively, our results provide new insights into molecular functions of the AM fungal 14-3-3 proteins in abiotic stress responses and arbuscule formation during AM symbiosis.

MK-801-induced locomotor activity in long-sleep x short-sleep recombinant inbred mouse strains: correlational analysis with low-dose ethanol and provisional quantitative trait loci.

PubMed

Zahniser, N R; Negri, C A; Hanania, T; Gehle, V M

1999-11-01

Low doses of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine) or ethanol increase locomotor activity to a lesser extent in long-sleep (LS), than in short-sleep (SS), mice. LS mice also have fewer brain [3H]MK-801 binding sites than SS mice. In this study, LSXSS recombinant inbred (RI) mice were used to investigate whether different NMDAR densities contribute to differential MK-801 activation and whether common genes are involved in initial sensitivity to MK-801-and ethanol-induced activation. Locomotor activity was measured for 90 min after saline or MK-801 injection. Quantitative autoradiographic analysis of [3H]MK-801 binding was used to measure densities of NMDARs in seven brain regions. The ethanol (1-2 g/kg) activation scores from Erwin and colleagues (1997) were used for correlational analysis, as was their method for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Both saline and MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg, given intraperitoneally) induced a continuum of locomotor responses across the LSXSS RI strains. There was a 4-fold range of MK-801 difference scores (MK-801 score-saline baseline), with the RI 9 and RI 4 strains representing low and high responders, respectively. Dose-response experiments with these two strains confirmed that 0.3 mg/kg MK-801 produced significant activation, similar to previous results with LS and SS mice. However, unlike previous LS/SS results, lower densities of NMDARs were not observed in the RI 9 than in the RI 4 mouse brains. No significant genetic correlations were observed between MK-801-induced and ethanol-induced responses in the LSXSS RI mice. Two provisional MK-801 activation QTLs were identified (p < 0.01) on chromosomes 11 and 19, neither in common with those mapped for ethanol activation. Different densities of brain NMDARs are unlikely to account for the differential activation of LSXSS RI mice by MK-801. Additionally, in the RI mice either separate sets of genes regulate low dose MK-801- and ethanol-induced locomotor responses or the overlapping subset of genes controlling these two behaviors is small (< or =10%).

A pilot study of routine immunization data quality in Bunza Local Government area: causes and possible remedies

PubMed Central

Omoleke, Semeeh Akinwale; Tadesse, Menberu Getachew

2017-01-01

Introduction As a result of poor quality administrative data for routine immunisation (RI) in Nigeria, the real coverage of RI remains unknown, constituting a setback in curtailing vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). Consequently, the purpose of this pilot study is to identify source(s) and evaluate the magnitude of poor data quality as well as propose recommendations to address the problem. Methods The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in which 5 out of the 22 health facilities providing routine immunization services in Bunza Local Government Area (LGA), Kebbi State, Nigeria, were selected for data quality assessment. The reported coverage of RI in August and September, 2016 was the primary element of evaluation in the selected Health Facilities (HFs). Administered questionnaires were adapted from WHO Data Quality Assurance and RI monitoring tools to generate data from the HFs, as well as standardised community survey tool for household surveys. Results Data inconsistency was detected in 100% of the selected HFs. Maximum difference between HF monthly summary and RI registration book for penta 3 data quality report analysis was 820% and 767% in MCH Bunza and PHC Balu respectively. However, a minimum difference of 3% was observed at Loko Dispensary. Maximum difference between HF summary and RI registration for measles was 614% at MCH Bunza and 43% minimum difference at Loko. In contrast to the administrative coverage, 60-80% of the children sampled from households were either not immunised or partially immunised. Further, the main sources of poor data quality include heavy workload on RI providers, over-reliance on administrative coverage report, and lack of understanding of the significance of high data quality by RI providers. Conclusion Substantial data discrepancies were observed in RI reports from all the Health Facilities which is indicative of poor data quality at the LGA level. Community surveys also revealed an over-reporting from administrative coverage data. Consequently, efforts should be geared towards achieving good data quality by immunisation stakeholders as it has implication on disease prevention and control efforts. PMID:28979641

Application of minidisk infiltrometer to estimate soil water repellency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alagna, Vincenzo; Iovino, Massimo; Bagarello, Vincenzo; Mataix-Solera, Jorge; Lichner, Ľubomír

2016-04-01

Soil water repellency (SWR) reduces affinity of soils to water resulting in detrimental implication for plants growth as well as for hydrological processes. During the last decades, it has become clear that SWR is much more widespread than formerly thought, having been reported for a wide variety of soils, land uses and climatic conditions. The repellency index (RI), based on soil-water to soil-ethanol sorptivity ratio, was proposed to characterize subcritical SWR that is the situation where a low degree of repellency impedes infiltration but does not prevent it. The minidisk infiltrometer allows adequate field assessment of RI inherently scaled to account for soil physical properties other than hydrophobicity (e.g., the volume, connectivity and the geometry of pores) that directly influence the hydrological processes. There are however some issues that still need consideration. For example, use of a fixed time for both water and ethanol sorptivity estimation may lead to inaccurate RI values given that water infiltration could be negligible whereas ethanol sorptivity could be overestimated due to influence of gravity and lateral diffusion that rapidly come into play when the infiltration process is very fast. Moreover, water and ethanol sorptivity values need to be determined at different infiltration sites thus implying that a large number of replicated runs should be carried out to obtain a reliable estimate of RI for a given area. Minidisk infiltrometer tests, conducted under different initial soil moisture and management conditions in the experimental sites of Ciavolo, Trapani (Italy) and Javea, Alicante (East Spain), were used to investigate the best applicative procedure to estimate RI. In particular, different techniques to estimate the water, Sw, and ethanol, Se, sorptivities were compared including i) a fixed 1-min time interval, ii) the slope of early-time 1D infiltration equation and iii) the two-term transient 3D infiltration equation that explicitly accounts for the effects of gravity and lateral expansion. According to Pekárová et al. (2015), the combination of all the ethanol and water sorptivities was used to calculate an aggregated repellency index, RIa, that accounts for the influence of spatial variability. Alternatively, the plot of the water cumulative infiltration vs. square root of time, exhibiting a clear "hockey-stick-like" shape, was used to estimate a single-test repellency index, RI∗, that overcomes the limitations of the traditional approach given that information on both the hydrophobic and the wettable states of soil are gathered from a unique infiltration test. The mean RI values were affected by the technique used to estimate Sw and Se. In particular, the choice of a fixed time interval lead to overestimation of RI up to a factor of 3.2 as compared with the other techniques. The RIa yielded unbiased estimations of the mean RI values and also allowed to quantify the variability of SWR within a given area. A statistically significant relationship was found between RI∗ and RI but also between RI∗ and the water retention cessation time, that is the time hydrophobic turns into wettable soil, thus indicating that RI∗ is potentially able detect both the degree and the persistence of SWR. Pekárová P., Pekár J., Lichner Ľ. 2015. A new method for estimating soil water repellency index. Biologia, 70(11):1450-1455.

