Cyclic stress effect on stress corrosion cracking of duplex stainless steel in chloride and caustic solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Di

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) is a dual-phase material with approximately equal volume amount of austenite and ferrite. It has both great mechanical properties (good ductility and high tensile/fatigue strength) and excellent corrosion resistance due to the mixture of the two phases. Cyclic loadings with high stress level and low frequency are experienced by many structures. However, the existing study on corrosion fatigue (CF) study of various metallic materials has mainly concentrated on relatively high frequency range. No systematic study has been done to understand the ultra-low frequency (˜10-5 Hz) cyclic loading effect on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of DSSs. In this study, the ultra-low frequency cyclic loading effect on SCC of DSS 2205 was studied in acidified sodium chloride and caustic white liquor (WL) solutions. The research work focused on the environmental effect on SCC of DSS 2205, the cyclic stress effect on strain accumulation behavior of DSS 2205, and the combined environmental and cyclic stress effect on the stress corrosion crack initiation of DSS 2205 in the above environments. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of DSS 2205 in acidic NaCl solution. Series of slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) at different applied potential values were conducted to reveal the optimum applied potential value for SCC to happen. Room temperature static and cyclic creep tests were performed in air to illustrate the strain accumulation effect of cyclic stresses. Test results showed that cyclic loading could enhance strain accumulation in DSS 2205 compared to static loading. Moreover, the strain accumulation behavior of DSS 2205 was found to be controlled by the two phases of DSS 2205 with different crystal structures. The B.C.C. ferrite phase enhanced strain accumulation due to extensive cross-slips of the dislocations, whereas the F.C.C. austenite phase resisted strain accumulation due to cyclic strain hardening. Cyclic SSRTs were performed under the conditions that SCC occurs in sodium chloride and WL solutions. Test results show that cyclic stress facilitated crack initiations in DSS 2205. Stress corrosion cracks initiated from the intermetallic precipitates in acidic chloride environment, and the cracks initiated from austenite phase in WL environment. Cold-working has been found to retard the crack initiations induced by cyclic stresses.

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

Jain, V.; Shah, H.; Bannochie, C. J.

Mercury (Hg) in the Savannah River Site Liquid Waste System (LWS) originated from decades of canyon processing where it was used as a catalyst for dissolving the aluminum cladding of reactor fuel. Approximately 60 metric tons of mercury is currently present throughout the LWS. Mercury has long been a consideration in the LWS, from both hazard and processing perspectives. In February 2015, a Mercury Program Team was established at the request of the Department of Energy to develop a comprehensive action plan for long-term management and removal of mercury. Evaluation was focused in two Phases. Phase I activities assessed themore » Liquid Waste inventory and chemical processing behavior using a system-by-system review methodology, and determined the speciation of the different mercury forms (Hg+, Hg++, elemental Hg, organomercury, and soluble versus insoluble mercury) within the LWS. Phase II activities are building on the Phase I activities, and results of the LWS flowsheet evaluations will be summarized in three reports: Mercury Behavior in the Salt Processing Flowsheet (i.e. this report); Mercury Behavior in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) Flowsheet; and Mercury behavior in the Tank Farm Flowsheet (Evaporator Operations). The evaluation of the mercury behavior in the salt processing flowsheet indicates, inter alia, the following: (1) In the assembled Salt Batches 7, 8 and 9 in Tank 21, the total mercury is mostly soluble with methylmercury (MHg) contributing over 50% of the total mercury. Based on the analyses of samples from 2H Evaporator feed and drop tanks (Tanks 38/43), the source of MHg in Salt Batches 7, 8 and 9 can be attributed to the 2H evaporator concentrate used in assembling the salt batches. The 2H Evaporator is used to evaporate DWPF recycle water. (2) Comparison of data between Tank 21/49, Salt Solution Feed Tank (SSFT), Decontaminated Salt Solution Hold Tank (DSSHT), and Tank 50 samples suggests that the total mercury as well as speciated forms in the assembled salt batches in Tanks 21/49 pass through the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) / Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) process to Tank 50 with no significant change in the mercury chemistry. (3) In Tank 50, Decontaminated Salt Solution (DSS) from ARP/MCU is the major contributor to the total mercury including MHg. (4) Speciation analyses of TCLP leached solutions of the grout samples prepared from Tank 21, as well as Tank 50 samples, show the majority of the mercury released in the solution is MHg.« less

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

Cozzi, A; Cora Berry, C; Michael Bronikowski, M

The decontaminated salt solution waste stream from the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit and the Salt Waste Processing Facility is anticipated to contain entrained extraction solvent. The decontaminated salt solution is scheduled to be processed through Tank 50 into the Saltstone Production Facility. This study, among others, has been undertaken because the solvent concentration in the decontaminated salt solution may cause flammability issues within the Saltstone Disposal Facility that may need to be addressed prior to operation. Previous work at the Savannah River National Laboratory determined the release of Isopar{reg_sign} L from saltstone prepared with a simulated DSS withmore » Isopar{reg_sign} L concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 {micro}g/g in the salt fraction and with test temperatures ranging from ambient to 95 C. The results from the curing of the saltstone showed that the Isopar{reg_sign} L release data can be treated as a percentage of initial concentration in the concentration range studied. The majority of the Isopar{reg_sign} L that was released over the test duration was released in the first few days. The release of Isopar{reg_sign} L begins immediately and the rate of release decreases over time. At higher temperatures the immediate release is larger than at lower temperatures. In this study, saltstone was prepared using a simulated decontaminated salt solution containing Isopar{reg_sign} L concentrations of 50 {micro}L/L (30 {micro}g/g) and 100 {micro}L/L (61 {micro}g/g) and cured at 55 C. The headspace of each sample was purged and the Isopar{reg_sign} L was trapped on a coconut shell carbon tube. The amount of Isopar{reg_sign} L captured was determined using NIOSH Method 1501. The percentage of Isopar{reg_sign} L released after 20 days was 1.4 - 3.7% for saltstone containing 50 {micro}L/L concentration and 2.1 - 4.3% for saltstone containing 100 {micro}L/L concentration. Given the measurement uncertainties in this work there is no clearly discernible relationship between percentage release and initial Isopar{reg_sign} L concentration.« less

LITERATURE REVIEWS TO SUPPORT ION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY SELECTION FOR MODULAR SALT PROCESSING

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

King, W

2007-11-30

This report summarizes the results of literature reviews conducted to support the selection of a cesium removal technology for application in a small column ion exchange (SCIX) unit supported within a high level waste tank. SCIX is being considered as a technology for the treatment of radioactive salt solutions in order to accelerate closure of waste tanks at the Savannah River Site (SRS) as part of the Modular Salt Processing (MSP) technology development program. Two ion exchange materials, spherical Resorcinol-Formaldehyde (RF) and engineered Crystalline Silicotitanate (CST), are being considered for use within the SCIX unit. Both ion exchange materials havemore » been studied extensively and are known to have high affinities for cesium ions in caustic tank waste supernates. RF is an elutable organic resin and CST is a non-elutable inorganic material. Waste treatment processes developed for the two technologies will differ with regard to solutions processed, secondary waste streams generated, optimum column size, and waste throughput. Pertinent references, anticipated processing sequences for utilization in waste treatment, gaps in the available data, and technical comparisons will be provided for the two ion exchange materials to assist in technology selection for SCIX. The engineered, granular form of CST (UOP IE-911) was the baseline ion exchange material used for the initial development and design of the SRS SCIX process (McCabe, 2005). To date, in-tank SCIX has not been implemented for treatment of radioactive waste solutions at SRS. Since initial development and consideration of SCIX for SRS waste treatment an alternative technology has been developed as part of the River Protection Project Waste Treatment Plant (RPP-WTP) Research and Technology program (Thorson, 2006). Spherical RF resin is the baseline media for cesium removal in the RPP-WTP, which was designed for the treatment of radioactive waste supernates and is currently under construction in Hanford, WA. Application of RF for cesium removal in the Hanford WTP does not involve in-riser columns but does utilize the resin in large scale column configurations in a waste treatment facility. The basic conceptual design for SCIX involves the dissolution of saltcake in SRS Tanks 1-3 to give approximately 6 M sodium solutions and the treatment of these solutions for cesium removal using one or two columns supported within a high level waste tank. Prior to ion exchange treatment, the solutions will be filtered for removal of entrained solids. In addition to Tanks 1-3, solutions in two other tanks (37 and 41) will require treatment for cesium removal in the SCIX unit. The previous SCIX design (McCabe, 2005) utilized CST for cesium removal with downflow supernate processing and included a CST grinder following cesium loading. Grinding of CST was necessary to make the cesium-loaded material suitable for vitrification in the SRS Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). Because RF resin is elutable (and reusable) and processing requires conversion between sodium and hydrogen forms using caustic and acidic solutions more liquid processing steps are involved. The WTP baseline process involves a series of caustic and acidic solutions (downflow processing) with water washes between pH transitions across neutral. In addition, due to resin swelling during conversion from hydrogen to sodium form an upflow caustic regeneration step is required. Presumably, one of these basic processes (or some variation) will be utilized for MSP for the appropriate ion exchange technology selected. CST processing involves two primary waste products: loaded CST and decontaminated salt solution (DSS). RF processing involves three primary waste products: spent RF resin, DSS, and acidic cesium eluate, although the resin is reusable and typically does not require replacement until completion of multiple treatment cycles. CST processing requires grinding of the ion exchange media, handling of solids with high cesium loading, and handling of liquid wash and conditioning solutions. RF processing requires handling and evaporation of cesium eluates, disposal of spent organic resin, and handling of the various liquid wash and regenerate solutions used. In both cases, the DSS will be immobilized in a low activity waste form. It appears that both technologies are mature, well studied, and generally suitable for this application. Technology selection will likely be based on downstream impacts or preferences between the various processing options for the two materials rather than on some unacceptable performance property identified for one material. As a result, the following detailed technical review and summary of the two technologies should be useful to assist in technology selection for SCIX.« less

Oral administration of Lentinus edodes β-glucans ameliorates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice via MAPK-Elk-1 and MAPK-PPARγ pathways.

PubMed

Shi, Limin; Lin, Qinlu; Yang, Tao; Nie, Ying; Li, Xinhua; Liu, Bo; Shen, Junjun; Liang, Ying; Tang, Yiping; Luo, Feijun

2016-11-09

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of β-glucans from Lentinus edodes, and its molecular mechanism, the dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced colitis model of mice and the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell inflammation model were used in this study. 40 ICR male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control, DSS (DSS treated only), DSS + low-βGs (500 mg kg -1 d -1 ) and DSS + high-βGs (1000 mg kg -1 d -1 ). The body weight of the mice with Lentinus edodes β-glucan supplementation increased significantly compared to the DSS group and the disease activity index (DAI) was improved in both βG-treated groups. Compared with the DSS group, histopathological analysis showed that the infiltration of inflammatory cells of both βG-treated groups decreased significantly in colonic tissues. Furthermore, oral administration of β-glucans decreases the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inhibits the expression of iNOS and several inflammatory factors: TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 as well as nitric oxide (NO) of the colonic tissues. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is closely related to the expression of pro-inflammatory factors. In the DSS-induced colitis model and the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell model, βGs inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and blocked the phosphorylation of JNK/ERK1/2 and p38; βGs also suppress the phosphorylation of Elk-1 at Ser84 and the phosphorylation of PPARγ at Ser112. Altogether, these results suggest that Lentinus edodes βGs could inhibit the DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and decrease inflammatory factor expressions. The molecular mechanism may be involved in suppressing MAPK signaling and inactivation of Elk-1 and activation of PPARγ.

Decision Support System for Coastal Protection Layout Design (DSS4CPD) Using Genetic Algorithm (ga) and Multicriteria Analysis (mca)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinchai, Phinai; Chittaladakorn, Suwatana

This research has its objective to develop the decision support system on GIS to be used in the coastal erosion protection management. The developed model in this research is called Decision Support System for Coastal Protection Layout Design (DSS4CPD). It has created both for systematic protection and solution measures to the problem by using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) for finding the coastal structure layout optimal solution. In this research, three types of coastal structures were used as structure alternatives for the layout, which are seawall, breakwater, and groin. The coastal area in Nakornsrithammaraj, Thailand was used as the case study. The studied result has found the appropriate position of coastal structures considering the suitable rock size relied on the wave energy, and the appropriate coastal structure position based on the wave breaking line. Using GA and MCA in DSS4CPD, it found the best layout in this project. This DSS4CPD will be used by the authorized decision makers to find the most suitable erosion problem solution.

Evaluation of semiautonomous navigation assistance system for power wheelchairs with blindfolded nondisabled individuals.

PubMed

Sharma, Vinod; Simpson, Richard; Lopresti, Edmund; Schmeler, Mark

2010-01-01

Some individuals with disabilities are denied powered mobility because they lack the visual, motor, and/or cognitive skills required to safely operate a power wheelchair. The Drive-Safe System (DSS) is an add-on, distributed, shared-control navigation assistance system for power wheelchairs intended to provide safe and independent mobility to such individuals. The DSS is a human-machine system in which the user is responsible for high-level control of the wheelchair, such as choosing the destination, path planning, and basic navigation actions, while the DSS overrides unsafe maneuvers through autonomous collision avoidance, wall following, and door crossing. In this project, the DSS was clinically evaluated in a controlled laboratory with blindfolded, nondisabled individuals. Further, these individuals' performance with the DSS was compared with standard cane use for navigation assistance by people with visual impairments. Results indicate that compared with a cane, the DSS significantly reduced the number of collisions. Users rated the DSS favorably even though they took longer to navigate the same obstacle course than they would have using a standard long cane. Participants experienced less physical demand, effort, and frustration when using the DSS as compared with a cane. These findings suggest that the DSS can be a viable powered mobility solution for wheelchair users with visual impairments.

Final Report, Volume 2, The Development of Qualification Standards for Cast Duplex Stainless Steel

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

Russell, Steven, W.; Lundin, Carl, W.

2005-09-30

The scope of testing cast Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) required testing to several ASTM specifications, while formulating and conducting industry round robin tests to verify and study the reproducibility of the results. ASTM E562 (Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic manual Point Count) and ASTM A923 (Standard Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental Intermetallic Phase in Wrought Duplex Austenitic/Ferritic Stainless Steels) were the specifications utilized in conducting this work. An ASTM E562 industry round robin, ASTM A923 applicability study, ASTM A923 industry round robin, and an ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing proceduresmore » for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases were implemented. In the ASTM E562 study, 5 samples were extracted from various cast austenitic and DSS in order to have varying amounts of ferrite. Each sample was metallographically prepared by UT and sent to each of 8 participants for volume fraction of ferrite measurements. Volume fraction of ferrite was measured using manual point count per ASTM E562. FN was measured from the Feritescope® and converted to volume fraction of ferrite. Results indicate that ASTM E562 is applicable to DSS and the results have excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility. Also, volume fraction of ferrite conversions from the FN measured by the Feritescope® were similar to volume fraction of ferrite measured per ASTM E562. In the ASTM A923 applicability to cast DSS study, 8 different heat treatments were performed on 3 lots of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) castings and 1 lot of 2205 wrought DSS. The heat treatments were selected to produce a wide range of cooling rates and hold times in order to study the suitability of ASTM A923 to the response of varying amounts on intermetallic phases [117]. The test parameters were identical to those used to develop ASTM A923 for wrought DSS. Charpy V-notch impact samples were extracted from the castings and wrought DSS and tested per ASTM A923 method B (Charpy impact test). Method A (sodium hydroxide etch test) was performed on one half of a fractured Charpy V-notch impact sample and Method C (ferric chloride corrosion weight loss test) was performed on another half. Test results for the three cast lots and one wrought lot indicate that ASTM A923 is relevant for detecting intermetallic phases in cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 round robin study, five laboratories conducted ASTM A923 Methods A & C on cast DSS material and the lab-to-lab reproducibility of the data was determined. Two groups of samples were sent to the participants. Group 1 samples were tested per ASTM A923 Method A, group 2 samples were tested by ASTM A923 Method C. Testing procedures for this round robin study were identical to those used in the ASTM A923 applicability study. Results from this round robin indicate that there is excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility of ASTM A923 with respect to cast DSS and that ASTM A923 could be expanded to cover both wrought and cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing procedures for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases, Ten heats of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) in the foundry solution annealed condition were tested per ASTM A923 Methods A, B, & C. Testing of these materials per ASTM A923 was used to determine if the foundry solution anneal procedures were adequate to completely eliminate any intermetallic phases, which may have precipitated during the casting and subsequent heat treatment processes. All heats showed no sign of intermetallic phase per Method A, passed minimum Charpy impact energy requirements per Method B (> 40 ft-lbs @ -40°C (-40°F)), and showed negligible weight loss per Method C (< 10 mdd). These results indicate that the solution annealing procedure used by foundries is adequate to produce a product free from intermetallic phases.« less

Final Report, Volume 2, The Development of Qualification Standards for Cast Duplex Stainless Steel

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

Russell, Steven, W.; Lundin, Carl, D.

2005-09-30

The scope of testing cast Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) required testing to several ASTM specifications, while formulating and conducting industry round robin tests to verify and study the reproducibility of the results. ASTM E562 (Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic manual Point Count) and ASTM A923 (Standard Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental Intermetallic Phase in Wrought Duplex Austenitic/Ferritic Stainless Steels) were the specifications utilized in conducting this work. An ASTM E562 industry round robin, ASTM A923 applicability study, ASTM A923 industry round robin, and an ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing proceduresmore » for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases were implemented. In the ASTM E562 study, 5 samples were extracted from various cast austenitic and DSS in order to have varying amounts of ferrite. Each sample was metallographically prepared by UT and sent to each of 8 participants for volume fraction of ferrite measurements. Volume fraction of ferrite was measured using manual point count per ASTM E562. FN was measured from the Feritescope{reg_sign} and converted to volume fraction of ferrite. Results indicate that ASTM E562 is applicable to DSS and the results have excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility. Also, volume fraction of ferrite conversions from the FN measured by the Feritescope{reg_sign} were similar to volume fraction of ferrite measured per ASTM E562. In the ASTM A923 applicability to cast DSS study, 8 different heat treatments were performed on 3 lots of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) castings and 1 lot of 2205 wrought DSS. The heat treatments were selected to produce a wide range of cooling rates and hold times in order to study the suitability of ASTM A923 to the response of varying amounts on intermetallic phases [117]. The test parameters were identical to those used to develop ASTM A923 for wrought DSS. Charpy V-notch impact samples were extracted from the castings and wrought DSS and tested per ASTM A923 method B (Charpy impact test). Method A (sodium hydroxide etch test) was performed on one half of a fractured Charpy V-notch impact sample and Method C (ferric chloride corrosion weight loss test) was performed on another half. Test results for the three cast lots and one wrought lot indicate that ASTM A923 is relevant for detecting intermetallic phases in cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 round robin study, five laboratories conducted ASTM A923 Methods A & C on cast DSS material and the lab-to-lab reproducibility of the data was determined. Two groups of samples were sent to the participants. Group 1 samples were tested per ASTM A923 Method A, group 2 samples were tested by ASTM A923 Method C. Testing procedures for this round robin study were identical to those used in the ASTM A923 applicability study. Results from this round robin indicate that there is excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility of ASTM A923 with respect to cast DSS and that ASTM A923 could be expanded to cover both wrought and cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing procedures for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases, Ten heats of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) in the foundry solution annealed condition were tested per ASTM A923 Methods A, B, & C. Testing of these materials per ASTM A923 was used to determine if the foundry solution anneal procedures were adequate to completely eliminate any intermetallic phases, which may have precipitated during the casting and subsequent heat treatment processes. All heats showed no sign of intermetallic phase per Method A, passed minimum Charpy impact energy requirements per Method B (> 40 ft-lbs {at} -40 C (-40 F)), and showed negligible weight loss per Method C (< 10 mdd). These results indicate that the solution annealing procedure used by foundries is adequate to produce a product free from intermetallic phases.« less

Stochastic dynamics and combinatorial optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ovchinnikov, Igor V.; Wang, Kang L.

2017-11-01

Natural dynamics is often dominated by sudden nonlinear processes such as neuroavalanches, gamma-ray bursts, solar flares, etc., that exhibit scale-free statistics much in the spirit of the logarithmic Ritcher scale for earthquake magnitudes. On phase diagrams, stochastic dynamical systems (DSs) exhibiting this type of dynamics belong to the finite-width phase (N-phase for brevity) that precedes ordinary chaotic behavior and that is known under such names as noise-induced chaos, self-organized criticality, dynamical complexity, etc. Within the recently proposed supersymmetric theory of stochastic dynamics, the N-phase can be roughly interpreted as the noise-induced “overlap” between integrable and chaotic deterministic dynamics. As a result, the N-phase dynamics inherits the properties of the both. Here, we analyze this unique set of properties and conclude that the N-phase DSs must naturally be the most efficient optimizers: on one hand, N-phase DSs have integrable flows with well-defined attractors that can be associated with candidate solutions and, on the other hand, the noise-induced attractor-to-attractor dynamics in the N-phase is effectively chaotic or aperiodic so that a DS must avoid revisiting solutions/attractors thus accelerating the search for the best solution. Based on this understanding, we propose a method for stochastic dynamical optimization using the N-phase DSs. This method can be viewed as a hybrid of the simulated and chaotic annealing methods. Our proposition can result in a new generation of hardware devices for efficient solution of various search and/or combinatorial optimization problems.

A decision support system for adaptive real-time management ofseasonal wetlands in California

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

Quinn, Nigel W.T.; Hanna, W. Mark

This paper describes the development of a comprehensive flow and salinity monitoring system and application of a decision support system (DSS) to improve management of seasonal wetlands in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates salinity discharges from non-point sources to the San Joaquin River using a procedure known as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to allocate the assimilative capacity of the River for salt among watershed sources. Management of wetland sources of salt load will require the development of monitoring systems, more integrative management strategies and coordination with other entities. To obtain local cooperationmore » the Grassland Water District, whose primary function is to supply surface water to private duck clubs and managed wetlands, needs to communicate to local landowners the likely impacts of salinity regulation on the long term health and function of wildfowl habitat. The project described in this paper will also provide this information. The models that form the backbone of the DSS develop salinity balances at both a regional and local scale. The regional scale concentrates on deliveries to and exports from the Grasland Water District while the local scale focuses on an individual wetland unit where more intensive monitoring is being conducted. The design of the DSS is constrained to meet the needs of busy wetland managers and is being designed from the bottom up utilizing tools and procedures familiar to these individuals.« less

The logic of selecting an appropriate map projection in a Decision Support System (DSS)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finn, Michael P.; Usery, E. Lynn; Woodard, Laura N.; Yamamoto, Kristina H.

2017-01-01

There are undeniable practical consequences to consider when choosing an appropriate map projection for a specific region. The surface of a globe covered by global, continental, and regional maps are so singular that each type distinctively affects the amount of distortion incurred during a projection transformation because of the an assortment of effects caused by distance, direction, scale , and area. A Decision Support System (DSS) for Map Projections of Small Scale Data was previously developed to help select an appropriate projection. This paper reports on a tutorial to accompany that DSS. The DSS poses questions interactively, allowing the user to decide on the parameters, which in turn determines the logic path to a solution. The objective of including a tutorial to accompany the DSS is achieved by visually representing the path of logic that is taken to a recommended map projection derived from the parameters the user selects. The tutorial informs the DSS user about the pedigree of the projection and provides a basic explanation of the specific projection design. This information is provided by informational pop-ups and other aids.

Drug shortages in Israel: regulatory perspectives, challenges and solutions.

PubMed

Schwartzberg, Eyal; Ainbinder, Denize; Vishkauzan, Alla; Gamzu, Ronni

2017-01-01

Pharmaceutical drug shortages (DSs) are a global problem which presents challenges to countries around the world. Shortages of pharmaceutical products may have a direct detrimental impact on public health and patients' wellbeing by causing delayed, or even lack of, treatment. Moreover, DSs may force both patients and caregivers to use unfamiliar drugs, which could lead to medication errors. The objective of our study was to analyze DSs in Israel during the years 2013-2015, assessing their etiology and exploring the steps taken for their mitigation and prevention. The database of the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) on drug shortages contains all the DSs recorded in Israel since 2013, detailing the cause of the DS, its duration, steps taken in its' management and the availability of generic or therapeutic alternatives. Selected examples of DSs from the database are described in this paper in order to identify the causes of DSs, the scope of the problem and possible solutions. Additionally, we have reviewed the recent activities performed by European Medicine Agency (EMA) and the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in their efforts to minimize this problem. Several factors contributing towards DSs in Israel were identified, including quality problems in both the final drug product and in the raw materials, upgrades and improvements of the manufacturing process required by the MoH, manufacturing by a sole supplier, dramatic price decrease in off-patent medications causing the manufacturer to discontinue the distribution of the product in Israel, just-in-time inventory control, and others. One of the most important steps in managing drug shortages was identified to be early notification of the shortage by the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) to the MoH. In 2013, the Israeli MoH updated the regulation on drug shortages instructing MAHs on their obligation of early notification to the MoH. Furthermore, various steps dealing with marketing withdrawal of drugs and temporary drug shortages are being implemented in Israel, such as suspending any further reductions in drug prices below 17 new Israeli shekels, instructing all MAHs to maintain no less than 1 month supply of all registered and non-registered drugs in Israel and allowing an expedited registration pathway for well-established use/grandfather drugs. Drug shortages pose significant public health hazards worldwide. Early notification to the MoH and open dialog with MAHs are essential for managing DSs and mitigating their impact. Despite the efforts carried out by health regulatory authorities worldwide, DSs still pose a significant threat to public health.

Building a Foreign Military Sales Construction Delivery Strategy Decision Support System

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

DSS, formulates it into a computer model and produces solutions using information and expert heuristics. Using the Expert Systeic Process to Build a DSS...computer model . There are five stages in the development of an expert system. They are: 1) Identify and characterize the important aspects of the problem...and Steven A. Hidreth. U.S. Security Assistance: The Political Process. Massachusetts: Heath and Company, 1985. 19. Guirguis , Amir A., Program

Estimate of procession and polar motion errors from planetary encounter station location solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pease, G. E.

1978-01-01

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Deep Space Station (DSS) location solutions based on two JPL planetary ephemerides, DE 84 and DE 96, at eight planetary encounters were used to obtain weighted least squares estimates of precession and polar motion errors. The solution for precession error in right ascension yields a value of 0.3 X 10 to the minus 5 power plus or minus 0.8 X 10 to the minus 6 power deg/year. This maps to a right ascension error of 1.3 X 10 to the minus 5 power plus or minus 0.4 X 10 to the minus 5 power deg at the first Voyager 1979 Jupiter encounter if the current JPL DSS location set is used. Solutions for precession and polar motion using station locations based on DE 84 agree well with the solution using station locations referenced to DE 96. The precession solution removes the apparent drift in station longitude and spin axis distance estimates, while the encounter polar motion solutions consistently decrease the scatter in station spin axis distance estimates.

Performance testing of collision-avoidance system for power wheelchairs.

PubMed

Lopresti, Edmund F; Sharma, Vinod; Simpson, Richard C; Mostowy, L Casimir

2011-01-01

The Drive-Safe System (DSS) is a collision-avoidance system for power wheelchairs designed to support people with mobility impairments who also have visual, upper-limb, or cognitive impairments. The DSS uses a distributed approach to provide an add-on, shared-control, navigation-assistance solution. In this project, the DSS was tested for engineering goals such as sensor coverage, maximum safe speed, maximum detection distance, and power consumption while the wheelchair was stationary or driven by an investigator. Results indicate that the DSS provided uniform, reliable sensor coverage around the wheelchair; detected obstacles as small as 3.2 mm at distances of at least 1.6 m; and attained a maximum safe speed of 4.2 km/h. The DSS can drive reliably as close as 15.2 cm from a wall, traverse doorways as narrow as 81.3 cm without interrupting forward movement, and reduce wheelchair battery life by only 3%. These results have implications for a practical system to support safe, independent mobility for veterans who acquire multiple disabilities during Active Duty or later in life. These tests indicate that a system utilizing relatively low cost ultrasound, infrared, and force sensors can effectively detect obstacles in the vicinity of a wheelchair.

Factors of accepting pain management decision support systems by nurse anesthetists

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Pain management is a critical but complex issue for the relief of acute pain, particularly for postoperative pain and severe pain in cancer patients. It also plays important roles in promoting quality of care. The introduction of pain management decision support systems (PM-DSS) is considered a potential solution for addressing the complex problems encountered in pain management. This study aims to investigate factors affecting acceptance of PM-DSS from a nurse anesthetist perspective. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from nurse anesthetists in a case hospital. A total of 113 questionnaires were distributed, and 101 complete copies were returned, indicating a valid response rate of 89.3%. Collected data were analyzed by structure equation modeling using the partial least square tool. Results The results show that perceived information quality (γ=.451, p<.001), computer self-efficacy (γ=.315, p<.01), and organizational structure (γ=.210, p<.05), both significantly impact nurse anesthetists’ perceived usefulness of PM-DSS. Information quality (γ=.267, p<.05) significantly impacts nurse anesthetists’ perceptions of PM-DSS ease of use. Furthermore, both perceived ease of use (β=.436, p<.001, R2=.487) and perceived usefulness (β=.443, p<.001, R2=.646) significantly affected nurse anesthetists’ PM-DSS acceptance (R2=.640). Thus, the critical role of information quality in the development of clinical decision support system is demonstrated. Conclusions The findings of this study enable hospital managers to understand the important considerations for nurse anesthetists in accepting PM-DSS, particularly for the issues related to the improvement of information quality, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the system. In addition, the results also provide useful suggestions for designers and implementers of PM-DSS in improving system development. PMID:23360305

Repeated Oral Exposure to N ε-Carboxymethyllysine, a Maillard Reaction Product, Alleviates Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Colitic Mice.

PubMed

ALJahdali, Nesreen; Gadonna-Widehem, Pascale; Delayre-Orthez, Carine; Marier, David; Garnier, Benjamin; Carbonero, Franck; Anton, Pauline M

2017-12-01

Diet is suggested to participate in the etiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Repeated exposure to Maillard reaction products (MRPs), molecules resulting from reduction reactions between amino acids and sugars during food heating, has been reported to be either potentially detrimental or beneficial to health. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of repeated oral ingestion of N ε -carboxymethyllysine (CML), an advanced MRP, on the onset of two models of experimental IBD and on the gut microbiota composition of mice. Mice received either saline (control) or N ε -carboxymethyllysine daily for 21 days. For the last week of treatment, each group was split into subgroups, receiving dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) or trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce colitis. Intensity of inflammation was quantified, and cecal microbiota characterized by bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) amplicon sequencing. Daily oral administration of N ε -carboxymethyllysine did not induce intestinal inflammation and had limited impact on gut microbiota composition (Bacteroidaceae increase, Lachnospiraceae decrease). DSS and TNBS administration resulted in expected moderate experimental colitis with a shift of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and a significant Proteobacteria increase but with distinct profiles: different Proteobacteria taxa for DSS, but mainly Enterobacteriaceae for TNBS. While N ε -carboxymethyllysine exposure failed to prevent the inflammatory response, it allowed maintenance of healthy gut microbiota profiles in mice treated with DSS (but not TNBS). Repeated oral exposure to CML limits dysbiosis in experimental colitis. IBD patients may modulate their microbiota profile by regulating the level and type of dietary MRP consumption.

Assessment of the Impact of a New Guanidine Suppressor In NGS on F/H Laboratory Analyses For DWPF and Saltstone MCU Transfers

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

Bannochie, C. J.

2013-04-29

Implementation of the Next Generation Solvent (NGS) in the Modular Caustic-Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) will now proceed with a new suppressor compound, 1,2,3-tris(3,7-dimethyloctyl)guanidine (TiDG), replacing the originally planned suppressor for NGS, 1,3-dicyclohexyl-2-(11-methyldodecyl) guanidine (DCiTG). The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was tasked with evaluating the potential impact to F/H Laboratory analyses supporting the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) used to qualify transfers of MCU Strip Effluent (SE) into the facility and the Saltstone WAC used to qualify transfers of Tank 50 containing Decontaminated Salt Solution (DSS) from MCU into Saltstone. This assigned scope is coveredmore » by a Task Technical and Quality Assurance Plan (TTQAP). Previous impact evaluations were conducted when the DCiTG suppressor was planned for NGS and concluded that there was no impact to either the determination of MCU SE pH nor the analysis of Isopar® L carryover in the MCU SE and DSS streams. SRNL reported on this series of cross-check studies between the SRNL and F/H Laboratories. The change in suppressor from DCiTG to TiDG in the NGS should not impact the measurement of Isopar® L or pH in SE or DSS necessary to satisfy DWPF and Saltstone WAC (Tank 50) criteria, respectively. A statistical study of the low bias observed in Isopar® L measurements in both SRNL and F/H Laboratories may be necessary now that the final NGS composition is fixed in order to quantify the low bias so that a proper correction can be applied to measurements critical to the DWPF and Saltstone WACs. Depending upon the final DWPF WAC requirement put in place for SE pH, it could become necessary to implement an alternative ICP-AES measurement of boron. The current blended solvent system testing in SRNL should address any impacts to Isopar® L carryover into either the DSS or the SE. It is recommended that SRNL monitor the current blended solvent work underway with simulants in SRNL as well as any DWPF CPC testing done with the new SE stream to ascertain whether any need develops that could result in modification of any currently planned F/H Laboratory testing protocols.« less

Integrated river basin management, ICT and DSS: Challenges and needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gourbesville, Philippe

River basin management is a complex task. Therefore, instruments that help to assess the present situation and assist in the development and evaluation of solutions may be important. Since several decades and after the implementation of the first compulsory legal environments and institutional organizations for IWRM and IRBM, the need for an efficient support in the different decision-making processes has emerged. After several experiences, the demonstration of the interest of ICT and DSS systems is obvious in the water resources management domain. However and until now, most of the efforts have been focused on the theoretical aspects with very few integrations into operational approaches. The implementation of the new European water framework directive (2000) represents today one key example from which some lessons can be learned in the way of definition and use of ICT and DSS systems for IWRM and IRBM. The paper presents the concepts available through ICT and DSS. The example of the WFD is used to underline the challenges and the difficulties for the elaboration of new tools - DSSs - which could be able to answer of the challenges of IWRM and IRBM.

Prophylactic Oral Administration of Magnesium Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice through a Decrease of Colonic Accumulation of P2X7 Receptor-Expressing Mast Cells.

PubMed

Ohbori, Kenshi; Fujiwara, Makiko; Ohishi, Akihiro; Nishida, Kentaro; Uozumi, Yoshinobu; Nagasawa, Kazuki

2017-01-01

The number of patients with colitis has been increasing year by year. Recently, intestinal inflammation, as one of the factors for its onset, has been demonstrated to be induced by P2X7 receptor-mediated activation of colonic immune cells such as mast cells. Activation of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is known to be inhibited by divalent metal cations such as magnesium, but whether or not magnesium administration prevents/relieves colitis is unknown so far. Here, we report that oral (per os (p.o.)) administration of MgCl 2 and ingestion of commercially available magnesium-rich mineral hard water relieves dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Colitis was induced through ingestion of a 3% (w/v) DSS solution ad libitum for 10 d. Brilliant blue G (BBG, a P2X7R antagonist), MgCl 2 or magnesium-rich mineral hard water was administered p.o. to mice via gastric intubation once a day or ad libitum from a day before DSS administration for 11 times or 11 d, respectively. DSS-treated mice exhibited a low disease activity index, a short colon and a high histological score compared to in control mice. As BBG (250 mg/kg, p.o.), administration of a MgCl 2 solution (100 or 500 mg/kg, p.o.) and ad libitum ingestion of the magnesium-rich mineral hard water (212 ppm as magnesium) partially, but significantly, attenuated the severity of colitis by decreasing the accumulation of P2X7R-immunopositive mast cells in the colon. Therefore, prophylactic p.o. administration/ingestion of magnesium is considered to be partially effective to protect mice against DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting P2X7R-mediated activation/accumulation of colonic mast cells.

A comparison of representations for discrete multi-criteria decision problems☆

PubMed Central

Gettinger, Johannes; Kiesling, Elmar; Stummer, Christian; Vetschera, Rudolf

2013-01-01

Discrete multi-criteria decision problems with numerous Pareto-efficient solution candidates place a significant cognitive burden on the decision maker. An interactive, aspiration-based search process that iteratively progresses toward the most preferred solution can alleviate this task. In this paper, we study three ways of representing such problems in a DSS, and compare them in a laboratory experiment using subjective and objective measures of the decision process as well as solution quality and problem understanding. In addition to an immediate user evaluation, we performed a re-evaluation several weeks later. Furthermore, we consider several levels of problem complexity and user characteristics. Results indicate that different problem representations have a considerable influence on search behavior, although long-term consistency appears to remain unaffected. We also found interesting discrepancies between subjective evaluations and objective measures. Conclusions from our experiments can help designers of DSS for large multi-criteria decision problems to fit problem representations to the goals of their system and the specific task at hand. PMID:24882912

Austenitic-ferritic stainless steels: A state-of-the-art review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voronenko, B. I.

1997-10-01

Austenitic-ferritic stainless steels, more commonly known as duplex stainless steels, or DSS for short, consist of two basic phases. One is austenite, A, and the other is ferrite, F, present in about equal amounts (but not less than 30% each). The two phases owe their corrosion resistance to the high chromium content. Compared to austenitic stainless steels, ASS, they are stronger (without sacrificing ductility), resist corrosion better, and cost less due to their relatively low nickel content. DSS can be used in an environment where standard ASS are not durable enough, such as chloride solutions (ships, petrochemical plant, etc.). Due to their low nickel content and the presence of nickel, DSS have good weldability. However, they have a limited service temperature range (from -40 to 300°) because heating may cause them to give up objectionable excess phases and lower the threshold of cold brittleness in the heat-affected zone of welded joints. State-of-the art DSS are alloyed with nitrogen to stabilize their austenite, and in this respect the nitrogen does the job of nickel. Also, nitrogen enhances the strength and resistance to pitting and improves the structure of welds.

Identification of salt-tolerant QTLs with strong genetic background effect using two sets of reciprocal introgression lines in rice.

PubMed

Cheng, Lirui; Wang, Yun; Meng, Lijun; Hu, Xia; Cui, Yanru; Sun, Yong; Zhu, Linghua; Ali, Jauhar; Xu, Jianlong; Li, Zhikang

2012-01-01

Effect of genetic background on detection of quantitative trait locus (QTL) governing salinity tolerance (ST) was studied using two sets of reciprocal introgression lines (ILs) derived from a cross between a moderately salinity tolerant japonica variety, Xiushui09 from China, and a drought tolerant but salinity susceptible indica breeding line, IR2061-520-6-9 from the Philippines. Salt toxicity symptoms (SST) on leaves, days to seedling survival (DSS), and sodium and potassium uptake by shoots were measured under salinity stress of 140 mmol/L of NaCl. A total of 47 QTLs, including 26 main-effect QTLs (M-QTLs) and 21 epistatic QTLs (E-QTLs), were identified from the two sets of reciprocal ILs. Among the 26 M-QTLs, only four (15.4%) were shared in the reciprocal backgrounds while no shared E-QTLs were detected, indicating that ST QTLs, especially E-QTLs, were very specific to the genetic background. Further, 78.6% of the M-QTLs for SST and DSS identified in the reciprocal ILs were also detected in the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the same cross, which clearly brings out the background effect on ST QTL detection and its utilization in ST breeding. The detection of ILs with various levels of pyramiding of nonallelic M-QTL alleles for ST from Xiushui09 into IR2061-520-6-9 allowed us to further improve the ST in rice.

Dynamically controlled crystallization method and apparatus and crystals obtained thereby

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnowitz, Leonard (Inventor); Steinberg, Emanuel (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling the crystallization of proteins including a crystallization chamber or chambers for holding a protein in a salt solution, one or more salt solution chambers, two communication passages respectively coupling the crystallization chamber with each of the salt solution chambers, and transfer mechanisms configured to respectively transfer salt solution between each of the salt solution chambers and the crystallization chamber. The transfer mechanisms are interlocked to maintain the volume of salt solution in the crystallization chamber substantially constant. Salt solution of different concentrations is transferred into and out of the crystallization chamber to adjust the salt concentration in the crystallization chamber to achieve precise control of the crystallization process.

Hydration patterns and salting effects in sodium chloride solution.

PubMed

Li, Weifeng; Mu, Yuguang

2011-10-07

The salting effects of 2M sodium chloride electrolyte are studied based on a series of model solutes with properties ranging from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Generally, hydrophobic solutes will be salted out and hydrophilic solutes will be salted in by NaCl solution. The solvation free energy changes are highly correlated with Kirkwood-Buff integrals. The underlying mechanism resorts to the preferential binding of ions and water to solutes. Our results demonstrate that the salting effect not only depends on the salt's position in Hofmeister series, but also on the solutes' specifics. Taking the hydration free energies of solutes and ions as independent variables, a schematic diagram of salting effects is suggested. The resolved multifaceted salting effects rely on the sensitive balance of the tripartite interaction among solutes, ions, and water. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Benchmarking Collaborative Inter and Intra-agency Enhancements to a Decision Support System for Global Crop Production Assessments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchinson, C. F.; van Leeuwen, W.; Doorn, B.; Drake, S.; Haithcoat, T.; Kaupp, V.; Likholetov, V.; Sheffner, E.; Tralli, D.

2008-12-01

The Office of Global Analysis/ International Production Assessment Branch (IGA/IPA; formerly the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division (PECAD)), of the United States Department of Agriculture - Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) has been assimilates data and information products from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) into its operational decision support system (DSS). The intent is to improve monthly estimates of global production of selected agricultural commodities that are provided to the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB). This research builds on the intermittent collaboration between USDA and NASA in remote sensing of agriculture since 1974. The goal of the research was to develop an approach to measure changes in system performance after the assimilation of NASA products. An important first step was to develop a baseline characterization of the DSS, the working environment and its constraints including the identification of issues and potential solutions. Both qualitative and quantitative information were gathered to benchmark IGA/IPA's DSS using data from questionnaires and interviews. An interactive risk management tool developed for NASA mission architecture design (DDP - Defect Detection and Prevention) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of various Mitigation options against potential Risks, with quantified attainment of Objectives being the most important benchmarking indicator to examine the effectiveness of the assimilation of NASA products into IGA/IPA's DSS. The collaborative benchmarking activities provided not only feedback about the benefits of DSS enhancement to USDA/FAS and NASA, but facilitated communication among DSS users, developers, and USDA management that helped to suggest future avenues for system development as well as improved intra- and interagency collaboration. From this research emerged a model for benchmarking DSSs that (1) promotes continuity and synergy within and between agencies, (2) accommodates scientific, operational and architectural dynamics, and (3) facilitates transfer of knowledge among researchers, management, and decision makers, as well as among decision making agencies.

Priority Determination of Underwater Tourism Site Development in Gorontalo Province using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohandi, M.; Tuloli, M. Y.; Jassin, R. T.

2018-02-01

This research aims to determine the development of priority of underwater tourism in Gorontalo province using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method which is one of DSS methods applying Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM). This method used 5 criteria and 28 alternatives to determine the best priority of underwater tourism site development in Gorontalo province. Based on the AHP calculation it appeared that the best priority development of underwater tourism site is Pulau Cinta whose total AHP score is 0.489 or 48.9%. This DSS produced a reliable result, faster solution, time-saving, and low cost for the decision makers to obtain the best underwater tourism site to be developed.

Method for preparing salt solutions having desired properties

DOEpatents

Ally, Moonis R.; Braunstein, Jerry

1994-01-01

The specification discloses a method for preparing salt solutions which exhibit desired thermodynamic properties. The method enables prediction of the value of the thermodynamic properties for single and multiple salt solutions over a wide range of conditions from activity data and constants which are independent of concentration and temperature. A particular application of the invention is in the control of salt solutions in a process to provide a salt solution which exhibits the desired properties.

Omega 3 fatty acids supplementation has an ameliorative effect in experimental ulcerative colitis despite increased colonic neutrophil infiltration.

PubMed

Varnalidis, Ioannis; Ioannidis, Orestis; Karamanavi, Elisavet; Ampas, Zafeiris; Poutahidis, Theofilos; Taitzoglou, Ioannis; Paraskevas, George; Botsios, Dimitrios

2011-10-01

omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) colitis in rats appears to mimic nearly all of the morphological characteristics and lesion distributions of ulcerative colitis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of omega 3 fatty acids in the treatment of experimental ulcerative colitis. thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned to group A or group B receiving 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water for eight days. For the next eight days post-DSS, group A animals received tap-water, and group B animals were fed a nutritional solution containing high levels of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ProSure®, Abbott Laboratories, Zwolle, Netherlands) once per day, administrated with a orogastric feeding tube. animals fed an omega 3 rich diet exhibited a statistically significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, compared to animals drinking tap water, and a trend towards histopathological and clinical improvement, with the administration of omega 3 fatty acids ameliorating epithelial erosion by day 8 post-DSS, but no statistically significant difference was observed between group A and group B animals at 4 or 8 days post-DSS. Also, a statistically significant increase in neutrophil infiltration was observed, as depicted by myelohyperoxidase activity. our findings support a positive role of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis despite the increased colonic neutrophil infiltration. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the role of increased neutrophils in colonic mucosa.

Raman spectroscopic study of the conformation of dicarboxylic acid salts in aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukushima, Kunio; Watanabe, Toshiaki; Umemura, Matome

1986-08-01

It is already known that the molecules of long chain monocarboxylic acid salts have a tendency to form micelles in aqueous solutions, the molecular chain taking the all- trans zigzag structure. However it is considered difficult for dicarboxylic acid salts to adopt the same structure as the monocarboxylic acid salts as they have two carboxyl groups, one on each end of the molecular chain. Therefore, a special structure is expected to exist for dicarboxylic acid salts in aqueous solution. In order to examine this, Raman spectra of suberic acid salt and azelaic acid salt in aqueous solution were measured and the normal vibrational calculation carried out, showing that dicarboxylic acid salts have a helical structure in aqueous solution.

MEASUREMENT OF WASTE LOADING IN SALTSTONE

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

Harbour, J; Vickie Williams, V

2008-07-18

One of the goals of the Saltstone variability study is to identify the operational and compositional variables that control or influence the important processing and performance properties of Saltstone grout mixtures. One of those properties of importance is the Waste Loading (WL) of the decontaminated salt solution (DSS) in the Saltstone waste form. Waste loading is a measure of the amount of waste that can be incorporated within a waste form. The value of the Saltstone waste loading ultimately determines the number of vaults that will be required to disposition all of the DSS. In this report, the waste loadingmore » is defined as the volume in milliliters of DSS per liter of Saltstone waste form. The two most important parameters that determine waste loading for Saltstone are water to cementitious material (w/cm) ratio and the cured grout density. Data are provided that show the dependence of waste loading on the w/cm ratio for a fixed DSS composition using the current premix material (45% Blast Furnace Slag (BFS), 45% Fly Ash (FA) and 10% Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)). The impact of cured grout density on waste loading was also demonstrated. Mixes (at 0.60 w/cm) made with a Modular Caustic side extraction Unit (MCU) simulant and either OPC or BFS have higher cured grout densities than mixes made with premix and increase the WL to 709 mL/L for the OPC mix and 689 mL/L for the BFS mix versus the value of 653 mL/L for MCU in premix at 0.60 w/cm ratio. Bleed liquid reduces the waste loading and lowers the effective w/cm ratio of Saltstone. A method is presented (and will be used in future tasks) for correcting the waste loading and the w/cm ratio of the as-batched mixes in those cases where bleed liquid is present. For example, the Deliquification, Dissolution and Adjustment (DDA) mix at an as-batched 0.60 w/cm ratio, when corrected for % bleed, gives a mix with a 0.55 w/cm ratio and a WL that has been reduced from 662 to 625 mL/L. An example is provided that demonstrated the quantitative impact of WL on the number of cells (each Saltstone vault contains two cells) required to disposition all of the {approx}100 million gallons of DSS available in the tanks. This calculation revealed that the number of cells required over the range of 0.48 to 0.62 w/cm ratio (equivalent to a WL range of 591 to 666 mL/L) varies from 65 to 57 cells (33 to 29 vaults). The intent of this oversimplified example was to show the range of variation in vaults expected due to w/cm ratio rather than to estimate the actual number of vaults required. There is a tradeoff between the waste loading and the processing and performance properties of Saltstone. The performance properties improve in general as the w/cm ratio decreases whereas the waste loading is reduced at lower w/cm ratios resulting in a larger number of Saltstone vaults. The final performance and processing requirements of Saltstone will determine the maximum waste loading achievable.« less

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

Klein, Steven Karl; Day, Christy M.; Determan, John C.

LANL has developed a process to generate a progressive family of system models for a fissile solution system. This family includes a dynamic system simulation comprised of coupled nonlinear differential equations describing the time evolution of the system. Neutron kinetics, radiolytic gas generation and transport, and core thermal hydraulics are included in the DSS. Extensions to explicit operation of cooling loops and radiolytic gas handling are embedded in these systems as is a stability model. The DSS may then be converted to an implementation in Visual Studio to provide a design team the ability to rapidly estimate system performance impactsmore » from a variety of design decisions. This provides a method to assist in optimization of the system design. Once design has been generated in some detail the C++ version of the system model may then be implemented in a LabVIEW user interface to evaluate operator controls and instrumentation and operator recognition and response to off-normal events. Taken as a set of system models the DSS, Visual Studio, and LabVIEW progression provides a comprehensive set of design support tools.« less

An argument for the use of multiple segment stents in curved arteries.

PubMed

Kasiri, Saeid; Kelly, Daniel J

2011-08-01

Stenting of curved arteries is generally perceived to be more challenging than straight vessels. Conceptually implanting multiple shorter stents rather than a single longer stent into such a curved artery represents a promising concept, but little is known about the impact of such an approach. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using a multiple segment stent rather than a single long stent to dilate a curved artery using the finite element method. A double segment stent (DSS) and a single segment stent (SSS) were modeled. The stents were compared when expanded into a model of a curved artery. The model predicts that the DSS provides higher flexibility, more conformity, and lower recoil in comparison to the SSS. The volume of arterial tissue experiencing high levels of stress due to stent implantation is also reduced for the DSS. It is suggested that a multiple segment stenting system is a potential solution to the problem of higher rates of in-stent restenosis in curved arteries and mechanically challenging environments.

Water purification using organic salts

DOEpatents

Currier, Robert P.

2004-11-23

Water purification using organic salts. Feed water is mixed with at least one organic salt at a temperature sufficiently low to form organic salt hydrate crystals and brine. The crystals are separated from the brine, rinsed, and melted to form an aqueous solution of organic salt. Some of the water is removed from the aqueous organic salt solution. The purified water is collected, and the remaining more concentrated aqueous organic salt solution is reused.

Enhanced Vehicle Beddown Approximations for the Improved Theater Distribution Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

processed utilizing a heuristic routing and scheduling procedure the authors called the Airlift Planning Algorithm ( APA ). The linear programming model...LINGO 13 environment. The model is then solved by LINGO 13 and solution data is passed back to the Excel environment in a readable format . All original...DSS is relatively unchanged when solutions to the ITDM are referenced for comparison testing. Readers are encouraged to see Appendix I for ITDM VBA

Simple Educational Tool for Digital Speckle Shearography

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spagnolo, Giuseppe Schirripa; Martocchia, Andrea; Papalillo, Donato; Cozzella, Lorenzo

2012-01-01

In this study, an educational tool has been prepared for obtaining short-term and more economic training on digital speckle shearography (DSS). Shearography non-destructive testing (NDT) has gained wide acceptance over the last decade, providing a number of important and exciting inspection solutions in aerospace, electronics and medical device…

Brown rice and retrograded brown rice alleviate inflammatory response in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice.

PubMed

Praengam, Kemika; Sahasakul, Yuraporn; Kupradinun, Piengchai; Sakarin, Siriwan; Sanitchua, Wanwisa; Rungsipipat, Anudep; Rattanapinyopituk, Kasem; Angkasekwinai, Pornpimon; Changsri, Khaimuk; Mhuantong, Wuttichai; Tangphatsornruang, Sithichoke; Tuntipopipat, Siriporn

2017-12-13

The present study was aimed to investigate the impacts of brown rice (BR) and retrograded brown rice (R-BR) consumption on colonic health and gut microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis mice. Thirty two female C57Bl/6Mlac mice were fed with modified AIN 93G diets by replacing cornstarch in the original composition with white rice (WR), BR and R-BR powder. The mice were divided into 4 groups and fed with the following experimental diets for 4 weeks: (1) negative control (WR: diet with WR), (2) positive control (DSS_WR: DSS and diet with WR), (3) DSS_BR: DSS and diet with BR, and (4) DSS_R-BR: DSS and diet with R-BR. BR and R-BR had a greater content of fat, dietary fiber, GABA, γ-oryzanol, γ-tocotrienol, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid than WR (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the level of these bioactive compounds was noted between BR and R-BR. Nevertheless, R-BR had a 1.8 fold resistant starch (RS) content of BR (p < 0.05). The DSS_BR and DSS_R-BR groups showed a lower ratio of colonic weight to length, and a lower content of iNOS, COX-2, MPO, IL-6 and INF-γ in colonic homogenates than the DSS_WR group. However, the DSS treated mice fed with the R-BR diet had significantly milder histopathological inflammatory injury and lower colonic iNOS expression than the DSS_BR and DSS_WR groups. The percentage of mesenteric regulatory T cells significantly increased in the DSS_R-BR group compared to that in the DSS_WR group. The DSS treated mice fed with the R-BR diet showed a significant increase in cecal bacterial diversity and abundance of genera Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Dorea, Coprococcus and Dehalobacterium but a significant decrease in pathogenic bacteria including Bacteroides and Enterococcus compared to the DSS_WR group. Thus, the present data indicate that BR and R-BR ameliorate colonic inflammation in experimental colitis induced by DSS in mice by suppressing inflammatory mediators and modulating regulatory T cell responses as well as bacterial diversity in the cecum.

One-step microwave synthesis of photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles from sodium dextran sulfate water solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kokorina, Alina A.; Goryacheva, Irina Y.; Sapelkin, Andrei V.; Sukhorukov, Gleb B.

2018-04-01

Photoluminescent (PL) carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have been synthesized by one-step microwave irradiation from water solution of sodium dextran sulfate (DSS) as the sole carbon source. Microwave (MW) method is very simple and cheap and it provides fast synthesis of CNPs. We have varied synthesis time for obtaining high luminescent CNPs. The synthesized CNPs exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescent. Final CNPs water solution has a blue- green luminescence. CNPs have low cytotoxicity, good photostability and can be potentially suitable candidates for bioimaging, analysis or analytical tests.

Process for separating dissolved solids from a liquid using an anti-solvent and multiple effect evaporators

DOEpatents

Daniels, Edward J.; Jody, Bassam J.; Bonsignore, Patrick V.

1994-01-01

A process and system for treating aluminum salt cake containing water soluble halide salts by contacting the salt cake with water to dissolve water soluble halide salts forming a saturated brine solution. Transporting a portion of about 25% of the saturated brine solution to a reactor and introducing into the saturated brine solution at least an equal volume of a water-miscible low-boiling organic material such as acetone to precipitate a portion of the dissolved halide salts forming a three-phase mixture of an aqueous-organic-salt solution phase and a precipitated salt phase and an organic rich phase. The precipitated salt phase is separated from the other phases and the organic rich phase is recycled to the reactor. The remainder of the saturated brine solution is sent to a multiple effect evaporator having a plurality of stages with the last stage thereof producing low grade steam which is used to boil off the organic portion of the solution which is recycled.

Process for separating dissolved solids from a liquid using an anti-solvent and multiple effect evaporators

DOEpatents

Daniels, E.J.; Jody, B.J.; Bonsignore, P.V.

1994-07-19

A process and system are disclosed for treating aluminum salt cake containing water soluble halide salts by contacting the salt cake with water to dissolve water soluble halide salts forming a saturated brine solution. Transporting a portion of about 25% of the saturated brine solution to a reactor and introducing into the saturated brine solution at least an equal volume of a water-miscible low-boiling organic material such as acetone to precipitate a portion of the dissolved halide salts forming a three-phase mixture of an aqueous-organic-salt solution phase and a precipitated salt phase and an organic rich phase. The precipitated salt phase is separated from the other phases and the organic rich phase is recycled to the reactor. The remainder of the saturated brine solution is sent to a multiple effect evaporator having a plurality of stages with the last stage thereof producing low grade steam which is used to boil off the organic portion of the solution which is recycled. 3 figs.

Structure-activity relationship for hydrophobic salts as viscosity-lowering excipients for concentrated solutions of monoclonal antibodies.

PubMed

Guo, Zheng; Chen, Alvin; Nassar, Roger A; Helk, Bernhard; Mueller, Claudia; Tang, Yu; Gupta, Kapil; Klibanov, Alexander M

2012-11-01

To discover, elucidate the structure-activity relationship (SAR), and explore the mechanism of action of excipients able to drastically lower the viscosities of concentrated aqueous solutions of humanized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Salts prepared from hydrophobic cations and anions were dissolved into humanized MAbs solutions. Viscosities of the resulting solutions were measured as a function of the nature and concentration of the salts and MAbs. Even at moderate concentrations, some of the salts prepared herein were found to reduce over 10-fold the viscosities of concentrated aqueous solutions of several MAbs at room temperature. To be potent viscosity-lowering excipients, the ionic constituents of the salts must be hydrophobic, bulky, and aliphatic. A mechanistic hypothesis explaining the observed salt effects on MAb solutions' viscosities was proposed and verified.

Essential roles of high-mobility group box 1 in the development of murine colitis and colitis-associated cancer

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

Maeda, Shin; Hikiba, Yohko; Shibata, Wataru

2007-08-24

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear factor released extracellularly as a proinflammatory cytokine. We measured the HMGB1 concentration in the sera of mice with chemically induced colitis (DSS; dextran sulfate sodium salt) and found a marked increase. Inhibition of HMGB1 by neutralizing anti-HMGB1 antibody resulted in reduced inflammation in DSS-treated colons. In macrophages, HMGB1 induces several proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, which are regulated by NF-{kappa}B activation. Two putative sources of HMGB1 were explored: in one, bacterial factors induce HMGB1 secretion from macrophages and in the other, necrotic epithelial cells directly release HMGB1. LPS induced a small amountmore » of HMGB1 in macrophages, but macrophages incubated with supernatant prepared from necrotic cells and containing large amounts of HMGB1 activated NF-{kappa}B and induced IL-6. Using the colitis-associated cancer model, we demonstrated that neutralizing anti-HMGB1 antibody decreases tumor incidence and size. These observations suggest that HMGB1 is a potentially useful target for IBD treatment and the prevention of colitis-associated cancer.« less

On the Growth of Ice in Aqueous Solutions Contained in Capillaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pruppracher, H. R.

1967-06-01

The growth rate of ice in supercooled water and in dilute aqueous solutions of various salts which dissociate in water into univalent ions was studied. The solutions contained in polyethylene tubes of small bore had concentrations between 10-6 and 10-1 moles liter-1 and were investigated at bath supercoolings between 1° and 15°C. The growth rate of ice which in pure water was found to vary approximately with the square of the bath supercooling was affected in a systematic manner by the type and concentration of the salt in solution. At salt concentrations smaller than 5 × 10-2 moles liter-1 most salts did not affect the growth rate. However, the fluorides were found to increase the growth rate over and above the one in pure water. At concentrations larger than 5 × 10-2 moles liter-1 all the salts reduced the growth rate of ice below the one in pure water. By comparing solutions of salts with common anion it was found that at a particular bath supercooling and salt concentration the growth rate of ice was reduced most in lithium solutions and least in cesium and ammonium solutions. By comparing solutions of salts with common cation it was found that the growth rate of ice was reduced most in fluoride solutions and least in bromide solutions. It was concluded that in solutions with salt concentrations larger than 5 × 10-2 moles liter-1 the rate of dissipation of latent heat which controls the growth rate of ice is affected in a systematic manner by the freezing point lowering effects which result from pure mass transfer conditions prevailing at the ice-solution interface of a stagnant system. Some features of the observed growth rates are discussed in terms of the effect of dissolved salts on the growth forms of ice in aqueous solutions.

Calcium/Ask1/MKK7/JNK2/c-Src signalling cascade mediates disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions by dextran sulfate sodium.

PubMed

Samak, Geetha; Chaudhry, Kamaljit K; Gangwar, Ruchika; Narayanan, Damodaran; Jaggar, Jonathan H; Rao, RadhaKrishna

2015-02-01

Disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions is an important event in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induces colitis in mice with symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis. However, the mechanism of DSS-induced colitis is unknown. We investigated the mechanism of DSS-induced disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions and barrier dysfunction in Caco-2 cell monolayers in vitro and mouse colon in vivo. DSS treatment resulted in disruption of tight junctions, adherens junctions and actin cytoskeleton leading to barrier dysfunction in Caco-2 cell monolayers. DSS induced a rapid activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and the inhibition or knockdown of JNK2 attenuated DSS-induced tight junction disruption and barrier dysfunction. In mice, DSS administration for 4 days caused redistribution of tight junction and adherens junction proteins from the epithelial junctions, which was blocked by JNK inhibitor. In Caco-2 cell monolayers, DSS increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, and depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) by 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl ester) (BAPTA/AM) or thapsigargin attenuated DSS-induced JNK activation, tight junction disruption and barrier dysfunction. Knockdown of apoptosis signal-regulated kinase 1 (Ask1) or MKK7 blocked DSS-induced tight junction disruption and barrier dysfunction. DSS activated c-Src by a Ca2+ and JNK-dependent mechanism. Inhibition of Src kinase activity or knockdown of c-Src blocked DSS-induced tight junction disruption and barrier dysfunction. DSS increased tyrosine phosphorylation of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin and β-catenin. SP600125 abrogated DSS-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of junctional proteins. Recombinant JNK2 induced threonine phosphorylation and auto-phosphorylation of c-Src. The present study demonstrates that Ca(2+)/Ask1/MKK7/JNK2/cSrc signalling cascade mediates DSS-induced tight junction disruption and barrier dysfunction.

Conformations of gelatin in trivalent chromium salt solutions: Viscosity and dynamic light scattering study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, Congde; Zhang, Jianlong; Kong, Aiqun

2017-02-01

An investigation of the influences of pH, salt type, and salt concentration on the conformations of gelatin molecules in trivalent chromium salt solutions was performed by viscosity and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. It was found that the viscosity behaviors as polyelectrolytes or polyampholytes depended on the charge distribution on the gelatin chains, which can be tuned by the value of pH of the gelatin solution. The intrinsic viscosity of gelatin in basic chromium sulfate aqueous solution at pH = 2.0 first decreased and then increased with increasing Cr(OH)SO4 concentration, while a monotonic decrease of the intrinsic viscosity of gelatin was observed in CrCl3 solution. However, the intrinsic viscosity of gelatin at pH = 5.0 was found to be increased first and then decreased with an increase in salt concentration in Cr(OH)SO4 solution, as well as in CrCl3 solution. We suggested that the observed viscosity behavior of gelatin in trivalent chromium salt solutions was attributed to the comprehensive effects of shielding, overcharging, and crosslinking (complexation) caused by the introduction of the different counterions. In addition, the average hydrodynamic radius ( R h ) of gelatin molecules in various salt solutions was determined by DLS. It was found that the change trend of R h with salt concentration was the same as the change of intrinsic viscosity. Based on the results of the viscosity and DLS, a possible mechanism for the conformational transition of gelatin chains with external conditions including pH, salt concentration, and salt type is proposed.

Methods and systems for utilizing carbide lime or slag

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

Devenney, Martin; Fernandez, Miguel; Chen, Irvin

Provided herein are methods comprising a) treating a slag solid or carbide lime suspension with an ammonium salt in water to produce an aqueous solution comprising calcium salt, ammonium salt, and solids; b) contacting the aqueous solution with carbon dioxide from an industrial process under one or more precipitation conditions to produce a precipitation material comprising calcium carbonate and a supernatant aqueous solution wherein the precipitation material and the supernatant aqueous solution comprise residual ammonium salt; and c) removing and optionally recovering ammonia and/or ammonium salt using one or more steps of (i) recovering a gas exhaust stream comprising ammoniamore » during the treating and/or the contacting step; (ii) recovering the residual ammonium salt from the supernatant aqueous solution; and (iii) removing and optionally recovering the residual ammonium salt from the precipitation material.« less

Use of the Decision Support System for VA cost-effectiveness research.

PubMed

Barnett, P G; Rodgers, J H

1999-04-01

The Department of Veterans Affairs is adopting the Decision Support System (DSS), computer software and databases which include a cost-accounting system which determines the cost of health care products and patient encounters. A system for providing cost data for cost-effectiveness analysis should be provide valid, detailed, and comprehensive data that can be aggregated. The design of DSS is described and compared with those criteria. Utilization data from DSS was compared with other VA utilization data. Aggregate DSS cost data from 35 medical centers was compared with relative resource weights developed for the Medicare program. Data on hospital stays at 3 facilities found that 3.7% of the stays in DSS were not in the VA discharge database, whereas 7.6% of the stays in the discharge data were not in DSS. DSS reported between 68.8% and 97.1% of the outpatient encounters reported by six facilities in the ambulatory care data base. Relative weights for each Diagnosis Related Group based on DSS data from 35 VA facilities correlated with Medicare weights (correlation coefficient of .853). DSS will be useful for research if certain problems are overcome. It is difficult to distinguish long-term from acute hospital care. VA does not have a complete database of all inpatient procedures, so DSS has not assigned them a specific cost. The authority to access encounter-level DSS data needs to be centralized. Researchers can provide the feedback needed to improve DSS cost estimates. A comprehensive encounter-level extract would facilitate use of DSS for research.

Solutions Network Formulation Report. Using NASA Sensors to Perform Crop Type Assessment for Monitoring Insect Resistance in Corn

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, David; Copenhaver, Ken; Anderson, Daniel; Hilbert, Kent

2007-01-01

The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) is tasked to monitor for insect pest resistance to transgenic crops. Several models have been developed to understand the resistance properties of insects. The Population Genetics Simulator model is used in the EPA PIRDSS (Pest Infestation and Resistance Decision Support System). The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs uses the DSS to help understand the potential for insect pest resistance development and the likelihood that insect pest resistance will negatively affect transgenic corn. Once the DSS identifies areas of concern, crews are deployed to collect insect pest samples, which are tested to identify whether they have developed resistance to the toxins in transgenic corn pesticides. In this candidate solution, VIIRS (Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite) vegetation index products will be used to build hypertemporal layerstacks for crop type and phenology assessment. The current phenology attribute is determined by using the current time of year to index the expected growth stage of the crop. VIIRS might provide more accurate crop type assessment and also might give a better estimate on the crop growth stage.

Multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS) for optimal locations of Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) facilities.

PubMed

Tsangaratos, P; Kallioras, A; Pizpikis, Th; Vasileiou, E; Ilia, I; Pliakas, F

2017-12-15

Managed Aquifer Recharge is a wide-spread well-established groundwater engineering method which is largely seen as sound and sustainable solution to water scarcity hydrologically sensitive areas, such as the Circum Mediterranean. The process of site selection for the installation of a MAR facility is of paramount importance for the feasibility and effectiveness of the project itself, especially when the facility will include the use of waters of impaired quality as a recharge source, as in the case of Soil-Aquifer-Treatment systems. The main objective of this study is to present the developed framework of a multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS) that integrates within a dynamic platform the main groundwater engineering parameters associated with MAR applications together with the general geographical features which determine the effectiveness of such a project. The proposed system will provide an advanced coupled DSS-GIS tool capable of handling local MAR-related issues -such as hydrogeology, topography, soil, climate etc., and spatially distributed variables -such as societal, economic, administrative, legislative etc., with special reference to Soil-Aquifer-Treatment technologies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Software Comparison for Renewable Energy Deployment in a Distribution Network

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

Gao, David Wenzhong; Muljadi, Eduard; Tian, Tian

The main objective of this report is to evaluate different software options for performing robust distributed generation (DG) power system modeling. The features and capabilities of four simulation tools, OpenDSS, GridLAB-D, CYMDIST, and PowerWorld Simulator, are compared to analyze their effectiveness in analyzing distribution networks with DG. OpenDSS and GridLAB-D, two open source software, have the capability to simulate networks with fluctuating data values. These packages allow the running of a simulation each time instant by iterating only the main script file. CYMDIST, a commercial software, allows for time-series simulation to study variations on network controls. PowerWorld Simulator, another commercialmore » tool, has a batch mode simulation function through the 'Time Step Simulation' tool, which obtains solutions for a list of specified time points. PowerWorld Simulator is intended for analysis of transmission-level systems, while the other three are designed for distribution systems. CYMDIST and PowerWorld Simulator feature easy-to-use graphical user interfaces (GUIs). OpenDSS and GridLAB-D, on the other hand, are based on command-line programs, which increase the time necessary to become familiar with the software packages.« less

Methods of making metal oxide nanostructures and methods of controlling morphology of same

DOEpatents

Wong, Stanislaus S; Hongjun, Zhou

2012-11-27

The present invention includes a method of producing a crystalline metal oxide nanostructure. The method comprises providing a metal salt solution and providing a basic solution; placing a porous membrane between the metal salt solution and the basic solution, wherein metal cations of the metal salt solution and hydroxide ions of the basic solution react, thereby producing a crystalline metal oxide nanostructure.

Protective Effect of Daikenchuto on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice

PubMed Central

Matsunaga, Takaharu; Yamamoto, Naoki; Kawasato, Ryo; Shirasawa, Tomohiro; Goto, Atsushi; Fujisawa, Koichi; Takami, Taro; Okamoto, Takeshi; Nishikawa, Jun; Sakaida, Isao

2017-01-01

Aim. To investigate the effect of daikenchuto (TJ-100; DKT) for ulcerative colitis (UC) model mouse and assess its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Methods. We evaluated the effects of DKT on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced experimental colitis. First, we assessed the short-term effects of DKT using two groups: 5% DSS group and 5% DSS with DKT group. Colon length; histological scores; and interleukin- (IL-) 10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression profiles were analyzed using real-time PCR. Second, we assessed the long-term effects of DKT, by comparing survival time between 2% DSS and 2% DSS with DKT groups. Results. After 7 days, the colon lengths of DSS + DKT group were longer than those of the DSS group (mean values: 6.11 versus 5.69 cm, p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to DSS group, the DSS + DKT group maintained significantly higher levels of serum hemoglobin (13.1 versus 10.7 g/dL, p < 0.05) and exhibited significantly higher expression levels of IL-10 (p < 0.05). The 2% DSS + DKT group exhibited significantly longer survival time than the 2% DSS group (70 versus 44 days, p < 0.01). Conclusion. Our results indicate that DKT prevented inflammation in the colon, indicating its potential as a new therapeutic agent for UC. PMID:28210268

Protective Effect of Daikenchuto on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice.

PubMed

Matsunaga, Takaharu; Hashimoto, Shinichi; Yamamoto, Naoki; Kawasato, Ryo; Shirasawa, Tomohiro; Goto, Atsushi; Fujisawa, Koichi; Takami, Taro; Okamoto, Takeshi; Nishikawa, Jun; Sakaida, Isao

2017-01-01

Aim . To investigate the effect of daikenchuto (TJ-100; DKT) for ulcerative colitis (UC) model mouse and assess its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Methods . We evaluated the effects of DKT on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced experimental colitis. First, we assessed the short-term effects of DKT using two groups: 5% DSS group and 5% DSS with DKT group. Colon length; histological scores; and interleukin- (IL-) 10, IL-1 β , and tumor necrosis factor- α mRNA expression profiles were analyzed using real-time PCR. Second, we assessed the long-term effects of DKT, by comparing survival time between 2% DSS and 2% DSS with DKT groups. Results . After 7 days, the colon lengths of DSS + DKT group were longer than those of the DSS group (mean values: 6.11 versus 5.69 cm, p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to DSS group, the DSS + DKT group maintained significantly higher levels of serum hemoglobin (13.1 versus 10.7 g/dL, p < 0.05) and exhibited significantly higher expression levels of IL-10 ( p < 0.05). The 2% DSS + DKT group exhibited significantly longer survival time than the 2% DSS group (70 versus 44 days, p < 0.01). Conclusion . Our results indicate that DKT prevented inflammation in the colon, indicating its potential as a new therapeutic agent for UC.

