Solid-state characterization of mefenamic acid.

PubMed

Panchagnula, Ramesh; Sundaramurthy, Prakash; Pillai, Omathanu; Agrawal, Shrutidevi; Raj, Yasvanth Ashok

2004-04-01

The purpose of this study was to characterize mefenamic acid (MA) from commercial samples and samples crystallized from different solvents. Various techniques used for characterization included microscopy (hot stage microscopy, scanning electron microscopy), intrinsic dissolution rate, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry (pXRD). The commercial samples varied in their crystal habit, thermal behavior, and intrinsic dissolution rate. It was found that the commercial samples were polymorphic Form I, which converted to Form II on heating in a DSC pan. Similarly, compression in an intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) press resulted in the conversion of Form I to Form II. On the other hand, the samples recrystallized from different solvents under varying conditions yielded different crystal habits. Stirring and degree of supersaturation significantly influenced the crystal habit in all the solvents used in the study. Samples crystallized from ethanol and tetrahydrofuran yielded Form I, which behaved similarly to the commercial samples (M1 and M3). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate at a fast cooling rate yielded Form I, which on melting crystallized to Form II. The form I crystallized from ethyl acetate by fast cooling converted partially to form II on storing at ambient conditions. Forms I and II of MA were enantiotropically related. The results demonstrate the variable material characteristics of the commercial samples of MA and the influence of the crystallizing conditions on the formation of the polymorphs. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Psychometric Properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Segal, Daniel L.; Coolidge, Frederick L.; Cahill, Brian S.; O'Riley, Alisa A.

2008-01-01

The psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as a self-administered screening tool for depressive symptoms were examined in a sample of community-dwelling older and younger adults. Participants completed the BDI-II, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Coolidge Axis II Inventory, the Perceived…

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of heavy metals in aqueous solution and surface water preceded by co-precipitation procedure with copper(II) 8-hydroxyquinoline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ipeaiyeda, Ayodele Rotimi; Ayoade, Abisayo Ruth

2017-12-01

Co-precipitation procedure has widely been employed for preconcentration and separation of metal ions from the matrices of environmental samples. This is simply due to its simplicity, low consumption of separating solvent and short duration for analysis. Various organic ligands have been used for this purpose. However, there is dearth of information on the application of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) as ligand and Cu(II) as carrier element. The use of Cu(II) is desirable because there is no contamination and background adsorption interference. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use 8-HQ in the presence of Cu(II) for coprecipitation of Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Ni(II) and Pb(II) from standard solutions and surface water prior to their determinations by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effects of pH, sample volume, amount of 8-HQ and Cu(II) and interfering ions on the recoveries of metal ions from standard solutions were monitored using FAAS. The water samples were treated with 8-HQ under the optimum experimental conditions and metal concentrations were determined by FAAS. The metal concentrations in water samples not treated with 8-HQ were also determined. The optimum recovery values for metal ions were higher than 85.0%. The concentrations (mg/L) of Co(II), Ni(II), Cr(III), and Pb(II) in water samples treated with 8-HQ were 0.014 ± 0.002, 0.03 ± 0.01, 0.04 ± 0.02 and 0.05 ± 0.02, respectively. These concentrations and those obtained without coprecipitation technique were significantly different. Coprecipitation procedure using 8-HQ as ligand and Cu(II) as carrier element enhanced the preconcentration and separation of metal ions from the matrix of water sample.

[The spectral study of the surface modified medical rubber].

PubMed

Luo, C; Liu, Y; Yang, J; Weng, J

1999-08-01

In this article ,the drug-resistance of two kinds of medical rubber whose surfaces have been modified were investigated by ATR-FTIR and XPS. The experimental results show that the compositions of the two samples'surface and body are different. The surface is fluorinated rubber although the body is butyl rubber. The ratio of fluorine to carbon atom in sample Ii -1 is higher than that in sample I -1. The principal join between F and C is the form--CF2--in sample II -1,but in sample I -1 it is the form--CF2-- and--CHF--. The change for F/C of the different depth in sample II- 1 was relatively less than that in sample I -1 when they were etched by argon ion bundle in the same conditions.

Validation of the Parental Facilitation of Mastery Scale-II.

PubMed

Zalta, Alyson K; Allred, Kelly M; Jayawickreme, Eranda; Blackie, Laura E R; Chambless, Dianne L

2017-10-01

To develop a more reliable and comprehensive version of the Parental Facilitation of Mastery Scale (PFMS) METHOD: In Study 1, 387 undergraduates completed an expanded PFMS (PFMS-II) and measures of parenting, perceived control, responses to early life challenges, and psychopathology. In Study 2, 182 trauma-exposed community participants completed the PFMS-II and measures of perceived control, psychopathology, and well-being RESULTS: In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis of the PFMS-II revealed two factors. These factors replicated in Study 2; one item was removed to achieve measurement invariance across race. The final PFMS-II comprised a 10-item overprotection scale and a 7-item challenge scale. In both samples, this measure demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity and was more reliable than the original PFMS. Parental challenge was a unique predictor of perceived control in both samples CONCLUSION: The PFMS-II is a valid measure of important parenting behaviors not fully captured in other measures. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Permanganate-assisted removal of PCR inhibitors during the DNA Chelex extraction from stained denim samples.

PubMed

Pîrlea, Sorina; Puiu, Mihaela; Răducan, Adina; Oancea, Dumitru

2017-03-01

In this study, it was demonstrated that the DNA Chelex extraction combined with the permanganate assisted-oxidation is highly efficient in removing the PCR inhibitors often found in clothing materials, such as phthalocyanine. The extraction assays were conducted in saliva, blood and epithelial cells samples mixed with three oxidation-resistant dye copper(II) α-phthalocyanine, copper(II) β-phthalocyanine and tetrasulfonated copper(II) β-phthalocyanine. After DNA amplification, all samples were able to provide full DNA profiles. The permanganate/Chelex system was tested further on denim-stained samples and displayed the same ability to remove the PCR inhibitors from the commercial textile materials.

Synthetic hydroxyapatites doped with Zn(II) studied by X-ray diffraction, infrared, Raman and thermal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guerra-López, José R.; Echeverría, Gustavo A.; Güida, Jorge A.; Viña, Raúl; Punte, Graciela

2015-06-01

Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHap) formation when different amounts of Zn(II) are present in the mother solution has been investigated by atomic absorption, infrared and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis (DTA and TG). The studied samples have been synthesized at T=95 °C and pH 9 in air. The analysis of the results have shown that the pure CaHap sample crystallizes in the monoclinic form P21/b. Concentrations up to 20% of Zn(II) in the mother solution, equivalent to smaller concentrations in solid (up to 9.1% in wt), favor the formation of the hexagonal apatite, P63/m, while Zn(II) concentrations higher than 20% in solution help an amorphous phase development where vibrational spectra indicated coexistence of two phases: an apatite and ZnNH4PO4·H2O. Infrared data of thermal treated samples endorse that HPO42- ion had not been incorporated in Zn(II) doped samples during the synthesis process. Present results also allow to conclude that Zn(II) cation exhibits a preference to occupy the Ca2 site of the apatite structure and induces water adsorption and a small quantity of CO32- cation incorporation, leading to formation of a less crystalline Ca deficient apatite.

Synthesis, characterization and application of a new chelating resin for solid phase extraction, preconcentration and determination of trace metals in some dairy samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Daşbaşı, Teslima; Saçmacı, Şerife; Çankaya, Nevin; Soykan, Cengiz

2016-11-15

In this study, a simple and rapid solid phase extraction/preconcentration procedure was developed for determination of Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) trace metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). A new chelating resin, poly(N-cyclohexylacrylamide-co-divinylbenzene-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (NCA-co-DVB-co-AMPS) (hereafter CDAP) was synthesized and characterized. The influences of the analytical parameters such as pH of the sample solution, type and concentration of eluent, flow rates of the sample and eluent, volume of the sample and eluent, amount of chelating resin, and interference of ions were examined. The limit of detection (LOD) of analytes were found (3s) to be in the range of 0.65-1.90μgL(-1). Preconcentration factor (PF) of 200 and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of ⩽2% were achieved (n=11). The developed method was applied for determination of analytes in some dairy samples and certified reference materials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II.

PubMed

Robitschek, Christine; Ashton, Matthew W; Spering, Cynthia C; Geiger, Nathaniel; Byers, Danielle; Schotts, G Christian; Thoen, Megan A

2012-04-01

The original Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS; Robitschek, 1998) was unidimensional, despite theory identifying multiple components (e.g., cognition and behavior) of personal growth initiative (PGI). The present research developed a multidimensional measure of the complex process of PGI, while retaining the brief and psychometrically sound properties of the original scale. Study 1 focused on scale development, including theoretical derivation of items, assessing factor structure, reducing number of items, and refining the scale length using samples of college students. Study 2 consisted of confirmatory factor analysis with 3 independent samples of college students and community members. Lastly, Study 3 assessed test-retest reliability over 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-week periods and tests of concurrent and discriminant validity using samples of college students. The final measure, the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II), includes 4 subscales: Readiness for Change, Planfulness, Using Resources, and Intentional Behavior. These studies provide exploratory and confirmatory evidence for the 4-factor structure, strong internal consistency for the subscales and overall score across samples, acceptable temporal stability at all assessed intervals, and concurrent and discriminant validity of the PGIS-II. Future directions for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Installation Restoration Program. Remedial Investigation Report. Minnesota Air National Guard Base Duluth International Airport, Duluth, Minnesota. Volume 5

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

1-20 1-6 Sites Defined and Ranked During IRP Phase I Study. 1-29 1-7 Aerial Photograph of Site 2, April 1988. 1-32 1-8 Site 2 Sampling Locations...Utilized During Phase II Investigations. 1-35 1-9 Aerial Photograph of Site 3, April 1988. 1-38 1-10 Site 3 Sampling Locations Utilized During Phase II...Investigations. 1-47 1-11 Aerial Photograph of Site 4, April 1988. 1-54 1-12 Site 4 Sampling Locations Utilized During Phase II Investigations. 1-57 1-13

Phase II Trials for Heterogeneous Patient Populations with a Time-to-Event Endpoint.

PubMed

Jung, Sin-Ho

2017-07-01

In this paper, we consider a single-arm phase II trial with a time-to-event end-point. We assume that the study population has multiple subpopulations with different prognosis, but the study treatment is expected to be similarly efficacious across the subpopulations. We review a stratified one-sample log-rank test and present its sample size calculation method under some practical design settings. Our sample size method requires specification of the prevalence of subpopulations. We observe that the power of the resulting sample size is not very sensitive to misspecification of the prevalence.

Genotyping of samples from German patients with ocular, cerebral and systemic toxoplasmosis reveals a predominance of Toxoplasma gondii type II.

PubMed

Herrmann, Daland C; Maksimov, Pavlo; Hotop, Andrea; Groß, Uwe; Däubener, Walter; Liesenfeld, Oliver; Pleyer, Uwe; Conraths, Franz J; Schares, Gereon

2014-10-01

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis transmitted from animals to humans world-wide. In order to determine Toxoplasma gondii genotypes in individuals living in Germany and to compare findings with those in animals, we analysed nine independent and unlinked genetic markers (nSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) by PCR-RFLP in 83 archived T. gondii-positive DNA samples from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (n=35), toxoplasmic encephalitis (n=32), systemic toxoplasmosis after bone-marrow transplantation (n=15) and congenital toxoplasmosis (n=1). In 46 of these 83 samples the presence of T. gondii DNA was confirmed by conventional end-point PCR. Among these, 17 T. gondii-positive samples were typed at all nine loci. The majority (15/17, 88.2%) of these samples were of T. gondii type II (i.e., including both, the Apico type II and Apico type I variants). In addition, in one sample a T. gondii type II/type III allele combination and in another sample a T. gondii genotype displaying type III alleles at all markers was observed. In the remaining 11 samples, in which T. gondii could only be partially typed, exclusively type II (n=10) or type III (n=1) alleles were observed. Results of the present study suggest that the majority of patients in Germany are infected with type II T. gondii regardless of the clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis. This finding is in accord with the predominance of type II T. gondii in oocysts isolated from cats and in tissues of other intermediate hosts in Germany. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Effects of Computer-Assisted Jigsaw II Cooperative Learning Strategy on Physics Achievement and Retention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gambari, Isiaka Amosa; Yusuf, Mudasiru Olalere

2016-01-01

This study investigated the effects of computer-assisted Jigsaw II cooperative strategy on physics achievement and retention. The study also determined how moderating variables of achievement levels as it affects students' performance in physics when Jigsaw II cooperative learning is used as an instructional strategy. Purposive sampling technique…

Highly sensitive and selective determination of Hg(II) based on microfluidic chip with on-line fluorescent derivatization.

PubMed

Peng, Guilong; Chen, Yi; Deng, Ruoyu; He, Qiang; Liu, Dun; Lu, Ying; Lin, Jin-Ming

2018-06-07

In this study, a convenient, sensitive, rapid and simple method was developed on microfluidic chip which was integrated with on-line complexing and laser-induced fluorescence detection. A rhodamine derivative (RD) was developed as a fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II). It exhibited high selective recognition toward Hg(II) over other examined metal ions in water samples. Under the optimized conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Hg(II) in the range of 0-70 μM with a detection limit of 0.031 μM. Satisfactory repeatability and reproducibility were achieved, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 6.62%. The established method was successfully applied for the determination of Hg(II) in environmental water samples (surface water, tap water, and waste water). Recoveries obtained for the determination of Hg(II) in spiking samples ranged from 85% to 103%. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: SNe type II from CSP-I, SDSS-II, and SNLS (de Jaeger+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Jaeger, T.; Gonzalez-Gaitan, S.; Hamuy, M.; Galbany, L.; Anderson, J. P.; Phillips, M. M.; Stritzinger, M. D.; Carlberg, R. G.; Sullivan, M.; Gutierrez, C. P.; Hook, I. M.; Howell, D. A.; Hsiao, E. Y.; Kuncarayakti, H.; Ruhlmann-Kleider, V.; Folatelli, G.; Pritchet, C.; Basa, S.

2017-10-01

The CSP-I (Carnegie Supernova Project-I) had guaranteed access to ~300 nights per year between 2004 and 2009 on the Swope 1m and du Pont 2.5m telescopes at the Las Campanas Observatory (LCO). This observation time allowed the CSP-I to obtain optical-band light curves for 67 SNe II. From the CSP-I sample, we remove six outliers. The SDSS-II SN Survey operated for three years, from 2005 September to 2007 November. Using the 2.5m telescope at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. This survey observed about 80 spectroscopically confirmed core-collapse SNe but the main driver of this project was the study of SNe Ia, involving the acquisition of only one or two spectra per SNe II. The total SDSS-II SN sample is composed of 16 spectroscopically confirmed SNe II. The SNLS (Supernova Legacy Survey) was designed to discover SNe and to obtain photometric follow-up using the MegaCam imager on the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. The observation strategy consisted of obtaining images of the same field every four nights over five years (between 2003 and 2008); thus, in total more than 470 nights were allocated to this project. The total SNLS sample is composed of 28 SNeII. See section 2 for further explanations on the data sample. (1 data file).

A Refined Sample of Lyman Excess H II Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Brandon; Kerton, C. R.

2018-05-01

A large number (67) of the compact/ultra-compact H II regions identified in the CORNISH catalogue were determined to be powered by a Lyman continuum flux in excess of what was expected given their corresponding luminosity. In this study we attempt to reasonably explain away this Lyman excess phenomenon in as many of the 67 H II regions as possible through a variety of observational and astrophysical means including new luminosity estimates, new Herschel photometry, new distance determinations, the use of different models for dust and ionized gas covering factors, and the use of different stellar calibrations. This phenomenon has been observed before; however, the objects shown to exhibit this behavior in the literature have decidedly different physical properties than the regions in our sample, and thus the origin of the excess is not the same. We find that the excess can be reproduced using OB stellar atmosphere models that have been slightly modified in the extreme ultraviolet. Though the exact mechanism producing the excess is still uncertain, we do find that a scaled up magnetospheric accretion model, often used to explain similar emission from T Tauri stars, is unable to match our observations. Our results suggest that the Lyman excess may be associated with younger H II regions, and that it is more commonly found in early B-type stars. Our refined sample of 24 Lyman excess H II regions provides an ideal sample for comparative studies with regular H II regions, and can act as the basis for the further detailed study of individual regions.

Occlusal status in Asian male adults: prevalence and ethnic variation.

PubMed

Soh, Jen; Sandham, Andrew; Chan, Yiong Huak

2005-09-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the occlusal status in young Asian male adults of three ethnic groups. Study models of a sample of male army recruits (N = 339, age 17-22 years) with no history of orthodontic treatment were assessed. The ethnic proportions of the sample were Chinese 76.1% (n = 258), Malay 17.7% (n = 60), and Indian 6.2% (n = 21). British Standard Institute (BSI) and Angle's classification were used to determine incisor and molar relationships, respectively. Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test was performed to compare the occlusal traits between ethnic groups. The distribution of incisor relationships of the total sample consisted of Class I = 48.1%, Class II/1 = 26.3%, Class II/2 = 3.2%, and Class III = 22.4%. Right Angle's molar relationships were 49.9%, 24.5%, and 24.2% whereas left Angle's molar relationships were 53.1%, 25.1%, and 21.2% for Class I, II, and III, respectively. Comparison between ethnic groups found that Indian subjects were more likely to have Class II/1 malocclusions and clinically missing permanent teeth (P < .05). The study found that the overall prevalence of malocclusion (BSI) was Class I, Class II/1, Class III, and Class II/2 in descending order of proportions. Angle's Class I molar was most prevalent followed by Class II and Class III relations. A significant difference in occlusal status between the ethnic groups was found regarding incisor relationship and missing permanent teeth (P < .05).

Profile patterns, consistency, and change in the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II in cocaine abusers.

PubMed

McMahon, R C; Richards, S K

1996-01-01

This study examined the MCMI-II in samples of cocaine-dependent subjects who were receiving treatment in three separate residential facilities. Profile characteristics, patterns of scale stability, and change are reported. MCMI-II elevations are found in all three samples on the Antisocial, Aggressive/Sadistic, Narcissistic, Passive-Aggressive, Borderline, Drug Dependence, and Alcohol Dependence scales at both intake into treatment and discharge. Moderate stability coefficients are found on Basic Personality, Pathological Personality, and Symptom scales. Although some statistically significant mean scale changes between intake and discharge are noted in each sample, few involve change from clinically elevated to below clinical levels.

Inner and outer star forming regions over the disks of spiral galaxies. I. Sample characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Baras, M.; Díaz, A. I.; Rosales-Ortega, F. F.; Sánchez, S. F.

2018-01-01

Context. The knowledge of abundance distributions is central to understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies. Most of the relations employed for the derivation of gas abundances have so far been derived from observations of outer disk H ii regions, despite the known differences between inner and outer regions. Aims: Using integral field spectroscopy (IFS) observations we aim to perform a systematic study and comparison of two inner and outer H ii regions samples. The spatial resolution of the IFS, the number of objects and the homogeneity and coherence of the observations allow a complete characterization of the main observational properties and differences of the regions. Methods: We analyzed a sample of 725 inner H ii regions and a sample of 671 outer H ii regions, all of them detected and extracted from the observations of a sample of 263 nearby, isolated, spiral galaxies observed by the CALIFA survey. Results: We find that inner H ii regions show smaller equivalent widths, greater extinction and luminosities, along with greater values of [N ii] λ6583/Hα and [O ii] λ3727/[O iii] λ5007 emission-line ratios, indicating higher metallicities and lower ionization parameters. Inner regions have also redder colors and higher photometric and ionizing masses, although MionMphot is slighty higher for the outer regions. Conclusions: This work shows important observational differences between inner and outer H ii regions in star forming galaxies not previously studied in detail. These differences indicate that inner regions have more evolved stellar populations and are in a later evolution state with respect to outer regions, which goes in line with the inside-out galaxy formation paradigm. Table 4 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/609/A102

Reaction mechanism of Ru(II) piano-stool complexes: umbrella sampling QM/MM MD study.

PubMed

Futera, Zdeněk; Burda, Jaroslav V

2014-07-15

Biologically relevant interactions of piano-stool ruthenium(II) complexes with ds-DNA are studied in this article by hybrid quantum mechanics-molecular mechanics (QM/MM) computational technique. The whole reaction mechanism is divided into three phases: (i) hydration of the [Ru(II) (η(6) -benzene)(en)Cl](+) complex, (ii) monoadduct formation between the resulting aqua-Ru(II) complex and N7 position of one of the guanines in the ds-DNA oligomer, and (iii) formation of the intrastrand Ru(II) bridge (cross-link) between two adjacent guanines. Free energy profiles of all the reactions are explored by QM/MM MD umbrella sampling approach where the Ru(II) complex and two guanines represent a quantum core, which is described by density functional theory methods. The combined QM/MM scheme is realized by our own software, which was developed to couple several quantum chemical programs (in this study Gaussian 09) and Amber 11 package. Calculated free energy barriers of the both ruthenium hydration and Ru(II)-N7(G) DNA binding process are in good agreement with experimentally measured rate constants. Then, this method was used to study the possibility of cross-link formation. One feasible pathway leading to Ru(II) guanine-guanine cross-link with synchronous releasing of the benzene ligand is predicted. The cross-linking is an exergonic process with the energy barrier lower than for the monoadduct reaction of Ru(II) complex with ds-DNA. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An innovative method for analysis of Pb (II) in rice, milk and water samples based on TiO2 reinforced caprylic acid hollow fiber solid/liquid phase microextraction.

PubMed

Bahar, Shahriyar; Es'haghi, Zarrin; Nezhadali, Azizollah; Banaei, Alireza; Bohlooli, Shahab

2017-04-15

In the present study, nano-sized titanium oxides were applied for preconcentration and determination of Pb(II) in aqueous samples using hollow fiber based solid-liquid phase microextraction (HF-SLPME) combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In this work, the nanoparticles dispersed in caprylic acid as an extraction solvent was placed into a polypropylene porous hollow fiber segment supported by capillary forces and sonification. This membrane was in direct contact with solutions containing Pb (II). The effect of experimental conditions on the extraction, such as pH, stirring rate, sample volume, and extraction time were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the performance of the proposed method was investigated for the determination of Pb (II) in food and water samples. The method was linear in the range of 0.6-3000μgmL -1 . The relative standard deviations and relative recovery of Pb (II) was 4.9% and 99.3%, respectively (n=5). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A HERSCHEL SURVEY OF THE [N II] 205 {mu}m LINE IN LOCAL LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES: THE [N II] 205 {mu}m EMISSION AS A STAR FORMATION RATE INDICATOR

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

Zhao Yinghe; Gao Yu; Lu, Nanyao

2013-03-01

We present, for the first time, a statistical study of [N II] 205 {mu}m line emission for a large sample of local luminous infrared galaxies using Herschel Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver Fourier Transform Spectrometer (SPIRE FTS) data. For our sample of galaxies, we investigate the correlation between the [N II] luminosity (L{sub [N{sub II]}}) and the total infrared luminosity (L{sub IR}), as well as the dependence of L{sub [N{sub II]}}/L{sub IR} ratio on L{sub IR}, far-infrared colors (IRAS f{sub 60}/f{sub 100}), and the [O III] 88 {mu}m to [N II] luminosity ratio. We find that L{sub [N{sub II]}} correlatesmore » almost linearly with L{sub IR} for non-active galactic nucleus galaxies (all having L{sub IR} < 10{sup 12} L{sub Sun }) in our sample, which implies that L{sub [N{sub II]}} can serve as a star formation rate tracer which is particularly useful for high-redshift galaxies that will be observed with forthcoming submillimeter spectroscopic facilities such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Our analysis shows that the deviation from the mean L{sub [N{sub II]}}-L{sub IR} relation correlates with tracers of the ionization parameter, which suggests that the scatter in this relation is mainly due to the variations in the hardness, and/or ionization parameter, of the ambient galactic UV field among the sources in our sample.« less

Perceptions of Body Weight and Nutritional Practices among Male and Female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Athletes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Valerie J.; Goldufsky, Tatum M.; Schlaff, Rebecca A.

2016-01-01

Objective: This study investigated body weight and nutritional behavior perceptions among Division II collegiate athletes. Participants: The sample was composed of 155 collegiate athletes who responded to a survey. Methods: Data were self-reported by athletes via questionnaire. Independent-sample t tests were used to identify significant gender…

Prevalence of Axis II disorders in a sample of clients undertaking psychiatric evaluation for sex reassignment surgery.

PubMed

Madeddu, Fabio; Prunas, Antonio; Hartmann, Diamante

2009-12-01

The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of Axis II disorders (DSM-IV-TR) in a sample of clients requesting sex reassignment surgery (SRS), consecutively admitted to a Gender Identity Disorder (GID) psychiatric unit. Fifty clients self-referred as transsexuals (34 biological males and 16 biological females; mean age = 31.74 +/- 7.06 years) were assessed through the SCID-II after a preliminary evaluation to exclude current major psychiatric disorders. Prevalence of any Axis II disorder was 52% (N = 26), with no significant differences related to biological sex. The most frequent personality disorders were Cluster B PDs (22% of total sample), followed by Cluster C (12%) and Cluster A PDs (2%). A significant prevalence of NOS PD (16%) was also found. Our data offers prevalence estimates slightly higher than those found in previous studies and does not provide evidence for any differences in the psychopathological profile and severity between MtF and FtM transsexuals.

Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) in Latin-American migrants in Barcelona (Spain).

PubMed

Abras, Alba; Gállego, Montserrat; Muñoz, Carmen; Juiz, Natalia A; Ramírez, Juan Carlos; Cura, Carolina I; Tebar, Silvia; Fernández-Arévalo, Anna; Pinazo, María-Jesús; de la Torre, Leonardo; Posada, Elizabeth; Navarro, Ferran; Espinal, Paula; Ballart, Cristina; Portús, Montserrat; Gascón, Joaquim; Schijman, Alejandro G

2017-04-01

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is divided into six Discrete Typing Units (DTUs): TcI-TcVI. We aimed to identify T. cruzi DTUs in Latin-American migrants in the Barcelona area (Spain) and to assess different molecular typing approaches for the characterization of T. cruzi genotypes. Seventy-five peripheral blood samples were analyzed by two real-time PCR methods (qPCR) based on satellite DNA (SatDNA) and kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA). The 20 samples testing positive in both methods, all belonging to Bolivian individuals, were submitted to DTU characterization using two PCR-based flowcharts: multiplex qPCR using TaqMan probes (MTq-PCR), and conventional PCR. These samples were also studied by sequencing the SatDNA and classified as type I (TcI/III), type II (TcII/IV) and type I/II hybrid (TcV/VI). Ten out of the 20 samples gave positive results in the flowcharts: TcV (5 samples), TcII/V/VI (3) and mixed infections by TcV plus TcII (1) and TcV plus TcII/VI (1). By SatDNA sequencing, we classified the 20 samples, 19 as type I/II and one as type I. The most frequent DTU identified by both flowcharts, and suggested by SatDNA sequencing in the remaining samples with low parasitic loads, TcV, is common in Bolivia and predominant in peripheral blood. The mixed infection by TcV-TcII was detected for the first time simultaneously in Bolivian migrants. PCR-based flowcharts are very useful to characterize DTUs during acute infection. SatDNA sequence analysis cannot discriminate T. cruzi populations at the level of a single DTU but it enabled us to increase the number of characterized cases in chronically infected patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distinct genetic difference between the Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from North Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

PubMed

Fong, Mun-Yik; Rashdi, Sarah A A; Yusof, Ruhani; Lau, Yee-Ling

2015-02-21

Plasmodium knowlesi is one of the monkey malaria parasites that can cause human malaria. The Duffy binding protein of P. knowlesi (PkDBPαII) is essential for the parasite's invasion into human and monkey erythrocytes. A previous study on P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia reported high level of genetic diversity in the PkDBPαII. Furthermore, 36 amino acid haplotypes were identified and these haplotypes could be separated into allele group I and allele group II. In the present study, the PkDBPαII of clinical isolates from the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah in North Borneo was investigated, and compared with the PkDBPαII of Peninsular Malaysia isolates. Blood samples from 28 knowlesi malaria patients were used. These samples were collected between 2011 and 2013 from hospitals in North Borneo. The PkDBPαII region of the isolates was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli, and sequenced. The genetic diversity, natural selection and phylogenetics of PkDBPαII haplotypes were analysed using MEGA5 and DnaSP ver. 5.10.00 programmes. Forty-nine PkDBPαII sequences were obtained. Comparison at the nucleotide level against P. knowlesi strain H as reference sequence revealed 58 synonymous and 102 non-synonymous mutations. Analysis on these mutations showed that PkDBPαII was under purifying (negative) selection. At the amino acid level, 38 different PkDBPαII haplotypes were identified. Twelve of the 28 blood samples had mixed haplotype infections. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the haplotypes were in allele group I, but they formed a sub-group that was distinct from those of Peninsular Malaysia. Wright's FST fixation index indicated high genetic differentiation between the North Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia haplotypes. This study is the first to report the genetic diversity and natural selection of PkDBPαII of P. knowlesi from Borneo Island. The PkDBPαII haplotypes found in this study were distinct from those from Peninsular Malaysia. This difference may not be attributed to geographical separation because other genetic markers studied thus far such as the P. knowlesi circumsporozoite protein gene and small subunit ribosomal RNA do not display such differentiation. Immune evasion may possibly be the reason for the differentiation.

40 CFR Appendix II to Part 600 - Sample Fuel Economy Calculations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Sample Fuel Economy Calculations II Appendix II to Part 600 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY FUEL ECONOMY AND CARBON-RELATED EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Pt. 600, App. II Appendix II to Part 600—Sample Fuel Economy Calculations (...

Impregnated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as efficient sorbent for the solid phase extraction of trace amounts of heavy metal ions in food and water samples.

PubMed

Gouda, Ayman A; Al Ghannam, Sheikha M

2016-07-01

A new, sensitive and simple solid phase extraction (SPE), separation and preconcentration method of some heavy metal ions, Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) at trace levels using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) impregnated with 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)orcinol (BTAO) from food and water samples were investigated. The effect of analytical parameters was examined. The metals retained on the nanotubes at pH 7.0 were eluted by 5.0mL HNO3 (2.0molL(-1)). The influence of matrix ions on the proposed method was evaluated. The preconcentration factor was calculated and found to be 100. The detection limits (LODs) for Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were found at 0.70, 1.2, 0.80, 2.6 and 2.2μgL(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) and the recoveries of the standard addition method were lower than 5.0% and 95-102%, respectively. The new procedure was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of the studied metal ions in various food and water samples and validated using certified reference materials SRM 1570A (spinach leaves) with satisfactory and compatible results. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An examination of racial bias in the Beck Depression Inventory-II.

PubMed

Sashidharan, Tracy; Pawlow, Laura A; Pettibone, Jonathan C

2012-04-01

Historically, many psychological measures were developed and standardized based on a primarily Caucasian population. These tests are subsequently applied to minorities and may be inappropriate and possibly even pathologizing. The widely used Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was initially standardized on a sample of Caucasian university students and its use with minorities has only recently been investigated. This study examined the possibility of racial bias in the BDI-II by comparing Caucasian and African American Midwestern university students. A hierarchical multiple regression compared the scores of the BDI-II with a similar measure of depression that is standardized for use with African Americans. There was no evidence of racial bias discovered in the BDI-II in this sample. Implications and future directions of research are discussed. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved.

The correlation between cellulose allomorphs (I and II) and conversion after removal of hemicellulose and lignin of lignocellulose.

PubMed

Song, Yanliang; Zhang, Jingzhi; Zhang, Xu; Tan, Tianwei

2015-10-01

H2SO4, NaOH and H3PO4 were applied to decompose lignocellulose samples (giant reeds, pennisetum and cotton stalks) to investigate the correlation between cellulose allomorphs (cellulose I and II) and conversion of cellulose. The effect of removal of hemicellulose and lignin on the surface morphology, crystallinity index (CrI), cellulose allomorphs (cellulose I and II), and enzymatic hydrolysis under different pretreatments was also studied. CrI caused by H3PO4 pretreatment reached 11.19%, 24.93% and 8.15% for the three samples, respectively. Corn stalk showed highest conversion of cellulose among three samples, irrespective of the pretreatment used. This accounted for the widely use of corn stalk as the renewable crop substrate to synthesize biofuels like ethanol. CrI of cellulose I (CrI-I) negatively affects cellulose conversion but CrI of cellulose II (CrI-II) positively affects cellulose conversion. It contributes to make the strategy to transform cellulose I to cellulose II and enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous Automatic Electrochemical Detection of Zinc, Cadmium, Copper and Lead Ions in Environmental Samples Using a Thin-Film Mercury Electrode and an Artificial Neural Network

PubMed Central

Kudr, Jiri; Nguyen, Hoai Viet; Gumulec, Jaromir; Nejdl, Lukas; Blazkova, Iva; Ruttkay-Nedecky, Branislav; Hynek, David; Kynicky, Jindrich; Adam, Vojtech; Kizek, Rene

2015-01-01

In this study a device for automatic electrochemical analysis was designed. A three electrodes detection system was attached to a positioning device, which enabled us to move the electrode system from one well to another of a microtitre plate. Disposable carbon tip electrodes were used for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) ion quantification, while Zn(II) did not give signal in this electrode configuration. In order to detect all mentioned heavy metals simultaneously, thin-film mercury electrodes (TFME) were fabricated by electrodeposition of mercury on the surface of carbon tips. In comparison with bare electrodes the TMFEs had lower detection limits and better sensitivity. In addition to pure aqueous heavy metal solutions, the assay was also performed on mineralized rock samples, artificial blood plasma samples and samples of chicken embryo organs treated with cadmium. An artificial neural network was created to evaluate the concentrations of the mentioned heavy metals correctly in mixture samples and an excellent fit was observed (R2 = 0.9933). PMID:25558996

The Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II): A Cross-Sample Structural Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strunk, Kamden K.; Lane, Forrest C.

2017-01-01

A common concern about the Beck Depression Inventory, Second edition (BDI-II) among researchers in the area of depression has long been the single-factor scoring scheme. Methods exist for making cross-sample comparisons of latent structure but tend to rely on estimation methods that can be imprecise and unnecessarily complex. This study presents a…

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) in the Standardization Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Donders, Jacobus

2008-01-01

The purpose of this study is to determine the latent structure of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II; Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 2000) at three different age levels, using the standardization sample. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analyses are performed to test four competing hypothetical models for fit and…

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for identification and characterization of aluminum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimas Prasetya, Oki; Maulana, Trisna; Khumaeni, Ali

2018-05-01

Identification of aluminum is required to evaluate the quality of metallic products in industry. In this study, identification and characterization of aluminum has been carried out by using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS can be analyzed elements in metal rapidly and does not require more sample preparation, and is a low-cost compared to other conventional methods. The samples used in this study were pure aluminum plate and Indonesian currency coin. Experimentally, a pulse neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG laser, 1064 nm) was irradiated on a metal sample surface at a reduced pressure of air to produce a luminous plasma. The plasma was then detected by optical multichannel analyzer to get emission spectrum. Emission spectrum of neutral and ionic aluminum (Al) lines of Al I (309,28 nm), Al II (359,75 nm), Al I (396,15 nm), Al II (448,98 nm), Al II (561,32 nm), Al II (660,96 nm), Al II (781,23 nm) was clearly detected from the pure aluminum plate. The same spectrum of Al was also detected from the Indonesian currency coin. However, the emission intensity of Al is lower for Indonesian currency coin.

Lead (II) removal from natural soils by enhanced electrokinetic remediation.

PubMed

Altin, Ahmet; Degirmenci, Mustafa

2005-01-20

Electrokinetic remediation is a very effective method to remove metal from fine-grained soils having low adsorption and buffering capacity. However, remediation of soil having high alkali and adsorption capacity via the electrokinetic method is a very difficult process. Therefore, enhancement techniques are required for use in these soil types. In this study, the effect of the presence of minerals having high alkali and cation exchange capacity in natural soil polluted with lead (II) was investigated by means of the efficiency of electrokinetic remediation method. Natural soil samples containing clinoptilolite, gypsum and calcite minerals were used in experimental studies. Moreover, a sample containing kaolinite minerals was studied to compare with the results obtained from other samples. Best results for soils bearing alkali and high sorption capacity minerals were obtained upon addition of 3 mol AcH and application of 20 V constant potential after a remediation period of 220 h. In these test conditions, lead (II) removal efficiencies for these samples varied between 60% and 70% up to 0.55 normalized distance. Under the same conditions, removal efficiencies in kaolinite sample varied between 50% and 95% up to 0.9 normalized distance.

Online spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) by flow injection combined with low pressure ion chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shujuan; Li, Nan; Zhang, Xinshen; Yang, Dongjing; Jiang, Heimei

2015-03-01

A simple and new low pressure ion chromatography combined with flow injection spectrophotometric procedure for determining Fe(II) and Fe(III) was established. It is based on the selective adsorption of low pressure ion chromatography column to Fe(II) and Fe(III), the online reduction reaction of Fe(III) and the reaction of Fe(II) in sodium acetate with phenanthroline, resulting in an intense orange complex with a suitable absorption at 515 nm. Various chemical (such as the concentration of colour reagent, eluant and reductive agent) and instrumental parameters (reaction coil length, reductive coil length and wavelength) were studied and were optimized. Under the optimum conditions calibration graph of Fe(II)/Fe(III) was linear in the Fe(II)/Fe(III) range of 0.040-1.0 mg/L. The detection limit of Fe(III) and Fe(II) was respectively 3.09 and 1.55 μg/L, the relative standard deviation (n = 10) of Fe(II) and Fe(III) 1.89% and 1.90% for 0.5 mg/L of Fe(II) and Fe(III) respectively. About 2.5 samples in 1 h can be analyzed. The interfering effects of various chemical species were studied. The method was successfully applied in the determination of water samples.

BetaNMR Experiments on Liquid Samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gottberg, A.; Stachura, M.; Hemmingsen, L.; Macfarlane, W. A.; Bio-Beta-Nmr Collaboration; Collaps Collaboration

2016-09-01

In 2012 betaNMR spectroscopy was successfully applied on liquid samples; an achievement which opens new opportunities in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. This project was motivated by the need for finding a new experimental approach to directly study biologically highly relevant metal ions, such as Mg(II), Cu(I), Ca(II), and Zn(II), which are silent in most spectroscopic techniques. The resonance spectrum recorded for Mg-31 implanted into an ionic liquid sample showed two resonances which originate from Mg ions occupying two different coordination geometries, illustrating that this technique can discriminate between different structures. This proof-of-principle result lays the foundation for studies of these metal ions at low concentrations and in environments of biological relevance where other methods are silent. The prototype chamber for bio-betaNMR allows for experiments not only on different samples such as: liquids, gels and solids, but also operates at different vacuum environments. In order to exploit the potential of betaNMR on liquid samples, tests with polarized beams of Mg-29 and Mg-31 have recently been performed at the ISAC facility at TRIUMF.

40 CFR Appendix II to Subpart E - Sampling Tables

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Sampling Tables II Appendix II to Subpart E Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) NOISE ABATEMENT PROGRAMS... II to Subpart E—Sampling Tables Table 1—Model Year Production Volume of 50-99 Vehicles Cumulative...

40 CFR Appendix II to Subpart E - Sampling Tables

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Sampling Tables II Appendix II to Subpart E Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) NOISE ABATEMENT PROGRAMS... II to Subpart E—Sampling Tables Table 1—Model Year Production Volume of 50-99 Vehicles Cumulative...

Real-Time Binding Kinetic Analyses of the Interaction of the Dietary Stain Orange II with Dentin Matrix.

PubMed

Alraies, Amr; Cole, David K; S Rees, Jeremy; Glasse, Carl; Young, Nigel; Waddington, Rachel J; Sloan, Alastair J

2018-06-09

Dietary stains can be adsorbed into the dentin of teeth. Using Orange II as a model dietary stain, this study investigated the strength of its interaction with the mineral and protein components of dentin matrix and how hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) treatment influences this interaction. Dentin slices were prepared from human teeth and were either deproteinized (5.6% sodium hypochlorite, 12 days), demineralised (0.5 M EDTA, 3 days) or left as intact control samples. Samples were stained with Orange II for 1-168 h, during which staining intensity was quantified by image analysis. Similarly, uptake of stain by deproteinized / demineralized samples treated with 10 or 30% H 2 O 2 was investigated. Using surface plasmon resonance technology, real-time binding kinetics were determined assessing the interaction of orange II with the dentin matrix protein constituents, collagen type I, biglycan, decorin, dentin sialoprotein and osteopontin. Deproteinization of dentin matrix reduced the uptake of the orange II compared to the intact control. Conversely, demineralization of dentin samples increased the uptake of the dye. Treatment of samples for 48 h with H 2 O 2 reduced subsequent uptake of the orange II. Real-time kinetic analysis indicated moderate strength of binding for Orange II with collagen type I, weak binding with decorin and biglycan and negligible binding with dentine sialoprotein and osteopontin. These results indicate a predominant role for collagen type I, which accounts for 90% of the organic protein matrix of teeth, for attracting dietary stains. Binding analyses indicate that the interaction is highly dissociable, and further binding is reduced following H 2 O 2 treatment. This study provides new information regarding adsorption of dietary stains into tooth dentin, suggesting that they are attracted and moderately bound to the collagen type I matrix. This study also contributes valuable information for discussion for considering the effect of H 2 O 2 on bleaching teeth and its influence on subsequent uptake of dietary stains following whitening treatments. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Sex Differences in Item Functioning in the Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills-II Vocabulary Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

French, Brian F.; Gotch, Chad M.

2013-01-01

The Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills-II (CIBS-II) is a diagnostic battery intended for children in grades 1st through 6th. The aim of this study was to test for item invariance, or differential item functioning (DIF), of the CIBS-II across sex in the standardization sample through the use of item response theory DIF detection…

Nearly simultaneous observations of chromospheric and coronal radiative losses of cool stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schrijver, C. J.; Dobson, A. K.; Radick, R. R.

1992-01-01

The flux-flux relationships of cool stars are studied on the basis of nearly simultaneous measurements of Ca II H+K, Mg II h+k, and soft X-ray fluxes. A linear relationship is derived between IUE Mg II h+k fluxes and Mount Wilson Ca II H+K fluxes which were obtained within 36 hr of each other for a sample of 26 F5-K3 main-sequence stars. Nearly simultaneous EXOSAT soft X-ray fluxes are compared with Ca II H+K fluxes for a sample of 20 dwarfs and gaints with spectral types ranging from F6 to K2, and 72 additional cool stars for which noncontemporaneous Ca II H+K and EINSTEIN soft X-ray fluxes are available are compared. It is confirmed that a nonradiatively heated chromosphere exists on even the least active main-sequence stars. This basal chromosphere is probably independent of stellar magnetic activity.

SP70-alpha-benzoin oxime chelating resin for preconcentration-separation of Pb(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Cr(III) in environmental samples.

PubMed

Narin, Ibrahim; Surme, Yavuz; Bercin, Erdogan; Soylak, Mustafa

2007-06-25

In the presented work, alpha-benzoin oxime immobilized SP70 chelating resin was synthesized for separation and preconcentration of Pb(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Cr(III). The optimization procedure for analytical parameters including pH, eluent type, flow rate, etc. was examined in order to gain quantitative recoveries of analyte ions. The effects of foreign ions on the recoveries of studied metal ions were also investigated. The detection limits (3sigma) were found to be 16.0, 4.2, 1.3, 2.4microgL(-1) for Pb, Cd, Co and Cr, respectively. The preconcentration factor was 75 for Pb, 100 for Cd, Co and Cr. The optimized method was validated with certified reference materials and successfully applied to the waters, crops and pharmaceutical samples with good results (recoveries greater than 95%, R.S.D. lower than 10%).

Undergraduate student mental health at Makerere University, Uganda

PubMed Central

OVUGA, EMILIO; BOARDMAN, JED; WASSERMAN, DANUTA

2006-01-01

There is little information on the current mental health of University students in Uganda. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of depressed mood and suicidal ideation among students at Makerere University. Two student samples participated. Sample I comprised 253 fresh students admitted to all faculties at the University in the academic year 2000/2001, selected by a simple random sampling procedure. Sample II comprised 101 students admitted to the Faculty of Medicine during the academic year 2002/2003. The prevalence of depressed mood was measured using the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The prevalence of depressed mood (BDI score 10 or more) was significantly higher in sample I (16.2%) than sample II (4.0%). Sample I members were significantly more likely than those of sample II to report lifetime and past week suicide ideation. Thus, there is a high prevalence of mental health problems among the general population of new students entering Makerere University and this is significantly higher than for new students in the Faculty of Medicine. PMID:16757997

Determination of heavy metal ions in vegetable samples using a magnetic metal-organic framework nanocomposite sorbent.

PubMed

Hassanpour, Akbar; Hosseinzadeh-Khanmiri, Rahim; Babazadeh, Mirzaagha; Abolhasani, Jafar; Ghorbani-Kalhor, Ebrahim

2015-01-01

This paper describes the synthesis and application of a novel magnetic metal-organic framework (MOF) [(Fe₃O₄-benzoyl isothiocyanate)/Cu₃(benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate)₂] to pre-concentrate trace amounts of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cr(III) ions and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. A Box-Behnken design was used to find the parameters affecting the pre-concentration procedure through response surface methodology. Three factors including uptake time, amount of the magnetic sorbent and pH of the sample were selected as affecting factors in the sorption step, and four factors including type, volume and concentration of the eluent as well as the elution time were selected in the elution step for the optimisation study. The opted values were 30 mg, 10.1 min, 5.9, EDTA, 4.0 ml, 0.57 mol l(-1) EDTA solution and 13.0 min for the amount of the magnetic sorbent, uptake time, pH of the sample, type, volume, concentration of the eluent, and elution time, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.12, 0.7, 0.16, and 0.4 ng ml(-1) for Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cr(III) ions, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the method were less than 7.2% for five separate batch experiments for the determination of 30 μg l(-1) of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cr(III) ions. The sorption capacity of the [(Fe₃O₄-benzoyl isothiocyanate)/MOF] was 175 mg g(-1) for Cd(II), 168 mg g(-1) for Pb(II), 210 mg g(-1) for Zn(II) and 196 mg g(-1) for Cr(III). It was found that the magnetic MOF nanocomposite demonstrated a higher capacity compared with Fe₃O₄-benzoyl isothiocyanate. Finally, the magnetic MOF nanocomposite was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of trace amounts of the heavy metal ions from vegetable samples.

Comparison of two methods for blood lead analysis in cattle: graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and LeadCare(R) II system.

PubMed

Bischoff, Karyn; Gaskill, Cynthia; Erb, Hollis N; Ebel, Joseph G; Hillebrandt, Joseph

2010-09-01

The current study compared the LeadCare(R) II test kit system with graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for blood lead (Pb) analysis in 56 cattle accidentally exposed to Pb in the field. Blood Pb concentrations were determined by LeadCare II within 4 hr of collection and after 72 hr of refrigeration. Blood Pb concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and samples that were coagulated (n = 12) were homogenized before analysis. There was strong rank correlation (R(2) = 0.96) between atomic absorption and LeadCare II (within 4 hr of collection), and a conversion formula was determined for values within the observed range (3-91 mcg/dl, although few had values >40 mcg/dl). Median and mean blood pb concentrations for atomic absorption were 7.7 and 15.9 mcg/dl, respectively; for LeadCare II, medians were 5.2 mcg/dl at 4 hr and 4.9 mcg/dl at 72 hr, and means were 12.4 and 11.7, respectively. LeadCare II results at 4 hr strongly correlated with 72 hr results (R(2) = 0.96), but results at 72 hr were lower (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between coagulated and uncoagulated samples run by atomic absorption. Although there have been several articles that compared LeadCare with other analytical techniques, all were for the original system, not LeadCare II. The present study indicated that LeadCare II results correlated well with atomic absorption over a wide range of blood Pb concentrations and that refrigerating samples for up to 72 hr before LeadCare II analysis was acceptable for clinical purposes.

Developing planetary protection technology- microbial diversity of the Mars Orbiter Odyssey and the spacecraft assembly and encapsulation facility II

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duc, M. La; Chen, F.; Kern, R.; Koukol, R.; Baker, A.; Venkateswaran, K.

2001-01-01

A study in which several surface samples, retrieved from both the Mars Odyssey Spacecraft and the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility II (SAEF-II), were prcesed and evaluated by both molecular and traditional culture-based methods for the microbial diversity.

SPE coupled to AAS trace determination of Cd(II) and Zn(II) in food samples using amine functionalized GMA-MMA-EGDMA terpolymer: Isotherm and kinetic studies.

PubMed

Islam, Aminul; Kumar, Suneel; Zaidi, Noushi; Ahmad, Hilal

2016-12-15

An ethylenediamine functionalized glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) based terpolymeric chelating resin was synthesized for the separation and preconcentration of Cd(II) and Zn(II) by SPE from bread, rice and fruit juice prior to FAAS determination. The resin was characterized by FT-IR, TGA/DTA, SEM, BET analysis and EDS. Synthesized resin shows a good capacity of 53.96mgg(-1) for Cd(II) and 24.19mgg(-1) for Zn(II) at pH 8.0. Five isotherm equilibrium models were studied to explain the sorption phenomenon out of which Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Scatchard and Temkin models were found to be the best fitted. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were observed to be 1.5 and 5.1μgL(-1) for Cd and 1.2 and 4.1μgL(-1) for Zn. The reliability of the method was investigated by the analysis of SRM and the recovery of analytes from various spiked food samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clathrate structure-type recognition: Application to hydrate nucleation and crystallisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauricella, Marco; Meloni, Simone; Liang, Shuai; English, Niall J.; Kusalik, Peter G.; Ciccotti, Giovanni

2015-06-01

For clathrate-hydrate polymorphic structure-type (sI versus sII), geometric recognition criteria have been developed and validated. These are applied to the study of the rich interplay and development of both sI and sII motifs in a variety of hydrate-nucleation events for methane and H2S hydrate studied by direct and enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the case of nucleation of methane hydrate from enhanced-sampling simulation, we notice that already at the transition state, ˜80% of the enclathrated CH4 molecules are contained in a well-structured (sII) clathrate-like crystallite. For direct MD simulation of nucleation of H2S hydrate, some sI/sII polymorphic diversity was encountered, and it was found that a realistic dissipation of the nucleation energy (in view of non-equilibrium relaxation to either microcanonical (NVE) or isothermal-isobaric (NPT) distributions) is important to determine the relative propensity to form sI versus sII motifs.

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

Starcher, Autumn N.; Elzinga, Evert J.; Sparks, Donald L.

Previous research demonstrated the formation of single divalent metal (Co, Ni, and ZnAl) and mixed divalent metal (NiZnAl) layered double hydroxide (LDH) phases from reactions of the divalent metal with Al-bearing substrates and soils in both laboratory experiments and in the natural environment. Recently Fe(II)-Al-LDH phases have been found in laboratory batch reaction studies, and although they have yet to be found in the natural environment. Potential locations of Fe(II)-Al-LDH phases in nature include areas with suboxic and anoxic conditions. Because these areas can be environments of significant contaminant accumulation, it is important to understand the possible interactions and impactsmore » of contaminant elements on LDH phase formation. One such contaminant, Zn, can also form as an LDH and has been found to form as a mixed divalent layered hydroxide phase. To understand how Zn impacts the formation of Fe(II)-Al-LDH phase formation and kinetics, 3 mM or 0.8 mM Fe(II) and 0.8 mM Zn were batch reacted with either 10 g/L pyrophyllite or 7.5 g/L γ-Al2O3 for up to three months under anoxic conditions. Aqueous samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and solid samples were analyzed with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Shell-by-shell fits of Fe(II) and co-sorption samples with pyrophyllite show the formation of a mixed divalent metal (Fe(II)-Zn-Al) layered hydroxide phase, while Fe(II) and Zn co-sorption samples with γ-Al2O3 produce Fe(II)-Al-LDH phases and Zn in inner-sphere complexation with the γ-Al2O3. This study demonstrates the formation of a mixed divalent metal layered hydroxide and further iterates the importance of sorbent reactivity on LDH phase formation.« less

Influence of polymorphism on the surface energetics of salmeterol xinafoate crystallized from supercritical fluids.

PubMed

Tong, Henry H Y; Shekunov, Boris Yu; York, Peter; Chow, Albert H L

2002-05-01

To characterize the surface thermodynamic properties of two polymorphic forms (I and II) of salmeterol xinafoate (SX) prepared from supercritical fluids and a commercial micronized SX (form 1) sample (MSX). Inverse gas chromatographic analysis was conducted on the SX samples at 30, 40, 50, and 60 degrees C using the following probes at infinite dilution: nonpolar probes (NPs; alkane C5-C9 series); and polar probes (PPs; i.e., dichloromethane, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, and tetrahydrofuran). Surface thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and Hansen solubility parameters were calculated from the retention times of the probes. The free energies of adsorption (- deltaG(A)) of the three samples obtained at various temperatures follow this order: SX-II > MSX approximately/= SX-I for the NPs; and SX-II > MSX > SX-I for the PPs. For both NPs and PPs, SX-II exhibits a less negative enthalpy of adsorption (deltaH(A)) and a much less negative entropy of adsorption (ASA) than MSX and SX-I, suggesting that the high -AGA of SX-II is contributed by a considerably reduced entropy loss. The dispersive component of surface free energy (gammas(D)) is the highest for MSX but the lowest for SX-II at all temperatures studied, whereas the specific component of surface free energy of adsorption (-deltaG(A)SP) is higher for SX-II than for SX-I. That SX-II displays the highest -deltaG(A) for the NP but the lowest gammasD of all the SX samples may be explained by the additional -AGA change associated with an increased mobility of the probe molecules on the less stable and more disordered SX-II surface. The acid and base parameters, K(A) and K(D) that were derived from deltaH(A)SP reveal significant differences in the relative acid and base properties among the samples. The calculated Hansen solubility parameters (deltaD, deltap, and deltaH) indicate that the surface of SX-II is the most polar and most energetic of all the three samples in terms of specific interactions (mostly hydrogen bonding). The metastable SX-II polymorph possesses a higher surface free energy, higher surface entropy, and a more polar surface than the stable SX-I polymorph.

Ligandless surfactant mediated solid phase extraction combined with Fe₃O₄ nano-particle for the preconcentration and determination of cadmium and lead in water and soil samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry: multivariate strategy.

PubMed

Jalbani, N; Soylak, M

2014-04-01

In the present study, a microextraction technique combining Fe3O4 nano-particle with surfactant mediated solid phase extraction ((SM-SPE)) was successfully developed for the preconcentration/separation of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water and soil samples. The analytes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effective variables such as the amount of adsorbent (NPs), the pH, concentration of non-ionic (TX-114) and centrifugation time (min) were investigated by Plackett-Burman (PBD) design. The important variables were further optimized by central composite design (CCD). Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits (LODs) of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 0.15 and 0.74 µg/L, respectively. The validation of the proposed procedure was checked by the analysis of certified reference materials of TMDA 53.3 fortified water and GBW07425 soil. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water and soil samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of carrier properties on surface characteristics of sorbents modified with acetylacetonates Ni (II), Cu (II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faustova, Zhanna; Matveeva, Tatiana; Slizhov, Yuriy

2017-11-01

Sorbents based on Chromaton N-AW with layers of mesoporous silica gel modified with acetylacetonate nickel (II) and copper (II) were obtained. The porous structure of sorbents based on synthesized silica gel and industrial samples of Chromaton N, Silipore 075, Silochrom C-120 was studied. All studied samples are mesoporous. For sorbents based on commercially available Chromaton N, Silipore 075, and Silochrome 120, the mesopore dimensions vary in a wide range from 10 to 50 nm. For synthesized silica gel and chelate-containing sorbents, a narrower pore distribution is observed in the range of 5-15 nm, which indicates the uniformity of its surface. A comparative analysis of the effect of carrier properties on the acid-base properties of the surface of chelate-containing sorbents is carried out. The acid-base nature of the modifier is more pronounced in the case of synthesized silica gel by the sol-gel method.

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

PubMed

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

2010-01-01

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

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

PubMed

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

2017-01-01

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

Functionalization of magnetic hollow porous oval shape NiFe2O4 as a highly selective sorbent for the simultaneous determination of five heavy metals in real samples.

PubMed

Liu, Mingyang; Yang, Lijun; Zhang, Lei

2016-12-01

In this study, a functionalized magnetic hollow porous oval-shape NiFe 2 O 4 (MHPO-NiFe 2 O 4 ) was designed by a facile synthesis procedure, and employed as magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) material to extract several heavy metal ions. As-prepared MHPO-NiFe 2 O 4 exhibited superior adsorption capacities of 20.17, 16.64, 16.82, 9.69 and 16.58mgg -1 , for Cu(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Zn(II), and was then used to detect these heavy metals elements in real samples by combining with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The possible mechanism of the enrichment of heavy metals ions on MHPO-NiFe 2 O 4 was proposed, which involved the dominant adsorption and desorption. The detection limits were as low as 0.015, 0.13, 0.062, 0.035 and 0.46μgL -1 for Cu(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Zn(II), respectively. A good repeatability was obtained with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.87%. Moreover, the method was successfully utilized for the analysis of five heavy metals in real samples (cabbage, lettuce, apple, seawater), with satisfactory recoveries in the range of 92-108%. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry based on graphite nanofibers-Nafion composite modified bismuth film electrode.

PubMed

Li, Dongyue; Jia, Jianbo; Wang, Jianguo

2010-12-15

A bismuth-film modified graphite nanofibers-Nafion glassy carbon electrode (BiF/GNFs-NA/GCE) was constructed for the simultaneous determination of trace Cd(II) and Pb(II). The electrochemical properties and applications of the modified electrode were studied. Operational parameters such as deposition potential, deposition time, and bismuth ion concentration were optimized for the purpose of determination of trace metal ions in 0.10 M acetate buffer solution (pH 4.5). Under optimal conditions, based on three times the standard deviation of the baseline, the limits of detection were 0.09 μg L(-1) for Cd(II) and 0.02 μg L(-1) for Pb(II) with a 10 min preconcentration. In addition, the BiF/GNFs-NA/GCE displayed good reproducibility and selectivity, making it suitable for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in real sample such as river water and human blood samples. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of social support on psychological distress in Canadian adults with bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Warren, Christie D; Fowler, Ken; Speed, David; Walsh, Anna

2018-05-08

Individuals with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and bipolar II disorder (BD-II) are at higher risk for experiencing high levels of psychological distress and low levels of social support. The primary objectives of this study were to examine perceived social support and psychological distress among Canadian adults with self-reported BD-I or BD-II as diagnosed by a health professional and explore the relationship between types of social support and psychological distress within this sample. Using a cross-sectional, national datafile, 563 Canadian male and female adults (20-64 years) who reported being diagnosed with BD-I or BD-II were investigated using the Social Provisions Scale (SPS), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). It was observed that while the BD-I or BD-II sample had significantly lower SPS scores and significantly higher K10 scores than the overall Canadian sample, age and support in the form of reassurance of worth and social integration were associated with decreased psychological distress. Further, a diagnosis of BD-I and BD-II was found to moderate the effect of social support on psychological distress. Despite the limitations, which include self-reported diagnosis of BD-I and BD-II and potential exclusion of those who are not diagnosed but have BD-I or BD-II, these findings suggest that reassurance of worth and social integration may act as protective factors for psychological distress among individuals with BD-I or BD-II.

Phase II of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC II): rationale and methods.

PubMed

Weiland, S K; Björkstén, B; Brunekreef, B; Cookson, W O C; von Mutius, E; Strachan, D P

2004-09-01

International comparative studies, investigating whether disease incidence or prevalence rates differ between populations and, if so, which factors explain the observed differences, have made important contributions to the understanding of disease aetiology in many areas. In Phase I of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), the prevalence rates of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema in 13-14-yr-olds, assessed by standardised questionnaires, were found to differ >20-fold between the 155 study centres around the world. Phase II of ISAAC aims to identify determinants of these differences by studying informative populations. A detailed study protocol was developed for use in community-based random samples of children aged 9-11 yrs. The study modules include standardised questionnaires with detailed questions on the occurrence and severity of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema, their clinical management, and a broad range of previous and current exposure conditions. In addition, standardised protocols were applied for examination of flexural dermatitis, skin-prick testing, bronchial challenge with hypertonic saline, blood sampling for immunoglobulin E analyses and genotyping, and dust sampling for assessment of indoor exposures to allergens and endotoxin. To date, ISAAC II field work had been completed or started in 30 study centres in 22 countries. The majority of centres are in countries that participated in International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase I and reflect almost the full range of the observed variability in Phase I prevalence rates.

Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging concern in source and treated drinking waters of the United States: Pharmaceuticals.

PubMed

Furlong, Edward T; Batt, Angela L; Glassmeyer, Susan T; Noriega, Mary C; Kolpin, Dana W; Mash, Heath; Schenck, Kathleen M

2017-02-01

Mobile and persistent chemicals that are present in urban wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, may survive on-site or municipal wastewater treatment and post-discharge environmental processes. These pharmaceuticals have the potential to reach surface and groundwaters, essential drinking-water sources. A joint, two-phase U.S. Geological Survey-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study examined source and treated waters from 25 drinking-water treatment plants from across the United States. Treatment plants that had probable wastewater inputs to their source waters were selected to assess the prevalence of pharmaceuticals in such source waters, and to identify which pharmaceuticals persist through drinking-water treatment. All samples were analyzed for 24 pharmaceuticals in Phase I and for 118 in Phase II. In Phase I, 11 pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of nine pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was five. Quantifiable pharmaceutical detections were fewer, with a maximum of five pharmaceuticals in any one sample and a median for all samples of two. In Phase II, 47 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of 41 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was eight. For 37 quantifiable pharmaceuticals in Phase II, median concentrations in source water were below 113ng/L. For both Phase I and Phase II campaigns, substantially fewer pharmaceuticals were detected in treated water samples than in corresponding source-water samples. Seven different pharmaceuticals were detected in all Phase I treated water samples, with a maximum of four detections in any one sample and a median of two pharmaceuticals for all samples. In Phase II a total of 26 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all treated water samples, with a maximum of 20 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample and a median of 2 pharmaceuticals detected for all 25 samples. Source-water type influences the presence of pharmaceuticals in source and treated water. Treatment processes appear effective in reducing concentrations of most pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals more consistently persisting through treatment include carbamazepine, bupropion, cotinine, metoprolol, and lithium. Pharmaceutical concentrations and compositions from this study provide an important base data set for further sublethal, long-term exposure assessments, and for understanding potential effects of these and other contaminants of emerging concern upon human and ecosystem health. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Importance of allochthonous and autochthonous dissolved organic matter in Fe(II) oxidation: A case study in Shizugawa Bay watershed, Japan.

PubMed

Lee, Ying Ping; Fujii, Manabu; Kikuchi, Tetsuro; Natsuike, Masafumi; Ito, Hiroaki; Watanabe, Toru; Yoshimura, Chihiro

2017-08-01

Ferrous iron (Fe[II]) oxidation by dissolved oxygen was investigated in the Shizugawa Bay watershed with particular attention given to the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties on Fe(II) oxidation. To cover a wide spectrum of DOM composition, water samples were collected from various water sources including freshwater (e.g., river water and wastewater effluent) and coastal seawater. Measurement of nanomolar Fe(II) oxidation by using luminol chemiluminescence under dark, air-saturated conditions at 25 °C indicated that spatio-temporal variation of the second-order rate constant (6.7-74.5 M -1  s -1 ) was partially explained by the variation of the sample pH (7.5-8.6). However, at comparable pH values, the oxidation rates for freshwater were generally greater than those for coastal seawater. The substantial decline in oxidation rate constant after the removal of humic-type (allochthonous) DOM suggested that this hydrophobic DOM is a key factor that accelerates the Fe(II) oxidation in the freshwater samples. Observed lower oxidation rates for coastal seawater compared with freshwater and organic ligand-free seawater were likely associated with microbially derived autochthonous DOM, and the variation of Fe(II) oxidation at a fixed pH was best described by fluorescence index that represents the proportion of autochthonous and allochthonous DOM in natural waters. Consistently, Fe(II) oxidation was found to be slower in the presence of cellular exudates from phytoplankton. The present study highlighted the significant effect of DOM composition on the Fe(II) oxidation in inland and coastal waters. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) specifically increased in Italian hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

PubMed

Viggiani, Valentina; Palombi, Sara; Gennarini, Giuseppina; D'Ettorre, Gabriella; De Vito, Corrado; Angeloni, Antonio; Frati, Luigi; Anastasi, Emanuela

2016-10-01

As a marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence II (PIVKA-II) seems to be superior to alpha fetoprotein (AFP). To better characterize the role of PIVKA-II, both AFP and PIVKA-II have been measured in Italian patients with diagnosis of HCC compared with patients affected by non-oncological liver pathologies. Sixty serum samples from patients with HCC, 60 samples from patients with benign liver disease and 60 samples obtained from healthy blood donors were included in the study. PIVKA-II and AFP were measured by LUMIPULSE(®) G1200 (Fujirebio-Europe, Belgium). We considered as PIVKA-II cutoff 70 mAU/ml (mean +3SD) of the values observed in healthy subjects. The evaluation of PIVKA-II showed a positivity of 70% in patients with HCC and 5% in patients with benign diseases (p < 0.0001) whereas high levels of AFP were observed in 55% of HCC patients and in 47% of patients with benign diseases. The combined Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of the two analytes revealed a higher sensitivity (75%) compared to those observed for the individual biomarkers. In conclusion, we demonstrate that as a marker for HCC, PIVKA-II is more specific for HCC and less prone to elevation during chronic liver diseases. The combination of the two biomarkers, evaluated by the ROC analysis, improved the specificity compared to a single marker. These data suggest that the combined analysis of the two markers could be a useful tool in clinical practice.

Heavy metal contents of play dough, face and finger paint samples sold in turkish markets.

PubMed

Erbas, Zeliha; Karatepe, Aslihan; Soylak, Mustafa

2017-08-01

Lead, cadmium, nickel, manganese, cobalt and copper contents of some play dough, face and finger paint samples were determined by using a new solid phase extraction method which has been developed by using multi-walled carbon nanotube with patent blue (V) sodium salt to selectively separate and preconcentrate these metal ions. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the metal ions. Analytical parameters affecting the complex formation and solid phase extraction performance such as pH, the amount of ligand and volume of sample solution were investigated. The recoveries of the studied metal ions were not affected by the foreign ions. Analytes were recovered quantitatively at pH 5.5 and with a nitric acid of 2molL -1 as eluent. Analysis of a certified reference material was performed to validate the method before applying it to determine the metal ions in the real samples. Detection limits were found to be as Pb(II): 7.71μgL -1 , Cu(II): 1.43μgL -1 , Cd(III): 0.21μgL -1 , Mn(II): 0.47μgL -1 , Ni(II): 3.52μgL -1 and Co(II): 1.96μgL -1 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ICS-II USA research design and methodology.

PubMed

Rana, H; Andersen, R M; Nakazono, T T; Davidson, P L

1997-05-01

The purpose of the WHO-sponsored International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes (ICS-II) was to provide policy-markers and researchers with detailed, reliable, and valid data on the oral health situation in their countries or regions, together with comparative data from other dental care delivery systems. ICS-II used a cross-sectional design with no explicit control groups or experimental interventions. A standardized methodology was developed and tested for collecting and analyzing epidemiological, sociocultural, economic, and delivery system data. Respondent information was obtained by household interviews, and clinical examinations were conducted by calibrated oral epidemiologists. Discussed are the sampling design characteristics for the USA research locations, response rates, samples size for interview and oral examination data, weighting procedures, and statistical methods. SUDAAN was used to adjust variance calculations, since complex sampling designs were used.

Beck Depression Inventory--II: College population study.

PubMed

O'Hara, M M; Sprinkle, S D; Ricci, N A

1998-06-01

This study expands on the normative data available for the newly revised Beck Depression Inventory-II. Data from both an outpatient, counseling-center sample (n = 152: 106 women, 46 men) and a classroom sample (n = 152: 79 women, 65 men) of college students are presented, including sex differences on the inventory. Means and standard deviations of individual items and total scores are reported, along with statistical tests of differences between groups. Comparisons of these data with norms reported by the authors of the inventory (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) are offered. The lack of sex differences found in comparison of total scores for both samples is presented. Implications for the use of the inventory with college populations are discussed.

Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences of the Beck Depression Inventory II across Gender Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Pei-Chen

2010-01-01

This study examined measurement invariance (i.e., configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance) of the Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II-C) across college males and females and compared gender differences on depression at the latent factor mean level. Two samples composed of 402 male college students and 595…

The Bipolar II Depression Questionnaire: A Self-Report Tool for Detecting Bipolar II Depression

PubMed Central

Leung, Chi Ming; Yim, Chi Lap; Yan, Connie T. Y.; Chan, Cheuk Chi; Xiang, Yu-Tao; Mak, Arthur D. P.; Fok, Marcella Lei-Yee; Ungvari, Gabor S.

2016-01-01

Bipolar II (BP-II) depression is often misdiagnosed as unipolar (UP) depression, resulting in suboptimal treatment. Tools for differentiating between these two types of depression are lacking. This study aimed to develop a simple, self-report screening instrument to help distinguish BP-II depression from UP depressive disorder. A prototype BP-II depression questionnaire (BPIIDQ-P) was constructed following a literature review, panel discussions and a field trial. Consecutively assessed patients with a diagnosis of depressive disorder or BP with depressive episodes completed the BPIIDQ-P at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Hong Kong between October and December 2013. Data were analyzed using discriminant analysis and logistic regression. Of the 298 subjects recruited, 65 (21.8%) were males and 233 (78.2%) females. There were 112 (37.6%) subjects with BP depression [BP-I = 42 (14.1%), BP-II = 70 (23.5%)] and 182 (62.4%) with UP depression. Based on family history, age at onset, postpartum depression, episodic course, attacks of anxiety, hypersomnia, social phobia and agoraphobia, the 8-item BPIIDQ-8 was constructed. The BPIIDQ-8 differentiated subjects with BP-II from those with UP depression with a sensitivity/specificity of 0.75/0.63 for the whole sample and 0.77/0.72 for a female subgroup with a history of childbirth. The BPIIDQ-8 can differentiate BP-II from UP depression at the secondary care level with satisfactory to good reliability and validity. It has good potential as a screening tool for BP-II depression in primary care settings. Recall bias, the relatively small sample size, and the high proportion of females in the BP-II sample limit the generalization of the results. PMID:26963908

Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II: a comprehensive review.

PubMed

Wang, Yuan-Pang; Gorenstein, Clarice

2013-01-01

To review the psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as a self-report measure of depression in a variety of settings and populations. Relevant studies of the BDI-II were retrieved through a search of electronic databases, a hand search, and contact with authors. Retained studies (k = 118) were allocated into three groups: non-clinical, psychiatric/institutionalized, and medical samples. The internal consistency was described as around 0.9 and the retest reliability ranged from 0.73 to 0.96. The correlation between BDI-II and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I) was high and substantial overlap with measures of depression and anxiety was reported. The criterion-based validity showed good sensitivity and specificity for detecting depression in comparison to the adopted gold standard. However, the cutoff score to screen for depression varied according to the type of sample. Factor analysis showed a robust dimension of general depression composed by two constructs: cognitive-affective and somatic-vegetative. The BDI-II is a relevant psychometric instrument, showing high reliability, capacity to discriminate between depressed and non-depressed subjects, and improved concurrent, content, and structural validity. Based on available psychometric evidence, the BDI-II can be viewed as a cost-effective questionnaire for measuring the severity of depression, with broad applicability for research and clinical practice worldwide.

Novel EPR characterization of the antioxidant activity of tea leaves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morsy, M. A.; Khaled, M. M.

2002-04-01

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is utilized to investigate several categories of green and black tea: Twining green tea (TGT), Chinese green tea (CGT), Red-labels black tea (RBT). Basically, two EPR signals from all the studied samples are observed: One of them is a very weak sharp EPR signal with Δ Hpp≅10 G and g-factor=2.00023 superimposed on the other broad signal with Δ Hpp≅550 G and g-factor=2.02489. The broad signal is a characteristic one of manganese(II) complex, while the sharp signal is related to a stable radical of aromatic origin exist in a powder condition. The feature of the manganese EPR signal is attributed to manganese(II) complex and reflected the molecular behavior of Mn(II) in the protein system of the natural leaves. The sharp signal, which is most probably due to a semiquinones radicals, is observed at room temperature and its intensity is remarkably affected by photo degradation of the studied samples. The intensity of manganese(II) EPR signal is found to be related to ageing and disintegration of the tea leaves. Moreover, direct relation between the relative intensity of the semiquinones radical signal and antioxidant activity of the studied samples was also correlated.

Reconstruction of paleoenvironment recorded in the Ediacaran Lantain black shales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y. H.; Lee, D. C.; You, C. F.; Zhou, C.

2016-12-01

The Ediacaran period (635-542 Ma) was a critical time in the history of life and Earth, during which profound changes in complex megascopic life and probably ocean oxygenation occurred. A growing evidence demonstrates that the Early Ediacaran ocean was not simply a largely anoxic basin as previous thought. Pulsed oxidation or a multilayered water column had been proposed to explain the presence of Lantain macrofossils. To verify these models, in-situ isotopic analysis becomes critical in identifying the isotopic signatures of authigenic minerals, and to avoid mixing in the signals from detrital and diagenetic phases. In this study, samples from Lantain Member II, a 40 m thick black shale unit containing macrofossils and overlaying the cap carbonate, were analyzed, including one sample from the lower part of Member II and six samples from upper part of Member II. Abundant xenotimes were overgrown on the detrital zircon grains during early diagenesis in all the samples. This authigenic phosphate mineral provides the best constraint of depositional age. In addition, framboidal pyrites and microbial mats are alternatively present on the top of Member II, where layered barites are found in one sample, supporting the model of frequent changes of redox conditions. Preliminary results show that the depositional age of barite-bearing black shale is > 520 Ma. In this study, we will combine the in-situ U-Pb xenotime dating and sulfur isotopes in barite and pyrite to discuss the evolution of redox conditions in the Ediacaran ocean.

A Primary Investigation on Serum CTX-II Changes in Patients Infected with Brucellosis in Qinghai Plateau, China.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhi Jun; Li, Qiang; Zhou, Xin; Ma, Li; Xu, Li Qing; Yang, Pei Zhen; Meng, Xian Ya; Yu, Hui Zhen; Xu, Xiao Qing; Cao, Jian Ying

2016-03-01

Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases, with the most frequent complication being osteoarticular changes. The aim of this study was to assess the changes of C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) in patients infected with brucellosis. A total of 84 brucellosis patients and 43 volunteers were selected and divided into brucellosis vs. control groups. Serum samples were subjected to serological tests for brucellosis, and CTX-II levels in all samples were measured simultaneously with ELISA. The results showed that serum CTX-II levels in human brucellosis were higher than those of healthy controls, without a statistically significant difference, but serum CTX-II levels in male patients were significantly higher than those of female patients (P<0.05). This finding could indicate the biological changes in the cartilage and bone in human brucellosis. Copyright © 2016 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.