Pretreatment with low-energy shock waves induces renal vasoconstriction during standard SWL: a treatment protocol known to reduce lithotripsy-induced renal injury

PubMed Central

Handa, Rajash K.; Bailey, Michael R.; Paun, Marla; Gao, Sujuan; Connors, Bret A.; Willis, Lynn R.; Evan, Andrew P.

2008-01-01

Introduction and Objective A great deal of effort has been focused on developing new treatment protocols to reduce tissue injury to improve the safety of shock wave lithotripsy. This has led to the discovery that pretreatment of the kidney with a series of low-energy shock waves (SWs) will substantially reduce the hemorrhagic lesion that normally results from a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs. Because renal blood flow is reduced following low- or high-energy SWL, and may therefore contribute to this effect, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that the pretreatment protocol induces renal vasoconstriction sooner than the standard protocol for SW delivery. Methods Female farm pigs (6-weeks old) were anesthetized with isoflurane and the lower pole of the right kidney treated with SWs using the HM3 lithotripter. Pulsed Doppler sonography was used to measure resistive index (RI) in blood vessels as a reflection of resistance/impedance to blood flow. RI was recorded from a single intralobar artery located in the targeted pole of the kidney, and measurements taken from pigs given sham SW treatment (Group 1; no SWs, n = 4), a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs (Group 2; 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, n = 7), low-energy SW pretreatment followed by high-energy SWL (Group 3; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min + 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, n = 8) and low-energy SW pretreatment alone (Group 4; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min, n = 6). Results Baseline RI (~ 0.61) was similar for all groups. Pigs receiving sham SW treatment (Group 1) had no significant change in RI. A standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs (Group 2) did not significantly alter RI during treatment, but did increase RI at 45-min into the post-SWL period. Low-energy SWs did not alter RI in Group 3 pigs, but subsequent treatment with a standard clinical dose of high-energy SWs resulted in a significantly earlier (at 1000 SWs) and greater (two-fold) rise in RI than that observed in Group 2 pigs. This rise in RI during the low/high-energy SWL treatment protocol was not due to a delayed vasoconstrictor response of pretreatment, as low-energy SW treatment alone (Group 4) did not increase RI until 65 min into the post-SWL period. Conclusions The pretreatment protocol induces renal vasoconstriction during the period of SW application whereas the standard protocol shows vasoconstriction occurring only during the post-SWL period. Thus the earlier and greater rise in RI during the pretreatment protocol may be causally associated with a reduction in tissue injury. PMID:19154458

Leveraging LSTM for rapid intensifications prediction of tropical cyclones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Y.; Yang, R.; Yang, C.; Yu, M.; Hu, F.; Jiang, Y.

2017-10-01

Tropical cyclones (TCs) usually cause severe damages and destructions. TC intensity forecasting helps people prepare for the extreme weather and could save lives and properties. Rapid Intensifications (RI) of TCs are the major error sources of TC intensity forecasting. A large number of factors, such as sea surface temperature and wind shear, affect the RI processes of TCs. Quite a lot of work have been done to identify the combination of conditions most favorable to RI. In this study, deep learning method is utilized to combine conditions for RI prediction of TCs. Experiments show that the long short-term memory (LSTM) network provides the ability to leverage past conditions to predict TC rapid intensifications.

[Ecological risk assessment of sediment pollution based on triangular fuzzy number].

PubMed

Zhou, Xiao-Wei; Wang, Li-Ping; Zheng, Bing-Hui

2008-11-01

Based on the characteristics of random and fuzziness, and the shortage and imprecision of datum information of water environmental system, environment background value of sediments and concentration of pollution is calculated by means of triangle fuzzy number and fuzzy risk assessment model of the potential ecological risk index is established. Using this method heavy metal pollution and ecological risk in the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent waters were analyzed. The result shows that the environment of the foundation of the study area is subject to varying degrees of pollution. The pollution extents are correspondingly Cu, Hg, Zn, Pb, As, Cd. RI by that method and the Hakanson ecological risk method is in similar trend. RI of the estuary, turbidity maximum zone and Hangzhou bay is greater than that at outside of the estuary and sea area nearby Zhousan, and the potential ecological risk rate increases one. The assessment result is good in the validation based on the corresponding period macrobenthic community parameters.

SRB ascent aerodynamic heating design criteria reduction study, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crain, W. K.; Frost, C. L.; Engel, C. D.

1989-01-01

Data are presented for the wind tunnel interference heating factor data base, the timewise tabulated ascent design environments, and the timewise plotted environments comparing the REMTECH results to the Rockwell RI-IVBC-3 results.

Reproductive ecology and isolation of Psittacanthus calyculatus and P. auriculatus mistletoes (Loranthaceae)

PubMed Central

Díaz Infante, Sergio; Lara, Carlos; Arizmendi, María del Coro; Eguiarte, Luis E.

2016-01-01

Background Relationships between floral biology and pollinator behavior are important to understanding species diversity of hemiparasitic Psittacanthus mistletoes (c. 120 species). We aimed to investigate trait divergence linked to pollinator attraction and reproductive isolation (RI) in two hummingbird-pollinated and bird-dispersed Psittacanthus species with range overlap. Methods We investigated the phylogenetic relationships, floral biology, pollinator assemblages, seed dispersers and host usage, and the breeding system and female reproductive success of two sympatric populations of P. calyculatus and P. auriculatus, and one allopatric population of P. calyculatus. Flowers in sympatry were also reciprocally pollinated to assess a post-mating component of RI. Results Hummingbird assemblages differed between calyculatus populations, while allopatric plants of calyculatus opened more but smaller flowers with longer lifespans and produced less nectar than those in sympatry. Bayesian-based phylogenetic analysis indicated monophyly for calyculatus populations (i.e. both populations belong to the same species). In sympatry, calyculatus plants opened more and larger flowers with longer lifespans and produced same nectar volume than those of auriculatus; populations shared pollinators but seed dispersers and host usage differed between species. Nectar standing crops differed between sympatric populations, with lower visitation in calyculatus. Hand pollination experiments indicated a predominant outcrossing breeding system, with fruit set after interspecific pollination two times higher from calyculatus to auriculatus than in the opposite direction. Conclusions Given the low genetic differentiation between calyculatus populations, observed trait divergence could have resulted from changes regarding the local communities of pollinators and, therefore, expected divergence for peripheral, allopatric populations. Using RI estimates, there were fewer heterospecific matings than expected by chance in P. calyculatus (RI4A = 0.629) as compared to P. auriculatus (RI4A = 0.20). When considering other factors of ecological isolation that affect co-occurrence, the RI4C values indicate that isolation by hummingbird pollinators was less effective (0.20) than isolation by host tree species and seed dispersers (0.80 and 0.60, respectively), suggesting that host usage is the most important ecological isolation factor between the two species. Accordingly, the absolute and relative cumulative strength values indicated that the host tree species’ barrier is currently contributing the most to maintaining these species in sympatry. PMID:27703848

Exercise activates the PI3K-AKT signal pathway by decreasing the expression of 5α-reductase type 1 in PCOS rats.