Induction of colitis in young rats by dextran sulfate sodium.

PubMed

Vicario, María; Crespí, Mar; Franch, Angels; Amat, Concepció; Pelegrí, Carme; Moretó, Miquel

2005-01-01

Models using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce experimental colitis in rodents have been performed mostly in adult animals. For this reason, we aimed to develop a model of colitis in young rats. DSS was administered to 30-day-old rats at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5% in drinking water. Young rats were remarkably sensitive to DSS since clinical symptoms rapidly rose with 5% DSS and most animals died after the fifth day. With 1 and 2% DSS, the severity of mucosal lesions was also high on day 7, the animals showing leukocytosis and anemia. At 0.5% DSS, leukocytosis and mild colonic lesions were induced. This concentration of DSS significantly increased myeloperoxidase activity and goblet cell number in the colon, indicating mucosal inflammation. Since food consumption was not reduced by 0.5% DSS, we suggest that this protocol can be used to study the effects of dietary supplements on intestinal inflammatory processes.

Induction of Colitis in Young Rats by Dextran Sulfate Sodium.

PubMed

Vicario, María; Crespí, Mar; Franch, Àngels; Amat, Concepció; Pelegrí, Carme; Moretó, Miquel

2005-01-01

Models using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce experimental colitis in rodents have been performed mostly in adult animals. For this reason, we aimed to develop a model of colitis in young rats. DSS was administered to 30-day-old rats at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5% in drinking water. Young rats were remarkably sensitive to DSS since clinical symptoms rapidly rose with 5% DSS and most animals died after the fifth day. With 1 and 2% DSS, the severity of mucosal lesions was also high on day 7, the animals showing leukocytosis and anemia. At 0.5% DSS, leukocytosis and mild colonic lesions were induced. This concentration of DSS significantly increased myeloperoxidase activity and goblet cell number in the colon, indicating mucosal inflammation. Since food consumption was not reduced by 0.5% DSS, we suggest that this protocol can be used to study the effects of dietary supplements on intestinal inflammatory processes.

A Study of Novel Hexavalent Phosphazene Salts as Draw Solutes in Forward Osmosis

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

Mark L. Stone; Aaron D. Wilson; Mason K. Harrup

2013-03-01

Two novel multi-valent salts based on phosphazene chemistry have been synthesized and characterized as forward osmosis (FO) draw solutes. Commercially obtained hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene was reacted with the sodium salt of 4-ethylhydroxybenzoate to yield hexa(4-ethylcarboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene. Hydrolysis, followed by and neutralization with NaOH or LiOH, of the resulting acidic moieties yielded water soluble sodium and lithium phosphazene salts, respectively. Degrees of dissociation were determined through osmometry over the range of 0.05-0.5 m, giving degrees of 3.08-4.95 per mole, suggesting a high osmotic potential. The Li salt was found to be more ionized in solution than the sodium salt, and this was reflected inmore » FO experiments where the Li salt gave higher initial fluxes (~ 7 L/m2h) as compared to the sodium salt (~6 L/m2h) at identical 0.07 m draw solution concentrations at 30 °C. Longer term experiments revealed no detectable degradation of the salts; however some hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate membrane was observed, presumably due to the pH of the phosphazene salt draw solution (pH = ~8).« less

Epimicrobiota Associated with the Decay and Recovery of Orbicella Corals Exhibiting Dark Spot Syndrome

PubMed Central

Meyer, Julie L.; Rodgers, John M.; Dillard, Brian A.; Paul, Valerie J.; Teplitski, Max

2016-01-01

Dark Spot Syndrome (DSS) is one of the most common diseases of boulder corals in the Caribbean. It presents as sunken brown lesions in coral tissue, which can spread quickly over coral colonies. With this study, we tested the hypothesis that similar to other coral diseases, DSS is a dysbiosis characterized by global shifts in the coral microbiome. Because Black Band Disease (BBD) was sometimes found following DSS lesions, we also tested the hypothesis that DSS is a precursor of BBD. To track disease initiation and progression 24 coral colonies were tagged. Of them five Orbicella annularis corals and three O. faveolata corals exhibited DSS lesions at tagging. Microbiota of lesions and apparently healthy tissues from DSS-affected corals over the course of 18 months were collected. Final visual assessment showed that five of eight corals incurred substantial tissue loss while two corals remained stable and one appeared to recover from DSS lesions. Illumina sequencing of the V6 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes demonstrated no significant differences in bacterial community composition associated with healthy tissue or DSS lesions. The epimicrobiomes of both healthy tissue and DSS lesions contained high relative abundances of Operational Taxonomic Units assigned to Halomonas, an unclassified gammaproteobacterial genus, Moritella, an unclassified Rhodobacteraceae genus, Renibacterium, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. The relative abundance of bacterial taxa was not significantly different between samples when grouped by tissue type (healthy tissue vs. DSS lesion), coral species, collection month, or the overall outcome of DSS-affected corals (substantial tissue loss vs. stable/recovered). Two of the tagged corals with substantial tissue loss also developed BBD during the 18-month sampling period. The bacterial community of the BBD layer was distinct from both healthy tissue and DSS lesions, with high relative abundances of the presumed BBD pathogen Roseofilum reptotaenium and an unclassified Bacteroidales genus, similar to previous results. Roseofilum was detected in all samples from this study, with the highest relative abundance in healthy tissue from DSS-affected corals sampled in August, suggesting that while DSS is not a precursor to BBD, DSS-affected corals are in a weakened state and therefore more susceptible to additional infections. PMID:27375605

Method for making fine and ultrafine spherical particles of zirconium titanate and other mixed metal oxide systems

DOEpatents

Hu, Michael Z.

2006-05-23

Disclosed is a method for making amorphous spherical particles of zirconium titanate and crystalline spherical particles of zirconium titanate comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous solution of zirconium salt and an aqueous solution of titanium salt into a mixed solution having equal moles of zirconium and titanium and having a total salt concentration in the range from 0.01 M to about 0.5 M. A stearic dispersant and an organic solvent is added to the mixed salt solution, subjecting the zirconium salt and the titanium salt in the mixed solution to a coprecipitation reaction forming a solution containing amorphous spherical particles of zirconium titanate wherein the volume ratio of the organic solvent to aqueous part is in the range from 1 to 5. The solution of amorphous spherical particles is incubated in an oven at a temperature .ltoreq.100.degree. C. for a period of time .ltoreq.24 hours converting the amorphous particles to fine or ultrafine crystalline spherical particles of zirconium titanate.

Introductory lecture: interpreting and predicting Hofmeister salt ion and solute effects on biopolymer and model processes using the solute partitioning model.

PubMed

Record, M Thomas; Guinn, Emily; Pegram, Laurel; Capp, Michael

2013-01-01

Understanding how Hofmeister salt ions and other solutes interact with proteins, nucleic acids, other biopolymers and water and thereby affect protein and nucleic acid processes as well as model processes (e.g. solubility of model compounds) in aqueous solution is a longstanding goal of biophysical research. Empirical Hofmeister salt and solute "m-values" (derivatives of the observed standard free energy change for a model or biopolymer process with respect to solute or salt concentration m3) are equal to differences in chemical potential derivatives: m-value = delta(dmu2/dm3) = delta mu23, which quantify the preferential interactions of the solute or salt with the surface of the biopolymer or model system (component 2) exposed or buried in the process. Using the solute partitioning model (SPM), we dissect mu23 values for interactions of a solute or Hofmeister salt with a set of model compounds displaying the key functional groups of biopolymers to obtain interaction potentials (called alpha-values) that quantify the interaction of the solute or salt per unit area of each functional group or type of surface. Interpreted using the SPM, these alpha-values provide quantitative information about both the hydration of functional groups and the competitive interaction of water and the solute or salt with functional groups. The analysis corroborates and quantifies previous proposals that the Hofmeister anion and cation series for biopolymer processes are determined by ion-specific, mostly unfavorable interactions with hydrocarbon surfaces; the balance between these unfavorable nonpolar interactions and often-favorable interactions of ions with polar functional groups determine the series null points. The placement of urea and glycine betaine (GB) at opposite ends of the corresponding series of nonelectrolytes results from the favorable interactions of urea, and unfavorable interactions of GB, with many (but not all) biopolymer functional groups. Interaction potentials and local-bulk partition coefficients quantifying the distribution of solutes (e.g. urea, glycine betaine) and Hofmeister salt ions in the vicinity of each functional group make good chemical sense when interpreted in terms of competitive noncovalent interactions. These interaction potentials allow solute and Hofmeister (noncoulombic) salt effects on protein and nucleic acid processes to be interpreted or predicted, and allow the use of solutes and salts as probes of

The Receptacle Model of Salting-In by Tetramethylammonium Ions

PubMed Central

Hribar–Lee, Barbara; Dill, Ken A.; Vlachy, Vojko

2010-01-01

Water is a poor solvent for nonpolar solutes. Water containing ions is an even poorer solvent. According to standard terminology, the tendency of salts to precipitate oils from water is called salting-out. However, interestingly, some salt ions, such as tetramethylammonium (TMA), cause instead the salting-in of hydrophobic solutes. Even more puzzling, there is a systematic dependence on solute size. TMA causes the salting-out of small hydrophobes and the salting-in of larger nonpolar solutes. We study these effects using NPT Monte Carlo simulations of the MB + dipole model of water, which was previously shown to account for hydrophobic effects and ion solubilities in water. The present model gives a structural interpretation for the thermodynamics of salting-in. The TMA structure allows deep penetration by a first shell of waters, the dipoles of which interact electrostatically with the ion. This first water shell sets up a second water shell that is shaped to act as a receptacle that binds the nonpolar solute. In this way, a nonpolar solute can actually bind more tightly to the TMA ion than to another hydrophobe, leading to the increased solubility and salting-in. Such structuring may also explain why molecular ions do not follow the same charge density series’ as atomic ions do. PMID:21028768

Receptacle model of salting-in by tetramethylammonium ions.

PubMed

Hribar-Lee, Barbara; Dill, Ken A; Vlachy, Vojko

2010-11-25

Water is a poor solvent for nonpolar solutes. Water containing ions is an even poorer solvent. According to standard terminology, the tendency of salts to precipitate oils from water is called salting-out. However, interestingly, some salt ions, such as tetramethylammonium (TMA), cause instead the salting-in of hydrophobic solutes. Even more puzzling, there is a systematic dependence on solute size. TMA causes the salting-out of small hydrophobes and the salting-in of larger nonpolar solutes. We study these effects using NPT Monte Carlo simulations of the Mercedes-Benz (MB) + dipole model of water, which was previously shown to account for hydrophobic effects and ion solubilities in water. The present model gives a structural interpretation for the thermodynamics of salting-in. The TMA structure allows deep penetration by a first shell of waters, the dipoles of which interact electrostatically with the ion. This first water shell sets up a second water shell that is shaped to act as a receptacle that binds the nonpolar solute. In this way, a nonpolar solute can actually bind more tightly to the TMA ion than to another hydrophobe, leading to the increased solubility and salting-in. Such structuring may also explain why molecular ions do not follow the same charge density series as atomic ions do.

Effect of cyclodextrin complexation of curcumin on its solubility and antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory activity in rat colitis model.

PubMed

Yadav, Vivek R; Suresh, Sarasija; Devi, Kshama; Yadav, Seema

2009-01-01

The purpose of the study was to prepare and evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of cyclodextrin (CD) complex of curcumin for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in colitis-induced rat model. Inclusion complexes of curcumin were prepared by common solvent and kneading methods. These complexes were further evaluated for increase in solubility of poorly soluble curcumin. The inclusion complexes were characterized for enhancement in solubility, in vitro dissolution, surface morphology, infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray studies. Solubility, phase solubility, and in vitro dissolution studies showed that curcumin has higher affinity for hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HPbetaCD) than other CDs. HPbetaCD complex of curcumin was further investigated for its antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory activity using chick embryo and rat colitis model. HPbetaCD complex of curcumin proved to be a potent angioinhibitory compound, as demonstrated by inhibition of angiogenesis in chorioallantoic membrane assay. Curcumin- and HPbetaCD-treated rats showed a faster weight gain compared to dextran sulfate solution (DSS) controls. Whole colon length appeared to be significantly longer in HPbetaCD-treated rats than pure curcumin and DSS controls. An additional finding in the DSS-treated rats was the predominance of eosinophils in the chronic cell infiltrate. Decreased mast cell numbers in the mucosa of the colon of CD of curcumin- and pure-curcumin-treated rats was observed. This study concluded that the degree of colitis caused by administration of DSS was significantly attenuated by CD of curcumin. Being a nontoxic natural dietary product, curcumin could be useful in the therapeutic strategy for IBD patients.

Preliminary maintenance experience for DSS 13 unattended operations demonstration. [Deep Space Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Remer, D. S.; Lorden, G.

1979-01-01

The maintenance data base collected for 15 weeks of recent unattended and automated operation of DSS 13 is summarized. During this period, DSS 13 was receiving spacecraft telemetry while being controlled remotely from JPL in Pasadena. Corrective and preventive maintenance manhours are reported by subsystem for DSS 13 including the equipment added for the automation demonstration. The corrective and preventive maintenance weekly manhours at DSS 13 averaged 22 and 40, respectively. The antenna hydraulic and electronic systems accounted for about half of the preventive and corrective maintenance manhours for a comparable attended DSN station, DSS 11.

Experimental study on agitated drying characteristics of sewage sludge under the effects of different additive agents.

PubMed

Deng, Wenyi; Su, Yaxin

2014-07-01

Drying experiments of dewatered sewage sludge (DSS) were conducted on a agitated paddle dryer, and the effects of additive agents, i.e., CaO, pulverized coal (PC), heavy oil (HO), and dried sludge ("DS" through back mixing) on the agitated drying characteristics of DSS were investigated. The results indicated that CaO can significantly increase the drying rate of DSS. The drying rate at CaO/DSS (mass ratio)=1/100 was 135% higher than that of CaO/DSS=0. Pulverized coal has no obvious effect on drying rate, but the increase of PC/DSS can promote breaking up of sludge lump. Heavy oil was found to be slightly effective in improving the drying rate of DSS in the examined experimental range of HO/DSS=0-1/20. It is also found that HO can reduce the torque of the dryer shaft, due to its lubrication effect. Back mixing of DS was found to be effective in alleviating the unfavorable effect of the lumpy phase by improving the mixing effect of the paddle dryer. There was a marked increase of drying rate with an increase of the DS/DSS in the experimental range of DS/DSS=0-1/3. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of sodium chloride salting and substitution with potassium chloride on whey expulsion of Cheddar cheese.

PubMed

Lu, Y; McMahon, D J

2015-01-01

A challenge in manufacturing reduced-sodium cheese is that whey expulsion after salting decreases when less salt is applied. Our objectives were (1) to determine whether changing the salting method would increase whey syneresis when making a lower sodium cheese and (2) to better understand factors contributing to salt-induced curd syneresis. Unsalted milled Cheddar curds were salted using different salting intervals (5 or 10 min), different salting levels (20, 25, or 30g/kg), different numbers of applications when using only 20g/kg salt (1, 2, or 3 applications), and salting with the equivalent of 30g/kg NaCl using a 2:1 molar ratio of NaCl and KCl. Whey from these curds was collected every 5 or 10 min until 30 or 40 min after the start of salting, and curds were subsequently pressed for 3h. Additional trials were conducted in which salted milled Cheddar cheese curd was immersed at 22°C for 6h in various solutions to determine how milled curd pieces respond to different levels of salt and Ca. The use of 10-min intervals delayed whey syneresis without influencing total whey expulsion or cheese composition after pressing. Lowering the salt level reduced whey expulsion, resulting in cheeses with higher moisture and slightly lower pH. Adding salt faster did not increase whey expulsion in reduced-salt cheese. Partial substitution with KCl restored the extent of whey expulsion. When salted milled curd was immersed in a 30g/L salt solution, there was a net influx of salt solution into the curd and curd weight increased. When curd was immersed in 60g/L salt solution, a contraction of curd occurred. Curd shrinkage was more pronounced as the salt solution concentration was increased to 90 and 120g/L. Increasing the Ca concentration in test solutions (such that both serum and total Ca in the curd increased) also promoted curd contraction, resulting in lower curd moisture and pH and less weight gain by the curd. The proportion of Ca in the curd that was bound to the para-casein protein matrix changed with the Ca content of the test solution. Compared with test solutions containing 10g/L Ca, at low Ca levels (i.e., 1 and 5g/L) the proportion of bound Ca was lower, whereas at 20g/L Ca, the proportion of bound Ca was higher. Both Ca and salt concentration influence the physicochemical properties of the protein matrix such that at low concentrations the curd expands, whereas at high concentrations the curd contracts and expels whey. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hydrology of the Bonneville Salt Flats, northwestern Utah, and simulation of ground-water flow and solute transport in the shallow-brine aquifer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mason, James L.; Kipp, Kenneth L.

1998-01-01

This report describes the hydrologic system of the Bonneville Salt Flats with emphasis on the mechanisms of solute transport. Variable-density, three-dimensional computer simulations of the near-surface part of the ground-water system were done to quantify both the transport of salt dissolved in subsurface brine that leaves the salt-crust area and the salt dissolved and precipitated on the land surface. The study was designed to define the hydrology of the brine ground-water system and the natural and anthropogenic processes causing salt loss, and where feasible, to quantify these processes. Specific areas of study include the transport of salt in solution by ground-water flow and the transport of salt in solution by wind-driven ponds and the subsequent salt precipitation on the surface of the playa upon evaporation or seepage into the subsurface. In addition, hydraulic and chemical changes in the hydrologic system since previous studies were documented.

The effectiveness of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) on the impurities removal of saturated salt solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pujiastuti, C.; Ngatilah, Y.; Sumada, K.; Muljani, S.

2018-01-01

Increasing the quality of salt can be done through various methods such as washing (hydro-extraction), re-crystallization, ion exchange methods and others. In the process of salt quality improvement by re-crystallization method where salt product diluted with water to form saturated solution and re-crystallized through heating process. The quality of the salt produced is influenced by the quality of the dissolved salt and the crystallization mechanism applied. In this research is proposed a concept that before the saturated salt solution is recrystallized added a chemical for removal of the impurities such as magnesium ion (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and sulfate (SO4) is contained in a saturated salt solution. The chemical reagents that used are sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 2 N and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) 2 N. This research aims to study effectiveness of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate on the impurities removal of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and sulfate (SO4). The results showed that the addition of sodium hydroxide solution can be decreased the impurity ions of magnesium (Mg) 95.2%, calcium ion (Ca) 45%, while the addition of sodium carbonate solution can decreased magnesium ion (Mg) 66.67% and calcium ion (Ca) 77.5%, but both types of materials are not degradable sulfate ions (SO4). The sodium hydroxide solution more effective to decrease magnesium ion than sodium carbonate solution, and the sodium carbonate solution more effective to decrease calcium ion than sodium hydroxide solution.

Summed and Weighted Summary Scores for the Medsger Disease Severity Scale Compared with the Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Severity in Systemic Sclerosis.

PubMed

Harel, Daphna; Hudson, Marie; Iliescu, Alexandra; Baron, Murray; Steele, Russell

2016-08-01

To develop a weighted summary score for the Medsger Disease Severity Scale (DSS) and to compare its measurement properties with those of a summed DSS score and a physician's global assessment (PGA) of severity score in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Data from 875 patients with SSc enrolled in a multisite observational research cohort were extracted from a central database. Item response theory was used to estimate weights for the DSS weighted score. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and convergent, discriminative, and predictive validity of the 3 summary measures in relation to patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and mortality were compared. Mean PGA was 2.69 (SD 2.16, range 0-10), mean DSS summed score was 8.60 (SD 4.02, range 0-36), and mean DSS weighted score was 8.11 (SD 4.05, range 0-36). ICC were similar for all 3 measures [PGA 6.9%, 95% credible intervals (CrI) 2.1-16.2; DSS summed score 2.5%, 95% CrI 0.4-6.7; DSS weighted score 2.0%, 95% CrI 0.1-5.6]. Convergent and discriminative validity of the 3 measures for PRO were largely similar. In Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for age and sex, the 3 measures had similar predictive ability for mortality (adjusted R(2) 13.9% for PGA, 12.3% for DSS summed score, and 10.7% DSS weighted score). The 3 summary scores appear valid and perform similarly. However, there were some concerns with the weights computed for individual DSS scales, with unexpected low weights attributed to lung, heart, and kidney, leading the PGA to be the preferred measure at this time. Further work refining the DSS could improve the measurement properties of the DSS summary scores.

Promotion of BRCA2-Dependent Homologous Recombination by DSS1 via RPA Targeting and DNA Mimicry.

PubMed

Zhao, Weixing; Vaithiyalingam, Sivaraja; San Filippo, Joseph; Maranon, David G; Jimenez-Sainz, Judit; Fontenay, Gerald V; Kwon, Youngho; Leung, Stanley G; Lu, Lucy; Jensen, Ryan B; Chazin, Walter J; Wiese, Claudia; Sung, Patrick

2015-07-16

The tumor suppressor BRCA2 is thought to facilitate the handoff of ssDNA from replication protein A (RPA) to the RAD51 recombinase during DNA break and replication fork repair by homologous recombination. However, we find that RPA-RAD51 exchange requires the BRCA2 partner DSS1. Biochemical, structural, and in vivo analyses reveal that DSS1 allows the BRCA2-DSS1 complex to physically and functionally interact with RPA. Mechanistically, DSS1 acts as a DNA mimic to attenuate the affinity of RPA for ssDNA. A mutation in the solvent-exposed acidic domain of DSS1 compromises the efficacy of RPA-RAD51 exchange. Thus, by targeting RPA and mimicking DNA, DSS1 functions with BRCA2 in a two-component homologous recombination mediator complex in genome maintenance and tumor suppression. Our findings may provide a paradigm for understanding the roles of DSS1 in other biological processes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sex determining gene on the X chromosome short arm: dosage sensitive sex reversal.

PubMed

Ogata, T; Matsuo, N

1996-08-01

The present review article summarizes current knowledge concerning the sex determining gene on Xp21, termed DSS (dosage sensitive sex reversal). The presence of DSS has been based on the finding that, in the presence of SRY, partial active Xp duplications encompassing the middle part of Xp result in sex reversal, whereas those of the distal or proximal part of Xp permit male sex development. Because Klinefelter patients develop as males, it is believed that DSS is normally subject to X-inactivation, and that two active copies of DSS override the function of SRY, resulting in gonadal dysgenesis because of meiotic pairing failure. It may be possible that DSS encodes a target sequence for repressing function of SRY or that DSS is involved in an X chromosome-counting mechanism. Molecular approaches have localized DSS to a 160 kb region and isolated candidate genes such as DAX-1 and MAGE-Xp, but there has been no formal evidence equating the candidate gene with DSS. In addition to its clinical importance, the exploration of DSS must provide a useful clue to phylogenetic studies of sex chromosomes and dosage compensation.

Chronic Supplementation of Paeonol Combined with Danshensu for the Improvement of Vascular Reactivity in the Cerebral Basilar Artery of Diabetic Rats

PubMed Central

Hu, Jing; Li, Ya-Ling; Li, Zi-Lin; Li, Hua; Zhou, Xuan-Xuan; Qiu, Peng-Cheng; Yang, Qian; Wang, Si-Wang

2012-01-01

One of the leading causes of death in the world is cerebrovascular disease. Numerous Chinese traditional medicines, such as Cortex Moutan (root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrew) and Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), protect against cerebrovascular diseases and exhibit anti-atherosclerotic effects. Traditional medicines have been routinely used for a long time in China. In addition, these two herbs are prescribed together in clinical practice. Therefore, the pharmacodynamic interactions between the active constituents of these two herbs, which are paeonol (Pae) and danshensu (DSS), should be particularly studied. The study of Pae and DSS can provide substantial foundations in understanding their mechanisms and empirical evidence to support clinical practice. This study investigated the effects and possible mechanisms of the pharmacodynamic interaction between Pae and DSS on cerebrovascular malfunctioning in diabetes. Experimental diabetes was induced in rats, which was then treated with Pae, DSS, and Pae + DSS for eight weeks. Afterward, cerebral arteries from all groups were isolated and equilibrated in an organ bath with Krebs buffer and ring tension. Effects of Pae, DSS, and Pae + DSS were observed on vessel relaxation with or without endothelium as well as on the basal tonus of vessels from normal and diabetic rats. Indexes about oxidative stress were also determined. We report that the cerebral arteries from diabetic rats show decreased vascular reactivity to acetylcholine (ACh) which was corrected in Pae, DSS, and Pae + DSS treated groups. Furthermore, phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction response decreased in the treated groups. Phenylephrine and CaCl2-induced vasoconstrictions are partially inhibited in the three treated groups under Ca2+-free medium. Pre-incubated with tetraethylammonium, a non-selective K+ channel blocker, the antagonized relaxation responses increased in DSS and Pae + DSS treated diabetic groups compared with those in diabetic and Pae-treated diabetic groups. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content significantly changed in the presence of Pae + DSS. We therefore conclude that both Pae and DSS treatments prevent diabetes-induced vascular damage. Furthermore, Pae + DSS prove to be the most efficient treatment regimen. The combination of Pae and DSS produce significant protective effects through the reduction of oxidative stress and through intracellular Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms. PMID:23203081

Diffusiophoresis of charged colloidal particles in the limit of very high salinity.

PubMed

Prieve, Dennis C; Malone, Stephanie M; Khair, Aditya S; Stout, Robert F; Kanj, Mazen Y

2018-06-13

Diffusiophoresis is the migration of a colloidal particle through a viscous fluid, caused by a gradient in concentration of some molecular solute; a long-range physical interaction between the particle and solute molecules is required. In the case of a charged particle and an ionic solute (e.g., table salt, NaCl), previous studies have predicted and experimentally verified the speed for very low salt concentrations at which the salt solution behaves ideally. The current study presents a study of diffusiophoresis at much higher salt concentrations (approaching the solubility limit). At such large salt concentrations, electrostatic interactions are almost completely screened, thus eliminating the long-range interaction required for diffusiophoresis; moreover, the high volume fraction occupied by ions makes the solution highly nonideal. Diffusiophoretic speeds were found to be measurable, albeit much smaller than for the same gradient at low salt concentrations.

Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 does not promote DSS-induced acute colitis.

PubMed

Macdonald, Marcia L E; Bissada, Nagat; Vallance, Bruce A; Hayden, Michael R

2009-12-01

Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in mice leads to chronic inflammation of the skin and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis, while also increasing plasma inflammatory markers. A recent report suggested that SCD1 deficiency also increases disease severity in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease, induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). However, SCD1-deficient mice are known to consume increased amounts of water, which would also be expected to increase the intake of DSS-treated water. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SCD1 deficiency on DSS-induced acute colitis with DSS dosing adjusted to account for genotype differences in fluid consumption. Wild-type controls were treated with 3.5% DSS for 5 days to induce moderately severe colitis, while the concentration of DSS given to SCD1-deficient mice was lowered to 2.5% to control for increased fluid consumption. Colonic inflammation was assessed by clinical and histological scoring. Although SCD1-deficient mice consumed a total intake of DSS that was greater than that of wild-type controls, colonic inflammation, colon length and fecal blood were not altered by SCD1-deficiency in DSS-induced colitis, while diarrhea and total weight loss were modestly improved. Despite SCD1 deficiency leading to chronic inflammation of the skin and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis, it does not accelerate inflammation in the DSS-induced model of acute colitis when DSS intake is controlled. These observations suggest that SCD1 deficiency does not play a significant role in colonic inflammation in this model.

Ion aggregation in high salt solutions. VII. The effect of cations on the structures of ion aggregates and water hydrogen-bonding network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Jun-Ho; Choi, Hyung Ran; Jeon, Jonggu; Cho, Minhaeng

2017-10-01

Ions in high salt solutions have a strong propensity to form polydisperse ion aggregates with broad size and shape distributions. In a series of previous comparative investigations using femtosecond IR pump-probe spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulation, and graph theoretical analysis, we have shown that there exists a morphological difference in the structures of ion aggregates formed in various salt solutions. As salt concentration increases, the ions in high salt solutions form either cluster-like structures excluding water molecules or network-like structures entwined with water hydrogen-bonding networks. Interestingly, such morphological characteristics of the ion aggregates have been found to be in correlation with the solubility limits of salts. An important question that still remains unexplored is why certain salts with different cations have notably different solubility limits in water. Here, carrying out a series of molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous salt solutions and analyzing the distributions and connectivity patterns of ion aggregates with a spectral graph analysis method, we establish the relationship between the salt solubility and the ion aggregate morphology with a special emphasis on the cationic effects on water structures and ion aggregation. We anticipate that the understanding of large scale ion aggregate structures revealed in this study will be critical for elucidating the specific ion effects on the solubility and conformational stability of co-solute molecules such as proteins in water.

Salt controls feeding decisions in a blood-sucking insect.

PubMed

Pontes, Gina; Pereira, Marcos H; Barrozo, Romina B

2017-04-01

Salts are necessary for maintaining homeostatic conditions within the body of all living organisms. Like with all essential nutrients, deficient or excessive ingestion of salts can result in adverse health effects. The taste system is a primary sensory modality that helps animals to make adequate feeding decisions in terms of salt consumption. In this work we show that sodium and potassium chloride salts modulate the feeding behavior of Rhodnius prolixus in a concentration-dependent manner. Feeding is only triggered by an optimal concentration of any of these salts (0.1-0.15M) and in presence of the phagostimulant ATP. Conversely, feeding solutions that do not contain salts or have a high-salt concentration (>0.3M) are not ingested by insects. Notably, we show that feeding decisions of insects cannot be explained as an osmotic effect, because they still feed over hyperosmotic solutions bearing the optimal salt concentration. Insects perceive optimal-salt, no-salt and high-salt solutions as different gustatory information, as revealed the electromyogram recordings of the cibarial pump. Moreover, because insects do a continuous gustatory monitoring of the incoming food during feeding, sudden changes beyond the optimal sodium concentration decrease and even inhibit feeding. The administration of amiloride, a sodium channel blocker, noticeably reduces the ingestion of the optimal sodium solution but not of the optimal potassium solution. Salt detection seems to occur at least through two salt receptors, one amiloride-sensitive and another amiloride-insensitive. Our results confirm the importance of the gustatory system in R. prolixus, showing the relevant role that salts play on their feeding decisions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A multiple-scenario assessment of the effect of a continuous-care, guideline-based decision support system on clinicians' compliance to clinical guidelines.

PubMed

Shalom, Erez; Shahar, Yuval; Parmet, Yisrael; Lunenfeld, Eitan

2015-04-01

To quantify the effect of a new continuous-care guideline (GL)-application engine, the Picard decision support system (DSS) engine, on the correctness and completeness of clinicians' decisions relative to an established clinical GL, and to assess the clinicians' attitudes towards a specific DSS. Thirty-six clinicians, including residents at different training levels and board-certified specialists at an academic OB/GYN department that handles around 15,000 deliveries annually, agreed to evaluate our continuous-care guideline-based DSS and to perform a cross-over assessment of the effects of using our guideline-based DSS. We generated electronic patient records that realistically simulated the longitudinal course of six different clinical scenarios of the preeclampsia/eclampsia/toxemia (PET) GL, encompassing 60 different decision points in total. Each clinician managed three scenarios manually without the Picard DSS engine (Non-DSS mode) and three scenarios when assisted by the Picard DSS engine (DSS mode). The main measures in both modes were correctness and completeness of actions relative to the PET GL. Correctness was further decomposed into necessary and redundant actions, relative to the guideline and the actual patient data. At the end of the assessment, a questionnaire was administered to the clinicians to assess their perceptions regarding use of the DSS. With respect to completeness, the clinicians applied approximately 41% of the GL's recommended actions in the non-DSS mode. Completeness increased to the performance of approximately 93% of the guideline's recommended actions, when using the DSS mode. With respect to correctness, approximately 94.5% of the clinicians' decisions in the non-DSS mode were correct. However, these included 68% of the actions that were correct but redundant, given the patient's data (e.g., repeating tests that had been performed), and 27% of the actions, which were necessary in the context of the GL and of the given scenario. Only 5.5% of the decisions were definite errors. In the DSS mode, 94% of the clinicians' decisions were correct, which included 3% that were correct but redundant, and 91% of the actions that were correct and necessary in the context of the GL and of the given scenario. Only 6% of the DSS-mode decisions were erroneous. The DSS was assessed by the clinicians as potentially useful. Support from the GL-based DSS led to uniformity in the quality of the decisions, regardless of the particular clinician, any particular clinical scenario, any particular decision point, or any decision type within the scenarios. Using the DSS dramatically enhances completeness (i.e., performance of guideline-based recommendations) and seems to prevent the performance of most of the redundant actions, but does not seem to affect the rate of performance of incorrect actions. The redundancy rate is enhanced by similar recent findings in recent studies. Clinicians mostly find this support to be potentially useful for their daily practice. A continuous-care GL-based DSS, such as the Picard DSS engine, has the potential to prevent most errors of omission by ensuring uniformly high quality of clinical decision making (relative to a GL-based norm), due to the increased adherence (i.e., completeness) to the GL, and most of the errors of commission that increase therapy costs, by reducing the rate of redundant actions. However, to prevent clinical errors of commission, the DSS needs to be accompanied by additional modules, such as automated control of the quality of the physician's actual actions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Salt type and concentration affect the viscoelasticity of polyelectrolyte solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turkoz, Emre; Perazzo, Antonio; Arnold, Craig B.; Stone, Howard A.

2018-05-01

The addition of small amounts of xanthan gum to water yields viscoelastic solutions. In this letter, we show that the viscoelasticity of aqueous xanthan gum solutions can be tuned by different types of salts. In particular, we find that the decrease in viscoelasticity not only depends, as is known, on the salt concentration, but also is affected by the counterion ionic radius and the valence of the salt.

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

HEDENGREN, D.C.

Solubility data for ammonia in water and various dilute solutions are abundant in the literature. However, there is a noticeable lack of ammonia solubility data for high salt, basic solutions of various mixtures of salts including those found in many of the Hanford Washington underground waste tanks. As a result, models based on solubility data for dilute salt solutions have been used to extrapolate to high salt solutions. These significant extrapolations need to be checked against actual laboratory data. Some indirect vapor measurements have been made. A more direct approach is to determine the ratio of solubility of ammonia inmore » water to its solubility in high salt solutions. In various experiments, pairs of solutions, one of which is water and the other a high salt solution, are allowed to come to equilibrium with a common ammonia vapor pressure. The ratio of concentrations of ammonia in the two solutions is equal to the ratio of the respective ammonia solubilities (Henry's Law constants) at a given temperature. This information can then be used to refine the models that predict vapor space compositions of ammonia. Ammonia at Hanford is of concern because of its toxicity in the environment and its contribution to the flammability of vapor space gas mixtures in waste tanks.« less

Effect of solution treatment on microstructure and properties of duplex stainless steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X. Y.; Luo, J. M.; Huang, L. Q.; Wang, H. B.; Ma, C. W.

2017-09-01

The influence of solution treatment on microstructure and properties of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) was studied. The microstructure, precipitates and corrosion resisting property were observed and analyzed by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. The results showed that a large number of brittle σ-phase precipitates, which deteriorate the plasticity and corrosion resistance of the material, were easy to produce in the duplex stainless steel under the low temperature. The precipitation of σ-phase can be decreased and the plasticity and corrosion resistance can be improved by increasing solution temperature. In addition, the ferrite content increases with the increase of solution temperature, while less affected by cooling rate.

Salting effects on protein components in aqueous NaCl and urea solutions: toward understanding of urea-induced protein denaturation.

PubMed

Li, Weifeng; Zhou, Ruhong; Mu, Yuguang

2012-02-02

The mechanism of urea-induced protein denaturation is explored through studying the salting effect of urea on 14 amino acid side chain analogues, and N-methylacetamide (NMA) which mimics the protein backbone. The solvation free energies of the 15 molecules were calculated in pure water, aqueous urea, and NaCl solutions. Our results show that NaCl displays strong capability to salt out all 15 molecules, while urea facilitates the solvation (salting-in) of all the 15 molecules on the other hand. The salting effect is found to be largely enthalpy-driven for both NaCl and urea. Our observations can explain the higher stability of protein's secondary and tertiary structures in typical salt solutions than that in pure water. Meanwhile, urea's capability to better solvate protein backbone and side-chain components can be extrapolated to explain protein's denaturation in aqueous urea solution. Urea salts in molecules through direct binding to solute surface, and the strength is linearly dependent on the number of heavy atoms of solute molecules. The van der Waals interactions are found to be the dominant force, which challenges a hydrogen-bonding-driven mechanism proposed previously.

Faraday Discussion 160 Introductory Lecture: Interpreting and Predicting Hofmeister Salt Ion and Solute Effects on Biopolymer and Model Processes Using the Solute Partitioning Model

PubMed Central

Record, M. Thomas; Guinn, Emily; Pegram, Laurel; Capp, Michael

2013-01-01

Understanding how Hofmeister salt ions and other solutes interact with proteins, nucleic acids, other biopolymers and water and thereby affect protein and nucleic acid processes as well as model processes (e.g solubility of model compounds) in aqueous solution is a longstanding goal of biophysical research. Empirical Hofmeister salt and solute “m-values” (derivatives of the observed standard free energy change for a model or biopolymer process with respect to solute or salt concentration m3) are equal to differences in chemical potential derivatives: m-value = Δ(dμ2/dm3) = Δμ23 which quantify the preferential interactions of the solute or salt with the surface of the biopolymer or model system (component 2) exposed or buried in the process. Using the SPM, we dissect μ23 values for interactions of a solute or Hofmeister salt with a set of model compounds displaying the key functional groups of biopolymers to obtain interaction potentials (called α-values) that quantify the interaction of the solute or salt per unit area of each functional group or type of surface. Interpreted using the SPM, these α-values provide quantitative information about both the hydration of functional groups and the competitive interaction of water and the solute or salt with functional groups. The analysis corroborates and quantifies previous proposals that the Hofmeister anion and cation series for biopolymer processes are determined by ion-specific, mostly unfavorable interactions with hydrocarbon surfaces; the balance between these unfavorable nonpolar interactions and often-favorable interactions of ions with polar functional groups determine the series null points. The placement of urea and glycine betaine (GB) at opposite ends of the corresponding series of nonelectrolytes results from the favorable interactions of urea, and unfavorable interactions of GB, with many (but not all) biopolymer functional groups. Interaction potentials and local-bulk partition coefficients quantifying the distribution of solutes (e.g. urea, glycine betaine) and Hofmeister salt ions in the vicinity of each functional group make good chemical sense when interpreted in terms of competitive noncovalent interactions. These interaction potentials allow solute and Hofmeister (noncoulombic) salt effects on protein and nucleic acid processes to be interpreted or predicted, and allow the use of solutes and salts as probes of interface formation and large-scale conformational changes in the steps of a biopolymer mechanism. PMID:23795491

Water structure and its influence on the flotation of carbonate and bicarbonate salts.

PubMed

Ozdemir, O; Celik, M S; Nickolov, Z S; Miller, J D

2007-10-15

Interfacial water structure is a most important parameter that influences the collector adsorption by salt minerals such as borax, potash and trona. According to previous studies, salts can be classified as water structure makers and water structure breakers. Water structure making and breaking properties of salt minerals in their saturated brine solutions are essential to explain their flotation behavior. In this work, water structure making-breaking studies in solutions of carbonate and bicarbonate salts (Na(2)CO(3), K(2)CO(3), NaHCO(3) and NH(4)HCO(3)) in 4 wt% D(2)O in H(2)O mixtures have been performed by FTIR analysis of the OD stretching band. This method reveals a microscopic picture of the water structure making/breaking character of the salts in terms of the hydrogen bonding between the water molecules in solution. The results from the vibrational spectroscopic studies demonstrate that carbonate salts (Na(2)CO(3) and K(2)CO(3)) act as strong structure makers, whereas bicarbonate salts (NaHCO(3) and NH(4)HCO(3)) act as weak structure makers. In addition, the changes in the OD band parameters of carbonate and bicarbonate salt solutions are in agreement with the viscosity characteristics of their solutions.

Intra- and interregional cortical interactions related to sharp-wave ripples and dentate spikes.

PubMed

Headley, Drew B; Kanta, Vasiliki; Paré, Denis

2017-02-01

The hippocampus generates population events termed sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) and dentate spikes (DSs). While little is known about DSs, SWR-related hippocampal discharges during sleep are thought to replay prior waking activity, reactivating the cortical networks that encoded the initial experience. During slow-wave sleep, such reactivations likely occur during up-states, when most cortical neurons are depolarized. However, most studies have examined the relationship between SWRs and up-states measured in single neocortical regions. As a result, it is currently unclear whether SWRs are associated with particular patterns of widely distributed cortical activity. Additionally, no such investigation has been carried out for DSs. The present study addressed these questions by recording SWRs and DSs from the dorsal hippocampus simultaneously with prefrontal, sensory (visual and auditory), perirhinal, and entorhinal cortices in naturally sleeping rats. We found that SWRs and DSs were associated with up-states in all cortical regions. Up-states coinciding with DSs and SWRs exhibited increased unit activity, power in the gamma band, and intraregional gamma coherence. Unexpectedly, interregional gamma coherence rose much more strongly in relation to DSs than to SWRs. Whereas the increase in gamma coherence was time locked to DSs, that seen in relation to SWRs was not. These observations suggest that SWRs are related to the strength of up-state activation within individual regions throughout the neocortex but not so much to gamma coherence between different regions. Perhaps more importantly, DSs coincided with stronger periods of interregional gamma coherence, suggesting that they play a more important role than previously assumed. Off-line cortico-hippocampal interactions are thought to support memory consolidation. We surveyed the relationship between hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) and dentate spikes (DSs) with up-states across multiple cortical regions. SWRs and DSs were associated with increased cortical gamma oscillations. Interregional gamma coherence rose much more strongly in relation to DSs than to SWRs. Moreover, it was time locked to DSs but not SWRs. These results have important implications for current theories of systems memory consolidation during sleep. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Protecting health.

PubMed

Armour, Margaret-Ann; Linetsky, Asya; Ashick, Donna

2008-10-01

Water-soluble heavy metal salts injure health when they leach into water supplies. It is important that students who may later be employed in industries generating aqueous solutions of such salts are aware of the methods that can be used to recover the metal salt or transform it to non-health threatening products. The research was in the management of small quantities of hazardous wastes, such as are generated in school, college, and university teaching laboratories; in research laboratories; in industrial quality control and testing laboratories; and in small industries. Methods for the recovery of silver, nickel, and cobalt salts from relatively small volumes of aqueous solutions of their soluble salts were developed and tested. Where it was not practical to recover the metal salt, the practice has been to convert it to a water-insoluble salt, often the sulfide. This requires the use of highly toxic reagents. It was found that a number of heavy metal salts can be precipitated as the silicates, returning them to the form in which they are found in the natural ore. These salts show similar solubility properties to the sulfides in neutral, acidic, and basic aqueous solutions. The work has determined the conditions, quantities, and solution acidity that result in the most effective precipitation of the heavy metal salt. The concentration of the metal ions remaining in solution was measured by AA and ICP spectrometry. Specific methods have been developed for the conversion of salts of mercury and chromium to nonsoluble products.

Actinide removal from spent salts

DOEpatents

Hsu, Peter C.; von Holtz, Erica H.; Hipple, David L.; Summers, Leslie J.; Adamson, Martyn G.

2002-01-01

A method for removing actinide contaminants (uranium and thorium) from the spent salt of a molten salt oxidation (MSO) reactor is described. Spent salt is removed from the reactor and analyzed to determine the contaminants present and the carbonate concentration. The salt is dissolved in water, and one or more reagents are added to precipitate the thorium as thorium oxide and/or the uranium as either uranium oxide or as a diuranate salt. The precipitated materials are filtered, dried and packaged for disposal as radioactive waste. About 90% of the thorium and/or uranium present is removed by filtration. After filtration, salt solutions having a carbonate concentration >20% can be dried and returned to the reactor for re-use. Salt solutions containing a carbonate concentration <20% require further clean-up using an ion exchange column, which yields salt solutions that contain less than 0.1 ppm of thorium or uranium.

Metals removal from spent salts

DOEpatents

Hsu, Peter C.; Von Holtz, Erica H.; Hipple, David L.; Summers, Leslie J.; Brummond, William A.; Adamson, Martyn G.

2002-01-01

A method and apparatus for removing metal contaminants from the spent salt of a molten salt oxidation (MSO) reactor is described. Spent salt is removed from the reactor and analyzed to determine the contaminants present and the carbonate concentration. The salt is dissolved in water, and one or more reagents may be added to precipitate the metal oxide and/or the metal as either metal oxide, metal hydroxide, or as a salt. The precipitated materials are filtered, dried and packaged for disposal as waste or can be immobilized as ceramic pellets. More than about 90% of the metals and mineral residues (ashes) present are removed by filtration. After filtration, salt solutions having a carbonate concentration >20% can be spray-dried and returned to the reactor for re-use. Salt solutions containing a carbonate concentration <20% require further clean-up using an ion exchange column, which yields salt solutions that contain less than 1.0 ppm of contaminants.

Oral salt supplements to compensate for jejunostomy losses: comparison of sodium chloride capsules, glucose electrolyte solution, and glucose polymer electrolyte solution.

PubMed

Nightingale, J M; Lennard-Jones, J E; Walker, E R; Farthing, M J

1992-06-01

Six patients with jejunostomies and residual jejunal lengths of 105 to 250 cm took the same food and water each day for eight study days. In random order, three methods of salt replacement were tested, each over 48 hours, against a period without added salt. During the three test periods the patients took 120 mmol of sodium chloride daily, as salt in gelatine capsules, as an isotonic glucose electrolyte (280 mOsmol/kg; 30 kcal) solution, and as a glucose polymer (Maxijul) solution (280 mOsmol/kg; 200 kcal). The daily stomal output remained constant for each patient during the four test periods but varied between patients from 0.60 to 2.84 kg (daily intestinal fluid balance 0.74-2.61 kg). Without a salt supplement, three patients lost more sodium from the stoma than they took in by mouth (-25, -94, and -101 mmol/day) and the mean sodium balance for all six subjects was -16 mmol (range -101 to 79) daily. Extra salt was absorbed with each form of supplement (p less than 0.05); no patient with the glucose electrolyte solution (mean 96, range 0 to 226 mmol), but one patient with the glucose-polymer solution (mean 96, range -25 to 164 mmol) and two with the salt capsules (mean 66, range -8 to 145 mmol) were in negative balance. Two patients vomited with the salt capsules. There was only a small increase in energy absorption (mean 115 kcal) with the glucose polymer solution compared with the glucose electrolyte solution. A sipped glucose electrolyte solution seems to be the optimal mode of sodium replacement in patients with a high output jejunostomy.

Oral salt supplements to compensate for jejunostomy losses: comparison of sodium chloride capsules, glucose electrolyte solution, and glucose polymer electrolyte solution.

PubMed Central

Nightingale, J M; Lennard-Jones, J E; Walker, E R; Farthing, M J

1992-01-01

Six patients with jejunostomies and residual jejunal lengths of 105 to 250 cm took the same food and water each day for eight study days. In random order, three methods of salt replacement were tested, each over 48 hours, against a period without added salt. During the three test periods the patients took 120 mmol of sodium chloride daily, as salt in gelatine capsules, as an isotonic glucose electrolyte (280 mOsmol/kg; 30 kcal) solution, and as a glucose polymer (Maxijul) solution (280 mOsmol/kg; 200 kcal). The daily stomal output remained constant for each patient during the four test periods but varied between patients from 0.60 to 2.84 kg (daily intestinal fluid balance 0.74-2.61 kg). Without a salt supplement, three patients lost more sodium from the stoma than they took in by mouth (-25, -94, and -101 mmol/day) and the mean sodium balance for all six subjects was -16 mmol (range -101 to 79) daily. Extra salt was absorbed with each form of supplement (p less than 0.05); no patient with the glucose electrolyte solution (mean 96, range 0 to 226 mmol), but one patient with the glucose-polymer solution (mean 96, range -25 to 164 mmol) and two with the salt capsules (mean 66, range -8 to 145 mmol) were in negative balance. Two patients vomited with the salt capsules. There was only a small increase in energy absorption (mean 115 kcal) with the glucose polymer solution compared with the glucose electrolyte solution. A sipped glucose electrolyte solution seems to be the optimal mode of sodium replacement in patients with a high output jejunostomy. PMID:1624155

Determination of the solubility of inorganic salts by headspace gas chromatography.

PubMed

Chai, X S; Zhu, J Y

2003-05-09

This work reports a novel method for determination of salt solubility using headspace gas chromatography. A very small amount of volatile compound (such as methanol) is added in the studied solution. Due to the molecular interaction in the solution, the vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) partitioning coefficient of the volatile species will change with different salt contents in the solution. Therefore, the concentration of volatile species in the vapor phase is proportional to the salt concentration in the liquid phase, which can be easily determined by headspace gas chromatography. Until the salt concentration in the solution is saturated, the concentration of volatile compound in the vapor phase will continue to increase further and a breakpoint will appear on the VLE curve. The solubility of the salts can be determined by the identification of the breakpoint. It was found that the measured solubility of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate in aqueous solutions is slightly higher (about 6-7%) than those reported in the literature method. The present method can be easily applied to industrial solution systems.

Dielectric dispersion of short single-stranded DNA in aqueous solutions with and without added salt.

PubMed

Katsumoto, Yoichi; Omori, Shinji; Yamamoto, Daisuke; Yasuda, Akio; Asami, Koji

2007-01-01

Dielectric spectroscopy measurements were performed for aqueous solutions of short single-stranded DNA with 30 to 120 bases of thymine over a frequency range of 10;{5} to 10;{8}Hz . Dielectric dispersion was found to include two relaxation processes in the ranges from 10;{5} to 10;{6} and from 10;{6} to 10;{8}Hz , respectively, with the latter mainly discussed in this study. The dielectric increment and the relaxation time of the high-frequency relaxation of DNA in solutions without added salt exhibited concentration and polymer-length dependences eventually identical to those for dilute polyion solutions described in previous studies. For solutions with added salt, on the other hand, those dielectric parameters were independent of salt concentration up to a certain critical value and started to decrease with further increasing salt concentration. This critical behavior is well explained by our newly extended cell model that takes into account the spatial distribution of loosely bound counterions around DNA molecules as a function of salt concentration.

Passive coherent location direct signal suppression using hardware mixing techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Sean A.; Christianson, Andrew J.; Narayanan, Ram M.

2017-05-01

Passive coherent location (PCL) is a radar technique, in which the system uses reflections from opportunistic illumination sources in the environment for detection and tracking. Typically, PCL uses civilian communication transmitters not ideally suited for radar. The physical geometry of PCL is developed on the basis of bistatic radar without control of the transmitter antenna or waveform design. This poses the problem that often the receiver is designed with two antennas and channels, one for reference and one for surveillance. The surveillance channel is also contaminated with the direct signal and thus direct signal suppression (DSS) techniques must be used. This paper proposes an analytical solution based around hardware for DSS which is compared to other methods available in the literature. The methods are tested in varying bistatic geometries and with varying target radar cross section (RCS) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Correlation of high-temperature stability of alpha-chymotrypsin with 'salting-in' properties of solution.

PubMed

Levitsky VYu; Panova, A A; Mozhaev, V V

1994-01-15

A correlation between the stability of alpha-chymotrypsin against irreversible thermal inactivation at high temperatures (long-term stability) and the coefficient of Setchenov equation as a measure of salting-in/out efficiency of solutes in the Hofmeister series has been found. An increase in the concentration of salting-in solutes (KSCN, urea, guanidinium chloride, formamide) leads to a many-fold decrease of the inactivation rate of the enzyme. In contrast, addition of salting-out solutes has a small effect on the long-term stability of alpha-chymotrypsin at high temperatures. The effects of solutes are additive with respect to their salting-in/out capacities; the stabilizing action of the solutes is determined by the calculated Setchenov coefficient of solution. The correlation is explained by a solute-driven shift of the conformational equilibrium between the 'low-temperature' native and the 'high-temperature' denatured forms of the enzyme within the range of the kinetic scheme put forward in the preceding paper in this journal: irreversible inactivation of the high-temperature form proceeds much more slowly compared with the low-temperature form.

SEPARATION OF INORGANIC SALTS FROM ORGANIC SOLUTIONS

DOEpatents

Katzin, L.I.; Sullivan, J.C.

1958-06-24

A process is described for recovering the nitrates of uranium and plutonium from solution in oxygen-containing organic solvents such as ketones or ethers. The solution of such salts dissolved in an oxygen-containing organic compound is contacted with an ion exchange resin whereby sorption of the entire salt on the resin takes place and then the salt-depleted liquid and the resin are separated from each other. The reaction seems to be based on an anion formation of the entire salt by complexing with the anion of the resin. Strong base or quaternary ammonium type resins can be used successfully in this process.

Recovery of organic acids

DOEpatents

Verser, Dan W.; Eggeman, Timothy J.

2009-10-13

A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO.sub.2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.

Recovery of organic acids

DOEpatents

Verser, Dan W [Menlo Park, CA; Eggeman, Timothy J [Lakewood, CO

2011-11-01

A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO.sub.2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.

Suppression of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by radon inhalation.

PubMed

Nishiyama, Yuichi; Kataoka, Takahiro; Yamato, Keiko; Taguchi, Takehito; Yamaoka, Kiyonori

2012-01-01

The enhanced release of reactive oxygen species from activated neutrophils plays important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. We previously reported that radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in various organs of mice. In this study, we examined the protective effects of radon inhalation on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS) induced colitis in mice which were subjected to DSS for 7 days. Mice were continuously treated with air only (sham) or radon at a concentration of 2000 Bq/m³ from a day before DSS administration to the end of colitis induction. In the results, radon inhalation suppressed the elevation of the disease activity index score and histological damage score induced by DSS. Based on the changes in tumor necrosis factor-alpha in plasma and myeloperoxidase activity in the colon, it was shown that radon inhalation suppressed DSS-induced colonic inflammation. Moreover, radon inhalation suppressed lipid peroxidation of the colon induced by DSS. The antioxidant level (superoxide dismutase and total glutathione) in the colon after DSS administration was significantly higher in mice treated with radon than with the sham. These results suggested that radon inhalation suppressed DSS-induced colitis through the enhancement of antioxidative functions in the colon.

Suppression of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice by Radon Inhalation

PubMed Central

Nishiyama, Yuichi; Kataoka, Takahiro; Yamato, Keiko; Taguchi, Takehito; Yamaoka, Kiyonori

2012-01-01

The enhanced release of reactive oxygen species from activated neutrophils plays important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. We previously reported that radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in various organs of mice. In this study, we examined the protective effects of radon inhalation on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS) induced colitis in mice which were subjected to DSS for 7 days. Mice were continuously treated with air only (sham) or radon at a concentration of 2000 Bq/m3 from a day before DSS administration to the end of colitis induction. In the results, radon inhalation suppressed the elevation of the disease activity index score and histological damage score induced by DSS. Based on the changes in tumor necrosis factor-alpha in plasma and myeloperoxidase activity in the colon, it was shown that radon inhalation suppressed DSS-induced colonic inflammation. Moreover, radon inhalation suppressed lipid peroxidation of the colon induced by DSS. The antioxidant level (superoxide dismutase and total glutathione) in the colon after DSS administration was significantly higher in mice treated with radon than with the sham. These results suggested that radon inhalation suppressed DSS-induced colitis through the enhancement of antioxidative functions in the colon. PMID:23365486

Density Fluctuation in Aqueous Solutions and Molecular Origin of Salting-Out Effect for CO 2

DOE PAGES

Ho, Tuan Anh; Ilgen, Anastasia

2017-10-26

Using molecular dynamics simulation, we studied the density fluctuations and cavity formation probabilities in aqueous solutions and their effect on the hydration of CO 2. With increasing salt concentration, we report an increased probability of observing a larger than the average number of species in the probe volume. Our energetic analyses indicate that the van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between CO 2 and aqueous solutions become more favorable with increasing salt concentration, favoring the solubility of CO 2 (salting in). However, due to the decreasing number of cavities forming when salt concentration is increased, the solubility of CO 2more » decreases. The formation of cavities was found to be the primary control on the dissolution of gas, and is responsible for the observed CO 2 salting-out effect. Finally, our results provide the fundamental understanding of the density fluctuation in aqueous solutions and the molecular origin of the salting-out effect for real gas.« less

Density Fluctuation in Aqueous Solutions and Molecular Origin of Salting-Out Effect for CO 2

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

Ho, Tuan Anh; Ilgen, Anastasia

Using molecular dynamics simulation, we studied the density fluctuations and cavity formation probabilities in aqueous solutions and their effect on the hydration of CO 2. With increasing salt concentration, we report an increased probability of observing a larger than the average number of species in the probe volume. Our energetic analyses indicate that the van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between CO 2 and aqueous solutions become more favorable with increasing salt concentration, favoring the solubility of CO 2 (salting in). However, due to the decreasing number of cavities forming when salt concentration is increased, the solubility of CO 2more » decreases. The formation of cavities was found to be the primary control on the dissolution of gas, and is responsible for the observed CO 2 salting-out effect. Finally, our results provide the fundamental understanding of the density fluctuation in aqueous solutions and the molecular origin of the salting-out effect for real gas.« less

Molecular dynamics study of salt-solution interface: solubility and surface charge of salt in water.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Kazuya; Liang, Yunfeng; Sakka, Tetsuo; Matsuoka, Toshifumi

2014-04-14

The NaCl salt-solution interface often serves as an example of an uncharged surface. However, recent laser-Doppler electrophoresis has shown some evidence that the NaCl crystal is positively charged in its saturated solution. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have investigated the NaCl salt-solution interface system, and calculated the solubility of the salt using the direct method and free energy calculations, which are kinetic and thermodynamic approaches, respectively. The direct method calculation uses a salt-solution combined system. When the system is equilibrated, the concentration in the solution area is the solubility. In the free energy calculation, we separately calculate the chemical potential of NaCl in two systems, the solid and the solution, using thermodynamic integration with MD simulations. When the chemical potential of NaCl in the solution phase is equal to the chemical potential of the solid phase, the concentration of the solution system is the solubility. The advantage of using two different methods is that the computational methods can be mutually verified. We found that a relatively good estimate of the solubility of the system can be obtained through comparison of the two methods. Furthermore, we found using microsecond time-scale MD simulations that the positively charged NaCl surface was induced by a combination of a sodium-rich surface and the orientation of the interfacial water molecules.

Distinct Osmoadaptation Strategies in the Strict Halophilic and Halotolerant Bacteria Isolated from Lunsu Salt Water Body of North West Himalayas.

PubMed

Vaidya, Shivani; Dev, Kamal; Sourirajan, Anuradha

2018-07-01

Two strict halophilic bacterial strains, Halobacillus trueperi SS1, and Halobacillus trueperi SS3, and three halotolerant bacterial strains, Shewanella algae SS2, Halomonas venusta SS5, and Marinomonas sp. SS8 of Lunsu salt water body, Himachal Pradesh, India, were selected to study the mechanism of salt tolerance and the role of osmolytes therein. A combination of flame photometry, chromatographic and colorimetric assays was used to study the mechanism of salt tolerance in the selected strict halophilic and halotolerant bacterial strains. The strict halophiles and, one of the halotolerants, Marinomonas sp. SS8 were found to utilize both "salt-in strategy" and "accumulation of compatible solutes strategy" for osmoregulation in hypersaline conditions. On the contrary, the remaining two halotolerants used "accumulation of compatible solutes strategy" under saline stress and not the "salt-in strategy". The present study suggests towards distinct mechanisms of salt tolerance in the two classes, wherein strict halophiles accumulate compatible solutes as well as adopt salt-in strategy, while the halotolerant bacteria accumulate a range of compatible solutes, except Marinomonas sp. SS8, which utilizes both the strategies to combat salt stress.

Automating hypertext for decision support

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bieber, Michael

1990-01-01

A decision support system (DSS) shell is being constructed that can support applications in a variety of fields, e.g., engineering, manufacturing, finance. The shell provides a hypertext-style interface for 'navigating' among DSS application models, data, and reports. The traditional notion of hypertext had to be enhanced. Hypertext normally requires manually, pre-defined links. A DSS shell, however, requires that hypertext connections to be built 'on the fly'. The role of hypertext is discussed in augmenting DSS applications and the decision making process. Also discussed is how hypertext nodes, links, and link markers tailored to an arbitrary DSS application were automatically generated.

Evaluation of Internet-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems

PubMed Central

Thomas, Karl W; Dayton, Charles S

1999-01-01

Background Scientifically based clinical guidelines have become increasingly used to educate physicians and improve quality of care. While individual guidelines are potentially useful, repeated studies have shown that guidelines are ineffective in changing physician behavior. The Internet has evolved as a potentially useful tool for guideline education, dissemination, and implementation because of its open standards and its ability to provide concise, relevant clinical information at the location and time of need. Objective Our objective was to develop and test decision support systems (DSS) based on clinical guidelines which could be delivered over the Internet for two disease models: asthma and tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy. Methods Using open standards of HTML and CGI, we developed an acute asthma severity assessment DSS and a preventative tuberculosis treatment DSS based on content from national guidelines that are recognized as standards of care. Both DSS's are published on the Internet and operate through a decision algorithm developed from the parent guidelines with clinical information provided by the user at the point of clinical care. We tested the effectiveness of each DSS in influencing physician decisions using clinical scenario testing. Results We first validated the asthma algorithm by comparing asthma experts' decisions with the decisions reached by nonpulmonary nurses using the computerized DSS. Using the DSS, nurses scored the same as experts (89% vs. 88%; p = NS). Using the same scenario test instrument, we next compared internal medicine residents using the DSS with residents using a printed version of the National Asthma Education Program-2 guidelines. Residents using the computerized DSS scored significantly better than residents using the paper-based guidelines (92% vs. 84%; p <0.002). We similarly compared residents using the computerized TB DSS to residents using a printed reference card; the residents using the computerized DSS scored significantly better (95.8% vs. 56.6% correct; p<0.001). Conclusions Previous work has shown that guidelines disseminated through traditional educational interventions have minimal impact on physician behavior. Although computerized DSS have been effective in altering physician behavior, many of these systems are not widely available. We have developed two clinical DSS's based on national guidelines and published them on the Internet. Both systems improved physician compliance with national guidelines when tested in clinical scenarios. By providing information that is coupled to relevant activity, we expect that these widely available DSS's will serve as effective educational tools to positively impact physician behavior. PMID:11720915

mHealth App for iOS to Help in Diagnostic Decision in Ophthalmology to Primary Care Physicians.

PubMed

López, Marta Manovel; López, Miguel Maldonado; de la Torre Díez, Isabel; Jimeno, José Carlos Pastor; López-Coronado, Miguel

2017-05-01

Decision support systems (DSS) are increasingly demanded due that diagnosis is one of the main activities that physicians accomplish every day. This fact seems critical when primary care physicians deal with uncommon problems belonging to specialized areas. The main objective of this paper is the development and user evaluation of a mobile DSS for iOS named OphthalDSS. This app has as purpose helping in anterior segment ocular diseases' diagnosis, besides offering educative content about ophthalmic diseases to users. For the deployment of this work, firstly it has been used the Apple IDE, Xcode, to develop the OphthalDSS mobile application using Objective-C as programming language. The core of the decision support system implemented by OphthalDSS is a decision tree developed by expert ophthalmologists. In order to evaluate the Quality of Experience (QoE) of primary care physicians after having tried the OphthalDSS app, a written inquiry based on the Likert scale was used. A total of 50 physicians answered to it, after trying the app during 1 month in their medical consultation. OphthalDSS is capable of helping to make diagnoses of diseases related to the anterior segment of the eye. Other features of OphthalDSS are a guide of each disease and an educational section. A 70% of the physicians answered in the survey that OphthalDSS performs in the way that they expected, and a 95% assures their trust in the reliability of the clinical information. Moreover, a 75% of them think that the decision system has a proper performance. Most of the primary care physicians agree with that OphthalDSS does the function that they expected, it is a user-friendly and the contents and structure are adequate. We can conclude that OphthalDSS is a practical tool but physicians require extra content that makes it a really useful one.

Electrochromic Salts, Solutions, and Devices

DOEpatents

Burrell, Anthony K.; Warner, Benjamin P.; McClesky, T. Mark

2008-11-11

Electrochromic salts. Electrochromic salts of dicationic viologens such as methyl viologen and benzyl viologen associated with anions selected from bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide are produced by metathesis with the corresponding viologen dihalide. They are highly soluble in molten quarternary ammonium salts and together with a suitable reductant provide electrolyte solutions that are used in electrochromic windows.

Electrochromic salts, solutions, and devices

DOEpatents

Burrell, Anthony K [Los Alamos, NM; Warner, Benjamin P [Los Alamos, NM; McClesky,7,064,212 T. Mark

2006-06-20

Electrochromic salts. Electrochromic salts of dicationic viologens such as methyl viologen and benzyl viologen associated with anions selected from bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide are produced by metathesis with the corresponding viologen dihalide. They are highly soluble in molten quarternary ammonium salts and together with a suitable reductant provide electrolyte solutions that are used in electrochromic windows.

Electrochromic Salts, Solutions, and Devices

DOEpatents

Burrell, Anthony K.; Warner, Benjamin P.; McClesky, T. Mark

2008-10-14

Electrochromic salts. Electrochromic salts of dicationic viologens such as methyl viologen and benzyl viologen associated with anions selected from bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide are produced by metathesis with the corresponding viologen dihalide. They are highly soluble in molten quarternary ammonium salts and together with a suitable reductant provide electrolyte solutions that are used in electrochromic windows.

A cytochrome P450, OsDSS1, is involved in growth and drought stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

PubMed

Tamiru, Muluneh; Undan, Jerwin R; Takagi, Hiroki; Abe, Akira; Yoshida, Kakoto; Undan, Jesusa Q; Natsume, Satoshi; Uemura, Aiko; Saitoh, Hiromasa; Matsumura, Hideo; Urasaki, Naoya; Yokota, Takao; Terauchi, Ryohei

2015-05-01

Cytochrome P450s are among the largest protein coding gene families in plant genomes. However, majority of the genes remain uncharacterized. Here, we report the characterization of dss1, a rice mutant showing dwarfism and reduced grain size. The dss1 phenotype is caused by a non-synonymous point mutation we identified in DSS1, which is member of a P450 gene cluster located on rice chromosome 3 and corresponds to the previously reported CYP96B4/SD37 gene. Phenotypes of several dwarf mutants characterized in rice are associated with defects in the biosynthesis or perception of the phytohormones gibberellins (GAs) and brassinosteroids (BRs). However, both GA and BR failed to rescue the dss1 phenotype. Hormone profiling revealed the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA metabolites, as well as significant reductions in GA19 and GA53 levels, precursors of the bioactive GA1, in the mutant. The dss1 contents of cytokinin and auxins were not significantly different from wild-type plants. Consistent with the accumulation of ABA and metabolites, germination and early growth was delayed in dss1, which also exhibited an enhanced tolerance to drought. Additionally, expressions of members of the DSS1/CYP96B gene cluster were regulated by drought stress and exogenous ABA. RNA-seq-based transcriptome profiling revealed, among others, that cell wall-related genes and genes involved in lipid metabolism were up- and down-regulated in dss1, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that DSS1 mediates growth and stress responses in rice by fine-tuning GA-to-ABA balance, and might as well play a role in lipid metabolism.

Binary ferrihydrite catalysts

DOEpatents

Huffman, Gerald P.; Zhao, Jianmin; Feng, Zhen

1996-01-01

A method of preparing a catalyst precursor comprises dissolving an iron salt and a salt of an oxoanion forming agent, in water so that a solution of the iron salt and oxoanion forming agent salt has a ratio of oxoanion/Fe of between 0.0001:1 to 0.5:1. Next is increasing the pH of the solution to 10 by adding a strong base followed by collecting of precipitate having a binary ferrihydrite structure. A binary ferrihydrite catalyst precursor is also prepared by dissolving an iron salt in water. The solution is brought to a pH of substantially 10 to obtain ferrihydrite precipitate. The precipitate is then filtered and washed with distilled water and subsequently admixed with a hydroxy carboxylic acid solution. The admixture is mixed/agitated and the binary ferrihydrite precipitate is then filtered and recovered.

Continuity of states between the cholesteric → line hexatic transition and the condensation transition in DNA solutions

DOE PAGES

Yasar, Selcuk; Podgornik, Rudolf; Valle-Orero, Jessica; ...

2014-11-05

A new method of finely temperature-tuning osmotic pressure allows one to identify the cholesteric → line hexatic transition of oriented or unoriented long-fragment DNA bundles in monovalent salt solutions as first order, with a small but finite volume discontinuity. This transition is similar to the osmotic pressure-induced expanded → condensed DNA transition in polyvalent salt solutions at small enough polyvalent salt concentrations. Therefore there exists a continuity of states between the two. This finding with the corresponding empirical equation of state, effectively relates the phase diagram of DNA solutions for monovalent salts to that for polyvalent salts and sheds somemore » light on the complicated interactions between DNA molecules at high densities.« less

Correlation of second virial coefficient with solubility for proteins in salt solutions.

PubMed

Mehta, Chirag M; White, Edward T; Litster, James D

2012-01-01

In this work, osmotic second virial coefficients (B(22)) were determined and correlated with the measured solubilities for the proteins, α-amylase, ovalbumin, and lysozyme. The B(22) values and solubilities were determined in similar solution conditions using two salts, sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate in an acidic pH range. An overall decrease in the solubility of the proteins (salting out) was observed at high concentrations of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride solutions. However, for α-amylase, salting-in behavior was also observed in low concentration sodium chloride solutions. In ammonium sulfate solutions, the B(22) are small and close to zero below 2.4 M. As the ammonium sulfate concentrations were further increased, B(22) values decreased for all systems studied. The effect of sodium chloride on B(22) varies with concentration, solution pH, and the type of protein studied. Theoretical models show a reasonable fit to the experimental derived data of B(22) and solubility. B(22) is also directly proportional to the logarithm of the solubility values for individual proteins in salt solutions, so the log-linear empirical models developed in this work can also be used to rapidly predict solubility and B(22) values for given protein-salt systems. Copyright © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

A novel roseobacter phage possesses features of podoviruses, siphoviruses, prophages and gene transfer agents

PubMed Central

Zhan, Yuanchao; Huang, Sijun; Voget, Sonja; Simon, Meinhard; Chen, Feng

2016-01-01

Bacteria in the Roseobacter lineage have been studied extensively due to their significant biogeochemical roles in the marine ecosystem. However, our knowledge on bacteriophage which infects the Roseobacter clade is still very limited. Here, we report a new bacteriophage, phage DSS3Φ8, which infects marine roseobacter Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3. DSS3Φ8 is a lytic siphovirus. Genomic analysis showed that DSS3Φ8 is most closely related to a group of siphoviruses, CbK-like phages, which infect freshwater bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. DSS3Φ8 contains a smaller capsid and has a reduced genome size (146 kb) compared to the CbK-like phages (205–279 kb). DSS3Φ8 contains the DNA polymerase gene which is closely related to T7-like podoviruses. DSS3Φ8 also contains the integrase and repressor genes, indicating its potential to involve in lysogenic cycle. In addition, four GTA (gene transfer agent) genes were identified in the DSS3Φ8 genome. Genomic analysis suggests that DSS3Φ8 is a highly mosaic phage that inherits the genetic features from siphoviruses, podoviruses, prophages and GTAs. This is the first report of CbK-like phages infecting marine bacteria. We believe phage isolation is still a powerful tool that can lead to discovery of new phages and help interpret the overwhelming unknown sequences in the viral metagenomics. PMID:27460944

A novel roseobacter phage possesses features of podoviruses, siphoviruses, prophages and gene transfer agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Yuanchao; Huang, Sijun; Voget, Sonja; Simon, Meinhard; Chen, Feng

2016-07-01

Bacteria in the Roseobacter lineage have been studied extensively due to their significant biogeochemical roles in the marine ecosystem. However, our knowledge on bacteriophage which infects the Roseobacter clade is still very limited. Here, we report a new bacteriophage, phage DSS3Φ8, which infects marine roseobacter Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3. DSS3Φ8 is a lytic siphovirus. Genomic analysis showed that DSS3Φ8 is most closely related to a group of siphoviruses, CbK-like phages, which infect freshwater bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. DSS3Φ8 contains a smaller capsid and has a reduced genome size (146 kb) compared to the CbK-like phages (205-279 kb). DSS3Φ8 contains the DNA polymerase gene which is closely related to T7-like podoviruses. DSS3Φ8 also contains the integrase and repressor genes, indicating its potential to involve in lysogenic cycle. In addition, four GTA (gene transfer agent) genes were identified in the DSS3Φ8 genome. Genomic analysis suggests that DSS3Φ8 is a highly mosaic phage that inherits the genetic features from siphoviruses, podoviruses, prophages and GTAs. This is the first report of CbK-like phages infecting marine bacteria. We believe phage isolation is still a powerful tool that can lead to discovery of new phages and help interpret the overwhelming unknown sequences in the viral metagenomics.