Fe(II) sorption on pyrophyllite: Effect of structural Fe(III) (impurity) in pyrophyllite on nature of layered double hydroxide (LDH) secondary mineral formation

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

Starcher, Autumn N.; Li, Wei; Kukkadapu, Ravi K.

Fe(II)-Al(III)-LDH (layered double hydroxide) phases have been shown to form from reactions of aqueous Fe(II) with Fe-free Al-bearing minerals (phyllosilicate/clays and Al-oxides). To our knowledge, the effect of small amounts of structural Fe(III) impurities in “neutral” clays on such reactions, however, were not studied. In this study to understand the role of structural Fe(III) impurity in clays, laboratory batch studies with pyrophyllite (10 g/L), an Al-bearing phyllosilicate, containing small amounts of structural Fe(III) impurities and 0.8 mM and 3 mM Fe(II) (both natural and enriched in 57Fe) were carried out at pH 7.5 under anaerobic conditions (4% H2 – 96%more » N2 atmosphere). Samples were taken up to 4 weeks for analysis by Fe-X-ray absorption spectroscopy and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. In addition to the precipitation of Fe(II)-Al(III)-LDH phases as observed in earlier studies with pure minerals (no Fe(III) impurities in the minerals), the analyses indicated formation of small amounts of Fe(III) containing solid(s), most probably hybrid a Fe(II)-Al(III)/Fe(III)-LDH phase. The mechanism of Fe(II) oxidation was not apparent but most likely was due to interfacial electron transfer from the sorbed Fe(II) to the structural Fe(III) and/or surface-sorption-induced electron-transfer from the sorbed Fe(II) to the clay lattice. Increase in the Fe(II)/Al ratio of the LDH with reaction time further indicated the complex nature of the samples. This research provides evidence for the formation of both Fe(II)-Al(III)-LDH and Fe(II)-Fe(III)/Al(III)-LDH-like phases during reactions of Fe(II) in systems that mimic the natural environments. Better understanding Fe phase formation in complex laboratory studies will improve models of natural redox systems.« less

Solid-phase extraction of some heavy metal ions on a double-walled carbon nanotube disk and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Karatepe, Aslihan; Soylak, Mustafa; Elçi, Latif

2011-01-01

A new preconcentration method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of Cu(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II) on a double-walled carbon nanotube disk. 4-(2-Thiazolylazo) resorcinol was used as a complexing reagent. The effects of parameters, including pH of the solutions, amounts of complexing reagent, eluent type, sample volume, flow rates of solutions, and matrix ions were examined for quantitative recoveries of the studied analyte ions. The retained metal ions were eluted by 2 M HNO3. The LOD values for the analytes were in the range of 0.7-4.4 microg/mL. Natural water samples and standard reference materials were analyzed by the presented method.

Characteristics of interplanetary type II radio emission and the relationship to shock and plasma properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lengyel-Frey, D.; Stone, R. G.

1989-01-01

A large sample of type II events is the basis of the present study of the properties of interplanetary type II bursts' radio-emission properties. Type II spectra seem to be composed of fundamental and harmonic components of plasma emission, where the intensity of the fundamental component increases relative to the harmonic as the burst evolves with heliocentric distance; burst average flux density increases as a power of the associated shock's average velocity. Solar wind density structures may have a significant influence on type II bandwidths.

Conversion from bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) to bipolar I or II in youth with family history as a predictor of conversion.

PubMed

Martinez, Molly S; Fristad, Mary A

2013-06-01

Bipolar disorder-not otherwise specified (BD-NOS) is an imprecise, heterogeneous diagnosis that is unstable in youth. This study reports rates of conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II in children aged 8-12, and investigates the impact of family history of bipolar disorder and depression on conversion. As part of the Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) study, 27 children (6-12 years of age) diagnosed with BD-NOS at baseline were reassessed every 6 months over an 18-month period. Family history of bipolar disorder and depression was assessed at baseline. One-third of the sample converted from BD-NOS to BD-I or II over 18-months. Having a first-degree relative with symptoms of bipolar disorder and having a loaded pedigree for diagnosis of depression each were associated with conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II (odds ratio range: 1.09-3.14; relative risk range: 1.06-2.34). This study had very low power (range: 10-45) given the small sample size, precluding statistical significance of non-parametric Fisher's Exact test findings. This study replicates the previous finding of a high rate of conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II among youth, and suggests conversion is related to symptoms of bipolar disorder or depression diagnoses in the family history. Additional research is warranted in a larger sample with a longer follow-up period. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Copper(II)-rubeanic acid coprecipitation system for separation-preconcentration of trace metal ions in environmental samples for their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations.

PubMed

Soylak, Mustafa; Erdogan, Nilgun D

2006-09-21

A simple and facile preconcentration procedure based on the coprecipitation of trace heavy metal ions with copper(II)-rubeanic acid complex has been developed. The analytical parameters including pH, amounts of rubeanic acid, sample volume, etc. was investigated for the quantitative recoveries of Pb(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Au(III), Pd(II) and Ni(II). No interferic effects were observed from the concomitant ions. The detection limits for analyte ions by 3 sigma were in the range of 0.14 microg/l for iron-3.4 microg/l for lead. The proposed coprecipitation method was successfully applied to water samples from Palas Lake-Kayseri, soil and sediment samples from Kayseri and Yozgat-Turkey.

Dynamical Jahn Teller distortion in single crystals of Cu(II) doped magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate: a variable temperature EPR study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

PrabhuKantan, A.; Velavan, K.; Venkatesan, R.; Sambasiva Rao, P.

2003-05-01

Single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on Cu(II)-doped magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate have been carried out at room temperature. The temperature dependence of g and A values has been obtained for the polycrystalline sample and the ground state is unambiguously identified. These results indicate the existence of a dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion for Cu(II) ion. The g and A tensor direction cosines are evaluated and compared with Mg-O directions, which confirms that Cu(II) enters substitutionally in the lattice.

Simultaneous Detection of Antibodies against Apx Toxins ApxI, ApxII, ApxIII, and ApxIV in Pigs with Known and Unknown Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Exposure Using a Multiplexing Liquid Array Platform

PubMed Central

Giménez-Lirola, Luis G.; Jiang, Yong-Hou; Sun, Dong; Hoang, Hai; Yoon, Kyoung-Jin; Halbur, Patrick G.

2014-01-01

Surveillance for the presence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in a population plays a central role in controlling the disease. In this study, a 4-plex fluorescent microbead-based immunoassay (FMIA), developed for the simultaneous detection of IgG antibodies to repeat-in-toxin (RTX) toxins (ApxI, ApxII, ApxIII, and ApxIV) of A. pleuropneumoniae, was evaluated using (i) blood serum samples from pigs experimentally infected with each of the 15 known A. pleuropneumoniae serovars or with Actinobacillus suis, (ii) blood serum samples from pigs vaccinated with a bacterin containing A. pleuropneumoniae serovar 1, 3, 5, or 7, and (iii) blood serum samples from pigs with an unknown A. pleuropneumoniae exposure status. The results were compared to those obtained in a previous study where a dual-plate complement fixation test (CFT) and three commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were conducted on the same sample set. On samples from experimentally infected pigs, the 4-plex Apx FMIA detected specific seroconversion to Apx toxins as early as 7 days postinfection in a total of 29 pigs inoculated with 14 of the 15 A. pleuropneumoniae serovars. Seroconversion to ApxII and ApxIII was detected by FMIA in pigs inoculated with A. suis. The vaccinated pigs showed poor humoral responses against ApxI, ApxII, ApxIII, and ApxIV. In the field samples, the humoral response to ApxIV and the A. pleuropneumoniae seroprevalence increased with age. This novel FMIA (with a sensitivity of 82.7% and a specificity of 100% for the anti-ApxIV antibody) was found to be more sensitive and accurate than current tests (sensitivities, 9.5 to 56%; specificity, 100%) and is potentially an improved tool for the surveillance of disease and for monitoring vaccination compliance. PMID:24226091

Analytical data from phases I and II of the Willamette River basin water quality study, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harrison, Howard E.; Anderson, Chauncey W.; Rinella, Frank A.; Gasser, Timothy M.; Pogue, Ted R.

1995-01-01

The data were collected at 50 sites, representing runoff from agricultural, forested, and urbanized subbasins. In Phase I, water samples were collected during high and low flows in 1992 and 1993 to represent a wide range of hydrologic conditions. Bed-sediment samples were collected during low flows in 1993. In Phase II, water samples were collected in the spring of 1994 after the first high-flow event following the application of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides and in the fall during the first high-flow events following the conclusion of the agricultural season.

MHC class II+ (HLA-DP-like) cells in the cow reproductive tract: II. Immunolocalization of MHC class II+ cells in oviduct and vagina.

PubMed

Eren, U; Kum, S; Sandikçi, M; Eren, V; Ilhan, F

2009-08-01

The aim of this study was to determine and examine the distribution of major frequency MHC II+ cells in the oviduct and vagina of cows during the oestrous and dioestrus phases. Right oviduct (ampulla, isthmus) and vaginal samples taken from a total of twenty seven multiparous cows were used. Tissue samples were processed to obtain both cryostat and paraffin sections. Sections were stained immunocytochemically using StreptABC method using a specific monoclonal antibody to MHC II+ cell population. Intra-epithelial and subepithelial areas along with lamina propria, muscularis mucosae and serosa of both ampulla and isthmus and intra-epithelial/subepithelial areas and mucosae of vagina were examined for the presence of MHC II+ cells. The density of immune positive cells was determined using a subjective scoring system. MHC II+ cells were demonstrated in all areas examined in both oestrus and dioestrus. In oestrus, the density of MHC II+ cells decreased in subepithelial areas (in between the epithelial cells and the basal membrane) of isthmus, whereas the density of immune positive cells was increased in muscularis mucosae of isthmus (P < 0.05), lamina propria and muscularis mucosae of ampulla (P < 0.05) as well as in the mucosae of vagina (P

An ALMA [C II] Survey of 27 Quasars at z > 5.94

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decarli, Roberto; Walter, Fabian; Venemans, Bram P.; Bañados, Eduardo; Bertoldi, Frank; Carilli, Chris; Fan, Xiaohui; Farina, Emanuele Paolo; Mazzucchelli, Chiara; Riechers, Dominik; Rix, Hans-Walter; Strauss, Michael A.; Wang, Ran; Yang, Yujin

2018-02-01

We present a survey of the [C II] 158 μm line and underlying far-infrared (FIR) dust continuum emission in a sample of 27 z≳ 6 quasars using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) at ∼ 1\\prime\\prime resolution. The [C II] line was significantly detected (at > 5-σ) in 23 sources (85%). We find typical line luminosities of {L}[{{C}{{II}}]}={10}9-10 {L}ȯ , and an average line width of ∼385 {km} {{{s}}}-1. The [C II]-to-far-infrared luminosity ratios ([C II]/FIR) in our sources span one order of magnitude, highlighting a variety of conditions in the star-forming medium. Four quasar host galaxies are clearly resolved in their [C II] emission on a few kpc scales. Basic estimates of the dynamical masses of the host galaxies give masses between 2 × 1010 and 2 × 1011 {M}ȯ , i.e., more than an order of magnitude below what is expected from local scaling relations, given the available limits on the masses of the central black holes (> 3× {10}8 {M}ȯ , assuming Eddington-limited accretion). In stacked ALMA [C II] spectra of individual sources in our sample, we find no evidence of a deviation from a single Gaussian profile. The quasar luminosity does not strongly correlate with either the [C II] luminosity or equivalent width. This survey (with typical on-source integration times of 8 minutes) showcases the unparalleled sensitivity of ALMA at millimeter wavelengths, and offers a unique reference sample for the study of the first massive galaxies in the universe.

An efficient, cost effective, sensing behaviour liquid-liquid extraction and spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) incorporated with 4-(4‧-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole: Analysis of food samples, leafy vegetables, fertilizers and environmental samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barache, Umesh B.; Shaikh, Abdul B.; Lokhande, Tukaram N.; Kamble, Ganesh S.; Anuse, Mansing A.; Gaikwad, Shashikant H.

2018-01-01

The aim of the present work is to develop an efficient, simple and selective moreover cost-effective method for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) by using the Schiff base 4-(4‧-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole [CBIMMT]. This chromogenic reagent forms a yellow coloured complex with copper(II) in acetate buffer at pH 4.2. The copper(II) complex with ligand is instantly extracted into chloroform and shows a maximum absorbance at 414 nm which remains stable for > 48 h. The composition of extracted complex is found to be 1:2 [copper(II): reagent] which was ascertained using Job's method of continuous variation, mole ratio method and slope ratio method. Under optimal conditions, the copper(II) complex in chloroform adheres to Beer's law up to 17.5 μg mL- 1 of copper(II). The optimum concentration range obtained from Ringbom's plot is from 5 μg mL- 1 to 17.5 μg mL- 1. The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity and enrichment factor of the extracted copper(II) chelate are 0.33813 × 104 L mol- 1 cm- 1, 0.01996 μg cm- 2 and 2.49 respectively. In the extraction of copper(II), several affecting factors including the solution pH, ligand concentration, equilibrium time, effect of foreign ions are optimized. The interfering effects of various cations and anions were also studied and use of masking agents enhances the selectivity of the method. The chromogenic sulphur containing reagent, 4-(4‧-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole has been synthesized in a single step with high purity and yield. The synthesized reagent has been successfully applied first time for determination of copper(II). The reagent forms stable chelate with copper(II) in buffer medium instantly and quantitatively extracted in chloroform within a minute. The method is successfully applied for the determination of copper(II) in various synthetic mixtures, complexes, fertilizers, environmental samples such as food samples, leafy vegetables, and water samples. The results are compared with those obtained with a reference procedure. Good agreement was attained. All the obtained results are indicative of a convenient, fast method for the extraction and quantification of micro levels of copper(II) from various environmental matrices without use of sophisticated instrumentation and procedure. The method showed a relative standard deviation of 0.42%.

An efficient, cost effective, sensing behaviour liquid-liquid extraction and spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) incorporated with 4-(4'-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole: Analysis of food samples, leafy vegetables, fertilizers and environmental samples.

PubMed

Barache, Umesh B; Shaikh, Abdul B; Lokhande, Tukaram N; Kamble, Ganesh S; Anuse, Mansing A; Gaikwad, Shashikant H

2018-01-15

The aim of the present work is to develop an efficient, simple and selective moreover cost-effective method for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) by using the Schiff base 4-(4'-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole [CBIMMT]. This chromogenic reagent forms a yellow coloured complex with copper(II) in acetate buffer at pH4.2. The copper(II) complex with ligand is instantly extracted into chloroform and shows a maximum absorbance at 414nm which remains stable for >48h. The composition of extracted complex is found to be 1:2 [copper(II): reagent] which was ascertained using Job's method of continuous variation, mole ratio method and slope ratio method. Under optimal conditions, the copper(II) complex in chloroform adheres to Beer's law up to 17.5μgmL -1 of copper(II). The optimum concentration range obtained from Ringbom's plot is from 5μgmL -1 to 17.5μgmL -1 . The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity and enrichment factor of the extracted copper(II) chelate are 0.33813×10 4 Lmol -1 cm -1 , 0.01996μgcm -2 and 2.49 respectively. In the extraction of copper(II), several affecting factors including the solution pH, ligand concentration, equilibrium time, effect of foreign ions are optimized. The interfering effects of various cations and anions were also studied and use of masking agents enhances the selectivity of the method. The chromogenic sulphur containing reagent, 4-(4'-chlorobenzylideneimino)-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole has been synthesized in a single step with high purity and yield. The synthesized reagent has been successfully applied first time for determination of copper(II). The reagent forms stable chelate with copper(II) in buffer medium instantly and quantitatively extracted in chloroform within a minute. The method is successfully applied for the determination of copper(II) in various synthetic mixtures, complexes, fertilizers, environmental samples such as food samples, leafy vegetables, and water samples. The results are compared with those obtained with a reference procedure. Good agreement was attained. All the obtained results are indicative of a convenient, fast method for the extraction and quantification of micro levels of copper(II) from various environmental matrices without use of sophisticated instrumentation and procedure. The method showed a relative standard deviation of 0.42%. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical utility of the DSM-5 alternative model for borderline personality disorder: Differential diagnostic accuracy of the BFI, SCID-II-PQ, and PID-5.

PubMed

Fowler, J Christopher; Madan, Alok; Allen, Jon G; Patriquin, Michelle; Sharp, Carla; Oldham, John M; Frueh, B Christopher

2018-01-01

With the publication of DSM 5 alternative model for personality disorders it is critical to assess the components of the model against evidence-based models such as the five factor model and the DSM-IV-TR categorical model. This study explored the relative clinical utility of these models in screening for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Receiver operator characteristics and diagnostic efficiency statistics were calculated for three personality measures to ascertain the relative diagnostic efficiency of each measure. A total of 1653 adult inpatients at a specialist psychiatric hospital completed SCID-II interviews. Sample 1 (n=653) completed the SCID-II interviews, SCID-II Questionnaire (SCID-II-PQ) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI), while Sample 2 (n=1,000) completed the SCID-II interviews, Personality Inventory for DSM5 (PID-5) and the BFI. BFI measure evidenced moderate accuracy for two composites: High Neuroticism+ low agreeableness composite (AUC=0.72, SE=0.01, p<0.001) and High Neuroticism+ Low+Low Conscientiousness (AUC=0.73, SE=0.01, p<0.0001). The SCID-II-PQ evidenced moderate-to-excellent accuracy (AUC=0.86, SE=0.02, p<0.0001) with a good balance of specificity (SP=0.80) and sensitivity (SN=0.78). The PID-5 BPD algorithm (consisting of elevated emotional lability, anxiousness, separation insecurity, hostility, depressivity, impulsivity, and risk taking) evidenced moderate-to-excellent accuracy (AUC=0.87, SE=0.01, p<0.0001) with a good balance of specificity (SP=0.76) and sensitivity (SN=0.81). Findings generally support the use of SCID-II-PQ and PID-5 BPD algorithm for screening purposes. Furthermore, findings support the accuracy of the DSM 5 alternative model Criteria B trait constellation for diagnosing BPD. Limitations of the study include the single inpatient setting and use of two discrete samples to assess PID-5 and SCID-II-PQ. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NHEXAS PHASE I ARIZONA STUDY--STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS OF SOIL OR HOUSE DUST SAMPLES USING CHLORPYRIFOS ELISA SAMPLES (BCO-L-1.0)

EPA Science Inventory

This abstract is included for completeness of documentation, but this SOP was not used in the study.

The purpose of this SOP is to describe the procedures for analyzing both Stage II and Stage III soil and vacuum-cleaner collected house dust samples, and Stage III air samples u...

Fragrance patch tests prepared in advance may give false-negative reactions.

PubMed

Mowitz, Martin; Svedman, Cecilia; Zimerson, Erik; Bruze, Magnus

2014-11-01

Several of the ingredients in fragrance mix I (FM I) have been shown to evaporate from petrolatum preparations applied in test chambers to an extent that can be suspected to affect the patch test result. To compare the reactivity towards FM I and fragrance mix II (FM II) when they are applied in test chambers in advance and immediately prior to the patch test occasion. Seven hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients were simultaneously patch tested with duplicate samples of FM I and FM II. One sample was applied in the test chamber 6 days in advance (6D sample), and the other sample was applied immediately before the patients were patch tested (fresh sample). Twenty-two (2.8%) patients reacted exclusively to the fresh sample of FM I, 6 (0.7%) reacted exclusively to the 6D sample, and 22 (2.8%) reacted to both samples. The corresponding numbers for FM II were 9 (1.1%) for the fresh sample, 6 (0.7%) for the 6D sample and 12 (1.5%) for both samples. There was a statistically significant difference between the numbers of patients reacting to the fresh and 6D samples of FM I. No corresponding difference was observed for FM II. This can probably be explained by differences in volatilities between the ingredients of FM I and FM II. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Validity of the KABC-II Culture-Language Interpretive Matrix: A Comparison of Native English Speakers and Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Deth, Leah M.

2013-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the validity of the Culture-Language Interpretive Matrix (C-LIM; Flanagan, Ortiz, & Alfonso, 2013) when applied to scores from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd Edition (KABC-II; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2004). Data were analyzed from the KABC-II standardization sample as well as…

Unbiased quantitative testing of conventional orthodontic beliefs.

PubMed

Baumrind, S

1998-03-01

This study used a preexisting database to test in hypothesis from the appropriateness of some common orthodontic beliefs concerning upper first molar displacement and changes in facial morphology associated with conventional full bonded/banded treatment in growing subjects. In an initial pass, the author used data from a stratified random sample of 48 subjects drawn retrospectively from the practice of a single, experienced orthodontist. This sample consisted of 4 subgroups of 12 subjects each: Class I nonextraction, Class I extraction, Class II nonextraction, and Class II extraction. The findings indicate that, relative to the facial profile, chin point did not, on average, displace anteriorly during treatment, either overall or in any subgroup. Relative to the facial profile, Point A became significantly less prominent during treatment, both overall and in each subgroup. The best estimate of the mean displacement of the upper molar cusp relative to superimposition on Anterior Cranial Base was in the mesial direction in each of the four subgroups. In only one extraction subject out of 24 did the cusp appear to be displaced distally. Mesial molar cusp displacement was significantly greater in the Class II extraction subgroup than in the Class II nonextraction subgroup. Relative to superimposition on anatomical "best fit" of maxillary structures, the findings for molar cusp displacement were similar, but even more dramatic. Mean mesial migration was highly significant in both the Class II nonextraction and Class II extraction subgroups. In no subject in the entire sample was distal displacement noted relative to this superimposition. Mean increase in anterior Total Face Height was significantly greater in the Class II extraction subgroup than in the Class II nonextraction subgroup. (This finding was contrary to the author's original expectation.) The generalizability of the findings from the initial pass to other treated growing subjects was then assessed by retesting modified hypotheses against a second database stored sample that earlier had been drawn randomly from two other orthodontic practices. The implications of the author's study strategy to the design of future shared digital databases is discussed briefly.

NGC628 with SITELLE: I. Imaging spectroscopy of 4285 H II region candidates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rousseau-Nepton, L.; Robert, C.; Martin, R. P.; Drissen, L.; Martin, T.

2018-07-01

This is the first paper of a series dedicated to nebular physics and the chemical evolution of nearby galaxies by investigating large samples of H II regions with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope imaging spectrograph SITELLE (Spectro-Imageur à Transformée de Fourier pour l'Étude en Long et en Large des raies d'Émission). We present a technique adapted to imaging spectroscopy to identify and extract parameters from 4285 H II region candidates found in the disc of NGC 628. Using both the spatial and spectral capabilities of SITELLE, our technique enables the extraction of the position, dust extinction, velocity, H α profile, diffuse ionized gas (DIG) background, luminosity, size, morphological type, and the emission-line fluxes for individual spaxels and the integrated spectrum for each region. We have produced a well-sampled H II region luminosity function and studied its variation with galactocentric radius and level of the DIG background. We found a slope α of -1.12 ± 0.03 with no evidence of a break at high luminosity. Based on the width of the region profile, bright regions are rather compact, while faint regions are seen over a wide range of sizes. The radius function reveals a slope of -1.81 ± 0.02. BPT diagrams of the individual spaxels and integrated line ratios confirm that most detections are H II regions. Also, maps of the line ratios show complex variations of the ionization conditions within H II regions. All this information is compiled in a new catalogue for H II regions. The objective of this data base is to provide a complete sample which will be used to study the whole parameter space covered by the physical conditions in active star-forming regions.

Optical and electrical studies of cerium mixed oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherly, T. R.; Raveendran, R.

2014-10-01

The fast development in nanotechnology makes enthusiastic interest in developing nanomaterials having tailor made properties. Cerium mixed oxide materials have received great attention due to their UV absorption property, high reactivity, stability at high temperature, good electrical property etc and these materials find wide applications in solid oxide fuel cells, solar control films, cosmetics, display units, gas sensors etc. In this study cerium mixed oxide compounds were prepared by co-precipitation method. All the samples were doped with Zn (II) and Fe (II). Preliminary characterizations such as XRD, SEM / EDS, TEM were done. UV - Vis, Diffuse reflectance, PL, FT-IR, Raman and ac conductivity studies of the samples were performed.

Validating the Thinking Styles Inventory-Revised II among Chinese University Students with Hearing Impairment through Test Accommodations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Sanyin; Zhang, Li-Fang

2014-01-01

The present study pioneered in adopting test accommodations to validate the Thinking Styles Inventory-Revised II (TSI-R2; Sternberg, Wagner, & Zhang, 2007) among Chinese university students with hearing impairment. A series of three studies were conducted that drew their samples from the same two universities, in which accommodating test…

Personality Disorders in Hypochondriasis: A Comparison to Panic Disorder and Healthy Controls.

PubMed

Weck, Florian; Nagel, Laura Carlotta; Richtberg, Samantha; Neng, Julia M B

2017-08-01

Previous studies found high prevalence rates of personality disorders (PDs) in patients with hypochondriasis; however, assessment was often based only on questionnaires. In the current study, a sample of 68 patients with hypochondriasis was compared to 31 patients with panic disorder and to 94 healthy controls. Participants were investigated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders questionnaire (SCID-II questionnaire) and the SCID-II interview. Based on the cut-off scores of the SCID-II questionnaire, we found a prevalence rate of 45.6% for PD in patients with hypochondriasis. In comparison to healthy controls, patients with hypochondriasis showed characteristics of paranoid, borderline, avoidant, and dependent PDs in the dimensional assessment significantly more often. However, no significant differences were found between the clinical samples. Based on the SCID-II interview, only 2.9% of the patients with hypochondriasis fulfilled the criteria for a PD. These results suggest that PDs are not a specific characteristic of hypochondriasis.

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

Taha, Mohd F., E-mail: faisalt@petronas.com.my; Shaharun, Maizatul S.; Shuib, Anis Suhaila, E-mail: anisuha@petronas.com.my

An attempt was made to investigate the potential of rice husk-based activated carbon as an alternative low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions from single aqueous solution. Rice husk-based activated carbon was prepared via treatment of rice husk with NaOH followed by the carbonization process at 400°C for 2 hours. Three samples, i.e. raw rice husk, rice husk treated with NaOH and rice husk-based activated carbon, were analyzed for their morphological characteristics using field-emission scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM/EDX). These samples were also analyzed for their carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and silica contents using CHNmore » elemental analyzer and FESEM/EDX. The porous properties of rice husk-based activated carbon were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer, and its surface area and pore volume were 255 m{sup 2}/g and 0.17 cm{sup 2}/g, respectively. The adsorption studies for the removal of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions from single metal aqueous solution were carried out at a fixed initial concentration of metal ion (150 ppm) with variation amount of adsorbent (rice husk-based activated carbon) as a function of varied contact time at room temperature. The concentration of each metal ion was analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained from adsorption studies indicate the potential of rice husk as an economically promising precursor for the preparation of activated carbon for removal of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions from single aqueous solution. Isotherm and kinetic model analyses suggested that the experimental data of adsorption studies fitted well with Langmuir, Freundlich and second-order kinetic models.« less

Gemini NIFS survey of feeding and feedback processes in nearby active galaxies - II. The sample and surface mass density profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riffel, R. A.; Storchi-Bergmann, T.; Riffel, R.; Davies, R.; Bianchin, M.; Diniz, M. R.; Schönell, A. J.; Burtscher, L.; Crenshaw, M.; Fischer, T. C.; Dahmer-Hahn, L. G.; Dametto, N. Z.; Rosario, D.

2018-02-01

We present and characterize a sample of 20 nearby Seyfert galaxies selected for having BAT 14-195 keV luminosities LX ≥ 1041.5 erg s-1, redshift z ≤ 0.015, being accessible for observations with the Gemini Near-Infrared Field Spectrograph (NIFS) and showing extended [O III]λ5007 emission. Our goal is to study Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) feeding and feedback processes from near-infrared integral-field spectra, which include both ionized (H II) and hot molecular (H2) emission. This sample is complemented by other nine Seyfert galaxies previously observed with NIFS. We show that the host galaxy properties (absolute magnitudes MB, MH, central stellar velocity dispersion and axial ratio) show a similar distribution to those of the 69 BAT AGN. For the 20 galaxies already observed, we present surface mass density (Σ) profiles for H II and H2 in their inner ˜500 pc, showing that H II emission presents a steeper radial gradient than H2. This can be attributed to the different excitation mechanisms: ionization by AGN radiation for H II and heating by X-rays for H2. The mean surface mass densities are in the range (0.2 ≤ ΣH II ≤ 35.9) M⊙ pc-2, and (0.2 ≤ ΣH2 ≤ 13.9)× 10-3 M⊙ pc-2, while the ratios between the H II and H2 masses range between ˜200 and 8000. The sample presented here will be used in future papers to map AGN gas excitation and kinematics, providing a census of the mass inflow and outflow rates and power as well as their relation with the AGN luminosity.

Permanganate-based synthesis of manganese oxide nanoparticles in ferritin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Cameron R.; Smith, Trevor J.; Embley, Jacob S.; Maxfield, Jake H.; Hansen, Kameron R.; Peterson, J. Ryan; Henrichsen, Andrew M.; Erickson, Stephen D.; Buck, David C.; Colton, John S.; Watt, Richard K.

2017-05-01

This paper investigates the comproportionation reaction of MnII with {{{{MnO}}}4}- as a route for manganese oxide nanoparticle synthesis in the protein ferritin. We report that {{{{MnO}}}4}- serves as the electron acceptor and reacts with MnII in the presence of apoferritin to form manganese oxide cores inside the protein shell. Manganese loading into ferritin was studied under acidic, neutral, and basic conditions and the ratios of MnII and permanganate were varied at each pH. The manganese-containing ferritin samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis absorption, and by measuring the band gap energies for each sample. Manganese cores were deposited inside ferritin under both the acidic and basic conditions. All resulting manganese ferritin samples were found to be indirect band gap materials with band gap energies ranging from 1.01 to 1.34 eV. An increased UV/Vis absorption around 370 nm was observed for samples formed under acidic conditions, suggestive of MnO2 formation inside ferritin.

Use of X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) to Speciate Manganese in Airborne Particulate Matter from 5 Counties Across the US

PubMed Central

Datta, Saugata; Rule, Ana M; Mihalic, Jana N; Chillrud, Steve N; Bostick, Benjamin C.; Ramos-Bonilla, Juan P; Han, Inkyu; Polyak, Lisa M; Geyh, Alison S; Breysse, Patrick N

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to characterize manganese oxidation states and speciation in airborne particulate matter (PM), and describe how these potentially important determinants of PM toxicity vary by location. Ambient PM samples were collected from five counties across the US using a high volume sequential cyclone system that collects PM in dry bulk form segregated into “coarse” and “fine” size fractions. The fine fraction was analyzed for this study. Analyses included total Mn using ICP-MS, and characterization of oxidation states and speciation using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). XAS spectra of all samples and ten standard compounds of Mn were obtained at the National Synchrotron Light Source. XAS data was analyzed using Linear Combination Fitting (LCF). Results of the LCF analysis describe differences in composition between samples. Mn(II) acetate and Mn(II) oxide are present in all samples, while Mn(II) carbonate and Mn(IV) oxide are absent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to characterize Mn composition of ambient PM and examine differences between urban sites in the US. Differences in oxidation state and composition indicate regional variations in sources and atmospheric chemistry that may help explain differences in health effects identified in epidemiological studies. PMID:22309075

Solid Phase Extraction of Trace Al(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) Ions in Beverages on Functionalized Polymer Microspheres Prior to Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determinations.

PubMed

Berber, Hale; Alpdogan, Güzin

2017-01-01

In this study, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) was synthesized in the form of microspheres, and then functionalized by 2-aminobenzothiazole ligand. The sorption properties of these functionalized microspheres were investigated for separation, preconcentration and determination of Al(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption were 2 - 4, 5 - 8, 6 - 8, 4 - 6, 2 - 6 and 2 - 3 for Al(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively, and also the highest sorption capacity of the functionalized microspheres was found to be for Cu(II) with the value of 1.87 mmol g -1 . The detection limits (3σ; N = 6) obtained for the studied metals in the optimal conditions were observed in the range of 0.26 - 2.20 μg L -1 . The proposed method was successfully applied to different beverage samples for the determination of Al(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, with the relative standard deviation of <3.7%.

Mercury conversion processes in Amazon soils evaluated by thermodesorption analysis.

PubMed

do Valle, Cláudia M; Santana, Genilson P; Windmöller, Cláudia C

2006-12-01

This paper reports on the speciation study and the Hg redox behavior in Amazon soils not influenced by gold mining and collected near Manaus, AM, Brazil. The samples were incubated by adding Hg(0) and HgCl(2) to dry soil. Solid phase Hg speciation analysis was carried out using a Hg thermodesorption technique with the aim of distinguishing elemental Hg(0) from Hg(II) binding forms. In the first case, we observed the conversion of Hg(0) to Hg(II) binding forms in the range of 28-68% and a correlation between the percent of oxidation and OM content. Samples incubated with Hg(II) showed the formation of Hg(I) and/or Hg(0) in the range of 19-69%. The lowest values corresponded to the samples with the lowest clay contents. The kinetics of conversion of Hg(0) as well as HgCl(2) were roughly fitted to the two first order reactions, a fast one and a slow one. It was not possible to evaluate differences between sampling sites and types of soils, but the mean half-life of the first order reaction obtained by the addition of Hg(II) was slower (t(1/2)=365d) than the one obtained by the addition of Hg(0) (t(1/2)=148d). Previous studies have shown the predominance of organically bound Hg in these samples. Thus, the kinetic difference between Hg oxidation and reduction in combination with the efficient retention processes by OM may explain the high background values found in Amazon soils.

Redox speciation of dissolved iron in the northeastern atlantic ocean.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ussher, S. J.; Achterberg, E. P.; Worsfold, P. J.

2003-04-01

Dissolved iron (<0.2 micron) and iron(II) (<0.2 micron) distributions were determined during the Iron from Below and Iron from Above research cruises in the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The cruises were part of the EU Ironages project. Iron(II) was measured on-board ship using an iron(II) specific, automated flow injection analyser with luminol chemiluminescence detection [1]. Total dissolved iron (DFe) was determined in a land-based laboratory, using the same FI technique but with prior reduction of iron(III) to iron(II) [2]. The limits of detection for the methods were 5 -15 pM and 35 pM respectively, the analysis time was 8 - 10 minutes per sample (minimum of 3 replicates). The Iron from Below expedition took place over the European Continental Shelf, 200 km South West of Brittany (France) in March 2002. A transect between 47.61°N, 4.24°W and 46.00°N, 8.01°W was completed. Over the transect, the depth increased from 100 m to 5000 m. Iron(II) concentrations ranged between 10 and 100 pM and DFe between 0.2 and 1 nM, with the higher concentrations (Fe(II) ca. > 50 pM and DFe ca. > 0.8 nM) generally found in the shallow shelf waters. These observations imply that benthic inputs and sediment resuspension may form important inputs of dissolved iron and iron(II) in the shelf waters. Iron speciation measurements were also made for underway surface and shallow cast samples during the Iron from Above cruise October 2002. Fe(II) and DFe concentrations were typically 5 to 50 pM and 0.2 to 0.6 nM, respectively. Sampling was carried out within a grid in the Canary Basin around 5 degrees W of the Canary Islands, an area assumed to be strongly influenced by the Saharan dust plume. Observed Fe(II) concentrations are compared and ratioed to the DFe concentrations, and indicate that iron(II) forms an important fraction (between 5 and 15%) of the total dissolved iron concentration in the study areas. Data plots for surface samples are presented with the corresponding physical oceanographic and solar irradiance data. The concentrations of Fe(II) observed during our studies exceed the values predicted from thermodynamic equilibrium modelling. This indicates that there is a steady supply of Fe(II) (possibly from photoreduction and/or biological origins) and/or Fe(II) is prevented from oxidation through stabilisation mechanisms (possibly by organic ligands). [1] A. R. Bowie, E. P. Achterberg, P. N. Sedwick, S. Ussher, P. J. Worsfold, Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, (2002) 4600. [2] A. R. Bowie, E. P. Achterberg, R. F. C. Mantoura, P. J. Worsfold, Anal. Chim. Acta, 377, (1998) 113.

Simple hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane extraction method for pre-concentration of Cd(II) in environmental samples and detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Carletto, Jeferson Schneider; Luciano, Raquel Medeiros; Bedendo, Gizelle Cristina; Carasek, Eduardo

2009-04-06

A hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane (HFRLM) extraction method to determine cadmium (II) in water samples using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. Ammonium O,O-diethyl dithiophosphate (DDTP) was used to complex cadmium (II) in an acid medium to obtain a neutral hydrophobic complex (ML(2)). The organic solvent introduced to the sample extracts this complex from the aqueous solution and carries it over the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane, that had their walls previously filled with the same organic solvent. The organic solvent is solubilized inside the PDMS membrane, leading to a homogeneous phase. The complex strips the lumen of the membrane where, at higher pH, the complex Cd-DDTP is broken down and cadmium (II) is released into the stripping phase. EDTA was used to complex the cadmium (II), helping to trap the analyte in the stripping phase. A multivariate procedure was used to optimize the studied variables. The optimized variables were: sample (donor phase) pH 3.25, DDTP concentration 0.05% (m/v), stripping (acceptor phase) pH 8.75, EDTA concentration 1.5x10(-2) mol L(-1), extraction temperature 40 degrees C, extraction time 40 min, a solvent mixture N-butyl acetate and hexane (60/40%, v/v) with a volume of 100 microL, and addition of ammonium sulfate to saturate the sample. The sample volume used was 20 mL and the stripping volume was 165 microL. The analyte enrichment factor was 120, limit of detection (LOD) 1.3 microg L(-1), relative standard deviation (RSD) 5.5% and the working linear range 2-30 microg L(-1).

Nano sponge Mn₂O ₃ as a new adsorbent for the preconcentration of Pd(II) and Rh(III) ions in sea water, wastewater, rock, street sediment and catalytic converter samples prior to FAAS determinations.

PubMed

Yavuz, Emre; Tokalıoğlu, Serife; Sahan, Halil; Patat, Saban

2014-10-01

In this study, a nano sponge Mn2O3 adsorbent was synthesized and was used for the first time. Various parameters affecting the recovery values of Pd(II) and Rh(III) were examined. The tolerance limits (≥ 90 %) for both Pd(II) and Rh(III) ions were found to be 75,000 mg L(-1) Na(I), 75,000 mg L(-1) K(I), 50,000 mg L(-1) Mg(II) and 50,000 mg L(-1) Ca(II). A 30s contact time was enough for both adsorption and elution. A preconcentration factor of 100 was obtained by using 100mg of the nano sponge Mn2O3. The reusability of the adsorbent was 120 times. Adsorption capacities for Pd(II) and Rh(III) were found to be 42 and 6.2 mg g(-1), respectively. The detection limits were 1.0 µg L(-1) for Pd(II) and 0.37 µg L(-1) for Rh(III) and the relative standard deviations (RSD, %) were found to be ≤ 2.5%. The method was validated by analyzing the standard reference material, SRM 2556 (Used Auto Catalyst Pellets) and spiked real samples. The optimized method was applied for the preconcentration of Pd(II) and Rh(III) ions in water (sea water and wastewater), rock, street sediment and catalytic converter samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Discordant HIV Test Results: Implications on Perinatal and Haemotransfusion Screening for HIV Infection, Cape Coast, Ghana.

PubMed

Tetteh, Ato Kwamena; Agyarko, Edward

2017-01-01

Screening results of 488 pregnant women aged 15-44 years whose blood samples had been tested on-site, using First Response® HIV 1/2, and confirmed with INNO-LIA™ HIV I/II Score were used. Of this total, 178 were reactive (HIV I, 154; HIV II, 2; and HIV I and HIV II, 22). Of the 154 HIV I-reactive samples, 104 were confirmed to be HIV I-positive and 2 were confirmed to be HIV II-positive, while 48 were confirmed to be negative [false positive rate = 17.44% (13.56-21.32)]. The two HIV II samples submitted were confirmed to be negative with the confirmatory test. For the 22 HIV I and HIV II samples, 7 were confirmed to be HIV I-positive and 1 was confirmed to be HIV I- and HIV II-positive, while 14 were confirmed to be negative. Of the 310 nonreactive samples, 6 were confirmed to be HIV I-positive and 1 was confirmed to be HIV II-positive [false negative rate = 5.79% (1.63-8.38)], while 303 were negative. False negative outcomes will remain unconfirmed, with no management options for the client. False negative rate of 5.79% requires attention, as its resultant implications on control of HIV/AIDS could be dire.

Evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HCV genotype II plus RUO (PLUS) assay with reference to core and NS5B sequencing.

PubMed

Mallory, Melanie A; Lucic, Danijela; Ebbert, Mark T W; Cloherty, Gavin A; Toolsie, Dan; Hillyard, David R

2017-05-01

HCV genotyping remains a critical tool for guiding initiation of therapy and selecting the most appropriate treatment regimen. Current commercial genotyping assays may have difficulty identifying 1a, 1b and genotype 6. To evaluate the concordance for identifying 1a, 1b, and genotype 6 between two methods: the PLUS assay and core/NS5B sequencing. This study included 236 plasma and serum samples previously genotyped by core/NS5B sequencing. Of these, 25 samples were also previously tested by the Abbott RealTime HCV GT II Research Use Only (RUO) assay and yielded ambiguous results. The remaining 211 samples were routine genotype 1 (n=169) and genotype 6 (n=42). Genotypes obtained from sequence data were determined using a laboratory-developed HCV sequence analysis tool and the NCBI non-redundant database. Agreement between the PLUS assay and core/NS5B sequencing for genotype 1 samples was 95.8% (162/169), with 96% (127/132) and 95% (35/37) agreement for 1a and 1b samples respectively. PLUS results agreed with core/NS5B sequencing for 83% (35/42) of unselected genotype 6 samples, with the remaining seven "not detected" by the PLUS assay. Among the 25 samples with ambiguous GT II results, 15 were concordant by PLUS and core/NS5B sequencing, nine were not detected by PLUS, and one sample had an internal control failure. The PLUS assay is an automated method that identifies 1a, 1b and genotype 6 with good agreement with gold-standard core/NS5B sequencing and can aid in the resolution of certain genotype samples with ambiguous GT II results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Jigsaw II, Reading-Writing-Presentation, and Computer Animations on the Teaching of "Light" Unit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koç, Yasemin; Yildiz, Emre; Çaliklar, Seyma; Simsek, Ümit

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Jigsaw II technique, reading-writing-presentation method, and computer animation on students' academic achievements, epistemological beliefs, attitudes towards science lesson, and the retention of knowledge in the "Light" unit covered in the 7th grade. The sample of the study consists…

Extraction of Ni (II) from Spent Hydrodesulfurization HDS Catalyst Through Leaching and Electroless Precipitation of Ni(OH)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sangita R.; Dash, Barsha; Sanjay, Kali; Subbaiah, T.

2013-04-01

The extraction of nickel (II) from a spent hydro-desulfurization catalyst containing 11.6 pct Ni was carried out through sulfuric acid leaching. Variations of parameters such as the concentration of acid, temperature, and time, were studied and optimized. Nickel hydroxide was precipitated from the leach liquor via neutralization with 1 M sodium hydroxide up to pH 12 in three different methods: normal neutralization precipitation, and then neutralization precipitation followed by aging at 353 K (80 °C) for 4 hours and neutralization of the leach liquor with 10 pct (v/v) of 0.1 N sodium lauryl sulfate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microanalysis shows a difference in crystallinity with the method of precipitation. The nickel hydroxide contains Cu(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Mn(II) as trace impurities. The discharge capacities of the precipitated nickel hydroxides were 120 mAhg-1, 140.72 mAhg-1, and 145.2 mAhg-1 for aged sample, sample without surfactant, and with surfactant respectively.

2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine functionalized sodium dodecyl sulfate-coated magnetite nanoparticles for effective removal of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions from water samples.

PubMed

Sobhanardakani, Soheil; Zandipak, Raziyeh

2015-07-01

2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine immobilized on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-coated magnetite and was used for removal of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solution. The prepared product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of the nanoparticles according to SEM was obtained around 20-35 nm. In batch tests, the effects of pH, contact time, initial metal concentration, and temperature were studied. The kinetic and equilibrium data were modeled with recently developed models. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were well fitted by the fractal-like pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir-Freundlich model, respectively. Maximum adsorption capacity by this adsorbent is 255.1 mg g(-1) for Cd(II) ion and 319.6 mg g(-1) for Ni(II) ion at pH 7.0 and 25 °C. The method was successfully applied to the removal of metal cations in real samples (tap water, river water, and petrochemical wastewater).

Polymorphic haplotypes and recombination rates at the LDL receptor gene locus in subjects with and without familial hypercholesterolemia who are from different populations

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

Miserez, A.R.; Chiodetti, N.; Keller, U.

1993-04-01

RFLPs at the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor locus for TaqI, StuI, HincII, AvaII, ApaLI (5[prime] and 3[prime]), PvuII, and NcoI were studied in Swiss and German families with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). A total of 1,104 LDL receptor alleles were analyzed using Southern blotting and new PCR-based techniques for detection of the TaqI, StuI, HincII, AvaII, NcoI RFLPs. Two hundred fifty-six independent haplotypes from 368 individuals of 61 unrelated Swiss families, as well as 114 independent haplotypes from 184 subjects of 25 unrelated German families, were constructed. In 76 families, clinical diagnosis of FH was confirmed by cosegregation analysis. Of themore » 43 unique haplotypes consisting of seven RFLPs detected in the Swiss and Germans, only 9 were common in both population samples. Analysis of linkage disequilibrium revealed nonrandom associations between several of the investigated RFLPs. ApaLI (5[prime]), NcoI, PvuII, TaqI, and AvaII or HincII were particularly informative. Relative frequencies, heterozygosity indexes, and PICs of the RFLPs from the Swiss and Germans were compared with values calculated from reported haplotype data for Italians, Icelanders, North American Caucasians, South African Caucasians, and Japanese. Pairwise comparisons of population samples by common RFLPs demonstrated unexpected differences even between geographically adjacent populations (e.g., the Swiss and Germans). Furthermore, genetic distances from the Germans to the other Caucasians were larger than to the Japanese. An unexpected lack of correlation between linkage disequilibria and physical distances was detected for the German and Japanese data, possibly because of nonuniform recombination with excessively high rates between exon 13 and intron 15. Hence, the present study revealed a striking variety of polymorphic haplotypes and heterogeneity of RFLP frequencies and recombination rates among the seven population samples. 60 refs., 2 figs., 8 tabs.« less

[Coping skills and social support in German long-time survivors of rape in the end of World War II].

PubMed

Eichhorn, Svenja; Klauer, Thomas; Grundke, Elena; Freyberger, Harald J; Brähler, Elmar; Kuwert, Philipp

2012-05-01

The aim of the study was to document perceived social support in a sample of German war-raped women in World War II. Furthermore the impact of this potential resource on today's posttraumatic symptoms should be pointed out. 27 women (M = 80.3 years, SD = 3.1 years) answered each a semi-structured interview and several questionnaires. Perceived social support shows clearly lower values than in the comparative samples. The measured degree of the variable in the present sample bears negative relationship to the actual posttraumatic symptoms of the women. In World War II sexually traumatized women could profit only few from the examined resource. The found negative relationship between perceived social support and posttraumatic symptoms shows additionally the potentially long-lasting impact of these form of coping on psychological health in trauma victims. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Application of 57Fe-enriched synthetic ferrihydrite to speciate the product of bacterial reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Ole; Bender Koch, Chr.

2000-07-01

We have sampled a clay lens with evidence of sulfide reduction from a texturally stratified sandy aquifer at Rømø, Denmark. A minor amount of synthetic, pure 57Fe ferrihydrite was added to this sample and allowed to react for up to three months. The initial sample, the 57Fe ferrihydrite, and samples taken from the reaction mixture were investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures between 15 and 298 K as sampled and following exposure to oxygen. The initial sample only contained Fe(II) (33% of the iron) and Fe(III) in silicates. The Fe(III) in the ferrihydrite is reduced to Fe(II) as evidenced by an increase of this component by bacterial activity. The Fe(II) component remains paramagnetic at temperatures down to 15 K. Similarly to naturally reduced sediments the new-formed Fe(II) is extremely reactive towards molecular oxygen. Following oxidation the reformed Fe(III) is found as ferrihydrite. The bonding of the Fe(II) is by electrostatical bonding (adsorbed) to the layer silicates as evidenced by a temperature scanning of the sample between 80 and 270 K.

Studying the highly bent spectra of FR II-type radio galaxies with the KDA EXT model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuligowska, Elżbieta

2018-04-01

Context. The Kaiser, Dennett-Thorpe & Alexander (KDA, 1997, MNRAS, 292, 723) EXT model, that is, the extension of the KDA model of Fanaroff & Riley (FR) II-type source evolution, is applied and confronted with the observational data for selected FR II-type radio sources with significantly aged radio spectra. Aim. A sample of FR II-type radio galaxies with radio spectra strongly bent at their highest frequencies is used for testing the usefulness of the KDA EXT model. Methods: The dynamical evolution of FR II-type sources predicted with the KDA EXT model is briefly presented and discussed. The results are then compared to the ones obtained with the classical KDA approach, assuming the source's continuous injection and self-similarity. Results: The results and corresponding diagrams obtained for the eight sample sources indicate that the KDA EXT model predicts the observed radio spectra significantly better than the best spectral fit provided by the original KDA model.

A solid phase extraction procedure for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in food and water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Daşbaşı, Teslima; Saçmacı, Şerife; Ülgen, Ahmet; Kartal, Şenol

2015-05-01

A relatively rapid, accurate and precise solid phase extraction method is presented for the determination of cadmium(II) and lead(II) in various food and water samples. Quantitation is carried out by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The method is based on the retention of the trace metal ions on Dowex Marathon C, a strong acid cation exchange resin. Some important parameters affecting the analytical performance of the method such as pH, flow rate and volume of the sample solution; type, concentration, volume, flow rate of the eluent; and matrix effects on the retention of the metal ions were investigated. Common coexisting ions did not interfere on the separation and determination of the analytes. The detection limits (3 σb) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were found as 0.13 and 0.18 μg L(-1), respectively, while the limit of quantification values (10 σb) were computed as 0.43 and 0.60 μg L(-1) for the same sequence of the analytes. The precision (as relative standard deviation was lower than 4% at 5 μg L(-1) Cd(II) and 10 μg L(-1) Pb(II) levels, and the preconcentration factor was found to be 250. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was verified by analysing the certified reference materials, SPS-WW2 Batch 108 wastewater level 2 and INCT-TL-1 tea leaves, with the satisfactory results. In addition, for the accuracy of the method the recovery studies (⩾ 95%) were carried out. The method was applied to the determination of the analytes in the various natural waters (lake water, tap water, waste water with boric acid, waste water with H2SO4) and food samples (pomegranate flower, organic pear, radish leaf, lamb meat, etc.), and good results were obtained. While the food samples almost do not contain cadmium, they have included lead at low levels of 0.13-1.12 μg g(-1). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A sensitive, selective and rapid determination of lead(II) ions in real-life samples using an electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-graphite reinforced carbon electrode.

PubMed

Hamsawahini, Kunashegaran; Sathishkumar, Palanivel; Ahamad, Rahmalan; Yusoff, Abdull Rahim Mohd

2015-11-01

In this study, a sensitive and cost-effective electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) on graphite reinforced carbon (GRC) was developed for the detection of lead (Pb(II)) ions present in the real-life samples. A film of graphene oxide (GO) was drop-casted on GRC and their electrochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), amperometry and square wave voltammetry (SWV). Factors influencing the detection of Pb(II) ions, such as grades of GRC, constant applied cathodic potential (CACP), concentration of hydrochloric acid and drop-casting drying time were optimised. GO is irreversibly reduced in the range of -0.7 V to -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M) in acidic condition. The results showed that the reduction behaviour of GO contributed to the high sensitivity of Pb(II) ions detection even at nanomolar level. The ErGO-GRC showed the detection limit of 0.5 nM and linear range of 3-15 nM in HCl (1 M). The developed electrode has potential to be a good candidate for the determination of Pb(II) ions in different aqueous system. The proposed method gives a good recovery rate of Pb(II) ions in real-life water samples such as tap water and river water. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Psychometric Properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a Clinically-Identified Sample of Mexican American Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanVoorhis, Carmen R. Wilson; Blumentritt, Tracie L.

2007-01-01

We examined the internal consistency reliability, convergent and divergent validity, and factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) in a sample of 131 Mexican American youth. The BDI-II demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability (alpha = 0.90) and solid convergent and divergent validity with various clinical scales…

Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Mobile and persistent chemicals that are present in urban wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, may survive on-site or municipal wastewater treatment and post-discharge environmental processes. These pharmaceuticals have the potential to reach surface and groundwaters, essential drinking-water sources. A joint, two-phase U.S. Geological Survey-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study examined source and treated waters from 25 drinking-water treatment plants from across the United States. Treatment plants that had probable wastewater inputs to their source waters were selected to assess the prevalence of pharmaceuticals in such source waters, and to identify which pharmaceuticals persist through drinking-water treatment. All samples were analyzed for 24 pharmaceuticals in Phase I and for 118 in Phase II. In Phase I, 11 pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of nine pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was five. Quantifiable pharmaceutical detections were fewer, with a maximum of five pharmaceuticals in any one sample and a median for all samples of two. In Phase II, 47 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of 41 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was eight. For 37 quantifiable pharmaceuticals in Phase II, median concentrations in source water were below 11

Stellar rotation periods determined from simultaneously measured Ca II H&K and Ca II IRT lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mittag, M.; Hempelmann, A.; Schmitt, J. H. M. M.; Fuhrmeister, B.; González-Pérez, J. N.; Schröder, K.-P.

2017-11-01

Aims: Previous studies have shown that, for late-type stars, activity indicators derived from the Ca II infrared-triplet (IRT) lines are correlated with the indicators derived from the Ca II H&K lines. Therefore, the Ca II IRT lines are in principle usable for activity studies, but they may be less sensitive when measuring the rotation period. Our goal is to determine whether the Ca II IRT lines are sufficiently sensitive to measure rotation periods and how any Ca II IRT derived rotation periods compare with periods derived from the "classical" Mount Wilson S-index. Methods: To analyse the Ca II IRT lines' sensitivity and to measure rotation periods, we define an activity index for each of the Ca II IRT lines similar to the Mount Wilson S-index and perform a period analysis for the lines separately and jointly. Results: For eleven late-type stars we can measure the rotation periods using the Ca II IRT indices similar to those found in the Mount Wilson S-index time series and find that a period derived from all four indices gives the most probable rotation period; we find good agreement for stars with already existing literature values. In a few cases the computed periodograms show a complicated structure with multiple peaks, meaning that formally different periods are derived in different indices. We show that in one case, this is due to data sampling effects and argue that denser cadence sampling is necessary to provide credible evidence for differential rotation. However, our TIGRE data for HD 101501 shows good evidence for the presence of differential rotation.

Comparison of nucleotide sequences of recent and previous lineages of peste-des-petits-ruminants viruses of sheep and goats in Nigeria.

PubMed

Mantip, Samuel; Quan, Melvyn; Shamaki, David; Van Vuuren, Moritz

2016-08-31

Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly contagious, fatal and economically important viral disease of small ruminants that is still endemic and militates against the production of sheep and goats in endemic areas of the world. The aim of this study was to describe the viral strains within the country. This was carried out by collecting tissue and swab samples from sheep and goats in various agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. The phylogeny of archived PPRV strains or isolates and those circulating and causing recent outbreaks was determined by sequencing of the nucleoprotein (N)-gene. Twenty tissue and swab samples from apparently healthy and sick sheep and goats were collected randomly from 18 states, namely 3 states in each of the 6 agro-ecological zones visited. A total of 360 samples were collected. A total of 35 samples of 360 (9.7%) tested positive by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, of which 25 were from oculo-nasal swabs and 10 were from tissue samples. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis using Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (PAUP) identified four different lineages, that is, lineages I, II, III and IV. Interestingly, the Nigerian strains described in this study grouped in two separate major lineages, that is, lineages II and IV. Strains from Sokoto, Oyo, Plateau and Ondo states grouped according to the historical distribution of PPRV together with the Nigerian 75/1 strain of lineage II, while other strains from Sokoto, Oyo, Plateau, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Bauchi, Niger and Kano states grouped together with the East African and Asian strains of lineage IV. This finding confirms that both lineage II and IV strains of PPRV are circulating in Nigeria. Previously, only strains of lineage II were found to be present in the country.

Hybrid capture-II and LCR-E7 PCR assays for HPV typing in cervical cytologic samples.

PubMed

Yamazaki, H; Sasagawa, T; Basha, W; Segawa, T; Inoue, M

2001-10-15

As part of an ongoing cohort study in the Hokuriku region of Japan, cervical cell samples from histologically confirmed normal (n = 114) or abnormal (n = 286) women were examined for the presence of HPV DNA using a second-generation hybrid capture assay (HCA-II) and LCR-E7 PCR. HCA-II detected low-risk (HPV-6, -11, -42, 43 and -44) and high-risk (HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -35, -39, -45, -51, -52, -56, -58, -59 and -68) HPV types, while LCR-E7 PCR detected an additional 7 HPV types and some uncharacterized types. In screening of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and invasive cervical cancer, the sensitivities of HCA-II and LCR-E7 PCR testing the high-risk HPV types were 83% and 81%, respectively, while the specificity of both assays was 93%. The sensitivity of LCR-E7 PCR increased to 87%, which was significantly higher than that in HCA-II, when testing both high-risk and other HPV types. Sixty-eight inconsistent results (17% of total tested) from HCA-II and LCR-E7 PCR were due to (i) low copy number of HPV genome (false-negative for HCA-II, 5.3% and for LCR-E7 PCR, 1.3%), (ii) infection with HPV types undetectable by HCA-II (4.8%), (iii) multiple HPV infections (5%) or (iv) unknown reasons (0.8%). LCR-E7 PCR revealed that infections with HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -35, -51, -52, -56, -58 or -67 was a high risk for cancer since these types predominated in HSIL and invasive cervical cancer. Samples showing high relative light units (>20) with a high-risk probe in HCA-II also gave positive results in LCR-E7 PCR and were generally associated with abnormal cervical lesions. Thus, we propose that both HCA-II and LCR-E7 PCR are valuable screening tests for premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Suppression of elevated cartilage turnover in postmenopausal women and in ovariectomized rats by estrogen and a selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM).

PubMed

Christgau, Stephan; Tankó, László B; Cloos, Paul A C; Mouritzen, Ulrik; Christiansen, Claus; Delaissé, Jean-Marie; Høegh-Andersen, Pernille

2004-01-01

Several observational studies indicate that estrogen deficiency increases the incidence of osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women. To validate this observation, we investigated the effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on cartilage erosion in rats using histology and an established bio-assay of cartilage-specific collagen type II degradation products (CTX-II). Furthermore, we investigated whether estrogen and levormeloxifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM), can prevent the OVX-induced changes in cartilage degradation. The clinical relevance was assessed in postmenopausal women by measuring the changes in CTX-II during 12-month treatment with levormeloxifene versus placebo. Sixty 6-month-old rats were divided in five groups. One group was subjected to sham and the others to OVX, followed by treatment with vehicle alone, estradiol or 0.2 mg/kg/day or 5 mg/kg/day of levormeloxifene. The rats were treated for 9 weeks with biweekly blood and urine sampling for measurement of bone resorption and cartilage turnover. After study termination, hind knees were removed for histological analysis of erosions. The effect of levormeloxifene in post-menopausal women was assessed by measuring CTX-II in samples from 301 women who were participating in a phase II study of this SERM. OVX rats showed significant increases in the urinary excretion of CTX-II. After 9 weeks this was manifested as increased surface erosion of knee articular cartilage compared with sham-operated rats. Treatment with estrogen or levormeloxifene prevented the OVX-induced changes. There was a significant correlation between the 4-week changes in CTX-II and cartilage erosion at week 9 (r = 0.64, P < 0.001). In postmenopausal women treated with levormeloxifene, the urinary excretion of CTX-II was decreased by approximately 50% and restored CTX-II levels to the premenopausal range. This study is the first to demonstrate that a SERM suppresses cartilage degradation in both rodents and humans, suggesting potential therapeutical benefits in the prevention of destructive joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Synthesis, characterisation and analytical application of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@polyaminoquinoline magnetic nanocomposite for the extraction and pre-concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in food samples.

PubMed

Manoochehri, Mahboobeh; Asgharinezhad, Ali Akbar; Shekari, Nafiseh

2015-01-01

This work describes a novel Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@polyaminoquinoline magnetic nanocomposite and its application in the pre-concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions. The parameters affecting the pre-concentration procedure were optimised by a Box-Behnken design through response surface methodology. Three variables (extraction time, magnetic sorbent amount and pH) were selected as the main factors affecting the sorption step, while four variables (type, volume and concentration of the eluent, and elution time) were selected as main factors in the optimisation study of the elution step. Following the sorption and elution of analytes, the ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FASS). The limits of detection were 0.1 and 0.7 ng ml(-1) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, respectively. All the relative standard deviations were less than 7.6%. The sorption capacities of this new sorbent were 57 mg g(-)(1) for Cd(II) and 73 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). Ultimately, this nanocomposite was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of trace quantities of these heavy metal ions from seafood and agricultural samples and satisfactory results were obtained.

OT2_tvelusam_4: Probing Galactic Spiral Arm Tangencies with [CII

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velusamy, T.

2011-09-01

We propose to use the unique viewing geometry of the Galactic spiral arm tangents , which provide an ideal environment for studying the effects of density waves on spiral structure. We propose a well-sampled map of the[C II] 1.9 THz line emission along a 15-degree longitude region across the Norma-3kpc arm tangential, which includes the edge of the Perseus Arm. The COBE-FIRAS instrument observed the strongest [C II] and [N II] emission along these spiral arm tangencies.. The Herschel Open Time Key Project Galactic Observations of Terahertz C+ (GOT C+), also detects the strongest [CII] emission near these spiral arm tangential directions in its sparsely sampled HIFI survey of [CII] in the Galactic plane survey. The [C II] 158-micron line is the strongest infrared line emitted by the ISM and is an excellent tracer and probe of both the diffuse gases in the cold neutral medium (CNM) and the warm ionized medium (WIM). Furthermore, as demonstrated in the GOTC+ results, [C II] is an efficient tracer of the dark H2 gas in the ISM that is not traced by CO or HI observations. Thus, taking advantage of the long path lengths through the spiral arm across the tangencies, we can use the [C II] emission to trace and characterize the diffuse atomic and ionized gas as well as the diffuse H2 molecular gas in cloud transitions from HI to H2 and C+ to C and CO, throughout the ISM. The main goal of our proposal is to use the well sampled (at arcmin scale) [C II] to study these gas components of the ISM in the spiral-arm, and inter-arm regions, to constrain models of the spiral structure and to understand the influence of spiral density waves on the Galactic gas and the dynamical interaction between the different components. The proposed HIFI observations will consist of OTF 15 degree longitude scans and one 2-degree latitude scan sampled every 40arcsec across the Norma- 3kpc Perseus Spiral tangency.

Ten More New Sightlines for the Study of Intergalactic Helium, and Hundreds of Far-Ultraviolet-Bright Quasars, from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Galaxy Evolution Explorer, and Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Syphers, David; Anderson, Scott F.; Zheng, Wei; Haggard, Daryl; Meiksin, Avery; Schneider, Donald P.; York, Donald G.

2009-11-01

Absorption along quasar sightlines remains among the most sensitive direct measures of He II reionization in much of the intergalactic medium (IGM). Until recently, fewer than a half-dozen unobscured quasar sightlines suitable for the He II Gunn-Peterson test were known; although these handful demonstrated great promise, the small sample size limited confidence in cosmological inferences. We have recently added nine more such clean He II quasars, exploiting Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasar samples, broadband ultraviolet (UV) imaging from Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), and high-yield UV spectroscopic confirmations from Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Here we markedly expand this approach by cross-correlating SDSS DR7 and GALEX GR4+5 to catalog 428 SDSS and 165 other quasars with z > 2.78 having likely (~70%) GALEX detections, suggesting they are bright into the far-UV. Reconnaissance HST Cycle 16 Supplemental prism data for 29 of these new quasar-GALEX matches spectroscopically confirm 17 as indeed far-UV bright. At least 10 of these confirmations have clean sightlines all the way down to He II Lyα, substantially expanding the number of known clean He II quasars, and reaffirming the order of magnitude enhanced efficiency of our selection technique. Combined confirmations from this and our past programs yield more than 20 He II quasars, quintupling the sample. These provide substantial progress toward a sample of He II quasar sightlines large enough, and spanning a sufficient redshift range, to enable statistical IGM studies that may avoid individual object peculiarity and sightline variance. Our expanded catalog of hundreds of high-likelihood far-UV-bright QSOs additionally will be useful for understanding the extreme-UV properties of the quasars themselves. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Examining the DSM-5 Section III Criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in a Community Sample.

PubMed

Liggett, Jacqueline; Sellbom, Martin; Carmichael, Kieran L C

2017-12-01

The current study examined the extent to which the trait-based operationalization of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) in Section III of the DSM-5 describes the same construct as the one described in Section II. A community sample of 313 adults completed a series of personality inventories indexing the DSM-5 Sections II and III diagnostic criteria for OCPD, in addition to a measure of functional impairment modelled after the criteria in Section III. Results indicated that latent constructs representing Section II and Section III OCPD overlapped substantially (r = .75, p < .001). Hierarchical latent regression models revealed that at least three of the four DSM-5 Section III facets (Rigid Perfectionism, Perseveration, and Intimacy Avoidance) uniquely accounted for a large proportion of variance (53%) in a latent Section II OCPD variable. Further, Anxiousness and (low) Impulsivity, as well as self and interpersonal impairment, augmented the prediction of latent OCPD scores.

DNA binding and biological studies of some novel water-soluble polymer-copper(II)-phenanthroline complexes.

PubMed

Kumar, Rajendran Senthil; Arunachalam, Sankaralingam; Periasamy, Vaiyapuri Subbarayan; Preethy, Christo Paul; Riyasdeen, Anvarbatcha; Akbarsha, Mohammad Abdulkader

2008-10-01

Some novel water-soluble polymer-copper(II)-phenanthroline complex samples, [Cu(phen)2(BPEI)]Cl(2).4H2O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, BPEI=branched polyethyleneimine), with different degrees of copper complex content in the polymer chain have been prepared by ligand substitution method in water-ethanol medium and characterized by infrared, UV-visible, EPR spectral and elemental analysis methods. The binding of these complex samples with DNA has been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy and gel retardation assay. Electrostatic interactions between DNA molecule and polymer-copper(II) complex molecule containing many high positive charges have been observed. Besides these ionic interactions, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding and other partial intercalation binding modes may also exist in this system. The polymer-copper(II) complex with higher degree of copper complex content was screened for its antimicrobial activity and antitumor activity.

Measurements of CaII absorption, metals and dust in a sample of z ~= 1 DLAs and subDLAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nestor, Daniel B.; Pettini, Max; Hewett, Paul C.; Rao, Sandhya; Wild, Vivienne

2008-11-01

We present observations of CaII, ZnII and CrII absorption lines in 16 damped Lyman alpha (DLA) systems and six subDLAs at redshifts 0.6 < zabs < 1.3, obtained for the dual purposes of (i) clarifying the relationship between DLAs and absorption systems selected from their strong CaII lines, and (ii) increasing the still limited sample of Zn and Cr abundance determinations in this redshift range. We find only partial overlap between current samples of intermediate redshift DLAs (which are drawn from magnitude-limited surveys) and strong CaII absorbers: approximately 25 per cent of known DLAs at these redshifts have an associated CaII λ3935 line with a rest-frame equivalent width greater than 0.35 Å, the threshold of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample assembled by Wild and her collaborators. The lack of the strongest CaII systems (with equivalent widths greater than 0.5 Å) is consistent with these authors' conclusion that such absorbers are often missed in current DLA surveys because they redden and dim the light of the background quasi-stellar objects. We rule out the suggestion that strong CaII absorption is associated exclusively with the highest column density DLAs. Furthermore, we find no correlation between the strength of the CaII lines and either the metallicity or degree of depletion of refractory elements, although the strongest CaII absorber in our sample is also the most metal-rich DLA yet discovered, with [Zn/H] ~= solar. We conclude that a complex mix of parameters must determine the strengths of the CaII lines, including the density of particles and ultraviolet photons in the interstellar media of the galaxies hosting the DLAs. We find tentative evidence (given the small size of our sample) that strong CaII systems may preferentially sample regions of high gas density, perhaps akin to the DLAs exhibiting molecular hydrogen absorption at redshifts z > 2. If this connection is confirmed, strong CaII absorbers would trace possibly metal rich, H2 bearing columns of cool, dense gas at distances up to tens of kpc from normal galaxies. Based on the observations made with the William Herschel Telescope operated on the island of La Palma by the Isaac Newton Group in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. E-mail: dbn@ast.cam.ac.uk

Reproducing a Prospective Clinical Study as a Computational Retrospective Study in MIMIC-II.

PubMed

Kury, Fabrício S P; Huser, Vojtech; Cimino, James J

2015-01-01

In this paper we sought to reproduce, as a computational retrospective study in an EHR database (MIMIC-II), a recent large prospective clinical study: the 2013 publication, by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM), about disseminated intravascular coagulation, in the journal Critical Care (PMID: 23787004). We designed in SQL and Java a set of electronic phenotypes that reproduced the study's data sampling, and used R to perform the same statistical inference procedures. All produced source code is available online at https://github.com/fabkury/paamia2015. Our program identified 2,257 eligible patients in MIMIC-II, and the results remarkably agreed with the prospective study. A minority of the needed data elements was not found in MIMIC-II, and statistically significant inferences were possible in the majority of the cases.

Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in Chagas disease patients from endemic and non-endemic regions of Argentina.

PubMed

Cura, C I; Lucero, R H; Bisio, M; Oshiro, E; Formichelli, L B; Burgos, J M; Lejona, S; Brusés, B L; Hernández, D O; Severini, G V; Velazquez, E; Duffy, T; Anchart, E; Lattes, R; Altcheh, J; Freilij, H; Diez, M; Nagel, C; Vigliano, C; Favaloro, L; Favaloro, R R; Merino, D E; Sosa-Estani, S; Schijman, A G

2012-04-01

Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi may play a role in pathogenesis of Chagas disease forms. Natural populations are classified into 6 Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) Tc I-VI with taxonomical status. This study aimed to identify T. cruzi DTUs in bloodstream and tissue samples of Argentinean patients with Chagas disease. PCR-based strategies allowed DTU identification in 256 clinical samples from 239 Argentinean patients. Tc V prevailed in blood from both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases and Tc I was more frequent in bloodstream, cardiac tissues and chagoma samples from immunosuppressed patients. Tc II and VI were identified in a minority of cases, while Tc III and Tc IV were not detected in the studied population. Interestingly, Tc I and Tc II/VI sequences were amplified from the same skin biopsy slice from a kidney transplant patient suffering Chagas disease reactivation. Further data also revealed the occurrence of mixed DTU populations in the human chronic infection. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence of the complexity of the dynamics of T. cruzi diversity in the natural history of human Chagas disease and allege the pathogenic role of DTUs I, II, V and VI in the studied population.

Sequential Sampling Plan of Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Cotton Plants.

PubMed

Grigolli, J F J; Souza, L A; Mota, T A; Fernandes, M G; Busoli, A C

2017-04-01

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most important pests of cotton production worldwide. The objective of this work was to develop a sequential sampling plan for the boll weevil. The studies were conducted in Maracaju, MS, Brazil, in two seasons with cotton cultivar FM 993. A 10,000-m2 area of cotton was subdivided into 100 of 10- by 10-m plots, and five plants per plot were evaluated weekly, recording the number of squares with feeding + oviposition punctures of A. grandis in each plant. A sequential sampling plan by the maximum likelihood ratio test was developed, using a 10% threshold level of squares attacked. A 5% security level was adopted for the elaboration of the sequential sampling plan. The type I and type II error used was 0.05, recommended for studies with insects. The adjustment of the frequency distributions used were divided into two phases, so that the model that best fit to the data was the negative binomial distribution up to 85 DAE (Phase I), and from there the best fit was Poisson distribution (Phase II). The equations that define the decision-making for Phase I are S0 = -5.1743 + 0.5730N and S1 = 5.1743 + 0.5730N, and for the Phase II are S0 = -4.2479 + 0.5771N and S1 = 4.2479 + 0.5771N. The sequential sampling plan developed indicated the maximum number of sample units expected for decision-making is ∼39 and 31 samples for Phases I and II, respectively. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Thermal, spectroscopic, and ab initio structural characterization of carprofen polymorphs.

PubMed

Bruni, Giovanna; Gozzo, Fabia; Capsoni, Doretta; Bini, Marcella; Macchi, Piero; Simoncic, Petra; Berbenni, Vittorio; Milanese, Chiara; Girella, Alessandro; Ferrari, Stefania; Marini, Amedeo

2011-06-01

Commercial and recrystallized polycrystalline samples of carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were studied by thermal, spectroscopic, and structural techniques. Our investigations demonstrated that recrystallized sample, stable at room temperature (RT), is a single polymorphic form of carprofen (polymorph I) that undergoes an isostructural polymorphic transformation by heating (polymorph II). Polymorph II remains then metastable at ambient conditions. Commercial sample is instead a mixture of polymorphs I and II. The thermodynamic relationships between the two polymorphs were determined through the construction of an energy/temperature diagram. The ab initio structural determination performed on synchrotron X-Ray powder diffraction patterns recorded at RT on both polymorphs allowed us to elucidate, for the first time, their crystal structure. Both crystallize in the monoclinic space group type P2(1) /c, and the unit cell similarity index and the volumetric isostructurality index indicate that the temperature-induced polymorphic transformation I → II is isostructural. Polymorphs I and II are conformational polymorphs, sharing a very similar hydrogen bond network, but with different conformation of the propanoic skeleton, which produces two different packing. The small conformational change agrees with the low value of transition enthalpy obtained by differential scanning calorimetry measurements and the small internal energy computed with density functional methods. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Monitoring of trace amounts of heavy metals in different food and water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer after preconcentration by amine-functionalized graphene nanosheet.