PubMed

Wu, Chuyan; Jiang, Feng; Wei, Ke; Jiang, Zhongli

2018-05-22

Hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia are main clinical endocrine features of PCOS. Exercise can adjust the androgen level, as well as increase the sensitivity of insulin by activating PI3K-Akt insulin signaling pathways. 5αR1 has certain effects on insulin resistance and can synthesize dihydrotestosterone by metabolizing testosterone. So 5αR1 may be the target of androgen and insulin for exercise-induced regulation. To investigate the role of 5αR1 in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of PCOS rats activated by exercise, fifty-four female rats were randomly divided into the PCOS group (n = 42) and the control group(n = 12). After injection of testosterone propionate for 28 days, the remaining 36 rats in the PCOS group were randomly assigned to six groups: the sedentary group (PS, n = 6), sedentary and 5αRI (5α-reductase inhibitor) group (PS + RI, n = 6), sedentary and 5αR2I (5α-reductase type 2 selective inhibitor) group (PS + R2I, n = 6), exercise group (PE, n = 6), exercise and 5αRI group (PE + RI, n = 6), and exercise and 5αR2I group (PE + R2I, n = 6). The rats undergoing exercise were trained to swim for 14 days. Finasteride (5α-reductase type 2 selective inhibitor) and dutasteride (5α-reductase inhibitor) were administered once daily and were dosed based on weight. At the end, the expression of 5αR1 proteins, the phosphorylation level of PI3K and AKT, were determined by Western blot. The PCOS non-exercise group and the PE + RI group displayed significantly lower phosphorylation of Akt, PI3K p85 and GLUT4 expression, while in the PE + R2I group, the level of Akt phosphorylation and PI3K p85 expression was significantly higher than that of the PCOS non-exercise group and the PE + RI group. In summary, our study demonstrated that exercise can activate the PI3K/AKT signal pathway of PCOS rats by decreasing the expression of 5αR1.

The trajectory of scientific discovery: concept co-occurrence and converging semantic distance.

PubMed

Cohen, Trevor; Schvaneveldt, Roger W

2010-01-01

The paradigm of literature-based knowledge discovery originated by Swanson involves finding meaningful associations between terms or concepts that have not occurred together in any previously published document. While several automated approaches have been applied to this problem, these generally evaluate the literature at a point in time, and do not evaluate the role of change over time in distributional statistics as an indicator of meaningful implicit associations. To address this issue, we develop and evaluate Symmetric Random Indexing (SRI), a novel variant of the Random Indexing (RI) approach that is able to measure implicit association over time. SRI is found to compare favorably to existing RI variants in the prediction of future direct co-occurrence. Summary statistics over several experiments suggest a trend of converging semantic distance prior to the co-occurrence of key terms for two seminal historical literature-based discoveries.

SU-E-J-164: An Investigation of a Low-Cost ‘dry’ Optical-CT Scanning System for 3D Dosimetry

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

Bache, S; Malcolm, J; Adamovics, J

2014-06-01

Purpose: To characterize and explore the efficacy of a novel low-cost, lowfluid, broad-beam optical-CT system for 3D-dosimetry in radiochromic Presage dosimeters. Leading current optical-CT systems incorporate expensive glass-based telecentric lens technology, and a fluid bath with substantial amounts of fluid (which introduces an inconvenience factor) to minimize refraction artifacts. Here we introduce a novel system which addresses both these limitations by: (1) the use of Fresnel lenses in a telecentric arrangement, and (2) a ‘solid’ fluid bath which dramatically reduces the amount of fluid required for refractive-index (RI) matching. Materials Methods: A fresnel based telecentric optical-CT system was constructed whichmore » expands light from a single red LED source into a nominally parallel beam into which a cubic ‘dry-tank’ is placed. The drytank consists of a solid polyurethane cube (with the same RI as Presage) but containing a cylindrical cavity (11.5cm diameter × 11cm ) into which the dosimeter is placed for imaging. A narrow (1-3mm) gap between the walls of the dosimeter and dry-tank is filled with a fluid of similar RI. This arrangement reduces the amount of RI fluid from about 1000cc to 75cc, yielding substantial practical benefit in convenience and cost. The new system was evaluated in direct comparison against Eclipse planning system from a 4-field parallel-opposed treatmen Results: Gamma calculations of dose from DFOS-dry system versus Eclipse showed 92% and 97% agreement with 4mm/4% and 5mm/5% criteria, respectively, in the central 80% of dose distribution. Reconstructions showed some edge artifacts, as well as some dose underestimation towards the dosimeter edge. Conclusion: The implementation of Fresnel based ‘dry’ optical-CT for 3Ddosimetry would represent an important advance enhancing costeffectiveness and practical viability. The performance of the prototype presented here is not yet comparable to the state-of-the-art, but shows sufficient promise for further investigation to elevate image quality to match gold-standard optical-CT systems. This work was supported by NIH R01CA100835.« less

Radical SAM Enzymes in the Biosynthesis of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-translationally Modified Peptides (RiPPs).

PubMed

Benjdia, Alhosna; Balty, Clémence; Berteau, Olivier

2017-01-01

Ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a large and diverse family of natural products. They possess interesting biological properties such as antibiotic or anticancer activities, making them attractive for therapeutic applications. In contrast to polyketides and non-ribosomal peptides, RiPPs derive from ribosomal peptides and are post-translationally modified by diverse enzyme families. Among them, the emerging superfamily of radical SAM enzymes has been shown to play a major role. These enzymes catalyze the formation of a wide range of post-translational modifications some of them having no counterparts in living systems or synthetic chemistry. The investigation of radical SAM enzymes has not only illuminated unprecedented strategies used by living systems to tailor peptides into complex natural products but has also allowed to uncover novel RiPP families. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on radical SAM enzymes catalyzing RiPP post-translational modifications and discuss their mechanisms and growing importance notably in the context of the human microbiota.