The SALT NORM : a quantitative chemical-mineralogical characterization of natural waters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bodine, Marc W.; Jones, Blair F.

1986-01-01

The new computer program SNORM calculates the salt norm from the chemical composition of a natural water. The salt norm is the quantitative ideal equilibrium assemblage that would crystallize if the water evaporated to dryness at 25 C and 1 bar pressure under atmospheric partial pressure of CO2. SNORM proportions solute concentrations to achieve charge balance. It quantitatively distributes the 18 acceptable solutes into normative salts that are assigned from 63 possible normative salts to allow only stable associations based on the Gibbs Phase Rule, available free energy values, and observed low-temperature mineral associations. Although most natural water compositions represent multiple solute origins, results from SNORM identify three major categories: meteoric or weathering waters that are characterized by normative alkali-bearing sulfate and carbonate salts: connate marine-like waters that are chloride-rich with a halite-bischofite-carnallite-kieserite-anhydrite association; and diagenetic waters that are frequently of marine origin but yield normative salts, such as Ca-bearing chlorides (antarcticite and tachyhydrite) and sylvite, which suggest solute alteration by secondary mineral reactions. The solute source or reaction process within each of the above categories is commonly indicated by the presence or absence of diagnostic normative salts and their relative abundance in the normative salt assemblage. For example, salt norms: (1) may identify lithologic source; (2) may identify the relative roles of carbonic and sulfuric acid hydrolysis in the evolution of weathering waters; (3) may identify the origin of connate water from normal marine, hypersaline, or evaporite salt resolution processes; and (4) may distinguish between dolomitization and silicate hydrolysis or exchange for the origin of diagenetic waters. (Author 's abstract)

Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) causes intestinal histopathology and inflammatory changes consistent with increased gut leakiness in chickens.

PubMed

Zou, X; Ji, J; Wang, J; Qu, H; Shu, D M; Guo, F Y; Luo, C L

2018-04-01

1. The clinical severity, histological changes, indicators of gut leakiness and inflammatory cytokine profiles were studied in chickens with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation. 2. The experimental groups (1.25%, 1.5% and 2.5% DSS) showed clinical signs, such as loose stools and weight loss, which increased with additional treatment days and, as expected, the effects of DSS-induced intestinal inflammation were time and dose-dependent. 3. After 10 d, histological manifestations were evident, including goblet cell depletion, mucus layer loss, significantly shorter villi and a thinner total ileal mucosa. 4. The d(-)-lactate value, which was used as a gut leakiness indicator, was significantly increased in the 2.5% DSS group. 5. Expression of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1Beta, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-10 in the serum significantly increased with DSS treatment. 6. This study indicates that the experimental intestinal inflammation induced by DSS is an ideal model to study the pathogenic mechanisms of intestinal inflammation in chickens and to test the efficacy of therapies.

Miniature Stirling cryocoolers at Thales Cryogenics: qualification results and integration solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arts, R.; Martin, J.-Y.; Willems, D.; Seguineau, C.; de Jonge, G.; Van Acker, S.; Mullié, J.; Le Bordays, J.; Benschop, T.

2016-05-01

During the 2015 SPIE-DSS conference, Thales Cryogenics presented new miniature cryocoolers for high operating temperatures. In this paper, an update is given regarding the qualification programme performed on these new products. Integration aspects are discussed, including an in-depth examination of the influence of the dewar cold finger on sizing and performance of the cryocooler. The UP8197 will be placed in the reference frame of the Thales product range of high-reliability linear cryocoolers, while the rotary solution will be considered as the most compact solution in the Thales portfolio. Compatibility of the cryocoolers design with new and existing 1/4" dewar designs is examined, and potential future developments are presented.

DSS range delay calibrations: Current performance level

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spradlin, G. L.

1976-01-01

A means for evaluating Deep Space Station (DSS) range delay calibration performance was developed. Inconsistencies frequently noted in these data are resolved. Development of the DSS range delay data base is described. The data base is presented with comments regarding apparent discontinuities. Data regarding the exciter frequency dependence of the delay values are presented. The improvement observed in the consistency of current DSS range delay calibration data over the performance previously observed is noted.

DSS-24 microwave holography measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rochblatt, D. J.; Withington, P. M.; Jackson, H. J.

1995-01-01

The JPL DSN Microwave Antenna Holography System (MAHST) was applied to the newly constructed DSS-24 34-m beam-waveguide antenna at Goldstone, California. The application of MAHST measurements and corrections at DSS 24 provided the critical RF performance necessary to not only meet the project requirements and goals, but to surpass them. A performance increase of 0.35 dB at X-band (8.45 GHz) and 4.9 dB at Ka-band (32 GHz) was provided by MAHST, resulting in peak efficiencies of 75.25 percent at X-band and 60.6 percent at Ka-band (measured from the Cassegrain focus at f1). The MAHST enabled setting the main reflector panels of DSS 24 to 0.25-mm rms, making DSS 24 the highest precision antenna in the NASA/JPL DSN. The precision of the DSS-24 antenna (diameter/rms) is 1.36 x 10(exp 5), and its gain limit is at 95 GHz.

Binary ferrihydrite catalysts

DOEpatents

Huffman, G.P.; Zhao, J.; Feng, Z.

1996-12-03

A method of preparing a catalyst precursor comprises dissolving an iron salt and a salt of an oxoanion forming agent, in water so that a solution of the iron salt and oxoanion forming agent salt has a ratio of oxoanion/Fe of between 0.0001:1 to 0.5:1. Next is increasing the pH of the solution to 10 by adding a strong base followed by collecting of precipitate having a binary ferrihydrite structure. A binary ferrihydrite catalyst precursor is also prepared by dissolving an iron salt in water. The solution is brought to a pH of substantially 10 to obtain ferrihydrite precipitate. The precipitate is then filtered and washed with distilled water and subsequently admixed with a hydroxy carboxylic acid solution. The admixture is mixed/agitated and the binary ferrihydrite precipitate is then filtered and recovered. 3 figs.

Predicting Salt Permeability Coefficients in Highly Swollen, Highly Charged Ion Exchange Membranes.

PubMed

Kamcev, Jovan; Paul, Donald R; Manning, Gerald S; Freeman, Benny D

2017-02-01

This study presents a framework for predicting salt permeability coefficients in ion exchange membranes in contact with an aqueous salt solution. The model, based on the solution-diffusion mechanism, was tested using experimental salt permeability data for a series of commercial ion exchange membranes. Equilibrium salt partition coefficients were calculated using a thermodynamic framework (i.e., Donnan theory), incorporating Manning's counterion condensation theory to calculate ion activity coefficients in the membrane phase and the Pitzer model to calculate ion activity coefficients in the solution phase. The model predicted NaCl partition coefficients in a cation exchange membrane and two anion exchange membranes, as well as MgCl 2 partition coefficients in a cation exchange membrane, remarkably well at higher external salt concentrations (>0.1 M) and reasonably well at lower external salt concentrations (<0.1 M) with no adjustable parameters. Membrane ion diffusion coefficients were calculated using a combination of the Mackie and Meares model, which assumes ion diffusion in water-swollen polymers is affected by a tortuosity factor, and a model developed by Manning to account for electrostatic effects. Agreement between experimental and predicted salt diffusion coefficients was good with no adjustable parameters. Calculated salt partition and diffusion coefficients were combined within the framework of the solution-diffusion model to predict salt permeability coefficients. Agreement between model and experimental data was remarkably good. Additionally, a simplified version of the model was used to elucidate connections between membrane structure (e.g., fixed charge group concentration) and salt transport properties.

Berberine promotes recovery of colitis and inhibits inflammatory responses in colonic macrophages and epithelial cells in DSS-treated mice

PubMed Central

Wang, Lihong; Shi, Yan; Cao, Hanwei; Liu, Liping; Washington, M. Kay; Chaturvedi, Rupesh; Israel, Dawn A.; Cao, Hailong; Wang, Bangmao; Peek, Richard M.; Wilson, Keith T.; Polk, D. Brent

2012-01-01

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from dysregulation of intestinal mucosal immune responses to microflora in genetically susceptible hosts. A major challenge for IBD research is to develop new strategies for treating this disease. Berberine, an alkaloid derived from plants, is an alternative medicine for treating bacterial diarrhea and intestinal parasite infections. Recent studies suggest that berberine exerts several other beneficial effects, including inducing anti-inflammatory responses. This study determined the effect of berberine on treating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced intestinal injury and colitis in mice. Berberine was administered through gavage to mice with established DSS-induced intestinal injury and colitis. Clinical parameters, intestinal integrity, proinflammatory cytokine production, and signaling pathways in colonic macrophages and epithelial cells were determined. Berberine ameliorated DSS-induced body weight loss, myeloperoxidase activity, shortening of the colon, injury, and inflammation scores. DSS-upregulated proinflammatory cytokine levels in the colon, including TNF, IFN-γ, KC, and IL-17 were reduced by berberine. Berberine decreased DSS-induced disruption of barrier function and apoptosis in the colon epithelium. Furthermore, berberine inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production in colonic macrophages and epithelial cells in DSS-treated mice and promoted apoptosis of colonic macrophages. Activation of signaling pathways involved in stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine production, including MAPK and NF-κB, in colonic macrophages and epithelial cells from DSS-treated mice was decreased by berberine. In summary, berberine promotes recovery of DSS-induced colitis and exerts inhibitory effects on proinflammatory responses in colonic macrophages and epithelial cells. Thus berberine may represent a new therapeutic approach for treating gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders. PMID:22173918

The formation of supercooled brines, viscous liquids, and low-temperature perchlorate glasses in aqueous solutions relevant to Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toner, J. D.; Catling, D. C.; Light, B.

2014-05-01

Salt solutions on Mars can stabilize liquid water at low temperatures by lowering the freezing point of water. The maximum equilibrium freezing-point depression possible, known as the eutectic temperature, suggests a lower temperature limit for liquid water on Mars; however, salt solutions can supercool below their eutectic before crystallization occurs. To investigate the magnitude of supercooling and its variation with salt composition and concentration, we performed slow cooling and warming experiments on pure salt solutions and saturated soil-solutions of MgSO4, MgCl2, NaCl, NaClO4, Mg(ClO4)2, and Ca(ClO4)2. By monitoring solution temperatures, we identified exothermic crystallization events and determined the composition of precipitated phases from the eutectic melting temperature. Our results indicate that supercooling is pervasive. In general, supercooling is greater in more concentrated solutions and with salts of Ca and Mg. Slowly cooled MgSO4, MgCl2, NaCl, and NaClO4 solutions investigated in this study typically supercool 5-15 °C below their eutectic temperature before crystallizing. The addition of soil to these salt solutions has a variable effect on supercooling. Relative to the pure salt solutions, supercooling decreases in MgSO4 soil-solutions, increases in MgCl2 soil-solutions, and is similar in NaCl and NaClO4 soil-solutions. Supercooling in MgSO4, MgCl2, NaCl, and NaClO4 solutions could marginally extend the duration of liquid water during relatively warm daytime temperatures in the martian summer. In contrast, we find that Mg(ClO4)2 and Ca(ClO4)2 solutions do not crystallize during slow cooling, but remain in a supercooled, liquid state until forming an amorphous glass near -120 °C. Even if soil is added to the solutions, a glass still forms during cooling. The large supercooling effect in Mg(ClO4)2 and Ca(ClO4)2 solutions has the potential to prevent water from freezing over diurnal and possibly annual cycles on Mars. Glasses are also potentially important for astrobiology because of their ability to preserve pristine cellular structures intact compared to solutions that crystallize.

Organic Electrochemistry in Aluminum Chloride Melts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-08-15

establishing a new, room temperature molten salt system. The low temperature fused salt was prepared by combining aluminum...narrow (600 mY) potential range. Organic electrosynthesis was conducted in a 50-50 by volume molten salt - benzene solution. This mixed solvent...room temperature molten salt system, namely a 67:33 mole percent aluminum chloride: ethylpyridinium bromide melt and in a 50-50 by volume solution of the

HRMS sky survey wideband feed system design for DSS 24 beam waveguide antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanton, P. H.; Lee, P. R.; Reilly, H. F.

1993-01-01

The High-Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) Sky Survey project will be implemented on the DSS 24 beam waveguide (BWG) antenna over the frequency range of 2.86 to 10 GHz. Two wideband, ring-loaded, corrugated feed horns were designed to cover this range. The horns match the frequency-dependent gain requirements for the DSS 24 BWG system. The performance of the feed horns and the calculated system performance of DSS 24 are presented.

Dietary supplementation and doping-related factors in high-level sailing

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Although dietary supplements (DSs) in sports are considered a natural need resulting from athletes’ increased physical demands, and although they are often consumed by athletes, data on DS usage in Olympic sailing are scarce. The aim of this study was to study the use of and attitudes towards DSs and doping problems in high-level competitive sailing. Methods The sample consisted of 44 high-level sailing athletes (5 of whom were female; total mean age 24.13 ± 6.67 years) and 34 coaches (1 of whom was female; total mean age 37.01 ± 11.70). An extensive, self-administered questionnaire of substance use was used, and the subjects were asked about sociodemographic data, sport-related factors, DS-related factors (i.e., usage of and knowledge about DSs, sources of information), and doping-related factors. The Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to determine the differences in group characteristics, and Spearman’s rank order correlation and a logistic regression analysis were used to define the relationships between the studied variables. Results DS usage is relatively high. More than 77% of athletes consume DSs, and 38% do so on a regular basis (daily). The athletes place a high degree of trust in their coaches and/or physicians regarding DSs and doping. The most important reason for not consuming DSs is the opinion that DSs are useless and a lack of knowledge about DSs. The likelihood of doping is low, and one-third of the subjects believe that doping occurs in sailing (no significant differences between athletes and coaches). The logistic regression found crew number (i.e., single vs. double crew) to be the single significant predictor of DS usage, with a higher probability of DS consumption among single crews. Conclusion Because of the high consumption of DSs future investigations should focus on real nutritional needs in sailing sport. Also, since athletes reported that their coaches are the primary source of information about nutrition and DSs, further studies are necessary to determine the knowledge about nutrition, DSs and doping problems among athletes and their support teams (i.e., coaches, physicians, and strength and conditioning specialists). PMID:23217197

Halide salts and their structural properties in presence of secondary amine based molecule: A combined experimental and theoretical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Pritam; Hazra, Abhijit; Ghosh, Meenakshi; Chandra Murmu, Naresh; Banerjee, Priyabrata

2018-04-01

Biologically relevant halide salts and its solution state structural properties are always been significant. In general, exposure of halide salts into polar solution medium results in solvation which in turn separates the cationic and anionic part of the salt. However, the conventional behaviour of salts might alter in presence of any secondary amine based compound, i.e.; moderately strong Lewis acid. In its consequence, to investigate the effect of secondary amine based compound in the salt solution, novel (E)-2-(4-bromobenzylidene)-1-(perfluorophenyl) hydrazine has been synthesized and used as secondary amine source. The secondary amine compound interestingly shows a drastic color change upon exposure to fluoride salts owing to hydrogen bonding interaction. Several experimental methods, e.g.; SCXRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR, ESI-MS and DLS together with modern DFT (i.e.; DFT-D3) have been performed to explore the structural properties of the halide salts upon exposure to secondary amine based compound. The effect of counter cation of the fluoride salt in binding with secondary amine source has also been investigated.

Using automatically extracted information from mammography reports for decision-support

PubMed Central

Bozkurt, Selen; Gimenez, Francisco; Burnside, Elizabeth S.; Gulkesen, Kemal H.; Rubin, Daniel L.

2016-01-01

Objective To evaluate a system we developed that connects natural language processing (NLP) for information extraction from narrative text mammography reports with a Bayesian network for decision-support about breast cancer diagnosis. The ultimate goal of this system is to provide decision support as part of the workflow of producing the radiology report. Materials and methods We built a system that uses an NLP information extraction system (which extract BI-RADS descriptors and clinical information from mammography reports) to provide the necessary inputs to a Bayesian network (BN) decision support system (DSS) that estimates lesion malignancy from BI-RADS descriptors. We used this integrated system to predict diagnosis of breast cancer from radiology text reports and evaluated it with a reference standard of 300 mammography reports. We collected two different outputs from the DSS: (1) the probability of malignancy and (2) the BI-RADS final assessment category. Since NLP may produce imperfect inputs to the DSS, we compared the difference between using perfect (“reference standard”) structured inputs to the DSS (“RS-DSS”) vs NLP-derived inputs (“NLP-DSS”) on the output of the DSS using the concordance correlation coefficient. We measured the classification accuracy of the BI-RADS final assessment category when using NLP-DSS, compared with the ground truth category established by the radiologist. Results The NLP-DSS and RS-DSS had closely matched probabilities, with a mean paired difference of 0.004 ± 0.025. The concordance correlation of these paired measures was 0.95. The accuracy of the NLP-DSS to predict the correct BI-RADS final assessment category was 97.58%. Conclusion The accuracy of the information extracted from mammography reports using the NLP system was sufficient to provide accurate DSS results. We believe our system could ultimately reduce the variation in practice in mammography related to assessment of malignant lesions and improve management decisions. PMID:27388877

Desktop Application Program to Simulate Cargo-Air-Drop Tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cuthbert, Peter

2009-01-01

The DSS Application is a computer program comprising a Windows version of the UNIX-based Decelerator System Simulation (DSS) coupled with an Excel front end. The DSS is an executable code that simulates the dynamics of airdropped cargo from first motion in an aircraft through landing. The bare DSS is difficult to use; the front end makes it easy to use. All inputs to the DSS, control of execution of the DSS, and postprocessing and plotting of outputs are handled in the front end. The front end is graphics-intensive. The Excel software provides the graphical elements without need for additional programming. Categories of input parameters are divided into separate tabbed windows. Pop-up comments describe each parameter. An error-checking software component evaluates combinations of parameters and alerts the user if an error results. Case files can be created from inputs, making it possible to build cases from previous ones. Simulation output is plotted in 16 charts displayed on a separate worksheet, enabling plotting of multiple DSS cases with flight-test data. Variables assigned to each plot can be changed. Selected input parameters can be edited from the plot sheet for quick sensitivity studies.

Gut microbiota drives the attenuation of dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis by Huangqin decoction

PubMed Central

Ye, Juan; Cai, Xueting; Tsering, Pamo; Cheng, Xiaolan; Hu, Chunping; Zhang, Shuangquan; Cao, Peng

2017-01-01

The gut microbiota, including probiotics and pathogenic microorganisms, is involved in ulcerative colitis (UC) by regulating pathogenic microorganisms and the production of intestinal mucosal antibodies. Huangqin decoction (HQD), a traditional Chinese formula chronicled in the Shanghan lun, has been recognized as an effective drug for UC, owing to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In the present study, we investigated whether HQD ameliorates dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis through alteration of the gut microbiota. We found that HQD significantly inhibited colitis, alleviating the loss of body weight, disease activity index, colon shortening, tissue injury, and inflammatory cytokine changes induced by DSS treatment. Principal component analysis and principal co-ordinate analysis showed an obvious difference among the groups, with increased diversity in the DSS and DSS+HQD groups. Linear discriminant analysis effect size was used to determine differences between the groups. The relative abundance of Lactococcus was higher in the DSS+HQD group than in the DSS group, whereas Desulfovibrio and Helicobacter were decreased. Furthermore, the protective effect of HQD was attenuated only in antibiotic-treated mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that HQD could ameliorate DSS-induced inflammation through alteration of the gut microbiota. PMID:28415628

The Impact of Epidemiological Factors and Treatment Interventions on Survival in Patients With Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas.

PubMed

Patel, Mausam; Hans, Harliv S; Pan, Kelsey; Khan, Humza; Donath, Elie; Caldera, Humberto

2018-04-18

Primary pancreatic signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare histologic variant of pancreatic carcinoma. A population-based analysis of pancreatic SRCC was performed to determine the predictive effects of epidemiological factors and treatment interventions on overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was searched for pancreatic SRCC cases diagnosed between January 1, 1973 and December 31, 2013. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test, χ analysis, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression. The mean age among 497 patients was 66.6 years (SD, 11.9). Most patients were white (82.7%) and male (54.5%). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS rates were 17%, 9%, and 4%, respectively, while the corresponding 1-, 2-, and 5-year rates for DSS were 18%, 10%, and 5%, respectively. On univariable analysis; age, site, grade, stage, and treatment were predictive of OS and DSS (P<0.05). On multivariable analysis; radiation improved OS and DSS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.592 and 0.589, respectively), pancreatectomy improved OS and DSS (aHR, 0.360 and 0.355, respectively), and combination therapy improved OS and DSS (aHR, 0.295 and 0.286, respectively). Age, site, and stage were also independent predictors of OS and DSS. Subgroup analysis demonstrated treatment to be an independent predictor of OS and DSS in localized/regional disease, in distant disease, and in patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2013. Age, site, stage, and treatment independently predict OS and DSS in pancreatic SRCC.

Resistant starch modulates in vivo colonic butyrate uptake and its oxidation in rats with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

PubMed

Moreau, Noëlle M; Champ, Martine M; Goupry, Stéphane M; Le Bizec, Bruno J; Krempf, Michel; Nguyen, Patrick G; Dumon, Henri J; Martin, Lucile J

2004-03-01

We previously demonstrated improvements of colonic lesions due to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats after 7 d of supplementation with resistant starch (RS) type 3, a substrate yielding high levels of butyrate (C(4)), a colonic cell fuel source. In the present study, we hypothesized that if inflammation is related to decreased C(4) utilization by the colonic mucosa, RS supplementation should restore C(4) use simultaneously with an increase in the amount of C(4) present in the digestive tract. Hence, we compared, in vivo, the cecocolonic uptake of C(4) and its oxidation into CO(2) and ketone bodies in control and DSS-treated rats fed a fiber-free basal diet (BD) or a RS-supplemented diet. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 60) were used. DSS treatment was performed to induce acute colitis and then to maintain chronic colitis. After cecal infusion of [1-(13)C]-C(4) (20 micro mol in 1 h), concentrations and (13)C-enrichment of C(4), ketone bodies, and CO(2) were quantified in the abdominal aorta and portal vein. Portal blood flow was recorded. During acute colitis, (13)C(4) uptake and (13)CO(2) production were lower in DSS rats than in controls. During chronic colitis, DSS rats did not differ from controls. After 7 d of chronic colitis, RS-DSS rats exhibited the same C(4) uptake as BD-DSS rats in spite of higher C(4) cecocolonic disposal. After 14 d, C(4) uptake was higher in RS-DSS than in BD-DSS rats. Thus, the increased utilization of C(4) by the mucosa is subsequent to evidence of healing and appears to be a consequence rather than a cause of this RS healing effect.

Dangguishaoyao-San attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammation via the TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway.

PubMed

Ding, Rui-Rui; Chen, Wang; Guo, Cong-Ying; Liao, Wei-Tao; Yang, Xia; Liao, Feng-Er; Lin, Jing-Ming; Mei, Han-Fang; Zeng, Yu

2018-05-29

Dangguishaoyao-San (DSS) is composed of six traditional Chinese medicines, including Angelica sinensis, Paeoniae radix, Rhizoma Ligusticum, Poria cocos, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, and Rhizoma Alismatis. DSS has been reported to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of DSS in vitro using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells. BV-2 cells were pretreated with 0.58-1.16 mg/mL of DSS for 2 h and then treated with 1 μg/mL LPS for 24 h. Cell viability was determined by an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The protein expression levels were measured by Western blots. Inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). DSS treatment at concentrations of 0.58-1.16 mg/mL resulted in no significant cytotoxicity. DSS attenuated the release of pro-inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), iNOS and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. DSS attenuated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TLR2, and TLR4 and decreased TLR4 and TLR protein levels as well as the phosphorylation of IκB in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. DSS also down-regulated the nuclear translocation of p65. This study demonstrated that DSS has a protective effect on neuroinflammation in LPS-induced BV-2 microglia cells through the TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

How can we make progress with decision support systems in landscape and river basin management? Lessons learned from a comparative analysis of four different decision support systems.

PubMed

Volk, Martin; Lautenbach, Sven; van Delden, Hedwig; Newham, Lachlan T H; Seppelt, Ralf

2010-12-01

This article analyses the benefits and shortcomings of the recently developed decision support systems (DSS) FLUMAGIS, Elbe-DSS, CatchMODS, and MedAction. The analysis elaborates on the following aspects: (i) application area/decision problem, (ii) stakeholder interaction/users involved, (iii) structure of DSS/model structure, (iv) usage of the DSS, and finally (v) most important shortcomings. On the basis of this analysis, we formulate four criteria that we consider essential for the successful use of DSS in landscape and river basin management. The criteria relate to (i) system quality, (ii) user support and user training, (iii) perceived usefulness and (iv) user satisfaction. We can show that the availability of tools and technologies for DSS in landscape and river basin management is good to excellent. However, our investigations indicate that several problems have to be tackled. First of all, data availability and homogenisation, uncertainty analysis and uncertainty propagation and problems with model integration require further attention. Furthermore, the appropriate and methodological stakeholder interaction and the definition of 'what end-users really need and want' have been documented as general shortcomings of all four examples of DSS. Thus, we propose an iterative development process that enables social learning of the different groups involved in the development process, because it is easier to design a DSS for a group of stakeholders who actively participate in an iterative process. We also identify two important lines of further development in DSS: the use of interactive visualization tools and the methodology of optimization to inform scenario elaboration and evaluate trade-offs among environmental measures and management alternatives.

How Can We Make Progress with Decision Support Systems in Landscape and River Basin Management? Lessons Learned from a Comparative Analysis of Four Different Decision Support Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volk, Martin; Lautenbach, Sven; van Delden, Hedwig; Newham, Lachlan T. H.; Seppelt, Ralf

2010-12-01

This article analyses the benefits and shortcomings of the recently developed decision support systems (DSS) FLUMAGIS, Elbe-DSS, CatchMODS, and MedAction. The analysis elaborates on the following aspects: (i) application area/decision problem, (ii) stakeholder interaction/users involved, (iii) structure of DSS/model structure, (iv) usage of the DSS, and finally (v) most important shortcomings. On the basis of this analysis, we formulate four criteria that we consider essential for the successful use of DSS in landscape and river basin management. The criteria relate to (i) system quality, (ii) user support and user training, (iii) perceived usefulness and (iv) user satisfaction. We can show that the availability of tools and technologies for DSS in landscape and river basin management is good to excellent. However, our investigations indicate that several problems have to be tackled. First of all, data availability and homogenisation, uncertainty analysis and uncertainty propagation and problems with model integration require further attention. Furthermore, the appropriate and methodological stakeholder interaction and the definition of `what end-users really need and want' have been documented as general shortcomings of all four examples of DSS. Thus, we propose an iterative development process that enables social learning of the different groups involved in the development process, because it is easier to design a DSS for a group of stakeholders who actively participate in an iterative process. We also identify two important lines of further development in DSS: the use of interactive visualization tools and the methodology of optimization to inform scenario elaboration and evaluate trade-offs among environmental measures and management alternatives.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction permeability contributes to the severity of experimental DSS colitis

PubMed Central

Nighot, Prashant; Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong; Watterson, D. Martin; Ma, Thomas

2015-01-01

Recent studies have implicated a pathogenic role for matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) in inflammatory bowel disease. Although loss of epithelial barrier function has been shown to be a key pathogenic factor for the development of intestinal inflammation, the role of MMP-9 in intestinal barrier function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-9 in intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation. Wild-type (WT) and MMP-9−/− mice were subjected to experimental dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis by administration of 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The mouse colonic permeability was measured in vivo by recycling perfusion of the entire colon using fluorescently labeled dextran. The DSS-induced increase in the colonic permeability was accompanied by an increase in intestinal epithelial cell MMP-9 expression in WT mice. The DSS-induced increase in intestinal permeability and the severity of DSS colitis was found to be attenuated in MMP-9−/− mice. The colonic protein expression of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and phospho-MLC was found to be significantly increased after DSS administration in WT mice but not in MMP-9−/− mice. The DSS-induced increase in colonic permeability and colonic inflammation was attenuated in MLCK−/− mice and MLCK inhibitor ML-7-treated WT mice. The DSS-induced increase in colonic surface epithelial cell MLCK mRNA was abolished in MMP-9−/− mice. Lastly, increased MMP-9 protein expression was detected within the colonic surface epithelial cells in ulcerative colitis cases. These data suggest a role of MMP-9 in modulation of colonic epithelial permeability and inflammation via MLCK. PMID:26514773

Have you tried spermine? A rapid and cost-effective method to eliminate dextran sodium sulfate inhibition of PCR and RT-PCR.

PubMed

Krych, Łukasz; Kot, Witold; Bendtsen, Katja M B; Hansen, Axel K; Vogensen, Finn K; Nielsen, Dennis S

2018-01-01

The Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) induced colitis mouse model is commonly used to investigate human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nucleic acid extracts originating from these animals are often contaminated with DSS, which is a strong inhibitor of many enzymatic based molecular biology reactions including PCR and reverse-transcription (RT). Methods for removing DSS from nucleic acids extracts exist for RNA, but no effective protocol for DNA or cDNA is currently available. However, spermine has previously been shown to be an effective agent for counteracting DSS inhibition of polynucleotide kinase, which led to the hypothesis, that spermine could be used to counteract DSS inhibition of PCR and RT. We investigated the means of adding spermine in an adequate concentration to PCR based protocols (including qPCR, two-step RT-qPCR, and amplicon sequencing library preparation) to remove DSS inhibition. Within the range up to 0.01g/L, spermine can be added to PCR/qPCR or RT prophylactically without a significant reduction of reaction efficiency. Addition of spermine at the concentration of 0.08g/L can be used to recover qualitative PCR signal inhibited by DSS in concentrations up to 0.32g/L. For optimal quantitative analysis, the concentration of spermine requires fine adjustment. Hence, we present here a simple fluorometric based method for adjusting the concentration of spermine ensuring an optimal efficiency of the reaction exposed to an unknown concentration of DSS. In conclusion, we demonstrate a cost effective and easy method to counteract DSS inhibition in PCR and two-step RT-qPCR. Fixed or fine-tuned concentrations of spermine can be administered depending on the qualitative or quantitative character of the analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Infrared thermography of evaporative fluxes and dynamics of salt deposition on heterogeneous porous surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nachshon, Uri; Shahraeeni, Ebrahim; Or, Dani; Dragila, Maria; Weisbrod, Noam

2011-12-01

Evaporation of saline solutions from porous media, common in arid areas, involves complex interactions between mass transport, energy exchange and phase transitions. We quantified evaporation of saline solutions from heterogeneous sand columns under constant hydraulic boundary conditions to focus on effects of salt precipitation on evaporation dynamics. Mass loss measurements and infrared thermography were used to quantify evaporation rates. The latter method enables quantification of spatial and temporal variability of salt precipitation to identify its dynamic effects on evaporation. Evaporation from columns filled with texturally-contrasting sand using different salt solutions revealed preferential salt precipitation within the fine textured domains. Salt precipitation reduced evaporation rates from the fine textured regions by nearly an order of magnitude. In contrast, low evaporation rates from coarse-textured regions (due to low capillary drive) exhibited less salt precipitation and consequently less evaporation rate suppression. Experiments provided insights into two new phenomena: (1) a distinct increase in evaporation rate at the onset of evaporation; and (2) a vapor pumping mechanism related to the presence of a salt crust over semidry media. Both phenomena are related to local vapor pressure gradients established between pore water and the surface salt crust. Comparison of two salts: NaCl and NaI, which tend to precipitate above the matrix surface and within matrix pores, respectively, shows a much stronger influence of NaCl on evaporation rate suppression. This disparity reflects the limited effect of NaI precipitation on matrix resistivity for solution and vapor flows.

Jianpi Qingchang decoction alleviates ulcerative colitis by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB activation

PubMed Central

Zheng, Lie; Zhang, Ya-Li; Dai, Yan-Cheng; Chen, Xuan; Chen, De-Liang; Dai, Yue-Ting; Tang, Zhi-Peng

2017-01-01

AIM To investigate the therapeutic effect of Jianpi Qingchang decoction (JPQCD) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. METHODS C57BL/c mice were injected intragastrically with 5% DSS instead of drinking water for 7 d, and their body weight, diarrhea severity and fecal bleeding were monitored, while the mice in the control group were treated with standard drinking water, without DSS. After 7 d, the DSS drinking water was changed to normal water and the DSS group continued with DSS water. The control and DSS groups were given normal saline by intragastric injection. The 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group was treated orally with 5-ASA at a dose of 100 mg/kg daily. The JPQCD group was treated orally with JPQCD at a dose of 17.1 g/kg daily. On day 14, the colon length was measured, the colorectal histopathological damage score was assessed, and protein levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in colon supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of NF-κB and inhibitor of kappa B. RESULTS Acute inflammation occurred in the mice administered DSS, including the symptoms of losing body weight, loose feces/watery diarrhea and presence of fecal blood; all these symptoms worsened at 7 d. The colons of mice treated with DSS were assessed by histological examination, and the results confirmed that acute inflammation had occurred, as evidenced by loss of colonic mucosa and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, and these features extended into the deeper layer of the colon walls. The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α in the DSS group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α in the JPQCD and 5-ASA groups were lower than those in the DSS group after treating with JPQCD and 5-ASA. Comparing with the DSS group, the mRNA level of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB was significantly reduced by 5-ASA and JPQCD. The difference between JPQCD and 5-ASA groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Comparing with the DSS group, due to using JPQCD and 5-ASA, significant suppression of activation in DSS-induced NF-κB and increased phosphorylation of IκB in mice with experimental colitis occurred (P < 0.05). The difference between the JPQCD group and the 5-ASA group was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is inhibited by JPQCD, which shows the potential mechanism by which JPQCD treats UC. PMID:28275298

Method for producing nuclear fuel

DOEpatents

Haas, Paul A.

1983-01-01

Nuclear fuel is made by contacting an aqueous solution containing an actinide salt with an aqueous solution containing ammonium hydroxide, ammonium oxalate, or oxalic acid in an amount that will react with a fraction of the actinide salt to form a precipitate consisting of the hydroxide or oxalate of the actinide. A slurry consisting of the precipitate and solution containing the unreacted actinide salt is formed into drops which are gelled, calcined, and pressed to form pellets.

Proceedings of the workshop "Development of biological decision support systems for resource managers": Denver, Colorado, October 27-29, 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Getter, James; D'Erchia, Terry D.; Root, Ralph; Getter, James; D'Erchia, Terry D.; Root, Ralph

1999-01-01

The format for this 3-day workshop (27-29 October 1998) included plenary presentations by USGS Biological Resources Division (BRD) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service per onnel who u e and develop decision support systems (DSS); breakout ses ions addressing DSS technical information aspect , outreach/ customer requirements, and future perspectives; and a DSS Steering Committee meeting to evaluate work hop goals and to provide guidance for fu ture efforts. Steering committee action item developed from workshop inputs were to ( I) develop a "DSS framework" document for u e in biological research. (2) develop a "proof of concept" DSS based upon the framework document, and (3) integrate decision support ystem into BRD program elements.

Design and implementation of a beam-waveguide mirror control system for vernier pointing of the DSS-13 antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alvarez, L. S.; Moore, M.; Veruttipong, W.; Andres, E.

1994-01-01

The design and implementation of an antenna beam-waveguide (BWG) mirror position control system at the DSS-13 34-m antenna is presented. While it has several potential applications, a positioner on the last flat-plate BWG mirror (M6) at DSS 13 is installed to demonstrate the conical scan (conscan) angle-tracking technique at the Ka-band (32-GHz) operating frequency. Radio frequency (RF) beam-scanning predictions for the M6 mirror, computed from a diffraction analysis, are presented. From these predictions, position control system requirements are then derived. The final mechanical positioner and servo system designs, as implemented at DSS 13, are illustrated with detailed design descriptions given in the appendices. Preliminary measurements of antenna Ka-band beam scan versus M6 mirror tilt made at DSS 13 in December 1993 are presented. After reduction, the initial measurements are shown to be in agreement with the RF predicts. Plans for preliminary conscan experimentation at DSS 13 are summarized.

Radical lymph node dissection and assessment: Impact on gallbladder cancer prognosis

PubMed Central

Liu, Gui-Jie; Li, Xue-Hua; Chen, Yan-Xin; Sun, Hui-Dong; Zhao, Gui-Mei; Hu, San-Yuan

2013-01-01

AIM: To investigate the lymph node metastasis patterns of gallbladder cancer (GBC) and evaluate the optimal categorization of nodal status as a critical prognostic factor. METHODS: From May 1995 to December 2010, a total of 78 consecutive patients with GBC underwent a radical resection at Liaocheng People’s Hospital. A radical resection was defined as removing both the primary tumor and the regional lymph nodes of the gallbladder. Demographic, operative and pathologic data were recorded. The lymph nodes retrieved were examined histologically for metastases routinely from each node. The positive lymph node count (PLNC) as well as the total lymph node count (TLNC) was recorded for each patient. Then the metastatic to examined lymph nodes ratio (LNR) was calculated. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and predictors of outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: With a median follow-up time of 26.50 mo (range, 2-132 mo), median DSS was 29.00 ± 3.92 mo (5-year survival rate, 20.51%). Nodal disease was found in 37 patients (47.44%). DSS of node-negative patients was significantly better than that of node-positive patients (median DSS, 40 mo vs 17 mo, χ2 = 14.814, P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between N1 patients and N2 patients (median DSS, 18 mo vs 13 mo, χ2 = 0.741, P = 0.389). Optimal TLNC was determined to be four. When node-negative patients were divided according to TLNC, there was no difference in DSS between TLNC < 4 subgroup and TLNC ≥ 4 subgroup (median DSS, 37 mo vs 54 mo, χ2 = 0.715, P = 0.398). For node-positive patients, DSS of TLNC < 4 subgroup was worse than that of TLNC ≥ 4 subgroup (median DSS, 13 mo vs 21 mo, χ2 = 11.035, P < 0.001). Moreover, for node-positive patients, a new cut-off value of six nodes was identified for the number of TLNC that clearly stratified them into 2 separate survival groups (< 6 or ≥ 6, respectively; median DSS, 15 mo vs 33 mo, χ2 = 11.820, P < 0.001). DSS progressively worsened with increasing PLNC and LNR, but no definite cut-off value could be identified. Multivariate analysis revealed histological grade, tumor node metastasis staging, TNLC and LNR to be independent predictors of DSS. Neither location of positive lymph nodes nor PNLC were identified as an independent variable by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Both TLNC and LNR are strong predictors of outcome after curative resection for GBC. The retrieval and examination of at least 6 nodes can influence staging quality and DSS, especially in node-positive patients. PMID:23964151

Radical lymph node dissection and assessment: Impact on gallbladder cancer prognosis.

PubMed

Liu, Gui-Jie; Li, Xue-Hua; Chen, Yan-Xin; Sun, Hui-Dong; Zhao, Gui-Mei; Hu, San-Yuan

2013-08-21

To investigate the lymph node metastasis patterns of gallbladder cancer (GBC) and evaluate the optimal categorization of nodal status as a critical prognostic factor. From May 1995 to December 2010, a total of 78 consecutive patients with GBC underwent a radical resection at Liaocheng People's Hospital. A radical resection was defined as removing both the primary tumor and the regional lymph nodes of the gallbladder. Demographic, operative and pathologic data were recorded. The lymph nodes retrieved were examined histologically for metastases routinely from each node. The positive lymph node count (PLNC) as well as the total lymph node count (TLNC) was recorded for each patient. Then the metastatic to examined lymph nodes ratio (LNR) was calculated. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and predictors of outcome were analyzed. With a median follow-up time of 26.50 mo (range, 2-132 mo), median DSS was 29.00 ± 3.92 mo (5-year survival rate, 20.51%). Nodal disease was found in 37 patients (47.44%). DSS of node-negative patients was significantly better than that of node-positive patients (median DSS, 40 mo vs 17 mo, χ² = 14.814, P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between N1 patients and N2 patients (median DSS, 18 mo vs 13 mo, χ² = 0.741, P = 0.389). Optimal TLNC was determined to be four. When node-negative patients were divided according to TLNC, there was no difference in DSS between TLNC < 4 subgroup and TLNC ≥ 4 subgroup (median DSS, 37 mo vs 54 mo, χ² = 0.715, P = 0.398). For node-positive patients, DSS of TLNC < 4 subgroup was worse than that of TLNC ≥ 4 subgroup (median DSS, 13 mo vs 21 mo, χ² = 11.035, P < 0.001). Moreover, for node-positive patients, a new cut-off value of six nodes was identified for the number of TLNC that clearly stratified them into 2 separate survival groups (< 6 or ≥ 6, respectively; median DSS, 15 mo vs 33 mo, χ² = 11.820, P < 0.001). DSS progressively worsened with increasing PLNC and LNR, but no definite cut-off value could be identified. Multivariate analysis revealed histological grade, tumor node metastasis staging, TNLC and LNR to be independent predictors of DSS. Neither location of positive lymph nodes nor PNLC were identified as an independent variable by multivariate analysis. Both TLNC and LNR are strong predictors of outcome after curative resection for GBC. The retrieval and examination of at least 6 nodes can influence staging quality and DSS, especially in node-positive patients.

Interactions in Undersaturated and Supersaturated Lysozyme Solutions: Static and Dynamic Light Scattering Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muschol, Martin; Rosenberger, Franz

1995-01-01

We have performed multiangle static and dynamic light scattering studies of lysozyme solutions at pH=4.7. The Rayleigh ratio R(sub g) and the collective diffusion coefficient D(sub c) were determined as function of both protein concentration c(sub p) and salt concentration c(sub s) with two different salts. At low salt concentrations, the scattering ratio K(sub c)(sub p)/R(sub theta) and diffusivity increased with protein concentration above the values for a monomeric, ideal solution. With increasing salt concentration this trend was eventually reversed. The hydrodynamic interactions of lysozyme in solution, extracted from the combination of static and dynamic scattering data, decreased significantly with increasing salt concentration. These observations reflect changes in protein interactions, in response to increased salt screening, from net repulsion to net attraction. Both salts had the same qualitative effect, but the quantitative behavior did not scale with the ionic strength of the solution. This indicates the presence of salt specific effects. At low protein concentrations, the slopes of K(sub c)(sub p)/R(sub theta) and D(sub c) vs c(sub p) were obtained. The dependence of the slopes on ionic strength was modeled using a DLVO potential for colloidal interactions of two spheres, with the net protein charge Z(sub e) and Hamaker constant A(sub H) as fitting parameters. The model reproduces the observed variations with ionic strength quite well. Independent fits to the static and dynamic data, however, led to different values of the fitting parameters. These and other shortcomings suggest that colloidal interaction models alone are insufficient to explain protein interactions in solutions.

Polyphenol-rich sorghum brans alter colon microbiota and impact species diversity and species richness after multiple bouts of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

PubMed

Ritchie, Lauren E; Sturino, Joseph M; Carroll, Raymond J; Rooney, Lloyd W; Azcarate-Peril, M Andrea; Turner, Nancy D

2015-03-01

The microbiota affects host health, and dysbiosis is involved in colitis. Sorghum bran influences butyrate concentrations during dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis, suggesting microbiota changes. We aimed to characterize the microbiota during colitis, and ascertain if polyphenol-rich sorghum bran diets mitigate these effects. Rats (n = 80) were fed diets containing 6% fiber from cellulose, or Black (3-deoxyanthocyanins), Sumac (condensed tannins), or Hi Tannin black (both) sorghum bran. Inflammation was induced three times using 3% DSS for 48 h (40 rats, 2 week separation), and the microbiota characterized by pyrosequencing. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was higher in Cellulose DSS rats. Colonic injury negatively correlated with Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Lactobacillales and Lactobacillus, and positively correlated with Unknown/Unclassified. Post DSS#2, richness was significantly lower in Sumac and Hi Tannin black. Post DSS#3 Bacteroidales, Bacteroides, Clostridiales, Lactobacillales and Lactobacillus were reduced, with no Clostridium identified. Diet significantly affected Bacteroidales, Bacteroides, Clostridiales and Lactobacillus post DSS#2 and #3. Post DSS#3 diet significantly affected all genus, including Bacteroides and Lactobacillus, and diversity and richness increased. Sumac and Hi Tannin black DSS had significantly higher richness compared to controls. Thus, these sorghum brans may protect against alterations observed during colitis including reduced microbial diversity and richness, and dysbiosis of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. © FEMS 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Synthetic peptides derived from salivary proteins and the control of surface charge densities of dental surfaces improve the inhibition of dental calculus formation.

PubMed

Grohe, Bernd

2017-08-01

Peptides descended from the salivary proteins statherin and histatin were recently identified in saliva and the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP), a proteomic layer coated on enamel. In particular, the statherin phosphopeptide DpSpSEEKFLR (DSS) was found to adsorb to enamel-like hydroxyapatite and inhibit plaque-related crystal formation. To determine the mechanism of these processes, we studied peptide-crystal interactions based on the sequences DSS and RKFHEKHHSHRGYR (RKF). The latter is a basic histatin sequence showing antimicrobial effects. To initiate crystallization we used calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), a rather secondary phase in the oral environment, however highly amenable to experimental analyses of nucleation and growth processes. Using electron microscopy we found that the peptides DSS, DSS-RKF and DSS-DSS all inhibit crystal formation; with DSS-DSS showing the strongest effects while RKF showed no effect. In addition, using either enamel-like or mica substrates, we found that the ratio of the substrate's surface charge densities was directly correlated with the ratio of COM nucleation rates on theses surfaces. The findings suggest that mineralization processes on enamel/AEP-films are controllable by the degree of peptide phosphorylation/acidity and the level of the enamel surface charge density. Both parameters can, when well adjusted, help to overcome periodontal disease and dental calculus formation. In addition, the presence of antimicrobial RKF will reduce the buildup of bacterial plaque. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Propolis from Different Geographic Origins Suppress Intestinal Inflammation in a Model of DSS-Induced Colitis is Associated with Decreased Bacteroides spp. in the Gut.

PubMed

Wang, Kai; Jin, Xiaolu; Li, Qiangqiang; Sawaya, Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland; Leu, Richard K Le; Conlon, Michael A; Wu, Liming; Hu, Fuliang

2018-06-11

Dietary supplementation with polyphenol-rich propolis can protect against experimentally-induced colitis. We examined whether different polyphenol compositions of Chinese propolis (CP) and Brazilian propolis (BP) influences their ability to protect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. HPLC-DAD/Q-TOF-MS analysis confirmed that polyphenol compositions of CP and BP were dissimilar. Rats were given CP or BP by gavage (300 mg/kg body weight) throughout the study, starting 1 week prior to DSS treatment for 1 week followed by 3 d without DSS. CP and BP significantly reduced the colitis disease activity index relative to controls not receiving propolis, prevented significant DSS-induced colonic tissue damage and increased resistance to DSS-induced colonic oxidative stress as shown by reduced malonaldehyde levels and increased T-AOC levels. CP and BP significantly reduced DSS-induced colonic apoptosis. Colonic inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 were suppressed by CP and BP, whereas only BP induced expression of TGF-β. CP, not BP, increased the diversity and richness of gut microbiota populations. Both forms of propolis significantly reduced populations of Bacteroides spp. Despite the dissimilar polyphenol compositions of CP and BP, their ability to protect against DSS-induced colitis is similar. Nevertheless, some different physiological impacts were observed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A multi-service data management platform for scientific oceanographic products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Anca, Alessandro; Conte, Laura; Nassisi, Paola; Palazzo, Cosimo; Lecci, Rita; Cretì, Sergio; Mancini, Marco; Nuzzo, Alessandra; Mirto, Maria; Mannarini, Gianandrea; Coppini, Giovanni; Fiore, Sandro; Aloisio, Giovanni

2017-02-01

An efficient, secure and interoperable data platform solution has been developed in the TESSA project to provide fast navigation and access to the data stored in the data archive, as well as a standard-based metadata management support. The platform mainly targets scientific users and the situational sea awareness high-level services such as the decision support systems (DSS). These datasets are accessible through the following three main components: the Data Access Service (DAS), the Metadata Service and the Complex Data Analysis Module (CDAM). The DAS allows access to data stored in the archive by providing interfaces for different protocols and services for downloading, variables selection, data subsetting or map generation. Metadata Service is the heart of the information system of the TESSA products and completes the overall infrastructure for data and metadata management. This component enables data search and discovery and addresses interoperability by exploiting widely adopted standards for geospatial data. Finally, the CDAM represents the back-end of the TESSA DSS by performing on-demand complex data analysis tasks.

Disk storage at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mascetti, L.; Cano, E.; Chan, B.; Espinal, X.; Fiorot, A.; González Labrador, H.; Iven, J.; Lamanna, M.; Lo Presti, G.; Mościcki, JT; Peters, AJ; Ponce, S.; Rousseau, H.; van der Ster, D.

2015-12-01

CERN IT DSS operates the main storage resources for data taking and physics analysis mainly via three system: AFS, CASTOR and EOS. The total usable space available on disk for users is about 100 PB (with relative ratios 1:20:120). EOS actively uses the two CERN Tier0 centres (Meyrin and Wigner) with 50:50 ratio. IT DSS also provide sizeable on-demand resources for IT services most notably OpenStack and NFS-based clients: this is provided by a Ceph infrastructure (3 PB) and few proprietary servers (NetApp). We will describe our operational experience and recent changes to these systems with special emphasis to the present usages for LHC data taking, the convergence to commodity hardware (nodes with 200-TB each with optional SSD) shared across all services. We also describe our experience in coupling commodity and home-grown solution (e.g. CERNBox integration in EOS, Ceph disk pools for AFS, CASTOR and NFS) and finally the future evolution of these systems for WLCG and beyond.

WAR DSS: A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CHEMICAL PROCESS DESIGN

EPA Science Inventory

The second generation of the Waste Reduction (WAR) Algorithm is constructed as a decision support system (DSS) in the design of chemical manufacturing facilities. The WAR DSS is a software tool that can help reduce the potential environmental impacts (PEIs) of industrial chemical...

32 CFR 321.14 - DSS implementation policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.14 DSS implementation policies. (a) General... matters of particular concern to the Defense Security Service. (b) Privacy Act rules application. Any... 32 National Defense 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false DSS implementation policies. 321.14 Section 321...

32 CFR 321.14 - DSS implementation policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.14 DSS implementation policies. (a) General... matters of particular concern to the Defense Security Service. (b) Privacy Act rules application. Any... 32 National Defense 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false DSS implementation policies. 321.14 Section 321...

32 CFR 321.14 - DSS implementation policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.14 DSS implementation policies. (a) General... matters of particular concern to the Defense Security Service. (b) Privacy Act rules application. Any... 32 National Defense 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false DSS implementation policies. 321.14 Section 321...

Chondrosarcoma of the Osseous Spine: An Analysis of Epidemiology, Patient Outcomes, and Prognostic Factors Using the SEER Registry From 1973 to 2012.

PubMed

Arshi, Armin; Sharim, Justin; Park, Don Y; Park, Howard Y; Bernthal, Nicholas M; Yazdanshenas, Hamed; Shamie, Arya N

2017-05-01

Retrospective analysis. To determine the epidemiology and prognostic indicators in patients with chondrosarcoma of the osseous spine. Chondrosarcoma of the spine is rare, with limited data on its epidemiology, clinicopathologic features, and treatment outcomes. Therapy centers on complete en bloc resection with radiotherapy reserved for subtotal resection or advanced disease. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Registry was queried for patients with chondrosarcoma of the osseous spine from 1973 to 2012. Study variables included age, sex, race, year of diagnosis, size, grade, extent of disease, and treatment modality. The search identified 973 cases of spinal chondrosarcoma. Mean age at diagnosis was 51.6 years, and 627% of patients were males. Surgical resection and radiotherapy were performed in 75.2% and 21.3% of cases, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of 53% and 64%, respectively, at 5 years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (OS, P < 0.001; DSS, P = 0.007), grade (OS, P < 0.001; DSS, P < 0.001), surgical resection (OS, P < 0.001; DSS, P < 0.001), and extent of disease (OS, P < 0.001; DSS, P < 0.001) were independent survival determinants; tumor size was an independent predictor of OS (P = 0.006). For confined disease, age (P = 0.013), decade of diagnosis (P = 0.023), and surgery (P = 0.017) were independent determinants of OS. For locally invasive disease, grade (OS, P < 0.001; DSS, P = 0.003), surgery (OS, P = 0.013; DSS, P = 0.046), and size (OS, P = 0.001, DSS, P = 0.002) were independent determinants of OS and DSS. Radiotherapy was an independent indicator of worse OS for both confined (P = 0.004) and locally invasive disease (P = 0.002). For metastatic disease, grade (OS, P = 0.021; DSS, P = 0.012) and surgery (OS, P = 0.007; DSS, P = 0.004) were survival determinants for both OS and DSS, whereas radiotherapy predicted improved OS (P = 0.039). Surgical resection confers survival benefit in patients with chondrosarcoma of the spine independent of extent of disease. Radiotherapy improves survival in patients with metastatic disease and worsens outcomes in patients with confined and locally invasive disease. 4.

The Synthesis of 1,1’-Bicobaltocene Salts of Tetracyano-P-Quinodimethanide and the Sturcture of 1,1’-Bicobaltocene (Co (III) Co (III)) (TCNQ)3,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-03

Salts of Bicobaltocenet-The hexafluorophosphate salt of bicobaltocene(III,III) was prepared by the method of Davison and Smart 4 and the orange product...tetrahydrofuran. The lithium salt of TCNO was prepared by adding a boiling solution of lithium iodide in acetonitrile to a boiling solution of TCNQ in...compound 1,1’-bicobaltocene[Co(III)Co(III)[TCNQJ 3 resulted from the reaction of the mixed valence hexafluorophosphate salt with a mixture of [Et3NH

Analytical Results from Salt Solution Feed Tank (SSFT) Samples HTF-16-6 and HTF-16-40

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

Peters, T.

Two samples from the Salt Solution Feed Tank (SSFT) were analyzed by SRNL, HTF-16-6 and HTF-16-40. Multiple analyses of these samples indicate a general composition almost identical to that of the Salt Batch 8-B feed and the Tank 21H sample results.

Decision support system for drinking water management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janža, M.

2012-04-01

The problems in drinking water management are complex and often solutions must be reached under strict time constrains. This is especially distinct in case of environmental accidents in the catchment areas of the wells that are used for drinking water supply. The beneficial tools that can help decision makers and make program of activities more efficient are decision support systems (DSS). In general they are defined as computer-based support systems that help decision makers utilize data and models to solve unstructured problems. The presented DSS was developed in the frame of INCOME project which is focused on the long-term stable and safe drinking water supply in Ljubljana. The two main water resources Ljubljana polje and Barje alluvial aquifers are characterized by a strong interconnection of surface and groundwater, high vulnerability, high velocities of groundwater flow and pollutant transport. In case of sudden pollution, reactions should be very fast to avoid serious impact to the water supply. In the area high pressures arising from urbanization, industry, traffic, agriculture and old environmental burdens. The aim of the developed DSS is to optimize the activities in cases of emergency water management and to optimize the administrative work regarding the activities that can improve groundwater quality status. The DSS is an interactive computer system that utilizes data base, hydrological modelling, and experts' and stakeholders' knowledge. It consists of three components, tackling the different abovementioned issues in water management. The first one utilizes the work on identification, cleaning up and restoration of illegal dumpsites that are a serious threat to the qualitative status of groundwater. The other two components utilize the predictive capability of the hydrological model and scenario analysis. The user interacts with the system by a graphical interface that guides the user step-by-step to the recommended remedial measures. Consequently, the acquisition of information to support the water management's decisions is simplified and faster, thus contributing to more efficient water management and a safer supply of drinking water.

Calculation of amorphous silica solubilities at 25° to 300°C and apparent cation hydration numbers in aqueous salt solutions using the concept of effective density of water

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fournier, Robert O.; Williams, Marshall L.

1983-01-01

The solubility of amorphous silica in aqueous salt solutions at 25° to 300°C can be calculated using information on its solubility in pure water and a model in which the activity of water in the salt solution is defined to equal the effective density. pe, of “free” water in that solution. At temperatures of 100°C and above, pe closely equals the product of the density of the solution times the weight fraction of water in the solution. At 25°C, a correction parameter must be applied to pe that incorporates a term called the apparent cation hydration number, h. Because of the many assumptions and other uncertainties involved in determining values of h, by the model used here, the reported numbers are not necessarily real hydration numbers even though they do agree with some published values determined by activity and diffusion methods. Whether or not h is a real hydration number, it would appear to be useful in its inclusion within a more extensive activity coefficient term that describes the departure of silica solubilities in concentrated salt solutions from expected behavior according to the model presented here. Values of h can be calculated from measured amorphous silica solubilities in salt solutions at 25°C provided there is no complexing of dissolved silica with the dissolved salt, or if the degree of complexing is known. The previously postulated aqueous silica-sulfate complexing in aqueous Na2SO4 solutions is supported by results of the present effective density of water model

Effect of protein solution components in the adsorption of Herbaspirillum seropedicae GlnB protein on mica.

PubMed

Ferreira, Cecília F G; Benelli, Elaine M; Klein, Jorge J; Schreiner, Wido; Camargo, Paulo C

2009-10-15

The adsorption of proteins and its buffer solution on mica surfaces was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Different salt concentration of the Herbaspirillum seropedicae GlnB protein (GlnB-Hs) solution deposited on mica was investigated. This protein is a globular, soluble homotrimer (36kDa), member of PII-like proteins family involved in signal transducing in prokaryote. Supramolecular structures were formed when this protein was deposited onto bare mica surface. The topographic AFM images of the GlnB-Hs films showed that at high salt concentration the supramolecular structures are spherical-like, instead of the typical doughnut-like shape for low salt concentration. AFM images of NaCl and Tris from the buffer solution showed structures with the same pattern as those observed for high salt protein solution, misleading the image interpretation. XPS experiments showed that GlnB protein film covers the mica surface without chemical reaction.

Assessment of restoration measures efficiency for soil contamination in Mediterranean Ecosystem. The case study of Guadiamar Green Corridor in the context of RECARE project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anaya-Romero, Maria; José Blanco-Velázquez, Francisco; Muñoz-Vallés, Sara

2017-04-01

Restoration of soil ecosystems contaminated by heavy metals requires their characterization and the assessment of measures for risk reduction. Particular soil traits and history define different levels of resilience, so soil contamination assessment needs to take into account a site-by-site approach, which considers both the particular environmental characteristics of soils and the human activities. Nevertheless, current approaches for soil contamination assessment developed as academy and market solutions continue to be rather qualitative, and they do not allow as far the selection of efficient remediation measures to solve soil contamination at the long-term and extensively over larger áreas. In this context, under the framework of RECARE (Preventing and Remediating degradation of Soils in Europe through Land Care) project, we are designing a Decision Support System (DSS) which automatically assess soil contamination values by heavy metals in the topsoil and evaluate the efficiency of soil remediation measures under scenarios of climate and land-use change. The DSS works by simulating the spatio-temporal efficiency of three widely applied remediation measures (compost, sugar beet lime and iron-rich clayey materials). Input variables are divided into: (I) climate variables (mainly precipitation and temperature), (II) site variables (elevation, slope and erodibility), (III) soil (heavy metal content, pH, sand/clay content, soil organic carbon and bulk density), (IV) land use and (V) remediation measures. The predictor variables are related to soil functions expressed by % of change of heavy metal content (Currently the DSS consider cadmium dynamics due to the worldwide distribution in agricultural system and toxicity impact on health and plants), soil carbon and erosion dynamics. The pilot study area is the Guadiamar valley (SW Spain) where the main threat is soil contamination, after a mine spill occurred on April 1998. Since that time, a huge soil databse of more than 30 Gbytes, has been produced by different stakeholders (administration, scientist and private sector), which covered the spatial-temporal evolution of soil contamination by specific soil remediation measures, so the affected area has become the "virtual lab" to develop and test the DSS. Further development of the DSS tool includes its validation/calibration in other European climate zones, such as Copsa Mica in Romania, and the inclusion of new input and output variables to improve the accurancy of results.

A Participants' DSS for a Management Game with a DSS Generator.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yeo, Gee Kin; Nah, Fui Hoon

1992-01-01

Describes the design of a decision support system (DSS) for a management game called MAGNUS (Management Game for National University of Singapore). Built-in models for performance analysis and decision making are explained; database query and model building are described; and future work is discussed. (11 references) (LRW)

GridPV Toolbox

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

Broderick, Robert; Quiroz, Jimmy; Grijalva, Santiago

2014-07-15

Matlab Toolbox for simulating the impact of solar energy on the distribution grid. The majority of the functions are useful for interfacing OpenDSS and MATLAB, and they are of generic use for commanding OpenDSS from MATLAB and retrieving GridPV Toolbox information from simulations. A set of functions is also included for modeling PV plant output and setting up the PV plant in the OpenDSS simulation. The toolbox contains functions for modeling the OpenDSS distribution feeder on satellite images with GPS coordinates. Finally, example simulations functions are included to show potential uses of the toolbox functions.

Decision support systems and the healthcare strategic planning process: a case study.

PubMed

Lundquist, D L; Norris, R M

1991-01-01

The repertoire of applications that comprises health-care decision support systems (DSS) includes analyses of clinical, financial, and operational activities. As a whole, these applications facilitate developing comprehensive and interrelated business and medical models that support the complex decisions required to successfully manage today's health-care organizations. Kennestone Regional Health Care System's use of DSS to facilitate strategic planning has precipitated marked changes in the organization's method of determining capital allocations. This case study discusses Kennestone's use of DSS in the strategic planning process, including profiles of key DSS modeling components.

Group velocity locked vector dissipative solitons in a high repetition rate fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yiyang; Li, Lei; Liu, Deming; Sun, Qizhen; Wu, Zhichao; Xu, Zhilin; Tang, Dingyuan; Fu, Songnian; Zhao, Luming

2016-08-01

Vectorial nature of dissipative solitons (DSs) with high repetition rates is studied for the first time in a normal-dispersion fiber laser. Despite the fact that the formed DSs are strongly chirped and the repetition rate is greater than 100 MHz, polarization locked and polarization rotating group velocity locked vector DSs can be formed under 129.3 MHz fundamental mode-locking and 258.6 MHz harmonic mode-locking of the fiber laser, respectively. The two orthogonally polarized components of these vector DSs possess distinctly different central wavelengths and travel together at the same group velocity in the laser cavity, resulting in a gradual spectral edge and small steps on the optical spectra, which can be considered as an auxiliary indicator of the group velocity locked vector DSs.

Disease-specific survival following the brachytherapy management of prostate cancer.

PubMed

Stock, Richard G; Cesaretti, Jamie A; Stone, Nelson N

2006-03-01

To determine disease-specific survival (DSS) and associated predictive factors after prostate brachytherapy. A total of 1561 patients underwent brachytherapy for prostate cancer from 1990 to 2004 (median follow-up, 3.8 years). Treatment included brachytherapy alone (n = 634), brachytherapy and hormonal therapy (n = 420), and implant and external beam therapy (n = 507). The DSS and overall survival rates at 10 years were 96% and 74%, respectively. Gleason score significantly impacted DSS, with 10-year rates of 98%, 91%, and 92% for scores of < or = 6, 7, and > or = 8, respectively (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that PSA status after treatment had the most significant effect on DSS. Ten-year DSS rates were 100%, 52%, and 98%, respectively for patients without PSA failure (n = 1430), failure with a doubling time (DT) < or = 10 months (n = 64), and failure with a DT > 10 months (n = 67), respectively (p < 0.0001). In patients with PSA failure, DSS rates were 30%, 67%, and 98%, for those with DT < or = 6 months, > 6-10 months, and > 10 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). The 10-year DSS rate supports the efficacy of brachytherapy. Patients dying with disease within 10 years after treatment harbor inherently aggressive cancer with high Gleason scores and short DT.

A DSS for sustainable development and environmental protection of agricultural regions.

PubMed

Manos, Basil D; Papathanasiou, Jason; Bournaris, Thomas; Voudouris, Kostas

2010-05-01

This paper presents a decision support system (DSS) for sustainable development and environmental protection of agricultural regions developed in the framework of the Interreg-Archimed project entitled WaterMap (development and utilization of vulnerability maps for the monitoring and management of groundwater resources in the ARCHIMED areas). Its aim is to optimize the production plan of an agricultural region taking in account the available resources, the environmental parameters, and the vulnerability map of the region. The DSS is based on an optimization multicriteria model. The spatial integration of vulnerability maps in the DSS enables regional authorities to design policies for optimal agricultural development and groundwater protection from the agricultural land uses. The DSS can further be used to simulate different scenarios and policies by the local stakeholders due to changes on different social, economic, and environmental parameters. In this way, they can achieve alternative production plans and agricultural land uses as well as to estimate economic, social, and environmental impacts of different policies. The DSS is computerized and supported by a set of relational databases. The corresponding software has been developed in a Microsoft Windows XP platform, using Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Access, and the LINDO library. For demonstration reasons, the paper includes an application of the DSS in a region of Northern Greece.

Cardioprotective Effect of Danshensu against Ischemic/Reperfusion Injury via c-Subunit of ATP Synthase Inhibition

PubMed Central

Zhao, JingYi; Fan, Zixuan; Bao, Jiadi; Sun, Dawei; Sun, Chun

2017-01-01

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening is the main culprit of ischemic/reperfusion (IR) injury. It is reported that c-subunit of ATP synthase is the core component of MPTP. Danshensu (DSS), a monomer isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Danshen, has showed cardioprotective effect against IR injury through unknown mechanism. In this study, rat hearts were suspended in Langendorff instrument and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer containing DSS for 60 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of global ischemia. Parameters including heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure, and the rate of left ventricle diastolic pressure change were recorded to assess their cardiac function. All these indexes were improved in DSS group. The rate of cardiomyocytes apoptosis and MPTP opening were both inhibited in DSS group. In addition, DSS administration leads to downregulation of c-subunit of ATP synthase in both mRNA and protein levels. Consistently, when c-subunit of ATP synthase was overexpressed in H9C2 cells through pcDNA3/5G1 plasmid transfection, MPTP opening was enhanced when the cardioprotective effect of DSS also tapers. In conclusion, DSS could alleviate cardiac IR injury via inhibiting c-subunit of ATP synthase expression. PMID:29250127

Experimental colitis is exacerbated by concomitant infection with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis.

PubMed

Suwandi, Abdulhadi; Bargen, Imke; Roy, Bishnudeo; Pils, Marina C; Krey, Martina; Zur Lage, Susanne; Basler, Tina; Rohde, Manfred; Falk, Christine S; Hornef, Mathias W; Goethe, Ralph; Weiss, Siegfried

2014-11-01

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the human gastrointestinal tract. Although genetic, immunological, environmental, and bacterial factors have been implicated, the pathogenesis is incompletely understood. The histopathological appearance of CD strikingly resembles Johne's disease, a ruminant inflammatory bowel disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), but a causative role of MAP in CD has not been established. In this work, we hypothesized that MAP might exacerbate an already existing intestinal disease. We combined dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis with MAP infection in mice and monitored the immune response and bacterial count in different organs. An increased size of liver and spleen was observed in DSS-treated and MAP-infected animals (DSS + MAP) as compared with DSS-treated uninfected (DSS + PBS) mice. Similarly, DSS treatment increased the number and size of MAP-induced liver granulomas and enhanced the MAP counts in enteric tissue. MAP infection in turn delayed the mucosal healing of DSS-induced tissue damage. Finally, high numbers of MAP were found in mesenteric fat tissue causing large granuloma and necrotic regions. Taken together, we present an in vivo model to study the role of MAP infection in CD. Our results confirm the hypothesis that MAP is able to exacerbate existing intestinal inflammation.

Lactobacillus reuteri Maintains a Functional Mucosal Barrier during DSS Treatment Despite Mucus Layer Dysfunction

PubMed Central

Willing, Ben; Petersson, Joel; Rang, Sara; Phillipson, Mia; Holm, Lena; Roos, Stefan

2012-01-01

Treatment with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri has been shown to prevent dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. This is partly due to reduced P-selectin-dependent leukocyte- and platelet-endothelial cell interactions, however, the mechanism behind this protective effect is still unknown. In the present study a combination of culture dependent and molecular based T-RFLP profiling was used to investigate the influence of L. reuteri on the colonic mucosal barrier of DSS treated rats. It was first demonstrated that the two colonic mucus layers of control animals had different bacterial community composition and that fewer bacteria resided in the firmly adherent layer. During DSS induced colitis, the number of bacteria in the inner firmly adherent mucus layer increased and bacterial composition of the two layers no longer differed. In addition, induction of colitis dramatically altered the microbial composition in both firmly and loosely adherent mucus layers. Despite protecting against colitis, treatment with L. reuteri did not improve the integrity of the mucus layer or prevent distortion of the mucus microbiota caused by DSS. However, L. reuteri decreased the bacterial translocation from the intestine to mesenteric lymph nodes during DSS treatment, which might be an important part of the mechanisms by which L. reuteri ameliorates DSS induced colitis. PMID:23029509

Isolation of nonvolatile, organic solutes from natural waters by zeotrophic distillation of water from N,N-dimethylformamide

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leenheer, J.A.; Brown, P.A.; Stiles, E.A.

1987-01-01

Nonvolatile, organic solutes that comprise the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in saline waters were isolated by removal of the water by distillation from a N,N-dimethylformamideformic acid-acetonitrile mixture. Salts isolated with the DOC were removed by crystallization of sodium chloride and sodium sulfate from the solvent mixture, removal of silicic acid by acidification and precipitation, removal of boric acid by methylation and volatilization, and removal of phosphate by zinc acetate precipitation. Chemical alteration of the organic solutes was minimized during evaporative concentration steps by careful control of acid concentrations in the solvent mixture and was minimized during drying by conversion of the samples to pyridinium and sodium salts. Recoveries of various hydrophilic organic standards from aqueous salt solutions and recoveries of natural organic solutes from various water samples varied from 60 to 100%. Losses of organic solutes during the isolation procedure were nonselective and related to the number of salt- and precipitate-washing cycles in the procedure.

Fourteen-year survival of Pseudomonas cepacia in a salts solution preserved with benzalkonium chloride.