PubMed

Behbahani, Mohammad; Tapeh, Nasim Akbari Ghareh; Mahyari, Mojtaba; Pourali, Ali Reza; Amin, Bahareh Golrokh; Shaabani, Ahmad

2014-11-01

We are introducing graphene oxide modified with amine groups as a new solid phase for extraction of heavy metal ions including cadmium(II), copper(II), nickel(II), zinc(II), and lead(II). Effects of pH value, flow rates, type, concentration, and volume of the eluent, breakthrough volume, and the effect of potentially interfering ions were studied. Under optimized conditions, the extraction efficiency is >97 %, the limit of detections are 0.03, 0.05, 0.2, 0.1, and 1 μg L(-1) for the ions of cadmium, copper, nickel, zinc, and lead, respectively, and the adsorption capacities for these ions are 178, 142, 110, 125, and 210 mg g(-1). The amino-functionalized graphene oxide was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The proposed method was successfully applied in the analysis of environmental water and food samples. Good spiked recoveries over the range of 95.8-100.0 % were obtained. This work not only proposes a useful method for sample preconcentration but also reveals the great potential of modified graphene as an excellent sorbent material in analytical processes.

FR II radio galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: observational facts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozieł-Wierzbowska, D.; Stasińska, G.

2011-08-01

Starting from the Cambridge Catalogues of radio sources, we have created a sample of 401 Fanaroff-Riley type II (FR II) radio sources that have counterparts in the main galaxy sample of the seventh Data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and analyse their radio and optical properties. We find that the luminosity in the Hα line - which we argue gives a better measure of the total emission-line flux than the widely used luminosity in [O III]- is strongly correlated with the radio luminosity P1.4 GHz. We show that the absence of emission lines in about one third of our sample is likely due to a detection threshold and not to a lack of optical activity. We also find a very strong correlation between the values of LHα and P1.4 GHz when scaled by ‘MBH’, an estimate of the black hole mass. We find that the properties of FR II galaxies are mainly driven by the Eddington parameter LHα/‘MBH’ or, equivalently, P1.4 GHz/‘MBH’. Radio galaxies with hotspots are found among the ones with the highest values of P1.4 GHz/‘MBH’. Compared to classical active galactic nuclei (AGN) hosts in the main galaxy sample of the SDSS, our FR II galaxies show a larger proportion of objects with very hard ionizing radiation field and large ionization parameter. A few objects are, on the contrary, ionized by a softer radiation field. Two of them have double-peaked emission lines and deserve more attention. We find that the black hole masses and stellar masses in FR II galaxies are very closely related: ‘MBH’∝M1.13* with very little scatter. A comparison sample of line-less galaxies in the SDSS follows exactly the same relation, although the masses are, on average, smaller. This suggests that the FR II radio phenomenon occurs in normal elliptical galaxies, preferentially in the most massive ones. Although most FR II galaxies are old, some contain traces of young stellar populations. Such young populations are not seen in normal line-less galaxies, suggesting that the radio (and optical) activity in some FR II galaxies may be triggered by recent star formation. The ‘MBH’-M* relation in a comparison sample of radio-quiet AGN hosts from the SDSS is very different, suggesting that galaxies which are still forming stars are also still building their central black holes. Globally, our study indicates that, while radio and optical activity are strongly related in FR II galaxies, the features of the optical activity in FR IIs are distinct from those of the bulk of radio-quiet active galaxies. An appendix (available as Supporting Information with the online version of the article) gives the radio maps of our FR II galaxies, superimposed on the SDSS images, and the parameters derived for our analysis that were not publicly available.

Multiple Intelligences and ESL Teaching and Learning: An Investigation in KG II Classrooms in One Private School in Beirut, Lebanon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghamrawi, Norma

2014-01-01

This study examined teachers' use of the Multiple Intelligences Theory on vocabulary acquisition by preschoolers during English as a second language (ESL) classes in a K-12 school in Lebanon. Eighty kindergartners (KG II, aged 5 years) and eight teachers constituted the sample. The study used mixed methods, including observations of videotaped…

Efficacy of the organic-certified insecticide Diatect II against the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) in cotton.

PubMed

Sappington, Thomas W

2002-10-01

The efficacy of the organic insecticide Diatect II against boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas were assessed in small-plot field trials and greenhouse cage tests using azinphos-methyl treatments as a standard for comparison. Plastic sheets were placed in the furrows of the treated plots to retrieve boll weevils which dropped from the plants after being killed by the insecticides. Samples of live weevils taken by a tractor-mounted vacuum sampler revealed a modest, but significant, reduction in boll weevil populations in Diatect II plots. However, samples of dead weevils indicated that this reduction was due to movement of weevils out of the plots rather than to mortality. This interpretation is supported by greenhouse cage studies, where mortality in Diatect II treated cages was no greater than that in untreated control cages. The effects of insecticide treatments in small plots can be confounded easily and quickly by interplot movement of target insects. Although the relative effects of various compounds can usually be assessed by sampling the populations in plots soon after treatment, the best measure of efficacy is obtained by directly sampling insects that have died in the plot. This parameter is insulated from the effects of interplot movement, unless the toxicant is slow to immobilize the target insect. Taken together, our results indicate little efficacy by Diatect II against boll weevil under our test conditions.

In-Service Turkish Elementary and Science Teachers' Attitudes toward Science and Science Teaching: A Sample from Usak Province

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turkmen, Lutfullah

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to reveal Turkish elementary teachers' and science teachers' attitudes toward science and science teaching. The sample of the study, 138 in-service elementary level science teachers from a province of Turkey, was selected by a clustered sampling method. The Science Teaching Attitude Scale-II was employed to measure the…

Long term isothermal aging and thermal analysis of N-CYCAP polyimides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutter, James K.; Waters, John F.; Schverman, Marla A.

1991-01-01

The N-CYCAP polyimides utilize a (2,2) paracyclophane endcap that polymerizes and does not generate volatile gases during the cure process. These polyimides have both high glass temperatures (390 C) and an onset of decomposition in air of 560 C. Thermal oxidative stability (TOS) weight loss studies show that replacing 25 percent by weight of the paraphenylene diamine in the polymer backbone with metaphenylene diamine improves the weight loss characteristics. N-CYCAP neat resin samples performed better than PMR-II-50 when exposed at 343 and 371 C in air for up to 1000 hours. Preliminary composite studies show that both PMR-II-50 and N-CYCAP have better thermal stability when fabricated on T-40R. Higher isothermal aging temperatures of longer aging times are needed to determine the differences in TOS between composite samples of PMR-II-50 and N-CYCAP polyimides.

Diagnostic accuracy of language sample measures with Persian-speaking preschool children.

PubMed

Kazemi, Yalda; Klee, Thomas; Stringer, Helen

2015-04-01

This study examined the diagnostic accuracy of selected language sample measures (LSMs) with Persian-speaking children. A pre-accuracy study followed by phase I and II studies are reported. Twenty-four Persian-speaking children, aged 42 to 54 months, with primary language impairment (PLI) were compared to 27 age-matched children without PLI on a set of measures derived from play-based, conversational language samples. Results showed that correlations between age and LSMs were not statistically significant in either group of children. However, a majority of LSMs differentiated children with and without PLI at the group level (phase I), while three of the measures exhibited good diagnostic accuracy at the level of the individual (phase II). We conclude that general LSMs are promising for distinguishing between children with and without PLI. Persian-specific measures are mainly helpful in identifying children without language impairment while their ability to identify children with PLI is poor.

Clinical and psychopathological features associated with treatment-emergent mania in bipolar-II depressed outpatients exposed to antidepressants.

PubMed

Fornaro, Michele; Anastasia, Annalisa; Monaco, Francesco; Novello, Stefano; Fusco, Andrea; Iasevoli, Felice; De Berardis, Domenico; Veronese, Nicola; Solmi, Marco; de Bartolomeis, Andrea

2018-07-01

Treatment-emergent affective switch (TEAS), including treatment-emergent mania (TEM), carry significant burden in the clinical management of bipolar depression, whereas the use of antidepressants raises both efficacy, safety and tolerability concerns. The present study assesses the prevalence and clinical correlates of TEM in selected sample of Bipolar Disorder (BD) Type-II (BD-II) acute depression outpatients. Post-hoc analysis of the clinical and psychopathological features associated with TEM among 91 BD-II depressed outpatients exposed to antidepressants. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) (p = .005), lithium (≤ .001), cyclothymic/irritable/hyperthymic temperaments (p = ≤ .001; p = .001; p = .003, respectively), rapid-cycling (p = .005) and depressive mixed features (p = .003) differed between TEM + cases vs. TEM - controls. Upon multinomial logistic regression, the accounted psychopathological features correctly classified as much as 88.6% of TEM + cases (35/91 overall sample, or 38.46% of the sample), yet not statistically significantly [Exp(B) = .032; p = ns]. Specifically, lithium [B = - 2.385; p = .001], SGAs [B = - 2.354; p = .002] predicted lower rates of TEM + in contrast to the number of lifetime previous psychiatric hospitalizations [B = 2.380; p = .002], whereas mixed features did not [B = 1.267; p = ns]. Post-hoc analysis. Lack of systematic pharmacological history record; chance of recall bias and Berkson's biases. Permissive operational criterion for TEM. Relatively small sample size. Cyclothymic temperament and mixed depression discriminated TEM + between TEM - cases, although only lithium and the SGAs reliably predicted TEM +/- grouping. Larger-sampled/powered longitudinal replication studies are warranted to allow firm conclusions on the matter, ideally contributing to the identification of clear-cut sub-phenotypes of BD towards patient-tailored-pharmacotherapy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A lower occurrence rate of bright X-ray flares in SN-GRBs than z < 1 GRBs: evidence of energy partitions?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Hui-Jun; Gu, Wei-Min; Mao, Jirong; Liu, Tong; Hou, Shu-Jin; Lin, Da-Bin; Wang, Junfeng; Fang, Taotao; Liang, En-Wei

2018-05-01

The occurrence rates of bright X-ray flares in z < 1 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with or without observed supernovae (SNe) association were compared. Our Sample I: the z < 1 long GRBs (LGRBs) with SNe association (SN-GRBs) and with early Swift/X-Ray Telescope (XRT) observations, consists of 18 GRBs, among which only two GRBs have bright X-ray flares. Our Sample II: for comparison, all the z < 1 LGRBs without observed SNe association and with early Swift/XRT observations, consists of 45 GRBs, among which 16 GRBs present bright X-ray flares. Thus, the study indicates a lower occurrence rate of bright X-ray flares in Sample I (11.1%) than in Sample II (35.6%). In addition, if dim X-ray fluctuations are included as flares, then 16.7% of Sample I and 55.6% of Sample II are found to have flares, again showing the discrepancy between these two samples. We examined the physical origin of these bright X-ray flares and found that most of them are probably related to the central engine reactivity. To understand the discrepancy, we propose that such a lower occurrence rate of flares in the SN-GRB sample may hint at an energy partition among the GRB, SNe, and X-ray flares under a saturated energy budget of massive star explosion.

The Case for the Perceived Social Competence Scale II

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson-Butcher, Dawn; Amorose, Anthony J.; Lower, Leeann M.; Riley, Allison; Gibson, Allison; Ruch, Donna

2016-01-01

Objective: This study examines the psychometric properties of the revised Perceived Social Competence Scale (PSCS), a brief, user-friendly tool used to assess social competence among youth. Method: Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) examined the factor structure and invariance of an enhanced scale (PSCS-II), among a sample of 420 youth.…

Differential Relationships between WISC-IV and WIAT-II Scales: An Evaluation of Potentially Moderating Child Demographics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Konold, Timothy R.; Canivez, Gary L.

2010-01-01

Considerable debate exists regarding the accuracy of intelligence tests with members of different groups. This study investigated differential predictive validity of the "Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition". Participants from the WISC-IV--WIAT-II standardization linking sample (N = 550) ranged in age from 6 through…

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the KABC-II in Preschool Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Kimberly E.; Rothlisberg, Barbara A.; McIntosh, David E.; Hunt, Madeline S.

2009-01-01

The present study assessed the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (KABC-II) in relation to the synthesized Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of intelligence with a preschool sample. Participants were 200 preschool children between four and five years of age. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted, and different…

Detection of human papillomavirus in pterygium and conjunctival papilloma by hybrid capture II and PCR assays.

PubMed

Takamura, Y; Kubo, E; Tsuzuki, S; Akagi, Y

2008-11-01

To elucidate the putative role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in pterygium and conjunctival papilloma. Hybrid capture II (HC-II) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed to detect HPV in pterygium (42 samples obtained from 40 patients) and conjunctival papilloma (8 samples from 6 patients). The amount of HPV DNA was evaluated by measurement of relative light units (RLUs) on a luminometer. All papilloma samples were positive for HPV DNA by PCR and HC-II. The RLU values for specimens of recurrent and re-recurrent papilloma were markedly higher than those for specimens of primary lesions. HPV was detected by PCR in 2 of 42 (4.8%) beta-globin-positive pterygium specimens, whereas HC-II showed that HPV was negative in all pterygium samples. Our results support the hypothesis that HPV DNA is associated with the pathogenesis of conjunctival papilloma, but not pterygium. RLU measurement by HC-II may serve as a marker for evaluating the activity of HPV in conjunctival tumours.

The Influence of Acculturation on Traumatic Stress Following Childbirth Among Hispanic Adolescents.

PubMed

Anderson, Cheryl; Strickland, Sarah

2017-09-01

Many studies have explored the role of acculturation on health outcomes; however, no studies to date have examined relationships between acculturation and the traumatic stress of childbirth among Hispanic adolescents. A convenience sample of 66 Hispanic adolescents 13 to 19 years of age completed the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), a demographic sheet, birth appraisal scale, and the Impact of Event Scale within 72 hours of birth. Significant associations were found between the ARSMA-II subscales and acculturation proxy variables, excluding language; however, only the Mexican Orientation Subscale and generation proxy variable influenced the birth experience. The study findings showed that Hispanic adolescents reporting a more traumatic childbirth identified closer with the Mexican culture and reported fewer family generations residing in the United States. As an overlooked area of research, our findings support the need for additional research related to the traumatic stress of birth among Hispanic adolescents. Using multiple acculturation measurements, including the ARSMA-II, with larger, more diverse samples of adolescents, equally balanced between all categories of acculturation and placement within the five-tier generation matrix, can provide some insightful information and directed health care.

Relationships among Blood Pressure, Triglycerides and Verbal Learning in African Americans

PubMed Central

Sims, Regina C.; Madhere, Serge; Gordon, Shalanda; Clark, Elijah; Abayomi, Kobi A.; Callender, Clive O.; Campbell, Alfonso L.

2013-01-01

Background Individuals at greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) display poorer cognitive functioning across various cognitive domains. This finding is particularly prevalent among older adults; however, few studies examine these relationships among younger adults or among African Americans. Purpose The objective was to examine the relationships among 2 cardiovascular risk factors, elevated blood pressure and elevated triglycerides, and verbal learning in a community-based sample of African Americans. Methods Measurements of blood pressure and triglycerides were obtained in 121 African-American adults and compared to performance on 3 domains of the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II). Results Blood pressure was not related to CVLT-II performance. Triglyceride levels were inversely related to CVLT-II performance. Higher triglyceride levels were associated with poorer immediate, short delay and long delay recall. Conclusions Consistent with studies involving older participants, the current investigation shows that in a nonelderly sample of African Americans, triglyceride levels may be related to cognitive functioning. Because early detection and intervention of vascular-related cognitive impairment may have a salutary effect, future studies should include younger adults to highlight the impact of cardiovascular risk on cognition. PMID:18942281

An empirically derived short form of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II.

PubMed

Grabman, J; Vajda Bailey, K; Schmidt, K; Cariou, B; Vaur, L; Madani, S; Cox, D; Gonder-Frederick, L

2017-04-01

To develop an empirically derived short version of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II that still accurately measures fear of hypoglycaemia. Item response theory methods were used to generate an 11-item version of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey from a sample of 487 people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, this scale was tested on a sample of 2718 people with Type 1 or insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes taking part in DIALOG, a large observational prospective study of hypoglycaemia in France. The short form of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II matched the factor structure of the long form for respondents with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, while maintaining adequate internal reliability on the total scale and all three subscales. The two forms were highly correlated on both the total scale and each subscale (Pearson's R > 0.89). The short form of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II is an important first step in more efficiently measuring fear of hypoglycaemia. Future prospective studies are needed for further validity testing and exploring the survey's applicability to different populations. © 2016 Diabetes UK.

Oxygen Issue in Core Collapse Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elmhamdi, A.

2011-06-01

We study the spectroscopic properties of a selected sample of 26 events within Core Collapse Supernovae (CCSNe) family. Special attention is paid to the nebular oxygen forbidden line [OI] 6300, 6364 Å doublet. We analyze the line flux ratio F6300/F6364 and infer information about the optical depth evolution, densities, volume-filling factors in the oxygen emitting zones. The line luminosity is measured for the sample events and its evolution is discussed on the basis of the bolometric light curve properties in type II and in type Ib-c SNe. The luminosities are then translated into oxygen abundances using two different methods. The results are combined with the determined 56Ni masses and compared with theoretical models by means of the [O/Fe] vs. Mms diagram. Two distinguishable and continuous populations, corresponding to Ib-c and type II SNe, are found. The higher mass nature of the ejecta in type II objects is also imprinted in the [CaII] 7291, 7324Å to [OI] 6300, 6364Å luminosity ratios. Our results may be used as input parameters for theoretical models studying the chemical enrichment of galaxies.

Adsorption of Zinc(II) on diatomite and manganese-oxide-modified diatomite: a kinetic and equilibrium study.

PubMed

Caliskan, Necla; Kul, Ali Riza; Alkan, Salih; Sogut, Eda Gokirmak; Alacabey, Ihsan

2011-10-15

The removal of Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution was studied using natural and MnO(2) modified diatomite samples at different temperatures. The linear Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption equations were applied to describe the equilibrium isotherms. From the D-R model, the mean adsorption energy was calculated as >8 kJ mol(-1), indicating that the adsorption of Zn(II) onto diatomite and Mn-diatomite was physically carried out. In addition, the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to determine the kinetic data. The experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters such as the enthalpy (ΔH(0)), Gibbs' free energy (ΔG(0)) and entropy (ΔS(0)) were calculated for natural and MnO(2) modified diatomite. These values showed that the adsorption of Zn(II) ions onto diatomite samples was controlled by a physical mechanism and occurred spontaneously. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of temperamental mood lability on depressive mixed state.

PubMed

Benazzi, Franco

2006-01-01

Cyclothymic temperament (which includes mood lability) is common in bipolar II disorder (BP-II). Depressive mixed state (DMX), a major depressive episode (MDE) mixed with intra-episode hypomanic symptoms (3 or more, according to a recently validated definition), was found to be common in BP-II and not uncommon in major depressive disorder (MDD). The study aim was to find the impact of temperamental mood lability (TML) on DMX. Consecutive 148 BP-II and 117 MDD outpatients presenting for MDE treatment were interviewed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV as modified by Benazzi and Akiskal to reduce the false negative BP-II. Intra-MDE hypomanic symptoms were systematically assessed. Kraepelin, Angst, and Akiskal's definitions of temperamental mood lability (i.e., frequent up and down fluctuations of mood between major mood episodes since young age) were followed. DMX was present in 61.5%, TML in 52.8%. In the DMX sample, TML was present in 57.6%, and in the non-DMX sample TML was present in 45.0% (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.7). In the DMX sample, independent predictors of DMX with TML were BP-II and young age at onset. Intra-MDE hypomanic symptoms, and MDE, melancholic and atypical symptoms were not significantly different between DMX patients with TML and DMX patients without TML, apart from more temperamental interpersonal sensitivity in DMX patients with TML (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0-3.8). DMX patients with TML had a younger onset age, suggesting that TML may facilitate the onset of DMX or that it may be a precursor of DMX. The association of BP-II with DMX, TML, and interpersonal sensitivity can make the course of BP-II more unstable and its treatment more complex.

Surface adsorption of poisonous Pb(II) ions from water using chitosan functionalised magnetic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Christopher, Femina Carolin; Anbalagan, Saravanan; Kumar, Ponnusamy Senthil; Pannerselvam, Sundar Rajan; Vaidyanathan, Vinoth Kumar

2017-06-01

In this study, chitosan functionalised magnetic nano-particles (CMNP) was synthesised and utilised as an effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. The experimental studies reveal that adsorbent material has finer adsorption capacity for the removal of heavy metal ions. Parameters affecting the adsorption of Pb(II) ions on CMNP, such as initial Pb(II) ion concentration, contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage and temperature were studied. The adsorption equilibrium study showed that present adsorption system followed a Freundlich isotherm model. The experimental kinetic studies on the adsorption of Pb(II) ions exhibited that present adsorption process best obeyed with pseudo-first order kinetics. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of CMNP for the removal of Pb(II) ions was found to be 498.6 mg g -1 . The characterisation of present adsorbent material was done by FTIR, energy disperse X-ray analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer studies. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (Δ G °), enthalpy (Δ H °) and entropy (Δ S °) have declared that the adsorption process was feasible, exothermic and spontaneous in nature. Sticking probability reported that adsorption of Pb(II) ions on CMNP was favourable at lower temperature and sticking capacity of Pb(II) ions was very high.

Chemically modified activated carbon with 1-acylthiosemicarbazide for selective solid-phase extraction and preconcentration of trace Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) from water samples.

PubMed

Gao, Ru; Hu, Zheng; Chang, Xijun; He, Qun; Zhang, Lijun; Tu, Zhifeng; Shi, Jianping

2009-12-15

A new sorbent 1-acylthiosemicarbazide-modified activated carbon (AC-ATSC) was prepared as a solid-phase extractant and applied for removing of trace Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including effects of pH, the shaking time, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions. At pH 3, the maximum static adsorption capacity of Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) onto the AC-ATSC were 78.20, 67.80 and 48.56 mg g(-1), respectively. The adsorbed metal ions were quantitatively eluted by 3.0 mL of 2% CS(NH2)2 and 2.0 mol L(-1) HCl solution. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation. According to the definition of IUPAC, the detection limits (3sigma) of this method for Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) were 0.20, 0.12 and 0.45 ng mL(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation under optimum conditions is less than 4.0% (n=8). The prepared sorbent was applied for the preconcentration of trace Cu(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) in certified and water samples with satisfactory results.

Sequential determination of nickel and cadmium in tobacco, molasses and refill solutions for e-cigarettes samples by molecular fluorescence.

PubMed

Talio, María Carolina; Alesso, Magdalena; Acosta, Mariano; Wills, Verónica S; Fernández, Liliana P

2017-11-01

In this work, a new procedure was developed for separation and preconcentration of nickel(II) and cadmium(II) in several and varied tobacco samples. Tobacco samples were selected considering the main products consumed by segments of the population, in particular the age (youth) and lifestyle of the consumer. To guarantee representative samples, a randomized strategy of sampling was used. In the first step, a chemofiltration on nylon membrane is carried out employing eosin (Eo) and carbon nanotubes dispersed in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) solution (phosphate buffer pH 7). In this condition, Ni(II) was selectively retained on the solid support. After that, the filtrate liquid with Cd(II) was re-conditioned with acetic acid /acetate buffer solution (pH 5) and followed by detection. A spectrofluorimetric determination of both metals was carried out, on the solid support and the filtered aqueous solution, for Ni(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The solid surface fluorescence (SSF) determination was performed at λ em = 545nm (λ ex = 515nm) for Ni(II)-Eo complex and the fluorescence of Cd(II)-Eo was quantified in aqueous solution using λ em = 565nm (λ ex = 540nm). The calibration graphs resulted linear in a range of 0.058-29.35μgL -1 for Ni(II) and 0.124-56.20μgL -1 for Cd(II), with detection limits of 0.019 and 0.041μgL -1 (S/N = 3). The developed methodology shows good sensitivity and adequate selectivity, and it was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of nickel and cadmium present in tobacco samples (refill solutions for e-cigarettes, snuff used in narguille (molasses) and traditional tobacco) with satisfactory results. The new methodology was validated by ICP-MS with adequate agreement. The proposed methodology represents a novel fluorescence application to Ni(II) and Cd(II) quantification with sensitivity and accuracy similar to atomic spectroscopies, introducing for the first time the quenching effect on SSF. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Using late-time optical and near-infrared spectra to constrain Type Ia supernova explosion properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maguire, K.; Sim, S. A.; Shingles, L.; Spyromilio, J.; Jerkstrand, A.; Sullivan, M.; Chen, T.-W.; Cartier, R.; Dimitriadis, G.; Frohmaier, C.; Galbany, L.; Gutiérrez, C. P.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Howell, D. A.; Inserra, C.; Rudy, R.; Sollerman, J.

2018-03-01

The late-time spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are powerful probes of the underlying physics of their explosions. We investigate the late-time optical and near-infrared spectra of seven SNe Ia obtained at the VLT with XShooter at >200 d after explosion. At these epochs, the inner Fe-rich ejecta can be studied. We use a line-fitting analysis to determine the relative line fluxes, velocity shifts, and line widths of prominent features contributing to the spectra ([Fe II], [Ni II], and [Co III]). By focussing on [Fe II] and [Ni II] emission lines in the ˜7000-7500 Å region of the spectrum, we find that the ratio of stable [Ni II] to mainly radioactively-produced [Fe II] for most SNe Ia in the sample is consistent with Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation explosion models, as well as sub-Chandrasekhar mass explosions that have metallicity values above solar. The mean measured Ni/Fe abundance of our sample is consistent with the solar value. The more highly ionised [Co III] emission lines are found to be more centrally located in the ejecta and have broader lines than the [Fe II] and [Ni II] features. Our analysis also strengthens previous results that SNe Ia with higher Si II velocities at maximum light preferentially display blueshifted [Fe II] 7155 Å lines at late times. Our combined results lead us to speculate that the majority of normal SN Ia explosions produce ejecta distributions that deviate significantly from spherical symmetry.

Further examination of embedded performance validity indicators for the Conners' Continuous Performance Test and Brief Test of Attention in a large outpatient clinical sample.

PubMed

Sharland, Michael J; Waring, Stephen C; Johnson, Brian P; Taran, Allise M; Rusin, Travis A; Pattock, Andrew M; Palcher, Jeanette A

2018-01-01

Assessing test performance validity is a standard clinical practice and although studies have examined the utility of cognitive/memory measures, few have examined attention measures as indicators of performance validity beyond the Reliable Digit Span. The current study further investigates the classification probability of embedded Performance Validity Tests (PVTs) within the Brief Test of Attention (BTA) and the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II), in a large clinical sample. This was a retrospective study of 615 patients consecutively referred for comprehensive outpatient neuropsychological evaluation. Non-credible performance was defined two ways: failure on one or more PVTs and failure on two or more PVTs. Classification probability of the BTA and CPT-II into non-credible groups was assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were derived to identify clinically relevant cut-off scores. When using failure on two or more PVTs as the indicator for non-credible responding compared to failure on one or more PVTs, highest classification probability, or area under the curve (AUC), was achieved by the BTA (AUC = .87 vs. .79). CPT-II Omission, Commission, and Total Errors exhibited higher classification probability as well. Overall, these findings corroborate previous findings, extending them to a large clinical sample. BTA and CPT-II are useful embedded performance validity indicators within a clinical battery but should not be used in isolation without other performance validity indicators.

Adsorption studies of Cd(II) onto Al 2O 3/Nb 2O 5 mixed oxide dispersed on silica matrix and its on-line preconcentration and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendonça Costa, Lucimara; Ribeiro, Emerson Schwingel; Segatelli, Mariana Gava; do Nascimento, Danielle Raphael; de Oliveira, Fernanda Midori; Tarley, César Ricardo Teixeira

2011-05-01

The present study describes the adsorption characteristic of Cd(II) onto Nb 2O 5/Al 2O 3 mixed oxide dispersed on silica matrix. The characterization of the adsorbent has been carried out by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) and specific surface area ( SBET). From batch experiments, adsorption kinetic of Cd(II) was described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir linear isotherm fitted to the experimental adsorption isotherm very well, and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 17.88 mg g -1. Using the effective material, a method for Cd(II) preconcentration at trace level was developed. The method was based on on-line adsorption of Cd(II) onto SiO 2/Al 2O 3/Nb 2O 5 at pH 8.64, in which the quantitative desorption occurs with 1.0 mol L -1 hydrochloric acid towards FAAS detector. The experimental parameters related to the system were studied by means of multivariate analysis, using 2 4 full factorial design and Doehlert matrix. The effect of SO 42-, Cu 2+, Zn 2+ and Ni 2+ foreign ions showed no interference at 1:100 analyte:interferent proportion. Under the most favorable experimental conditions, the preconcentration system provided a preconcentration factor of 18.4 times, consumption index of 1.08 mL, sample throughput of 14 h -1, concentration efficiency of 4.35 min -1, linear range from 5.0 up to 35.0 μg L -1 and limits of detection and quantification of 0.19 and 0.65 μg L -1 respectively. The feasibility of the proposed method for Cd(II) determination was assessed by analysis of water samples, cigarette sample and certified reference materials TORT-2 (Lobster hepatopancreas) and DOLT-4 (Dogfish liver).

Magnetic Study of the Novel Polynuclear Compound [Cu(II)(6-Mercaptopurinolate 2-)] n

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acevedo-Chávez, Rodolfo; Costas, María. Eugenia; Escudero, Roberto

1997-08-01

Chemical reactions between Cu(II) and 6-mercaptopurine, both in aqueous and in methanolic media, yield the novel amorphous polynuclear compound [Cu(II)(6-mercaptopurinolate)2-]n, which is also obtained from diverse Cu(II)-heterocyclic ligand competitive reactions. The kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities associated with the formation of this compound are inferred as remarkable. The spectroscopic data let us suggest the involvement of the exocyclic S(6) donor site and the N atoms in the imidazolic moiety of the deprotonated heterocyclic ligand in the coordination to Cu(II) atoms, forming a distorted bidimensional metallic network. The magnetic studies show the existence of very weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the solid sample. This system represents the first example of a 1 : 1 metal : 6-mercaptopurinolate2-system with ad-type open shell metallic center. The magnetic study carried out also represents the first example of magnetic characterization for this type of polynuclear Cu(II) systems with the dianionic 6-mercaptopurine ligand.

Rapid and sensitive insulated isothermal PCR for point-of-need feline leukaemia virus detection.

PubMed

Wilkes, Rebecca P; Anis, Eman; Dunbar, Dawn; Lee, Pei-Yu A; Tsai, Yun-Long; Lee, Fu-Chun; Chang, Hsiao-Fen G; Wang, Hwa-Tang T; Graham, Elizabeth M

2018-04-01

Objectives Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), a gamma retrovirus, causes diseases of the feline haematopoietic system that are invariably fatal. Rapid and accurate testing at the point-of-need (PON) supports prevention of virus spread and management of clinical disease. This study evaluated the performance of an insulated isothermal PCR (iiPCR) that detects proviral DNA, and a reverse transcription (RT)-iiPCR that detects both viral RNA and proviral DNA, for FeLV detection at the PON. Methods Mycoplasma haemofelis, feline coronavirus, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline immunodeficiency virus were used to test analytical specificity. In vitro transcribed RNA, artificial plasmid, FeLV strain American Type Culture Collection VR-719 and a clinical FeLV isolate were used in the analytical sensitivity assays. A retrospective study including 116 clinical plasma and serum samples that had been tested with virus isolation, real-time PCR and ELISA, and a prospective study including 150 clinical plasma and serum samples were implemented to evaluate the clinical performances of the iiPCR-based methods for FeLV detection. Results Ninety-five percent assay limit of detection was calculated to be 16 RNA and five DNA copies for the RT-iiPCR, and six DNA copies for the iiPCR. Both reactions had analytical sensitivity comparable to a reference real-time PCR (qPCR) and did not detect five non-target feline pathogens. The clinical performance of the RT-iiPCR and iiPCR had 98.82% agreement (kappa[κ] = 0.97) and 100% agreement (κ = 1.0), respectively, with the qPCR (n = 85). The agreement between an automatic nucleic extraction/RT-iiPCR system and virus isolation to detect FeLV in plasma or serum was 95.69% (κ = 0.95) and 98.67% (κ = 0.85) in a retrospective (n = 116) and a prospective (n = 150) study, respectively. Conclusions and relevance These results suggested that both RT-iiPCR and iiPCR assays can serve as reliable tools for PON FeLV detection.

Validation of Arabic and English versions of the ARSMA-II Acculturation Rating Scale.

PubMed

Jadalla, Ahlam; Lee, Jerry

2015-02-01

To translate and adapt the Acculturation Rating Scale of Mexican-Americans II (ARSMA-II) for Arab Americans. A multistage translation process followed by a pilot and a large study. The translated and adapted versions, Acculturation Rating Scale for Arabic Americans-II Arabic and English (ARSAA-IIA, ARSAA-IIE), were validated in a sample of 297 Arab Americans. Factor analyses with principal axis factoring extractions and direct oblimin rotations were used to identify the underlying structure of ARSAA-II. Factor analysis confirmed the underlying structure of ARSAA-II and produced two interpretable factors labeled as 'Attraction to American Culture' (AAmC) and 'Attraction to Arabic Culture' (AArC). The Cronbach's alphas of AAmC and AArC were .89 and .85 respectively. Findings support ARSAA-II A & E to assess acculturation among Arab Americans. The emergent factors of ARSAA-II support the theoretical structure of the original ARSMA-II tool and show high internal consistency.

Improved selection criteria for H II regions, based on IRAS sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Qing-Zeng; Xu, Ye; Walsh, A. J.; Macquart, J. P.; MacLeod, G. C.; Zhang, Bo; Hancock, P. J.; Chen, Xi; Tang, Zheng-Hong

2018-05-01

We present new criteria for selecting H II regions from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) Point Source Catalogue (PSC), based on an H II region catalogue derived manually from the all-sky Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The criteria are used to augment the number of H II region candidates in the Milky Way. The criteria are defined by the linear decision boundary of two samples: IRAS point sources associated with known H II regions, which serve as the H II region sample, and IRAS point sources at high Galactic latitudes, which serve as the non-H II region sample. A machine learning classifier, specifically a support vector machine, is used to determine the decision boundary. We investigate all combinations of four IRAS bands and suggest that the optimal criterion is log(F_{60}/F_{12})≥ ( -0.19 × log(F_{100}/F_{25})+ 1.52), with detections at 60 and 100 {μ}m. This selects 3041 H II region candidates from the IRAS PSC. We find that IRAS H II region candidates show evidence of evolution on the two-colour diagram. Merging the WISE H II catalogue with IRAS H II region candidates, we estimate a lower limit of approximately 10 200 for the number of H II regions in the Milky Way.

Effect of gamma-irradiation on thermal decomposition kinetics, X-ray diffraction pattern and spectral properties of tris(1,2-diaminoethane)nickel(II)sulphate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayashri, T. A.; Krishnan, G.; Rema Rani, N.

2014-12-01

Tris(1,2-diaminoethane)nickel(II)sulphate was prepared, and characterised by various chemical and spectral techniques. The sample was irradiated with 60Co gamma rays for varying doses. Sulphite ion and ammonia were detected and estimated in the irradiated samples. Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics, X-ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electronic, fast atom bombardment mass spectra, and surface morphology of the complex were studied before and after irradiation. Kinetic parameters were evaluated by integral, differential, and approximation methods. Irradiation enhanced thermal decomposition, lowering thermal and kinetic parameters. The mechanism of decomposition is controlled by R3 function. From X-ray diffraction studies, change in lattice parameters and subsequent changes in unit cell volume and average crystallite size were observed. Both unirradiated and irradiated samples of the complex belong to trigonal crystal system. Decrease in the intensity of the peaks was observed in the infrared spectra of irradiated samples. Electronic spectral studies revealed that the M-L interaction is unaffected by irradiation. Mass spectral studies showed that the fragmentation patterns of the unirradiated and irradiated samples are similar. The additional fragment with m/z 256 found in the irradiated sample is attributed to S8+. Surface morphology of the complex changed upon irradiation.

Application of F⁺RNA Coliphages as Source Tracking Enteric Viruses on Parsley and Leek Using RT-PCR.

PubMed

Shahrampour, Dina; Yavarmanesh, Masoud; Najafi, Mohammad Bagher Habibi; Mohebbi, Mohebbat

2015-12-01

The objective of this study was to identify sources of fecal contamination in leek and parsley, by using four different F(+)RNA coliphage genogroups (IV, I indicate animal fecal contamination and II, III indicate human fecal contamination). Three different concentrations (10(2), 10(4), 10(6) pfu/ml) of MS2 coliphage were inoculated on the surface of parsley and leek samples for detection of phage recovery efficiency among two methods of elution concentration (PEG-precipitation and Ultracentrifugation) by performing double agar layer (DAL) assay in three replications. Highest recovery of MS2 was observed in PEG method and in 10(6) inoculation concentration. Accordingly, the PEG method was used for washing and isolation of potentially contaminated phages of 30 collected samples (15 samples from the market and 15 samples from the farm). The final solutions of PEG method were tested for the enumeration of plaques by DAL assay. Total RNA was then extracted from recovered phages, and RT-PCR was performed by using four primer sets I, II, III, and IV. Incidence of F(+)RNA coliphages was observed in 12/15 (80 %) and 10/15 (66/6 %) of samples were obtained from farm and market, respectively, using both DAL and RT-PCR test methods. Different genotypes (I, II, and IV) of F(+)RNA coliphages were found in farm samples, while only genotype I was detected in market samples by using the primer sets. Due to the higher frequency of genotype I and IV, the absence of genotype III, and also the low frequency of genotype II, it is concluded that the contamination of vegetable (parsley and leek) in Neyshabour, Iran is most likely originated from animal sources.

Salivary flow rate and xerostomia in patients with type I and II diabetes mellitus

PubMed Central

Hoseini, Amineh; Mirzapour, Ali; Bijani, Ali; Shirzad, Atena

2017-01-01

Background Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases, with complications such as decreased salivary flow rate and xerostomia. Objective This study aimed to determine the salivary flow rate and xerostomia in type I and II diabetic patients in comparison with healthy controls. Methods This case-control study was performed on diabetic patients of a private office in Babol, Iran, between May 2015 and October 2016. This study involved two study groups (type I and II diabetes, with 40 in each group) and two control groups (control I and II, with 35 in each group) which were age- and sex-matched with the related study groups. They were all selected through simple sampling. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected through Navazesh method and the salivary flow rate was measured (ml/min). Xerostomia was evaluated via Fox’s test. Moreover, the patients’ data were recorded including age, sex, disease duration, type of diabetes, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1C. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 17. Independent-samples t-test, Chi-square, Pearson correlation and multiple comparison post-hoc tests were employed as appropriated. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean salivary flow rate in type I diabetics (0.35±0.11 ml/min) was lower than that in control I (0.50±0.07 ml/min) (p=0.01). The same difference was observed between type II diabetics (0.37±0.13 ml/min) and control II groups (0.47±0.11 ml/min) (p=0.01). No significant difference was observed in the salivary flow rate between type I and II diabetics (p=0.345). Furthermore, xerostomia was higher in type I (2.70±2.50, 1.17±1.60) and II (2.65±2.20–1.62±1.50) diabetics compared with the related control groups (p=0.01), (p=0.02). Conclusion Type I, II diabetic patients revealed lower salivary flow rate and higher xerostomia compared with healthy controls. The salivary flow rate and xerostomia had inverse correlation. PMID:29038704

Salivary flow rate and xerostomia in patients with type I and II diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Hoseini, Amineh; Mirzapour, Ali; Bijani, Ali; Shirzad, Atena

2017-09-01

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases, with complications such as decreased salivary flow rate and xerostomia. This study aimed to determine the salivary flow rate and xerostomia in type I and II diabetic patients in comparison with healthy controls. This case-control study was performed on diabetic patients of a private office in Babol, Iran, between May 2015 and October 2016. This study involved two study groups (type I and II diabetes, with 40 in each group) and two control groups (control I and II, with 35 in each group) which were age- and sex-matched with the related study groups. They were all selected through simple sampling. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected through Navazesh method and the salivary flow rate was measured (ml/min). Xerostomia was evaluated via Fox's test. Moreover, the patients' data were recorded including age, sex, disease duration, type of diabetes, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1C. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 17. Independent-samples t-test, Chi-square, Pearson correlation and multiple comparison post-hoc tests were employed as appropriated. p<0.05 was considered significant. The mean salivary flow rate in type I diabetics (0.35±0.11 ml/min) was lower than that in control I (0.50±0.07 ml/min) (p=0.01). The same difference was observed between type II diabetics (0.37±0.13 ml/min) and control II groups (0.47±0.11 ml/min) (p=0.01). No significant difference was observed in the salivary flow rate between type I and II diabetics (p=0.345). Furthermore, xerostomia was higher in type I (2.70±2.50, 1.17±1.60) and II (2.65±2.20-1.62±1.50) diabetics compared with the related control groups (p=0.01), (p=0.02). Type I, II diabetic patients revealed lower salivary flow rate and higher xerostomia compared with healthy controls. The salivary flow rate and xerostomia had inverse correlation.

Orientation of Calcium in the Mn4Ca Cluster of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex Determined Using Polarized Strontium EXAFS of Photosystem II Membranes†

PubMed Central

Cinco, Roehl M.; Robblee, John H.; Messinger, Johannes; Fernandez, Carmen; Holman, Karen L. McFarlane; Sauer, Kenneth; Yachandra, Vittal K.

2014-01-01

The oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II (PS II) in green plants and algae contains a cluster of four Mn atoms in the active site, which catalyzes the photoinduced oxidation of water to dioxygen. Along with Mn, calcium and chloride ions are necessary cofactors for proper functioning of the complex. The current study using polarized Sr EXAFS on oriented Sr-reactivated samples shows that Fourier peak II, which fits best to Mn at 3.5 Å rather than lighter atoms (C, N, O, or Cl), is dichroic, with a larger magnitude at 10° (angle between the PS II membrane normal and the X-ray electric field vector) and a smaller magnitude at 80°. Analysis of the dichroism of the Sr EXAFS yields a lower and upper limit of 0° and 23° for the average angle between the Sr–Mn vectors and the membrane normal and an isotropic coordination number (number of Mn neighbors to Sr) of 1 or 2 for these layered PS II samples. The results confirm the contention that Ca (Sr) is proximal to the Mn cluster and lead to refined working models of the heteronuclear Mn4Ca cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex in PS II. PMID:15491134

A newly validated and characterized spectrophotometric method for determination of a three water pollutants metal ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, Marwa E.; Frag, Eman Y. Z.; Mohamed, Mona A.

2018-01-01

A simple, fast and accurate spectrophotometric method had been developed to determine lead (II), chromium (III) and barium (II) ions in pure forms and in spiked water samples using thoron (THO) as a reagent forming colored complexes. It was found that the formed complexes absorbed maximally at 539, 540 and 538 nm for Pb(II)-THO, Cr(III)-THO and Ba(II)-THO complexes, respectively. The optimum experimental conditions for these complexes had been studied carefully. Beer's law was obeyed in the range 1-35, 1-70, and 1-45 μg mL- 1 for Pb (II), Cr(III) and Ba(II) ions with THO reagent, respectively. Different parameters such as linearity, selectivity, recovery, limits of quantification and detection, precision and accuracy were also evaluated in order to validate the proposed method. The results showed that, THO was effective in simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Ba(III) ions in pure forms and in spiked water samples. Also, the results of the proposed method were compared with that obtained from atomic absorption spectrometry. The isolated solid complexes had been characterized using elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), IR, mass spectrometry and TD-DFT calculations. Their biological activities were investigated against different types of bacteria and fungi organisms.

On-line separation and preconcentration of lead(II) by solid-phase extraction using activated carbon loaded with xylenol orange and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Ensafi, Ali A; Shiraz, A Zendegi

2008-02-11

Activated carbon loaded with xylenol orange in a mini-column was used for the highly selective separation and preconcentration of Pb(II) ions. An on-line system for enrichment and the determination of Pb(II) was carried out on flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The conditions of preconcentration and quantitative recovery of Pb(II) from diluted solution, such as pH of aqueous phase, amount of the sorbent, volume of the solutions and flow variables were studied as well as effect of potential interfering ions. Under the optimum conditions, Pb(II) in an aqueous sample was concentrated about 200-fold and the detection limit was 0.4 ng mL(-1) Pb(II). The adsorption capacity of the solid phase was 0.20mg of lead per one gram of the modified activated carbon. The modified activated carbon is stable for several treatments of sample solutions without the need for using any chemical reagent. The recovery of lead(II) from river water, waste water, tap water, and in the following reference materials: SRM 2711 Montana soil and GBW-07605 tea were obtained in the range of 97-104% by the proposed method.

Spectrum simulation in DTSA-II.

PubMed

Ritchie, Nicholas W M

2009-10-01

Spectrum simulation is a useful practical and pedagogical tool. Particularly with complex samples or trace constituents, a simulation can help to understand the limits of the technique and the instrument parameters for the optimal measurement. DTSA-II, software for electron probe microanalysis, provides both easy to use and flexible tools for simulating common and less common sample geometries and materials. Analytical models based on (rhoz) curves provide quick simulations of simple samples. Monte Carlo models based on electron and X-ray transport provide more sophisticated models of arbitrarily complex samples. DTSA-II provides a broad range of simulation tools in a framework with many different interchangeable physical models. In addition, DTSA-II provides tools for visualizing, comparing, manipulating, and quantifying simulated and measured spectra.

Nitric Oxide Measurement Study. Volume II. Probe Methods,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

case of the Task I study, it should be pointed out that at lower gas temperatures where much of the study was performed, the mass flow through the...third body as pointed out by Matthews, et al. (1977) but also dependent on the viscosity of the sampled gas for standard commercial units (Folsom and...substantially above the dew point (based on the maximum pressure in the sampling system and the initial water concentration) or (2) sample line and

Multi-reverse flow injection analysis integrated with multi-optical sensor for simultaneous determination of Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in natural waters.

PubMed

Youngvises, Napaporn; Suwannasaroj, Kittigan; Jakmunee, Jaroon; AlSuhaimi, Awadh

2017-05-01

Multi-reverse flow injection analysis (Mr-FIA) integrated with multi-optical sensor was developed and optimized for the simultaneous determination of multi ions; Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in water samples. The sample/standard solutions were propelled making use of a four channels peristaltic pump whereas 4 colorimetric reagents specific for the metal ions were separately injected in sample streams using multi-syringe pump. The color zones that formed in the individual mixing coils were then streamed into multi-channels spectrometer, which comprised of four flows through cell and four pairs of light emitting diode and photodiode, whereby signals were measured concurrently. The linearity range (along with detection limit, µgL -1 ) was 0.050-3.0(16), 0.30-2.0 (11), 0.050-1.0(12) and 0.10-1.0(50)mgL -1 , for Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III), respectively. In the interim, the correlation coefficients were 0.9924-0.9942. The percentages relative standard deviation was less than 3. The proposed system was applied successfully to determine targeted metal ions simultaneously in natural water with high sample throughput and low reagent consumption, thus it satisfies the criteria of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) and its goals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Perceptions of King Abdullah II School for Excellence Teachers about the Importance of Using Flipped Learning for the Development of Students' Reflective Thinking in Jordan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al Yousef, Mohammed Bader; Naanah, Ibrahim Ali; Al Khazam, Awad Mufleh

2018-01-01

The study aims to reveal the perceptions of King Abdullah II School for Excellence teachers about the importance of using flipped learning in developing the reflective thinking of their students in Jordan. The population of the study consists of 227 male and female teachers. The sample of the study consists of 180 teachers: 87 males and 93 females…

INFLUENCE OF INTRAMUSCULAR FAT LEVEL ON ORGANOLEPTIC, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IRRADIATED PORK MUSCLE

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

Whitehair, L.A.

1962-01-01

A study was conducted to evaluate the influence of marbling on certain organoleptic, physical, and chemical characteristics of precooked and irradiated pork loin muscle (longissimus dorsi). The study consisted of two separate phases. Loins utilized in Phase I were selected by visual appraisal and categorized into three distinct marbling level scores. A high temperature, short time blanching treatment was used for proteolytic enzyme inactivation. Phase II loins were selected and classified into three marbling levels by both visual appraisal amd ether extraction analysis of total fat. A low temperature, long time heat treatment was used for enzyme inactivation. Samples weremore » packed under vacuum in rigid containers and irradiated at a dosage level of 4.5 megarads gamma radiation. Non-irradiated samples were stored at -65 deg F. Irradiated and control samples were evaluated at periodic intervals by a panel. Physical and chemical analyses were made initially on samples representing each treatment and subsequently at the termination of each storage period. Organoleptic results indicated that degree of marbling did not influence preference ratings of plain radiosterilized longissimus dorsi muscle (pork). However, irradiated longissimus dorsi (pork) sandwich items with lower marbling scores were consistently preferred over highly marbled, irradiated sandwich items. Non-irradiated longissimus dorsi samples were preferred to irradiated longissimus dorsi samples in all tests. The short term-high temperature method of blanching used in Phase I resulted in products of slightly superior quality to those of Phase II, which possessed softer, slightly drier texture characteristics. The practical storage life of irradiated samples under the conditions was approximately 150 days. Hunter color values were increased by radiation treatment. Irradiated longissimus dorsi samples developed a characteristic pink-red color. Mechanical tenderness values in both irradiated and non-irradiated samples were lowered significantly by higher levels of marbling. Expressible moisture values of irradiated samples were lower than those of control samples. The values increased with advancing storage time. Iodine numbers of lower marbling scores (both irradiated and non-irradiated samplcs) exceeded those of highly marbled samples. T.B.A. number values were lower in irradiated samples of Phase I. The values were increased with respect to increased levels of marbling in Phase II. Values increased steadily with advancing storage time in both phases. pH values were elevated by irradiation treatment, marbling level, and storage time in Phase I. The differences were not observed for Phase II samples. Bacteriological assays indicated that irradiated samples were commercially sterile. Extremely low numbers of Micrococci were found. (Dissertation Abstr., 23: No. 4)« less

Application of novel Ni(II) complex and ZrO2 nanoparticle as mediators for electrocatalytic determination of N-acetylcysteine in drug samples.

PubMed

Karimi-Maleh, Hassan; Salehi, Mehdi; Faghani, Fatemeh

2017-10-01

The electrooxidation of N-acetylcysteine (N-AC) was studied by a novel Ni(II) complex modified ZrO 2 nanoparticle carbon paste electrode [Ni(II)/ZrO 2 /NPs/CPE] using voltammetric methods. The results showed that Ni(II)/ZrO 2 /NPs/CPE had high electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of N-AC in aqueous buffer solution (pH = 7.0). The electrocatalytic oxidation peak currents increase linearly with N-AC concentrations over the concentration ranges of 0.05-600μM using square wave voltammetric methods. The detection limit for N-AC was equal to 0.009μM. The catalytic reaction rate constant, k h , was calculated (7.01 × 10 2  M -1  s -1 ) using the chronoamperometry method. Finally, Ni(II)/ZrO 2 /NPs/CPE was also examined as an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of N-AC in real samples such as tablet and urine. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Enhancing studies of the connectome in autism using the autism brain imaging data exchange II

PubMed Central

Di Martino, Adriana; O’Connor, David; Chen, Bosi; Alaerts, Kaat; Anderson, Jeffrey S.; Assaf, Michal; Balsters, Joshua H.; Baxter, Leslie; Beggiato, Anita; Bernaerts, Sylvie; Blanken, Laura M. E.; Bookheimer, Susan Y.; Braden, B. Blair; Byrge, Lisa; Castellanos, F. Xavier; Dapretto, Mirella; Delorme, Richard; Fair, Damien A.; Fishman, Inna; Fitzgerald, Jacqueline; Gallagher, Louise; Keehn, R. Joanne Jao; Kennedy, Daniel P.; Lainhart, Janet E.; Luna, Beatriz; Mostofsky, Stewart H.; Müller, Ralph-Axel; Nebel, Mary Beth; Nigg, Joel T.; O’Hearn, Kirsten; Solomon, Marjorie; Toro, Roberto; Vaidya, Chandan J.; Wenderoth, Nicole; White, Tonya; Craddock, R. Cameron; Lord, Catherine; Leventhal, Bennett; Milham, Michael P.

2017-01-01

The second iteration of the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE II) aims to enhance the scope of brain connectomics research in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Consistent with the initial ABIDE effort (ABIDE I), that released 1112 datasets in 2012, this new multisite open-data resource is an aggregate of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and corresponding structural MRI and phenotypic datasets. ABIDE II includes datasets from an additional 487 individuals with ASD and 557 controls previously collected across 16 international institutions. The combination of ABIDE I and ABIDE II provides investigators with 2156 unique cross-sectional datasets allowing selection of samples for discovery and/or replication. This sample size can also facilitate the identification of neurobiological subgroups, as well as preliminary examinations of sex differences in ASD. Additionally, ABIDE II includes a range of psychiatric variables to inform our understanding of the neural correlates of co-occurring psychopathology; 284 diffusion imaging datasets are also included. It is anticipated that these enhancements will contribute to unraveling key sources of ASD heterogeneity. PMID:28291247

Analysis of Hemoglobin A1c from Dried Blood Spot Samples with the Tina-quant® II Immunoturbidimetric Method

PubMed Central

Jones, Trevor G.; Warber, Kimbrough D.; Roberts, Billy D.

2010-01-01

Background Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been endorsed as a tool for the diagnosis of diabetes. This test requires instrumentation that may not be available in underdeveloped areas. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected by finger stick procedures offer a mechanism to transport samples to laboratories that do measure HbA1c. Methods Whole blood (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was applied to Ahlstrom 226 filter paper. These DBS samples were compared to whole blood samples using the Roche Tina-quant® II immunoturbidometric assay. Hemoglobin A1c stability on DBS was assessed at three temperatures—4, 25, and 40°C—for up to 9 days. A 44-day study was also done for DBS at 20–25°C. Results The Tina-quant® II DBS method showed excellent agreement with whole blood HbA1c results (r2 = 0.99) with a slight positive mean bias of 0.08 ± 0.04% HbA1c (95% confidence interval). The variation in HbA1c on DBS samples subjected to different temperatures and times did not exceed 5.6%. Conclusions Dried blood spot samples represent an alternative to whole blood for HbA1c by measurement when transporting whole blood is not feasible. PMID:20307383

Patient-related barriers to pain management: the Barriers Questionnaire II (BQ-II).

PubMed

Gunnarsdottir, Sigridur; Donovan, Heidi S; Serlin, Ronald C; Voge, Catherine; Ward, Sandra

2002-10-01

Patients' beliefs can act as barriers to optimal management of cancer pain. The Barriers Questionnaire (BQ) is a tool used to evaluate such barriers. Here, the BQ has been revised to reflect changes in pain management practices, resulting in the Barriers Questionnaire-II (BQ-II), a 27-item, self report instrument. This paper presents the results from two studies where the psychometric properties of the BQ-II were evaluated. In the first study, the responses of 27 nurses trained in pain management were compared to responses of a convenience sample of 12 patients with cancer. The results indicated that patients with cancer had higher mean scores on the BQ-II than did nurses trained in pain management. In the second study, a convenience sample of 172 patients with cancer responded to the BQ-II and a set of pain and quality of life (QOL) measures. A factor analysis supported four factors. Factor one, physiological effects, consists of 12 items addressing the beliefs that side effects of analgesics are inevitable and unmanageable, concerns about tolerance, and concerns about not being able to monitor changes in one's body when taking strong pain medications. Factor two, Fatalism, consists of three items addressing fatalistic beliefs about cancer pain and its management. Factor three, Communication, consists of six items addressing the concern that reports of pain distract the physician from treating the underlying disease, and the belief that 'good' patients do not complain of pain. The fourth and final factor, harmful effects, consists of six items addressing fear of becoming addicted to pain medication and the belief that pain medications harm the immune system. The BQ-II total had an internal consistency of 0.89, and alpha for the subscales ranged from 0.75 to 0.85. Mean (SD) scores on the total scale was 1.52 (0.73). BQ-II scores were related to measures of pain intensity and duration, mood, and QOL. Patients who used adequate analgesics for their levels of pain had lower scores on the BQ-II than did patients who used inadequate analgesics. The BQ-II is a reliable and valid measure of patient-related barriers to cancer pain management.

Validation of the Offending-Related Attitudes Questionnaire of CRIME-PICS II Scale (Chinese)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chui, Wing Hong; Wu, Joseph; Kwok, Yan Yuen; Liu, Liu

2017-01-01

This study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the first part of the Chinese version of the CRIME-PICS II Scale, a self-administrated instrument assessing offending-related attitudes. Data were collected from three samples: male Hong Kong young offenders, female Mainland Chinese prisoners, and Hong Kong college students.…

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the Co(II) and Ni(II) ions removal from aqueous solutions by Ca-Mg phosphates.

PubMed

Ivanets, A I; Srivastava, V; Kitikova, N V; Shashkova, I L; Sillanpää, M

2017-03-01

The aim of this work was to study the sorption kinetics and thermodynamics of Co(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solutions by sorbents on the basis of hydrogen (PD-1) and tertiary (PD-2) Ca-Mg phosphates depending on the solution temperature and sorbents chemical composition. Kinetic studies of adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions onto samples of phosphate sorbents were performed in batch experiment at the temperatures 288, 303, 318 and 333 K. The sorbent dose was fixed at 10 g L -1 , initial pH value 2.6, and contact time varied from 5 to 600 min. The kinetics of Co(II) and Ni(II) adsorption were analyzed by using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) for the sorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) were determined using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. The calculated kinetic parameters and corresponding correlation coefficients revealed that Co(II) and Ni(II) uptake process followed the pseudo-second order rate expression. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of removal process which indicate that sorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions onto both phosphate sorbents is favoured at higher temperatures and has the chemisorptive mechanism. The data thus obtained would be useful for practical application of the low cost and highly effective Ca-Mg phosphate sorbents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Wu, Tao; Kukkadapu, Ravi K.; Griffin, Aron M.

Fe(III)-oxides and Fe(III)-bearing phyllosilicates are the two major iron sources utilized as electron acceptors by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) in anoxic soils and sediments. Although there have been many studies of microbial Fe(III)-oxide and Fe(III)-phyllosilicate reduction with both natural and specimen materials, no controlled experimental information is available on the interaction between these two phases when both are available for microbial reduction. In this study, the model DIRB Geobacter sulfurreducens was used to examine the pathways of Fe(III) reduction in Fe(III)-oxide stripped subsurface sediment that was coated with different amounts of synthetic high surface area goethite. Cryogenic (12K) 57Fe Mössbauermore » spectroscopy was used to determine changes in the relative abundances of Fe(III)-oxide, Fe(III)-phyllosilicate, and phyllosilicate-associated Fe(II) (Fe(II)-phyllosilicate) in bioreduced samples. Analogous Mössbauer analyses were performed on samples from abiotic Fe(II) sorption experiments in which sediments were exposed to a quantity of exogenous soluble Fe(II) (FeCl22H2O) comparable to the amount of Fe(II) produced during microbial reduction. A Fe partitioning model was developed to analyze the fate of Fe(II) and assess the potential for abiotic Fe(II)-catalyzed reduction of Fe(III)-phyllosilicatesilicates. The microbial reduction experiments indicated that although reduction of Fe(III)-oxide accounted for virtually all of the observed bulk Fe(III) reduction activity, there was no significant abiotic electron transfer between oxide-derived Fe(II) and Fe(III)-phyllosilicatesilicates, with 26-87% of biogenic Fe(II) appearing as sorbed Fe(II) in the Fe(II)-phyllosilicate pool. In contrast, the abiotic Fe(II) sorption experiments showed that 41 and 24% of the added Fe(II) engaged in electron transfer to Fe(III)-phyllosilicate surfaces in synthetic goethite-coated and uncoated sediment. Differences in the rate of Fe(II) addition and system redox potential may account for the microbial and abiotic reaction systems. Our experiments provide new insight into pathways for Fe(III) reduction in mixed Fe(III)-oxide/Fe(III)-phyllosilicate assemblages, and provide key mechanistic insight for interpreting microbial reduction experiments and field data from complex natural soils and sediments.« less

Metal production in M 33: space and time variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magrini, L.; Stanghellini, L.; Corbelli, E.; Galli, D.; Villaver, E.

2010-03-01

Context. Nearby galaxies are ideal places to study metallicity gradients in detail and their time evolution. Aims: We analyse the spatial distribution of metals in M 33 using a new sample and the literature data on H ii regions, and constrain a model of galactic chemical evolution with H ii region and planetary nebula (PN) abundances. Methods: We consider chemical abundances of a new sample of H ii regions complemented with previous data sets. We compared H ii region and PN abundances obtained with a common set of observations taken at MMT. With an updated theoretical model, we followed the time evolution of the baryonic components and chemical abundances in the disk of M 33, assuming that the galaxy is accreting gas from an external reservoir. Results: From the sample of H ii regions, we find that i) the 2D metallicity distribution has an off-centre peak located in the southern arm; ii) the oxygen abundance gradients in the northern and southern sectors, as well as in the nearest and farthest sides, are identical within the uncertainties, with slopes around -0.03-4 dex kpc-1; iii) bright giant H ii regions have a steeper abundance gradient than the other H ii regions; iv) H ii regions and PNe have O/H gradients very close within the errors; v) our updated evolutionary model is able to reproduce the new observational constraints, as well as the metallicity gradient and its evolution. Conclusions: Supported by a uniform sample of nebular spectroscopic observations, we conclude that i) the metallicity distribution in M 33 is very complex, showing a central depression in metallicity probably due to observational bias; ii) the metallicity gradient in the disk of M 33 has a slope of -0.037 ± 0.009 dex kpc-1 in the whole radial range up to ~8 kpc, and -0.044 ± 0.009 dex kpc-1 excluding the central kpc; iii) there is little evolution in the slope with time from the epoch of PN progenitor formation to the present. Full Tables 2 and 3 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/512/A63

A Critical Assessment of Bias in Survey Studies Using Location-Based Sampling to Recruit Patrons in Bars

PubMed Central

Morrison, Christopher; Lee, Juliet P.; Gruenewald, Paul J.; Marzell, Miesha

2015-01-01

Location-based sampling is a method to obtain samples of people within ecological contexts relevant to specific public health outcomes. Random selection increases generalizability, however in some circumstances (such as surveying bar patrons) recruitment conditions increase risks of sample bias. We attempted to recruit representative samples of bars and patrons in six California cities, but low response rates precluded meaningful analysis. A systematic review of 24 similar studies revealed that none addressed the key shortcomings of our study. We recommend steps to improve studies that use location-based sampling: (i) purposively sample places of interest, (ii) utilize recruitment strategies appropriate to the environment, and (iii) provide full information on response rates at all levels of sampling. PMID:26574657

Bovine serum albumin-Cu(II) hybrid nanoflowers: An effective adsorbent for solid phase extraction and slurry sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric analysis of cadmium and lead in water, hair, food and cigarette samples.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Erkan; Ocsoy, Ismail; Ozdemir, Nalan; Soylak, Mustafa

2016-02-04

Herein, the synthesis of bovine serum albumin-Cu(II) hybrid nanoflowers (BSA-NFs) through the building blocks of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and copper(II) ions in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and their use as adsorbent for cadmium and lead ions are reported. The BSA-NFs, for the first time, were efficiently utilized as novel adsorbent for solid phase extraction (SPE) of cadmium and lead ions in water, food, cigarette and hair samples. The method is based on the separation and pre-concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by BSA-NFs prior to determination by slurry analysis via flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The analytes were adsorbed on BSA-NFs under the vortex mixing and then the ion-loaded slurry was separated and directly introduced into the flame AAS nebulizer by using a hand-made micro sample introduction system to eliminate a number of drawbacks. The effects of analytical key parameters, such as pH, amount of BSA-NFs, vortexing time, sample volume, and matrix effect of foreign ions on adsorbing of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were systematically investigated and optimized. The limits of detection (LODs) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were calculated as 0.37 μg L(-)(1) and 8.8 μg L(-)(1), respectively. The relative standard deviation percentages (RSDs) (N = 5) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 7.2%, and 5.0%, respectively. The accuracy of the developed procedure was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials (TMDA-53.3 Fortified Water, TMDA-70 Fortified Water, SPS-WW2 Waste Water, NCSDC-73349 Bush Branches and Leaves) and by addition/recovery analysis. The quantitative recoveries were obtained for the analysis of certified reference materials and addition/recovery tests. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of cadmium and lead in water, food, cigarette and hair samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessing psychological inflexibility: the psychometric properties of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth in two adult samples.

PubMed

Fergus, Thomas A; Valentiner, David P; Gillen, Michael J; Hiraoka, Regina; Twohig, Michael P; Abramowitz, Jonathan S; McGrath, Patrick B

2012-06-01

The current study examined whether the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y; L. A. Greco, W. Lambert, & R. A. Baer, 2008), a self-report measure of psychological inflexibility for children and adolescents, might be useful for measuring psychological inflexibility for adults. The psychometric properties of the AFQ-Y were examined using data from a college student sample (N = 387) and a clinical sample of patients with anxiety disorders (N = 115). The AFQ-Y, but not the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II; F. W. Bond et al., in press), demonstrated a reading level at or below the recommended 5th or 6th grade reading level. The AFQ-Y also demonstrated adequate reliability (internal consistency), factorial validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and concurrent validity predicting psychological symptoms. Moreover, the AFQ-Y showed incremental validity over the AAQ-II in predicting several psychological symptom domains. Implications for the assessment of psychological inflexibility are discussed. (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved

Preferred crystallographic orientation in the ice I ← II transformation and the flow of ice II

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bennett, K.; Wenk, H.-R.; Durham, W.B.; Stern, L.A.; Kirby, S.H.

1997-01-01

The preferred crystallographic orientation developed during the ice I ← II transformation and during the plastic flow of ice II was measured in polycrystalline deuterium oxide (D2O) specimens using low-temperature neutron diffraction. Samples partially transformed from ice I to II under a non-hydrostatic stress developed a preferred crystallographic orientation in the ice II. Samples of pure ice II transformed from ice I under a hydrostatic stress and then when compressed axially, developed a strong preferred orientation of compression axes parallel to (1010). A match to the observed preferred orientation using the viscoplastic self-consistent theory was obtained only when (1010) [0001] was taken as the predominant slip system in ice II.

Evaluation of the Infinium Methylation 450K technology.

PubMed

Dedeurwaerder, Sarah; Defrance, Matthieu; Calonne, Emilie; Denis, Hélène; Sotiriou, Christos; Fuks, François

2011-12-01

Studies of DNA methylomes hold enormous promise for biomedicine but are hampered by the technological challenges of analyzing many samples cost-effectively. Recently, a major extension of the previous Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip® (Illumina, Inc. CA, USA), called Infinium HumanMethylation450 (Infinium Methylation 450K; Illumina, Inc. CA, USA) was developed. This upgraded technology is a hybrid of two different chemical assays, the Infinium I and Infinium II assays, allowing (for 12 samples in parallel) assessment of the methylation status of more than 480,000 cytosines distributed over the whole genome. In this article, we evaluate Infinium Methylation 450K on cell lines and tissue samples, highlighting some of its advantages but also some of its limitations. In particular, we compare the methylation values of the Infinium I and Infinium II assays. We used Infinium Methylation 450K to profile: first, the well-characterized HCT116 wild-type and double-knockout cell lines and then, 16 breast tissue samples (including eight normal and eight primary tumor samples). Absolute methylation values (β-values) were extracted with the GenomeStudio™ software and then subjected to detailed analysis. While this technology appeared highly robust as previously shown, we noticed a divergence between the β-values retrieved from the type I and type II Infinium assays. Specifically, the β-values obtained from Infinium II probes were less accurate and reproducible than those obtained from Infinium I probes. This suggests that data from the type I and type II assays should be considered separately in any downstream bioinformatic analysis. To be able to deal with the Infinium I and Infinium II data together, we developed and tested a new correction technique, which we called 'peak-based correction'. The idea was to rescale the Infinium II data on the basis of the Infinium I data. While this technique should be viewed as an approximation method, it significantly improves the quality of Infinium II data. Infinium 450K is a powerful technique in terms of reagent costs, time of labor, sample throughput and coverage. It holds great promise for the better understanding of the epigenetic component in health and disease. Yet, due to the nature of its design comprising two different chemical assays, analysis of the whole set of data is not as easy as initially anticipated. Correction strategies, such as the peak-based approach proposed here, are a step towards adequate output data analysis.

Faraday rotation from magnesium II absorbers toward polarized background radio sources

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

Farnes, J. S.; O'Sullivan, S. P.; Corrigan, M. E.

2014-11-01

Strong singly ionized magnesium (Mg II) absorption lines in quasar spectra typically serve as a proxy for intervening galaxies along the line of sight. Previous studies have found a correlation between the number of these Mg II absorbers and the Faraday rotation measure (RM) at ≈5 GHz. We cross-match a sample of 35,752 optically identified non-intrinsic Mg II absorption systems with 25,649 polarized background radio sources for which we have measurements of both the spectral index and RM at 1.4 GHz. We use the spectral index to split the resulting sample of 599 sources into flat-spectrum and steep-spectrum subsamples. Wemore » find that our flat-spectrum sample shows significant (∼3.5σ) evidence for a correlation between Mg II absorption and RM at 1.4 GHz, while our steep-spectrum sample shows no such correlation. We argue that such an effect cannot be explained by either luminosity or other observational effects, by evolution in another confounding variable, by wavelength-dependent polarization structure in an active galactic nucleus, by the Galactic foreground, by cosmological expansion, or by partial coverage models. We conclude that our data are most consistent with intervenors directly contributing to the Faraday rotation along the line of sight, and that the intervening systems must therefore have coherent magnetic fields of substantial strength ( B-bar =1.8±0.4 μG). Nevertheless, the weak nature of the correlation will require future high-resolution and broadband radio observations in order to place it on a much firmer statistical footing.« less

Geochemical appraisal of fluoride-laden groundwater in Suri I and II blocks, Birbhum district, West Bengal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Shreya; Nag, S. K.

2017-09-01

The present study has been carried out covering two blocks—Suri I and II in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. The evaluation focuses on occurrence, distribution and geochemistry in 26 water samples collected from borewells spread across the entire study area homogeneously. Quantitative chemical analysis of groundwater samples collected from the present study area has shown that samples from two locations—Gangta and Dhalla contain fluoride greater than the permissible limit prescribed by WHO during both post-monsoon and pre-monsoon sampling sessions. Significant factor controlling geochemistry of groundwater has been identified to be rock-water interaction processes during both sampling sessions based on the results of Gibb's diagrams. Geochemical modeling studies have revealed that fluorite (CaF2) is, indeed, present as a significant fluoride-bearing mineral in the groundwaters of this study area. Calcite or CaCO3 is one of the most common minerals with which fluorite remains associated, and saturation index calculations have revealed that the calcite-fluorite geochemistry is the dominant factor controlling fluoride concentration in this area during both post- and pre-monsoon. High fluoride waters have also been found to be of `bicarbonate' type showing increase of sodium in water with decrease of calcium.

Installation Restoration General Environmental Technology Development. Task 6. Materials Handling of Explosive Contaminated Soil and Sediment.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

of chemical analysis and sensitivity testing on material samples . At this 4 time, these samples must be packaged and...preparation at a rate of three samples per hour. One analyst doing both sample preparation and the HPLC analysis can run 16 samples in an 8-hour day. II... study , sensitivity testing was reviewed to enable recommendations for complete analysis of contaminated soils. Materials handling techniques,

A sample of [C II] clouds tracing dense clouds in weak FUV fields observed by Herschel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pineda, J. L.; Velusamy, T.; Langer, W. D.; Goldsmith, P. F.; Li, D.; Yorke, H. W.

2010-10-01

The [C ii] fine-structure line at 158 μm is an excellent tracer of the warm diffuse gas in the ISM and the interfaces between molecular clouds and their surrounding atomic and ionized envelopes. Here we present the initial results from Galactic observations of terahertz C+ (GOT C+), a Herschel key project devoted to studying the [C ii] emission in the Galactic plane using the HIFI instrument. We used the [C ii] emission, together with observations of CO, as a probe to understand the effects of newly formed stars on their interstellar environment and characterize the physical and chemical state of the star-forming gas. We collected data along 16 lines-of-sight passing near star-forming regions in the inner Galaxy near longitudes 330° and 20°. We identified fifty-eight [C ii] components that are associated with high-column density molecular clouds as traced by 13CO emission. We combined [C ii], 12CO, and 13CO observations to derive the physical conditions of the [C ii]-emitting regions in our sample of high-column density clouds based on comparing results from a grid of photon dominated region (PDR) models. From this unbiased sample, our results suggest that most of the [C ii] emission originates in clouds with H2 volume densities between 103.5 and 105.5 cm-3 and weak FUV strength (χ0 = 1-10). We find two regions where our analysis suggest high densities >105 cm-3 and strong FUV fields (χ0 = 104-106), likely associated with massive star formation. We suggest that [C ii] emission in conjunction with CO isotopes is a good tool for differentiating regions of massive star formation (high densities/strong FUV fields) and regions that are distant from massive stars (lower densities/weaker FUV fields) along the line-of-sight. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

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

Ge Junqiang; Hu Chen; Wang Jianmin

Recently, much attention has been paid to double-peaked narrow emission-line (NEL) galaxies, some of which are suggested to be related to merging galaxies. We make a systematic search to build the largest sample of these sources from Data Release 7 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). With reasonable criteria for fluxes, FWHMs of the emission lines, and separations of the peaks, we select 3030 double-peaked NEL galaxies. In light of the existence of broad Balmer lines and the locations of the two components of double-peaked NELs distinguished by the Kauffmann et al. criteria in the Baldwin-Phillips-Terlevich diagram, we findmore » that there are 81 Type I active galactic nuclei (AGNs), 837 double Type II AGNs (2-Type II), 708 galaxies with double star-forming components (2-SF), 400 with mixed star-forming and Type II AGN components (Type II + SF), and 1004 unknown-type objects. As a by-product, a sample of galaxies (12,582) with asymmetric or top-flat profiles of emission lines is established. After visually inspecting the SDSS images of the two samples, we find 54 galaxies with dual cores. The present samples can be used to study the dynamics of merging galaxies, the triggering mechanism of black hole activity, the hierarchical growth of galaxies, and the dynamics of narrow line regions driven by outflows and a rotating disk.« less

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

None

Volume II of the Site Environmental Report for 2006 is provided by Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a supplemental appendix to Volume I, which contains the body of the report. Volume II contains the environmental monitoring and sampling data used to generate summary results of routine and nonroutine activities at the Laboratory (except for groundwater sampling data, which may be found in the reports referred to in Chapter 4). Volume I summarizes the results from analyses of the data. The results from sample collections are more comprehensive in Volume II than in Volume I: For completeness, all resultsmore » from sample collections that began or ended in calendar year (CY) 2006 are included in this volume. However, the samples representing CY 2005 data have not been used in the summary results that are reported in Volume I. (For example, although ambient air samples collected on January 2, 2006, are presented in Volume II, they represent December 2005 data and are not included in Table 4-2 in Volume I.)« less

Investigation of irradiated rats DNA in the presence of Cu(II) chelates of amino acids Schiff bases.