Increasing Magnitude of Hurricane Rapid Intensification in the Central and Eastern Tropical Atlantic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balaguru, Karthik; Foltz, Gregory R.; Leung, L. Ruby

2018-05-01

Rapid intensification (RI) of hurricanes is notoriously difficult to predict and can contribute to severe destruction and loss of life. While past studies examined the frequency of RI occurrence, changes in RI magnitude were not considered. Here we explore changes in RI magnitude over the 30-year satellite period of 1986-2015. In the central and eastern tropical Atlantic, which includes much of the main development region, the 95th percentile of 24-hr intensity changes increased at 3.8 knots per decade. In the western tropical Atlantic, encompassing the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, trends are insignificant. Our analysis reveals that warming of the upper ocean coinciding with the positive phase of Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and associated changes in the large-scale environment, has predominantly favored RI magnitude increases in the central and eastern tropical Atlantic. These results have substantial implications for the eastern Caribbean Islands, some of which were devastated during the 2017 hurricane season.

Evaluation of the renal resistive index and pulsatility index in patients with pleural effusion by duplex Doppler ultrasonography.

PubMed

Değirmenci, Nevbahar Akcar; Metintaş, Muzaffer; Atlanoglu, Sahinde; Yıldırım, Huseyin

2013-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in patients with pleural effusion (PE). We studied the mean renal RI and PI in 50 patients with PE and 30 healthy volunteers by Doppler sonography. We grouped effusion as unilateral and bilateral. Statistical analysis was done by independent t test and correlation coefficient analysis. The mean RI/PI in healthy volunteers and in PE patients was 0.58/0.93 and 0.72/1.35, respectively. We observed a significantly higher RI and PI in patients when compared with healthy volunteers (all p < 0.001). We found no difference between the renal RI or PI related to unilateral (0.71 or 1.34, respectively) or bilateral effusion (0.74 or 1.55, respectively) (p > 0.05). Pleural effusion might result in increased renal impedance as seen in cirrhosis, which is a rather complicated pathophysiological process, without causing any morphological changes in kidneys.

Neutral kaon mixing beyond the Standard Model with n f = 2 + 1 chiral fermions. Part 2: non perturbative renormalisation of the Δ F = 2 four-quark operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyle, Peter A.; Garron, Nicolas; Hudspith, Renwick J.; Lehner, Christoph; Lytle, Andrew T.

2017-10-01

We compute the renormalisation factors ( Z-matrices) of the Δ F = 2 four-quark operators needed for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) kaon mixing. We work with n f = 2+1 flavours of Domain-Wall fermions whose chiral-flavour properties are essential to maintain a continuum-like mixing pattern. We introduce new RI-SMOM renormalisation schemes, which we argue are better behaved compared to the commonly-used corresponding RI-MOM one. We find that, once converted to \\overline{MS} , the Z-factors computed through these RI-SMOM schemes are in good agreement but differ significantly from the ones computed through the RI-MOM scheme. The RI-SMOM Z-factors presented here have been used to compute the BSM neutral kaon mixing matrix elements in the companion paper [1]. We argue that the renormalisation procedure is responsible for the discrepancies observed by different collaborations, we will investigate and elucidate the origin of these differences throughout this work.

Strengthening Routine Immunization in Areas of Northern Nigeria at High Risk for Polio Transmission During 2012–2014

PubMed Central

Ali, Daniel; Banda, Richard; Mohammed, Abdulaziz; Adagadzu, Julie; Murele, Bolatito; Seruyange, Rachel; Makam, Jeevan; Mkanda, Pascal; Okpessen, Bassey; Tegegne, Sisay G.; Folorunsho, Adeboye S.; Erbeto, Tesfaye B.; Yehualashet, Yared G.; Vaz, Rui G.

2016-01-01

Background. Following the 2012 declaration by World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa and the WHO Executive Board to ramp up routine immunization (RI) activities, began to intensify activities to strengthen RI. This study assessed how the intensification of RI helped strengthen service delivery in local government areas (LGAs) of northern Nigeria at high risk for polio transmission. Methods. A retrospective study was performed by analyzing RI administrative data and findings from supportive supervisory visits in 107 high-risk LGAs. Results. Our study revealed that administrative coverage with 3rd dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine in the 107 high-risk LGAs improved from a maximum average coverage of 33% during the preintensification period of 2009–2011 to 74% during the postintensification period of 2012–2014. Conclusions. Routine immunization could be strengthened in areas where coverage is low, and RI has been identified to be weak when certain key routine activities are intensified. PMID:26917576

Aberrant Topologies and Reconfiguration Pattern of Functional Brain Network in Children with Second Language Reading Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Lanfang; Li, Hehui; Zhang, Manli; Wang, Zhengke; Wei, Na; Liu, Li; Meng, Xiangzhi; Ding, Guosheng

2016-01-01

Prior work has extensively studied neural deficits in children with reading impairment (RI) in their native language but has rarely examined those of RI children in their second language (L2). A recent study revealed that the function of the local brain regions was disrupted in children with RI in L2, but it is not clear whether the disruption…

76 FR 81999 - Submission for Review: Verification of Who Is Getting Payments, RI 38-107 and RI 38-147

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-29

... 38-107 and RI 38-147 AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: 30-Day Notice and request.... As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended... information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on July 22, 2011 at Volume 76 FR 44051...

An endogenous ribonuclease inhibitor regulates the antimicrobial activity of ribonuclease 7 in the human urinary tract

PubMed Central

Spencer, John David; Schwaderer, Andrew L.; Eichler, Tad; Wang, Huanyu; Kline, Jennifer; Justice, Sheryl S.; Cohen, Daniel M.; Hains, David S.

2013-01-01

Recent studies stress the importance of antimicrobial peptides in protecting the urinary tract from infection. Previously, we have shown that ribonuclease 7 (RNase 7) is a potent antimicrobial peptide that has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against uropathogenic bacteria. The urothelium of the lower urinary tract and intercalated cells of the kidney produce RNase 7 but regulation of its antimicrobial activity has not been well defined. Here we characterize the expression of an endogenous inhibitor, ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), in the urinary tract and evaluate its effect on RNase 7’s antimicrobial activity. Using RNA isolated from non-infected human bladder and kidney tissue, quantitative real-time PCR showed that RNH1, the gene encoding RI, is constitutively expressed throughout the urinary tract. With pyelonephritis, RNH1 expression and RI peptide production significantly decrease. Immunostaining localized RI production to the umbrella cells of the bladder and intercalated cells of the renal collecting tubule. In vitro assays showed that RI bound to RNase 7 and suppressed its antimicrobial activity by blocking its ability to bind the cell wall of uropathogenic bacteria. Thus, these results demonstrate a new immunomodulatory role for RI and identified a unique regulatory pathway that may affect how RNase 7 maintains urinary tract sterility. PMID:24107847

C-reactive protein specifically binds to Fcgamma receptor type I on a macrophage-like cell line.