PubMed Central

Geftic, S G; Heymann, H; Adair, F W

1979-01-01

A strain of Pseudomonas cepacia that survived for 14 years (1963 to 1977) as a contaminant in an inorganic salt solution which contained commercial 0.05% benzalkonium chloride (CBC) as an antimicrobial preservative, was compared to a recent clinical isolate of P. cepacia. Ammonium acetate was present in the concentrated stock CBC solution, and served as a carbon and nitrogen source for growth when carried over into the salts solution with the CBC. The isolate's resistance to pure benzalkonium chloride was increased step-wise to a concentration of 16%. Plate counts showed 4 x 10(3) colony-forming units per ml in the salts solution. Comparison of growth rates, mouse virulence, antibiotics resistance spectra, and substrate requirements disclosed no differences between the contaminant and a recently isolated clinical strain of P. cepacia. The results indicate that it is critical that pharmaceutical solutions containing benzalkonium chloride as an antimicrobial preservative be formulated without extraneous carbon and nitrogen sources or be preserved with additional antimicrobial agents. PMID:453827

Salt weathering in Egyptian limestone after laboratory simulations with continuous flow of salt solutions at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aly, Nevin; Gomez-Heras, Miguel; Hamed, Ayman; Alvarez de Buergo, Monica

2013-04-01

weathering in Egyptian limestone after laboratory simulations with continuous flow of salt solutions at different temperatures Nevin Aly Mohamed (1), Miguel Gomez - Heras(2), Ayman Hamed Ahmed (1), and Monica Alvarez de Buergo(2). (1) Faculty of Pet. & Min. Engineering- Suez Canal University, Suez, Egypt, (2) Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC-UCM) Madrid. Spain. Limestone is one of the most frequent building stones in Egypt and is used since the time of ancient Egyptians and salt weathering is one of the main threats to its conservation. Most of the limestone used in historical monuments in Cairo is a biomicrite extracted from the Mid-Eocene Mokattam Group. During this work, cylindrical samples (2.4 cm diameter and approx. 4.8 cm length) were subjected, in a purpose-made simulation chamber, to simulated laboratory weathering tests with fixed salt concentration (10% weight NaCl solution), at different temperatures, which were kept constant throughout each test (10, 20, 30, 40 oC). During each test, salt solutions flowed continuously imbibing samples by capilarity. Humidity within the simulation chamber was reduced using silica gel to keep it low and constant to increase evaporation rate. Temperature, humidity inside the simulation chamber and samples weight were digitally monitored during each test. Results show the advantages of the proposed experimental methodology using a continuous flow of salt solutions and shed light on the effect of temperature on the dynamics of salt crystallization on and within samples. Research funded by mission sector of high education ministry, Egypt and Geomateriales S2009/MAT-1629.

Specific ion-protein interactions dictate solubility behavior of a monoclonal antibody at low salt concentrations.

PubMed

Zhang, Le; Zhang, Jifeng

2012-09-04

The perturbation of salt ions on the solubility of a monoclonal antibody was systematically studied at various pHs in Na(2)SO(4), NaNO(3), NaCl, NaF, MgSO(4), Mg(NO(3))(2) and MgCl(2) solutions below 350 mM. At pH 7.1, close to the pI, all of the salts increased the solubility of the antibody, following the order of SO(4)(2-) > NO(3)(-) > Cl(-) > F(-) for anions and Mg(2+) > Na(+) for cations. At pH 5.3 where the antibody had a net positive charge, the anions initially followed the order of SO(4)(2-) > NO(3)(-) > Cl(-) > F(-) for effectiveness in reducing the solubility and then switched to increasing the solubility retaining the same order. Furthermore, the antibody was more soluble in the Mg(2+) salt solutions than in the corresponding Na(+) salt solutions with the same anion. At pH 9.0 where the antibody had a net negative charge, an initial decrease in the protein solubility was observed in the solutions of the Mg(2+) salts and NaF, but not in the rest of the Na(+) salt solutions. Then, the solubility of the antibody was increased by the anions in the order of SO(4)(2-) > NO(3)(-) > Cl(-) > F(-). The above complex behavior is explained based on the ability of both cation and anion from a salt to modulate protein-protein interactions through their specific binding to the protein surface.

Methods of producing adsorption media including a metal oxide

DOEpatents

Mann, Nicholas R; Tranter, Troy J

2014-03-04

Methods of producing a metal oxide are disclosed. The method comprises dissolving a metal salt in a reaction solvent to form a metal salt/reaction solvent solution. The metal salt is converted to a metal oxide and a caustic solution is added to the metal oxide/reaction solvent solution to adjust the pH of the metal oxide/reaction solvent solution to less than approximately 7.0. The metal oxide is precipitated and recovered. A method of producing adsorption media including the metal oxide is also disclosed, as is a precursor of an active component including particles of a metal oxide.

Chronopotentiometry of refractory metals, actinides and oxyanions in molten salts: A review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.

1992-01-01

The applications of chronopotentiometry to the study of electrochemical behavior of three technologically important areas of refractory metals, actinides, and oxyanions in molten salts are critically reviewed. Chronopotentiometry is a very versatile diagnostic tool to understand the reaction mechanism of the electrode processes for the electrochemical reduction/oxidation of these electroactive species in molten salt solutions. Well adherent, compact, and uniformly thick coatings of refractory metals may be electrodeposited from their solutions in molten salts.

Chemical characteristics of atmospheric PM2.5 loads during air pollution episodes in Giza, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Salwa K.; Khoder, Mamdouh I.

2017-02-01

Several types of pollution episodes, including dust storm (DSs), haze dust (HDs), straw rice combustions (SRCs) are common phenomena and represent severe environmental hazard in Egypt. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the chemical characteristics of aerosol during air pollution episodes at an urban area in Giza, Egypt. PM2.5 samples during various PM episodes during 2013-2014 were collected and analyzed. Results indicate that the highest PM2.5 mass concentrations were found during DSs (250 μg/m3), followed by HDs (130 μg/m3) and SRCs (103 μg/m3). Average PM2.5 mass concentrations were 1.91, 3.68 and 1.68 times higher than on normal days (NDs) during HDs, DSs and SRCs, respectively. The highest total water-soluble ions concentration was 61.1 μg/m3 during HDs, followed by SRCs (41.9 μg/m3) and DSs (35.2 μg/m3). SO42- is the most abundant chemical components on the three PM episodes. Secondary inorganic ions (NO3-, SO42-, and NH4+) were enriched during HDs. The total secondary inorganic ions concentrations were 3.17, 1.39 and 1.75 times higher than NDs during HDs days, DSs days and SRCs days, respectively. PM from SRCs showed high K+ and Cl-. SO42-/K+, NO3-/SO42- and Cl-/K+ ratios proved effective as indicators for different pollution episodes. A Ca2+/Al ratio indicates that soil dust was dominant during DSs. Ion balance calculations indicated that PM2.5 from HDs was acidic, while the DSs and SRCs particles were alkaline and the NDs particle's was nearly neutral. The total crustal and anthropogenic metals concentrations were higher in DSs than other PM episodes and normal days. The enrichment factors values in PM episodes and normal days indicate that Fe and Mn in NDs, HDs, DSs and SRCs as well as Cr and Ni in DSs come mainly from crustal sources, whereas Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in PM episodes and NDs are anthropogenic.

Effects of nitrogen in shielding gas on microstructure evolution and localized corrosion behavior of duplex stainless steel welding joint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhiqiang; Jing, Hongyang; Xu, Lianyong; Han, Yongdian; Zhao, Lei; Zhou, Chao

2017-05-01

The effects of nitrogen addition in shielding gas on microstructure evolution and localized corrosion behavior of duplex stainless steel (DSS) welds were studied. N2-supplemented shielding gas facilitated the primary austenite formation, suppressed the Cr2N precipitation in weld root, and increased the microhardnesses of weld metal. Furthermore, N2-supplemented shielding gas increased pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) of austenite, but which decreased slightly PREN of ferrite. The modified double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation in 2 M H2SO4 + 1 M HCl was an effective method to study the localized corrosion of the different zones in the DSS welds. The adding 2% N2 to pure Ar shielding gas improved the localized corrosion resistance in the DSS welds, which was due to compensation for nitrogen loss and promoting nitrogen further solution in the austenite phases, suppression of the Cr2N precipitation in the weld root, and increase of primary austenite content with higher PREN than the ferrite and secondary austenite. Secondary austenite are prone to selective corrosion because of lower PREN compared with ferrite and primary austenite. Cr2N precipitation in the pure Ar shielding weld root and heat affected zone caused the pitting corrosion within the ferrite and the intergranular corrosion at the ferrite boundary. In addition, sigma and M23C6 precipitation resulted in the intergranular corrosion at the ferrite boundary.

Pretreatment and Treatment With L-Arginine Attenuate Weight Loss and Bacterial Translocation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colitis.

PubMed

Andrade, Maria Emília Rabelo; Santos, Rosana das Graças Carvalho Dos; Soares, Anne Danieli Nascimento; Costa, Kátia Anunciação; Fernandes, Simone Odília Antunes; de Souza, Cristina Maria; Cassali, Geovanni Dantas; de Souza, Adna Luciana; Faria, Ana Maria Caetano; Cardoso, Valbert Nascimento

2016-11-01

Imbalances in a variety of factors, including genetics, intestinal flora, and mucosal immunity, can contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis and its side effects. This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment or treatment with arginine by oral administration on intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation (BT), and mucosal intestinal damage due to colitis. C57BL/6 mice were distributed into 4 groups: standard diet and water (C: control group), standard diet and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution (Col: colitis group), 2% L-arginine supplementation for 7 days prior to DSS administration and during disease induction (PT: pretreated group), and 2% L-arginine supplementation during disease induction (T: treated group). Colitis was induced by administration of 1.5% DSS for 7 days. After 14 days, intestinal permeability and BT were evaluated; colons were collected for histologic analysis and determination of cytokines; feces were collected for measurement of immunoglobulin A (IgA). The Col group showed increased intestinal permeability (C vs Col: P < .05) and BT (C vs Col: P < .05). In the arginine-supplemented groups (PT and T), this amino acid tended to decrease intestinal permeability. Arginine decreased BT to liver during PT (P < .05) and to blood, liver, spleen, and lung during T (P < .05). Histologic analysis showed that arginine preserved the intestinal mucosa and tended to decreased inflammation. Arginine attenuates weight loss and BT in mice with colitis. © 2015 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Effects of arachidonic acid intake on inflammatory reactions in dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in rats.

PubMed

Naito, Yukiko; Ji, Xu; Tachibana, Shigehiro; Aoki, Satoko; Furuya, Mami; Tazura, Yoshiyuki; Miyazawa, Daisuke; Harauma, Akiko; Moriguchi, Toru; Nagata, Tomoko; Iwai, Naoharu; Ohara, Naoki

2015-09-14

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the administration of oral arachidonic acid (AA) in rats with or without dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease. Male Wistar rats were administered AA at 0, 5, 35 or 240 mg/kg daily by gavage for 8 weeks. Inflammatory bowel disease was induced by replacing drinking water with 3 % DSS solution during the last 7 d of the AA dosing period. These animals passed loose stools, diarrhoea and red-stained faeces. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 concentration and myeloperoxidase activity in the colonic tissue were significantly increased in the animals given AA at 240 mg/kg compared with the animals given AA at 0 mg/kg. Thromboxane B2 concentration in the medium of cultured colonic mucosae isolated from these groups was found to be dose-dependently increased by AA, and the increase was significant at 35 and 240 mg/kg. Leukotriene B4 concentration was also significantly increased and saturated at 5 mg/kg. In addition, AA at 240 mg/kg promoted DSS-induced colonic mucosal oedema with macrophage infiltration. In contrast, administration of AA for 8 weeks, even at 240 mg/kg, showed no effects on the normal rats. These results suggest that in rats with bowel disease AA metabolism is affected by oral AA, even at 5 mg/kg per d, and that excessive AA may aggravate inflammation, whereas AA shows no effects in rats without inflammatory bowel disease.

A combined physicochemical-biological method of NaCl extraction from the irrigation solution in the BTLSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trifonov, Sergey V.; Tikhomirov, Alexander A.; Ushakova, Sofya; Tikhomirova, Natalia

2016-07-01

The use of processed human wastes as a source of minerals for plants in closed biotechnical life support systems (BTLSS) leads to high salt levels in the irrigation solution, as urine contains high concentrations of NaCl. It is important to develop a process that would effectively decrease NaCl concentration in the irrigation solution and return this salt to the crew's diet. The salt-tolerant plants (Salicornia europea) used to reduce NaCl concentration in the irrigation solution require higher salt concentrations than those of the solution, and this problem cannot be resolved by concentrating the solution. At the same time, NaCl extracted from mineralized wastes by physicochemical methods is not pure enough to be included in the crew's diet. This study describes an original physicochemical method of NaCl extraction from the solution, which is intended to be used in combination with the biological method of NaCl extraction by using saltwort plants. The physicochemical method produces solutions with high NaCl concentrations, and saltwort plants serve as a biological filter in the final phase, to produce table salt. The study reports the order in which physicochemical and biological methods of NaCl extraction from the irrigation solution should be used to enable rapid and effective inclusion of NaCl into the cycling of the BTLSS with humans. This study was carried out in the IBP SB RAS and supported by the grant of the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 14-14-00599).

MAG-EPA reduces severity of DSS-induced colitis in rats.

PubMed

Morin, Caroline; Blier, Pierre U; Fortin, Samuel

2016-05-15

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by diffuse inflammation of the intestinal mucosa of the large bowel. Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acid supplementation has been associated with a decreased production of inflammatory cytokines involved in UC pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the preventive and therapeutic potential of eicosapentaenoic acid monoglyceride (MAG-EPA) in an in vivo rats model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). DSS rats were untreated or treated per os with MAG-EPA. Morphological, histological, and biochemical analyses were performed following MAG-EPA administrations. Morphological and histological analyses revealed that MAG-EPA pretreatment (12 days pre-DSS) and treatment (6 days post-DSS) exhibited strong activity in reducing severity of disease in DSS rats. Following MAG-EPA administrations, tissue levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were markedly lower compared with rats treated only with DSS. MAG-EPA per os administration decrease neutrophil infiltration in colon tissues, as depicted by myelohyperoxidase activity. Results also revealed a reduced activation of NF-κB pathways correlated with a decreased expression of COX-2 in colon homogenates derived from MAG-EPA-pretreated and treated rats. Tension measurements performed on colon tissues revealed that contractile responses to methacholine and relaxing effect induced by sodium nitroprusside were largely increased following MAG-EPA treatment. The combined treatment of MAG-EPA and vitamin E displayed an antagonistic effect on anti-inflammatory properties of MAG-EPA in DSS rats. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

A Novel Modification of the AOM/DSS Model for Inducing Intestinal Adenomas in Mice.

PubMed

Angelou, Anastasios; Andreatos, Nikolaos; Antoniou, Efstathios; Zacharioudaki, Argiro; Theodoropoulos, George; Damaskos, Christos; Garmpis, Nikolaos; Yuan, Chunhui; Xiao, Weidong; Theocharis, Stamatios; Zografos, George; Papalois, Apostolos; Margonis, Georgios Antonios

2018-06-01

Our aim was to develop an animal model of the precancerous stages of colitis-associated carcinogenesis by modifying the established azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) protocol. Six mice were treated with varying cycles of DSS following AOM administration as above (group 1: three mice received three 5-day cycles of 3.0% DSS and group 2: three mice received three 7-day cycles of 2.5% DSS; every cycle was followed by a 2-week rest period) and were sacrificed on day 84 of the experiment. By contrast, three female C57BL6 mice (group 3) were treated with a single intraperitoneal dose (10 mg/kg of body weight) of AOM followed by three 5-day cycles of oral 2.5% DSS, with each cycle interrupted by a 2-week rest period. The mice of this group were sacrificed at 60 days. In groups 1 and 2, cancer was noted in five out of the six mice. In group 3, adenomas with dysplastic lesions were noted in all of the mice, but none had developed adenocarcinoma. Our results suggest that the administration of three 5-day cycles of 2.5% DSS following an initial dose of AOM may successfully induce adenoma formation without the concurrent presence of carcinoma in female C57BL6 mice that are sacrificed on experimental day 60. In turn, this modification of the widely used AOM/DSS protocol may constitute a novel approach for investigating colitis-related colonic adenomas. Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Formal analysis of the surgical pathway and development of a new software tool to assist surgeons in the decision making in primary breast surgery.

PubMed

Catanuto, Giuseppe; Pappalardo, Francesco; Rocco, Nicola; Leotta, Marco; Ursino, Venera; Chiodini, Paolo; Buggi, Federico; Folli, Secondo; Catalano, Francesca; Nava, Maurizio B

2016-10-01

The increased complexity of the decisional process in breast cancer surgery is well documented. With this study we aimed to create a software tool able to assist patients and surgeons in taking proper decisions. We hypothesized that the endpoints of breast cancer surgery could be addressed combining a set of decisional drivers. We created a decision support system software tool (DSS) and an interactive decision tree. A formal analysis estimated the information gain derived from each feature in the process. We tested the DSS on 52 patients and we analyzed the concordance of decisions obtained by different users and between the DSS suggestions and the actual surgery. We also tested the ability of the system to prevent post breast conservation deformities. The information gain revealed that patients preferences are the root of our decision tree. An observed concordance respectively of 0.98 and 0.88 was reported when the DSS was used twice by an expert operator or by a newly trained operator vs. an expert one. The observed concordance between the DSS suggestion and the actual decision was 0.69. A significantly higher incidence of post breast conservation defects was reported among patients who did not follow the DSS decision (Type III of Fitoussi, N = 4; 33.3%, p = 0.004). The DSS decisions can be reproduced by operators with different experience. The concordance between suggestions and actual decision is quite low, however the DSS is able to prevent post- breast conservation deformities. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heat-induced formation of myosin oligomer-soluble filament complex in high-salt solution.

PubMed

Shimada, Masato; Takai, Eisuke; Ejima, Daisuke; Arakawa, Tsutomu; Shiraki, Kentaro

2015-02-01

Heat-induced aggregation of myosin into an elastic gel plays an important role in the water-holding capacity and texture of meat products. Here, we investigated thermal aggregation of porcine myosin in high-salt solution over a wide temperature range by dynamic light scattering experiments. The myosin samples were readily dissolved in 1.0 M NaCl at 25 °C followed by dilution into various salt concentrations. The diluted solutions consistently contained both myosin monomers and soluble filaments. The filament size decreased with increasing salt concentration and temperature. High temperatures above Tm led to at least partial dissociation of soluble filaments and thermal unfolding, resulting in the formation of soluble oligomers and binding to the persistently present soluble filaments. Such a complex formation between the oligomers and filaments has never been observed. Our results provide new insight into the heat-induced myosin gelation in high-salt solution. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Salinity and hydrology of closed lakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Langbein, Walter Basil

1961-01-01

Lakes without outlets, called closed lakes, are exclusively features of the arid and semiarid zones where annual evaporation exceeds rainfall. The number of closed lakes increases with aridity, so there are relatively few perennial closed lakes, but "dry" lakes that rarely contain water are numerous.Closed lakes fluctuate in level to a much greater degree than the open lakes of the humid zone, because variations in inflow can be compensated only by changes in surface area. Since the variability of inflow increases with aridity, it is possible to derive an approximate relationship for the coefficient of variation of lake area in terms of data on rates of evaporation, lake area, lake depth, and drainage area.The salinity of closed lakes is highly variable, ranging from less than 1 percent to over 25 percent by weight of salts. Some evidence suggests that the tonnage of salts in a lake solution is substantially less than the total input of salts into the lake over the period of existence of the closed lake. This evidence suggests further that the salts in a lake solution represent a kind of long-term balance between factors of gain and loss of salts from the solution.Possible mechanisms for the loss of salts dissolved in the lake include deposition in marginal bays, entrapment in sediments, and removal by wind. Transport of salt from the lake surface in wind spray is also a contributing, but seemingly not major, factor.The hypothesis of a long-term balance between input to and losses from the lake solution is checked by deriving a formula for the equilibrium concentration and comparing the results with the salinity data. The results indicate that the reported salinities seemingly can be explained in terms of their geometric properties and hydrologic environment.The time for accumulation of salts in the lake solution the ratio between mass of salts in the solution and the annual input may also be estimated from the geometric and hydrologic factors, in the absence of data on the salt content of the lake or of the inflow.

32 CFR 321.8 - DSS review of request for amendment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... (CONTINUED) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.8 DSS review of request for... himself and maintained by the Defense Security Service, Office of FOI and Privacy will handle the request... 32 National Defense 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false DSS review of request for amendment. 321.8...

32 CFR 321.8 - DSS review of request for amendment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (CONTINUED) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.8 DSS review of request for... himself and maintained by the Defense Security Service, Office of FOI and Privacy will handle the request... 32 National Defense 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false DSS review of request for amendment. 321.8...

32 CFR 321.8 - DSS review of request for amendment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... (CONTINUED) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.8 DSS review of request for... himself and maintained by the Defense Security Service, Office of FOI and Privacy will handle the request... 32 National Defense 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false DSS review of request for amendment. 321.8...

32 CFR 321.8 - DSS review of request for amendment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... (CONTINUED) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.8 DSS review of request for... himself and maintained by the Defense Security Service, Office of FOI and Privacy will handle the request... 32 National Defense 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false DSS review of request for amendment. 321.8...

32 CFR 321.8 - DSS review of request for amendment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... (CONTINUED) PRIVACY PROGRAM DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE PRIVACY PROGRAM § 321.8 DSS review of request for... himself and maintained by the Defense Security Service, Office of FOI and Privacy will handle the request... 32 National Defense 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false DSS review of request for amendment. 321.8...

Drill Sergeant Candidate Transformation

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-01

leadership styles of NCOs entering Drill Sergeant School (DSS). ARI also developed and administered a prototype DS Assessment Battery to assess...preferred leadership styles . DSS training increases both the degree to which the DSC feels obligated to and identifies with the Army. DSS training...4 TABLE 3. PREFERRED LEADERSHIP STYLES DEFINITIONS .............................................6 TABLE 4. DSC CHANGE IN

Laboratory investigation of the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) resistance of a novel Cu-bearing 2205 duplex stainless steel in the presence of an aerobic marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.

PubMed

Xia, Jin; Yang, Chunguang; Xu, Dake; Sun, Da; Nan, Li; Sun, Ziqing; Li, Qi; Gu, Tingyue; Yang, Ke

2015-01-01

The microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) resistance of a novel Cu-bearing 2205 duplex stainless steel (2205 Cu-DSS) against an aerobic marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm was investigated. The electrochemical test results showed that Rp increased and icorr decreased sharply after long-term immersion in the inoculation medium, suggesting that 2205 Cu-DSS possessed excellent MIC resistance to the P. aeruginosa biofilm. Fluorescence microscope images showed that 2205 Cu-DSS possessed a strong antibacterial ability, and its antibacterial efficiency after one and seven days was 7.75% and 96.92%, respectively. The pit morphology comparison after 14 days between 2205 DSS and 2205 Cu-DSS demonstrated that the latter showed a considerably reduced maximum MIC pit depth compared with the former (1.44 μm vs 9.50 μm). The experimental results suggest that inhibition of the biofilm was caused by the copper ions released from the 2205 Cu-DSS, leading to its effective mitigation of MIC by P. aeruginosa.

Ion aggregation in high salt solutions. III. Computational vibrational spectroscopy of HDO in aqueous salt solutions

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

Choi, Jun-Ho; Lim, Sohee; Chon, Bonghwan

The vibrational frequency, frequency fluctuation dynamics, and transition dipole moment of the O—D stretch mode of HDO molecule in aqueous solutions are strongly dependent on its local electrostatic environment and hydrogen-bond network structure. Therefore, the time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy the O—D stretch mode has been particularly used to investigate specific ion effects on water structure. Despite prolonged efforts to understand the interplay of O—D vibrational dynamics with local water hydrogen-bond network and ion aggregate structures in high salt solutions, still there exists a gap between theory and experiment due to a lack of quantitative model for accurately describing O—D stretch frequencymore » in high salt solutions. To fill this gap, we have performed numerical simulations of Raman scattering and IR absorption spectra of the O—D stretch mode of HDO in highly concentrated NaCl and KSCN solutions and compared them with experimental results. Carrying out extensive quantum chemistry calculations on not only water clusters but also ion-water clusters, we first developed a distributed vibrational solvatochromic charge model for the O—D stretch mode in aqueous salt solutions. Furthermore, the non-Condon effect on the vibrational transition dipole moment of the O—D stretch mode was fully taken into consideration with the charge response kernel that is non-local polarizability density. From the fluctuating O—D stretch mode frequencies and transition dipole vectors obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations, the O—D stretch Raman scattering and IR absorption spectra of HDO in salt solutions could be calculated. The polarization effect on the transition dipole vector of the O—D stretch mode is shown to be important and the asymmetric line shapes of the O—D stretch Raman scattering and IR absorption spectra of HDO especially in highly concentrated NaCl and KSCN solutions are in quantitative agreement with experimental results. We anticipate that this computational approach will be of critical use in interpreting linear and nonlinear vibrational spectroscopies of HDO molecule that is considered as an excellent local probe for monitoring local electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding environment in not just salt but also other confined and crowded solutions.« less

Grid Integrated Distributed PV (GridPV) Version 2.

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

Reno, Matthew J.; Coogan, Kyle

2014-12-01

This manual provides the documentation of the MATLAB toolbox of functions for using OpenDSS to simulate the impact of solar energy on the distribution system. The majority of the functio ns are useful for interfacing OpenDSS and MATLAB, and they are of generic use for commanding OpenDSS from MATLAB and retrieving information from simulations. A set of functions is also included for modeling PV plant output and setting up the PV plant in th e OpenDSS simulation. The toolbox contains functions for modeling the OpenDSS distribution feeder on satellite images with GPS coordinates. Finally, example simulations functions are included tomore » show potential uses of the toolbox functions. Each function i n the toolbox is documented with the function use syntax, full description, function input list, function output list, example use, and example output.« less

Radar RFI at Goldstone DSS 12 and DSS 16

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slobin, S. D.; Peng, T. K.

1990-02-01

Radio frequency interference (RFI) from the DSS 14 Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) was investigated at DSS 12 and DSS 16 with the goal of assisting in the choice of the location of future DSN antennas. Total power measurements at both locations were made at the S-band carrier frequency of 2320 MHz. X-band measurements at the carrier frequency of 8495 MHz could not be made. Exciter-chain output spectrum and klystron output spectrum measurements were made at S- and X-bands using a probable worst-case modulation of the radar signal (short pseudorandom number (PN) code length and short pulse length). Based on these measurements, it is estimated that RFI levels in the DSN receiving bands at both sites (above 10-deg elevation) would be below -192 dBm for a 1-Hz bandwidth

Radar RFI at Goldstone DSS 12 and DSS 16

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slobin, S. D.; Peng, T. K.

1990-01-01

Radio frequency interference (RFI) from the DSS 14 Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) was investigated at DSS 12 and DSS 16 with the goal of assisting in the choice of the location of future DSN antennas. Total power measurements at both locations were made at the S-band carrier frequency of 2320 MHz. X-band measurements at the carrier frequency of 8495 MHz could not be made. Exciter-chain output spectrum and klystron output spectrum measurements were made at S- and X-bands using a probable worst-case modulation of the radar signal (short pseudorandom number (PN) code length and short pulse length). Based on these measurements, it is estimated that RFI levels in the DSN receiving bands at both sites (above 10-deg elevation) would be below -192 dBm for a 1-Hz bandwidth

Molecular insights into shellac film coats from different aqueous shellac salt solutions and effect on disintegration of enteric-coated soft gelatin capsules.

PubMed

Al-Gousous, J; Penning, M; Langguth, P

2015-04-30

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of using different salts of shellac on the disintegration properties of shellac-based enteric coatings. In the last two decades, shellac has been increasingly used as an aqueous solution for enteric coating purposes, with the ammonium salt being the form typically used. Little investigation has been performed on using other salts, and therefore, this was the focus of our work. Enteric coatings, based on different shellac salts (ammonium, sodium, potassium and composite ammonium-sodium), were applied onto soft gelatin capsules. Disintegration testing of the coated soft gelatin capsules showed that alkali metal salts promote faster disintegration than ammonium salts. In order to determine the causes behind these differences, the solubility, thermal and spectroscopic properties of films cast from the different salts were investigated. The results show that films cast from ammonium-based salts of shellac are, unlike those cast from alkali metal-based salts, water-insoluble. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that this might be due to partial salt dissociation resulting in loss of ammonium as ammonia and reduced degree of shellac ionization during drying. In addition, oxidation of shellac aldehyde groups of the ammonium-based shellac salts could also play a role. And possible higher extent of shellac hydrolysis during the preparation of alkali metal salts might also be a factor. Therefore, the nature of the shellac salt used in the preparation of shellac-based aqueous coating solutions is a significant formulation factor affecting product performance. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dietary Supplement Use Was Very High among Older Adults in the United States in 2011-2014.

PubMed

Gahche, Jaime J; Bailey, Regan L; Potischman, Nancy; Dwyer, Johanna T

2017-10-01

Background: Dietary supplements (DSs) have the potential to be both beneficial and harmful to health, especially in adults aged ≥60 y, and therefore it is important to monitor the patterns of their use. Objective: This study evaluated DS use by adults aged ≥60 y to characterize the use of DSs, determine the motivations for use, and examine the associations between the use of DSs and selected demographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics. Methods: Data from 3469 older adults aged ≥60 y from the 2011-2014 NHANES were analyzed. DSs used in the past 30 d were ascertained via an interviewer-administered questionnaire in participants' homes. The prevalence of overall DS use and specific types of DSs were estimated. The number of DSs reported and the frequency, duration, and motivation(s) for use were assessed. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the association between DS use and selected characteristics. Results: Seventy percent of older adults in the United States reported using ≥1 DS in the past 30 d; 54% of users took 1 or 2 products, and 29% reported taking ≥4 products. The most frequently reported products were multivitamin or mineral (MVM) (39%), vitamin D only (26%), and omega-3 fatty acids (22%). Women used DSs almost twice as often as men [adjusted OR (aOR), 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 2.3). Those not reporting prescription medications were less likely to take a DS than those reporting ≥3 prescription medications (aOR, 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.6). The most frequently reported motivation for DS use was to improve overall health (41%). Conclusions: Use of DSs among older adults continues to be high in the United States, with 29% of users regularly taking ≥4 DSs, and there is a high concurrent usage of them with prescription medications. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

A mobile decision support system for red eye diseases diagnosis: experience with medical students.

PubMed

López, Marta Manovel; López, Miguel Maldonado; de la Torre Díez, Isabel; Jimeno, José Carlos Pastor; López-Coronado, Miguel

2016-06-01

A good primary health care is the base for a better healthcare system. Taking a good decision on time by the primary health care physician could have a huge repercussion. In order to ease the diagnosis task arise the Decision Support Systems (DSS), which offer counselling instead of refresh the medical knowledge, in a profession where it is still learning every day. The implementation of these systems in diseases which are a frequent cause of visit to the doctor like ophthalmologic pathologies are, which affect directly to our quality of life, takes more importance. This paper aims to develop OphthalDSS, a totally new mobile DSS for red eye diseases diagnosis. The main utilities that OphthalDSS offers will be a study guide for medical students and a clinical decision support system for primary care professionals. Other important goal of this paper is to show the user experience results after OphthalDSS being used by medical students of the University of Valladolid. For achieving the main purpose of this research work, a decision algorithm will be developed and implemented by an Android mobile application. Moreover, the Quality of Experience (QoE) has been evaluated by the students through the questions of a short inquiry. The app developed which implements the algorithm OphthalDSS is capable of diagnose more than 30 eye's anterior segment diseases. A total of 67 medical students have evaluated the QoE. The students find the diseases' information presented very valuable, the appearance is adequate, it is always available and they have ever found what they were looking for. Furthermore, the students think that their quality of life has not been improved using the app and they can do the same without using the OphthalDSS app. OphthalDSS is easy to use, which is capable of diagnose more than 30 ocular diseases in addition to be used as a DSS tool as an educational tool at the same time.

Interleukin-10 is differentially expressed in the small intestine and the colon experiencing chronic inflammation and ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in young pigs.

PubMed

Lackeyram, D; Young, D; Kim, C J; Yang, C; Archbold, T L; Mine, Y; Fan, M Z

2017-03-31

Intestinal inflammation induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is used to study acute or chronic ulcerative colitis in animal models. Decreased gut tissue anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 concentration and mRNA abundance are associated with the development of chronic bowel inflammation. Twelve piglets of 3 days old were fitted with an intragastric catheter and randomly allocated into control and DSS groups by administrating either sterile saline or 1.25 g of DSS/kg body weight (BW) in saline per day, respectively, for 10 days. Growth rate and food conversion efficiency were reduced (p<0.05) in the DSS piglets compared with the control group. Quantitative histopathological grading of inflammation in the jejunum and colon collectively showed that the DSS treatment resulted in 12 fold greater (p<0.05) inflammation severity scoring in the colon than in the jejunum, indicative of chronic ulcerative colitis in the colon. Upper gut permeability endpoint was 27.4 fold higher (p<0.05) in the DSS group compared with the control group. The DSS group had higher concentrations and mRNA abundances (p<0.05) of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the jejunal and colonic tissues compared with the control group. Colonic concentration and mRNA abundance of IL-10 were reduced (p<0.05), however, jejunal IL-10 mRNA abundance was increased (p<0.05) in the DSS group compared with the control group. In conclusion, administration of DSS at 1.25 g/kg BW for 10 days respectively induced acute inflammation in the jejunum and chronic inflammation and ulcerative colitis in the colon with substantially decreased colonic concentration and mRNA abundance of IL-10 in the young pigs, mimicking the IL-10 expression pattern in humans Associated with chronic bowel inflammation.

Formulation and synthesis of hydrogels having lower critical solution temperature near body temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abidin, A. Z.; Graha, H. P. R.; Trirahayu, D. A.

2017-07-01

Copolymerization between bacterial cellulose nanocrystal (CN) and methyl cellulose (MC) was carried out using UV light to produce a biocompatible hydrogel at body temperature and liquid at room temperature. Viscosity and salt effect of the MC and copolymer solution at room temperature and its Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) were evaluated. The analysis showed that the higher concentration of methyl cellulose and salt content in the solution produced lower LCST and higher solution viscosity. All samples of polymer solution with MC concentrations of 1 and 2% have a viscosity less than 5000 cP at room temperature. The solutions with MC concentration of 1, 2, and 3% have respectively LCST of 59, 58, and 57°C, while its copolymer solutions with CN concentration of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% have respectively LCST of 55, 51, and 41°C. The salt addition to the solution of MC-CN copolymer with concentrations of 1x and 1.5x Phosphat Buffered Saline (PBS) produces respectively LCST of 47 and 38°C. The results suggest that the copolymer solution of MC-CN could produce a lower LCST and the addition of salt could amplify the effect of LCST decrease that can be used to produce a biocompatible hydrogel with LCST as close as body temperature.

Economic evaluation of DSS 13 unattended operations demonstration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Remer, D. S.; Eisenberger, I.; Lorden, G.

1978-01-01

The goals and data collection requirements to be used for the economic and performance evaluation indexes and life cycle cost parameters for the upcoming operations demonstration of an automated Deep Space Station (DSS) run unattended and controlled remotely from JPL are presented. These evaluation indexes compare the remote operation of telemetry at DSS 13 with the cost and performance of a comparable manned operation at DSS 11. A description is presented of the data that needs to be collected, how the data will be analyzed, and what can and cannot be learned from this operations demonstration.

SEPARATION OF METAL SALTS BY ADSORPTION

DOEpatents

Gruen, D.M.

1959-01-20

It has been found that certain metal salts, particularly the halides of iron, cobalt, nickel, and the actinide metals, arc readily absorbed on aluminum oxide, while certain other salts, particularly rare earth metal halides, are not so absorbed. Use is made of this discovery to separate uranium from the rare earths. The metal salts are first dissolved in a molten mixture of alkali metal nitrates, e.g., the eutectic mixture of lithium nitrate and potassium nitrate, and then the molten salt solution is contacted with alumina, either by slurrying or by passing the salt solution through an absorption tower. The process is particularly valuable for the separation of actinides from lanthanum-group rare earths.

Method of microbially producing metal gallate spinel nano-objects, and compositions produced thereby

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

Duty, Chad E.; Jellison, Jr., Gerald E.; Love, Lonnie J.

A method of forming a metal gallate spinel structure that includes mixing a divalent metal-containing salt and a gallium-containing salt in solution with fermentative or thermophilic bacteria. In the process, the bacteria nucleate metal gallate spinel nano-objects from the divalent metal-containing salt and the gallium-containing salt without requiring reduction of a metal in the solution. The metal gallate spinel structures, as well as light-emitting structures in which they are incorporated, are also described.

Plutonium and americium separation from salts

DOEpatents

Hagan, Paul G.; Miner, Frend J.

1976-01-01

Salts or materials containing plutonium and americium are dissolved in hydrochloric acid, heated, and contacted with an alkali metal carbonate solution to precipitate plutonium and americium carbonates which are thereafter readily separable from the solution.

A comparison of constant-load and constant-deflection stress-corrosion tests on precracked DCB specimens. [Double Cantilever Beam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dorward, R. C.; Hasse, K. R.

1978-01-01

A comparison is made between measurements of stress-corrosion crack propagation made by a constant-load procedure and by a constant-deflection procedure. Precracked double cantilever beam specimens from 7075 aluminum alloy plate were used. The specimens were oriented in such a way that cracking would begin in the short-transverse plane and would propagate in the rolling direction. The specimens were subjected to a buffered salt-chromate solution and a 3.6% synthetic sea salt solution. The measurements were made optically with a binocular microscope. Stress intensities and crack lengths were calculated and crack velocities were obtained. Velocity was plotted against the average calculated stress intensity. Good agreement between the two methods was found for the salt-chromate solution, although some descrepancies were noted for the artificial sea salt solution.

Overexpression of GATA-3 in T cells accelerates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

PubMed

Okamura, Midori; Yoh, Keigyou; Ojima, Masami; Morito, Naoki; Takahashi, Satoru

2014-01-01

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease, and its pathogenesis includes genetic, environmental, and immunological factors, such as T helper cells and their secreted cytokines. T helper cells are classified as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells. However, it is unclear which T helper cells are important in UC. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is a commonly used model of UC. In this study, we induced DSS colitis in Th1 dominant (T-bet transgenic (Tg)) mice, Th2 dominant (GATA-3 Tg) mice, and Th17 dominant (RORγt Tg) mice to elucidate the roles of T helper cell in DSS colitis. The results showed that GATA-3 Tg mice developed the most severe DSS colitis compared with the other groups. GATA-3 Tg mice showed a significant decreased in weight from day 1 to day 7, and an increased high score for the disease activity index compared with the other groups. Furthermore, GATA-3 Tg mice developed many ulcers in the colon, and many neutrophils and macrophages were detected on day 4 after DSS treatment. Measurement of GATA-3-induced cytokines demonstrated that IL-13 was highly expressed in the colon from DSS-induced GATA-3 Tg mice. In conclusion, GATA-3 overexpression in T-cells and IL-13 might play important roles in the development of DSS colitis.

Comparative Evaluation between Sulfasalazine Alone and in Combination with Herbal Medicine on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mice

PubMed Central

Shin, Mi-Rae; Kim, Kyeong Jo; Kim, Soo Hyun; Kim, Su Ji

2017-01-01

The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and sulfasalazine in combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): Group I (normal group), Group II (DSS control group), Group III (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg)), Group IV (DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg)), and Group V (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Cinnamomi Cortex and Bupleuri Radix mixture (30 mg/kg) (SCB)). Colonic pathological changes were analyzed using hematoxyline/eosin staining. The antioxidant, inflammatory, and apoptotic protein levels were determined using western blotting. SCB supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SCB treatment significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory signaling molecules through suppression of both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways and prevented the apoptosis of the colon. Moreover, SCB administration significantly led to the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes including SOD and catalase. Taken together, SCB treatment might offer a better treatment for human UC than sulfasalazine alone or may be useful as an alternative therapeutic strategy against UC, without any evidence of side effects. PMID:29018816

Hardfacing of duplex stainless steel using melting and diffusion processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lailatul, H.; Maleque, M. A.

2017-03-01

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) is a material with high potential successes in many new applications such as rail car manufacturing, automotive and chemical industries. Although DSS is widely used in various industries, this material has faced wear and hardness problems which obstruct a wider capability of this material and causes problems in current application. Therefore, development of surface modification has been introduced to produce hard protective layer or coating on DSS. The main aim of this work is to brief review on hard surface layer formation on DSS using melting and diffusion processes. Melting technique using tungsten inert gas (TIG) torch and diffusion technique using gas nitriding are the effective process to meet this requirement. The processing route plays a significant role in developing the hard surface layer for any application with effective cost and environmental factors. The good understanding and careful selection of processing route to form products are very important factors to decide the suitable techniques for surface engineering treatment. In this paper, an attempt is also made to consolidate the important research works done on melting and diffusion techniques of DSS in the past. The advantages and disadvantages between melting and diffusion technique are presented for better understanding on the feasibility of hard surface formation on DSS. Finally, it can be concluded that this work will open an avenue for further research on the application of suitable process for hard surface formation on DSS.

Complex electronic waste treatment - An effective process to selectively recover copper with solutions containing different ammonium salts.

PubMed

Sun, Z H I; Xiao, Y; Sietsma, J; Agterhuis, H; Yang, Y

2016-11-01

Recovery of valuable metals from electronic waste has been highlighted by the EU directives. The difficulties for recycling are induced by the high complexity of such waste. In this research, copper could be selectively recovered using an ammonia-based process, from industrially processed information and communication technology (ICT) waste with high complexity. A detailed understanding on the role of ammonium salt was focused during both stages of leaching copper into a solution and the subsequent step for copper recovery from the solution. By comparing the reactivity of the leaching solution with different ammonium salts, their physiochemical behaviour as well as the leaching efficiency could be identified. The copper recovery rate could reach 95% with ammonium carbonate as the leaching salt. In the stage of copper recovery from the solution, electrodeposition was introduced without an additional solvent extraction step and the electrochemical behaviour of the solution was figured out. With a careful control of the electrodeposition conditions, the current efficiency could be improved to be 80-90% depending on the ammonia salts and high purity copper (99.9wt.%). This research provides basis for improving the recyclability and efficiency of copper recovery from such electronic waste and the whole process design for copper recycling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partitioning of Alkali Metal Salts and Boric Acid from Aqueous Phase into the Polyamide Active Layers of Reverse Osmosis Membranes.

PubMed

Wang, Jingbo; Kingsbury, Ryan S; Perry, Lamar A; Coronell, Orlando

2017-02-21

The partition coefficient of solutes into the polyamide active layer of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is one of the three membrane properties (together with solute diffusion coefficient and active layer thickness) that determine solute permeation. However, no well-established method exists to measure solute partition coefficients into polyamide active layers. Further, the few studies that measured partition coefficients for inorganic salts report values significantly higher than one (∼3-8), which is contrary to expectations from Donnan theory and the observed high rejection of salts. As such, we developed a benchtop method to determine solute partition coefficients into the polyamide active layers of RO membranes. The method uses a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to measure the change in the mass of the active layer caused by the uptake of the partitioned solutes. The method was evaluated using several inorganic salts (alkali metal salts of chloride) and a weak acid of common concern in water desalination (boric acid). All partition coefficients were found to be lower than 1, in general agreement with expectations from Donnan theory. Results reported in this study advance the fundamental understanding of contaminant transport through RO membranes, and can be used in future studies to decouple the contributions of contaminant partitioning and diffusion to contaminant permeation.

Chemical interactions and thermodynamic studies in aluminum alloy/molten salt systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayanan, Ramesh

The recycling of aluminum and aluminum alloys such as Used Beverage Container (UBC) is done under a cover of molten salt flux based on (NaCl-KCl+fluorides). The reactions of aluminum alloys with molten salt fluxes have been investigated. Thermodynamic calculations are performed in the alloy/salt flux systems which allow quantitative predictions of the equilibrium compositions. There is preferential reaction of Mg in Al-Mg alloy with molten salt fluxes, especially those containing fluorides like NaF. An exchange reaction between Al-Mg alloy and molten salt flux has been demonstrated. Mg from the Al-Mg alloy transfers into the salt flux while Na from the salt flux transfers into the metal. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that the amount of Na in metal increases as the Mg content in alloy and/or NaF content in the reacting flux increases. This is an important point because small amounts of Na have a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of the Al-Mg alloy. The reactions of Al alloys with molten salt fluxes result in the formation of bluish purple colored "streamers". It was established that the streamer is liquid alkali metal (Na and K in the case of NaCl-KCl-NaF systems) dissipating into the melt. The melts in which such streamers were observed are identified. The metal losses occurring due to reactions have been quantified, both by thermodynamic calculations and experimentally. A computer program has been developed to calculate ternary phase diagrams in molten salt systems from the constituting binary phase diagrams, based on a regular solution model. The extent of deviation of the binary systems from regular solution has been quantified. The systems investigated in which good agreement was found between the calculated and experimental phase diagrams included NaF-KF-LiF, NaCl-NaF-NaI and KNOsb3-TINOsb3-LiNOsb3. Furthermore, an insight has been provided on the interrelationship between the regular solution parameters and the topology of the phase diagram. The isotherms are flat (i.e. no skewness) when the regular solution parameters are zero. When the regular solution parameters are non-zero, the isotherms are skewed. A regular solution model is not adequate to accurately model the molten salt systems used in recycling like NaCl-KCl-LiF and NaCl-KCl-NaF.

Liquid precursor inks for deposition of In--Se, Ga--Se and In--Ga--Se

DOEpatents

Curtis, Calvin J.; Hersh, Peter A.; Miedaner, Alexander; Habas, Susan; van Hest, Maikel; Ginley, David S.

2015-08-11

An ink includes a solution of selenium in ethylene diamine solvent and a solution of at least one metal salt selected from the group consisting of an indium salt or a gallium salt in at least one solvent including an organic amide. The organic amide can include dimethylformamide. The organic amide can include N-methylpyrrolidone.

Japanese traditional miso soup attenuates salt-induced hypertension and its organ damage in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

PubMed

Yoshinaga, Mariko; Toda, Natsuko; Tamura, Yuki; Terakado, Shouko; Ueno, Mai; Otsuka, Kie; Numabe, Atsushi; Kawabata, Yukari; Uehara, Yoshio

2012-09-01

We investigated the effects of long-term miso soup drinking on salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl S) rats. Dahl S rats were divided into four groups that consumed 1) water, 2) a 0.9% NaCl solution, 3) a 1.3% sodium NaCl solution, or 4) miso soup containing 1.3% NaCl. They were followed for 8 wk. Systolic blood pressure and hypertensive organ damage were determined. Systolic blood pressure increased in an age- and dose-dependent manner in Dahl S rats drinking salt solutions. The systolic blood pressure increase was significantly less in the Dahl S rats that drank miso soup, although the ultimate cumulative salt loading was greater than that in the Dahl S rats given the 1.3% NaCl solution. This blood pressure decrease was associated with a morphologic attenuation of glomerular sclerosis in the kidney and collagen infiltration in the heart. Urinary protein excretions were less in the miso group than in the rats given the 1.3% NaCl solution. The fractional excretion of sodium was increased and that of potassium was decreased in Dahl S rats given the 1.3% NaCl solution, and these effects were reversed in rats given miso soup toward the values of the control. We found that long-term miso soup drinking attenuates the blood pressure increase in salt-induced hypertension with organ damage. This may be caused by a possible retardation of sodium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract or by the direct effects of nutrients in the miso soup from soybeans. The decrease was associated with decreases in cardiovascular and renal damage. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Redox condition in molten salts and solute behavior: A first-principles molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Hyo On; Morgan, Dane

2015-10-01

Molten salts technology is of significant interest for nuclear, solar, and other energy systems. In this work, first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) was used to model the solute behavior in eutectic LiCl-KCl and FLiBe (Li2BeF4) melts at 773 K and 973 K, respectively. The thermo-kinetic properties for solute systems such as the redox potential, solute diffusion coefficients and structural information surrounding the solute were predicted from FPMD modeling and the calculated properties are generally in agreement with the experiments. In particular, we formulate an approach to model redox energetics vs. chlorine (or fluorine) potential from first-principles approaches. This study develops approaches for, and demonstrates the capabilities of, FPMD to model solute properties in molten salts.

Length scale dependence of the dynamic properties of hyaluronic acid solutions in the presence of salt.

PubMed

Horkay, Ferenc; Falus, Peter; Hecht, Anne-Marie; Geissler, Erik

2010-12-02

In solutions of the charged semirigid biopolymer hyaluronic acid in salt-free conditions, the diffusion coefficient D(NSE) measured at high transfer momentum q by neutron spin echo is more than an order of magnitude smaller than that determined by dynamic light scattering, D(DLS). This behavior contrasts with neutral polymer solutions. With increasing salt content, D(DLS) approaches D(NSE), which is independent of ionic strength. Contrary to theoretical expectation, the ion-polymer coupling, which dominates the low q dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions, already breaks down at distance scales greater than the Debye-Hückel length.

Salt enrichment of municipal sewage: New prevention approaches in Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, Baruch; Avnimelech, Yoram; Juanico, Marcelo

1996-07-01

Wastewater irrigation is an environmentally sound wastewater disposal practice, but sewage is more saline than the supplied fresh water and the salts are recycled together with the water. Salts have negative environmental effects on crops, soils, and groundwater. There are no inexpensive ways to remove the salts once they enter sewage, and the prevention of sewage salt enrichment is the most immediately available solution. The body of initiatives presently structured by the Ministry of the Environment of Israel are herein described, with the aim to contribute to the search for a long-term solution of salinity problems in arid countries. The new initiatives are based on: (1) search for new technologies to reduce salt consumption and discharge into sewage; (2) different technologies to cope with different situations; (3) raising the awareness of the public and industry on the environmental implications of salinity pollution; and (4) an elastic legal approach expressed through new state-of-the-art regulations. The main contributor to the salinity of sewage in Israel is the watersoftening process followed by the meat koshering process. Some of the adopted technical solutions are: the discharge of the brine into the sea, the substitution of sodium by potassium salts in the ion-exchangers, the construction of centralized systems for the supply of soft water in industrial areas, the precipitation of Ca and Mg in the effluents from ion-exchangers and recycling of the NaCI solution, a reduction of the discharge of salts by the meat koshering process, and new membrane technology for salt recovery.

6-Gingerol modulates proinflammatory responses in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated Caco-2 cells and experimental colitis in mice through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation.

PubMed

Chang, Kuei-Wen; Kuo, Cheng-Yi

2015-10-01

6-gingerol has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in different experimental settings. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of 6-gingerol on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced barrier impairment and inflammation in vitro and in vivo. a differentiated Caco-2 monolayer was exposed to DSS and treated with different concentrations of 6-gingerol (0, 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 μM). Changes in intestinal barrier function were determined using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The anti-inflammatory activity of 6-gingerol was examined as changes in the expression of proinflammatory cytokine using quantitative real-time PCR. Western blotting was employed to determine the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Mice with DSS-induced colitis were given different oral dosages of 6-gingerol daily for 14 days. Body weight and colon inflammation were evaluated, and level of proinflammatory cytokines in colon tissues was measured. 6-gingerol treatment was shown to restore impaired intestinal barrier function and to suppress proinflammatory responses in DSS-treated Caco-2 monolayers. We found that AMPK was activated on 6-gingerol treatment in vitro. In animal studies, 6-gingerol significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by restoration of body weight loss, reduction in intestinal bleeding, and prevention of colon length shortening. In addition, 6-gingerol suppressed DSS-elevated production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-12). our findings highlight the protective effects of 6-gingerol against DSS-induced colitis. We concluded that 6-gingerol exerts anti-inflammatory effects through AMPK activation. It is suggested that 6-gingerol has a promising role in treatment of IBD.

Evaluation of computerized decision support for oral anticoagulation management based in primary care.

PubMed

Fitzmaurice, D A; Hobbs, F D; Murray, E T; Bradley, C P; Holder, R

1996-09-01

Increasing indications for oral anticoagulation has led to pressure on general practices to undertake therapeutic monitoring. Computerized decision support (DSS) has been shown to be effective in hospitals for improving clinical management. Its usefulness in primary care has previously not been investigated. To test the effectiveness of using DSS for oral anticoagulation monitoring in primary care by measuring the proportions of patients adequately controlled, defined as within the appropriate therapeutic range of International Normalised Ratio (INR). All patients receiving warfarin from two Birmingham inner city general practices were invited to attend a practice-based anticoagulation clinic. In practice A all patients were managed using DSS. In practice B patients were randomized to receive dosing advice either through DSS or through the local hospital laboratory. Clinical outcomes, adverse events and patient acceptability were recorded. Forty-nine patients were seen in total. There were significant improvements in INR control from 23% to 86% (P > 0.001) in the practice where all patients received dosing through DSS. In the practice where patients were randomized to either DSS or hospital dosing, logistic regression showed a significant trend for improvement in intervention patients which was not apparent in the hospital-dosed patients (P < 0.001). Mean recall times were significantly extended in patients who were dosed by the practice DSS through the full 12 months (24 days to 36 days) (P = 0.033). Adverse events were comparable between hospital and practice-dosed patients, although a number of esoteric events occurred. Patient satisfaction with the practice clinics was high. Computerized DSS enables the safe and effective transfer of anticoagulation management from hospital to primary care and may result in improved patient outcome in terms of the level of control, frequency of review and general acceptability.

High fat diet exacerbates dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis through disturbing mucosal dendritic cell homeostasis.

PubMed

Cheng, Lu; Jin, Huimin; Qiang, Yetao; Wu, Shuiyun; Yan, Cheng; Han, Mutian; Xiao, Tengfei; Yan, Nannan; An, Huazhang; Zhou, Xiaoming; Shao, Qixiang; Xia, Sheng

2016-11-01

Epidemiological studies have shown that fat rich western diet contributes to the high incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, accumulated data indicated that fat dietary factor might promote the change of the composition and metabolism in commensal flora. But, the exact mechanisms for fatty diet in gut inflammation are not well demonstrated. In this study, we found that high fat diet (HFD) promoted inflammation and exacerbated the disease severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in mice. Compared with low fat diet (LFD)/DSS mice, shorter colon length, more epithelial loss and crypt destruction and more Gr-1 + myeloid inflammatory cells infiltration in colons were observed in HFD/DSS cohorts. Interestingly, such HFD mediated inflammation accompanied with the dys-regulation of hematopoiesis, and more hematopoiesis stem and progenitor cells were detected in colon and spleen. We further analyzed the effects of HFD and DSS treatment on mucosal DC subsets, and found that DSS treatment in LFD mice mainly dramatically increased the percentage of CD11c + CD103 - CD11b + DCs in lamina propria (LP). While, in HFD/DSS mice, HFD pre-treatment not only increased the percentage of CD11c + CD103 - CD11b + DCs, but also decreased CD11c + CD103 + CD11b + in both LP and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) in mice with colitis. This disequilibrium of mucosal dendritic cells in HFD/DSS mice may depend on the reduced levels of buytrate and retinoic acid. Thus, this study declared the effects of HFD on gut microenviroment, and further indicated its potential role in the development of DSS induced colitis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geographic region: Does it matter in cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck?

PubMed

Kılıç, Suat; Unsal, Aykut A; Chung, Sei Y; Samarrai, Ruwaa; Kılıç, Sarah S; Baredes, Soly; Eloy, Jean Anderson

2017-12-01

The head and neck are two of the most common locations for cutaneous melanoma. We present the first population-based analysis of geographic differences in anatomic subsite, clinicopathologic and demographical traits, histopathologic subtype, treatment modality, and disease-specific survival (DSS) of cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM). Retrospective database analysis. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of CHNM reported between 2000 and 2013. Patients were grouped into East, Midwest, South, and West regions of the United States. Overall incidence, demographic traits, primary tumor site, clinicopathologic traits, histopathologic subtype, treatment modality, and DSS were compared among regions. There were 49,365 patients with CHNM identified. The West (4.60) and the South (4.42) had significantly higher incidence (per 100,000) than the East (3.84) and Midwest (3.65) (P < .05). DSS was significantly different among regions (P < .0066). The East (5 years: 89.4%, 10 years: 84.1%) had the highest DSS rate, and the South (5 years: 87.0%, 10 years: 81.8%) had the lowest DSS rate. The Midwest (5 years: 88.4%, 10 years: 84.3%) and West (5 years: 88.3%, 10 years: 83.5%) had intermediate DSS. On multivariate analysis, the South had an elevated hazard ratio (1.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.30) when compared to the West. Geographic region may play a significant role in CHNM. Incidence is higher in the South and the West. Incidence, histologic subtype, treatment modality, and DSS vary among regions. DSS is lower in the South than the West, even after accounting for other major prognostic factors. 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2763-2769, 2017. © 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

NASA ground terminal communication equipment automated fault isolation expert systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tang, Y. K.; Wetzel, C. R.

1990-01-01

The prototype expert systems are described that diagnose the Distribution and Switching System I and II (DSS1 and DSS2), Statistical Multiplexers (SM), and Multiplexer and Demultiplexer systems (MDM) at the NASA Ground Terminal (NGT). A system level fault isolation expert system monitors the activities of a selected data stream, verifies that the fault exists in the NGT and identifies the faulty equipment. Equipment level fault isolation expert systems are invoked to isolate the fault to a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) level. Input and sometimes output data stream activities for the equipment are available. The system level fault isolation expert system compares the equipment input and output status for a data stream and performs loopback tests (if necessary) to isolate the faulty equipment. The equipment level fault isolation system utilizes the process of elimination and/or the maintenance personnel's fault isolation experience stored in its knowledge base. The DSS1, DSS2 and SM fault isolation systems, using the knowledge of the current equipment configuration and the equipment circuitry issues a set of test connections according to the predefined rules. The faulty component or board can be identified by the expert system by analyzing the test results. The MDM fault isolation system correlates the failure symptoms with the faulty component based on maintenance personnel experience. The faulty component can be determined by knowing the failure symptoms. The DSS1, DSS2, SM, and MDM equipment simulators are implemented in PASCAL. The DSS1 fault isolation expert system was converted to C language from VP-Expert and integrated into the NGT automation software for offline switch diagnoses. Potentially, the NGT fault isolation algorithms can be used for the DSS1, SM, amd MDM located at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Evaluation of Effectiveness and Cost‐Effectiveness of a Clinical Decision Support System in Managing Hypertension in Resource Constrained Primary Health Care Settings: Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial

PubMed Central

Anchala, Raghupathy; Kaptoge, Stephen; Pant, Hira; Di Angelantonio, Emanuele; Franco, Oscar H.; Prabhakaran, D.

2015-01-01

Background Randomized control trials from the developed world report that clinical decision support systems (DSS) could provide an effective means to improve the management of hypertension (HTN). However, evidence from developing countries in this regard is rather limited, and there is a need to assess the impact of a clinical DSS on managing HTN in primary health care center (PHC) settings. Methods and Results We performed a cluster randomized trial to test the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of a clinical DSS among Indian adult hypertensive patients (between 35 and 64 years of age), wherein 16 PHC clusters from a district of Telangana state, India, were randomized to receive either a DSS or a chart‐based support (CBS) system. Each intervention arm had 8 PHC clusters, with a mean of 102 hypertensive patients per cluster (n=845 in DSS and 783 in CBS groups). Mean change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 12 months was the primary endpoint. The mean difference in SBP change from baseline between the DSS and CBS at the 12th month of follow‐up, adjusted for age, sex, height, waist, body mass index, alcohol consumption, vegetable intake, pickle intake, and baseline differences in blood pressure, was −6.59 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: −12.18 to −1.42; P=0.021). The cost‐effective ratio for CBS and DSS groups was $96.01 and $36.57 per mm of SBP reduction, respectively. Conclusion Clinical DSS are effective and cost‐effective in the management of HTN in resource‐constrained PHC settings. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.ctri.nic.in. Unique identifier: CTRI/2012/03/002476. PMID:25559011

Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of rosuvastatin by regulation of oxidative stress in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model

PubMed Central

Shin, Seung Kak; Cho, Jae Hee; Kim, Eui Joo; Kim, Eun-Kyung; Park, Dong Kyun; Kwon, Kwang An; Chung, Jun-Won; Kim, Kyoung Oh; Kim, Yoon Jae

2017-01-01

AIM To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of rosuvastatin by regulation of oxidative stress in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. METHODS An acute colitis mouse model was induced by oral administration of 5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 d. In the treated group, rosuvastatin (0.3 mg/kg per day) was administered orally before and after DSS administration for 21 d. On day 21, mice were sacrificed and the colons were removed for macroscopic examination, histology, and Western blot analysis. In the in vitro study, IEC-6 cells were stimulated with 50 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and then treated with or without rosuvastatin (2 μmol/L). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory mediators, and apoptotic markers were measured. RESULTS In DSS-induced colitis mice, rosuvastatin treatment significantly reduced the disease activity index and histological damage score compared to untreated mice (P < 0.05). Rosuvastatin also attenuated the DSS-induced increase of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and NADPH oxidase-1 expression in colon tissue. Multiplex ELISA analysis revealed that rosuvastatin treatment reduced the DSS-induced increase of serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-17, and G-CSF levels. The increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in the DSS group were attenuated by rosuvastatin treatment. In vitro, rosuvastatin significantly reduced the production of ROS, inflammatory mediators and apoptotic markers in TNF-α-treated IEC-6 cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Rosuvastatin had the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in DSS-induced colitis model. Therefore, it might be a candidate anti-inflammatory drug in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PMID:28740344

Development of high temperature transport technology for LiCl-KCl eutectic salt in pyroprocessing

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

Lee, Sung Ho; Lee, Hansoo; Kim, In Tae

The development of high-temperature transport technologies for molten salt is a prerequisite and a key issue in the industrialization of pyro-reprocessing for advanced fuel cycle scenarios. The solution of a molten salt centrifugal pump was discarded because of the high corrosion power of a high temperature molten salt, so the suction pump solution was selected. An apparatus for salt transport experiments by suction was designed and tested using LiC-KCl eutectic salt. The experimental results of lab-scale molten salt transport by suction showed a 99.5% transport rate (ratio of transported salt to total salt) under a vacuum range of 100 mtorrmore » - 10 torr at 500 Celsius degrees. The suction system has been integrated to the PRIDE (pyroprocessing integrated inactive demonstration) facility that is a demonstrator using non-irradiated materials (natural uranium and surrogate materials). The performance of the suction pump for the transport of molten salts has been confirmed.« less

Preparation of Some Homologous TEMPO Nitroxides and Oxoammonium Salts; Notes on the NMR Spectroscopy of Nitroxide Free Radicals; Observed Radical Nature of Oxoammonium Salt Solutions Containing Trace Amounts of Corresponding Nitroxides in an Equilibrium Relationship.

PubMed

Bobbitt, James M; Eddy, Nicholas A; Cady, Clyde X; Jin, Jing; Gascon, Jose A; Gelpí-Dominguez, Svetlana; Zakrzewski, Jerzy; Morton, Martha D

2017-09-15

Three new homologous TEMPO oxoammonium salts and three homologous nitroxide radicals have been prepared and characterized. The oxidation properties of the salts have been explored. The direct 13 C NMR and EPR spectra of the nitroxide free radicals and the oxoammonium salts, along with TEMPO and its oxoammonium salt, have been successfully measured with little peak broadening of the NMR signals. In the spectra of all ten compounds (nitroxides and corresponding oxoammonium salts), the carbons in the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine core do not appear, implying paramagnetic properties. This unpredicted overall paramagnetism in the oxoammonium salt solutions is explained by a redox equilibrium as shown between oxoammonium salts and trace amounts of corresponding nitroxide. This equilibrium is confirmed by electron interchange reactions between nitroxides with an N-acetyl substituent and oxoammonium salts with longer acyl side chains.

Age-related slowing of digit symbol substitution revisited: what do longitudinal age changes reflect?

PubMed

MacDonald, Stuart W S; Hultsch, David F; Strauss, Esther; Dixon, Roger A

2003-05-01

A previous investigation reported that cross-sectional age differences in Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) test performance reflect declines in perceptual processing speed. Support for the tenability of the processing speed hypothesis requires examining whether longitudinal age-related change in DSS performance is largely mediated by changes in speed. The present study used data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study to examine patterns and predictors of longitudinal change in DSS for 512 older adults (M(age) = 68.37 years, SD = 7.43). On the basis of multilevel modeling, baseline DSS performance was poorer for older participants and men, with longitudinal declines more pronounced with increasing age and decreasing speed. In contrast to the present cross-sectional findings, statistical control of change trajectories in perceptual speed using the same data did not substantially attenuate age changes. These discrepancies suggest different sources of variance may underlie cross-sectional age differences and longitudinal age changes for DSS.

A Decision Support System for Evaluating and Selecting Information Systems Projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Hepu; Wibowo, Santoso

2009-01-01

This chapter presents a decision support system (DSS) for effectively solving the information systems (IS) project selection problem. The proposed DSS recognizes the multidimensional nature of the IS project selection problem, the availability of multicriteria analysis (MA) methods, and the preferences of the decision-maker (DM) on the use of specific MA methods in a given situation. A knowledge base consisting of IF-THEN production rules is developed for assisting the DM with a systematic adoption of the most appropriate method with the efficient use of the powerful reasoning and explanation capabilities of intelligent DSS. The idea of letting the problem to be solved determines the method to be used is incorporated into the proposed DSS. As a result, effective decisions can be made for solving the IS project selection problem. An example is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed DSS for solving the problem of selecting IS projects in real world situations.

An overview of emerging technologies in contemporary decision support system development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nursal, Ahmad Taufik; Omar, Mohd Faizal; Nawi, Mohd Nasrun Mohd

2014-12-01

The rapid development of Web technology has opened a new approach to Decision Support System (DSS) development. For instance, Social Media is one of the Web 2.0 digital platforms that allow the creation and exchanges of user-generate content through an interactive interface, high user control and mass participation. The concept and characteristics of Web 2.0 such as remote, platform-independent, context-rich and easy to use, which is fulfill the concept and purpose of DSS. This paper outlines some of the elementary concepts of Web 2.0 and social media technology which can be potentially integrated within DSS to enhance the decision-making process. Our initial investigation indicates that there is limited study attempt to embed Web 2.0 into DSS. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of Web 2.0 technology in order to foster the betterment of DSS development and its usability.

Ionic solubility and solutal advection governed augmented evaporation kinetics of salt solution pendant droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaiswal, Vivek; Harikrishnan, A. R.; Khurana, Gargi; Dhar, Purbarun

2018-01-01

The presence of dispersed inclusions is known to modify the interfacial characteristics in liquids by adsorption-desorption of the ions at interfaces. The present article reports the influencing role of dissolved ions in a polar fluid on its evaporation dynamics. The evaporation dynamics of pendant droplets of aqueous solutions of variant simple salts and concentrations have been experimentally studied. The presence of salts is observed to enhance the evaporation rate (obeying the classical D2 law), and the enhancement has been found to hold a direct proportionality to the concentration of the dissolved salt. Furthermore, it is observed that the degree of enhancement in the evaporation rate is also directly proportional to the solubility of the salt in question. The phenomenon is explained based on the chemical kinetics and thermodynamics of hydration of the ionic species in the polar fluid. The classical evaporation rate constant formulation is found to be inadequate in modeling the enhanced species transport. Additional probing via particle image velocimetry reveals augmented internal circulation within the evaporating salt based drops compared to pure water. Mapping the dynamic surface tension reveals that a salt concentration gradient is generated between the bulk and periphery of the droplet and it could be responsible for the internal advection cells visualized. A thermo-solutal Marangoni and Rayleigh convection based mathematical formulation has been put forward, and it is shown that the enhanced solute-thermal convection could play a major role in enhanced evaporation. The internal circulation mapped from experiments is found to be in good quantitative agreement with the model predictions. Scaling analysis further reveals that the stability of the solutal Marangoni convection surpasses the thermal counterpart with higher salt concentration and solubility. The present article sheds insight into the possible domineering role of conjugate thermohydraulic and mass transport phenomena on the evaporation kinetics aqueous droplets with ionic inclusions.

Improved in vivo gene transfer into tumor tissue by stabilization of pseudodendritic oligoethylenimine-based polyplexes.

PubMed

Russ, Verena; Fröhlich, Thomas; Li, Yunqiu; Halama, Anna; Ogris, Manfred; Wagner, Ernst

2010-02-01

HD O is a low molecular weight pseudodendrimer containing oligoethylenimine and degradable hexanediol diacrylate diesters. DNA polyplexes display encouraging gene transfer efficiency in vitro and in vivo but also a limited stability under physiological conditions. This limitation must be overcome for further development into more sophisticated formulations. HD O polyplexes were laterally stabilized by crosslinking surface amines via bifunctional crosslinkers, bioreducible dithiobis(succimidyl propionate) (DSP) or the nonreducible analog disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS). Optionally, in a subsequent step, the targeting ligand transferrin (Tf) was attached to DSP-linked HD O polyplexes via Schiff base formation between HD O amino groups and Tf aldehyde groups, which were introduced into Tf by periodate oxidation of the glycosylation sites. Crosslinked DNA polyplexes showed an increased stability against exchange reaction by salt or heparin. Disulfide bond containing DSP-linked polyplexes were susceptible to reducing conditions. These polyplexes displayed the highest gene expression levels in vitro and in vivo (upon intratumoral application in mice), and these were significantly elevated and prolonged over standard or DSS-stabilized HD O formulations. DSP-stabilized HD O polyplexes with or without Tf coating were well-tolerated after intravenous application. High gene expression levels were found in tumor tissue, with negligible gene expression in any other organ. Lateral stabilization of HD O polyplexes with DSP crosslinker enhanced gene transfer efficacy and was essential for the incorporation of a ligand (Tf) into a stable particle formulation.

Influence of pH, temperature, and concentration on stabilization of aqueous hornet silk solution and fabrication of salt-free materials.

PubMed

Kameda, Tsunenori

2015-01-01

We found that an aqueous solution of silk from cocoons produced by hornet larvae (hornet silk) can be obtained when the solution is adjusted to basic conditions of pH > 9.2. It is known that native hornet cocoons can be dissolved in concentrated aqueous solution of salts, such as lithium bromide (LiBr) and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Upon the removal of these salts from solution by dialysis, solidification, gelation, or sedimentation of hornet silk is known to occur. In the present study, under basic conditions, however, no such solidification occurred, even after salt removal. In this study, ammonia was used for alkalization of solution because it is volatilized during the casting process and pure hornet silk materials can be obtained after drying. The effects of the concentrations of hornet silk and ammonia, as well as dialysis temperature, on preventing gelation during dialysis were investigated. Dialysis conditions that limit the degradation of hornet silk by hydrolysis in alkali solution were identified. Moreover, casting conditions to prepare flexible and transparent hornet silk film from aqueous ammonia solution were optimized. Molecular structural analysis of hornet silk in aqueous ammonia solution and cast film indicated the formation of α-helix conformations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of perfusion of bile salts solutions into the oesophagus of hiatal hernia patients and controls.

PubMed Central

Bachir, G S; Collis, J L

1976-01-01

Tests of the response to perfusion of the oesophagus were made in 54 patients divided into three groups. Group I consisted of patients with symptomatic hiatal hernia, group II hiatal hernia patients with peptic stricture, and group III normal individuals. Each individual oesophagus was perfused at a rate of 45-65 drops per minute over 25 minutes with six solutions: normal saline, N/10 HCl, taurine conjugates of bile salts in normal saline, taurine conjugates of bile salts in N/10 HCl, glycine conjugates of bile salts in normal saline, and taurine and glycine conjugates in a ratio of 1 to 2 in normal saline. It was found that acidified taurine solutions were more irritating than acid alone. With a 2mM/l solution of taurine in acid, symptoms are produced even in controls. With a 1 mM/l solution of the same conjugates, the majority of normal people feel slight heartburn or nothing, and therefore perfusion into the oesophagus of such a solution could be used as a test for oesophagitis. PMID:941112

Surface tensions of inorganic multicomponent aqueous electrolyte solutions and melts.