PubMed

Karapetyan, N H; Torosyan, A L; Malakyan, M; Bajinyan, S A; Haroutiunian, S G

2016-01-01

The new synthesized Cu(II) chelates of amino acids Schiff bases were studied as a potential radioprotectors. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were exposed to X-ray whole-body irradiation at 4.8 Gy. This dose caused 30% mortality of the animals (LD30). The survival of animals exposed to radiation after preliminary administration of 10 mg/kg Cu(II)(Nicotinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2 or Cu(II)(Nicotinyl-L-Tryptophanate)2 prior to irradiation was registered about 80 and 100% correspondingly. Using spectrophotometric melting and agarose gel electrophoresis methods, the differences between the DNA isolated from irradiated rats and rats pretreated with Cu(II) chelates were studied. The fragments of DNA with different breaks were revealed in DNA samples isolated from irradiated animals. While, the repair of the DNA structure was observed for animals pretreated with the Cu(II) chelates. The results suggested that pretreatment of the irradiated rats with Cu(II)(Nicotinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2 and Cu(II)(Nicotinyl-L-Tryptophanate)2 compounds improves the liver DNA characteristics.

Influence of cyclic hydrostatic pressure on fibrocartilaginous metaplasia of achilles tendon fibroblasts.

PubMed

Shim, J W; Elder, S H

2006-11-01

The goal of this study was to demonstrate whether cyclically imposed hydrostatic pressure, compressive in nature, could induce fibrocartilaginous metaplasia in a purely tendinous cell source in vitro. The effect of short-duration cyclic hydrostatic pressure on tendon fibroblasts (tenocytes) expanded from rat Achilles tendon was studied. Total RNA was isolated either immediately after loading or 24 h later. The mRNA expression of tendon and cartilage specific markers - Collagen types I and II, Sox9, and Aggrecan was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction over multiple biological samples (n=6). For immediately isolated RNA samples, there were statistically significant increases in mRNA expression of Aggrecan and Collagen type II, while Collagen type I significantly decreased. Noticeably, for RNA samples isolated 24 h later, there were further increases in mRNA expression of Aggrecan and Collagen type II, whereas Collagen type I increased roughly three-fold relative to the non-loaded control. These findings support the hypothesis that cyclic hydrostatic pressurization can induce fibrocartilaginous metaplasia in tenocytes by upregulation of cartilaginous gene expression. Also, it was demonstrated that changes in mRNA expression as a result of single 2 h pressurization persist even up to 24 h.

Preparation and Characterization of Activated Cow Bone Powder for the Adsorption of Cadmium from Palm Oil Mill Effluent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AbdulRahman, A.; Latiff, A. A. A.; Daud, Z.; Ridzuan, M. B.; D, N. F. M.; Jagaba, A. H.

2016-07-01

Several studies have been conducted on the removal of heavy metals from palm oil mill effluent. In this study, cow bones were developed as an adsorbent for the removal of cadmium II from POME. A batch experiment was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the prepared activated cow bone powder for the sorption of cadmium II from raw POME. The experiment was carried out under fixed conditions using 100mg/L raw POME combined with different adsorbent dosage of CBP of 184.471 Ra(nm) surface roughness. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of the hydrophobic CBP of average contact angle 890 was determined from the relationship between the initial and equilibrium liquid phase concentrations of POME. The optimum adsorption of cadmium II on CBP was at 10g adsorbent dosage for sample 1 and 2 at 97.8% and 96.93% respectively. The least uptake was at 30g adsorbent weight for both samples at average of 95.1% for both samples. The effective removal of cadmium ion showed that CBP has a great potential for the treatment of heavy metal in POME.

Correlates of mothers' persistent depressive symptoms: a national study.

PubMed

Pascoe, John M; Stolfi, Adrienne; Ormond, Mary B

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, persistence, and correlates of mothers' depressive symptoms over a 5-year period in a nationally representative sample of the United States population. Data from 2235 mothers in the National Survey of Families and Households, Wave I, 1987-1988, and Wave II, 1992-1994, were analyzed. Outcome measures were scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D, 12-item version) and a validated three-item depression screen. One fifth of study mothers had positive CES-D scores and almost half (48%) had negative CES-D scores in both waves. Wave I risk factors for persistent "positive" CES-D scores were maternal age less than 30 years (24%), African-American (33%), never married (26%) or divorced (32%), education less than high school (35%), and indigent (32%). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals for persistent "positive" versus persistent "negative" CES-D scores were: age less than 30 years (Wave I), AOR = 1.64, (1.22-2.21); unmarried (Wave II), AOR = 2.60, (1.89-3.56); education less than high school (Wave II), AOR = 2.18, (1.41-3.38); and indigent (Wave II), AOR = 2.09 (1.36-3.21). About one fifth of the study sample reported high depressive symptoms twice over a 5-year period. Depression in women, especially mothers, is an urgent public health problem.

The relation of hippocampal subfield volumes to verbal episodic memory measured by the California Verbal Learning Test II in healthy adults.

PubMed

Aslaksen, Per M; Bystad, Martin K; Ørbo, Marte C; Vangberg, Torgil R

2018-06-08

Total hippocampal volume has previously been shown to correlate with performance on tests for verbal episodic memory. However, there are sparse evidence on how hippocampal subfield volumes are related to verbal episodic memory in healthy adults. The present study investigated the association between volumes of separate hippocampal subfields and verbal episodic memory performance in healthy volunteers. Forty-seven participants (31 females) between 20 to 71 years age underwent testing with the California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT II), and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) to obtain an estimate of cognitive functioning. T1-weighted MR images were obtained after cognitive testing, and volumetric estimates adjusted for age and estimated total intracranial volume were calculated in the FreeSurfer 6.0 software suite for cerebral -and hippocampal structures. The sample performed within the statistical normal range on both CVLT II and WASI. Significant correlations adjusted for multiple testing were found between CVLT II subtests of total learning, free immediate recall and free delayed recall and volumes of the left Cornu Ammonis (CA) 1-4 subfields. There were no significant correlations between right hippocampal subfields and CVLT II performance, and no significant correlation between WASI results and hippocampal subfields. The present results suggest that better verbal episodic memory measured by the CVLT II is associated with relative larger volumes of specific left CA hippocampal subfields in healthy adults. Due to the small sample size and large age-span of the participants, the present findings are preliminary and should be confirmed in larger samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Selenium speciation in Lower Cambrian Se-enriched strata in South China and its geological implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Haifeng; Wen, Hanjie; Hu, Ruizhong; Zhao, Hui

2011-12-01

To understand the impact of Selenium (Se) into the biogeochemical cycle and implications for palaeo-redox environment, a sequential extraction method was utilized for samples including black shales, cherts, a Ni-Mo-Se sulfide layer, K-bentonite and phosphorite from Lower Cambrian Se-enriched strata in southern China. Seven species (water-soluble, phosphate exchangeable, base-soluble, acetic acid-soluble, sulfide/selenide associated, residual Se) and different oxidation states (selenate Se(VI), selenite Se(IV), organic Se, Se (0) and mineral Se(-II)) were determinated in this study. We found that the Ni-Mo-Se sulfide layer contained a significantly greater amount of Se(-II) associated with sulfides/selenides than those in host black shales and cherts. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the degree of sulfidation of iron (DOS) and the percentage of the sulfide/selenide-associated Se(-II) was observed for samples, which suggests the proportion of sulfide/selenide-associated Se(-II) could serve as a proxy for palaeo-redox conditions. In addition, the higher percentage of Se(IV) in K-bentonite and phosphorite was found and possibly attributed to the adsorption of Se by clay minerals, iron hydroxide surfaces and organic particles. Based on the negative correlations between the percentage of Se(IV) and that of Se(-II) in samples, we propose that the K-bentonite has been altered under the acid oxic conditions, and the most of black shale (and cherts) and the Ni-Mo-Se sulfide layer formed under the anoxic and euxinic environments, respectively. Concerning Se accumulation in the Ni-Mo-Se sulfide layer, the major mechanism can be described by (1) biotic and abiotic adsorption and further dissimilatory reduction from oxidized Se(VI) and Se(IV) to Se(-II), through elemental Se, (2) contribution of hydrothermal fluid with mineral Se(-II).

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of four metals by two kinds of partial least squares methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Ling; Ren, Shouxin

2005-10-01

Simultaneous determination of Ni(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) was studied by two methods, kernel partial least squares (KPLS) and wavelet packet transform partial least squares (WPTPLS), with xylenol orange and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide as reagents in the medium pH = 9.22 borax-hydrochloric acid buffer solution. Two programs, PKPLS and PWPTPLS, were designed to perform the calculations. Data reduction was performed using kernel matrices and wavelet packet transform, respectively. In the KPLS method, the size of the kernel matrix is only dependent on the number of samples, thus the method was suitable for the data matrix with many wavelengths and fewer samples. Wavelet packet representations of signals provide a local time-frequency description, thus in the wavelet packet domain, the quality of the noise removal can be improved. In the WPTPLS by optimization, wavelet function and decomposition level were selected as Daubeches 12 and 5, respectively. Experimental results showed both methods to be successful even where there was severe overlap of spectra.

The use of sugar and alcohol industry waste in the adsorption of potentially toxic metals.

PubMed

Santos, Oseas Silva; Mendonça, André Gustavo Ribeiro; Santos, Josué Carinhanha Caldas; Silva, Amanda Paulina Bezerra; Costa, Silvanio Silverio Lopes; Oliveira, Luciana Camargo; Carmo, Janaina Braga; Botero, Wander Gustavo

2016-01-01

One of the waste products of the industrial process of the sugar and alcohol agribusiness is filter cake (FC). This waste product has high levels of organic matter, mainly proteins and lipids, and is rich in calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. In this work we characterized samples of FC from sugar and alcohol industries located in sugarcane-producing regions in Brazil and assessed the adsorption of potentially toxic metals (Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Ni(II) and Cr(III)) by this waste in mono- and multi-elemental systems, seeking to use FC as an adsorbent in contaminated environments. The characterization of FCs showed significant differences between the samples and the adsorption studies showed retention of over 90% of potentially toxic metals. In a competitive environment (multi-metallic solution), the FC was effective in adsorbing all metals except lead, but less effective compared to the mono-metallic solution. These results show the potential for use of this residue as an adsorbent in contaminated environments.

NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF NEARBY SEYFERT GALAXIES: IS THERE EVIDENCE FOR SHOCK EXCITATION IN NARROW-LINE REGIONS?

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

Terao, K.; Nagao, T.; Toba, Y.

2016-12-20

One of the important unsettled problems regarding active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is the major ionization mechanism of gas clouds in AGN narrow-line regions (NLRs). In order to investigate this issue, we present our J -band spectroscopic observations of a sample of 26 nearby Seyfert galaxies. In our study, we use the flux ratio of the following two forbidden emission lines, [Fe ii]1.257  μ m and [P ii]1.188  μ m, because it is known that this ratio is sensitive to the ionization mechanism. We obtain the [Fe ii]/[P ii] flux ratio or its lower limit for 19 objects. In addition tomore » our data, we compile this flux ratio (or its lower limit) for 23 nearby Seyfert galaxies from the literature. Based on the collected data, we find that three Seyfert galaxies show very large lower limits of the [Fe ii]/[P ii] flux ratios (≳10): NGC 2782, NGC 5005, and Mrk 463. It is thus suggested that the contribution of the fast shock in the gas excitation is significantly large for them. However, more than half of the Seyfert galaxies in our sample show moderate [Fe ii]/[P ii] flux ratios (∼2), which is consistent with pure photoionization by power-law ionizing continuum emission. We also find that the [Fe ii]/[P ii] flux ratio shows no clear correlation with the radio loudness, suggesting that the radio jet is not the primary origin of shocks in NLRs of Seyfert galaxies.« less

Use of a Smartphone as a Colorimetric Analyzer in Paper-based Devices for Sensitive and Selective Determination of Mercury in Water Samples.

PubMed

Jarujamrus, Purim; Meelapsom, Rattapol; Pencharee, Somkid; Obma, Apinya; Amatatongchai, Maliwan; Ditcharoen, Nadh; Chairam, Sanoe; Tamuang, Suparb

2018-01-01

A smartphone application, called CAnal, was developed as a colorimetric analyzer in paper-based devices for sensitive and selective determination of mercury(II) in water samples. Measurement on the double layer of a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) fabricated by alkyl ketene dimer (AKD)-inkjet printing technique with special design doped with unmodified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto the detection zones was performed by monitoring the gray intensity in the blue channel of AgNPs, which disintegrated when exposed to mercury(II) on μPAD. Under the optimized conditions, the developed approach showed high sensitivity, low limit of detection (0.003 mg L -1 , 3SD blank/slope of the calibration curve), small sample volume uptake (two times of 2 μL), and short analysis time. The linearity range of this technique ranged from 0.01 to 10 mg L -1 (r 2 = 0.993). Furthermore, practical analysis of various water samples was also demonstrated to have acceptable performance that was in agreement with the data from cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CV-AAS), a conventional method. The proposed technique allows for a rapid, simple (instant report of the final mercury(II) concentration in water samples via smartphone display), sensitive, selective, and on-site analysis with high sample throughput (48 samples h -1 , n = 3) of trace mercury(II) in water samples, which is suitable for end users who are unskilled in analyzing mercury(II) in water samples.

What’s Important to the Patient?: Informational Needs of Patients Making Decisions about Hepatitis C Treatment

PubMed Central

Evon, Donna M.; Golin, Carol E.; Stoica, Teodora; Jones, Rachel; Willis, Sarah; Galanko, Joseph; Fried, Michael W.

2017-01-01

Background & Objectives Multiple treatment options with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are now available for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Study aims were to understand (1) The informational topics patients want to have to make informed treatment decisions; (2) The importance patients place on each topic; and (3) The topics patients prioritize as most important. Methods Mixed methods study utilizing two samples recruited from an academic liver center. Participants were not currently on treatment. Sample I (n=45) free-listed all informational topics deemed important to decision-making. Raw responses were coded into several broad and subcategories. Sample II (n=38) rated the importance of the subcategories from Sample I and ranked their highest priorities on two surveys, one containing topics for which sufficient research existed to inform patients (“static”), and the other containing topics that would require additional research. Results The topics listed by Sample I fell into 6 broad categories with 17 total subcategories. The most oft-cited informational topics were harms of treatment (100%), treatment benefits (62%) and treatment regimen details (84%). Sample II rated 16 of 17 subcategories as “pretty important’ or “extremely important.” Sample II prioritized (1) viral cure, (2) long-term survival, and (3) side effects on the survey of topics requiring additional research, and (1) liver disease, (2) lifestyle changes, and (3) medication details on the second survey of the most important static topics patients needed. Conclusions Patients weighed several informational topics to make an informed decision about HCV treatment. These findings lay the groundwork for future patient-centered outcomes research in HCV and patient-provider communication to enhance patients’ informed decision-making regarding DAA treatment options. PMID:27882509

Amalgam Electrode-Based Electrochemical Detector for On-Site Direct Determination of Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) from Soils

PubMed Central

Nejdl, Lukas; Kynicky, Jindrich; Brtnicky, Martin; Vaculovicova, Marketa; Adam, Vojtech

2017-01-01

Toxic metal contamination of the environment is a global issue. In this paper, we present a low-cost and rapid production of amalgam electrodes used for determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in environmental samples (soils and wastewaters) by on-site analysis using difference pulse voltammetry. Changes in the electrochemical signals were recorded with a miniaturized potentiostat (width: 80 mm, depth: 54 mm, height: 23 mm) and a portable computer. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated for the geometric surface of the working electrode 15 mm2 that can be varied as required for analysis. The LODs were 80 ng·mL−1 for Cd(II) and 50 ng·mL−1 for Pb(II), relative standard deviation, RSD ≤ 8% (n = 3). The area of interest (Dolni Rozinka, Czech Republic) was selected because there is a deposit of uranium ore and extreme anthropogenic activity. Environmental samples were taken directly on-site and immediately analysed. Duration of a single analysis was approximately two minutes. The average concentrations of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in this area were below the global average. The obtained values were verified (correlated) by standard electrochemical methods based on hanging drop electrodes and were in good agreement. The advantages of this method are its cost and time effectivity (approximately two minutes per one sample) with direct analysis of turbid samples (soil leach) in a 2 M HNO3 environment. This type of sample cannot be analyzed using the classical analytical methods without pretreatment. PMID:28792458

Values Education in Ottoman Empire in the Second Constitutional Period: A Sample Lesson

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oruc, Sahin; Ilhan, Genc Osman

2015-01-01

Values education holds a significant place in an education environment and many studies are carried out about this new subject area. The aim of this study is to define how the subject of "values education" is handled in a sample lesson designed in the period of Constitution II in the Ottoman Empire. In this study, the lesson plan in the…

Apolipoprotein C-II Is a Potential Serum Biomarker as a Prognostic Factor of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer After Chemoradiation Therapy

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

Harima, Yoko, E-mail: harima@takii.kmu.ac.jp; Ikeda, Koshi; Utsunomiya, Keita

Purpose: To determine pretreatment serum protein levels for generally applicable measurement to predict chemoradiation treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma (CC). Methods and Materials: In a screening study, measurements were conducted twice. At first, 6 serum samples from CC patients (3 with no evidence of disease [NED] and 3 with cancer-caused death [CD]) and 2 from healthy controls were tested. Next, 12 serum samples from different CC patients (8 NED, 4 CD) and 4 from healthy controls were examined. Subsequently, 28 different CC patients (18 NED, 10 CD) and 9 controls were analyzed in themore » validation study. Protein chips were treated with the sample sera, and the serum protein pattern was detected by surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS). Then, single MS-based peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) and tandem MS (MS/MS)-based peptide/protein identification methods, were used to identify protein corresponding to the detected peak. And then, turbidimetric assay was used to measure the levels of a protein that indicated the best match with this peptide peak. Results: The same peak 8918 m/z was identified in both screening studies. Neither the screening study nor the validation study had significant differences in the appearance of this peak in the controls and NED. However, the intensity of the peak in CD was significantly lower than that of controls and NED in both pilot studies (P=.02, P=.04) and validation study (P=.01, P=.001). The protein indicated the best match with this peptide peak at 8918 m/z was identified as apolipoprotein C-II (ApoC-II) using PMF and MS/MS methods. Turbidimetric assay showed that the mean serum levels of ApoC-II tended to decrease in CD group when compared with NED group (P=.078). Conclusion: ApoC-II could be used as a biomarker for detection in predicting and estimating the radiation treatment outcome of patients with CC.« less

THE LOCAL [C ii] 158 μ m EMISSION LINE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

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

Hemmati, Shoubaneh; Yan, Lin; Capak, Peter

We present, for the first time, the local [C ii] 158 μ m emission line luminosity function measured using a sample of more than 500 galaxies from the Revised Bright Galaxy Sample. [C ii] luminosities are measured from the Herschel PACS observations of the Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey and estimated for the rest of the sample based on the far-infrared (far-IR) luminosity and color. The sample covers 91.3% of the sky and is complete at S{sub 60μm} > 5.24 Jy. We calculate the completeness as a function of [C ii] line luminosity and distance, basedmore » on the far-IR color and flux densities. The [C ii] luminosity function is constrained in the range ∼10{sup 7–9} L{sub ⊙} from both the 1/ V{sub max} and a maximum likelihood methods. The shape of our derived [C ii] emission line luminosity function agrees well with the IR luminosity function. For the CO(1-0) and [C ii] luminosity functions to agree, we propose a varying ratio of [C ii]/CO(1-0) as a function of CO luminosity, with larger ratios for fainter CO luminosities. Limited [C ii] high-redshift observations as well as estimates based on the IR and UV luminosity functions are suggestive of an evolution in the [C ii] luminosity function similar to the evolution trend of the cosmic star formation rate density. Deep surveys using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array with full capability will be able to confirm this prediction.« less

Applications of organo-silica nanocomposites for SPNE of Hg(II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Anupreet

2016-02-01

An analytical method using modified SiO2 nanoparticles as solid-phase extractant has been developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of Hg(II) in different water samples. Conditions of the analysis such as preconcentration factor, effect of pH, sample volume, shaking time, elution conditions and effects of interfering ions for the recovery of analyte were investigated. The adsorption capacity of nanometer SiO2-APTMS was found to be 181.42 µmol g-1 at optimum pH and the detection limit (3σ) was 0.45 µg L-1. The extractant showed rapid kinetic sorption. The adsorption equilibrium of Hg(II) on nanometer SiO2-APTMS was achieved just in 15 min. Adsorbed Hg(II) was easily eluted with 4 mL of 2.0 M hydrochloric acid. The maximum preconcentration factor was 75. The method was applied for the determination of trace amounts of Hg(II) in various synthetic samples and water samples.

Reliability and Validity of Self-Concept Scores in Secondary School Students in Trinidad and Tobago

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worrell, Frank C.; Watkins, Marley W.; Hall, Tracey E.

2008-01-01

In this study we examined the reliability and validity of global, mathematics and English self-concept scores from the Self-Description Questionnaire II (SDQ-II, Marsh, 1990b) in a random sample of 870 secondary school students in Trinidad and Tobago. The results provided strong evidence for the structural validity of the scores and yielded…

The Development of Global and Domain Self-Esteem from Ages 10 to 16 for Mexican-Origin Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Michelle A.; Wetzel, Eunike; Robins, Richard W.; Donnellan, M. Brent; Trzesniewski, Kali H.

2018-01-01

The current study investigated the development of global and domain (academic, physical, same-sex peer relationship, opposite-sex peer relationship) self-esteem from age 10 to 16 in a sample of Mexican-origin adolescents. Participants' (N = 674) responses on the Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ; Marsh, 2005) II-S showed moderate rank-order…

General Factor Loadings and Specific Effects of the Differential Ability Scales, Second Edition Composites

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maynard, Jennifer L.; Floyd, Randy G.; Acklie, Teresa J.; Houston, Lawrence, III

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the "g" loadings and specific effects of the core and diagnostic composite scores from the Differential Abilities Scales, Second Edition (DAS-II; Elliott, 2007a). Scores from a subset of the DAS-II standardization sample for ages 3:6 to 17:11 were submitted to principal factor analysis. Four…

Concurrent Validity of the WISC-IV and DAS-II in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuriakose, Sarah

2014-01-01

Cognitive assessments are used for a variety of research and clinical purposes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study establishes concurrent validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-fourth edition (WISC-IV) and Differential Ability Scales-second edition (DAS-II) in a sample of children with ASD with a broad…

Exploring the Latent Structure of the Luria Model for the KABC-II at School Age: Further Insights from Confirmatory Factor Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGill, Ryan J.

2017-01-01

The present study examined the factor structure of the Luria interpretive model for the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (KABC-II) with normative sample participants aged 7-18 (N = 2,025) using confirmatory factor analysis with maximum-likelihood estimation. For the eight subtest Luria configuration, an alternative…

Upper airway changes after Xbow appliance therapy evaluated with cone beam computed tomography.

PubMed

Erbas, Banu; Kocadereli, Ilken

2014-07-01

To determine the treatment effects of the Xbow appliance on the upper airway dimensions and volume using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT); to evaluate the cephalometric changes in the skeletal and dental structures of the skeletal Class II patients. The sample consisted of 25 Class II patients (11 male, 14 female) with a mean age of 11.1 ± 1.1 years. CBCT images were obtained at the beginning of the treatment (T0) and after the debonding of the Xbow (T1). Changes in superior, middle, and inferior parts of the oropharynx in the retroglossal region and changes in the oropharyngeal airway volume were statistically significant (P < .05, P < .01). The differences favoring the Xbow for the changes in the direction of Class II correction included SNA, SNB, ANB, maxillary depth angles, and point A-NPg and Co-B distances. Data of the dental parameters showed palatal tipping and extrusion of the maxillary incisors, labial tipping of the mandibular incisors, and mesial movement and extrusion of the mandibular molars. Treatment with the Xbow appliance in Class II patients resulted in favorable increase in the oropharyngeal airway dimensions and volume. Further studies with larger study samples and with control groups are needed.

Transcobalamin II (TCN2 67A>G and TCN2 776C>G) and transcobalamin II receptor (TCblR 1104C>T) polymorphisms in Korean patients with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Seok; Lee, Bo Eun; Jeon, Young Joo; Rah, HyungChul; Lee, Woo Sik; Shin, Ji Eun; Choi, Dong Hee; Kim, Nam Keun

2014-09-01

The transcobalamin II (TCN2) 776C>G polymorphism has been reported to be a genetic risk factor for idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). However, the sample size in previous studies was small, and other TCN2 polymorphisms have not been studied. Moreover, the TCN2 67A>G and 776C>G polymorphisms, and the transcobalamin II receptor (TCblR/CD320) 1104C>T polymorphism, have demonstrated associations with immune responses. Three hundred and seventy-eight RSA patients who had at least two consecutive spontaneous abortions were enrolled. Two hundred and seven control subjects were collected from a convenience sample. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed to identify the TCN2 67A>G and 776C>G polymorphisms, and the TCblR 1104C>T polymorphism. RSA patients showed significantly different frequencies of the TCN2 67AG+GG genotypes compared with control subjects. The TCN2 67G allele is a possible risk factor for idiopathic RSA. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Floodplain Assessment for the Middle Los Alamos Canyon Aggregate Area Investigations in Technical Area 02 at Los Alamos National Laboratory

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

Hathcock, Charles Dean

The proposed action being assessed in this document occurs in TA-02 in the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon. The DOE proposes to conduct soil sampling at AOC 02-011 (d), AOC 02- 011(a)(ii), and SWMU 02-005, and excavate soils in AOC 02-011(a)(ii) as part of a corrective actions effort. Additional shallow surface soil samples (soil grab samples) will be collected throughout the TA-02 area, including within the floodplain, to perform ecotoxicology studies (Figures 1 and 2). The excavation boundaries in AOC 02-011(a)(ii) are slightly within the delineated 100-year floodplain. The project will use a variety of techniques for soil sampling andmore » remediation efforts to include hand/digging, standard hand auger/sampling, excavation using machinery such as backhoe and front end loader and small drill rig. Heavy equipment will traverse the floodplain and spoils piles will be staged in the floodplain within developed or previously disturbed areas (e.g., existing paved roads and parking areas). The project will utilize and maintain appropriate best management practices (BMPs) to contain excavated materials, and all pollutants, including oil from machinery/vehicles. The project will stabilize disturbed areas as appropriate at the end of the project.« less

Evaluation of hydrothermal resources of North Dakota. Phase II. Final technical report

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

Harris, K.L.; Howell, F.L.; Winczewski, L.M.

1981-06-01

This evaluation of the hydrothermal resources of North Dakota is based on existing data on file with the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) and other state and federal agencies, and field and laboratory studies conducted. The principal sources of data used during the Phase II study were WELLFILE, the computer library of oil and gas well data developed during the Phase I study, and WATERCAT, a computer library system of water well data assembled during the Phase II study. A field survey of the shallow geothermal gradients present in selected groundwater observation holes was conducted. Laboratory determinations of the thermalmore » conductivity of core samples is being done to facilitate heat-flow calculations on those hole-of-convenience cased.« less

Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders with Internet addiction in a clinical sample: the effect of personality, defense style and psychopathology.

PubMed

Floros, Georgios; Siomos, Konstantinos; Stogiannidou, Ariadni; Giouzepas, Ioannis; Garyfallos, Georgios

2014-12-01

This study aims to contribute to the understanding of underlying causes for the development of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) and assess comorbidity with other mental disorders through the analysis of data from a clinical sample of college students who presented for treatment of IAD. The clinical sample of our study has demonstrated a high percentage of comorbidity with Axis I and II disorders, while the temporal precedence of the establishment of those disorders cannot lead to specific conclusions. Half of the sample (25/50) presented with comorbidity of another Axis I disorder and 38% (19/50) with a concurrent Axis II personality disorder. The majority of Axis I disorders (51.85%) were reported before the onset of IAD, 33.3% after the onset while it was unclear in 14.81% of cases. The examination of a path model demonstrated that important contributions to the understanding of this disorder can be made through concepts from the neurobiological, trait personality paradigm, as well as from the psychodynamic defense style paradigm. Comorbid psychopathology can further exacerbate the presentation of IAD through a direct link, regardless of the underlying personality structure. The clinician treating IAD patients should complete a clinical evaluation for comorbid Axis I and II diagnoses since their presence may signify a more serious presentation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Loss of insulin-like growth factor-II imprinting and the presence of screen-detected colorectal adenomas in women.

PubMed

Woodson, Karen; Flood, Andrew; Green, Lisa; Tangrea, Joseph A; Hanson, Jeffrey; Cash, Brooks; Schatzkin, Arthur; Schoenfeld, Phillip

2004-03-03

Loss of imprinting (LOI) of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) may be an inherited epigenetic trait that is polymorphic in the population, and its presence may predispose an individual to the development of colorectal cancer. We evaluated the association between LOI of IGF-II in normal colonic mucosal samples and adenomas in women participating in a colonoscopy screening study. Among 40 participants, 11 (27.5%) had LOI of IGF-II in their normal colonic mucosal tissue. After adjusting for body mass index and family history of colorectal cancer, LOI status was associated with a fivefold increased risk of adenoma formation (odds ratio = 5.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.0 to 26.7). On average, IGF-II expression was more than threefold higher among women with LOI of IGF-II than among women with normal imprinting status. Our findings support the hypothesis that LOI of IGF-II is an epigenetic trait polymorphic in the population and suggest that LOI of IGF-II may play a role in colorectal cancer. These findings are intriguing and need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Type Ia supernova rate studies from the SDSS-II Supernova Study

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

Dilday, Benjamin

2008-08-01

The author presents new measurements of the type Ia SN rate from the SDSS-II Supernova Survey. The SDSS-II Supernova Survey was carried out during the Fall months (Sept.-Nov.) of 2005-2007 and discovered ~ 500 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia with densely sampled (once every ~ 4 days), multi-color light curves. Additionally, the SDSS-II Supernova Survey has discovered several hundred SNe Ia candidates with well-measured light curves, but without spectroscopic confirmation of type. This total, achieved in 9 months of observing, represents ~ 15-20% of the total SNe Ia discovered worldwide since 1885. The author describes some technical details of the SNmore » Survey observations and SN search algorithms that contributed to the extremely high-yield of discovered SNe and that are important as context for the SDSS-II Supernova Survey SN Ia rate measurements.« less

The effects of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition cognitive abilities on math achievement.

PubMed

Parkin, Jason R; Beaujean, A Alexander

2012-02-01

This study used structural equation modeling to examine the effect of Stratum III (i.e., general intelligence) and Stratum II (i.e., Comprehension-Knowledge, Fluid Reasoning, Short-Term Memory, Processing Speed, and Visual Processing) factors of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) cognitive abilities, as operationalized by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV; Wechsler, 2003a) subtests, on Quantitative Knowledge, as operationalized by the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition (WIAT-II; Wechsler, 2002) subtests. Participants came from the WISC-IV/WIAT-II linking sample (n=550). We compared models that predicted Quantitative Knowledge using only Stratum III factors, only Stratum II factors, and both Stratum III and Stratum II factors. Results indicated that the model with only the Stratum III factor predicting Quantitative Knowledge best fit the data. Copyright © 2011 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus whole-body decolonization among hospitalized patients with variable site colonization by using mupirocin in combination with octenidine dihydrochloride.

PubMed

Rohr, U; Mueller, C; Wilhelm, M; Muhr, G; Gatermann, S

2003-08-01

The object of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) multisite carriage decolonization in 32 hospitalized carriers--25 from surgical and seven from medical wards. Twenty-four of the patients had wounds (e.g. chronic ulcers, surgical sites) and 17 were spinal cord injury patients. Decolonization was performed by intranasal application of mupirocin, combined with an octenidine dihydrochloride bodywash over a period of five days. Samples from the nose, forehead, neck, axilla and groin were taken 24-48 h before beginning decolonization (sample point I, N=32) and 24-48 h afterwards (sample point II, N=32). Further samples, were taken seven to nine days after the procedure (sample point III, N=25). Contact sheep blood agar plates (24 cm2) were used to quantify MRSA colonies on forehead and neck. MRSA from other sample sites was determined semi-quantitatively. All patients were proven to be MRSA positive at one or more extranasal site(s); 18.8% did not have nasal carriage. The overall decolonization rate for all sites was 53.1% (sample point II) and 64% (sample point III), respectively. The reduction was significant for every site, showing a rate of 88.5% for nose (II, III) and of 56.3% (II) and 68% (III) for all extranasal sites together. Of 32 patients, a median of 6.5 cfu MRSA/24 cm2 was obtained for the forehead before decolonization and 0.5 cfu MRSA/24 cm2 for the neck. A significant reduction (0 cfu MRSA/24 cm2) from both sites was shown after treatment. Before decolonization procedures, median MRSA levels for the nose, groin and axilla were 55, 6 and 0 cfu/swab. After treatment, MRSA from each of these sites was significantly reduced. We conclude that nasal mupirocin combined with octenidine dihydrochloride whole-body wash is effective in eradicating MRSA from patients with variable site colonization.

Novel ion imprinted magnetic mesoporous silica for selective magnetic solid phase extraction of trace Cd followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Bingshan; He, Man; Chen, Beibei; Hu, Bin

2015-05-01

Determination of trace Cd in environmental, biological and food samples is of great significance to toxicological research and environmental pollution monitoring. While the direct determination of Cd in real-world samples is difficult due to its low concentration and the complex matrix. Herein, a novel Cd(II)-ion imprinted magnetic mesoporous silica (Cd(II)-II-MMS) was prepared and was employed as a selective magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) material for extraction of trace Cd in real-world samples followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) detection. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limit of the proposed method was 6.1 ng L- 1 for Cd with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 4.0% (c = 50 ng L- 1, n = 7), and the enrichment factor was 50-fold. To validate the proposed method, Certified Reference Materials of GSBZ 50009-88 environmental water, ZK018-1 lyophilized human urine and NIES10-b rice flour were analyzed and the determined values were in a good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method exhibited a robust anti-interference ability due to the good selectivity of Cd(II)-II-MMS toward Cd(II). It was successfully employed for the determination of trace Cd(II) in environmental water, human urine and rice samples with recoveries of 89.3-116%, demonstrating that the proposed method has good application potential in real world samples with complex matrix.

A porous Cd(II) metal-organic framework with high adsorption selectivity for CO2 over CH4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Chunlan

2017-05-01

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a lot of attention in recent decades. We applied a semi-rigid four-carboxylic acid linker to assemble with Cd(II) ions to generate a novel microporous Cd(II) MOF material. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals the different two dimension (2D) layers can be further packed together with an AB fashion by hydrogen bonds (O4sbnd H4⋯O7 = 1.863 Å) to construct a three dimension (3D) supermolecular architecture. The resulting sample can be synthesized under solvothermal reactions successfully, which exhibits high selectivity adsorption of CO2 over CH4 at room temperature. In addition, the obtained sample was characterized by thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), elemental analysis (CHN) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).

Inhalation and Ingestion Intakes with Associated Dose Estimates for Level II and Level III Personnel Using Capstone Study Data

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

Szrom, Fran; Falo, Gerald A.; Lodde, Gordon M.

2009-03-01

Depleted uranium (DU) intake rates and subsequent dose rates were estimated for personnel entering armored combat vehicles perforated with DU penetrators (level II and level III personnel) using data generated during the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study. Inhalation intake rates and associated dose rates were estimated from cascade impactors worn by sample recovery personnel and from cascade impactors that served as area monitors. Ingestion intake rates and associated dose rates were estimated from cotton gloves worn by sample recovery personnel and from wipe test samples from the interior of vehicles perforated with large caliber DU munitions. The mean DUmore » inhalation intake rate for level II personnel ranged from 0.447 mg h-1 based on breathing zone monitor data (in and around a perforated vehicle) to 14.5 mg h-1 based on area monitor data (in a perforated vehicle). The mean DU ingestion intake rate for level II ranged from 4.8 mg h-1 to 38.9 mg h-1 based on the wipe test data including surface to glove transfer factors derived from the Capstone data. Based on glove contamination data, the mean DU ingestion intake rates for level II and level III personnel were 10.6 mg h-1 was and 1.78 mg h-1, respectively. Effective dose rates and peak kidney uranium concentration rates were calculated based on the intake rates. The peak kidney uranium concentration rate cannot be multiplied by the total exposure duration when multiple intakes occur because uranium will clear from the kidney between the exposures.« less

Er:YAG laser: antimicrobial effects in the root canals of dogs' teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions.

PubMed

Leonardo, Mário R; Guillén-Carías, M G; Pécora, J D; Ito, I Y; Silva, L A B

2005-06-01

Our goal in this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation of the root canals of dog's teeth with apical periodontitis. Various in vitro studies have reported effective bacterial reduction in infected root canals using Er:YAG laser. However, there is no in vivo research to support these results. Forty root canals of dogs' premolar teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions were used. An initial microbiological sample was taken, and after biomechanical preparation was carried out, a second microbiological sample was taken. The teeth were divided into two groups: Group I-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals without Er:YAG laser application; Group II-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals with Er:YAG laser application using 140-mJ input, 63-mJ output/15 Hz. After coronal sealing, the root canals were left empty for 7 days at which time a third microbiological sample was taken. The collected material was removed from the root canal with a #40 K file and placed in transport media. It was serially diluted and seeded on culture dishes selective for anaerobes, aerobes, and total streptococci. Colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) were counted. Groups I and II showed an increase of CFU/mL for all microorganisms 7 days after treatment, being statistically significant for anaerobes in Group I and for anaerobes and total streptococci in Group II. When comparing CFU/mL of Groups I and II, there was a statistically significant increase after 7 d for total streptococci in Group II. Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation did not reduce microorganisms in the root canal system.

The use of a polymer inclusion membrane in a paper-based sensor for the selective determination of Cu(II).

PubMed

Jayawardane, B Manori; Coo, Lilibeth dlC; Cattrall, Robert W; Kolev, Spas D

2013-11-25

A disposable paper-based sensor (PBS) is described for the determination of Cu(II) in natural and waste waters at approximately 2 cents per measurement. The device makes use of a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) to provide the selectivity for Cu(II). The PIM consists of 40 wt% di(2-ethlyhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the carrier, 10 wt% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a plasticizer, 49.5 wt% poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as the base polymer and 0.5 wt% (mm(-1)) 1-(2'-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as the colourimetric reagent. High selectivity under mildly acidic conditions (HCl, pH 2.0) is achieved for Cu(II) in the presence of frequently encountered metal ions in natural and waste waters such as Fe(III), Al(III), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), and Ni(II). The laminated PBS consists of a PIM sensing disc (2mm in diameter) attached to the centre of a circular hydrophilic zone (7 mm in diameter) pretreated with 0.01 M HCl. This hydrophilic zone separates the sample port (a circular hole in the plastic cover) from the PIM sensing disc. After introducing 19.2 μL of a sample/standard solution to the sample port, Cu(II) diffuses across the hydrophilic zone and is extracted into the PIM disc as the Cu(II)-D2EHPA complex which subsequently reacts with PAN to produce the red-purple coloured Cu(II)-PAN complex. The colour intensity of the PIM disc is measured 15 min after sample/standard introduction by scanning using a flatbed scanner. Under optimal conditions the device is characterized by a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.06 and 0.21 mg L(-1) Cu(II), respectively, with two linear ranges together covering the Cu(II) concentration range from 0.1 to 30.0 mg L(-1). The PBS was successfully applied to the determination of Cu(II) in hot tap water and mine tailings water. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of heterogeneous photolytic reduction of Hg(II) in the coal fly ashes and synthetic aerosols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Yindong; Eichhorst, Terry; Olson, Michael R.; Rutter, Andrew P.; Shafer, Martin M.; Wang, Xuejun; Schauer, James J.

2014-03-01

In this study, we examined the heterogeneous reduction of Hg(II) on the coal fly ash samples and synthetic aerosols under different light conditions in a controlled laboratory reactor. Three types of coal fly ashes were studied: a high carbon fly ash from a stoker boiler, a low carbon/low sulfate fly ash from a pulverized coal combustor burning low sulfur coal, and a high sulfate fly ash from a pulverized coal combustor burning high sulfur coal. The rate of Hg(II) reduction on the three diverse fly ash samples was found to be relatively fast with an average half-life of 1.6 h under clear sky atmospheric conditions (under the irradiance of 1000 W/m2). The reduction rate in the low sulfate/low carbon fly ash was approximately 1.5 times faster than with the other coal fly ash samples. Synthetic aerosols made of carbon black and levoglucosan produced Hg(II) reduction rates similar to coal fly ashes. However, aerosols composed of adipic acid resulted in reduction rates that were 3-5 times faster. The sensitivity of adipic acid reduction to light source wavelength was found to be greater than for the coal fly ash and other synthetic aerosols. Aerosols made from the water extracts of coal fly ash samples produced reduction rates equal to or slightly higher than with the native fly ash suggesting that the soluble components of fly ash play a significant role in the reduction mechanism. The measured reduction rates are likely important in the chemical processing of mercury in power plant plumes and potentially in the atmosphere and should be considered for incorporation in atmospheric transport models that are used to understand the fate of atmospheric mercury.

[False positive serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma].

PubMed

Hiramatsu, Kumiko; Tanaka, Yasuhito; Takagi, Kazumi; Iida, Takayasu; Takasaka, Yoshimitsu; Mizokami, Masashi

2007-04-01

Measurements of serum concentrations of des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (PIVKA-II) are widely used for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, when we evaluated the correlation of PIVKA-II between two commercially available PIVKA-II immunoassay kits (Lumipulse f vs. Picolumi) to introduce it in our hospital, false high values of PIVKA-II were observed in Lumipulse assay. Four(4%) of 100 serum samples showed false high values, and all of them were obtained from patients less than 2 month after curative resection of HCC. Examining additional 7 patients with HCC resection, serum samples from the 5 patients had the same trend. To elucidate the non-specific reaction by Lumipulse assay which utilized alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymatic reaction, inhibition assays by various absorbents such as inactive ALP and IgM antibodies were performed. Excess of inactive ALP reduced the high values of PIVKA-II. Note that anti-bleeding sheets (fibrinogen combined drug), which included bovine thrombin, were directly attached on liver of all patients with HCC resection in this study. As the sheets also contaminate ALP and probably produce IgM antibodies to ALP, the IgM may cross-react with anti-PIVKA-II antibodies directly. Taken together, it was suggested that produced antibodies against ALP derived from anti-bleeding sheets led false high values of PIVKA-II in the patients with HCC resection.

Heating-freezing effects on the orientation of kaolin clay particles

DOE PAGES

Jaradat, Karam A.; Darbari, Zubin; Elbakhshwan, Mohamed; ...

2017-09-29

The effects of temperature changes on the particle orientation of a consolidated kaolin are studied using XRD experiments. Here, two sets of equipment were utilized in this study: a benchtop equipment, and a synchrotron beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The kaolin specimens tested in the benchtop XRD were subjected to elevated and freezing temperatures ex-situ, while those used for the NSLS-II experiment were exposed to the temperature changes in-situ. The temperatures considered in this study range from freezing (-10 °C) to elevated temperature below boiling (90 °C). The thermally-induced reorientation of claymore » mineral particles is highly dependent on the relative orientation of the clay mineral particles with respect to the applied thermal gradient. For example, kaolin samples with kaolinite particles oriented perpendicular to the thermal gradient, and to the expected thermally-induced pore water flow, experience much higher particles reorientations compared to samples with particles initially oriented parallel to the thermal gradient. Lastly, freezing kaolin preserved its microstructure as ice crystals form.« less

Heating-freezing effects on the orientation of kaolin clay particles

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

Jaradat, Karam A.; Darbari, Zubin; Elbakhshwan, Mohamed

The effects of temperature changes on the particle orientation of a consolidated kaolin are studied using XRD experiments. Here, two sets of equipment were utilized in this study: a benchtop equipment, and a synchrotron beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The kaolin specimens tested in the benchtop XRD were subjected to elevated and freezing temperatures ex-situ, while those used for the NSLS-II experiment were exposed to the temperature changes in-situ. The temperatures considered in this study range from freezing (-10 °C) to elevated temperature below boiling (90 °C). The thermally-induced reorientation of claymore » mineral particles is highly dependent on the relative orientation of the clay mineral particles with respect to the applied thermal gradient. For example, kaolin samples with kaolinite particles oriented perpendicular to the thermal gradient, and to the expected thermally-induced pore water flow, experience much higher particles reorientations compared to samples with particles initially oriented parallel to the thermal gradient. Lastly, freezing kaolin preserved its microstructure as ice crystals form.« less

Preliminary Problem Definition Study of 48 Munitions-Related Chemicals. Volume II. Propellant-Related Chemicals

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-04-01

34analysis of sediment and biota samples from Radford AAP aquatic toxicity studies if the literature evaluation reveals the need for more information... Sampling and analysis at Radford be performed to determine the quantity of the compound entering the New River Best Available Co. -7- V - A literature...chemical properties of this compound if they can not be obtained from the manufacturer - Sampling and analysis of sediment and biota at Radford AAP to

The role of S(II) and Pb(II) in xanthate flotation of smithsonite: Surface properties and mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Kai; Feng, Qiming; Zhang, Guofan; Ji, Wanying; Zhang, Wukai; Yang, Bingqian

2018-06-01

Smithsonite is a readily dissolvable carbonate mineral that is naturally hydrophilic, making recovery of this ore by flotation difficult. The flotation results showed that conditioning with only sodium sulfide (Na2S) did not successfully allow the smithsonite samples to float, whereas treatment with a combination of S(II), Pb(II) and xanthate (with Na2S as the sulfurizing reagent, lead ions (Pb(II)) as the activator, and xanthate as the collector) improved the flotation of smithsonite, achieving a mass recovery of 95.8%. A combination of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in conjunction with depth profiling, was used to investigate the chemical nature of the sulfur and lead species on the smithsonite surface. For S(II)-conditioned smithsonite, a layer of ZnS formed on the smithsonite (ZnCO3) substrates; this newly formed ZnS coating was amorphous or poorly crystallized. For smithsonite samples conditioned with S(II) and Pb(II), the microstructures and the phase constituents, obtained by AFM and XRD analyses, confirmed the formation of the PbS species with a cubic galena structure on the surface. XPS depth profiling showed that the PbS layer was 18-nm thick, which corresponds to 30 PbS molecular layers. This study presents direct evidence that the coating of the activation product, PbS, on the smithsonite surface was similar to a relatively thick galena layer, which led to successful flotation.

ALMA Reveals Weak [N II] Emission in "Typical" Galaxies and Intense Starbursts at z = 5-6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavesi, Riccardo; Riechers, Dominik A.; Capak, Peter L.; Carilli, Christopher L.; Sharon, Chelsea E.; Stacey, Gordon J.; Karim, Alexander; Scoville, Nicholas Z.; Smolčić, Vernesa

2016-12-01

We report interferometric measurements of [N II] 205 μm fine-structure line emission from a representative sample of three galaxies at z = 5-6 using the Atacama Large (sub)Millimeter Array (ALMA). These galaxies were previously detected in [C II] and far-infrared continuum emission and span almost two orders of magnitude in star formation rate (SFR). Our results show at least two different regimes of ionized interstellar medium properties for galaxies in the first billion years of cosmic time, separated by their {L}[{{C}{{II}}]}/{L}[{{N}{{II}}]} ratio. We find extremely low [N II] emission compared to [C II] ({L}[{{C}{{II}}]}/{L}[{{N}{{II}}]}={68}-28+200) from a “typical” ˜ {L}{UV}* star-forming galaxy, likely directly or indirectly (by its effect on the radiation field) related to low dust abundance and low metallicity. The infrared-luminous modestly star-forming Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) in our sample is characterized by an ionized-gas fraction ({L}[{{C}{{II}}]}/{L}[{{N}{{II}}]}≲ 20) typical of local star-forming galaxies and shows evidence for spatial variations in its ionized-gas fraction across an extended gas reservoir. The extreme SFR, warm and compact dusty starburst AzTEC-3 shows an ionized fraction higher than expected given its SFR surface density ({L}[{{C}{{II}}]}/{L}[{{N}{{II}}]}=22+/- 8) suggesting that [N II] dominantly traces a diffuse ionized medium rather than star-forming H II regions in this type of galaxy. This highest redshift sample of [N II] detections provides some of the first constraints on ionized and neutral gas modeling attempts and on the structure of the interstellar medium at z = 5-6 in “normal” galaxies and starbursts.

Minimizing the Maximum Expected Sample Size in Two-Stage Phase II Clinical Trials with Continuous Outcomes

PubMed Central

Wason, James M. S.; Mander, Adrian P.

2012-01-01

Two-stage designs are commonly used for Phase II trials. Optimal two-stage designs have the lowest expected sample size for a specific treatment effect, for example, the null value, but can perform poorly if the true treatment effect differs. Here we introduce a design for continuous treatment responses that minimizes the maximum expected sample size across all possible treatment effects. The proposed design performs well for a wider range of treatment effects and so is useful for Phase II trials. We compare the design to a previously used optimal design and show it has superior expected sample size properties. PMID:22651118

Changes of Multiple Metal Accumulation (MMA) in New Orleans Soil: Preliminary Evaluation of Differences between Survey I (1992) and Survey II (2000)

PubMed Central

Mielke, Howard W.; Gonzales, Christopher; Powell, Eric; MielkeJr, Paul W.

2005-01-01

Soil metal surveys were conducted in Baltimore, MD (1976–1979), Minnesota (1981–1988) and most recently, New Orleans, LA (1989-present). The unique characteristic of New Orleans is that it has two surveys; Survey I was completed in 1992 and Survey II was completed in 2000. This paper seeks to determine if there is a perceptible change in the amount of metals during less than a decade that separated these surveys. The Survey I collection was 4,026 samples stratified by 283 census tracts. All samples were collected in residential neighborhoods at least one block from a busy street. The Survey II collection was 5,467 samples stratified by 286 census tracts (plus City Park). The Survey II collection included busy streets as a category of samples. For comparison, the busy street category of 1,078 samples was excluded from Survey II for a total of 4,388 samples. The extraction methods of the two surveys used the same protocol for strength of acid (1 M HNO3), shaker-time (2 hours), and room temperature (~22ºC). However, Survey II differed in amount of sample used in extraction. For Surveys I and II, 4.0g and 0.4g were used respectively. The same ICP-AES was used to measure 8 metals in both surveys. To evaluate the analytical results of the two methods, reference soil samples (n=36) from the Wageningen Evaluating Programs for Analytical Laboratories, International Soil-analytical Exchange (WEPAL; ISE) were used. The relationship between the 4.0 and 0.4 g results were linear and the Survey I results were adjusted for sample:acid ratio. Further evaluation was done by creating interpolated Multiple Metal Accumulation (MMA) maps based on the median MMA for each census tract. A new map was created by dividing Survey II MMA by Survey I MMA. The ratio indicates increases of soil metals in the inner city and decreases of soil metals in the outlying areas of Metropolitan New Orleans. Comparing fresh parent alluvium from the Mississippi River with urban soil metal quantities demonstrates that the soils of New Orleans have undergone a massive accumulation of metals. The preliminary results provide ideas about methods needed to further evaluate the changes between these surveys. PMID:16705833

Assessing youth who sexually offended: the predictive validity of the ERASOR, J-SOAP-II, and YLS/CMI in a non-Western context.

PubMed

Chu, Chi Meng; Ng, Kynaston; Fong, June; Teoh, Jennifer

2012-04-01

Recent research suggested that the predictive validity of adult sexual offender risk assessment measures can be affected when used cross-culturally, but there is no published study on the predictive validity of risk assessment measures for youth who sexually offended in a non-Western context. This study compared the predictive validity of three youth risk assessment measures (i.e., the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism [ERASOR], the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II [J-SOAP-II], and the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory [YLS/CMI]) for sexual and nonviolent recidivism in a sample of 104 male youth who sexually offended within a Singaporean context (M (follow-up) = 1,637 days; SD (follow-up) = 491). Results showed that the ERASOR overall clinical rating and total score significantly predicted sexual recidivism but only the former significantly predicted time to sexual reoffense. All of the measures (i.e., the ERASOR overall clinical rating and total score, the J-SOAP-II total score, as well as the YLS/CMI) significantly predicted nonsexual recidivism and time to nonsexual reoffense for this sample of youth who sexually offended. Overall, the results suggest that the ERASOR appears to be suited for assessing youth who sexually offended in a non-Western context, but the J-SOAP-II and the YLS/CMI have limited utility for such a purpose.

Multicenter performance evaluation of a second generation cortisol assay.

PubMed

Vogeser, Michael; Kratzsch, Jürgen; Ju Bae, Yoon; Bruegel, Mathias; Ceglarek, Uta; Fiers, Tom; Gaudl, Alexander; Kurka, Hedwig; Milczynski, Christoph; Prat Knoll, Cristina; Suhr, Anna C; Teupser, Daniel; Zahn, Ingrid; Ostlund, Richard E

2017-05-01

Untreated disorders of the adrenocortical system, such as Cushing's or Addison's disease, can be fatal, and accurate quantification of a patient's cortisol levels is vital for diagnosis. The objective of this study was to assess the analytical performance of a new fully-automated Elecsys® Cortisol II assay (second generation) to measure cortisol levels in serum and saliva. Four European investigational sites assessed the intermediate precision and reproducibility of the Cortisol II assay (Roche Diagnostics) under routine conditions. Method comparisons of the Cortisol II assay vs. liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the gold standard for cortisol measurement, were performed. Cortisol reference ranges from three US sites were determined using samples from self-reported healthy individuals. The coefficients of variation (CVs) for repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility for serum samples were ≤2.6%, ≤5.8%, and ≤9.5%, respectively, and for saliva were ≤4.4% and ≤10.9%, and ≤11.4%, respectively. Agreement between the Cortisol II assay and LC-MS/MS in serum samples was close, with a slope of 1.02 and an intercept of 4.473 nmol/L. Reference range samples were collected from healthy individuals (n=300) and serum morning cortisol concentrations (5-95th percentile) were 166.1-507 nmol/L and afternoon concentrations were 73.8-291 nmol/L. Morning, afternoon, and midnight saliva concentrations (95th percentile) were 20.3, 6.94, and 7.56 nmol/L, respectively. The Cortisol II assay had good precision over the entire measuring range and had excellent agreement with LC-MS/MS. This test was found suitable for routine diagnostic application and will be valuable for the diagnosis of adrenocortical diseases.

Properties of Type-II ZnTe/ZnSe Submonolayer Quantum Dots Studied via Excitonic Aharonov- Bohm Effect and Polarized Optical Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Haojie

In this thesis I develop understanding of the fundamental physical and material properties of type-II ZnTe/ZnSe submonolayer quantum dots (QDs), grown via combination of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and migration enhanced epitaxy (MEE). I use magneto-photoluminescence, including excitonic Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect and polarized optical spectroscopy as the primary tools in this work. I present previous studies as well as the background of optical and magneto-optical processes in semiconductor nanostructures and introduce the experimental methods in Chapters 1 - 3. In Chapter 4 I focus on the excitonic AB effect in the type-II QDs. I develop a lateral tightly-bound exciton model for ZnTe/ZnSe type-II QDs, using analytical methods and numerical calculations. This explained the magneto-PL observation and allowed for establishing the size and density of the QDs in each sample based on the results of PL and magneto-PL measurements. For samples with larger QDs, I observe behaviors that fall between properties of quantum-dot and quantum-well-like systems due to increased QD densities and their type-II nature. Finally, the decoherence mechanisms of the AB excitons are investigated via the temperature dependent studies of the magneto-PL. It is determined that the AB exciton decoherence is due to transport-like (acoustic phonon) scattering of the electrons moving in the ZnSe barriers, but with substantially smaller magnitude of electron-phonon coupling constant due to relatively strong electron-hole coupling within these type-II QDs. In Chapter 5 I discuss the results of circularly polarized magneto-PL measurements. A model with ultra-long spin-flip time of holes confined to submonolayer QDs is proposed. The g-factor of type-II excitons was extracted from the Zeeman splitting and the g-factor of electrons was obtained by fitting the temperature dependence of the degree of circular polarization (DCP), from which g-factor of holes confined within ZnTe QDs was found. It is shown that it is about three times larger than that of bulk ZnTe. In Chapter 6 I study the optical anisotropy in QDs. I show that all samples exhibit such an effect, and explain it based on non-spherical shape of the QDs. Numerical calculation is applied to calculate degree of linear polarization, and estimate the aspect ratio. The exciton anisotropic exchange splitting is calculated from the magnetic field dependence of the DCP. In the last two chapters I show my achievement on the growth of ZnO nanorods as a core for type-II 1D systems and propose an outlook for future research on the type-II semiconductor heterostructures.

Feasibility of investigating differential proteomic expression in depression: implications for biomarker development in mood disorders

PubMed Central

Frye, M A; Nassan, M; Jenkins, G D; Kung, S; Veldic, M; Palmer, B A; Feeder, S E; Tye, S J; Choi, D S; Biernacka, J M

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether proteomic profiling in serum samples can be utilized in identifying and differentiating mood disorders. A consecutive sample of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of unipolar (UP n=52) or bipolar depression (BP-I n=46, BP-II n=49) and controls (n=141) were recruited. A 7.5-ml blood sample was drawn for proteomic multiplex profiling of 320 proteins utilizing the Myriad RBM Discovery Multi-Analyte Profiling platform. After correcting for multiple testing and adjusting for covariates, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), hemopexin (HPX), hepsin (HPN), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) and transthyretin (TTR) all showed statistically significant differences among groups. In a series of three post hoc analyses correcting for multiple testing, MMP-7 was significantly different in mood disorder (BP-I+BP-II+UP) vs controls, MMP-7, GDF-15, HPN were significantly different in bipolar cases (BP-I+BP-II) vs controls, and GDF-15, HPX, HPN, RBP-4 and TTR proteins were all significantly different in BP-I vs controls. Good diagnostic accuracy (ROC-AUC⩾0.8) was obtained most notably for GDF-15, RBP-4 and TTR when comparing BP-I vs controls. While based on a small sample not adjusted for medication state, this discovery sample with a conservative method of correction suggests feasibility in using proteomic panels to assist in identifying and distinguishing mood disorders, in particular bipolar I disorder. Replication studies for confirmation, consideration of state vs trait serial assays to delineate proteomic expression of bipolar depression vs previous mania, and utility studies to assess proteomic expression profiling as an advanced decision making tool or companion diagnostic are encouraged. PMID:26645624

The Effects of Environmental Factors on Marine Micro-Phytoplankton Community Composition in the Summertime Western North Atlantic Ocean During WACS II.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, J. T.; Vaillancourt, R. D.

2016-02-01

Micro-phytoplankton community composition was determined along a section in the western North Atlantic Ocean between waters near Bermuda and the New England continental shelf during the Western Atlantic Climate Study II (WACS II) from May 18, 2014 to June 6, 2014. Seawater samples were collected from the underway line (z = 5 meters) of the RV Knorr and preserved in both Lugol's and formalin preservatives. The concentrations of centric diatoms, pennate diatoms, dinoflagellates and dictyophytes were determined using light microscopy of preserved samples settled in Utermöhl chambers. Cell abundance data were compared with the temperature and salinity of the surface seawater to determine statistical relationships between environmental factors and phytoplankton community composition. The micro-phytoplankton concentrations were lowest around the Sargasso Sea. Diatom concentrations varied along the transect from the Sargasso Sea. Dinoflagellates were the only group of micro-phytoplankton in this study to have a clear pattern in their distribution. Dinoflagellates were most numerous in the northern-most waters and were absent in the southern-most point of the study, in the Sargasso Sea. The most abundant species of diatoms observed were in the genera Pseudo-Nitzschia and Leptocylindrus. The most abundant species of dinoflagellate were of the genus Protoperidinium. Many of the samples with the highest species richness were closer to the coast and more northern than the samples with low species richness, however the Simpson's diversity indices varied amongst regions. While many of the samples were diverse, the lowest of which was in the Sargasso Sea, there was no clear pattern of species diversity with respect to the distance from the coast. Dinoflagellates, centric diatoms, pennate diatoms, dictyophytes and diversity indices were significantly weakly correlated with temperature, while dinoflagellates were significantly strongly correlated with salinity.

Vortex assisted solid-phase extraction of lead(II) using orthorhombic nanosized Bi2WO6 as a sorbent.

PubMed

Baghban, Neda; Yilmaz, Erkan; Soylak, Mustafa

2017-12-07

Nanosized single crystal orthorhombic Bi 2 WO 6 was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and used as a sorbent for vortex assisted solid phase extraction of lead(II). The crystal and molecular structure of the sorbent was examined using XRD, Raman, SEM and SEM-EDX analysis. Various parameters affecting extraction efficiency were optimized by using multivariate design. The effect of diverse ions on the extraction also was studied. Lead was quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The recoveries of lead(II) from spiked samples (at a typical spiking level of 200-400 ng·mL -1 ) are >95%. Other figures of merit includes (a) a detection limit of 6 ng·mL -1 , (b) a preconcentration factor of 50, (c) a relative standard deviation of 1.6%, and (d) and adsorption capacity of 6.6 mg·g -1 . The procedure was successfully applied to accurate determination of lead in (spiked) pomegranate and water samples. Graphical abstract Nanosized single crystal orthorhombic Bi 2 WO 6 was synthesized and characterized by a hydrothermal method and used as a sorbent for vortex assisted solid phase extraction of lead(II). The procedure was successfully applied to accurate determination of lead in (spiked) pomegranate and water samples.

Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System’s Design

PubMed Central

Pérez, Adriana; Harrell, Melissa B.; Malkani, Raja I.; Jackson, Christian D.; Delk, Joanne; Allotey, Prince A.; Matthews, Krystin J.; Martinez, Pablo; Perry, Cheryl L.

2017-01-01

Objectives To provide a full methodological description of the design of the wave I and II (6-month follow-up) surveys of the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (TATAMS), a longitudinal surveillance study of 6th, 8th, and 10th grade students who attended schools in Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, or Travis counties, where the 4 largest cities in Texas (San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, respectively) are located. Methods TATAMS used a complex probability design, yielding representative estimates of these students in these counties during the 2014–2015 academic year. Weighted prevalence of the use of tobacco products, drugs and alcohol in wave I, and the percent of: (i) bias, (ii) relative bias, and (iii) relative bias ratio, between waves I and II are estimated. Results The wave I sample included 79 schools and 3,907 students. The prevalence of current cigarette, e-cigarette and hookah use at wave I was 3.5%, 7.4%, and 2.5%, respectively. Small biases, mostly less than 3.5%, were observed for nonrespondents in wave II. Conclusions Even with adaptions to the sampling methodology, the resulting sample adequately represents the target population. Results from TATAMS will have important implications for future tobacco policy in Texas and federal regulation. PMID:29098172

Point-of-need simultaneous electrochemical detection of lead and cadmium using low-cost stencil-printed transparency electrodes.

PubMed

Martín-Yerga, Daniel; Álvarez-Martos, Isabel; Blanco-López, M Carmen; Henry, Charles S; Fernández-Abedul, M Teresa

2017-08-15

In this work, we report a simple and yet efficient stencil-printed electrochemical platform that can be integrated into the caps of sample containers and thus, allows in-field quantification of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in river water samples. The device exploits the low-cost features of carbon (as electrode material) and paper/polyester transparency sheets (as substrate). Electrochemical analysis of the working electrodes prepared on different substrates (polyester transparency sheets, chromatographic, tracing and office papers) with hexaammineruthenium(III) showed that their electroactive area and electron transfer kinetics are highly affected by the porosity of the material. Electrodes prepared on transparency substrates showed the best electroanalytical performance for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Interestingly, the temperature and time at which the carbon ink was cured had significant effect on the electrochemical response, especially the capacitive current. The amount of Cd and Pb on the electrode surface can be increased about 20% by in situ electrodeposition of bismuth. The electrochemical platform showed a linear range comprised between 1 and 200 μg/L for both metals, sensitivity of analysis of 0.22 and 0.087 μA/ppb and limits of detection of 0.2 and 0.3 μg/L for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The analysis of river water samples was done directly in the container where the sample was collected, which simplifies the procedure and approaches field analysis. The developed point-of-need detection system allowed simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in those samples using the standard addition method with precise and accurate results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel heparan sulfate assay by using automated high-throughput mass spectrometry: application to monitoring and screening for mucopolysaccharidoses

PubMed Central

Shimada, Tsutomu; Kelly, Joan; LaMarr, William A; van Vlies, Naomi; Yasuda, Eriko; Mason, Robert W.; Mackenzie, William; Kubaski, Francyne; Giugliani, Roberto; Chinen, Yasutsugu; Yamaguchi, Seiji; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Orii, Kenji E.; Fukao, Toshiyuki; Orii, Tadao; Tomatsu, Shunji

2014-01-01

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are caused by deficiency of one of a group of specific lysosomal enzymes, resulting in excessive accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). We previously developed GAG assay methods using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); however, it takes 4–5 min per sample for analysis. For the large numbers of samples in a screening program, a more rapid process is desirable. The automated high-throughput mass spectrometry (HT-MS/MS) system (RapidFire) integrates a solid phase extraction robot to concentrate and desalt samples prior to direction into the MS/MS without chromatographic separation; thereby allowing each sample to be processed within ten seconds (enabling screening of more than one million samples per year). The aim of this study was to develop a higher throughput system to assay heparan sulfate (HS) using HT-MS/MS, and to compare its reproducibility, sensitivity and specificity with conventional LC-MS/MS. HS levels were measured in blood (plasma and serum) from control subjects and patients with MPS II, III, or IV and in dried blood spots (DBS) from newborn controls and patients with MPS I, II, or III. Results obtained from HT-MS/MS showed 1) that there was a strong correlation of levels of disaccharides derived from HS in blood, between those calculated using conventional LC-MS/MS and HT-MS/MS, 2) that levels of HS in blood were significantly elevated in patients with MPS II and III, but not in MPS IVA, 3) that the level of HS in patients with a severe form of MPS II was higher than that in an attenuated form, 4) that reduction of blood HS level was observed in MPS II patients treated with enzyme replacement therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and 5) that levels of HS in newborn DBS were elevated in patients with MPS I, II or III, compared to control newborns. In conclusion, HT-MS/MS provides much higher throughput than LC-MS/MS-based methods with similar sensitivity and specificity in an HS assay, indicating that HT-MS/MS may be feasible for diagnosis, monitoring, and newborn screening of MPS. PMID:25092413

Bicentric evaluation of six anti-toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) automated immunoassays and comparison to the Toxo II IgG Western blot.

PubMed

Maudry, Arnaud; Chene, Gautier; Chatelain, Rémi; Patural, Hugues; Bellete, Bahrie; Tisseur, Bernard; Hafid, Jamal; Raberin, Hélène; Beretta, Sophie; Sung, Roger Tran Manh; Belot, Georges; Flori, Pierre

2009-09-01

A comparative study of the Toxoplasma IgG(I) and IgG(II) Access (Access I and II, respectively; Beckman Coulter Inc.), AxSYM Toxo IgG (AxSYM; Abbott Diagnostics), Vidas Toxo IgG (Vidas; bioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France), Immulite Toxo IgG (Immulite; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.), and Modular Toxo IgG (Modular; Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) tests was done with 406 consecutive serum samples. The Toxo II IgG Western blot (LDBio, Lyon, France) was used as a reference technique in the case of intertechnique discordance. Of the 406 serum samples tested, the results for 35 were discordant by the different techniques. Using the 175 serum samples with positive results, we evaluated the standardization of the titrations obtained (in IU/ml); the medians (second quartiles) obtained were 9.1 IU/ml for the AxSYM test, 21 IU/ml for the Access I test, 25.7 IU/ml for the Access II test, 32 IU/ml for the Vidas test, 34.6 IU/ml for the Immulite test, and 248 IU/ml for the Modular test. For all the immunoassays tested, the following relative sensitivity and specificity values were found: 89.7 to 100% for the Access II test, 89.7 to 99.6% for the Immulite test, 90.2 to 99.6% for the AxSYM test, 91.4 to 99.6% for the Vidas test, 94.8 to 99.6% for the Access I test, and 98.3 to 98.7% for the Modular test. Among the 406 serum samples, we did not find any false-positive values by two different tests for the same serum sample. Except for the Modular test, which prioritized sensitivity, it appears that the positive cutoff values suggested by the pharmaceutical companies are very high (either for economical or for safety reasons). This led to imperfect sensitivity, a large number of unnecessary serological follow-ups of pregnant women, and difficulty in determining the serological status of immunosuppressed individuals.

Possible cross-infection of Dichelobacter nodosus between co-grazing sheep and cattle

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to investigate possible cross-infection of Dichelobacter nodosus in Norwegian farms practising co-grazing of sheep and cattle. Methods Thirteen farms practising co-grazing of sheep and cattle were included in this descriptive study: five farms with a history of severe ovine footrot (Group I) and eight farms with free-stall housing of cattle and signs of mild or no footrot in sheep (Group II). Sampling for PCR detection of D. nodosus was performed from animals in all farms, and clinical claw examination of sheep and cattle was performed in Group II. D. nodosus positive samples were analysed by a multiplex PCR method that detects variants of the fimA gene corresponding to D. nodosus serogroups A through I. Results D. nodosus serogroup A was identified more frequently in sheep from farms with a history of severe footrot (Group I) versus from Group II, and in most of the farms with a history of severe footrot there was a coexistence of D. nodosus serogroup A in sheep and cattle. In one farm heel horn erosion and dermatitis emerged in cattle after co-grazing with sheep suffering from severe footrot where D. nodosus serogroup A was detected. Six months later heel horn erosion and dermatitis were still diagnosed, and D. nodosus serogroup A was identified. Out of the 16 D. nodosus positive sheep samples from Group II, ten of the samples were positive by the fimA serogrouping PCR. Among these 10 samples all serogroups except G were detected. All the D. nodosus serogroups detected in sheep were also present in the corresponding cattle herds. Conclusion The clinical findings and the coexistence of the same serogroups in co-grazing sheep and cattle could indicate cross-infection. However, further research including isolation of the bacterial strains, virulence-testing and genetic identification, is needed. PMID:22458248

Potential of sawdust as a green and economical sorbent for simultaneous preconcentration of trace amounts of cadmium, cobalt, and lead from water, biological, food, and herbal samples.

PubMed

Baki, Mostafa Hossein; Shemirani, Farzaneh; Khani, Rouhollah

2013-05-01

Application of treated sawdust with NaOH as a green and economical sorbent for simultaneous preconcentration of trace amounts of Cd(II), Co(II), and Pb(II) ions from liver, lettuce, fish, and water as test samples with complicated matrices was investigated. Various parameters, such as effect of pH and contact time, breakthrough volume, type, and concentration of eluent and interference of ions were studied. The sorption was quantitative in the pH of 5.0 to 7.0 and desorption occurred instantaneously with 5.0 mL of mixed solutions of ethanol and 2.0 mol/L HNO3 -HCl and the amount of ions was measured by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Linearity was maintained at 3 to 500 μg/L for cobalt, 5.0 to 800 μg/L for lead, and 2.0 to 300 μg/L for cadmium in the original solution. The relative standard deviation was less than 1.80% (n = 6, with concentration of 0.3 mg/L for cadmium and 0.5 mg/L for lead and cobalt). Detection limits and maximum capacity of the sorbent for Co (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) in the original solution were 0.86, 0.50, and 1.7 μg/L and 28.5, 30.6, and 47.3 mg/g, respectively. The results for spiked real samples, effect of interfering ions, and adsorption capacity indicated that the applicability of this method for lead preconcentration is better than cadmium and cobalt preconcentration from complicated matrices. Practical Application: Sawdust can be applied as a green and economical sorbent for simultaneous preconcentration and solid-phase extraction of metal ions from food and environmental samples with complicated matrices. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

The Extended Northern ROSAT Galaxy Cluster Survey (NORAS II). I. Survey Construction and First Results

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

Böhringer, Hans; Chon, Gayoung; Trümper, Joachim

As the largest, clearly defined building blocks of our universe, galaxy clusters are interesting astrophysical laboratories and important probes for cosmology. X-ray surveys for galaxy clusters provide one of the best ways to characterize the population of galaxy clusters. We provide a description of the construction of the NORAS II galaxy cluster survey based on X-ray data from the northern part of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. NORAS II extends the NORAS survey down to a flux limit of 1.8 × 10{sup −12} erg s{sup −1} cm{sup −2} (0.1–2.4 keV), increasing the sample size by about a factor of two. The NORAS IImore » cluster survey now reaches the same quality and depth as its counterpart, the southern REFLEX II survey, allowing us to combine the two complementary surveys. The paper provides information on the determination of the cluster X-ray parameters, the identification process of the X-ray sources, the statistics of the survey, and the construction of the survey selection function, which we provide in numerical format. Currently NORAS II contains 860 clusters with a median redshift of z  = 0.102. We provide a number of statistical functions, including the log N –log S and the X-ray luminosity function and compare these to the results from the complementary REFLEX II survey. Using the NORAS II sample to constrain the cosmological parameters, σ {sub 8} and Ω{sub m}, yields results perfectly consistent with those of REFLEX II. Overall, the results show that the two hemisphere samples, NORAS II and REFLEX II, can be combined without problems into an all-sky sample, just excluding the zone of avoidance.« less

A Draft Science Management Plan for Returned Samples from Mars: Recommendations from the International Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples (iMARS) Phase II Working Group

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haltigin, T.; Lange, C.; Mugnuolo, R.; Smith, C.

2018-04-01

This paper summarizes the findings and recommendations of the International Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples (iMARS) Phase II Working Group, an international team comprising 38 members from 16 countries and agencies.

33 CFR 159.126 - Coliform test: Type II devices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... follows: During each of the 10 test days, one sample must be taken at the beginning, middle and end of an 8-consecutive hour period with one additional sample taken immediately following the peak capacity...: Type II devices. (a) The arithmetic mean of the fecal coliform bacteria in 38 of 40 samples of effluent...

Identification of transitional disks in Chamaeleon with Herschel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ribas, Á.; Merín, B.; Bouy, H.; Alves de Oliveira, C.; Ardila, D. R.; Puga, E.; Kóspál, Á.; Spezzi, L.; Cox, N. L. J.; Prusti, T.; Pilbratt, G. L.; André, Ph.; Matrà, L.; Vavrek, R.