PubMed

Tron, Kyrylo; Manolov, Dimitar E; Röcker, Carlheinz; Kächele, Martin; Torzewski, Jan; Nienhaus, G Ulrich

2008-05-01

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a prototype acute-phase protein that may be intimately involved in human disease. Its cellular receptors are still under debate; the main candidates are FcR for immunoglobulin G, as CRP was shown to bind specifically to FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIIa. Using ultrasensitive confocal live-cell imaging, we have studied CRP binding to FcgammaR naturally expressed in the plasma membranes of cells from a human leukemia cell line (Mono Mac 6). These macrophage-like cells express high levels of FcgammaRI and FcgammaRII. They were shown to bind fluorescently labeled CRP with micromolar affinity, KD = (6.6 +/- 1.5) microM. CRP binding could be inhibited by pre-incubation with human but not mouse IgG and was thus FcgammaR-specific. Blocking of FcgammaRI by an FcgammaRI-specific antibody abolished CRP binding essentially completely, whereas application of antibodies against FcgammaRII did not have a noticeable effect. In fluorescence images of Mono Mac 6 cells, the intensity patterns of bound CRP were correlated with those of FcgammaRI, but not FcgammaRII. These results provide clear evidence of specific interactions between CRP and FcgammaR (predominantly FcgammaRI) naturally expressed on macrophage-like cells.

Rectal intussusception and unexplained faecal incontinence: findings of a proctographic study.

PubMed

Collinson, R; Cunningham, C; D'Costa, H; Lindsey, I

2009-01-01

The aetiology of faecal incontinence is multifactorial, yet there remains an approach to assessment and treatment that focusses on the sphincter. Rectal intussusception (RI) is underdiagnosed and manifests primarily as obstructed defecation. Yet greater than 50% of these patients admit to faecal incontinence on closer questioning. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of RI at evacuation proctography selectively undertaken in the evaluation of patients with faecal incontinence. Patients with faecal incontinence seen in a pelvic floor clinic were evaluated with anorectal physiology and ultrasound. Where the faecal incontinence was not fully explained by physiology and ultrasound, evacuation proctography was undertaken. Studies were classified as 'normal', 'low-grade RI' (recto-rectal), 'high-grade RI' (recto-anal) or 'anismus'. Forty patients underwent evacuation proctography (33 women, 83%). Median age was 63 years (range 34-77 years). Seven patients (17%) had a normal proctogram. Three (8%) had recto-rectal RI. Twenty-five (63%) demonstrated recto-anal RI. Five patients (12%) had anismus. Recto-anal intussusception is common in patients undergoing selective evacuation proctography for investigation of faecal incontinence. The role of recto-anal intussusception in the multifactorial aetiology of faecal incontinence has been largely overlooked. Evacuation proctography should be considered as part of routine work-up of patients with faecal incontinence.

Characterisation of protein stability in rod-insert vaginal rings.

PubMed

Pattani, Aditya; Lowry, Deborah; Curran, Rhonda M; McGrath, Stephanie; Kett, Vicky L; Andrews, Gavin P; Malcolm, R Karl

2012-07-01

A major goal in vaccine development is elimination of the 'cold chain', the transport and storage system for maintenance and distribution of the vaccine product. This is particularly pertinent to liquid formulation of vaccines. We have previously described the rod-insert vaginal ring (RiR) device, comprising an elastomeric body into which are inserted lyophilised, rod-shaped, solid drug dosage forms, and having potential for sustained mucosal delivery of biomacromolecules, such as HIV envelope protein-based vaccine candidates. Given the solid, lyophilised nature of these insert dosage forms, we hypothesised that antigen stability may be significantly increased compared with more conventional solubilised vaginal gel format. In this study, we prepared and tested vaginal ring devices fitted with lyophilised rod inserts containing the model antigen bovine serum albumin (BSA). Both the RiRs and the gels that were freeze-dried to prepare the inserts were evaluated for BSA stability using PAGE, turbidimetry, microbial load, MALDI-TOF and qualitative precipitate solubility measurements. When stored at 4 °C, but not when stored at 40 °C/75% RH, the RiR formulation offered protection against structural and conformational changes to BSA. The insert also retained matrix integrity and release characteristics. The results demonstrate that lypophilised gels can provide relative protection against degradation at lower temperatures compared to semi-solid gels. The major mechanism of degradation at 40 °C/75% RH was shown to be protein aggregation. Finally, in a preliminary study, we found that addition of trehalose to the formulation significantly reduces the rate of BSA degradation compared to the original formulation when stored at 40 °C/75% RH. Establishing the mechanism of degradation, and finding that degradation is decelerated in the presence of trehalose, will help inform further development of RiRs specifically and polymer based freeze-dried systems in general. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

SuMoToRI, an Ecophysiological Model to Predict Growth and Sulfur Allocation and Partitioning in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) Until the Onset of Pod Formation

PubMed Central

Brunel-Muguet, Sophie; Mollier, Alain; Kauffmann, François; Avice, Jean-Christophe; Goudier, Damien; Sénécal, Emmanuelle; Etienne, Philippe

2015-01-01

Sulfur (S) nutrition in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a major concern for this high S-demanding crop, especially in the context of soil S oligotrophy. Therefore, predicting plant growth, S plant allocation (between the plant’s compartments) and S pool partitioning (repartition of the mobile-S vs. non-mobile-S fractions) until the onset of reproductive phase could help in the diagnosis of S deficiencies during the early stages. For this purpose, a process-based model, SuMoToRI (Sulfur Model Toward Rapeseed Improvement), was developed up to the onset of pod formation. The key features rely on (i) the determination of the S requirements used for growth (structural and metabolic functions) through critical S dilution curves and (ii) the estimation of a mobile pool of S that is regenerated by daily S uptake and remobilization from senescing leaves. This study describes the functioning of the model and presents the model’s calibration and evaluation. SuMoToRI was calibrated and evaluated with independent datasets from greenhouse experiments under contrasting S supply conditions. It is run with a small number of parameters with generic values, except in the case of the radiation use efficiency, which was shown to be modulated by S supply. The model gave satisfying predictions of the dynamics of growth, S allocation between compartments and S partitioning, such as the mobile-S fraction in the leaves, which is an indicator of the remobilization potential toward growing sinks. The mechanistic features of SuMoToRI provide a process-based framework that has enabled the description of the S remobilizing process in a species characterized by senescence during the vegetative phase. We believe that this model structure could be useful for modeling S dynamics in other arable crops that have similar senescence-related characteristics. PMID:26635825

Airborne Aerosol in Situ Measurements during TCAP: A Closure Study of Total Scattering

DOE PAGES

Kassianov, Evgueni I.; Berg, Larry K.; Pekour, Mikhail S.; ...