PubMed

Dutcher, Cari S; Wexler, Anthony S; Clegg, Simon L

2010-11-25

A semiempirical model is presented that predicts surface tensions (σ) of aqueous electrolyte solutions and their mixtures, for concentrations ranging from infinitely dilute solution to molten salt. The model requires, at most, only two temperature-dependent terms to represent surface tensions of either pure aqueous solutions, or aqueous or molten mixtures, over the entire composition range. A relationship was found for the coefficients of the equation σ = c(1) + c(2)T (where T (K) is temperature) for molten salts in terms of ion valency and radius, melting temperature, and salt molar volume. Hypothetical liquid surface tensions can thus be estimated for electrolytes for which there are no data, or which do not exist in molten form. Surface tensions of molten (single) salts, when extrapolated to normal temperatures, were found to be consistent with data for aqueous solutions. This allowed surface tensions of very concentrated, supersaturated, aqueous solutions to be estimated. The model has been applied to the following single electrolytes over the entire concentration range, using data for aqueous solutions over the temperature range 233-523 K, and extrapolated surface tensions of molten salts and pure liquid electrolytes: HCl, HNO(3), H(2)SO(4), NaCl, NaNO(3), Na(2)SO(4), NaHSO(4), Na(2)CO(3), NaHCO(3), NaOH, NH(4)Cl, NH(4)NO(3), (NH(4))(2)SO(4), NH(4)HCO(3), NH(4)OH, KCl, KNO(3), K(2)SO(4), K(2)CO(3), KHCO(3), KOH, CaCl(2), Ca(NO(3))(2), MgCl(2), Mg(NO(3))(2), and MgSO(4). The average absolute percentage error between calculated and experimental surface tensions is 0.80% (for 2389 data points). The model extrapolates smoothly to temperatures as low as 150 K. Also, the model successfully predicts surface tensions of ternary aqueous mixtures; the effect of salt-salt interactions in these calculations was explored.

A method for integrating multiple components in a decision support system

Treesearch

Donald Nute; Walter D. Potter; Zhiyuan Cheng; Mayukh Dass; Astrid Glende; Frederick Maierv; Cy Routh; Hajime Uchiyama; Jin Wang; Sarah Witzig; Mark Twery; Peter Knopp; Scott Thomasma; H. Michael Rauscher

2005-01-01

We present a flexible, extensible method for integrating multiple tools into a single large decision support system (DSS) using a forest ecosystem management DSS (NED-2) as an example. In our approach, a rich ontology for the target domain is developed and implemented in the internal data model for the DSS. Semi-autonomous agents control external components and...

Environmental projects, volume 10. Environmental assessment: New 34-meter antenna at Apollo site

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) is part of NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN), one of the world's largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunications and radio navigation networks. A detailed description of the GDSCC is presented. At present the Venus Station has an unused 9-meter antenna and a 26-meter (85 ft) antenna known as DSS-13. Construction of a new 34-meter (111.5 ft) antenna at the Venus site is under way to replace the present DSS-13 26-meter antenna. The proposed construction at the Apollo Site of a new, high efficiency, 34-meter, multifrequency beam waveguide-type antenna to replace the aging, 20-year old, DSS-12 34-meter antenna located at the Echo Site is analyzed. This new 34-meter antenna, to be constructed at the Apollo Site and to be known as DSS-18, will be of a design similar to the new DSS-13 34-meter antenna now being constructed at the Venus Site. When the new 34-meter antenna is completed and operational at the Apollo Site (planned for 1993), the old DSS-12 34-meter antenna at the Echo Site will be decommissioned, dismantled, and removed.

Activation of Intestinal Human Pregnane X Receptor Protects against Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium–Induced Colon Cancer

PubMed Central

Cheng, Jie; Fang, Zhong-Ze; Nagaoka, Kenjiro; Okamoto, Minoru; Qu, Aijuan; Tanaka, Naoki; Kimura, Shioko

2014-01-01

The role of intestinal human pregnane X receptor (PXR) in colon cancer was determined through investigation of the chemopreventive role of rifaximin, a specific agonist of intestinal human PXR, toward azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)–induced colon cancer. Rifaximin treatment significantly decreased the number of colon tumors induced by AOM/DSS treatment in PXR-humanized mice, but not wild-type or Pxr-null mice. Additionally, rifaximin treatment markedly increased the survival rate of PXR-humanized mice, but not wild-type or Pxr-null mice. These data indicated a human PXR–dependent therapeutic chemoprevention of rifaximin toward AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer. Nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells–mediated inflammatory signaling was upregulated in AOM/DSS-treated mice, and inhibited by rifaximin in PXR-humanized mice. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were also modulated by rifaximin treatment in the AOM/DSS model. In vitro cell-based assays further revealed that rifaximin regulated cell apoptosis and cell cycle in a human PXR-dependent manner. These results suggested that specific activation of intestinal human PXR exhibited a chemopreventive role toward AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer by mediating anti-inflammation, antiproliferation, and proapoptotic events. PMID:25277138

LandCaRe DSS--an interactive decision support system for climate change impact assessment and the analysis of potential agricultural land use adaptation strategies.

PubMed

Wenkel, Karl-Otto; Berg, Michael; Mirschel, Wilfried; Wieland, Ralf; Nendel, Claas; Köstner, Barbara

2013-09-01

Decision support to develop viable climate change adaptation strategies for agriculture and regional land use management encompasses a wide range of options and issues. Up to now, only a few suitable tools and methods have existed for farmers and regional stakeholders that support the process of decision-making in this field. The interactive model-based spatial information and decision support system LandCaRe DSS attempts to close the existing methodical gap. This system supports interactive spatial scenario simulations, multi-ensemble and multi-model simulations at the regional scale, as well as the complex impact assessment of potential land use adaptation strategies at the local scale. The system is connected to a local geo-database and via the internet to a climate data server. LandCaRe DSS uses a multitude of scale-specific ecological impact models, which are linked in various ways. At the local scale (farm scale), biophysical models are directly coupled with a farm economy calculator. New or alternative simulation models can easily be added, thanks to the innovative architecture and design of the DSS. Scenario simulations can be conducted with a reasonable amount of effort. The interactive LandCaRe DSS prototype also offers a variety of data analysis and visualisation tools, a help system for users and a farmer information system for climate adaptation in agriculture. This paper presents the theoretical background, the conceptual framework, and the structure and methodology behind LandCaRe DSS. Scenario studies at the regional and local scale for the two Eastern German regions of Uckermark (dry lowlands, 2600 km(2)) and Weißeritz (humid mountain area, 400 km(2)) were conducted in close cooperation with stakeholders to test the functionality of the DSS prototype. The system is gradually being transformed into a web version (http://www.landcare-dss.de) to ensure the broadest possible distribution of LandCaRe DSS to the public. The system will be continuously developed, updated and used in different research projects and as a learning and knowledge-sharing tool for students. The main objective of LandCaRe DSS is to provide information on the complex long-term impacts of climate change and on potential management options for adaptation by answering "what-if" type questions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coping with effects of high dissolved salt samples on the inductively coupled plasma spectrometer

Treesearch

Jane E. Hislop; James W. Hornbeck; James W. Hornbeck

2002-01-01

Research on acidic forest soils typically uses unbuffered salt solutions as extractants for exchangeable cations. Our lab uses 1 M NH4C1 extractant for exchangeable cations (Ca, K, Mg, and Na) and 1 M KC1 for exchangeable aluminum. The resulting high dissolved salt solutions presented chronic analytical problems on flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and...

Fluorinated precursors of superconducting ceramics, and methods of making the same

DOEpatents

Wiesmann, Harold; Solovyov, Vyacheslav

2014-02-18

This invention provides a method of making a fluorinated precursor of a superconducting ceramic. The method comprises providing a solution comprising a rare earth salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and a copper salt; spraying the solution onto a substrate to provide a film-covered substrate; and heating the film-covered substrate in an atmosphere containing fluorinated gas to provide the fluorinated precursor.

Fluorinated precursors of superconducting ceramics, and methods of making the same

DOEpatents

Wiesmann, Harold [Stony Brook, NY; Solovyov, Vyacheslav [Rocky Point, NY

2008-04-22

This invention provides a method of making a fluorinated precursor of a superconducting ceramic. The method comprises providing a solution comprising a rare earth salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and a copper salt; spraying the solution onto a substrate to provide a film-covered substrate; and heating the film-covered substrate in an atmosphere containing fluorinated gas to provide the fluorinated precursor.

Fluorinated precursors of superconducting ceramics, and methods of making the same

DOEpatents

Wiesmann, Harold [Stony Brook, NY; Solovyov, Vyacheslav [Rocky Point, NY

2012-07-10

This invention provides a method of making a fluorinated precursor of a superconducting ceramic. The method comprises providing a solution comprising a rare earth salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and a copper salt; spraying the solution onto a substrate to provide a film-covered substrate; and heating the film-covered substrate in an atmosphere containing fluorinated gas to provide the fluorinated precursor.

On the influence of the mixture of denaturants on protein structure stability: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Qiang; Wang, Jinan; Zhu, Weiliang

2014-09-01

Mixtures of osmolytes and/or inorganic salts are present in the cell. Therefore, the understanding of the interplay of mixed osmolyte molecules and inorganic salts and their combined effects on protein structure is of fundamental importance. A novel test is presented to investigate the combined effects of urea and a chaotropic inorganic salt, potassium iodide (KI), on protein structure by using molecular dynamics simulation. It is found that the coexistence of KI and urea does not affect their respective distribution in solution. The solvation of KI salt in urea solution makes the electrostatic interactions of urea more favorable, promoting the hydrogen bonding between urea (and water) to protein backbone. The interactions from K+ and hydrogen bonding from urea and water to protein backbone work as the driving force for protein denaturation. The collaborative behavior of urea and KI salt thus enhances the denaturing ability of urea and KI mixed solution.

Sodium chloride-enriched Diet Enhanced Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Exacerbated Experimental Colitis in Mice.

PubMed

Monteleone, Ivan; Marafini, Irene; Dinallo, Vincenzo; Di Fusco, Davide; Troncone, Edoardo; Zorzi, Francesca; Laudisi, Federica; Monteleone, Giovanni

2017-02-01

Environmental factors are supposed to play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBDs]. Increased dietary salt intake has been linked with the development of autoimmune diseases, but the impact of a salt-enriched diet on the course of IBD remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether high salt intake alters mucosal cytokine production and exacerbates colitis. Normal intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells [LPMCs] were activated with anti-CD3/CD28 in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of sodium chloride [NaCl] and/or SB202190, a specific inhibitor of p38/MAP Kinase. For in vivo experiments, a high dose of NaCl was administered to mice 15 days before induction of trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid [TNBS]-colitis or dextran sulfate sodium [DSS]-colitis. In parallel, mice were given SB202190 before induction of TNBS-colitis. Transcription factors and effector cytokines were evaluated by flow-cytometry and real-time PCR. IL-17A, IL-23R, TNF-α, and Ror-γT were significantly increased in human LPMCs following NaCl exposure, while there was no significant change in IFN-γ, T-bet or Foxp3. Pharmacologic inhibition of p38/MAPK abrogated the NaCl-inducing effect on LPMC-derived cytokines. Mice receiving the high-salt diet developed a more severe colitis than control mice, and this effect was preventable by SB202190. Our data indicated that exposure of intestinal mononuclear cells to a high-NaCl diet enhanced effector cytokine production and contributed to the exacerbation of experimental colitis in mice. Copyright © 2016 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-targeted Emulsions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richmond, Robert Chafee (Inventor); Schramm, Jr., Harry F. (Inventor); Defalco, Francis G. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, or water. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-Interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-Targeted Emulsions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Defalco, Francis G. (Inventor); Richmond, Robert Chaffee (Inventor); Schramm, Jr., Harry F. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, water, or a water-based lubricant. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-Interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-Targeted Emulsions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Defalco, Francis G. (Inventor); Richmond, Robert Chaffee (Inventor); Schramm, Harry F., Jr. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, or water. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

[Determination of Chloride Salt Solution by NIR Spectroscopy].

PubMed

Zhang, Bin; Chen, Jian-hong; Jiao, Ming-xing

2015-07-01

Determination of chloride salt solution by near infrared spectrum plays a very important role in Biomedicine. The near infrared spectrum analysis of Sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride aqueous solution shows that the concentration change of chloride salt can affect hydrogen bond, resulting in the variation of near infrared spectrum of water. The temperature influence on NIR spectrum has been decreased by choosing reasonable wavelength range and the wavelength where the temperature effects are zero (isosbestic point). Chlorine salt prediction model was established based on partial least squares method and used for predicting the concentration of the chlorine ion. The impact on near infrared spectrum of the cation ionic radius, the number of ionic charge, the complex effect of ionic in water has also discussed in this article and the reason of every factor are analysed. Experimental results show that the temperature and concentration will affect the near-infrared spectrum of the solution, It is found that the effect of temperature plays the dominant role at low concentrations of chlorine salt; rather, the ionic dominates at high concentration. Chloride complexes are formed in aqueous solution, It has an effect on hydrogen bond of water combining with the cations in chlorine salt solution, Comparing different chloride solutions at the same concentration, the destruction effects of chloride complexes and catnions on the hydrogen bond of water increases in the sequences: CaCl2 >NaCl>KC. The modeling result shows that the determination coefficients (R2) = 99.97%, the root mean square error of cross validation (RM- SECV) = 4.51, and the residual prediction deviation (RPD) = 62.7, it meets the daily requirements of biochemical detection accuracy.

Speciation and Structural Properties of Hydrothermal Solutions of Sodium and Potassium Sulfate Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

PubMed

Reimer, Joachim; Vogel, Frédéric; Steele-MacInnis, Matthew

2016-05-18

Aqueous solutions of salts at elevated pressures and temperatures play a key role in geochemical processes and in applications of supercritical water in waste and biomass treatment, for which salt management is crucial for performance. A major question in predicting salt behavior in such processes is how different salts affect the phase equilibria. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate molecular-scale structures of solutions of sodium and/or potassium sulfate, which show contrasting macroscopic behavior. Solutions of Na-SO4 exhibit a tendency towards forming large ionic clusters with increasing temperature, whereas solutions of K-SO4 show significantly less clustering under equivalent conditions. In mixed systems (Nax K2-x SO4 ), cluster formation is dramatically reduced with decreasing Na/(K+Na) ratio; this indicates a structure-breaking role of K. MD results allow these phenomena to be related to the characteristics of electrostatic interactions between K(+) and SO4 (2-) , compared with the analogous Na(+) -SO4 (2-) interactions. The results suggest a mechanism underlying the experimentally observed increasing solubility in ternary mixtures of solutions of Na-K-SO4 . Specifically, the propensity of sodium to associate with sulfate, versus that of potassium to break up the sodium-sulfate clusters, may affect the contrasting behavior of these salts. Thus, mutual salting-in in ternary hydrothermal solutions of Na-K-SO4 reflects the opposing, but complementary, natures of Na-SO4 versus K-SO4 interactions. The results also provide clues towards the reported liquid immiscibility in this ternary system. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Solution Behavior and Activity of a Halophilic Esterase under High Salt Concentration

PubMed Central

Rao, Lang; Zhao, Xiubo; Pan, Fang; Li, Yin; Xue, Yanfen; Ma, Yanhe; Lu, Jian R.

2009-01-01

Background Halophiles are extremophiles that thrive in environments with very high concentrations of salt. Although the salt reliance and physiology of these extremophiles have been widely investigated, the molecular working mechanisms of their enzymes under salty conditions have been little explored. Methodology/Principal Findings A halophilic esterolytic enzyme LipC derived from archeaon Haloarcula marismortui was overexpressed from Escherichia coli BL21. The purified enzyme showed a range of hydrolytic activity towards the substrates of p-nitrophenyl esters with different alkyl chains (n = 2−16), with the highest activity being observed for p-nitrophenyl acetate, consistent with the basic character of an esterase. The optimal esterase activities were found to be at pH 9.5 and [NaCl] = 3.4 M or [KCl] = 3.0 M and at around 45°C. Interestingly, the hydrolysis activity showed a clear reversibility against changes in salt concentration. At the ambient temperature of 22°C, enzyme systems working under the optimal salt concentrations were very stable against time. Increase in temperature increased the activity but reduced its stability. Circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) were deployed to determine the physical states of LipC in solution. As the salt concentration increased, DLS revealed substantial increase in aggregate sizes, but CD measurements revealed the maximal retention of the α-helical structure at the salt concentration matching the optimal activity. These observations were supported by SANS analysis that revealed the highest proportion of unimers and dimers around the optimal salt concentration, although the coexistent larger aggregates showed a trend of increasing size with salt concentration, consistent with the DLS data. Conclusions/Significance The solution α-helical structure and activity relation also matched the highest proportion of enzyme unimers and dimers. Given that all the solutions studied were structurally inhomogeneous, it is important for future work to understand how the LipC's solution aggregation affected its activity. PMID:19759821

Probe diffusion of labeled polymers inside polyacrylic acid solutions: A polyelectrolyte effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Banani; Mithra, K.; Khandai, Santripti; Jena, Sidhartha S.

2018-05-01

Probe diffusion of fluorescently labeled Dextran 40 inside polyelectrolyte solution of polyacrylic acid (PAA) was investigated using Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching technique. The crowding and interaction effects on probe diffusion were controlled by tuning background polymer and added external electrolyte concentration. For all the salt concentration, an overall decrease in diffusion coefficient is observed with rise in polymer concentration. The diffusion coefficient decreases with decrease in salt concentration whereas the solution viscosity increases, indicating a competition between viscous drag and electrostatic interaction. A large positive deviation from the ideal Stokes-Einstein relation is observed for high polymer and low salt concentration, which reduces markedly with addition of salt confirming polyelectrolyte effects, plays a major role in deciding the probe diffusion.

Evaporation of a sessile water drop and a drop of aqueous salt solution.

PubMed

Misyura, S Y

2017-11-07

The influence of various factors on the evaporation of drops of water and aqueous salt solution has been experimentally studied. Typically, in the studies of drop evaporation, only the diffusive vapor transfer, radiation and the molecular heat conduction are taken into account. However, vapor-gas convection plays an important role at droplet evaporation. In the absence of droplet boiling, the influence of gas convection turns out to be the prevailing factor. At nucleate boiling, a prevailing role is played by bubbles generation and vapor jet discharge at a bubble collapse. The gas convection behavior for water and aqueous salt solution is substantially different. With a growth of salt concentration over time, the influence of the convective component first increases, reaches an extremum and then significantly decreases. At nucleate boiling in a salt solution it is incorrect to simulate the droplet evaporation and the heat transfer in quasi-stationary approximation. The evaporation at nucleate boiling in a liquid drop is divided into several characteristic time intervals. Each of these intervals is characterized by a noticeable change in both the evaporation rate and the convection role.

Validation of a gastric cancer nomogram using a cancer registry.

PubMed

Ashfaq, Awais; Kidwell, John T; McGhan, Lee J; Dueck, Amylou C; Pockaj, Barbara A; Gray, Richard J; Bagaria, Sanjay P; Wasif, Nabil

2015-09-01

A Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC) nomogram predicts disease specific survival (DSS) for gastric adenocarcinoma. The goal of this study is to use a cancer registry to compare nomogram predicted survival with actual survival in the general population. All patients undergoing surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1988-2012) were studied. 6954 patients were identified. Majority of cancers were in the antrum (30.2%), and had intestinal histology (73.7%). Median follow-up was 8.2 years. Five year DSS for nomogram risk groups (0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, and 76-100%) was 23%, 48%, 57%, and 81% respectively. Actual DSS was 7-15% lower than nomogram predicted DSS. Relative to patients in the 76-100% 5-year DSS risk group, patients in the 0-25%, 26-50%, and 51-75% groups had significantly higher risks of death with hazard ratios of 6.84 (95%CI 6.12-7.65), 3.30 (95%CI 2.83-3.86), and 2.64 (95%CI 2.30-3.03), respectively (all P < 0.001). The concordance index for 5-year nomogram predicted DSS was 0.68 (95%CI 0.67-0.69). The MSKCC gastric cancer nomogram over-estimates DSS from gastric cancer in the general population and has a moderate concordance index. Predictive tools generated at specialized institutions may not perform as well in the general population. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Mangifera indica L. extract in a model of colitis.

PubMed

Márquez, Lucía; Pérez-Nievas, Beatriz G; Gárate, Icíar; García-Bueno, Borja; Madrigal, José Lm; Menchén, Luis; Garrido, Gabino; Leza, Juan C

2010-10-21

To investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Mangifera indica L. (MIE) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. MIE (150 mg/kg) was administered in two different protocols: (1) rectally, over 7 d at the same time as DSS administration; and (2) once daily over 14 d (by oral gavage, 7 d before starting DSS, and rectally for 7 d during DSS administration). General observations of clinical signs were performed. Anti-inflammatory activity of MIE was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Colonic lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, expression of inflammatory related mediators [inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, respectively] and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptors 1 and 2] in colonic tissue were also assessed. Interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α serum levels were also measured. The results demonstrated that MIE has anti-inflammatory properties by improvement of clinical signs, reduction of ulceration and reduced MPO activity when administered before DSS. In addition, administration of MIE for 14 d resulted in an increase in GSH and reduction of TBARS levels and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and TNF R-2 expression in colonic tissue, and a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α serum levels. MIE has anti-inflammatory activity in a DSS-induced rat colitis model and preventive administration (prior to DSS) seems to be a more effective protocol.

High-efficiency preparation of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) grafting layer on poly(ether ether ketone) by photoinduced and self-initiated graft polymerization in an aqueous solution in the presence of inorganic salt additives.

PubMed

Shiojima, Taro; Inoue, Yuuki; Kyomoto, Masayuki; Ishihara, Kazuhiko

2016-08-01

A highly efficient methodology for preparing a poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) layer on the surface of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) was examined by photoinduced and self-initiated graft polymerization. To enhance the polymerization rate, we demonstrated the effects of inorganic salt additives in the feed monomer solution on thickness of grafted PMPC layer. Photoinduced polymerization occurred and the PMPC graft layer was successfully formed on the PEEK surface, regardless of inorganic salt additives. Moreover, it was clearly observed that the addition of inorganic salt enhanced the grafting thickness of PMPC layer on the surface even when the photoirradiation time was shortened. The addition of inorganic salt additives in the feed monomer solution enhanced the polymerization rate of MPC and resulted in thicker PMPC layers. In particular, we evaluated the effect of NaCl concentration and how this affected the polymerization rate and layer thickness. We considered that this phenomenon was due to the hydration of ions in the feed monomer solution and subsequent apparent increase in the MPC concentration. A PMPC layer with over 100-nm-thick, which was prepared by 5-min photoirradiation in 2.5mol/L inorganic salt aqueous solution, showed good wettability and protein adsorption resistance compared to that of untreated PEEK. Hence, we concluded that the addition of NaCl into the MPC feed solution would be a convenient and efficient method for preparing a graft layer on PEEK. Photoinduced and self-initiated graft polymerization on the PEEK surface is one of the several methodologies available for functionalization. However, in comparison with free-radical polymerization, the efficiency of polymerization at the solid-liquid interface is limited. Enhancement of the polymerization rate for grafting could solve the problem. In this study, we observed the acceleration of the polymerization rate of MPC in an aqueous solution by the addition of inorganic salt. The salt itself did not show any adverse effects on the radical polymerization; however, the apparent concentration of the monomer in feed may be increased due to the hydration of ions attributed to salt additives. We could obtain PMPC-grafted PEEK with sufficient PMPC thickness to obtain good functionality with only 5-min photoirradiation by using 2.5mol/L NaCl in the feed solution. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method of extracting coal from a coal refuse pile

DOEpatents

Yavorsky, Paul M.

1991-01-01

A method of extracting coal from a coal refuse pile comprises soaking the coal refuse pile with an aqueous alkali solution and distributing an oxygen-containing gas throughout the coal refuse pile for a time period sufficient to effect oxidation of coal contained in the coal refuse pile. The method further comprises leaching the coal refuse pile with an aqueous alkali solution to solubilize and extract the oxidized coal as alkali salts of humic acids and collecting the resulting solution containing the alkali salts of humic acids. Calcium hydroxide may be added to the solution of alkali salts of humic acid to form precipitated humates useable as a low-ash, low-sulfur solid fuel.

Extracting renewable energy from a salinity difference using a capacitor.

PubMed

Brogioli, Doriano

2009-07-31

Completely renewable energy can be produced by using water solutions of different salinity, like river water and sea water. Many different methods are already known, but development is still at prototype stage. Here I report a novel method, based on electric double-layer capacitor technology. Two porous electrodes, immersed in the salt solution, constitute a capacitor. It is first charged, then the salt solution is brought into contact with fresh water. The electrostatic energy increases as the salt concentration of the solution is reduced due to diffusion. This device can be used to turn sources of salinity difference into completely renewable sources of energy. An experimental demonstration is given, and performances and possible improvements are discussed.

PROCESS FOR SEPARATION OF HEAVY METALS

DOEpatents

Duffield, R.B.

1958-04-29

A method is described for separating plutonium from aqueous acidic solutions of neutron-irradiated uranium and the impurities associated therewith. The separation is effected by adding, to the solution containing hexavalent uranium and plutonium, acetate ions and the ions of an alkali metal and those of a divalent metal and thus forming a complex plutonium acetate salt which is carried by the corresponding complex of uranium, such as sodium magnesium uranyl acetate. The plutonium may be separated from the precipitated salt by taking the same back into solution, reducing the plutonium to a lower valent state on reprecipitating the sodium magnesium uranyl salt, removing the latter, and then carrying the plutonium from ihe solution by means of lanthanum fluoride.

Evaluation of changes in serum chemistry in association with feed withdrawal or high dose oral gavage with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) induced gut leakage in broiler chickens

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) has been shown to be effective at inducing enteric inflammation in broiler chickens, resulting in increased leakage of orally administered fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran to circulation. In a previous study, two doses of DSS (0.45g/dose) administered as oral gavage re...

Protein diffusiophoresis and salt osmotic diffusion in aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Annunziata, Onofrio; Buzatu, Daniela; Albright, John G

2012-10-25

Diffusion of a solute can be induced by the concentration gradient of another solute in solution. This transport mechanism is known as cross-diffusion. We have investigated cross-diffusion in a ternary protein-salt-water system. Specifically, we measured the two cross-diffusion coefficients for the lysozyme-NaCl-water system at 25 °C and pH 4.5 as a function of protein and salt concentrations by Rayleigh interferometry. One cross-diffusion coefficient characterizes salt osmotic diffusion induced by a protein concentration gradient, and is related to protein-salt thermodynamic interactions as described by the theories of Donnan membrane equilibrium and protein preferential hydration. The other cross-diffusion coefficient characterizes protein diffusiophoresis induced by a salt concentration gradient, and is described as the difference between a preferential-interaction coefficient and a transport parameter. We first relate our experimental results to the protein net charge and the thermodynamic excess of water near the protein surface. We then extract the Stefan-Maxwell diffusion coefficient describing protein-salt interactions in water. We find that the value of this coefficient is negative, contrary to the friction interpretation of Stefan-Maxwell equations. This result is explained by considering protein hydration. Finally, protein diffusiophoresis is quantitatively examined by considering electrophoretic and hydration effects on protein migration and utilized to accurately estimate lysozyme electrophoretic mobility. To our knowledge, this is the first time that protein diffusiophoresis has been experimentally characterized and a protein-salt Stefan-Maxwell diffusion coefficient reported. This work represents a significant contribution for understanding and modeling the effect of concentration gradients in protein-salt aqueous systems relevant to diffusion-based mass-transfer technologies and transport in living systems.

Fluid-loading solutions and plasma volume: Astro-ade and salt tablets with water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fortney, Suzanne M.; Seinmann, Laura; Young, Joan A.; Hoskin, Cherylynn N.; Barrows, Linda H.

1994-01-01

Fluid loading with salt and water is a countermeasure used after space flight to restore body fluids. However, gastrointestinal side effects have been frequently reported in persons taking similar quantities of salt and water in ground-based studies. The effectiveness of the Shuttle fluid-loading countermeasure (8 gms salt, 0.97 liters of water) was compared to Astro-ade (an isotonic electrolyte solution), to maintain plasma volume (PV) during 4.5 hrs of resting fluid restriction. Three groups of healthy men (n=6) were studied: a Control Group (no drinking), an Astro-ade Group, and a Salt Tablet Group. Changes in PV after drinking were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Both the Salt Tablet and Astro-ade Groups maintained PV at 2-3 hours after ingestion compared to the Control Group, which had a 6 percent decline. Side effects (thirst, stomach cramping, and diarrhea) were noted in at least one subject in both the Astro-ade and Salt Tablet Groups. Nausea and vomiting were reported in one subject in the Salt Tablet Group. It was concluded that Astro-ade may be offered as an alternate fluid-loading countermeasure but further work is needed to develop a solution that is more palatable and has fewer side effects.

PROCESS OF REMOVING PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM SOLUTION WITH GROUP IVB METAL PHOSPHO-SILICATE COMPOSITIONS

DOEpatents

Russell, E.R.; Adamson, A.W.; Schubert, J.; Boyd, G.E.

1957-10-29

A process for separating plutonium values from aqueous solutions which contain the plutonium in minute concentrations is described. These values can be removed from an aqueous solution by taking an aqueous solution containing a salt of zirconium, titanium, hafnium or thorium, adding an aqueous solution of silicate and phosphoric acid anions to the metal salt solution, and separating, washing and drying the precipitate which forms when the two solutions are mixed. The aqueous plutonium containing solution is then acidified and passed over the above described precipi-tate causing the plutonium values to be adsorbed by the precipitate.

Aqueous origins of bright salt deposits on Ceres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zolotov, Mikhail Yu.

2017-11-01

Bright materials have been reported in association with impact craters on Ceres. The abundant Na2CO3 and some ammonium salts, NH4HCO3 and/or NH4Cl, were detected in bright deposits within Occator crater with Dawn near infrared spectroscopy. The composition and appearance of the salts suggest their aqueous mobilization and emplacement after formation of the crater. Here we consider origins of the bright deposits through calculation of speciation in the H-C-N-O-Na-Cl water-salt type system constrained by the mass balance of observed salts. Calculations of chemical equilibria show that initial solutions had the pH of ∼10. The temperature and salinity of solutions could have not exceeded ∼273 K and ∼100 g per kg H2O, respectively. Freezing models reveal an early precipitation of Na2CO3·10H2O followed by minor NaHCO3. Ammonium salts precipitate near eutectic from brines enriched in NH4+, Cl- and Na+. A late-stage precipitation of NaCl·2H2O is modeled for solution compositions with added NaCl. Calculated eutectics are above 247 K. The apparently unabundant ammonium and chloride salts in Occator's deposits imply a rapid emplacement without a compositional evolution of solution. Salty ice grains could have deposited from post-impact ballistic plumes formed through low-pressure boiling of subsurface solutions. Hydrated and ammonium salts are unstable at maximum temperatures of Ceres' surface and could decompose through space weathering. Occator's ice-free salt deposits formed through a post-depositional sublimation of ice followed by dehydration of Na2CO3·10H2O and NaHCO3 to Na2CO3. In other regions, excavated and exposed bright materials could be salts initially deposited from plumes and accumulated at depth via post-impact boiling. The lack of detection of sulfates and an elevated carbonate/chloride ratio in Ceres' materials suggest an involvement of compounds abundant in the outer solar system.

Using NASA Techniques to Atmospherically Correct AWiFS Data for Carbon Sequestration Studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holekamp, Kara L.

2007-01-01

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted in a number of ways, including the burning of fossil fuels and the conversion of forest to agriculture. Research has begun to quantify the ability of vegetative land cover and oceans to absorb and store carbon dioxide. The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Forest Service is currently evaluating a DSS (decision support system) developed by researchers at the NASA Ames Research Center called CASA-CQUEST (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach-Carbon Query and Evaluation Support Tools). CASA-CQUEST is capable of estimating levels of carbon sequestration based on different land cover types and of predicting the effects of land use change on atmospheric carbon amounts to assist land use management decisions. The CASA-CQUEST DSS currently uses land cover data acquired from MODIS (the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and the CASA-CQUEST project team is involved in several projects that use moderate-resolution land cover data derived from Landsat surface reflectance. Landsat offers higher spatial resolution than MODIS, allowing for increased ability to detect land use changes and forest disturbance. However, because of the rate at which changes occur and the fact that disturbances can be hidden by regrowth, updated land cover classifications may be required before the launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, and consistent classifications will be needed after that time. This candidate solution investigates the potential of using NASA atmospheric correction techniques to produce science-quality surface reflectance data from the Indian Remote Sensing Advanced Wide-Field Sensor on the RESOURCESAT-1 mission to produce land cover classification maps for the CASA-CQUEST DSS.

Decision aids for multiple-decision disease management as affected by weather input errors.

PubMed

Pfender, W F; Gent, D H; Mahaffee, W F; Coop, L B; Fox, A D

2011-06-01

Many disease management decision support systems (DSSs) rely, exclusively or in part, on weather inputs to calculate an indicator for disease hazard. Error in the weather inputs, typically due to forecasting, interpolation, or estimation from off-site sources, may affect model calculations and management decision recommendations. The extent to which errors in weather inputs affect the quality of the final management outcome depends on a number of aspects of the disease management context, including whether management consists of a single dichotomous decision, or of a multi-decision process extending over the cropping season(s). Decision aids for multi-decision disease management typically are based on simple or complex algorithms of weather data which may be accumulated over several days or weeks. It is difficult to quantify accuracy of multi-decision DSSs due to temporally overlapping disease events, existence of more than one solution to optimizing the outcome, opportunities to take later recourse to modify earlier decisions, and the ongoing, complex decision process in which the DSS is only one component. One approach to assessing importance of weather input errors is to conduct an error analysis in which the DSS outcome from high-quality weather data is compared with that from weather data with various levels of bias and/or variance from the original data. We illustrate this analytical approach for two types of DSS, an infection risk index for hop powdery mildew and a simulation model for grass stem rust. Further exploration of analysis methods is needed to address problems associated with assessing uncertainty in multi-decision DSSs.

[Changes of expression of miR-155 in colitis-associated colonic carcinogenesis].

PubMed

Li, Weiwei; Han, Wenxiao; Zhao, Xinhua; Wang, Hongying

2014-04-01

To investigate the changes of miR-155 and its target genes in colitis-associated carcinogenesis. Colitis-associated colon cancer was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice. Mice of three different stages during the development of colon cancer were obtained, named AD1, AD2 and AD3, respectively. A control group of mice without any treatment and a DSS only group representing chronic inflammation without cancer were set up as well. Colon tissue was collected and expression of miR-155 in the colon tissues was measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. TargetScan and PicTar were used to predict potential target genes of miR-155, which were then preliminarily screened with our gene expression microarray database of AOM-DSS mouse model. Regular PCR was used to confirm the changes of the expression of these potential target genes in AOM-DSS mouse model. Colitis-associated colon cancer was effectively induced by azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium in C57BL/6 mice. Histological examination revealed that the evolution process was sequentially from normal, mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia, and severe dysplasia to adenocarcinoma in the AOM-DSS mouse model. The level of miR-155 was gradually elevated with the formation of colitis-associated colon cancer. There was no significant difference between the levels of miR-155 expression in the DSS group (0.005 6 ± 0.003 7) and control group (0.012 0 ± 0.005 1) (P > 0.05), but the level of miR-155 in the AD3 group (0.054 4 ± 0.027 0) was significantly higher than that of the DSS group (0.005 6 ± 0.003 7)(P < 0.01). No significant change of miR-155 expression was found in the DSS only group. The relative expression levels of miR-155 in the control group, DSS only group and AD3 group were 0.012 0 ± 0.005 1, 0.005 6 ± 0.003 7, 0.054 4 ± 0.027 0, respectively. Data analysis with the gene expression microarray showed that Tle4, Kcna1, Itk, Bcorl1, Cacna1c, Rspo2 and Foxo3 were potential target genes of miR-155 in the AOM-DSS mouse model. Changes of Kcna1 and Cacna1c in the AOM-DSS mouse model were validated to be consistent with the changes obtained with the gene expression microarray. The up-regulation of miR-155 is related to colitis-associated carcinogenesis, but is irrelevant to chronic inflammation in the mouse model.

Characterization of Aerosol Episodes in the Greater Mediterranean Sea Area from Satellite Observations (2000-2007)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gkikas, A.; Hatzianastassiou, N.; Mihalopoulos, N.; Torres, O.

2015-01-01

An algorithm able to identify and characterize episodes of different aerosol types above sea surfaces of the greater Mediterranean basin (GMB), including the Black Sea and the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Iberia and northwest Africa, is presented in this study. Based on this algorithm, five types of intense (strong and extreme) aerosol episodes in the GMB are identified and characterized using daily aerosol optical properties from satellite measurements, namely MODIS-Terra, Earth Probe (EP)-TOMS and OMIAura. These aerosol episodes are: (i) biomass-burning/urban-industrial (BU), (ii) desert dust (DD), (iii) dust/sea-salt (DSS), (iv) mixed (MX) and (v) undetermined (UN). The identification and characterization is made with our algorithm using a variety of aerosol properties, namely aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom exponent (a), fine fraction (FF), effective radius (reff) and Aerosol Index (AI). During the study period (2000e2007), the most frequent aerosol episodes are DD, observed primarily in the western and central Mediterranean Sea, and off the northern African coasts, 7 times/year for strong episodes and 4 times/year for extreme ones, on average. The DD episodes yield 40% of all types of strong aerosol episodes in the study region, while they account for 71.5% of all extreme episodes. The frequency of occurrence of strong episodes exhibits specific geographical patterns, for example the BU are mostly observed along the coasts of southern Europe and off the Atlantic coasts of Portugal, the MX episodes off the Spanish Mediterranean coast and over the Adriatic and northern Aegean Sea, while the DSS ones over the western and central Mediterranean Sea. On the other hand, the extreme episodes for all but DD aerosol display more patchy spatial patterns. The strong episodes exhibit AOD at 550 nm as high as 1.6 in the southernmost parts of central and eastern Mediterranean Sea, which rise up to 5 for the extreme, mainly DD and DSS, episodes. Although more than 90% of all aerosol episodes last 1 day, there are few cases, mainly extreme DD episodes, which last up to 4 days. Independently of their type, the Mediterranean aerosol episodes occur more frequently in spring (strong and extreme episodes) and summer (strong episodes) and most rarely during winter. A significant year by year variability of Mediterranean aerosol episodes has been identified, more in terms of their frequency than intensity. An analysis of 5-day back trajectories for the most extreme episodes provides confidence on the obtained results of the algorithm, based on the revealed origin and track of air masses causing the episodes. The 25 and 6% of all strong and extreme episodes, respectively, are MX, thus highlighting the co-existence of different aerosol types in the greater Mediterranean. The intensity of both MX and DSS episodes exhibits similar patterns to those of DD strong ones, indicating that desert dust is a determinant factor for the intensity of aerosol episodes in the Mediterranean, including DSS and MX episodes.

Direct Analysis of Proteins from Solutions with High Salt Concentration Using Laser Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karki, Santosh; Shi, Fengjian; Archer, Jieutonne J.; Sistani, Habiballah; Levis, Robert J.

2018-05-01

The detection of lysozyme, or a mixture of lysozyme, cytochrome c, and myoglobin, from solutions with varying salt concentrations (0.1 to 250 mM NaCl) is compared using laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Protonated protein peaks were observed up to a concentration of 250 mM NaCl in the case of LEMS. In the case of ESI-MS, a protein solution with salt concentration > 0.5 mM resulted in predominantly salt-adducted features, with suppression of the protonated protein ions. The constituents in the mixture of proteins were assignable up to 250 mM NaCl for LEMS and were not assignable above a NaCl concentration of 0.5 mM for ESI. The average sodium adducts (< n >) bound to the 7+ charge state of lysozyme for LEMS measurements from salt concentrations of 2.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl are 1.71, 5.23, 5.26, and 5.11, respectively. The conventional electrospray measurements for lysozyme solution containing salt concentrations of 0.1, 1, 2, and 5 mM NaCl resulted in < n > of 2.65, 6.44, 7.57, and 8.48, respectively. LEMS displays an approximately two orders of magnitude higher salt tolerance in comparison with conventional ESI-MS. The non-equilibrium partitioning of proteins on the surface of the charged droplets is proposed as the mechanism for the high salt tolerance phenomena observed in the LEMS measurements. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Direct Analysis of Proteins from Solutions with High Salt Concentration Using Laser Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karki, Santosh; Shi, Fengjian; Archer, Jieutonne J.; Sistani, Habiballah; Levis, Robert J.

2018-03-01

The detection of lysozyme, or a mixture of lysozyme, cytochrome c, and myoglobin, from solutions with varying salt concentrations (0.1 to 250 mM NaCl) is compared using laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Protonated protein peaks were observed up to a concentration of 250 mM NaCl in the case of LEMS. In the case of ESI-MS, a protein solution with salt concentration > 0.5 mM resulted in predominantly salt-adducted features, with suppression of the protonated protein ions. The constituents in the mixture of proteins were assignable up to 250 mM NaCl for LEMS and were not assignable above a NaCl concentration of 0.5 mM for ESI. The average sodium adducts (< n >) bound to the 7+ charge state of lysozyme for LEMS measurements from salt concentrations of 2.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl are 1.71, 5.23, 5.26, and 5.11, respectively. The conventional electrospray measurements for lysozyme solution containing salt concentrations of 0.1, 1, 2, and 5 mM NaCl resulted in < n > of 2.65, 6.44, 7.57, and 8.48, respectively. LEMS displays an approximately two orders of magnitude higher salt tolerance in comparison with conventional ESI-MS. The non-equilibrium partitioning of proteins on the surface of the charged droplets is proposed as the mechanism for the high salt tolerance phenomena observed in the LEMS measurements. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

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

Phillips, Laurence R.; Jordan, Danyelle N.; Bauer, Travis L.

The large number of government and industry activities supporting the Unit of Action (UA), with attendant documents, reports and briefings, can overwhelm decision-makers with an overabundance of information that hampers the ability to make quick decisions often resulting in a form of gridlock. In particular, the large and rapidly increasing amounts of data and data formats stored on UA Advanced Collaborative Environment (ACE) servers has led to the realization that it has become impractical and even impossible to perform manual analysis leading to timely decisions. UA Program Management (PM UA) has recognized the need to implement a Decision Support Systemmore » (DSS) on UA ACE. The objective of this document is to research the commercial Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDDM) market and publish the results in a survey. Furthermore, a ranking mechanism based on UA ACE-specific criteria has been developed and applied to a representative set of commercially available KDDM solutions. In addition, an overview of four R&D areas identified as critical to the implementation of DSS on ACE is provided. Finally, a comprehensive database containing detailed information on surveyed KDDM tools has been developed and is available upon customer request.« less

Deep Space Station (DSS-13) automation demonstration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Remer, D. S.; Lorden, G.

1980-01-01

The data base collected during a six month demonstration of an automated Deep Space Station (DSS 13) run unattended and remotely controlled is summarized. During this period, DSS 13 received spacecraft telemetry data from Voyager, Pioneers 10 and 11, and Helios projects. Corrective and preventive maintenance are reported by subsystem including the traditional subsystems and those subsystems added for the automation demonstration. Operations and maintenance data for a comparable manned Deep Space Station (DSS 11) are also presented for comparison. The data suggests that unattended operations may reduce maintenance manhours in addition to reducing operator manhours. Corrective maintenance for the unmanned station was about one third of the manned station, and preventive maintenance was about one half.

URANIUM RECOVERY PROCESS

DOEpatents

Hyman, H.H.; Dreher, J.L.

1959-07-01

The recovery of uranium from the acidic aqueous metal waste solutions resulting from the bismuth phosphate carrier precipitation of plutonium from solutions of neutron irradiated uranium is described. The waste solutions consist of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and uranium as a uranyl salt, together with salts of the fission products normally associated with neutron irradiated uranium. Generally, the process of the invention involves the partial neutralization of the waste solution with sodium hydroxide, followed by conversion of the solution to a pH 11 by mixing therewith sufficient sodium carbonate. The resultant carbonate-complexed waste is contacted with a titanated silica gel and the adsorbent separated from the aqueous medium. The aqueous solution is then mixed with sufficient acetic acid to bring the pH of the aqueous medium to between 4 and 5, whereby sodium uranyl acetate is precipitated. The precipitate is dissolved in nitric acid and the resulting solution preferably provided with salting out agents. Uranyl nitrate is recovered from the solution by extraction with an ether such as diethyl ether.

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in clays at thermodynamic conditions of hydraulic fracturing: Insight from molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svoboda, Martin; Lísal, Martin

2018-06-01

To address a high salinity of flow-back water during hydraulic fracturing, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and study the thermodynamics, structure, and diffusion of concentrated aqueous salt solution in clay nanopores. The concentrated solution results from the dissolution of a cubic NaCl nanocrystal, immersed in an aqueous NaCl solution of varying salt concentration and confined in clay pores of a width comparable to the crystal size. The size of the nanocrystal equals to about 18 Å which is above a critical nucleus size. We consider a typical shale gas reservoir condition of 365 K and 275 bar, and we represent the clay pores as pyrophyllite and Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) slits. We employ the Extended Simple Point Charge (SPC/E) model for water, Joung-Cheatham model for ions, and CLAYFF for the slit walls. We impose the pressure in the normal direction and the resulting slit width varies from about 20 to 25 Å when the salt concentration in the surrounding solution increased from zero to an oversaturated value. By varying the salt concentration, we observe two scenarios. First, the crystal dissolves and its dissolution time increases with increasing salt concentration. We describe the dissolution process in terms of the number of ions in the crystal, and the crystal size and shape. Second, when the salt concentration reaches a system solubility limit, the crystal grows and attains a new equilibrium size; the crystal comes into equilibrium with the surrounding saturated solution. After crystal dissolution, we carry out canonical MD simulations for the concentrated solution. We evaluate the hydration energy, density profiles, orientation distributions, hydrogen-bond network, radial distribution functions, and in-plane diffusion of water and ions to provide insight into the microscopic behaviour of the concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in interlayer galleries of the slightly hydrophobic pyrophyllite and hydrophilic Na-MMT pores.

Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in clays at thermodynamic conditions of hydraulic fracturing: Insight from molecular dynamics simulations.

PubMed

Svoboda, Martin; Lísal, Martin

2018-06-14

To address a high salinity of flow-back water during hydraulic fracturing, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and study the thermodynamics, structure, and diffusion of concentrated aqueous salt solution in clay nanopores. The concentrated solution results from the dissolution of a cubic NaCl nanocrystal, immersed in an aqueous NaCl solution of varying salt concentration and confined in clay pores of a width comparable to the crystal size. The size of the nanocrystal equals to about 18 Å which is above a critical nucleus size. We consider a typical shale gas reservoir condition of 365 K and 275 bar, and we represent the clay pores as pyrophyllite and Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) slits. We employ the Extended Simple Point Charge (SPC/E) model for water, Joung-Cheatham model for ions, and CLAYFF for the slit walls. We impose the pressure in the normal direction and the resulting slit width varies from about 20 to 25 Å when the salt concentration in the surrounding solution increased from zero to an oversaturated value. By varying the salt concentration, we observe two scenarios. First, the crystal dissolves and its dissolution time increases with increasing salt concentration. We describe the dissolution process in terms of the number of ions in the crystal, and the crystal size and shape. Second, when the salt concentration reaches a system solubility limit, the crystal grows and attains a new equilibrium size; the crystal comes into equilibrium with the surrounding saturated solution. After crystal dissolution, we carry out canonical MD simulations for the concentrated solution. We evaluate the hydration energy, density profiles, orientation distributions, hydrogen-bond network, radial distribution functions, and in-plane diffusion of water and ions to provide insight into the microscopic behaviour of the concentrated aqueous sodium chloride solution in interlayer galleries of the slightly hydrophobic pyrophyllite and hydrophilic Na-MMT pores.

Optimal aluminum/zirconium: Protein interactions for predicting antiperspirant efficacy using zeta potential measurements.

PubMed

Yuan, Shaotang; Vaughn, John; Pappas, Iraklis; Fitzgerald, Michael; Masters, James G; Pan, Long

2015-01-01

The interactions between commercial antiperspirant (AP) salts [aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH), activated ACH, aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (ASCH), zirconium aluminum glycine (ZAG), activated ZAG), pure aluminum polyoxocations (Al13-mer, Al30-mer), and the zirconium(IV)-glycine complex Zr6 (O)4 (OH)4 (H2O)8 (Gly)8]12+(-) (CP-2 or ZG) with Bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied using zeta potential and turbidity measurements. The maximal turbidity, which revealed the optimal interactions between protein and metal salts, for all protein-metal salt samples was observed at the isoelectric point (IEP), where the zeta potential of the solution was zero. Efficacy of AP salts was determined via three parameters: the amount of salt required to flocculate BSA to reach IEP, the turbidity of solution at the IEP, and the pH range over which the turbidity of the solution remains sufficiently high. By comparing active salt performance from this work to traditional prescreening methods, this methodology was able to provide a consistent efficacy assessment for metal actives in APs or in water treatment.

[Physical and chemical evaluation during refrigeration storage of salted catfish (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) in brine solution, and packed under vacuum].

PubMed

Rodríguez, Diana; Barrero, Marinela; Kodaira, Makie

2009-06-01

Salting fish in the south Venezuelan towns are still the main method of preserving fish including cutt, and salting fish process, storage and commercialization. As the result, salted-dried fish is particularly susceptible to spoilage by a number of factors, including lipid oxidation, browning meat. Packing salted fish product is an alternative increasing storage life time reducing lost of quality and enhancing the storage time. The present study evaluated the physic, chemist, and sensory quality of fish fillet from cat fish (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) from Apure state, Venezuela. Fillet fish were placed in brine solution at 36% of sodium chloride 1:2 fillet: brine solution; after, they were packed under followed conditions: vacuum, vacuum and storage under refrigeration condition, and room temperature. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.01) for moisture, salt content, and Aw. The fillets packed at vacuum and storage at 4 degrees C were significant different from the resting treatments; not significant differences were presented at room and refrigeration temperature after three moths. The best conditions treatment was vacuum packing and refrigeration at 4 degrees C.

A framework for ecological decision support systems: Building the right systems and building the systems right

USGS Publications Warehouse

D'Erchia, Frank; Korschgen, Carl E.; Nyquist, M.; Root, Ralph; Sojda, Richard S.; Stine, Peter

2001-01-01

Workshops in the late 1990's launched the commitment of the U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division (BRD) to develop and implement decision support systems (DSS) applications. One of the primary goals of this framework document is to provide sufficient background and information for Department of the Interior (DOI) bureau stakeholders and other clients to determine the potential for DSS development. Such an understanding can assist them in carrying out effective land planning and management practices. This document provides a definition of DSS and its characteristics and capabilities. It proceeds to describe issues related to meeting resource managers needs, such as the needs for specific applications, customer requirements, information and technology transfer, user support, and institutionalization. Using the decision process as a means to guide DSS development and determine users needs is also discussed. We conclude with information on method to evaluate DSS development efforts and recommended procedures for verification and validation. 

A Framework for a Decision Support System in a Hierarchical Extended Enterprise Decision Context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boza, Andrés; Ortiz, Angel; Vicens, Eduardo; Poler, Raul

Decision Support System (DSS) tools provide useful information to decision makers. In an Extended Enterprise, a new goal, changes in the current objectives or small changes in the extended enterprise configuration produce a necessary adjustment in its decision system. A DSS in this context must be flexible and agile to make suitable an easy and quickly adaptation to this new context. This paper proposes to extend the Hierarchical Production Planning (HPP) structure to an Extended Enterprise decision making context. In this way, a framework for DSS in Extended Enterprise context is defined using components of HPP. Interoperability details have been reviewed to identify the impact in this framework. The proposed framework allows overcoming some interoperability barriers, identifying and organizing components for a DSS in Extended Enterprise context, and working in the definition of an architecture to be used in the design process of a flexible DSS in Extended Enterprise context which can reuse components for futures Extended Enterprise configurations.

Improving an Atlantic Fisheries DSS using Sea Surface Salinity Data from NASA's Aquarius Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guest, DeNeice

2007-01-01

This report assesses the capacity of incorporating NASA#s Aquarius SSS (sea surface salinity) data into the SMAST (School of Marine Science and Technology) DSS for Fisheries Science. This data will enhance the SMAST DSS by providing SSS over a large area. Aquarius is a focused satellite mission designed to measure global SSS. SSS mapping is limited because conventional in situ SSS sampling is too sparse to give a large-scale view of the salinity variability. Aquarius will resolve missing physical processes that link the water cycle, the climate, and the ocean. The SMAST Fisheries program provides a DSS for fisheries science. It collects fisheries and environmental data, integrates them into a suite of data assimilation ocean models, and provides hindcasts, nowcasts, and forecasts for fisheries research, fisheries management, and the fishery industry. Currently, SMAST is using SSS data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration#s National Data Buoy Center. The SMAST DSS would be enhanced with SSS data from the Aquarius mission.

The GBT Dynamic Scheduling System: Development and Testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarty, M.; Clark, M.; Marganian, P.; O'Neil, K.; Shelton, A.; Sessoms, E.

2009-09-01

During the summer trimester of 2008, all observations on the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) were scheduled using the new Dynamic Scheduling System (DSS). Beta testing exercised the policies, algorithms, and software developed for the DSS project. Since observers are located all over the world, the DSS was implemented as a web application. Technologies such as iCalendar, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, email, and instant messaging are used to transfer as much or as little information to observers as they request. We discuss the software engineering challenges leading to our implementation such as information distribution and building rich user interfaces in the web browser. We also relate our adaptation of agile development practices to design and develop the DSS. Additionally, we describe handling differences in expected versus actual initial conditions in the pool of project proposals for the 08B trimester. We then identify lessons learned from beta testing and present statistics on how the DSS was used during the trimester.

Hydrogen sulfide from a NaHS source attenuates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammation via inhibiting nuclear factor-κB

PubMed Central

Chen, Xi; Liu, Xi-shuang

2016-01-01

This study investigated the alleviating effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), derived from sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), on inflammation induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in both in vivo and in vitro models. We found that NaHS injection markedly decreased rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and histological injury in DSS-challenged mice. NaHS (20 μmol/L) reversed DSS-induced inhibition in cell viability in Caco-2 cells and alleviated pro-inflammation cytokine expression in vivo and in vitro, indicating an anti-inflammatory function for H2S. It was also found that H2S may regulate cytokine expression by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that H2S alleviated DSS-induced inflammation in vivo and in vitro and that the signal mechanism might be associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway. PMID:26984841

Recovery and regeneration of spent MHD seed material by the formate process

DOEpatents

Sheth, A.C.; Holt, J.K.; Rasnake, D.G.; Solomon, R.L.; Wilson, G.L.; Herrigel, H.R.

1991-10-15

The specification discloses a spent seed recovery and regeneration process for an MHD power plant employing an alkali metal salt seed material such as potassium salt wherein the spent potassium seed in the form of potassium sulfate is collected from the flue gas and reacted with calcium hydroxide and carbon monoxide in an aqueous solution to cause the formation of calcium sulfate and potassium formate. The pH of the solution is adjusted to suppress formation of formic acid and to promote precipitation of any dissolved calcium salts. The solution containing potassium formate is then employed to provide the potassium salt in the form of potassium formate or, optionally, by heating the potassium formate under oxidizing conditions to convert the potassium formate to potassium carbonate. 5 figures.

Recovery and regeneration of spent MHD seed material by the formate process

DOEpatents

Sheth, Atul C.; Holt, Jeffrey K.; Rasnake, Darryll G.; Solomon, Robert L.; Wilson, Gregory L.; Herrigel, Howard R.

1991-01-01

The specification discloses a spent seed recovery and regeneration process for an MHM power plant employing an alkali metal salt seed material such as potassium salt wherein the spent potassium seed in the form of potassium sulfate is collected from the flue gas and reacted with calcium hydroxide and carbon monoxide in an aqueous solution to cause the formation of calcium sulfate and potassium formate. The pH of the solution is adjusted to supress formation of formic acid and to promote precipitation of any dissolved calcium salts. The solution containing potassium formate is then employed to provide the potassium salt in the form of potassium formate or, optionally, by heating the potassium formate under oxidizing conditions to convert the potassium formate to potassium carbonate.

Salt-Finger Convection in a Stratified Fluid Layer Induced by Thermal and Solutal Capillary Motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Chuan F.; Chan, Cho Lik

1996-01-01

Salt-finger convection in a double-diffusive system is a motion driven by the release of gravitational potential due to different diffusion rates. Normally, when the gravitational field is reduced, salt-finger convection together with other convective motions driven by buoyancy forces will be rapidly suppressed. However, because the destabilizing effect of the concentration gradient is amplified by the Lewis number, with values varying from 10(exp 2) for aqueous salt solutions to 10 (exp 4) for liquid metals, salt-finger convection may be generated at much reduced gravity levels. In the microgravity environment, the surface tension gradient assumes a dominant role in causing fluid motion. In this paper, we report on some experimental results showing the generation of salt-finger convection due to capillary motio on the surface of a stratified fluid layer. A numerical simulation is presented to show the cause of salt-finger convection.

Watershed models for decision support in the Yakima River basin, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mastin, M.C.; Vaccaro, J.J.

2002-01-01

A Decision Support System (DSS) is being developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation as part of a long-term project, the Watershed and River Systems Management Program. The goal of the program is to apply the DSS to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects in the western United States. The DSS was applied to the Reclamation's Yakima Project in the Yakima River Basin in eastern Washington. An important component of the DSS is the physical hydrology modeling. For the application to the Yakima River Basin, the physical hydrology component consisted of constructing four watershed models using the U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System within the Modular Modeling System. The implementation of these models is described. To facilitate calibration of the models, mean annual streamflow also was estimated for ungaged subbasins. The models were calibrated for water years 1950-94 and tested for water years 1995-98. The integration of the models in the DSS for real-time water-management operations using an interface termed the Object User Interface is also described. The models were incorporated in the DSS for use in long-term to short-term planning and have been used in a real-time operational mode since water year 1999.

A pilot Diabetic Support Service based on family practice attenders: comparison with diabetic clinics in east London.

PubMed

Boucher, B J; Claff, H R; Edmonson, M; Evans, S; Harris, B T; Hull, S A; Jones, E J; Mellins, D H; Safir, J G; Taylor, B

1987-01-01

A pilot Diabetic Support Service (DSS) based on a computer register was devised for diabetic patients identified within three group practices in an inner city district of London. Of 159 eligible diabetics, 142 were followed over 2 years. Glycosylated haemoglobin (GHb) monitoring and adequacy of clinic reviews were audited. Care achieved by the DSS was compared with conventional Diabetic Clinic (DC) management of a sample of 200 diabetics from the same district. Serial GHb measurements were made on 66.2% of DSS and 44.5% of DC patients: GHb fell significantly only in DSS patients (13.1% to 11.4%). Proportional falls in GHb were comparable in each DSS treatment group (diet alone, oral hypoglycaemic agents, and insulin) and for hospital attenders and non-attenders equally. The planned clinical reviews were achieved in 40.1% of DSS patients entered (29% GP only, 54% of clinic attenders) and in 15% of DC patients (plus 75% fundal and blood pressure examination). The study led to provision of a formal diabetic clinic annual review system, diabetic mini-clinics in two of the three group practices, and the appointment of two Diabetic Liaison Sisters. With administrative simplification the system is to be made available to all diabetics in the District through their GPs during 1986-8.

Puberty is delayed in male mice with dextran sodium sulfate colitis out of proportion to changes in food intake, body weight, and serum levels of leptin.

PubMed

Deboer, Mark D; Li, Yongli

2011-01-01

In boys, inflammatory bowel disease often results in delayed puberty associated with decreased bone mineral density and decreased linear growth. Our goal was to investigate whether pubertal timing and levels of leptin differed between prepubertal male mice with colitis and food-restricted (FR) mice maintained at a similar weight. We induced colitis in 32-d-old male mice using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), resulting in 10 d of worsening colitis. We followed up these mice for separation of the prepuce from the glans penis as a marker of pubertal progression. Compared with free-feeding control mice, DSS and FR mice had significantly lower weight on d 7-10 of treatment. DSS mice had later puberty than control and FR mice. DSS mice also had smaller testes, lower FSH levels, increased systemic cytokines, and increased colonic inflammation by histology. Leptin levels were similar between DSS and FR mice, whereas both had decreases in leptin compared with controls. We conclude that DSS colitis causes delayed puberty in sexually immature male mice beyond what is seen among FR mice of similar weight, food intake, and leptin levels. These experiments provide support for the hypothesis that pubertal delay in colitis is influenced by factors beyond poor weight gain alone.

New Perspective on Dextran Sodium Sulfate Colitis: Antigen-Specific T Cell Development during Intestinal Inflammation

PubMed Central

Morgan, Mary E.; Zheng, Bin; Koelink, Pim J.; van de Kant, Hendrick J. G.; Haazen, Lizette C. J. M.; van Roest, Manon; Garssen, Johan; Folkerts, Gert; Kraneveld, Aletta D.

2013-01-01

CD4+ T cell responses against oral antigens can develop in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, which may modulate disease. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis is commonly used to study IBD, however, it is not considered the best model in which to study T cell involvement in intestinal disease. Our aim was to determine if antigen-specific T cells could be induced during DSS colitis and if they could be detected after disease resolution. To induce antigen-specific T cells, the tracking antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), was administered orally during colitis initiation. Disease severity was monitored, and the antigen-reactivity of CD4+ T cells examined using CD69 expression. While OVA-directed, CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells could be detected in the spleens of both OVA-treated control and DSS mice, OVA-reactive, CD4+ Foxp3-T cells were only found in the OVA and DSS-treated mice. These results indicate that during DSS colitis T cells develop that are specific against oral antigens, and they are found systemically after colitis resolution. This gives added depth and utility to the DSS model as well as a way to track T cells that are primed against luminal antigens. PMID:23936123

Skull Base Invasion Patterns and Survival Outcomes of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers

PubMed Central

Dundar, Yusuf; Cannon, Richard B.; Monroe, Marcus M.; Buchmann, Luke Oliver; Hunt, Jason Patrick

2016-01-01

Objective Report routes of skull base invasion for head and neck nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) and their survival outcomes. Design Retrospective. Participants Ninety patients with NMSC with skull base invasion between 2004 and 2014. Major Outcome Measures Demographic, tumor characteristics, and treatments associated with different types of skull base invasion and disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Results Perineural invasion (PNI) to the skull base occurred in 69% of patients, whereas 38% had direct skull base invasion. Age, histology, orbital invasion, active immunosuppression, cranial nerve (CN) involved, and type of skull base invasion were significantly associated with DSS and OS (p < 0.05). Patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) had significantly improved DSS and OS compared with other histologies (p < 0.05). Patients with CN V PNI had significantly improved DSS and OS compared with CN VII PNI (p < 0.05). Patients with zone II PNI had significantly improved DSS and OS compared with those with direct invasion or zone III PNI (p < 0.05). Nonsurgical therapy was rarely used and is associated with a reduction in DSS and OS (p < 0.05). Conclusion Patterns and survival outcomes for NMSC skull base invasion are reported. Zone II PNI, BCC, and CN V PNI are associated with improved survival outcomes. PMID:28321381

Models of globular proteins in aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wentzel, Nathaniel James

Protein crystallization is a continuing area of research. Currently, there is no universal theory for the conditions required to crystallize proteins. A better understanding of protein crystallization will be helpful in determining protein structure and preventing and treating certain diseases. In this thesis, we will extend the understanding of globular proteins in aqueous solutions by analyzing various models for protein interactions. Experiments have shown that the liquid-liquid phase separation curves for lysozyme in solution with salt depend on salt type and salt concentration. We analyze a simple square well model for this system whose well depth depends on salt type and salt concentration, to determine the phase coexistence surfaces from experimental data. The surfaces, calculated from a single Monte Carlo simulation and a simple scaling argument, are shown as a function of temperature, salt concentration and protein concentration for two typical salts. Urate Oxidase from Asperigillus flavus is a protein used for studying the effects of polymers on the crystallization of large proteins. Experiments have determined some aspects of the phase diagram. We use Monte Carlo techniques and perturbation theory to predict the phase diagram for a model of urate oxidase in solution with PEG. The model used includes an electrostatic interaction, van der Waals attraction, and a polymerinduced depletion interaction. The results agree quantitatively with experiments. Anisotropy plays a role in globular protein interactions, including the formation of hemoglobin fibers in sickle cell disease. Also, the solvent conditions have been shown to play a strong role in the phase behavior of some aqueous protein solutions. Each has previously been treated separately in theoretical studies. Here we propose and analyze a simple, combined model that treats both anisotropy and solvent effects. We find that this model qualitatively explains some phase behavior, including the existence of a lower critical point under certain conditions.

Does buccal cancer have worse prognosis than other oral cavity cancers?

PubMed

Camilon, P Ryan; Stokes, William A; Fuller, Colin W; Nguyen, Shaun A; Lentsch, Eric J

2014-06-01

To determine whether buccal squamous cell carcinoma has worse overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) than cancers in the rest of the oral cavity. Retrospective analysis of a large population database. We began with a Kaplan-Meier analysis of OS and DSS for buccal versus nonbuccal tumors with unmatched data, followed by an analysis of cases matched for race, age at diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, and treatment modality. This was supported by a univariate Cox regression comparing buccal cancer to nonbuccal cancer, followed by a multivariate Cox regression that included all significant variables studied. With unmatched data, buccal cancer had significantly lesser OS and DSS values than cancers in the rest of the oral cavity (P < .001). After case matching, the differences between OS and DSS for buccal cancer versus nonbuccal oral cancer were no longer significant. Univariate Cox regression models with respect to OS and DSS showed a significant difference between buccal cancer and nonbuccal cancer. However, with multivariate analysis, buccal hazard ratios for OS and DSS were not significant. With the largest series of buccal carcinoma to date, our study concludes that the OS and DSS of buccal cancer are similar to those of cancers in other oral cavity sites once age at diagnosis, tumor stage, treatment, and race are taken into consideration. The previously perceived poor prognosis of buccal carcinoma may be due to variations in tumor presentation, such as later stage and older patient age. 2b. © 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Krüppel-Like Factor 5 Protects Against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colonic Injury by Promoting Epithelial Repair in Mice

PubMed Central

McConnell, Beth B.; Kim, Samuel S.; Bialkowska, Agnieszka B.; Yu, Ke; Sitaraman, Shanthi V.; Yang, Vincent. W.

2010-01-01

BACKGROUND & AIMS Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is a transcription factor that promotes proliferation; is highly expressed in dividing crypt cells of the gastrointestinal epithelium and is induced by various stress stimuli. We sought to determine the role of KLF5 in colonic inflammation and recovery by studying mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODS Wild-type (WT) and Klf5+/− mice were given DSS in the drinking water to induce colitis. For recovery experiments, mice were given normal drinking water for 5 days after DSS administration. The extent of colitis was determined using established clinical and histological scoring systems. Immunohistochemical and immunoblotting analyses were used to examine proliferation, migration, and expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). RESULTS Klf5 expression was increased in colonic tissues of WT mice given DSS; induction of Klf5 was downstream of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. In DSS-induced colitis, Klf5+/− mice exhibited greater sensitivity to DSS than WT mice, with significantly higher clinical and histological colitis scores. In recovery experiments, Klf5+/− mice showed poor recovery, with continued weight loss and higher mortality than WT mice. Klf5+/− mice from the recovery period had reduced epithelial proliferation and cell migration at sites of ulceration compared to WT mice; these reductions correlated with reduced expression of EGFR. CONCLUSIONS Epithelial repair is an important aspect of recovery from DSS-induced colitis. The transcription factor KLF5 regulates mucosal healing through its effects on epithelial proliferation and migration. PMID:21078320

Alterations in biomechanical properties and microstructure of colon wall in early-stage experimental colitis.

PubMed

Gong, Xiaohui; Xu, Xiaojuan; Lin, Sisi; Cheng, Yu; Tong, Jianhua; Li, Yongyu

2017-08-01

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of early-stage dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis on the biomechanical properties and microstructure of colon walls. In the present study, colitis was induced in 8-week-old mice by the oral administration of DSS, and then 10 control and 10 experimental colitis samples were harvested. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed to measure the ultimate tensile strength and ultimate stretches of colon tissues. In addition, histological investigations were performed to characterize changes in the microstructure of the colon wall following treatment. The results revealed that the ultimate tensile stresses were 232±33 and 183±25 kPa for the control and DSS groups, respectively (P=0.001). Ultimate stretches at rupture for the control and DSS groups were 1.43±0.04 and 1.51±0.06, respectively (P=0.006). However, there was no statistically significant difference in tissue stiffness between the two groups. Histological analysis demonstrated high numbers of inflammatory cells infiltrated into the stroma in the DSS group, leading to significant submucosa edema. Hyperplasia was also identified in the DSS-treated submucosa, causing a disorganized microstructure within the colon wall. Furthermore, a large number of collagen fibers in the DSS-treated muscular layer were disrupted, and fiber bundles were thinner when compared with the control group. In conclusion, early-stage experimental colitis alters the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of the colon walls, further contributing to tissue remodeling in the pathological process.

Development and testing of a scale to assess physician attitudes about handheld computers with decision support.

PubMed

Ray, Midge N; Houston, Thomas K; Yu, Feliciano B; Menachemi, Nir; Maisiak, Richard S; Allison, Jeroan J; Berner, Eta S

2006-01-01

The authors developed and evaluated a rating scale, the Attitudes toward Handheld Decision Support Software Scale (H-DSS), to assess physician attitudes about handheld decision support systems. The authors conducted a prospective assessment of psychometric characteristics of the H-DSS including reliability, validity, and responsiveness. Participants were 82 Internal Medicine residents. A higher score on each of the 14 five-point Likert scale items reflected a more positive attitude about handheld DSS. The H-DSS score is the mean across the fourteen items. Attitudes toward the use of the handheld DSS were assessed prior to and six months after receiving the handheld device. Cronbach's Alpha was used to assess internal consistency reliability. Pearson correlations were used to estimate and detect significant associations between scale scores and other measures (validity). Paired sample t-tests were used to test for changes in the mean attitude scale score (responsiveness) and for differences between groups. Internal consistency reliability for the scale was alpha = 0.73. In testing validity, moderate correlations were noted between the attitude scale scores and self-reported Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) usage in the hospital (correlation coefficient = 0.55) and clinic (0.48), p < 0.05 for both. The scale was responsive, in that it detected the expected increase in scores between the two administrations (3.99 (s.d. = 0.35) vs. 4.08, (s.d. = 0.34), p < 0.005). The authors' evaluation showed that the H-DSS scale was reliable, valid, and responsive. The scale can be used to guide future handheld DSS development and implementation.

Surgical Outcomes of Deep Superior Sulcus Augmentation Using Acellular Human Dermal Matrix in Anophthalmic or Phthisis Socket.

PubMed

Cho, Won-Kyung; Jung, Su-Kyung; Paik, Ji-Sun; Yang, Suk-Woo

2016-07-01

Patients with anophthalmic or phthisis socket suffer from cosmetic problems. To resolve those problems, the authors present the surgical outcomes of deep superior sulcus (DSS) augmentation using acellular dermal matrix in patients with anophthalmic or phthisis socket. The authors retrospectively reviewed anophthalmic or phthisis patients who underwent surgery for DSS augmentation using acellular dermal matrix. To evaluate surgical outcomes, the authors focused on 3 aspects: the possibility of wearing contact prosthesis, the degree of correction of the DSS, and any surgical complications. The degree of correction of DSS was classified as excellent: restoration of superior sulcus enough to remove sunken sulcus shadow; fair: gain of correction effect but sunken shadow remained; or fail: no effect of correction at all. Ten eyes of 10 patients were included. There was a mean 21.3 ± 37.1-month period from evisceration or enucleation to the operation for DSS augmentation. All patients could wear contact prosthesis after the operation (100%). The degree of correction was excellent in 8 patients (80%) and fair in 2. Three of 10 (30%) showed complications: eyelid entropion, upper eyelid multiple creases, and spontaneous wound dehiscence followed by inflammation after stitch removal. Uneven skin surface and paresthesia in the forehead area of the affected eye may be observed after surgery. The overall surgical outcomes were favorable, showing an excellent degree of correction of DSS and low surgical complication rates. This procedure is effective for patients who have DSS in the absence or atrophy of the eyeball.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Mangifera indica L. extract in a model of colitis

PubMed Central

Márquez, Lucía; Pérez-Nievas, Beatriz G; Gárate, Icíar; García-Bueno, Borja; Madrigal, José LM; Menchén, Luis; Garrido, Gabino; Leza, Juan C

2010-01-01

AIM: To investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Mangifera indica L. (MIE) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS: MIE (150 mg/kg) was administered in two different protocols: (1) rectally, over 7 d at the same time as DSS administration; and (2) once daily over 14 d (by oral gavage, 7 d before starting DSS, and rectally for 7 d during DSS administration). General observations of clinical signs were performed. Anti-inflammatory activity of MIE was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Colonic lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, expression of inflammatory related mediators [inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, respectively] and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptors 1 and 2] in colonic tissue were also assessed. Interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α serum levels were also measured. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that MIE has anti-inflammatory properties by improvement of clinical signs, reduction of ulceration and reduced MPO activity when administered before DSS. In addition, administration of MIE for 14 d resulted in an increase in GSH and reduction of TBARS levels and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and TNF R-2 expression in colonic tissue, and a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α serum levels. CONCLUSION: MIE has anti-inflammatory activity in a DSS-induced rat colitis model and preventive administration (prior to DSS) seems to be a more effective protocol. PMID:20954278

Impact of basal diet on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis in rats.