2013-04-01

Context. Transitional disks are circumstellar disks with inner holes that in some cases are produced by planets and/or substellar companions in these systems. For this reason, these disks are extremely important for the study of planetary system formation. Aims: The Herschel Space Observatory provides an unique opportunity for studying the outer regions of protoplanetary disks. In this work we update previous knowledge on the transitional disks in the Chamaeleon I and II regions with data from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey. Methods: We propose a new method for transitional disk classification based on the WISE 12 μm - PACS 70 μm color, together with inspection of the Herschel images. We applied this method to the population of Class II sources in the Chamaeleon region and studied the spectral energy distributions of the transitional disks in the sample. We also built the median spectral energy distribution of Class II objects in these regions for comparison with transitional disks. Results: The proposed method allows a clear separation of the known transitional disks from the Class II sources. We find six transitional disks, all previously known, and identify five objects previously thought to be transitional as possibly non-transitional. We find higher fluxes at the PACS wavelengths in the sample of transitional disks than those of Class II objects. Conclusions: We show the Herschel 70 μm band to be a robust and efficient tool for transitional disk identification. The sensitivity and spatial resolution of Herschel reveals a significant contamination level among the previously identified transitional disk candidates for the two regions, which calls for a revision of previous samples of transitional disks in other regions. The systematic excess found at the PACS bands could be either a result of the mechanism that produces the transitional phase, or an indication of different evolutionary paths for transitional disks and Class II sources. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Appendix A is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Predicting reading comprehension academic achievement in late adolescents with velo-cardio-facial (22q11.2 deletion) syndrome (VCFS): A longitudinal study

PubMed Central

Antshel, Kevin M.; Hier, Bridget O.; Fremont, Wanda; Faraone, Stephen V.; Kates, Wendy R.

2015-01-01

Background The primary objective of the current study was to examine the childhood predictors of adolescent reading comprehension in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS). Although much research has focused on mathematics skills among individuals with VCFS, no studies have examined predictors of reading comprehension. Methods 69 late adolescents with VCFS , 23 siblings of youth with VCFS and 30 community controls participated in a longitudinal research project and had repeat neuropsychological test batteries and psychiatric evaluations every 3 years. The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test – 2nd edition (WIAT-II) Reading Comprehension subtest served as our primary outcome variable. Results Consistent with previous research, children and adolescents with VCFS had mean reading comprehension scores on the WIAT-II which were approximately two standard deviations below the mean and word reading scores approximately one standard deviation below the mean. A more novel finding is that relative to both control groups, individuals with VCFS demonstrated a longitudinal decline in reading comprehension abilities yet a slight increase in word reading abilities. In the combined control sample, WISC-III FSIQ, WIAT-II Word Reading, WISC-III Vocabulary and CVLT-C List A Trial 1 accounted for 75% of the variance in Time 3 WIAT-II Reading Comprehension scores. In the VCFS sample, WISC-III FSIQ, BASC-Teacher Aggression, CVLT-C Intrusions, Tower of London, Visual Span Backwards, WCST non-perseverative errors, WIAT-II Word Reading and WISC-III Freedom from Distractibility index accounted for 85% of the variance in Time 3 WIAT-II Reading Comprehension scores. A principal component analysis with promax rotation computed on the statistically significant Time 1 predictor variables in the VCFS sample resulted in three factors: Word reading decoding / Interference control, Self-Control / Self-Monitoring and Working Memory. Conclusions Childhood predictors of late adolescent reading comprehension in VCFS differ in some meaningful ways from predictors in the non-VCFS population. These results offer some guidance for how best to consider intervention efforts to improve reading comprehension in the VCFS population. PMID:24861691

Microjets in the penumbra of a sunspot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drews, Ainar; Rouppe van der Voort, Luc

2017-06-01

Context. Penumbral microjets (PMJs) are short-lived jets found in the penumbra of sunspots, first observed in wide-band Ca II H line observations as localized brightenings, and are thought to be caused by magnetic reconnection. Earlier work on PMJs has focused on smaller samples of by-eye selected events and case studies. Aims: It is our goal to present an automated study of a large sample of PMJs to place the basic statistics of PMJs on a sure footing and to study the PMJ Ca II 8542 Å spectral profile in detail. Methods: High spatial resolution and spectrally well-sampled observations in the Ca II 8542 Å line obtained from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) were reduced by a principle component analysis and subsequently used in the automated detection of PMJs using the simple machine learning algorithm k-nearest neighbour. PMJ detections were verified with co-temporal Ca II H line observations. Results: We find a total of 453 tracked PMJ events, 4253 PMJs detections tallied over all timeframes, and a detection rate of 21 events per timestep. From these, an average length, width and lifetime of 640 km, 210 km and 90 s are obtained. The average PMJ Ca II 8542 Å line profile is characterized by enhanced inner wings, often in the form of one or two distinct peaks, and a brighter line core as compared to the quiet-Sun average. Average blue and red peak positions are determined at - 10.4 km s-1 and + 10.2 km s-1 offsets from the Ca II 8542 Å line core. We find several clusters of PMJ hot-spots within the sunspot penumbra, in which PMJ events occur in the same general area repeatedly over time. Conclusions: Our results indicate smaller average PMJs sizes and longer lifetimes compared to previously published values, but with statistics still in the same orders of magnitude. The investigation and analysis of the PMJ line profiles strengthens the proposed heating of PMJs to transition region temperatures. The presented statistics on PMJs form a solid basis for future investigations and numerical modelling of PMJs.

Results of space experiment program "Interferon". II. Influence of spaceflight conditions on the activity of interferon preparations and interferon inducers ("Interferon II").

PubMed

Tálas, M; Bátkai, L; Stöger, I; Nagy, K; Hiros, L; Konstantinova, I; Kozharinov, V

1983-01-01

The influence of spaceflight conditions on the biological activity of HuIFN-alpha preparations (lyophilized, in solution and in ointment) and interferon inducers was studied. In antiviral activity no difference was observed between the samples kept aboard the spaceship and the controls kept under ground conditions. The interferon inducers poly I:C, poly G:C and gossipol placed in the space laboratory for 7 days maintained their interferon-inducing capacity. The circulating interferon level in mice was the same irrespective of the induction being performed with flight or ground-control samples of inducers.

Impact of the REACH II and REACH VA Dementia Caregiver Interventions on Healthcare Costs.

PubMed

Nichols, Linda O; Martindale-Adams, Jennifer; Zhu, Carolyn W; Kaplan, Erin K; Zuber, Jeffrey K; Waters, Teresa M

2017-05-01

Examine caregiver and care recipient healthcare costs associated with caregivers' participation in Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregivers Health (REACH II or REACH VA) behavioral interventions to improve coping skills and care recipient management. RCT (REACH II); propensity-score matched, retrospective cohort study (REACH VA). Five community sites (REACH II); 24 VA facilities (REACH VA). Care recipients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers who participated in REACH II study (analysis sample of 110 caregivers and 197 care recipients); care recipients whose caregivers participated in REACH VA and a propensity matched control group (analysis sample of 491). Previously collected data plus Medicare expenditures (REACH II) and VA costs plus Medicare expenditures (REACH VA). There was no increase in VA or Medicare expenditures for care recipients or their caregivers who participated in either REACH intervention. For VA care recipients, REACH was associated with significantly lower total VA costs of care (33.6%). VA caregiver cost data was not available. In previous research, both REACH II and REACH VA have been shown to provide benefit for dementia caregivers at a cost of less than $5/day; however, concerns about additional healthcare costs may have hindered REACH's widespread adoption. Neither REACH intervention was associated with additional healthcare costs for caregivers or patients; in fact, for VA patients, there were significantly lower healthcare costs. The VA costs savings may be related to the addition of a structured format for addressing the caregiver's role in managing complex ADRD care to an existing, integrated care system. These findings suggest that behavioral interventions are a viable mechanism to support burdened dementia caregivers without additional healthcare costs. © 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

An X-band Co2+ EPR study of Zn1-xCoxO (x=0.005-0.1) nanoparticles prepared by chemical hydrolysis methods using diethylene glycol and denaturated alcohol at 5 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Misra, Sushil K.; Andronenko, S. I.; Srinivasa Rao, S.; Chess, Jordan; Punnoose, A.

2015-11-01

EPR investigations on two types of dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) ZnO nanoparticles doped with 0.5-10% Co2+ ions, prepared by two chemical hydrolysis methods, using: (i) diethylene glycol ((CH2CH2OH)2O) (NC-rod-like samples), and (ii) denatured ethanol (CH3CH2OH) solutions (QC-spherical samples), were carried out at X-band (9.5 GHz) at 5 K. The analysis of EPR data for NC samples revealed the presence of several types of EPR lines: (i) two types, intense and weak, of high-spin Co2+ ions in the samples with Co concentration >0.5%; (ii) surface oxygen vacancies, and (iii) a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) line. QC samples exhibit an intense FMR line and an EPR line due to high-spin Co2+ ions. FMR line is more intense, than the corresponding line exhibited by NC samples. These EPR spectra varied for sample with different doping concentrations. The magnetic states of these samples as revealed by EPR spectra, as well as the origin of ferromagnetism DMS samples are discussed.

BANYAN. V. A SYSTEMATIC ALL-SKY SURVEY FOR NEW VERY LATE-TYPE LOW-MASS STARS AND BROWN DWARFS IN NEARBY YOUNG MOVING GROUPS

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

Gagné, Jonathan; Lafrenière, David; Doyon, René

2015-01-10

We present the BANYAN All-Sky Survey (BASS) catalog, consisting of 228 new late-type (M4-L6) candidate members of nearby young moving groups (YMGs) with an expected false-positive rate of ∼13%. This sample includes 79 new candidate young brown dwarfs and 22 planetary-mass objects. These candidates were identified through the first systematic all-sky survey for late-type low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in YMGs. We cross-matched the Two Micron All Sky Survey and AllWISE catalogs outside of the galactic plane to build a sample of 98,970 potential ≥M5 dwarfs in the solar neighborhood and calculated their proper motions with typical precisions of 5-15more » mas yr{sup –1}. We selected highly probable candidate members of several YMGs from this sample using the Bayesian Analysis for Nearby Young AssociatioNs II tool (BANYAN II). We used the most probable statistical distances inferred from BANYAN II to estimate the spectral type and mass of these candidate YMG members. We used this unique sample to show tentative signs of mass segregation in the AB Doradus moving group and the Tucana-Horologium and Columba associations. The BASS sample has already been successful in identifying several new young brown dwarfs in earlier publications, and will be of great interest in studying the initial mass function of YMGs and for the search of exoplanets by direct imaging; the input sample of potential close-by ≥M5 dwarfs will be useful to study the kinematics of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs and search for new proper motion pairs.« less

Preparing for chemical terrorism: stability of injectable atropine sulfate.

PubMed

Schier, Joshua G; Ravikumar, Padinjarekuttu R; Nelson, Lewis S; Heller, Michael B; Howland, Mary Ann; Hoffman, Robert S

2004-04-01

A massive nerve agent attack may rapidly deplete in-date supplies of atropine. The authors considered using atropine beyond its labeled shelf life. The objective was to determine the stability of premixed injectable atropine sulfate samples with different expiration dates. This was an in-vitro study using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Four atropine solutions (labeled concentration of 400 microg/mL) ranging from in date to 12 years beyond expiration (exp) and an additional sample of atropine sulfate (labeled concentration of 2,000 microg/mL) obtained from a World War II era autoinjector were assayed for atropine stability. Standards of atropine sulfate and tropine were prepared and quantified by GC/MS. Study samples were prepared by adding a buffer solution to free the base, extracting with an isopropanol/methylene chloride mixture and followed by evaporating the organic layer to dryness. Pentafluoropropionic anhydride and pentafluoropropanol were then added as derivatization reagents. Study samples were heated, the derivitization reagents were evaporated, and the remaining compound was reconstituted in ethyl acetate for injection into the GC/MS. All solutions were clear and colorless. Atropine concentrations were as follows: in date, 252 microg/mL; 2001 exp, 290 microg/mL; 1999 exp, 314 microg/mL; 1990 exp, 398 microg/mL; and WW II specimen, 1,475 microg/mL. Tropine was found in concentrations of <10 microg/mL in all study samples. Significant amounts of atropine were found in all study samples. All samples remained clear and colorless, and no substantial amount of tropine was found in any study sample. Further testing is needed to determine clinical effect.

Performance of TcI/TcVI/TcII Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a for universal and genotype-specific serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection

PubMed Central

Alessio, Glaucia Diniz; de Araújo, Fernanda Fortes; Côrtes, Denise Fonseca; Sales Júnior, Policarpo Ademar; Lima, Daniela Cristina; Gomes, Matheus de Souza; do Amaral, Laurence Rodrigues; Xavier, Marcelo Antônio Pascoal; Teixeira-Carvalho, Andréa; Martins-Filho, Olindo Assis; de Lana, Marta

2017-01-01

Distinct Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes have been considered relevant for patient management and therapeutic response of Chagas disease. However, typing strategies for genotype-specific serodiagnosis of Chagas disease are still unavailable and requires standardization for practical application. In this study, an innovative TcI/TcVI/TcII Chagas Flow ATE-IgG2a technique was developed with applicability for universal and genotype-specific diagnosis of T. cruzi infection. For this purpose, the reactivity of serum samples (percentage of positive fluorescent parasites-PPFP) obtained from mice chronically infected with TcI/Colombiana, TcVI/CL or TcII/Y strain as well as non-infected controls were determined using amastigote-AMA, trypomastigote-TRYPO and epimastigote-EPI in parallel batches of TcI, TcVI and TcII target antigens. Data demonstrated that “α-TcII-TRYPO/1:500, cut-off/PPFP = 20%” presented an excellent performance for universal diagnosis of T. cruzi infection (AUC = 1.0, Se and Sp = 100%). The combined set of attributes “α-TcI-TRYPO/1:4,000, cut-off/PPFP = 50%”, “α-TcII-AMA/1:1,000, cut-off/PPFP = 40%” and “α-TcVI-EPI/1:1,000, cut-off/PPFP = 45%” showed good performance to segregate infections with TcI/Colombiana, TcVI/CL or TcII/Y strain. Overall, hosts infected with TcI/Colombiana and TcII/Y strains displayed opposite patterns of reactivity with “α-TcI TRYPO” and “α-TcII AMA”. Hosts infected with TcVI/CL strain showed a typical interweaved distribution pattern. The method presented a good performance for genotype-specific diagnosis, with global accuracy of 69% when the population/prototype scenario include TcI, TcVI and TcII infections and 94% when comprise only TcI and TcII infections. This study also proposes a receiver operating reactivity panel, providing a feasible tool to classify serum samples from hosts infected with distinct T. cruzi genotypes, supporting the potential of this method for universal and genotype-specific diagnosis of T. cruzi infection. PMID:28333926

A new method for finding and characterizing galaxy groups via low-frequency radio surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croston, J. H.; Ineson, J.; Hardcastle, M. J.; Mingo, B.

2017-09-01

We describe a new method for identifying and characterizing the thermodynamic state of large samples of evolved galaxy groups at high redshifts using high-resolution, low-frequency radio surveys, such as those that will be carried out with LOFAR and the Square Kilometre Array. We identify a sub-population of morphologically regular powerful [Fanaroff-Riley type II (FR II)] radio galaxies and demonstrate that, for this sub-population, the internal pressure of the radio lobes is a reliable tracer of the external intragroup/intracluster medium (ICM) pressure, and that the assumption of a universal pressure profile for relaxed groups enables the total mass and X-ray luminosity to be estimated. Using a sample of well-studied FR II radio galaxies, we demonstrate that our method enables the estimation of group/cluster X-ray luminosities over three orders of magnitude in luminosity to within a factor of ˜2 from low-frequency radio properties alone. Our method could provide a powerful new tool for building samples of thousands of evolved galaxy groups at z > 1 and characterizing their ICM.

Dithizone modified magnetic nanoparticles for fast and selective solid phase extraction of trace elements in environmental and biological samples prior to their determination by ICP-OES.

PubMed

Cheng, Guihong; He, Man; Peng, Hanyong; Hu, Bin

2012-01-15

A fast and simple method for analysis of trace amounts of Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) in environmental and biological samples was developed by combining magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) detection. Dithizone modified silica-coated magnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (H(2)Dz-SCMNPs) were prepared and used for MSPE of trace amounts of Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II). The prepared magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The factors affecting the extraction of the target metal ions such as pH, sample volume, eluent, and interfering ions had been investigated and the adsorption mechanism of the target metals on the self-prepared H(2)Dz-SCMNPs was investigated by FT-IR and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS). Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of the developed method for Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 35, 11, 62, and 8ngL(-1), respectively, with the enrichment factor of 100. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, c=10μgL(-1), n=7) were in the range of 1.7-3.1% and the linear range was 0.1-100μgL(-1). The proposed method had been validated by two certified reference materials (GSBZ50009-88 environmental water and GBW07601 human hair), and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values. The method was also applied for the determination of trace metals in real water and human hair samples with recoveries in the range of 85-110% for the spiked samples. The developed MSPE-ICP-OES method has the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, selectivity, high extraction efficiency and is suitable for the analysis of samples with large volume and complex matrix. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expression of multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP-1), lung resistance-related protein (LRP) and topoisomerase-II (TOPO-II) in Wilms' tumor: immunohistochemical study using TMA methodology.

PubMed

Fridman, Eduard; Skarda, Jozef; Pinthus, Jonatan H; Ramon, Jonathan; Mor, Yoran

2008-06-01

MRP-1, LRP and TOPO-II are all associated with protection of the cells from the adverse effects of various chemotherapeutics. The aim of this study was to measure the expression of these proteins in Wilms' tumor (WT). TMA block was constructed from 14 samples of WT's and from xenografts derived from them. Sections of the TMA were used for immunostaining against MRP-1, LRP and TOPO-IIa. All normal kidneys expressed MRP-1 but were either weakly or negatively stained for LRP and TOPO-IIa. In WT samples, MRP-1 was universally expressed, exclusively in the tubular component, while there was no expression of LRP and TOPO-IIa showed heterogeneous distribution. The xenografts varied in their MRP-1 and TOPO-IIa expression and exhibited weak/negative staining of LRP. This study shows that although all the proteins evaluated, had different expression patterns in the tumor samples, the most prominent changes in expression were found for MRP-1. The exact clinical implications of these changes in expression and their relevance to the resistance of these tumors to chemotherapy requires further investigation. The finding of different expression profiles for the multidrug resistance proteins in the original WT's and their xenografts suggests that the results of animal cancer models may be difficult to interpret.

CA II TRIPLET SPECTROSCOPY OF SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD RED GIANTS. III. ABUNDANCES AND VELOCITIES FOR A SAMPLE OF 14 CLUSTERS

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

Parisi, M. C.; Clariá, J. J.; Marcionni, N.

2015-05-15

We obtained spectra of red giants in 15 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) clusters in the region of the Ca ii lines with FORS2 on the Very Large Telescope. We determined the mean metallicity and radial velocity with mean errors of 0.05 dex and 2.6 km s{sup −1}, respectively, from a mean of 6.5 members per cluster. One cluster (B113) was too young for a reliable metallicity determination and was excluded from the sample. We combined the sample studied here with 15 clusters previously studied by us using the same technique, and with 7 clusters whose metallicities determined by other authorsmore » are on a scale similar to ours. This compilation of 36 clusters is the largest SMC cluster sample currently available with accurate and homogeneously determined metallicities. We found a high probability that the metallicity distribution is bimodal, with potential peaks at −1.1 and −0.8 dex. Our data show no strong evidence of a metallicity gradient in the SMC clusters, somewhat at odds with recent evidence from Ca ii triplet spectra of a large sample of field stars. This may be revealing possible differences in the chemical history of clusters and field stars. Our clusters show a significant dispersion of metallicities, whatever age is considered, which could be reflecting the lack of a unique age–metallicity relation in this galaxy. None of the chemical evolution models currently available in the literature satisfactorily represents the global chemical enrichment processes of SMC clusters.« less

On the use of the optothermal window technique for the determination of iron (II) content in fortified commercial milk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardoso, S. L.; Dias, C. M. F.; Lima, J. A. P.; Massunaga, M. S. O.; da Silva, M. G.; Vargas, H.

2003-01-01

This work reports on the use of the optothermal window and a well-proven phenanthroline colorimetry method for determination of iron (II) content in a commercial fortified milk. Initially, iron (II) in distilled water was determined using a series of calibration samples with ferrous sulfate acting as the source of iron (II). In the following phase, this calibration methodology was applied to commercial milk as the sample matrix. The phenanthroline colorimetry [American Public Health Association, Washington, DC (1998)] was chosen in an attempt to achieve proper selectivity (i.e., to obtain the absorption band, the wavelength of which is centered near the radiation wavelength available for our experiments: Excitation wavelength at a 514-nm line of a 20-mW tunable Ar ion laser). Finally, samples of commercially available fortified milk were analyzed in an attempt to access Fe (II) content.

Geochemical Influence on Microbial Communities at CO2-Leakage Analog Sites.

PubMed

Ham, Baknoon; Choi, Byoung-Young; Chae, Gi-Tak; Kirk, Matthew F; Kwon, Man Jae

2017-01-01

Microorganisms influence the chemical and physical properties of subsurface environments and thus represent an important control on the fate and environmental impact of CO 2 that leaks into aquifers from deep storage reservoirs. How leakage will influence microbial populations over long time scales is largely unknown. This study uses natural analog sites to investigate the long-term impact of CO 2 leakage from underground storage sites on subsurface biogeochemistry. We considered two sites with elevated CO 2 levels (sample groups I and II) and one control site with low CO 2 content (group III). Samples from sites with elevated CO 2 had pH ranging from 6.2 to 4.5 and samples from the low-CO 2 control group had pH ranging from 7.3 to 6.2. Solute concentrations were relatively low for samples from the control group and group I but high for samples from group II, reflecting varying degrees of water-rock interaction. Microbial communities were analyzed through clone library and MiSeq sequencing. Each 16S rRNA analysis identified various bacteria, methane-producing archaea, and ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Both bacterial and archaeal diversities were low in groundwater with high CO 2 content and community compositions between the groups were also clearly different. In group II samples, sequences classified in groups capable of methanogenesis, metal reduction, and nitrate reduction had higher relative abundance in samples with relative high methane, iron, and manganese concentrations and low nitrate levels. Sequences close to Comamonadaceae were abundant in group I, while the taxa related to methanogens, Nitrospirae , and Anaerolineaceae were predominant in group II. Our findings provide insight into subsurface biogeochemical reactions that influence the carbon budget of the system including carbon fixation, carbon trapping, and CO 2 conversion to methane. The results also suggest that monitoring groundwater microbial community can be a potential tool for tracking CO 2 leakage from geologic storage sites.

Geochemical Influence on Microbial Communities at CO2-Leakage Analog Sites

PubMed Central

Ham, Baknoon; Choi, Byoung-Young; Chae, Gi-Tak; Kirk, Matthew F.; Kwon, Man Jae

2017-01-01

Microorganisms influence the chemical and physical properties of subsurface environments and thus represent an important control on the fate and environmental impact of CO2 that leaks into aquifers from deep storage reservoirs. How leakage will influence microbial populations over long time scales is largely unknown. This study uses natural analog sites to investigate the long-term impact of CO2 leakage from underground storage sites on subsurface biogeochemistry. We considered two sites with elevated CO2 levels (sample groups I and II) and one control site with low CO2 content (group III). Samples from sites with elevated CO2 had pH ranging from 6.2 to 4.5 and samples from the low-CO2 control group had pH ranging from 7.3 to 6.2. Solute concentrations were relatively low for samples from the control group and group I but high for samples from group II, reflecting varying degrees of water-rock interaction. Microbial communities were analyzed through clone library and MiSeq sequencing. Each 16S rRNA analysis identified various bacteria, methane-producing archaea, and ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Both bacterial and archaeal diversities were low in groundwater with high CO2 content and community compositions between the groups were also clearly different. In group II samples, sequences classified in groups capable of methanogenesis, metal reduction, and nitrate reduction had higher relative abundance in samples with relative high methane, iron, and manganese concentrations and low nitrate levels. Sequences close to Comamonadaceae were abundant in group I, while the taxa related to methanogens, Nitrospirae, and Anaerolineaceae were predominant in group II. Our findings provide insight into subsurface biogeochemical reactions that influence the carbon budget of the system including carbon fixation, carbon trapping, and CO2 conversion to methane. The results also suggest that monitoring groundwater microbial community can be a potential tool for tracking CO2 leakage from geologic storage sites. PMID:29170659

Grain-size-induced weakening of H2O ices I and II and associated anisotropic recrystallization

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stern, L.A.; Durham, W.B.; Kirby, S.H.

1997-01-01

Grain-size-dependent flow mechanisms tend to be favored over dislocation creep at low differential stresses and can potentially influence the rheology of low-stress, low-strain rate environments such as those of planetary interiors. We experimentally investigated the effect of reduced grain size on the solid-state flow of water ice I, a principal component of the asthenospheres of many icy moons of the outer solar system, using techniques new to studies of this deformation regime. We fabricated fully dense ice samples of approximate grain size 2 ?? 1 ??m by transforming "standard" ice I samples of 250 ?? 50 ??m grain size to the higher-pressure phase ice II, deforming them in the ice II field, and then rapidly releasing the pressure deep into the ice I stability field. At T ??? 200 K, slow growth and rapid nucleation of ice I combine to produce a fine grain size. Constant-strain rate deformation tests conducted on these samples show that deformation rates are less stress sensitive than for standard ice and that the fine-grained material is markedly weaker than standard ice, particularly during the transient approach to steady state deformation. Scanning electron microscope examination of the deformed fine-grained ice samples revealed an unusual microstructure dominated by platelike grains that grew normal to the compression direction, with c axes preferentially oriented parallel to compression. In samples tested at T ??? 220 K the elongation of the grains is so pronounced that the samples appear finely banded, with aspect ratios of grains approaching 50:1. The anisotropic growth of these crystallographically oriented neoblasts likely contributes to progressive work hardening observed during the transient stage of deformation. We have also documented remarkably similar microstructural development and weak mechanical behavior in fine-grained ice samples partially transformed and deformed in the ice II field.

Hyper-theory-of-mind in children with Psychotic Experiences.

PubMed

Clemmensen, Lars; van Os, Jim; Skovgaard, Anne Mette; Væver, Mette; Blijd-Hoogewys, Els M A; Bartels-Velthuis, Agna A; Jeppesen, Pia

2014-01-01

Alterations in Theory-of-Mind (ToM) are associated with psychotic disorder. In addition, studies in children have documented that alterations in ToM are associated with Psychotic Experiences (PE). Our aim was to examine associations between an exaggerated type of ToM (HyperToM) and PE in children. Children with this type of alteration in ToM infer mental states when none are obviously suggested, and predict behaviour on the basis of these erroneous beliefs. Individuals with HyperToM do not appear to have a conceptual deficit (i.e. lack of representational abilities), but rather they apply their theory of the minds of others in an incorrect or biased way. Hypotheses were tested in two studies with two independent samples: (i) a general population sample of 1630 Danish children aged 11-12 years, (ii) a population-based sample of 259 Dutch children aged 12-13 years, pertaining to a case-control sampling frame of children with auditory verbal hallucinations. Multinomial regression analyses were carried out to investigate the associations between PE and ToM and HyperToM respectively. Analyses were adjusted for gender and proxy measures of general intelligence. Low ToM score was significantly associated with PE in sample I (OR = 1.6 95%CI 1.1-2.3 χ2(4) = 12.42 p = 0.010), but not in sample II (OR = 0.9 95%CI 0.5-1.8 χ2(3) = 7.13 p = 0.816). HyperToM was significantly associated with PE both in sample I (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2-2.7 χ2(3) = 10.11 p = 0.006) and II (OR = 4.6, 95%CI 1.3-16.2 χ2(2) = 7.56 p = 0.018). HyperToM was associated particularly with paranoid delusions in both sample I (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.1-3.7% χ2(4) = 9.93 p = 0.021) and II (OR = 6.2 95%CI: 1.7-23.6% χ2(4) = 9.90 p = 0.044). Specific alterations in ToM may be associated with specific types of psychotic experiences. HyperToM may index risk for developing psychosis and paranoid delusions in particular.

Ranitidine interference with standard amphetamine immunoassay.

PubMed

Liu, Li; Wheeler, Sarah E; Rymer, Jacqueline A; Lower, Darla; Zona, Jayne; Peck Palmer, Octavia M; Tamama, Kenichi

2015-01-01

We recently encountered several cases of possible false positive results of amphetamine on the Beckman Coulter AMPH assay, but not on the Siemens EMIT II Plus assay. Our clinical chart review suggested that ranitidine interference may be responsible for the false positive results of the AMPH assays. Blank urine specimens spiked with ranitidine concentrations ranging from 5μg/ml to 5mg/ml were analyzed on both the AMPH and EMIT II Plus assays. To examine if the false positive results were due to assay specific reagent/sample ratios, we prepared 3 different sample to reagent ratios and analyzed them for amphetamine reaction rates on both assays. Ranitidine at 160μg/ml caused a positive interference on the AMPH assay. No interference was observed by ranitidine on the EMIT II Plus assay. Specifically, the sample to reagent ratios tested neither eliminated the positive inference on the AMP assay nor introduced an interference on the EMIT II Plus assay. Unlike the EMIT II Plus assay, the AMPH assay has cross-activity with ranitidine, which is independent of sample to reagent ratio. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Baldwin Effect and Additional BLR Component in AGN with Superluminal Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patiño Álvarez, Víctor; Torrealba, Janet; Chavushyan, Vahram; Cruz González, Irene; Arshakian, Tigran; León Tavares, Jonathan; Popovic, Luka

2016-06-01

We study the Baldwin Effect (BE) in 96 core-jet blazars with optical and ultraviolet spectroscopic data from a radio-loud AGN sample obtained from the MOJAVE 2cm survey. A statistical analysis is presented of the equivalent widths W_lambda of emission lines H beta 4861, Mg II 2798, C IV 1549, and continuum luminosities at 5100, 3000, and 1350 angstroms. The BE is found statistically significant (with confidence level c.l. > 95%) in H beta and C IV emission lines, while for Mg II the trend is slightly less significant (c.l. = 94.5%). The slopes of the BE in the studied samples for H beta and Mg II are found steeper and with statistically significant difference than those of a comparison radio-quiet sample. We present simulations of the expected BE slopes produced by the contribution to the total continuum of the non-thermal boosted emission from the relativistic jet, and by variability of the continuum components. We find that the slopes of the BE between radio-quiet and radio-loud AGN should not be different, under the assumption that the broad line is only being emitted by the canonical broad line region around the black hole. We discuss that the BE slope steepening in radio AGN is due to a jet associated broad-line region.

Multilocus sequence typing of Trichomonas vaginalis clinical samples from Amsterdam, the Netherlands

PubMed Central

van der Veer, C; Himschoot, M; Bruisten, S M

2016-01-01

Objectives In this cross-sectional epidemiological study we aimed to identify molecular profiles for Trichomonas vaginalis and to determine how these molecular profiles were related to patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Setting Molecular typing methods previously identified two genetically distinct subpopulations for T. vaginalis; however, few molecular epidemiological studies have been performed. We now increased the sensitivity of a previously described multilocus sequence typing (MLST) tool for T. vaginalis by using nested PCR. This enabled the typing of direct patient samples. Participants From January to December 2014, we collected all T. vaginalis positive samples as detected by routine laboratory testing. Samples from patients either came from general practitioners offices or from the sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic in Amsterdam. Epidemiological data for the STI clinic patients were retrieved from electronic patient files. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was the success rate of genotyping direct T. vaginalis positive samples. The secondary outcome was the relation between T. vaginalis genotypes and risk factors for STI. Results All 7 MLST loci were successfully typed for 71/87 clinical samples. The 71 typed samples came from 69 patients, the majority of whom were women (n=62; 90%) and half (n=34; 49%) were STI clinic patients. Samples segregated into a two population structure for T. vaginalis representing genotypes I and II. Genotype I was most common (n=40; 59.7%). STI clinic patients infected with genotype II reported more sexual partners in the preceding 6 months than patients infected with genotype I (p=0.028). No other associations for gender, age, ethnicity, urogenital discharge or co-occurring STIs with T. vaginalis genotype were found. Conclusions MLST with nested PCR is a sensitive typing method that allows typing of direct (uncultured) patient material. Genotype II is possibly more prevalent in high-risk sexual networks. PMID:27737887

Multilocus sequence typing of Trichomonas vaginalis clinical samples from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

PubMed

van der Veer, C; Himschoot, M; Bruisten, S M

2016-10-13

In this cross-sectional epidemiological study we aimed to identify molecular profiles for Trichomonas vaginalis and to determine how these molecular profiles were related to patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Molecular typing methods previously identified two genetically distinct subpopulations for T. vaginalis; however, few molecular epidemiological studies have been performed. We now increased the sensitivity of a previously described multilocus sequence typing (MLST) tool for T. vaginalis by using nested PCR. This enabled the typing of direct patient samples. From January to December 2014, we collected all T. vaginalis positive samples as detected by routine laboratory testing. Samples from patients either came from general practitioners offices or from the sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic in Amsterdam. Epidemiological data for the STI clinic patients were retrieved from electronic patient files. The primary outcome was the success rate of genotyping direct T. vaginalis positive samples. The secondary outcome was the relation between T. vaginalis genotypes and risk factors for STI. All 7 MLST loci were successfully typed for 71/87 clinical samples. The 71 typed samples came from 69 patients, the majority of whom were women (n=62; 90%) and half (n=34; 49%) were STI clinic patients. Samples segregated into a two population structure for T. vaginalis representing genotypes I and II. Genotype I was most common (n=40; 59.7%). STI clinic patients infected with genotype II reported more sexual partners in the preceding 6 months than patients infected with genotype I (p=0.028). No other associations for gender, age, ethnicity, urogenital discharge or co-occurring STIs with T. vaginalis genotype were found. MLST with nested PCR is a sensitive typing method that allows typing of direct (uncultured) patient material. Genotype II is possibly more prevalent in high-risk sexual networks. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Unique Prokaryotic Consortia in Geochemically Distinct Sediments from Red Sea Atlantis II and Discovery Deep Brine Pools

PubMed Central

Siam, Rania; Mustafa, Ghada A.; Sharaf, Hazem; Moustafa, Ahmed; Ramadan, Adham R.; Antunes, Andre; Bajic, Vladimir B.; Stingl, Uli; Marsis, Nardine G. R.; Coolen, Marco J. L.; Sogin, Mitchell; Ferreira, Ari J. S.; Dorry, Hamza El

2012-01-01

The seafloor is a unique environment, which allows insights into how geochemical processes affect the diversity of biological life. Among its diverse ecosystems are deep-sea brine pools - water bodies characterized by a unique combination of extreme conditions. The ‘polyextremophiles’ that constitute the microbial assemblage of these deep hot brines have not been comprehensively studied. We report a comparative taxonomic analysis of the prokaryotic communities of the sediments directly below the Red Sea brine pools, namely, Atlantis II, Discovery, Chain Deep, and an adjacent brine-influenced site. Analyses of sediment samples and high-throughput pyrosequencing of PCR-amplified environmental 16S ribosomal RNA genes (16S rDNA) revealed that one sulfur (S)-rich Atlantis II and one nitrogen (N)-rich Discovery Deep section contained distinct microbial populations that differed from those found in the other sediment samples examined. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Deferribacteres, and Euryarchaeota were the most abundant bacterial and archaeal phyla in both the S- and N-rich sections. Relative abundance-based hierarchical clustering of the 16S rDNA pyrotags assigned to major taxonomic groups allowed us to categorize the archaeal and bacterial communities into three major and distinct groups; group I was unique to the S-rich Atlantis II section (ATII-1), group II was characteristic for the N-rich Discovery sample (DD-1), and group III reflected the composition of the remaining sediments. Many of the groups detected in the S-rich Atlantis II section are likely to play a dominant role in the cycling of methane and sulfur due to their phylogenetic affiliations with bacteria and archaea involved in anaerobic methane oxidation and sulfate reduction. PMID:22916172

Chemical composition, cytotoxicity and in vitro antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activity of the essential oils of four Cymbopogon species from Benin.

PubMed

Kpoviessi, Salomé; Bero, Joanne; Agbani, Pierre; Gbaguidi, Fernand; Kpadonou-Kpoviessi, Bénédicta; Sinsin, Brice; Accrombessi, Georges; Frédérich, Michel; Moudachirou, Mansourou; Quetin-Leclercq, Joëlle

2014-01-01

Cymbopogon species are largely used in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases some of which related to parasitical diseases as fevers and headaches. As part of our research on antiparasitic essential oils from Beninese plants, we decided to evaluate the in vitro antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal activities of essential oils of four Cymbopogon species used in traditional medicine as well as their cytotoxicity. The essential oils of four Cymbopogon species Cymbopogon citratus (I), Cymbopogon giganteus (II), Cymbopogon nardus (III) and Cymbopogon schoenantus (IV) from Benin obtained by hydrodistillation were analysed by GC/MS and GC/FID and were tested in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Plasmodium falciparum respectively for antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activities. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro against Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and the human non cancer fibroblast cell line (WI38) through MTT assay to evaluate the selectivity. All tested oils showed a strong antitrypanosomal activity with a good selectivity. Sample II was the most active against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and could be considered as a good candidate. It was less active against Plasmodium falciparum. Samples II, III and IV had low or no cytotoxicity, but the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (I), was toxic against CHO cells and moderately toxic against WI38 cells and needs further toxicological studies. Sample I (29 compounds) was characterised by the presence as main constituents of geranial, neral, β-pinene and cis-geraniol; sample II (53 compounds) by trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol, trans-carveol, trans-p-mentha-2,8-dienol, cis-p-mentha-2,8-dienol, cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol, limonene, cis-carveol and cis-carvone; sample III (28 compounds) by β-citronellal, nerol, β-citronellol, elemol and limonene and sample IV (41 compounds) by piperitone, (+)-2-carene, limonene, elemol and β-eudesmol. Our study shows that essential oils of Cymbopogon genus can be a good source of antitrypanosomal agents. This is the first report on the activity of these essential oils against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Plasmodium falciparum and analysis of their cytotoxicity. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Identification of yeast strains isolated from marcha in Sikkim, a microbial starter for amylolytic fermentation.

PubMed

Tsuyoshi, Naoko; Fudou, Ryosuke; Yamanaka, Shigeru; Kozaki, Michio; Tamang, Namrata; Thapa, Saroj; Tamang, Jyoti P

2005-03-15

Marcha or murcha is a traditional amylolytic starter used to produce sweet-sour alcoholic drinks, commonly called jaanr in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet (China). The aim of this study was to examine the microflora of marcha collected from Sikkim in India, focusing on yeast flora and their roles. Twenty yeast strains were isolated from six samples of marcha and identified by genetic and phenotypic methods. They were first classified into four groups (Group I, II, III, and IV) based on physiological features using an API test. Phylogenetic, morphological, and physiological characterization identified the isolates as Saccharomyces bayanus (Group I); Candida glabrata (Group II); Pichia anomala (Group III); and Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, Saccharomycopsis capsularis, and Pichia burtonii (Group IV). Among them, the Group I, II, and III strains produced ethanol. The isolates of Group IV had high amylolytic activity. Because all marcha samples tested contained both starch degraders and ethanol producers, it was hypothesized that all four groups of yeast (Group I, II, III, and IV) contribute to starch-based alcohol fermentation.

The Relation Between Inflation in Type-I and Type-II Error Rate and Population Divergence in Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Multi-Ethnic Populations.

PubMed

Derks, E M; Zwinderman, A H; Gamazon, E R

2017-05-01

Population divergence impacts the degree of population stratification in Genome Wide Association Studies. We aim to: (i) investigate type-I error rate as a function of population divergence (F ST ) in multi-ethnic (admixed) populations; (ii) evaluate the statistical power and effect size estimates; and (iii) investigate the impact of population stratification on the results of gene-based analyses. Quantitative phenotypes were simulated. Type-I error rate was investigated for Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) with varying levels of F ST between the ancestral European and African populations. Type-II error rate was investigated for a SNP characterized by a high value of F ST . In all tests, genomic MDS components were included to correct for population stratification. Type-I and type-II error rate was adequately controlled in a population that included two distinct ethnic populations but not in admixed samples. Statistical power was reduced in the admixed samples. Gene-based tests showed no residual inflation in type-I error rate.

New Bedford, Sampling and Analysis Data: References 34-60, 1976-1983

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2012-04-22

... HIV u;nM in in :;i inn 'in iraii'MiLncniii, !i,i IB ii i T 11^1,111:111 imii«'; ncnl.Mr; i': 'ii ... r ii |: 'nii>i>eiri I: ji; I: :i vnn CD II: |M:I|:'',I. lu I: i i:>i: ej:p» i; Mire ILu nn ...

Evolutionary behaviour of AGN: Investigations on BL Lac objects and Seyfert II galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beckmann, V.

2000-12-01

The evolution and nature of AGN is still one of the enigmatic questions in astrophysics. While large and complete Quasar samples are available, special classes of AGN, like BL Lac objects and Seyfert II galaxies, are still rare objects. In this work I present two new AGN samples. The first one is the HRX-BL Lac survey, resulting in a sample of X-ray selected BL Lac objects. This sample results from 223 BL Lac candidates based on a correlation of X-ray sources with radio sources. The identification of this sample is 98% complete. 77 objects have been identified as BL Lac objects and form the HRX-BL Lac complete sample, the largest homogeneous sample of BL Lac objects existing today. For this sample, redshifts are now known for 62 objects (81 %). In total I present 101 BL Lac objects in the enlarged HRX-BL Lac survey, for which redshift information is available for 84 objects. During the HRX-BL Lac survey I found several objects of special interest. 1ES 1517+656 turned out to be the brightest known BL Lac object in the universe. 1ES 0927+500 could be the first BL Lac object with a line detected in the X-ray region. RX J1211+2242 is probably the the counterpart of the up to now unidentified gamma-ray source 3EG J1212+2304. Additionally I present seven candidates for ultra high frequency peaked BL Lac objects. RX J1054+3855 and RX J1153+3517 are rare high redshift X-ray bright QSO or accreting binary systems with huge magnetic fields. For the BL Lac objects I suggest an unified scenario in which giant elliptical galaxies, formed by merging events of spiral galaxies at z > 2, start as powerful, radio dominated BL Lacs. As the jet gets less powerful, the BL Lacs start to get more X-ray dominated, showing less total luminosities (for z < 1). This effect is seen in the different evolutionary behavior detected in high and low frequency cut off BL Lac objects (HBL and LBL, respectively). The model of negative evolution is supported by assumptions about the energetic effects which contribute to the BL Lac phenomenon. I also suggest an extension of the BL Lac definition to objects with a calcium break up to 40%, but do not support for the HBL the idea of allowing emission lines in the spectra of BL Lac galaxies. A way to find high redshift BL Lac objects might be the identification of faint X-ray sources (e.g. from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey) with neither optical nor radio counterpart in prominent databases (e.g. POSS plates for the optical, and NVSS/FIRST radio catalogues). The Seyfert II survey on the southern hemisphere derived a sample of 29 galaxies with 22 in a complete sample. The selection procedure developed in this work is able to select Seyfert II candidates with a success rate of ~40%. The Seyfert II galaxies outnumber the Seyfert I by a factor of 3...4 when comparing the total flux of the objects, but are less numerous than the type I objects when studying the core luminosity function. This luminosity function of the Seyfert II cores is the first one presented up to now. Hence it is possible to estimate the number of luminous Type II AGN, and the conclusion is drawn that absorbed AGN with MV < -28 mag might not exist within the universe. In 25 % of the Seyfert II galaxies I find evidence for merging events. In collaboration with Roberto Della Ceca I also showed that it is possible to find Type II AGN by selecting "hard" X-ray sources. I present a prototype of a Type II AGN found within this project. This work might be the basis to explore the universe for rare objects like BL Lacs and Seyfert II galaxies at higher redshifts. This could give an answer to the question: Whether there are BL Lac objects at redshifts z >> 1 and Type II Quasars or not. In summary the AGN phenomenon appears to be linked closely to merging and interacting events. For the BL Lac phenomenon the merging area seems to form the progenitor, while the Seyfert II phenomenon could be triggered by merging events. The role of star burst activity in terms of activity of the central engine remains illusive.

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart E of... - Interim Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Methods-Mandatory and Nonmandatory-and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... representative of the air entering the abatement site. c. Two field blanks are to be taken by removing the cap... of Sample Data Quality Objectives is shown in the following Table II: EC01AP92.003 C. Sample Shipment... or the Burdette procedure (Ref. 7 of Unit II.J.) ii. Plasma etching of the collapsed filter is...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart E of... - Interim Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Methods-Mandatory and Nonmandatory-and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... representative of the air entering the abatement site. c. Two field blanks are to be taken by removing the cap... of Sample Data Quality Objectives is shown in the following Table II: EC01AP92.003 C. Sample Shipment... or the Burdette procedure (Ref. 7 of Unit II.J.) ii. Plasma etching of the collapsed filter is...

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Pigeons from Public Parks in Costa Rica.

PubMed

Blanco-Peña, K; Esperón, F; Torres-Mejía, A M; de la Torre, A; de la Cruz, E; Jiménez-Soto, M

2017-11-01

Antimicrobial resistance is known to be an emerging problem, but the extent of the issue remains incomplete. The aim of this study was to determine the presence or absence of nine resistance genes (bla TEM , catI, mecA, qnrS, sulI, sulII, tet(A), tet(Q), vanA) in the faeces of 141 pigeons from four urban parks in Alajuela, Guadalupe, Tres Ríos and San José in Costa Rica. The genes were identified by real-time PCR directly from enema samples. About 30% of the samples were positive for genes catI and sulI; between 13% and 17% were positive for qnrS, sulII, tet(A) and tet(Q); and 4% were positive for bla TEM . The mecA and vanA genes were not detected. The average of antimicrobial resistance genes detected per pigeon was 2. Eight different patterns of resistance were identified, without differences in the sampling areas, being the most common pattern 2 (sulII positive samples). During rainy season, the genes more frequently found were sulI and tet(A). In conclusion, the urban inhabiting pigeons tested are currently carrying antimicrobial resistance genes, potentially acting as reservoirs of resistant bacteria and vectors to humans. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study carried out on direct detection of resistance genes in the digestive metagenomes of pigeons. © 2017 The Authors. Zoonoses and Public Health Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

An integrated bioanalytical method development and validation approach: case studies.

PubMed

Xue, Y-J; Melo, Brian; Vallejo, Martha; Zhao, Yuwen; Tang, Lina; Chen, Yuan-Shek; Keller, Karin M

2012-10-01

We proposed an integrated bioanalytical method development and validation approach: (1) method screening based on analyte's physicochemical properties and metabolism information to determine the most appropriate extraction/analysis conditions; (2) preliminary stability evaluation using both quality control and incurred samples to establish sample collection, storage and processing conditions; (3) mock validation to examine method accuracy and precision and incurred sample reproducibility; and (4) method validation to confirm the results obtained during method development. This integrated approach was applied to the determination of compound I in rat plasma and compound II in rat and dog plasma. The effectiveness of the approach was demonstrated by the superior quality of three method validations: (1) a zero run failure rate; (2) >93% of quality control results within 10% of nominal values; and (3) 99% incurred sample within 9.2% of the original values. In addition, rat and dog plasma methods for compound II were successfully applied to analyze more than 900 plasma samples obtained from Investigational New Drug (IND) toxicology studies in rats and dogs with near perfect results: (1) a zero run failure rate; (2) excellent accuracy and precision for standards and quality controls; and (3) 98% incurred samples within 15% of the original values. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Treatment and posttreatment effects induced by the Forsus appliance: A controlled clinical study.

PubMed

Cacciatore, Giorgio; Ghislanzoni, Luis Tomas Huanca; Alvetro, Lisa; Giuntini, Veronica; Franchi, Lorenzo

2014-11-01

To evaluate treatment and posttreatment dentoskeletal effects induced by the Forsus device (FRD) in growing patients with Class II malocclusion in a retrospective controlled clinical study. Thirty-six Class II patients (mean [SD] age 12.3 [1.2] years) were treated consecutively with the FRD protocol and compared with a sample of 20 subjects with untreated Class II malocclusion (mean [SD] age 12.2 [0.9] years). Lateral cephalograms were taken at the beginning of treatment, at the end of comprehensive treatment (after 2.3 ± 0.4 years), and at a postretention period (after 2.3 ± 1.1 years from the end of comprehensive treatment). Statistical comparisons were carried out with the unpaired t-test and Benjamini-Hochberg correction (P < .05). After comprehensive treatment, the FRD sample showed a significant restriction of the sagittal maxillary growth together with a significant correction in overjet, overbite, and molar relationship. During the overall observation interval, the FRD group exhibited no significant sagittal or vertical skeletal changes, while significant improvements were recorded in overjet (-3.8 mm), overbite (-1.5 mm), and molar relationship (+3.7 mm). The FRD protocol was effective in correcting Class II malocclusion mainly at the dentoalveolar level when evaluated 2 years after the end of comprehensive treatment.

Copper-doped waveguides in glass substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spirkova-Hradilova, Jarmila; Tresnakova-Nebolova, Pavlina; Jirka, Ivan; Mach, Karel; Perina, Vratislav; Mackova, Anna; Kuncova, Gabriela

2001-05-01

We have studied fabrication and properties of copper ion- exchanged waveguides fabricated in various types of special soda-lime silicate glass as well as commercial optical glass substrates. The ion exchange was performed in melts containing either CuI or CuII at temperatures from 350 degrees C to 500 degrees C for times ranging from 5 minutes to 21 hrs. Optical properties of the fabricated waveguides were studied using mode spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy and composition of the waveguides was determined by SEM, RBS, EPR and ESCA. After the ion exchange the refractive index increased, according to fabrication conditions, up to (Delta) n equals +0.0693 and the guides supported up to 16 TE and TM modes. The CuI $ARLR CuII redox reaction during the fabrication depended strongly on the composition as well as the temperature of the reaction melts. In the Cu2Cl2ZnCl2 melts the oxidation of CuI to CuII was strongly hampered, so that CuI prevailed in the waveguiding region. These samples exhibited the most intensive blue-green luminescence, in spite of those fabricated using the CuII-based reaction melts, where practically no blue-green luminescence was observed. ESCA measurement revealed an easy charge transfer between the both oxidation states of copper in the very surface regions of the samples.

LC-MS based metabolomics and chemometrics study of the toxic effects of copper on Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Farrés, Mireia; Piña, Benjamí; Tauler, Romà

2016-08-01

Copper containing fungicides are used to protect vineyards from fungal infections. Higher residues of copper in grapes at toxic concentrations are potentially toxic and affect the microorganisms living in vineyards, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, the response of the metabolic profiles of S. cerevisiae at different concentrations of copper sulphate (control, 1 mM, 3 mM and 6 mM) was analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) using an untargeted metabolomics approach. Peak areas of the MCR-ALS resolved elution profiles in control and in Cu(ii)-treated samples were compared using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and PLS-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and the intracellular metabolites best contributing to sample discrimination were selected and identified. Fourteen metabolites showed significant concentration changes upon Cu(ii) exposure, following a dose-response effect. The observed changes were consistent with the expected effects of Cu(ii) toxicity, including oxidative stress and DNA damage. This research confirmed that LC-MS based metabolomics coupled to chemometric methods are a powerful approach for discerning metabolomics changes in S. cerevisiae and for elucidating modes of toxicity of environmental stressors, including heavy metals like Cu(ii).

Stability of polymorphic forms of ranitidine hydrochloride.

PubMed

Wu, V; Rades, T; Saville, D J

2000-07-01

Ranitidine-HCl can exist in two different polymorphic forms: form I (m.p. 134-140 degrees C) and form II (m.p. 140-144 degrees C). In the present study the stability of form I of ranitidine-HCl to a selection of powder pretreatments, to reflect conditions which might occur in manufacturing procedures, and also to a limited range of storage conditions was investigated. The original samples of form I and form II used were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), hot stage microscopy (HSM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A quantitative XRPD method for determining the fraction of form II in the presence of form I was used. XRPD data were analysed using regression techniques and artificial neural networks (ANN). The quantitative XRPD technique was then used to monitor the relative proportion of form II in each treated sample. Pretreatments of form I included (i) mixing with form II or with common excipients (ii) compression and grinding (iii) contact with solvents (followed by drying) before storage. Storage conditions involved three temperatures (20 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 42 degrees C) and three relative humidities (45% RH; 55% RH; 75% RH). Samples were stored for a period of 6 months. A limited factorial design was used. No increase in the form II:form I ratio was observed in the following pretreatment processes: introduction of form II nuclei into form I; introduction of excipients to form I; compression of form I powder at 5 and 15 tons; normal mixing and grinding processes; addition of isopropanol (IPA) or water/IPA mix followed by drying. In the pretreatment process where water was added to form I powder (with most or all of the powder dissolving), drying of the liquefied mass led to a mix of form I and form II. On storage at room temperature (20-30 degrees C), low relative humidity (45-55% RH), and in an air-tight container there was no increase in the form II:form I ratio. Storage of form I/form II mixes, particularly at high humidity, resulted in a preferential loss of form II (compared to form I). Loss was greater at 30 degrees C/75% RH than at 20 degrees C/75% RH. Form II was also preferentially lost under low humidity conditions created by a saturated solution of potassium carbonate (45% RH) at the elevated temperature of 42 degrees C. This environment was shown to be acidic.

Revisiting the incidence of Mg II absorbers along the blazar sightlines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Sapna; Chand, Hum; Gopal-Krishna; Joshi, Ravi

2018-04-01

It is believed that the cool gas clouds traced by Mg II absorption, within a velocity offset of 5000 km/s from the background quasar, are associated with the quasar itself, whereas the absorbers seen at larger velocity offsets towards us are intervening systems and hence their existence is completely independent of the background quasar. Recent evidence by Bergeron et al. 2011 (hereafter BBM), however, seriously questions this canonical view, by showing that the number density of intervening Mg II absorbers along the sightlines towards 45 blazars is, on average, 2 times the expectation based on the Mg II absorption systems seen on the sightlines to normal QSOs. Given the serious implications of this finding, it becomes important to revisit this issue by enlarging the source sample and subjecting it to an independent analysis. Here, we first report our results based on a re-analysis of the spectroscopic data for the BBM sample; this has reproduced their factor 2 excess in dN/dz along blazar sightlines, vis-a-vis the normal QSOs. Next, we assemble a 6 times larger sample of blazar sightlines, albeit with lower SNR. Using this enlarged sample together with the BBM sample, our analysis shows that the dN/dz of Mg II absorbers statistically matches that known for normal QSO sightlines.

Static Air Support Surfaces to Prevent Pressure Injuries: A Multicenter Cohort Study in Belgian Nursing Homes.

PubMed

Serraes, Brecht; Beeckman, Dimitri

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for developing pressure injuries (PIs) in patients placed on a static air support surfaces: mattress overlay, heel wedge, and seat cushion. Multicenter cohort study. The sample comprised 176 residents; their mean age was 87 (SD = 6.76) years; their mean Braden Scale score was 14 (SD = 2.54). The study was performed on a convenience sample of 6 nursing homes in Belgium. Data were collected on 23 care units. The primary outcome measure, cumulative PI incidence (category [stage] II-IV) over a 30-day observation period, was calculated. Pressure injury occurrence was defined according to the 2014 European and US National Pressure Injury Advisory panels, Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance classification system. The PI incidence for category (stage) II-IV was 5.1%. Six residents (3.4%) developed a category II PI, and 3 (1.7%) developed a category III PI; no category IV ulcers occurred. No significant risk factors for category II-IV PIs were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Time of sitting in a chair was found to be a risk factor for development of nonblanchable erythema (category I PI) (odds ratio = 21.608; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.510-22.812; P = .013). The median time to develop a category II-IV PI was 16 days (interquartile range = 2-26). The interrater reliability between the observations of the researcher and nurses on-site was almost perfect (0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.91). We found a low incidence of PIs when using a static air overlay mattress for patients at risk in a nursing home population. Static air support surfaces, alongside patient-tailored patient repositioning protocols, should be considered to prevent PIs in this patient population.

A dip-and-read test strip for the determination of mercury(II) ion in aqueous samples based on urease activity inhibition.

PubMed

Shi, Guo-Qing; Jiang, Guibin

2002-11-01

A sensitive dip-and-read test strip for the determination of mercury in aqueous samples based on the inhibition of urease reaction by the ion has been developed. The strip has a circular sensing zone that containing two layers: the top layer is a cellulose acetate membrane where urease is immobilized on it; the bottom layer is a pH indicator wafer that is impregnated with urea. The principle of the measurement is based on the disappearance of a yellow spot on the pH indicator wafer. The elapsing time until the disappearance of the spot which depends on the concentration of mercury(II) ion is measured with a stopwatch. Under the experimental conditions, as low as 0.2 ng/ml mercury can be observed with the detection range from 0.2 to 200 ng/ml in water. Organomercury compounds give essentially the same response as inorganic mercury. Heavy-metal ions such as Ag(I), Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) as well as other sample matrixes basically do not interfere with the mercury measurement.

Emotion regulation strategies in bipolar II disorder and borderline personality disorder: differences and relationships with perceived parental style.

PubMed

Fletcher, Kathryn; Parker, Gordon; Bayes, Adam; Paterson, Amelia; McClure, Georgia

2014-03-01

Bipolar II disorder (BP II) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) share common features and can be difficult to differentiate, contributing to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Research contrasting phenomenological features of both conditions is limited. The current study sought to identify differences in emotion regulation strategies in BP II and BPD in addition to examining relationships with perceived parental style. Participants were recruited from a variety of outpatient and community settings. Eligible participants required a clinical diagnosis of BP II or BPD, subsequently confirmed via structured diagnostic interviews assessing DSM-IV criteria. Participants completed a series of self-reported questionnaires assessing emotion regulation strategies and perceived parental style. The sample comprised 48 (n=24 BP II and n=24 BPD) age and gender-matched participants. Those with BPD were significantly more likely to use maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, less likely to use adaptive emotion regulation strategies, and scored significantly higher on the majority of (perceived) dysfunctional parenting sub-scales than participants with BP II. Dysfunctional parenting experiences were related to maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in participants with BP II and BPD, however differential associations were observed across groups. Relatively small sample sizes; lack of a healthy control comparator group; lack of statistical control for differing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, medication and psychological treatments; no assessment of state or trait anxiety; over-representation of females in both groups limiting generalisability of results; and reliance on self-report measures. Differences in emotion regulation strategies and perceived parental style provide some support for the validity of distinguishing BP II and BPD. Development of intervention strategies targeting the differing forms of emotion regulatory pathology in these groups may be warranted. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sensitivity and specificity of the mood disorder questionnaire and the bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale in Argentinean patients with mood disorders.

PubMed

Zaratiegui, Rodolfo M; Vázquez, Gustavo H; Lorenzo, Laura S; Marinelli, Marcia; Aguayo, Silvia; Strejilevich, Sergio A; Padilla, Eduardo; Goldchluk, Aníbal; Herbst, Luis; Vilapriño, Juan J; Bonetto, Gerardo García; Cetkovich-Bakmas, Marcelo G; Abraham, Estela; Kahn, Clara; Whitham, Elizabeth A; Holtzman, Niki S; Ghaemi, Nassir

2011-08-01

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of two self-report instruments for detection of bipolarity in a sample of Argentinean patients. Spanish versions of the MDQ and the BSDS were administered over four months at 11 sites in Argentina. Diagnoses were made using DSM-IV criteria and the MINI. The study sample consisted of patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (BD) Types I, II, or NOS. BDNOS diagnoses were made using extended guidelines for bipolar spectrum symptoms. Unipolar patients were used as a control group. Of 493 patients screened, 354 completed evaluation by MDQ and MINI, and 363 by BSDS and MINI. Specificity of MDQ was 0.97 and BSDS was 0.81. MDQ sensitivity was 0.70 for bipolar type I (BD-I), 0.52 for bipolar II (BD-II) and 0.31 for bipolar not otherwise specified (BDNOS). BSDS sensitivities were 0.75, 0.70 and 0.51 respectively. This study was performed in specialized outpatient settings and thus its results are not necessarily representative for other clinical settings. There was not a systematic evaluation of comorbid psychiatric disease or test-retest reliability. The local versions of the MDQ and the BSDS showed a sensitivity and specificity comparable to previous research. Our results indicate that in this sample, MDQ was more specific for BD and BSDS was more sensitive to detect BD-II and NOS. Since BD-I is more readily recognized than bipolar spectrum disorders, enhanced sensitivity of BSDS for soft bipolarity may be an advantage. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical characterization of ambient aerosol collected during the northeast monsoon season over the Arabian Sea: Labile-Fe(II) and other trace metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johansen, Anne M.; Hoffmann, Michael R.

2003-07-01

Ambient aerosol samples were collected over the Arabian Sea during the month of March of 1997, aboard the German R/V Sonne, as part of the German Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) project. This is the third study in a series of analogous measurements taken over the Arabian Sea during different seasons of the monsoon. Dichotomous high-volume collector samples were analyzed for ferrous iron immediately after collection, while trace metals, anions, and cations were determined upon return to the laboratory. The main crustal component was geochemically well represented by the average crustal composition and amounted to 5.94 ± 3.08 μg m-3. An additional crustal constituent of clay-like character, rich in water-soluble Ca and Mg, was seen in the fine fraction in air masses of Arabian origin. Total ferrous iron concentrations varied from 3.9 to 17.2 ng m-3 and averaged 9.8 ± 3.4 ng m-3, with 87.2% of Fe(II) present in the fine aerosol fraction. Fe(II) concentrations accounted for on average 1.3 ± 0.5% of the total Fe. While ferrous iron in the coarse fraction appeared to be correlated with the main crustal component, the fine Fe(II) fraction exhibited a more complex behavior. The anthropogenic contribution to the aerosol, as traced by Pb, Zn, and some anions and cations, was found to be considerably larger, especially during the first 10 days of this cruise, than in previously collected samples from the inter-monsoon and southwest monsoon of 1995.

A representative survey of the dynamics and energetics of FR II radio galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ineson, J.; Croston, J. H.; Hardcastle, M. J.; Mingo, B.

2017-05-01

We report the first large, systematic study of the dynamics and energetics of a representative sample of Fanaroff-Riley type II (FR II) radio galaxies with well-characterized group/cluster environments. We used X-ray inverse-Compton and radio synchrotron measurements to determine the internal radio-lobe conditions, and these were compared with external pressures acting on the lobes, determined from measurements of the thermal X-ray emission of the group/cluster. Consistent with previous work, we found that FR II radio lobes are typically electron dominated by a small factor relative to equipartition, and are overpressured relative to the external medium in their outer parts. These results suggest that there is typically no energetically significant proton population in the lobes of FR II radio galaxies (unlike for FR Is), and so for this population, inverse-Compton modelling provides an accurate way of measuring total energy content and estimating jet power. We estimated the distribution of Mach numbers for the population of expanding radio lobes, finding that at least half of the radio galaxies are currently driving strong shocks into their group/cluster environments. Finally, we determined a jet power-radio luminosity relation for FR II radio galaxies based on our estimates of lobe internal energy and Mach number. The slope and normalization of this relation are consistent with theoretical expectations, given the departure from equipartition and environmental distribution for our sample.

Adsorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) by Ginkgo-Leaf-Derived Biochar Produced under Various Carbonization Temperatures and Times.

PubMed

Lee, Myoung-Eun; Park, Jin Hee; Chung, Jae Woo

2017-12-07

Ginkgo trees are common street trees in Korea, and the large amounts of leaves that fall onto the streets annually need to be cleaned and treated. Therefore, fallen gingko leaves have been used as a raw material to produce biochar for the removal of heavy metals from solutions. Gingko-leaf-derived biochar was produced under various carbonization temperatures and times. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties and adsorption characteristics of gingko-leaf-derived biochar samples produced under different carbonization conditions regarding Pb(II) and Cu(II). The biochar samples that were produced at 800 °C for 90 and 120 min contained the highest oxygen- and nitrogen-substituted carbons, which might contribute to a high metal-adsorption rate. The intensity of the phosphate bond was increased with the increasing of the carbonization temperature up to 800 °C and after 90 min of carbonization. The Pb(II) and Cu(II) adsorption capacities were the highest when the gingko-leaf-derived biochar was produced at 800 °C, and the removal rates were 99.2% and 34.2%, respectively. The highest removal rate was achieved when the intensity of the phosphate functional group in the biochar was the highest. Therefore, the gingko-leaf-derived biochar produced at 800 °C for 90 min can be used as an effective bio-adsorbent in the removal of metals from solutions.

Zircon from charnockite gneiss, charnockite, and leucosome of migmatite in the Nimnyr Block of the Aldan Shield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glebovitsky, V. A.; Sedova, I. S.; Berezhnaya, N. G.; Skublov, S. G.; Samorukova, L. M.

2015-12-01

The microgeochemistry of zircon was studied in three samples: charnockite gneiss (1594), charnockite (1594a), and migmatite leucosome Lc4 (1594c). Prismatic (Zrn I) and oval (Zrn II) zircon morphotypes are distinguished in the first two samples. Most zircon grains consist of two-phase cores and overgrowth rims variable in thickness. The average weighted concordant U-Pb age of Zrn II cores from charnockite gneiss is 2436 ± 10 Ma. The concordant ages of Zrn I and Zrn II cores from charnockite are 2402 ± 16 Ma and 2453 ± 14 Ma, respectively. Some overgrowth rims are 1.9-2.1 Ga in age. In leucosome Lc4, all measured prismatic zircon crystals yielded a discordant age of 1942 ± 11 Ma (the upper intersection of discordia with concordia). These zircons are strongly altered and anomalously enriched in U and Th. Zrn I grains are enriched relative to Zrn II in REE, Li, Ca, Sr, Ba, Hf, Th, and U. Zrn I is considered to be a product of melt crystallization or subsolidus recrystallization in the presence of melt. Zrn II is relict or crystallizing from melt and then partly fused again. Zrn I from charnockite gneiss and especially from charnockite are markedly altered and have a more discordant age than Zrn II. This is probably related to concentration of fluid in the residual melt left after zircon crystallization.

IDENTIFICATION OF NEODYMIUM IN THE APOGEE H -BAND SPECTRA

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

Hasselquist, Sten; Holtzman, Jon; Chojnowski, Drew

2016-12-10

We present the detection of 10 lines of singly ionized neodymium (Nd ii, Z  = 60) in H -band spectra using observations from the SDSS-III Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. These lines were detected in a metal-poor ([Fe/H] ∼ −1.5), neutron-capture element-enhanced star recently discovered in the APOGEE sample. Using an optical high-resolution spectrum, we derive a Nd abundance for this star using Nd ii lines with precise, laboratory-derived gf values. This optical abundance is used to derive log( gf ) values for the H -band lines. We use these lines to rederive Nd ii abundances for two more metal-rich, s -process enhancedmore » stars observed by APOGEE and find that these lines yield consistent Nd ii abundances, confirming the Nd enhancement of these stars. We explore the region of parameter space in the APOGEE sample over which these lines can be used to measure Nd ii abundances. We find that Nd abundances can be reliably derived for ∼18% of the red giants observed by APOGEE. This will result in ∼50,000 Milky Way stars with Nd ii abundances following the conclusion of APOGEE-2, allowing for studies of neutron-capture element abundance distributions across the entire Milky Way.« less

Measurement of DSM-5 section II personality disorder constructs using the MMPI-2-RF in clinical and forensic samples.

PubMed

Anderson, Jaime L; Sellbom, Martin; Pymont, Carly; Smid, Wineke; De Saeger, Hilde; Kamphuis, Jan H

2015-09-01

In the current study, we evaluated the associations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) scale scores and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) Section II personality disorder (PD) criterion counts in inpatient and forensic psychiatric samples from The Netherlands using structured clinical interviews to operationalize PDs. The inpatient psychiatric sample included 190 male and female patients and the forensic sample included 162 male psychiatric patients. We conducted correlation and count regression analyses to evaluate the utility of relevant MMPI-2-RF scales in predicting PD criterion count scores. Generally, results from these analyses emerged as conceptually expected and provided evidence that MMPI-2-RF scales can be useful in assessing PDs. At the zero-order level, most hypothesized associations between Section II disorders and MMPI-2-RF scales were supported. Similarly, in the regression analyses, a unique set of predictors emerged for each PD that was generally in line with conceptual expectations. Additionally, the results provided general evidence that PDs can be captured by dimensional psychopathology constructs, which has implications for both DSM-5 Section III specifically and the personality psychopathology literature more broadly. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved.

Differential Expression of Glypican-3 and Insulin–Like Growth Factor-II mRNAs and Alpha-Fetoprotein and Ki-67 Markers in HCV Related Hepatocellular Carcinomas In Egyptian Patients

PubMed

Saber, Mohamed A; MM AbdelHafiz, Samah; Khorshed, Fatma E; Aboushousha, Tarek S; Hamdy, Hussam EM; Seleem, Mohamed I; Soliman, Amira H

2017-01-01

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) abnormal gene expression, for example of glypican-3 (GPC-3) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), are associated with the occurrence and progression of HCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differential expression of GPC-3 and IGF-II mRNAs in HCC tissues with a background of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 cirrhosis, in relation to Ki-67 and alpha-feto protein (AFP) tissue markers. Methods: One hundred and five patients with HCCs who had undergone hepatectomy, were included, after obtaining informed consent. Total RNA was extracted from malignant and corresponding peri-malignant liver tissues, and GPC-3 and IGF-II mRNAs in addition to beta-actin mRNA as an internal control, were evaluated in all samples by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). Routine histopathological diagnosis as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) staining using monoclonal antibodies for Ki-67 and AFP were also performed. Result: Expression of GPC-3 mRNA was positive in all HCC malignant tissue, with overexpression in 86/105 (81.9%); in respect to the grade of the tumor (1-3 grades), while in peri-malignant tissue it was over expressed only in 20/105 (19%). The IGF-II mRNA was over expressed in only 10/105 (9.5%) malignant and peri-malignant samples. AFP was expressed in 33.3% of malignant samples but absent in peri-malignant tissues. Ki-67 expression was significantly increased in malignant compared to peri-malignant tissue. Conclusion: GPC-3 and IGF II mRNAs may be good molecular markers for HCC, especially with a background of cirrhosis due to chronic HCV infection. Significant correlations were noted with the pattern of AFP and Ki-67 expression. Creative Commons Attribution License

Disparities in Intratumoral Steroidogenesis

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-01

Tuesday shipment only) by overnight express for next day delivery on dry ice. Frozen specimens will be shipped on dry ice to the following address...Samples will be labeled with the study subject number and date of surgery. Frozen samples will be batch shipped (Monday and Tuesday shipment only) by... Morris MJ, de Bono JS, Ryan CJ, Denmeade SR, Smith MR, et al. Phase II multicenter study of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone therapy in patients

Speciation of Mn(II), Mn(VII) and total manganese in water and food samples by coprecipitation-atomic absorption spectrometry combination.

PubMed

Citak, Demirhan; Tuzen, Mustafa; Soylak, Mustafa

2010-01-15

A speciation procedure based on the coprecipitation of manganese(II) with zirconium(IV) hydroxide has been developed for the investigation of levels of manganese species. The determination of manganese levels was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Total manganese was determined after the reduction of Mn(VII) to Mn(II) by ascorbic acid. The analytical parameters including pH, amount of zirconium(IV), sample volume, etc., were investigated for the quantitative recoveries of manganese(II). The effects of matrix ions were also examined. The recoveries for manganese(II) were in the range of 95-98%. Preconcentration factor was calculated as 50. The detection limit for the analyte ions based on 3 sigma (n=21) was 0.75 microg L(-1) for Mn(II). The relative standard deviation was found to be lower than 7%. The validation of the presented procedure was performed by analysis of certified reference material having different matrices, NIST SRM 1515 (Apple Leaves) and NIST SRM 1568a (Rice Flour). The procedure was successfully applied to natural waters and food samples.

Mercury(II) and methyl mercury determinations in water and fish samples by using solid phase extraction and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry combination.

PubMed

Tuzen, Mustafa; Karaman, Isa; Citak, Demirhan; Soylak, Mustafa

2009-07-01

A method has been developed for mercury(II) and methyl mercury speciation on Staphylococcus aureus loaded Dowex Optipore V-493 micro-column in the presented work, by using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Selective and sequential elution with 0.1 molL(-1) HCl for methyl mercury and 2 molL(-1) HCl for mercury(II) were performed at the pH range of 2-6. Optimal analytical conditions including pH, amounts of biosorbent, sample volumes were investigated. The detection limits of the analytes were 2.5 ngL(-1) for Hg(II) and 1.7 ngL(-1) for methyl mercury. The capacity of biosorbent for mercury(II) and methyl mercury was 6.5 and 5.4 mgg(-1), respectively. The validation of the presented procedure is performed by the analysis of standard reference material. The speciation procedure established was successfully applied to the speciation of mercury(II) and methyl mercury in natural water and microwave digested fish samples.

Self-reported personality disorder in the children in the community sample: convergent and prospective validity in late adolescence and adulthood.

PubMed

Crawford, Thomas N; Cohen, Patricia; Johnson, Jeffrey G; Kasen, Stephanie; First, Michael B; Gordon, Kathy; Brook, Judith S

2005-02-01

Approximately 800 youths from the Children in the Community Study (Cohen & Cohen, 1996) have been assessed prospectively for over 20 years to study personality disorders (PDs) in adolescents and young adults. In this article we evaluate the Children in the Community Self-Report (CIC-SR) Scales, which were designed to assess DSM-IV PDs using self-reported prospective data from this longitudinal sample. To evaluate convergent validity, we assessed concordance between the CIC-SR Scales and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II; First, Gibbon, Spitzer, Williams, & Benjamin, 1995) in 644 participants at mean age 33. To assess predictive validity, we used CIC-SR Scales at mean age 22 to predict subsequent CIC-SR and SCID-II Personality Questionnaire scores at mean age 33. In these analyses the CIC-SR Scales matched or exceeded benchmarks established in previous comparisons between self-report instruments and structured clinical interviews. Unlike other self-report scales, the CIC-SR did not appear to overestimate diagnoses when compared with SCID-II clinical diagnoses.

Historical trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the reservoir sediment core at Osaka

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moriwaki, Hiroshi; Katahira, Kenshi; Yamamoto, Osamu; Fukuyama, Joji; Kamiura, Toshikazu; Yamazaki, Hideo; Yoshikawa, Shusaku

The historical trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediment core of the moat in Osaka Castle, located at the center of Osaka city, Japan, were studied. The moats in Osaka Castle were built in the 1620s, and the undisturbed sediment core, which consists of atmospheric deposits in Osaka city from 1671 to 1976, was withdrawn from the moat. PAHs in the sediment core were identified and quantified in the total concentration range of 0.053-26 mg kg -1 dry wt. The highest content of PAHs was found in the sample, which was dated to 1944 during World War II. Osaka Castle was exposed to intense bombing raids during World War II, and the spiked peak of the PAH concentration during the mid-1940s was due to the air attacks. The total PAH concentration in the sediment core sample during World War II was about two-fold greater than the average after the war. This study made it appear that the largest impact of PAHs on the atmospheric environment in Osaka city in almost 300 years was caused by modern warfare.

Metal Ions Removal Using Nano Oxide Pyrolox™ Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gładysz-Płaska, A.; Skwarek, E.; Budnyak, T. M.; Kołodyńska, D.