2015-07-31

We present here a framework for calculating the total scattering of both non-absorbing and absorbing aerosol at ambient conditions from aircraft data. The synergistically employed aircraft data involve aerosol microphysical, chemical, and optical components and ambient relative humidity measurements. Our framework is developed emphasizing the explicit use of the complementary chemical composition data for estimating the complex refractive index (RI) of particles, and thus obtaining improved ambient size spectra derived from Optical Particle Counter (OPC) measurements. The feasibility of our framework for improved calculations of total aerosol scattering is demonstrated for different ambient conditions with a wide range of relativemore » humidities (from 5 to 80%) using three types of data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) G-1 aircraft during the recent Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP). Namely, these three types of data employed are: (1) size distributions measured by an Ultra High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS; 0.06-1 µm), a Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer (PCASP; 0.1-3 µm) and a Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS; 0.6- >10 µm), (2) chemical composition data measured by an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS; 0.06-0.6 µm) and a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2; 0.06-0.6 µm), and (3) the dry total scattering coefficient measured by a TSI integrating nephelometer at three wavelengths (0.45, 0.55, 0.7 µm) and scattering enhancement factor measured with a humidification system at three RHs (near 45%, 65% and 90%) at a single wavelength (0.525 µm). We demonstrate that good agreement (~10% on average) between the observed and calculated scattering at these three wavelengths can be obtained using the best available chemical composition data for the RI-based correction of the OPC-derived size spectra. We also demonstrate that ignoring the RI-based correction and using non-representative RI values can cause a substantial underestimation (~40% on average) and overestimation (~35% on average) of the calculated total scattering, respectively.« less

Does stent strut design impact clinical outcomes: comparative safety and efficacy of Endeavor Resolute versus Resolute Integrity zotarolimus-eluting stents.

PubMed

Di Santo, Pietro; Simard, Trevor; Ramirez, F Daniel; Pourdjabbar, Ali; Harnett, David T; Singh, Kuljit; Moreland, Robert; Chong, Aun-Yeong; Dick, Alexander; Labinaz, Marino; Froeschl, Michael; Froeschl, Michael; Le May, Michael R; So, Derek Y; Hibbert, Benjamin

2015-10-07

Percutaneous coronary intervention is the most commonly performed method of revascularizing obstructive coronary artery disease. The impact of stent strut design on clinical outcomes remains unclear. The Endeavour Resolute (ER-ZES) and the Resolute Integrity (RI-ZES) zotarolimus-eluting stents utilize identical polymers and anti-proliferative agents, differing only in their respective strut design. This study assessed the comparative safety and efficacy of these two stents in unrestricted contemporary real-world practice. A total of 542 patients were identified, corresponding to 340 ER-ZES and 480 RI-ZES. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined by a composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke. Secondary endpoints included post-procedural length of stay, in-stent restenosis, target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, coronary artery bypass grafting and stent thrombosis. MACE occurred in 3.2% of the ER-ZES cohort and 5.0% of the RI-ZES cohort (p= 0.43). Adjusted analysis utilizing propensity score-adjusted odds ratio for MACE, was 1.37 (95% CI 0.46-4.07, p=0.57). The mortality rate (0.9% ER-ZES vs. 1.9% RI-ZES, p=0.59), non-fatal MI (2.3% ER-ZES vs. 3.1% RI-ZES, p=0.75) and stroke (0.0% ER-ZES vs. 0.3% RI-ZES, p=0.85) were not different. Additionally, there was no difference in any of secondary outcomes. The clinical performance and safety of both ER-ZES and RI-ZES were not statistically different, despite differences in stent strut design.

Inhibitory effect of carotenoids on the degranulation of mast cells via suppression of antigen-induced aggregation of high affinity IgE receptors.

PubMed

Sakai, Shota; Sugawara, Tatsuya; Matsubara, Kiminori; Hirata, Takashi

2009-10-09

Carotenoids have been demonstrated to possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is no report that the effects of carotenoids on degranulation of mast cell is critical for type I allergy. In this study, we focused on the effect of carotenoids on antigen-induced degranulation of mast cells. Fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene significantly inhibited the antigen-induced release of beta-hexosaminidase in rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. Those carotenoids also inhibited antigen-induced aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilonRI), which is the most upstream of the degranulating signals of mast cells. Furthermore, carotenoids inhibited Fc epsilonRI-mediated intracellular signaling, such as phosphorylation of Lyn kinase and Fyn kinase. It suggests that the inhibitory effect of carotenoids on the degranulation of mast cells were mainly due to suppressing the aggregation of Fc epsilonRI followed by intracellular signaling. In addition, those carotenoids inhibited antigen-induced translocation of Fc epsilonRI to lipid rafts, which are known as platforms of the aggregation of Fc epsilonRI. We assume that carotenoids may modulate the function of lipid rafts and inhibit the translocation of Fc epsilonRI to lipid rafts. This is the first report that focused on the aggregation of Fc epsilonRI to investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects on the degranulation of mast cells and evaluated the functional activity of carotenoids associated with lipid rafts.

Inhibitory Effect of Carotenoids on the Degranulation of Mast Cells via Suppression of Antigen-induced Aggregation of High Affinity IgE Receptors*

PubMed Central

Sakai, Shota; Sugawara, Tatsuya; Matsubara, Kiminori; Hirata, Takashi

2009-01-01

Carotenoids have been demonstrated to possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is no report that the effects of carotenoids on degranulation of mast cell is critical for type I allergy. In this study, we focused on the effect of carotenoids on antigen-induced degranulation of mast cells. Fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene significantly inhibited the antigen-induced release of β-hexosaminidase in rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. Those carotenoids also inhibited antigen-induced aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcϵRI), which is the most upstream of the degranulating signals of mast cells. Furthermore, carotenoids inhibited FcϵRI-mediated intracellular signaling, such as phosphorylation of Lyn kinase and Fyn kinase. It suggests that the inhibitory effect of carotenoids on the degranulation of mast cells were mainly due to suppressing the aggregation of FcϵRI followed by intracellular signaling. In addition, those carotenoids inhibited antigen-induced translocation of FcϵRI to lipid rafts, which are known as platforms of the aggregation of FcϵRI. We assume that carotenoids may modulate the function of lipid rafts and inhibit the translocation of FcϵRI to lipid rafts. This is the first report that focused on the aggregation of FcϵRI to investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects on the degranulation of mast cells and evaluated the functional activity of carotenoids associated with lipid rafts. PMID:19700409

Comorbidity of PTSD and depression among refugee children during war conflict.