PubMed

Boussenna, Ahlem; Goncalves-Mendes, Nicolas; Joubert-Zakeyh, Juliette; Pereira, Bruno; Fraisse, Didier; Vasson, Marie-Paule; Texier, Odile; Felgines, Catherine

2015-12-01

Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis is a widely used model for inflammatory bowel disease. However, various factors including nutrition may affect the development of this colitis. This study aimed to compare and characterize the impact of purified and non-purified basal diets on the development of DSS-induced colitis in the rat. Wistar rats were fed a non-purified or a semi-synthetic purified diet for 21 days. Colitis was then induced in half of the rats by administration of DSS in drinking water (4% w/v) during the last 7 days of experimentation. At the end of the experimental period, colon sections were taken for histopathological examination, determination of various markers of inflammation (myeloperoxidase: MPO, cytokines) and oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase: SOD, catalase: CAT, glutathione peroxidase: GPx and glutathione reductase: GRed activities), and evaluation of the expression of various genes implicated in this disorder. DSS ingestion induced a more marked colitis in animals receiving the purified diet, as reflected by higher histological score and increased MPO activity. A significant decrease in SOD and CAT activities was also observed in rats fed the purified diet. Also, in these animals, administration of DSS induced a significant increase in interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β and IL-6. In addition, various genes implicated in inflammation were over-expressed after ingestion of DSS by rats fed the purified diet. These results show that a purified diet promotes the onset of a more severe induced colitis than a non-purified one, highlighting the influence of basal diet in colitis development.

On the hydrophilicity of polyzwitterion poly (N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-(methacrylamido)propyl)ammoniopropane sulfonate) in water, deuterated water, and aqueous salt solutions.

PubMed

Hildebrand, Viet; Laschewsky, André; Zehm, Daniel

2014-01-01

A series of zwitterionic model polymers with defined molar masses up to 150,000 Da and defined end groups are prepared from sulfobetaine monomer N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-(methacrylamido)propyl)ammoniopropanesulfonate (SPP). Polymers are synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) using a functional chain transfer agent labeled with a fluorescent probe. Their upper critical solution temperature-type coil-to-globule phase transition in water, deuterated water, and various salt solutions is studied by turbidimetry. Cloud points increase with polyzwitterion concentration and molar mass, being considerably higher in D2O than in H2O. Moreover, cloud points are strongly affected by the amount and nature of added salts. Typically, they increase with increasing salt concentration up to a maximum value, whereas further addition of salt lowers the cloud points again, mostly down to below freezing point. The different salting-in and salting-out effects of the studied anions can be correlated with the Hofmeister series. In physiological sodium chloride solution and in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), the cloud point is suppressed even for high molar mass samples. Accordingly, SPP-polymers behave strongly hydrophilic under most conditions encountered in biomedical applications. However, the direct transfer of results from model studies in D2O, using, e.g. (1)H NMR or neutron scattering techniques, to 'normal' systems in H2O is not obvious.

Understanding the role of ion interactions in soluble salt flotation with alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors.

PubMed

Ozdemir, Orhan; Du, Hao; Karakashev, Stoyan I; Nguyen, Anh V; Celik, M S; Miller, Jan D

2011-03-15

There is anecdotal evidence for the significant effects of salt ions on the flotation separation of minerals using process water of high salt content. Examples include flotation of soluble salt minerals such as potash, trona and borax in brine solutions using alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors such as dodecylamine hydrochloride and sodium dodecylsulfate. Although some of the effects are expected, some do not seem to be encompassed by classical theories of colloid science. Several experimental and modeling techniques for determining solution viscosity, surface tension, bubble-particle attachment time, contact angle, and molecular dynamics simulation have been used to provide further information on air-solution and solid-solution interfacial phenomena, especially with respect to the interfacial water structure due to the presence of dissolved ions. In addition atomic force microscopy, and sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy have been used to provide further information on surface states. These studies indicate that the ion specificity effect is the most significant factor influencing flotation in brine solutions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of toll-like-receptor-9 (TLR9) deficiency on visceral adipose tissue adipokine expression during chronic DSS-induced colitis in mice.

PubMed

Karrasch, T; Schmid, A; Kopp, A; Obermeier, F; Hofmann, C; Schäffler, A

2015-02-01

Studies postulate an involvement of adipokines in inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice as well as TLR9-deficient mice have a more moderate course of chronic DSS-induced colitis (DSS-CC) and adipocytes do express functional TLR9 molecules. Adipokine mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue of mice before and after the induction of DSS-CC was investigated. Experiments were performed in both TLR9(wt/wt) and TLR9(-/-) mice. In vitro, the effect of TLR9 blocking peptide on leptin and visfatin protein secretion was studied in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Induction of DSS-CC led to an upregulation of leptin mRNA expression in TLR9(wt/wt) mice, while TLR9(-/-) animals showed a significant reduction of leptin expression even below baseline. While visfatin expression remained unchanged in TLR9(wt/wt) animals, TLR9(-/-) mice exhibited a significant induction during DSS-CC. CTRP-3 expression was reduced after colitis induction only in TLR9(-/-) animals. Of note, IL-6 expression levels remained unchanged, while CXCL1/KC and cyclophilin A expression was reduced in DSS-CC. Inhibition of TLR9 signaling by using TLR9 blocking peptide led to reduced leptin protein secretion into cell culture supernatants in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, while visfatin protein secretion was enhanced. DSS-CC leads to differential adipokine expression profiles in the visceral fat pad in TLR9(wt/wt) vs. TLR9(-/-) mice. In vitro, inhibition of TLR9 signaling induces visfatin secretion while inhibiting leptin secretion in adipocytes. Thus, visceral adipokines are regulated by intact TLR9 signaling pathway and a specific interplay between the leptin- and the TLR9-pathways might be of pathophysiological importance in chronic intestinal inflammation. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Attenuation of colonic inflammation by partial replacement of dietary linoleic acid with α-linolenic acid in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Tyagi, Anupama; Kumar, Uday; Reddy, Suryam; Santosh, Vadakattu S; Mohammed, Saazida B; Ehtesham, Nasreen Z; Ibrahim, Ahamed

2012-11-14

Increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease may be due to imbalance in the intake of n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the diet. This study investigates the impact of varying ratios of dietary linoleic acid (LA, 18 : 2n-6) to α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3) on the inflammatory response in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a non-colitic group with a LA:ALA ratio of 215 (CON-215), and colitic groups with LA:ALA ratios of 215 (DSS-215), 50 (DSS-50), 10 (DSS-10) and 2 (DSS-2). Blends of groundnut, palmolein and linseed oils were used to provide varying LA:ALA ratios. All the rats were fed the respective experimental isoenergetic diets containing 10 % fat for 90 d and DSS was administered during the last 11 d. Colonic inflammation was evaluated by clinical, biochemical and histological parameters. The results showed attenuation of colitis in the DSS-2 group as evidenced by significant reductions in disease activity index, mucosal myeloperoxidase activity (P < 0·05), alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0·01) and increase in colon length (P < 0·01) compared to the groups fed with higher ratios (DSS-215). This was accompanied by significant reductions in mucosal proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (P < 0·01) and IL-1β (P < 0·01) and improvement in the histological score. Further, ALA supplementation increased long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA and decreased LC n-6 PUFA in colon structural lipids. These data suggest that substitution of one-third of LA with ALA (LA:ALA ratio 2) mitigates experimental colitis by down-regulating proinflammatory mediators.

Loss of Dok-1 and Dok-2 in mice causes severe experimental colitis accompanied by reduced expression of IL-17A and IL-22

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

Waseda, Masazumi; Arimura, Sumimasa; Shimura, Eri

Appropriate immune responses and mucosal barrier functions are required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Defects in this defense system may lead to inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Downstream of tyrosine kinases 1 (Dok-1) and its closest homolog, Dok-2, are preferentially expressed in immune cells, and play essential roles in the negative regulation of multiple signaling pathways in both innate and adaptive immunity. However, the function of these proteins in intestinal homeostasis remained unclear. Here we show that Dok-1/-2 double knockout (DKO) mice were highly susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis compared with Dok-1 or Dok-2 singlemore » KO and wild type (WT) mice. Furthermore, DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice exhibited increased colonic tissue damage accompanied by reduced proliferation of the epithelial cells relative to WT controls, suggesting that Dok-1/-2 DKO mice have defects in the repair of intestinal epithelial lesions. In addition, the levels of the Th17 cytokines IL-17A and IL-22, which have protective roles in DSS-induced colitis, were reduced in DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice compared with WT mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Dok-1 and Dok-2 negatively regulate intestinal inflammation, apparently through the induction of IL-17A and IL-22 expression. - Highlights: • Dok-1 and Dok-2 play a cooperative role in protection against DSS-induced colitis. • Dok-1/-2 double KO (DKO) mice show extensive ulceration of the colon after DSS treatment. • Proliferation of colonic epithelium is inhibited in DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice. • Expression of IL-17A and IL-22 is reduced in the colon of DSS-treated Dok-1/-2 DKO mice.« less

An orally administered butyrate-releasing derivative reduces neutrophil recruitment and inflammation in dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis.

PubMed

Simeoli, Raffaele; Mattace Raso, Giuseppina; Pirozzi, Claudio; Lama, Adriano; Santoro, Anna; Russo, Roberto; Montero-Melendez, Trinidad; Berni Canani, Roberto; Calignano, Antonio; Perretti, Mauro; Meli, Rosaria

2017-06-01

Butyrate has shown benefits in inflammatory bowel diseases. However, it is not often administered orally because of its rancid smell and unpleasant taste. The efficacy of a more palatable butyrate-releasing derivative, N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenylethyl) butyramide (FBA), was evaluated in a mouse model of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Male 10 week-old BALB/c mice received DSS (2.5%) in drinking water (for 5 days) followed by DSS-free water for 7 days (DSS group). Oral FBA administration (42.5 mg·kg -1 ) was started 7 days before DSS as preventive (P-FBA), or 2 days after DSS as therapeutic (T-FBA); both treatments lasted 19 days. One DSS-untreated group received only tap water (CON). FBA treatments reduced colitis symptoms and colon damage. P-FBA and T-FBA significantly decreased polymorphonuclear cell infiltration score compared with the DSS group. FBA reversed the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (reducing inducible NOS protein expression, CCL2 and IL-6 transcripts in colon and increasing TGFβ and IL-10). Morever, P-FBA and T-FBA limited neutrophil recruitment (by expression and localization of the neutrophil granule protease Ly-6G), restored deficiency of the butyrate transporter and improved intestinal epithelial integrity, preventing tight-junction impairment (zonulin-1 and occludin). FBA, similar to its parental compound sodium butyrate, inhibited histone deacetylase-9 and restored H3 histone acetylation, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect through NF-κB inhibition and the up-regulation of PPARγ. FBA reduces inflammatory intestinal damage in mice indicating its potential as a postbiotic derivative without the problems associated with the oral administration of sodium butyrate. This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc. © 2016 The British Pharmacological Society.

Destroying Gadofullerene Aggregates by Salt Addition in Aqueous Solution of Gd@C60(OH)x and Gd@C60[C(COOH2)]10

PubMed Central

Laus, Sabrina; Sitharaman, Balaji; Tóth, Éva; Bolskar, Robert D.; Helm, Lothar; Asokan, Subashini; Wong, Michael S.; Wilson, Lon J.

2008-01-01

A combined proton relaxivity and dynamic light scattering study has shown that aggregates formed in aqueous solution of water-soluble gadofullerenes can be disrupted by addition of salts. The salt content of fullerene-based materials will strongly influence properties related to aggregation phenomena, therefore their behavior in biological or medical applications. In particular, the relaxivity of gadofullerenes decreases dramatically with phosphate addition. Moreover, real biological fluids present a rather high salt concentration which will have consequences on fullerene aggregation and influence fullerene-based drug delivery. PMID:15984854

Brine rejection from freezing salt solutions: a molecular dynamics study.

PubMed

Vrbka, Lubos; Jungwirth, Pavel

2005-09-30

The atmospherically and technologically very important process of brine rejection from freezing salt solutions is investigated with atomic resolution using molecular dynamics simulations. The present calculations allow us to follow the motion of each water molecule and salt ion and to propose a microscopic mechanism of brine rejection, in which a fluctuation (reduction) of the ion density in the vicinity of the ice front is followed by the growth of a new ice layer. The presence of salt slows down the freezing process, which leads to the formation of an almost neat ice next to a disordered brine layer.

Experimental determination of water activity for binary aqueous cerium(III) ionic solutions: application to an assessment of the predictive capability of the binding mean spherical approximation model.

PubMed

Ruas, Alexandre; Simonin, Jean-Pierre; Turq, Pierre; Moisy, Philippe

2005-12-08

This work is aimed at a description of the thermodynamic properties of actinide salt solutions at high concentration. The predictive capability of the binding mean spherical approximation (BIMSA) theory to describe the thermodynamic properties of electrolytes is assessed in the case of aqueous solutions of lanthanide(III) nitrate and chloride salts. Osmotic coefficients of cerium(III) nitrate and chloride were calculated from other lanthanide(III) salts properties. In parallel, concentrated binary solutions of cerium nitrate were prepared in order to measure experimentally its water activity and density as a function of concentration, at 25 degrees C. Water activities of several binary solutions of cerium chloride were also measured to check existing data on this salt. Then, the properties of cerium chloride and cerium nitrate solutions were compared within the BIMSA model. Osmotic coefficient values for promethium nitrate and promethium chloride given by this theory are proposed. Finally, water activity measurements were made to examine the fact that the ternary system Ce(NO3)3/HNO3/H2O and the quaternary system Ce(NO3)3/HNO3/N2H5NO3/H2O may be regarded as "simple solutions" (in the sense of Zdanovskii and Mikulin).

Films, Preimpregnated Tapes and Composites Made from Polyimide "Salt-Like" Solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cano, Roberto J. (Inventor); Weiser, Erik S. (Inventor); St.Clair, Terry L. (Inventor); Echigo, Yoshiaki (Inventor); Kaneshiro, Hisayasu (Inventor)

2001-01-01

High quality films, preimpregnated tape (prepegs), and composites have been fabricated from polyimide precursor 'saltlike' solutions. These salt-like solutions have a low viscosity (5,000 to 10,000 cp) and a high solids content (50-65% by weight) and can be coated onto reinforcing fiber to produce prepegs with excellent tack and drape at 12-15% residual solvent (approximately 4-6% water from thermal imidization reaction). The processing of these types of prepegs significantly overcomes solvent removal problems and allows excellent fiber wet out. In addition, the physical characteristics of the polyimide precursor salt-like solutions permits processing into high-performance materials through the use of standard prepregging and composite fabrication equipment. The resultant composites are of high quality.

Electrolytic method to make alkali alcoholates using ion conducting alkali electrolyte/separator

DOEpatents

Joshi, Ashok V [Salt Lake City, UT; Balagopal, Shekar [Sandy, UT; Pendelton, Justin [Salt Lake City, UT

2011-12-13

Alkali alcoholates, also called alkali alkoxides, are produced from alkali metal salt solutions and alcohol using a three-compartment electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell includes an anolyte compartment configured with an anode, a buffer compartment, and a catholyte compartment configured with a cathode. An alkali ion conducting solid electrolyte configured to selectively transport alkali ions is positioned between the anolyte compartment and the buffer compartment. An alkali ion permeable separator is positioned between the buffer compartment and the catholyte compartment. The catholyte solution may include an alkali alcoholate and alcohol. The anolyte solution may include at least one alkali salt. The buffer compartment solution may include a soluble alkali salt and an alkali alcoholate in alcohol.

Method of repressing the precipitation of calcium fluozirconate

DOEpatents

Newby, B.J.; Rhodes, D.W.

1973-12-25

Boric acid or a borate salt is added to aqueous solutions of fluoride containing radioactive wastes generated during the reprocessing of zirconium alloy nuclear fuels which are to be converted to solid form by calcining in a fluidized bed. The addition of calcium nitrate to the aqueous waste solutions to prevent fluoride volatility during calcination, causes the precipitation of calcium fluozirconate, which tends to form a gel at fluoride concentrations of 3.0 M or greater. The boron containing species introduced into the solution by the addition of the boric acid or borate salt retard the formation of the calcium fluozirconate precipitate and prevent formation of the gel. These boron containing species can be introduced into the solution by the addition of a borate salt but preferably are introduced by the addition of an aqueous solution of boric acid. (Official Gazette)

Enhancing boron rejection in FO using alkaline draw solutions.

PubMed

Wang, Yi-Ning; Li, Weiyi; Wang, Rong; Tang, Chuyang Y

2017-07-01

This study provides a novel method to enhance boron removal in a forward osmosis (FO) process. It utilizes the reverse solute diffusion (RSD) of ions from alkaline draw solutions (DSs) and the concentration polarization of the hydroxyl ions to create a highly alkaline environment near the membrane active surface. The results show that boron rejection can be significantly enhanced by increasing the pH of NaCl DS to 12.5 in the active-layer-facing-feed-solution (AL-FS) orientation. The effect of RSD enhanced boron rejection was further promoted in the presence of concentration polarization (e.g., in the active-layer-facing-draw-solution (AL-DS) orientation). The current study opens a new dimension for controlling contaminant removal by FO using tailored DS chemistry, where the RSD-induced localized water chemistry change is taken advantage in contrast to the conventional method of chemical dosing to the bulk feed water. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The structure of salt bridges between Arg(+) and Glu(-) in peptides investigated with 2D-IR spectroscopy: Evidence for two distinct hydrogen-bond geometries.

PubMed

Huerta-Viga, Adriana; Amirjalayer, Saeed; Domingos, Sérgio R; Meuzelaar, Heleen; Rupenyan, Alisa; Woutersen, Sander

2015-06-07

Salt bridges play an important role in protein folding and in supramolecular chemistry, but they are difficult to detect and characterize in solution. Here, we investigate salt bridges between glutamate (Glu(-)) and arginine (Arg(+)) using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. The 2D-IR spectrum of a salt-bridged dimer shows cross peaks between the vibrational modes of Glu(-) and Arg(+), which provide a sensitive structural probe of Glu(-)⋯Arg(+) salt bridges. We use this probe to investigate a β-turn locked by a salt bridge, an α-helical peptide whose structure is stabilized by salt bridges, and a coiled coil that is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular salt bridges. We detect a bidentate salt bridge in the β-turn, a monodentate one in the α-helical peptide, and both salt-bridge geometries in the coiled coil. To our knowledge, this is the first time 2D-IR has been used to probe tertiary side chain interactions in peptides, and our results show that 2D-IR spectroscopy is a powerful method for investigating salt bridges in solution.

The structure of salt bridges between Arg+ and Glu- in peptides investigated with 2D-IR spectroscopy: Evidence for two distinct hydrogen-bond geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huerta-Viga, Adriana; Amirjalayer, Saeed; Domingos, Sérgio R.; Meuzelaar, Heleen; Rupenyan, Alisa; Woutersen, Sander

2015-06-01

Salt bridges play an important role in protein folding and in supramolecular chemistry, but they are difficult to detect and characterize in solution. Here, we investigate salt bridges between glutamate (Glu-) and arginine (Arg+) using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. The 2D-IR spectrum of a salt-bridged dimer shows cross peaks between the vibrational modes of Glu- and Arg+, which provide a sensitive structural probe of Glu-⋯Arg+ salt bridges. We use this probe to investigate a β-turn locked by a salt bridge, an α-helical peptide whose structure is stabilized by salt bridges, and a coiled coil that is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular salt bridges. We detect a bidentate salt bridge in the β-turn, a monodentate one in the α-helical peptide, and both salt-bridge geometries in the coiled coil. To our knowledge, this is the first time 2D-IR has been used to probe tertiary side chain interactions in peptides, and our results show that 2D-IR spectroscopy is a powerful method for investigating salt bridges in solution.

Effects of Monovalent and Divalent Salt Solutions on the Transport of Toxoplasma gondii in Saturated Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darnault, C. J. G.; Pullano, C. P.; Mutty, T.; L'Ollivier, C.; Dubey, J. P.; Dumetre, A.

2017-12-01

The pathogenic microorganism Toxoplasma gondii is a current public health threat. Knowledge of the fate and transport of T. gondii in the environment, especially the subsurface, is critical to evaluate the risk of soil and groundwater contaminations. The physico-chemcial properties of groundwater systems, i.e. solution chemistry and aquifer materials, play a key role in the interaction of biocolloids with surfaces and therefore their mobility. This research examines how different salt solutions alter the mobility of T. gondii through saturated porous media. Salt solutions containing varying ionic strengths and concentrations of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride were used to test the transport of the T. gondii oocysts. These tests were performed using quartz silica sand columns fed by a peristaltic pump in order to generate flow and transport of the biocolloids. The salt solution was pumped though the column followed by a pulse of the T. gondii oocysts, then a pulse of salt solution without oocysts, and then lastly a pulse of distilled water. Sampling of the solution exiting the columns was tested for T. gondii oocysts using qPCR in order to quantify the oocysts present. The breakthough curve results were then compared to a conservative bromide tracer test in order to determine the factors associated with the movement of these biocolloids through the sand columns. A model of the flow of the toxoplasma colloids through the sand matrix was made in order to characterize the parameters affecting the transport and retention of T. gondii occysts though saturated porous media.

Pyroprocess for processing spent nuclear fuel

DOEpatents

Miller, William E.; Tomczuk, Zygmunt

2002-01-01

This is a pyroprocess for processing spent nuclear fuel. The spent nuclear fuel is chopped into pieces and placed in a basket which is lowered in to a liquid salt solution. The salt is rich in ZrF.sub.4 and containing alkali or alkaline earth fluorides, and in particular, the salt chosen was LiF-50 mol % ZrF.sub.4 with a eutectic melting point of 500.degree. C. Prior to lowering the basket, the salt is heated to a temperature of between 550.degree. C. and 700.degree. C. in order to obtain a molten solution. After dissolution the oxides of U, Th, rare earth and other like oxides, the salt bath solution is subject to hydro-fluorination to remove the oxygen and then to a fluorination step to remove U as gaseous UF.sub.6. In addition, after dissolution, the basket contains PuO.sub.2 and undissolved parts of the fuel rods, and the basket and its contents are processed to remove the Pu.

Effect of guar gum and salt concentrations on drag reduction and shear degradation properties of turbulent flow of water in a pipe.

PubMed

Sokhal, Kamaljit Singh; Gangacharyulu, Dasaroju; Bulasara, Vijaya Kumar

2018-02-01

Concentrated solutions of guar gum in water (1000-3000ppm) with and without KCl salt (1000-4000ppm) were injected near the wall for a short period (2.5min) to investigate their effect on drag reduction in turbulent flow of water through a pipe (Re≈17000-45000). Relative to bulk solution, the concentrations of polymer and salt were 50-150ppm and 50-200ppm, respectively. A drag reduction of 71.45% was observed for 3000ppm of biopolymer without salt. Guar gum experienced mechanical degradation under high shear conditions and addition of KCl improved shear stability up to 47% (for Re≈45000). A polymer concentration of 3000ppm and salt concentration of 2000ppm in the injection fluid were found to be optimum for achieving the highest drag reduction with better shear stability. Results indicated that boundary layer injection shows better drag reduction ability than pre-mixed solutions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fast Proton Titration Scheme for Multiscale Modeling of Protein Solutions.

PubMed

Teixeira, Andre Azevedo Reis; Lund, Mikael; da Silva, Fernando Luís Barroso

2010-10-12

Proton exchange between titratable amino acid residues and the surrounding solution gives rise to exciting electric processes in proteins. We present a proton titration scheme for studying acid-base equilibria in Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations where salt is treated at the Debye-Hückel level. The method, rooted in the Kirkwood model of impenetrable spheres, is applied on the three milk proteins α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin, for which we investigate the net-charge, molecular dipole moment, and charge capacitance. Over a wide range of pH and salt conditions, excellent agreement is found with more elaborate simulations where salt is explicitly included. The implicit salt scheme is orders of magnitude faster than the explicit analog and allows for transparent interpretation of physical mechanisms. It is shown how the method can be expanded to multiscale modeling of aqueous salt solutions of many biomolecules with nonstatic charge distributions. Important examples are protein-protein aggregation, protein-polyelectrolyte complexation, and protein-membrane association.

NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY MEASUREMENT OF SALT SOLUTION ABSORPTION IN MORTAR

PubMed Central

Lucero, Catherine L.; Spragg, Robert P.; Bentz, Dale P.; Hussey, Daniel S.; Jacobson, David L.; Weiss, W. Jason

2017-01-01

Some concrete pavements in the US have recently exhibited premature joint deterioration. It is hypothesized that one component of this damage can be attributed to a reaction that occurs when salt-laden water is absorbed in the concrete and reacts with the matrix. This study examines the absorption of CaCl2 solution in mortar via neutron imaging. Mortar specimens were prepared with water to cement ratios, (w/c), of 0.36, 0.42 and 0.50 by mass and exposed to chloride solutions with concentrations ranging from 0 % to 29.8 % by mass. Depth of fluid penetration and moisture content along the specimen length were determined for 96 h after exposure. At high salt concentration (29.8 %), the sorption rate decreased by over 80 % in all samples. Along with changes in surface tension and viscosity, CaCl2 reacts with the cement paste to produce products (Friedel’s salt, Kuzel’s salt, or calcium oxychloride) that block pores and reduce absorption. PMID:28626299

NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY MEASUREMENT OF SALT SOLUTION ABSORPTION IN MORTAR.

PubMed

Lucero, Catherine L; Spragg, Robert P; Bentz, Dale P; Hussey, Daniel S; Jacobson, David L; Weiss, W Jason

2017-01-01

Some concrete pavements in the US have recently exhibited premature joint deterioration. It is hypothesized that one component of this damage can be attributed to a reaction that occurs when salt-laden water is absorbed in the concrete and reacts with the matrix. This study examines the absorption of CaCl 2 solution in mortar via neutron imaging. Mortar specimens were prepared with water to cement ratios, ( w/c ), of 0.36, 0.42 and 0.50 by mass and exposed to chloride solutions with concentrations ranging from 0 % to 29.8 % by mass. Depth of fluid penetration and moisture content along the specimen length were determined for 96 h after exposure. At high salt concentration (29.8 %), the sorption rate decreased by over 80 % in all samples. Along with changes in surface tension and viscosity, CaCl 2 reacts with the cement paste to produce products (Friedel's salt, Kuzel's salt, or calcium oxychloride) that block pores and reduce absorption.

Temperature invariance of NaCl solubility in water: inferences from salt-water cluster behavior of NaCl, KCl, and NH4Cl.

PubMed

Bharmoria, Pankaj; Gupta, Hariom; Mohandas, V P; Ghosh, Pushpito K; Kumar, Arvind

2012-09-27

The growth and stability of salt-water clusters have been experimentally studied in aqueous solutions of NaCl, KCl, and NH(4)Cl from dilute to near-saturation conditions employing dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. In order to examine cluster stability, the changes in the cluster sizes were monitored as a function of temperature. Compared to the other cases, the average size of NaCl-water clusters remained almost constant over the studied temperature range of 20-70 °C. Information obtained from the temperature-dependent solution compressibility (determined from speed of sound and density measurements), multinuclear NMR ((1)H, (17)O, (35)Cl NMR), and FTIR were utilized to explain the cluster behavior. Comparison of NMR chemical shifts of saturated salt solutions with solid-state NMR data of pure salts, and evaluation of spectral modifications in the OH stretch region of saturated salt solutions as compared to that of pure water, provided important clues on ion pair-water interactions and water structure in the clusters. The high stability and temperature independence of the cluster sizes in aqueous NaCl shed light on the temperature invariance of its solubility.

Matlab-Excel Interface for OpenDSS

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

The software allows users of the OpenDSS grid modeling software to access their load flow models using a GUI interface developed in MATLAB. The circuit definitions are entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet which makes circuit creation and editing a much simpler process than the basic text-based editors used in the native OpenDSS interface. Plot tools have been developed which can be accessed through a MATLAB GUI once the desired parameters have been simulated.

Salting-out effect in aqueous NaCl solutions: trends with size and polarity of solute molecules.

PubMed

Endo, Satoshi; Pfennigsdorff, Andrea; Goss, Kai-Uwe

2012-02-07

Salting-out in aqueous NaCl solutions is relevant for the environmental behavior of organic contaminants. In this study, Setschenow (or salting-out) coefficients (K(s) [M(-1)]) for 43 diverse neutral compounds in NaCl solutions were measured using a shared headspace passive dosing method and a negligible depletion solid phase microextraction technique. The results were used to calibrate and evaluate estimation models for K(s). The molar volume of the solute correlated only moderately with K(s) (R(2) = 0.49, SD = 0.052). The polyparameter linear free energy relationship (pp-LFER) model that uses five compound descriptors resulted in a more accurate fit to our data (R(2) = 0.83, SD = 0.031). The pp-LFER analysis revealed that Na(+) and Cl(-) in aqueous solutions increase the cavity formation energy cost and the polar interaction energies toward neutral organic solutes. Accordingly, the salting-out effect increases with the size and decreases with the polarity of the solute molecule. COSMO-RS, a quantum mechanics-based fully predictive model, generally overpredicted the experimental K(s), but the predicted values were moderately correlated with the experimental values (R(2) = 0.66, SD = 0.042). Literature data (n = 93) were predicted by the calibrated pp-LFER and COSMO-RS models with root mean squared errors of 0.047 and 0.050, respectively. This study offers prediction models to estimate K(s), allowing implementation of the salting-out effect in contaminant fate models, linkage of various partition coefficients (such as air-water, sediment-water, and extraction phase-water partition coefficients) measured for fresh water and seawater, and estimation of enhancement of extraction efficiency in analytical procedures.

Dissipative vector soliton in a dispersion-managed fiber laser with normal dispersion.

PubMed

Wang, Siming; Fan, Xuliang; Zhao, Luming; Wang, Yong; Tang, Dingyuan; Shen, Deyuan

2014-12-10

We numerically study the vector dynamics of dissipative solitons (DSs) in a 2 μm dispersion-managed fiber laser mode locked by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror and operated in the normal dispersion regime. It is shown that the effective gain bandwidth is crucial for the DS generation. The steep spectral edges of DSs are the consequence of the interaction among the normal dispersion, fiber nonlinearity, gain and loss, and gain dispersion effect, etc. We numerically duplicate the experimental results and further explore the vector features of the generated DSs. Two DSs formed along the two orthogonal polarization directions which, incoherently coupled with each other, could propagate in the birefringent cavity with the same group velocity.

A Decision Support System for Optimum Use of Fertilizers

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

Hoskinson, Reed Louis; Hess, John Richard; Fink, Raymond Keith

1999-07-01

The Decision Support System for Agriculture (DSS4Ag) is an expert system being developed by the Site-Specific Technologies for Agriculture (SST4Ag) precision farming research project at the INEEL. DSS4Ag uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and computer science technologies to make spatially variable, site-specific, economically optimum decisions on fertilizer use. The DSS4Ag has an open architecture that allows for external input and addition of new requirements and integrates its results with existing agricultural systems’ infrastructures. The DSS4Ag reflects a paradigm shift in the information revolution in agriculture that is precision farming. We depict this information revolution in agriculture as an historic trend inmore » the agricultural decision-making process.« less

A Decision Support System for Optimum Use of Fertilizers

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

R. L. Hoskinson; J. R. Hess; R. K. Fink

1999-07-01

The Decision Support System for Agriculture (DSS4Ag) is an expert system being developed by the Site-Specific Technologies for Agriculture (SST4Ag) precision farming research project at the INEEL. DSS4Ag uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and computer science technologies to make spatially variable, site-specific, economically optimum decisions on fertilizer use. The DSS4Ag has an open architecture that allows for external input and addition of new requirements and integrates its results with existing agricultural systems' infrastructures. The DSS4Ag reflects a paradigm shift in the information revolution in agriculture that is precision farming. We depict this information revolution in agriculture as an historic trend inmore » the agricultural decision-making process.« less

Association between sex, nutritional status, severity of dengue hemorrhagic fever, and immune status in infants with dengue hemorrhagic fever.

PubMed

Nguyen, Thanh Hung; Nguyen, Trong Lan; Lei, Huan-Yao; Lin, Yee-Shin; Le, Bich Lien; Huang, Kao-Jean; Lin, Chiou-Feng; Do, Quang Ha; Vu, Thi Que Huong; Lam, Thi My; Yeh, Trai-Ming; Huang, Jyh-Hsiung; Liu, Ching-Chuan; Halstead, Scott B

2005-04-01

The association between sex, nutritional status, and the severity of dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), and immune status was investigated in 245 Vietnamese infants with predominantly primary infections with dengue virus. Male and female infants were at equal risk of developing DHF/DSS. However, infants of low height and weight for age were under-represented among DHF/DSS cases compared with 533 healthy baby clinic infant controls. Acute illness phase blood levels of selected cytokines (interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and serum levels of antibodies to dengue virus were elevated in the same range in male and female infants with DHF/DSS, as well as in infants with and without malnutrition.

Accelerated corrosion of 2205 duplex stainless steel caused by marine aerobic Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.

PubMed

Xu, Dake; Xia, Jin; Zhou, Enze; Zhang, Dawei; Li, Huabing; Yang, Chunguang; Li, Qi; Lin, Hai; Li, Xiaogang; Yang, Ke

2017-02-01

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) in the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated through electrochemical and surface analyses. The electrochemical results showed that P. aeruginosa significantly reduced the corrosion resistance of 2205 DSS. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images showed that the depths of the largest pits on 2205 DSS with and without P. aeruginosa were 14.0 and 4.9μm, respectively, indicating that the pitting corrosion was accelerated by P. aeruginosa. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed that CrO 3 and CrN formed on the 2205 DSS surface in the presence of P. aeruginosa. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DSS 13 frequency stability tests performed during May 1985 through March 1986

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Otoshi, T. Y.; Franco, M. M.

1986-01-01

Results of station frequency stability testing performed at DSS 13 (Deep Space Station) during May 1985 through March 1986 are presented. The testing was done on X-band uplink and X- and S-band downlink subsystems as well as on end-to-end systems. The subsystem test data are useful for assessing the frequency stability of various prototype X-band uplink or downlink subsystems for purposes of making design improvements. Information derived from extensive testing at DSS 13 will be useful in the preparation of an X-band Uplink Demonstration Experiment to be conducted at DSS 13, and will also be valuable in the preparations of gravity wave experiments to be conducted at other DSN stations in the future.

Solid solutions of platinum(II) and palladium(II) oxalato-complex salt as precursors of nanoalloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadesenets, A. V.; Asanova, T. I.; Vikulova, E. S.; Filatov, E. Yu.; Plyusnin, P. E.; Baidina, I. A.; Asanov, I. P.; Korenev, S. V.

2013-03-01

A solid solution of platinum (II) and palladium (II) oxalato-complex salt, (NH4)2[Pt0.5Pd0.5(C2O4)2]·2H2O, has been synthesized and studied as a precursor for preparing bimetallic PtPd nanoparticles through its thermal decomposition. The smallest homogenous bimetallic PtPd nanoparticles were found to form in hydrogen and helium atmospheres. The annealing temperature and time have low effect on the bimetallic particles size. Comparative analysis of structural and thermal properties of the solid solution and individual Pt, Pd oxalato-complex salts was performed to investigate a mechanism of thermal decomposition of (NH4)2[Pt0.5Pd0.5(C2O4)2]·2H2O. Based on in situ X-ray photoemission spectroscopy investigation it was proposed a mechanism of formation of bimetallic PtPd nanoparticles from the solid-solution oxalato-complex salt during thermal decomposition.

Method for separating water soluble organics from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction

DOEpatents

Chaiko, David J.; Mego, William A.

1999-01-01

A method for separating water-miscible organic species from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction is provided. An aqueous biphase system is generated by contacting a process stream comprised of water, salt, and organic species with an aqueous polymer solution. The organic species transfer from the salt-rich phase to the polymer-rich phase, and the phases are separated. Next, the polymer is recovered from the loaded polymer phase by selectively extracting the polymer into an organic phase at an elevated temperature, while the organic species remain in a substantially salt-free aqueous solution. Alternatively, the polymer is recovered from the loaded polymer by a temperature induced phase separation (cloud point extraction), whereby the polymer and the organic species separate into two distinct solutions. The method for separating water-miscible organic species is applicable to the treatment of industrial wastewater streams, including the extraction and recovery of complexed metal ions from salt solutions, organic contaminants from mineral processing streams, and colorants from spent dye baths.

Dissecting ion-specific dielectric spectra of sodium-halide solutions into solvation water and ionic contributions.

PubMed

Rinne, Klaus F; Gekle, Stephan; Netz, Roland R

2014-12-07

Using extensive equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations we determine the dielectric spectra of aqueous solutions of NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and NaI. The ion-specific and concentration-dependent shifts of the static dielectric constants and the dielectric relaxation times match experimental results very well, which serves as a validation of the classical and non-polarizable ionic force fields used. The purely ionic contribution to the dielectric response is negligible, but determines the conductivity of the salt solutions. The ion-water cross correlation contribution is negative and reduces the total dielectric response by about 5%-10% for 1 M solutions. The dominating water dielectric response is decomposed into different water solvation shells and ion-pair configurations, by this the spectral blue shift and the dielectric decrement of salt solutions with increasing salt concentration is demonstrated to be primarily caused by first-solvation shell water. With rising salt concentration the simulated spectra show more pronounced deviations from a single-Debye form and can be well described by a Cole-Cole fit, in quantitative agreement with experiments. Our spectral decomposition into ionic and different water solvation shell contributions does not render the individual contributions more Debye-like, this suggests the non-Debye-like character of the dielectric spectra of salt solutions not to be due to the superposition of different elementary relaxation processes with different relaxation times. Rather, the non-Debye-like character is likely to be an inherent spectral signature of solvation water around ions.

Photobleachable Diazonium Salt-Phenolic Resin Two-Layer Resist System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchino, Shou-ichi; Iwayanagi, Takao; Hashimoto, Michiaki

1988-01-01

This article describes a new negative two-layer photoresist system formed by a simple, successive spin-coating method. An aqueous acetic acid solution of diazonium salt and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) is deposited so as to contact a phenolic resin film spin-coated on a silicon wafer. The diazonium salt diffuses into the phenolic resin layer after standing for several minutes. The residual solution on the phenolic resin film doped with diazonium salt is spun to form the diazonium salt-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) top layer. This forms a uniform two-layer resist without phase separation or striation. Upon UV exposure, the diazonium salt in the top layer bleaches to act as a CEL dye, while the diazonium salt in the bottom layer decomposes to cause insolubilization. Half μm line-and-space patterns are obtained with an i-line stepper using 4-diazo-N,N-dimethylaniline chloride zinc chloride double salt as the diazonium salt and a cresol novolac resin for the bottom polymer layer. The resist formation processes, insolubilization mechanism, and the resolution capability of the new two-layer resist are discussed.

9 CFR 96.10 - Uncertified casings; transportation for disinfection; original shipping containers; disposition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... hydroxide (Lye) prepared in a fresh solution in the proportion of not less than 1 pound avoirdupois of... in case any of the sodium hydroxide solution should come in contact with the body. (2) This solution...) Dissolve the salt in the proportion of 90 pounds of salt to 100 gallons of water. Add 23/4 gallons of C. P...

9 CFR 96.10 - Uncertified casings; transportation for disinfection; original shipping containers; disposition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... hydroxide (Lye) prepared in a fresh solution in the proportion of not less than 1 pound avoirdupois of... in case any of the sodium hydroxide solution should come in contact with the body. (2) This solution...) Dissolve the salt in the proportion of 90 pounds of salt to 100 gallons of water. Add 23/4 gallons of C. P...

9 CFR 96.10 - Uncertified casings; transportation for disinfection; original shipping containers; disposition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... hydroxide (Lye) prepared in a fresh solution in the proportion of not less than 1 pound avoirdupois of... in case any of the sodium hydroxide solution should come in contact with the body. (2) This solution...) Dissolve the salt in the proportion of 90 pounds of salt to 100 gallons of water. Add 23/4 gallons of C. P...

Determining the Enthalpy of Vaporization of Salt Solutions Using the Cooling Effect of a Bubble Column Evaporator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fan, Chao; Pashley, Richard M.

2016-01-01

The enthalpy of vaporization (?H[subscript vap]) of salt solutions is not easily measured, as a certain quantity of pure water has to be evaporated from a solution, at constant composition, and at a fixed temperature and pressure; then the corresponding heat input has to be measured. However, a simple bubble column evaporator (BCE) was used as a…

Significant Enhancement in the Thermoelectric Properties of PEDOT:PSS Films through a Treatment with Organic Solutions of Inorganic Salts.

PubMed

Fan, Zeng; Du, Donghe; Yu, Zhimeng; Li, Pengcheng; Xia, Yijie; Ouyang, Jianyong

2016-09-07

Conducting polymers have promising thermoelectric application because they have many advantages including abundant elements, mechanical flexibility, and nontoxicity. The thermoelectric properties of conducting polymers strongly depend on their chemical structure and microstructure. Here, we report a novel and facile method to significantly enhance the thermoelectric properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PSS) films through a treatment with organic solutions of inorganic salts. N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) and a common inorganic salt like zinc chloride (ZnCl2) are used as the solvent and solute of the solutions, respectively. The treatments can significantly increase both the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of the PSS films. The thermoelectric properties of the PSS films are sensitive to the experimental conditions, such as the salt concentration, treatment temperature, and the cation of the salts. After treatment at the optimal experimental conditions, the PSS films can exhibit a Seebeck coefficient of 26.1 μV/K and an electrical conductivity of over 1400 S/cm at room temperature. The corresponding power factor is 98.2 μW/(m·K(2)). The mechanism for the enhancement in the thermoelectric properties is attributed to the segregation of some PSSH chains from PSS and the conformation change of PEDOT chains as a result of the synergetic effects of inorganic salts and DMF.

Thermodynamic properties of gases dissolved in electrolyte solutions.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiepel, E. W.; Gubbins, K. E.

1973-01-01

A method based on perturbation theory for mixtures is applied to the prediction of thermodynamic properties of gases dissolved in electrolyte solutions. The theory is compared with experimental data for the dependence of the solute activity coefficient on concentration, temperature, and pressure; calculations are included for partial molal enthalpy and volume of the dissolved gas. The theory is also compared with previous theories for salt effects and found to be superior. The calculations are best for salting-out systems. The qualitative feature of salting-in is predicted by the theory, but quantitative predictions are not satisfactory for such systems; this is attributed to approximations made in evaluating the perturbation terms.

Adhesion kinetics of viable Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts to quartz surfaces.

PubMed

Kuznar, Zachary A; Elimelech, Menachem

2004-12-15

The transport and deposition (adhesion) kinetics of viable Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts onto ultrapure quartz surfaces in a radial stagnation point flow system were investigated. Utilizing an optical microscope and an image-capturing device enabled real time observation of oocyst deposition behavior onto the quartz surface in solutions containing either monovalent (KCl) or divalent (CaCl2) salts. Results showed a significantly lower oocyst deposition rate in the presence of a monovalent salt compared to a divalent salt. With a monovalent salt, oocyst deposition rates and corresponding attachment efficiencies were relatively low, even at high KCl concentrations where Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory predicts the absence of an electrostatic energy barrier. On the other hand, in the presence of a divalent salt, oocyst deposition rates increased continuously as the salt concentration was increased over the entire range of ionic strengths investigated. The unusually low deposition rate in a monovalent salt solution is attributed to "electrosteric" repulsion between the Cryptosporidium oocyst and the quartz surface, most likely due to proteins on the oocyst surface that extend into the solution. It is further proposed that specific binding of calcium ions to the oocyst surface functional groups results in charge neutralization and conformational changes of surface proteins that significantly reduce electrosteric repulsion.

Method of separating thorium from plutonium

DOEpatents

Clifton, David G.; Blum, Thomas W.

1984-01-01

A method of chemically separating plutonium from thorium. Plutonium and thorium to be separated are dissolved in an aqueous feed solution, preferably as the nitrate salts. The feed solution is acidified and sodium nitrite is added to the solution to adjust the valence of the plutonium to the +4 state. A chloride salt, preferably sodium chloride, is then added to the solution to induce formation of an anionic plutonium chloride complex. The anionic plutonium chloride complex and the thorium in solution are then separated by ion exchange on a strong base anion exchange column.

Method of separating thorium from plutonium

DOEpatents

Clifton, D.G.; Blum, T.W.

A method of chemically separating plutonium from thorium is claimed. Plutonium and thorium to be separated are dissolved in an aqueous feed solution, preferably as the nitrate salts. The feed solution is acidified and sodium nitrite is added to the solution to adjust the valence of the plutonium to the +4 state. A chloride salt, preferably sodium chloride, is then added to the solution to induce formation of an anionic plutonium chloride complex. The anionic plutonium chloride complex and the thorium in solution are then separated by ion exchange on a strong base anion exchange column.

Method of separating thorium from plutonium

DOEpatents

Clifton, D.G.; Blum, T.W.

1984-07-10

A method is described for chemically separating plutonium from thorium. Plutonium and thorium to be separated are dissolved in an aqueous feed solution, preferably as the nitrate salts. The feed solution is acidified and sodium nitrite is added to the solution to adjust the valence of the plutonium to the +4 state. A chloride salt, preferably sodium chloride, is then added to the solution to induce formation of an anionic plutonium chloride complex. The anionic plutonium chloride complex and the thorium in solution are then separated by ion exchange on a strong base anion exchange column.

Effect of solution non-ideality on erythrocyte volume regulation.

PubMed

Levin, R L; Cravalho, E G; Huggins, C E

1977-03-01

A non-ideal, hydrated, non-dilute pseudo-binary salt-protein-water solution model of the erythrocyte intracellular solution is presented to describe the osmotic behavior of human erythrocytes. Existing experimental activity data for salts and proteins in aqueous solutions are used to formulate van Laar type expressions for the solvent and solute activity coefficients. Reasonable estimates can therefore be made of the non-ideality of the erythrocyte intracellular solution over a wide range of osmolalities. Solution non-ideality is shown to affect significantly the degree of solute polarization within the erythrocyte intracellular solution during freezing. However, the non-ideality has very little effect upon the amount of water retained within erythrocytes cooled at sub-zero temperatures.

Role of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and PPAR-γ on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in DSS-induced colorectal fibrosis.

PubMed

Di Gregorio, Jacopo; Sferra, Roberta; Speca, Silvia; Vetuschi, Antonella; Dubuquoy, Caroline; Desreumaux, Pierre; Pompili, Simona; Cristiano, Loredana; Gaudio, Eugenio; Flati, Vincenzo; Latella, Giovanni

2017-01-01

Intestinal fibrosis is characterized by abnormal production and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins by activated myofibroblasts. The main progenitor cells of activated myofibroblasts are the fibroblasts and the epithelial cells, the latter through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). To evaluate the action of the new PPAR-γ modulator, GED-0507-34 Levo (GED) on the expression of EMT associated and regulatory proteins such as TGF-β, Smad3, E-cadherin, Snail, ZEB1, β-catenin, and GSK-3β, in a mouse model of DSS-induced intestinal fibrosis. Chronic colitis and fibrosis were induced by oral administration of 2.5% DSS (w/v) for 6 weeks. GW9662 (GW), a selective PPAR-γ inhibitor, was also administered by intraperitoneal injection at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day combined with GED treatment. All drugs were administered at the beginning of the second cycle of DSS (day 12). 65 mice were randomly divided into five groups (H2O as controls n = 10, H2O+GED n = 10, DSS n = 15, DSS+GED n = 15, DSS+GED+GW n = 15). The colon was excised for macroscopic examination and histological and morphometric analyses. The level of expression of molecules involved in EMT and fibrosis, like TGF-β, Smad3, E-cadherin, Snail, ZEB1, β-catenin, GSK-3β and PPAR-γ, was assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blot and Real Time PCR. GED improved the DSS-induced chronic colitis and fibrosis. GED was able to reduce the expression of the main fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen I-III and fibronectin) as well as the pivotal pro-fibrotic molecules IL-13, TGF-β and Smad3, while it increased the anti-fibrotic PPAR-γ. All these GED effects were nullified by co-administration of GW with GED. Furthermore, GED was able to normalize the expression levels of E-cadherin and β-catenin and upregulated GSK-3β, that are all known to be involved both in EMT and fibrosis. The DSS-induced intestinal fibrosis was improved by the new PPAR-γ modulator GED-0507-34 Levo through the modulation of EMT mediators and pro-fibrotic molecules and through GSK-3β induction.

A new class of draw solutions for minimizing reverse salt flux to improve forward osmosis desalination.

PubMed

Nguyen, Hau Thi; Nguyen, Nguyen Cong; Chen, Shiao-Shing; Ngo, Huu Hao; Guo, Wenshan; Li, Chi-Wang

2015-12-15

The applications of forward osmosis (FO) have been hindered because of the lack of an optimal draw solution. The reverse salt flux from the draw solution not only reduces the water flux but also increases the cost of draw solute replenishment. Therefore, in this study, Tergitol NP7 and NP9 with a long straight carbon chain and low critical micelle concentration (CMC) were coupled with highly charged ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an innovative draw solution to minimize reverse salt diffusion in FO for the first time. The results showed that the lowest reverse salt flux of 0.067 GMH was observed when 0.1M EDTA-2Na coupled with 15mM NP7 was used as a draw solution and deionized water was used as a feed solution in FO mode (active layer facing with the feed solution). This is due to the hydrophobic interaction between the tails of NP7 and the FO membrane, thus creating layers on the membrane surface and constricting the FO membrane pores. Moreover, 1M EDTA-2Na coupled with 15mM NP7 is promising as an optimal draw solution for brackish water and sea water desalination. Average water fluxes of 7.68, 6.78, and 5.95 LMH were achieved when brackish water was used as a feed solution (5, 10, and 20g/L NaCl), and an average water flux of 3.81 LMH was achieved when sea water was used as a feed solution (35g/L NaCl). The diluted draw solution was recovered using a nanofiltration (NF-TS80) membrane with a high efficiency of 95% because of the high charge and large size of the draw solution. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impairment of skin barrier function via cholinergic signal transduction in a dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis mouse model.

PubMed

Yokoyama, Satoshi; Hiramoto, Keiichi; Koyama, Mayu; Ooi, Kazuya

2015-10-01

Dry skin has been clinically associated with visceral diseases, including liver disease, as well as for our previously reported small intestinal injury mouse model, which have abnormalities in skin barrier function. To clarify this disease-induced skin disruption, we used a dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Following treatment with DSS, damage to the colon and skin was monitored using histological and protein analysis methods as well as the detection of inflammatory mediators in the plasma. Notably, transepidermal water loss was higher, and skin hydration was lower in DSS-treated mice compared to controls. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 and NO2-/NO3- levels were also upregulated in the plasma, and a decrease in body weight and colon length was observed in DSS-treated mice. However, when administered TNF-α antibody or an iNOS inhibitor, no change in skin condition was observed, indicating that another signalling mechanism is utilized. Interestingly, the number of tryptase-expressing mast cells, known for their role in immune function via cholinergic signal transduction, was elevated. To evaluate the function of cholinergic signalling in this context, atropine (a muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonist) or hexamethonium (a nicotinic cholinergic ganglion-blocking agent) was administered to DSS-treated mice. Our data indicate that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are the primary receptors functioning in colon-to-skin signal transduction, as DSS-induced skin disruption was suppressed by atropine. Thus, skin disruption is likely associated with DSS-induced colitis, and the activation of mast cells via mAChRs is critical to this association. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Behavioral and molecular processing of visceral pain in the brain of mice: impact of colitis and psychological stress

PubMed Central

Jain, Piyush; Hassan, Ahmed M.; Koyani, Chintan N.; Mayerhofer, Raphaela; Reichmann, Florian; Farzi, Aitak; Schuligoi, Rufina; Malle, Ernst; Holzer, Peter

2015-01-01

Gastrointestinal disorders with abdominal pain are associated with central sensitization and psychopathologies that are often exacerbated by stress. Here we investigated the impact of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and repeated water avoidance stress (WAS) on spontaneous and nociception-related behavior and molecular signaling in the mouse brain. DSS increased the mechanical pain sensitivity of the abdominal skin while both WAS and DSS enhanced the mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity of the plantar skin. These manifestations of central sensitization were associated with augmented c-Fos expression in spinal cord, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex. While WAS stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p42/44, DSS activated another signaling pathway, both of which converged on c-Fos. The DSS- and WAS-induced hyperalgesia in the abdominal and plantar skin and c-Fos expression in the brain disappeared when the mice were subjected to WAS+DSS treatment. Intrarectal allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) evoked aversive behavior (freezing, reduction of locomotion and exploration) in association with p42/44 MAPK and c-Fos activation in spinal cord and brain. These effects were inhibited by morphine, which attests to their relationship with nociception. DSS and WAS exerted opposite effects on AITC-evoked p42/44 MAPK and c-Fos activation, which indicates that these transduction pathways subserve different aspects of visceral pain processing in the brain. In summary, behavioral perturbations caused by colitis and psychological stress are associated with distinct alterations in cerebral signaling. These findings provide novel perspectives on central sensitization and the sensory and emotional processing of visceral pain stimuli in the brain. PMID:26217204

Orally administered sodium 4-phenylbutyrate suppresses the development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

PubMed

Ono, Kazuhiko; Nimura, Satoshi; Hideshima, Yuko; Nabeshima, Kazuki; Nakashima, Manabu

2017-12-01

Sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) exerts therapeutic effects in a wide range of pathologies. A previous study by the present authors revealed that intraperitoneal administration of PBA suppresses the onset of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. In the present study, the effects of orally administered PBA are investigated, as this route of administration is more clinically relevant. The therapeutic efficacy of PBA (10 mg/12 h) in mice with experimental colitis was assessed based on the disease activity index, production of inflammatory cytokines, colon length and histopathological investigations. The results of the present study demonstrated a significantly higher survival rate in the PBA-treated group compared with the PBA-untreated (DSS control) group (P=0.0156). PBA treatment improved pathological indices of experimental colitis (P<0.05). Furthermore, the oral administration of PBA significantly inhibited the DSS-induced shortening of the colon (P<0.05) and overproduction of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 (both P<0.05) as measured in colonic lavage fluids. A marked attenuation of the DSS-induced overproduction of tumor necrosis factor was also observed. For histopathological analysis, a marked decrease in mature goblet cells and increase in enlarged nuclei of the absorptive cells was observed in colon lesions of DSS control mice as compared with normal untreated mice. However, in the PBA-treated mice, no such lesions were observed and the mucosa resembled that of DSS-untreated mice. The results of the present study, combined with those results of a previous study, suggest that oral and intraperitoneal administration of PBA have similar preventative effects on DSS-induced colitis, achieved by suppressing its pathogenesis.

A decision support system for prioritizing forested wetland restoration in the Yazoo Backwater Area, Mississippi

USGS Publications Warehouse

O'Hara, Charles G.; Davis, Angela A.; Kleiss, Barbara A.

2000-01-01

A working prototype decision support system (DSS) was developed for the Yazoo Backwater Area, Mississippi, to help planners and managers prioritize, plan, conduct, and optimize forested wetland restoration activities. The DSS comprises geographic information system (GIS) spatial data themes, application programs that provide a cumulative analysis of the relative ability of sites to function as wetlands, and output data that are specific to a given restoration analysis scenario. The DSS input includes GIS data themes such as geomorphology, soils, land use, elevation, farmed wetlands, flood frequency, topographic depressions, streams, public lands, roads, and permanent water bodies, which can be used as spatial templates to define areal hydrologic settings. These GIS data themes can then be ranked and combined to estimate the relative suitability of a potential wetland restoration site, thereby, determining relative wetland equivalence on the landscape. The GIS applications used in this DSS perform the following three functions: assess the ecology (the Eco-Assessor); reclassify land-use in areas selected for restoration (the Tree-Translator); and generate output data to compare restoration scenarios (the Parameter-Generator). Areas selected for reforestation are translated (in the GIS) into ?forested? land use, and the tree species that are ?planted? on the landscape (in the DSS) either compose an ecologically optimal or an economically optimal community of tree species. Output from the DSS can be compared and analyzed by using economic, statistical, graphical, and tabular methods. Output data for seven selected scenarios were generated for the Yazoo Backwater Area and are presented as examples to illustrate the flexibility of the DSS to identify areas that meet restoration objectives.

A non-multimacrocyclic heteroditopic receptor that cooperatively binds and effectively extracts KAcO salt.

PubMed

Zakrzewski, Maciej; Kwietniewska, Natalia; Walczak, Wojciech; Piątek, Piotr

2018-06-06

Prepared in only three synthetic steps, a non-multimacrocyclic heteroditopic receptor binds potassium salts of halides and carboxylates with unusually high cooperativity, suggesting salt binding as associated ion-pairs. Unprecedented extraction of highly hydrophilic KAcO salt from water to organic solution is also demonstrated.

Oxygen isotope activities and concentrations in aqueous salt solutions at elevated temperatures: Consequences for isotope geochemistry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Truesdell, A.H.

1974-01-01

Studies of the effect of dissolved salts on the oxygen isotope activity ratio of water have been extended to 275??C. Dehydrated salts were added to water of known isotope composition and the solutions were equilibrated with CO2 which was sampled for analysis. For comparison similar studies were made using pure water. Results on water nearly coincide with earlier calculations. Salt effects diminish with increasing temperature only for solutions of MgCl2 and LiCl. Other salt solutions show complex behavior due to the temperature-dependent formation of ion pairs of changing character. Equilibrium fractionations (103 ln ??) between 1 molal solutions and pure water at 25, 100, and 275??C are: NaCl 0.0, -1.5, +1.0; KCl 0.0, -1.0, +2.0; LiCl -1.0, -0.6, -0.5; CaCl2 -0.4, -1.8, +0.8; MgCl2 -1.1, -0.7, -0.3; MgSO4 -1.1, +0.1, -; NaF (0.8 m) 0.0, -1.5, -0.3; and NH4Cl (0.55 m) 0.0, -1.2, -1.3. These effects are significant in the isotope study of hot saline fluids responsible for ore deposition and of fluids found in certain geothermal systems. Minor modification of published isotope geothermometers may be required. ?? 1974.

Sodium 4-phenylbutyrate suppresses the development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

PubMed

Ono, Kazuhiko; Nimura, Satoshi; Nishinakagawa, Takuya; Hideshima, Yuko; Enjyoji, Munechika; Nabeshima, Kazuki; Nakashima, Manabu

2014-03-01

Sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. In the present study, the effects of PBA on a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were investigated. The therapeutic efficacy of PBA (150 mg/kg body weight) in DSS-induced colitis was assessed based on the disease activity index (DAI), colon length, the production of inflammatory cytokines and histopathological examination. The results showed an increase in the median survival time in the PBA-treated group compared with that of the untreated DSS control group. DAI scores were lower in the PBA-treated group than in the DSS control group during the 12 days of the experiment. Additionally, PBA treatment inhibited shortening of the colon and the production of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and IL-6, which were measured in the colonic lavage fluids. Histopathological examination of the DSS control group showed diffused clusters of chronic inflammatory cells infiltrating the lamina propria, partial exfoliation of the surface epithelium and decreased numbers of mature goblet cells. By contrast, in the PBA-treated group the histopathological findings were the same as those of the normal healthy controls. These results suggest that PBA strongly prevents DSS-induced colitis by suppressing the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis.

Enhancement of brain-targeting delivery of danshensu in rat through conjugation with pyrazine moiety to form danshensu-pyrazine ester.

PubMed

Hui, Ailing; Yin, Huayang; Zhang, Zheng; Zhou, An; Chen, Jingchao; Yang, Li; Wu, Zeyu; Zhang, Wencheng

2018-06-01

Tetramethylpyrazine was introduced to the structure of danshensu (DSS) as P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-inhibiting carrier, designing some novel brain-targeting DSS-pyrazine derivatives via prodrug delivery strategy. Following the virtual screening, three DSS-pyrazine esters (DT1, DT2, DT3) were selected because of their better prediction parameters related to brain-targeting. Among them, DT3 was thought to be a promising candidate due to its appropriate bioreversible property in vitro release assay. Further investigation with regard to DT3's brain-targeting effects in vivo was also reported in this study. High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was established for the quantitative determination of DT3 and DSS in rat plasma, brain homogenate after intravenous injection. In vivo metabolism of DT3 indicated that it was first converted into DT1, DT2, then the generation of DSS, which could be the result of carboxylesterase activity in rat blood and brain tissue. Moreover, the brain pharmacokinetics of DT3 was significantly altered with 2.16 times increase in half-life compared with that of DSS, and its drug targeting index (DTI) was up to 16.95. Above these data demonstrated that DT3 had better tendency of brain-targeting delivery, which would be positive for the treatment of brain-related disorders.

Pharmacological activity of 6-gingerol in dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Ajayi, Babajide O; Adedara, Isaac A; Farombi, Ebenezer O

2015-04-01

Gingerols are phenolic compounds in ginger (Zingiber officinale), which have been reported to exhibit antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. The present study aimed at evaluating the possible pharmacologic activity of 6-gingerol in a mouse model of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Adult male mice were exposed to DSS in drinking water alone or co-treated with 6-gingerol orally at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 7 days. Disease activity index, inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress indices, and histopathological examination of the colons were evaluated to monitor treatment-related effects of 6-gingerol in DSS-treated mice. Administration of 6-gingerol significantly reversed the DSS-mediated reduction in body weight, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and colon shrinkage to near normal. Moreover, 6-gingerol significantly suppressed the circulating concentrations of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha and restored the colonic nitric oxide concentration and myeloperoxidase activity to normal in DSS-treated mice. 6-Gingerol efficiently prevented colonic oxidative damage by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content, decreasing the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels, and ameliorated the colonic atrophy in DSS-treated mice. 6-Gingerol suppressed the induction of ulcerative colitis in mice via antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities, and may thus represent a potential anticolitis drug candidate. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bovine milk-derived α-lactalbumin inhibits colon inflammation and carcinogenesis in azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate-treated mice.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Makoto; Takai, Shoko; Hosono, Akira; Seki, Taiichiro

2014-01-01

Cyclooxygenase-2 is expressed early in colon carcinogenesis and plays crucial role in the progress of the disease. Recently, we found that α-lactalbumin had anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2. In experiment 1, we investigated the effects of α-lactalbumin on the colon carcinogenesis initiated with azoxymethane (AOM) followed by promotion with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice. Dietary treatment with α-lactalbumin decreased fecal occult blood score at 3 days after DSS intake. α-Lactalbumin also decreased the colon tumor at week 9. In experiment 2, AOM-treated mice were sacrificed at 7 days after DSS intake. The plasma and colon prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in AOM/DSS-treated mice were higher than those in the DSS-treated mice without initiation by AOM. α-Lactalbumin decreased PGE2 in both plasma and colon. These results suggest that α-lactalbumin effectively inhibited colon carcinogenesis, and the inhibition may be due to the decreased PGE2 by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 at cancer promotion stages.

Contrasting effects of pseudoephedrine and papaverine in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

PubMed

Harris, Norman R; Specian, Robert D; Carter, Patsy R; Morgan, Georgia A

2008-03-01

Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induces submucosal arteriolar constriction that reduces blood flow to the intestine, and the relevance of this decrease in flow needs further investigation. In the present study we examined the effects of a vasoconstrictor (pseudoephedrine) and a vasodilator (papaverine) on the outcome of DSS-induced colitis. Mice were given DSS in drinking water for 6 days, with enemas on days 0, 1, 3, and 5 containing pseudoephedrine, papaverine, or no drug. At the conclusion of the 6-day protocol a disease activity index comprising weight loss, stool consistency, and rectal bleeding was evaluated, along with intravital microscopy observations of submucosal venular leukocyte and platelet adherence in the proximal colon and terminal ileum. Pseudoephedrine and papaverine had several contrasting effects on the outcome of DSS ingestion: pseudoephedrine induced the highest levels of weight loss, loose stools, venular platelet adherence, and overall disease activity index, while papaverine induced the highest levels of venular leukocyte adherence, but the lowest levels of rectal bleeding, loose stools, and overall disease activity index. The results suggest that vasoconstriction worsens the pathological consequences of DSS in the mouse model of colitis.

Increased water resistance of paper treated with amylose-fatty ammonium salt inclusion complexes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Amylose inclusion complexes were prepared from high amylose corn starch and the HCl salts of hexadecylamine and octadecylamine. Solutions of the complexes were applied to paper at concentrations of 2-4%. After the treated papers were dried, sodium hydroxide solution was applied to convert the adsorb...

Effects of a computerized cardiac teletriage decision support system on nurse performance: results of a controlled human factors experiment using a mid-fidelity prototype.

PubMed

Somoza, Kirsten Carroll; Momtahan, Kathryn; Lindgaard, Gitte

2007-01-01

A gap exists in cardiac care between known best practices and the actual level of care administered. To help bridge this gap, a proof of concept interface for a PDA-based decision support system (DSS) was designed for cardiac care nurses engaged in teletriage. This interface was developed through a user-centered design process. Quality of assessment, quality of recommendations, and number of questions asked were measured. Cardiac floor nurses' assessment quality performance, but not their recommendation quality performance, improved with the DSS. Nurses asked more questions with the DSS than without it, and these additional questions were predominantly classifiable as essential or beneficial to a good assessment. The average participant satisfaction score with the DSS was above neutral.

Ternary mixtures of ionic liquids for better salt solubility, conductivity and cation transference number improvement

PubMed Central

Karpierz, E.; Niedzicki, L.; Trzeciak, T.; Zawadzki, M.; Dranka, M.; Zachara, J.; Żukowska, G. Z.; Bitner-Michalska, A.; Wieczorek, W.

2016-01-01

We hereby present the new class of ionic liquid systems in which lithium salt is introduced into the solution as a lithium cation−glyme solvate. This modification leads to the reorganisation of solution structure, which entails release of free mobile lithium cation solvate and hence leads to the significant enhancement of ionic conductivity and lithium cation transference numbers. This new approach in composing electrolytes also enables even three-fold increase of salt concentration in ionic liquids. PMID:27767069

Performance of cellulose acetate butyrate membranes in hyperfiltration of sodium chloride and urea feed solution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wydeven, T.; Leban, M.

1973-01-01

Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) membranes are shown to give high salt and urea rejection with water flux of about 3 gallons/sq ft per day at 600 psig. Membranes prepared from a formulation containing glyoxal show a significant increase in flux and decrease in salt and urea rejection with drying time. Zero drying time gives maximum urea and salt rejection and is therefore most suitable for hyperfiltration of sodium chloride and urea feed solution.

Analysis of protein structures and interactions in complex food by near-infrared spectroscopy. 2. Hydrated gluten.

PubMed

Bruun, Susanne Wrang; Søndergaard, Ib; Jacobsen, Susanne

2007-09-05

Hydrated gluten, treated with various salts, was analyzed by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to assess the ability of this method to reveal protein structure and interaction changes in perturbed food systems. The spectra were pretreated with second-derivative transformation and extended multiplicative signal correction for improving the band resolution and removing physical and quantitative spectral variations. Principal component analysis of the preprocessed spectra showed spectral effects that depended on salt type and concentration. Although both gluten texture and the NIR spectra were little influenced by treatment with salt solutions of low concentrations (0.1-0.2 M), they were significantly and diversely affected by treatment with 1.0 M salt solutions. Compared to hydration in water, hydration in 1.0 M sulfate salts caused spectral effects similar to a drying-out effect, which could be explained by salting-out.

Effect of salts on the water sorption kinetics of dried pasta.

PubMed

Ogawa, Takenobu; Adachi, Shuji

2013-01-01

The water sorption kinetics of dried pasta were measured in the 20-90 °C range in 1.83 mol/L of NaCl and at 80 °C in 1.83 mol/L of LiCl, KCl, NaBr and NaI solutions in order to elucidate the role of salt in the kinetics. At the temperatures higher than 70.8 °C, the change in the enthalpy of sorption, ΔH, in the 1.83 mol/L NaCl solution was 33.1 kJ/mol, which was greater than the ΔH value in water, and the activation energy for the sorption, E, in the salt solution was 25.6 kJ/mol, which was slightly lower than the E value in water. The Hofmeister series of ions was an index for their effect on the equilibrium amount of the sorbed solution of pasta. The apparent diffusion coefficient of water into pasta was not correlated with the crystal radius of the salts, but was with the Stokes radius of the hydrated ions. Equations were formulated to predict the amount of sorbed solution under any condition of temperature and NaCl concentration.

Solution-mediated phase transformation of haloperidol mesylate in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate.

PubMed

Greco, Kristyn; Bogner, Robin

2011-09-01

Forming a salt is a common way to increase the solubility of a poorly soluble compound. However, the solubility enhancement gained by salt formation may be lost due to solution-mediated phase transformation (SMPT) during dissolution. The SMPT of a salt can occur due to a supersaturated solution near the dissolving surface caused by pH or other solution conditions. In addition to changes in pH, surfactants are also known to affect SMPT. In this study, SMPT of a highly soluble salt, haloperidol mesylate, at pH 7 in the presence of a commonly used surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), was investigated. Dissolution experiments were performed using a flow-through dissolution apparatus with solutions containing various concentrations of SLS. Compacts of haloperidol mesylate were observed during dissolution in the flow-through apparatus using a stereomicroscope. Raman microscopy was used to characterize solids. The dissolution of haloperidol mesylate was significantly influenced by the addition of sodium lauryl sulfate. In conditions where SMPT was expected, the addition of SLS at low concentrations (0.1-0.2 mM) reduced the dissolution of haloperidol mesylate. In solutions containing concentrations of SLS above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) (10-15 mM), the dissolution of haloperidol mesylate increased compared to below the CMC. The solids recovered from solubility experiments of haloperidol mesylate indicated that haloperidol free base precipitated at all concentrations of SLS. Above 5 mM of SLS, Raman microscopy suggested a new form, perhaps the estolate salt. The addition of surfactant in solids that undergo solution-mediated phase transformation can add complexity to the dissolution profiles and conversion.

An iterative requirements specification procedure for decision support systems.

PubMed

Brookes, C H

1987-08-01

Requirements specification is a key element in a DSS development project because it not only determines what is to be done, it also drives the evolution process. A procedure for requirements elicitation is described that is based on the decomposition of the DSS design task into a number of functions, subfunctions, and operators. It is postulated that the procedure facilitates the building of a DSS that is complete and integrates MIS, modelling and expert system components. Some examples given are drawn from the health administration field.

On DSS Implementation in the Dynamic Model of the Digital Oil field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korovin, Iakov S.; Khisamutdinov, Maksim V.; Kalyaev, Anatoly I.

2018-02-01

Decision support systems (DSS), especially based on the artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are been widely applied in different domains nowadays. In the paper we depict an approach of implementing DSS in to Digital Oil Field (DOF) dynamic model structure in order to reduce the human factor influence, considering the automation of all production processes to be the DOF model clue element. As the basic tool of data handling we propose the hybrid application on artificial neural networks and evolutional algorithms.