2017-02-01

The paper presents the use of Pyrolox™ containing manganese nano oxides used for the removal of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) as well as U(VI) ions. Their concentrations were analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrometer SpectrAA 240 FS (Varian) as well as UV-vis method. For this purpose the static kinetic and equilibrium studies were carried out using the batch technique. The effect of solution pH, shaking time, initial metal ion concentrations, sorbent dosage, and temperature was investigated. The equilibrium data were analyzed using the sorption isotherm models proposed by Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich. The kinetic results showed that the pseudo second order kinetic model was found to correlate the experimental data well. The results indicate that adsorption of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) as well as U(VI) ions is strongly dependent on pH. The value of pH 4-7 was optimal adsorption. The time to reach the equilibrium was found to be 24 h, and after this time, the sorption percentage reached about 70%. Kinetics of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and U(VI) adsorption on the adsorbent can be described by the pseudo second order rate equation. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements for adsorbent characterization were performed. Characteristic points of the double layer determined for the studied Pyrolox™ sample in 0.001 mol/dm3 NaCl solution are pHPZC = 4 and pHIEP < 2.

Enhanced proliferation of primary rat type II pneumocytes by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus envelope protein

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

Johnson, Chassidy; Jahid, Sohail; Voelker, Dennis R.

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is the causative agent of a contagious lung cancer in sheep. The envelope protein (Env) is the oncogene, as it can transform cell lines in culture and induce tumors in animals, although the mechanisms for transformation are not yet clear because a system to perform transformation assays in differentiated type II pneumocytes does not exist. In this study we report culture of primary rat type II pneumocytes in conditions that favor prolonged expression of markers for type II pneumocytes. Env-expressing cultures formed more colonies that were larger in size and were viable for longer periods ofmore » time compared to vector control samples. The cells that remained in culture longer were confirmed to be derived from type II pneumocytes because they expressed surfactant protein C, cytokeratin, displayed alkaline phosphatase activity and were positive for Nile red. This system will be useful to study JSRV Env in the targets of transformation.« less

Volume II: Ecosystem management: principles and applications.

Treesearch

M.E. Jensen; P.S. Bourgeron

1994-01-01

This document provides land managers with practical suggestions for implementing ecosystem management. It contains 28 papers organized into five sections: historical perspectives, ecological principles, sampling design, case studies, and implementation strategies.

The use of a polymer inclusion membrane in flow injection analysis for the on-line separation and determination of zinc.

PubMed

Zhang, Lujia L; Cattrall, Robert W; Kolev, Spas D

2011-06-15

This paper reports the first use of a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) for on-line separation in flow injection analysis (FIA) involving simultaneous extraction and back-extraction. The FIA system containing the PIM separation module was used for the determination of Zn(II) in aqueous samples in the presence of Mg(II), Ca(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III). The Fe(III) and Cu(II) interferences were eliminated by off-line precipitation with phosphate and on-line complexation with chloride, respectively. The concentration of Zn(II) was determined spectrophotometrically using 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR). The optimal composition of the PIM consisted of 40% (m/m) di(2-ethlyhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as carrier, 10% (m/m) dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as plasticizer and 50% (m/m) poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as the base polymer. The optimized FIA system was characterized by a linear calibration curve in the range from 1.0 to 30.0 mg L(-1) Zn(II), a detection limit of 0.05 mg L(-1) and a relative standard deviation of 3.4% with a sampling rate of 4h(-1). Reproducible results were obtained for 20 replicate injections over a 5h period which demonstrated a good membrane stability. The FIA system was applied to the determination of Zn(II) in pharmaceuticals and samples from the galvanizing industry and very good agreement with atomic absorption spectrometry was obtained. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution and predominance of genotype 3 in hepatitis C virus carriers in the province of kahramanmaras, Turkey.

PubMed

Caliskan, Ahmet; Kirisci, Ozlem; Ozkaya, Esra; Ozden, Sevinc; Tumer, Seray; Caglar, Serkan; Guler, Selma Ates; Senol, Hande

2015-04-01

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) has six major genotypes and more than 100 subtypes, and the determination of the responsible genotype, collection of epidemiological data, tailoring antiviral therapy, and prediction of prognosis have an important place in disease management. The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes across geographic regions and compare these data with those obtained from other geographic locations. The HCV genotypes were identified in HCV RNA positive blood samples, obtained from different centers. The HCV genotype was determined using molecular methods [Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)] in 313 patients, who were found to be positive for HCV RNA. The presence of HCV RNA was investigated using the RT-PCR method in serum samples delivered to the Microbiology Laboratory at Kahramanmaras Necip Fazıl City Hospital, Kahramanmaras, Turkey, from the centers located in Kahramanmaras City center and peripheral districts of the province, between March 2010 and August 2014. The HCV genotype analysis was performed in HCV RNA positive samples, using RT-PCR reagents kit. Urine samples from the patients were tested for amphetamine with an Amphetamines II (AMPS2) kit, cocaine was tested with a Cocaine II (COC2) kit, opiates were tested with an Opiates II (OPI2) kit, and cannabinoids were tested with a Cannabinoids II (THC2) kit in Roche/Hitachi Cobas c501 device. The blood samples collected from 313 patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 212 (67.7%) were male and 101 (32.3%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 41.29 ± 20.32 years. In terms of HCV genotype distribution, 162 patients (51.7%) had genotype 1, 144 patients (46%) had genotype 3, four patients (1.3%) had genotype 2, and three patients (1%) had genotype 4. The results of urine drug tests were available in only 65 patients (20.2%). Of these, 61 (93.8%) patients had HCV genotype 3. In conclusion, the prevalence of HCV genotype 1 was 51.7%, which was lower than the rates reported in other studies in Turkey, while the prevalence of HCV genotype 3 was 46%, which was remarkably higher than the reported Turkish data. In addition, the prevalence rate for genotype 3 reported in the present study is the highest that has ever been reported in the literature.

Revisiting Mn and Fe removal in humic rich estuaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oldham, Véronique E.; Miller, Megan T.; Jensen, Laramie T.; Luther, George W.

2017-07-01

Metal removal by estuarine mixing has been studied for several decades, but few studies emphasize dissolved metal speciation and organic ligand complexation. Findings from the last decade indicate that metal-humic complexation can be significant for dissolved metals including Cu(II), Al(III) and Fe(III), but little consideration is given to the precipitation of these complexes with humic material at pH < 2. Given that total soluble metal analysis involves an acidification step for sample preservation, we show that Mn and other metal concentrations may have been underestimated in estuaries, especially when humic substance concentrations are high. A competitive ligand assay of selected samples from our study site, a coastal waterway bordered by wetlands (Broadkill River, DE), showed that Mn(III)-humic complexation is significant, and that some Mn(III)-L complexes precipitate during acidification. In the oxygenated surface waters of the Broadkill River, total dissolved Mn (dMnT) was up to 100% complexed to ambient ligands as Mn(III)-L, and we present evidence for humic-type Mn(III)-L complexes. The Mn(III) complexes were kinetically stabilized against Fe(II) reduction, even when [Fe(II)] was 17 times higher than [dMnT]. Unlike typical oceanic surface waters, [Fe(II)] > [Fe(III)-L] in surface waters, which may be attributed to high rates of photoreduction of Fe(III)-L complexes. Total [Mn(III)-L] ranged from 0.22 to 8.4 μM, in excess of solid MnOx (below 0.28 μM in all samples). Filtration of samples through 0.02 μm filters indicated that all Mn(III)-L complexes pass through the filters and were not colloidal species in contrast to dissolved Fe. Incubation experiments indicated that the reductive dissolution of solid MnOx by ambient ligands may be responsible for Mn(III) formation in this system. Unlike previous studies of estuarine mixing, which demonstrated metal removal during mixing, we show significant export of dMn and dissolved Fe (dFe) in the summer and fall of 2015. Thus, we propose that estuarine removal should be considered seasonal for dMn and dFe, with export in the summer and fall and removal during the winter.

Liquid-Based Medium Used to Prepare Cytological Breast Nipple Fluid Improves the Quality of Cellular Samples Automatic Collection

PubMed Central

Zonta, Marco Antonio; Velame, Fernanda; Gema, Samara; Filassi, Jose Roberto; Longatto-Filho, Adhemar

2014-01-01

Background Breast cancer is the second cause of death in women worldwide. The spontaneous breast nipple discharge may contain cells that can be analyzed for malignancy. Halo® Mamo Cyto Test (HMCT) was recently developed as an automated system indicated to aspirate cells from the breast ducts. The objective of this study was to standardize the methodology of sampling and sample preparation of nipple discharge obtained by the automated method Halo breast test and perform cytological evaluation in samples preserved in liquid medium (SurePath™). Methods We analyzed 564 nipple fluid samples, from women between 20 and 85 years old, without history of breast disease and neoplasia, no pregnancy, and without gynecologic medical history, collected by HMCT method and preserved in two different vials with solutions for transport. Results From 306 nipple fluid samples from method 1, 199 (65%) were classified as unsatisfactory (class 0), 104 (34%) samples were classified as benign findings (class II), and three (1%) were classified as undetermined to neoplastic cells (class III). From 258 samples analyzed in method 2, 127 (49%) were classified as class 0, 124 (48%) were classified as class II, and seven (2%) were classified as class III. Conclusion Our study suggests an improvement in the quality and quantity of cellular samples when the association of the two methodologies is performed, Halo breast test and the method in liquid medium. PMID:29147397

Mn distribution in natural sphalerites: a micronalytical and EPR study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Benedetto, F.; Bernardini, G. P.; Cipriani, C.; Plant, D.; Romanelli, M.; Vaughan, D. J.

2003-04-01

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) has been successfully applied to determine the local coordination and distribution of transition metal cations in sulphides and sulphosalts (Di Benedetto et al., 2002). Due to its enhanced sensitivity and element-specificity it is one of the best tools to monitor Mn(II) behaviour down to very low concentrations. In order to reach a fuller understanding of the spectroscopic results, a microanalytical study has also been undertaken by means of Electron Microprobe Analysis. Operating conditions were chosen to achieve the lowest possible detection limits, taking into account that Mn can replace Zn in the sphalerite lattice both as a minor and trace element, and that EPR can detect Mn(II) below the ppm range. Six natural samples from the Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Firenze, were selected to have pure single crystals and avoid magnetically active phases associated with the sphalerite. The Mn concentration determined ranges between 30 and 14300 ppm and Mn content varies considerably within the same sample, leading to differences up to the 50% as compared to the mean value. X-ray images confirm Mn to be distributed with an unusual pattern, unrelated to the other common Zn-replacing cations, Fe and Cd, present in the samples. Powder EPR spectra reveal at least three different Mn(II) signals: two sextets, overlapping in all samples containing Mn as trace element, and a single line, present only in the more concentrated samples. While the latter have been attributed to an inhomogeneous Mn distribution, due to an enhanced Mn-Mn superexchange interaction, the difference between the two sextets, observed by means of EEPR investigations in a synthetic sphalerite (Di Benedetto et al., 2002), appears unrelated to the Mn concentration and may be attributed to small differences in the local coordination of Mn(II) ions. This, in turn, may be explained by the segregation of small amounts of Mn into polytypic domains, features which usually characterise large sphalerite crystals. This study shows the distinctive behaviour of Mn in sphalerite, both at the micron and submicron scales. These features point to sphalerites "preserving" the out-of-equilibrium conditions of their genesis. Mn(II) magnetic interactions may play an important role in the stabilisation of polytypic hexagonal domains during the growth of sphalerite crystals. Di Benedetto, F., Bernardini, G.P., Caneschi, A., Cipriani, C., Danti, C., Pardi, L. and Romanelli, M. (2002): EPR and magnetic investigations on sulfides and sulfosalts. Eur. J. Mineral., 4(6), 1053.

Limited-sampling strategies for anti-infective agents: systematic review.

PubMed

Sprague, Denise A; Ensom, Mary H H

2009-09-01

Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) is a pharmacokinetic parameter that represents overall exposure to a drug. For selected anti-infective agents, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameters, such as AUC/MIC (where MIC is the minimal inhibitory concentration), have been correlated with outcome in a few studies. A limited-sampling strategy may be used to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, without the frequent, costly, and inconvenient blood sampling that would be required to directly calculate the AUC. To discuss, by means of a systematic review, the strengths, limitations, and clinical implications of published studies involving a limited-sampling strategy for anti-infective agents and to propose improvements in methodology for future studies. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched using the terms "anti-infective agents", "limited sampling", "optimal sampling", "sparse sampling", "AUC monitoring", "abbreviated AUC", "abbreviated sampling", and "Bayesian". The reference lists of retrieved articles were searched manually. Included studies were classified according to modified criteria from the US Preventive Services Task Force. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Six of the studies (involving didanosine, zidovudine, nevirapine, ciprofloxacin, efavirenz, and nelfinavir) were classified as providing level I evidence, 4 studies (involving vancomycin, didanosine, lamivudine, and lopinavir-ritonavir) provided level II-1 evidence, 2 studies (involving saquinavir and ceftazidime) provided level II-2 evidence, and 8 studies (involving ciprofloxacin, nelfinavir, vancomycin, ceftazidime, ganciclovir, pyrazinamide, meropenem, and alpha interferon) provided level III evidence. All of the studies providing level I evidence used prospectively collected data and proper validation procedures with separate, randomly selected index and validation groups. However, most of the included studies did not provide an adequate description of the methods or the characteristics of included patients, which limited their generalizability. Many limited-sampling strategies have been developed for anti-infective agents that do not have a clearly established link between AUC and clinical outcomes in humans. Future studies should first determine if there is an association between AUC monitoring and clinical outcomes. Thereafter, it may be worthwhile to prospectively develop and validate a limited-sampling strategy for the particular anti-infective agent in a similar population.

Stainless Steel to Titanium Bimetallic Transitions

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

Kaluzny, J. A.; Grimm, C.; Passarelli, D.

In order to use stainless steel piping in an LCLS-II (Linac Coherent Light Source Upgrade) cryomodule, stainless steel to titanium bimetallic transitions are needed to connect the stainless steel piping to the titanium cavity helium vessel. Explosion bonded stainless steel to titanium transition pieces and bimetallic transition material samples have been tested. A sample transition tube was subjected to tests and x-ray examinations between tests. Samples of the bonded joint material were impact and tensile tested at room temperature as well as liquid helium temperature. The joint has been used successfully in horizontal tests of LCLS-II cavity helium vessels andmore » is planned to be used in LCLS-II cryomodules. Results of material sample and transition tube tests will be presented.« less

[The lysate and recombinant antigens in ELISA-test-systems for diagnostic of herpes simplex].

PubMed

Ganova, L A; Kovtoniuk, G V; Korshun, L N; Kiseleva, E K; Tereshchenko, M I; Vudmaska, M I; Moĭsa, L N; Shevchuk, V A; Spivak, N Ia

2014-08-01

The lysate and recombinant antigens of various production included informula of ELISA-test-systems were analyzed. The ELISA-test-systems are used for detection of IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I and II. For testing the panel of serums PTH 201 (BBI Inc.) were used. The samples of this panel contain antibodies to Herpes simplex virus type I and II in mixed titers. The 69 serums of donors were used too (17 samples had IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I, 23 samples to Herpes simplex virus type II and 29 samples had no antibodies to Herpes simplex virus). The diagnostic capacity of mixture of recombinant antigens gG1 Herpes simplex virus type I and gG2 Herpes simplex virus type II (The research-and-production complex "DiaprofMed") was comparable with mixture of lysate antigen Herpes simplex virus type I and II (Membrane) EIE Antigen ("Virion Ltd."). In the test-systems for differentiation of IgG to Herpes simplex virus type I the recombinant antigen gG1 Herpes simplex virus type I proved to be comparable with commercial analogue Herpes simplex virus-1 gG1M ("Viral Therapeutics Inc."'). At the same time, capacity to detect IgG to Herpes simplex virus type II in recombinant protein gG2 Herpes simplex virus type II is significantly higher than in its analogue Herpes simplex virus-2 gG2c ("Viral Therapeutics Inc.").

Spectrophotometric Study of the Complex Formation of Anionic Chelates of Cobalt(II) with Monotetrazolium Cations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divarova, V. V.; Stojnova, K. T.; Racheva, P. V.; Lekova, V. D.

2017-05-01

The complex formation and extraction of anionic chelates of Co(II)-4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol (TAR) with cations of monotetrazolium salts (TS) — (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 3-(2-naphthyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TV) — in the liquid-liquid extraction system Co(II)-TAR-TS-H2O-CHCl3 were studied by spectrophotometric methods. The optimum conditions for the extraction of Co(II) were found. The molar ratio of the components and the form of the anionic chelates of Co(II) in the extracted compounds were determined by independent methods. The association process in the aqueous phase and the extraction process were investigated and quantitatively characterized. The following key constants were calculated: association constant, distribution constant, extraction constant, and recovery factor. The validity of the Beer's law was checked, and some analytical characteristics were calculated. Based on the obtained results and the lower price of the monotetrazolium salt MTT compared with that of TV, the ion-associated complex of Co(II)-TAR-MTT can be implemented for determination of cobalt(II) traces in alloys and biological, medical, and pharmaceutical samples.

Relevance of Bacteroidales and F-Specific RNA Bacteriophages for Efficient Fecal Contamination Tracking at the Level of a Catchment in France

PubMed Central

Mauffret, Aourell; Caprais, Marie-Paule

2012-01-01

The relevance of three host-associated Bacteroidales markers (HF183, Rum2Bac, and Pig2Bac) and four F-specific RNA bacteriophage genogroups (FRNAPH I to IV) as microbial source tracking markers was assessed at the level of a catchment (Daoulas, France). They were monitored together with fecal indicators (Escherichia coli and enterococci) and chemophysical parameters (rainfall, temperature, salinity, pH, and turbidity) by monthly sampling over 2 years (n = 240 water samples) and one specific sampling following an accidental pig manure spillage (n = 5 samples). During the 2-year regular monitoring, levels of E. coli, enterococci, total F-specific RNA bacteriophages, and the general Bacteroidales marker AllBac were strongly correlated with one another and with Rum2Bac (r = 0.37 to 0.50, P < 0.0001). Their correlations with HF183 and FRNAPH I and II were lower (r = 0.21 to 0.29, P < 0.001 to P < 0.0001), and HF183 and enterococci were associated rather than correlated (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.01). Rum2Bac and HF183 enabled 73% of water samples that had ≥2.7 log10 most probably number (MPN) of E. coli/100 ml to be classified. FRNAPH I and II enabled 33% of samples at this contamination level to be classified. FRNAPH I and II complemented the water sample classification obtained with the two Bacteroidales markers by an additional 8%. Pig2Bac and FRNAPH III and IV were observed in a small number of samples (n = 0 to 4 of 245). The present study validates Rum2Bac and HF183 as relevant tools to trace fecal contamination originating from ruminant or human waste, respectively, at the level of a whole catchment. PMID:22610433

SDSS-II Supernova survey. An analysis of the largest sample of type IA supernovae and correlations with host-galaxy spectral properties

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

Wolf, Rachel C.; D’Andrea, Chris B.; Gupta, Ravi R.

2016-04-20

Using the largest single-survey sample of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) to date, we study the relationship between properties of SNe Ia and those of their host galaxies, focusing primarily on correlations with Hubble residuals (HR). Our sample consists of 345 photometrically-classified or spectroscopicallyconfirmed SNe Ia discovered as part of the SDSS-II Supernova Survey (SDSS-SNS). This analysis utilizes host-galaxy spectroscopy obtained during the SDSS-I/II spectroscopic survey and from an ancillary program on the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) that obtained spectra for nearly all host galaxies of SDSS-II SN candidates. In addition, we use photometric hostgalaxy properties from themore » SDSS-SNS data release (Sako et al. 2014) such as host stellar mass and star-formation rate. We confirm the well-known relation between HR and host-galaxy mass and find a 3.6σ significance of a non-zero linear slope. We also recover correlations between HR and hostgalaxy gas-phase metallicity and specific star-formation rate as they are reported in the literature. With our large dataset, we examine correlations between HR and multiple host-galaxy properties simultaneously and find no evidence of a significant correlation. We also independently analyze our spectroscopically-confirmed and photometrically-classified SNe Ia and comment on the significance of similar combined datasets for future surveys.« less

SDSS-II SUPERNOVA SURVEY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE LARGEST SAMPLE OF TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE AND CORRELATIONS WITH HOST-GALAXY SPECTRAL PROPERTIES

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

Wolf, Rachel C.; Gupta, Ravi R.; Sako, Masao

2016-04-20

Using the largest single-survey sample of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) to date, we study the relationship between properties of SNe Ia and those of their host galaxies, focusing primarily on correlations with Hubble residuals (HRs). Our sample consists of 345 photometrically classified or spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia discovered as part of the SDSS-II Supernova Survey (SDSS-SNS). This analysis utilizes host-galaxy spectroscopy obtained during the SDSS-I/II spectroscopic survey and from an ancillary program on the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey that obtained spectra for nearly all host galaxies of SDSS-II SN candidates. In addition, we use photometric host-galaxy properties frommore » the SDSS-SNS data release such as host stellar mass and star formation rate. We confirm the well-known relation between HR and host-galaxy mass and find a 3.6 σ significance of a nonzero linear slope. We also recover correlations between HR and host-galaxy gas-phase metallicity and specific star formation rate as they are reported in the literature. With our large data set, we examine correlations between HR and multiple host-galaxy properties simultaneously and find no evidence of a significant correlation. We also independently analyze our spectroscopically confirmed and photometrically classified SNe Ia and comment on the significance of similar combined data sets for future surveys.« less

Reactive oxygen species level in follicular fluid--embryo quality marker in IVF?

PubMed

Das, S; Chattopadhyay, R; Ghosh, S; Ghosh, S; Goswami, S K; Chakravarty, B N; Chaudhury, K

2006-09-01

The impact of oxidative stress in female reproduction is not clear. Contradictory reports on the effect of various oxidative stress markers on follicular fluid, oocytes and embryo quality and fertilization potential exist. The objectives of this study were to examine reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF and to relate these levels to embryo formation and quality. A total of 208 follicular fluid samples were obtained from 78 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and analysed for ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO). These samples were divided into groups I and II which represented follicular fluid containing grade III and grade II oocytes, respectively. These groups were further subdivided into groups IA, IB, IIA and IIB according to embryo quality. Subgroups IA and IIA consisted of follicular fluid samples corresponding to grade I/II embryo formation. Subgroups IB and IIB represented fertilization failure/pro-nucleolus (PN) arrest/grade III embryos. No significant correlation was observed in ROS levels on comparing groups I and II (P > 0.05). However, ROS levels were observed to be significantly different on comparing groups IA and IB (P < or = 0.01) and groups IIA and IIB (P < or = 0.05). LPO levels further supported our results. ROS levels in follicular fluid appear to play a significant role in embryo formation and quality.

Probabilistic assessment method of the non-monotonic dose-responses-Part I: Methodological approach.

PubMed

Chevillotte, Grégoire; Bernard, Audrey; Varret, Clémence; Ballet, Pascal; Bodin, Laurent; Roudot, Alain-Claude

2017-08-01

More and more studies aim to characterize non-monotonic dose response curves (NMDRCs). The greatest difficulty is to assess the statistical plausibility of NMDRCs from previously conducted dose response studies. This difficulty is linked to the fact that these studies present (i) few doses tested, (ii) a low sample size per dose, and (iii) the absence of any raw data. In this study, we propose a new methodological approach to probabilistically characterize NMDRCs. The methodology is composed of three main steps: (i) sampling from summary data to cover all the possibilities that may be presented by the responses measured by dose and to obtain a new raw database, (ii) statistical analysis of each sampled dose-response curve to characterize the slopes and their signs, and (iii) characterization of these dose-response curves according to the variation of the sign in the slope. This method allows characterizing all types of dose-response curves and can be applied both to continuous data and to discrete data. The aim of this study is to present the general principle of this probabilistic method which allows to assess the non-monotonic dose responses curves, and to present some results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association study of estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion: is this a possible reason for unexplained spontaneous abortion?

PubMed

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies.

Association Study of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene Polymorphisms with Spontaneous Abortion: Is This a Possible Reason for Unexplained Spontaneous Abortion?

PubMed Central

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies. PMID:24228243

Simultaneous removal of heavy-metal ions in wastewater samples using nano-alumina modified with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.

PubMed

Afkhami, Abbas; Saber-Tehrani, Mohammad; Bagheri, Hasan

2010-09-15

2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) immobilized on sodium dodecyl sulfate coated nano-alumina was developed for the removal of metal cations Pb(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) from water samples. The research results displayed that adsorbent has the highest adsorption capacity for Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) in ions mixture system. Optimal experimental conditions including pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time have been established. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to analyze the experimental data. The best interpretation for the experimental data was given by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation for Mn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) ions and by Langmuir isotherm equation for Ni(II) and Co(II) ions. Desorption experiments by elution of the adsorbent with a mixture of nitric acid and methanol show that the modified alumina nanoparticles could be reused without significant losses of its initial properties even after three adsorption-desorption cycles. Thus, modified nano-alumina with DNPH is favorable and useful for the removal of these metal ions, and the high adsorption capacity makes it a good promising candidate material for Pb(II),Cr(III) and Cd(II) removal. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cost-effectiveness of liquid-based cytology with or without hybrid-capture II HPV test compared with conventional Pap smears: a study by the French Society of Clinical Cytology.

PubMed

Cochand-Priollet, Béatrix; Cartier, Isabelle; de Cremoux, Patricia; Le Galès, Catherine; Ziol, Marianne; Molinié, Vincent; Petitjean, Alain; Dosda, Anne; Merea, Estelle; Biaggi, Annonciade; Gouget, Isabelle; Arkwright, Sylviane; Vacher-Lavenu, Marie-Cécile; Vielh, Philippe; Coste, Joël

2005-11-01

Many articles concerning conventional Pap smears, ThinPrep liquid-based cytology (LBC) and Hybrid-Capture II HPV test (HC II) have been published. This study, carried out by the French Society of Clinical Cytology, may be conspicuous for several reasons: it was financially independent; it compared the efficiency of the conventional Pap smear and LBC, of the conventional Pap smear and HC II, and included an economic study based on real costs; for all the women, a "gold standard" reference method, colposcopy, was available and biopsies were performed whenever a lesion was detected; The conventional Pap smear, the LBC (split-sample technique), the colposcopy, and the biopsies were done at the same time. This study included 2,585 women shared into two groups: a group A of a high-risk population, a group B of a screening population. The statistical analysis of the results showed that conventional Pap smears consistently had superior or equivalent sensitivity and specificity than LBC for the lesions at threshold CIN-I (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia) or CIN-II or higher. It underlined the low specificity of the HC II. Finally, the LBC mean cost was never covered by the Social Security tariff.

Performance of a New Chromogenic Medium, BBL CHROMagar MRSA II (BD), for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Screening Samples ▿

PubMed Central

Van Vaerenbergh, Kristien; Cartuyvels, Reinoud; Coppens, Guy; Frans, Johan; Van den Abeele, Anne-Marie; De Beenhouwer, Hans

2010-01-01

Two chromogenic media for the detection of MRSA were compared: BBL CHROMagar MRSA II (BD) and MRSA ID agar (bioMérieux). Following overnight nonselective enrichment, 1,919 screening samples were inoculated on both chromogenic agars. After 24 h, the sensitivities of both media were high and comparable. Both media showed an important decrease in specificity after 48 h of incubation (decreases of 8% for MRSA II and 10% for MRSA ID), but MRSA II was significantly more specific at both time points. PMID:20181915

Penicillamine-modified sensor for the voltammetric determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in natural samples.

PubMed

Pérez-Ràfols, Clara; Serrano, Núria; Díaz-Cruz, José Manuel; Ariño, Cristina; Esteban, Miquel

2015-11-01

A new penicillamine-GCE was developed based on the immobilization of d-penicillamine on aryl diazonium salt monolayers anchored to the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface and it was applied for the first time to the simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by stripping voltammetric techniques. The detection and quantification limits at levels of µg L(-1) suggest that the penicillamine-GCE could be fully suitable for the determination of the considered ions in natural samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: NORAS II. I. First results (Bohringer+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bohringer, H.; Chon, G.; Retzlaff, J.; Trumper, J.; Meisenheimer, K.; Schartel, N.

2017-08-01

The NOrthern ROSAT All-Sky (NORAS) galaxy cluster survey project is based on the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS; Trumper 1993Sci...260.1769T), which is the only full-sky survey conducted with an imaging X-ray telescope. We have already used RASS for the construction of the cluster catalogs of the NORAS I project. While NORAS I was as a first step focused on the identification of galaxy clusters among the RASS X-ray sources showing a significant extent, the complementary REFLEX I sample in the southern sky was strictly constructed as a flux-limited cluster sample. A major extension of the REFLEX I sample, which roughly doubles the number of clusters, REFLEX II (Bohringer et al. 2013, Cat. J/A+A/555/A30), was recently completed. It is by far the largest high-quality sample of X-ray-selected galaxy clusters. The NORAS II survey now reaches a flux limit of 1.8*10-12erg/s/cm2 in the 0.1-2.4keV band. Redshifts have been obtained for all of the 860 clusters in the NORAS II catalog, except for 25 clusters for which observing campaigns are scheduled. Thus with 3% missing redshifts we can already obtain a very good view of the properties of the NORAS II cluster sample and obtain some first results. The NORAS II survey covers the sky region north of the equator outside the band of the Milky Way (|bII|>=20°). We also excise a region around the nearby Virgo cluster of galaxies that extends over several degrees on the sky, where the detection of background clusters is hampered by bright X-ray emission. This region is bounded in right ascension by R.A.=185°-191.25° and in declination by decl.=6°-15° (an area of ~53deg2). With this excision, the survey area covers 4.18 steradian (13519deg2, a fraction of 32.7% of the sky). NORAS II is based on the RASS product RASS III (Voges et al. 1999, Cat. IX/10), which was also used for REFLEX II. The NORAS II survey was constructed in a way identical to REFLEX II with a nominal flux limit of 1.8*10-12erg/s/cm2. (3 data files).

On the incidence of Mg II absorbers along the blazar sightlines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, S.; Chand, H.; Krishna, Gopal-; Joshi, R.; Shchekinov, Y. A.; Fatkhullin, T. A.

2018-02-01

It is widely believed that the cool gas clouds traced by Mg II absorption, within a velocity offset of 5000 km s-1 relative to the background quasar are mostly associated with the quasar itself, whereas the absorbers seen at larger velocity offsets towards us are intervening absorber systems and hence their existence is completely independent of the background quasar. Recent evidence by Bergeron et al. (hereinafter BBM) has seriously questioned this paradigm, by showing that the number density of intervening Mg II absorbers towards the 45 blazars in their sample is nearly two times the expectation based on the Mg II absorption systems seen towards normal quasars (QSOs). Given its serious implications, it becomes important to revisit this finding, by enlarging the blazar sample and subjecting it to an independent analysis. Here, we first report the outcome of our re-analysis of the available spectroscopic data for the BBM sample itself. Our analysis of the BBM sample reproduces their claimed factor of 2 excess of dN/dz along blazar sightlines, vis-à-vis normal QSOs. We have also assembled an approxmately three times larger sample of blazars, albeit with moderately sensitive optical spectra. Using this sample together with the BBM sample, our analysis shows that the dN/dz of the Mg II absorbers statistically matches that known for normal QSO sightlines. Further, the analysis indicates that associated absorbers might be contributing significantly to the estimated dN/dz up to offset speeds Δv ∼ 0.2c relative to the blazar.

DSM-5 section III personality traits and section II personality disorders in a Flemish community sample.

PubMed

Bastiaens, Tim; Smits, Dirk; De Hert, Marc; Vanwalleghem, Dominique; Claes, Laurence

2016-04-30

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5; Krueger et al., 2012) is a dimensional self-report questionnaire designed to measure personality pathology according to the criterion B of the DSM-5 Section III personality model. In the current issue of DSM, this dimensional Section III personality model co-exists with the Section II categorical personality model derived from DSM-IV-TR. Therefore, investigation of the inter-relatedness of both models across populations and languages is warranted. In this study, we first examined the factor structure and reliability of the PID-5 in a Flemish community sample (N=509) by means of exploratory structural equation modeling and alpha coefficients. Next, we investigated the predictive ability of section III personality traits in relation to section II personality disorders through correlations and stepwise regression analyses. Results revealed a five factor solution for the PID-5, with adequate reliability of the facet scales. The variance in Section II personality disorders could be predicted by their theoretically comprising Section III personality traits, but additional Section III personality traits augmented this prediction. Based on current results, we discuss the Section II personality disorder conceptualization and the Section III personality disorder operationalization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Black hole mass estimates and emission-line properties of a sample of redshift z > 6.5 quasars

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

De Rosa, Gisella; Peterson, Bradley M.; Frank, Stephan

We present the analysis of optical and near-infrared spectra of the only four z > 6.5 quasars known to date, discovered in the UKIDSS-LAS and VISTA-VIKING surveys. Our data set consists of new Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter and Magellan/FIRE observations. These are the best optical/NIR spectroscopic data that are likely to be obtained for the z > 6.5 sample using current 6-10 m facilities. We estimate the black hole (BH) mass, the Eddington ratio, and the Si IV/C IV, C III]/C IV, and Fe II/Mg II emission-line flux ratios. We perform spectral modeling using a procedure that allows us to derivemore » a probability distribution for the continuum components and to obtain the quasar properties weighted upon the underlying distribution of continuum models. The z > 6.5 quasars show the same emission properties as their counterparts at lower redshifts. The z > 6.5 quasars host BHs with masses of ∼10{sup 9} M{sub ☉} that are accreting close to the Eddington luminosity ((log(L{sub Bol}/L{sub Edd})) = –0.4 ± 0.2), in agreement with what has been observed for a sample of 4.0 < z < 6.5 quasars. By comparing the Si IV/C IV and C III]/C IV flux ratios with the results obtained from luminosity-matched samples at z ∼ 6 and 2 ≤ z ≤ 4.5, we find no evidence of evolution of the line ratios with cosmic time. We compare the measured Fe II/Mg II flux ratios with those obtained for a sample of 4.0 < z < 6.4 sources. The two samples are analyzed using a consistent procedure. There is no evidence that the Fe II/Mg II flux ratio evolves between z = 7 and z = 4. Under the assumption that the Fe II/Mg II traces the Fe/Mg abundance ratio, this implies the presence of major episodes of chemical enrichment in the quasar hosts in the first ∼0.8 Gyr after the Big Bang.« less

Space Density Of Optically-Selected Type II Quasars From The SDSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, Reinabelle; Zakamska, N. L.; Strauss, M. A.; Green, J.; Krolik, J. H.; Shen, Y.; Richards, G. T.

2007-12-01

Type II quasars are luminous Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) whose central regions are obscured by large amounts of gas and dust. In this poster, we present a catalog of 887 type II quasars with redshifts z<0.83 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), selected based on their emission lines, and derive the 1/Vmax [OIII] 5007 luminosity function from this sample. Since some objects may not be included in the sample because they lack strong emission lines, the derived luminosity function is only a lower limit. We also derive the [OIII] 5007 luminosity function for a sample of type I (broad-line) quasars in the same redshift range. Taking [OIII] 5007 luminosity as a tracer of intrinsic luminosity in both type I and type II quasars, we obtain lower limits to the type II quasar fraction as a function of [OIII] 5007 luminosity, from L[OIII] = 108.3 to 1010 Lsun, which roughly correspond to bolometric luminosities of 1044 to 1046 erg/s.

Depressive Symptoms Correlate with Disability and Disease Course in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: An Italian Multi-Center Study Using the Beck Depression Inventory.

PubMed

Solaro, C; Trabucco, E; Signori, A; Martinelli, V; Radaelli, M; Centonze, D; Rossi, S; Grasso, M G; Clemenzi, A; Bonavita, S; D'Ambrosio, A; Patti, F; D'Amico, E; Cruccu, G; Truini, A

2016-01-01

Depression occurs in about 50% of patients with multiple sclerosis. The aims of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a multicenter MS population using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and to identify possible correlations between the BDI II score and demographic and clinical variables. Data were collected in a multi-center, cross-sectional study over a period of six months in six MS centers in Italy using BDI II. 1,011 MS patients participated in the study. 676 subjects were female, with a mean age of 34 years (SD 10.8), mean EDSS of 3.3 (0-8.5) and mean disease duration of 10.3 years (range 1-50 years). 668 (%) subjects scored lower than 14 on the BDI II and 343 (33.9%) scored greater than 14 (14 cut-off score). For patients with BDI>14 multivariate analysis showed a significant difference between EDSS and disease course. BDI II scores for subjects with secondary progressive (SP) MS were significantly different from primary progressive (PP) patients (p < 0.001) but similar to relapsing-remitting (RR) patients. Considering subjects with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI II score from 20-63), in relation to disease course, 11.7% (83/710) had RR MS, 40.7% (96/236) SP and 13.6% (6/44) PP. Using the BDI II, 30% of the current sample had depressive symptoms. BDI II score correlates with disability and disease course, particularly in subjects with SP MS. The BDI II scale can be a useful tool in clinical practice to screen depressive symptoms in people with MS.

Temperament and character profiles in bipolar I, bipolar II and major depressive disorder: Impact over illness course, comorbidity pattern and psychopathological features of depression.

PubMed

Zaninotto, Leonardo; Souery, Daniel; Calati, Raffaella; Di Nicola, Marco; Montgomery, Stuart; Kasper, Siegfried; Zohar, Joseph; Mendlewicz, Julien; Robert Cloninger, C; Serretti, Alessandro; Janiri, Luigi

2015-09-15

Studies comparing temperament and character traits between patients with mood disorders and healthy individuals have yielded variable results. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was administered to 101 bipolar I (BP-I), 96 bipolar II (BP-II), 123 major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, and 125 HS. A series of generalized linear models were performed in order to: (a) compare the TCI dimensions across groups; (b) test any effect of the TCI dimensions on clinical features of mood disorders; and (c) detect any association between TCI dimensions and the psychopathological features of a major depressive episode. Demographic and clinical variables were also included in the models as independent variables. Higher Harm Avoidance was found in BP-II and MDD, but not in BP-I. Higher Self-Transcendence was found in BP-I. Our models also showed higher Self-Directedness in HS, either vs MDD or BP-II. No association was found between any TCI dimension and the severity of symptoms. Conversely, a positive association was found between Harm Avoidance and the overall burden of depressive episodes during lifetime. The cross-sectional design and the heterogeneity of the sample may be the main limitations of our study. In general, our sample seems to support the view of a similar profile of temperament and character between MDD and BP-II, characterized by high Harm Avoidance and low Self-Directedness. In contrast, patients with BP-I only exhibit high Self-Transcendence, having a near-normal profile in terms of Harm Avoidance or Self-Directedness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IRIS Ultraviolet Spectral Properties of a Sample of X-Class Solar Flares

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, Elizabeth; Kowalski, Adam; Cauzzi, Gianna; Allred, Joel C.; Daw, Adrian N.

2018-06-01

The white-light (near-ultraviolet (NUV) and optical) continuum emission comprises the majority of the radiated energy in solar flares. However, there are nearly as many explanations for the origin of the white-light continuum radiation as there are white-light flares that have been studied in detail with spectra. Furthermore, there are rarely robust constraints on the time-resolved dynamics in the white-light emitting flare layers. We are conducting a statistical study of the properties of Fe II lines, Mg II lines, and NUV continuum intensity in bright flare kernels observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), in order to provide comprehensive constraints for radiative-hydrodynamic flare models. Here we present a new technique for identifying bright flare kernels and preliminary relationships among IRIS spectral properties for a sample of X-class solar flares.

Selective divalent cobalt ions detection using Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones by ICP-OES method for environmental remediation.

PubMed

Rahman, Mohammed M; Khan, Sher Bahadar; Marwani, Hadi M; Asiri, Abdullah M

2014-01-01

Here, we have synthesized Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones (NCs) by a wet-chemical route using reducing agents at low temperature. The structural, optical and morphological properties of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs were investigated by several conventional techniques such as powder XRD, XPS, FESEM, XEDS, FTIR and UV/vis. spectroscopy. The analytical parameters of prepared NCs were also calculated for a selective detection of divalent cobalt [Co(II)] prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The selectivity of NCs toward various metal ions, including Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) was studied. Results of the selectivity study demonstrated that Ag2O3-ZnO NC phase was the most selective towards Co(II) ion. The uptake capacity for Co(II) ion was experimentally calculated to be ∼76.69 mgg-1. Moreover, adsorption isotherm data provided that the adsorption process was mainly monolayer on homogeneous adsorbent surfaces of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs. Kinetic study revealed that the adsorption of Co(II) on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs phase followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, thermodynamic results provided that the adsorption mechanism of Co(II) ions on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs was a spontaneous process and thermodynamically favorable. Finally, the proposed method was validated by applying it to real environmental water samples with reasonable results.

Selective Divalent Cobalt Ions Detection Using Ag2O3-ZnO Nanocones by ICP-OES Method for Environmental Remediation

PubMed Central

Rahman, Mohammed M.; Khan, Sher Bahadar; Marwani, Hadi M.; Asiri, Abdullah M.

2014-01-01

Here, we have synthesized Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones (NCs) by a wet-chemical route using reducing agents at low temperature. The structural, optical and morphological properties of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs were investigated by several conventional techniques such as powder XRD, XPS, FESEM, XEDS, FTIR and UV/vis. spectroscopy. The analytical parameters of prepared NCs were also calculated for a selective detection of divalent cobalt [Co(II)] prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The selectivity of NCs toward various metal ions, including Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) was studied. Results of the selectivity study demonstrated that Ag2O3-ZnO NC phase was the most selective towards Co(II) ion. The uptake capacity for Co(II) ion was experimentally calculated to be ∼76.69 mgg−1. Moreover, adsorption isotherm data provided that the adsorption process was mainly monolayer on homogeneous adsorbent surfaces of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs. Kinetic study revealed that the adsorption of Co(II) on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs phase followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, thermodynamic results provided that the adsorption mechanism of Co(II) ions on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs was a spontaneous process and thermodynamically favorable. Finally, the proposed method was validated by applying it to real environmental water samples with reasonable results. PMID:25464507

Improved importance sampling technique for efficient simulation of digital communication systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, Dingqing; Yao, Kung

1988-01-01

A new, improved importance sampling (IIS) approach to simulation is considered. Some basic concepts of IS are introduced, and detailed evolutions of simulation estimation variances for Monte Carlo (MC) and IS simulations are given. The general results obtained from these evolutions are applied to the specific previously known conventional importance sampling (CIS) technique and the new IIS technique. The derivation for a linear system with no signal random memory is considered in some detail. For the CIS technique, the optimum input scaling parameter is found, while for the IIS technique, the optimum translation parameter is found. The results are generalized to a linear system with memory and signals. Specific numerical and simulation results are given which show the advantages of CIS over MC and IIS over CIS for simulations of digital communications systems.

Analysis of the Effect of Surface Modification on Polyimide Composites Coated with Erosion Resistant Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ndalama, Tchinga; Hirschfeld, Deidre; Sutter, James K. (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

The aim of this research is to enhance performance of composite coatings through modification of graphite-reinforced polyimide composite surfaces prior to metal bond coat/ hard topcoat application for use in the erosive and/or oxidative environments of advanced engines. Graphite reinforced polyimide composites, PMR-15 and PMR-II-50, formed by sheet molding and pre-pregging will be surface treated, overlaid with a bond coat and then coated with WC-Co. The surface treatment will include cleaning, RF plasma or ultraviolet light- ozone etching, and deposition of SiO(x) groups. These surface treatments will be studied in order to investigate and improve adhesion and oxidation resistance. The following panels were provided by NASA-Glenn Research Center(NASA-GRC): Eight compression molded PMR-II-50; 6 x 6 x 0.125 in. Two vacuum-bagged PMR-II-50; 12 x 12 x 0.125 in. Eight compression molded PMR-15; 6 x 6 x 0.125 in. One vacuum-bagged PMR-15; 12 x 12 x 0.125 in. All panels were made using a 12 x 12 in. T650-35 8HS (3K-tow) graphite fabric. A diamond-wafering blade, with deionized water as a cutting fluid, was used to cut PMR-II-50 and PMR-15 panels into 1 x 1 in. pieces for surface tests. The panel edges exhibiting delamination were used for the preliminary surface preparation tests as these would be unsuitable for strength and erosion testing. PMR-15 neat resin samples were also provided by NASA GRC. Surface profiles of the as-received samples were determined using a Dektak III Surface profile measuring system. Two samples of compression molded PMR-II-50 and PMR-15, vacuum-bagged PMR-II-50 and PMR-15 were randomly chosen for surface profile measurement according to ANSI/ASME B46.1. Prior to each measurement, the samples were blasted with compressed air to remove any artifacts. Five 10 mm-long scans were made on each sample. The short and long wavelength cutoff filter values were set at 100 and 1000 m, diamond stylus radius was 12.5 microns. Table 1 is a summary of the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) and waviness (Wa) for the composite surfaces.

NMR Confirmation and HPLC Quantification of Javamide-I and Javamide-II in Green Coffee Extract Products Available in the Market.

PubMed

Park, Jae B

2017-01-01

Javamide-I/javamide-II are phenolic amides found in coffee. Recent reports suggested that they may contain several biological activities related to human health. Therefore, there is emergent interest about their quantities in coffee-related products. Green coffee extract is a powder extract made of unroasted green coffee beans, available as a dietary supplement. However, there is little information about the amounts of javamide-I/javamide-II in green coffee extract products in the market. Therefore, in this paper, javamide-I/javamide-II were extracted from green coffee extract products and their identifications were confirmed by NMR. After that, the amounts of javamide-I/javamide-II were individually quantified from seven different green coffee extract samples using the HPLC method coupled to an electrochemical detector. The HPLC method provided accurate and reliable measurement of javamide-I/javamide-II with excellent peak resolution and low detection limit. In all seven green coffee extract samples, javamide-II was found to be between 0.28 and 2.96 mg/g, but javamide-I was detected in only five samples in the concentration levels of 0.15-0.52 mg/g, suggesting that green coffee extract products contain different amounts of javamide-I/javamide-II. In summary, javamide-I/javamide-II can be found in green coffee extract products sold in the market, but their amounts are likely to be comparatively different in between green coffee extract brands.

Gold nanoparticle-based simple colorimetric and ultrasensitive dynamic light scattering assay for the selective detection of Pb(II) from paints, plastics, and water samples.

PubMed

Beqa, Lule; Singh, Anant Kumar; Khan, Sadia Afrin; Senapati, Dulal; Arumugam, Sri Ranjini; Ray, Paresh Chandra

2011-03-01

Pb (II) is a common water pollutant with high toxicity. According to the CDC, about 310,000 U.S. children of ages 1-5 have high levels of lead in their blood that it is due to the exposure to lead from plastic toys and other products. As a result, the development of ultrasensitive assays for the real-time detection of Pb(II) from plastic toys and paints is very important for water controlling, clinical toxicology and industrial processes. Driven by the need to detect trace amounts of Pb(II) from water samples, we report a label-free, highly selective and ultra sensitive glutathione modified gold nanoparticle based dynamic light scattering (DLS) probe for Pb(II) recognition in 100 ppt level from aqueous solution with excellent discrimination against other heavy metals. The sensitivity of our assay to detect Pb(II) level in water is almost 2 orders of magnitude higher than the EPA standard limit. We have also demonstrated that our DLS assay is capable of measuring the amount of Pb(II) in paint, plastic toys, and water from MS river. A possible mechanism and operating principles of our DLS assay have been discussed. Ultimately, this nanotechnology driven assay could have enormous potential applications in rapid, on-site monitoring of Pb(II) from day-to-day sample.

Elemental Composition of Mars Return Samples Using X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging at the National Synchrotron Light Source II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thieme, J.; Hurowitz, J. A.; Schoonen, M. A.; Fogelqvist, E.; Gregerson, J.; Farley, K. A.; Sherman, S.; Hill, J.

2018-04-01

NSLS-II at BNL provides a unique and critical capability to perform assessments of the elemental composition and the chemical state of Mars returned samples using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence imaging and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Caregivers of patients with disorder of consciousness: burden, quality of life and social support.

PubMed

Giovannetti, A M; Covelli, V; Sattin, D; Leonardi, M

2015-10-01

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) and its predictors, psychological burden and level of perceived social support in caregivers of patients with disorder of consciousness. World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF), State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire, Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and the Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) were administered. One-sample t-tests were performed to compare WHOQOL-BREF, STAI-Y and STAXI-2 mean scores to the respective normative sample (NS). Pearson correlation was calculated between time dedicated to patient's care, WHOQOL-BREF, BDI-II, STAI-Y and MOS-SSS scores. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate which variables have predictive power on QoL. A total of 129 caregivers, 68.2% female, mean age 52.8 years, were enrolled. Three WHOQOL-BREF domains were significantly lower. Anxiety and anger were in line with NS. 28.7% of the sample reported high level of depressive symptoms; 20.9% satisfied the prolonged grief disorder criteria. No differences emerged between caregivers and chronic ill patients' scores at MOS-SSS. STAI-Y, BDI-II and WHOQOL-BREF scores positively correlated. MOS-SSS domains inversely correlate with BDI-II scores. BDI-II results the most relevant predictor of QoL. Study results provided innovative information about caregivers' poor QoL, difficulties in social support and high levels of burden. Time dedicated to care is not strictly related to burden, while social support perceived is highly associated with caregivers' depressive symptoms that are strong predictor of poor QoL. Supportive intervention able to integrate psychological, social and environmental levels is needed. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of different commercial ELISAs for detection of antibodies against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus in serum.

PubMed

Sattler, Tatjana; Wodak, Eveline; Revilla-Fernández, Sandra; Schmoll, Friedrich

2014-12-18

In recent years, several new ELISAs for the detection of antibodies against the porcine reproductive and respiratory disease virus (PRRSV) in pig serum have been developed. To interpret the results, specificity and sensitivity data as well as agreement to a reference ELISA must be available. In this study, three commercial ELISAs (INgezim PRRS 2.0 - ELISA II, Priocheck® PRRSV Ab porcine - ELISA III and CIVTEST suis PRRS E/S PLUS - ELISA IV, detecting PRRSV type 1 antibodies) were compared to a standard ELISA (IDEXX PRRS X3 Ab Test - ELISA I). The serum of three pigs vaccinated with an attenuated PRRSV live vaccine (genotype 2) was tested prior to and several times after the vaccination. Furthermore, serum samples of 245 pigs of PRRSV positive herds, 309 pigs of monitored PRRSV negative herds, 256 fatteners of assumed PRRSV negative herds with unknown herd history and 92 wild boars were tested with all four ELISAs. ELISAs II and III were able to detect seroconversion of vaccinated pigs with a similar reliability. According to kappa coefficient, the results showed an almost perfect agreement between ELISA I as reference and ELISA II and III (kappa > 0.8), and substantial agreement between ELISA I and ELISA IV (kappa = 0.71). Sensitivity of ELISA II, III and IV was 96.0%, 100% and 91.5%, respectively. The specificity of the ELISAs determined in samples of monitored PRRSV negative herds was 99.0%, 95.1% and 96.4%, respectively. In assumed negative farms that were not continually monitored, more positive samples were found with ELISA II to IV. The reference ELISA I had a specificity of 100% in this study. All tested ELISAs were able to detect a PRRSV positive herd. The specificity and sensitivity of the tested commercial ELISAs, however, differed. ELISA II had the highest specificity and ELISA III had the highest sensitivity in comparison to the reference ELISA. ELISA IV had a lower sensitivity and specificity than the other ELISAs.

Phase II Tungsten Fate-and Transport Study for Camp Edwards

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-01

soil and water . However, previous studies at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) at Camp Edwards demonstrated that metallic tungsten used ...7.5-12.5 ft bwt) using a Waterra sampler. Unfiltered and filtered water samples were sent to ERDC-EL for analysis of tungsten and other metals... water for tungsten and metals using ICP-MS, following the USEPA Method 6020 for sample preparation by EPA Method 3005. Metals analysis included antimony

Molecular Determination of Fasciola Spp. Isolates from Domestic Ruminants Fecal Samples in the Northwest of Iran

PubMed Central

IMANI BARAN, Abbas; CHERAGHI SARAY, Habib; KATIRAEE, Farzad

2017-01-01

Background: Fasciola species are the main causes for fascioliasis with great financial losses and are among the most important food/water-borne parasites worldwide. The basic proceedings such as epidemiology and effective control of fascioliasis rely mainly on precise identification of Fasciola species. The present study was conducted to determine the Fasciola species in ruminant fecal samples from East Azerbaijan Province in Iran. Methods: Overall, 2012 fecal samples were collected and processed initially for microscopic examination of Fasciola eggs in 2014–15. Then, recovered eggs were subjected to molecular identification. A fragment of 618 bp of the 28S rRNA gene pertaining to Fasciola genus was amplified under PCR. The amplified fragment was restricted by fast digest Ava II enzyme in order to a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Results: Based on microscopic examination, 72 samples were infected, from which, 10 and 62 cases pertained to cattle and sheep samples respectively. Based on RFLP, the PCR products restricted by the Ava II restriction enzyme produced 529 bp fragments only. According to the positive controls, all restriction patterns were related to Fasciola hepatica, while no restriction patterns were linked to F. gigantica. Conclusion: Based on PCR-RFLP, F. hepatica was dominant species in animals of the studied areas and no evidence of F. gigantica was observed. Therefore, further field studies to verify these results are suggested. PMID:28761485

A ruthenium(II) complex as turn-on Cu(II) luminescent sensor based on oxidative cyclization mechanism and its application in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yunfei; Liu, Zonglun; Yang, Kui; Zhang, Yi; Xu, Yongqian; Li, Hongjuan; Wang, Chaoxia; Lu, Aiping; Sun, Shiguo

2015-02-01

Copper ions play a vital role in a variety of fundamental physiological processes not only in human beings and plants, but also for extensive insects and microorganisms. In this paper, a novel water-soluble ruthenium(II) complex as a turn-on copper(II) ions luminescent sensor based on o-(phenylazo)aniline was designed and synthesized. The azo group would undergo a specific oxidative cyclization reaction with copper(II) ions and turn into high luminescent benzotriazole, triggering significant luminescent increasements which were linear to the concentrations of copper(II) ions. The sensor distinguished by its high sensitivity (over 80-fold luminescent switch-on response), good selectivity (the changes of the emission intensity in the presence of other metal ions or amino acids were negligible) and low detection limit (4.42 nM) in water. Moreover, the copper(II) luminescent sensor exhibited good photostability under light irradiation. Furthermore, the applicability of the proposed sensor in biological samples assay was also studied and imaged copper(II) ions in living pea aphids successfully.

The Taxonomy of Blue Amorphous Galaxies. I. Hα and UBVI Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marlowe, Amanda T.; Meurer, Gerhardt R.; Heckman, Timothy M.; Schommer, Robert

1997-10-01

Dwarf galaxies play an important role in our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. We have embarked on a systematic study of 12 nearby dwarf galaxies (most of which have been classified as amorphous) selected preferentially by their blue colors. The properties of the galaxies in the sample suggest that they are in a burst or postburst state. It seems likely that these amorphous galaxies are closely related to other ``starburst'' dwarfs such as blue compact dwarfs (BCDs) and H II galaxies but are considerably closer and therefore easier to study. If so, these galaxies may offer important insights into dwarf galaxy evolution. In an effort to clarify the role of starbursts in evolutionary scenarios for dwarf galaxies, we present Hα and UBVI data for our sample. Blue amorphous galaxies, like BCDs and H II galaxies, have surface brightness profiles that are exponential in the outer regions (r >~ 1.5re) but have a predominantly blue central excess, which suggests a young burst in an older, redder galaxy. Seven of the galaxies have the bubble or filamentary Hα morphology and double-peaked emission lines that are the signature of superbubbles or superwind activity. These galaxies are typically the ones with the strongest central excesses. The underlying exponential galaxies are very similar to those found in BCDs and H II galaxies. How amorphous galaxies fit into the dwarf irregular-``starburst dwarf''-dwarf elliptical evolutionary debate is less clear. In this paper, we present our data and make some preliminary comparisons between amorphous galaxies and other classes of dwarf galaxies. In a future companion paper, we will compare this sample more quantitatively with other dwarf galaxy samples in an effort to determine if amorphous galaxies are a physically different class of object from other starburst dwarfs such as BCDs and H II galaxies and also investigate their place in dwarf galaxy evolution scenarios.

Trypanosoma cruzi Lineages Detected in Congenitally Infected Infants and Triatoma infestans from the Same Disease-Endemic Region under Entomologic Surveillance in Paraguay

PubMed Central

del Puerto, Florencia; Sánchez, Zunilda; Nara, Eva; Meza, Graciela; Paredes, Berta; Ferreira, Elizabeth; Russomando, Graciela

2010-01-01

Trypanosoma cruzi II is associated with Chagas disease in the southern part of South America. We analyzed T. cruzi variants in field-collected triatomines and congenitally infected infants living in the same disease-endemic region in Paraguay. Results of polymerase chain reactions for T. cruzi kinetoplast DNA and satellite DNA were positive in 83 triatomine feces samples and 58 infant blood samples. However, lineages were detected in 33 and 38 samples, respectively. Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes were determined in 56 (97%) blood samples after hybridization by using specific probes. The Tc I genotype was not detected. The prevalent sublineage was Tc IId in triatomines (27 of 33) and infant blood (36 of 58) as assessed by amplification of the 24Sα ribosomal RNA and the mini-exon region genes. The Tc IIc genotype was detected in 20 infant blood samples and in 1 triatomine. This study shows T. cruzi II is the predominant lineage circulating in triatomines and humans in endemic areas of eastern region of Paraguay. PMID:20207861

Trypanosoma cruzi lineages detected in congenitally infected infants and Triatoma infestans from the same disease-endemic region under entomologic surveillance in Paraguay.

PubMed

del Puerto, Florencia; Sánchez, Zunilda; Nara, Eva; Meza, Graciela; Paredes, Berta; Ferreira, Elizabeth; Russomando, Graciela

2010-03-01

Trypanosoma cruzi II is associated with Chagas disease in the southern part of South America. We analyzed T. cruzi variants in field-collected triatomines and congenitally infected infants living in the same disease-endemic region in Paraguay. Results of polymerase chain reactions for T. cruzi kinetoplast DNA and satellite DNA were positive in 83 triatomine feces samples and 58 infant blood samples. However, lineages were detected in 33 and 38 samples, respectively. Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes were determined in 56 (97%) blood samples after hybridization by using specific probes. The Tc I genotype was not detected. The prevalent sublineage was Tc IId in triatomines (27 of 33) and infant blood (36 of 58) as assessed by amplification of the 24Salpha ribosomal RNA and the mini-exon region genes. The Tc IIc genotype was detected in 20 infant blood samples and in 1 triatomine. This study shows T. cruzi II is the predominant lineage circulating in triatomines and humans in endemic areas of eastern region of Paraguay.

Sodium butyrate suppresses angiotensin II-induced hypertension by inhibition of renal (pro)renin receptor and intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.

PubMed

Wang, Lei; Zhu, Qing; Lu, Aihua; Liu, Xiaofen; Zhang, Linlin; Xu, Chuanming; Liu, Xiyang; Li, Haobo; Yang, Tianxin

2017-09-01

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is the end product of the fermentation of complex carbohydrates by the gut microbiota. Recently, sodium butyrate (NaBu) has been found to play a protective role in a number of chronic diseases. However, it is still unclear whether NaBu has a therapeutic potential in hypertension. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NaBu in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and to further explore the underlying mechanism. Ang II was infused into uninephrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats with or without intramedullary infusion of NaBu for 14 days. Mean arterial blood pressure was recorded by the telemetry system. Renal tissues, serum samples, and 24-h urine samples were collected to examine renal injury and the regulation of the (pro)renin receptor (PRR) and renin. Intramedullary infusion of NaBu in Sprague-Dawley rats lowered the Ang II-induced mean arterial pressure from 129 ± 6 mmHg to 108 ± 4 mmHg (P < 0.01). This corresponded with an improvement in Ang II-induced renal injury, including urinary albumin, glomerulosclerosis, and renal fibrosis, as well as the expression of inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6. The renal expression of PRR, angiotensinogen, angiotensin I-converting enzyme and the urinary excretion of soluble PRR, renin, and angiotensinogen were all increased by Ang II infusion but decreased by NaBu treatment. In cultured innermedullary collecting duct cells, NaBu treatment attenuated Ang II-induced expression of PRR and renin. These results demonstrate that NaBu exerts an antihypertensive action, likely by suppressing the PRR-mediated intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.

[Practical aspects regarding sample size in clinical research].

PubMed

Vega Ramos, B; Peraza Yanes, O; Herrera Correa, G; Saldívar Toraya, S

1996-01-01

The knowledge of the right sample size let us to be sure if the published results in medical papers had a suitable design and a proper conclusion according to the statistics analysis. To estimate the sample size we must consider the type I error, type II error, variance, the size of the effect, significance and power of the test. To decide what kind of mathematics formula will be used, we must define what kind of study we have, it means if its a prevalence study, a means values one or a comparative one. In this paper we explain some basic topics of statistics and we describe four simple samples of estimation of sample size.

Modulation of CaM kinase II activity is coincident with induction of status epilepticus in the rat pilocarpine model.

PubMed

Singleton, Michael W; Holbert, William H; Lee, Anh Tuyet; Bracey, James M; Churn, Severn B

2005-09-01

This study was conducted to characterize the early cellular changes in CaM kinase II activity that occur during the induction of status epilepticus (SE). The pilocarpine model of SE was characterized both behaviorally and electrographically. At specific time points after the first discrete seizure, specific brain regions were isolated for biochemical study. Phosphate incorporation into a CaM kinase II-specific substrate, autocamtide III, was used to determine kinase activity. After the development of SE, the data show an immediate inhibition of both cortical and hippocampal CaM kinase II activity in homogenate, but a delayed inhibition in synaptic kinase activity. The maintenance of synaptic kinase activity was due to a translocation of CaM kinase II protein to the synapse. However, despite the translocation of functional kinase, CaM kinase II activity was not maintained, membrane potential was not restored, and the newly translocated CaM kinase II did not terminate the SE event. Unlike the homogenate samples, in the crude synaptoplasmic membrane (SPM) subcellular fractions, a positive correlation is found between the duration of SE and the inhibition of CaM kinase II activity in both the cortex and hippocampus. The data support the hypothesis that alterations of CaM kinase II activity are involved in the early events of SE pathology.

Polypyrrole/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite for the solid phase extraction of lead(II) in water samples.

PubMed

Sahmetlioglu, Ertugrul; Yilmaz, Erkan; Aktas, Ece; Soylak, Mustafa

2014-02-01

A multi-walled carbon nanotubes-polypyrrole conducting polymer nanocomposite has been synthesized, characterized and used for the separation and preconcentration of lead at trace levels in water samples prior to its flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection. The analytical parameters like pH, sample volume, eluent, sample flow rate that were affected the retentions of lead(II) on the new nanocomposite were optimized. Matrix effects were also investigated. Limit of detection and preconcentration factors were 1.1 µg L(-1) and 200, respectively. The adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite was 25.0mg lead(II) per gram composite. The validation of the method was checked by using SPS-WW2 Waste water Level 2 certified reference material. The method was applied to the determination of lead in water samples with satisfactory results. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Factors Associated with Participation in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Screening Using Chest X-Ray among Diabetes Mellitus Type II Patients in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

PubMed

Putra, I Gusti Ngurah Edi; Astuti, Putu Ayu Swandewi; Suarjana, I Ketut; Mulyawan, Ketut Hari; Duana, I Made Kerta; Kurniasari, Ni Made Dian; Putra, I Wayan Gede Artawan Eka

2018-01-01

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease. Therefore, pulmonary TB screening among DM patients is essential. This study aimed to identify factors associated with participation of DM type II patients in pulmonary TB screening using chest X-ray. This was a cross-sectional analytic study and was part of TB-DM screening study in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 365 DM type II patients selected by quota sampling among DM type II patients joining the screening program from January until March 2016 in 11 public health centres in Denpasar. Data were collected via structured interviews. The contributing factors were determined by modified Poisson regression test for cross-sectional data. From the findings, less than half (45.48%) of DM type II patients participated in chest X-ray examination for TB. Factors associated with participation in pulmonary TB screening were having a higher educational level [APR = 1.34, 95% CI (1.07-1.67)], having family member who developed pulmonary TB disease [APR = 1.47, 95% CI (1.12-1.93)], the travel time to referral hospital for screening being ≤ 15 minutes [APR = 1.6, 95% CI (1.26-2.03)], having health insurance [APR = 2.69, 95% CI (1.10-6.56)], and receiving good support from health provider [APR = 1.35, 95% CI (1.06-1.70)]. Therefore, training for health provider on providing counselling, involvement of family members in screening process, and improving the health insurance coverage and referral system are worth considering.

A Metabolic Study of Huntington's Disease.

PubMed

Nambron, Rajasree; Silajdžić, Edina; Kalliolia, Eirini; Ottolenghi, Chris; Hindmarsh, Peter; Hill, Nathan R; Costelloe, Seán J; Martin, Nicholas G; Positano, Vincenzo; Watt, Hilary C; Frost, Chris; Björkqvist, Maria; Warner, Thomas T

2016-01-01

Huntington's disease patients have a number of peripheral manifestations suggestive of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities. We, therefore, investigated a number of metabolic factors in a 24-hour study of Huntington's disease gene carriers (premanifest and moderate stage II/III) and controls. Control (n = 15), premanifest (n = 14) and stage II/III (n = 13) participants were studied with blood sampling over a 24-hour period. A battery of clinical tests including neurological rating and function scales were performed. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose distribution was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. We quantified fasting baseline concentrations of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), fatty acids, amino acids, lactate and osteokines. Leptin and ghrelin were quantified in fasting samples and after a standardised meal. We assessed glucose, insulin, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations during a prolonged oral glucose tolerance test. We found no highly significant differences in carbohydrate, protein or lipid metabolism markers between healthy controls, premanifest and stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects. For some markers (osteoprotegerin, tyrosine, lysine, phenylalanine and arginine) there is a suggestion (p values between 0.02 and 0.05) that levels are higher in patients with premanifest HD, but not moderate HD. However, given the large number of statistical tests performed interpretation of these findings must be cautious. Contrary to previous studies that showed altered levels of metabolic markers in patients with Huntington's disease, our study did not demonstrate convincing evidence of abnormalities in any of the markers examined. Our analyses were restricted to Huntington's disease patients not taking neuroleptics, anti-depressants or other medication affecting metabolic pathways. Even with the modest sample sizes studied, the lack of highly significant results, despite many being tested, suggests that the majority of these markers do not differ markedly by disease status.

Is automated kinetic measurement superior to end-point for advanced oxidation protein product?

PubMed

Oguz, Osman; Inal, Berrin Bercik; Emre, Turker; Ozcan, Oguzhan; Altunoglu, Esma; Oguz, Gokce; Topkaya, Cigdem; Guvenen, Guvenc

2014-01-01

Advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) was first described as an oxidative protein marker in chronic uremic patients and measured with a semi-automatic end-point method. Subsequently, the kinetic method was introduced for AOPP assay. We aimed to compare these two methods by adapting them to a chemistry analyzer and to investigate the correlation between AOPP and fibrinogen, the key molecule responsible for human plasma AOPP reactivity, microalbumin, and HbA1c in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM II). The effects of EDTA and citrate-anticogulated tubes on these two methods were incorporated into the study. This study included 93 DM II patients (36 women, 57 men) with HbA1c levels > or = 7%, who were admitted to the diabetes and nephrology clinics. The samples were collected in EDTA and in citrate-anticoagulated tubes. Both methods were adapted to a chemistry analyzer and the samples were studied in parallel. In both types of samples, we found a moderate correlation between the kinetic and the endpoint methods (r = 0.611 for citrate-anticoagulated, r = 0.636 for EDTA-anticoagulated, p = 0.0001 for both). We found a moderate correlation between fibrinogen-AOPP and microalbumin-AOPP levels only in the kinetic method (r = 0.644 and 0.520 for citrate-anticoagulated; r = 0.581 and 0.490 for EDTA-anticoagulated, p = 0.0001). We conclude that adaptation of the end-point method to automation is more difficult and it has higher between-run CV% while application of the kinetic method is easier and it may be used in oxidative stress studies.

Determination of Trace Amounts of Lead Using the Flotation-spectrophotometric method

PubMed Central

Shiri, Sabah; Delpisheh, Ali; Haeri, Ali; Poornajaf, Abdolhossein; Golzadeh, Babak; Shiri, Sina

2011-01-01

The present study describes a simple and highly selective method for separation, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of extremely low concentrations of lead. It is based on flotation of a complex of Pb2+ ions and Alizarin yellow between aqueous and n-hexane interface at pH = 6. The proposed procedure is also applied for determination of lead in both tap water and prepared sea water samples. Beer’s Law was obeyed over the concentration range of 3.86 × 10–8 To 8.20 × 10–7 molL−1 (8–170 ngmL−1) with an apparent molar absorptivity of 1.33 × 106 molL−1 cm−1 for a 100 mL aliquot of the water sample. The detection limit (n = 10) was 8.7 × 10–9 molL−1 (1.0 ngmL−1) and the Relative standard deviation (R.S.D), (n = 10) for 7.2 × 10–7 molL−1 (150 ngmL−1) of Pb (II) was 4.36%. A notable advantage of the method is that the determination of Pb (II) is free from the interference of almost all cations and ions found in the environment and waste water samples. The determination of Pb (II) in tap and synthetic seawater samples was also carried out by the present method. The results were satisfactorily comparable so that the applicability of the proposed method was confirmed to the real samples.

Determination of Trace Amounts of Lead Using the Flotation-spectrophotometric method

PubMed Central

Shiri, Sabah; Delpisheh, Ali; Haeri, Ali; Poornajaf, Abdolhossein; Golzadeh, Babak; Shiri, Sina

2010-01-01

The present study describes a simple and highly selective method for separation, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of extremely low concentrations of lead. It is based on flotation of a complex of Pb2+ ions and Alizarin yellow between aqueous and n-hexane interface at pH = 6. The proposed procedure is also applied for determination of lead in both tap water and prepared sea water samples. Beer’s Law was obeyed over the concentration range of 3.86 × 10−8 To 8.20 × 10−7 molL−1 (8–170 ngmL−1) with an apparent molar absorptivity of 1.33 × 106 molL−1 cm−1 for a 100 mL aliquot of the water sample. The detection limit (n = 10) was 8.7 × 10−9 molL−1 (1.0 ngmL−1) and the Relative standard deviation (R.S.D), (n = 10) for 7.2 × 10−7 molL−1 (150 ngmL−1) of Pb (II) was 4.36%. A notable advantage of the method is that the determination of Pb (II) is free from the interference of almost all cations and ions found in the environment and waste water samples. The determination of Pb (II) in tap and synthetic seawater samples was also carried out by the present method. The results were satisfactorily comparable so that the applicability of the proposed method was confirmed to the real samples. PMID:21234287

Comparative assessment of marginal accuracy of grade II titanium and Ni–Cr alloy before and after ceramic firing: An in vitro study

PubMed Central

Patil, Abhijit; Singh, Kishan; Sahoo, Sukant; Suvarna, Suraj; Kumar, Prince; Singh, Anupam

2013-01-01

Objective: The aims of the study are to assess the marginal accuracy of base metal and titanium alloy casting and to evaluate the effect of repeated ceramic firing on the marginal accuracy of base metal and titanium alloy castings. Materials and Methods: Twenty metal copings were fabricated with each casting material. Specimens were divided into 4 groups of 10 each representing base metal alloys castings without (Group A) and with metal shoulder margin (Group B), titanium castings without (Group C) and with metal shoulder margin (Group D). The measurement of fit of the metal copings was carried out before the ceramic firing at four different points and the same was followed after porcelain build-up. Results: Significant difference was found when Ni–Cr alloy samples were compared with Grade II titanium samples both before and after ceramic firings. The titanium castings with metal shoulder margin showed highest microgap among all the materials tested. Conclusions: Based on the results that were found and within the limitations of the study design, it can be concluded that there is marginal discrepancy in the copings made from Ni–Cr and Grade II titanium. This marginal discrepancy increased after ceramic firing cycles for both Ni–Cr and Grade II titanium. The comparative statistical analysis for copings with metal-collar showed maximum discrepancy for Group D. The comparative statistical analysis for copings without metal-collar showed maximum discrepancy for Group C. PMID:24926205

Solid-phase extraction of heavy metal ions on bucky tubes disc in natural water and herbal plant samples.

PubMed

Soylak, Mustafa; Unsal, Yunus Emre

2011-10-01

A preconcentration-separation procedure has been established based on solid-phase extraction of Fe(III) and Pb(II) on bucky tubes (BTs) disc. Fe(III) and Pb(II) ions were quantitatively recovered at pH 6. The influences of the analytical parameters like sample volume, flow rates on the recoveries of analytes on BT disc were investigated. The effects of co-existing ions on the recoveries were also studied. The detection limits for iron and lead were found 1.6 and 4.9 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The validation of the presented method was checked by the analysis of TMDA-51.3 fortified water certified reference material. The presented procedure was successfully applied to the separation-preconcentration and determination of iron and lead content of some natural water and herbal plant samples from Kayseri, Turkey.

30 CFR 57.22227 - Approved testing devices (I-A, I-B, I-C, II-A, II-B, III, IV, V-A, and V-B mines).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... be used in Subcategory I-C mines. (c)(1) If electrically powered, remote sensing devices are used.... (2) If air samples are delivered to remote analytical devices through sampling tubes, such tubes...

78 FR 20616 - Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-05

... Northern Mariana Islands i. Coral reef fisheries ii. Bottomfish fisheries iii. Potential use of Bio... iii. Potential use of Bio-Sampling data to improve fishery data iv. Update of fishery dependent and... and crustacean fisheries ii. Bottomfish fisheries iii. Potential use of Bio-Sampling data to improve...

SECOND NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY (NHANES II)

EPA Science Inventory

The second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES II, is a nationwide probability sample of 27,801 persons from 6 months 74 years of age. From this sample, 25,286 people were interviewed and 20,322 people were examined, resulting in an overall response rate of 7...

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Rigaku ZSX Mini II (ZSX Mini II) XRF Services x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demon-strated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the ZSX Mini II analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the ZSX Mini II analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element con

Optimization and determination of Cd (II) in different environmental water samples with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction preconcentration combined with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

PubMed

Salahinejad, Maryam; Aflaki, Fereydoon

2011-06-01

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry has been investigated for determination of Cd(II) ions in water samples. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate was used as chelating agent. Several factors influencing the microextraction efficiency of Cd (II) ions such as extracting and dispersing solvent type and their volumes, pH, sample volume, and salting effect were optimized. The optimization was performed both via one variable at a time, and central composite design methods and the optimum conditions were selected. Both optimization methods showed nearly the same results: sample size 5 mL; dispersive solvent ethanol; dispersive solvent volume 2 mL; extracting solvent chloroform; extracting solvent volume 200 [Formula: see text]L; pH and salt amount do not affect significantly the microextraction efficiency. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.8 and 2.5 ng L( - 1), respectively. The relative standard deviation for five replicate measurements of 0.50 mg L( - 1) of Cd (II) was 4.4%. The recoveries for the spiked real samples from tap, mineral, river, dam, and sea waters samples ranged from 92.2% to 104.5%.