PubMed

Thabet, Abdel Aziz Mousa; Abed, Yehia; Vostanis, Panos

2004-03-01

We examined the prevalence and nature of comorbid post-traumatic stress reactions and depressive symptoms, and the impact of exposure to traumatic events on both types of psychopathology, among Palestinian children during war conflict in the region. The 403 children aged 9-15 years, who lived in four refugee camps, were assessed by completing the Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, the Child Post Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI), and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). Children reported experiencing a wide range of traumatic events, both direct experience of violence and through the media. CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were significantly correlated. Both CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were independently predicted by the number of experienced traumatic events, and this association remained after adjusting for socioeconomic variables. Exposure to traumatic events strongly predicted MFQ scores while controlling for CPTSD-RI scores. In contrast, the association between traumatic events and CPTSD-RI scores, while controlling for MFQ scores, was weak. The CPTSD-RI items whose frequency was significantly associated with total MFQ scores were: sleep disturbance, somatic complaints, constricted affect, impulse control, and difficulties in concentration. However, not all remaining CPTSD-RI items were significantly associated with exposure to traumatic events, thus raising the possibility that the association between depression and PTSD was due in part to symptom overlap. Children living in war zones are at high risk of suffering from PTSD and depressive disorders. Exposure to trauma was not found to have a unique association with PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and depressive symptomatology requires further investigation.

Medical RI development plan of KOMAC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kye-Ryung; Jung, Myung-Hwan; Yoon, Sang-Pil; Min, Yi-Sub; Cho, Yong-Sub

2017-12-01

Many kinds of radioisotopes (RIs) produced by the high energy (100 200 MeV) proton accelerators are developed by the foreign R&D institutes and the worldwide demands are being increased continuously. The RI production using high energy proton beam higher than 50 MeV was not considerable because of the limit of the proton beam energy from existing proton accelerator facilities in Korea before 2013. The available maximum proton energy was 50 MeV from MC-50 cyclotron of Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) at that time. After the construction of a 100 MeV high-current and high-energy proton accelerator and a new irradiation facility for the RI production in 2013 and 2016 by the Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex (KOMAC) at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), we can make a plan for the new RI production of Cu-67, Sr-82 and so on. In the medical application fields, the worldwide demand of Sr-82 is being increased rapidly during last several years and the domestic demand of Cu-67 is also expected to be increased in near future. And alpha-emitters, such as Ac-225 and Ra-223, are becoming attractive to the users in the medical science fields in the future. The RI development plan of KOMAC was specified recently reflecting the recent environment changes and requirements from the users. In this paper, the results and present status of RI production and R&D facilities, calculation results related to the RI production yields, and future plans is presented.

Characterization of polymeric substance classes in cereal-based beverages using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with a multi-detection system.

PubMed

Krebs, Georg; Becker, Thomas; Gastl, Martina

2017-09-01

Cereal-based beverages contain a complex mixture of various polymeric macromolecules including polysaccharides, peptides, and polyphenols. The molar mass of polymers and their degradation products affect different technological and especially sensory parameters of beverages. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and refractive index detection (dRI) or UV detection (UV) is a technique for structure and molar mass distribution analysis of macromolecules commonly used for pure compound solutions. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic approach for identifying the polymer classes in an AF4//MALS/dRI/UV fractogram of the complex matrix in beer, a yeast-fermented cereal-based beverage. Assignment of fractogram fractions to polymer substance classes was achieved by targeted precipitations, enzymatic hydrolysis, and alignments with purified polymer standards. Corresponding effects on dRI and UV signals were evaluated according to the detector's sensitivities. Using these techniques, the AF4 fractogram of beer was classified into different fractions: (1) the low molar mass fraction was assigned to proteinaceous molecules with different degrees of glycosylation, (2) the middle molar mass fraction was attributed to protein-polyphenol complexes with a coelution of non-starch polysaccharides, and (3) the high molar mass fraction was identified as a mixture of the cell wall polysaccharides (i.e., β-glucan and arabinoxylan) with a low content of polysaccharide-protein association. In addition, dextrins derived from incomplete starch hydrolysis were identified in all fractions and over the complete molar mass range. The ability to assess the components of an AF4 fractogram is beneficial for the targeted design and evaluation of polymers in fermented cereal-based beverages and for controlling and monitoring quality parameters.

The value of Doppler ultrasound in predicting delayed graft function occurrence after kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Mocny, Grzegorz; Bachul, Piotr; Chang, Ea-Sle; Kulig, Piotr

The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of blood flow velocity and vascular resistance measured by Doppler ultrasound in terms of pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) respectively, in the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplantation. This prospective study enrolled kidney transplant recipients operated from January 2005 to April 2009 in the 1st Department of General, Oncological and Gastroenterological Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland. The medical records of 53 kidney transplant recipients from deceased donors were reviewed. PI and RI values of the graft arcuate artery were calculated immediately after blood flow restoration and on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th post-operative day. DGF was observed in 20 patients (37.7%), while 33 patients (62.3%) had immediate restoration of the kidney function. The mean intraoperative values of RI and PI from patients with DGF were significantly higher in comparison to patients without DGF (0.9 vs. 0.74, p <0.001; 1.76 vs. 1.54, p = 0.019, respectively). Post-operatively, the RI and PI values remained stable and significantly higher in DGF group. The highest sensitivity of RI to predict DGF occurrence was observed intraoperatively and on the first postoperative day, with values of 77.8% and 72.2%, respectively. The risk of DGF occurrence with intraoperative RI value ≥0.9 increased by 13-fold, and with intraoperative PI value ≥1.9 by 12-fold. This increase was even more prominent during the first post-operative day with RI value ≥0.9 or PI value ≥1.9 with 19-fold increase in the risk of DGF occurrence. According to our study, the utilization of Doppler ultrasound with measurement of hemodynamic parameters (PI, RI), play a crucial role in predicting the outcomes of kidney transplantation.

Survival benefits of revascularization in patients with critical limb ischemia and renal insufficiency.