Doping Polymer Semiconductors by Organic Salts: Toward High-Performance Solution-Processed Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Hu, Yuanyuan; Rengert, Zachary D; McDowell, Caitlin; Ford, Michael J; Wang, Ming; Karki, Akchheta; Lill, Alexander T; Bazan, Guillermo C; Nguyen, Thuc-Quyen

2018-04-24

Solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were fabricated with the addition of an organic salt, trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (TrTPFB), into thin films of donor-acceptor copolymer semiconductors. The performance of OFETs is significantly enhanced after the organic salt is incorporated. TrTPFB is confirmed to p-dope the organic semiconductors used in this study, and the doping efficiency as well as doping physics was investigated. In addition, systematic electrical and structural characterizations reveal how the doping enhances the performance of OFETs. Furthermore, it is shown that this organic salt doping method is feasible for both p- and n-doping by using different organic salts and, thus, can be utilized to achieve high-performance OFETs and organic complementary circuits.

Covering surface nanobubbles with a NaCl nanoblanket.

PubMed

Berkelaar, Robin P; Zandvliet, Harold J W; Lohse, Detlef

2013-09-10

By letting a NaCl aqueous solution of low (0.01 M) concentration evaporate on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface, it is possible to form a thin film of salt. However, pre-existing surface nanobubbles prevent the homogeneous coverage of the surface with the salt, keeping the footprint areas on the substrate pristine. Comparing the surface nanobubbles in the salt solution with their associated footprint after drying, provides information on the shrinkage of nanobubbles during the hours-long process of drying the liquid film. At a slightly higher NaCl concentration and thus salt layer thickness, the nanobubbles are covered with a thin blanket of salt. Once the liquid film has evaporated until a water film remains that is smaller than the height of the nanobubbles, the blanket of salt cracks and unfolds into a flower-like pattern of salt flakes that is located at the rim of the nanobubble footprint. The formation of a blanket of salt covering the nanobubbles is likely to considerably or even completely block the gas out-flux from the nanobubble, partially stabilizing the nanobubbles against dissolution.

32 CFR 321.14 - DSS implementation policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... to all sources of investigative information, including subjects, during interview, in response to questions that go beyond the required printed and oral notices. Agents shall be guided by DSS Handbook for...

32 CFR 321.14 - DSS implementation policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... to all sources of investigative information, including subjects, during interview, in response to questions that go beyond the required printed and oral notices. Agents shall be guided by DSS Handbook for...

Soybean and Fish Oil Mixture With Different ω-6/ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Ratios Modulates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Changes in Small Intestinal Intraepithelial γδT-Lymphocyte Expression in Mice.

PubMed

Pai, Man-Hui; Liu, Jun-Jen; Hou, Yu-Chen; Yeh, Chiu-Li

2016-03-01

This study investigated the effect of different ω-6/ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced changes to small intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) γδT-cell expression. Mice were assigned to 3 control and 3 DSS-treated groups and were maintained on a low-fat semipurified diet. One of the control (S) groups and a DSS (DS) group were provided with soybean oil; the other 2 control (Hω-3 and Lω-3) groups and 2 other DSS (DHω-3 and DLω-3) groups were fed either a soybean and fish oil mixture with a ω-6/ω-3 ratio of 2:1 or 4:1. After feeding the respective diets for 2 weeks, the DSS groups were given distilled water containing 2% DSS, and the control groups were given distilled water for 5 days. All groups were further provided distilled water 5 days for recovery, and the small intestinal IEL γδT-cell subset was isolated for analysis. DSS treatment resulted in a lower small intestinal IEL γδT-cell percentage and higher messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of Reg IIIγ, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and complement 5a receptor (C5aR) by IEL γδT cells. Fish oil administration enhanced the proportion of small intestinal IEL γδT cells. Compared with the DLω-3 group, the DHω-3 group had lower Reg IIIγ, KGF, and C5aR mRNA expressions and higher expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ gene by small intestinal IEL γδT cells. Fish oil diets with a ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio of 2:1 were more effective than those with a ratio of 4:1 in improving DSS-induced small intestinal injury, and activation of PPAR-γ in IEL γδT cells may be associated with resolution of small intestinal inflammation. © 2014 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Dissecting ion-specific dielectric spectra of sodium-halide solutions into solvation water and ionic contributions

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

Rinne, Klaus F.; Netz, Roland R.; Gekle, Stephan

2014-12-07

Using extensive equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations we determine the dielectric spectra of aqueous solutions of NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and NaI. The ion-specific and concentration-dependent shifts of the static dielectric constants and the dielectric relaxation times match experimental results very well, which serves as a validation of the classical and non-polarizable ionic force fields used. The purely ionic contribution to the dielectric response is negligible, but determines the conductivity of the salt solutions. The ion-water cross correlation contribution is negative and reduces the total dielectric response by about 5%-10% for 1 M solutions. The dominating water dielectric response is decomposed into differentmore » water solvation shells and ion-pair configurations, by this the spectral blue shift and the dielectric decrement of salt solutions with increasing salt concentration is demonstrated to be primarily caused by first-solvation shell water. With rising salt concentration the simulated spectra show more pronounced deviations from a single-Debye form and can be well described by a Cole-Cole fit, in quantitative agreement with experiments. Our spectral decomposition into ionic and different water solvation shell contributions does not render the individual contributions more Debye-like, this suggests the non-Debye-like character of the dielectric spectra of salt solutions not to be due to the superposition of different elementary relaxation processes with different relaxation times. Rather, the non-Debye-like character is likely to be an inherent spectral signature of solvation water around ions.« less

Non-monotonic course of protein solubility in aqueous polymer-salt solutions can be modeled using the sol-mxDLVO model.

PubMed

Herhut, Marcel; Brandenbusch, Christoph; Sadowski, Gabriele

2016-02-01

Protein purification is often performed using cost-intensive chromatographic steps. To discover economic alternatives (e.g., crystallization), knowledge on protein solubility as a function of temperature, pH, and additives in solution as well as their concentration is required. State-of-the-art models for predicting protein solubility almost exclusively consider aqueous salt systems, whereas "salting-in" and "salting-out" effects induced by the presence of an additional polymer are not considered. Thus, we developed the sol-mxDLVO model. Using this newly developed model, protein solubility in the presence of one salt and one polymer, especially the non-monotonic course of protein solubility, could be predicted. Systems considered included salts (NaCl, Na-p-Ts, (NH(4))(2) SO(4)) and the polymer polyethylene glycol (MW: 2000 g/mol, 12000 g/mol) and proteins lysozyme from chicken egg white (pH 4 to 5.5) and D-xylose ketol-isomerase (pH 7) at 298.15 K. The results show that by using the sol-mxDLVO model, protein solubility in polymer-salt solutions can be modeled in good agreement with the experimental data for both proteins considered. The sol-mxDLVO model can describe the non-monotonic course of protein solubility as a function of polymer concentration and salt concentration, previously not covered by state-of-the-art models. Copyright © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Molecular simulation study on Hofmeister cations and the aqueous solubility of benzene.

PubMed

Ganguly, Pritam; Hajari, Timir; van der Vegt, Nico F A

2014-05-22

We study the ion-specific salting-out process of benzene in aqueous alkali chloride solutions using Kirkwood-Buff (KB) theory of solutions and molecular dynamics simulations with different empirical force field models for the ions and benzene. Despite inaccuracies in the force fields, the simulations indicate that the decrease of the Setchenow salting-out coefficient for the series NaCl > KCl > RbCl > CsCl is determined by direct benzene-cation correlations, with the larger cations showing weak interactions with benzene. Although ion-specific aqueous solubilities of benzene may be affected by indirect ion-ion, ion-water, and water-water correlations, too, these correlations are found to be unimportant, with little to no effect on the Setchenow salting-out coefficients of the various salts. We further considered LiCl, which is experimentally known to be a weaker salting-out agent than NaCl and KCl and, therefore, ranks at an unusual position within the Hofmeister cation series. The simulations indicate that hydrated Li(+) ions can take part of the benzene hydration shell while the other cations are repelled by it. This causes weaker Li(+) exclusion around the solute and a resulting, weaker salting-out propensity of LiCl compared to that of the other salts. Removing benzene-water and benzene-salt electrostatic interactions in the simulations does not affect this mechanism, which may therefore also explain the smaller effect of LiCl, as compared to that of NaCl or KCl, on aqueous solvation and hydrophobic interaction of nonpolar molecules.

METHOD FOR DISSOLVING ZIRCONIUM-URANIUM COMPOSITIONS

DOEpatents

Gens, T.A.

1961-07-18

A method is descrioed for treating a zirconium-- uranium composition to form a stable solution from which uranium and other values may be extracted by contacting the composition with at least a 4 molar aqueous solution of ammonium fluoride at a temperature of about 100 deg C, adding a peroxide, in incremental amounts, to the heated solution throughout the period of dissolution until all of the uranium is converted to soluble uranyl salt, adding nitric acid to the resultant solution to form a solvent extraction feed solution to convert the uranyl salt to a solvent extractable state, and thereafter recovering the uranium and other desired values from the feed solution by solvent extraction.

REDUCTION OF ACIDITY OF NITRIC ACID SOLUTIONS BY USE OF FORMALDEHYDE

DOEpatents

Healy, T.V.

1958-05-20

A continuous method is described of concentrating by evaporation and reducing the nitrate ion content of an aqueous solution of metallic salts containing nitric acid not in excess of 8N. It consists of heating the solution and then passing formaldehyde into the heated solution to bring about decomposition of the nitric acid. The evolved gases containing NO are contacted countercurrently with an aqueous metal salt solution containing nitric acid in excess of 8N so as to bring about decomposition of the nitric acid and lower the normality to at least 8N, whereupon it is passed into the body of heated solution.

CATAPHORETIC CHARGES OF COLLODION PARTICLES AND ANOMALOUS OSMOSIS THROUGH COLLODION MEMBRANES FREE FROM PROTEIN

PubMed Central

Loeb, Jacques

1922-01-01

1. It had been shown in previous papers that when a salt solution is separated from pure water by a collodion membrane, water diffuses through the membrane as if it were positively charged and as if it were attracted by the anion of the salt in solution and repelled by the cation with a force increasing with the valency. In this paper, measurements of the P.D. across the membrane (E) are given, showing that when an electrical effect is added to the purely osmotic effect of the salt solution in the transport of water from the side of pure water to the solution, the latter possesses a considerable negative charge which increases with increasing valency of the anion of the salt and diminishes with increasing valency of the cation. It is also shown that a similar valency effect exists in the diffusion potentials between salt solutions and pure water without the interposition of a membrane. 2. This makes it probable that the driving force for the electrical transport of water from the side of pure water into solution is primarily a diffusion potential. 3. It is shown that the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution affects the transport curves and the diffusion potentials in a similar way. 4. It is shown, however, that the diffusion potential without interposition of the membrane differs in a definite sense from the P.D. across the membrane and that therefore the P.D. across the membrane (E) is a modified diffusion potential. 5. Measurements of the P.D. between collodion particles and aqueous solutions (ε) were made by the method of cataphoresis, which prove that water in contact with collodion particles free from protein practically always assumes a positive charge (except in the presence of salts with trivalent and probably tetravalent cations of a sufficiently high concentration). 6. It is shown that an electrical transport of water from the side of water into the solution is always superposed upon the osmotic transport when the sign of charge of the solution in the potential across the membrane (E) is opposite to that of the water in the P.D. between collodion particle and water (ε); supporting the theoretical deductions made by Bartell. 7. It is shown that the product of the P.D. across the membrane (E) into the cataphoretic P.D. between collodion particles and aqueous solution (ε) accounts in general semiquantitatively for that part of the transport of water into the solution which is due to the electrical forces responsible for anomalous osmosis. PMID:19871981

Amino Acid Side Chain Interactions in the Presence of Salts

PubMed Central

Hassan, Sergio A.

2005-01-01

The effects of salt on the intermolecular interactions between polar/charged amino acids are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. The mean forces and associated potentials are calculated for NaCl salt in the 0–2 M concentration range at 298 K. It is found that the addition of salt may stabilize or destabilize the interactions, depending on the nature of the interacting molecules. The degree of (de)stabilization is quantified, and the origin of the salt-dependent modulation is discussed based upon an analysis of solvent density profiles. To gain insight into the molecular origin of the salt modulation, spatial distribution functions (sdf’s) are calculated, revealing a high degree of solvent structuredness in all cases. The peaks in the sdf’s are consistent with long-range hydrogen-bonding networks connecting the solute hydrophilic groups, and that contribute to their intermolecular solvent-induced forces. The restructuring of water around the solutes as they dissociate from close contact is analyzed. This analysis offers clues on how the solvent structure modulates the effective intermolecular interactions in complex solutes. This modulation results from a critical balance between bulk electrostatic forces and those exerted by (i) the water molecules in the structured region between the monomers, which is disrupted by ions that transiently enter the hydration shells, and (ii) the ions in the hydration shells in direct interactions with the solutes. The implications of these findings in protein/ligand (noncovalent) association/dissociation mechanisms are briefly discussed. PMID:16479276

Preliminary evaluation of solution-mining intrusion into a salt-dome repository

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

Not Available

1981-06-01

This report is the product of the work of an ONWI task force to evaluate inadvertant human intrusion into a salt dome repository by solution mining. It summarizes the work in the following areas: a general review of the levels of defense that could reduce both the likelihood and potential consequences of human intrusion into a salt dome repository; evaluation of a hypothetical intrusion scenario and its consequences; recommendation for further studies. The conclusions of this task force report can be summarized as follows: (1) it is not possible at present to establish with certainty that solution mining is crediblemore » as a human-intrusion event. The likelihood of such an intrusion will depend on the effectiveness of the preventive measures; (2) an example analysis based on the realistic approach is presented in this report; it concluded that the radiological consequences are strongly dependent upon the mode of radionuclide release from the waste form, time after emplacement, package design, impurities in the host salt, the amount of a repository intercepted, the solution mining cavity form, the length of time over which solution mining occurs, the proportion of contaminated salt source for human consumption compared to other sources, and the method of salt purification for culinary purposes; (3) worst case scenarios done by other studies suggest considerable potential for exposures to man while preliminary evaluations of more realistic cases suggest significantly reduced potential consequences. Mathematical model applications to process systems, guided by more advanced assumptions about human intrusion into geomedia, will shed more light on the potential for concerns and the degree to which mitigative measures will be required.« less

The influence of polarizability and charge transfer on specific ion effects in the dynamics of aqueous salt solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Mary; Rick, Steven W.

2018-06-01

The diffusion rates for water molecules in salt solutions depend on the identity of the ions, as well as their concentration. Among the alkali metal ions, cesium and potassium increase and sodium strongly decreases the diffusion constant of water. The origin of the difference can be understood by examining the simulation results using different potential models. In this work, aqueous solutions of salts are simulated with a variety of models. Commonly used non-polarizable models, which otherwise reproduce many experimental properties, do not capture the trend in the diffusion constant, while models which include polarization and/or charge transfer interactions do. For the non-polarizable models, the diffusion constant decreases too strongly with salt concentration. The changes in the water diffusion constant with increasing salt concentration match the diffusion constant of the ion. The ion diffusion constant is dependent on the residence time for water in the ion solvation shell. The non-polarizable models over-estimate the residence time, relative to the translational diffusion constant and so tend to under-estimate the ion and water diffusion constants.

Hygroscopic salts and the potential for life on Mars.

PubMed

Davila, Alfonso F; Duport, Luis Gago; Melchiorri, Riccardo; Jänchen, Jochen; Valea, Sergio; de Los Rios, Asunción; Fairén, Alberto G; Möhlmann, Diedrich; McKay, Christopher P; Ascaso, Carmen; Wierzchos, Jacek

2010-01-01

Hygroscopic salts have been detected in soils in the northern latitudes of Mars, and widespread chloride-bearing evaporitic deposits have been detected in the southern highlands. The deliquescence of hygroscopic minerals such as chloride salts could provide a local and transient source of liquid water that would be available for microorganisms on the surface. This is known to occur in the Atacama Desert, where massive halite evaporites have become a habitat for photosynthetic and heterotrophic microorganisms that take advantage of the deliquescence of the salt at certain relative humidity (RH) levels. We modeled the climate conditions (RH and temperature) in a region on Mars with chloride-bearing evaporites, and modeled the evolution of the water activity (a(w)) of the deliquescence solutions of three possible chloride salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride) as a function of temperature. We also studied the water absorption properties of the same salts as a function of RH. Our climate model results show that the RH in the region with chloride-bearing deposits on Mars often reaches the deliquescence points of all three salts, and the temperature reaches levels above their eutectic points seasonally, in the course of a martian year. The a(w) of the deliquescence solutions increases with decreasing temperature due mainly to the precipitation of unstable phases, which removes ions from the solution. The deliquescence of sodium chloride results in transient solutions with a(w) compatible with growth of terrestrial microorganisms down to 252 K, whereas for calcium chloride and magnesium chloride it results in solutions with a(w) below the known limits for growth at all temperatures. However, taking the limits of a(w) used to define special regions on Mars, the deliquescence of calcium chloride deposits would allow for the propagation of terrestrial microorganisms at temperatures between 265 and 253 K, and for metabolic activity (no growth) at temperatures between 253 and 233 K.

Patterns of protein–protein interactions in salt solutions and implications for protein crystallization

PubMed Central

Dumetz, André C.; Snellinger-O'Brien, Ann M.; Kaler, Eric W.; Lenhoff, Abraham M.

2007-01-01

The second osmotic virial coefficients of seven proteins—ovalbumin, ribonuclease A, bovine serum albumin, α-lactalbumin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and catalase—were measured in salt solutions. Comparison of the interaction trends in terms of the dimensionless second virial coefficient b2 shows that, at low salt concentrations, protein–protein interactions can be either attractive or repulsive, possibly due to the anisotropy of the protein charge distribution. At high salt concentrations, the behavior depends on the salt: In sodium chloride, protein interactions generally show little salt dependence up to very high salt concentrations, whereas in ammonium sulfate, proteins show a sharp drop in b2 with increasing salt concentration beyond a particular threshold. The experimental phase behavior of the proteins corroborates these observations in that precipitation always follows the drop in b2. When the proteins crystallize, they do so at slightly lower salt concentrations than seen for precipitation. The b2 measurements were extended to other salts for ovalbumin and catalase. The trends follow the Hofmeister series, and the effect of the salt can be interpreted as a water-mediated effect between the protein and salt molecules. The b2 trends quantify protein–protein interactions and provide some understanding of the corresponding phase behavior. The results explain both why ammonium sulfate is among the best crystallization agents, as well as some of the difficulties that can be encountered in protein crystallization. PMID:17766383

Salt effects on an ion-molecule reaction--hydroxide-catalyzed hydrolysis of benzocaine.

PubMed

Al-Maaieh, Ahmad; Flanagan, Douglas R

2006-03-01

This work investigates the effect of various salts on the rate of a reaction involving a neutral species (benzocaine alkaline hydrolysis). Benzocaine hydrolysis kinetics in NaOH solutions in the presence of different salts were studied at 25 degrees C. Benzocaine solubility in salt solutions was also determined. Solubility data were used to estimate salt effects on benzocaine activity coefficients, and pH was used to estimate salt effects on hydroxide activity coefficients. Salts either increased or decreased benzocaine solubility. For example, solubility increased with 1.0 M tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) approximately 3-fold, whereas solubility decreased approximately 35% with 0.33 M Na2SO4. Salt effects on hydrolysis rates were more complex and depended on the relative magnitudes of the salt effects on the activity coefficients of benzocaine, hydroxide ion, and the transition state. As a result, some salts increased the hydrolysis rate constant, whereas others decreased it. For example, the pseudo-first-order rate constant decreased approximately 45% (to 0.0584 h(-1)) with 1 M TEAC, whereas it increased approximately 8% (to 0.116 h(-1)) with 0.33 M Na2SO4. Different salt effects on degradation kinetics can be demonstrated for a neutral compound reacting with an ion. These salt effects depend on varying effects on activity coefficients of reacting and intermediate species.

A Latent Cue Preference Based on Sodium Depletion in Rats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stouffer, Eric M.; White, Norman M.

2005-01-01

Three experiments show latent (or incidental) learning of salt-cue relationships using a conditioned cue-preference paradigm. Rats drank a salt solution while confined in one compartment and water in an adjacent, distinct compartment on alternate days. When given access to the two compartments with no solutions present, sodium-deprived rats…

Magnesium and iron nanoparticles production using microorganisms and various salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaul, R. K.; Kumar, P.; Burman, U.; Joshi, P.; Agrawal, A.; Raliya, R.; Tarafdar, J. C.

2012-09-01

Response of five fungi and two bacteria to different salts of magnesium and iron for production of nanoparticles was studied. Pochonia chlamydosporium, and Aspergillus fumigatus were exposed to three salts of magnesium while Curvularia lunata, Chaetomium globosum, A. fumigatus, A. wentii and the bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus coagulans were exposed to two salts of iron for nanoparticle production. The results revealed that P. chlamydosporium induces development of extracellular nanoparticles in MgCl2 solution while A. fumigatus produces also intracellular nanoparticles when exposed to MgSO4 solution. C. globosum was found as the most effective in producing nanoparticles when exposed to Fe2O3 solution. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles obtained from Fe2O3 solution showed the peaks similar to iron (Fe). In general, the species of the tested microbes were selective to different chemicals in their response for synthesis of nanoparticles. Further studies on their characterization and improving the efficiency of promising species of fungi need to be undertaken before tapping their potential as nanonutrients for plants.

Role of calcium on chloride binding in hydrated Portland cement–metakaolin–limestone blends

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

Shi, Zhenguo; Geiker, Mette Rica; De Weerdt, Klaartje

Chloride binding is investigated for Portland cement–metakaolin–limestone pastes exposed to CaCl{sub 2} and NaCl solutions. The phase assemblages and the amount of Friedel's salt are evaluated using TGA, XRD and thermodynamic modeling. A larger amount of Friedel's salt is observed in the metakaolin blends compared to the pure Portland cement. A higher total chloride binding is observed for the pastes exposed to the CaCl{sub 2} solution relative to those in the NaCl solution. This is reflected by the fact that calcium increases the quantity of Friedel's salt in the metakaolin blends by promoting the transformation of strätlingite and/or monocarbonate tomore » Friedel's salt. Calcium increases also the amount of chloride in the diffuse layer of the C-S-H for the pure cement. A linear correlation between the total bound chloride and the uptake of calcium from the CaCl{sub 2} solution is obtained and found to be independent on the type of cement blend.« less

Solubility of lysozyme in the presence of aqueous chloride salts: common-ion effect and its role on solubility and crystal thermodynamics.

PubMed

Annunziata, Onofrio; Payne, Andrew; Wang, Ying

2008-10-08

Understanding protein solubility is important for a rational design of the conditions of protein crystallization. We report measurements of lysozyme solubility in aqueous solutions as a function of NaCl, KCl, and NH4Cl concentrations at 25 degrees C and pH 4.5. Our solubility results are directly compared to preferential-interaction coefficients of these ternary solutions determined in the same experimental conditions by ternary diffusion. This comparison has provided new important insight on the dependence of protein solubility on salt concentration. We remark that the dependence of the preferential-interaction coefficient as a function of salt concentration is substantially shaped by the common-ion effect. This effect plays a crucial role also on the observed behavior of lysozyme solubility. We find that the dependence of solubility on salt type and concentration strongly correlates with the corresponding dependence of the preferential-interaction coefficient. Examination of both preferential-interaction coefficients and second virial coefficients has allowed us to demonstrate that the solubility dependence on salt concentration is substantially affected by the corresponding change of protein chemical potential in the crystalline phase. We propose a simple model for the crystalline phase based on salt partitioning between solution and the hydrated protein crystal. A novel solubility equation is reported that quantitatively explains the observed experimental dependence of protein solubility on salt concentration.

Electromagnetic non-destructive technique for duplex stainless steel characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocha, João Vicente; Camerini, Cesar; Pereira, Gabriela

2016-02-01

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) is a two-phase (ferrite and austenite) material, which exhibits an attractive combination of mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance, being commonly employed for equipment of petrochemical plants, refining units and oil & gas platforms. The best properties of DSS are achieved when the phases are in equal proportions. However, exposition to high temperatures (e.g. welding process) may entail undesired consequences, such as deleterious phases precipitation (e.g. sigma, chi) and different proportion of the original phases, impairing dramatically the mechanical and corrosion properties of the material. A detailed study of the magnetic behavior of DSS microstructure with different ferrite austenite ratios and deleterious phases content was accomplished. The non destructive method evaluates the electromagnetic properties changes in the material and is capable to identify the presence of deleterious phases into DSS microstructure.

Nitride alloy layer formation of duplex stainless steel using nitriding process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleque, M. A.; Lailatul, P. H.; Fathaen, A. A.; Norinsan, K.; Haider, J.

2018-01-01

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) shows a good corrosion resistance as well as the mechanical properties. However, DSS performance decrease as it works under aggressive environment and at high temperature. At the mentioned environment, the DSS become susceptible to wear failure. Surface modification is the favourable technique to widen the application of duplex stainless steel and improve the wear resistance and its hardness properties. Therefore, the main aim of this work is to nitride alloy layer on the surface of duplex stainless steel by the nitriding process temperature of 400°C and 450°C at different time and ammonia composition using a horizontal tube furnace. The scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyzer are used to analyse the morphology, composition and the nitrided alloy layer for treated DSS. The micro hardnesss Vickers tester was used to measure hardness on cross-sectional area of nitrided DSS. After nitriding, it was observed that the hardness performance increased until 1100 Hv0.5kgf compared to substrate material of 250 Hv0.5kgf. The thickness layer of nitride alloy also increased from 5μm until 100μm due to diffusion of nitrogen on the surface of DSS. The x-ray diffraction results showed that the nitride layer consists of iron nitride, expanded austenite and chromium nitride. It can be concluded that nitride alloy layer can be produced via nitriding process using tube furnace with significant improvement of microstructural and hardness properties.

Do pre-existing diabetes social support or depressive symptoms influence the effectiveness of a diabetes management intervention?

PubMed

Rosland, Ann-Marie; Kieffer, Edith; Spencer, Michael; Sinco, Brandy; Palmisano, Gloria; Valerio, Melissa; Nicklett, Emily; Heisler, Michele

2015-11-01

Examine influences of diabetes-specific social support (D-SS) and depressive symptoms on glycemic control over time, among adults randomized to a diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) intervention or usual care. Data were from 108 African-American and Latino participants in a 6-month intervention trial. Multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between baseline D-SS from family and friends and depressive symptoms with changes in HbA1c. We then examined whether baseline D-SS or depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c. Higher baseline D-SS was associated with larger improvements in HbA1c (adjusted ΔHbA1c -0.39% for each +1-point D-SS, p=0.02), independent of intervention-associated HbA1c decreases. Baseline depressive symptoms had no significant association with subsequent HbA1c change. Neither D-SS nor depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c. Diabetes self-management education and support programs have potential to improve glycemic control for participants starting with varying levels of social support and depressive symptoms. Participants starting with more support for diabetes management from family and friends improved HbA1c significantly more over 6 months than those with less support, independent of additional significant DSME/S intervention-associated HbA1c improvements. Social support from family and friends may improve glycemic control in ways additive to DSME/S. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract regulates microbial dysbiosis by modulating the composition and diversity of the microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice.

PubMed

Yeom, Yiseul; Kim, Bong-Soo; Kim, Se-Jae; Kim, Yuri

2016-11-25

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are related to a dysfunction of the mucosal immune system and they result from complex interactions between genetics and environmental factors, including lifestyle, diet, and the gut microbiome. Therefore, the effect of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) on gut microbiota in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model was investigated with pyrosequencing of fecal samples. Three groups of animals were examined: i) a control group, ii) a group that was received 2.5% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days, followed by 7 days of untreated water, and then another 7 days of 2.5% DSS in their drinking water, and iii) a group that was presupplemented with SQE (300 mg/kg body weight) by gavage for two weeks prior to the same DSS treatment schedule described in ii. SQE supplementation alleviated disease activity scores and shortened colon length compared to the other two groups. In the DSS group, the proportion of Bacteroidetes increased, whereas that the proportion of Firmicutes was decreased compared to the control group. SQE supplementation recovered the proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes back to control levels. Moreover, the diversity of microbiota in the SQE supplementation group higher than that of the DSS group. SQE was found to protect mice from microbial dysbiosis associated with colitis by modulating the microbial composition and diversity of the microbiota present. These results provide valuable insight into microbiota-food component interactions in IBD.

Treatment with a Novel Chemokine-Binding Protein or Eosinophil Lineage-Ablation Protects Mice from Experimental Colitis

PubMed Central

Vieira, Angélica T.; Fagundes, Caio T.; Alessandri, Ana Leticia; Castor, Marina G.M.; Guabiraba, Rodrigo; Borges, Valdinéria O.; Silveira, Kátia Daniella; Vieira, Erica L.M.; Gonçalves, Juliana L.; Silva, Tarcilia A.; Deruaz, Maud; Proudfoot, Amanda E.I.; Sousa, Lirlândia P.; Teixeira, Mauro M.

2009-01-01

Eosinophils are multifunctional leukocytes implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases. The present study was conducted to clarify the precise role of eosinophils in the development of colitis by using eosinophil-depleted mice and a novel chemokine-binding protein that neutralizes CCL11 action. Colitis was induced by administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to wild-type and eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA-1 mice. Accumulation of eosinophils in the gut of mice given DSS paralleled worsening of clinical score and weight loss. In response to DSS, ΔdblGATA-1 mice showed virtual absence of eosinophil recruitment, amelioration of clinical score, weight loss, and tissue destruction, and no lethality. There was a decrease in CXCL1 and CCL3 production and decreased neutrophil influx in the intestine of ΔdblGATA-1 mice. Transfer of bone marrow cells from wild-type mice reconstituted disease manifestation in DSS-treated ΔdblGATA-1 mice, and levels of CCL11 were increased after DSS treatment and localized to inflammatory cells. Treatment with the chemokine-binding protein evasin-4 at a dose that prevented the function of CCL11 greatly ameliorated clinical score, weight loss, overall tissue destruction, and death rates. In conclusion, the influx of eosinophils is critical for the induction of colitis by DSS. Treatment with a novel chemokine-binding protein decreased eosinophil influx and greatly ameliorated colitis, suggesting that strategies that interfere with the recruitment of eosinophils may be useful as therapy for colitis. PMID:19893035

Chymase Level Is a Predictive Biomarker of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Pediatric and Adult Patients.

PubMed

Tissera, Hasitha; Rathore, Abhay P S; Leong, Wei Yee; Pike, Brian L; Warkentien, Tyler E; Farouk, Farouk S; Syenina, Ayesa; Eong Ooi, Eng; Gubler, Duane J; Wilder-Smith, Annelies; St John, Ashley L

2017-11-27

Most patients with dengue experience mild disease, dengue fever (DF), while few develop the life-threatening diseases dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). No laboratory tests predict DHF or DSS. We evaluated whether the serum chymase level can predict DHF or DSS in adult and pediatric patients and the influence of preexisting conditions (PECs) on chymase levels. Serum chymase levels were measured in patients presenting with undifferentiated fever to hospitals in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. The value of serum the chymase concentration and clinical signs and symptoms as predictors of DHF and/or DSS was evaluated by multivariate analysis. We assessed the influence of age, PECs, and day after fever onset on the robustness of the chymase level as a biomarker for DHF and/or DSS. An elevated chymase level in acute phase blood samples was highly indicative of later diagnosis of DHF or DSS for pediatric and adult patients with dengue. No recorded PECs prevented an increase in the chymase level during DHF. However, certain PECs (obesity and cardiac or lung-associated diseases) resulted in a concomitant increase in chymase levels among adult patients with DHF. These results show that patients with acute dengue who present with high levels of serum chymase consistently are at greater risk of DHF. The chymase level is a robust prognostic biomarker of severe dengue for adult and pediatric patients. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Protective effect of Lagerstroemia speciosa against dextran sulfate sodium induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

PubMed

Chaudhary, Ghanshyam; Mahajan, Umesh B; Goyal, Sameer N; Ojha, Shreesh; Patil, Chandragouda R; Subramanya, Sandeep B

2017-01-01

The protective effect of methanolic extract of Lagerstroemia speciosaleaves (LS) was evaluated against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice. The administration of DSS (2.5% in drinking water ad libitum) in C57BL/6 mice induced ulcerative colitis in 7 days. The LS was orally administered for 7 days at daily doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. At the end of 7 days of treatment the animals were sacrificed, colonic tissues were removed and processed for further analysis of oxidative stress, and histopathology. In DSS treated mice the oxidative stress markers were elevated compared to controls. There was also significant reduction in the anti-oxidant defense levels marked by reduced cellular glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. The DSS-induced damage to the colon epithelium was evident from a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation. The histology of colon sections revealed inflammatory changes and marked impairment in the integrity of the mucosal lining with inflammatory changes. Both the doses of LS significantly prevented DSS-induced inflammatory and ulcerative damages of the colon, reduced lipid peroxidation and also restored the levels of innate antioxidants in the colon tissue. These findings indicate the protective effects of LS against the DSS-induced inflammatory and oxidative damage in the mouse colon. Further investigation involving bioactivity guided fractionation of the LS can yield potent constituent which may have a significant role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis.

SOLIDS PRECIPITATION EVENT IN MCU CAUSAL ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOLIDS RECOVERY TEAM

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

Garrison, A.; Aponte, C.

A process upset occurred in the Modular Caustic-Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) facility on April 6th, 2014. During recovery efforts, a significant amount of solids were found in the Salt Solution Feed Tank (SSFT), Salt Solution Receipt Tanks (SSRTs), two extraction contactors, and scrub contactors. The solids were identified by Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) as primarily sodium oxalate and sodium alumina silicate (NAS) with the presence of some aluminum hydroxide. NAS solids have been present in the SSFT since simulant runs during cold chemical startup of MCU in 2007, and have not hindered operations since that time. During themore » process upset in April 2014, the oxalate solids partially blocked the aqueous outlet of the extraction contactors, causing salt solution to exit through the contactor organic outlet to the scrub contactors with the organic phase. This salt solution overwhelmed the scrub contactors and passed with the organic phase to the strip section of MCU. The partially reversed flow of salt solution resulted in a Strip Effluent (SE) stream that was high in Isopar™ L, pH and sodium. The primary cause of the excessive solids accumulation in the SSRTs and SSFT at MCU is attributed to an increase in the frequency of oxalic acid cleaning of the 512-S primary filter. Agitation in the SSRTs at MCU in response to cold weather likely provided the primary mechanism to transfer the solids to the contactors. Sources of the sodium oxalate solids are attributed to the oxalic acid cleaning solution used to clean the primary filter at the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) filtration at 512-S, as well as precipitation from the salt batch feed, which is at or near oxalate saturation. The Solids Recovery Team was formed to determine the cause of the solids formation and develop recommendations to prevent or mitigate this event in the future. A total of 53 recommendations were generated. These recommendations were organized into 4 focus areas: • Improve understanding of oxalate equilibrium and kinetics in salt solutions • Reduction/elimination of oxalic acid cleaning in 512-S • Flowsheet optimization • Improving diagnostic capability The recommendations implemented prior to resumption of MCU operations provide a risk mitigation or detection function through additional sampling and observation. The longer term recommendations provide a framework to increase the basic process knowledge of both oxalate chemistry and filtration behavior and then facilitate decisions that improve the salt flowsheet as a system.« less

Laboratory studies of the low-temperature deliquescence of calcium chloride salts: Relevance to aqueous solutions on Mars and in the Antarctic Dry Valleys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gough, R. V.; Chevrier, V.; Tolbert, M. A.

2013-12-01

There is significant interest in the possible existence of liquid water on current Mars. This water would likely exist as a brine in order to be stable on Mars today. It has been proposed that soil salts could form aqueous solutions through either the melting of ice by low-eutectic salts, or by the deliquescence of hygroscopic salts present in the Martian soil. The focus thus far has largely been on perchlorate species, which can melt ice at temperatures as low as 206 K and can deliquesce at relative humidity values as low as 38% RH. A Mars-relevant salt that has been neglected thus far is calcium chloride (CaCl2). Calcium has been reported to be an abundant cation at the Phoenix landing site and Mars Science Laboratory instruments have recently identified calcium as well. Simulations suggest subsurface CaCl2 is an ideal candidate to produce brines with seasonality consistent with observed recurring slope lineae (RSL) (Chevrier et al., 2012). Finally, the only terrestrial site where RSL-like features have been observed (near Don Juan Pond in the Antarctic Dry Valleys) contains abundant CaCl2. These seasonal slope streaks are thought to form when CaCl2 in the soil deliquesces due to contact with atmospheric water vapor (Dickson et al., 2013). It is important to understand how this CaCl2 interacts with water vapor at low temperatures relevant to Mars and the Martian analog sites. Here we use a Raman microscope and environmental cell to monitor the low-temperature (223 - 273 K) deliquescence (solid to aqueous phase transition) and efflorescence (aqueous to solid phase transition) of three hydration states of CaCl2 (dihydrate, tetrahydrate, hexahydrate). We have found that the deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) increases with increasing hydration state, which is an expected result. Average DRH values over the temperature range studied are 20.0 × 2.6% RH for the dihydrate, 31.8 × 6.3% RH for the tetrahydrate and 60.7 × 1.6% RH for the hexahydrate. Once the aqueous solution has formed, efflorescence (recrystallization) of the salt is kinetically hindered and supersaturated solutions can exist at humidities far below the DRH. Regardless of temperature or initial hydration state of the solid salt, we do not observe efflorescence of the aqueous solutions to occur until single digit RH values are reached. We show here that calcium chloride is at least as deliquescent as many perchlorate salts, and that solutions of calcium chloride are even more difficult to recrystallize once a brine solution has formed. These experimental results will assist with interpretation of observations of deliquescence in the Antarctic Dry Valleys and will help us understand potential liquid water formation on Mars. In addition to formation of brines through melting, deliquescence of salts such as CaCl2 is a reasonable mechanism for formation of aqueous solutions on current Mars.

METHOD OF SEPARATING FISSION PRODUCTS FROM FUSED BISMUTH-CONTAINING URANIUM

DOEpatents

Wiswall, R.H.

1958-06-24

A process is described for removing metal selectively from liquid metal compositions. The method effects separation of flssion product metals selectively from dilute solution in fused bismuth, which contains uraniunn in solution without removal of more than 1% of the uranium. The process comprises contacting the fused bismuth with a fused salt composition consisting of sodium, potassium and lithium chlorides, adding to fused bismuth and molten salt a quantity of bismuth chloride which is stoichiometrically required to convert the flssion product metals to be removed to their chlorides which are more stable in the fused salt than in the molten metal and are, therefore, preferentially taken up in the fused salt phase.

Detection and characterization of murine colitis and carcinogenesis by molecularly targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound

PubMed Central

Brückner, Markus; Heidemann, Jan; Nowacki, Tobias M; Cordes, Friederike; Stypmann, Jörg; Lenz, Philipp; Gohar, Faekah; Lügering, Andreas; Bettenworth, Dominik

2017-01-01

AIM To study mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the assessment of murine colitis and carcinogenesis. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were challenged with 3% dextran sodium-sulfate (DSS) for three, six or nine days to study the development of acute colitis. Ultrasound was performed with and without the addition of unspecific contrast agents. MAdCAM-1-targeted contrast agent was used to detect and quantify MAdCAM-1 expression. Inflammatory driven colorectal azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced carcinogenesis was examined on day 42 and 84 using VEGF-targeted contrast agent. Highly specific tissue echogenicity was quantified using specialized software. Sonographic findings were correlated to tissue staining, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to quantify the degree of inflammation and stage of carcinogenesis. RESULTS Native ultrasound detected increased general bowel wall thickening that correlated with more progressed and more severe DSS-colitis (healthy mice: 0.3 mm ± 0.03 vs six days DSS: 0.5 mm ± 0.2 vs nine days DSS: 0.6 mm ± 0.2, P < 0.05). Moreover, these sonographic findings correlated well with clinical parameters such as weight loss (r2 = 0.74) and histological damage (r2 = 0.86) (P < 0.01). In acute DSS-induced murine colitis, CEUS targeted against MAdCAM-1 detected and differentiated stages of mild, moderate and severe colitis via calculation of mean pixel contrast intensity in decibel (9.6 dB ± 1.6 vs 12.9 dB ± 1.4 vs 18 dB ± 3.33, P < 0.05). Employing the AOM/DSS-induced carcinogenesis model, tumor development was monitored by CEUS targeted against VEGF and detected a significantly increased echogenicity in tumors as compared to adjacent healthy mucosa (healthy mucosa, 1.6 dB ± 1.4 vs 42 d, 18.2 dB ± 3.3 vs 84 d, 18.6 dB ± 4.9, P < 0.01). Tissue echogenicity strongly correlated with histological analysis and immunohistochemistry findings (VEGF-positive cells in 10 high power fields of healthy mucosa: 1 ± 1.2 vs 42 d after DSS start: 2.4 ± 1.6 vs 84 d after DSS start: 3.5 ± 1.3, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Molecularly targeted CEUS is a highly specific and non-invasive imaging modality, which characterizes murine intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis in vivo. PMID:28522908

Dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis impairs dermal lymphatic function in mice.

PubMed

Agollah, Germaine D; Wu, Grace; Peng, Ho-Lan; Kwon, Sunkuk

2015-12-07

To investigate whether dermal lymphatic function and architecture are systemically altered in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis. Balb/c mice were administered 4% DSS in lieu of drinking water ad libitum for 7 d and monitored to assess disease activity including body weight, diarrhea severity, and fecal bleeding. Control mice received standard drinking water with no DSS. Changes in mesenteric lymphatics were assessed following oral administration of a fluorescently-labelled fatty acid analogue, while dermal lymphatic function and architecture was longitudinally characterized using dynamic near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging following intradermal injection of indocyanine green (ICG) at the base of the tail or to the dorsal aspect of the left paw prior to, 4, and 7 d after DSS administration. We also measured dye clearance rate after injection of Alexa680-bovine serum albumin (BSA). NIRF imaging data was analyzed to reveal lymphatic contractile activity after selecting fixed regions of interest (ROIs) of the same size in fluorescent lymphatic vessels on fluorescence images. The averaged fluorescence intensity within the ROI of each fluorescence image was plotted as a function of imaging time and the lymphatic contraction frequency was computed by assessing the number of fluorescent pulses arriving at a ROI. Mice treated with DSS developed acute inflammation with clinical symptoms of loss of body weight, loose feces/watery diarrhea, and fecal blood, all of which were aggravated as disease progressed to 7 d. Histological examination of colons of DSS-treated mice confirmed acute inflammation, characterized by segmental to complete loss of colonic mucosa with an associated chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate that extended into the deeper layers of the wall of the colon, compared to control mice. In situ intravital imaging revealed that mice with acute colitis showed significantly fewer fluorescent mesenteric lymphatic vessels, indicating impaired uptake of a lipid tracer within mesenteric lymphatics. Our in vivo NIRF imaging data demonstrated dilated dermal lymphatic vessels, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of lymphatic vessels, and significantly reduced lymphatic contractile function in the skin of mice with DSS-induced acute colitis. Quantification of the fluorescent intensity remaining in the depot as a function of time showed that there was significantly higher Alexa680-BSA fluorescence in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis compared to pre-treatment with DSS, indicative of impaired lymphatic drainage. The lymphatics are locally and systemically altered in acute colitis, and functional NIRF imaging is useful for noninvasively monitoring systemic lymphatic changes during inflammation.

Detection and characterization of murine colitis and carcinogenesis by molecularly targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

PubMed

Brückner, Markus; Heidemann, Jan; Nowacki, Tobias M; Cordes, Friederike; Stypmann, Jörg; Lenz, Philipp; Gohar, Faekah; Lügering, Andreas; Bettenworth, Dominik

2017-04-28

To study mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the assessment of murine colitis and carcinogenesis. C57BL/6 mice were challenged with 3% dextran sodium-sulfate (DSS) for three, six or nine days to study the development of acute colitis. Ultrasound was performed with and without the addition of unspecific contrast agents. MAdCAM-1-targeted contrast agent was used to detect and quantify MAdCAM-1 expression. Inflammatory driven colorectal azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced carcinogenesis was examined on day 42 and 84 using VEGF-targeted contrast agent. Highly specific tissue echogenicity was quantified using specialized software. Sonographic findings were correlated to tissue staining, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to quantify the degree of inflammation and stage of carcinogenesis. Native ultrasound detected increased general bowel wall thickening that correlated with more progressed and more severe DSS-colitis (healthy mice: 0.3 mm ± 0.03 vs six days DSS: 0.5 mm ± 0.2 vs nine days DSS: 0.6 mm ± 0.2, P < 0.05). Moreover, these sonographic findings correlated well with clinical parameters such as weight loss ( r 2 = 0.74) and histological damage ( r 2 = 0.86) ( P < 0.01). In acute DSS-induced murine colitis, CEUS targeted against MAdCAM-1 detected and differentiated stages of mild, moderate and severe colitis via calculation of mean pixel contrast intensity in decibel (9.6 dB ± 1.6 vs 12.9 dB ± 1.4 vs 18 dB ± 3.33, P < 0.05). Employing the AOM/DSS-induced carcinogenesis model, tumor development was monitored by CEUS targeted against VEGF and detected a significantly increased echogenicity in tumors as compared to adjacent healthy mucosa (healthy mucosa, 1.6 dB ± 1.4 vs 42 d, 18.2 dB ± 3.3 vs 84 d, 18.6 dB ± 4.9, P < 0.01). Tissue echogenicity strongly correlated with histological analysis and immunohistochemistry findings (VEGF-positive cells in 10 high power fields of healthy mucosa: 1 ± 1.2 vs 42 d after DSS start: 2.4 ± 1.6 vs 84 d after DSS start: 3.5 ± 1.3, P < 0.01). Molecularly targeted CEUS is a highly specific and non-invasive imaging modality, which characterizes murine intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis in vivo .

Diclofenac Salts, VIII. Effect of the Counterions on the Permeation through Porcine Membrane from Aqueous Saturated Solutions.

PubMed

Fini, Adamo; Bassini, Glenda; Monastero, Annamaria; Cavallari, Cristina

2012-09-12

The following bases: monoethylamine (EtA), diethylamine (DEtA), triethylamine (TEtA), monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), pyrrolidine (Py), piperidine (Pp), morpholine (M), piperazine (Pz) and their N-2-hydroxyethyl (HE) analogs were employed to prepare 14 diclofenac salts. The salts were re-crystallized from water in order to obtain forms that are stable in the presence of water. Vertical Franz-type cells with a diffusional surface area of 9.62 cm2 were used to study the permeation of these diclofenac salts from their saturated solutions through an internal pig ear membrane. The receptor compartments of the cells contained 100 mL of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4); a saturated solution (5 mL) of each salt was placed in the donor compartment, thermostated at 37 °C. Aliquots were withdrawn at predetermined time intervals over 8 h and then immediately analyzed by HPLC. Fluxes were determined by plotting the permeated amount, normalized for the membrane surface area versus time. Permeation coefficients were obtained dividing the flux values J by the concentration of the releasing phase-that is, water solubility of each salt. Experimental results show that fluxes could be measured when diclofenac salts with aliphatic amines are released from a saturated aqueous solution. Different chemical species (acid, anion, ion pairs) contribute to permeation of the anti-inflammatory agent even though ion-pairs could be hypothesized to operate to a greater extent. Permeation coefficients were found higher when the counterion contains a ring; while hydroxy groups alone do not appear to play an important role, the ring could sustain permeation, disrupting the organized domains of the membrane.

Diclofenac Salts, VIII. Effect of the Counterions on the Permeation through Porcine Membrane from Aqueous Saturated Solutions

PubMed Central

Fini, Adamo; Bassini, Glenda; Monastero, Annamaria; Cavallari, Cristina

2012-01-01

The following bases: monoethylamine (EtA), diethylamine (DEtA), triethylamine (TEtA), monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), pyrrolidine (Py), piperidine (Pp), morpholine (M), piperazine (Pz) and their N-2-hydroxyethyl (HE) analogs were employed to prepare 14 diclofenac salts. The salts were re-crystallized from water in order to obtain forms that are stable in the presence of water. Vertical Franz-type cells with a diffusional surface area of 9.62 cm2 were used to study the permeation of these diclofenac salts from their saturated solutions through an internal pig ear membrane. The receptor compartments of the cells contained 100 mL of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4); a saturated solution (5 mL) of each salt was placed in the donor compartment, thermostated at 37 °C. Aliquots were withdrawn at predetermined time intervals over 8 h and then immediately analyzed by HPLC. Fluxes were determined by plotting the permeated amount, normalized for the membrane surface area versus time. Permeation coefficients were obtained dividing the flux values J by the concentration of the releasing phase—that is, water solubility of each salt. Experimental results show that fluxes could be measured when diclofenac salts with aliphatic amines are released from a saturated aqueous solution. Different chemical species (acid, anion, ion pairs) contribute to permeation of the anti-inflammatory agent even though ion-pairs could be hypothesized to operate to a greater extent. Permeation coefficients were found higher when the counterion contains a ring; while hydroxy groups alone do not appear to play an important role, the ring could sustain permeation, disrupting the organized domains of the membrane. PMID:24300300

Viscosity-Lowering Effect of Amino Acids and Salts on Highly Concentrated Solutions of Two IgG1 Monoclonal Antibodies.

PubMed

Wang, Shujing; Zhang, Ning; Hu, Tao; Dai, Weiguo; Feng, Xiuying; Zhang, Xinyi; Qian, Feng

2015-12-07

Monoclonal antibodies display complicated solution properties in highly concentrated (>100 mg/mL) formulations, such as high viscosity, high aggregation propensity, and low stability, among others, originating from protein-protein interactions within the colloidal protein solution. These properties severely hinder the successful development of high-concentration mAb solution for subcutaneous injection. We hereby investigated the effects of several small-molecule excipients with diverse biophysical-chemical properties on the viscosity, aggregation propensity, and stability on two model IgG1 (JM1 and JM2) mAb formulations. These excipients include nine amino acids or their salt forms (Ala, Pro, Val, Gly, Ser, HisHCl, LysHCl, ArgHCl, and NaGlu), four representative salts (NaCl, NaAc, Na2SO4, and NH4Cl), and two chaotropic reagents (urea and GdnHCl). With only salts or amino acids in their salt-forms, significant decrease in viscosity was observed for JM1 (by up to 30-40%) and JM2 (by up to 50-80%) formulations, suggesting charge-charge interaction between the mAbs dictates the high viscosity of these mAbs formulations. Most of these viscosity-lowering excipients did not induce substantial protein aggregation or changes in the secondary structure of the mAbs, as evidenced by HPLC-SEC, DSC, and FT-IR analysis, even in the absence of common protein stabilizers such as sugars and surfactants. Therefore, amino acids in their salt-forms and several common salts, such as ArgHCl, HisHCl, LysHCl, NaCl, Na2SO4, and NaAc, could potentially serve as viscosity-lowering excipients during high-concentration mAb formulation development.

Effect of salts on the solubility of ionic liquids in water: experimental and electrolyte Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory†

PubMed Central

Mohammad, Sultan; Schleinitz, Miko; Coutinhoa, João A. P.; Freire, Mara G.

2016-01-01

Due to scarce available experimental data, as well as due to the absence of predictive models, the influence of salts on the solubility of ionic liquids (ILs) in water is still poorly understood. To this end, this work addresses the solubility of the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C4C1im][NTf2]), at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa, in aqueous salt solutions (from 0.1 to 1.5 mol kg−1). At salt molalities higher than 0.2 mol kg−1, all salts caused salting-out of [C4C1im][NTf2] from aqueous solution with their strength decreasing in the following order: Al2(SO4)3 > ZnSO4 > K3C6H5O7 > KNaC4H4O6 > K3PO4 > Mg(CH3CO2)2 > K2HPO4 > MgSO4 > KH2PO4 > KCH3CO2. Some of these salts lead however to the salting-in of [C4C1im][NTf2] in aqueous medium at salt molalities lower than 0.20 mol kg−1. To attempt the development of a model able to describe the salt effects, comprising both the salting-in and salting-out phenomena observed, the electrolyte Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (ePC-SAFT) was applied using ion-specific parameters. The gathered experimental data was modelled using ePC-SAFT parameters complemented by fitting a single binary parameter between K+ and the IL-ions to the IL solubility in K3PO4 aqueous solutions. Based on this approach, the description of anion-specific salting-out effects of the remaining potassium salts was found to be in good agreement with experimental data. Remarkably, ePC-SAFT is even able to predict the salting-in effect induced by K2HPO4, based on the single K+/IL-ions binary parameter which was fitted to an exclusively salting-out effect promoted by K3PO4. Finally, ePC-SAFT was applied to predict the influence of other sodium salts on the [C4C1im][NTf2] solubility in water, with experimental data taken from literature, leading to an excellent description of the liquid–liquid phase behaviour. PMID:26575280

Continuous Preparation of 1:1 Haloperidol-Maleic Acid Salt by a Novel Solvent-Free Method Using a Twin Screw Melt Extruder.

PubMed

Lee, Hung Lin; Vasoya, Jaydip M; Cirqueira, Marilia de Lima; Yeh, Kuan Lin; Lee, Tu; Serajuddin, Abu T M

2017-04-03

Salts are generally prepared by acid-base reaction in relatively large volumes of organic solvents, followed by crystallization. In this study, the potential for preparing a pharmaceutical salt between haloperidol and maleic acid by a novel solvent-free method using a twin-screw melt extruder was investigated. The pH-solubility relationship between haloperidol and maleic acid in aqueous medium was first determined, which demonstrated that 1:1 salt formation between them was feasible (pH max 4.8; salt solubility 4.7 mg/mL). Extrusion of a 1:1 mixture of haloperidol and maleic acid at the extruder barrel temperature of 60 °C resulted in the formation of a highly crystalline salt. The effects of operating temperature and screw configuration on salt formation were also investigated, and those two were identified as key processing parameters. Salts were also prepared by solution crystallization from ethyl acetate, liquid-assisted grinding, and heat-assisted grinding and compared with those obtained by melt extrusion by using DSC, PXRD, TGA, and optical microscopy. While similar salts were obtained by all methods, both melt extrusion and solution crystallization yielded highly crystalline materials with identical enthalpies of melting. During the pH-solubility study, a salt hydrate form was also identified, which, upon heating, converted to anhydrate similar to that obtained by other methods. There were previous reports of the formation of cocrystals, but not salts, by melt extrusion. 1 H NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed that a salt was indeed formed in the present study. The haloperidol-maleic acid salt obtained was nonhygroscopic in the moisture sorption study and converted to the hydrate form only upon mixing with water. Thus, we are reporting for the first time a relatively simple and solvent-free twin-screw melt extrusion method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical salt that provides material comparable to that obtained by solution crystallization and is amenable to continuous manufacturing and easy scale up.

Cryochemical method for forming spherical metal oxide particles from metal salt solutions

DOEpatents

Tinkle, M.C.

1973-12-01

A method is described of preparing small metal oxide spheres cryochemically utilizing metal salts (e.g., nitrates) that cannot readily be dried and calcined without loss of sphericity of the particles. Such metal salts are cryochemically formed into small spheres, partially or completely converted to an insoluble salt, and dried and calcined. (Official Gazette)

Caffeic acid ameliorates colitis in association with increased Akkermansia population in the gut microbiota of mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhan; Wu, Xinyue; Cao, Shuyuan; Wang, Li; Wang, Di; Yang, Hui; Feng, Yiming; Wang, Shoulin; Li, Lei

2016-01-01

Emerging evidence shows that dietary agents and phytochemicals contribute to the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). We first reported the effects of dietary caffeic acid (CaA) on murine experimental colitis and on fecal microbiota. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Mice were fed a control diet or diet with CaA (1 mM). Our results showed that dietary CaA exerted anti-inflammatory effects in DSS colitis mice. Moreover, CaA could significantly suppress the secretion of IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ and the colonic infiltration of CD3+ T cells, CD177+ neutrophils and F4/80+ macrophages via inhibition of the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Analysis of fecal microbiota showed that CaA could restore the reduction of richness and inhibit the increase of the ratio of Firmicute to Bacteroidetes in DSS colitis mice. And CaA could dramatically increase the proportion of the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia in DSS colitis mice. Thus, CaA could ameliorate colonic pathology and inflammation in DSS colitis mice, and it might be associated with a proportional increase in Akkermansia. PMID:27177331

Speech perception in medico-legal assessment of hearing disabilities.

PubMed

Pedersen, Ellen Raben; Juhl, Peter Møller; Wetke, Randi; Andersen, Ture Dammann

2016-10-01

Examination of Danish data for medico-legal compensations regarding hearing disabilities. The study purposes are: (1) to investigate whether discrimination scores (DSs) relate to patients' subjective experience of their hearing and communication ability (the latter referring to audio-visual perception), (2) to compare DSs from different discrimination tests (auditory/audio-visual perception and without/with noise), and (3) to relate different handicap measures in the scaling used for compensation purposes in Denmark. Data from a 15 year period (1999-2014) were collected and analysed. The data set includes 466 patients, from which 50 were omitted due to suspicion of having exaggerated their hearing disabilities. The DSs relate well to the patients' subjective experience of their speech perception ability. By comparing DSs for different test setups it was found that adding noise entails a relatively more difficult listening condition than removing visual cues. The hearing and communication handicap degrees were found to agree, whereas the measured handicap degrees tended to be higher than the self-assessed handicap degrees. The DSs can be used to assess patients' hearing and communication abilities. The difference in the obtained handicap degrees emphasizes the importance of collecting self-assessed as well as measured handicap degrees.

Molecular structure of dextran sulphate sodium in aqueous environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Miao; Every, Hayley A.; Jiskoot, Wim; Witkamp, Geert-Jan; Buijs, Wim

2018-03-01

Here we propose a 3D-molecular structural model for dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) in a neutral aqueous environment based on the results of a molecular modelling study. The DSS structure is dominated by the stereochemistry of the 1,6-linked α-glucose units and the presence of two sulphate groups on each α-glucose unit. The structure of DSS can be best described as a helix with various patterns of di-sulphate substitution on the glucose rings. The presence of a side chain does not alter the 3D-structure of the linear main chain much, but affects the overall spatial dimension of the polymer. The simulated polymers have a diameter similar to or in some cases even larger than model α-hemolysin nano-pores for macromolecule transport in many biological processes, indicating a size-limited translocation through such pores. All results of the molecular modelling study are in line with previously reported experimental data. This study establishes the three-dimensional structure of DSS and summarizes the spatial dimension of the polymer, serving as the basis for a better understanding on the molecular level of DSS-involved electrostatic interaction processes with biological components like proteins and cell pores.

Salt-water-freshwater transient upconing - An implicit boundary-element solution

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kemblowski, M.

1985-01-01

The boundary-element method is used to solve the set of partial differential equations describing the flow of salt water and fresh water separated by a sharp interface in the vertical plane. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of the numerical solution, a new implicit scheme was developed for calculating the motion of the interface. The performance of this scheme was tested by means of numerical simulation. The numerical results are compared to experimental results for a salt-water upconing under a drain problem. ?? 1985.

Activity of water in aqueous systems; a frequently neglected property.

PubMed

Blandamer, Mike J; Engberts, Jan B F N; Gleeson, Peter T; Reis, Joao Carlos R

2005-05-01

In this critical review, the significance of the term 'activity' is examined in the context of the properties of aqueous solutions. The dependence of the activity of water(l) at ambient pressure and 298.15 K on solute molality is examined for aqueous solutions containing neutral solutes, mixtures of neutral solutes and salts. Addition of a solute to water(l) always lowers its thermodynamic activity. For some solutes the stabilisation of water(l) is less than and for others more than in the case where the thermodynamic properties of the aqueous solution are ideal. In one approach this pattern is accounted for in terms of hydrate formation. Alternatively the pattern is analysed in terms of the dependence of practical osmotic coefficients on the composition of the aqueous solution and then in terms of solute-solute interactions. For salt solutions the dependence of the activity of water on salt molalities is compared with that predicted by the Debye-Hückel limiting law. The analysis is extended to consideration of the activities of water in binary aqueous mixtures. The dependence on mole fraction composition of the activity of water in binary aqueous mixtures is examined. Different experimental methods for determining the activity of water in aqueous solutions are critically reviewed. The role of water activity is noted in a biochemical context, with reference to the quality, stability and safety of food and finally with regard to health science.

Blanching, salting and sun drying of different pumpkin fruit slices.

PubMed

Workneh, T S; Zinash, A; Woldetsadik, K

2014-11-01

The study was aimed at assessing the quality of pumpkin (Cucuribita Spp.) slices that were subjected to pre-drying treatments and drying using two drying methods (uncontrolled sun and oven) fruit accessions. Pre-drying had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on the quality of dried pumpkin slices. 10 % salt solution dipped pumpkin fruit slices had good chemical quality. The two-way interaction between drying methods and pre-drying treatments had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on chemical qualities. Pumpkin subjected to salt solution dipping treatment and oven dried had higher chemical concentrations. Among the pumpkin fruit accessions, pumpkin accession 8007 had the superior TSS, total sugar and sugar to acid ratio after drying. Among the three pre-drying treatment, salt solution dipping treatment had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect and the most efficient pre-drying treatment to retain the quality of dried pumpkin fruits without significant chemical quality deterioration. Salt dipping treatment combined with low temperature (60 °C) oven air circulation drying is recommended to maintain quality of dried pumpkin slices. However, since direct sun drying needs extended drying time due to fluctuation in temperature, it is recommended to develop or select best successful solar dryer for use in combination with pre-drying salt dipping or blanching treatments.

The 26-meter antenna s-x conversion project. [Deep Space Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Programmatic and management aspects of converting an existing 26-meter S-band subnet to a 34-meter S- and X-band subnet of the Deep Space Network are described. The stations involved were DSS 12 near Barstow, DSS 44 in Australia, and DSS 62 in Spain. The main subsystems affected by the conversion were the antenna mechanical, antenna microwave, and receiver-exciter. Antenna mechanial modifications and electronic additions and changes are described. The design and analysis of critical areas are considered and antenna performance is discussed.

The structure of the Zechstein 3 stringer in the northern Netherlands, and its implications for salt kinematics and rheology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strozyk, Frank; Urai, Janos; Li, Shiyuan; Schmatz, Joyce; Biehl, Bianca; Reuning, Lars; Raith, Alexander; Abe, Steffen; van Gent, Heijn; de Keijzer, Martin; Kukla, Peter

2016-04-01

The thick, late Permian Zechstein evaporites in the northern Netherlands are exceptionally well imaged in extensive 3D seismic and well datasets. The prominent seismic reflections of the thick, anhydrite-rich Zechstein 3 stringer, which is encased in thick layers of rock salt, provide a basin-scale view of the 3D internal structure of the Zechstein salt. The interpretation of the Z3 stringer was used as a strain marker for the different intra-salt deformation styles and salt flows. Furthermore, models of competing rheologies (pressure solution vs. dislocation creep, Newtonian vs. Power law) were tested in numerical simulations of the gravitational sinking of Z3 stringer fragments through the salt over geologic time in the Tertiary. The results show that several structural stringer styles can be linked to regional variation in salt kinematics. These mainly comprise local early syn-depositional gravitational movement, passive salt diapirism by differential loading in the Triassic, and reactive diapirism during contractions starting in the Cretaceous. The thickness and deformation degree of the individual salt layers thereby played a major role in the development of regionally distinctive styles of intra-salt structures, which can be linked to breaking and fold patterns in the stringer. When differential stresses in the salt relaxed across large parts of the northern Netherlands in the Tertiary, stringer fragments physically isolated in the salt did not significantly sink through the salt. The salt surrounding the fragments can not have deformed by Newtonian solution-precipitation creep, because the fragments would have sunk to base salt. Considering also results from geomechanical modelling and analysis of Zechstein salt samples, we conclude that this behaviour can only be explained by strong changes in salt rheology to non-Newtonian.

Methods for predicting properties and tailoring salt solutions for industrial processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ally, Moonis R.

1993-01-01

An algorithm developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory accurately and quickly predicts thermodynamic properties of concentrated aqueous salt solutions. This algorithm is much simpler and much faster than other modeling schemes and is unique because it can predict solution behavior at very high concentrations and under varying conditions. Typical industrial applications of this algorithm would be in manufacture of inorganic chemicals by crystallization, thermal storage, refrigeration and cooling, extraction of metals, emissions controls, etc.

Double sac sign and intradecidual sign in early pregnancy: interobserver reliability and frequency of occurrence.

PubMed

Doubilet, Peter M; Benson, Carol B

2013-07-01

To assess the interobserver agreement, frequency of occurrence, and prognostic importance of the double sac sign (DSS), intradecidual sign (IDS), and other sonographic findings in early intrauterine pregnancies. We retrospectively identified all sonograms obtained between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011, in which: (1) the scan demonstrated an intrauterine fluid collection without a yolk sac or embryo; (2) a follow-up scan confirmed an intrauterine pregnancy; and (3) the first-trimester outcome was known. Each coinvestigator characterized the 199 study sonograms as demonstrating or not demonstrating a DSS or an IDS, based on judgment about whether the scan met published criteria defining these signs. Interobserver agreement was poor for the DSS (κ= 0.24) and IDS (κ= 0.23). Scans frequently demonstrated neither sign: 150 cases (75.4%) if we considered a sign to be present when both investigators graded it as present and 69 cases (34.7%) using the looser criterion that either graded it as present. The presence of a DSS or an IDS was unrelated to the β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) value (P > .05, t test, all comparisons). An inner echogenic ring was present in 158 cases (79.4%), and the decidua was brighter peripherally than centrally in 102 (51.3%). The first-trimester outcome was unrelated to the presence of a DSS or an IDS, presence of an inner echogenic ring, or decidual appearance (P > .05, χ(2), all comparisons). The sonographic appearance of early gestational sacs, before visualization of a yolk sac or embryo, is highly variable. The DSS and IDS are often absent; there is poor interobserver agreement regarding these signs; and the prognosis is unrelated to their presence or absence. A round or oval intrauterine fluid collection in a woman with positive β-hCG should be treated as a gestational sac until proven otherwise, regardless of whether it demonstrates a DSS or an IDS.

The value of daily platelet counts for predicting dengue shock syndrome: Results from a prospective observational study of 2301 Vietnamese children with dengue.

PubMed

Lam, Phung Khanh; Ngoc, Tran Van; Thu Thuy, Truong Thi; Hong Van, Nguyen Thi; Nhu Thuy, Tran Thi; Hoai Tam, Dong Thi; Dung, Nguyen Minh; Hanh Tien, Nguyen Thi; Thanh Kieu, Nguyen Tan; Simmons, Cameron; Wills, Bridget; Wolbers, Marcel

2017-04-01

Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral infection to affect humans. Although it usually manifests as a self-limited febrile illness, complications may occur as the fever subsides. A systemic vascular leak syndrome that sometimes progresses to life-threatening hypovolaemic shock is the most serious complication seen in children, typically accompanied by haemoconcentration and thrombocytopenia. Robust evidence on risk factors, especially features present early in the illness course, for progression to dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is lacking. Moreover, the potential value of incorporating serial haematocrit and platelet measurements in prediction models has never been assessed. We analyzed data from a prospective observational study of Vietnamese children aged 5-15 years admitted with clinically suspected dengue to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City between 2001 and 2009. The analysis population comprised all children with laboratory-confirmed dengue enrolled between days 1-4 of illness. Logistic regression was the main statistical model for all univariate and multivariable analyses. The prognostic value of daily haematocrit levels and platelet counts were assessed using graphs and separate regression models fitted on each day of illness. Among the 2301 children included in the analysis, 143 (6%) progressed to DSS. Significant baseline risk factors for DSS included a history of vomiting, higher temperature, a palpable liver, and a lower platelet count. Prediction models that included serial daily platelet counts demonstrated better ability to discriminate patients who developed DSS from others, than models based on enrolment information only. However inclusion of daily haematocrit values did not improve prediction of DSS. Daily monitoring of platelet counts is important to help identify patients at high risk of DSS. Development of dynamic prediction models that incorporate signs, symptoms, and daily laboratory measurements, could improve DSS prediction and thereby reduce the burden on health services in endemic areas.

Successful Application of Adaptive Emotion Regulation Skills Predicts the Subsequent Reduction of Depressive Symptom Severity but neither the Reduction of Anxiety nor the Reduction of General Distress during the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

PubMed Central

Wirtz, Carolin M.; Radkovsky, Anna; Ebert, David D.; Berking, Matthias

2014-01-01

Objective Deficits in general emotion regulation (ER) skills have been linked to symptoms of depression and are thus considered a promising target in the treatment of Major depressive disorder (MDD). However, at this point, the extent to which such skills are relevant for coping with depression and whether they should instead be considered a transdiagnostic factor remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether successful ER skills application is associated with changes in depressive symptom severity (DSS), anxiety symptom severity (ASS), and general distress severity (GDS) over the course of treatment for MDD. Methods Successful ER skills application, DSS, ASS, and GDS were assessed four times during the first three weeks of treatment in 175 inpatients who met the criteria for MDD. We computed Pearson correlations to test whether successful ER skills application and the three indicators of psychopathology are cross-sectionally associated. We then performed latent growth curve modelling to test whether changes in successful ER skills application are negatively associated with a reduction of DSS, ASS, or GDS. Finally, we utilized latent change score models to examine whether successful ER skills application predicts subsequent reduction of DSS, ASS, or GDS. Results Successful ER skills application was cross-sectionally associated with lower levels of DSS, ASS, and GDS at all points of assessment. An increase in successful skills application during treatment was associated with a decrease in DSS and GDS but not ASS. Finally, successful ER skills application predicted changes in subsequent DSS but neither changes in ASS nor changes in GDS. Conclusions Although general ER skills might be relevant for a broad range of psychopathological symptoms, they might be particularly important for the maintenance and treatment of depressive symptoms. PMID:25330159

Salting Effects as an Illustration of the Relative Strength of Intermolecular Forces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Person, Eric C.; Golden, Donnie R.; Royce, Brenda R.

2010-01-01

This quick and inexpensive demonstration of the salting of an alcohol out of an aqueous solution illustrates the impact of intermolecular forces on solubility using materials familiar to many students. Ammonium sulfate (fertilizer) is added to an aqueous 35% solution of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol and water) containing food coloring as a…

Oscillations in a Linearly Stratified Salt Solution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heavers, Richard M.

2007-01-01

Our physics students like to watch a ball bouncing underwater. They do this by dropping a weighted plastic ball into a 1000-ml cylinder filled with a linearly stratified salt-water solution at room temperature. The ball oscillates and comes to rest at about mid-depth. Its motion is analogous to the damped vertical oscillations of a mass hanging…

The development of an EDSS: Lessons learned and implications for DSS research

USGS Publications Warehouse

El-Gayar, O.; Deokar, A.; Michels, L.; Fosnight, G.

2011-01-01

The Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA) project is focused on providing renewable energy (RE) planning resources to the public. Examples include wind, solar, and hydro assessments. SWERA DSS consists of three major components. First, SWERA 'Product Archive' provides for a discovery DSS upon which users can find and access renewable energy data and supporting models. Second, the 'Renewable Resource EXplorer' (RREX) component serves as a web-based, GIS analysis tool for viewing RE resource data available through the SWERA Product Archive. Third, the SWERA web service provides computational access to the data available in the SWERA spatial database through a location based query, and is also utilized in the RREX component. We provide a discussion of various design decisions used in the construction of this EDSS, followed by project experiences and implications for EDSS and broader DSS research. ?? 2011 IEEE.

Effect of heat treatment on corrosion behavior of duplex stainless steel in orthodontic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabea Hammood, Ali; Faraj Noor, Ahmed; Talib Alkhafagy, Mohammed

2017-12-01

Heat treatment is necessary for duplex stainless steel (DSS) to remove or dissolve intermetallic phases, to remove segregation and to relieve any residual thermal stress in DSS, which may be formed during production processes. In the present study, the corrosion resistance of a DSS in artificial saliva was studied by potentiodynamic measurements. The microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM),x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Vickers hardness (HV). The properties were tested in as-received and in thermally treated conditions (800-900 °C, 2-8 min). The research aims to evaluate the capability of DSS for orthodontic applications, in order to substitute the austenitic grades. The results indicate that the corrosion resistance is mainly affected by the ferrite/austenite ratio. The best result was obtained with a treatment at 900 °C for 2 min.