Differentiation of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei by FT-IR and chemometrics by CHROMagar™ Candida.

PubMed

Wohlmeister, Denise; Vianna, Débora Renz Barreto; Helfer, Virginia Etges; Calil, Luciane Noal; Buffon, Andréia; Fuentefria, Alexandre Meneghello; Corbellini, Valeriano Antonio; Pilger, Diogo André

2017-10-01

Pathogenic Candida species are detected in clinical infections. CHROMagar™ is a phenotypical method used to identify Candida species, although it has limitations, which indicates the need for more sensitive and specific techniques. Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) is an analytical vibrational technique used to identify patterns of metabolic fingerprint of biological matrixes, particularly whole microbial cell systems as Candida sp. in association of classificatory chemometrics algorithms. On the other hand, Soft Independent Modeling by Class Analogy (SIMCA) is one of the typical algorithms still little employed in microbiological classification. This study demonstrates the applicability of the FT-IR-technique by specular reflectance associated with SIMCA to discriminate Candida species isolated from vaginal discharges and grown on CHROMagar™. The differences in spectra of C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei were suitable for use in the discrimination of these species, which was observed by PCA. Then, a SIMCA model was constructed with standard samples of three species and using the spectral region of 1792-1561cm -1 . All samples (n=48) were properly classified based on the chromogenic method using CHROMagar™ Candida. In total, 93.4% (n=45) of the samples were correctly and unambiguously classified (Class I). Two samples of C. albicans were classified correctly, though these could have been C. glabrata (Class II). Also, one C. glabrata sample could have been classified as C. krusei (Class II). Concerning these three samples, one triplicate of each was included in Class II and two in Class I. Therefore, FT-IR associated with SIMCA can be used to identify samples of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei grown in CHROMagar™ Candida aiming to improve clinical applications of this technique. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimizing larval assessment to support sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hansen, Michael J.; Adams, Jean V.; Cuddy, Douglas W.; Richards, Jessica M.; Fodale, Michael F.; Larson, Geraldine L.; Ollila, Dale J.; Slade, Jeffrey W.; Steeves, Todd B.; Young, Robert J.; Zerrenner, Adam

2003-01-01

Elements of the larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) assessment program that most strongly influence the chemical treatment program were analyzed, including selection of streams for larval surveys, allocation of sampling effort among stream reaches, allocation of sampling effort among habitat types, estimation of daily growth rates, and estimation of metamorphosis rates, to determine how uncertainty in each element influenced the stream selection program. First, the stream selection model based on current larval assessment sampling protocol significantly underestimated transforming sea lam-prey abundance, transforming sea lampreys killed, and marginal costs per sea lamprey killed, compared to a protocol that included more years of data (especially for large streams). Second, larval density in streams varied significantly with Type-I habitat area, but not with total area or reach length. Third, the ratio of larval density between Type-I and Type-II habitat varied significantly among streams, and that the optimal allocation of sampling effort varied with the proportion of habitat types and variability of larval density within each habitat. Fourth, mean length varied significantly among streams and years. Last, size at metamorphosis varied more among years than within or among regions and that metamorphosis varied significantly among streams within regions. Study results indicate that: (1) the stream selection model should be used to identify streams with potentially high residual populations of larval sea lampreys; (2) larval sampling in Type-II habitat should be initiated in all streams by increasing sampling in Type-II habitat to 50% of the sampling effort in Type-I habitat; and (3) methods should be investigated to reduce uncertainty in estimates of sea lamprey production, with emphasis on those that reduce the uncertainty associated with larval length at the end of the growing season and those used to predict metamorphosis.

Relationships between Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) Cognitive Abilities and Math Achievement within a Sample of College Students with Learning Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Proctor, Briley

2012-01-01

This study examined the relationship between cognitive abilities and math achievement within a sample of college students with learning disabilities (LD). The cognitive abilities were seven areas identified by Stratum II of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities, in addition to the eighth area of Working Memory. Math…

A search for precursors of ultracompact H II regions in a sample of luminous IRAS sources. III. Circumstellar dust properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Molinari, S.; Brand, J.; Cesaroni, R.; Palla, F.

2000-01-01

The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope has been used to obtain submillimeter and millimeter continuum photometry of a sample of 30 IRAS sources previously studied in molecular lines and centimeter radio continuum. All the sources have IRAS colours typical of very young stellar objects (YSOs) and are associated with dense gas.

The causes of mangrove death on Yap, Palau, Pohnpei and Kosrae [Chapter II

Treesearch

Phil G. Cannon; Margie Falanruw; Francis Ruegorong; Rich MacKenzie; Katie Friday; Amy L. Ross-Davis; Sara M. Ashiglar; Ned B. Klopfenstein; Zhangfeng Liu; Mohammad Golabi; Chancy Thomas Iyekar

2014-01-01

The area of a massive mangrove dieback in Yinuf Mn Island, Yap, was selected as the first location to study mangrove dieback problems. Seawater and soil samples were collected from plots where the mangrove trees were dead/dying and these samples were analyzed for eight different seawater and soil floor properties. Seawater and soil properties from dead/dying/...

Single-arm phase II trial design under parametric cure models.

PubMed

Wu, Jianrong

2015-01-01

The current practice of designing single-arm phase II survival trials is limited under the exponential model. Trial design under the exponential model may not be appropriate when a portion of patients are cured. There is no literature available for designing single-arm phase II trials under the parametric cure model. In this paper, a test statistic is proposed, and a sample size formula is derived for designing single-arm phase II trials under a class of parametric cure models. Extensive simulations showed that the proposed test and sample size formula perform very well under different scenarios. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hyper-Theory-of-Mind in Children with Psychotic Experiences

PubMed Central

Clemmensen, Lars; van Os, Jim; Skovgaard, Anne Mette; Væver, Mette; Blijd-Hoogewys, Els M. A.; Bartels-Velthuis, Agna A.; Jeppesen, Pia

2014-01-01

Background Alterations in Theory-of-Mind (ToM) are associated with psychotic disorder. In addition, studies in children have documented that alterations in ToM are associated with Psychotic Experiences (PE). Our aim was to examine associations between an exaggerated type of ToM (HyperToM) and PE in children. Children with this type of alteration in ToM infer mental states when none are obviously suggested, and predict behaviour on the basis of these erroneous beliefs. Individuals with HyperToM do not appear to have a conceptual deficit (i.e. lack of representational abilities), but rather they apply their theory of the minds of others in an incorrect or biased way. Method Hypotheses were tested in two studies with two independent samples: (i) a general population sample of 1630 Danish children aged 11–12 years, (ii) a population-based sample of 259 Dutch children aged 12–13 years, pertaining to a case-control sampling frame of children with auditory verbal hallucinations. Multinomial regression analyses were carried out to investigate the associations between PE and ToM and HyperToM respectively. Analyses were adjusted for gender and proxy measures of general intelligence. Results Low ToM score was significantly associated with PE in sample I (OR = 1.6 95%CI 1.1–2.3 χ2(4) = 12.42 p = 0.010), but not in sample II (OR = 0.9 95%CI 0.5–1.8 χ2(3) = 7.13 p = 0.816). HyperToM was significantly associated with PE both in sample I (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2–2.7 χ2(3) = 10.11 p = 0.006) and II (OR = 4.6, 95%CI 1.3–16.2 χ2(2) = 7.56 p = 0.018). HyperToM was associated particularly with paranoid delusions in both sample I (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.1–3.7% χ2(4) = 9.93 p = 0.021) and II (OR = 6.2 95%CI: 1.7–23.6% χ2(4) = 9.90 p = 0.044). Conclusion Specific alterations in ToM may be associated with specific types of psychotic experiences. HyperToM may index risk for developing psychosis and paranoid delusions in particular. PMID:25397582

An independent determination of the local Hubble constant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández Arenas, David; Terlevich, Elena; Terlevich, Roberto; Melnick, Jorge; Chávez, Ricardo; Bresolin, Fabio; Telles, Eduardo; Plionis, Manolis; Basilakos, Spyros

2018-02-01

The relationship between the integrated H β line luminosity and the velocity dispersion of the ionized gas of H II galaxies and giant H II regions represents an exciting standard candle that presently can be used up to redshifts z ˜ 4. Locally it is used to obtain precise measurements of the Hubble constant by combining the slope of the relation obtained from nearby (z ≤ 0.2) H II galaxies with the zero-point determined from giant H II regions belonging to an `anchor sample' of galaxies for which accurate redshift-independent distance moduli are available. We present new data for 36 giant H II regions in 13 galaxies of the anchor sample that includes the megamaser galaxy NGC 4258. Our data are the result of the first 4 yr of observation of our primary sample of 130 giant H II regions in 73 galaxies with Cepheid determined distances. Our best estimate of the Hubble parameter is 71.0 ± 2.8(random) ± 2.1(systematic) km s- 1Mpc- 1. This result is the product of an independent approach and, although at present less precise than the latest SNIa results, it is amenable to substantial improvement.

The Investigation of Construct Validity of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 Personality Traits on Iranian sample with Antisocial and Borderline Personality Disorders.

PubMed

Amini, Mehdi; Pourshahbaz, Abbas; Mohammadkhani, Parvaneh; Ardakani, Mohammad-Reza Khodaie; Lotfi, Mozhgan

2014-12-01

The goal of this study was to examine the construct validity of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-5 (DSM-5) conceptual model of antisocial and borderline personality disorders (PDs). More specifically, the aim was to determine whether the DSM-5 five-factor structure of pathological personality trait domains replicated in an independently collected sample that differs culturally from the derivation sample. This study was on a sample of 346 individuals with antisocial (n = 122) and borderline PD (n = 130), and nonclinical subjects (n = 94). Participants randomly selected from prisoners, out-patient, and in-patient clients. Participants were recruited from Tehran prisoners, and clinical psychology and psychiatry clinics of Razi and Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The SCID-II-PQ, SCID-II, DSM-5 Personality Trait Rating Form (Clinician's PTRF) were used to diagnosis of PD and to assessment of pathological traits. The data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis. Factor analysis revealed a 5-factor solution for DSM-5 personality traits. Results showed that DSM-5 has adequate construct validity in Iranian sample with antisocial and borderline PDs. Factors similar in number with the other studies, but different in the content. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five homogeneous components of antisocial and borderline PDs. That may represent personality, behavioral, and affective features central to the disorder. Furthermore, the present study helps understand the adequacy of DSM-5 dimensional approach to evaluation of personality pathology, specifically on Iranian sample.

Impaired Muscle Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Myogenesis in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

PubMed Central

Ripolone, Michela; Ronchi, Dario; Violano, Raffaella; Vallejo, Dionis; Fagiolari, Gigliola; Barca, Emanuele; Lucchini, Valeria; Colombo, Irene; Villa, Luisa; Berardinelli, Angela; Balottin, Umberto; Morandi, Lucia; Mora, Marina; Bordoni, Andreina; Fortunato, Francesco; Corti, Stefania; Parisi, Daniela; Toscano, Antonio; Sciacco, Monica; DiMauro, Salvatore; Comi, Giacomo P.; Moggio, Maurizio

2016-01-01

IMPORTANCE The important depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the general depression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex levels (including complex II) have been confirmed, implying an increasing paucity of mitochondria in the muscle from patients with types I, II, and III spinal muscular atrophy (SMA-I, -II, and -III, respectively). OBJECTIVE To investigate mitochondrial dysfunction in a large series of muscle biopsy samples from patients with SMA. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We studied quadriceps muscle samples from 24 patients with genetically documented SMA and paraspinal muscle samples from 3 patients with SMA-II undergoing surgery for scoliosis correction. Postmortem muscle samples were obtained from 1 additional patient. Age-matched controls consisted of muscle biopsy specimens from healthy children aged 1 to 3 years who had undergone analysis for suspected myopathy. Analyses were performed at the Neuromuscular Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico-Milano, from April 2011 through January 2015. EXPOSURES We used histochemical, biochemical, and molecular techniques to examine the muscle samples. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Respiratory chain activity and mitochondrial content. RESULTS Results of histochemical analysis revealed that cytochrome-c oxidase (COX) deficiency was more evident in muscle samples from patients with SMA-I and SMA-II. Residual activities for complexes I, II, and IV in muscles from patients with SMA-I were 41%, 27%, and 30%, respectively, compared with control samples (P < .005). Muscle mtDNA content and cytrate synthase activity were also reduced in all 3 SMA types (P < .05). We linked these alterations to downregulation of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor coactivator 1α, the transcriptional activators nuclear respiratory factor 1 and nuclear respiratory factor 2, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and their downstream targets, implying depression of the entire mitochondrial biogenesis. Results of Western blot analysis confirmed the reduced levels of the respiratory chain subunits that included mitochondrially encoded COX1 (47.5%; P = .004), COX2 (32.4%; P < .001), COX4 (26.6%; P < .001), and succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A (65.8%; P = .03) as well as the structural outer membrane mitochondrial porin (33.1%; P < .001). Conversely, the levels of expression of 3 myogenic regulatory factors—muscle-specificmyogenic factor 5, myoblast determination 1, and myogenin—were higher in muscles from patients with SMA compared with muscles from age-matched controls (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Our results strongly support the conclusion that an altered regulation of myogenesis and a downregulated mitochondrial biogenesis contribute to pathologic change in the muscle of patients with SMA. Therapeutic strategies should aim at counteracting these changes. PMID:25844556

Errorless Establishment of a Match-to-Sample Form Discrimination in Preschool Children. I. A Modification of Animal Laboratory Procedures for Children, II. A Comparison of Errorless and Trial-and-Error Discrimination. Progress Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeBlanc, Judith M.

A sequence of studies compared two types of discrimination formation: errorless learning and trial-and-error procedures. The subjects were three boys and five girls from a university preschool. The children performed the experimental tasks at a typical match-to-sample apparatus with one sample window above and four match (response) windows below.…

Passive ozone network of Dallas: a modeling opportunity with community involvement. 2.

PubMed

Sather, M E; Varns, J L; Mulik, J D; Glen, G; Smith, L; Stallings, C

2001-11-15

Attaining the current lower tropospheric U.S. ozone standards continues to be a difficult task for many areas in the U.S. Concentrations of ozone above the standards negatively affects human health, agricultural crops, forests, and other ecosystem elements. This paper describes year two (1999) of a regional networking of passive and continuous ozone monitoring sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex region. The objectives of the second year of study were to (1) validate conclusions of the 1998 Passive Ozone Network of Dallas (POND) I study, (2) define the value of taking 12-h diurnal samples in addition to 24-h samples, and (3) add to the scientific knowledge base of rural/urban ozone comparison studies. Results of the POND II (1999) study demonstrated that ozone concentrations exceeding the new 8-h ozone standard could be recorded at least 130 km, or 80 miles, from the DFW Metroplex core in more rural areas. In addition, results of the POND II study indicated that ozone concentrations exceeding the 8-h standard probably occurred in areas recording a 12-h daytime ozone concentration above 60 parts per billion (ppb). The 12-h passive ozone data from POND II also suggests the relative magnitude of anthropogenic pollution influence could be assessed for rural passive ozone sites. The data from the POND II study provide modelers a rich database for future photochemical subgrid development for the DFW ozone nonattainment area. Indeed, the POND database provides a great amount of additional ozone ambient data covering 26 8-h and 13 1-h ozone standard exceedance days over an approximate 25000 km2 region. These data should help decrease uncertainties derived from future DFW ozone model exercises.

DIETARY EXPOSURES OF YOUNG CHILDREN, PART II: FIELD STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

A small, pilot field study was conducted to determine the adequacy of protocols for dietary exposure measurements. Samples were collected to estimate the amount of pesticides transferred from contaminated surfaces or hands to foods of young children and to validate a dietary mod...

Examination of the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Version 2 and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Straightforward Items Factor Structure in a Sample of U.S. College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Liu; Lowe, Patricia A.

2016-01-01

The current study examined the factor structure of the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation-Straightforward Items (BFNE-S) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation-Version 2 (BFNE-II) among 151 college students from the United States. Results indicated that the BFNE-S and the BFNE-II scores demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability.…

'An exploration of the health beliefs of Chinese nurses' and nurse academics' health beliefs: A Q-methodology study'.

PubMed

Cai, Dan; Stone, Teresa E; Petrini, Marcia A; McMillan, Margaret

2016-03-01

Q-methodology was used to investigate the health beliefs of Chinese clinical nurses and nurse academics. Twenty-eight participants from one hospital and nursing school in China were involved. The four stages of this study included: (i) concourse development from literature review, Internet searches, and key informant interviews; (ii) A pilot study to develop the Q-sample from the concourse; (iii) participants sorted the Q-sample statements along a continuum of preference (Q-sorting); and (iv) PQ data analysis using principal component analysis and varimax rotation. Five viewpoints were revealed: (i) factor 1--health management and the importance of evidence; (ii) factor 2--challenging local cultural belief, and Eastern and Western influences; (iii) factor 3--commonsense; (iv) factor 4--health and clinical practice; and (v) factor 5--health and nursing education. This study presents a need for nurses and nurse academics to think critically, examine their long-held health beliefs, and promote the use of evidence-based practice. © 2016 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Reevaluation of Stratospheric Ozone Trends From SAGE II Data Using a Simultaneous Temporal and Spatial Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Damadeo, R. P.; Zawodny, J. M.; Thomason, L. W.

2014-01-01

This paper details a new method of regression for sparsely sampled data sets for use with time-series analysis, in particular the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II ozone data set. Non-uniform spatial, temporal, and diurnal sampling present in the data set result in biased values for the long-term trend if not accounted for. This new method is performed close to the native resolution of measurements and is a simultaneous temporal and spatial analysis that accounts for potential diurnal ozone variation. Results show biases, introduced by the way data is prepared for use with traditional methods, can be as high as 10%. Derived long-term changes show declines in ozone similar to other studies but very different trends in the presumed recovery period, with differences up to 2% per decade. The regression model allows for a variable turnaround time and reveals a hemispheric asymmetry in derived trends in the middle to upper stratosphere. Similar methodology is also applied to SAGE II aerosol optical depth data to create a new volcanic proxy that covers the SAGE II mission period. Ultimately this technique may be extensible towards the inclusion of multiple data sets without the need for homogenization.

Ingestion of microplastics by natural zooplankton groups in the northern South China Sea.

PubMed

Sun, Xiaoxia; Li, Qingjie; Zhu, Mingliang; Liang, Junhua; Zheng, Shan; Zhao, Yongfang

2017-02-15

The ingestion of microplastics by five natural zooplankton groups in the northern South China Sea was studied for the first time and two types of sampling nets (505μm and 160μm in mesh size) were compared. The microplastics were detected in zooplankton sampled from 16 stations, with the fibrous microplastics accounting for the largest proportion (70%). The main component of the found microplastics was polyester. The average length of the microplastics was 125μm and 167μm for Nets I and II, respectively. The encounter rates of microplastics/zooplankton increased with trophic levels. The average encounter rate of microplastics/zooplankton was 5%, 15%, 34%, 49%, and 120% for Net I, and 8%, 21%, 47%, 60%, and 143% for Net II for copepods, chaetognaths, jellyfish, shrimp, and fish larvae, respectively. The average abundance of microplastics that were ingested by zooplankton was 4.1pieces/m 3 for Net I and 131.5pieces/m 3 for Net II. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Implementation of k0-INAA standardisation at ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor, Turkey based on k0-IAEA software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esen, Ayse Nur; Haciyakupoglu, Sevilay

2016-02-01

The purpose of this study is to test the applicability of k0-INAA method at the Istanbul Technical University TRIGA Mark II research reactor. The neutron spectrum parameters such as epithermal neutron flux distribution parameter (α), thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f) and thermal neutron flux (φth) were determined at the central irradiation channel of the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor using bare triple-monitor method. HPGe detector calibrations and calculations were carried out by k0-IAEA software. The α, f and φth values were calculated to be -0.009, 15.4 and 7.92·1012 cm-2 s-1, respectively. NIST SRM 1633b coal fly ash and intercomparison samples consisting of clay and sandy soil samples were used to evaluate the validity of the method. For selected elements, the statistical evaluation of the analysis results was carried out by z-score test. A good agreement between certified/reported and experimental values was obtained.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of lead(II) as 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanine chelates from food and water samples.

PubMed

Alothman, Zeid A; Al-Shaalan, Nora H; Habila, Mohamed A; Unsal, Yunus E; Tuzen, Mustafa; Soylak, Mustafa

2015-02-01

A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure for lead(II) as its 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanine complex has been established prior to its microsampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination. The influences of various analytical parameters including pH, solvent type and volume, dispersive solvent type and volume, 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanine amount, salt effect, and centrifugation time and speed were investigated. The effects of certain alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions on the quantitative extraction of lead(II) were also studied. Quantitative recoveries were obtained at pH 6. The enrichment factor was calculated as 125. The detection limit for lead is 1.1 μg/L. The accuracy of the method was tested with the additions recovery test and analysis of the standard reference materials (SPS-WW2 waste water, NIST SRM 1515 apple leaves, and TMDA-51.3 fortified water). Applications of the present procedure were tested by analyzing water and food samples.

A New Electrochemical Sensor Based on Task-Specific Ionic Liquids-Modified Palm Shell Activated Carbon for the Determination of Mercury in Water Samples

PubMed Central

Ismaiel, Ahmed Abu; Aroua, Mohamed Kheireddine; Yusoff, Rozita

2014-01-01

In this study, a potentiometric sensor composed of palm shell activated carbon modified with trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) was used for the potentiometric determination of mercury ions in water samples. The proposed potentiometric sensor has good operating characteristics towards Hg (II), including a relatively high selectivity; a Nernstian response to Hg (II) ions in a concentration range of 1.0 × 10−9 to 1.0 × 10−2 M, with a detection limit of 1 × 10−10 M and a slope of 44.08 ± 1.0 mV/decade; and a fast response time (∼5 s). No significant changes in electrode potential were observed when the pH was varied over the range of 3–9. Additionally, the proposed electrode was characterized by good selectivity towards Hg (II) and no significant interferences from other cationic or anionic species. PMID:25051034

Site Environmental Report for 2009, Volume 2

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

Xu, Suying

2010-08-19

Volume II of the Site Environmental Report for 2009 is provided by Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a supplemental appendix to Volume I, which contains the body of the report. Volume II contains the environmental monitoring and sampling data used to generate summary results of routine and nonroutine sampling at the Laboratory, except for groundwater sampling data, which may be found in the reports referred to in Chapter 4 of Volume I. The results from sample collections are more comprehensive in Volume II than in Volume I: for completeness, all results from sample collections that began or endedmore » in calendar year (CY) 2009 are included in this volume. However, the samples representing CY 2008 data have not been used in the summary results that are reported in Volume I. (For example, although ambient air samples collected on January 6, 2009, are presented in Volume II, they represent December 2008 data and are not included in Table 4-2 in Volume I.) When appropriate, sampling results are reported in both conventional and International System (SI) units. For some results, the rounding procedure used in data reporting may result in apparent differences between the numbers reported in SI and conventional units. (For example, stack air tritium results reported as < 1.5 Bq/m3 are shown variously as < 39 and < 41 pCi/m3. Both of these results are rounded correctly to two significant digits.)« less

Construct Validation of Three Nutrition Questions Using Health and Diet Ratings in Older Canadian Males Living in the Community.

PubMed

Akhtar, Usman; Keller, Heather H; Tate, Robert B; Lengyel, Christina O

2015-12-01

Brief nutrition screening tools are desired for research and practice. Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN-II, 14 items) and the abbreviated version SCREEN-II-AB (8 items) are valid and reliable nutrition screening tools for older adults. This exploratory study used a retrospective cross-sectional design to determine the construct validity of a subset of 3 items (weight loss, appetite, and swallowing difficulty) currently on the SCREEN-II and SCREEN-II-AB tools. Secondary data on community-dwelling senior males (n = 522, mean ± SD age = 86.7 ± 3.0 years) in the Manitoba Follow-up Study (MFUS) study were available for analysis. Participants completed the mailed MFUS Nutrition Survey that included SCREEN-II items and questions pertaining to self-rated health, diet healthiness, and rating of the importance of nutrition towards successful aging as the constructs for comparison. Self-perceived health status (F = 14.7, P < 0.001), diet healthiness (ρ = 0.17, P = 0.002) and the rating of nutrition's importance to aging (ρ = 0.10, P = 0.03) were correlated with the 3-item score. Inferences were consistent with associations between these construct variables and the full SCREEN-II. Three items from SCREEN-II and SCREEN-II-AB demonstrate initial construct validity with self-perceived health status and diet healthiness ratings by older males; further exploration for criterion and predictive validity in more diverse samples is needed.

Cosmological evolution of supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapinska, Anna D.

2012-06-01

Radio galaxies and quasars are among the largest and most powerful single objects known and are believed to have had a significant impact on the evolving Universe and its large scale structure. Their jets inject a significant amount of energy into the surrounding medium, hence they can provide useful information in the study of the density and evolution of the intergalactic and intracluster medium. The jet activity is also believed to regulate the growth of massive galaxies via the AGN feedback. In this thesis I explore the intrinsic and extrinsic physical properties of the population of Fanaroff-Riley II (FR II) objects, i.e. their kinetic luminosities, lifetimes, and central densities of their environments. In particular, the radio and kinetic luminosity functions of these powerful radio sources are investigated using the complete, flux limited radio catalogues of 3CRR and BRL. I construct multidimensional Monte Carlo simulations using semi-analytical models of FR II source time evolution to create artificial samples of radio galaxies. Unlike previous studies, I compare radio luminosity functions found with both the observed and simulated data to explore the best-fitting fundamental source parameters. The Monte Carlo method presented here allows one to: (i) set better limits on the predicted fundamental parameters of which confidence intervals estimated over broad ranges are presented, and (ii) generate the most plausible underlying parent populations of these radio sources. Moreover, I allow the source physical properties to co-evolve with redshift, and I find that all the investigated parameters most likely undergo cosmological evolution; however these parameters are strongly degenerate, and independent constraints are necessary to draw more precise conclusions. Furthermore, since it has been suggested that low luminosity FR IIs may be distinct from their powerful equivalents, I attempt to investigate fundamental properties of a sample of low redshift, low radio luminosity density radio galaxies. Based on SDSS-FIRST-NVSS radio sample I construct a low frequency (325 MHz) sample of radio galaxies and attempt to explore the fundamental properties of these low luminosity radio sources. The results are discussed through comparison with the results from the powerful radio sources of the 3CRR and BRL samples. Finally, I investigate the total power injected by populations of these powerful radio sources at various cosmological epochs and discuss the significance of the impact of these sources on the evolving Universe. Remarkably, sets of two degenerate fundamental parameters, the kinetic luminosity and maximum lifetimes of radio sources, despite the degeneracy provide particularly robust estimates of the total power produced by FR IIs during their lifetimes. This can be also used for robust estimations of the quenching of the cooling flows in cluster of galaxies.

Performance of Spent Mushroom Farming Waste (SMFW) Activated Carbon for Ni (II) Removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desa, N. S. Md; Ghani, Z. Ab; Talib, S. Abdul; Tay, C. C.

2016-07-01

The feasibility of a low cost agricultural waste of spent mushroom farming waste (SMFW) activated carbon for Ni(II) removal was investigated. The batch adsorption experiments of adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, metal concentration, and temperature were determined. The samples were shaken at 125 rpm, filtered and analyzed using ICP-OES. The fifty percent of Ni(II) removal was obtained at 0.63 g of adsorbent dosage, pH 5-6 (unadjusted), 60 min contact time, 50 mg/L Ni(II) concentration and 25 °C temperature. The evaluated SMFW activated carbon showed the highest performance on Ni(II) removal compared to commercial Amberlite IRC86 resin and zeolite NK3. The result indicated that SMFW activated carbon is a high potential cation exchange adsorbent and suitable for adsorption process for metal removal. The obtained results contribute toward application of developed SMFW activated carbon in industrial pilot study.

Characterization of Samples Identified as Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 without Subtype by Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II Assay Using the New Abbott HCV Genotype Plus RUO Test.

PubMed

Mokhtari, Camelia; Ebel, Anne; Reinhardt, Birgit; Merlin, Sandra; Proust, Stéphanie; Roque-Afonso, Anne-Marie

2016-02-01

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping continues to be relevant for therapeutic strategies. Some samples are reported as genotype 1 (gt 1) without subtype by the Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II (GT II) test. To characterize such samples further, the Abbott HCV Genotype Plus RUO (Plus) assay, which targets the core region for gt 1a, gt 1b, and gt 6 detection, was evaluated as a reflex test in reference to NS5B or 5'-untranslated region (UTR)/core region sequencing. Of 3,626 routine samples, results of gt 1 without subtype were received for 171 samples (4.7%), accounting for 11.5% of gt 1 specimens. The Plus assay and sequencing were applied to 98 of those samples. NS5B or 5'-UTR/core region sequencing was successful for 91/98 specimens (92.9%). Plus assay and sequencing results were concordant for 87.9% of specimens (80/91 samples). Sequencing confirmed Plus assay results for 82.6%, 85.7%, 100%, and 89.3% of gt 1a, gt 1b, gt 6, and non-gt 1a/1b/6 results, respectively. Notably, 12 gt 6 samples that had been identified previously as gt 1 without subtype were assigned correctly here; for 25/28 samples reported as "not detected" by the Plus assay, sequencing identified the samples as gt 1 with subtypes other than 1a/1b. The genetic variability of HCV continues to present challenges for the current genotyping platforms regardless of the applied methodology. Samples identified by the GT II assay as gt 1 without subtype can be further resolved and reliably characterized by the new Plus assay. Copyright © 2016 Mokhtari et al.

Immunoassays for the measurement of IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and -3, and ICTP as indirect biomarkers of recombinant human growth hormone misuse in sport. Values in selected population of athletes.

PubMed

Abellan, Rosario; Ventura, Rosa; Palmi, Ilaria; di Carlo, Simonetta; Bacosi, Antonella; Bellver, Montse; Olive, Ramon; Pascual, Jose Antonio; Pacifici, Roberta; Segura, Jordi; Zuccaro, Piergiorgio; Pichini, Simona

2008-11-04

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) -2 and -3 and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) have been proposed, among others, as indirect biomarkers of the recombinant human growth hormone misuse in sport. An extended intra- and inter-laboratory validation of commercially available immunoassays for biomarkers detection was performed. ELISA assays for total IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 (IGF-II/ELISA1: DSLabs, IGFBP-2/ELISA2: Biosource, and IGFBP-3/ELISA3: BioSource) and an EIA assay for ICTP (ICTP/EIA: Orion Diagnostica) were evaluated. The inter- and intra-laboratory precision values were acceptable for all evaluated assays (maximum imprecision of 30% and 66% were found only for the lowest quality control samples of IGF-II and IGFBP-3). Correct accuracy was obtained for all inter-laboratory immunoassays and for IGFBP-2 intra-laboratory immunoassay. The range of concentrations found in serum samples under investigation was always covered by the calibration curves of the studied immunoassays. However, 11% and 15% of the samples felt below the estimated LOQ for IGF-II and ICTP, respectively, in the zone where lower precision was obtained. Although the majority of evaluated assays showed an overall reliability not always suitable for antidoping control analysis, relatively high concordances between laboratory results were obtained for all assays. Evaluated immunoassays were used to measure serum concentrations of IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and -3 and ICTP in elite athletes of various sport disciplines at different moments of the training season; in recreational athletes at baseline conditions and finally in sedentary individuals. Serum IGF-II was statistically higher both in recreational and elite athletes compared to sedentary individuals. Elite athletes showed lower IGFBP-2 and higher IGFBP-3 concentration with respect to recreational athletes and sedentary people. Among elite athletes, serum IGFBP-3 (synchronized swimming), and ICTP (rhythmic gymnastics) concentrations were sport-dependent. Over the training season, within athlete variability was observed for IGFBP-2 in case of taekwondo and IGFBP-2 and -3 in case of weightlifting. Variations due to those aspects should be taken in careful consideration in the hypothesis of setting reference concentration ranges for doping detection.

Partial deoxygenation of extender improves sperm quality, reduces lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species during cryopreservation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen.

PubMed

Balamurugan, B; Ghosh, S K; Lone, S A; Prasad, J K; Das, G K; Katiyar, R; Mustapha, Abdul Rahman; Kumar, Ajay; Verma, M R

2018-02-01

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of partial deoxygenation of extender on sperm quality, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) during cryopreservation of semen. Semen extender was prepared freshly and split into three sub-extenders [Extender I: control (non-deoxygenated), Extender II (partially deoxygenated by using LN 2 flushing) and Extender III (partially deoxygenated mechanically by vacuum pump)]. Amounts of dissolved oxygen (DO) were determined in all the three extenders and also in post-thaw semen. Ejaculates with mass motility of  ≥3+ and individual progressive motility of 70% or greater were collected from Murrah buffalo bulls and utilized in the study. Each semen sample was divided into Groups I (diluted with Extender I), II (diluted with Extender II) and III (diluted Extender III) with a maximum of 60 × 10 6 sperm/mL. French mini straws (0.25 mL) were filled with the extended semen samples, sealed with polyvinyl alcohol powder, kept for 3 h at 5 °C for equilibration and then stored in an automatic programmable freezer until the temperature of straws reached -145 °C followed by plunging the straws into liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). Semen samples were evaluated at pre-freeze and post-thaw stages for various variables [sperm motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) response, LPO and ROS concentrations]. The mean DO was less (P < 0.05) in Extender II as compared to I and III. The DO was less (P < 0.05) in Group II (semen extended with Extender II) as compared with III (semen extended with Extender III) and I (semen extended with Extender I). The percentages for sperm motility, viability and intact acrosomes (PIA) were greater (P < 0.05) in Groups II and III as compared to the control group at the pre-freeze stage, while at the post-thaw stage, percentages of sperm motility, viability, PIA and HOS response were greater (P < 0.05) in Group II as compared with the control group and Group III. Pre-freeze HOS response (%) was greater (P < 0.05) in Group II as compared with the control and Group III. At the pre-freeze stage, sperm LPO and ROS were less (P < 0.05) in Groups II and III as compared with the control and at post-thaw stage, spermatic LPO and ROS concentrations were less (P < 0.05) in Group II than in the control group and Group III. In conclusion, partial deoxygenation of extender improves sperm quality, reduces sperm LPO and ROS concentrations in buffalo during cryopreservation. Partial deoxygenation of the extender with LN 2 flushing may be one of the ways for improving quality and fertility of frozen-thawed buffalo sperm. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of some heavy metals residues in batteries and deep litter rearing systems in Japanese quail meat and offal in Egypt

PubMed Central

Ahmed, Ali M.; Hamed, Dalia M.; Elsharawy, Nagwa T.

2017-01-01

Aim: The main objectives of this study were for comparing the effect of batteries and deep litter rearing systems of domesticated Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, on the concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc from the quail meat and offal in Ismailia, Egypt. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 quail meat and their offal samples were randomly collected from two main quail rearing systems: Battery (Group I) and deep litter system (Group II) for determination of concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. In addition, 80 water and feed samples were randomly collected from water and feeders of both systems in the Food Hygiene Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University for heavy metals determination. Results: The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in Group I were 0.010, 0.027, 1.137, and 0.516 ppm and for Group II were 0.093, 0.832, 0.601, and 1.651 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in quail feed in Group I were 1.114, 1.606, 5.822, and 35.11 ppm and for Group II were 3.010, 2.576, 5.852, and 23.616 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in quail meat for Group I were 0.058, 5.902, 10.244, and 290 ppm and for Group II were 0.086, 6.092, 0.136, and 1.280 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc for liver samples in Group I were 0.15, 8.32, 1.05, and 3.41 ppm and for Group II were 0.13, 8.88, 0.95, and 4.21 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in kidney samples for the Group I were 0.24, 4.21, 1.96, and 4.03 ppm and for Group II were 0.20, 5.00, 1.56, and 3.78 ppm, respectively. Kidney had the highest concentration levels of heavy metals followed by liver then muscles. The highest concentration levels of copper were observed in liver samples. The order of the levels of these trace elements obtained from the four different quail organs is Ca > Pb > Zn > Cu. Lead and cadmium concentration levels in quail meat samples were exceeded the Egyptian standardization limits and suggesting a health threat from lead and cadmium to the quail consumers. Conclusion: Battery rearing system is more hygienic than deep litter system from the point of heavy metals pollution of water and feeds of quail. Feed samples from battery system had means concentration levels of lead not significantly higher (p>0.05) than those samples from deep litter system. Meanwhile, water samples from battery system had means concentration levels of cadmium, copper, and zinc significantly higher (p>0.05) than those samples from deep litter system. Quail may carry health risks to consumers. PMID:28344413

Evaluation of some heavy metals residues in batteries and deep litter rearing systems in Japanese quail meat and offal in Egypt.

PubMed

Ahmed, Ali M; Hamed, Dalia M; Elsharawy, Nagwa T

2017-02-01

The main objectives of this study were for comparing the effect of batteries and deep litter rearing systems of domesticated Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica , on the concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc from the quail meat and offal in Ismailia, Egypt. A total of 40 quail meat and their offal samples were randomly collected from two main quail rearing systems: Battery (Group I) and deep litter system (Group II) for determination of concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. In addition, 80 water and feed samples were randomly collected from water and feeders of both systems in the Food Hygiene Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University for heavy metals determination. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in Group I were 0.010, 0.027, 1.137, and 0.516 ppm and for Group II were 0.093, 0.832, 0.601, and 1.651 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in quail feed in Group I were 1.114, 1.606, 5.822, and 35.11 ppm and for Group II were 3.010, 2.576, 5.852, and 23.616 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in quail meat for Group I were 0.058, 5.902, 10.244, and 290 ppm and for Group II were 0.086, 6.092, 0.136, and 1.280 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc for liver samples in Group I were 0.15, 8.32, 1.05, and 3.41 ppm and for Group II were 0.13, 8.88, 0.95, and 4.21 ppm, respectively. The mean concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in kidney samples for the Group I were 0.24, 4.21, 1.96, and 4.03 ppm and for Group II were 0.20, 5.00, 1.56, and 3.78 ppm, respectively. Kidney had the highest concentration levels of heavy metals followed by liver then muscles. The highest concentration levels of copper were observed in liver samples. The order of the levels of these trace elements obtained from the four different quail organs is Ca > Pb > Zn > Cu. Lead and cadmium concentration levels in quail meat samples were exceeded the Egyptian standardization limits and suggesting a health threat from lead and cadmium to the quail consumers. Battery rearing system is more hygienic than deep litter system from the point of heavy metals pollution of water and feeds of quail. Feed samples from battery system had means concentration levels of lead not significantly higher (p>0.05) than those samples from deep litter system. Meanwhile, water samples from battery system had means concentration levels of cadmium, copper, and zinc significantly higher (p>0.05) than those samples from deep litter system. Quail may carry health risks to consumers.

CrII Reactivity of Taurine/α-Ketoglutarate Dioxygenase

PubMed Central

Grzyska, Piotr K.; Hausinger, Robert P.

2008-01-01

The interaction of CrII with taurine/α-ketoglutarate (αKG) dioxygenase (TauD) was examined. CrII replaces FeII and binds stoichiometrically with αKG to the FeII/αKG-binding site of the protein, with additional CrII used to generate a chromophore attributed to a CrIII-semiquinone in a small percentage of the sample. Formation of the latter oxygen -sensitive species requires the dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) quinone form of Tyr-73. This pre-formed side chain is generated by intracellular self-hydroxylation of Tyr-73 to form DOPA, which is subsequently oxidized to the quinone. No chromophore is generated when using NaBH4-treated sample, protein isolated from anaerobically grown cells, inactive TauD variants that are incapable of self-hydroxylation, or the Y73F active mutant of TauD. A CrIII-DOPA semiquinone also was observed in the herbicide hydroxylase SdpA. PMID:17973473

Cr(II) reactivity of taurine/alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase.

PubMed

Grzyska, Piotr K; Hausinger, Robert P

2007-11-26

The interaction of CrII with taurine/alpha-ketoglutarate (alphaKG) dioxygenase (TauD) was examined. CrII replaces FeII and binds stoichiometrically with alphaKG to the FeII/alphaKG binding site of the protein, with additional CrII used to generate a chromophore attributed to a CrIII-semiquinone in a small percentage of the sample. Formation of the latter oxygen-sensitive species requires the dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) quinone form of Tyr-73. This preformed side chain is generated by intracellular self-hydroxylation of Tyr-73 to form DOPA, which is subsequently oxidized to the quinone. No chromophore is generated when using NaBH4-treated sample, protein isolated from anaerobically grown cells, inactive TauD variants that are incapable of self-hydroxylation, or the Y73F active mutant of TauD. A CrIII-DOPA semiquinone also was observed in the herbicide hydroxylase SdpA.

Unreliability of three commercial Coxiella burnetii phase II IgM ELISA kits for the seroscreening of acute Q fever in human cases.

PubMed

Stephen, Selvaraj; Ambroise, Stanley; Pradeep, Jothimani; Gunasekaran, Dhandapany; Sangeetha, Balakrishnan; Sarangapani, Kengamuthu

2017-09-01

Seroprevalence of Q fever (QF) caused by Coxiella burnetii has been reported from different parts of India. Usually serological/molecular tests are employed for detection of infection. The present study was undertaken to verify the validity of three different QF phase II IgM ELISA kits for acute QF diagnosis by comparing with the gold standard indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Fifty eight serum samples collected from 42 patients (26 patients provided acute sample only and 16 both acute and convalescent samples) which were examined by all three commercial kits, were cross-checked with QF Phase II IgM IFA for confirmation. Eleven patients were positive for C. burnetii antibodies by IFA in acute and/or convalescent serum samples. Taking IFA as a reference, percentages of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for Virion-Serion/Vircell/NovaTec were 36.36, 61.29, 25.00, 73.08; 81.82, 35.48, 31.03, 84.62 and 100, 25.81, 32.35, 100 per cent, respectively. The three different ELISA kits exhibited poor agreement amongst them and unacceptable level of false positivity. IFA remains to be the only option for diagnosing acute QF. Discrepancy between the clinical findings and IFA/ELISA results needs confirmation by C. burnetii DNA detection in real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Unreliability of three commercial Coxiella burnetii phase II IgM ELISA kits for the seroscreening of acute Q fever in human cases

PubMed Central

Stephen, Selvaraj; Ambroise, Stanley; Pradeep, Jothimani; Gunasekaran, Dhandapany; Sangeetha, Balakrishnan; Sarangapani, Kengamuthu

2017-01-01

Background & objectives: Seroprevalence of Q fever (QF) caused by Coxiella burnetii has been reported from different parts of India. Usually serological/molecular tests are employed for detection of infection. The present study was undertaken to verify the validity of three different QF phase II IgM ELISA kits for acute QF diagnosis by comparing with the gold standard indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Methods: Fifty eight serum samples collected from 42 patients (26 patients provided acute sample only and 16 both acute and convalescent samples) which were examined by all three commercial kits, were cross-checked with QF Phase II IgM IFA for confirmation. Results: Eleven patients were positive for C. burnetii antibodies by IFA in acute and/or convalescent serum samples. Taking IFA as a reference, percentages of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for Virion-Serion/Vircell/NovaTec were 36.36, 61.29, 25.00, 73.08; 81.82, 35.48, 31.03, 84.62 and 100, 25.81, 32.35, 100 per cent, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: The three different ELISA kits exhibited poor agreement amongst them and unacceptable level of false positivity. IFA remains to be the only option for diagnosing acute QF. Discrepancy between the clinical findings and IFA/ELISA results needs confirmation by C. burnetii DNA detection in real-time polymerase chain reaction. PMID:29355147

Experimental transition probabilities for Mn II spectral lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manrique, J.; Aguilera, J. A.; Aragón, C.

2018-06-01

Transition probabilities for 46 spectral lines of Mn II with wavelengths in the range 2000-3500 Å have been measured by CSigma laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (Cσ-LIBS). For 28 of the lines, experimental data had not been reported previously. The Cσ-LIBS method, based in the construction of generalized curves of growth called Cσ graphs, avoids the error due to self-absorption. The samples used to generate the laser-induced plasmas are fused glass disks prepared from pure MnO. The Mn concentrations in the samples and the lines included in the study are selected to ensure the validity of the model of homogeneous plasma used. The results are compared to experimental and theoretical values available in the literature.

Statistical inferences with jointly type-II censored samples from two Pareto distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abu-Zinadah, Hanaa H.

2017-08-01

In the several fields of industries the product comes from more than one production line, which is required to work the comparative life tests. This problem requires sampling of the different production lines, then the joint censoring scheme is appeared. In this article we consider the life time Pareto distribution with jointly type-II censoring scheme. The maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) and the corresponding approximate confidence intervals as well as the bootstrap confidence intervals of the model parameters are obtained. Also Bayesian point and credible intervals of the model parameters are presented. The life time data set is analyzed for illustrative purposes. Monte Carlo results from simulation studies are presented to assess the performance of our proposed method.

Treatment timing for functional jaw orthopaedics followed by fixed appliances: a controlled long-term study.

PubMed

Pavoni, Chiara; Lombardo, Elisabetta Cretella; Lione, Roberta; Faltin, Kurt; McNamara, James A; Cozza, Paola; Franchi, Lorenzo

2017-11-01

To evaluate the role of treatment timing on long-term dentoskeletal effects of Class II treatment with removable functional appliances followed by full-fixed appliance therapy. A group of 46 patients (23 females and 23 males) with Class II malocclusion treated consecutively with either Bionator or Activator, followed by fixed appliances was compared with a matched control group of 31 subjects (16 females and 15 males) with untreated Class II malocclusion. The treated sample was evaluated at T1, start of treatment (mean age: 9.9 ± 1.3 years); T2, end of functional treatment and prior to fixed appliances (mean age: 11.9 ± 1.3 years); and T3, long-term observation (mean age: 18.3 ± 2.1 years). The treated and the control samples were divided into pre-pubertal and pubertal groups according to skeletal maturity observed at the start of treatment. Statistical comparisons were performed with independent sample t-tests. When treatment was initiated before puberty, Class II correction was mostly confined to the dentoalveolar changes, with significant improvements of both overjet and molar relationships. On the other hand, treatment with the outset at puberty produced significant long-term improvement of sagittal skeletal relationships, which were mainly sustained by mandibular changes. Treatment with removable functional appliances (Bionator or Activator) followed by full-fixed appliances produced significant skeletal long-term changes when it begins at puberty. Prepubertal Class II treatment results primarily in dentoalveolar changes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Removal of lead from aqueous solutions using Cassia grandis seed gum-graft-poly(methylmethacrylate).

PubMed

Singh, Vandana; Tiwari, Stuti; Sharma, Ajit Kumar; Sanghi, Rashmi

2007-12-15

Using persulfate/ascorbic acid redox system, a series of Cassia grandis seed gum-graft-poly(methylmethacrylate) samples were synthesized. The copolymer samples were evaluated for lead(II) removal from the aqueous solutions where the sorption capacities were found proportional to the grafting extent. The conditions for the sorption were optimized using copolymer sample of highest percent grafting. The sorption was found pH and concentration dependent, pH 2.0 being the optimum value. Adsorption of lead by the grafted seed gum followed a pseudo-second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 4.64 x 10(-5) g/mg/min. The equilibrium data followed the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacity of 126.58 mg/g. The influence of electrolytes NaCl, Na(2)SO(4) on lead uptake was also studied. Desorption with 2 N HCl could elute 76% of the lead ions from the lead-loaded copolymer. The regeneration experiments revealed that the copolymer could be successfully reused for at least four cycles though there was a successive loss in lead sorption capacity with every cycle. The adsorbent was also evaluated for Pb(II) removal from battery waste-water containing 2166 mg/L Pb(II). From 1000 times diluted waste water, 86.1% Pb(II) could be removed using 0.05 g/20 ml adsorbent dose, while 0.5 g/20 ml adsorbent dose was capable of removing 60.29% Pb from 10 times diluted waste water. Optimum Pb(II) binding under highly acidic conditions indicated that there was a significant contribution of nonelectrostatic interactions in the adsorption process. A possible mechanism for the adsorption has been discussed.

Preconcentration of Sn (II) using the methylene blue on the activated carbon and its determination by spectrophotometry method.

PubMed

Khodadoust, Saeid; Cham Kouri, Narges

2014-04-05

A simple and accurate spectrophotometric method for determination of trace amounts of Sn (II) ion in soil sample was developed by using the methylene blue (MB) in the presence of activated carbon (AC) as the adsorbent Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) of Sn (II) and then determined by UV-Vis. The Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1-80ngmL(-1) of Sn (II) with the detection limits of 0.34ngmL(-1). The influence of type and volume of eluent, concentration of MB, pH, and amount of AC on sensitivity of spectrophotometric method were optimized. The method has been successfully applied for Sn (II) ion determination in soil sample. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project – Phase II (HARP-II): Rationale, methods, and features of the sample at intake

PubMed Central

Weisberg, Risa B.; Beard, Courtney; Dyck, Ingrid; Keller, Martin B.

2012-01-01

We describe the rationale, method, and intake demographic and clinical findings of the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project-Phase II (HARP-II). HARP-II is the first prospective, observational, longitudinal study to describe the characteristics and course of anxiety in African American, Latino, and Non-Latino White individuals. Participants met criteria for at least one of the following disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Agoraphobia without history of Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Initial intake data, collected between 2004 and 2011, are presented for 165 African American, 150 Latino, and 172 Non-Latino White participants. Participants evidenced substantial psychiatric comorbidity (mean number of Axis I disorders = 3.4), and moderate to severe symptoms and functional impairment. HARP-II will examine clinical course, in the context of potential socio-cultural and individual moderators (e.g., discrimination, acculturation, negative affect). Results should lead to improved understanding, prognostics, and treatment of anxiety in diverse populations. PMID:22410095

THE STELLAR POPULATION AND STAR FORMATION RATES OF z Almost-Equal-To 1.5-1.6 [O II]-EMITTING GALAXIES SELECTED FROM NARROWBAND EMISSION-LINE SURVEYS

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

Ly, Chun; Malkan, Matthew A.; Ross, Nathaniel R.

We present the first detailed study of the stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at z {approx} 1.5, which are selected by their [O II] emission line, detected in narrowband surveys. We identified {approx}1300 [O II] emitters at z = 1.47 and z = 1.62 in the Subaru Deep Field with rest-frame equivalent widths (EWs) above 13 A. Optical and near-infrared spectroscopic observations for Almost-Equal-To 10% of our samples show that our separation of [O II] from [O III] emission-line galaxies in two-color space is 99% successful. We analyze the multi-wavelength properties of a subset of {approx}1200 galaxies with the bestmore » photometry. They have average rest-frame EW of 45 A, stellar mass of 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun }, and stellar age of 100 Myr. In addition, our spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting and broadband colors indicate that [O II] emitters span the full range of galaxy populations at z {approx} 1.5. We also find that 80% of [O II] emitters are also photometrically classified as 'BX/BM' (UV) galaxies and/or the star-forming 'BzK' (near-IR) galaxies. Our [O II] emission line survey produces a far more complete and somewhat deeper sample of z {approx} 1.5 galaxies than either the BX/BM or sBzK selection alone. We constructed average SEDs and find that higher [O II] EW galaxies have somewhat bluer continua. SED model-fitting shows that they have on average half the stellar mass of galaxies with lower [O II] EW. The observed [O II] luminosity is well correlated with the far-UV continuum with a logarithmic slope of 0.89 {+-} 0.22. The scatter of the [O II] luminosity against the far-UV continuum suggests that [O II] can be used as a star formation rate indicator with a reliability of 0.23 dex.« less

Simultaneous Stripping Detection of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) Using a Bimetallic Hg-Bi/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Composite Electrode

PubMed Central

Ouyang, Ruizhuo; Zhu, Zhenqian; Tatum, Clarissa E.; Chambers, James Q.; Xue, Zi-Ling

2011-01-01

A new, sensitive platform for the simultaneous electrochemical assay of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous solution has been developed. The platform is based on a new bimetallic Hg-Bi/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), demonstrating remarkably improved performance for the anodic stripping assay of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II). The synergistic effect of Hg and Bi as well as the enlarged, activated surface and good electrical conductivity of SWNTs on GCE contribute to the enhanced activity of the proposed electrode. The analytical curves for Zn(II), Cd(II) an Pb(II) cover two linear ranges varying from 0.5 to 11 μg L-1 and 10 to 130 μg L-1 with correlation coefficients higher than 0.992. The limits of detection for Zn(II), Cd(II) are lower than 2 μg L-1 (S/N = 3). For Pb(II), moreover, there is another lower, linear range from 5 to 1100 ng L-1 with a coefficient of 0.987 and a detection limit of 0.12 ng L-1. By using the standard addition method, Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in river samples were successfully determined. These results suggest that the proposed method can be applied as a simple, efficient alternative for the simultaneous monitoring of heavy metals in water samples. In addition, this method demonstrates the powerful application of carbon nanotubes in electrochemical analysis of heavy metals. PMID:21660117

Controlled uptake and release of imatinib from ultrasound nanoparticles Cu3(BTC)2 metal-organic framework in comparison with bulk structure.

PubMed

Abbasi, Amir Reza; Rizvandi, Maryam; Azadbakht, Azadeh; Rostamnia, Sadegh

2016-06-01

The porosity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is an important point concerning the possible use of such functional materials for different purposes. In this work, we study uptake and release properties of imatinib (IM) from nano Cu(II)-MOF in comparison with bulk Cu(II)-MOF. To explore the absorption ability of the Cu(II)-MOF to IM, fresh sample of Cu3(BTC)2 was immersed in an aqueous solution of IM and were monitored in real time with UV/vis spectroscopy. Results show that the adsorbed quantity of IM over nano Cu3(BTC)2 (I) is much higher than those over a bulk Cu3(BTC)2 (II). Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Spectroscopic characterization of manganese minerals.

PubMed

Lakshmi Reddy, S; Padma Suvarna, K; Udayabhaska Reddy, G; Endo, Tamio; Frost, R L

2014-01-03

Manganese minerals ardenite, alleghanyite and leucopoenicite originated from Madhya Pradesh, India, Nagano prefecture Japan, Sussex Country and Parker Shaft Franklin, Sussex Country, New Jersey respectively are used in the present work. In these minerals manganese is the major constituent and iron if present is in traces only. An EPR study of on all of the above samples confirms the presence of Mn(II) with g around 2.0. Optical absorption spectrum of the mineral alleghanyite indicates that Mn(II) is present in two different octahedral sites and in leucophoenicite Mn(II) is also in octahedral geometry. Ardenite mineral gives only a few Mn(II) bands. NIR results of the minerals ardenite, leucophoenicite and alleghanyite are due to hydroxyl and silicate anions which confirming the formulae of the minerals. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Patient acceptability and practical implications of pharmacokinetic studies in patients with advanced cancer.

PubMed

Dobbs, N A; Twelves, C J; Ramirez, A J; Towlson, K E; Gregory, W M; Richards, M A

1993-01-01

We have studied the practical implications and acceptability to patients of pharmacokinetic studies in 34 women receiving anthracyclines for advanced breast cancer. The following parameters were recorded: age, ECOG performance status, psychological state (Rotterdam Symptom Checklist), cytotoxic drug and dose, number of venepunctures for treatment and sampling, and time when the sampling cannula was removed. Immediately after finishing pharmacokinetic sampling, patients completed a questionnaire which revealed that (i) all patients understood sampling was for research, (ii) 35% of patients experienced problems with sampling, (iii) benefits from participation were perceived by 56% of patients. Of 20 patients later questioned after completion of their treatment course, 40% recalled difficulties with blood sampling. Factors identifying in advance those patients who tolerate pharmacokinetic studies poorly were not identified but the number of venepunctures should be minimised. Patients may also perceive benefits from 'non-therapeutic' research.

Influence of amino acids Shiff bases on irradiated DNA stability in vivo.

PubMed

Karapetyan, N H; Malakyan, M H; Bajinyan, S A; Torosyan, A L; Grigoryan, I E; Haroutiunian, S G

2013-01-01

To reveal protective role of the new Mn(II) complexes with Nicotinyl-L-Tyrosinate and Nicotinyl-L-Tryptophanate Schiff Bases against ionizing radiation. The DNA of the rats liver was isolated on 7, 14, and 30 days after X-ray irradiation. The differences between the DNA of irradiated rats and rats pre-treated with Mn(II) complexes were studied using the melting, microcalorimetry, and electrophoresis methods. The melting parameters and the melting enthalpy of rats livers DNA were changed after the X-ray irradiation: melting temperature and melting enthalpy were decreased and melting interval was increased. These results can be explained by destruction of DNA molecules. It was shown that pre-treatment of rats with Mn(II) complexes approximates the melting parameters to norm. Agarose gel electrophoresis data confirmed the results of melting studies. The separate DNA fragments were revealed in DNA samples isolated from irradiated animals. The DNA isolated from animals pre-treated with the Mn(II) chelates had better electrophoretic characteristics, which correspond to healthy DNA. Pre-treatment of the irradiated rats with Mn(II)(Nicotinil-L-Tyrosinate) and Mn(II)(Nicotinil-L-Tryptophanate)2 improves the DNA characteristics.

The NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Studies (REDS and REDS-II): Twenty years of research to advance blood product safety and availability

PubMed Central

Kleinman, Steven; King, Melissa R; Busch, Michael P; Murphy, Edward L; Glynn, Simone A.

2012-01-01

The Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS), conducted from 1989–2001, and the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study-II (REDS-II), conducted from 2004–2012, were National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded multicenter programs focused on improving blood safety and availability in the United States. REDS-II also included international study sites in Brazil and China. The three major research domains of REDS/REDS-II have been infectious disease risk evaluation, blood donation availability, and blood donor characterization. Both programs have made significant contributions to transfusion medicine research methodology by the use of mathematical modeling, large-scale donor surveys, innovative methods of repository sample storage, and establishing an infrastructure that responded to potential emerging blood safety threats such as XMRV. Blood safety studies have included protocols evaluating epidemiologic and/or laboratory aspects of HIV, HTLV I/II, HCV, HBV, WNV, CMV, HHV-8, B19V, malaria, CJD, influenza, and T. cruzi infections. Other analyses have characterized: blood donor demographics, motivations to donate, factors influencing donor return, behavioral risk factors, donors’ perception of the blood donation screening process, and aspects of donor deferral. In REDS-II, two large-scale blood donor protocols examined iron deficiency in donors and the prevalence of leukocyte antibodies. This review describes the major study results from over 150 peer-reviewed articles published by these two REDS programs. In 2011, a new seven year program, the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study-III (REDS-III), was launched. REDS-III expands beyond donor-based research to include studies of blood transfusion recipients in the hospital setting, and adds a third country, South Africa, to the international program. PMID:22633182

[CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells in the stroma of the uterine cervix of women infected with human papillomavirus].

PubMed

Alves, Daniella Borges; Tozetti, Inês Aparecida; Gatto, Flávia Almeida; Cassandri, Fernanda; Ferreira, Alda Maria Teixeira; Carlos Eurico Dos Santos, Fernandes; Falcão, Gustavo Ribeiro; Scapulatempo, Ilzia Doraci Lins; Padovani, Cacilda Tezelli Junqueira; Abdo, Maria Auxiliadora Gomes Sandim

2010-01-01

Immune response might be a key element regarding the progression or regression of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the stroma of the uterine cervix. This study aimed to quantify the presence of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells in the cervical stroma, by means of immunohistochemistry, in high and low grade lesions in patients infected by HPV METHODS: Fifty-six biopsy samples from the uterine cervix were used. Forty-three samples were positive for oncogenic high-risk HPV DNA and had a histopathological diagnosis of high and low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or negative for intraepithelial lesion and malignancy (NILM); while the other 13 samples were negative for HPV DNA with a histopathological diagnosis of NILM RESULTS: Higher quantities of CD4 T lymphocytes were observed in CIN II/III, carcinoma and NILM samples (p = 0.04) and in those in which the viral load was between 10 and 1.000 RLU/PCB. CD8 T lymphocytes were predominant in CIN II/III samples (p = 0.02) and also in samples with viral loads between 100 and 1,000 RLU/PCB. NK cells predominated in samples with low-grade lesions and low viral load This study proved that in the initial stages of the infection, in which no high-grade cell abnormalities have yet occurred, no cells that might trigger the effector phase of the immune response.

Broad [C II] Line Wings as Tracer of Molecular and Multi-phase Outflows in Infrared Bright Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janssen, A. W.; Christopher, N.; Sturm, E.; Veilleux, S.; Contursi, A.; González-Alfonso, E.; Fischer, J.; Davies, R.; Verma, A.; Graciá-Carpio, J.; Genzel, R.; Lutz, D.; Sternberg, A.; Tacconi, L.; Burtscher, L.; Poglitsch, A.

2016-05-01

We report a tentative correlation between the outflow characteristics derived from OH absorption at 119 μm and [C II] emission at 158 μm in a sample of 22 local and bright ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). For this sample, we investigate whether [C II] broad wings are a good tracer of molecular outflows, and how the two tracers are connected. Fourteen objects in our sample have a broad wing component as traced by [C II], and all of these also show OH119 absorption indicative of an outflow (in one case an inflow). The other eight cases, where no broad [C II] component was found, are predominantly objects with no OH outflow or a low-velocity (≤100 km s-1) OH outflow. The FWHM of the broad [C II] component shows a trend with the OH119 blueshifted velocity, although with significant scatter. Moreover, and despite large uncertainties, the outflow masses derived from OH and broad [C II] show a 1:1 relation. The main conclusion is therefore that broad [C II] wings can be used to trace molecular outflows. This may be particularly relevant at high redshift, where the usual tracers of molecular gas (like low-J CO lines) become hard to observe. Additionally, observations of blueshifted Na I D λλ 5890, 5896 absorption are available for 10 of our sources. Outflow velocities of Na I D show a trend with OH velocity and broad [C II] FWHM. These observations suggest that the atomic and molecular gas phases of the outflow are connected.

A simple two-stage design for quantitative responses with application to a study in diabetic neuropathic pain.

PubMed

Whitehead, John; Valdés-Márquez, Elsa; Lissmats, Agneta

2009-01-01

Two-stage designs offer substantial advantages for early phase II studies. The interim analysis following the first stage allows the study to be stopped for futility, or more positively, it might lead to early progression to the trials needed for late phase II and phase III. If the study is to continue to its second stage, then there is an opportunity for a revision of the total sample size. Two-stage designs have been implemented widely in oncology studies in which there is a single treatment arm and patient responses are binary. In this paper the case of two-arm comparative studies in which responses are quantitative is considered. This setting is common in therapeutic areas other than oncology. It will be assumed that observations are normally distributed, but that there is some doubt concerning their standard deviation, motivating the need for sample size review. The work reported has been motivated by a study in diabetic neuropathic pain, and the development of the design for that trial is described in detail. Copyright 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Type II Supernova Spectral Diversity. I. Observations, Sample Characterization, and Spectral Line Evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutiérrez, Claudia P.; Anderson, Joseph P.; Hamuy, Mario; Morrell, Nidia; González-Gaitan, Santiago; Stritzinger, Maximilian D.; Phillips, Mark M.; Galbany, Lluis; Folatelli, Gastón; Dessart, Luc; Contreras, Carlos; Della Valle, Massimo; Freedman, Wendy L.; Hsiao, Eric Y.; Krisciunas, Kevin; Madore, Barry F.; Maza, José; Suntzeff, Nicholas B.; Prieto, Jose Luis; González, Luis; Cappellaro, Enrico; Navarrete, Mauricio; Pizzella, Alessandro; Ruiz, Maria T.; Smith, R. Chris; Turatto, Massimo

2017-11-01

We present 888 visual-wavelength spectra of 122 nearby type II supernovae (SNe II) obtained between 1986 and 2009, and ranging between 3 and 363 days post-explosion. In this first paper, we outline our observations and data reduction techniques, together with a characterization based on the spectral diversity of SNe II. A statistical analysis of the spectral matching technique is discussed as an alternative to nondetection constraints for estimating SN explosion epochs. The time evolution of spectral lines is presented and analyzed in terms of how this differs for SNe of different photometric, spectral, and environmental properties: velocities, pseudo-equivalent widths, decline rates, magnitudes, time durations, and environment metallicity. Our sample displays a large range in ejecta expansion velocities, from ˜9600 to ˜1500 km s-1 at 50 days post-explosion with a median {{{H}}}α value of 7300 km s-1. This is most likely explained through differing explosion energies. Significant diversity is also observed in the absolute strength of spectral lines, characterized through their pseudo-equivalent widths. This implies significant diversity in both temperature evolution (linked to progenitor radius) and progenitor metallicity between different SNe II. Around 60% of our sample shows an extra absorption component on the blue side of the {{{H}}}α P-Cygni profile (“Cachito” feature) between 7 and 120 days since explosion. Studying the nature of Cachito, we conclude that these features at early times (before ˜35 days) are associated with Si II λ 6355, while past the middle of the plateau phase they are related to high velocity (HV) features of hydrogen lines. This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile; and the Gemini Observatory, Cerro Pachon, Chile (Gemini Program GS-2008B-Q-56). Based on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile (ESO Programs 076.A-0156, 078.D-0048, 080.A-0516, and 082.A-0526).

The redox processes in Hg-contaminated soils from Descoberto (Minas Gerais, Brazil): implications for the mercury cycle.

PubMed

Windmöller, Cláudia C; Durão Júnior, Walter A; de Oliveira, Aline; do Valle, Cláudia M

2015-02-01

Investigations of the redox process and chemical speciation of Hg(II) lead to a better understanding of biogeochemical processes controlling the transformation of Hg(II) into toxic and bioaccumulative monomethyl mercury, mainly in areas contaminated with Hg(0). This study investigates the speciation and redox processes of Hg in soil samples from a small area contaminated with Hg(0) as a result of gold mining activities in the rural municipality of Descoberto (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Soil samples were prepared by adding Hg(0) and HgCl2 separately to dry soil, and the Hg redox process was monitored using thermodesorption coupled to atomic absorption spectrometry. A portion of the Hg(0) added was volatilized (up to 37.4±2.0%) or oxidized (from 36±7% to 88±16%). A correlation with Mn suggests that this oxidation is favored, but many other factors must be evaluated, such as the presence of microorganisms and the types of organic matter present. The interaction of Hg with the matrix is suggested to involve Hg(II)-complexes formed with inorganic and organic sulfur ligands and/or nonspecific adsorption onto oxides of Fe, Al and/or Mn. The kinetics of the oxidation reaction was approximated for two first-order reactions; the faster reaction was attributed to the oxidation of Hg(0)/Hg(I), and the slower reaction corresponded to Hg(I)/Hg(II). The second stage was 43-139 times slower than the first. The samples spiked with Hg(II) showed low volatilization and a shifting of the signal of Hg(II) to lower temperatures. These results show that the extent, rate and type of redox process can be adverse in soils. Descoberto can serve as an example for areas contaminated with Hg(0). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Black Hole Mass Estimates and Emission-line Properties of a Sample of Redshift z > 6.5 Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Rosa, Gisella; Venemans, Bram P.; Decarli, Roberto; Gennaro, Mario; Simcoe, Robert A.; Dietrich, Matthias; Peterson, Bradley M.; Walter, Fabian; Frank, Stephan; McMahon, Richard G.; Hewett, Paul C.; Mortlock, Daniel J.; Simpson, Chris

2014-08-01

We present the analysis of optical and near-infrared spectra of the only four z > 6.5 quasars known to date, discovered in the UKIDSS-LAS and VISTA-VIKING surveys. Our data set consists of new Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter and Magellan/FIRE observations. These are the best optical/NIR spectroscopic data that are likely to be obtained for the z > 6.5 sample using current 6-10 m facilities. We estimate the black hole (BH) mass, the Eddington ratio, and the Si IV/C IV, C III]/C IV, and Fe II/Mg II emission-line flux ratios. We perform spectral modeling using a procedure that allows us to derive a probability distribution for the continuum components and to obtain the quasar properties weighted upon the underlying distribution of continuum models. The z > 6.5 quasars show the same emission properties as their counterparts at lower redshifts. The z > 6.5 quasars host BHs with masses of ~109 M ⊙ that are accreting close to the Eddington luminosity (langlog(L Bol/L Edd)rang = -0.4 ± 0.2), in agreement with what has been observed for a sample of 4.0 < z < 6.5 quasars. By comparing the Si IV/C IV and C III]/C IV flux ratios with the results obtained from luminosity-matched samples at z ~ 6 and 2 <= z <= 4.5, we find no evidence of evolution of the line ratios with cosmic time. We compare the measured Fe II/Mg II flux ratios with those obtained for a sample of 4.0 < z < 6.4 sources. The two samples are analyzed using a consistent procedure. There is no evidence that the Fe II/Mg II flux ratio evolves between z = 7 and z = 4. Under the assumption that the Fe II/Mg II traces the Fe/Mg abundance ratio, this implies the presence of major episodes of chemical enrichment in the quasar hosts in the first ~0.8 Gyr after the Big Bang. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile, programs 286.A-5025, 087.A-0890, and 088.A-0897. This paper also includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescope located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

Oxidation of Fe(II) in rainwater.

PubMed

Willey, J D; Whitehead, R F; Kieber, R J; Hardison, D R

2005-04-15

Photochemically produced Fe(II) is oxidized within hours under environmentally realistic conditions in rainwater. The diurnal variation between photochemical production and reoxidation of Fe(II) observed in our laboratory accurately mimics the behavior of ferrous iron observed in field studies where the highest concentrations of dissolved Fe(ll) occur in afternoon rain during the period of maximum sunlight intensity followed by gradually decreasing concentrations eventually returning to early morning pre-light values. The experimental work presented here, along with the results of kinetics studies done by others, suggests thatthe primary process responsible for the decline in photochemically produced Fe(II) concentrations is oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. This reaction is first order with respect to both the concentrations of Fe(II) and H2O2. The second-order rate constant determined for six different authentic rain samples varied over an order of magnitude and was always less than or equal to the rate constant determined for this reaction in simple acidic solutions. Oxidation of photochemically produced ferrous iron by other oxidants including molecular oxygen, ozone, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl/superoxide radical, and hexavalent chromium were found to be insignificant under the conditions present in rainwater. This study shows that Fe(II) occurs as at least two different chemical species in rain; photochemically produced Fe(II) that is oxidized over time periods of hours, and a background Fe(II) that is protected against oxidation, perhaps by organic complexation, and is stable against oxidation for days. Because the rate of oxidation of photochemically produced Fe(II) does not increase with increasing rainwater pH, the speciation of this more labile form of Fe(II) is also not controlled by simple hydrolysis reactions.

Galaxy clustering dependence on the [O II] emission line luminosity in the local Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favole, Ginevra; Rodríguez-Torres, Sergio A.; Comparat, Johan; Prada, Francisco; Guo, Hong; Klypin, Anatoly; Montero-Dorta, Antonio D.

2017-11-01

We study the galaxy clustering dependence on the [O II] emission line luminosity in the SDSS DR7 Main galaxy sample at mean redshift z ∼ 0.1. We select volume-limited samples of galaxies with different [O II] luminosity thresholds and measure their projected, monopole and quadrupole two-point correlation functions. We model these observations using the 1 h-1 Gpc MultiDark-Planck cosmological simulation and generate light cones with the SUrvey GenerAtoR algorithm. To interpret our results, we adopt a modified (Sub)Halo Abundance Matching scheme, accounting for the stellar mass incompleteness of the emission line galaxies. The satellite fraction constitutes an extra parameter in this model and allows to optimize the clustering fit on both small and intermediate scales (i.e. rp ≲ 30 h-1 Mpc), with no need of any velocity bias correction. We find that, in the local Universe, the [O II] luminosity correlates with all the clustering statistics explored and with the galaxy bias. This latter quantity correlates more strongly with the SDSS r-band magnitude than [O II] luminosity. In conclusion, we propose a straightforward method to produce reliable clustering models, entirely built on the simulation products, which provides robust predictions of the typical ELG host halo masses and satellite fraction values. The SDSS galaxy data, MultiDark mock catalogues and clustering results are made publicly available.

Verbal learning in marijuana users seeking treatment: a comparison between depressed and non-depressed samples.

PubMed

Roebke, Patrick V; Vadhan, Nehal P; Brooks, Daniel J; Levin, Frances R

2014-07-01

Both individuals with marijuana use and depressive disorders exhibit verbal learning and memory decrements. This study investigated the interaction between marijuana dependence and depression on learning and memory performance. The California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) was administered to depressed (n = 71) and non-depressed (n = 131) near-daily marijuana users. The severity of depressive symptoms was measured by the self-rated Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the clinician-rated Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Multivariate analyses of covariance statistics (MANCOVA) were employed to analyze group differences in cognitive performance. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relative associations between marijuana use, depression and CVLT-II performance. Findings from each group were compared to published normative data. Although both groups exhibited decreased CVLT-II performance relative to the test's normative sample (p < 0.05), marijuana-dependent subjects with a depressive disorder did not perform differently than marijuana-dependent subjects without a depressive disorder (p > 0.05). Further, poorer CVLT-II performance was modestly associated with increased self-reported daily amount of marijuana use (corrected p < 0.002), but was not significantly associated with increased scores on measures of depressive symptoms (corrected p > 0.002). These findings suggest an inverse association between marijuana use and verbal learning function, but not between depression and verbal learning function in regular marijuana users.

Duration of the peak of adolescent growth spurt in class i and ii malocclusion subjects using a cervical vertebrae maturation analysis.

PubMed

Salazar-Lazo, Rodrigo; Arriola-Guillén, Luis E; Flores-Mir, Carlos

2014-01-01

The aim of the present work was to determine the duration of the adolescent peak growth spurt using cervical vertebral maturation analysis in class I and II malocclusion subjects. The study was conducted on a sample which consisted of 154 lateral cephalograms of children and adolescents aged 9-15 years (84 females and 70 males). The evaluation of skeletal maturation stage was performed using a visual morphological analysis of CS3 and CS4 cervical vertebrae. The sagittal skeletal relation was evaluated according to Steiner analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize chronological age in each malocclusion group and for each CS3 and CS4 skeletal maturation stage. Due to a lack of normal distribution, comparisons of CS3 and CS4 age intervals on class I and II subjects were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples. The results show that the mean duration of the adolescent peak growth spurt was 10 months between CS3 and CS4 stages in class I malocclusion subjects, whereas in class II malocclusion patients the duration was 6 months. This difference of 4 months was statistically significant (p<0.001). Finally, a clinically significant difference of 4 months in the duration of the adolescent peak growth spurt for class I and II malocclusion subjects was identified.