PubMed

Ortmann, Jana; Gahl, Brigitta; Diehm, Nicolas; Dick, Florian; Traupe, Tobias; Baumgartner, Iris

2012-09-01

Evidence for the best treatment strategy for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) at different stages of renal insufficiency (RI) is rare. Therefore, we determined the benefit of revascularization vs medical therapy (MT) only in CLI patients with different levels of RI. This intention-to-treat cohort study with follow-up at 2, 6, and 12 months was conducted in a consecutive series of 351 patients with CLI. Revascularization by surgical (78 patients) or endovascular techniques (191 patients) was performed in 269 patients. MT as first-line therapy was administered in 82 patients. Patients were grouped according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR), estimated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, into absent/mild RI (estimated GFR [eGFR], ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), moderate RI (eGFR, 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), and severe RI (eGFR, <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or dialysis). Primary outcome measures were overall and amputation-free survival. Cox regression models adjusted for baseline characteristics after Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were performed. The mean age differed significantly between groups (P < .001), and patients with absent/mild RI were more often men (P < .001) or smokers (P < .001) and less often hypertensive (P < .001). Risk factor adjustment showed that revascularized CLI patients with absent/mild RI had a longer amputation-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.82; P = .008), higher limb salvage (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17-0.91; P < .029), and better clinical success than MT patients (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.65; P = .001). The moderate RI group benefited from revascularization in overall survival (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.26-0.99; P = .049), amputation-free survival (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.90; P = .020), and clinical success (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.80; P = .008). A beneficial effect on overall survival was found even in patients with severe RI when revascularized (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.91; P = .032 vs MT). Patients with CLI may benefit from revascularization compared with MT alone at all levels of renal impairment. Thus, revascularization should not be withheld in CLI patients at any level of RI. Copyright © 2012 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

21. Detail of steel ribs at south wall, T18; Note ...

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

21. Detail of steel ribs at south wall, T-18; Note composition of ribs--two steel channels welded together - Advance Base Depot Davisville, Building T-17, Ninth Street southeast of Davisville Road, Davisville, Washington County, RI

161. GENERAL VIEW OF BASE. VIEW SOUTH FROM DOG PATCH ...

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

161. GENERAL VIEW OF BASE. VIEW SOUTH FROM DOG PATCH BEACH SHOWING, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE AIRFIELD, BULKHEAD, BUILDING 64, 61, 3,4,5,6, STRUCTURE 68 (WATER TOWER), BUILDING 11 AND STRUCTURE 67 (WATER TOWER). - Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown, Washington County, RI

Rice crop growth and outlook monitoring using SAR in Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2016-12-01

The Asia-RiCE initiative (http://www.asia-rice.org) has been organized to enhance rice production estimates through the use of Earth observation satellites data, and seeks to ensure that Asian rice crops are appropriately represented within GEO Global Agriculture Monitoring (GEO-GLAM) to support FAO Agriculture Market Information System (FAO-AMIS). Asia-RiCE is composed of national teams that are actively contributing to the Crop Monitor for AMIS and developing technical demonstrations of rice crop monitoring activities using both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data (Radarsat-2 from 2013; Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 from 2015; TerraSAR-X, Cosmo-SkyMed, RISAT, and others) and optical imagery (such as from MODIS, SPOT-5, Landsat, and Sentinel-2) for 100x100km Technical Demonstration Sites (TDS) as a phase 1 (2013-2015) in Asia. with satellite -based cultivated area and growing stage map. The Asia-RiCE teams are also developing satellite-based agro-met information for rice crop outlook, crop calendars and damage assessment in cooperation with ASEAN food security information system (AFSIS) for selected countries (currently Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippine, and Japan; http://www.afsisnc.org/blog), using JAXA's Satellite-based MonItoring Network system as a contribution to the FAO AMIS outlook (JASMIN) with University of Tokyo (http://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/cgi-bin/gcomw/jasm/jasm_top.cgi). Because of continous El Nino in South East Asia, there are less precipitation and rain fall pattern change in South East Asia, crop pattern has been changed and production may be decreased, especially for dry season crop. JAXA provides drought index (KBDI) and accumulated precipitation of Tak province, Thailand where main reservior is located, to AFSIS and national experts to assess rice crop outlook and NDVI time seriese to Ang Tong province where is main rice production area in downstream area of that reservior.From 2016 as a phase 2, Asia-RiCE initiative deploy up-scaling activity from a province (100x100km) to major crop areas or entire country to implement operational use for rice crop production information in low Mekong, Vietnam and top 10 provinces in Indonesia using space based technology. This paper reports this year activity of 2016 accomplishment and way forward.

Assessment of the overlap metric in the context of RI-MP2 and atomic batched tensor decomposed MP2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitz, Gunnar; Christiansen, Ove

2018-06-01

The resolution-of-the-identity approximation (RI) is a standard tool to accelerate the evaluation of two electron repulsion integrals. However introducing further approximations on top of for example RI-MP2, makes it important to check again the made choices. Usually the so called Coulomb metric is used. An alternative is the less accurate overlap metric, which has the benefit of a faster decay with distance. We encountered both choices in our atomic batched tensor decomposed MP2 (AB-MP2) and went with the Coulomb metric for the safe choice. In this work we re-investigate the choice of Coulomb and overlap metric for RI-MP2 and AB-MP2.

The erudite humility of the historian: the 'critical epistemology' of Georges Lantéri-Laura.

PubMed

Basso Lorini, Elisabetta

2017-06-01

This paper analyses the historical and epistemological work of the French psychiatrist Georges Lantéri-Laura (1930-2004) within the context of the French 'tradition' of history and philosophy of sciences, with special reference to Georges Canguilhem and Michel Foucault. After an introduction devoted to a critical survey of the most recent works on the history and historiography of psychiatry in French, the paper outlines Lantéri-Laura's approach by focusing especially on the role played by the methodological concept of 'semiology' as regards the relation between medicine and psychiatry. The last part of the paper draws attention to the relation between the history and philosophy of psychiatry in light of Lantéri-Laura's 'critical epistemology'.

Interacting Cache memories: evidence for flexible memory use by Western Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica).

PubMed

Clayton, Nicola S; Yu, Kara Shirley; Dickinson, Anthony

2003-01-01

When Western Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica) cached and recovered perishable crickets, N. S. Clayton, K. S. Yu, and A. Dickinson (2001) reported that the jays rapidly learned to search for fresh crickets after a 1-day retention interval (RI) between caching and recovery but to avoid searching for perished crickets after a 4-day RI. In the present experiments, the jays generalized their search preference for crickets to intermediate RIs and used novel information about the rate of decay of crickets presented during the RI to reverse these search preferences at recovery. The authors interpret this reversal as evidence that the birds can integrate information about the caching episode with new information presented during the RI.