Inter-Satellite Communications Considerations and Requirements for Distributed Spacecraft and Formation Flying Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kwadrat, Carl F.; Horne, William D.; Edwards, Bernard L.

2002-01-01

In order to avoid selecting inadequate inter-spacecraft cross-link communications standards for Distributed Spacecraft System (DSS) missions, it is first necessary to identify cross-link communications strategies and requirements common to a cross-section of proposed missions. This paper addresses the cross-link communication strategies and requirements derived from a survey of 39 DSS mission descriptions that are projected for potential launch within the next 20 years. The inter-spacecraft communications strategies presented are derived from the topological and communications constraints from the DSS missions surveyed. Basic functional requirements are derived from an analysis of the fundamental activities that must be undertaken to establish and maintain a cross-link between two DSS spacecraft. Cross-link bandwidth requirements are derived from high-level assessments of mission science objectives and operations concepts. Finally, a preliminary assessment of possible cross-link standards is presented within the context of the basic operational and interoperability requirements.

Mariner 9 data storage subsystem flight performance summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, N. E.; Larman, B. T.

1973-01-01

The performance is summarized of the Mariner 9 Data Storage Subsystem (DSS) throughout the primary and extended missions. Information presented is limited to reporting of anomalies which occurred during the playback sequences. Tables and figures describe the anomalies (dropouts, missing and added bits, in the imaging data) as a function of time (accumulated tape passes). The data results indicate that the performance of the DSS was satisfactory and within specification throughout the mission. The data presented is taken from the Spacecraft Team Incident/Surprise Anomaly Log recorded during the mission. Pertinent statistics concerning the tape transport performance are given. Also presented is a brief description of DSS operation, particularly that related to the recorded anomalies. This covers the video data encoding and how it is interpreted/decoded by ground data processing and the functional operation of the DSS in abnormal conditions such as loss of lock to the playback signal.

Modeling and analysis of the DSS-14 antenna control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gawronski, W.; Bartos, R.

1996-01-01

An improvement of pointing precision of the DSS-14 antenna is planned for the near future. In order to analyze the improvement limits and to design new controllers, a precise model of the antenna and the servo is developed, including a finite element model of the antenna structure and detailed models of the hydraulic drives and electronic parts. The DSS-14 antenna control system has two modes of operation: computer mode and precision mode. The principal goal of this investigation is to develop the model of the computer mode and to evaluate its performance. The DSS-14 antenna computer model consists of the antenna structure and drives in azimuth and elevation. For this model, the position servo loop is derived, and simulations of the closed-loop antenna dynamics are presented. The model is significantly different from that for the 34-m beam-waveguide antennas.

An OSI architecture for the deep space network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heuser, W. Randy; Cooper, Lynne P.

1993-01-01

The flexibility and robustness of a monitor and control system are a direct result of the underlying inter-processor communications architecture. A new architecture for monitor & Control at the Deep Space Network Communications Complexes has been developed based on the Open System Interconnection (OSI) standards. The suitability of OSI standards for DSN M&C has been proven in the laboratory. The laboratory success has resulted in choosing an OSI-based architecture for DSS-13 M&C. DSS-13 is the DSN experimental station and is not part of the 'operational' DSN; it's role is to provide an environment to test new communications concepts can be tested and conduct unique science experiments. Therefore, DSS-13 must be robust enough to support operational activities, while also being flexible enough to enable experimentation. This paper describes the M&C architecture developed for DSS-13 and the results from system and operational testing.

Selection of suitable fertilizer draw solute for a novel fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis-anaerobic membrane bioreactor hybrid system.

PubMed

Kim, Youngjin; Chekli, Laura; Shim, Wang-Geun; Phuntsho, Sherub; Li, Sheng; Ghaffour, Noreddine; Leiknes, TorOve; Shon, Ho Kyong

2016-06-01

In this study, a protocol for selecting suitable fertilizer draw solute for anaerobic fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis membrane bioreactor (AnFDFOMBR) was proposed. Among eleven commercial fertilizer candidates, six fertilizers were screened further for their FO performance tests and evaluated in terms of water flux and reverse salt flux. Using selected fertilizers, bio-methane potential experiments were conducted to examine the effect of fertilizers on anaerobic activity due to reverse diffusion. Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) showed the highest biogas production while other fertilizers exhibited an inhibition effect on anaerobic activity with solute accumulation. Salt accumulation in the bioreactor was also simulated using mass balance simulation models. Results showed that ammonium sulfate and MAP were the most appropriate for AnFDFOMBR since they demonstrated less salt accumulation, relatively higher water flux, and higher dilution capacity of draw solution. Given toxicity of sulfate to anaerobic microorganisms, MAP appears to be the most suitable draw solution for AnFDFOMBR. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Laboratory Prepared Concrete Pastes Exposed to High Alkaline and High Sodium Salt Solutions

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

Langton, C. A.

The objective of this study was to identify potential chemical degradation mechanisms for the Saltstone Disposal Unit (SDU) concretes, which over the performance life of the structures may be exposed to highly alkaline sodium salt solutions containing sulfate, hydroxide, and other potentially corrosive chemicals in salt solution and saltstone flush water, drain water, leachate and / or pore solution. The samples analyzed in this study were cement pastes prepared in the SIMCO Technologies, Inc. concrete laboratory. They were based on the paste fractions of the concretes used to construct the Saltstone Disposal Units (SDUs). SDU 1 and 4 concrete pastesmore » were represented by the PV1 test specimens. The paste in the SDU 2, 3, 5, and 6 concrete was represented by the PV2 test specimens. SIMCO Technologies, Inc. selected the chemicals and proportions in the aggressive solutions to approximate proportions in the saltstone pore solution [2, 3, 5, and 6]. These test specimens were cured for 56 days in curing chamber before being immersed in aggressive solutions. After exposure, the samples were frozen to prevent additional chemical transport and reaction. Selected archived (retrieved from the freezer) samples were sent to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) for additional characterization using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Characterization results are summarized in this report. In addition, a correlation between the oxide composition of the pastes and their chemical durability in the alkaline salt solutions is provided.« less

Coarse-grained modeling of proline rich protein 1 (PRP-1) in bulk solution and adsorbed to a negatively charged surface.

PubMed

Skepö, Marie; Linse, Per; Arnebrant, Thomas

2006-06-22

Structural properties of the acidic proline rich protein PRP-1 of salivary origin in bulk solution and adsorbed onto a negatively charged surface have been studied by Monte Carlo simulations. A simple model system with focus on electrostatic interactions and short-ranged attractions among the uncharged amino acids has been used. In addition to PRP-1, some mutants were considered to assess the role of the interactions in the systems. Contrary to polyelectrolytes, the protein has a compact structure in salt-free bulk solutions, whereas at high salt concentration the protein becomes more extended. The protein adsorbs to a negatively charged surface, although its net charge is negative. The adsorbed protein displays an extended structure, which becomes more compact upon addition of salt. Hence, the conformational response upon salt addition in the adsorbed state is the opposite as compared to that in bulk solution. The conformational behavior of PRP-1 in bulk solution and at charged surfaces as well as its propensity to adsorb to surfaces with the same net charge are rationalized by the block polyampholytic character of the protein. The presence of a triad of positively charged amino acids in the C-terminal was found to be important for the adsorption of the protein.

The solubility and activity coefficient of oxygen in salt solutions and brines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clegg, Simon L.; Brimblecombe, Peter

1990-12-01

Molal oxygen activity coefficients ( γO2) in aqueous salt solutions from 0-100°C have been calculated from O 2 solubility data and established Henry's law constants. Pitzer specific interaction model parameters λO2c, λO2a and ζO2ca have been determined for the following ions: H +, NH +4 Li +, Na +, Rb +, Cs +, Mg 2+, Ca 2+, Ba 2+, Al 3+, OH -, Cl -, Br -, I -, NO -3, SO 2-3, SO 2-4, HCO 3-, CO 32- and PO 3-4. Results confirm that the effect of individual ions on In ( γO2) is additive. Model calculations of γO2 in seawater agree with experimentally derived values at normal salinities to within 0.2% at 298 K and 0.65% at 273 K. Additional data for brines of seawater composition enable the model to be used to represent γO2 empirically to a salinity of 255 S%. The model has thus far only been parameterised from measurements for single salt solutions. Comparisons with experimental data for brines suggest that additional model parameters, obtained from ternary solution data, will be required for accurate representation of γO2 in mixed salt solutions above about 5 mol kg -1 total ion concentration.

Communication: Modeling of concentration dependent water diffusivity in ionic solutions: Role of intermolecular charge transfer

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

Yao, Yi; Berkowitz, Max L., E-mail: maxb@unc.edu, E-mail: ykanai@unc.edu; Kanai, Yosuke, E-mail: maxb@unc.edu, E-mail: ykanai@unc.edu

2015-12-28

The translational diffusivity of water in solutions of alkali halide salts depends on the identity of ions, exhibiting dramatically different behavior even in solutions of similar salts of NaCl and KCl. The water diffusion coefficient decreases as the salt concentration increases in NaCl. Yet, in KCl solution, it slightly increases and remains above bulk value as salt concentration increases. Previous classical molecular dynamics simulations have failed to describe this important behavior even when polarizable models were used. Here, we show that inclusion of dynamical charge transfer among water molecules produces results in a quantitative agreement with experiments. Our results indicatemore » that the concentration-dependent diffusivity reflects the importance of many-body effects among the water molecules in aqueous ionic solutions. Comparison with quantum mechanical calculations shows that a heterogeneous and extended distribution of charges on water molecules around the ions due to ion-water and also water-water charge transfer plays a very important role in controlling water diffusivity. Explicit inclusion of the charge transfer allows us to model accurately the difference in the concentration-dependent water diffusivity between Na{sup +} and K{sup +} ions in simulations, and it is likely to impact modeling of a wide range of systems for medical and technological applications.« less

Salt excretion in Suaeda fruticosa.

PubMed

Labidi, Nehla; Ammari, Manel; Mssedi, Dorsaf; Benzerti, Maali; Snoussi, Sana; Abdelly, C

2010-09-01

Suaeda fruticosa is a perennial "includer" halophyte devoid of glands or trichomes with a strong ability of accumulating and sequestrating Na(+) and Cl(-). We were interested in determining whether leaf cuticle salt excretion could be involved as a further mechanism in salt response of this species after long-term treatment with high salinity levels. Seedlings had been treated for three months with seawater (SW) diluted with tap water (0, 25, 50 and 75% SW). Leaf scanning electron microscopy revealed a convex adaxial side sculpture and a higher accumulation of saline crystals at the lamina margin, with a large variability on repartition and size between treatments. No salt gland or salt bladder was found. Threedimensional wax decorations were the only structures found on leaf surface. Washing the leaf surface with water indicated that sodium and chloride predominated in excreted salts, and that potassium was poorly represented. Optimal growth of whole plant was recorded at 25% SW, correlating with maximum Na(+) and Cl(-) absolute secretion rate. The leaves of plants treated with SW retained more water than those of plants treated with tap water due to lower solute potential, especially at 25% SW. Analysis of compatible solute, such as proline, total soluble carbohydrates and glycinebetaine disclosed strong relationship between glycinebetaine and osmotic potential (r = 0.92) suggesting that tissue hydration was partly maintained by glycinebetaine accumulation. Thus in S. fruticosa , increased solute accumulation associated with water retention, and steady intracellular ion homeostasis confirms the "includer" strategy of salt tolerance previously demonstrated. However, salt excretion at leaf surface also participated in conferring to this species a capacity in high salinity tolerance.

Impact of trehalose on the activity of sodium and potassium chloride in aqueous solutions: Why trehalose is worth its salt.

PubMed

Poplinger, Michal; Shumilin, Ilan; Harries, Daniel

2017-12-15

Trehalose is revered for its multiple unique impacts on solution properties, including the ability to modulate the salty and bitter tastes of sodium and potassium salts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying trehalose's effect on taste perception are unknown. Here we focus on the physico-chemical effect of trehalose to alter the activity of monovalent salts in aqueous solution. Using a modified isopiestic methodology that relies on contemporary vapor pressure osmometry, we elucidate how trehalose modifies the thermodynamic chemical activity of sodium and potassium chloride, as well as the effect of the salts on the sugar's activity. We find that trehalose has a specific impact on potassium chloride that is unlike that of other sugars or polyols. Remarkably, especially at low salt concentrations, trehalose considerably elevates the activity (or chemical potential) of KCl, raising the salt activity coefficient as high as ∼1.5 its value in the absence of the sugar. Moreover, in contrast to their action on other known carbohydrates, both KCl and NaCl act as salting-out agents towards trehalose, as seen in the elevated activity coefficient compared with its value in pure water (up to ∼1.5 higher at low sugar and salt concentrations). We discuss the possible relevance of our findings to the mechanism of trehalose taste perception modification, and point to necessary future directed sensory experiments needed to resolve the possible link between our findings and the emerging biochemical or physiological mechanisms involved. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Salt-assisted direct exfoliation of graphite into high-quality, large-size, few-layer graphene sheets.

PubMed

Niu, Liyong; Li, Mingjian; Tao, Xiaoming; Xie, Zhuang; Zhou, Xuechang; Raju, Arun P A; Young, Robert J; Zheng, Zijian

2013-08-21

We report a facile and low-cost method to directly exfoliate graphite powders into large-size, high-quality, and solution-dispersible few-layer graphene sheets. In this method, aqueous mixtures of graphite and inorganic salts such as NaCl and CuCl2 are stirred, and subsequently dried by evaporation. Finally, the mixture powders are dispersed into an orthogonal organic solvent solution of the salt by low-power and short-time ultrasonication, which exfoliates graphite into few-layer graphene sheets. We find that the as-made graphene sheets contain little oxygen, and 86% of them are 1-5 layers with lateral sizes as large as 210 μm(2). Importantly, the as-made graphene can be readily dispersed into aqueous solution in the presence of surfactant and thus is compatible with various solution-processing techniques towards graphene-based thin film devices.

Solution-derived sodalite made with Si- and Ge-ethoxide precursors for immobilizing electrorefiner salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riley, Brian J.; Lepry, William C.; Crum, Jarrod V.

2016-01-01

Chlorosodalite has the general form of Na8(AlSiO4)6Cl2 and this paper describes experiments conducted to synthesize sodalite with a solution-based approach to immobilize a simulated spent electrorefiner salt solution containing a mixture of alkali, alkaline earth, and lanthanide chlorides. The reactants used were the salt solution, NaAlO2, and either Si(OC2H5)4 or Ge(OC2H5)4. Additionally, seven different glass sintering aids (at loadings of 5 mass%) were evaluated as sintering aids for consolidating the as-made powders using a cold-press-and-sinter technique. This process of using alkoxide additives for the Group IV component can be used to produce large quantities of sodalite at near-room temperature as compared to a method where colloidal silica was used as the silica source. However, the small particle sizes inhibited densification during heat treatments.

Boron removal in radioactive liquid waste by forward osmosis membrane

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

Doo Seong Hwang; Hei Min Choi; Kune Woo Lee

2013-07-01

This study investigated the treatment of boric acid contained in liquid radioactive waste using a forward osmosis membrane. The boron permeation through the membrane depends on the type of membrane, membrane orientation, pH of the feed solution, salt and boron concentration in the feed solution, and osmotic pressure of the draw solution. The boron flux begins to decline from pH 7 and increases with an increase of the osmotic driving force. The boron flux decreases slightly with the salt concentration, but is not heavily influenced by a low salt concentration. The boron flux increases linearly with the concentration of boron.more » No element except for boron was permeated through the FO membrane in the multi-component system. The maximum boron flux is obtained in an active layer facing a draw solution orientation of the CTA-ES membrane under conditions of less than pH 7 and high osmotic pressure. (authors)« less

Molecular dynamics simulations of the surface tension and structure of salt solutions and clusters.

PubMed

Sun, Lu; Li, Xin; Hede, Thomas; Tu, Yaoquan; Leck, Caroline; Ågren, Hans

2012-03-15

Sodium halides, which are abundant in sea salt aerosols, affect the optical properties of aerosols and are active in heterogeneous reactions that cause ozone depletion and acid rain problems. Interfacial properties, including surface tension and halide anion distributions, are crucial issues in the study of the aerosols. We present results from molecular dynamics simulations of water solutions and clusters containing sodium halides with the interatomic interactions described by a conventional force field. The simulations reproduce experimental observations that sodium halides increase the surface tension with respect to pure water and that iodide anions reach the outermost layer of water clusters or solutions. It is found that the van der Waals interactions have an impact on the distribution of the halide anions and that a conventional force field with optimized parameters can model the surface tension of the salt solutions with reasonable accuracy. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Osmotic second virial cross-coefficient measurements for binary combination of lysozyme, ovalbumin, and α-amylase in salt solutions.

PubMed

Mehta, Chirag M; White, Edward T; Litster, James D

2013-01-01

Interactions measurement is a valuable tool to predict equilibrium phase separation of a desired protein in the presence of unwanted macromolecules. In this study, cross-interactions were measured as the osmotic second virial cross-coefficients (B23 ) for the three binary protein systems involving lysozyme, ovalbumin, and α-amylase in salt solutions (sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate). They were correlated with solubility for the binary protein mixtures. The cross-interaction behavior at different salt concentrations was interpreted by either electrostatic or hydrophobic interaction forces. At low salt concentrations, the protein surface charge dominates cross-interaction behavior as a function of pH. With added ovalbumin, the lysozyme solubility decreased linearly at low salt concentration in sodium chloride and increased at high salt concentration in ammonium sulfate. The B23 value was found to be proportional to the slope of the lysozyme solubility against ovalbumin concentration and the correlation was explained by preferential interaction theory. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Purification, characterisation and salt-tolerance molecular mechanisms of aspartyl aminopeptidase from Aspergillus oryzae 3.042.

PubMed

Gao, Xianli; Yin, Yiyun; Zhou, Cunshan

2018-02-01

A salt-tolerant aspartyl aminopeptidase (approximately 57kDa) from Aspergillus oryzae 3.042 was purified and identified. Specific inhibitor experiments indicated that it was an aminopeptidase containing Zn 2+ . Its optimal and stable pH values and temperatures were 7 and 50°C, respectively. Its relative activity remained beyond 30% in 3M NaCl solution for 15d, and its K m and V max were slightly affected in 3M NaCl solution, indicating its excellent salt-tolerance. A comprehensive analysis including protein homology modelling, molecular dynamics simulation, secondary structure, acidic residues and hydrophobicity of interior residues demonstrated that aspartyl aminopeptidase had a greater stability than non-salt-tolerant protease in high salinity. Higher contents of ordered secondary structures, more salt bridges between hydrated surface acidic residues and specific basic residues and stronger hydrophobicity of interior residues were the salt-tolerance mechanisms of aspartyl aminopeptidase. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Changes of minimal erythema dose after water and salt water baths.

PubMed

Gambichler, T; Schröpl, F

1998-01-01

Knowledge about the influence of salt water baths on UV irradiation, especially balneophototherapy, is incomplete. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various concentrated salt solutions on the minimal erythema dose (MED). We determined the MEDdry (UVB) in 24 healthy, previously UV unexposed subjects on the inner forearm. Subjects were divided randomly into two groups of 12. Subsequently, the MEDwet was assessed on each forearm after 30 min tap water or 5% salt water bath (group A), respectively, or after 30 min 10% or 20% salt water bath (group B), respectively. Compared with the MEDdry, a significantly decreased MEDwet, was observed after all exposures (group A==>F = 18.94; P < 0.001; group B==>F = 11.73; P < 0.006). A maximal relative decrease in MEDdry of about 51.4% was observed after the 10% salt water bath. The 5% salt solution caused a modest relative decrease in MEDwet of 23.4%. We observed a markedly increased photosensitivity to UVB after all exposures, without a linear correlation between the MED and the salt water concentration. A determination of MED during balneophototherapy should be carried out after bathing in order to reduce the cumulative UV dose and to prevent acute photodamage.

Textural improvement of salt-reduced Alaska pollack (Theragra chalcogramma) roe product by CaCl2.

PubMed

Chen, Chaoping; Okazaki, Emiko; Osako, Kazufumi

2016-12-15

Salt-reduced Alaska pollack roe benefits public health by decreasing NaCl intake; however, it has a poor texture with low breaking strength. This study addresses the feasibility of NaCl reduction in salted roe products, with focusing on the improvement of breaking strength using CaCl2. Salted roe products were prepared by immersing Alaska pollack roe in either NaCl solutions (3.5, 7.0, 15.0, 20.0, and 25.0%) or 7.0% NaCl solutions with added CaCl2 (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0%). Breaking strength, moisture and salt contents, eggshell protein composition of the salted roe products, as well as total endogenous transglutaminase (TGase) activity in various NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations were analyzed. CaCl2 addition enhanced eggshell protein crosslinking and breaking strength of the salt-reduced roe products. An acyl transfer reaction catalyzed by calcium-dependent TGase may be responsible for the eggshell protein crosslinking and improved texture. Thus, we successfully developed a salt-reduced Alaska roe product using CaCl2. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of salting treatment on the physicochemical properties, textural properties, and microstructures of duck eggs.

PubMed

Xu, Lilan; Zhao, Yan; Xu, Mingsheng; Yao, Yao; Nie, Xuliang; Du, Huaying; Tu, Yong-Gang

2017-01-01

In order to illuminate the forming process of salted egg, the effects of the brine solution with different salt concentrations on the physicochemical properties, textural properties, and microstructures of duck eggs were evaluated using conventional physicochemical property determination methods. The results showed that the moisture contents of both the raw and cooked egg whites and egg yolks, the springiness of the raw egg yolks and cooked egg whites exhibited a decreasing trend with the increase in the salting time and salt concentration. The salt content, oil exudation and the hardness of the raw egg yolks showed a constantly increasing trend. Viscosity of the raw egg whites showed an overall trend in which it first deceased and then increased and decreased again, which was similar to the trend of the hardness of the cooked egg whites and egg yolks. As the salting proceeded, the pH value of the raw and cooked egg whites declined remarkably and then declined slowly, whereas the pH of the raw and cooked egg yolks did not show any noticeable changes. The effect of salting on the pH value varied significantly with the salt concentration in the brine solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that salted yolks consist of spherical granules and embedded flattened porosities. It was concluded that the treatment of salt induces solidification of yolk, accompanied with higher oil exudation and the development of a gritty texture. Different salt concentrations show certain differences.

Effects of salting treatment on the physicochemical properties, textural properties, and microstructures of duck eggs

PubMed Central

Xu, Lilan; Zhao, Yan; Xu, Mingsheng; Yao, Yao; Nie, Xuliang; Du, Huaying

2017-01-01

In order to illuminate the forming process of salted egg, the effects of the brine solution with different salt concentrations on the physicochemical properties, textural properties, and microstructures of duck eggs were evaluated using conventional physicochemical property determination methods. The results showed that the moisture contents of both the raw and cooked egg whites and egg yolks, the springiness of the raw egg yolks and cooked egg whites exhibited a decreasing trend with the increase in the salting time and salt concentration. The salt content, oil exudation and the hardness of the raw egg yolks showed a constantly increasing trend. Viscosity of the raw egg whites showed an overall trend in which it first deceased and then increased and decreased again, which was similar to the trend of the hardness of the cooked egg whites and egg yolks. As the salting proceeded, the pH value of the raw and cooked egg whites declined remarkably and then declined slowly, whereas the pH of the raw and cooked egg yolks did not show any noticeable changes. The effect of salting on the pH value varied significantly with the salt concentration in the brine solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that salted yolks consist of spherical granules and embedded flattened porosities. It was concluded that the treatment of salt induces solidification of yolk, accompanied with higher oil exudation and the development of a gritty texture. Different salt concentrations show certain differences. PMID:28797071

Ion-solvation structure and battery electrode characteristics of nonflammable organic electrolytes based on tris(trifluoroethyl)phosphate dissolving lithium salts.

PubMed

Todorov, Yanko Marinov; Fujii, Kenta; Yoshimoto, Nobuko; Hirayama, Daisuke; Aoki, Masahiro; Mimura, Hideyuki; Morita, Masayuki

2017-11-29

The structure and properties of lithium salt solutions based on tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (TFEP) solvent have been studied to design a safer electrolyte system for large-sized lithium-ion battery applications. Influences of the ionic structure on the polarization behavior of the LiCoO 2 (LCO) positive electrode were investigated. The ionic conductivity and viscosity of the solution consisting of lithium salts dissolved in TFEP, LiX/TFEP (X = PF 6 , BF 4 and TFSA) (TFSA = (CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N), were measured. The results suggest that the ion-solvation structure greatly depends on the anionic species in the salt. Spectroscopic measurements also support the conclusion that the Li + -solvation structure varies with the lithium salts. The differences in the ionic structure of LiX/TFEP influence the electrochemical oxidation potential of the solution and the polarization behavior of the LCO electrode. The overvoltage for Li-desertion/insertion from/into LCO in LiX/TFEP, being much higher than that observed in conventional LIB electrolyte solutions, shows the order of BF 4 < PF 6 < TFSA. The addition of ethylene carbonate (EC) to LiX/TFEP increases the ionic conductivity, which is probably caused by changes in the Li + -solvation structure in TFEP. The overvoltage for the Li-desertion/insertion of LCO is much lowered by the addition of EC to LiX/TFEP.

Bilirubin prevents acute DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration and suppressing upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase

PubMed Central

Vogel, Megan E.; Kindel, Tammy L.; Smith, Darcey L. H.; Idelman, Gila; Avissar, Uri; Kakarlapudi, Ganesh; Masnovi, Michelle E.

2015-01-01

Bilirubin is thought to exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-dependent leukocyte migration and by suppressing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). As VCAM-1 and iNOS are important mediators of tissue injury in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) murine model of inflammatory colitis, we examined whether bilirubin prevents colonic injury in DSS-treated mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered 2.5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days, while simultaneously receiving intraperitoneal injections of bilirubin (30 mg/kg) or potassium phosphate vehicle. Disease activity was monitored, peripheral blood counts and serum nitrate levels were determined, and intestinal specimens were analyzed for histological injury, leukocyte infiltration, and iNOS expression. The effect of bilirubin on IL-5 production by HSB-2 cells and on Jurkat cell transendothelial migration also was determined. DSS-treated mice that simultaneously received bilirubin lost less body weight, had lower serum nitrate levels, and exhibited reduced disease severity than vehicle-treated animals. Concordantly, histopathological analyses revealed that bilirubin-treated mice manifested significantly less colonic injury, including reduced infiltration of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, and diminished iNOS expression. Bilirubin administration also was associated with decreased eosinophil and monocyte infiltration into the small intestine, with a corresponding increase in peripheral blood eosinophilia. Bilirubin prevented Jurkat migration but did not alter IL-5 production. In conclusion, bilirubin prevents DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting the migration of leukocytes across the vascular endothelium and by suppressing iNOS expression. PMID:26381705

Bilirubin prevents acute DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration and suppressing upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase.

PubMed

Zucker, Stephen D; Vogel, Megan E; Kindel, Tammy L; Smith, Darcey L H; Idelman, Gila; Avissar, Uri; Kakarlapudi, Ganesh; Masnovi, Michelle E

2015-11-15

Bilirubin is thought to exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-dependent leukocyte migration and by suppressing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). As VCAM-1 and iNOS are important mediators of tissue injury in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) murine model of inflammatory colitis, we examined whether bilirubin prevents colonic injury in DSS-treated mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered 2.5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days, while simultaneously receiving intraperitoneal injections of bilirubin (30 mg/kg) or potassium phosphate vehicle. Disease activity was monitored, peripheral blood counts and serum nitrate levels were determined, and intestinal specimens were analyzed for histological injury, leukocyte infiltration, and iNOS expression. The effect of bilirubin on IL-5 production by HSB-2 cells and on Jurkat cell transendothelial migration also was determined. DSS-treated mice that simultaneously received bilirubin lost less body weight, had lower serum nitrate levels, and exhibited reduced disease severity than vehicle-treated animals. Concordantly, histopathological analyses revealed that bilirubin-treated mice manifested significantly less colonic injury, including reduced infiltration of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, and diminished iNOS expression. Bilirubin administration also was associated with decreased eosinophil and monocyte infiltration into the small intestine, with a corresponding increase in peripheral blood eosinophilia. Bilirubin prevented Jurkat migration but did not alter IL-5 production. In conclusion, bilirubin prevents DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting the migration of leukocytes across the vascular endothelium and by suppressing iNOS expression. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Identifying uncontrolled asthma in young children: clinical scores or objective variables?

PubMed

Leung, T F; Ko, F W S; Sy, H Y; Wong, E; Li, C Y; Yung, E; Hui, D S C; Wong, G W K; Lai, C K W

2009-03-01

Several international asthma guidelines emphasize the importance of assessing asthma control. However, there is limited data on the usefulness of available assessment tools in indicating disease control in young asthmatics. This study investigated the ability of Chinese version of Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and other disease-related factors in identifying uncontrolled asthma (UA) in young children. During the same clinic visit, asthma patients 4 to 11 years of age completed C-ACT and underwent exhaled nitric oxide and spirometric measurements. Blinded to these results, the same investigator assigned Disease Severity Score (DSS) and rated asthma control according to Global Initiative for Asthma. The mean (SD) age of 113 recruited patients was 9.1 (2.0) years, and 35% of them had UA. C-ACT, DSS and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) differed among patients with different control status (p < 0.001 for C-ACT and DSS; p = 0.014 for FEV(1)). Logistic regression confirmed that UA was associated with DSS (p < 0.001), PEF (p = 0.002), C-ACT (p = 0.011), and FEV(1) (p = 0.012). By ROC analysis, C-ACT and DSS were the best predictors for UA (p < 0.001), followed by PEF (p = 0.006) and FEV(1) (p = 0.007). When analyzed by the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) approach, the sequential use of DSS and C-ACT had 77% sensitivity and 84% specificity in identifying UA. C-ACT is better than objective parameters in identifying young Chinese children with UA.

Mortality and health among internally displaced persons in western Kenya following post-election violence, 2008: novel use of demographic surveillance.

PubMed

Feikin, Daniel R; Adazu, Kubaje; Obor, David; Ogwang, Sheila; Vulule, John; Hamel, Mary J; Laserson, Kayla

2010-08-01

To evaluate mortality and morbidity among internally displaced persons (IDPs) who relocated in a demographic surveillance system (DSS) area in western Kenya following post-election violence. In 2007, 204 000 individuals lived in the DSS area, where field workers visit households every 4 months to record migrations, births and deaths. We collected data on admissions among children < 5 years of age in the district hospital and developed special questionnaires to record information on IDPs. Mortality, migration and hospitalization rates among IDPs and regular DSS residents were compared, and verbal autopsies were performed for deaths. Between December 2007 and May 2008, 16 428 IDPs migrated into the DSS, and over half of them stayed 6 months or longer. In 2008, IDPs aged 15-49 years died at higher rates than regular residents of the DSS (relative risk, RR: 1.34; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.004-1.80). A greater percentage of deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection occurred among IDPs aged > or = 5 years (53%) than among regular DSS residents (25-29%) (P < 0.001). Internally displaced children < 5 years of age did not die at higher rates than resident children but were hospitalized at higher rates (RR: 2.95; 95% CI: 2.44-3.58). HIV-infected internally displaced adults in conflict-ridden parts of Africa are at increased risk of HIV-related death. Relief efforts should extend to IDPs who have relocated outside IDP camps, particularly if afflicted with HIV infection or other chronic conditions.

[Human body meridian spatial decision support system for clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion].

PubMed

Wu, Dehua

2016-01-01

The spatial position and distribution of human body meridian are expressed limitedly in the decision support system (DSS) of acupuncture and moxibustion at present, which leads to the failure to give the effective quantitative analysis on the spatial range and the difficulty for the decision-maker to provide a realistic spatial decision environment. Focusing on the limit spatial expression in DSS of acupuncture and moxibustion, it was proposed that on the basis of the geographic information system, in association of DSS technology, the design idea was developed on the human body meridian spatial DSS. With the 4-layer service-oriented architecture adopted, the data center integrated development platform was taken as the system development environment. The hierarchical organization was done for the spatial data of human body meridian via the directory tree. The structured query language (SQL) server was used to achieve the unified management of spatial data and attribute data. The technologies of architecture, configuration and plug-in development model were integrated to achieve the data inquiry, buffer analysis and program evaluation of the human body meridian spatial DSS. The research results show that the human body meridian spatial DSS could reflect realistically the spatial characteristics of the spatial position and distribution of human body meridian and met the constantly changeable demand of users. It has the powerful spatial analysis function and assists with the scientific decision in clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion. It is the new attempt to the informatization research of human body meridian.

Do Pre-Existing Diabetes Social Support or Depressive Symptoms Influence the Effectiveness of a Diabetes Management Intervention?

PubMed Central

Rosland, Ann-Marie; Kieffer, Edith; Spencer, Michael; Sinco, Brandy; Palmisano, Gloria; Valerio, Melissa; Nicklett, Emily; Heisler, Michele

2015-01-01

Objective Examine influences of diabetes-specific social support (D-SS) and depressive symptoms on glycemic control over time, among adults randomized to a diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) intervention or usual care. Methods Data were from 108 African-American and Latino participants in a six-month intervention trial. Multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between baseline D-SS from family and friends and depressive symptoms with changes in HbA1c. We then examined whether baseline D-SS or depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c. Results Higher baseline D-SS was associated with larger improvements in HbA1c (adjusted ΔHbA1c -0.39% for each +1-point D-SS, p=0.02), independent of intervention-associated HbA1c decreases. Baseline depressive symptoms had no significant association with subsequent HbA1c change. Neither D-SS nor depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c. Conclusions and Practice Implications Diabetes self-management education and support programs have potential to improve glycemic control for participants starting with varying levels of social support and depressive symptoms. Participants starting with more support for diabetes management from family and friends improved HbA1c significantly more over six months than those with less support, independent of additional significant DSME/S intervention-associated HbA1c improvements. Social support from family and friends may improve glycemic control in ways additive to DSME/S. PMID:26234800

Melatonin modulates adiponectin expression on murine colitis with sleep deprivation.

PubMed

Kim, Tae Kyun; Park, Young Sook; Baik, Haing-Woon; Jun, Jin Hyun; Kim, Eun Kyung; Sull, Jae Woong; Sung, Ho Joong; Choi, Jin Woo; Chung, Sook Hee; Gye, Myung Chan; Lim, Ju Yeon; Kim, Jun Bong; Kim, Seong Hwan

2016-09-07

To determine adiponectin expression in colonic tissue of murine colitis and systemic cytokine expression after melatonin treatments and sleep deprivation. The following five groups of C57BL/6 mice were used in this study: (1) group I, control; (2) group II, 2% DSS induced colitis for 7 d; (3) group III, 2% DSS induced colitis and melatonin treatment; (4) group IV, 2% DSS induced colitis with sleep deprivation (SD) using specially designed and modified multiple platform water baths; and (5) group V, 2% DSS induced colitis with SD and melatonin treatment. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) or saline was intraperitoneally injected daily to mice for 4 d. The body weight was monitored daily. The degree of colitis was evaluated histologically after sacrificing the mice. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis was performed using anti-adiponectin antibody. After sampling by intracardiac punctures, levels of serum cytokines were measured by ELISA. Sleep deprivation in water bath exacerbated DSS induced colitis and worsened weight loss. Melatonin injection not only alleviated the severity of mucosal injury, but also helped survival during stressful condition. The expression level of adiponectin in mucosa was decreased in colitis, with the lowest level observed in colitis combined with sleep deprivation. Melatonin injection significantly (P < 0.05) recovered the expression of adiponectin. The expression levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were increased in the serum of mice with DSS colitis but decreased after melatonin injection. This study suggested that melatonin modulated adiponectin expression in colonic tissue and melatonin and adiponectin synergistically potentiated anti-inflammatory effects on colitis with sleep deprivation.

Dark Sky Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillier, D.

2008-06-01

Dark Sky Scotland (DSS) 2006-2008 is a nationwide programme of public and educational astronomy events. It demonstrates successful national partnerships with non-astronomy organisations and effective ways of delivering events in remote rural communities. DSS is looking for international partners for IYA2009.

Prevention of healthcare-associated infections: knowledge among dental students in seven Italian universities.

PubMed

Pasquarella, Cesira; Veronesi, Licia; Castiglia, Paolo; D'Alessandro, Daniela; Legnani, Pierpaolo; Minelli, Liliana; Montagna, Maria Teresa; Napoli, Christian; Righi, Elena; Strohmenger, Laura; Tesauro, Marina; Torre, Ida; Tanzi, Maria Luiza

2015-01-01

Lack of knowledge is the major reason for non-compliance with correct healthcare-associated infections (HAI) prevention procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of the Dental School (DSS) and Dental Hygiene (DHS) students with regard to the prevention of HAI, as basic knowledge for improving and harmonizing the educational content in the different Italian Universities. A cross-sectional study was carried out using an anonymous questionnaire that was completed by DSS (I, II, III, IV, and V year) in seven Universities and DHS (I, II, and III year) in three Universities. The questions dealt with three specific areas: healthcare-associated infections, standard precautions and hand hygiene. Factors associated with an unacceptable level of knowledge (score <17.5) were analyzed using a logistic regression model. A p value <0.05 was considered to be significant. Five hundred and four questionnaires were collected: 81.5% for DSS and 18.5% for DHS. Mean overall score (±DS) achieved by the total number of students was 18.2±2.93 on an overall perfect score of 25; 18.2±3.04 for DSS and 17.8±2.31 for DHS. Stratifying by area, the average score 2.7±1.07 (53%) for HAI, 10.3±1.61 (85.9%) for standard precautions, and 5.2±1.44 (64.8%) for hand hygiene was observed. A significantly different level of knowledge (p<0.001) between DSS and DHS was observed only for HAI (2.8±1.07 for DSS vs 2.1±0.96 for DHS). Significant differences among the academic years were found only for DSS concerning HAI and standard precautions. The logistic regression model showed that an age <23 years was a risk factor for lack of knowledge on HAI, but a protective factor for lack of knowledge about standard precautions and hand hygiene; attending DH degree course was associated with lack of knowledge on HAI. Although the overall score obtained both by DSS and DHS indicated an acceptable level of knowledge, lack of knowledge was highlighted, in particular, for hand hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary to implement and validate effective teaching models in undergraduate courses in order to provide the scientific basis and the theoretical and practical preparation for the prevention and control of HAI.

Clinical significance of cigarette smoking and dust exposure in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a Korean national survey.

PubMed

Hwang, Ji An; Song, Joo Han; Kim, Jung Hoon; Chung, Man Pyo; Kim, Dong Soon; Song, Jin Woo; Kim, Young Whan; Choi, Sun Mi; Cha, Seung Ick; Uh, Soo Taek; Park, Choon-Sik; Jeong, Sung Hwan; Park, Yong Bum; Lee, Hong Lyeol; Shin, Jong Wook; Lee, Eun Joo; Jegal, Yangjin; Lee, Hyun Kyung; Park, Jong Sun; Park, Moo Suk

2017-11-21

This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics of Korean PAP patients and to examine the potential risk factors of PAP. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 78 Korean PAP patients diagnosed between 1993 and 2014. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence/absence of treatment (lavage). Clinical and laboratory features were compared between the two groups. Of the total 78 PAP patients, 60% were male and median age at diagnosis was 47.5 years. Fifty three percent were ever smokers (median 22 pack-years) and 48% had a history of dust exposure (metal 26.5%, stone or sand 20.6%, chemical or paint 17.7%, farming dust 14.7%, diesel 14.7%, textile 2.9%, and wood 2.9%). A history of cigarette smoking or dust exposure was present in 70.5% of the total PAP patients, with 23% having both of them. Patients who underwent lavage (n = 38) presented symptoms more frequently (38/38 [100%] vs. 24/40 [60%], P < 0.001) and had significantly lower PaO 2 and DL CO with higher D(A-a)O 2 at the onset of disease than those without lavage (n = 40) (P = 0.006, P < 0.001, and P = 0.036, respectively). Correspondingly, the distribution of disease severity score (DSS) differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.001). Based on these, when the total patients were categorized according to DSS (low DSS [DSS 1-2] vs. high DSS [DSS 3-5]), smoking status differed significantly between the two groups with the proportion of current smokers significantly higher in the high DSS group (11/22 [50%] vs. 7/39 [17.9%], P = 0.008). Furthermore, current smokers had meaningfully higher DSS and serum CEA levels than non-current smokers (P = 0.011 and P = 0.031), whereas no difference was found between smokers and non-smokers. Regarding type of exposed dust, farming dust was significantly associated with more severe form of PAP (P = 0.004). A considerable proportion of PAP patients had a history of cigarette smoking and/or dust exposure, suggestive of their possible roles in the development of PAP. Active cigarette smoking at the onset of PAP is associated with the severity of PAP.

Effect of hydrogen on cathodic corrosion of titanium aluminide

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

Gao, K.W.; Jin, J.W.; Qiao, L.J.

1996-01-01

Cathodic corrosion of titanium aluminide (TiAl) during hydrogen charging in various acidic aqueous solutions and in molten salt at 160 C was studied. At constant potential, the rate of cathodic corrosion (V) was much higher than during anodic dissolution, and V increased linearly with increasing current. V was 10 times higher in the acid solution than in the salt solution under the same current. Disruption of the surface film by local hydride formation during cathodic polarization was shown to be the key step.

Impact of thiocyanate salts on zein properties

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A new class of zein plasticizer was investigated, thiocyanate salts. Ammonium (ATC), potassium (KTC), guanidine (GTC) and magnesium thiocyanate (MTC) salts were added to solutions of zein in 90% ethanol/10% water with various amounts of tri(ethylene glycol) (TEG), cast as films and then tested to de...

Development of tropine-salt aqueous two-phase systems and removal of hydrophilic ionic liquids from aqueous solution.

PubMed

Wu, Haoran; Yao, Shun; Qian, Guofei; Song, Hang

2016-08-26

A novel aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) composed of a small molecule organic compound tropine and an organic or inorganic salt aqueous solution has been developed for the first time. The phase behavior of tropine-salt ATPS was systemically investigated and the phase equilibrium data were measured in different temperatures and concentrations and correlated by the Merchuk equation with satisfactory results. The detection of the conductivity and particle size proved the formation of micelle in the process of forming tropine-salt ATPS. The separation application of the ATPS was assessed with the removal of hydrophilic benzothiazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) from aqueous solution. The result showed that ILs were effectively extracted into the top tropine-rich phase. Finally, ILs in the top tropine-rich phase were further separated by the means of adsorption-desorption with DM301 macroporous resin and ethanol. The method of novel tropine-salt ATPS combined with adsorption-desorption is demonstrated a promising alternative thought and approach for the removal or recovery of hydrophilic compounds from aqueous media and also could provide a potential application for bio-separation. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Fact and fiction in spawntaking: Addenda

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rucker, R.R.

1949-01-01

The work of Ellis and Jones (1939) indicated that a solution of comon salt would prolong the life of fish sperm, although the work of Schlenk and Kahmann (1938) indicated that a more complex solution must be used. I therefore tested on sperm many solutions which waried in composition, strength, pH, and temperature. None of these prolonged viability to the point where 100-percent fertillzation could be expected after a few minutes" exposure at best. There was no difficulty in prolonging the fertilizable life of the egg: a plain salt solution was found quite effective, as mentioned by Rutter (1904).

Water Evaporation from Acoustically Levitated Aqueous Solution Droplets.

PubMed

Combe, Nicole A; Donaldson, D James

2017-09-28

We present a systematic study of the effect of solutes on the evaporation rate of acoustically levitated aqueous solution droplets by suspending individual droplets in a zero-relative humidity environment and measuring their size as a function of time. The ratios of the early time evaporation rates of six simple salts (NaCl, NaBr, NaNO 3 , KCl, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 ) and malonic acid to that of water are in excellent agreement with predictions made by modifying the Maxwell equation to include the time-dependent water activity of the evaporating aqueous salt solution droplets. However, the early time evaporation rates of three ammonium salt solutions (NH 4 Cl, NH 4 NO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ) are not significantly different from the evaporation rate of pure water. This finding is in accord with a previous report that ammonium sulfate does not depress the evaporation rate of its solutions, despite reducing its water vapor pressure, perhaps due to specific surface effects. At longer evaporation times, as the droplets approach crystallization, all but one (MgCl 2 ) of the solution evaporation rates are well described by the modified Maxwell equation.

Effects of a novel encapsulating technique on the temperature tolerance and anti-colitis activity of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens M1.

PubMed

Wang, Sheng-Yao; Ho, Yi-Fang; Chen, Yen-Po; Chen, Ming-Ju

2015-04-01

Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens M1 (M1) has been shown to possess many different beneficial health effects including anti-colitis activity. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel and easily scaled-up encapsulating technique that would improve the temperature tolerance of the bacterium and reduce the sensitivity of the organism to gastrointestinal fluid. A mixture of sodium alginate, gellan gum and skim milk powder was used as a coating material to entrap M1. The M1 gel was then directly freeze dried in order to dehydrate the covering and form microcapsules. The viable cell numbers of M1 present only dropped ten folds after the freeze-drying encapsulation process. The viable cell counts remained constant at 5 × 10(7) CFU/g after heating from 25 °C to 75 °C and holding at 75 °C for 1 min. The viable cell counts were reduced to 10(6) CFU/g and 10(5) CFU/g after 8-week storage at 4 °C and subsequent heat treatment with simulated gastrointestinal fluid test (SGFT) and bile salts, respectively. The effect of encapsulated M1 on the organism's anti-colitis activity was evaluated using the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis mouse model. An in vivo study indicated that administration of heat treated encapsulated M1 was able to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis producing a significant reduction in the bleeding score and an attenuation of inflammatory score. These findings clearly demonstrate that encapsulation of M1 using this novel technique is able to provide good protection from temperature changes and SGFT treatment and also does not affect the organism's anti-colitis activity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of Hycrete DSS on Virginia Department of Transportation Class A4 concrete mix designs.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-01-01

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Class A4 concrete mixtures containing Hycrete DSS were evaluated to determine the performance of the mixtures with respect to mechanical properties, alkali-silica reactivity, and corrosion of reinforcement...

Tension in Skinned Frog Muscle Fibers in Solutions of Varying Ionic Strength and Neutral Salt Composition

PubMed Central

Gordon, A. M.; Godt, R. E.; Donaldson, S. K. B.; Harris, C. E.

1973-01-01

The maximal calcium-activated isometric tension produced by a skinned frog single muscle fiber falls off as the ionic strength of the solution bathing this fiber is elevated declining to zero near 0.5 M as the ionic strength is varied using KCl. When other neutral salts are used, the tension always declines at high ionic strength, but there is some difference between the various neutral salts used. The anions and cations can be ordered in terms of their ability to inhibit the maximal calcium-activated tension. The order of increasing inhibition of tension (decreasing tension) at high ionic strength for anions is propionate- ≃ SO4 -- < Cl- < Br-. The order of increasing inhibition of calcium-activated tension for cations is K+ ≃ Na+ ≃ TMA+ < TEA+ < TPrA+ < TBuA+. The decline of maximal calcium-activated isometric tension with elevated salt concentration (ionic strength) can quantitatively explain the decline of isometric tetanic tension of a frog muscle fiber bathed in a hypertonic solution if one assumes that the internal ionic strength of a muscle fiber in normal Ringer's solution is 0.14–0.17 M. There is an increase in the base-line tension of a skinned muscle fiber bathed in a relaxing solution (no added calcium and 3 mM EGTA) of low ionic strength. This tension, which has no correlate in the intact fiber in hypotonic solutions, appears to be a noncalcium-activated tension and correlates more with a declining ionic strength than with small changes in [MgATP], [Mg], pH buffer, or [EGTA]. It is dependent upon the specific neutral salts used with cations being ordered in increasing inhibition of this noncalcium-activated tension (decreasing tension) as TPrA+ < TMA+ < K+ ≃ Na+. Measurements of potentials inside these skinned muscle fibers bathed in relaxing solutions produced occasional small positive values (<6 mV) which were not significantly different from zero. PMID:4543066

Decision support system development at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fox, Timothy J.; Nelson, J. C.; Rohweder, Jason J.

2014-01-01

A Decision Support System (DSS) can be defined in many ways. The working definition used by the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) is, “A spatially based computer application or data that assists a researcher or manager in making decisions.” This is quite a broad definition—and it needs to be, because the possibilities for types of DSSs are limited only by the user group and the developer’s imagination. There is no one DSS; the types of DSSs are as diverse as the problems they help solve. This diversity requires that DSSs be built in a variety of ways, using the most appropriate methods and tools for the individual application. The skills of potential DSS users vary widely as well, further necessitating multiple approaches to DSS development. Some small, highly trained user groups may want a powerful modeling tool with extensive functionality at the expense of ease of use. Other user groups less familiar with geographic information system (GIS) and spatial data may want an easy-to-use application for a nontechnical audience. UMESC has been developing DSSs for almost 20 years. Our DSS developers offer our partners a wide variety of technical skills and development options, ranging from the most simple Web page or small application to complex modeling application development.

The GBT Dynamic Scheduling System: A New Scheduling Paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Neil, K.; Balser, D.; Bignell, C.; Clark, M.; Condon, J.; McCarty, M.; Marganian, P.; Shelton, A.; Braatz, J.; Harnett, J.; Maddalena, R.; Mello, M.; Sessoms, E.

2009-09-01

The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is implementing a new Dynamic Scheduling System (DSS) designed to maximize the observing efficiency of the telescope while ensuring that none of the flexibility and ease of use of the GBT is harmed and that the data quality of observations is not adversely affected. To accomplish this, the GBT DSS is implementing a dynamic scheduling system which schedules observers, rather than running scripts. The DSS works by breaking each project into one or more sessions which have associated observing criteria such as RA, Dec, and frequency. Potential observers may also enter dates when members of their team will not be available for either on-site or remote observing. The scheduling algorithm uses those data, along with the predicted weather, to determine the most efficient schedule for the GBT. The DSS provides all observers at least 24 hours notice of their upcoming observing. In the uncommon (< 20%) case where the actual weather does not match the predictions, a backup project, chosen from the database, is run instead. Here we give an overview of the GBT DSS project, including the ranking and scheduling algorithms for the sessions, the scheduling probabilities generation, the web framework for the system, and an overview of the results from the beta testing which were held from June - September, 2008.

Changes in the composition of intestinal fungi and their role in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

PubMed

Qiu, Xinyun; Zhang, Feng; Yang, Xi; Wu, Na; Jiang, Weiwei; Li, Xia; Li, Xiaoxue; Liu, Yulan

2015-05-27

Intestinal fungi are increasingly believed to greatly influence gut health. However, the effects of fungi on intestinal inflammation and on gut bacterial constitution are not clear. Here, based on pyrosequencing method, we reveal that fungal compositions vary in different intestinal segments (ileum, cecum, and colon), prefer different colonization locations (mucosa and feces), and are remarkably changed during intestinal inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-colitis mouse models compare to normal controls: Penicillium, Wickerhamomyces, Alternaria, and Candida are increased while Cryptococcus, Phialemonium, Wallemia and an unidentified Saccharomycetales genus are decreased in the guts of DSS-colitis mice. Fungi-depleted mice exhibited aggravated acute DSS-colitis associated with gain of Hallella, Barnesiella, Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Lactobacillus and loss of butyrate-producing Clostridium XIVa, and Anaerostipes compare with normal control. In contrast, bacteria-depleted mice show attenuated acute DSS-colitis. Mice with severely chronic recurrent DSS-colitis show increased plasma (1,3)-β-D-glucan level and fungal translocation into the colonic mucosa, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. This work demonstrate the different roles of fungi in acute and chronic recurrent colitis: They are important counterbalance to bacteria in maintaining intestinal micro-ecological homeostasis and health in acutely inflamed intestines, but can harmfully translocate into abnormal sites and could aggravate disease severity in chronic recurrent colitis.

Ginseng Berry Extract Attenuates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Acute and Chronic Colitis

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wei; Xu, Li; Cho, Si-Young; Min, Kyung-Jin; Oda, Tatsuya; Zhang, LiJun; Yu, Qing; Jin, Jun-O

2016-01-01

This study investigates the in vivo functions of ginseng berry extract (GB) as a therapy for dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. C57BL/6 mice were given drinking water containing DSS (3%) for eight days to induce acute colitis. At the same time, the mice received an oral dose of GB (50 mg/kg) once daily. The GB-treated mice were less susceptible to the development of acute colitis than were control mice treated with saline, as determined by weight loss, disease activity, and colon histology. The administration of GB to DSS-treated mice also reduced the numbers and inhibited the activation of colon-infiltrating T cells, neutrophils, intestinal CD103−CD11c+ dendritic cells (cDCs), and macrophages. In addition, GB treatment promoted the migration of CD103+CD11c+ cDCs and expansion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the colons of DSS-treated mice. Similarly, in the DSS-induced chronic colitis model, GB treatment improved the macroscopic and histological appearance of the colon wall when compared to untreated control mice, as indicated by longer colon length and lower histological scores. This is the first report to show that oral administration of GB suppresses immune activation and protects against experimentally induced colitis. PMID:27058552

The Influence of Ghrelin on the Development of Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis in Rats

PubMed Central

Matuszyk, Aleksandra; Ceranowicz, Dagmara; Warzecha, Zygmunt; Ceranowicz, Piotr; Fyderek, Krzysztof; Gałązka, Krystyna; Cieszkowski, Jakub; Bonior, Joanna; Jaworek, Jolanta; Pihut, Małgorzata; Dembiński, Artur

2015-01-01

Ghrelin has protective and therapeutic effects in the gut. The aim of present studies was to investigate the effect of treatment with ghrelin on the development of colitis evoked by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Methods. Studies have been performed on rats. Colitis was induced by adding 5% DSS to the drinking water for 5 days. During this period animals were treated intraperitoneally twice a day with saline or ghrelin given at the dose of 8 nmol/kg/dose. On the sixth day, animals were anesthetized and the severity of colitis was assessed. Results. Treatment with ghrelin during administration of DSS reduced the development of colitis. Morphological features of colonic mucosa exhibited a reduction in the area and deep of mucosal damage. Ghrelin reversed the colitis-induced decrease in blood flow, DNA synthesis, and superoxide dismutase activity in colonic mucosa. These effects were accompanied by a decrease in the colitis-evoked increase in mucosal concentration of interleukin-1β and malondialdehyde. Treatment with ghrelin reversed the DSS-induced reduction in body weight gain. Conclusions. Administration of ghrelin exhibits the preventive effect against the development of DSS-induced colitis. This effect seems to be related to ghrelin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. PMID:26713317

Reconsideration of the Zincke salt: An efficient colorimetric chemosensor for detection of ethylamines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong H.

2018-03-01

In this work, an efficient colorimetric chemosensor for the detection of ethylamines using a pyridinium salt (the Zincke salt) is reported. Highly sensitive and selective reactivity of the Zincke salt enables colorimetric response of the Zincke salt solution to the ethylamines by showing well-defined visible color changes from colorless to the deep red. Furthermore, the Zincke salt thin film exhibits discernable color changes in response to ethylamine gas as well, which allows fabrication of simple, fast and portable strip- and textile-type ethylamine sensors.

RIGOR MORTIS AND THE INFLUENCE OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM SALTS UPON ITS DEVELOPMENT.

PubMed

Meltzer, S J; Auer, J

1908-01-01

Calcium salts hasten and magnesium salts retard the development of rigor mortis, that is, when these salts are administered subcutaneously or intravenously. When injected intra-arterially, concentrated solutions of both kinds of salts cause nearly an immediate onset of a strong stiffness of the muscles which is apparently a contraction, brought on by a stimulation caused by these salts and due to osmosis. This contraction, if strong, passes over without a relaxation into a real rigor. This form of rigor may be classed as work-rigor (Arbeitsstarre). In animals, at least in frogs, with intact cords, the early contraction and the following rigor are stronger than in animals with destroyed cord. If M/8 solutions-nearly equimolecular to "physiological" solutions of sodium chloride-are used, even when injected intra-arterially, calcium salts hasten and magnesium salts retard the onset of rigor. The hastening and retardation in this case as well as in the cases of subcutaneous and intravenous injections, are ion effects and essentially due to the cations, calcium and magnesium. In the rigor hastened by calcium the effects of the extensor muscles mostly prevail; in the rigor following magnesium injection, on the other hand, either the flexor muscles prevail or the muscles become stiff in the original position of the animal at death. There seems to be no difference in the degree of stiffness in the final rigor, only the onset and development of the rigor is hastened in the case of the one salt and retarded in the other. Calcium hastens also the development of heat rigor. No positive facts were obtained with regard to the effect of magnesium upon heat vigor. Calcium also hastens and magnesium retards the onset of rigor in the left ventricle of the heart. No definite data were gathered with regard to the effects of these salts upon the right ventricle.

Salt appetite is reduced by a single experience of drinking hypertonic saline in the adult rat.

PubMed

Greenwood, Michael P; Greenwood, Mingkwan; Paton, Julian F R; Murphy, David

2014-01-01

Salt appetite, the primordial instinct to favorably ingest salty substances, represents a vital evolutionary important drive to successfully maintain body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. This innate instinct was shown here in Sprague-Dawley rats by increased ingestion of isotonic saline (IS) over water in fluid intake tests. However, this appetitive stimulus was fundamentally transformed into a powerfully aversive one by increasing the salt content of drinking fluid from IS to hypertonic saline (2% w/v NaCl, HS) in intake tests. Rats ingested HS similar to IS when given no choice in one-bottle tests and previous studies have indicated that this may modify salt appetite. We thus investigated if a single 24 h experience of ingesting IS or HS, dehydration (DH) or 4% high salt food (HSD) altered salt preference. Here we show that 24 h of ingesting IS and HS solutions, but not DH or HSD, robustly transformed salt appetite in rats when tested 7 days and 35 days later. Using two-bottle tests rats previously exposed to IS preferred neither IS or water, whereas rats exposed to HS showed aversion to IS. Responses to sweet solutions (1% sucrose) were not different in two-bottle tests with water, suggesting that salt was the primary aversive taste pathway recruited in this model. Inducing thirst by subcutaneous administration of angiotensin II did not overcome this salt aversion. We hypothesised that this behavior results from altered gene expression in brain structures important in thirst and salt appetite. Thus we also report here lasting changes in mRNAs for markers of neuronal activity, peptide hormones and neuronal plasticity in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus following rehydration after both DH and HS. These results indicate that a single experience of drinking HS is a memorable one, with long-term changes in gene expression accompanying this aversion to salty solutions.

Fission product ion exchange between zeolite and a molten salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gougar, Mary Lou D.

The electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and has been demonstrated through processing the sodium-bonded SNF from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II in Idaho. In this process, components of the SNF, including U and species more chemically active than U, are oxidized into a bath of lithium-potassium chloride (LiCl-KCl) eutectic molten salt. Uranium is removed from the salt solution by electrochemical reduction. The noble metals and inactive fission products from the SNF remain as solids and are melted into a metal waste form after removal from the molten salt bath. The remaining salt solution contains most of the fission products and transuranic elements from the SNF. One technique that has been identified for removing these fission products and extending the usable life of the molten salt is ion exchange with zeolite A. A model has been developed and tested for its ability to describe the ion exchange of fission product species between zeolite A and a molten salt bath used for pyroprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The model assumes (1) a system at equilibrium, (2) immobilization of species from the process salt solution via both ion exchange and occlusion in the zeolite cage structure, and (3) chemical independence of the process salt species. The first assumption simplifies the description of this physical system by eliminating the complications of including time-dependent variables. An equilibrium state between species concentrations in the two exchange phases is a common basis for ion exchange models found in the literature. Assumption two is non-simplifying with respect to the mathematical expression of the model. Two Langmuir-like fractional terms (one for each mode of immobilization) compose each equation describing each salt species. The third assumption offers great simplification over more traditional ion exchange modeling, in which interaction of solvent species with each other is considered. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Salt Appetite Is Reduced by a Single Experience of Drinking Hypertonic Saline in the Adult Rat

PubMed Central

Greenwood, Michael P.; Greenwood, Mingkwan; Paton, Julian F. R.; Murphy, David

2014-01-01

Salt appetite, the primordial instinct to favorably ingest salty substances, represents a vital evolutionary important drive to successfully maintain body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. This innate instinct was shown here in Sprague-Dawley rats by increased ingestion of isotonic saline (IS) over water in fluid intake tests. However, this appetitive stimulus was fundamentally transformed into a powerfully aversive one by increasing the salt content of drinking fluid from IS to hypertonic saline (2% w/v NaCl, HS) in intake tests. Rats ingested HS similar to IS when given no choice in one-bottle tests and previous studies have indicated that this may modify salt appetite. We thus investigated if a single 24 h experience of ingesting IS or HS, dehydration (DH) or 4% high salt food (HSD) altered salt preference. Here we show that 24 h of ingesting IS and HS solutions, but not DH or HSD, robustly transformed salt appetite in rats when tested 7 days and 35 days later. Using two-bottle tests rats previously exposed to IS preferred neither IS or water, whereas rats exposed to HS showed aversion to IS. Responses to sweet solutions (1% sucrose) were not different in two-bottle tests with water, suggesting that salt was the primary aversive taste pathway recruited in this model. Inducing thirst by subcutaneous administration of angiotensin II did not overcome this salt aversion. We hypothesised that this behavior results from altered gene expression in brain structures important in thirst and salt appetite. Thus we also report here lasting changes in mRNAs for markers of neuronal activity, peptide hormones and neuronal plasticity in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus following rehydration after both DH and HS. These results indicate that a single experience of drinking HS is a memorable one, with long-term changes in gene expression accompanying this aversion to salty solutions. PMID:25111786

Salts of alkali metal anions and process of preparing same

DOEpatents

Dye, James L.; Ceraso, Joseph M.; Tehan, Frederick J.; Lok, Mei Tak

1978-01-01

Compounds of alkali metal anion salts of alkali metal cations in bicyclic polyoxadiamines are disclosed. The salts are prepared by contacting an excess of alkali metal with an alkali metal dissolving solution consisting of a bicyclic polyoxadiamine in a suitable solvent, and recovered by precipitation. The salts have a gold-color crystalline appearance and are stable in a vacuum at -10.degree. C. and below.

The chemistry of salt-affected soils and waters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Knowledge of the chemistry of salt affected soils and waters is necessary for management of irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions. In this chapter we review the origin of salts in the landscape, the major chemical reactions necessary for prediction of the soil solution composition, and the use of...

Evaluating structures, properties and vibrational and electronic spectra of the potassium 2-isonicotinoyltrifluoroborate salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iramain, Maximiliano A.; Davies, Lilian; Brandán, Silvia Antonia

2018-07-01

The potassium 2-isonicotinoyltrifluorborate salt has been characterized by using FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-Visible spectroscopies while its structural properties were studied by using B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311++G** calculations in gas and aqueous solution phases. Four conformers with CS and C1 symmetries were found in the potential energy surfaces but only one of them presents the minimum energy. Two dimeric species of this salt were also optimized in accordance to the layered architectures suggested for trifluoroborate potassium salts in the solid phase. Here, the experimental Raman bands at 796, 748 and 676 cm-1 clearly support the presence of both dimers. On the other hand, the 2-isonicotinoyltrifluorborate anion was optimized because its presence is expected in solution. Reasonable correlations were observed between the predicted FTIR, Raman and UV-visible spectra with the corresponding experimental ones. The solvation energies for the salt in aqueous solution were predicted by using both methods. Here, it is observed that the change of furane by pyridine ring generates an increase in the solvation energies of the potassium 2-isonicotinoyltrifluorborate salt in relation to potassium 3-furoyltrifluoroborate salt. The study of the charges has revealed that there is an effect of the size of the basis set on the Mulliken charges while the AIM analyses suggest that the F⋯H and O⋯K interactions are also strongly dependent of the medium and the size of the basis sets. The bond orders for the F and K atoms evidence their higher ionic characteristics in solution with both basis sets. The NBO and AIM results clearly support the higher stability of this salt in both media. The studies by using the frontier orbitals indicate that the change of furane by pyridine ring decreases the reactivity of this salt by using 6-31G* basis set but increases when the other one is employed. Another effect of change of furane by pyridine ring is observed in the increase of the f(νCdbnd O) and f(νBF3) force constants. In addition, the force fields for the salt in both media were reported together to their complete vibrational assignments and force constants by using both levels of theory.

Relative contributions of the fraction of unfrozen water and of salt concentration to the survival of slowly frozen human erythrocytes.

PubMed Central

Mazur, P; Rall, W F; Rigopoulos, N

1981-01-01

As suspensions of cells freeze, the electrolytes and other solutes in the external solution concentrate progressively, and the cells undergo osmotic dehydration if cooling is slow. The progressive concentration of solute comes about as increasing amounts of pure ice precipitate out of solution and cause the liquid-filled channels in which the cells are sequestered to dwindle in size. The consensus has been that slow freezing injury is related to the composition of the solution in these channels and not to the amount of residual liquid. The purpose of the research reported here was to test this assumption on human erythrocytes. Ordinarily, solute concentration and the amount of liquid in the unfrozen channels are inversely coupled. To vary them independently, one must vary the initial solute concentration. Two solutes were used here: NaCl and the permeating protective additive glycerol. To vary the total initial solute concentration while holding the mass ratio of glycerol to NaCl constant, we had to allow the NaCl tonicity to depart from isotonic. Specifically, human red cells were suspended in solutions with weight ratios of glycerol to NaCl of either 5.42 or 11.26, where the concentrations of NaCl were 0.6, 0.75, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 times isotonic. Samples were then frozen to various subzero temperatures, which were chosen to produce various molalities of NaCl (0.24-3.30) while holding the fraction of unfrozen water constant, or conversely to produce various unfrozen fractions (0.03-0.5) while holding the molality of salt constant. (Not all combinations of these values were possible). The following general findings emerged: (a) few cells survived the freezing of greater than 90% of the extracellular water regardless of the salt concentration in the residual unfrozen portion. (b) When the fraction of frozen water was less than 75% the majority of the cells survived even when the salt concentration in the unfrozen portion exceeded 2 molal. (c) Salt concentration affected survival significantly only when the frozen fraction lay between 75 and 90%. To find a major effect on survival of the fraction of water that remains unfrozen was unexpected. It may require major modifications in how cryobiologists view solution-effect injury and its prevention. PMID:7326328

Effect of Osmotic Shock and Low Salt Concentration on Survival and Density of Bacteriophages T4B and T4Bo1

PubMed Central

Leibo, Stanley P.; Mazur, Peter

1966-01-01

Measurements of survival and buoyant densities of bacteriophages T4B, T4Bo1, and T4D have demonstrated the following: (a) After suspension in a concentrated salt solution, T4B and T4D are sensitive both to osmotic shock and to subsequent exposure to low monovalent salt concentrations. (b) Sensitivity of T4B to dilution from a concentrated salt solution is dependent on dilution rate, that of T4D is less dependent, and that of T4Bo1 is independent. (c) Sensitivity of all three phages to low salt concentrations depends on initial salt concentrations to a variable extent. (d) Density gradient profiles indicate that nearly half of osmotically shocked T4B retain their DNA. Similar analysis demonstrates that few, if any, T4Bo1 lose DNA when subjected to a treatment causing 90% loss of infectivity. (e) The effective buoyant densities of T4B and T4Bo1 depend significantly on the dilution treatments to which the phages are subjected prior to centrifugation in CsCl gradients. These data are explicable in terms of the different relative permeabilities of the phages to water and solutes, and of alterations in the counterion distribution surrounding the DNA within the phage heads. PMID:5972376

The importance of dissolved salts to the in vivo efficacy of antifreeze proteins.

PubMed

Evans, Robert P; Hobbs, Rod S; Goddard, Sally V; Fletcher, Garth L

2007-11-01

Antifreeze proteins (AFP) and antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGP) lower the freezing point of marine fish plasma non-colligatively by specifically adsorbing to certain surfaces of ice crystals, modifying their structure and inhibiting further growth. While the freezing point is lowered, the melting point is unaltered and the difference between the two is termed thermal hysteresis (TH). In pure water, the level of TH is directly related to the intrinsic activity of the specific AF(G)P in solution and to their concentration. Results of this study indicate that when AF(G)P are dissolved in salt solutions, such as NaCl, encompassing the range they could encounter in nature, there is a synergistic enhancement of basal TH that is positively related to the salt concentration. This enhancement is likely a result of the hydration shell surrounding the dissolved ions and, as a consequence, reducing freezable water. A secondary reason for the enhancement is that the salt could be influencing the hydration shell surrounding the AF(G)P, increasing their solubility and thus the protein surface area available to adsorb to the ice/water interface. The former hypothesis for the salt enhanced TH has implications for the in vivo function of AF(G)P, particularly at the seawater/external epithelia (gills, skin, stomach) interface. The latter hypothesis is likely only relevant to in vitro situations where freeze dried protein is dissolved in low salt solutions.

Synthesis and characterization of ion containing polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, Shichen

Two types of ion-containing polymers are included in this dissertation. The first was focused on the rheology, solvation, and correlation length of polyelectrolyte solutions in terms of charge density, solvent dielectric constant, and solvent quality. The second was focused on the PEO-based polyester ionomers as single ion conductors. A series of polyelectrolytes with varied charge density (0.03 < alpha < 0.6) and counterions (Cl- and I-) were investigated in good solvent (EG, NMF, and GC) and poor solvent (DW and F). The concentration dependence of the specific viscosity and relaxation time of polyelectrolytes in solution agrees with Dobrynin's theoretical predictions at c < c**. Effective charge density greatly impacts the viscosity of polyelectrolyte semidilute solutions, while residual salt significantly reduces the viscosity of polyelectrolyte solutions at concentrations c < 2cs/f. For polyelectrolyte solutions with less condensed counterions, the correlation length obtained from SAXS and rheology perfectly matches and agrees with de Gennes prediction. Dobrynin scaling model successfully predicts the rheology of polyelectrolyte solutions in all cases: without salt, with low residual salt, and with high residual salt concentration. PEO-based polyester ionomers were synthesized by melt polycondensation. Mn was determined using the 1H NMR of ionomers. No ion-cluster was observed from the DSC, SAXS, and rheology measurements. Ionic conductivity greatly depends on the Tg, T-T g and ion content of the ionomers. PEG600-PTMO650 (z)-Li copolyester ionomers show microphase separation and much lower ionic conductivity, compared to that of PE600-Li. PTMO650-Li shows nonconductor behavior.

Recovery of soluble chloride salts from the wastewater generated during the washing process of municipal solid wastes incineration fly ash.

PubMed

Tang, Hailong; Erzat, Aris; Liu, Yangsheng

2014-01-01

Water washing is widely used as the pretreatment method to treat municipal solid waste incineration fly ash, which facilitates the further solidification/stabilization treatment or resource recovery of the fly ash. The wastewater generated during the washing process is a kind of hydrosaline solution, usually containing high concentrations of alkali chlorides and sulphates, which cause serious pollution to environment. However, these salts can be recycled as resources instead of discharge. This paper explored an effective and practical recovery method to separate sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride salts individually from the hydrosaline water. In laboratory experiments, a simulating hydrosaline solution was prepared according to composition of the waste washing water. First, in the three-step evaporation-crystallization process, pure sodium chloride and solid mixture of sodium and potassium chlorides were obtained separately, and the remaining solution contained potassium and calcium chlorides (solution A). And then, the solid mixture was fully dissolved into water (solution B obtained). Finally, ethanol was added into solutions A and B to change the solubility of sodium, potassium, and calcium chlorides within the mixed solvent of water and ethanol. During the ethanol-adding precipitation process, each salt was separated individually, and the purity of the raw production in laboratory experiments reached about 90%. The ethanol can be recycled by distillation and reused as the solvent. Therefore, this technology may bring both environmental and economic benefits.

Calibration of block 4 translator path delays at DSS 14 and CTA 21

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Otoshi, T. Y.; Batelaan, P. D.; Wallace, K. B.; Ibanez, F.

1977-01-01

The techniques for calibrating the translator path by means of a portable zero delay device are described. In addition, some translator path data taken at DSS 14, Goldstone, over a period of about one year is presented.