Differential Expression of Glycolysis-Related Proteins in Follicular Neoplasms versus Hürthle Cell Neoplasms: A Retrospective Analysis

PubMed Central

Kim, Hye Min

2017-01-01

Purpose Although currently classified as variants of follicular neoplasms (FNs), Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCNs) exhibit distinct biological characteristics. Hence, the metabolism of both neoplasms may also be different. The aims of this study were to investigate and compare the expression of glycolysis-related proteins in HCNs and FNs and to determine the clinical implications of such expression. Methods Tissue microarrays were constructed with 265 samples of FNs (112 follicular carcinomas (FCs) and 153 follicular adenomas (FAs)) as well as 108 samples of HCNs (27 Hürthle cell carcinomas (HCCs) and 81 Hürthle cell adenomas (HCAs)). Immunohistochemical staining for the glycolysis-related molecules Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 was performed. Results The expression levels of Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 were significantly higher in HCNs than in FNs (p < 0.001). Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 expression levels were highest in HCC, followed by HCA, FC, and FA (all p < 0.001). In HCC, hexokinase II positivity was associated with large tumor size (>4 cm) (p = 0.046), CAIX positivity with vascular invasion (p = 0.005), and MCT4 positivity with extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.030). Conclusion The expression levels of the glycolysis-related proteins Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 were higher in HCNs than in FNs and in HCCs than in HCAs. PMID:28790533

Impaired verbal learning in forensic inpatients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder.

PubMed

Corbett, Lasha; Karyadi, Kenny A; Kinney, Dominique; Nitch, Stephen R; Bayan, Stacey Marie; Williams, Mark

2018-01-01

The present study aimed to: (a) examine verbal learning performances among forensic inpatients diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD); and (b) compare verbal learning performances among forensic SSD inpatients, SSD outpatients, and a small control sample. Participants included forensic SSD inpatients (n = 71), SSD outpatients (n = 305; see Stone et al.), and a control sample from the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) manual (n = 78; see Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober). Five verbal learning outcomes were measured using the CVLT-II. The average forensic SSD inpatients performed 1 to 1.5 standard deviations below the mean across the five verbal learning outcomes, many of whom (26.8% to 36.6%) performed in the impaired range across the five outcomes. Forensic SSD inpatients performed significantly lower than the SSD outpatients on three verbal learning outcomes and significantly lower than healthy controls on all five verbal learning outcomes. Results indicated forensically committed SSD inpatients have diminished verbal learning performances. Study findings could help define normative verbal learning performances in different types of SSD patients, may guide the development of compensatory strategies for verbal learning deficits, and could subsequently lead to more successful clinical outcomes in this population.

Molecular Identification and Genetic Analysis of Norovirus Genogroups I and II in Water Environments: Comparative Analysis of Different Reverse Transcription-PCR Assays▿

PubMed Central

La Rosa, G.; Fontana, S.; Di Grazia, A.; Iaconelli, M.; Pourshaban, M.; Muscillo, M.

2007-01-01

Noroviruses have received increased attention in recent years because their role as etiologic agents in acute gastroenteritis outbreaks is now clearly established. Our inability to grow them in cell culture and the lack of an animal model hinder the characterization of these viruses. More recently, molecular approaches have been used to study the genetic relationships that exist among them. In the present study, environmental samples from seawater, estuarine water, and effluents of sewage treatment plants were analyzed in order to evaluate the role of environmental surface contamination as a possible vehicle for transmission of norovirus genogroups I and II. Novel broad-range reverse transcription-PCR/nested assays targeting the region coding for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase were developed, amplifying fragments of 516 bp and 687 bp in the nested reactions for genogroups II and I, respectively. The assays were evaluated and compared against widely used published assays. The newly designed assays provide long regions for high-confidence BLAST searches in public databases and therefore are useful diagnostic tools for molecular diagnosis and typing of human noroviruses in clinical and environmental samples, as well as for the study of molecular epidemiology and the evolution of these viruses. PMID:17483265

Estimating cross-validatory predictive p-values with integrated importance sampling for disease mapping models.

PubMed

Li, Longhai; Feng, Cindy X; Qiu, Shi

2017-06-30

An important statistical task in disease mapping problems is to identify divergent regions with unusually high or low risk of disease. Leave-one-out cross-validatory (LOOCV) model assessment is the gold standard for estimating predictive p-values that can flag such divergent regions. However, actual LOOCV is time-consuming because one needs to rerun a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis for each posterior distribution in which an observation is held out as a test case. This paper introduces a new method, called integrated importance sampling (iIS), for estimating LOOCV predictive p-values with only Markov chain samples drawn from the posterior based on a full data set. The key step in iIS is that we integrate away the latent variables associated the test observation with respect to their conditional distribution without reference to the actual observation. By following the general theory for importance sampling, the formula used by iIS can be proved to be equivalent to the LOOCV predictive p-value. We compare iIS and other three existing methods in the literature with two disease mapping datasets. Our empirical results show that the predictive p-values estimated with iIS are almost identical to the predictive p-values estimated with actual LOOCV and outperform those given by the existing three methods, namely, the posterior predictive checking, the ordinary importance sampling, and the ghosting method by Marshall and Spiegelhalter (2003). Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modeling the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II using non-parametric item response models.

PubMed

Galindo-Garre, Francisca; Hidalgo, María Dolores; Guilera, Georgina; Pino, Oscar; Rojo, J Emilio; Gómez-Benito, Juana

2015-03-01

The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) is a multidimensional instrument developed for measuring disability. It comprises six domains (getting around, self-care, getting along with others, life activities and participation in society). The main purpose of this paper is the evaluation of the psychometric properties for each domain of the WHO-DAS II with parametric and non-parametric Item Response Theory (IRT) models. A secondary objective is to assess whether the WHO-DAS II items within each domain form a hierarchy of invariantly ordered severity indicators of disability. A sample of 352 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder is used in this study. The 36 items WHO-DAS II was administered during the consultation. Partial Credit and Mokken scale models are used to study the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the WHO-DAS II scale are satisfactory for all the domains. However, we identify a few items that do not discriminate satisfactorily between different levels of disability and cannot be invariantly ordered in the scale. In conclusion the WHO-DAS II can be used to assess overall disability in patients with schizophrenia, but some domains are too general to assess functionality in these patients because they contain items that are not applicable to this pathology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Temperature dependence Infrared and Raman studies of III-V/II-VI core-shell nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manciu, Felicia S.; McCombe, Bruce D.; Lucey, Derrick

2005-03-01

The temperature dependence (8 K < T < 300 K) of optical phonon modes confined in InP/II-VI core-shell nanostructures have been investigated by far-infrared (FIR) and Raman scattering spectroscopies. The core-shell nanostructures were fabricated by colloidal chemistry and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction prior to being embedded in a polycrystalline CsI matrix for the present studies. The FIR measurements of InP/ZnSe sample exhibits three absorption features, one clearly due to the Froelich mode of the InP cores, and the others related to modes associated with the shell layer and its coupling to the matrix. Strong mixing of the characteristic vibrations of each constituent material was observed for InP/ZnS sample. Raman scattering (457.9 nm excitation) features were determined without polarization selection in the backscattering geometry. Interesting T-dependent resonant Raman effect of the surface optical phonon modes has been discovered in InP/ZnSe sample. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the Raman and FIR results, as well as with theoretical calculations.

Sensitive and selective detection of Cu(II) ion: A new effective 1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescence 'turn off' sensor.

PubMed

Huang, Guozhen; Li, Chuang; Han, Xintong; Aderinto, Stephen Opeyemi; Shen, Kesheng; Mao, Shanshan; Wu, Huilu

2018-06-01

The present study reports the development of a new 1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent sensor V for monitoring Cu(II) ions. The sensor exhibited pH independence over a wide pH range 2.52-9.58, and indicated its possible use for monitoring Cu(II) ions in a competitive pH medium. The sensor also showed high selectivity and sensitivity towards the Cu(II) ions over other competitive metal ions in DMSO-HEPES buffer (v/v, 1:1; pH 7.4) with a fluorescence 'turn off' mode of 79.79% observed. A Job plot indicated the formation of a 1:1 binding mode of the sensor with Cu(II) ions. The association constant and detection limit were 1.14 × 10 6  M -1 and 4.67 × 10 -8 M, respectively. The fluorescence spectrum of the sensor was quenched due to the powerful paramagnetic nature of the Cu(II) ions. Potential application of this sensor was also demonstrated when determining Cu(II) ion levels in two different water samples. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Calcium in the Oxygen-Evolving Complex: Structural and Mechanistic Role Determined by X-ray Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Yachandra, Vittal K.; Yano, Junko

2011-01-01

This review describes the results from X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies that have contributed to an understanding of the role of Ca in the photosynthetic water oxidation reaction. The results include the first Mn, Ca and Sr X-ray spectroscopy studies using Ca or Sr-substituted PS II samples that established the presence of a MnCa heteronuclear structure and its orientation, and the most recent Sr X-ray spectroscopy study using biosynthetically prepared Sr-containing PS II in the various S-states that provide important insights into the requirement for Ca in the mechanism of the Mn4Ca catalytic center. PMID:21524917

Discrimination between human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) infections by using synthetic peptides representing an immunodominant region of the core protein (p19) of HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

PubMed Central

Bonis, J; Baillou, A; Barin, F; Verdier, M; Janvier, B; Denis, F

1993-01-01

We describe enzyme immunoassays that use synthetic oligopeptides to discriminate serologically between human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) infections. The peptides represented 20-amino acid segments between residues 111 and 130 (MA1) and residues 116 and 135 (MA2) of the p19 gag proteins of HTLV-I and HTLV-II, respectively. The assays were sensitive since 69 of 74 HTLV-positive sera were reactive to at least one of the two matrix (MA) peptides (sensitivity, 93.2%). By using the ratio of the optical density of MA1 to the optical density of MA2, which represents for every serum sample the ratio between the absorbance value obtained in the MA1 assay and the absorbance value obtained in the MA2 assay, 59 of the 69 reactive serum samples were clearly and easily typed as positive for either antibody to HTLV-I or antibody to HTLV-II. Eight of the 10 remaining reactive serum samples were analyzed further by an inhibition procedure, and their type specificities were then clearly identifiable. Therefore, the results indicate that all MA-reactive sera were serologically distinguished by our peptide assays. Images PMID:8314990

Identification of fecal contamination sources in water using host-associated markers.

PubMed

Krentz, Corinne A; Prystajecky, Natalie; Isaac-Renton, Judith

2013-03-01

In British Columbia, Canada, drinking water is tested for total coliforms and Escherichia coli, but there is currently no routine follow-up testing to investigate fecal contamination sources in samples that test positive for indicator bacteria. Reliable microbial source tracking (MST) tools to rapidly test water samples for multiple fecal contamination markers simultaneously are currently lacking. The objectives of this study were (i) to develop a qualitative MST tool to identify fecal contamination from different host groups, and (ii) to evaluate the MST tool using water samples with evidence of fecal contamination. Singleplex and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to test (i) water from polluted sites and (ii) raw and drinking water samples for presence of bacterial genetic markers associated with feces from humans, cattle, seagulls, pigs, chickens, and geese. The multiplex MST assay correctly identified suspected contamination sources in contaminated waterways, demonstrating that this test may have utility for heavily contaminated sites. Most raw and drinking water samples analyzed using singleplex PCR contained at least one host-associated marker. Singleplex PCR was capable of detecting host-associated markers in small sample volumes and is therefore a promising tool to further analyze water samples submitted for routine testing and provide information useful for water quality management.

Optimization of Stripping Voltammetric Sensor by a Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network for the Accurate Determination of Pb(II) in the Presence of Cd(II).

PubMed

Zhao, Guo; Wang, Hui; Liu, Gang; Wang, Zhiqiang

2016-09-21

An easy, but effective, method has been proposed to detect and quantify the Pb(II) in the presence of Cd(II) based on a Bi/glassy carbon electrode (Bi/GCE) with the combination of a back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) without further electrode modification. The effects of Cd(II) in different concentrations on stripping responses of Pb(II) was studied. The results indicate that the presence of Cd(II) will reduce the prediction precision of a direct calibration model. Therefore, a two-input and one-output BP-ANN was built for the optimization of a stripping voltammetric sensor, which considering the combined effects of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on the SWASV detection of Pb(II) and establishing the nonlinear relationship between the stripping peak currents of Pb(II) and Cd(II) and the concentration of Pb(II). The key parameters of the BP-ANN and the factors affecting the SWASV detection of Pb(II) were optimized. The prediction performance of direct calibration model and BP-ANN model were tested with regard to the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), average relative error (ARE), and correlation coefficient. The results proved that the BP-ANN model exhibited higher prediction accuracy than the direct calibration model. Finally, a real samples analysis was performed to determine trace Pb(II) in some soil specimens with satisfactory results.

Change in surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials after exposure to different immersion regimes in a cola drink.

PubMed

Bajwa, Navroop Kaur; Pathak, Anuradha

2014-01-01

Context. An in vitro study carried out to evaluate and compare the effect of Cola drink on surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials. Purpose. To compare the effect of different immersion regimes in a Cola drink on surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials. Method. Two hundred samples were grouped into 4 equal groups of 50 samples each: Group I: conventional glass ionomer, Group II: resin modified glass ionomer, Group III: polyacid-modified resin composite, Group IV: Composite resin. Each group was further subdivided into 5 subgroups of 10 samples each. Subgroup A (Control Subgroup). Samples were kept immersed in artificial saliva. Subgroup B. Samples were immersed in Cola drink once a day. Subgroup C. Samples were immersed in Cola drink, 3 times a day. Subgroup D. Samples were immersed in Cola drink 5 times a day. Subgroup E. Samples were immersed in Cola drink 10 times a day. Each immersion lasted 5 minutes. The immersion protocol was repeated for 7 days. Results. Maximum surface roughness was seen in Group I conventional glass ionomer cement, followed by Group II resin modified glass ionomer, Group III polyacid modified resin composite, and Group IV composite resin samples. Conclusion. Resistance to change in surface roughness is more in resin based restorative materials as compared to glass ionomer based materials.

Change in Surface Roughness of Esthetic Restorative Materials after Exposure to Different Immersion Regimes in a Cola Drink

PubMed Central

Bajwa, Navroop Kaur; Pathak, Anuradha

2014-01-01

Context. An in vitro study carried out to evaluate and compare the effect of Cola drink on surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials. Purpose. To compare the effect of different immersion regimes in a Cola drink on surface roughness of esthetic restorative materials. Method. Two hundred samples were grouped into 4 equal groups of 50 samples each: Group I: conventional glass ionomer, Group II: resin modified glass ionomer, Group III: polyacid-modified resin composite, Group IV: Composite resin. Each group was further subdivided into 5 subgroups of 10 samples each. Subgroup A (Control Subgroup). Samples were kept immersed in artificial saliva. Subgroup B. Samples were immersed in Cola drink once a day. Subgroup C. Samples were immersed in Cola drink, 3 times a day. Subgroup D. Samples were immersed in Cola drink 5 times a day. Subgroup E. Samples were immersed in Cola drink 10 times a day. Each immersion lasted 5 minutes. The immersion protocol was repeated for 7 days. Results. Maximum surface roughness was seen in Group I conventional glass ionomer cement, followed by Group II resin modified glass ionomer, Group III polyacid modified resin composite, and Group IV composite resin samples. Conclusion. Resistance to change in surface roughness is more in resin based restorative materials as compared to glass ionomer based materials. PMID:25006464

The Association between Cannabis Use and Motivation and Intentions to Quit Tobacco within a Sample of Australian Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Smokers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Twyman, Laura; Bonevski, Billie; Paul, Christine; Kay-Lambkin, Frances J.; Bryant, Jamie; Oldmeadow, C.; Palazzi, K.; Guillaumier, A.

2016-01-01

This study aimed to (i) describe concurrent and simultaneous tobacco and cannabis use and (ii) investigate the association between cannabis use and motivation and intentions to quit tobacco in a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2013 and 2014 with current tobacco smokers receiving aid from…

Effects of Childhood Adversity on Bullying and Cruelty to Animals in the United States: Findings from a National Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaughn, Michael G.; Fu, Qiang; Beaver, Kevin M.; DeLisi, Matt; Perron, Brian E.; Howard, Matthew O.

2011-01-01

This study examined effects of type of and cumulative burden of childhood adversities on bullying and cruelty to animals in the United States. Data were derived from Waves I and II of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Structured psychiatric interviews were…

Design Effects and Generalized Variance Functions for the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). Volume II. Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salvucci, Sameena; And Others

This technical report provides the results of a study on the calculation and use of generalized variance functions (GVFs) and design effects for the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). The SASS is a periodic integrated system of sample surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) that produces sampling variances…

On the relationships between DSM-5 dysfunctional personality traits and social cognition deficits: A study in a sample of consecutively admitted Italian psychotherapy patients.

PubMed

Fossati, Andrea; Somma, Antonella; Krueger, Robert F; Markon, Kristian E; Borroni, Serena

2017-11-01

This study aims at testing the hypothesis that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) alternative model of personality disorder (AMPD) traits may be significantly associated with deficits on 2 different social cognition tasks, namely, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition, in a sample of consecutively admitted inpatients and outpatients. The sample was composed of 181 consecutively admitted participants (57.5% women; mean age = 38.58 years). Correlation coefficients and partial correlation coefficients were computed in order to assess the associations among social cognition tasks, DSM-5 AMPD traits, and dimensionally assessed DSM-5 Section II personality disorders. Specific maladaptive traits listed in the DSM-5 AMPD were significantly associated with Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test scores and Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition scores, even when the effect of selected DSM-5 Section II personality disorders was controlled for. Our results support the relevance of studying social cognitive functioning in subjects suffering from personality disorders. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Role of Future Time Perspective in Psychological Contracts: A Study among Older Workers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bal, P. Matthijs; Jansen, Paul G. W.; van der Velde, Mandy E. G.; de Lange, Annet H.; Rousseau, Denise M.

2010-01-01

Using a sample of post-retirement workers (N = 176), this study investigated the role of future time perspective (FTP) in psychological contracts. The study aimed to test: (i) whether future time perspective is related to employer psychological contract fulfillment and (ii) whether it moderates relations between psychological contract fulfillment…

Methodological issues affecting the study of fish parasites. II. Sampling method affects ectoparasite studies.

PubMed

Kvach, Yuriy; Ondračková, Markéta; Janáč, Michal; Jurajda, Pavel

2016-08-31

In this study, we assessed the impact of sampling method on the results of fish ectoparasite studies. Common roach Rutilus rutilus were sampled from the same gravel pit in the River Dyje flood plain (Czech Republic) using 3 different sampling methods, i.e. electrofishing, beach seining and gill-netting, and were examined for ectoparasites. Not only did fish caught by electrofishing have more of the most abundant parasites (Trichodina spp., Gyrodactylus spp.) than those caught by beach seining or gill-netting, they also had relatively rich parasite infracommunities, resulting in a significantly different assemblage composition, presumably as parasites were lost through handling and 'manipulation' in the net. Based on this, we recommend electrofishing as the most suitable method to sample fish for parasite community studies, as data from fish caught with gill-nets and beach seines will provide a biased picture of the ectoparasite community, underestimating ectoparasite abundance and infracommunity species richness.

Rapid reaction of nanomolar Mn(II) with superoxide radical in seawater and simulated freshwater

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hansard, S.P.; Easter, H.D.; Voelker, Bettina M.

2011-01-01

Superoxide radical (O2-) has been proposed to be an important participant in oxidation-reduction reactions of metal ions in natural waters. Here, we studied the reaction of nanomolar Mn(II) with O 2- in seawater and simulated freshwater, using chemiluminescence detection of O2- to quantify the effect of Mn(II) on the decay kinetics of O2-. With 3-24 nM added [Mn(II)] and <0.7 nM [O2-], we observed effective second-order rate constants for the reaction of Mn(II) with O2- of 6 ?? 106 to 1 ?? 107 M -1???s-1 in various seawater samples. In simulated freshwater (pH 8.6), the effective rate constant of Mn(II) reaction with O 2- was somewhat lower, 1.6 ?? 106 M -1???s-1. With higher initial [O2-], in excess of added [Mn(II)], catalytic decay of O 2- by Mn was observed, implying that a Mn(II/III) redox cycle occurred. Our results show that reactions with nanomolar Mn(II) could be an important sink of O2- in natural waters. In addition, reaction of Mn(II) with superoxide could maintain a significant fraction of dissolved Mn in the +III oxidation state. ?? 2011 American Chemical Society.

Evidence That the [beta] Subunit of Chlamydia trachomatis Ribonucleotide Reductase Is Active with the Manganese Ion of Its Manganese(IV)/Iron(III) Cofactor in Site 1

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

Dassama, Laura M.K.; Boal, Amie K.; Krebs, Carsten

2014-10-02

The reaction of a class I ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) begins when a cofactor in the {beta} subunit oxidizes a cysteine residue {approx}35 {angstrom} away in the {alpha} subunit, generating a thiyl radical. In the class Ic enzyme from Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), the cysteine oxidant is the Mn{sup IV} ion of a Mn{sup IV}/Fe{sup III} cluster, which assembles in a reaction between O{sub 2} and the Mn{sup II}/Fe{sup II} complex of {beta}. The heterodinuclear nature of the cofactor raises the question of which site, 1 or 2, contains the Mn{sup IV} ion. Because site 1 is closer to the conserved locationmore » of the cysteine-oxidizing tyrosyl radical of class Ia and Ib RNRs, we suggested that the Mn{sup IV} ion most likely resides in this site (i.e., {sup 1}Mn{sup IV}/{sup 2}Fe{sup III}), but a subsequent computational study favored its occupation of site 2 ({sup 1}Fe{sup III}/{sup 2}Mn{sup IV}). In this work, we have sought to resolve the location of the Mn{sup IV} ion in Ct RNR-{beta} by correlating X-ray crystallographic anomalous scattering intensities with catalytic activity for samples of the protein reconstituted in vitro by two different procedures. In samples containing primarily Mn{sup IV}/Fe{sup III} clusters, Mn preferentially occupies site 1, but some anomalous scattering from site 2 is observed, implying that both {sup 1}Mn{sup II}/{sup 2}Fe{sup II} and {sup 1}Fe{sup II}/{sup 2}Mn{sup II} complexes are competent to react with O{sub 2} to produce the corresponding oxidized states. However, with diminished Mn{sup II} loading in the reconstitution, there is no evidence for Mn occupancy of site 2, and the greater activity of these 'low-Mn' samples on a per-Mn basis implies that the {sup 1}Mn{sup IV}/{sup 2}Fe{sup III}-{beta} is at least the more active of the two oxidized forms and may be the only active form.« less

Global Infrared–Radio Spectral Energy Distributions of Galactic Massive Star-Forming Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Povich, Matthew Samuel; Binder, Breanna Arlene

2018-01-01

We present a multiwavelength study of 30 Galactic massive star-forming regions. We fit multicomponent dust, blackbody, and power-law continuum models to 3.6 µm through 10 mm spectral energy distributions obtained from Spitzer, MSX, IRAS, Herschel, and Planck archival survey data. Averaged across our sample, ~20% of Lyman continuum photons emitted by massive stars are absorbed by dust before contributing to the ionization of H II regions, while ~50% of the stellar bolometric luminosity is absorbed and reprocessed by dust in the H II regions and surrounding photodissociation regions. The most luminous, infrared-bright regions that fully sample the upper stellar initial mass function (ionizing photon rates NC ≥ 1050 s–1 and total infrared luminosity LTIR ≥ 106.8 L⊙) have higher percentages of absorbed Lyman continuum photons (~40%) and dust-reprocessed starlight (~80%). The monochromatic 70-µm luminosity L70 is linearly correlated with LTIR, and on average L70/LTIR = 50%, in good agreement with extragalactic studies. Calibrated against the known massive stellar content in our sampled H II regions, we find that star formation rates based on L70 are in reasonably good agreement with extragalactic calibrations, when corrected for the smaller physical sizes of the Galactic regions. We caution that absorption of Lyman continuum photons prior to contributing to the observed ionizing photon rate may reduce the attenuation-corrected Hα emission, systematically biasing extragalactic calibrations toward lower star formation rates when applied to spatially-resolved studies of obscured star formation.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under award CAREER-1454333.

How Metal Substitution Affects the Enzymatic Activity of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase

PubMed Central

Sparta, Manuel; Alexandrova, Anastassia N.

2012-01-01

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) degrades catecholamines, such as dopamine and epinephrine, by methylating them in the presence of a divalent metal cation (usually Mg(II)), and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. The enzymatic activity of COMT is known to be vitally dependent on the nature of the bound metal: replacement of Mg(II) with Ca(II) leads to a complete deactivation of COMT; Fe(II) is slightly less than potent Mg(II), and Fe(III) is again an inhibitor. Considering the fairly modest role that the metal plays in the catalyzed reaction, this dependence is puzzling, and to date remains an enigma. Using a quantum mechanical / molecular mechanical dynamics method for extensive sampling of protein structure, and first principle quantum mechanical calculations for the subsequent mechanistic study, we explicate the effect of metal substitution on the rate determining step in the catalytic cycle of COMT, the methyl transfer. In full accord with experimental data, Mg(II) bound to COMT is the most potent of the studied cations and it is closely followed by Fe(II), whereas Fe(III) is unable to promote catalysis. In the case of Ca(II), a repacking of the protein binding site is observed, leading to a significant increase in the activation barrier and higher energy of reaction. Importantly, the origin of the effect of metal substitution is different for different metals: for Fe(III) it is the electronic effect, whereas in the case of Ca(II) it is instead the effect of suboptimal protein structure. PMID:23056605

Biochar prepared from castor oil cake at different temperatures: A voltammetric study applied for Pb(2+), Cd(2+) and Cu(2+) ions preconcentration.

PubMed

Kalinke, Cristiane; Mangrich, Antonio Sálvio; Marcolino-Junior, Luiz H; Bergamini, Márcio F

2016-11-15

Biochar is a carbonaceous material similar produced by pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Pyrolysis temperature is an important parameter that can alters biochar characteristics (e.g. surface area, pore size distribution and surface functional groups) and affects it efficacy for adsorption of several probes. In this work, biochar samples have been prepared from castor oil cake using different temperatures of pyrolysis (200-600°C). For the first time, a voltammetric procedure based on carbon paste modified electrode (CPME) was used to investigate the effect of temperature of pyrolysis on the adsorptive characteristics of biochar for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions. Besides the electrochemical techniques, several characterizations have been performed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of biochar in function of the increase of the pyrolysis temperature. Results suggest that biochar pyrolized at 400°C (BC400) showed a better potential for ions adsorption. The CPME modified with BC400 showed better relative current signal with adsorption affinity: Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Cu(II). Kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second order model describes more accurately the adsorption process suggesting that the surface reactions control the adsorption rate. Values found for amount adsorbed were 15.94±0.09; 4.29±0.13 and 2.38±0.39μgg(-1) for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Herschel Spectroscopy of Early-type Galaxies

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

Lapham, Ryen Carl; Young, Lisa M.; Crocker, Alison, E-mail: ryen.lapham@student.nmt.edu, E-mail: lyoung@physics.nmt.edu, E-mail: crockera@reed.edu

We present Herschel spectroscopy of atomic lines arising in photodissociation regions as well as ionization regions of nearby early-type galaxies (ETGs), focusing on the volume-limited Atlas3D sample. Our data include the [C ii], [O i], and [N ii] 122 and 205 μ m lines, along with ancillary data including CO and H i maps. We find that ETGs have [C ii]/FIR ratios slightly lower than spiral galaxies in the KINGFISH sample, and several ETGs have unusually large [N ii] 122/[C ii] ratios. The [N ii] 122/[C ii] ratio is correlated with UV colors and there is a strong anti-correlation ofmore » [C ii]/FIR with NUV-K seen in both spirals and ETGs, likely due to a softer radiation field with fewer photons available to ionize carbon and heat the gas. The correlation thus makes a [C ii] deficit in galaxies with redder stellar populations. The high [N ii] 122/[C ii] (and low [C ii]/FIR) line ratios could also be affected by the removal of much of the diffuse, low-density gas, which is consistent with the low H i/H{sub 2} ratios. [C ii] is now being used as a star-formation indicator, and we find that it is just as good for ETGs as in spirals. The [C ii]/CO ratios found are also similar to those found in spiral galaxies. Through the use of the [N ii] 205 μ m line, estimates of the percentage of [C ii] emission arising from ionized gas indicate that a significant portion could arise in ionized regions.« less

Validation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS II) in Greek and its added value to the Short Form 36 (SF-36) in a sample of people with or without disabilities.

PubMed

Xenouli, Georgia; Xenoulis, Kostis; Sarafis, Pavlos; Niakas, Dimitris; Alexopoulos, Evangelos C

2016-07-01

There is controversy and ongoing interest on the measurement of functionality in the personal and social level. (1) to validate the Greek version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO DAS II) and (2) to determine its added value to the physical and psychological health subscales of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). In a cross-sectional design, data were collected between December 2014 and March 2015 by using three questionnaires (WHO DAS II, SF-36, PSS-14) in a sample of people with disabilities (n = 101) and without disabilities (n = 109) in Athens, Greece. WHO DAS II internal consistency, construct and criterion-related validity were assessed by Cronbach alpha, exploratory factor analysis and correlations; its added value by multivariable linear regression. Cronbach Alpha's were satisfactory for the WHO DAS II, PSS-14 and SF-36 (0.85, 0.88 and 0.96 respectively). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the existence of one or two factors in people with or without disabilities, respectively. WHO DAS II score showed significant negative correlation with the physical and mental health scale of SF-36 score, especially strong for physical health while was positively related to PSS-14 score. In multivariate analysis mental health appraisal was related to perceived stress in both groups. This study support the validity of the Greek version of WHO DAS II and warranted its use in assessment and follow up of people with disabilities, contributing to the development of suitable policies to cover their needs and providing comparable data with other surveys using the same instrument. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Antigenicity of mesenchymal stem cells in an inflamed joint environment.

PubMed

Hill, Jacqueline A; Cassano, Jennifer M; Goodale, Margaret B; Fortier, Lisa A

2017-07-01

OBJECTIVE To determine whether major histocompatability complex (MHC) class II expression in equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) changes with exposure to a proinflammatory environment reflective of an inflamed joint. SAMPLE Cryopreserved bone marrow-derived MSCs from 12 horses and cartilage and synovium samples from 1 horse euthanized for reasons other than lameness. PROCEDURES In part 1 of a 3-part study, the suitability of a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for measurement of MHC class II expression in MSCs following stimulation with interferon (IFN)-γ was assessed. In part 2, synoviocyte-cartilage cocultures were or were not stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β (10 ng/mL) to generate conditioned media that did and did not (control) mimic an inflamed joint environment. In part 3, a qRT-PCR assay was used to measure MSC MHC class II expression after 96 hours of incubation with 1 of 6 treatments (control-conditioned medium, IL-1β-conditioned medium, and MSC medium alone [untreated control] or with IL-1β [10 ng/mL], tumor necrosis factor-α [10 ng/mL], or IFN-γ [100 ng/mL]). RESULTS The qRT-PCR assay accurately measured MHC class II expression. Compared with MHC class II expression for MSCs exposed to the untreated control medium, that for MSCs exposed to IL-1β was decreased, whereas that for MSCs exposed to IFN-γ was increased. Neither the control-conditioned nor tumor necrosis factor-α medium altered MHC class II expression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that MSC exposure to proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β decreased MHC class II expression and antigenicity. Treatment of inflamed joints with allogeneic MSCs might not be contraindicated, but further investigation is warranted.

Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit for Stroke Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Bakas, Tamilyn; Austin, Joan K; Habermann, Barbara; Jessup, Nenette M; McLennon, Susan M; Mitchell, Pamela H; Morrison, Gwendolyn; Yang, Ziyi; Stump, Timothy E; Weaver, Michael T

2015-12-01

There are few evidence-based programs for stroke family caregivers postdischarge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy of the Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit (TASK II), a nurse-led intervention enabling caregivers to build skills based on assessment of their own needs. A total of 254 stroke caregivers (primarily female TASK II/information, support, and referral 78.0%/78.6%; white 70.7%/72.1%; about half spouses 48.4%/46.6%) were randomized to the TASK II intervention (n=123) or to an information, support, and referral group (n=131). Both groups received 8 weekly telephone sessions, with a booster at 12 weeks. General linear models with repeated measures tested efficacy, controlling for patient hospital days and call minutes. Prespecified 8-week primary outcomes were depressive symptoms (with Patient Health Questionnaire Depressive Symptom Scale PHQ-9 ≥5), life changes, and unhealthy days. Among caregivers with baseline PHQ-9 ≥5, those randomized to the TASK II intervention had a greater reduction in depressive symptoms from baseline to 8, 24, and 52 weeks and greater improvement in life changes from baseline to 12 weeks compared with the information, support, and referral group (P<0.05); but not found for the total sample. Although not sustained at 12, 24, or 52 weeks, caregivers randomized to the TASK II intervention had a relatively greater reduction in unhealthy days from baseline to 8 weeks (P<0.05). The TASK II intervention reduced depressive symptoms and improved life changes for caregivers with mild to severe depressive symptoms. The TASK II intervention reduced unhealthy days for the total sample, although not sustained over the long term. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01275495. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

Simple methodology to directly genotype Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in single and mixed infections from human blood samples.

PubMed

Bontempi, Iván A; Bizai, María L; Ortiz, Sylvia; Manattini, Silvia; Fabbro, Diana; Solari, Aldo; Diez, Cristina

2016-09-01

Different DNA markers to genotype Trypanosoma cruzi are now available. However, due to the low quantity of parasites present in biological samples, DNA markers with high copy number like kinetoplast minicircles are needed. The aim of this study was to complete a DNA assay called minicircle lineage specific-PCR (MLS-PCR) previously developed to genotype the T. cruzi DTUs TcV and TcVI, in order to genotype DTUs TcI and TcII and to improve TcVI detection. We screened kinetoplast minicircle hypervariable sequences from cloned PCR products from reference strains belonging to the mentioned DTUs using specific kDNA probes. With the four highly specific sequences selected, we designed primers to be used in the MLS-PCR to directly genotype T. cruzi from biological samples. High specificity and sensitivity were obtained when we evaluated the new approach for TcI, TcII, TcV and TcVI genotyping in twenty two T. cruzi reference strains. Afterward, we compared it with hybridization tests using specific kDNA probes in 32 blood samples from chronic chagasic patients from North Eastern Argentina. With both tests we were able to genotype 94% of the samples and the concordance between them was very good (kappa=0.855). The most frequent T. cruzi DTUs detected were TcV and TcVI, followed by TcII and much lower TcI. A unique T. cruzi DTU was detected in 18 samples meantime more than one in the remaining; being TcV and TcVI the most frequent association. A high percentage of mixed detections were obtained with both assays and its impact was discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural changes and preferential cage occupancy of ethane hydrate and methane-ethane mixed gas hydrate under very high pressure.

PubMed

Hirai, Hisako; Takahara, Naoya; Kawamura, Taro; Yamamoto, Yoshitaka; Yagi, Takehiko

2008-12-14

High-pressure experiments of ethane hydrate and methane-ethane mixed hydrates with five compositions were performed using a diamond anvil cell in a pressure range of 0.1-2.8 GPa at room temperature. X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy showed structural changes as follows. The initial structure, structure I (sI), of ethane hydrate was retained up to 2.1 GPa without any structural change. For the mixed hydrates, sI was widely distributed throughout the region examined except for the methane-rich and lower pressure regions. For the ethane-rich and intermediate composition regions (73 mol % ethane sample and 53% sample), sI was maintained up to 2.1 GPa. With increasing methane component (34% and 30% samples), sI existed at pressures from 0.1 to about 1.0 GPa. Hexagonal structure (sH) appeared in addition to sI at 1.3 GPa for the 34% sample and at 1.1 GPa for the 30% sample. By further increasing the methane component (22% sample), structure II (sII) existed solely up to 0.3 GPa. From 0.3 to 0.6 GPa, sII and sI coexisted, and from 0.6 to 1.0 GPa only sI existed. At 1.2 GPa sH appeared, and sH and sI coexisted up to 2.1 GPa. Above 2.1 GPa, ethane hydrate and all of the mixed hydrates decomposed into ice VI and ethane fluid or methane-ethane fluid, respectively. The Raman study revealed that occupation of the small cages by ethane molecules occurred above 0.1 GPa in ethane hydrate and continued up to decomposition at 2.1 GPa, although it is thought that ethane molecules are contained only in the large cage.

Cellulose-lanthanum hydroxide nanocomposite as a selective marker for detection of toxic copper

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In this current report, a simple, reliable, and rapid method based on modifying the cellulose surface by doping it with different percentages of lanthanum hydroxide (i.e., 1% La(OH)3-cellulose (LC), 5% La(OH)3-cellulose (LC2), and 10% La(OH)3-cellulose (LC3)) was proposed as a selective marker for detection of copper (Cu(II)) in aqueous medium. Surface properties of the newly modified cellulose phases were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis. The effect of pH on the adsorption of modified cellulose phases for Cu(II) was evaluated, and LC3 was found to be the most selective for Cu(II) at pH 6.0. Other parameters, influencing the maximum uptake of Cu(II) on LC3, were also investigated for a deeper mechanistic understanding of the adsorption phenomena. Results showed that the adsorption capacity for Cu(II) was improved by 211% on the LC3 phase as compared to diethylaminoethyl cellulose phase after only 2 h contact time. Adsorption isotherm data established that the adsorption process nature was monolayer with a homogeneous adsorbent surface. Results displayed that the adsorption of Cu(II) onto the LC3 phase obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Selectivity studies toward eight metal ions, i.e., Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II), were further performed at the optimized pH value. Based on the selectivity study, it was found that Cu(II) is highly selective toward the LC3 phase. Moreover, the efficiency of the proposed method was supported by implementing it to real environmental water samples with adequate results. PMID:25258599

Screening and staging for non-small cell lung cancer by serum laser Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Hong; Zhang, Shaohong; Wan, Limei; Sun, Hong; Tan, Jie; Su, Qiucheng

2018-08-05

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Current clinical screening methods to detect lung cancer are expensive and associated with many complications. Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique that offers a convenient method to gain molecular information about biological samples. In this study, we measured the serum Raman spectral intensity of healthy volunteers and patients with different stages of non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of serum laser Raman spectroscopy as a low cost alternative method in the screening and staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The Raman spectra of the sera of peripheral venous blood were measured with a LabRAM HR 800 confocal Micro Raman spectrometer for individuals from five groups including 14 healthy volunteers (control group), 23 patients with stage I NSCLC (stage I group), 24 patients with stage II NSCLC (stage II group), 19 patients with stage III NSCLC (stage III group), 11 patients with stage IV NSCLC (stage IV group). Each serum sample was measured 3 times at different spots and the average spectra represented the signal of Raman spectra in each case. The Raman spectrum signal data of the five groups were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and cross-validation. Raman spectral intensity was sequentially reduced in serum samples from control group, stage I group, stage II group and stage III/IV group. The strongest peak intensity was observed in the control group, and the weakest one was found in the stage III/IV group at bands of 848 cm -1 , 999 cm -1 , 1152 cm -1 , 1446 cm -1 and 1658 cm -1 (P < 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis showed that the sensitivity to identify healthy people, stage I, stage II, and stage III/IV NSCLC was 86%, 65%, 75%, and 87%, respectively; the specificity was 95%, 94%, 88%, and 93%, respectively; and the overall accuracy rate was 92% (71/77). The laser Raman spectroscopy can effectively identify patients with stage I, stage II or stage III/IV Non-Small Cell Lung cancer using patient serum samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Academic Leadership in a Private University: An Iranian Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamidifar, Fatemeh; Ebrahimi, Mansoureh

2016-01-01

This study explores effective academic leadership as well as hindrances within Iran's private higher educational institutions. The author employed a qualitative approach that utilized purposive sampling to collect and analyze data. Findings were categorized into three classes comprising the (i) setting of direction, (ii) organizational and (iii)…

The Development of Concepts of Handicap in Adolescence: A Cross Cultural Study, Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Obani, Tim; Doherty, Jim

1986-01-01

Presents the results of a study of English and Nigerian adolescents' conceptions of the causes, effects, rehabilitation, and interaction of handicaps. Cognitive maturity (related to age) proved to be the greatest factor influencing accuracy of perception. Samples of questions and anecdotes are included. (JDH)

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Bariatric Surgery Candidates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Brian J.; Hood, Megan M.; Nackers, Lisa M.; Azarbad, Leila; Ivan, Iulia; Corsica, Joyce

2013-01-01

Screening for depression is an integral part of psychological evaluations conducted prior to bariatric surgery. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is the most commonly used measure of depression in these treatment evaluations. The reliability and validity of the BDI-II has not yet been evaluated within bariatric surgery-seeking samples,…

The Factor Structure of the CIBS-II-Readiness Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gotch, Chad M.; French, Brian F.

2011-01-01

The Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills-II (CIBS-II)-Readiness form is a diagnostic battery intended for children aged 5 and 6 years. The CIBS-II-Readiness is a new version of the CIBS-Revised-Readiness and includes updated normative information on a larger representative sample in comparison to the CIBS-Revised-Readiness. Empirical…

An Analytical Chemistry Experiment in Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Fe(III) and Cu(II) with Hexacyanoruthenate(II) Reagent.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mehra, M. C.; Rioux, J.

1982-01-01

Experimental procedures, typical observations, and results for the simultaneous analysis of Fe(III) and Cu(II) in a solution are discussed. The method is based on selective interaction between the two ions and potassium hexacyanoruthenate(II) in acid solution involving no preliminary sample preparations. (Author/JN)

Comparative validity of MMPI-2 and MCMI-II personality disorder classifications.

PubMed

Wise, E A

1996-06-01

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) overlapping and nonoverlapping scales were demonstrated to perform comparably to their original MMPI forms. They were then evaluated for convergent and discriminant validity with the Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) personality disorder scales. The MMPI-2 and MCMI-II personality disorder scales demonstrated convergent and discriminant coefficients similar to their original forms. However, the MMPI-2 personality scales classified significantly more of the sample as Dramatic, whereas the MCMI-II diagnosed more of the sample as Anxious. Furthermore, single-scale and 2-point code type classification rates were quite low, indicating that at the level of the individual, the personality disorder scales are not measuring comparable constructs. Hence, each instrument is providing similar and unique information, justifying their continued use together for the purpose of diagnosing personality disorders.

FACILITATED TRANSPORT OF INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN GROUNDWATER: PART II. COLLOIDAL TRANSPORT

EPA Science Inventory

This project consisted of both field and laboratory components. Field studies evaluated routine sampling procedures for determination of aqueous inorganicgeochemistry and assessment of contaminant transport by colloidal mobility. Research at three different metal-contaminated sit...

Application of silica fume as a new SP-extractor for trace determination of Zn(II) and Cd(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, Salwa A.; Gaber, Ahmed A. Abdel; Rahim, Asmaa M. Abdel

2017-05-01

In this work, silica fume (SF) is used as a solid-phase extractor for extraction of Zn(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. Characterization of SF is performed by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The optimum experimental conditions for the two metal ions are investigated using batch and column techniques. The maximum adsorption capacity values are found to be 54.13 and 121.28 mg g-1 at the optimum pH 6.0 and 8.0 for Zn(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The equilibrium data are analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms by nonlinear regression analysis. Also, the kinetics analysis revealed that the overall adsorption process is successfully fitted with the pseudo-second-order model. The method is applied for determination of the target metal ions in pharmaceutical and environmental samples using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The limit of detection (LOD) values are 0.102 and 1.43 × 10-3 mg L-1 for Zn(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The percentage recovery values are 98.8-100.5 % which indicate the success of the proposed method for determination of Zn(II) and Cd(II) without interfering effects.

MHC class II expression in lung cancer.

PubMed

He, Yayi; Rozeboom, Leslie; Rivard, Christopher J; Ellison, Kim; Dziadziuszko, Rafal; Yu, Hui; Zhou, Caicun; Hirsch, Fred R

2017-10-01

Immunotherapy is an exciting development in lung cancer research. In this study we described major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II protein expression in lung cancer cell lines and patient tissues. We studied MHC Class II (DP, DQ, DR) (CR3/43, Abcam) protein expression in 55 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, 42 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines and 278 lung cancer patient tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Seven (12.7%) NSCLC cell lines were positive for MHC Class II. No SCLC cell lines were found to be MHC Class II positive. We assessed 139 lung cancer samples available in the Hirsch Lab for MHC Class II. There was no positive MHC Class II staining on SCLC tumor cells. MHC Class II expression on TILs in SCLC was significantly lower than that on TILs in NSCLC (P＜0.001). MHC Class II was also assessed in an additional 139 NSCLC tumor tissues from Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. Patients with positive staining of MHC Class II on TILs had longer regression-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than those whose TILs were MHC Class II negative (2.980 years, 95% CI 1.628-4.332 vs. 1.050 years, 95% CI 0.556-1.554, P=0.028) (3.230 years, 95% CI 2.617-3.843 vs. 1.390 years, 95% CI 0.629-2.151, P=0.014). MHC Class II was expressed both in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. However, MHC Class II was not detected in SCLC cell lines or tissue tumor cells. MHC Class II expression was lower on SCLC TILs than on NSCLC TILs. Loss of expression of MHC Class II on SCLC tumor cells and reduced expression on SCLC TILs may be a means of escaping anti-cancer immunity. Higher MHC Class II expression on TILs was correlated with better prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Home Economics. Sample Test Items. Levels I and II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany. Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Educational Testing.

A sample of behavioral objectives and related test items that could be developed for content modules in Home Economics levels I and II, this book is intended to enable teachers to construct more valid and reliable test materials. Forty-eight one-page modules are presented, and opposite each module are listed two to seven specific behavioral…

21 CFR 161.173 - Canned wet pack shrimp in transparent or nontransparent containers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... (dorsal tract, back vein, or sand vein). (ii) Deveined shrimp containing not less than 95 percent by...) Acceptable quality level (AQL). The maximum percent of defective sample units permitted in a lot that will be accepted approximately 95 percent of the time. (ii) Sampling plans: Acceptable Quality Level 6.5 Lot size...

Evaluation of kinetic uncertainty in numerical models of petroleum generation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peters, K.E.; Walters, C.C.; Mankiewicz, P.J.

2006-01-01

Oil-prone marine petroleum source rocks contain type I or type II kerogen having Rock-Eval pyrolysis hydrogen indices greater than 600 or 300-600 mg hydrocarbon/g total organic carbon (HI, mg HC/g TOC), respectively. Samples from 29 marine source rocks worldwide that contain mainly type II kerogen (HI = 230-786 mg HC/g TOC) were subjected to open-system programmed pyrolysis to determine the activation energy distributions for petroleum generation. Assuming a burial heating rate of 1??C/m.y. for each measured activation energy distribution, the calculated average temperature for 50% fractional conversion of the kerogen in the samples to petroleum is approximately 136 ?? 7??C, but the range spans about 30??C (???121-151??C). Fifty-two outcrop samples of thermally immature Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation were collected from five locations in the United Kingdom to determine the variations of kinetic response for one source rock unit. The samples contain mainly type I or type II kerogens (HI = 230-774 mg HC/g TOC). At a heating rate of 1??C/m.y., the calculated temperatures for 50% fractional conversion of the Oxford Clay kerogens to petroleum differ by as much as 23??C (127-150??C). The data indicate that kerogen type, as defined by hydrogen index, is not systematically linked to kinetic response, and that default kinetics for the thermal decomposition of type I or type II kerogen can introduce unacceptable errors into numerical simulations. Furthermore, custom kinetics based on one or a few samples may be inadequate to account for variations in organofacies within a source rock. We propose three methods to evaluate the uncertainty contributed by kerogen kinetics to numerical simulations: (1) use the average kinetic distribution for multiple samples of source rock and the standard deviation for each activation energy in that distribution; (2) use source rock kinetics determined at several locations to describe different parts of the study area; and (3) use a weighted-average method that combines kinetics for samples from different locations in the source rock unit by giving the activation energy distribution for each sample a weight proportional to its Rock-Eval pyrolysis S2 yield (hydrocarbons generated by pyrolytic degradation of organic matter). Copyright ?? 2006. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

Development of source specific diatom lipids biomarkers as Antarctic Sea Ice proxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smik, Lukas; Belt, Simon T.; Brown, Thomas A.; Lieser, Jan L.; Armand, Leanne K.; Leventer, Amy; Allen, Claire S.

2016-04-01

C25 highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) are lipid biomarkers biosynthesised by a relatively small number of diatom genera, but are, nonetheless, common constituents of global marine sediments. The occurrence and variable abundance of certain C25 highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) biomarkers in Antarctic marine sediments has previously been proposed as a proxy measure of paleo sea-ice extent in the Southern Ocean and a small number of paleo sea-ice reconstructions based on the variable abundances of these HBIs have appeared in recent years. However, the development of HBIs as proxies for Antarctic sea ice is much less advanced than that for IP25 (another HBI) in the Arctic and has been based on relatively small number of analyses in sea ice, water column and sediment samples. To provide further insights into the use of these HBIs as proxies for Antarctic sea ice, we here describe an assessment of their distributions in surface water, surface sediment and sea ice samples collected from a number of Antarctic locations experiencing contrasting sea ice conditions in recent years. Our study shows that distributions of a di-unsaturated HBI (diene II) and tri-unsaturated HBI (triene III) in surface water samples were found to be extremely sensitive to the local sea-ice conditions, with diene II detected for sampling sites that experienced seasonal sea ice and highest concentrations found in coastal locations with longer-lasting ice cover and a recurrent polynya. In contrast, triene III was observed in all of the samples analysed, but with highest concentrations within the region of the retreating sea ice edge, an observation consistent with significant environmental control over the biosynthesis of diene II and triene III by sea ice diatoms and open water phytoplankton, respectively. However, additional local factors, such as those associated with polynya formation, may also exert some control over the distribution of triene III and the relative concentrations of diene II and triene III, in particular. This may have important implications for the use of these biomarkers for paleo sea ice reconstructions. Sedimentary distribution showed significant variation in abundances of diene II and triene III between different regions of Antarctica, but also on a more local scale, potentially reflecting a high degree of sensitivity towards individual sea ice dynamics that favour the individual species responsible for their biosynthesis. However, highest concentrations of diene II were generally observed in near coastal locations, consistent with the identification of elevated abundances of this HBI in first year or land fast ice in these settings. The identification of the sea ice diatom source of diene II will likely be significant in interpretations of the occurrence of this biomarker in paleo sea ice records.

Integrated Data Collection Analysis (IDCA) Program - RDX Type II Class 5 Standard, Data Set 1

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

Sandstrom, Mary M.; Brown, Geoffrey W.; Preston, Daniel N.

This document describes the results of the first reference sample material—RDX Type II Class 5—examined in the proficiency study for small-scale safety and thermal (SSST) testing of explosive materials for the Integrated Data Collection Analysis (IDCA) Program. The IDCA program is conducting proficiency testing on homemade explosives (HMEs). The reference sample materials are being studied to establish the accuracy of traditional explosives safety testing for each performing laboratory. These results will be used for comparison to results from testing HMEs. This effort, funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ultimately will put the issues of safe handling of thesemore » materials in perspective with standard military explosives. The results of the study will add SSST testing results for a broad suite of different HMEs to the literature, potentially suggest new guidelines and methods for HME testing, and possibly establish what are the needed accuracies in SSST testing to develop safe handling practices. Described here are the results for impact, friction, electrostatic discharge, and scanning calorimetry analysis of a reference sample of RDX Type II Class 5. The results from each participating testing laboratory are compared using identical test material and preparation methods wherever possible. Note, however, the test procedures differ among the laboratories. These results are then compared to historical data from various sources. The performers involved are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Air Force Research Laboratory/ RXQL (AFRL), Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, (IHD-NSWC), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). These tests are conducted as a proficiency study in order to establish some consistency in test protocols, procedures, and experiments and to understand how to compare results when test protocols are not identical.« less

Taking Snapshots of Photosynthetic Water Oxidation Using Femtosecond X-ray Diffraction and Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Kern, Jan; Tran, Rosalie; Alonso-Mori, Roberto; Koroidov, Sergey; Echols, Nathaniel; Hattne, Johan; Ibrahim, Mohamed; Gul, Sheraz; Laksmono, Hartawan; Sierra, Raymond G.; Gildea, Richard J.; Han, Guangye; Hellmich, Julia; Lassalle-Kaiser, Benedikt; Chatterjee, Ruchira; Brewster, Aaron S.; Stan, Claudiu A.; Glöckner, Carina; Lampe, Alyssa; DiFiore, Dörte; Milathianaki, Despina; Fry, Alan R.; Seibert, M. Marvin; Koglin, Jason E.; Gallo, Erik; Uhlig, Jens; Sokaras, Dimosthenis; Weng, Tsu-Chien; Zwart, Petrus H.; Skinner, David E.; Bogan, Michael J.; Messerschmidt, Marc; Glatzel, Pieter; Williams, Garth J.; Boutet, Sébastien; Adams, Paul D.; Zouni, Athina; Messinger, Johannes; Sauter, Nicholas K.; Bergmann, Uwe; Yano, Junko; Yachandra, Vittal K.

2014-01-01

The dioxygen we breathe is formed from water by its light-induced oxidation in photosystem II. O2 formation takes place at a catalytic manganese cluster within milliseconds after the photosystem II reaction center is excited by three single-turnover flashes. Here we present combined X-ray emission spectra and diffraction data of 2 flash (2F) and 3 flash (3F) photosystem II samples, and of a transient 3F′ state (250 μs after the third flash), collected under functional conditions using an X-ray free electron laser. The spectra show that the initial O-O bond formation, coupled to Mn-reduction, does not yet occur within 250 μs after the third flash. Diffraction data of all states studied exhibit an anomalous scattering signal from Mn but show no significant structural changes at the present resolution of 4.5 Å. This study represents the initial frames in a molecular movie of the structural changes during the catalytic reaction in photosystem II. PMID:25006873

Taking snapshots of photosynthetic water oxidation using femtosecond X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kern, Jan; Tran, Rosalie; Alonso-Mori, Roberto; Koroidov, Sergey; Echols, Nathaniel; Hattne, Johan; Ibrahim, Mohamed; Gul, Sheraz; Laksmono, Hartawan; Sierra, Raymond G.; Gildea, Richard J.; Han, Guangye; Hellmich, Julia; Lassalle-Kaiser, Benedikt; Chatterjee, Ruchira; Brewster, Aaron S.; Stan, Claudiu A.; Glöckner, Carina; Lampe, Alyssa; Difiore, Dörte; Milathianaki, Despina; Fry, Alan R.; Seibert, M. Marvin; Koglin, Jason E.; Gallo, Erik; Uhlig, Jens; Sokaras, Dimosthenis; Weng, Tsu-Chien; Zwart, Petrus H.; Skinner, David E.; Bogan, Michael J.; Messerschmidt, Marc; Glatzel, Pieter; Williams, Garth J.; Boutet, Sébastien; Adams, Paul D.; Zouni, Athina; Messinger, Johannes; Sauter, Nicholas K.; Bergmann, Uwe; Yano, Junko; Yachandra, Vittal K.

2014-07-01

The dioxygen we breathe is formed by light-induced oxidation of water in photosystem II. O2 formation takes place at a catalytic manganese cluster within milliseconds after the photosystem II reaction centre is excited by three single-turnover flashes. Here we present combined X-ray emission spectra and diffraction data of 2-flash (2F) and 3-flash (3F) photosystem II samples, and of a transient 3F’ state (250 μs after the third flash), collected under functional conditions using an X-ray free electron laser. The spectra show that the initial O-O bond formation, coupled to Mn reduction, does not yet occur within 250 μs after the third flash. Diffraction data of all states studied exhibit an anomalous scattering signal from Mn but show no significant structural changes at the present resolution of 4.5 Å. This study represents the initial frames in a molecular movie of the structural changes during the catalytic reaction in photosystem II.

Sonochemical syntheses of a new nano-sized porous lead(II) coordination polymer as precursor for preparation of lead(II) oxide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranjbar, Zohreh Rashidi; Morsali, Ali

2009-11-01

Nano-scale of a new Pb(II) coordination polymer, {[Pb(bpacb)(OAc)]·DMF} n ( 1); bpacbH = 3,5-bis[(4-pyridylamino)carbonyl]benzoic acid], were synthesized by a sonochemical method. The nano-material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), 1H, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Crystal structure of compound 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Calcination of the nano-sized compound 1 at 700 °C under air atmospheres yields PbO nanoparticles. Thermal stability of nano-sized and single crystalline samples of compound 1 were studied and compared with each other.

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

Longo, Amelia F.; Feng, Yan; Lai, Barry

Aerosol iron was examined in Saharan dust plumes using a combination of iron near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and wet-chemical techniques. Aerosol samples were collected at three sites located in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and Bermuda to characterize iron at different atmospheric transport lengths and time scales. Iron(III) oxides were a component of aerosols at all sampling sites and dominated the aerosol iron in Mediterranean samples. In Atlantic samples, iron(II and III) sulfate, iron(III) phosphate, and iron(II) silicates were also contributors to aerosol composition. With increased atmospheric transport time, iron(II) sulfates are found to become more abundant, aerosol iron oxidation statemore » became more reduced, and aerosol acidity increased. As a result, atmospheric processing including acidic reactions and photoreduction likely influence the form of iron minerals and oxidation state in Saharan dust aerosols and contribute to increases in aerosol-iron solubility.« less

Influence of atmospheric processes on the solubility and composition of iron in Saharan dust

DOE PAGES

Longo, Amelia F.; Feng, Yan; Lai, Barry; ...

2016-06-10

Aerosol iron was examined in Saharan dust plumes using a combination of iron near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and wet-chemical techniques. Aerosol samples were collected at three sites located in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and Bermuda to characterize iron at different atmospheric transport lengths and time scales. Iron(III) oxides were a component of aerosols at all sampling sites and dominated the aerosol iron in Mediterranean samples. In Atlantic samples, iron(II and III) sulfate, iron(III) phosphate, and iron(II) silicates were also contributors to aerosol composition. With increased atmospheric transport time, iron(II) sulfates are found to become more abundant, aerosol iron oxidation statemore » became more reduced, and aerosol acidity increased. As a result, atmospheric processing including acidic reactions and photoreduction likely influence the form of iron minerals and oxidation state in Saharan dust aerosols and contribute to increases in aerosol-iron solubility.« less

Influence of Atmospheric Processes on the Solubility and Composition of Iron in Saharan Dust.

PubMed

Longo, Amelia F; Feng, Yan; Lai, Barry; Landing, William M; Shelley, Rachel U; Nenes, Athanasios; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos; Violaki, Kalliopi; Ingall, Ellery D

2016-07-05

Aerosol iron was examined in Saharan dust plumes using a combination of iron near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and wet-chemical techniques. Aerosol samples were collected at three sites located in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and Bermuda to characterize iron at different atmospheric transport lengths and time scales. Iron(III) oxides were a component of aerosols at all sampling sites and dominated the aerosol iron in Mediterranean samples. In Atlantic samples, iron(II and III) sulfate, iron(III) phosphate, and iron(II) silicates were also contributors to aerosol composition. With increased atmospheric transport time, iron(II) sulfates are found to become more abundant, aerosol iron oxidation state became more reduced, and aerosol acidity increased. Atmospheric processing including acidic reactions and photoreduction likely influence the form of iron minerals and oxidation state in Saharan dust aerosols and contribute to increases in aerosol-iron solubility.

A sensitive one-step TaqMan amplification approach for detection of rubella virus clade I and II genotypes in clinical samples.

PubMed

Claus, C; Bergs, S; Emmrich, N C; Hübschen, J M; Mankertz, A; Liebert, U G

2017-02-01

Although teratogenic rubella virus (RV) causes a vaccine-preventable disease, it is still endemic in several countries worldwide. Thus, there is a constant risk of RV importation into non-endemic areas. RV monitoring, especially during measles and Zika virus outbreaks, requires reliable diagnostic tools. For this study, a TaqMan-based one-step reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, with the p90 gene as a novel and so far unexplored target for detection of clade I and II genotypes, was developed and evaluated. Automated nucleic acid extraction was carried out. Performance characteristics of the TaqMan RT-qPCR assay were determined for a RV plasmid standard and RNA extracted from virus-infected cell culture supernatants representing clade I and II genotypes. Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were validated against other RNA and DNA viruses, relevant for RV diagnostic approaches and for RV-positive clinical samples, respectively. The assay is specific and highly sensitive with a limit of detection as low as five to one copies per reaction or 200 infectious virus particles per ml. The coefficients of variation (CV) were specified as intra- (within one run) and inter- (between different runs) assay variation, and calculated based on the standard deviations for the obtained Ct values of the respective samples. Intra- and inter-assay CV values were low, with a maximum of 3.4% and 2.4%, respectively. The assay was shown to be suitable and specific for the analysis of clinical samples. With p90 as a novel target, the highly sensitive and specific TaqMan assay outlined in this study is suitable for RV diagnosis worldwide.

In vitro influence of light radiation on hair steroid concentrations.

PubMed

Grass, Juliane; Miller, Robert; Carlitz, Esther H D; Patrovsky, Fabian; Gao, Wei; Kirschbaum, Clemens; Stalder, Tobias

2016-11-01

Hair cortisol concentrations (hairF) are considered to be relatively robust to various confounding influences. However, a potentially important covariate factor that has received little attention in this context is hair exposure to ultraviolet/sunlight radiation. We conducted a detailed experimental investigation to examine the effects of light exposure on hair cortisol. In study I, a hydrocortisone-containing solution was subjected to short-term artificial light irradiation for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, or 30min to evaluate the stability of cortisol molecules due to radiant energy. In study II, hair samples (N=12) were subjected to single short-term artificial light irradiation for 0, 1, or 5h to examine light-induced effects in the hair matrix. In study III, hair samples (N=25) were subjected to long-term naturalistic sunlight radiation over a period of two months (during summer) with daily exposure times of 0, 1, 3, or 6h, respectively. Besides cortisol, studies II & III also examined concentrations of cortisone (hairE), dehydroepiandrosterone (hairDHEA) and progesterone (hairP) in hair, quantified using LC-MS/MS technology. Results across the three studies consistently revealed effects of light irradiation on hair steroid concentrations: Longer light exposure resulted in a decrease of dissolved hydrocortisone (study I) as well as of hairF and hairE (studies II and III). Conversely, hairDHEA and hairP increased with longer natural sunlight exposure times (study III), while this effect was not observed for short-term artificial light irradiation (study II). Combined, our findings imply sunlight exposure as a potential confound in hair steroid research. Given the experimental character of this investigation, the magnitude of this effect under real-life testing conditions is difficult to estimate. To support future investigation into this, we designed a 'sunlight-exposure' questionnaire to share with the research community. The assessment and statistical accounting for sunlight exposure-related effects in future hair steroid research (using this or a similar questionnaire) may help to reduce the potential influence of this unwanted error source and could thus lead to more valid and reliable results. In addition, our data strongly suggest that hair samples for steroid analyses need to be stored in a dark environment. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Attachment sites of the coracoclavicular ligaments are characterized by fibrocartilage differentiation: a study on human cadaveric tissue.

PubMed

Ockert, B; Braunstein, V; Sprecher, C; Shinohara, Y; Kirchhoff, C; Milz, S

2012-02-01

We analyzed the immunohistochemical labeling patterns of the extracellular matrix of the coracoclavicular ligaments (CCL) in order to relate the molecular composition of the attachment sites to their mechanical environment. Ligaments were exposed from 12 fresh-frozen human cadaveric samples (four males, mean age: 48.6 ± 12.1 years). Cryosection of methanol-fixed and decalcified tissue was cut and sections were labeled with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against collagens, proteoglycans and proteins of vascular components. Attachment sites of both ligaments showed characteristic fibrocartilaginous labeling of collagen type II, aggrecan and link protein in all samples. Labeling for type II collagen was most conspicuous at the insertion of the coracoid process. Morphometry of adjacent samples revealed a fibrocartilage zone of 10-15% in relationship with the ligament proper, where labeling for type II collagen, aggrecan and link protein was negative. The presence of fibrocartilage at both entheses of the trapezoid and conoid ligament suggests that the CCL complex is subject to shear/compression forces. A variable fibrocartilage differentiation at the entheses of both ligaments may be related to the marked change in loading and insertion angle that the ligaments undergo during shoulder movement. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

A survey of crop-derived transgenes in activated and digester sludges in wastewater treatment plants in the United States.

PubMed

Gardner, Courtney M; Gwin, Carley A; Gunsch, Claudia K

2018-04-01

The use of transgenic crops has become increasingly common in the United States over the last several decades. Increasing evidence suggests that DNA may be protected from enzymatic digestion and acid hydrolysis in the digestive tract, suggesting that crop-derived transgenes may enter into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) intact. Given the historical use of antibiotic resistance genes as selection markers in transgenic crop development, it is important to consider the fate of these transgenes. Herein we detected and quantified crop-derived transgenes in WWTPs. All viable US WWTP samples were found to contain multiple gene targets (p35, nos, bla and nptII) at significantly higher levels than control samples. Control wastewater samples obtained from France, where transgenic crops are not cultivated, contained significantly fewer copies of the nptII gene than US activated and digester sludges. No significant differences were measured for the bla antibiotic resistance gene (ARG). In addition, a nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assay was developed that targeted the bla ARG located in regions flanked by the p35 promoter and nos terminator. Overall this work suggests that transgenic crops may have provided an environmental source of nptII; however, follow-up studies are needed to ascertain the viability of these genes as they exit WWTPs.

M(II)-dipyridylamide-based coordination frameworks (M=Mn, Co, Ni): Structural transformation

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

Tzeng, Biing-Chiau; Selvam, TamilSelvi; Tsai, Miao-Hsin

2016-11-15

A series of 1-D double-zigzag (([M(papx){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}](ClO{sub 4}){sub 2}){sub n}; M=Mn, x=s (1), x=o (3); M=Co, x=s (4), x=o (5); M=Ni, x=s (6), x=o (7)) and 2-D polyrotaxane ([Mn(paps){sub 2}(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2}]{sub n} (2)) frameworks were synthesized by reactions of M(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2} (M=Mn, Co, and Ni) with papx (paps, N,N’-bis(pyridylcarbonyl)-4,4’-diaminodiphenylthioether; papo, N,N’-bis(pyridylcarbonyl)-4,4’-diaminodiphenyl ether), which have been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Based on powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) experiments, heating the double-zigzag frameworks underwent structural transformation to give the respective polyrotaxane ones. Moreover, grinding the solid samples of the respective polyrotaxanes in the presence of moisturemore » also resulted in the total conversion to the original double-zigzag frameworks. In this study, we have successfully extended studies to Mn{sup II}, Co{sup II}, and Ni{sup II} frameworks from the previous Zn{sup II}, Cd{sup II}, and Cu{sup II} ones, and interestingly such structural transformation is able to be proven experimentally by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies as well. - Graphical abstract: 1-D double-zigzag and 2-D polyrotaxane frameworks of M(II)-papx (x=s, o; M=Mn, Co, Ni) frameworks can be interconverted by heating and grinding in the presence of moiture, and such structural transformation has be proven experimentally by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.« less

Pathognomonic features of Angle's Class II division 2 malocclusion: A comparative cephalometric and arch width study

PubMed Central

Prasad, Singamsetty E.R.V.; Indukuri, Ravikishore Reddy; Singh, Rupesh; Nooney, Anitha; Palagiri, Firoz Babu; Narayana, Veera

2014-01-01

Background: A thorough knowledge of the salient features of malocclusion helps the clinician in arriving at a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, and also to predict the prognosis, prior to the onset of treatment process. Among the four classes of Angle's classification of malocclusion, Class II division 2 occurs with the least frequency. There is still continuing debate in the literature whether the Class II division 2 patients ascribe the pathognomonic skeletal and dental features. Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to describe the unique features of Angle's Class II division 2 malocclusion to differentiate it from Angle's Class II division 1 malocclusion. Materials and Methods: A total of 582 pre-treatment records (study models and cephalograms), with the age of patients ranging from 15 to 22 years, were obtained from the hospital records of Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram and Geetam's Dental College, Visakhapatnam. Out of these, 11 pre-treatment records were excluded because of lack of clarity. In the rest of the sample, 283 were Class II division 1 and 288 were Class II division 2. The lateral cephalograms were analyzed by using digiceph and the arch width analysis was done based on the anatomical points described by Staley et al. and Sergl et al. Results: An intergroup evaluation was done by using unpaired Student's “t” test. The skeletal vertical parameters, dental parameters, and the maxillary arch width parameters revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups of malocclusion. Conclusion: Angle's Class II division 2 malocclusion has a pronounced horizontal growth pattern with decreased lower anterior facial height, retroclined upper anteriors, and significantly increased maxillary arch width parameters. PMID:25558449

A Study of the Type II-Plateau Supernova SN 2014cx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flatland, Kelsi; Leonard, Douglas Christopher; Williams, George Grant; Smith, Paul S.; Bilinski, Christopher; Dessart, Luc; Gonzalez, Luis; Hoffman, Jennifer L.; Huk, Leah; Milne, Peter; Smith, Nathan

2015-08-01

The type II-plateau (II-P) class of supernova is the most commonly observed type of core-collapse event, and yet the basic characteristics of this class are still being defined (e.g. Pejcha & Prieto 2015). Here we add to the growing sample of type II-P events with well-sampled data from observations of SN 2014cx. SN 2014cx was independently discovered on September 2, 2014 UT by Nakano et al. (2014; CBET 3963) and Holoien et al. (2014; ATEL 6436) in the nearby (d ~ 20.7 Mpc, Tully 1988) SBd galaxy NGC 337. It was classified as a young Type II supernova through spectra taken within a day of discovery at both optical (Nakano et al. 2014) and near-infrared (Morrell et al. 2014; ATEL 6442) wavelengths. Later (Andrews et al. 2015; ATEL 7084), it was photometrically determined to be specifically a type II-P supernova, indicating the core-collapse event of a progenitor that had a large hydrogen envelope (Pejcha & Prieto 2015). We initiated a photometric and spectropolarimetric campaign to follow SN 2014cx; over a five month period following the supernova's discovery, we obtained optical images using the 1-meter telescope at Mount Laguna Observatory as part of the MOunt LAguna SUpernova Survey (MOLASUS), and spectra as part of the SuperNova SpectroPOLarimetry project (SNSPOL). Here we present the initial analysis of the photometry and spectroscopy obtained as part of this campaign. We acknowledge support from NSF grants AST-1009571 and AST-1210311, under which part of this research was carried out.

A Study of the Type II-Plateau Supernova SN 2014cx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flatland, Kelsi; Leonard, Douglas C.; Williams, Grant; Smith, Paul S.; Bilinski, Christopher; Gonzalez, Luis; Hoffman, Jennifer L.; Huk, Leah N.; Milne, Peter; Smith, Nathan; Supernova Spectropolarimetry Project

2016-06-01

The type II-plateau (II-P) class of supernova is the most commonly observed type of core-collapse event, and yet the basic characteristics of this class are still being defined (e.g. Pejcha & Prieto 2015). Here we add to the growing sample of type II-P events with well-sampled data from observations of SN 2014cx. SN 2014cx was independently discovered on September 2, 2014 UT by Nakano et al. (2014; CBET 3963) and Holoien et al. (2014; ATEL 6436) in the nearby (d ~ 20.7 Mpc, Tully 1988) SBd galaxy NGC 337. It was classified as a young Type II supernova through spectra taken within a day of discovery at both optical (Nakano et al. 2014) and near-infrared (Morrell et al. 2014; ATEL 6442) wavelengths. Later (Andrews et al. 2015; ATEL 7084), it was photometrically determined to be specifically a type II-P supernova, indicating the core-collapse event of a progenitor that had a large hydrogen envelope (Pejcha & Prieto 2015). We initiated a photometric and spectropolarimetric campaign to follow SN 2014cx; over a five month period following the supernova's discovery, we obtained optical images using the 1-meter telescope at Mount Laguna Observatory as part of the MOunt LAguna SUpernova Survey (MOLASUS), and spectra as part of the SuperNova SpectroPOLarimetry project (SNSPOL). Here we present the analysis of the photometry and spectroscopy obtained as part of this campaign. We acknowledge support from NSF grants AST-1009571 and AST-1210311, under which part of this research was carried out.

Haloacetic acid-degrading bacterial communities in drinking water systems as determined by cultivation and by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR-amplified haloacid dehalogenase gene fragments.

PubMed

Grigorescu, A S; Hozalski, R M; Lapara, T M

2012-04-01

To characterize the HAA-degrading bacteria in drinking water systems. Haloacetic acid (HAA)-degrading bacteria were analysed in drinking water systems by cultivation and by a novel application of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (tRFLP). Substantial similarities were observed among the tRFLP patterns of dehI and dehII gene fragments in drinking water samples obtained from three different cities (Minneapolis, MN; St Paul, MN; Bucharest, Romania) and from one biologically active granular activated carbon filter (Hershey, PA). The dominant fragment in the tRFLP profiles of dehI genes from the drinking water samples matched the pattern from an Afipia sp. that was previously isolated from drinking water. In contrast, the dominant fragment in the tRFLP profiles of dehII genes did not match any previously characterized dehII gene fragment. PCR cloning was used to characterize this gene fragment, which had <65% nucleotide sequence identity with any previously characterized dehII gene. Afipia spp. are an appropriate model organism for studying the biodegradation of HAAs in drinking water distribution systems as encoded by dehI genes; the organism that harbours the most prominent dehII gene in drinking water has yet to be cultivated and identified. The development of a novel application of tRFLP targeting dehI and dehII genes could be broadly useful in understanding HAA-degrading bacteria in numerous environments. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Applied Microbiology © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Synergistic extraction and spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) using 1-(2',4'-dinitro aminophenyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiol: Analysis of alloys, pharmaceuticals and biological samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamble, Ganesh S.; Kolekar, Sanjay S.; Anuse, Mansing A.

2011-05-01

A simple and selective spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of copper(II) with 1-(2',4'-dinitro aminophenyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiol [2',4'-dinitro APTPT] as a chromogenic reagent. The procedure was based on the synergistic extraction of copper(II) with 2',4'-dinitro APTPT in the presence of 0.5 mol L -1 pyridine to give green colored ternary complex of a molar ratio 1:2:2 (M:L:Py) in the pH range 8.7-10.5. It exhibits a maximum absorption of colored complex at 445 nm and 645 nm in chloroform against the reagent blank. Beer's law was followed in the concentration range 10-80 μg mL -1 of copper(II) and optimum range of 20-70 μg mL -1 the metal as evaluated from Ringbom's plot. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of copper(II)-2',4'-dinitro APTPT-pyridine complex in chloroform are 0.87 × 10 3 L mol -1 cm -1 and 0.072 μg cm -2, respectively. The interfering effects of various cations and anions were also studied, and use of suitable masking agents enhances the selectivity of the method. The proposed method is rapid, reproducible and successfully applied for the determination of copper(II) in binary and synthetic mixtures, alloys, pharmaceutical formulations, environmental and fertilizer samples. Comparison of the results with those obtained using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer also tested the validity of the method.